The breath of early spring is a bone-abundant cold. I don’t know if the cold wind comes from the Qinhuai River, so it is particularly vague.

I opened my eyes, and the snow outside the window reflected the sun, crystal clear and bright. The trees were lonely and cold, quiet and empty. I put on a cotton jacket and pants and pushed open the door.

The guard Wenqing walked out of the courtyard with hot water at the right time: "Daoshi, isn't it much better today?"

At the door, the maid Xiaohuan smiled and said, "Of course, the guardian is much better, this is my credit." He turned his head to look at me: "Of protector, I will serve you to wash your face."

I waved my hand and said, "You are going to spoil me." I took the hot water and squatted in the yard to wash my face.

The heat came to my face, and I shivered instead. Seeing a calm face reflected in the basin, my thoughts stagnated for a moment.

However, in just a moment, I smiled at the person in the water and washed my face with water.

It has been five days since I returned to Jiankang.

That night, since I returned from the Princess' Mansion, I had a high fever. Maybe I ran too hard and didn't eat well. I even wore my summer shirt in the middle of the coldest night on the third day of the Lunar New Year... I smiled bitterly, and Xiaohuan took the basin of the water in my hand: "Sir, go to the front hall for dinner!"

I nodded. I was sick and frightened the guards of Xiahou Mansion about that night. They hired a girl from the neighborhood to take care of me, Xiao Huan. Wenqing was a leader of the guards, and he also watched me these days.

After passing through the corridor and reaching the hall, three or two guards had already used their meals and nodded to me.

Wenqing and I sat down at the table, and he smiled and said, "It's great. My guardian is in good health. My subordinates can finally explain to the leader and Lord Xiahou."

"You are relieved, I won't run around anymore." I said, and the literary youth scratched his head a little embarrassedly. These days, guards have been waiting at my door every day. Xiahou's mansion is naturally safe, and their waiting is naturally instructed by the leader and master - probably because I am afraid that I will leave without saying goodbye.

But how could I?

I scooped up a spoonful of porridge and drank it quietly.

"Master Protector, I received the news this morning that the leader of the alliance will return to Jiankang first tomorrow." Wen Qing looked happy.

I was stunned and looked up: "Why are they so fast? They have so many people in a month's journey..."

"Oh, the main member of the alliance returned to Jiankang in advance to report his duties to the court, so he brought his troops back first." Wen Qing smiled, "There are rumors that Du Zeng was seriously injured and died, and the epidemic was the epidemic. The Jiangdong Wulin made great contributions to the court and was awe-inspiring world!"

I suddenly became a little uneasy - Lin Fang, come back first, tomorrow...

The day suddenly flashed through my mind, his cold eyebrows and eyes, and his hands that he ignored everyone and stretched out towards me...

Those hands were as quiet and firm as his man, as snowy as ice and snow.

Suddenly I felt a little sad and a little guilty. How should I face Lin Fang? I once swore to wait for him forever. But for the sake of the affection of my children and for a man who has left me, I did not listen to him.

"Bang--" I put down the bowls and chopsticks, Wen Qing and Xiao Huan beside me looked at me in surprise.

"I...I won't eat anymore." I stood up, "I'll go practice swords."

"But Master, you have only eaten a little..." Xiao Huan's voice was far away in an instant.

I pulled out the "Jing" and stood in the courtyard.

Concentrate your mind and calm your energy.

I let out a clear roar, and a set of sword techniques to break the chariot and make it come out, the snow scattered and the strong wind flowed. But I felt that there was a deviation in my hand, and I couldn't control the "Jue". Several tricks made it a little inappropriate.

What is the sword technique for breaking the chariot!

I threw the "Je" on the ground, and the little ring that followed me was so scared that I shivered.

"Don't be afraid, I'm not annoying you." I said, "I'm just blaming myself."

Lin Fang will be here tomorrow. How should I face him? I should apologize for doing such a wrong thing.

But I am really... tired. I really don't have the heart to apologize to anyone and ask for forgiveness.

I don't want to mention anything about him to anyone.

Thinking of this, I suddenly calmed down.

Whether it is Lin Fang, Xiahou, Xiaolan, or anyone else.

I'm already like this, so why should I pay attention to what others think, and why should I explain anything?

I bent down and picked up the "Jue", shook slightly, and the sword's snowflakes were shook off. I lifted up my sleeves and wiped the remaining snow stains on the sword's body.

Suddenly, the surroundings were extremely quiet, and even Xiaohuan's breathing disappeared. However, a slight sound of footsteps broke into my ears. The footsteps were a little familiar and unfamiliar. What was familiar was the gentleness and firmness of the footsteps, and what was strange was that the footsteps had always been neither too fast nor too slow, and today they were obviously a little anxious.

I raised my head.

The surroundings were really quiet. Perhaps even if someone shouted loudly in my ears, I couldn't hear them. Just because his half-old white clothes and big sleeves were fluttering, his ice-like face was almost melted into the same color as the surrounding white. However, his long hair like ink and his eyes like jade were shockingly dark.

He looked at me, seven or eight feet away. I could almost see the shadow of his nose. His eyes were dark, but I couldn't see clearly.

