"It's dim," Tian Jing said, bending down to pick up a vine and continue stringing cocoons.
"Sister-in-law, help me carry these people away. I can't manage alone."
She couldn't pick them up roughly or drag them. These five were people, not animals or criminals. She couldn't leave any external injuries on them. Friends deserved to be treated with kindness.
"Of course." Ouyang Meihua's eyes sparkled.
Li Min had secretly told her that Haohao's troops must not be far, as Tian Jing could make two round trips a day with ease. Ouyang Meihua wanted to see what the special forces unit was like. She also wanted to see her eldest son, though she didn't know if he was in the unit. Seeing the environment would give her some peace of mind.
Li Min eagerly volunteered, "Little sister-in-law, I'm strong, I can help you carry them."
Tian Jing refused, "You can't get in there."
"Why not?"
"Because you don't have a child inside, nor do you have any special skills that would make them treat you differently."
As she spoke, Tian Jing motioned for Ouyang Meihua to grab one end of the vine. She held the other end and pulled, straightening the vine and lifting the five cocoons. Ouyang Meihua's hands felt the sudden weight and sting as the vine, soft moments ago, became rigid.
Tian Jing turned and walked towards the backyard. "Li Min, stay here and cook for your brother. We won't be back for lunch."
"Okay~"
...
Zeng Jingrong waited at the entrance of the compound. When he saw Tian Jing and Ouyang Meihua carrying a string of cocoons, he quickly reached out to take Tian Jing's end.
Tian Jing shook her head. "You take Ouyang Meihua's end. If I let go, the carrying pole will be gone."
Zeng Jingrong then realized that the vine was also being used as a carrying pole. Zeng Jingrong took the 'carrying pole' from her. Ouyang Meihua shook her hands; it was too heavy, and she could only lift it with pure strength, otherwise, it would slow down Tian Jing.
Ouyang Meihua followed into the compound and was directed by Tian Jing to the mess hall.
"Sister-in-law, wait in the mess hall and don't wander around. I'll show you around later."
"Okay." Ouyang Meihua was already astonished by the sheer size of the compound, which looked larger than three or four Kusanli villages combined. Was this even considered a courtyard?
Before locking the five men in the dungeon, Tian Jing, with a touch of mischief, dragged them to the small window of the woman's room.
"Hey, beauty, long time no see. I've brought you some friends. Do you recognize any of them?"
The five familiar faces enraged the woman, making her pound the bed. "You're despicable! If you have the guts, fight me one-on-one."
Tian Jing tossed the last person to Zeng Jingrong below and sat by the small window to chat with the woman. "I don't have the guts. I only know how to make an ordinary person disappear for more than two years."
"He's not ordinary!" The woman, lying on her back, lost all her ferocity. "If he were ordinary, how could it have taken me over two years to find my treasure?"
"Oh my, it was just a counter-intelligence operation. If you're stupid, how can you blame others for being too smart?"
Tian Jing's sarcasm made the woman grit her teeth. "What exactly do you want?"
"I don't want anything." Tian Jing shook her head. "I just want to see how many people will rush here for you."
"I also want to see if the prepared rooms are enough to accommodate all of you."
"But it's okay, if there aren't enough rooms, you can share."
"Don't worry, if there are no women, I won't arrange for men to stay with you."
"I've been quite lenient with you, haven't I? Actually, if it weren't for his sake, I wouldn't be this lenient."
"Do you have any last words? If not, I'm leaving."
"Wait." The woman softened, her tone changing. "Please tell the next group who come looking for you to bring Jing Chu to exchange."
"This is the outcome you want, right?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Tian Jing shook her head. "You called me smart on our first meeting, and now I'll call you very smart. But I have one question."
"Ask."
"Who are you asking them to bring Jing Chu to exchange for? I have six people here now."
Looking at the woman below, stunned by her question, Tian Jing continued, "If the next group of people, like the first time you saw me, or like these five who shamelessly appraised me as if I were merchandise, do you think I'll still let them go back?"
"By now, don't you understand that I'm practically your ancestor?"
"Arrogance in front of an ancestor comes with a price."
"I want to know how many of you there are."
"I also want to know if your leader is smarter than you."
"Think about life slowly. I'm going to see what kind of faces those five people who became merchandise have."
The figure at the small window disappeared, but the woman trembled slightly. What if the entire family was wiped out because of her? She screamed at the small window, "Someone! Someone! I have something to say! Someone! Someone!"
Tian Jing, hearing the shouts from the small opening, smiled and shook her head. "Captain Zeng, how many more people do you want before this game ends?"
"Be careful," Zeng Jingrong warned. "The foreign ability user families only send those below level three out. Those who stay within the family and don't travel are all level three high-tier or above. It's said that some have even broken through the great perfection of level three due to accidents and ascended to level four. Although your level is very high, I worry that their claims of accidentally breaking through the great perfection of level three are false, and they have their own ways of deceiving others."
Tian Jing nodded. Zeng Jingrong's concern was not unfounded. "When will Ranran be back?"
"It will take a few more days."
"This afternoon, after I send Ouyang Meihua back, I'll go to the labyrinth. You come too. I want to level up again."
Zeng Jingrong casually asked, "Level six?"
"You underestimate me too much." Tian Jing gave him a sideways glance. She had entered level five sixteen years ago. In those sixteen years, she had nurtured countless seedlings. When the seedlings grew beyond normal, she had reclaimed immense energy. Especially in the past six years since the nursery was established, she had spent eight months of every year absorbing energy. During these eight months, she had used her abilities almost daily. Her abilities had naturally ascended to level six. Level seven was a watershed; the commotion during an upgrade would be significant, hence her need for the labyrinth's cover.
Zeng Jingrong was so surprised he couldn't speak. "Sev-sev-seven..."
Tian Jing nodded, stopping his stuttered questions. Zeng Jingrong patted his chest. He knew then that Tian Tian wasn't one to show off, so why was she so resolute when confronting foreign ability user families?
"Alright, I'll accompany you."
"Accompany what? You need to level up too. It's precisely because your captain's rank is too low that others dare to be arrogant on our territory."
"I... I'm only level four high-tier."
Tian Jing was displeased. "How are you so slow?"
"My water element is not easy to train."
"Who said that?" Tian Jing glared at him fiercely. "That's just an excuse for your laziness. When we get to the labyrinth, you can tell me exactly what's going on with your abilities."
"Okay." Zeng Jingrong grinned. It was best that Tian Tian was willing to help him.
Tian Jing couldn't stand his silly look and turned to leap onto the roof of another house.