bayedsolid Chapter 15 Qi Yuan recounts the events of the night of the attack.
Chapter 15 Qi Yuan recounts the events of the night of the attack.
"The second attack happened a few days before we met you, when we were approaching Mount Emei," Qi Yuan told Luo Yifei, recounting the events of that night.
……
The journey from Lanting Post Station in Lanting County of Western Shu Kingdom to Canglang Kingdom passes through several named mountains, countless hills, low-lying areas, and small forests in the southeastern region of Qi Kingdom.
The path that Qi Yuan and his group chose was merely a route used by merchants for smuggling for thousands of years, and it had also become a gathering place for bandits in the past two years.
"Stop and rest for a while." Qi Yuan saw that Hua Xi and Qing Wei were already exhausted, so he told everyone to stop and rest.
"I think it's getting late, how about we set up camp in this little grove tonight? What do you think, Qi Yuan?" Qiao Zhi asked Qi Yuan in a slightly consultative tone.
"Alright. Everyone take a break and get ready to set up camp," Qi Yuan said.
This is a small jungle. According to Qi Yuan's experience in the martial arts world, jungles are the most suitable places to set up camp.
What he didn't know was that this was a major taboo in the army during wartime. Wei Er had intended to remind him, but after several peaceful nights in the jungle, Wei Er forgot about it.
As dusk fell, the forest gradually quieted down, save for the occasional rustling of small animals through the leaves and grass, and the cicadas' chirping, which had only just begun in the last couple of days. After a long and arduous journey, the group's initial anxiety and unease had gradually subsided.
Gathering firewood, picking wild fruits, setting up camp, building campfires, and cooking wild game—everything gradually became easier and easier.
"It's been more than ten days since we left Free City," Sanmu said, eating wild fruit, his voice unclear as if he were talking to himself.
"From Free City to the Black Forest in the northeastern region of Western Shu, three days; from the forest to Lanting County, six days; one day at Lanting Post Station; from Lanting County to here, three days; a total of thirteen days." Han Yue wiped his glasses, which he had just taken off, with his clothes as he spoke. These glasses with transparent lenses and metal frames were invented by a Westerner, but they were too expensive to be used by royalty and nobility. This Westerner did have an Eastern name, Mu Qing.
"Han Yue, I've been wanting to tell you this for a while," Qiao Zhi said, "your glasses are too conspicuous. I'm afraid they might cause trouble when we go to some of the villages ahead."
"That's easy, I'll just put it away when I see the person," Han Yue said to Qiao Zhi, putting on his cleaned glasses.
"Qi Yuan, I also have a question for you. Han Yue told you to meet at Lanting, so why did Hua Xi come along?" Wei Er, who rarely spoke, asked.
Upon hearing Wei Er's question, Hua Xi put down the wild fruit she was about to bite into and looked at Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan glanced at Hua Xi, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "At first, I thought the same as Han Yue, that Hua Xi was the safest place in Free City. But then I thought, if Qi loses control of Free City, other countries might use Hua Xi to threaten Hua Yi. At that time, the safety of both Hua Xi and the people of Free City would be hard to guarantee. After all, Hua Xi is Hua Yi's only daughter."
The group chatted for a few more minutes. The men had been discussing the state of the world these past few days, the military strength of various countries, and who would have the opportunity to seize power. Qingwei and Huaxi rarely participated in their conversation. Seeing that the group was talking in silence, the two suggested that they play a piece of music together.
The music started, it was that famous piece – Spring River Flower Moon Night.
Unbeknownst to them in the darkness, a group of people were slowly closing in on them, forming a circle around them.
The song of Qingwei ceased, and as Huaxi's harmonica played its last note, the forest fell silent.
Qi Yuan and his group entered the tent to rest. Wei Er covered the campfire they had extinguished with soil so that it would not produce smoke.
Without the initial tension and anxiety, falling asleep became much easier. In the darkness, sparks began to rise around their tents.
Mimu's obese body began to sweat. He got up and, half asleep, said, "Why is it so hot tonight?" Then, his half-closed eyes reflected the flames around him.
He froze for three seconds, then yelled, "Get up! Fire! Fire!"
Wei Er was the first to get up after hearing San Mu's words. San Mu began to try to wake Ji Mi and Bi Li, who were beside him, while Wei Er woke up Qiao Zhi and Han Yue, who were beside him.
Qi Yuan also woke up and called to Qingwei and Huaxi on the far right. Just then, a voice came from outside the tent: "Come out and surrender now! We'll leave you with a whole corpse. You dare to offend our boss Fan Ye, you've had enough of living, so don't blame us."
Surrounded by the enemy, Qi Yuan had no choice but to devise a strategy and go out to fight them.
A group of men in black were getting closer and closer to the camp.
Qi Yuan and his group walked out of the tent. Seven men formed a circle, protecting the two women inside.
No one noticed a dark figure in a tree further away.
"Brothers, charge!" the leader of the men in black ordered.
Just then, an arrow flew from afar, striking Qi Yuan squarely in the chest, causing him to suddenly collapse to the ground. The men in black also all stopped in their tracks.
"Boss, what do we do?" one of the men in black asked their leader.
"Retreat! Go check that direction!"