Chapter 164: Every Single One of You Is Precious Indeed

Not long after nightfall, within a section of the military camp, campfires flickered as the rich, savory aroma of roasted lamb drifted on the air. Once the liquor began to flow, officers and soldiers alike clapped each other on the back like brothers.

Mu Lifang raised a cup to toast the two of them and laughed heartily. "It has been so long since I've had this much fun. I truly hope we will have the chance to spar with one another again in the future. The hour is late, Your Highness, Your Excellency, how about spending the night right here in the camp?"

"This..."

"Agreed."

Gu Qizhen answered so readily and loudly that he completely drowned out Shan Qiaomo's response. Shan Qiaomo was about to say something else when Chen suddenly appeared behind them. After bowing to Gu Qizhen and Mu Lifang, Chen reported, "Your Highness, Miss Mu has arrived."

The corners of a certain man's mouth, which had been curved upward, instantly flattened. Both Shan Qiaomo and Mu Lifang were startled yet pleasantly surprised, leaving their seats together to welcome Mu Luoxiao. As for the remaining man left behind, he could only sullenly drink cup after cup of wine, as if he had developed an addiction.

Mu Luoxiao stepped down from the carriage, waved at the two figures approaching her, and called out with a smile, "Third Brother, Baimo—ah, no, my mistake, Shan Qiaomo."

Shan Qiaomo's face broke into a gentle smile. "It doesn't matter."

"Why did the Seventh Sister run all the way out here?" Mu Luoxiao asked, then frowned in displeasure. "It couldn't possibly be—"

Mu Luoxiao immediately signaled San'er and Si'er to display the barbecue equipment, cutting off Mu Lifang's words and hastily distancing herself from a certain someone. "I came here to find Shan Qiaomo, and to go camping by the way."

Shan Qiaomo apologized, "I truly am sorry to have kept Miss Mu waiting for so long."

"It's nothing. I brought plenty of good things with me. Tonight, I'll let all of you taste my culinary skills." With that, she instructed "One, Two, Three, and Four" to set everything up.

"That campfire over there is burning brightly. Take the things over there to set them up."

"Understood, Third Young Master."

"One, Two, Three, and Four," along with Jiuer, all walked toward Gu Qizhen's direction. Only Mu Luoxiao remained rooted to the spot, moving away with obvious reluctance only after Mu Lifang called out to her.

Mu Luoxiao deliberately walked close to Shan Qiaomo, flashing him a bright smile.

"What made Miss Mu think of looking for me?"

"Hehe, to be honest, I have a favor to ask."

"Oh? Miss Mu, please speak your mind."

Mu Luoxiao waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, just call me Xiaoxiao like my third brother does, no need to be so formal. Well—actually, I want to learn martial arts from you."

Shan Qiaomo raised an eyebrow, finding it somewhat hard to believe. "Judging by your martial arts, your third brother's skills are hardly lacking. Why would you want to learn from me?"

"My third brother never has the time. Besides, you clearly look much more formidable than him. Compared to you, my third brother is nothing more than a dwarf in front of a giant!"

"Haha, Miss Mu... Ah, Xiaoxiao, it's not that I wouldn't, but I will be returning to my homeland in a few days."

"Is North Xiao far from here?"

"At the absolute fastest, the round trip takes four months. If the auspicious date hadn't suddenly been changed, I would already be well on my way back home."

"Good grief! Does Princess Chengyu's marriage really take half a year just for the ceremonies?"

"That is indeed the case."

"Then it's fine! I happen to want to travel abroad and see the world anyway, so just remember to cover my three daily meals when the time comes." Anyway, time could solve all problems, and going away for half a year was the perfect excuse to forget that man surnamed Gu!

"That goes without saying. However, practicing martial arts is grueling work. The most basic foundation requires holding a horse stance. Can you endure that?"

"That's a piece of cake! When I practiced on my own before, I even ripped my pants. Hilarious, right?"

"Haha, I had such embarrassing moments when I was a child, too. I even got my palms struck by my master back then..."

The two of them walked slowly, chatting and laughing. With their striking good looks, they indeed made a very handsome pair, a sight that burned in the eyes of a certain man, making him bristle with fury.

Gu Qizhen reached for another cup of wine, but Mu Lifang reached out and pressed down on his hand to stop him. The two men exchanged a glance, and Mu Lifang suppressed a smile, teasing softly, "There isn't a pristine privy here like the one in the Prince's Manor, so perhaps drink a little less."

It was a rare sight indeed to see Gu Qizhen like this. As the words left his lips, even Hua Jian standing nearby could not help but reveal a smile.