Ah, truly, each and every one is a sight for sore eyes.
Meng Qishan was in a very good mood. With this grand-niece and her fellow disciples present, they of the Meng surname would not perish.
He could finally sleep soundly, he was truly exhausted.
"Brother, brother, brother."
Meng Qiren, seeing his brother faint, looked helplessly at Fu Xinci, his eyes filled with worry and sorrow. "Xinci, my brother…?"
"Uncle Qiren, Uncle Qishan is fine, he's just too tired."
Qiren recalled that his brother hadn't dared to close his eyes for the past two days, especially after those men in black appeared today, always shielding him.
Originally, the companions wanted to help, but Fu Xinci didn't allow it. Only she had wood elemental abilities here. To help the wounded recover soon, it was fine for her to work a little harder.
By the time Fu Xinci finished bandaging all the wounded, she was sweating profusely from exhaustion.
Qi He had been by her side the whole time. Seeing that she was finally done, he greeted the captain and the others.
Before, others hadn't noticed anything, thinking it was heaven helping them, only raining on the men in black and causing the ground to shake where the men in black were.
Qi He, however, saw through the trick. These events were likely orchestrated by the captain and his companions.
Thinking that Fu sister's friends could summon the wind and rain, and move earth to fill gullies, Qi He’s admiration for them flowed endlessly like a mighty river.
Yet, he could only let his inner feelings surge, unable to outwardly express them. He knew that the captain and Fu sister shared the same thought: discretion.
The men in black were all crushed by the earth in the ravine, and the wounds on the young men had been treated by Xinci. Only then did they have the energy to speak.
"Xinci, it's wonderful that you could come to our rescue."
They had all grown up together. Although the young men hadn't seen the captain and his companions make a move, it was only after Xinci arrived that the rain and ground tremors appeared. Thus, they unanimously believed this was good fortune brought by Xinci.
Otherwise, they were within striking distance of the men in black, yet they were unharmed, while the men in black were soaked like drowned chickens, standing like wooden posts.
Even more bizarre was the earthquake. They and the men in black were standing so close.
When they prostrated themselves, they were fine. But those detestable men in black were not only buried by the earth, but also fell into the mountain gully with the huge mound of soil.
Those among them with lighter injuries had gone to look just now. The mountain gully, a good two to three zhang deep, had been completely filled in.
The young men thought that if Xinci hadn't arrived, they would have all perished here. A wave of relief washed over them again.
Seeing that the soldiers were no longer in critical condition, the captain discussed with Xinci, "Let's rest here for today. Jia Can and I will start a few bonfires."
"Okay." Fu Xinci nodded in agreement and then found an excuse to lead their horses over and tether them to the trees.
The blazing bonfires were lit, illuminating a series of young and pale faces.
The captain asked Qi He, "Xiao He, you haven't had dinner yet, have you?"
"No. We were planning to set up camp here and prepare some food, but who would have thought that as soon as we dismounted, those men in black would rush from behind."
"Then let's go see if we can hunt some wild game to fill our bellies."
"I'll go with you."
"Xiao He, you should stay. In case those men in black's masters have any further tricks up their sleeves, your companions will be in danger."
"Yes, I was inconsiderate. I'll listen to Brother Long Teng."
Hearing Qi He address him as Brother Long Teng, the captain's lips curled up naturally. He clearly liked this appellation.
Fatty Dun, who had been silent, moved closer to the captain with a hint of envy and quietly reminisced about the past. "Captain, remember how you rescued us one by one back then…."
"Fatty Dun, why are you recalling events from so long ago?"
"Of course I remember. I was the youngest back then." He was the pampered little fatty everyone doted on.
"Indeed."
Thinking of that optimistic little fatty, smiles appeared on the companions' lips.
"Now Xinci is the youngest," Fatty Dun said, then glanced at the young men and grumbled sourly, "Youth is wonderful."
"That sounds so bitter, as if you're ancient."
"Don't you think Fatty Dun has been rather artistic lately?"
"Yes, I've noticed that too."
Xu Jiacan glanced back at the young men. Most of them were drowsy due to excessive blood loss and fatigue. He lowered his voice and teased, "Fatty Dun, we're considered people of some standing now. Why don't you also take the imperial examinations? Perhaps you can even snag an official post, and we can bask in your reflected glory."
"Forget it. I'm not going to be a beast of burden for that old geezer. Damn it, getting up earlier than a chicken every day, and still having to kowtow to him. What a joke."
Seeing that the captain and the others were no longer in sight, Qi He quietly tugged at Fu sister's sleeve, handed her the bank notes he was holding, and then whispered, "Why did Fu sister come to pick us up?"
"Yan Yi sent a carrier pigeon to his subordinates, asking them to inform your grandfather and Uncle Qi that those families would send people to hunt you down."
"Oh." Qi He hadn't expected Yan Yi to go this far. "We are truly grateful to Lord Yan. Otherwise, we might have all perished here today."
"How have you been on the journey? Were you injured?" Fu Xinci had already sensed that Qi He was unharmed, but her mouth moved faster than her brain, and she still asked.
"I'm fine." Qi He thought for a moment and then voiced his concern, "I feel like these men in black are specifically targeting the Meng family. The other people in our squad were mostly fine on this journey, but none of the Mengs were spared."
"Look at the wounds on Uncle Jin. He was injured like this while saving Yuluo."
After speaking, Qi He looked at Fu Xinci with some worry, wanting to say: What should we do?
"If they don't provoke my family, I won't do anything to them. But if their claws stretch too far, I don't mind chopping them off."
At this moment, Fu Xinci's eyes seemed to freeze over, and a chilling cold emanated from her gaze, piling up into an bone-piercing chill.
However, this coldness was well concealed by the darkness of the night.
The captain and the others returned very quickly. In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they had managed to hunt a small wild boar weighing over a hundred pounds and a roe deer.
Xiao Ai and Yang Xinjie followed behind, also carrying two wild chickens.
Xu Ruyi, naturally sensitive to water, pointed to a spot below the hillside and said, "There's a river there. Let's go there to process these game."
"Ruyi, lead the way."
"Okay."
Watching his companions excitedly carry the game to the riverbank, Dan Xiaocong, who had only sustained one knife wound, couldn't sit still.