Chapter 2038 - 2036: Once Again, Twice Again (Came Back From Scorching Hainan and It’s Somehow Cold)

Early the next day, before dawn broke, Fang Zheng stretched lazily and sat up in bed, feeling refreshed.

"Whew... I slept really well last night."

While saying this, Fang Zheng yawned and looked towards his side, where a young girl was curled up in the bedding like a little cat, sleeping soundly. Seeing this, Fang Zheng chuckled, then reached out and slapped the girl on the buttocks.

"Alright, time to get up!"

"Who is it?!"

Feeling the sudden touch, the girl jumped up in fright, instinctively ready to fight back. But the next moment, she let out a scream and scrambled back into the blankets.

"Alright, I say, young lady, time’s up; you should leave too."

As Fang Zheng spoke, he tossed a set of black nightclothes in front of the girl. The girl, who had been holding the blanket tightly to shield her body, was stunned by Fang Zheng’s actions.

"You’re willing to let me go?"

"Of course, why would I keep you here?"

Fang Zheng rolled his eyes.

"You came to assassinate me, and I retaliated. We’re even now. Out of respect for your brother, I won’t take your life. You better hurry and leave. There’s a small path at the back where you can get out. With that little gadget of yours, it shouldn’t be hard for you to return to the camp. Change your clothes and hurry up. It’d be best if I don’t see you again, otherwise, next time it might get even more exciting."

"You, you...!"

Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, the girl blushed instantly.

"I’ll kill you sooner or later!"

Recalling what happened last night, the girl felt her head was about to boil over. In all her years, she had never been so wantonly teased. Though she initially tried to resist, Fang Zheng’s hands seemed to have magic powers, and just a slight touch had her feeling weak and powerless, allowing him to toy with her as he pleased.

This was an utter humiliation for the girl!

If she could, she’d kill this man immediately!

But there’s nothing I can do at the moment!

"Alright, if you don’t leave now, you really won’t be able to escape."

Yet, facing the girl’s murderous gaze, Fang Zheng didn’t even bother to glance her way, just waved his hand and turned to leave the room. The girl stared fiercely at Fang Zheng’s departing figure, then bit her lip, turned around, and began to put on her clothes. However...

"Eh? Aren’t these my clothes?"

Looking at the familiar nightclothes on her body, the girl was taken aback. She clearly remembered that during her close combat with Fang Zheng last night, her clothes had been torn to pieces. Why were they intact now?

Could it be that last night was just a dream, and he didn’t do anything to her?

Thinking this, the girl stood up from the bed and took a few steps, then her legs gave out and she quickly leaned against the wall for support.

This feeling... it’s the same as last night, how could he not have done anything!!

"Beep beep beep--!!!"

Outside came a sharp whistle. Hearing it, the girl tensed up immediately. Though she wasn’t sure if they were looking for her, she hurriedly dressed and left the house, quickly exiting through a small path in the back garden.

At dawn, the girl finally returned to the camp, but to her surprise, as soon as she entered the tent, she saw Xiang Yu standing there staring at her.

"Where have you been, Little Ying?"

Little Ying was the girl’s name. When she first met Xiang Yu, she only had this nickname and no surname. The name Xiang Zhuang was given later after they became sworn siblings. In public, they addressed each other by their official names, but in private, they weren’t as formal.

"Uh, I..."

Seeing Xiang Yu, the girl named Little Ying blushed slightly, quickly turned her head, glanced at her nightclothes, and knew it was impossible to hide, so she braced herself and answered.

"I went to Hangu Pass. I thought if I could successfully assassinate that guy, maybe we could easily breach the pass..."

"Idiot! Are you that reckless?!"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Yu roared in anger, then hurried over.

"You’re not hurt, are you?"

"No, no."

Little Ying quickly waved her hand.

"The place is heavily guarded. I stayed the whole night and found no good opportunity, so I came back."

The girl’s words were half-truths, but Xiang Yu didn’t seem to care. As long as his sworn sister returned safely, that was enough.

"Anyway, it’s good you came back safely. Did you find anything?"

"Ah, I did find something."

At this point, the girl hastily reported to Xiang Yu what she observed last night, hoping to divert the topic. Xiang Yu, being rather straightforward, was indeed distracted by her. Hearing about the strange things on the city wall, Xiang Yu frowned.

