The Wandering Samurai and his Beloved General (BL)

There wasn't much time to rest. The looming thought of being caught by a creature capable of slaughtering six thousand soldiers on its own festered in everyone's minds.

After six hours, those who woke naturally quietly shook their tentmates, swiftly dressed, and prepared to pack the few items they had taken out the night before.

Haruki had only managed two hours of sleep.

When his drowsy eyes finally opened, the sight before him sent his soul reeling, invigorating his entire body in an instant.

Lanling lay in his arms, utterly defenseless. His face was so close that Haruki could make out the faintest scar at the tip of his right brow, the dried tears at the corners of his eyes, and his still-swollen lips—evidence of Haruki's relentless attention throughout the night.

The lewd memories flickered through Haruki's mind, making him feel as though he had dreamt it all. But a quick pinch of his hand and the sharp bite of pain dismissed that illusion.

He wasn't dreaming. This was real. And he was living it.

Pulling Lanling closer, Haruki nuzzled his nose against the crown of his head, savoring the faint scent of soap lingering on his skin—the same soap he had used to clean Lanling up. He chuckled, the memory of Lanling's flustered servants preparing the bath and fetching fresh clothes playing vividly in his mind.

His movement stirred the person in his arms.

Lanling groaned softly, a sound laced with pleasure as the ache in his body reminded him of last night's events. Subconsciously, he shifted, climbing on top of Haruki. Raising his head, he caught sight of the man's completely flushed face and couldn't help but laugh, his heart swelling with warmth.

"So early, and you're already tempting me," he teased, his voice deeper and huskier than usual from just waking up.

Haruki, unable to handle the sudden intimacy, hastily covered his face with his hands. Yet, despite his embarrassment, he couldn't resist sneaking a peek through his fingers at the sight of a freshly woken Lanling.

"I'm not—! I didn't! Don't talk nonsense!" Haruki stammered, his voice cracking as he attempted to defend himself.

Any confidence he had displayed the night before was now thoroughly shattered. His heart raced, and he silently prayed for his mind to calm down before he did something impulsive.

Lanling's laughter rang out, louder this time, his eyes curving into crescents of joy. "Where did the man from last night go? You didn't hesitate to eat me up then."

Haruki groaned, his voice faltering. "U-Urgh, t-that was—well..."

Lanling raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. "Hm?"

Haruki's face turned a deeper shade of crimson as he avoided Lanling's gaze. Finally, he murmured, "…I just wanted to make love to you..."

As the words left his lips, Haruki hesitantly removed his hands from his face. His left hand reached forward to comb through Lanling's tousled hair, while his right arm encircled his waist, pulling him closer.

Lanling felt weak, his body languid and unsteady. He could only hum in response, burying his face in the crook of Haruki's neck. The warmth and the lack of oxygen from his closeness made his head spin even more.

"We should get up," Haruki murmured.

"Yeah~," Lanling drawled lazily.

But neither of them moved.

"A few more minutes?" Lanling negotiated, his voice soft and teasing.

Haruki chuckled. "I'd love to, but we're still too close to the swamp," he said, his tone apologetic yet playful. To soften the blow, he began raining gentle kisses over Lanling's head and face, a transparent attempt to bribe him.

Lanling groaned, half in protest and half in amusement. "I hate that you're right," he grumbled, reluctantly pushing himself up. But before he fully pulled away, he caught Haruki's lips in a deep kiss, sucking on them until a loud chu sound echoed between them.

Satisfied, Lanling laughed, his eyes sparkling with mischief, and happily climbed off.

Haruki couldn't help but laugh along with Lanling, using that shared energy to pull himself up as well.

The army moved quickly, packing with practiced efficiency. With no major structures to dismantle, the simple tents vanished in under half an hour. Campfires were scattered, leaving no traces, and any garbage was meticulously cleaned up.

By the time they began their march, the area had reverted to its natural, untamed state—almost as if no one had spent the night there.

Their pace was more manageable than the frantic push of the previous day. Lanling's goal was to reach a nearby merchant town, a half-day's march from their current location. He needed to confirm that the Black Python's army had been completely destroyed—every last soldier dead. Only then could he consider returning.

Reaching the town would also provide access to several crucial resources, including instant communication.

The army reached a dirt road and followed its winding path, their journey becoming noticeably more peaceful. Along the way, Haruki spotted Verdan—and froze in shock when he noticed the man's entire left arm was gone.

"Verver?!" he exclaimed, stumbling toward him.

"Huh?" Verdan turned at the sound of his voice, scratching his head with his remaining hand in a gesture of shame. "Ah, damn. I was hoping to patch myself up before you saw me like this."

"What the hell?!" Haruki demanded, his voice tight with anger and concern. "Who did this to you?"

Verdan shrugged, his expression caught between nonchalance and bitterness. "Could've been one of those pythons that broke through the formation, maybe the boss took a bite out of me, or hell, maybe it was friendly fire." He forced a smile, but it faltered, laden with bitterness. "Who really knows? It's war."

It felt as though a bucket of cold water had been thrown over Haruki, snapping him awake.

His gaze swept over the army, unbidden, searching for familiar faces—and finding far too many missing. Soldiers he had shared jokes with, gone. Most painfully, the soldier who had always accused him of being a spy, turning every interaction into a playful interrogation, was nowhere to be seen.

Haruki's chest tightened. His face fell, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't summon even a glimmer of a smile to lighten the mood.

Verdan patted his shoulders, pulling Haruki back to reality. "I'll be fine. I know a prosthetic workshop back in the capital. I just hope it won't be too expensive." His brows knitted briefly, but the shame and bitterness he'd shown earlier seemed completely gone—as if Haruki had only imagined it.

Haruki caught on to the distraction and laughed, though it was a bit strained. "Maybe I can help you. I don't have much right now, though."

Verdan suddenly clicked his tongue. "With a general backing you, do you even need to work for gold?" His eyes lit up with a mischievous glint as he grabbed Haruki's shoulders, pulling him closer to whisper. "So? Give us brothers an update. We're dying of curiosity here."

Haruki choked, coughing in embarrassment. "What the hell are you talking about? What update? Which brothers?"

"Oh, you know~" Verdan's eyes rolled dramatically.

"No, I don't! And besides..." Haruki hesitated, unsure how to continue. "What do you even want to know?"

Verdan grinned, baring his teeth. "Well, have you done it?"

He teased without expecting an answer, but when Haruki's face turned crimson—steam practically rising off his head—Verdan froze as if struck by lightning.

A surge of joy for his friend overwhelmed him, and he burst out laughing. The grievances of the past few days seemed to lighten as he slapped Haruki's shoulders repeatedly. "Good! Congrats! Holy shit!"

Haruki could only rub his face, trying to cool the heat spreading across it. "Fuck you—"