Smoke still rose from the ruins of the burned grain depot, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of burning. Xiao Yichen stood before the ruins, his eyes filled with pain and self-reproach. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white, as if he were trying to concentrate all his regret into that clenched fist. Lin Wan'er stood quietly beside him. She knew that Xiao Yichen needed time to process this heavy blow, but time was of the essence; the enemy's plot continued in the shadows, and they had to act quickly.
"General, let's go back to the council hall and discuss our strategy again. Staying here won't help," Lin Wan'er said softly, her eyes filled with worry and determination, trying to pull Xiao Yichen back from his near-collapse.
Xiao Yichen trembled slightly, as if awakened from deep pain. He took a deep breath, slowly nodded, and turned to walk towards the council hall. His steps were heavy, each one carrying a tremendous weight—the responsibility of the General's Mansion and the burden of this defeat weighed on his shoulders.
Back in the council chamber, the generals were already waiting there, each with a solemn and indignant expression. Upon seeing Xiao Yichen enter, they all stood up, their eyes filled with concern for their general and worry about the current situation.
Xiao Yichen walked to the main seat and sat down. He was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "The destruction of the grain depot this time was my dereliction of duty. But we cannot be discouraged by this. The enemy's goal is to plunge us into chaos, and we cannot let them succeed." His voice was somewhat hoarse, but the firmness in his words was like a torch in the darkness, bringing a glimmer of hope to everyone.
A young general stepped forward and said, "General, what should we do now? Without supplies, we can't hold out for long. Moreover, the enemy is lurking in the shadows, and our situation is extremely difficult."
Lin Wan'er looked at the young general, then at Xiao Yichen, and said, "We can first ask the surrounding towns for help and gather some provisions. At the same time, we should strengthen the defenses of the General's Mansion to prevent the enemy from attacking again."
Xiao Yichen nodded slightly: "Miss Lin is right. General Li, you lead a group of men to a nearby town, explain our situation to them, and request reinforcements. But be careful, the enemy may ambush us on the way."
"Yes, General!" After receiving the order, General Li immediately began preparations for departure.
"Other generals, continue to strengthen patrols and searches of the General's Mansion. We cannot let any suspicious persons or clues slip by." Xiao Yichen continued to deploy.
After the meeting, Xiao Yichen remained alone in the council chamber. He sat in his chair, closed his eyes, and the image of the burned-down granary and the mysterious shadowy figure kept replaying in his mind. He knew that the enemy's actions were meticulously planned; their target was far more than just the granary, and there might be a much larger conspiracy behind it all.
Lin Wan'er returned to her room, changed into clean clothes, and then went to the council hall. She saw Xiao Yichen sitting there alone, and a pang of pain shot through her heart. She knew that although Xiao Yichen was outwardly trying to appear composed, his inner suffering remained profound.
"General, don't blame yourself too much. The enemy is so cunning; we didn't expect it. What we need to do now is to make up for our losses as quickly as possible and find the enemy," Lin Wan'er said softly as she walked to Xiao Yichen's side.
Xiao Yichen opened his eyes, looked at Lin Wan'er, and a trace of gratitude flashed in his eyes: "Wan'er, thank you. I don't know what I would be like now if it weren't for you."
Lin Wan'er smiled slightly: "General, we are in this together. We will definitely overcome these difficulties together."
In the following days, a tense and busy atmosphere enveloped the General's Mansion. Since General Li's team set off, Xiao Yichen had been waiting for news from them every day. Meanwhile, the clearing and defense work at the General's Mansion was proceeding smoothly.
However, things did not go so smoothly. The messenger sent by General Li brought news that they had been attacked by the enemy on their way to the town, suffered heavy losses, and had to retreat to the general's residence.
This news was like adding insult to injury, making the atmosphere in the General's Mansion even more oppressive. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yichen's face grew even more somber. He knew that the enemy was determined to cut off the General's Mansion's food supply, trapping them here to die.
