It didn't take long for the sun to show itself, but it didn't matter to Xiong Jingfei. She couldn't fall asleep either. Instead, she sat outside the carriage in the front and enjoyed the early morning breeze.
For the first time since they left the Xiong Manor, she finally got a chance to feel what it means to travel without worries. It was now safer for them to relax a bit more. They had more people traveling along with them.
"Miss, why did you tell General Feng you were Xiong Guang?" Xu Song yawned, coming out from inside the carriage and sat beside Xiong Jingfei.
Xiong Jingfei immediately covered Xu Song's mouth. She took a quick peek to see if Feng Huan heard Xu Song. He didn't turn around or acted like he heard them.
Maybe he didn't hear them because he was the farthest one in the front. He replaced Captain Hu and was now in charge of leading all of them to the front border.
"I have a request for him," Xiong Jingfei whispered back. Only he could do this for her.
"What is it?" Xu Song leaned in closer, wanting to know her Miss's reason for faking her identity.
"I can't tell you," Xiong Jingfei leaned her back against the carriage door. She liked this more than being stuck inside a carriage all day and night.
"Why?" Xu Song tugged at Xiong Jingfei's arm. What is this request of Xiong Jingfei that she cannot tell her?
"If I tell you, you will just tell me no." Xiong Jingfei refused to leak any more information than she already did to Xu Song.
It won't be anything dangerous, right?" Xu Song had a face of horror. It wouldn't be a surprise if her Miss were to do it.
Xiong Jingfei shook her head, refusing to tell her. Xu Song tried everything within her skills to make her Miss tell her, but none of them worked. She only stopped her pestering when a small groan came from inside the carriage.
"Let's stop here for the night." Feng Huan abruptly stopped his horse and turned around to look at his soldiers. "We cannot keep traveling like this with the Eldest Miss's conditions."
The one who knows the real Xiong Jingfei couldn't help but turn their head to look at her. Their Miss appears to look... Fine? She wasn't that badly harm during the bandits' attack.
Xiong Jingfei rolled her eyes the opposite way from their stares. Did Feng Huan, by chance, hear Xiong Guang groaning in pain? If so, he might have heard the way Xu Song addressed her! On the inside, she was begging he didn't and for the people to stop looking!
She scooted a little over to the side, so it would seem they were looking at the carriage and not her.
"Men, set up for camp!" Feng Huan got down from his horse and tied it to a tree.
"Mi- Ah! Xiong Guang..." Xu Song pouted, rubbing her buttocks that were pinched by Xiong Jingfei. "I will go check on the Eldest Miss."
Xiong Jingfei nodded her head and jumped down from the carriage. Heading towards the third carriage, she grabbed the basket of food to pass it out. What she was doing was supposed to be Xiong Guang's job, but seeing as she is bedridden. Xiong Jingfei willing took over the task and her identity.
"Let me help you," Captain Hu offered his help but was declined by Xiong Jingfei.
"You should rest, I haven't done anything else besides sitting around." Xiong Jingfei handed him his package, and proceed to hand out the rest. She didn't exclude Feng Huan's soldiers from getting any either.
When she got the last person, she can feel the tense on the raise between her and him. Telling herself it will be alright, she handed him the packet of food.
"You wanted something from me?" Feng Huan had his arms crossed and his sword in one hand. He did not take the food from her right away.
The second time they had interacted with each other since that day, Xiong Jingfei was taken off guard, again. How much did he hear! Since he heard Xiong Guang's small voice, so he might have... She slowly retracted the food, but it was taken out of her hand by him.
"I..." Xiong Jingfei wasn't prepared to pop the question yet, but time wasn't on her side. Braving herself up, she looked at him straight in the eyes. "I want you to teach me how to fight."
Feng Huan almost dropped his food, "What did you say?"
"I said, I want you to teach me how to fight and defend!" Xiong Jingfei was resolute on her one request for Feng Huan.
Feng Huan stared back at this maid of Xiong Jingfei. She was different from her Miss, who is sleeping in the carriage. Sadly, he was disappointed, witnessing Xiong Guozhi's eldest daughter crying and begging the bandit boss to let her go. What happened to the courageous Xiong Jingfei he had heard about from Xiong Guozhi?
What he didn't know was that the Xiong Jingfei he greatly admires was standing right in front of him.
He sighed, "No."
Xiong Jingfei gripped onto the basket tightly, "Why?"
"Let me ask you this, why do you want to fight?" Feng Huan took a step closer to Xiong Jingfei, who did not give up the idea.
Xiong Jingfei smiled, "To protect those important to me. You saw how it was last night... I was useless and could barely fight back one person!"
Feng Huan took that in and tapped his finger against his sword. In a blink of an eye, his sword that was resting inside the sheath was revealed. The tip was pointing directly at her neck. It cut off a bit of the white veil and revealed a part of Xiong Jingfei's chin.
All the soldiers were too much in shock to do anything at that second.
"Ahh!" Xu Song screamed, she rushed down the carriage only to be stopped by Captain Hu.
Xu Song closed her mouth, recalling her Miss wanting something from Feng Huan. She must have asked him! Xu Song bit her nails. Her Miss couldn't have offended him, right?
Even though Xiong Jingfei is Xiong Guozhi's daughter, and he is ranked above Feng Huan. At the end of the day, Feng Huan is ranked above Xiong Jingfei. So even Xiong Jingfei has to show Feng Huan respect.
"Hmph," Feng Huan grunted, putting down his sword and sealing it back inside the sheath. "Be ready. I will be waiting for you over there."
Xiong Jingfei sighed out in relief with a tinge of happiness. Her outward appearance may appear calm and pose, but her heart was pounding against her chest rapidly. She was more afraid of Feng Huan's sword than the boss bandit's fist. It was even better, that just means he was better than the boss bandit and the right person to teach her.
"Have you gone crazy?" Xu Song rushed to Xiong Jingfei side. She checked to make sure there wasn't a cut on Xiong Jingfei's face.
"No, I have never been more awake in my entire life." Xiong Jingfei smiled and grabbed Xu Song's hand.
She was excited about the training! Just now was a test Feng Huan set up for her, and she was so glad she passed it.
Xu Song gasped, "Don't tell me this is the special request!"