11 11. The old friend appeared

"It's been a while"

Lihua immediately looked at the direction of the voice. She saw a young man riding his horse mightily. Anyone can tell that this young man is strong plus his handsome appearance every woman in the capital will definitely fall for him. Lihua smiled the moment she recognized the young man.

"Mengyao!"

Lihua moved her horse closer to him.

"Yes. It is good that you still remember your brother." Mengyao pouted his kissable lips.

"You are actually sulking right now?" Lihua said laughing. She is amazed by how funny they are talking right now. In the past, they are the ones who always argue and cause trouble in the Holy Mountain.

"Alright, alright," he said also laughing. "I saw you meet up with master, what's up?"

"It's nothing. How are you? I haven't seen you for five years."

"I'm okay. I am going to the capital to do a mission. How about you?"

"I am still with the same mission,"

"Oh?"

"Clearly you don't believe anything that I say, do you?"

"Hahaha, based on what I heard, you have a new mission." his face is now serious. "or are you close to the Prime Minister's household now that you don't want to go?"

A strong morning wind passes through them. Both of them just stared at each other. No one wanted to say anything. After a few minutes of intense silence, Mengyao spoke.

"I am just teasing you. Come, let's go back to the capital together." then, he turned his horse towards the capital.

Lihua shook her head in disbelief. After not seeing each other for five years, why is it she felt like Mengyao changed a lot. He is no longer the hostile boy she knew before. She knew that he is now a young man with that kind of physique, she did know what kind of training he's been through the years they did not see each other.

Lihua slowly moved her horse to follow him. When Mengyao noticed her behind him, he suddenly kicked his horse to run faster.

"Let's race! Let's see who can reach the capital city's gate. The loser will treat the winner with breakfast," he shouted at Lihua.

"Sure!"Lihua's face lit up with excitement. It's been a long time since she bet with Mengyao. It brings back happy memories from the Holy Mountain. She kicked her horse hard. She will never let Mengyao beat her. She did not allow it before, she will definitely allow it now.

Lihua's face lit up with happiness the moment she reached the city gate first. She is laughing heartily when she looked back at Mengyao who is just a few feet away from her.

"I won! I told you, you will never beat me!"

"Hahaha, it looks like your riding skills never falter all these years." Mengyao also radiates a happy aura. His handsome face becomes more handsome because of his smiles.

The sun is already up in the sky when they reached the city gate. Lihua showed her identity tag to the guards and went inside. She looked back to check if Mengyao can enter the gates. It can be another thing that she can use to bully him if he failed to enter the city gate. To her surprise, the guards suddenly kneel down to him and greeted him.

"Greetings to General Pan" she heard the soldiers greeted him.

Her eyebrows are raised when Mengyao came closer to him. She can clearly see the proud face of him. As if telling him she lost in this one.

"General Pan?"

"Yes?" he answered smiling. When he saw that she's still confused, he said. "Don't compare me with you. I can be a great person to achieve my goal and not be a slave, unlike someone."

Lihua, whose horse is next to him, suddenly punched him.

"You little bully!" she said annoyingly.

Mengyao let out a hearty laugh. It is evident that he is enjoying this time.

"Ehem!"

Both Lihua and Mengyao looked at the direction of the person who spoke. Lihua saw the grim face of Chao Shen looking at them. At that moment, she unconsciously touched her face. She did not realize that she is no longer wearing her veil.

"First Master Chao," Lihua immediately greeted him.

Shen looked at her without saying anything. Then, he shifts his gaze to the man beside her.

Mengyao remained where he was, without saying anything to him. Lihua sensed the tension between the two men.

"Ahm, General Pan, since you are now in the capital I will leave now," she said formally while giving him a signal with her eyes.

"What's this sudden cold treatment? Don't worry, since I lose our bet, I will make sure to treat you with the best restaurant for breakfast today."

Hearing these words, Shen looked at Lihua with mixed expressions. Lihua on the other hand, looked at Mengyao intently as if saying 'you jerk!'. Mengyao just shrugged his shoulder. When Mengyao motioned to lead Lihua away, Shen stopped them.

"Where do you think you are going with my maidservant?"

Mengyao chuckled, "your maidservant?"

Lihua was alarmed. Mengyao can ruin her plans.

"General Pan, don't take the bet seriously. Helping you find your way to the capital is already an honor. I shall take my leave first now." she courteously said. 'If you still make a foolish move, I will definitely beat you up later' Lihua send this message to Mengyao through her fierce look.

Mengyao let out a small laugh, "Alright, alright I will not push you today but I will definitely find you some other day. I don't like breaking my word." with that, he moved his horse away. Lihua looked at his figure disappearing with the crowd in front.

Lihua suddenly felt Shen's presence in her side. She looked at him with confusion. It is still early but why is it he is already in the city gate on his horse?

"Who is he? Why are you with him?"

"Him?" Lihua was surprised by his questions.

Shen did not answer his question but instead gave him a cold, grim look.

"I did not know who he is when I met him outside of the city capital. He lost his way so I help him out. Only a few minutes ago that I learned he is Commander Pan."

"Oh?" is it evident that Chao Shen is not convinced with her answer.

Chao Shen saw Lihua rolled her eyes before turning her horse and started to walk her horse towards the Prime Minister mansion. As he walked her figure moving away, he felt something in his heart. He did not understand when he started not to trust her. Or is it about something else? like what Hui told him?