BLHO Chapter 73

Chapter 73 I Need

Chapter 73 I Need

At dawn, accompanied by faint morning light, the He Family Army collected their troops and returned to camp.

Lin Shuangxu led the garrisoned soldiers to greet them, finding it strange that even though news of victory had been reported from the front, and the men were returning triumphant, everyone wore a somber expression, devoid of joy.

He Yuncheng stopped in front of Lin Shuangxu, meeting his gaze for a moment, and offered a faint smile, “Let’s talk inside.”

“Okay.” Lin Shuangxu nodded. Only then did he notice that at the rear of the formation, dozens of soldiers wearing the Han Family Army’s uniforms, their faces filled with defeat, were following along.

What was going on?

He Yuncheng ordered the soldiers to return to their rooms to rest and led the military advisor and deputy generals into the main hall.

The dozens of Han Family soldiers were brought in as well.

Lin Shuangxu observed He Yuncheng’s expression, unable to guess the whole story. As he waited for him to speak, Deputy General Qin, standing beside him, spoke first.

He cursed fiercely, “It’s disgusting! They’re actually eating their own kind! These barbarians are not human at all!”

The scene he had just witnessed lingered in his mind. When they broke into Yan Zhao’s granary, they discovered that it contained not grain, but gruesome human bones with flesh still clinging to them.

Even the soldiers who were used to seeing corpses could hardly bear the bloody impact. One by one, they felt nauseous and terrified.

The bodies had been stripped and devoured, making it impossible to identify them. However, it was not difficult to guess that most of them were likely civilians captured from Bei Sheng.

He Yuncheng’s eyes were dark and cold as he calmly stated, “It seems that Yan Zhao’s rear supply is also having problems. Their rations ran out long ago, and they can only eat human flesh to fill their hunger, which is why they targeted Han Mao.”

He looked at the disheveled Han Family soldiers, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

Among the rescued people, there was a familiar face: Han Mao’s deputy general.

Seeing He Yuncheng’s displeased expression, as if he intended to question them, the deputy general unwillingly said, “Our army’s provisions did not fall into Yan Zhao’s hands!”

He Yuncheng raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

The deputy general continued, “That day, we were ambushed by Yan Zhao’s army. General Han led the troops to break through, resisting with all his might. However, the border terrain was treacherous, and the climate was harsh, making it extremely unfavorable for our army to fight. To prevent the rations from falling into enemy hands, General Han had no choice but to order all the provisions to be pushed into the valley.”

Hearing this, Deputy General Qin scoffed, “You were decisive, weren’t you? Provisions transported from thousands of miles away, with so many soldiers at the border waiting to have their lives sustained, and you just abandoned them like that?”

“What else could we have done?” The Han Family deputy general retorted indignantly, “What would you have chosen? Not abandon them? Hand them over to the enemy?!”

“If it were us, this situation would never have happened!” Deputy General Qin angrily retorted, “All the way here, if it weren’t for the He Family Army, do you think you pampered young masters could have safely escorted the provisions? You even dared to rush ahead to the border, trying to steal our credit. Han Mao should take a good look at himself!”

“How dare you! You dare to speak disrespectfully to the General!”

Han Mao’s deputy general was loyal. Hearing Deputy General Qin’s disparaging words, he pointed at him and argued, “It was clearly you who started the internal strife, initiating the conflict with us and injuring the General, forcing him to part ways with you! Now that an accident has happened, instead of reflecting on your own mistakes, you’re questioning our responsibility. Is the He Family Army a bunch of bandits or something!”

Deputy General Qin was amused by his words, “If you put it that way, then I have to ask you, who started the trouble in the first place? It was you! Seizing the court’s military pay, spending it wantonly, and refusing to share it with our soldiers. The General discussed it with you several times to no avail, and Han Mao repeatedly provoked him, forcing him to act. Han Mao was injured, and I have two words for that: Serves him right!”

“You…”

When it came to verbal battles, Deputy General Qin was a master at infuriating people. Unable to win the argument, Han Mao’s deputy general simply stopped contending with him. Instead, he turned to He Yuncheng and said, “General He, you must rescue General Han. If something happens to him, none of us will be able to explain it to the court!”

He Yuncheng looked at the deputy general standing upright before him, not responding immediately.

After a long silence, he asked, “Who are you talking to?”

The deputy general was stunned, not realizing his attitude was disrespectful.

However, He Yuncheng’s condescending gaze made him feel uneasy. After a moment of hesitation, he straightened his clothes, knelt down on one knee, clasped his fist and said to He Yuncheng, “I implore General He to rescue General Han and bring him back to camp!”

After he spoke, the dozens of Han Family soldiers behind him followed him and knelt down, saying in unison to He Yuncheng, “We implore General He to rescue General Han and bring him back to camp!”

