The atmosphere between the two of them grew somewhat stiff on the way back.

Of course, it was probably only Su Xi who felt that stiffness. Though Zai Zai had said he wasn’t angry, he remained completely silent the entire way, his little round face drooping as he walked, looking like he was lost in thought.

Outside the screen, Su Xi felt at a loss. She thought he was still angry, but then again—maybe it was just her imagination… After all, there weren’t any white emotion bubbles popping up over his head like usual. Besides, he would occasionally glance at his left sleeve and gesture for her to hurry up and follow.

Watching the tiny figure of Zai Zai on the screen walking alone between the camp tents, the narrow path stretching before him, his small back carrying a faint sense of loneliness—Su Xi’s face went blank, and several question marks slowly popped up over her head…

What? What did she do wrong? She only tugged at Zai Zai’s sleeve and told him to take a look at that pretty girl.

Even if Zai Zai didn’t like that young lady, even if he didn’t want to talk about marriage right now—what’s the harm in looking? It’s not like he’d lose a piece of flesh.

If anyone should be losing something, it’s the poor girl!

Could it be that he’s shy? But that didn’t seem like it—Zai Zai’s face wasn’t red. Though his little avatar had his head lowered and wasn’t speaking, Su Xi could tell what mood he was in.

Then… did he think she was being nosy?

Su Xi suddenly recalled those times after school, when she’d come home and hear her mom chatting with the aunties downstairs between rounds of square dancing—talking about her and Huo Jingchuan, saying they were childhood sweethearts and would make a fine match one day. It always left her annoyed and frustrated, thinking her mom was spouting nonsense about something that didn’t even have a shadow of a chance.

Thinking about it like that, Su Xi immediately felt she might have overstepped. “Do not impose on others what you do not desire yourself”—hadn’t their teachers drilled that into them for years? How could she still not get it?

She decided it was best not to bring the matter up again. Let things take their course.

Zai Zai was a dragon among men—surely, in the future, with his three palaces and six courtyards, it’s not as if he’d ever lack for wives.

Even after this round of self-reflection, Su Xi still felt a bit downhearted.

Now, she finally understood how her mom must’ve felt all those times when she and Aunt Huo got excited talking about her and Huo Jingchuan being childhood sweethearts, only for her to snap, “Don’t try to play matchmaker for me, it’s pointless. Your daughter’s focused on studying, no marriage before thirty!”

It must’ve left her mom feeling just like she did now—with that faint, melancholy sense of “the child’s grown up and far too opinionated, what can I do?”

Su Xi didn’t bring it up again. But Lu Huan kept his lips tightly pressed together, his face pale, and inside, he still couldn’t quite recover.

Before this, he had already begun to harbor some vague, indescribable sense of possessiveness toward her—but he had never dwelled on it. Or rather, whenever the thought arose, he would suppress it with all his might, never daring to think too deeply.

After all, for her to even appear by his side—to accompany him on this muddy, difficult road—was already a kind of salvation to him.

Any further wish he had was simply that she would never disappear, never leave, that she would always stay by his side. And that, one day, he might help her find a proper body to dwell in—

Even that was already a luxury.

But when he saw her so excitedly urging him to look at another girl, so eager to play matchmaker for him, it was as if a thorn had lodged itself in his heart—neither rising nor falling, stuck right there.

He lowered his gaze to his boots and thought—

Was she so happy to push him toward someone else because, to her, he’d always been just an object of sympathy and kindness?

Did she, unlike him, feel not the slightest bit of possessiveness?

And if one day, she were to discover these dark, hidden thoughts he kept buried deep inside—

What would she do?

Would she leave him, or—

Lu Huan’s eyelids twitched lightly at the thought, and for a moment, he almost couldn’t breathe.

His throat felt dry and bitter. Lowering his gaze, he looked at the left sleeve that had just been gently tugged, and quietly made up his mind — no matter what, until he could help her find a body and make sure she would never disappear, he must not let a trace of those thoughts in his heart slip out.

───♡───

And so, with thoughts running in completely opposite directions, the two of them arrived at the camp.

The camp outside the capital was occupied by some stragglers who had been recruited recently, now stationed there waiting for orders from the General’s Manor and the Ministry of War. As a result, these soldiers were far from disciplined — the tents were in disarray, and scattered around were half-burned piles of campfire ash.

