Chapter 29: Meeting One of Her Heroes - Great General Zhong
" If it’s not AoTian’s boy who always gets lost", a dominant and loud voice came from the carriage that stopped. Xing saw a tall and muscular man with greyed hair and thick facial hairs that almost hid his face. He was at least sixty but he was really active and he looked like a bear and Xing recognised the sword by his waist. So he must be the great General Zhong who protected the borders in the past, Xing was overwhelmed. She had seen him leading in the battle once from a distance seven years back and he was one of the persons she had always wanted to meet. This Great General with his armour and his broadsword charged into the enemies fearlessly and ended the war that spanned for almost a decade.
Didn’t think he was an old man! Wow! Amazing!
" Get in", his voice echoed in the streets. Rijun jerked a bit and bowed and said, " Greetings Lord Zhong" and pushed Xing’s head to bow. Xing who was staring in admiration immediately greeted, " Greetings great General Zhong. It is an honour". Lord Zhong squinted his eyes, " No one has called me that for a long time", he scanned her from head to toe and smirked. " Aren’t you going to the Huang Jasmine Manor? Get in", he commanded and both got in.
Xing was starstruck and could not keep her mouth shut and started talking non-stop about how amazing he is, ignoring Rijun who was prompting her to stop talking by pinching her hands.
Lord Zhong, also known as Great General and also nicknamed ’Fierce Grizzly’ was a man feared and respected by the entire kingdom, not only because of his services to the kingdom but also because the army of the Zhong clan was the best army for years and also the devil-may-care attitude of his. Even the previous Emperor was scared of him. It was told that he had never laughed in his life and there was a myth in the city that he eats unruly children. Even Rijun was scared of him even though his father had a good relationship with him as he was raised in the Zhong Manor.
What Lord Zhong hated the most was flattery and here his stupid sister is flattering non-stop,Rijun sighed.
Why should I care about her? Who cares if he eats her?
"Old man! This is the same sword you brought to the final battle, right?", Xing asked Lord Zhong starry-eyed as if she had found a treasure.
Rijun almost vomited blood, What? Old man? He is the most respected General and she calls him old man like he’s some soup stall owner? Has she gone mad? Is the general going to kill her? Should I escape? Will father hold it against me if I escape alone? Fine, I’ll see through it.
Rijun tried to decrease his presence by merging himself with the walls of the carriage. I’m not getting involved with the grizzly!
But to his bewilderment, he heard a laugh. What? The fierce grizzly with frozen expressions can laugh? Rijun was shocked and looked at Lord Zhong .
Lord Zhong was a veteran who has seen many wars and spilled much blood for his country and of course he had many scars as proof. This has made him look tough and people find it hard to get along with him especially kids, who’d run away screaming from him. But the brat in front of him was looking at him starry-eyed. He had already found out at first look that the one in male attires is a girl as he had seen all kinds of body types of men in his years of training soldiers and this one’s is not that of a man’s.