"You, you, who are you?" Xiao Huan's voice sounded aside, shocking my wandering mood. Yes, Xiao Huan had never seen him. I looked at Xiao Huan, but saw that although she spoke out for questioning, her face turned red.

Lin Fang seemed to be awakened by Xiaohuan's voice, his eyes flashed, and the heaviness disappeared, leaving only a faint expression - just like his usual appearance.

He slowly walked up to me, only a few dozen steps. He stood still, looked me down, and finally stopped his eyes on my face: "Is the wind and cold curd so well?"

It was very natural, as if he was always caring for his subordinates. I couldn't help but nod.

Xiao Huan came over on the side: "Master Guardian, who is this?"

He didn't seem to see anyone beside him, but just stared at me and continued, "It's great. Tonight, Jiankang League welcomes me, so you can attend together."

I nodded again.

He said again: "Several officials will also be present. One or two of them want to meet Zhou Fang through us. Please keep some snacks."

I continued to nod.

He smiled: "Why, after burning for a few days, people are still silenced?"

I stumbled: "No..."

"Yes." He said with his hands behind his back, "Although the war is over, our power in the martial arts world is now quite stable, but we have been away from Jiankang for so long, so many things need to be handled. You have to be careful."

"Yes!" I said respectfully, watching him turn around and leave. Xiao Huan asked carefully, "Master Protector, he..."

"He is the leader." I breathed a sigh of relief, "Lin Fang."

"Ah!" Xiaohuan screamed, "He is Lin Fang, the leader of the martial arts world who is powerful, Lin Fang, Lin Wenxuan?" Then he was extremely frustrated and whispered in a low voice, "But the leader is so cold and arrogant! Apart from talking to the guardian, he didn't even look at me!"

I didn't say anything. Lin Fang's figure had already disappeared from the corner.

He didn't ask Wen You about it.

Does everyone know that they won’t ask me?

I smiled bitterly again in my heart.

Suddenly I remembered something again - Didn’t the literary youth just say that the leader will arrive in Jiankang tomorrow?

——————

Four or five days later, Lin Fang was indeed very busy. Even I followed him. He handled the information reported by various departments and received representatives of martial arts representatives from various states who had not yet surrendered to us, and successfully accepted them. He brought all kinds of property to bribe some important officials in Jiankang. Although we returned from winning the battle, we needed to make more money everywhere. Fortunately, our property grew several times over the past year.

I followed Lin Fang very busy. It was very good. It was only a few days ago that the extreme fatigue and heartache along the way, and the collapse that night was immediately as far away as the things in my previous life. Everything about Wen You was so empty that it was shocking.

But there are always times when I finish my work every day. I even go until midnight, exit from Lin Fang's meeting hall and return to the quiet hut, but I am still a little confused. My heart is empty and I can't sleep.

Looking at the deep sky outside the window and the cold moon, half a night passed.

When I was just helping Lin Fang handle various documents, I occasionally looked up, but I could see Lin Fang staring at me. My black eyes were quiet and warm. When I met my eyes, I would not avoid or dodge.

I lowered my head.

This is very good. I know that I owe Lin Fang an apology, and I should even cry to him about my sadness.

But I still can't do it. I don't want to mention it or think. I just follow Lin Fang without distraction, but there seems to be something short in my heart. The hole is getting bigger and bigger and deeper. It is hidden in a corner, without any clues, and cannot be touched. Just put it there, I dare not think about it at all.

This is a very strange feeling that I have never experienced in eighteen years.

It is even more difficult to speak to Lin Fang after this day. On this day, Xiahou, Huo Yang and others came back.

I had already received the news that the team of people would come back today. Lin and I put a few pots of good wine in the hall and sat quietly and waited. Just after noon, we heard the bustling voices from the door from afar.

"Now you are so calm." Lin Fang said suddenly. I looked up at him and he joked, "In the past, when you heard that a friend came from afar, you had already rushed from the house to the gate."

I was a little embarrassed: "Are the subordinates of the alliance rushing to the gate now?" I stood up and pretended to jump up.

He suddenly laughed, his smile turned out to be extremely beautiful, and he said, "Sit down! Still jumping away like this!"

I sat down and looked at his smile. The ice and snowy day seemed to be a little warmer.

The clothes flashed at the entrance of the courtyard, and a small blue man rushed over first, and rushed to me in two steps in three steps. His pretty face seemed happy and sad: "Miss, Miss..."

My eyes instantly wet: "Xiao Lan! How can you be hurt?"

Before she could answer, the crowd came in one after another and attracted our attention:

The energetic master, Huo Yang with a cold face, the third senior brother with a handsome and gentle look, the sixth junior brother with a sharp eyes, and the honest and mighty Luo Wu...

They all walked up to us and clasped their fists at Lin Fang: "Leader!"

Lin Fang nodded: "Thank you all the hard work! Sit down and drink a drink quickly, get rid of the cold and tiredness!"

Everyone laughed and surrounded them.

It seems that every time we reunite, set out and celebrate, it is ordinary.

My heart feels warm... and they and everyone. Such a life in the world is very good!

Everyone sat around the stove, and the master looked at me: "Have you recovered from illness?"
To be continued...