Chapter 313 Returning to Camp
Huo Lin's words about settling accounts brought Jiang Huan back to her senses instantly.
She blinked, her lips pursed, and her eyes reddened instantly.
Just moments ago she had a somewhat bewildered expression, but now she was on the verge of tears.
When faced with being "punished," the best approach is, of course, to use a self-inflicted injury as a pretext.
"You still dare to hold me accountable?" Her voice was choked with tears as she grabbed Huo Lin's arm with her small hand. "I don't know how many people I begged for and how much I suffered to find you, but as long as you're alright, I'm willing to do anything."
"And you, on the other hand, you're setting a trap here to catch a big fish, all high and mighty, and you're still getting angry with me."
As Jiang Huan spoke, she used all her strength to squeeze out two bright tears.
"Look at my face, my hands, look, look..."
She stretched out her hand, which had been cut by the rock, her dusty little face covered with dried bloodstains, and her voice became increasingly choked with sobs.
"If we're going to settle accounts, it'll be me settling accounts with you..."
Huo Lin was taken aback by her act of turning the tables and accusing the villain first, but seeing her crying with tears streaming down her face, he felt no anger left, only endless heartache and pity.
[It's all my fault. She risked her life to find me, and I still spoke so harshly to her.]
[I was just too worried. It's good that she's alright, it's good that she's alright...]
He sighed, raised his uninjured hand, and awkwardly used his fingertips to wipe away the tears on her face, his voice softening.
"I'm the one who made you worry this time. How you want it calculated, whatever the amount, I'll do as you say, okay?"
Jiang Huan was always flexible and adaptable. Seeing that Huo Lin had given in and the crisis was over, she decided to stop while she was ahead.
She gently raised her hand, pulled his hand off her face, held it tightly in her palm, and muttered something.
"Never mind, let's call it even."
Huo Lin let her do as she pleased, a indulgent and affectionate smile flashing in his eyes.
"Yes, I will listen to her."
On the other side, Sun Zheng and the general in charge of counter-ambush had finished clearing the battlefield and arranged for guards, and came to report.
"Your Majesty, the enemy has been wiped out. It is not advisable to stay here any longer. Should we immediately move back to the main camp?" the general respectfully inquired.
Huo Lin pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "It's getting late, and marching through the desert at night is too risky. Send down the order to find a sheltered spot to set up camp, keep a close watch on the prisoners, and strengthen vigilance. Send someone back to the main camp immediately to inform the commanders of my escape and to order them to stabilize the situation. I will return to camp early tomorrow morning."
"Yes!" The general accepted the order and immediately went to make arrangements.
Huo Lin then looked at Jiang Huan and said softly, "Let's make do here for the night and go back tomorrow."
Jiang Huan naturally had no objection. Although the trap was set by Huo Lin, the injuries on his body were not faked.
The wound must be cleaned, bandaged, and treated immediately; otherwise, if it becomes infected, the consequences will outweigh the benefits.
The camp quickly made a temporary stop to rest in a relatively secluded, sheltered cave in a depression.
Night fell quickly, and the desert night was bitterly cold. A small campfire was lit in the cave, which dispelled some of the chill.
Huo Lin leaned against the rock wall, his wounds were cleaned and treated by the accompanying military doctor, and then bandaged with clean bandages.
But he refused the army doctor's suggestion that he rest and insisted on staying.
Jiang Huan, wrapped in a thick blanket, sat by the fire, secretly glancing at Huo Lin.
The flickering firelight illuminated his sharply defined profile. Though pale and weary, his eyes appeared exceptionally deep and bright in the firelight, as if two inextinguishable flames burned within them.
He remained upright, even with his injury, he maintained a vigilance ingrained in his very being.
Tsk, with such serious injuries and so much blood loss, he's still stubbornly holding on.
But it actually looks quite nice like this...
Pah! Pah! Pah! Jiang Huan, what are you thinking? He's injured! Injured!
She shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off the jumbled thoughts in her mind, but her heart started beating faster against her will.