"General, we cannot sit idly by and wait to die. We can try to obtain supplies through other means, such as with the help of some friends in the martial arts world," Lin Wan'er suggested.
Xiao Yichen pondered for a moment: "This might be a solution. Do you have any specific ideas?"
Lin Wan'er nodded: "I have some friends in the martial arts world who run various businesses, including the grain and fodder business. I can try to contact them and see if they can help us."
“Alright, let’s get moving as soon as possible,” Xiao Yichen said.
Lin Wan'er immediately wrote several letters and sent them to different places by special envoys. While waiting for replies, new problems arose in the defense of the General's Mansion.
Soldiers reported that some of the mansion's defenses had been sabotaged, such as traps being triggered and some watchtowers suffering unexplained damage. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er immediately went to investigate and discovered that the sabotage was meticulously planned, suggesting that the enemy had a thorough understanding of the general's mansion's defensive layout.
"It seems there really is a traitor in the General's Mansion," Lin Wan'er said, frowning.
Xiao Yichen's eyes sharpened: "We must find the traitor, otherwise all our actions will be under the enemy's surveillance."
Therefore, the general's mansion launched an investigation to find the mole. They conducted a rigorous investigation of every servant and soldier, but found nothing suspicious.
Just when everyone was getting a little discouraged, a kitchen helper caught Lin Wan'er's attention. This helper usually behaved normally, but Lin Wan'er noticed that his eyes were shifty when he was being questioned, and he always seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally avoiding certain questions.
Lin Wan'er told Xiao Yichen about the situation, and Xiao Yichen decided to interrogate the servant himself. During the interrogation, the servant initially denied everything, but under Xiao Yichen's coercion and enticement, he finally told the truth.
It turned out that this servant had been bribed by the enemy. The enemy promised him a large sum of money to deliver intelligence about the general's mansion and to sabotage it when the time was right.
"You traitor! Do you know how much disaster your actions will bring to the General's Mansion?" Xiao Yichen roared angrily.
The servant was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground: "General, I... I was forced into this situation. They said they would kill my family if I didn't do as they said."
Xiao Yichen frowned: "Where are your family members? We can help you rescue them."
A glimmer of hope flashed in the servant's eyes: "Really? General, they're being held captive by the enemy in a secret place."
Lin Wan'er said, "General, we cannot easily believe his words; this may be another conspiracy by the enemy."
Xiao Yichen nodded: "Let's lock him up first, and then we can discuss this further."
After dealing with the servant's matter, Lin Wan'er finally received a reply from her friends in the martial arts world. One of her friends offered to provide some provisions, but they would need to pick them up themselves at a designated location.
"This location is a bit remote; we need to be careful, it might be a trap," Lin Wan'er warned.
Xiao Yichen looked at the reply: "No matter what, this is our only chance right now. I will personally lead the team to retrieve the supplies."
Lin Wan'er looked at Xiao Yichen and said, "General, I'll go with you. We need to look after each other."
Xiao Yichen nodded: "Alright, let's select some elite soldiers and set off immediately."
As they prepared to depart, the soldiers of the general's mansion appeared somewhat tense. They knew that this operation concerned the very survival of the general's mansion; if they could successfully obtain supplies, the general's mansion would still have a glimmer of hope; if they failed, they might truly be plunged into despair.
Xiao Yichen looked at the soldiers and said loudly, "Brothers, this operation is of paramount importance, but I believe we will succeed. We must fight bravely for the General's Mansion and for this land we are protecting!"
The soldiers shouted in unison, "Charge forward!" Their voices echoed over the general's mansion, filled with power and determination.
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er led their elite soldiers on a journey to gather supplies. They didn't know what awaited them, but they shared a single belief: to protect the General's Mansion and their homeland at all costs. During this perilous journey, their feelings for each other subtly evolved; their trust and reliance deepened, like two stars in the darkness, shining brightly and illuminating their path forward.
