It was supposed to be a happy occasion. Chen Yao and Xia Yue finally re-united with their family. Zhang Xuan met Huang Wen again. Zhang Hu successfully win over Nanping.

Sure, there were hundreds of men died during the battle to take Nanping from Feng Jin's forces, but considering all the circumstances, it relatively small. It was unavoidable. Even those who were mourning for their family members who died in that battle, understood. Zhang Hu held a humble ceremony for their victory and to remember the sacrifice of those who died or injured in the battle.

Up to that point everything still fine, Zhang Xuan always at Huang Wen's side, they were being lovey dovey whenever they were alone. After separated for more than a week, now they were almost inseparable. Huang Wen was touched, when he heard from Chen Yao and Xia Yue, how Zhang Xuan opposed Zhang Hu to wait for him at Fuzhou.

"Silly girl ..., you shouldn't do that. What would I do, if something happened to you.", he reproached Zhang Xuan.

To which, Zhang Xuan didn't give any reply, but snuggled into his arm as an answer.

For a side note, Zhang Hu didn't forget to send the promised supplies and ships to Pan Wei whose men were waiting on the shore of Minjiang River, west of Nanping. As soon as they received the supplies, they began to move it to Sanming. On their way there, they picked up Pan Wei, Cao Meng and the rest of their people.

Later that day, Zhang Hu held a small private party, to celebrate his reunion with Chen Fang and Xia Bao. At the end of the party, when everyone saying good-bye and returned to their own place, Huang Wen went to speak with Zhang Hu.

There were Huang Wen, Zhang Hu, Madame Zhang Hu and Zhang Xuan, and that was when the happy day ended.

"Uncle Zhang, since I'm completed the first mission, I'd like to go to finish the second one, as soon as possible.", said Huang Wen to Zhang Hu.

"Big Brother Huang ... how could ... you didn't say anything to me about this ...", Zhang Xuan was surprised to hear that.

"Zhang Xuan ... I'm sorry, I'm just too happy to see you again and I don't want to ruin the mood by telling you this.", Huang Wen answered sheepishly.

Zhang Xuan stomped her feet, "And telling me now, won't ruin my mood?"

Huang Wen sighed, "I'm sorry..."

"Zhang Xuan ... don't act like a spoiled children.", Zhang Hu reproached his daughter.

"Ma ...", Zhang Xuan turned to her mother.

Madame Zhang Hu gently patted her daughter, "Ai ... this child ... Your father was right, but doesn't mean I don't understand how you feel. Come with me, when men talk, it's better if we leave them alone."

"Ma ... ", Zhang Xuan sighed exasperatedly since no one on her side.

But Madame Zhang Hu ignored her plead, she took Zhang Xuan's hand and gently pulled her to leave Zhang Hu and Huang Wen alone. Zhang Hu and Huang Wen waited for them to leave the room, before they began discussed it again.

"Come, let's sit first.", Zhang Hu said.

Zhang Hu went to sit. He took a bottle of rice wine and two cups and put it on the table. Huang Wen followed Zhang Hu and poured a cup of wine for Zhang Hu and himself. In silence, they drank the wine slowly. Whenever Zhang Hu emptied his cup, Huang Wen quickly filled it again. Meanwhile Madame Zhang Hu took Zhang Xuan to another room.

"Silly girl, why are you acting like that?", Madame Zhang Hu asked with a smile on her face.

Zhang Xuan bit her lips, "He should talk to me first ... am I not the most important person for him?"

Madame Zhang Hu put her arm on Zhang Xuan's shoulder, "Of course you are, but maybe he was afraid to tell you that. He just too happy to see you again and don't want to anger you somehow."

"Ma ... what should I do ... ?", Zhang Xuan leaned on her mother's shoulder and asked.

"Now ... now ... what do we have here? Do you really fell for him now?", she asked.

"I don't know ... ", said Zhang Xuan.

"It is okay if you love him, just don't love him too much that it cloud your judgment.", said Madame Zhang Hu.

"I'm afraid of losing him now ... what if he met someone on the way to his village? What is his parents doesn't like me?", Zhang Xuan asked her mother.

"You don't have to worry about his parent. Once a man fell for a woman, they rarely listen to their parent.", said her mother.

"What if he doesn't love me that much?", Zhang Xuan asked.

Madame Zhang Hu sighed, "Well, what can we do then ? ... since you already did that with him ..."

--- o ---

In the other room, Zhang Hu drank about three cups, before he leaned back on his chair and sighed.

"So, you're going to go to your village tomorrow?", he asked.

Huang Wen nodded, "Yes, that's my plan."

Zhang Hu nodded, "Hmm ..., what if I ask you to wait?"

Huang Wen frowned and sighed, "..."

Zhang Hu patiently waited for him to answer, after a while Huang Wen straightened his body and answered, "After I saw Chen Yao's and Xia Yue's parent, I could not wait any longer to seek my own parent."

Zhang Hu nodded his head once again, "I understand ... I won't stop you. It must be hard for you. You've worked hard to see everyone reunited with their family, but you haven't done anything to seek your own family."

Huang Wen nodded his head gratefully, "I'm glad you understand."

Zhang Hu scratched his chin, "... but ..., how should I say it? Our situation right now ... there are more than 200 thousands people live in Nanping. We need to secure enough food for everyone, fixing Nanping's infrastructures and strengthen its defense. There is a demon lord in Fuzhou and there is Pan Wei in the west. Although we agreed not to harm each other and help each other in time of need, I can't fully trust him."

Zhang Hu sighed and continued, "There is so much work to do. I'm afraid I can't send anyone important like Zhang Tian Yi or Liu Wang Yun to come with you. Is that okay with you?"

