The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

Xun Hao, supporting himself on the table, slowly stood up. His movements were unsteady due to his weakness.

Guo Jia's heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward to support the man's arm. "What's wrong?"

"Brother Fengxiao," Xun Hao said softly, without looking at him, his gaze fixed on the empty entrance to the council hall, "you're leaving again."

A simple statement, yet it made Guo Jia's heart feel as if it had been gently bumped by something.

"Our lord has given us three days to prepare, there's no rush," he reassured gently, helping Xun Hao walk slowly outside. "Besides, we're just going to check on the remaining counties, we'll be back soon."

Xun Hao did not respond, but simply let him support him as they walked along the corridor, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Xun Hao suddenly stopped.

He broke free from Guo Jia's grasp, turned around, and faced him.

"My lord, my brother, and Mr. Zhicai and the others, everyone has seen your extraordinary talent," Xun Hao raised his eyes, the afterglow of the setting sun falling into them like shattered gold. "They all hope that you will achieve great things, that you will fly higher and farther. This is good, because you are Guo Fengxiao, you are meant to soar in the heavens and leave your name in history."

These words startled Guo Jia.

He thought Xun Hao would throw a tantrum and refuse to let him leave.

But he didn't.

He was simply stating a fact, and Guo Jia felt a strange emptiness in his heart.

Just then, Xun Hao's tone changed.

He lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a shadow on his face, and his voice carried a hint of grievance that he himself was unaware of.

"But they only care about how high you fly, only I... only I worry about whether you're tired from flying."

"I keep thinking, with all this travel, have you been eating properly again? Have you been drinking strong liquor like water? When it gets cold at night, have you remembered to put on an extra layer of clothing?"

Guo Jia felt as if his breath had stopped.

He looked at the person in front of him, at his trembling eyelashes, at his lips that were excessively pale due to his illness.

Xun Hao raised his head, his eyes slightly red. "My brother recommended you as an 'assassin' for your own good; he hopes you can realize your ambitions. But I... I'm so selfish. The thought of you out there enduring hardship, not eating well or sleeping soundly, makes me..."

He couldn't continue.

Guo Jia's mind went blank, as if countless fireworks had exploded simultaneously. Yan Ruo is concerned about me! Besides, why should I need Xun Wenruo's concern? I'm a grown man; what's a little hardship like sleeping in the open?

Given my feelings for Yanruo, the fact that he didn't slash me with his sword is already a testament to his good manners!

Guo Jia's mind was screaming wildly, but his words were a completely different story.

He reached out and gently wiped away the slight moisture from Xun Hao's eyes with his fingertips. "It's enough that Yan Ruo is worried about me."

Xun Hao looked at the emotions surging in his peach blossom eyes and knew that he had made the right move.

He felt a slight sense of relief, but then a pang of guilt arose within him.

His elder brother treated him as a close relative, and he could not speak ill of his elder brother.

No, we have to make up for it.

He took the opportunity to grab Guo Jia's hand that was resting on his side, but his fingertips hooked onto the other's sleeve and shook it gently.

"Don't blame your brother," his voice softened, with a slight nasal tone, "Your brother... is also your close friend. Naturally, he hopes you have a bright future and are not bound by worldly affairs. It's my fault. My body is useless, always distracting you and becoming a burden to you."

Guo Jia felt as if his heart was being crushed.

drag?

How could he be a burden?

"Nonsense!" Guo Jia could no longer hold back and pulled the person into his arms.

Considering Xun Hao's health, he hugged him very gently, feeling the warmth of his slender body in his arms, and the restless heart that had been agitated by years of debauchery. "How could being with you be a burden?"

After a long while, Guo Jia slowly released him, but his hand remained on his shoulder, unwilling to let go. "Today, I will stay in your residence and not go anywhere else."

Xun Hao leaned against him, "Only today?"

"Of course not." Guo Jia's voice unconsciously lowered considerably. "For these three days, as long as you don't discuss matters or meet with the lord, the rest of the time is yours."

The two returned to Xun Hao's courtyard one after the other. As soon as they entered the house, a strong, pungent smell of medicine hit them.

A servant stood respectfully to one side, holding a bowl of dark, medicinal soup.

"Sir, it's time to take your medicine."

He took the bowl and, under Guo Jia's watchful eye, drank the bitter medicine in one gulp. When he put the bowl down, his face was contorted in pain, and a drop of black medicine clung to the corner of his mouth.

"Bitter..." He subconsciously stuck out his tongue.

Guo Jia was deeply moved. He took out a clean silk cloth from his pocket and wiped him clean.

Xun Hao seemed about to speak, his lips slightly parted, and the fingertip that had been tracing his lips was taken into his warm mouth. His teeth inadvertently scraped his skin, bringing an indescribable tingling sensation that traveled up his arm and straight to the top of his head.

Guo Jia froze completely.

Xun Hao seemed startled by his own actions. He suddenly opened his eyes wide, his clear eyes first filled with confusion, then with panic and embarrassment.

He quickly loosened his jaw and buried his head, his ears turning a thin layer of red at a visible speed.

"I...I didn't mean to..."

Guo Jia, however, wouldn't listen to a single word.

He withdrew his hand, looked at his index finger, and his eyes darkened.

[Battery charge increased by 15%, current total battery level 50%.]

Hearing the notification in his mind, Xun Hao, from an angle where no one could see him, curled up a triumphant smile, killing two birds with one stone.

Three days later, Xun Hao woke up to the sound of birds chirping.

He opened his eyes, feeling refreshed. He instinctively checked the system: [Current Battery: 100%]

It seems that sticking to Guo Jia like glue while sleeping has a significant effect. However, he doesn't know how much Guo Jia suffered after being pestered all night.

He got out of bed, opened the window, and the cool morning breeze carrying the fragrance of grass and trees wafted in, invigorating Xun Hao.

The courtyard was deserted.

Guo Jia has already left.

A faint sense of loss welled up in Xun Hao's heart.

Ten days after Guo Jia left, the last Yellow Turban stronghold in Yanzhou, Jibei County, surrendered.

When the news spread, the entire city of Puyang was in an uproar.

This means that, in just a few months since Cao Cao took control of Yan Province, he swiftly and decisively wiped out the remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion that had plagued the province for years. This achievement is enough to make the world take notice.

Cao Cao, full of high spirits, clapped his hands and laughed heartily.

He dispatched Cheng Yu and Li Dian to accept the surrender. Looking at the generals and advisors below, he declared in a booming voice, "Issue my order: a three-day grand banquet to reward the entire army!"

Everyone in the hall stood up to offer their congratulations, and the atmosphere was filled with joy and excitement.

However, this joy did not last long.