041 Courage Is the Duty of a Warrior

“Young master, young master!” The maid’s increasingly loud shouts finally roused Andy’s slumbering consciousness, but Andy had no desire to move. He focused his eyes for a long time before he could make out the maid’s figure. Seeing that the angry maid was not carrying a bowl of medicine or lunch, Andy was momentarily unsure of her purpose.

Catching the questioning look in the young master’s eyes, the maid complained fiercely, “Young master, that woman you saved is unbelievably ungrateful. Our young master risked his life to rescue her, and not only is she not thankful, she even demands that you personally apologize to her! She won’t let anyone help her, even though master already bowed to her, but she wouldn’t accept it. Where in the world is there someone like that…”

“Huan… Huanluo,” Andy cut off the maid’s endless chatter, seizing on the crucial word. Unfortunately, his throat, which hadn’t spoken in so long, and his mind, which hadn’t turned for even longer, couldn’t handle the sudden barrage of information. He could only stammer, “She… here…”

“She’s in the front hall. Young master, if you’re unhappy, just give the order. We’re all on your side!” The maid, seeing the young master finally show some reaction, thought Andy was about to lead them in reclaiming their dignity, and delight lit her face. She began to plot a hundred ways to torment the troublesome woman outside, once she’d been subdued.

Only after staring blankly at the maid for a while did Andy’s mind finally return to normal. Considering Huanluo’s intentions, Andy realized he had no way to refuse her demand for an apology. All the sins he’d committed before being buried in the rubble must be accounted for.

He tried to support himself on the bed to sit up, but his body, unused for so long, felt rusted and refused to obey. After expending all his strength, Andy managed to lift himself only slightly off the mattress. The maid quickly stepped forward to help, but Andy evaded her outstretched hand.

“She said not to let anyone help, didn’t she? I’ll do it myself.” Gritting his teeth, Andy thought to himself that his injuries had hardly improved at all; the doctor had said he shouldn’t get out of bed. But whether he walked or not, what difference did it make now? Sooner or later, death would come.

Under the maid’s pained gaze, Andy finally managed to sit up from his prone position. Even this simple act nearly exhausted all his strength, and his wounds throbbed dully. Thinking of the long distance from his room to the parlor, he looked at the worried maid with a bitter smile: “Perhaps you should just set up a bed for me in the parlor. I’ll sleep there from now on—then I can entertain guests and rest at the same time.”

The maid’s worried expression faltered, tears threatening. She watched her young master curiously; it had been a long time since she’d seen him in such good spirits.

Andy didn’t respond to her curiosity. If he didn’t joke a little, how would he find the strength to walk to the parlor on his own?

In the reception room, Huanluo still maintained her formidable, queenly demeanor. Even sipping tea made the servants pouring it tremble in fear.

In the meantime, Liangyin, unable to endure the awkwardness, dragged Momo over to chat with General Burton, hoping to distract the old general from his worries.

What seemed like a simple conversation was fraught with hidden dangers, leaving Momo tongue-tied and on the verge of tears.

Is the generation gap truly the hardest chasm in the world to cross?!

“My dress is made from the latest fashionable fabric—it’s breathable and fits well. The colors are bright and saturated, even black looks high-end!”

“Girls these days all love these bright colors, but when you’re on the battlefield, you’ll see how deadly they are—makes you an easy target.”

“Uh…” Seeing Liangyin’s face darken, Momo quickly tried to smooth things over. “The general means that military green is best. Fashion is cyclical, after all—maybe tomorrow retro styles will be in again. Having a military green or dark gray outfit now might come in handy!”

Liangyin’s eyes lit up in sudden realization, already planning where to buy such an outfit after leaving.

The old general agreed heartily, “Military green is good—doesn’t stand out, blends in on the battlefield, and hides dirt!”

Momo wiped cold sweat from her brow, narrowly escaping another disaster. But before she could catch her breath, the conversation shifted again.

“This tea is quite nice. What kind is it? It’s sweet and smooth,” Liangyin exclaimed, pointing at the tea served by the Gerard family.

“This tea is just for fooling you youngsters. Real tea should be bitter first, sweet later,” the general replied.

Momo quickly echoed, “The general means, the sweetness is lovely, but a touch of bitterness makes it truly memorable.”

Oh heavens, why must these two, with nothing in common, force themselves to talk? Is it to prove their mental fortitude or to train the innocent onlookers’ wit and adaptability?

With tearful eyes, Momo looked up as if seeking divine intervention.

Heaven smiled down kindly at her: Young lady, this too is your trial—go forth without hesitation!

At last, the tear-inducing conversation was cut short by the long-awaited sound of Andy’s footsteps. The footsteps came haltingly, each step punctuated by pauses and heavy breaths, making it clear that the person approaching was a frail patient.

Burton stopped “chatting” with Liangyin and stared intently down the hallway leading to Andy’s room. Huanluo set down her teacup, her calm, icy gaze flickering in that direction.

The footsteps grew closer, the breathing clearer. At last, Andy appeared, supporting himself against the wall as he slowly emerged from behind the doorway.

His sallow face was tinged with an unnatural flush; sweat beaded his brow. The bandaged wounds showed faint traces of red, and his slightly hunched posture revealed the pain he was enduring. Yet Andy’s expression was one of relief, as if a great burden had been lifted. He walked step by step toward Huanluo, stopped before her, and looked her straight in the eyes.

Huanluo remained as cold and composed as at their first meeting, seemingly untouched by the ravages of war.

“I’m sorry.” Gritting his teeth, Andy forced out the three words that bore the weight of all his sins. He bowed deeply to Huanluo. His joints creaked in protest at the movement, but nothing could stop him from lowering himself from thirty degrees all the way to one hundred and twenty.

Huanluo seemed to have forgotten her original purpose of comforting and encouraging Andy. Maintaining her formidable queenly presence, she sneered down at the wounded man before her. “You think this is enough?”

Andy froze for a moment, then gave a self-mocking smile and bent his knees, preparing to kneel.

The Gerard family servants, seeing their young master so humiliated, glared at Huanluo with fury. If looks could kill, she would have been torn to pieces.

But Huanluo ignored them completely, picking up Momo’s battered wooden cane and lightly pressing it against Andy’s knees. “Is your life and dignity so unimportant now? Then you might as well throw them both away.”