It was hard not to call this scene tragic. Military Advisor Guo shook his head helplessly, while Deputy General Qin sneered and looked away, whispering sarcastically, “If only you had known this would happen, you wouldn’t have acted that way in the first place.”

He Yuncheng, without a trace of emotion, stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and ordered, “Take them down to examine their injuries. After they’ve rested, they will join the He Family Army in battle.”

“Yes!”

He Yuncheng did not give them a clear response. After giving the order, he left the main hall.

Lin Shuangxu looked at the Han Family soldiers, then exchanged a glance with Deputy General Qin, leaving the matter to him and followed He Yuncheng out.

As dawn broke, the two of them walked one after the other through the camp, returning to their tent.

Lin Shuangxu stepped over the threshold and turned to close the door.

Before the bolt was even halfway secured, he felt the person behind him press against him.

He Yuncheng pressed close to his body, resting his face on his shoulder, his breathing tired, heavy, and falling on the nape of his neck.

He smelled of iron, his hands hanging down at his sides, not embracing Lin Shuangxu.

Because his hands were still stained with blood, and very dirty.

Lin Shuangxu paused slightly, continuing to secure the bolt, and then slowly turned around to face him.

Just now, he was still a majestic general, but in the blink of an eye, he was nothing but a boneless mess. He Yuncheng didn’t even want to stand, and with a tilt of his body, he rested his head on Lin Shuangxu again.

“Is it true that Yan Zhao are cannibals?” Lin Shuangxu asked.

He Yuncheng took a deep breath, not saying too much, and responded softly, “Yes.”

Lin Shuangxu had not seen such a scene with his own eyes, but just by imagining it, he could know how cruel they were.

He said to He Yuncheng, “Yan Zhao’s territory has been barren since ancient times. For many years, they have continuously launched wars, plundering the surrounding countries. If they didn’t fight for it so aggressively, their race probably would have been unable to continue.”

From the perspective of survival alone, resource plundering and the law of the jungle seemed to be animal nature, with no right or wrong.

But in the end, humans are not inferior animals. In addition to instinct, there is also humanity.

He Yuncheng said in a hoarse voice, “Such a race has no need to continue.”

“Yeah.”

Lin Shuangxu no longer discussed heavy topics with him. With gentle movements, he helped him stand up straight, and then raised his hands to start undressing him.

“Go take a bath first, the water is about to get cold,” he said to He Yuncheng.

He Yuncheng stood still, allowing him to serve him as he removed his clothes, and led him by the wrist to the side of the bathing tub.

Suddenly, he remembered when he was a child, his father was away fighting wars year-round, and his mother was busy with the affairs of the General’s Manor. No one had time to take care of him. It was only after Lin Shuangxu came that his diet and daily life were carefully attended to.

Over the years, Lin Shuangxu’s kindness had long become something he took for granted.

“Get into the water,” Lin Shuangxu said.

He obediently stepped into the tub, sitting in the warm water, lazily waiting for Lin Shuangxu to wash him.

Lin Shuangxu rolled up his sleeves and splashed clear water onto his body, washing away the blood and dirt.

He Yuncheng stared at him intently, at his falling hair, his fair neck…

Why couldn’t he take it for granted? Lin Shuangxu’s heart was filled with nothing but him.

He closed his eyes, leaning back against the edge of the tub, feeling the soft, boneless hands caressing and touching his body.

Lin Shuangxu splashed water on his waist, asking him, “Does it hurt?”

He Yuncheng looked down and saw a faint trickle of pain. Only then did he realize there was a wound there.

His eyebrows drooped, his arm resting on the tub, leaning toward Lin Shuangxu with a pleading look.

“If you kiss me, it won’t hurt anymore.”

Lin Shuangxu didn’t fall for his act of weakness, going behind him to continue washing his back.

He smiled, not minding the other’s ruthlessness, squinting his eyes and continuing to enjoy the moment of tenderness.

With the dirt washed away, Lin Shuangxu said to him, “Okay, come out now.”

He stretched contentedly, standing up from the water, causing water to splash everywhere when he came out.

A chill ran through him, so he stood obediently, waiting for Lin Shuangxu to dry him off.

Lin Shuangxu held the cloth, carefully avoiding his wound as he wiped his body.

He Yuncheng lowered his eyes, watching Lin Shuangxu intently, not wanting to miss any of his movements.

The tenderness changed its flavor, his chest rising and falling, his breathing growing heavier.

Too close, Lin Shuangxu’s breath was too close to him.

Was it on purpose?

He Yuncheng’s mind was dizzy, unable to think clearly.

After wiping him dry, Lin Shuangxu raised his head, his eyes watery, affectionate, yet with a hint of possessiveness.

He Yuncheng’s heart was beating faster and faster. Lin Shuangxu’s lowered posture drove him crazy.

“I’m fine, I don’t need comfort.”

“I need it.”

Lin Shuangxu looked into his eyes, his cheek coming closer. “I missed you, He Yuncheng.”