Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Chapter 146 Not Fully Adapted

Slowly approach the edge of the military camp to observe their daily routine, the arrival of supplies, and the transport of materials.

Gradually, she not only learned about the soldiers' patterns of movement, but also discovered that they seemed to be stockpiling supplies before winter arrived.

The stables outside the military camp became busier, with soldiers frequently going in and out, clearly making preparations for winter.

Gu Jinyan silently kept all of this in his heart.

The army's supply and operations may be severely restricted in the cold winter.

During this time, the herders' trust in her deepened.

Finally, after months of observation and accumulation, Gu Jinyan mastered the military camp's travel routes and the soldiers' movement patterns.

A growing sense of certainty filled her heart—she had learned enough information.

The next step is simply to find the right opportunity to put all of this into action.

As night fell, Gu Jinyan stood on the edge of the grassland, the distant military camp appearing silent and cold under the starry sky.

I have become a part of life on the grassland, quietly integrating into this land.

Unbeknownst to her, she had acquired all the information she needed.

The night was as dark as ink. Tiger Clan General Aleger stood outside his tent, silently watching the distant grassland camp, his eyes revealing a hint of deep thought.

Gu Jinyan has gradually built trust among the herders, but Aleger still harbors a sliver of doubt.

Her arrival coincided with the military camp's inspection time, which made him uneasy.

He devised a plan and decided to test her true intentions.

The following day, Gu Jinyan helped the herders take care of their livestock as usual.

Alleghen arrived on horseback with several soldiers, his face bearing his usual coldness and majesty.

The herdsmen stopped what they were doing and bowed, but Aleger simply nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on Gu Jinyan.

“This young lady…” Alleger deliberately dragged out his words.

He walked up to Gu Jinyan and squinted slightly to examine her.

It seemed as if they were trying to read something from her expression.

Gu Jinyan felt a little nervous, but still calmly bowed.

“You seem very familiar with life on the grasslands, but I have never heard of any family you are descended from.”

Alleger asked abruptly, his words carrying a hint of probing.

Although his voice was not loud, it weighed on Gu Jinyan's heart like a heavy stone.

Gu Jinyan paused for a moment, then smiled casually and said, "I am not from this grassland. I just lived in the north for a period of time and know a little about the customs here."

She didn't offer much explanation, but wore a humble smile, as if she had inadvertently revealed this detail.

Alleghen remained unmoved, merely nodding slightly.

There seem to be no further questions.

He secretly decided to test her reaction further.

So he deliberately approached Gu Jinyan and said in a deep voice, "I heard that the military camp patrols have become more frequent recently. Since you often help out here..."

You must have heard about what's going on in the military camp, right?

Gu Jinyan's heart tightened suddenly, but he tried his best to remain calm.

She lowered her eyes slightly and shook her head gently: "I only know some scattered rumors about things in the military camp, and I don't know much about them."

Fearing that saying too much would arouse suspicion, he spoke simply and vaguely, neither admitting nor denying.

Just as Alleghen lingered his gaze on her face for a longer time...

Tuker's voice suddenly came from the side: "General Allegheny, this girl is an honest person."

She even helped us take care of the cattle and sheep a few days ago; otherwise, the few sheep we lost last year would have been a real problem!

Tuker smiled slightly as he spoke and patted Gu Jinyan on the shoulder.

It was as if they were defending her.

Allegir turned to look at Tuker, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

He smiled somewhat reluctantly: "Is that so? In that case, I won't ask any further questions."

However, military rules are strict, and the consequences for anyone attempting to spy on military secrets could be dire.

Alleger's gaze returned to Gu Jinyan, his words carrying a subtle warning.

Gu Jinyan did not respond directly, but nodded slightly, his eyes filled with respect and obedience.

It seems that Allegher did not grasp his implication.

But a sense of lingering fear crept into his heart, knowing that if he had been even slightly careless, he might have given himself away.

Allegher gave her a cold look, mounted his horse, and rode away with his soldiers.

Only after he completely disappeared from sight did Gu Jinyan feel a weight lifted from his heart.

She was not clear about Alleger's true intentions in testing her, but thankfully...

Tuker's unintentional help allowed her to divert the other party's attention at a crucial moment.

As night fell, Gu Jinyan lay in his tent, recalling the events of the day, and felt even more keenly the coldness and cunning of Alleger.

After that brief test, Alleger did not relax his suspicion of Gu Jinyan; on the contrary, he intensified his observation of her every move.

He viewed this outsider as a potential threat, always feeling that there was something inexplicable about her.

Therefore, he decided to continue testing the waters, even making arrangements for his trusted confidants without making a sound.

Without her noticing, she creates seemingly natural situations, hoping to glean clues from her reactions.

Although Gu Jinyan felt that Alleger's gaze occasionally lingered on him, he did not show any unusual reaction.

She maintained her usual smile and politeness, but inwardly she was on edge.

One's every move should not appear too deliberate, nor should it appear unguarded.

So she continued to help out at the camp every day, and even occasionally went to the edge of the camp to help the herders pass on some hay and water bags.

