The frail counselor you said, you fight against three heroes alone?

A relieved smile gradually appeared on King Hesheli's originally tense face. He nodded slightly, with a hint of surprise and excitement in his eyes.

"Oh? Really? This is really great!"

Shi Daming nodded heavily and spoke in a firm tone.

"It is absolutely true, Your Majesty! With such a high-spirited army, why should we worry about not winning this battle?"

The joy in Hesheli's heart was intertwined with his longing for future wars.

He knew very well that morale was one of the key factors for victory in war. Now that the soldiers had such fighting spirit, it would undoubtedly increase the chances of winning the upcoming war.

Although there are still many difficulties ahead, at this moment, he is full of confidence in this war with the Han Empire.

"Okay! In this case, you two must continue to motivate the soldiers and keep up the morale. At the same time, you must also make all the preparations before the war and not slack off in the slightest. I will fully support you from the rear and look forward to your triumphant return!"

King Hesheli's voice echoed in the hall, full of majesty and power.

"Yes, Your Majesty! We will not let Your Majesty down!" Shi Daming and Armas responded in unison, their voices echoing throughout the reception hall.

Shi Daming stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty, since the morale of the soldiers is so high, may I ask when is the best time to attack the Han Kingdom? Our army is already preparing for battle and is waiting for your order to rush to the battlefield."

Armas nodded in agreement.

"Your Majesty, I was just about to ask for your advice on this matter. The soldiers' hearts have already flown to the battlefield. If we attack now, we will be like a tiger descending from the mountain, unstoppable."

Hesheli pondered for a moment and glanced at the military map hanging in the hall, which marked the mountains, rivers, terrain, passes and cities of the Parthian Empire and the Han Empire.

He paced with his hands behind his back, stopped after a moment, and spoke with a firm look.

"My two generals, I know that the soldiers are anxious, but even though the opportunity for battle has emerged, they still need to be polished. I intend to train the soldiers for another four or five days. By then, our soldiers will have better skills and better coordination, and we will be able to be absolutely safe."

Shi Damei and Armas looked at each other. Although they were anxious, they understood the king's intention and responded in unison: "Your Majesty is wise. We obey your command."

Hesheli nodded slightly and raised his hand to signal.

"Generals, please step aside. In the next few days, we will focus on training the troops. I will arrange the food, fodder, weapons and other logistical matters properly, and ensure that the army has no worries when it goes out to fight."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The two men saluted again, then turned around and walked out of the hall with powerful steps.

The sunlight shines on their departing backs, reflecting their heroism and determination as they are about to go to the battlefield.

In the hall, Hesheli sat back on the throne, gazing deeply into the distance, silently planning every move of the war in his heart. A storm that would sweep across the two countries was already brewing.

The wild wind howled wildly in the extremely cold land, and the sky and the earth were desolate, as if all life was swallowed up by the cold.

Xi Yu rode his horse and trudged forward with difficulty.

Finally, they found a valley sheltered from the wind. Xi Yu dismounted from his horse and hid inside, holding the reins.

His hands and feet had long been numb from the cold, and he took great effort to take out the herbal medicine picture drawn by Song Shuwen from his sleeve. The paper was a little wrinkled due to the bumpy ride and the cold and dampness. The picture showed a herb with slender leaves and a faint blue flower on the top.

Xi Yu tightened his cloak and looked firmly at the ice field outside the valley.

He knew in his heart that this journey to find herbs was like looking for a needle in a haystack. No one could be sure whether the herbs existed. Even if they did, it was unknown whether they could be successfully collected in such a harsh environment.

After carefully folding the herbal map and putting it back into his sleeve, Xi Yu patted the horse's back and said softly, "Old buddy, let's look for it again."

The strong wind was raging in this extremely cold land. The cotton coat on Xiyu's body was like a layer of thin paper, which could not withstand the biting cold at all.

He hugged his arms, his teeth chattered uncontrollably, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

In this bone-chilling cold, a thought quietly crept into his mind, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself: "For a little girl, is it really worth it?"

The hardships along the way, coupled with the severe cold, caused ripples of uncertainty in his heart.

"What am I doing? This ice field is so dangerous. If I can't find the herbs, won't I die in vain?" Xi Yu's eyes were a little confused, and his pace slowed down unconsciously.

The wind blew harder, and the sand and gravel hit my face, causing pain.

However, after a moment of hesitation, the light in his eyes rekindled, and he slapped his head hard: "Since we are here, we should make the best of it! How can I, Xi Yu, be the kind of person who retreats in the face of battle?"