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er led their elite soldiers cautiously toward the designated location for retrieving supplies. The atmosphere was tense, like a taut bowstring, with the soldiers vigilantly watching their surroundings, gripping their weapons tightly, ready to deal with any potential enemies.
Lin Wan'er walked beside Xiao Yichen, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. It was a mountain forest, densely wooded with intertwined branches and leaves, sunlight filtering through the layers of foliage, casting dappled patterns of light. An eeriness lingered in the stillness, as if an enemy might be lurking behind every tree.
"General, the terrain here is complex, we must be extra careful," Lin Wan'er said in a low voice.
Xiao Yichen nodded slightly, his expression serious: "Yes, make sure the soldiers maintain a tight formation and don't scatter."
They continued forward, the fallen leaves and twigs crunching under their feet, the sound particularly clear in the quiet forest, as if announcing their presence to the enemy. Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the grass ahead. The soldiers immediately stopped, raising their weapons and pointing in the direction of the sound.
Xiao Yichen gestured for silence, signaling everyone not to act rashly. He and Lin Wan'er exchanged a glance, then slowly walked forward, preparing to investigate. As they approached the bushes, a wild rabbit suddenly darted out, running away in a panic. Seeing it was just a rabbit, the soldiers' tense nerves immediately relaxed, and some even couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"It was just a wild rabbit, it gave me quite a fright," a young soldier said, patting his chest.
Xiao Yichen's lips curled up slightly. This unexpected little incident eased the tense atmosphere somewhat: "Everyone, don't let your guard down, keep moving forward."
After this minor incident, the group continued on their way. However, they hadn't gone far when another rather comical incident occurred. A soldier accidentally stepped on a loose stone, slipped forward, and his weapon flew out of his hand, striking the helmet of the soldier in front of him with a loud "clang." The soldier who was hit was dazed by the sudden impact and swayed before regaining his balance.
"Hey you, watch where you're going!" the soldier who was hit complained.
"I'm... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." The soldier who slipped scratched his head apologetically.
Seeing this, Lin Wan'er couldn't help but laugh: "You two are such a pair of clowns. But everyone should still be careful."
Xiao Yichen was amused and shook his head with a smile: "Cheer up, everyone, and don't make a fool of yourselves again."
The group continued their journey amidst laughter and cheerful conversation, and the tense atmosphere gradually dissipated. However, they all knew that danger could strike at any moment, so they remained highly vigilant despite the laughter.
Finally, they arrived near the designated location. It was a valley surrounded by mountains, accessible only by a narrow path. A thin layer of mist hung in the valley, obscuring the view inside.
"General, something seems suspicious here. We can't just go in rashly," Lin Wan'er said, frowning as she looked at the valley.
Xiao Yichen nodded in agreement: "Send two soldiers to scout ahead first, the rest of you stay put."
Two agile soldiers received their orders and cautiously made their way into the valley. Their figures gradually disappeared into the mist, while Xiao Yichen and the others anxiously awaited news from them. After a while, shouts echoed from the valley.
"General, there's food here!" A soldier's voice came from the valley.
Xiao Yichen was overjoyed: "Let's go!" He led his soldiers quickly toward the valley. When they entered the valley, they saw piles of neatly arranged grain and fodder, which they saw as a lifeline.
"Great! We're saved!" the soldiers cheered.
However, just as everyone was immersed in joy, Lin Wan'er sensed something was amiss. Looking around, she felt it was too quiet; apart from their cheers, there was no other sound, not even the chirping of birds.
"General, something's strange here. We should be careful," Lin Wan'er warned.
Xiao Yichen realized the problem and immediately ordered the soldiers to stop cheering and remain quiet. Just then, a melodious flute melody suddenly rang out from all around the valley. The flute music was gentle and pleasant, but it sounded particularly eerie in this time and place.
