Yun Chang POV

“Yun Chang, sorry to have kept you waiting.” Just then, Wen Yuan’s voice came from the side.

I noticed that she seemed to be a bit downcast but I did not pay any attention to it and turned to ask, “Yes, I did indeed wait for long.”

When I turned to look, I saw Wen Yuan and Chen Gong standing there wearing ordinary robes. The main difference they had from their usual appearance was their hair. They had both let down their fringe and tied up their hair at the back. They also had dirt on their faces.

Overall… They seemed like refugees who were fleeing from famine. But this should have worked. And besides, the guards did not look at faces. The main thing they looked at were the wooden blocks.

“Why did you both take so long?” I asked softly. I was still rather angry but when I saw what they looked like, I felt impressed at how well they were able to play the part, “But I didn’t think that Wen Yuan could have such a sorrowful expression. You both seem like you’re going to a funeral.”

“How could that be? Do you see us carrying a coffin around?” Wen Yuan seemed rather angry as she replied me, “To put it simply, we acted as sisters.”

“Yes. To make it obvious, I even wore normal shoes.” Chen Gong added and pulled up her gown, revealing normal-soled gra.s.s shoes instead of her usual thick-soled shoes. As she said so, her expression worsened.

“Thanks for your hard work, you both.” I said as I smiled stiffly. It must not have been easy for Chen Gong to do given her complex with her height.

“But you’re both too slow.” I looked at them and hazarded a guess, “Could it be… That there was some argument when you both came out of the city?”

“… I guess.”

“…”

When they heard what I said, their faces became serious and I thought that I had said something out of turn.

“Actually, we were trying to act as sisters…” Wen Yuan said as she smiled bitterly and touched her face, “But… When we were leaving the city, we were mistaken for mother and daughter…”

“Eh?”

“d.a.m.n! It!” Chen Gong spat as she kicked the ground viciously.

Mother… And daughter?

“Oi, Yun Chang,” Wen Yuan said with a look of despair as she touched her face, “Do you think I need to start looking into skincare solutions?”

…

“That’s…”

No, I must not laugh.

“No, Wen Yuan, your skin is good and you do look young.” I said and turned around immediately, “Alright, it’s not getting any earlier so let’s set off right away.”

“Oi, Yun Chang, are you laughing?”

“No… I’m not…” I replied as simply as possible so I would not guffaw by accident.

“Lord Guan Yu! Please be serious here!” Chen Gong yelled as she hurried over. By now, she had put on her thick-soled shoes. Without them, her height would only be at Wen Yuan’s chest level. In fact, she is even shorter than Yi De.

“In any case, the reason why they think you are mother and daughter is because Wen Yuan’s current hairstyle is too mature.” I said as I pointed at Wen Yuan.

“I knew it!” Wen Yuan said as she angrily took off her hair tie and flicked her hair back. I have to say, it does make a big difference.

“But I think it’s best that Chen Gong wears her usual shoes.”

“I know that.” Che

n Gong said unhappily.

Though it took quite a while, we have finally left the city, I thought as I turned back to look at the city.

It’s the second time now. The second time that I am leaving these gates, to defect and not to fight this time. Even though I am just an ordinary warrior general, I have been made to do some rather complex jobs of late. I have not quite gotten the hang of it yet but I will just take it as part of my training.

It’s a little weird to be saying this but I will definitely make sure that I return with my mission successfully completed.

… Un?

“Oi, oi, Yun Chang, are you listening? … Un? What’s up?”

“… No, nothing.” I said as I shook my head and turned back.

“Un? Why did you suddenly smile?”

“Are you still laughing at us?”

“No no no, how could I be?” I hurriedly shook my head and shrugged as I pointed behind, “Big brother was looking at us just now. He was probably seeing us off.”

“Eh? Is that so? … I don’t see anyone?”

“Of course he’s gone back already. He would be exposing our true intentions if he just continued to stand there.” Chen Gong explained to Wen Yuan. Even so, Chen Gong still turned back to take a look but she turned back immediately.

And the reason why I smiled was naturally because I saw them. I saw big brother and a small girl standing atop the tower. Though she does not remember anything, and I am just an ordinary companion to her, seeing her stand beside big brother fills me with warmth and nostalgia.

Yi De, I await the day your memories return.

“Let’s go, you 2.” I said as I leapt up onto my horse and galloped off. There’s no time to waste, we need to get there as soon as possible.

“Alright~ Let’s go~”

“Wait up, you both! I’m an administrative official!”

I slowed down a little when they both yelled at me but continued to look ahead. This was because the tall pillars of smoke from their encampment could be seen even from here.

Yet the journey was shorter than I expected.

“We’ve reached already?” Wen Yuan voiced what I, and probably Chen Gong, were thinking.

I did not think that just 15 minutes of galloping was enough for us to reach the enemy encampment. When I looked up, I saw that the tents were just several hundred paces away. If I squinted, I could even see several archers stationed in the makes.h.i.+ft watchtowers.

“They’ve seen us.”

“Ah, yes. One of them just ran to inform the encampment. They should be expecting us.”

“… Hu.” I gave a small sigh. I do not know if it’s because of our nervousness or because we are almost there but all of us gradually slowed down. Even though I had been saying that I would succeed in this mission, I really have no idea what to do. What’s more, things can go bad real quick if I just say the wrong word.

“Un…” Someone else sighed as well. When I looked over, I saw that it was Wen Yuan which surprised me. She is normally very calm, and she was calm just now too. Yet, she looks very serious now and has not spoken for a while now.

“Don’t be so serious, you 2. I feel like you both are lying just by looking at you.”

“Eh?”

“… Really?”

Is it… That obvious?

“Yes, you both don’t look like people who have come to defect.”

“… Is that so?”

“You sure sound very well-versed in defecting huh?”

“W-what do you mean, well-versed…” Chen Gong stammered, “Come on, you both should be able to imagine how a defector would feel right?”

“…”

“…”

The feeling… The feeling of defecting huh… I tried to do as Chen Gong said and it seems like Wen Yuan was as well.

“No, no, you both are way too nervous~”

“You la.s.s!” Wen Yuan said as she lifted Chen Gong.

“Wah!”

“Stop messing around, Wen Yuan. We should concentrate on thinking about what we need to do later.” I said as I frowned, “If we commit even the slightest of mistakes, our lives will be forfeit.”

Yes, I underestimated how difficult pretending to defect would be. This is very different from a battle and a raid.

“Of course, you both don’t need to think about it too much either.” Chen Gong said while she was still being held by Wen Yuan, “Even if we do say something wrong, as long as it’s not too serious, we can always cover for each other by giving an explanation on each other’s behalf that dispels their suspicion.”

Covering for each other by giving an explanation on each other’s behalf that dispels their suspicion huh…

“Who goes there!” A yell came from the Cao camp up ahead as we neared the encampment.

“Above.” Wen Yuan said softly. I sneakily stole a glance upwards and saw that there was a row of troops standing atop the watchtowers. The voice from before should have come from one of them.

“Alright, this show is about to get started.” Chen Gong said calmly as Wen Yuan set her down on her own horse.

Yes, it’s about to begin. I sank into thought for a moment and gulped before taking in a deep breath–

“I am Guan Yu Guan Yun Chang, Marquis of Hanshou Village.” As I said so, i took out the letter and brandished it above my head, “I have come for an audience under your invitation!”

I did my best to be as loud as possible to let the other side know I was firm but also to help steel myself.

…

“Why is there no response?”

When I finished, there was no response from the watchtowers. All the troops did was to nock an arrow to each of their bows.