Chapter 19: If My Lord Takes the Field, Victory Is Certain
“Don’t bathe here; I’ll go first.”
But the man lifted the soaked fur bundle, a faint smile curling his lips. “Come on, let me give you a proper wash.”
Ji Ci struggled with all her might, but as a fox, her strength was too slight. In the end, the man carried her into the water.
Once they were submerged, Dongfang Jibai’s long, pale fingers moved deftly through her fur.
“Let go!” Ji Ci chirped, her small paws flailing wildly.
“It will be over soon. Be a good girl,” Dongfang Jibai said with a smile.
Ji Ci resigned herself. As a fox, she truly couldn’t bathe alone.
Having a man to serve her wasn’t so bad.
Enjoying the comforting touch, Ji Ci squinted her eyes, savoring the general's spa treatment.
After finishing the wash, Dongfang Jibai carried Ji Ci back to the tent. Bai Yi stepped in, saying, “Master, the royal physician’s medicine— you haven’t taken it for half a month.”
Ji Ci’s eyes brightened as she approached the medicine bowl, sniffed it, then covered her nose with her paw.
Dongfang Jibai took the bowl, tilted his head back, and drank the bitter liquid, the movement of his Adam’s apple masking the shadow beneath his eyes.
“No need to brew medicine anymore. My body is already fine.”
Ji Ci pressed her small head against Dongfang Jibai’s bare chest, sensing the toxins within his body.
“The poison isn’t fully cleared—only ten percent detoxified. Why stop now?”
Her mind filled with questions as she looked up at him.
Dongfang Jibai smiled faintly but said nothing. He could not tell Ji Ci that this poison was hereditary and would end his line.
It was better for Ji Ci not to know.
The phoenix-induced poison could flare unpredictably; if it harmed Ji Ci, he would never forgive himself.
Bai Yi nodded silently. He never questioned Dongfang Jibai’s orders.
“Master, I have returned!” Fifteen burst in, dust-covered and excited.
Fifteen was one of Dongfang Jibai’s covert guards.
From Bai Yi to Fifteen, all were trained by Dongfang Jibai.
Fifteen had the best agility and often gathered intelligence.
Ji Ci’s eyes flickered as her nose twitched; she caught a faint floral scent, a fragrance she hadn’t encountered in this forest.
“How did it go?” Dongfang Jibai asked.
“Master, the Dayuezhi and Wusun forces have retreated. Now the North Di are scattered. If you strike, victory will be assured,” Fifteen reported eagerly, kneeling before Dongfang Jibai.
---
Ji Ci’s small eyes watched Fifteen, her mind racing.
“Even if the two major tribes retreat, Loulan and Cheshi still hold the frontline. The North Di can’t be broken so easily. Such nonsense.”
She glanced secretly at Dongfang Jibai and saw the deep gravity in his gaze.
If a little fox could see through it, so could he.
It seemed his subordinates were either not clever or overly confident.
“Understood. You may rest,” Dongfang Jibai waved his hand, but Fifteen’s gaze burned as he stared at the little fox.
“Master, this little fox looks very spirited. May I touch her?” Fifteen’s eyes gleamed as if he was quite fond of the fox.
Ji Ci immediately bristled, baring her teeth and low growling in warning.
“Leave,” Dongfang Jibai’s voice turned cold.
Bai Yi frowned, looking at Fifteen. “Go and receive the ten military strikes.”
Fifteen lowered his head, gripping his hands tightly. “I obey.”
After the unwilling guard left, Bai Yi whispered, “I failed to discipline him properly.”
Dongfang Jibai stroked the now calm fur bundle in his arms, his gaze resting on the slightly swaying tent curtain.
Fifteen was acting strangely today.
Night fell, and the camp was shrouded in silence.
Fifteen dragged his body, still feeling the sting of the ten military strikes, pacing outside Dongfang Jibai’s tent.
The strange fragrance growing stronger on him was even more pungent than when he first met Dongfang Jibai.
A full moon hung in the sky, and the occasional hoot of an owl echoed through the woods.
Hidden in the shadows, Fifteen’s eyes fixed on the commander’s tent.
The red fox beside Dongfang Jibai resembled the troublesome fox described by Lord De who sneaked into the palace.
Now, with the army gathered, rash action would be suicide.
Inside the tent, Ji Ci’s tail covered her as she feigned sleep. Moonlight spilled over her, a flash of red light shimmering as her form shifted.
A girl with skin as white as snow and hair like a waterfall suddenly collapsed into Dongfang Jibai’s arms.
At this moment, Dongfang Jibai was clearly unwell.
Since Fifteen left, his internal energy had been in chaos.
His eyes were blood-red, and his breathing was rough and frightening.
The coldness on Ji Ci’s body woke her immediately. She sprang to full alertness, hastily grabbing clothes and slipping them on, bare feet rushing outside.
The moment Ji Ci awoke, Dongfang Jibai clenched the bedsheet tightly beneath him, eyes tightly shut, pretending to sleep.
Ji Ci ran out of the tent and saw Bai Yi standing guard outside.
---
“Miss Ji, please stop!” Bai Yi reached out to block the girl who nearly collided with him, startled despite his experience.
In the moonlight, the girl’s skin gleamed like jade, her loose cloak slipping to reveal a snow-white neck.
He quickly turned away. “No women are allowed in the camp. Going out like this will cause trouble.”
Ji Ci stomped her foot in frustration. “I have urgent matters!”
“At least wear this,” Bai Yi said, removing his cloak and handing it over, then hurried to fetch a set of Dongfang Jibai’s regular clothes.
Once Ji Ci was wrapped tightly, he stepped aside. “I will prepare the horses.”
Dongfang Jibai’s clothes were too large; Ji Ci looked like she was dressed for theater.
“I’ll go ahead. Thank you,” Ji Ci said, already dashing several paces before vanishing into the night.
Mist swirled through the mountain as Ji Ci ran for half an hour before finding a hidden cave.
She pulled out the folding bed from her space and collapsed into the embroidered quilt.
The bed was something she had taken from the Fourth Prince’s mansion—clearly a wise move.
Just as she was about to close her eyes, she suddenly jolted upright.
“Oh no, I forgot to ask Dongfang Jibai which mountain the army headed to.”
[Warning: Male lead’s poison flaring. Administer antidote. Reward: 100 points. Transformation progress: 5/1000.]
Ji Ci frowned. “Why is the poison flaring again? We just checked today. Ten percent detoxification shouldn’t be dangerous.”
[Master will know upon inspection.]
“Hurting people right after transformation...”
Ji Ci thumped the bed heavily, irritated at the lack of rest.
Even a fox gets tired from marching day and night.
Resigned, she got up. Just as she stepped out of the cave, a shadow lunged at her.
Ji Ci spun and kicked, exchanging blows with the attacker until, in the faint moonlight, she recognized—Dongfang Jibai, who had been pursuing her!
“Are you kidding me? You found me already!” she huffed, lowering her hand in frustration.
Dongfang Jibai’s bloodshot eyes fixed on Ji Ci. After a moment, he looked like a wronged little dog.
“Ah Ci, where did you go? I woke up and you were gone,” he murmured near her, pulling her into a tight embrace. His broad body enveloped her.
The general’s usual sternness was gone, replaced by a feverish forehead pressed to her shoulder. His voice was hoarse and broken.
“Ah Ci.”