落尘小说网

第 39 章（第1页）

Theprisonerneverspokeagain。Bythetimethephysisarrived，themanwasalreadybeyondquestioning。Hehaddeliberatelyendedhisownlifebeforeanyonecouldlearnwhohadsenthim，leavingXieZhengwithnothingbutablackfeather，apieceofunfamiliarcloth，andmorequestionsthananswers。Thetrailhadgonecold。

XieZhengorderedthemansbelongingssealedawayandforbadethesoldiersfromspreadingrumorsaboutwhathadhappeherewasnousefrighteningthebarrisonwithstoriesofanenemyhidingamongthemwhentheyhadnoproof。Themysterywouldhavetowaitbutthevillagerscouldnot。Soatsunrise，XieZhehebarracksagainbutthistime，Suyuanfollowed。Notbecauseshehadbeeninvited，shesimplyappearedbesidethehorsebeforehemounted。

XieZhenglookedather。

"Youweretoldtorest。"

"Irestedyesterday。"

"Youalsowalkedaroundthebarracksyesterday。"

"Iwalkedslowly。"

Hiseyesdroppedbrieflytoherpaleface。

"Younearlyfainted。

XieZhengstaredatherandSuyuanstaredback。Finally，hesighed"staywiththesupplycarts。Dontwander。"Ayao，standingbehindher，quietlycoveredhermouth。

Suyuanglancedback。

"What?"

"Nothing。"

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Thewesternvillagehadsufferedmoredamagethanthesoldiersfirstrealized。Severalhomeshadbeenburned，livestockscattered，andfoodstoresdestroyed。Theraidershadtakenverylittle。ThatwaswhatbotheredXieZhengmost。Iftheywantedsupplies，therehadbeeneasiertargetsoriftheywaerritory，theywouldhavestayedandfought。Instead，theyappearedsuddenly，causedfusion，anddisappeared。XieZhengspentthemanizingsoldierstorepairfencesandcleartheroads。Herainfromthemilitarystorestobedistributedamongthevillagers。Somesoldiersrebuiltcollapsedroofswhileotherssearchedthesurroundinghillsforabandonedonsortracks。

Suyuanwatchedquietlyandshesawalittlegirlsittingbesidetheremainsofherfamilyssteshed，holdingabrokenwoodenbowl。Suyuanapproachesher"whatsyourhegirllookedupcautiously。"Mei。”Suyuancrouchedbesideher，thoughthemovementmadeherwince。"Whereareyourparents?""Theyrehelpingmygrandmother。"Thegirllookeddownatthebowl。"Allrainisgone。"

Suyuandidntknowwhattosay，shehadspentyearswatgherownhouseholdstruggleforfood。Sheklywhatthatemptysteroommeant。ShetookthesmallpacketofdriedfruitAyaohadgivehatmandplaceditinthegirlshands。Thegirlstaredatit。"Forme?"Suyuanhegirlsfacebrightened，itwasatinythingbutSuyuanfoundherselfwatgthatsmileforlohansheexpected。Behindher，XieZhengnoticed…。。

Byafternoon，theyreachedthemilitarysupplycampbutthesighttherewasworse。Severalstebarnshadbeenbrokeninto。Sacksofgrainhadbeentornopen，woodencratesoverturned，andmilitaryequipmentscatteredacrosstheground。Thesoldierswerealreadysthroughwhatremained。XieZhengwalkedthroughthelargestbarn。

"Howmuchwaslost?"

"Almostathirdofthegrain。"

"ons?"

"Verylittle。"

"Horses?"

"None。"

XieZhengstopped。"heoffiodded。"Theydidnttakethehorses。"Thatmadethegenerallooktowardthedamagedgrainsacks。"Theywerenthereforthehorses。"Suyuan，whohadbeenstandingoutside，heardhim。Shewalkedintothebarn。"Whatdidtheytake?"Theofficerlookedather，uaiherheshouldanswer。"Food。""Onlyfood?""Mostly。"

Suyuanlookedaround，theicedsomethingstrange。Astackofwoodencratessatuntouchedagainstthefarwall。Shepointedout"whatsihose?"