Even for this tiny bit of hope, he couldn't give up.

Xi Yu straightened his back again, faced the cold wind, and continued to walk forward with one deep step and one shallow step.

Every step on this frozen soil is accompanied by firm determination to explore the depths of the unknown. Although the coldness can corrode us, the warmth in our hearts is gathering little by little - the warmth that comes from protecting others.

The top of Kunlun Mountain is shrouded in clouds and mist, like a fairyland isolated from the world.

Luo Xiaoyu stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the snow-capped peaks in the distance and sighed heavily.

Beside him, Xiaohong stood quietly, bathing in the cool mountain breeze together.

"Xiaohong, I wonder how the Prime Minister is doing now." Luo Xiaoyu clenched her fists, with a bit of annoyance in her tone: "Now I am living a life of luxury in Kunlun Mountain. I have the desire to repay my gratitude, but I have accomplished nothing. Every time I think about it, I feel so ashamed."

The mountain breeze blew his clothes, making a rustling sound, just like his restless heart at the moment.

Xiaohong shook her head gently, looked at Luo Xiaoyu with a gentle gaze, and gently advised: "Brother Xiaoyu, it is indeed difficult for you and me to repay the Prime Minister's great kindness. But don't blame yourself too much."

At noon, the sun shines on Kunlun Mountain and the Taoist temple is filled with tranquility.

Luo Xiaoyu and Xiaohong walked towards the dining hall. As soon as they reached the door, they saw many Taoist priests sitting inside.

Qingfeng and Mingyue were practicing in seclusion, so the affairs of the mountain were now in charge of a Taoist priest named Guanglingzi.

After Luo Xiaoyu and Xiaohong entered the dining hall, they sat down quietly aside.

Soon, Taoist Master Guanglingzi also arrived. After he took his seat, everyone began to eat.

There was a simple meal on the table and everyone was eating in silence. Luo Xiaoyu ate the food in her bowl quietly, and Xiaohong did the same. The only sound in the entire dining hall was the occasional slight sound of the bowls and chopsticks touching each other. Everyone was enjoying the meal in such a peaceful atmosphere.

In the dining hall, sunlight shines through the carved window lattices, casting patches of light and shadows.

The Taoist priests, Luo Xiaoyu and Xiaohong sat on both sides of the quaint long table and ate quietly, with only the slight touching sound of bowls and chopsticks.

Suddenly, a young Taoist priest swallowed his food, looked puzzled, and asked Taoist priest Guanglingzi softly: "Brother, why is there so much food today?"

This sudden question caused ripples in the quiet atmosphere, and everyone's eyes turned over.

Taoist Guanglingzi paused with his chopsticks in hand, raised his eyes to look at everyone, and finally his gaze fell on Luo Xiaoyu and Xiaohong. The smile on his face seemed gentle, but there was a barely perceptible coldness in his eyes.

"We cultivators have always eaten simple meals to fill our stomachs. But now that we have guests coming, we have to take everything into consideration. Considering that young people have big appetites, we naturally have to prepare more."

Although he mentioned "considering" during his conversation, there was a hint of blame in his words.

For a moment, the eyes of many Taoist priests were fixed on Luo Xiaoyu and Xiaohong like spotlights.

Luo Xiaoyu and Xiaohong felt very uncomfortable while eating the meal in the dining hall.

The looks from the Taoist priests around them were like heavy stones, weighing them down and making it hard for them to breathe.

After finally finishing their meal, the two of them fled back to their residence.

As soon as they entered the yard, Luo Xiaoyu pulled Xiaohong straight to his room and slammed the door. He was angry, his cheeks puffed up, and he paced back and forth in the room, making the wooden boards under his feet creak.

Xiaohong stood aside, head down, twisting the corner of her clothes nervously with her fingers, and stammered, "Brother Xiaoyu, it's all my fault. I've caused trouble for everyone."

When Luo Xiaoyu heard this, she stopped immediately, walked up to Xiaohong, held her shoulders with both hands, and said anxiously: "Xiaohong, how can this be blamed on you! It's that Guanglingzi. Isn't it that he complains that we eat too much and cause trouble!"

Xiaohong's eyes were red and her voice was choked with sobs.

"But we do eat and live here, which adds a burden to the Taoist priests..." Luo Xiaoyu raised her head, her face full of dissatisfaction.