As the whistle sounded, the surrounding fog seemed to thicken, surging towards them as if it were alive. The soldiers began to panic, huddling together tightly, their weapons pointing in all directions.
"Don't panic, everyone! Maintain formation!" Xiao Yichen shouted, trying to calm the troops.
Suddenly, a group of dark figures emerged from the mist, moving with incredible agility as they pounced on the soldiers. A chaotic battle ensued, with soldiers fiercely battling the shadows. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er joined the fight, their martial arts skills exceptional, moving with ease among the shadows, felling wherever they went.
During the battle, Xiao Yichen noticed that although these shadowy figures were agile, their attack methods were somewhat chaotic. A thought struck him: these shadowy figures might be being controlled by someone.
"Wan'er, these shadowy figures are strange. We need to find the source controlling them," Xiao Yichen shouted.
While dealing with the attacks from the shadowy figure, Lin Wan'er replied, "Alright, General, let's split up and search."
So, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er searched for the source of the shadowy figures in the fog in different directions. During their search, Xiao Yichen encountered a larger shadowy figure, whose attack power was much stronger than the other shadowy figures. Xiao Yichen engaged in a fierce battle with it.
The two exchanged blows, neither giving an inch. Xiao Yichen wielded his spear with ferocious power, each attack carrying immense force, but the shadowy figure always managed to evade it skillfully. Suddenly, the shadowy figure spewed a cloud of black smoke at Xiao Yichen, who, caught off guard, was enveloped in it.
"General!" Lin Wan'er was shocked when she saw this scene. She wanted to rush over to help Xiao Yichen, but she was entangled by several dark figures.
Enveloped in smoke, Xiao Yichen felt utterly lost in darkness and struggled to breathe. He tried to hold his breath and break free of the smoke, but lost his bearings. Just as he was beginning to panic, he suddenly heard a strange sound, like someone was talking, but he couldn't make out what they were saying.
"Hmph, Xiao Yichen, do you think you can get the supplies so easily? This is all a trap we set." A muffled voice rang out from the smoke.
Xiao Yichen was startled; he knew he had fallen into the enemy's trap. But he didn't panic. He calmed himself and tried to determine the enemy's location by sound.
Just then, the smoke gradually dissipated, and Xiao Yichen saw a person dressed in black robes standing not far away. The person in black robes wore a mask, so their face could not be seen.
"Who are you?" Xiao Yichen asked, while gripping the spear in his hand tightly.
The man in black robes sneered, "Who I am is unimportant. What matters is that you won't be leaving this valley today." With that, the man in black robes attacked Xiao Yichen.
Xiao Yichen engaged in a thrilling battle with the man in black robes. The man in black robes possessed superb martial arts skills, his moves were unpredictable, and every strike was filled with killing intent. But Xiao Yichen was not to be outdone; relying on his years of combat experience and unwavering will, he fought back against the man in black robes.
On the other side, Lin Wan'er finally broke free from the shadowy figure's grasp. She rushed towards Xiao Yichen's direction, and when she saw him fighting the man in black robes, she joined the battle without hesitation.
"General, let me help you!" Lin Wan'er called out.
Lin Wan'er's arrival changed the course of the battle. The black-robed man gradually struggled against the combined attack of the two. However, he did not back down. He suddenly pulled out a brocade pouch from his robes and threw it into the air. The pouch exploded, emitting a dazzling light. Strange symbols appeared within the light and flew towards Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er.
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er hurriedly tried to dodge, but the symbols seemed to be alive, relentlessly pursuing them. Just as they were somewhat at a loss, the symbols suddenly disappeared, and the man in black robes took the opportunity to escape.
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er watched the black-robed man flee but did not give chase. They knew that their top priority was to safely bring the provisions back to the General's Mansion.
"General, let's move the supplies away first; it's too dangerous here," Lin Wan'er said.
Xiao Yichen nodded: "Alright, everyone hurry up and load the grain onto the carts."
