Sanbao led a squad of escorts back along the original route to Yuxi Town.
However, travelling at night with torches was inevitably slower than during the day.
Sanbao could only pray that Jin Feng had not slept well the previous night and was travelling slowly.
Otherwise, it might take them several days to catch up.
Unfortunately, the heavens did not hear his prayer.
More than a hundred li away, Jin Feng, his thoughts fixed on Xichuan, had been hurrying all day, pausing only once for a meal and rest.
At that moment, he had only just stopped to set up camp.
“Husband, it is time to eat.”
Tang Xiaobei carried a tray into the tent, her face full of concern.
Throughout the day’s journey, Jin Feng had been yawning constantly.
Tang Xiaobei had urged him several times to rest, but he had refused.
They rode until dusk, when he finally told Monkey to find a place to camp.
“Have the night watch shifts been arranged?”
Jin Feng asked as he took the chopsticks.
“Rest assured. Monkey is far better at this than you. He has scheduled five shifts, each on duty for one shichen. It will not delay tomorrow’s travel.”
Tang Xiaobei poured Jin Feng a bowl of soup. “As for you, you did not sleep last night and rode all day today. Eat quickly and go to bed.”
“I know.”
Jin Feng lifted the bowl and took a sip.
His brows furrowed slightly.
“What is wrong? Does it not suit your taste?” Tang Xiaobei asked.
“I did not sleep last night, so everything tastes bland.” Jin Feng shook his head and picked up his chopsticks.
“You too. Sister Xiaorou sent Runniang to Xichuan. Why did you not bring her along when coming to the East Sea?”
Tang Xiaobei asked while serving him food.
“The journey to the East Sea is bumpy, and we had to fight water bandits. Why make Runniang suffer?”
“You certainly feel sorry for Runniang,” Tang Xiaobei pouted. “When I came to the East Sea, I did not see you feeling sorry for me. You even pinched my ear!”
“Did I ask you to come?” Jin Feng ruffled Tang Xiaobei’s hair. “You could have taken a boat back comfortably. Why insist on riding with me?”
“At least you have some conscience.” Tang Xiaobei winked at Jin Feng and asked, “Did it happen?”
“What do you mean?”
“Stop pretending!” Tang Xiaobei pouted. “Do not say you do not know why Sister Xiaorou sent Runniang to Xichuan.”
“Adults’ matters are none of a child’s business!” Jin Feng picked up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth. “Eat.”
“Really useless. She was sent all the way to Xichuan, and still nothing happened!”
Tang Xiaobei poked Jin Feng. “You only know how to torment me!”
In those first days after meeting, Jin Feng had indeed tormented Tang Xiaobei quite a bit. Feeling a little guilty now, he did not respond.
Having gone two days and one night without sleep, Jin Feng retired early that night.
Yet his sleep was restless. He kept dreaming of Xichuan filled with starving corpses, dreaming of scenes from films and dramas in his previous life.
At first light, the escort team set off again.
Just like the first day, apart from resting every shichen for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, to let the horses recover, they spent the rest of the time hurrying.
Even meals were arranged by sending Monkey ahead to a tavern ten li away to reserve food. When the main group arrived, they ate quickly and continued.
Fortunately, the escorts were accustomed to long-distance travel and could endure it.
Only Tang Xiaobei suffered.
She usually travelled by carriage or boat. This was the first time in her life riding a horse for such a long distance.
The first day was fine. Buoyed by novelty, she even found it fun.
It gave her a sense of galloping freely across the land.
By the second day, she could hardly bear it. After a full day, she felt as if her bones were falling apart.
The thighs rubbing against the saddle were chafed raw.
But knowing Jin Feng was anxious, Tang Xiaobei gritted her teeth and did not complain.
“Perhaps I should have Dazhuang arrange a squad to escort you back by boat?”
That night, as Jin Feng applied ointment to her, his heart ached terribly.
“No need. Tomorrow I will just add extra padding to the saddle.”
Tang Xiaobei shook her head stubbornly.
“You are so stubborn.” Jin Feng put away the ointment. “Lie still. I will massage you.”
“That would not be proper, would it? A concubine serves the master. How can the master serve the concubine?”
Though Tang Xiaobei said this, a hint of anticipation flickered in her eyes.
“So much nonsense.”
Jin Feng flipped her over without ceremony. “When you bullied Xiaorou, did you think about propriety?”
“Sister Xiaorou is magnanimous and does not stoop to my level.”
Tang Xiaobei smiled and narrowed her eyes.
Jin Feng warmed his hands and placed them on her legs.
Though his technique was not professional, Tang Xiaobei still closed her eyes in bliss.
She felt that enduring this hardship was worthwhile.
In truth, it was not only Tang Xiaobei who suffered. Sanbao and the others chasing behind also endured hardship.
They had thought they could catch up in at most two days, but they had not expected Jin Feng to be hurrying at full speed too.
Sanbao pursued for five days without catching up.
With no choice, he arranged for two escorts to walk, freeing their horses. He then rode three horses in rotation, pushing at maximum speed.
Jin Feng’s group, with one horse each, could not gallop nonstop even at full effort.
This way, Sanbao’s speed surpassed theirs by a considerable margin.
Three days later, at dusk, Sanbao finally caught up with the main force as they were setting up camp.
“Sanbao, why are you here?”
Jin Feng had slept poorly these past days. The moment he saw Sanbao, an ominous feeling rose in his heart.
“Sir, Captain Han asked me to deliver this letter to you!”
Sanbao pulled the envelope from his bosom. “I chased you for days and finally caught up!”
Jin Feng did not have time to settle Sanbao. He immediately took the envelope and checked the wax seal.
Confirming it was intact, he tore it open at once.
Though he had prepared himself mentally before reading, the contents still enraged him. He clenched his fists.
“Those bastards. How can they be so shameless?”
Jin Feng punched a tent pole, toppling it.
His knuckles split and bled profusely.
Tang Xiaobei arrived just in time to see this. She rushed over, lifted his hand, and examined the wound.
“Husband, no matter how angry, you should not harm yourself like this.”
Tang Xiaobei scolded him tenderly while taking out a handkerchief to bandage the injury.
“You do not know what they have done.”
Jin Feng shook the letter until it rustled.
After all, having lived two lifetimes and over thirty years in his previous one, with higher education, Jin Feng had always been calmer than his peers.
Even upon learning that water bandits in the East Sea had hung escorts for humiliation, though furious, he had remained composed, thinking of countermeasures and deciding quickly.
But now, his whole body trembled slightly, his breathing grew heavy, and he looked ready to fight to the death.
Tang Xiaobei had seen Jin Feng angry before, but rarely like this.
This told her something gravely serious had happened. She quickly took the letter.
Moments later, her eyes widened, and her right hand holding the paper began to shake uncontrollably.
She finally understood why Jin Feng was so enraged.
“Too shameless! They are utterly shameless!”
