“Can’t save him, can’t save him! Don’t you know what Xiaobei’s temperament is like?”
Jin Feng waved his hands repeatedly. “You really are asking for it. Teasing Dazhuang is one thing, but you even dare to provoke Xiaobei. Isn’t that like the old longevity star hanging himself, looking for death on purpose!”
Monkey had always liked to joke and tease people, but lately he had gone too far.
The recent journey was already exhausting enough. Yet the night before last, he had tricked Dazhuang by saying the scouts had spotted wild boars and egged him on to take people hunting.
To save time, everyone on the march ate only dry rations. Although there was meat, it was all dried meat, which stuck in the teeth and was hard to digest.
Jin Feng had visibly lost weight recently.
Dazhuang wanted to improve Jin Feng’s meals, so he led people straight into the mountains to hunt wild boars.
But they searched half the night and turned the entire mountain upside down, only catching three wild rabbits. Not even a shadow of a wild boar appeared.
When they returned to camp and saw Monkey rolling on the ground laughing, they realised they had been fooled.
In his previous life, Jin Feng had a junior high classmate just like that. He lied not for any gain, just to tease people.
Later, no one believed anything he said, and he ended up with no friends at all.
When no one at school believed him anymore, he called his parents and lied that the house was on fire, causing his father to drop everything and rush home.
That was the first time Jin Feng saw someone get beaten while suspended in a basket. The impression was extremely deep.
Only after starting university did he learn that this was a psychological disorder. Without intervention, the person’s pranks would grow bigger and bigger.
So that night, Jin Feng had harshly scolded Monkey and punished him to stand in the cold wind for half the night.
He thought Monkey would behave for a few days, but in the blink of an eye he was at it again, this time teasing Tang Xiaobei.
Tang Xiaobei was someone who held grudges. If she did not skin Monkey alive this time, it would be strange.
Jin Feng secretly wished someone would teach this lively monkey a lesson. Not adding fuel to the fire was already generous. How could he possibly speak up for him?
“Serves you right for your loose mouth! You could provoke anyone, but you had to provoke this young lady!”
Monkey was regretting it now. He slapped his own face. “Now I’m really done for!”
“What you said earlier about running into Bei Qianxun wasn’t a lie, was it?”
Jin Feng suddenly asked, “If it was, then you’re truly finished.”
“No, no!” Monkey quickly shook his head. “I may like to joke, but I’m not stupid. Falsely reporting military intelligence would get me beaten to death by you, Sir!”
“At least you’ve still got some sense in that head of yours!” Jin Feng said irritably.
He was about to say more when he saw Tang Xiaobei supporting a limping Bei Qianxun as they walked into the camp.
Following behind them was a little girl of about five or six years old.
Monkey’s eyes darted around. He gave Jin Feng a quick greeting and trotted off.
“Let’s see if Xiaobei can handle this lively monkey. If she can’t, we’ll have to replace him.”
Jin Feng watched Monkey’s retreating figure and sighed helplessly.
Monkey was the most capable scout under him, but this habit of teasing people was truly terrifying.
Jin Feng relied on the scouts’ intelligence to judge the situation and make decisions.
As his influence grew larger, every important decision Jin Feng made now carried massive consequences.
Sometimes it even determined the outcome of an entire battle.
Monkey was in charge of the scouts. If one day he lost control like that junior high classmate and started pranking Jin Feng himself, the joke would be far too big.
“Husband, come help quickly!”
Hearing Tang Xiaobei’s shout, Jin Feng snapped back to reality and hurried over.
The Bei Qianxun before him had lost all the arrogance and briskness she had shown during their last parting. Half an arrow shaft was still stuck in one leg. She limped heavily, almost leaning her entire weight on Tang Xiaobei.
Her hair was dishevelled and she looked thoroughly battered.
Jin Feng instinctively reached out to help Tang Xiaobei support her, but after extending his hand he pulled it back.
Not only did he not help, he even took two steps back and motioned for two female escorts to come forward instead.
Tang Xiaobei shot Jin Feng a fierce glare, her expression one of disappointment at his failure to live up to expectations.
Jin Feng knew she wanted him to win people’s hearts. Personally helping to support her would show more sincerity.
But he really did not dare.
Back then, Qin’er had stepped on him at Python Slope and made him question his entire existence.
The rule of no physical contact between unrelated men and women applied here. Bei Qianxun’s personality was even stranger than Qin’er’s. If she thought he was taking advantage by supporting her and slapped him to death with one palm, how unjust would that be?
This was only a temporary rest stop, so no proper camp tents had been set up.
Fortunately, although Monkey liked to talk nonsense, he still handled things properly. Guessing that Bei Qianxun might need to treat her wound, he had arranged for people to set up a simple tent after leaving.
When he saw Tang Xiaobei approaching, he quickly bowed and came forward. “Madam, the tent is ready. The military doctor is waiting inside for you both.”
After speaking, he fawningly handed over a small bundle. “I noticed that Aqiu and Miss Qianxun are about the same height and build, so I went to borrow a set of clothes from her.”
Tang Xiaobei snatched the bundle, glared at Monkey, and led Bei Qianxun into the tent.
The arrow in Bei Qianxun’s leg was too close to a major blood vessel. The military doctor worked for more than an hour before finally removing the arrowhead.
Although Jin Feng was anxious, he could only wait at the entrance.
By the time the wound was treated and she had changed clothes, the sky was almost dark.
When Tang Xiaobei supported Bei Qianxun back out, her face was frighteningly pale. Clearly she had lost too much blood earlier.
Her attitude was no longer as flippant as during their last meeting. She looked up at Jin Feng and said weakly, “I owe you another life! I’m sorry for delaying your journey.”
“Sister Qianxun, saying that makes us too distant,” Tang Xiaobei chimed in. “Forget that you saved me before. Even without that, meeting again after a thousand li is already fate!”
With Tang Xiaobei putting it that way, Jin Feng could only suppress his inner impatience, smile, and shake his head. “Miss Qianxun is too courteous.”
“Mr. Jin, didn’t you want me to protect you?” Bei Qianxun looked up at Jin Feng and said word by word, “You help me with one thing. If you succeed, I can protect you for a whole year!”
“What is it?”
Before Jin Feng could answer, Tang Xiaobei asked first.
“Help me wipe out a bandit lair!” Bei Qianxun replied.
“Sister Qianxun, with your skills, is there any bandit lair you can’t handle?” Tang Xiaobei asked.
She had seen Bei Qianxun’s abilities. Whether it was group fights or assassinations, she was extremely capable.
“That bandit lair has terrain that is too treacherous. The cliffs are almost completely vertical. I can’t climb up, and if we force an attack…”
Bei Qianxun trailed off and lowered her head to look at her leg.
Although she did not finish, both Tang Xiaobei and Jin Feng understood.
“I’ve heard that Mr. Jin is very good at suppressing bandits. As long as you help me destroy this gang, I promise to let you command me for a full year!”
Bei Qianxun asked, “What does Mr. think?”
“Husband…” Tang Xiaobei frantically signalled Jin Feng with her eyes.
Monkey, Dazhuang, and the others who were eavesdropping from the side also watched Jin Feng, waiting for his decision.
For Jin Feng, who possessed hot air balloons, no terrain was too steep.
Just drop a few hand grenades down, and the bandits guarding the pass would be blasted away.
Just when everyone thought Jin Feng would agree, they saw him shake his head.