Lu Huan steadied his mind, confirming that the person beside him was still following, then proceeded with the Assistant Minister of the Second Division toward the archery field.

Though it was said to be just an inspection, Lu Huan knew very well — it would not be that simple.

The appearance of the Minister of War’s daughter outside the capital could not be a coincidence. Which meant the Minister himself must have come here as well. So then… what was their purpose?

Lu Huan lifted his dark eyes, seemingly casual, and glanced toward the tall pavilion near the archery field. Behind that pavilion stood a screen — it was clear someone was there, hidden behind it.

The Assistant Minister told him to wait by the archery range for a while, then was summoned away by a soldier. After a short while, he returned, followed by four tall men dressed in deep black military robes — each looking like a seasoned officer.

Three of them carried quivers and bows on their backs, their expressions restrained and silent. Though Lu Huan had never seen them before, one quick glance told him enough — the embroidered beasts on their robes: leopard, bear, and wolf. Those markings signified their ranks — Zhonglingjun of the Third Rank, Wuweijun of the Fourth Rank, and Huweijun of the Sixth Rank.

The fourth man, burly and sharp-eyed, was also a skilled fighter — a Zhonglang General of the Fourth Rank.

These men were all key officers within the Zhenyuan Army, the backbone of the camp. For them all to be sent here today… Lu Huan’s eyes flickered with unreadable meaning. So, the Zhenyuan General and the Minister of War hold me in such high regard, do they?

The four men fixed their gazes on Lu Huan, lining up across the archery field. The Assistant Minister smiled and said, “I’ve heard the Assistant Clerk is a young prodigy. A month ago, you hunted down the Snow Wolf King on Qiuyan Mountain and received the Emperor’s reward. These four brothers from the army wish to learn a thing or two from you. I wonder — does the Assistant Clerk dare to compete in riding, archery, and swordplay?”

Before Lu Huan could answer, Su Xi outside the screen was already dumbfounded. Wait, wait, wait — isn’t this just bullying?!

Those four hulking men were so burly they looked like they were about to burst out of the screen — the type who could crush a kid with one swing of a fist! Even though three of them weren’t actually taller than Zai Zai’s small in-game avatar, in width, they completely dwarfed him!

Seriously? Thirty-something grown men competing in archery and swordsmanship against a teenage boy? Have they no shame?!

Su Xi knew she could step in and help Zai Zai from outside the screen, but since the Assistant Minister hadn’t explained the rules yet, she couldn’t act rashly. She couldn’t help but feel anxious — her fingers twitched instinctively, hooking toward Zai Zai’s hand.

Today’s trip to the military camp was nothing short of a Hongmen Banquet for him — a test in disguise.

Feeling her fingers clutching his hand, seemingly out of worry for him, Lu Huan felt the gloom that had been weighing on his chest since the camp gate ease slightly.

He curved his lips faintly and said to the four men, “Please.”

Outside the screen, Su Xi kicked her legs — well then, this duel was unavoidable after all.

The three who were to compete in riding and archery had brought their own soldiers, who led their horses forward and carried fine Fengyu bows. Even their arrows were razor-sharp.

But Lu Huan, who had come today, had not anticipated that someone behind that screen would arrange such a test — he had brought only his horse, not his bow, nor his sword.

The Assistant Minister smiled. “No matter. I came prepared.”

With that, he clapped his hands, and soon two soldiers came forward carrying three arrows and a long sword.

Su Xi and Zai Zai both looked toward the arrows and the sword and fell silent.

“……”

This match—it was far too obviously meant to make things difficult for him.

If this were truly meant as a fair test, how could it be that of the three arrows handed to him, only one was intact and sharp? The second lacked its fletching at the tail, and the third had a blunted, weighted tip—so heavy that once shot, it would probably fall to the ground before even flying fifty meters.

And that long sword—to call it a sword was generous. It was more like a flat iron rod, unsharpened, unedged, not even properly drawn from its scabbard.

Outside the screen, Su Xi was growing anxious. How is he supposed to win with that?!

Across from Zai Zai, the four burly military officers still glared fiercely at him. The Zhonglang General of the Fourth Rank gave a cold, derisive snort.

“The young heirs of the capital are all delicate and soft-skinned—it’s only natural they wouldn’t dare compete with us. But since you’re born so precious and fragile, you’d best stay out of the army and stick to the court—become one of those useless civil officials!”

