Chapter 36

Qingyang Garrison was right before him, and He Ping finally let out a sigh of relief, his heart calming down. The Tianhua people, who looked just like him and had a development history similar to that of the Chinese nation, gave him a natural sense of closeness. Returning to Qingyang Garrison felt like coming home, and even his steps seemed lighter. It didn’t take long for He Ping to reach Zhao Zheng’s camp. Because the direction of the army from the Lances Province was still unclear, Zhao Zheng had not yet withdrawn his troops.

At the entrance of the camp, the sentry, who had initially planned to intercept anyone approaching, immediately saluted He Ping respectfully with a Tianhua military salute and let him in. He Ping’s performance on his first day in the Military World had won over these bloodthirsty Tianhua men. Soldiers admired such a brave warrior, and the officers had also given instructions that if He Ping returned, he should be allowed in directly.

He Ping also smiled and nodded to the sentry before walking into the camp with ease. In the camp, the soldiers and generals who saw He Ping return came over to greet him one by one. He Ping responded to each of them and eventually made his way to Zhao Zheng’s main tent. Outside the tent, Zhao Zheng’s guards saw He Ping, greeted him, and hurriedly went inside to report to Zhao Zheng, while He Ping waited outside.

"Hey!? Who are you?"

Just as He Ping was waiting for a response from inside the tent, a clear voice sounded from behind him. He Ping was startled because the voice was clear and melodious, clearly not the kind that could come from the rough men in the camp. This was obviously a girl’s voice. After so many days in the Military World, apart from the coarse-skinned women of Okland he had seen in Lances City, this was the first time He Ping had heard a girl’s voice.

In an instant, He Ping turned around. He could guarantee that in all his years, this was the fastest, coolest, and most handsome turn he had ever made. Although he had seen many back-killers, voice-killers, and plain-killers in his previous life, after seeing nothing but men for several days, even a killer was fine, and even a tomboy was better than a real man.

The moment he turned his head, He Ping was stunned. A girl about his age, with a delicate and lovely appearance, stood before him. She was wearing a cute outfit similar to ancient Chinese Hanfu, with her hair tied into two buns on either side, each bound with a red ribbon. Although she was still a bit young, with baby fat still on her cheeks, her big, watery eyes and delicate small mouth and nose already showed the potential to grow into a beauty.

"Zhao Yuke!?"

He Ping subconsciously called out a name, a name that had once made him dream and a name of a girl he had once considered his first love. After so many years, he had dated and married other girls, and although He Ping always thought he had forgotten that girl, he unexpectedly called out that name he could never forget the moment he saw this girl.

"Zhao Yuke? Who is she? I’m not Zhao Yuke, I’m Zhao Xiaoyue. You haven’t answered my question yet. Who are you? This place should only have adults, but you look about my age. What are you doing here?"

Zhao Xiaoyue frowned, though young, she was clearly unhappy that someone was looking at her and calling out another person’s name.

"Ah! Zhao Xiaoyue, right, right, you’re Zhao Xiaoyue, not Zhao Yuke. Ha ha, I mistook you for someone else. Sorry, sorry." He Ping scratched his head awkwardly. Indeed, the girl named Zhao Xiaoyue did not look very similar to the Zhao Yuke in his memory. Although both were potential beauties, each had their own unique features. It was just that the similar aura they both exuded, combined with He Ping’s last memory of Zhao Yuke being at the same age as Zhao Xiaoyue, caused a momentary lapse, leading him to mistake her for Zhao Yuke.

"Ah, right, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m He Ping. As for why I’m here, there’s a reason. I helped the commander here in a battle, so I’m considered a guest. What about you? Why are you here? This place shouldn’t be somewhere a child like you should come, right?"

He Ping stumbled through his introduction, his awkwardness evident.

Zhao Xiaoyue, although about the same age as He Ping, behaved very gracefully, clearly a well-educated and pampered child. Hearing He Ping’s question, she thought for a moment and replied, "I’m here to find my father. My mother asked me to bring him some things."

"Your father? Is your father in this camp? Did you come alone? Even if you did, you shouldn’t be running around here, right?"

"Of course not, I didn’t come alone. The journey is long and dangerous, so I came with guards. I’ve been to my father’s camp several times already. Can’t I run around here?"

"Ah..." He Ping was speechless. In his common sense, a military camp should be a restricted area, and even family members of soldiers shouldn’t be able to come and go as they please, and if they did, their movements should be restricted. But it seemed that wasn’t the case here. Was this how military camps were in the Military World? That seemed too lax!

"Ha ha! Brother He Ping! I’ve been waiting for you! You’ve been gone for several days, and I was worried. I was about to send someone to look for you!" At that moment, Zhao Zheng walked out of the main tent. Seeing He Ping unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief. Since the incident with Chris, the Lances Province had been unstable, and even the spies he had bought couldn’t send back any intelligence. He Ping’s solo trip to the Lances Province had made him very anxious.

"Father!"

Before He Ping could respond, Zhao Xiaoyue, who had been standing by the entrance of the main tent, suddenly called out. Hearing her voice, Zhao Zheng turned around and saw Zhao Xiaoyue behind him.

Father? Who did she just call father? It seemed that everyone else was already here, so could it be that this Zhao Xiaoyue is...

"Xiaoyue! How did you come? Did your mother send you? When did you arrive? Did you encounter any danger on the way? How long did it take? Have you rested well?" The iron-blooded general Zhao Zheng immediately turned into a doting father the moment he saw Zhao Xiaoyue, the transformation so quick that everyone was amazed.

He Ping was also surprised. This Zhao Xiaoyue was indeed Zhao Zheng’s daughter. If that was the case, it explained why she could move around the camp freely.

[PS: Third update today! See you tomorrow!]