"Xiaohong, what's going on here?" Luo Xiaoyu suddenly stopped, looked at Xiaohong and said, "We are here thanks to the Prime Minister's arrangement, and Taoist priests Qingfeng and Mingyue also agreed. At the beginning, the Prime Minister insisted on paying for board and lodging, and it was a favor that he didn't accept it. How come we are now eating and lodging for free and being disliked by others?"

His voice became louder and louder as he spoke, and his eyes became round and full of indignation.

Xiaohong stood aside, twisting her fingers and muttering to herself.

"Brother Xiaoyu, although I can't remember too many things, I also know that when you are in someone else's place, you have to abide by their rules. Let's just pretend we didn't hear what happened today..."

Her voice became smaller and smaller, with helplessness and grievance in her eyes.

"Didn't you hear? They've already said that, how can you pretend you didn't hear it!" Luo Xiaoyu stomped her feet, rushed to the table and sat down heavily.

Xiaohong walked over gently, sat down next to Luo Xiaoyu, took his hand and persuaded him softly.

"Brother Xiaoyu, please don't get yourself hurt by being angry. Let's just think of it as the Prime Minister's sake and bear with it. Maybe one day when the Prime Minister comes back, everything will be fine."

Luo Xiaoyu raised her head and looked at Xiaohong, the anger in her eyes gradually turning into determination.

"Okay, Xiaohong, I'll listen to you. For the sake of the Prime Minister, I can swallow my anger for the time being. But they shouldn't go too far. If they dare to make things difficult for me again, I will never give up!"

Xiaohong waited until he calmed down a little, and said softly: "Brother Xiaoyu, if that's the case, then I'll go back to my room."

Luo Xiaoyu looked at Xiaohong, and although she was reluctant, she still nodded.

"Okay, go back and rest early. Call me if you need anything."

Xiaohong nodded slightly, turned around and slowly walked out of the room, closing the door gently.

Passing through the quiet courtyard, the moonlight sprinkled on the stone road, reflecting her lonely figure.

She knew in her heart that everyone was having difficulties at the moment and it was better to have less trouble than more.

Not long after, Xiaohong returned to her room. It was a little dark in the room. She did not turn on the light, but walked straight to the bed and sat down.

The wind rustled outside the window, and her thoughts drifted away. She couldn't help but worry about the whereabouts of the prime minister, and thought about how to be more careful in this mountain in the future to avoid any more trouble.

Life is becoming increasingly difficult in the Kunlun Mountains. I just hope the storm will subside soon.

Xiaohong was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring out the window in a daze. Suddenly, a knock on the door broke the silence.

She stood up and opened the door, only to see a little Taoist boy with a somewhat reserved look on his face.

The little Taoist boy bowed slightly and said softly, "There is something I want to tell you. The Taoist priests on our mountain have been very busy recently, and their daily practice classes are packed. So I was thinking, if you have time, can you help go down the mountain to beg for food, and also carry water and wash vegetables. This way, the Taoist priests can also free up time to concentrate on practice, which is good for everyone."

Xiaohong's heart skipped a beat. She understood that behind this seemingly negotiating tone, there was probably no room for refusal.

After all, we are living under someone else's roof in this mountain.

She bit her lower lip lightly, hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "I understand, little Taoist boy, I will tell Brother Xiaoyu."

The little Taoist boy smiled and bowed again: "Thank you for your trouble, sister. Thank you for your concern." After that, he turned around and ran away briskly.

Xiaohong closed the door gently, leaned against it, and looked up at the dark ceiling.

She knew that from now on, life in Kunlun Mountains would be even more difficult. Not only did she have to be cautious, but she also had to share more of the work.

But if not, what else can we do?

Xiaohong hurried to Luo Xiaoyu's door and knocked. Luo Xiaoyu opened the door and saw Xiaohong's anxious face, and asked hurriedly, "What's wrong?"

Xiaohong repeated the little Taoist boy's words to him in detail. After listening to them, Luo Xiaoyu's face instantly darkened and he said bitterly: "Humph, they really know how to take advantage of every opportunity. They just gave us a cold shoulder in the dining hall, and now they have found a way to not let us eat free meals and send us to do these rough work." He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and he was obviously extremely angry.

Seeing this, Xiaohong hurriedly pulled his sleeve and gently advised: "Brother Xiaoyu, don't be angry. We are living here anyway, so it's our duty to do some work. If you contribute more, won't you feel at ease when you eat in the future? Just think of it as a way to repay the Prime Minister and to continue to live here peacefully."

