WRITTEN BY XAPHHJULY 7, 2016

“Haa~” I yawned and stretched my back as I tiredly put on my clothes. It’s been a while since I’ve transferred to this era but I’m still not adept at putting on the clothes of this era.

The light from the morning sun shone through the tent that was made from coa.r.s.e cloth and showed the particles in the air. I couldn’t avoid breathing them in, but the air here still felt a lot fresher than what I was used to in the future.

Compared to before when I was just muddling along comfortably in life, just getting up was laborious and time-consuming now. Ever since I’ve come here, that indescribable tension has become a constant feature in my life.

Zi Long was the same as I was but Gong You always slept very well. Perhaps this is the effect of sleeping early and regularly.

“Umm… Umm…”

Un?

Just as I was deep in my thoughts, I felt something pull my clothing and when I looked over, I saw that it was Xu You who had stayed over in our encampment.

Her sudden appearance gave me quite the shock.

“Ah, ah, good morning, Lord Xu You.” I hurriedly gave a greeting, at which the small face bowed.

“Many thanks to Lord Liu Bei for offering me shelter,” Xu You said with some embarra.s.sment, “I can’t believe I spoke so long and didn’t notice that curfew was already past.”

“Ah, it’s fine it’s fine. Ben Chu was the one who gave us this s.p.a.ce after all, so it’s us who should be thanking you.”

“No such thing…” Xu You shook her head with a smile, before stopping all of a sudden, and then continued, “I really am grateful to Lord Liu Bei.”

“Un?”

“Ever since you came, I feel like Ben Chu is a lot more… Approachable than before.”

Approachable? I didn’t get it at first but then I soon understood after a moment’s thought.

Actually Ben Chu is the one who wants to be intimate with you all. She just doesn’t know how to express herself.

That was what I thought but I didn’t say it. Some things are meant to be said by the person herself after all.

“Umm, it’s getting late, and I should be at the meeting room with the others for a discussion soon.” Xu You said as she bowed and got up.

When I looked at Xu You, I felt that I should say something.

“Xu You!”

“Eh?”

I called out to Xu You and slowly turned my thoughts into words, “Don’t just follow the current. It may only be something small, but you should say what you think.”

Perhaps this is the only way to enhance one’s value.

Xu You looked at me, and she was smiling as always, but her smile this time was very meaningful. Finally she nodded, “Though I may be easily forgotten, I have decided to do some of the things only I can do.”

Sunlight momentarily poured in through the open curtains and soon stopped after the curtains closed once more.

I heaved a sigh of relief after Xu You left. Though Xu You doesn’t seem like a very impressive person, I don’t want to treat her like someone who deserves pity as Xu You is probably someone with great potential.

“Xuan De!”

“Ah?!” Just as I was deep in though with my eyes closed, a shrill cry interrupted me.

I opened my eyes to see a beautiful face just centimeters away from mine. Beneath that face, her clothing which seemed like it was lined with gold gleamed in the meagre light in the tent.

“Ben, Ben Chu? What is it that you have come so early for…”

“I didn’t have a good sleep at all last night as I’ve been thinking about Tian Feng and Feng Ji!” Ben Chu said as she shook me by my shoulders, but this wasn’t helping me to understand why she came here.

I grasped her arms and tried to get her to calm down, “Umm, Ben Chu. So what is it that made you come here to early in the morning?” As I said so, I scooted over and gestured for Ben Chu to take a seat before saying any further.

“I was talking about Tian Feng and Feng Ji. Why can’t they get along?” Ben Chu said as she sat down heavily, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s jiggling as she did so; and crossed her legs and sighed as she supported her chin.

So that’s what she’s troubled about? I’d thought that Ben Chu wasn’t too bothered seeing as she looked the way she usually did yesterday. But it looks like she kept it inside her.

“How should I put it? I don’t think this problem can be solved.”

“Eh? Can’t be solved?”

“Un, if you really want to do something about it, then it’s you, Ben Chu, who needs to change.” I nodded and continued when I saw a look of puzzlement on Ben Chu, “As I said before, you have to be truly intimate with them.”

“Intimate… Huh.” Ben Chu sank into thought, probably about how she could go about being intimate with her subordinates, and then her cheeks reddened as she slowly muttered, “Why do I always have to do this…”

“As I said… If you really want to resolve the differences between your retainers, you must understand them as one of them.” I smiled as I poked her forehead, “But the little girl who just left does think that you are more approachable than before.”

“Un? Did someone just leave?”

… Ah. When Ben Chu said this, I recalled what Xu You said yesterday.

She can’t see me anymore,..

If Ben Chu were to return to how she was before, perhaps…

“Ben Chu, you may have neglected her all this while, but there is someone who has always been by your side.”

“Eh?”

“She spoke to me about a lot of things about your past, and let me know about a different you,” I said as I looked at Ben Chu, “If you were to return to how you were before, perhaps you might be able to be intimate with everyone.”

“Who is…” Ben Chu sank into deep thought and thought of who it was instantly.

And just then, a shout came from outside the tent–

“Xu You has betrayed us!!”