× Master of My Soul × [ Dynasty Warriors ] [ Slowly Updating ]

× 06 - Omen of Maleficence ×

On the way back to the makeshift camp, I caught sight of some wild berries under the foliage of the low brushes. "Ah, wait a moment, please," I said to my blond companion and crouched down to examine the fruits. I picked up a twig to push leaves and branches out of the way and smiled at my discovery. "There are some blueberries here, I want to bring some back for the rest of the day," I told him and started plucking the berries while being careful to not disrupt the other plants around.

When it came down to recognizing plants, I doubted there was anyone in the area who knew as much as I did. Botany and herbalism were my areas of expertise outside of the military, and I was more used to using herbs to cure illnesses than any other way, although acupuncture was also an essential part of my studies. It was also due to my knowledge of these plants that made me so cautious of the wilderness, as I did not want to touch anything dangerous.

"Blueberries?" Guo Jia repeated, a curious tone lacing his words. I gathered about a handful from the several brushes I found, and then gave him a berry to taste. The expression on his face told me that he has never seen such a fruit in his life, which made me laugh a little, though it was not uncommon. They didn't like to grow very much in the northern lands, and I would call him foolish to try them on his own from previous experience. "This is edible?" He asked with a raised brow and inspected the berry.

"Of course! Would I lie?" I said and giggled softly at my own words before popping one into my mouth, and smiled when the look of pleasant surprise appeared on the blond's face. "You're so gullible. What if they were poisonous?" I spoke playfully and opened my mouth to show him the blue fruit as it rested on my tongue, intact.

Guo Jia let out an amused chuckle. "I believe that you are a truthful lady," he replied, although I could not tell whether he was serious or not. Funny how anyone would say that about me. "Besides, you also said that you would cure my illness. It wouldn't do me much good if I died by some poisonous berries, now would it?" He chuckled.

I gave him a small smile but made no comment about his words. To me, it was one thing to cure him and a completely different matter to not poison him, but it seemed that he did not think this way. "Let's head back now, and I'll get you some medicine once we get to Wan Castle," I said and we returned to the path heading back to camp.

Cao Cao appeared to be quite surprised as Guo Jia and I returned together, and I could not ignore the look of what seemed to be relief in his dark eyes. It was a strange sight, and I wondered what it meant. Perhaps it was something relevant to our rough meeting from the previous day, but I really could not tell.

"It is good to see that you have returned in one piece," my uncle spoke in a joking manner, even though it was quite dark. Dian Wei smirked as he stood silently behind Cao Cao while I held in a snicker. My uncle must have thought that I took Guo Jia out to kill him or something of the sort, due to the event of yesterday. If I had been the least bit angry at the blond, it might as well have been what happened in the woods. Guo Jia seemed slightly confused, but Cao Cao did not press on the subject. "Yuanrang told me that you were not feeling well, Xue. Is everything alright now?" He then asked me.

I nodded, feeling rather warm on the inside because he was concerned. "Sorry for making you worry, I'm fine now," I replied in a slightly sheepish tone, then smiled as I showed him the blueberries. "But look what we found, these will be a great snack for the trip," I told him, then turned slightly to smile at Guo Jia, who returned the gesture. "Would you like some, uncle?" I asked Cao Cao.

He smiled and took a few, then nodded towards where my two cousins were sitting as they joked around with Xiahou Yuan. "You should share some of these with others, too," Cao Cao told me, and I followed his gaze before nodding and walking to them. I noticed that Guo Jia did not follow me and began speaking with my uncle instead. He was not part of the clan, after all.

"Well, well, look who's finally back," Cao Anmin said as I reached them, then patted the patch of grass next to him to signal for me to sit, which I did. "Fair maiden Murong, how was your date with our advisor Guo Jia?" He teased, and I turned to raise a brow at him. "Was he sweet and romantic as he claims to be?" My cousin continued with a smirk, and I gave him a blank look.

"You're not getting any blueberries," I stated flatly, then turned away from his expression of disbelief. "Here, uncle Yuan, have some fruit!" I said to Xiahou Yuan with a sweet smile and handed some to Cao Ang as well while they laughed.

"No, Xue, don't be like that, I'm sorry!" Cao Anmin quickly said, but I decided to ignore him. It was his own fault for testing my patience, plus it was entertaining to see him like this. I flashed a smug smirk at him, and he looked like he was about to go to war for the berries.

Xiahou Yuan laughed in amusement. "Anmin, we all know Lord Guo Jia is like that to just about every woman out there," he spoke, as if trying to ease the tension between us, even though it was obvious that he was enjoying this the most. His words made me curious however, and if Guo Jia was really as flirtatious as Xiahou Yuan said, which at this point I fully believed, then I would not have to feel so uncomfortable around the man, since he probably did not have any serious intention of any kind. My uncle then turned to me and grinned. "Anmin's just jealous that his own skills with the ladies aren't as good as our advisor's," he said, and I snickered as I watched my cousin open his mouth protestingly.

Cao Ang shook his head with a soft smile. "Look at him, we might end up with some casualties if you don't give him a berry sometime soon," he said to me and I tilted my head at Cao Anmin before sighing.

"Well, since you do have two people speaking for you... I suppose I can let it go this time," I said in mock exasperation before handing the few blueberries that were left in my hand to him. I giggled as Cao Anmin devoured them rather quickly, probably afraid that I would change my mind all of a sudden.

A few moments later, Cao Cao announced for the army to begin moving again, and it did not take long before everyone was in position to march. I stayed in the back of the troops again, not feeling very fond of the idea of having hundreds of pairs of eyes on my back. Cao Ang was called to the middle of the troops to march with his father and Guo Jia as well as Dian Wei, who was compelled to stay by my uncle's side, while Yu Jin led the army at the very front with the Xiahou brothers. Meanwhile, Yue Jin ran off with about fifty men to scout ahead, as expected of him, which left Cao Anmin with me. Despite how much we fought, even as kids, I felt the most freedom to express myself around him. On the way to Yingchuan and onwards, we kept ourselves and each other entertained by picking on each other, though by the end of the day everything was good.

It took us another three days before Yu Jin and Yue Jin parted ways with us, taking two thousand men with them as they headed directly West to join forces with the officers there. They would remain at those positions to help defend against the forces in Jing Province, which became even more threatening when rumors of the formation of an alliance against Cao Cao reached us. Clearly, the other power-hungry warlords regarded my uncle's influence as something similar to Dong Zhuo's tyranny.

The day after that it began to rain, and although it hindered our movement slightly, we arrived outside of Wan Castle's Northern gates by late afternoon on the same day. I did not think that I had ever been so happy to see another city. As I looked up at the top of the tall walls of the castle, I saw a gloomy silhouette.

I could almost feel the ominous aura emitting from the figure and suddenly felt as if something sharp with sinister intent struck me. My eyes widened as an abrupt, suffocating sense of panic rose inside my chest.

Who?