Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 243 Xin Yi
In late September, autumn was already in full swing in Jinyang.

The sky was a clear, deep blue, as if it had been washed clean.

Golden fallen leaves covered the streets and alleys, making a soft, crunching sound when stepped on.

The air was filled with the sweet aroma of ripe fruit and the faint scent of cooking smoke, refreshing and intoxicating.

As the date of the "World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament" approaches, this heart city of Bingzhou is warmly welcoming guests from all directions.

At the city gate, there was a constant stream of carriages and pedestrians, several times more than usual.

Heroes and warriors speaking in various accents, wandering knights with swords and knives, caravans escorting all sorts of "rare treasures" to do business at the grand event, and even many literati who came to witness this unprecedented event... all sorts of people poured into Jinyang, adding to the already prosperous city a magnificent atmosphere of gathering dragons and tigers and stirring winds and thunder.

In taverns and teahouses, loud and boisterous conversations filled the air, naturally revolving around the exhilarating title of "Number One Under Heaven."

The priceless fine steel armor, the Ferghana horses, and the coveted military careers of the Bingzhou army.

The makeshift weapons shops, blacksmith shops, and clothing stores set up on the street were doing booming business.

Everywhere you could see strong, muscular men selecting suitable weapons or repairing and maintaining their personal weapons, sharpening their blades for the arena months later.

An atmosphere mingled with anticipation, excitement, and competition, like an invisible wave, swept through the streets and alleys of Jinyang.

The former general's residence, inner courtyard.

Looking at Xiahou Lan, who still stood tall but whose brows betrayed a hint of weariness, Zhang Xian felt a surge of warmth and gratitude in his heart.

This brother, who had followed him through thick and thin since their small village in Changshan, had been like a rock on the guard post of the General's Mansion ever since Zou Wan became pregnant, and especially after Zhang Qian was born. For more than a year, he had been almost inseparable from her, his nerves always on edge.

"Brother Lan." Zhang Xian walked up to Xiahou Lan and patted his strong shoulder heavily.

"Thank you for your hard work! The safety and health of Wan'er and Qian'er, and the stability of the manor, are all thanks to your dedication."

Xiahou Lan quickly clasped his hands in greeting: "Brother Xian, you flatter me! Protecting the Madam and the young master, and protecting the General's Mansion, is my own wish! How can it be considered hardship!"

"Humans are not made of iron."

Zhang Xianpai waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Now that Qian'er's one-month celebration has passed and the manor's guard system is firmly established, it's time for you to relax a bit. I'm giving you a two-week vacation! Go wherever you want, do whatever you want! Go to all the good food and fun things in Jinyang City! If you don't have enough money, just go to the accounting office to get it!"

“Brother Xian…this…” Xiahou Lan hesitated.

The sudden relaxation after more than a year of tension left him feeling somewhat lost.

"Stop with the fuss!" Zhang Xian laughed. "This is a military order! Get some rest and recharge! You'll be busy when the martial arts tournament starts! Keep a close eye on those troublemakers!"

Upon hearing the words "military order," Xiahou Lan instinctively straightened his back: "Yes, sir! Lan obeys!"

Seeing a hint of relief and anticipation finally appear in Xiahou Lan's eyes, Zhang Xian nodded in satisfaction.

This honest and straightforward brother, if we don't let him rest, even a good person would be worn out.

Having been granted a holiday, Xiahou Lan did not choose to stay in the bustling city of Jinyang. Instead, he changed into a set of leather armor that was easy to move in, carried a hardwood longbow that he had followed for many years and a quiver containing a few armor-piercing arrows, mounted his beloved warhorse, and went straight out of the west gate of Jinyang, plunging into the vast and desolate western suburban mountains.

The mountains and forests in late autumn are ablaze with vibrant colors.

Maple leaves are fiery red, ginkgo leaves are golden yellow, and pine and cypress trees are evergreen, dotting the landscape.

The mountain breeze, carrying coolness and the fragrance of grass and trees, caressed his face, washing away the long-accumulated fatigue in Xiahou Lan's heart and the oppressive feeling brought by the high walls of the mansion.

He took a deep breath of the free and crisp air, and a surge of pride welled up in his heart.

"Black Wind, run!" he shouted in a low voice, gently spurring the horse's belly.

Carefully selected from Zhang Xianjiayuan Ranch, the jet-black warhorse let out a long neigh, its four hooves churning, and galloped wildly along the rugged mountain road.

The long-lost thrill of galloping made Xiahou Lan let out a long howl, which echoed through the valley and startled countless birds in the forest.

For several days in a row, he felt as if he had returned to his childhood in Changshan.

Climbing rocks and wading through streams, they followed the tracks of deer, muntjacs, and wild boars.

Every arrow hit its mark, resulting in a bountiful harvest.