This broad-shouldered general clearly held deep contempt for scholars and courtiers.

The arrows had been arranged by the Zhenyuan General’s men, and even the Assistant Minister from the Second Division of the Ministry of War hadn’t expected them to go so far with their humiliation. It seemed those rumors that the Zhenyuan General disliked the Prince of Ning’s household were not without basis.

Looking at the shoddy arrows, the Assistant Minister himself felt a headache coming on. He opened his mouth, ready to smooth things over—after all, Lu Huan was one of his most capable subordinates. If the boy lost face here today, he’d share in that embarrassment.

But before he could think of a way to de-escalate, Lu Huan had already stepped forward and taken the three arrows and the blunt sword into his hands.

His sharp, blade-like gaze swept across the four men, direct and unwavering.

“How are we competing?”

The four were taken aback that he showed not the slightest trace of fear, and they couldn’t help but exchange surprised looks.

One of them finally said,

“The three of us will compete with you in archery—on horseback, shooting while riding. Whoever hits closer to the target’s center wins. As for this Zhonglang General, he’ll fight you with his silver spear. You’ll use the long sword. The two of you will test your strength.”

“Out of four matches, if you can win two, we’ll call it your victory.”

As he spoke, the burly Zhonglang General strode to the side and took from a soldier a silver spear so heavy it seemed to weigh a thousand catties. With practiced ease, he spun it twice through the air—its force alone made the onlookers’ sleeves flutter.

The Assistant Minister beside them broke out in a nervous sweat for Lu Huan.

Lu Huan merely nodded.

“Very well. Let’s do it.”

He turned and went to fetch his horse.

Outside the screen, Su Xi felt her stomach knotting with worry. After a moment’s thought, she opened the in-game store and hurriedly exchanged a few items—external wound medicine, throwing darts, hidden weapons—just in case.

Meanwhile, the Minister of War’s daughter—the very same young lady who had appeared earlier by the carriage outside the city—now arrived at the edge of the archery field. Two maids followed behind, lifting the hem of her skirt and holding up an oil-paper umbrella as she made her way toward the high platform, clearly intending to watch the match.

Su Xi glanced at her and saw the girl biting her lip, cheeks tinged red, her eyes bright with excitement—evidently expecting to see a thrilling duel.

…and in that instant, Su Xi, the ever-watching “mother,” suddenly found herself quite dissatisfied with this would-be daughter-in-law.

Honestly! At a time like this, instead of asking her father to stop this nonsense, she’s coming here to enjoy the spectacle? Zai Zai is up against four men—how is that fair?!

A surge of irritation welled up inside her. It felt wrong—Zai Zai was out there fighting his heart out, while those on the platform sat comfortably and watched, treating him like a performing monkey.

Then again, the Minister of War’s daughter was labeled only as “Girl A”, without even a proper name—clearly not the “fated one” arranged for Zai Zai by the game.

Surely, someone who would truly care for him, wholeheartedly, would appear later.

Thinking that, Su Xi refocused her gaze on Zai Zai and the four men across from him—just as the match was about to begin.

Lu Huan, too, couldn’t help but notice the Minister of War’s daughter walking toward the viewing platform. Not that he wanted to—but she walked with such a grand entourage, her servants trailing conspicuously behind her, that it was impossible not to.

He frowned slightly. The wind beside him had gone silent again. He didn’t know what she was thinking this time.

Could it be that she’s focused on that Minister of War’s daughter again, still scheming how to play matchmaker?

A trace of irritation rippled through Lu Huan’s heart, a faint shadow crossing his pitch-black eyes.

Pressing his lips together, he stepped aside and took the quiver from the soldier’s hands. He sorted through the three arrows, slung the quiver over his horse’s saddle, then lifted his longbow. With a sweep of his robe, he leapt onto the horse’s back. His sleeves fluttered in the wind, his face dark and set.

He could restrain himself from showing her the excessive possessiveness buried in his heart, but if she ever again so casually tried to match him with another woman—he feared that one day, he would no longer be able to hold back.

At that moment, the wind beside him suddenly tugged at his finger.

Outside the screen, Su Xi only meant to tell him, Be careful. No matter what happens, Ah Ma’s here.

But Zai Zai seemed to misunderstand. His voice dropped low, solemn and heavy as he said,

“I understand what you mean. But don’t bring it up again. I won’t marry. I’ll live alone all my life.”