92 第18章 智取柔然（3）

第18章 智取柔然（3）

Honghui’s whole body hurt. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was lying near the rest of the Imperial Army. His head pounded, and when he went to stand, his legs nearly gave out from under him. The last thing he remembered was getting Cricket to safety. Then there had been a curtain of white. The next thing he knew, he was waking up on the ground. 
But at least he had woken up. He had the oddest feeling, almost a memory tugging at him, that someone had helped him, though he knew that was impossible. Only the craziest of people would have run into the avalanche. Shaking off the thought, he made his way over to Commander Tung. As he approached, he heard Cricket calling out. 
“Has anyone seen Hua Jun?” Cricket asked, his eyes scanning the area. 
Hearing Cricket’s worried question, Honghui saw Commander Tung take notice as well. His battle-weary eyes searched the men. Spotting Honghui instead, he called him over. “Have you seen Hua Jun?” Commander Tung asked. 
Honghui shook his head, a pit growing in his stomach. Had Hua Jun been swallowed by the snow? Or lost to an invader’s arrow before the avalanche had even begun?
One of the soldiers gave a shout. Turning, Honghui spotted a f igure silhouetted in the distance. The fog made it hard to make out the details, but as the f igure came closer, Honghui inhaled sharply. It was the woman warrior he had seen in battle. There was no doubt about it. Her long hair f lowed out behind her as she rode across the valley atop her giant horse. 
“Black Wind?” 
Hearing Cricket, Honghui turned, startled, to f ind the young soldier now right next to him. He was staring at the warrior as well. Black Wind? Honghui repeated silently. What was Cricket talking about? Black Wind was Hua Jun’s horse. His mouth dropped open as the rider burst free from the snowy mist and fog right in front of them. The horse she rode was Black Wind. But if the horse was Black Wind, that meant the woman riding him was ... 
“Hua Jun?” Commander Tung said, putting voice to Honghui’s thoughts. 
The female warrior shook her head as she dismounted her horse. “I am Hua Mulan,” she said, her voice strong, steady—and feminine. 
Honghui’s head snapped back and forth between Commander Tung and the soldier he had known as Hua Jun. The commander’s face grew pale and the slightest of tremors shook his hand as he stared at Mulan. Honghui could see—and understand—the struggle Commander Tung was under as he grappled with what was happening. 
Mulan saw it, too. She straightened up, keeping her expression stoic. But Honghui saw the unease creeping into her body. Her shoulders fell just slightly; her hand quivered brief ly. The proud warrior she had been was beginning to fade under the horrif ied gaze of Commander Tung. 
Beside Honghui, Cricket gasped as he made the connection. “He’s a girl ...” Cricket said, shaking his head. The other soldiers mumbled and muttered under their breath as well, shocked by what they were seeing and hard-pressed to believe it.