"So night attacks are out of the question too? Hmm... Young Master Fang is indeed impressive; I hadn’t thought of this tactic."

"He only knows about these bizarre things!"

Upon hearing Xiang Yu’s lament, the young girl immediately remembered the various poses Fang Zheng had put her in last night, and she felt a surge of anger and embarrassment, stomping her foot hard.

Where did he learn those shameless actions from!!

"Alright, there’s nothing we can do now."

Xiang Yu didn’t notice the girl’s issue, but pondered for a moment and immediately made a decision.

"We will lead the army to attack the city again, this time we will try various strategic actions."

"Uuuuuuu......"

As if to validate Xiang Yu’s words, the horn for deployment sounded at that moment, and upon hearing it, the young girl quickly jumped up.

"I’ll go too!"

"No, you stay in the camp and rest today, you were busy all night yesterday and must be tired, it’s time for a good rest."

"Uh........."

Hearing Xiang Yu say this, the girl showed a visibly awkward expression, while Xiang Yu gently patted her on the head, then turned and left the tent.

Soon the army set out, and the girl stayed idly in the camp, turning over repeatedly. Logically, after being so exhausted last night, she should indeed be tired enough to sleep, but she just couldn’t fall asleep. Everything that happened last night was too thrilling, almost imprinting itself in her mind, impossible to forget......

"That bastard!"

Thinking of this, the girl gritted her teeth and punched the table beside her.

Time passed, and outside, there was a thundering noise. Hearing this, the girl hurriedly stepped out of her tent and looked up, only to see the army outside slowly retreating.

"Did we lose again?"

Seeing this, the girl had an ominous premonition. Although she hoped they could capture Hangu Pass, if they truly had, the army should have already entered, not pulled back.

Sure enough, her unease was soon confirmed.

"Those strange weapons are truly powerful."

Xiang Yu returned covered in dust, with black and white patches all over him, but his expression wasn’t one of discouragement.

"We initially wanted to launch an attack during the enemy’s firing intervals, but we didn’t expect them to use alternating fire methods......"

"This is no time to admire the enemy, Grand General."

Fan Zeng couldn’t help but speak up.

"If we don’t find a way to break through Hangu Pass, continuing like this will surely break morale, and by then it will be too late for regrets!"

"But those weapons are indeed difficult to penetrate... not to mention the ground fire......"

The ground fire that Xiang Yu mentioned referred to Fang Zheng’s previously used landmines. This time, they thought that after yesterday’s battle, at least the paths they took should be safe, attempting to gallop through directly, only to be blasted into the sky again — the opponent had somehow restored that area.

This led to a second attack failing as well.

Indeed, breaching Hangu Pass was no easy task, but the problem this time wasn’t just the treacherous terrain or the powerful army; it was the opponent’s methods, which they had never heard or seen before. In this situation, even common soldiers would waver, and even the Commander of the Feudal Lords’ Army felt uncertain — after all, facing weapons they had never seen before and that were immensely powerful, there was nothing they could do.

"Can we bypass Hangu Pass and go to Xianyang from another route?"

"With all due respect, if the opponent has such weapons, they likely have them deployed in the City of Xianyang as well. If we are blocked outside Xianyang after taking a detour, as soon as the enemy launches a counterattack, we will be attacked from both sides, gaining nothing."

"Yes, but to continue like this...... those strange fire soldiers’ weapons are indeed troublesome......"

"In my opinion......"

Seeing Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng fiercely discussing, the girl hesitated for a moment and finally decided to leave the tent. After all, she wasn’t adept at these things and had no right to speak at such a military meeting.

But now it seemed, that guy really gave her elder brother a headache.

He must be dealt with!

At this moment, the killing intent burning in the girl’s heart was genuine.

It wasn’t just because the army had been defeated again, but also because...... it was time for revenge!

If assassination doesn’t work, then poison!

Yes, poison!

He might have trained his outer appearance to have Copper Skin Iron Bones, but as long as he drinks poison, he’ll die just the same.

Yes, that’s right, poison is the way to go!

With this thought, the girl clenched her fists again and swiftly ran out of the camp.

This time, I’ll make you pay!!