Approaching gradually, seemingly completely unaware.

At dawn, Gu Jinyan was awakened by the sound of rapid hoofbeats. Alleger rode up to the camp and called out from afar, "Lana, I heard you've been helping to deliver some supplies lately."

"It just so happens that our camp is short of hay and water. Why don't you come with me and deliver them yourself?"

His tone left no room for argument, and his eyes held a hint of coldness.

Gu Jinyan was slightly taken aback, but quickly revealed a submissive smile: "I will do my best to meet the general's needs."

Looking up, I saw that Alleger's expression seemed to carry an undeniable expectation.

This was no ordinary assignment; perhaps it was another pretext for Alleghen to test her.

He was secretly on guard, but outwardly remained calm as he accepted the water bag and hay, and followed Alleghen's group toward the military camp.

Along the way, Alleger occasionally chatted with her casually.

"The defenses of our military camp are not easily observed by outsiders, you know that, right?"

His tone was calm, but his gaze lingered on Gu Jinyan's face, intentionally or unintentionally.

Gu Jinyan nodded slightly and said with a smile, pretending to be casual: "The general is right. The military camp is heavily guarded. Even getting close to it inspires awe."

He remained ambiguous in his speech, neither showing excessive curiosity nor directly avoiding Allegher's hints.

If they are not careful, Alleger will notice.

Once they reached the outskirts of the military camp, Alleger pointed to a camp that was being set up: "Take these water bags to the tents in front."

His words carried a hint of coldness.

We look forward to her next move.

Gu Jinyan hesitated for a moment, then walked toward the tent.

However, just as she approached, several soldiers suddenly came out of the tent and blocked her from entering.

She quickly adjusted her mindset, gave an apologetic smile, and explained that she was just there to deliver water.

Alleger observed her every move from afar, his eyes filled with scrutiny.

Just then, Tuker strode over and saw Gu Jinyan standing at the edge of the military camp.

He laughed loudly and said, "This girl is someone I brought with me. She's so diligent in serving water to the soldiers. General, you don't need to worry!"

His laughter was hearty, seemingly oblivious to the general's hidden suspicions.

Alleger frowned slightly, but seeing that Tuker had no doubts, he had no choice but to withdraw the suspicion in his eyes.

He waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to let Gu Jinyan put the water bag in.

Afterwards, back at the camp, Gu Jinyan felt a little relieved, but he still dared not let his guard down.

She escaped the test under Tuker's cover, but she knew that Alleger had not completely given up his suspicions about her.

As night fell, Gu Jinyan returned to the camp, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over the corner of his tent.

There are hidden the embroideries and paintings she used to convey messages.

She gently lifted the curtain, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and then slowly walked in and lit a candle.

The faint candlelight shone on the paintings, making the embroidered patterns appear exceptionally delicate in the light and shadow.

Every stitch and every thread holds the secret in her heart.

Gently unfold an embroidery, your fingertips tracing the delicate patterns on the fabric.

On the surface, it is an exquisite grassland pattern, but behind some seemingly random lines lies a carefully crafted code.

These "grassland landscapes" were not only her tools for transmitting information, but also her only connection with the outside world.

However, after Alleger's probing, she keenly sensed the danger of the situation.

He could discover any clue, no matter how small.

With a soft sigh, he understood that he could only temporarily step aside and wait for a safer opportunity.

The flickering candlelight added a touch of hesitation to her decision.

Just as she hesitated, footsteps sounded outside the tent. Her heart tightened, and she quickly gathered the embroidery and hid it in her sleeve. She sat quietly on the mat, pretending to tidy up something.

The curtain was lifted, and Tukkel's face appeared in the doorway.

With a smile, she said, "Lana, it's getting cold. If you don't mind me nagging, come over and have a bowl of milk tea to warm yourself up."

Gu Jinyan forced a smile, lowered his head and said, "Thank you for your concern. I'm still packing some things. I'll come back later."

Tuker nodded and turned to leave.

The night breeze swept by, the curtains were slightly lifted, and Gu Jinyan's emotions were stirred.

Tuker's unintentional concern almost exposed her secret.

After he left, Gu Jinyan did not hesitate any longer. He spread the paintings and embroidery on the ground and looked at them quietly for a while.

It's a farewell to them.

She slowly lit the edge of the scroll, and the flames quickly devoured every piece of information.

The flickering firelight reflected in her eyes, carrying a mixture of reluctance and resolve.

The fine threads on the embroidery gradually curled up in the firelight, turning into a wisp of smoke and drifting away.

All the forbearance and waiting of these past days dissipated into the night with the wisps of smoke.

The fire gradually died down, leaving only a patch of dark gray ashes on the ground.

With a gentle flick of his wrist, Gu Jinyan carefully gathered the ashes and buried them under the mat.

Never existed.

She stood up, her expression calm and resolute, silently reminding herself: on this grassland, she could no longer take any risks.

We must be even more careful and conceal all her intentions and thoughts.

That night, she did not go to Tukkel.