Luo Xiaoyu's chest rose and fell violently. She paced back and forth in the room for a few steps. After a while, she stopped and let out a long breath. Although she was still unwilling, she nodded helplessly: "Okay, Xiaohong, I'll listen to you. It's just work, I'm not afraid! But if they dare to deliberately make things difficult for me, I will never let them off."

Xiaohong nodded slightly, with a hint of relief in her eyes.

"I know, Brother Xiaoyu. Let's finish the work first and then we can talk about the other things later."

Luo Xiaoyu stared at Xiaohong, her eyes full of emotion and she praised her sincerely.

"Xiaohong, you are so kind." He couldn't help but grab Xiaohong's hand, his eyes burning, "It's not hard at all here. As long as I can work with you, I feel very at ease and full of happiness."

Xiaohong didn't expect him to be so straightforward. Her cheeks turned red all of a sudden, like a ripe purple eggplant, burning hot.

She lowered her eyes in panic, her heart beating like a deer, and hurriedly pulled her hand back, stammering: "Brother Xiaoyu, you... don't talk nonsense."

She twisted the corners of her clothes nervously with her hands and turned her body slightly to the side, trying to hide her inner shyness.

Luo Xiaoyu finally came to her senses and realized her own gaffe. She scratched her head and smiled sheepishly, "I...I just really meant it. I couldn't help it."

Xiaohong turned around and ran back to the house, her steps hurried, as if she was escaping.

As the morning light breaks, soft light shines on the winding mountain paths of Kunlun Mountain.

Luo Xiaoyu and Xiaohong got up early and prepared to start their day's chores.

Luo Xiaoyu walked to the well in the yard, tied the bucket skillfully, turned to look at Xiaohong, her eyes full of pity: "Xiaohong, go pick some vegetables. Carrying water is too heavy, I can do it."

As he spoke, he exerted force with both hands, picked up the shoulder pole steadily, and walked down the mountain carrying two buckets of water. Although his steps were a little laborious, they were firm and resolute.

Xiaohong nodded slightly, said "OK", and walked towards the vegetable garden.

In the vegetable garden, all kinds of vegetables are fresh and tender. She squatted down and carefully picked the ripe leaves with a gentle touch, for fear of hurting them.

After a while, Luo Xiaoyu came up the mountain carrying two full buckets of water, her forehead covered with sweat and her cheeks flushed.

After he poured the water into the water tank, he immediately went to chop wood. He raised the axe high, then brought it down heavily, and with a "crack", the wood cracked. His clothes were already soaked with sweat.

After picking the vegetables, Xiaohong was busy washing them, cleaning the rice, and preparing to cook.

Although the two were busy, they cooperated well with each other. They occasionally looked at each other and smiled slightly. It seemed that there was a power flowing in each other's hearts without words.

After a busy morning, the meal was finally ready.

The two of them carried the food to the dining hall. On the way, Xiaohong said softly, "Brother Xiaoyu, you've worked hard today."

Luo Xiaoyu grinned: "It's not hard. As long as I'm with you, I'm happy to do anything."

On this day, the sun was warm and the breeze gently caressed the grass and trees on Kunlun Mountains.

Luo Xiaoyu was chopping wood with sweat all over his forehead. The axe in his hand rose and fell, and the wood cracked with a "crack".

Xiaohong was washing vegetables not far away, and water droplets splashed on her sleeves.

Not far away, several Taoist priests who were originally responsible for these chores happened to pass by. Seeing the two of them busying around, they exchanged a knowing look with each other and quietly slipped into an empty room next to them.

As soon as they entered the room, one of the Taoist priests couldn't help but cover his mouth and snicker: "Today is finally a relaxing day. With these two free laborers, we can save a lot of energy in the future and concentrate on practicing."

"That's right," another Taoist priest echoed, his face full of pride, "At first I was worried that they would eat and live for free, but now it's great, it's of great use, we can just sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor."

Everyone was talking to each other, their words were filled with secret joy and calculation, as if they had already foreseen the leisurely and comfortable days to come.

Without noticing at all that not far outside the window, Luo Xiaoyu looked up while chopping wood and happened to catch a glimpse of their swaying figures. The axe in her hand paused and her eyes instantly turned cold.

He pursed his lips and thought to himself: These Taoist priests are too much, they really think we are easy to bully. However, in order to continue to stay on the mountain and wait for the prime minister, he will hold back for the time being. (End of this chapter)