Fu Xin Ci, having received the note from Yang Xin Jie, naturally cooperated wholeheartedly.
The next day, as dawn broke, Qi He got up. After washing up, without even eating breakfast, he hurried towards the garrison.
"Little He, where are you off to so early?"
"Grandpa Meng, I'm going to the garrison to see if my father and the others have returned."
Qi He had spoken with Uncle Jin the previous night about all the events they had experienced. Jin Xiao Qi had concluded that Qi Yuan Shan and his men would likely return today.
Knowing his father was due back, Qi He was overjoyed and couldn't even be bothered to eat breakfast, eager to see his father.
As a result, they waited until the first squad changed shifts before hearing Qi Xi shouting loudly from atop the large rock: "They're back, Uncle Yuan Shan and the others are back!"
Upon hearing that everyone from the garrison had returned, Jin Xiao Qi also yelled, "Everyone, quickly move the stone formation!"
"Aye!"
With everyone from the garrison back, the people from the two villages were also invigorated. Together, they moved the stone formation, awaiting the triumphant return of Qi Ba Zhong and the garrison soldiers.
From a distance, as figures appeared, Jin Xiao Qi began to shout: "Oh my, there are several more horses! Besides a few wounded soldiers on their backs, aren't those war spoils?"
"It looks like weapons and clothing," the soldier who remained by Jin Xiao Qi's side added gleefully.
Perhaps it was a father's intuition, but Qi He felt his father’s face was rather glum, appearing quite wronged.
But he couldn't overthink it. He rushed forward, grabbed his father's arm, and said with filial devotion, "Dad, you're back."
"Aye, I'm back." Seeing his son, Qi Yuan Shan's face still didn't hold much joy.
"Dad, what's wrong?"
"Dad's fine," Qi Yuan Shan said, trying to appease his son and prevent him from worrying.
It was Jin Xiao Qi, with his sharp eyes, who noticed something amiss. "Ba Zhong, where's your saber?"
"Alas, don't mention it." Bringing up the matter made Qi Yuan Shan feel a stifling frustration, unable to breathe in or out.
"What happened?" Jin Xiao Qi couldn't believe their Ba Zhong would lose that saber.
"My saber, it was forcibly bought and sold by Commander Lei..." Having his beloved possession taken, Qi Yuan Shan sighed. Even though it was his superior, he longed to find a secluded place and fight Commander Lei, even if he couldn't win.
"Alas, it infuriates me!" Thinking of his beloved saber being forcefully taken by Commander Lei, Qi Yuan Shan felt a lump in his throat, unable to swallow.
All the soldiers in the garrison lost the joy of their victory. It was all because their Ba Zhong's saber had been robbed by Commander Lei.
They had witnessed the power of that saber. Like their Ba Zhong, they too were reluctant to part with it.
"Ba Zhong, why didn't you run back first?" Jin Xiao Qi even offered Qi Yuan Shan advice.
"I wanted to run, old Jin, but you didn't see it. To cheat me out of my saber, he casually threw down a five hundred tael silver note when I wasn't paying attention, grabbed my saber, and ran."
Qi Yuan Shan became more and more incensed as he spoke. "That was in front of the entire thousand-household post, he truly lost all shame."
Jin Xiao Qi shook his head upon hearing this, "Having such a superior officer, it seems we are indeed unlucky."
"Isn't that the truth..." Qi Yuan Shan truly couldn't bear to part with his saber. "Old Jin, you don't know, with that saber in my hand, in this single great battle, how many Tatar heads I cut off."
Thinking that in this great battle he had beheaded more Tatars than in the previous ten years combined, Qi Yuan Shan became even more regretful.
"Alas, I truly can't bear to part with it." Qi Yuan Shan, a tall and strong man, was filled with reluctance for his saber.
It wasn't just Qi Yuan Shan who couldn't bear to part with the saber; the soldiers of the entire Eagle Beak Cliff garrison felt the same.
This was why, despite winning a great victory, no one was happy.
Qi He, knowing his father's saber had been forcibly bought by the commander, also felt a sense of loss.
He knew how much his father cherished that saber. And another very important point was that the saber had been found for his father by Sister Fu's master.
If Sister Fu's master found out that his father couldn't even protect this saber, would he be angry with his father?
The more Qi He thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, and gradually, his little face drooped just like his father's.
Jin Xiao Qi: For the first time, their garrison had won such a splendid victory, yet everyone hung their heads. No one would believe it if they said it.
Alas, what a vexing situation.
The Wang family had been staying at the garrison for the past few days. Old Man Wang, along with his two sons, had voluntarily joined the guard and patrol duties.
Seeing their third son return today, the Wang family was filled with emotion.
Wang Da Bao did not feel surprised to see his family at the garrison. For years, whenever the Tatars came to harass Liaodong, his family would come to the garrison for refuge.
It was only when he heard that his parents and older brothers and sisters-in-law had almost been killed by the Tatars that his eyes turned crimson.
Seeing his youngest son's look of fear and regret, Old Man Wang continued, "Da Bao, you don't need to blame yourself. This time, it can be said that we were fated not to die. It was Xin Ci, that child, who saved our entire family."
"Yes, if it weren't for Xin Ci this time, our whole family would have been finished," added Mother Wang.
After hearing his parents speak, Wang Da Bao stared at his family for a long time before saying with great determination, "Dad, Mom, brothers, sisters-in-law, I have something to tell you."
"Da Bao, speak."
"Dad, Mom, let's move our home to the garrison." Wang Da Bao looked at his parents, his tone leaving no room for refusal.
Old Man Wang wanted to say that he was used to living in one place and didn't want to move. But Wang Da Sao and Wang Er Sao, whenever they thought of the lewd and bloodthirsty eyes of those Tatars, had been having nightmares for days.
No one understands a wife better than her husband. Wang Da Fu and Wang Da Gui had also tried to comfort their wives frequently these past few days, but with little effect.
At this moment, upon hearing Da Bao suggest they move to the garrison, their wives' eyes lit up. The brothers immediately echoed their younger brother's sentiment and persuaded Old Man Wang:
Wang Da Fu: "Dad, your son thinks Da Bao's idea is very good."
Wang Da Gui: "Yes, Dad, if we move to live near the garrison, not only will it be safe, but it will also be closer to Da Bao. Dad and Mom can see Da Bao whenever they want."
"Yes, yes," the two daughters-in-law also chimed in.
"But our family's shop is in town; business is better there," the elder's thoughts were more extensive. As the head of the family, he had to consider the livelihood of everyone.
"Dad, we are the only blacksmith shop in this area. Even if we move to the garrison, people who want to buy things will still come looking for us."