Huang Wen nodded his head without any hesitation, "Of course, no problem. In fact, I'd like to travel alone this time. Many strong opponent appeared, fighting against Master Pan Wei yesterday, I realize I need to grow much stronger if I want to stand tall in my life."

"Excellent ... but I plan to send tens of men to accompany you. They're not as capable as Zhang Tian Yi, Liu Wang Yun, Ma Heng, Chen Wu Xuang and Tian Zhong. But they will serve you along the way and fight under your leadership. What do you say about that?", Zhang Hu praised Huang Wen and then gave his suggestion.

Huang Wen frowned, having men under his command would reduce many hardships along the way, but at the same time, if he couldn't lead them properly, then they will turn into nuisance instead. He watched Zhang Hu's expression. Zhang Hu was putting his poker face, Huang Wen wondered what he was thinking.

'Another test? A challenge? Another lesson?', Huang Wen wondered.

He thought about it and then smiled, 'It could be a test, it could be a challenge or a lesson. A trial or an opportunity. It all depend on how I perceive it. It doesn't matter what uncle think about it. What's matter is what I think about it.'

He nodded his head, "If Uncle Zhang willing to entrust this men to me, then I'm grateful to have them with me."

Zhang Hu seemed satisfied, "Good, I'll go to see them prepared. Tomorrow, before you leave, go to see Colonel Yue Rang, he will arrange it for you."

Huang Wen replied, "Understood. Tomorrow morning, I will see Colonel Yue Rang before leaving."

Zhang Hu asked, "Do you plan to leave early in the morning?"

Huang Wen replied, "Yes."

Zhang Hu got up and said, "Well, I won't hold you here any longer then. You should rest early."

Huang Wen got up and politely bowed before leaving. He was walking out of the room, when he saw Madame Zhang Hu and Zhang Xuan were waiting for him.

"Are you leaving?", Madame Zhang Hu asked.

Huang Wen nodded his head, "Yes, I already told Uncle Zhang Hu everything and he agreed. Early tomorrow morning, I will be leaving to my village. Thanks for inviting me to the party, I really enjoyed it."

"I see, well ... , Zhang Xuan, why don't you accompany him in the way out.", Madame Zhang Hu patted Zhang Xuan's shoulder and walked toward her husband.

Huang Wen politely bowed once again and left, Zhang Xuan walked next to him, they didn't say anything for a while.

They were on the porch when Zhang Xuan asked, "So ... you are leaving tomorrow morning?"

Huang Wen nodded, "Yes, I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I really wanted to tell you first, but I guess I'm afraid you won't agree."

Zhang Xuan sighed bitterly, "What kind of person do you think I am? Of course I don't want you away from me again, but you go to find your parents, of course I won't make it hard for you."

Huang Wen stopped and gently pulled her closer, "I'm sorry."

Zhang Xuan leaned closer and replied, "Okay, apology accepted."

They stayed closed for a moment and then Huang Wen pulled himself away, "I guess, you better go back now."

Zhang Xuan asked, "Tomorrow, will you come to see me before leaving?

Huang Wen shrugged his shoulder and sighed, "Uhm ... sorry ... I'm afraid not. I'll be leaving very early. I'd like to go quietly. Is that okay?"

Zhang Xuan pouted, "I already suspected it ... sometimes you are acting weirdly for no good reason."

Huang Wen said, "Yeah ... I hate good byes ..."

"Well, mother said, I can go to your place tonight ... ", said Zhang Xuan sheepishly.

"Uh ... what ... ?", Huang Wen was dumbfounded to hear that.

"Oh ... come on ... don't make me say it again.", said Zhang Xuan as she pulled him to walk along with her.

"Are you sure your parents okay with it?", Huang Wen asked.

"I don't know about my father, but mother said its okay and if she said its okay, my father wouldn't dare to say the otherwise.", replied Zhang Xuan.

"But ... ", Huang Wen still hesitated.

"Of course, if you don't like it ... ", Zhang Xuan stopped and stared at Huang Wen.

"No, no, of course I like it.", Huang Wen quickly answered.

"Are you sure you want me to come to your place?", Zhang Xuan asked again, pretended to be angry with him.

Huang Wen laughed, he found it cute.

Before Zhang Xuan could react, he grabbed her and lifted her into his arm, "I'll show you how much I like the idea."

"Put me down ... people will see us.", Zhang Xuan squealed.

"Only if you promise to obey all my command tonight.", said Huang Wen.

"No way ... ", Zhang Xuan halfheartedly struggled in his arm.

"Then I will carry you all the way to my place.", said Huang Wen.

"You're evil ... ", Zhang Xuan pouted.

"Yes, I am.", said Huang Wen smiling.

"Okay, I promise. Now put me down.", said Zhang Xuan with reddened face.

That night Zhang Xuan spent the night with Huang Wen. Whatever Madame Zhang Hu taught Zhang Xuan last night, it must have worked well. Huang Wen must admit that he was unwilling to leave Zhang Xuan that morning. When he woke up that morning, he was thinking of quietly left her, but then he began to look at her and didn't want to leave. He snuggled and caressed her and before long, they were quietly made love.

So at the end, it was still a happy day for Huang Wen and Zhang Xuan. Though probably not so much for Zhang Hu.

Good thing, Huang Wen left Nanping early in the morning and didn't go to see Zhang Hu before leaving. Along with Huang Wen, thirty strong men followed him, Yue Rang prepared enough rations for three days, basic tools and medicines. Everyone was equipped with rifles and pack of ammo.