At night, a campfire is lit in a sheltered mountain valley, where the game hunted is roasted, the sound of the pine trees is heard, and the stars lull the listener to sleep.

This pure feeling of struggling against nature and surviving by his own abilities gave him an unparalleled sense of fulfillment and joy.

The sun was shining brightly that afternoon.

Xiahou Lan followed a secluded mountain stream upstream, hoping to find a hidden pool to hunt some waterfowl.

The stream is crystal clear, its waters crashing against pebbles of various shapes, creating a melodious gurgling sound.

The trees on both sides of the river grew increasingly dense, blocking out the sun and making the light dim.

Suddenly, a discordant sound shattered the tranquility of the mountain stream!
"Help!"

"Get lost! You stinky bear! Stop chasing me!"

"what!"

It was a woman's terrified scream, accompanied by heavy footsteps, the cracking sound of branches being violently snapped, and... a threatening roar from a wild beast!

Xiahou Lan's muscles tensed instantly! He drew his longbow, nocked a heavy arrow, and stealthily moved like a cheetah, following the direction from which the sound came!
His years of military service and his mountain dwelling instincts gave him an extraordinary sensitivity to danger.

After passing through a dense thicket of bushes, a breathtaking scene suddenly unfolded before my eyes!

A girl dressed in coarse blue cloth and carrying a medicine basket was seen stumbling and running desperately across the slippery, moss-covered rocky bank of the stream!
Her hair was disheveled, her face was covered in mud, and her large, terrified eyes looked around for a place to hide.

Less than ten feet behind her, a massive adult brown bear, its eyes red, roared deafeningly, its hooves flying as it relentlessly pursued her! Its heavy footsteps shook the ground slightly! It was clearly enraged by being disturbed from its impending hibernation!
The girl tripped over a wet, slippery stone, cried out in surprise, and fell heavily forward! The herbs in her medicine basket spilled all over the ground.

Seeing its prey fall, the brown bear let out an excited roar and pounced with all its might! Its massive, fan-like claws, carrying a foul stench, were about to smash the girl's petite body into a bloody pulp!
A close call!
"Beast! Seeking death!"

A thunderous roar echoed through the mountain stream! Xiahou Lan leaped out from the bushes on his flank! He was still in mid-air, his bow already drawn to its fullest extent! The armor-piercing arrows he had brought to deal with unexpected situations proved useful, their cold tips gleaming with a deadly glint in the dim light!
call out--!
The arrow flew, a heavy, armor-piercing arrow capable of penetrating armor, and struck the exposed shoulder blade of the brown bear with unparalleled accuracy as it pounced!
puff!

The arrow pierced through! The excruciating pain caused the brown bear to let out a deafening howl, and its pounce suddenly faltered! Its wounded instincts made it want to flee immediately.

But the ensuing anger only made it more irritable.

"Run! This way!" Xiahou Lan rolled on the ground to dissipate the force, shouting a warning to the girl, while swiftly drawing an arrow and nocking it again! He knew that the first arrow, though hastily fired, could only guarantee a hit, not a fatal one.

Therefore, the second arrow is the key. In autumn, bears are fat and strong, so shooting their bodies won't have much effect; it will only provoke them endlessly.

Sure enough, the brown bear's crimson eyes instantly locked onto Xiahou Lan, who had injured it!
It abandoned the girl who was right in front of it, let out an even more ferocious roar, turned its massive body, and charged towards Xiahou Lan! Its gaping maw with exposed fangs emitted a nauseating stench!
Faced with this terrifying roar that would terrify any ordinary hunter, Xiahou Lan's eyes remained as calm as ice! What he wanted was for the bear to open its mouth!
He stood firmly on his feet, held his breath, and once again drew the bowstring to its fullest extent! This time, his target was crystal clear! "Hit!"

call out--!
The second arrow, still accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, pierced the deep throat of the brown bear with unparalleled precision!

"Aww-wow-!"

The brown bear's roar instantly turned into a shrill scream that was unlike any bear's cry! Its massive body was struck as if by an invisible hammer, and it suddenly stood upright, its two giant claws frantically scratching at its throat, blood gushing from its mouth and nose like a fountain!

It rolled around in agony, crashing through several small trees as thick as a bowl and nearly knocking Xiahou Lan away.

Fortunately, there was no real danger; the two objects were only briefly close before quickly separating.

After struggling for a while, the injured brown bear finally collapsed to the ground, its limbs twitching and emitting hoarse, dying breaths. It was clear that it would not survive.

Only when the brown bear fell completely silent did Xiahou Lan slowly lower his bow and arrow, letting out a long breath.

Only after his tense nerves relaxed did he realize that his back was soaked in cold sweat.

"Miss...are you alright?" He hurriedly turned around and looked at the girl who was slumped by the stream, looking somewhat dazed.