The soldiers sprang into action, loading the provisions onto the prepared wagons. While moving the provisions, they couldn't resist joking about what had just happened.
"That man in black robes was quite formidable, but he was still defeated by our general and Miss Lin," a soldier said.
“Yeah, and those dark figures, like a swarm of headless flies, haha.” Another soldier chimed in.
Amidst laughter and cheers, they left the valley with the provisions. Although the journey to retrieve the provisions was filled with thrills and comical moments, they ultimately succeeded. The bond between Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er deepened during this adventure; their mutual understanding and trust became their most precious treasure in this chaotic world.
Xiao Yichen, Lin Wan'er, and the soldiers, carrying provisions, marched back to the General's Mansion in a grand procession. Along the way, the soldiers' laughter echoed through the valley. The close call with the battle had completely relaxed everyone's tense nerves, and each person was immersed in the joy of surviving a close call.
Back at the general's mansion, the guards at the gate saw the returning troops from afar and their eyes immediately lit up with joy. They hurriedly opened the gate. The news spread quickly throughout the mansion, and the servants all dropped what they were doing and rushed towards the courtyard.
"The general is back! And he's brought provisions with him!" a servant shouted excitedly.
"This is wonderful! We're saved!" an old woman exclaimed excitedly, tears welling in her eyes.
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er walked at the front of the procession. Seeing the joy and relief on the faces of the servants, a warm feeling welled up in their hearts. In this difficult time, these simple emotions were like the warm sun in winter, warming their hearts.
"General, you're finally back! We were all so worried." The steward hurried forward, his eyes full of concern.
Xiao Yichen smiled and patted the butler on the shoulder: "Don't worry, we're back safely, aren't we? This time, we owe it all to Miss Lin and the brothers."
Lin Wan'er smiled and nodded to the housekeeper, and the servants all turned to look at her, their eyes filled with gratitude and admiration.
"Miss Lin, you are truly a lucky star for our General's Mansion!" a maid said with a smile.
"Yes, Miss Lin is highly skilled in martial arts and very clever. We wouldn't know what to do without you this time," another servant chimed in.
Lin Wan'er smiled a little shyly: "You flatter me, everyone. This is the result of everyone's hard work."
The soldiers began unloading the rations, and the servants rushed to help. Working together, they carried the rations to the warehouse for safekeeping. Throughout the process, laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air.
A young soldier, carrying a sack of provisions, pretended to be struggling and said to the servant beside him, "Oh dear, this sack is really heavy, I'm about to collapse under its weight."
The servant chuckled and gave him a push: "Stop pretending. With your strength, you could easily carry a few more bags."
The soldiers around them burst into laughter, and even the usually serious Xiao Yichen couldn't help but chuckle. This relaxed and cheerful atmosphere made the General's Mansion seem to have forgotten the previous crisis.
However, while everyone was busy, a small incident occurred. A servant responsible for carrying grain tripped and fell, dropping the grain sack he was carrying, spilling the grain inside. The servant looked panicked and hurriedly squatted down to pick it up.
"You reckless fool, be careful!" an older soldier scolded with a smile.
"I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." The servant blushed and seemed at a loss for words.
Seeing this, Lin Wan'er went over to comfort him: "It's okay, be careful not to hurt yourself. We'll pick up the grain together."
With Lin Wan'er's help, the servant looked at her gratefully and helped her put the grain back into the bag. This small gesture made the servants like and respect Lin Wan'er even more.
After the supplies were moved, Xiao Yichen ordered a banquet to be held in the courtyard to celebrate the successful acquisition. The servants immediately busied themselves preparing tables, chairs, dishes, and wine. Soon, the courtyard was filled with a sumptuous feast, its aroma filling the air.
The soldiers and servants sat together, with Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er in the main seats. Xiao Yichen stood up, raised his wine cup, and said loudly, "This operation to obtain supplies was fraught with difficulties and dangers, but we succeeded. This is inseparable from everyone's efforts. Thank you all for your hard work! I toast to you all!" After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp.
