บท 18: Strangers at Night (II)
บรรณาธิการ: Nyoi-Bo Studio
A bandit lair littered with corpses that showed the killer's quick and brutal efficiency… A young girl in the house who claimed that her husband would be returning soon…
Was this a hint that her husband had murdered all those bandits? Had he just been threatened by a little girl?
After much thought, Feng Langjun replied, "If that's the case, I shouldn't bother the missus. It's just that it's not easy to travel in the dark, and we have been lost in the forest for two days. We have lost some belongings and a few good fighters. If we were to resume our journey now…"
Wei Jingxian clenched her jaw. He refuses to go and wants to stay?
It was imperative to delay him. Maybe Lanting is already on her way back.
Within a split second, she decided. She changed her voice and then replied, "In that case, you may stay."
Even though it was an area filled with dead bandits, it was still better than camping in the woods.
The guards did not mind staying outside. They gathered firewood and built a firepit before realizing that they did not have any fire starters. They had lost their flint, and their fire starters were wet… Unless they tried to drill the wood by hand, they would not have any fire...
They looked at the shack and saw light emanating from behind the paper windows. If they were to ask for a light, they would not be rejected… right?
"Madam, can we borrow a light?"
Wei Jingxian pursed her lips. They're still not leaving?
If they had guards, she would not have minded answering the door. But they were a house full of weak girls. They were already severely frightened by the day's events, and any sound startled them. Why would they dare open the door for a stranger?
Even if the men were not dangerous, they would not have opened the door for the sake of their innocence and reputations.
"My husband will be back soon. Could you wait for a little while longer? If my husband were to return while you were in the house, I would be in trouble."
Wei Jingxian squeezed her eyes shut. Why is she still not back yet?
Feng Lanjun crossed his arms and gave a small smile. He said, "An unmarried girl calling a man her husband. Aren't you worried about your reputation?"
Wei Jingxian sucked in a deep, cold breath before covering her mouth with both hands. Oh no! I've been caught!
Feng Langjun squinted his eyes and waved a hand. His guards got ready to break in.
Elsewhere, Jiang Pengji was returning from her hunt. Her calm expression did not last long before it was replaced with a serious look.
System: "...What's wrong?"
"There are other footprints and they're still new. They weren't left behind by the bandits… This group is headed for the bandits' lair. The ground has blood on it, so someone in the group is hurt. The wound is probably not fatal. Based on the footprints, these people aren't in good condition… There are six sets of footprints, but there should be seven people… Jing'er and the others are still at the shack… Oh no… I need to get back quickly."
Jiang Pengji's gaze hardened as a string of texts appeared in her mind. She quickened her steps.
Lancu Yu Buzhe: "Are you mistaken, streamer? Six sets of footprints but seven people?"
"One of the sets is average-sized, and I don't think he's fat. But the tracks are quite deep, so that means they're carrying someone. I think there are two people who are injured in the arm area, and another who is injured in the leg area…"
Wujiang Zhacai Ye: "Am I the only one here who thinks the streamer is really cute? But tonight is really dark… and I know you have excellent eyesight since you spent a half-hour showing that to us… But you just looked at the footprints and deduced that?"
Toudu Feiqiu: "This streamer is pretty awesome. Whatever she says, goes… Trust me. I saw it happen."
"There's nothing to brag about. I state what I see." Jiang Pengji rushed back and took a moment to reply to her audience.
When she got closer to the village, she saw a group of seven standing outside the shack where the girls were. As she ran, she drew her bow.
Shhh
"If I were you guys, I wouldn't do whatever you're trying to do. If you don't want to die, leave the house now!"
Before the guards could get near the door, an arrow brushed past their noses and lodged itself in the doorframe.
Feng Langjun's expression froze as Jiang Pengji drew the second arrow. She gave a cold smile and said, "If you don't do what I say, the next arrow will hit that man in the back. Do it now and leave!"
The guards' positions revealed that the man who was being carried and the skinny teenager were important.
Inside the shack, the girls were close to tears.
"Jing'er, are you girls okay? Did they try anything?"
Wei Jingxian's throat itched from changing her voice earlier. She coughed a little before she loudly replied, "Lanting, the man outside did not try anything. He just wanted to borrow a light, and I haven't replied."
Jiang Pengji let out a cold hmph. It seemed like no one had answered, so they had decided to try and break in.
Upon hearing Wei Jingxian's response, Feng Langjun's head started hurting. This was a rather sudden turn of events.
He faced Jiang Pengji and put his hands together in greeting. He apologetically said, "This is truly a misunderstanding. We didn't mean to upset your wife. It's just that we wanted to borrow a light for the night. We hope your wife didn't misunderstand."
Lies!
Who could trust a group of oddly dressed men with swords who came knocking in the middle of the night? Anyone would be on their guard.
"If you wanted to borrow a light, the other houses would have flint or fire starters. You could have found them yourselves instead of scaring my wife," Jiang Pengji replied sarcastically as he climbed up.
Jiang Pengji was a sight. In one hand, she held her bow and arrows, and in the other, she held a wild hog from which a string of dead snakes hung.
Feng Langjun took in her appearance under the shack's light before raising an eyebrow. "Husband?"
Jiang Pengji analyzed the teenager and concluded that he was probably intelligent with a combat ability comparable to that of Liu Lanting. So, he was not much of a fighter and was no threat.
Jiang Pengji raised her eyebrows. She was aware that the Feng Langjun had guessed her true gender and was mocking her with his remark.
Jiang Pengji smirked before mocking him in return.
"You have a beautiful face, Mister. Obviously not fake, but… you haven't bathed in seven days because you were being chased. Seems like these few days have been… hectic. I have some rare perfume that has a tantalizing scent. You should at least perfume or wash yourself before coming back."
Feng Langjun: "..."
Aren't the people of Hejian County supposed to be friendly and gracious?
The loyal guards drew their swords as Jiang Pengji ridiculed their master, but Feng Langjun lifted a hand to stop them.
"Don't be rude. All of you step down."
It was easy to tell by looking at her clothes that she was not the child of a farmer or a hunter. But he wondered why she was running around at night. He also thought it was curious that she was so good at hunting. Maybe they could discuss that later.
Jiang Pengji, however, was not interested in his actions. She stood by the shack's door and knocked.
"Jing'er, it's me. Go to the firepit and get a light out for me."
Feng Langjun brought his hands together and said, "Thanks…"
Jiang Pengji smirked. "Don't thank me too early. I'm only getting a light to boil some water for the food."
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