The girl seemed to have just recovered from the great shock. She raised her muddy and tear-stained face, looking at Xiahou Lan with lingering fear, then at the brown bear carcass that was as big as a small mountain not far away, and then at the tall figure in front of her who had shot the giant bear with two arrows. For a moment, she was speechless, only panting heavily, her chest heaving violently.

Sunlight filtered through the trees, dappling the girl's face.

Xiahou Lan then got a clear look at her.

Although her face was covered in mud and her hair was disheveled, it couldn't hide her delicate features and a lively, spirited air, like that of a mountain elf.

Especially those big eyes, which were still bright and clear despite their fear, were just like the pure spring water in a mountain stream.

"Thank you so much, brave warrior, for saving my life!"

The girl finally regained her voice, and with a trembling and sobbing voice, she struggled to stand up and bow, but her legs gave way and she fell back down.

"No need to be polite!"

Xiahou Lan quickly stepped forward, wanting to help but feeling it would be presumptuous, so she withdrew her hand halfway through, appearing somewhat clumsy.

"It was nothing, young lady. Were you hurt?"

The girl shook her head, trying to calm her breathing, and pointed to the herbs scattered on the ground: "N-nothing... I was just scared. My herbs... I went through so much trouble to gather them..."

Xiahou Lan looked in the direction she was pointing and saw various roots and leaves scattered on the ground, some trampled and some covered in mud.

He crouched down and carefully helped pick up the herbs that were still relatively intact.

The girl quickly got up, not even bothering to brush the mud off her body, and helped him clean up.

The two squatted by the stream, silently picking up herbs. The atmosphere was slightly awkward, with only the babbling of the stream.

"My name is Xin Yi," the girl suddenly spoke, her clear voice carrying the cheerfulness of the mountains and fields, breaking the silence.

"The magnolia flower's magnolia, my father was a doctor in the military medical battalion, and I often came to these mountains to collect herbs."

"I had bad luck today. I disturbed this big bear that had just fattened up and was about to go to sleep..." She looked at the bear carcass again, feeling a little scared, but her eyes had regained their liveliness.

"Xiahou Lan".

Xiahou Lan announced his name in a calm and steady voice.

Seeing the girl regain her energy, he felt much more at ease.

“Xiahou...Lan?” Xin Yi tilted her head, her big eyes curiously examining Xiahou Lan’s leather armor and the obviously military-made hard bow.

"Are you... a general in the army? Your archery skills are amazing! Such a big bear, and you took it down with just two arrows..." She exaggeratedly gestured the size of the brown bear with her hands, her eyes full of admiration.

Xiahou Lan was a little embarrassed by her straightforward admiration. His dark face flushed slightly, and he quickly waved his hand, "I'm not a general, I'm... I'm a guard. My archery skills... I learned them through practice."

"The guards are so skilled!"

Xin Yi exclaimed in surprise, then looked at Xiahou Lan's arm with concern: "Oh! You're injured!"

Xiahou Lan then noticed that the leather armor on her left arm had been torn open by the bear's claws, and dark red blood was seeping out, which was not very noticeable.

I was so tense just now that I didn't even feel the pain.

"It's just a superficial wound, nothing serious."

He casually tried to wipe it with his sleeve.

"No, no!" Xin Yi exclaimed anxiously, grabbing his wrist with a movement so natural that Xiahou Lan stiffened.

"If the wound gets dirty from the bear's claws, it will fester if left untreated! This is the first lesson that Marquis Jinxiang wrote in his emergency medical book!"

Without saying a word, she rummaged through her medicine basket and took out a small earthenware jar and a clean strip of cloth, then pulled Xiahou Lan to sit on a clean, large rock by the stream.

Magnolia's movements were swift and gentle.

She carefully helped Xiahou Lan remove her arm armor, rolled up the sleeves of her inner garment to reveal the wound, which wasn't deep but caused the flesh to peel back slightly.

The bloodstains and dirt were carefully washed away with the clear stream water, and then the earthenware jar was opened, releasing a cool and bitter medicinal aroma.

She used her slender fingers to scoop out some dark green ointment and carefully applied it to the wound.

"Hiss..." The cool ointment touched the wound, causing a sharp pain, and Xiahou Lan couldn't help but gasp.

"Bear with it, this medicine hurts a bit, but it's incredibly effective. My dad got into the medical corps thanks to this!"

Xin Yi looked up at him and gave him a lively smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons: "Apply this, and I guarantee you'll be all better in three days, without even a scar!"

The girl was close at hand, her warm breath brushing against Xiahou Lan's arm.

Her focused expression, gentle movements, and the unique scent of herbs stirred a strange and unfamiliar feeling in Xiahou Lan, a man accustomed to battlefield combat, for the first time.

He sat stiffly, not daring to move.

The warm sunlight shone on the two of them, the stream babbled, and birds chirped.

The thrilling events of just now seemed to have become a distant backdrop, leaving only the rare tranquility of the mountains and forests.

(End of this chapter)