Everyone raised their glasses and shouted, "General, you are mighty!" Then they drank their wine in one gulp. The banquet officially began, and everyone began to eat and drink heartily, with laughter and chatter filling the air.
A soldier skilled in juggling volunteered to step forward and perform his specialty in the center of the courtyard. His throwing knives flew through the air, hitting the targets with pinpoint accuracy, drawing cheers from the crowd. He then performed a series of dazzling magic tricks, leaving the servants speechless and bursting into joyful laughter.
"This is even better than a theatrical performance!" a maid exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hands.
During the performance, some servants couldn't resist joining in. Several young maids and servants formed a makeshift dance troupe, gracefully dancing in the courtyard. Although their movements couldn't compare to professional dancers, they were full of youthful energy and joy, making the atmosphere of the banquet even more lively.
Lin Wan'er was deeply moved by the lively scene. She turned to look at Xiao Yichen and found him looking at her as well. Their eyes met, and they both saw relief and joy in each other's eyes.
"General, look how happy everyone is. This feels so good," Lin Wan'er said softly.
Xiao Yichen nodded: "Yes, in these chaotic times, such moments are truly precious. I hope we can always cherish this happiness."
Just as everyone was immersed in the joy, suddenly, one soldier accidentally spilled wine on another. The soldier who was spilled wine pretended to be angry and stood up: "You bastard, see how I deal with you!" With that, he picked up a piece of pastry and threw it at the other soldier.
The soldier who spilled the wine laughed and dodged, shouting, "Haha, come and catch me!" The two chased each other in the courtyard like two mischievous children. Seeing this, the other soldiers and servants cheered them on, some even encouraging them.
"Quick, chase after them!"
"Don't let him get away!"
The courtyard was in complete chaos, but this chaos was filled with joy and warmth. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er watched this scene and laughed so hard they almost fell over.
"These guys are getting more and more unruly," Xiao Yichen said with a smile, but there was no reproach in his tone.
"It's alright, General, let them relax a bit. It's a way for everyone to relieve stress," Lin Wan'er replied with a smile.
At the height of the banquet, an old butler stood up, cleared his throat, and said, “Gentlemen, our joyous celebration today is all thanks to the General and Miss Lin. The General has always devoted himself to protecting our manor, and Miss Lin’s arrival has brought us hope and vitality. I propose that we all raise a toast to the General and Miss Lin!”
The servants and soldiers responded enthusiastically, raising their glasses: "To the General, to Miss Lin!"
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er stood up, thanked everyone, and drank the wine in their cups. At that moment, they felt the deep love and trust that everyone in the General's Mansion had for them. This feeling was like an invisible bond, tightly connecting them with everyone in the General's Mansion.
The banquet lasted until late at night, and everyone enjoyed themselves to the fullest before heading home. The soldiers returned to their barracks to rest, and the servants went back to their quarters. After the revelry, the general's mansion gradually quieted down, but the joyful atmosphere still lingered in everyone's hearts.
Before returning to their rooms to rest, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er strolled in the courtyard. The moonlight, like water, shone upon them, casting a silvery glow upon them.
"Wan'er, I'm really happy today. Seeing everyone like this, I feel that everything we've done has been worthwhile," Xiao Yichen said softly.
Lin Wan'er smiled and nodded: "Yes, General. I haven't felt this sense of home in a long time. We must protect this place and everyone in the General's Mansion."
"Yes, we can definitely do it." Xiao Yichen held Lin Wan'er's hand, looking at her with unwavering eyes. The two embraced under the moonlight. They knew that the road ahead was long, but as long as they worked together, nothing could stop their determination to protect the General's Mansion.
In every corner of the General's Mansion, the servants drifted off to sleep, filled with hope for the future. That night, the General's Mansion was filled with warmth and peace, as if all the crises had vanished and a bright tomorrow was beckoning them.
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