The companions carried the wild boar, chuckling as they walked.
The captain gazed at the sky, pretending not to see anything.
The Zhou family returned swiftly, arriving back by noon the next day.
Seeing the women and children seated on the extra donkey carts, the Zhou sons rushed over.
Watching the family reunited and joyful, Old Jin also began to miss his wife. He quickly asked Xin Ci, "Auntie Xin Ci, when can we set off back?"
"Uncle Jin, the soonest will be tomorrow."
The captain heard this and looked up at the sky, thinking, "These people must have been tended to by Xin Ci's wood element ability, otherwise with their injuries, they wouldn't be able to get out of bed for ten to half a month. Especially the one with the most severe injuries; if Xin Ci hadn't arrived in time, he would have lost his life."
But he couldn't say a word of this, so he continued to look at the sky.
The young ones didn't know what was happening, but Old Jin did. Let's not forget, he had crawled out of piles of dead bodies in his youth.
However, he couldn't voice these thoughts, so he could only keep them in his heart.
Knowing they could return to Eagle Beak Cliff tomorrow, the youths were all overjoyed. Even those with the most severe injuries had faces full of anticipation; they missed home too.
Old Jin also discussed with Old Man Zhou, and some of the Zhou family's goods were tied to the horses, freeing up two horse-drawn carts for the seriously injured.
Early the next morning, Old Jin and Meng Yu Wen, among the most seriously injured, were carried into the horse-drawn carts.
Fu Xin Ci also reminded them, "Try to make the carts as smooth as possible, don't jostle their wounds open."
"Yes."
The drivers agreed. Qi He rode his horse to scout ahead with Fu Xin Ci, while the companions rode behind to cover their rear. In the middle was a team of injured soldiers, the Zhou family, and their goods.
Qi He turned his head, seeing that Sister Fu seemed to be in a good mood, and couldn't help but ask her, "Sister Fu, you seem to be in a very good mood today."
"Yes, very good." Fu Xin Ci didn't say that Qi He and the others were under her watchful eye, and she was naturally happy about it.
"Mm, as long as Sister Fu is happy, that's all that matters." Qi He's words were simple, representing his most sincere and unpretentious affection for Sister Fu.
Dragging along a group of injured soldiers, their progress was slow. By sunset, they had only covered half the mountain path.
"Xiao He, let's set up camp near here today." The captain knew they couldn't travel at night with the injured.
"Mm, we'll do as Brother Long Teng says." Qi He and the captain agreed, and then led everyone in setting up camp.
Under the captain's lead, the companions went hunting again.
The mountain stronghold had already received a scout's report about a group of injured soldiers on the mountain path.
The old stronghold chief immediately ordered, "Keep your brothers under control and don't get close. We have no quarrel with those Northern Frontier soldiers. Also, let's not light too many torches tonight, and try to keep the noise down."
"Yes." The petty officers immediately went about their tasks, and no one was to approach the mountain path.
The entire stronghold was quiet for an hour. Some with keen senses detected a fragrant aroma drifting from the mountain path.
At first, it was fine. Even if someone smelled it, they didn't speak.
But as time passed and more people smelled it, some couldn't resist. They sniffed hard and whispered, "It smells so good."
"Mm, this is the first time I've smelled such a delicious aroma. It's making my mouth water." The speaker swallowed, their voice a little slurred.
As if on cue, the sound of swallowing became louder.
"How about we go and see what they're cooking on the mountain path that smells so good?"
"No need to guess, it's the smell of roast lamb. I'm just curious how they roast it so well without any gamey odor."
"Yeah, I'm curious too."
"Then let's go and take a look together."
"Mm."
Several people thought they were being secretive and quietly crept towards the mountain path.
By the side of the mountain path, Fatty Dun'er was roasting a whole lamb on a flat rock. Not far away, the Zhou family women were cooking sorghum rice in large pots.
As the aroma of the lamb wafted out, the younger Zhou children were almost crying from hunger.
Fu Xin Ci, however, instructed Qi He, "Brother Qi, this lamb is a '发物' (food that can worsen certain conditions), and those with stab wounds cannot eat it." Fu Xin Ci wasn't entirely sure about this herself, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Qi He, of course, followed Sister Fu's instructions meticulously and relayed them immediately.
Some people were about to wail, but Old Jin strongly agreed, "The injured will eat sorghum rice and mushroom sauce with me today. No one is allowed to touch the lamb."
"Ah~"
The wailing continued. Those secretly watching from the mountainside chuckled. Some people were even more miserable than they were, which made them feel better.
The Zhou family was delighted and ate heartily with the companions.
The younger children, in particular, kept calling Fatty Dun'er "brother."
Fatty Dun'er was so pleased that he kept winking at his companions; he was still in the prime of his youth.
As night fell, before resting, Fu Xin Ci placed several vine barriers on the north and south sides of the mountain path, fearing that any travelers at night might injure the group.
Although the possibility was extremely slim, she took precautions.
However, before she could fall asleep, she heard the captain's warning.
"Xin Ci and Xin Jie stay to defend against the enemy; the rest of you, come with me to engage them."
"Yes."
Upon hearing that enemies were approaching, everyone woke up. The Zhou children huddled into their mothers' arms, not daring to look up.
In the dim moonlight, the youths vaguely saw Yang Xin Jie and Fu Xin Ci standing at the north and south ends of the mountain path respectively.
Qi He wanted to go and help the captain, but Fu Xin Ci quietly stopped him.
"Brother Qi, let's just protect Uncle Jin and the others."
Qi He thought about his own combat skills and followed Sister Fu's advice, not going to cause trouble for the captain and the others.
On the southern mountain path, the companions, led by the captain, intercepted a group of black-clad figures, numbering around thirty to forty.
The cold aura emanating from these black-clad figures brought a smile to the captain's eyes.
"Heh heh, we seem to have encountered the legendary 'dead warriors'."
"Really." Xu Jia Can's handsome and tall physique seemed to grow by an inch in an instant, and his right hand transformed into a sharp spear.
"Watch this!" Xiao Ai's fireballs spun with her hand movements, growing larger and larger.
The black-clad figures opposite them finally noticed how strange these people were. The leader of the black-clad figures had just uttered the word "Retreat..." when he turned and saw that a dirt wall had been erected behind them at some unknown time.
It started raining again, this time a downpour, the kind that drenches you in an instant.
The black-clad figures stomped their feet on the ground, preparing to use their Qinggong to escape.