Huo Lin kept his eyes fixed ahead, his gaze fixed on the pitch-black night.
But out of the corner of his eye, his gaze gently fell on Jiang Huan.
Are you watching me?
"Then I'd like to sit up straighter."
[However, I have a scratch on my left cheek, which affects my appearance. Should I turn my right cheek towards her?]
Jiang Huan gently tugged at the corners of her mouth, her heartbeat enveloped in the warm blanket, a hazy, enchanting feeling rising within her. She buried her body further in the blanket.
What an idiot.
...
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the team set off and safely returned to the northern camp.
The commander-in-chief's return, and the capture of the Northern Di prince, caused a stir throughout the camp, greatly boosting morale.
Upon his return, Huo Lin immediately threw himself into the intense military affairs, listening to reports, adjusting defenses, and meeting with generals, keeping himself extremely busy.
Negotiations with the Northern Barbarians were handled by dedicated envoys and strategists; the emperor himself did not need to intervene. His task was to remain at the center and control the overall situation.
It wasn't until late at night, when military affairs had temporarily come to an end, that Huo Lin dragged his exhausted body back to the commander's tent.
Jiang Huan was already waiting inside; hot water and clean towels were placed on the table.
Seeing Huo Lin come in, she immediately stood up: "Are you done? Let me change your dressing. Please sit down."
Huo Lin felt a warmth in his heart as he looked at the concern and determination in her eyes. He hummed in agreement and walked to the bedside as instructed.
[Wuhu, my belated but timely welfare for the wounded has arrived!]
[But this time the injuries are numerous and severe, densely packed; won't that frighten her?]
[Is her own wound still painful?]
"I'm fine, but what about your wound? Have you changed the dressing? Does it still hurt?"
Jiang Huan's heart stirred, and her eyes warmed again.
My own injury is only good for feigning pitifulness; compared to Huo Lin's, it's nothing.
"Don't worry, how can I take care of you if I don't take good care of myself?"
As she spoke, she pressed Huo Lin down to sit on the edge of the bed and naturally removed his outer robe and inner lining.
When their icy fingertips, seeping through the increasingly thin clothing, touched his warm skin, both of them were slightly taken aback.
Hmm... the weather tonight seems a bit muggy.
Jiang Huan gently shook her head, banishing those restless thoughts from her mind.
Let's get down to business first!
As soon as the last inner garment was removed, Jiang Huan held her breath and carefully reached out to untie the old bandage.
When she saw those wounds, which had stopped bleeding and scabbed over, but were still hideous and gruesome, her heart clenched and her nose stung with tears.
She felt her hands trembling as she held the wet towel, but she still tried to be gentle as she wiped away the blood and medicine stains around his wound.
Is this guy Superman?
These injuries were painful to look at; it was hard to imagine how much willpower Huo Lin had to endure them.
Huo Lin lowered his eyes to look at Jiang Huan's focused profile. Her long eyelashes cast soft shadows under her eyes, and the firelight made her skin appear almost transparent.
Jiang Huan felt Huo Lin's gaze and her ears burned.
"Did I hurt you?" she asked softly. "Should we call the imperial physician?"
"No need." Huo Lin shook his head gently, his voice a little hoarse. "You... are my cure."
With her by my side, I feel no pain at all.
It's so good to see her, please don't go.
Okay, I won't leave.
Jiang Huan responded gently in her heart.
She reapplied the medicine to Huo Lin and bandaged him up.
Throughout the entire process, Huo Lin cooperated exceptionally well and remained completely still.
Only the slight rise and fall of his chest and the occasional movement of his Adam's apple betrayed that he was not as calm as he appeared.
Only after the bandaging was finished did Jiang Huan breathe a sigh of relief. She looked up and met Huo Lin's deep eyes.
He was staring intently at her, his usually cold and sharp eyes now appearing exceptionally bright, as if filled with tiny starlight, under the flickering candlelight.
Jiang Huan's heart began to pound uncontrollably, and the heat that had just subsided on her face surged back up, even hotter than before.
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