Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 133 2 Capture 2 Release

Carrying the heavy bag of gold and silver given to them by Chen Xing, Jia Wen and his group once again embarked on their eastward journey through the mountains. The bag of yellow and white objects now felt like a branding iron, not only adding weight to their pack but also placing an invisible boulder on each of their hearts. It represented Chen Xing's impeccable "generosity" and "benevolence," yet it also served as a silent mockery, reminding them that they were still within the scope of his "care."

Jia Wen's face was even more somber than when he left Guyun Ridge. His restless nights in the cave weren't solely due to being under surveillance. Chen Xing's seemingly laissez-faire yet omnipresent control, and his meticulously planned approach that made even refusal seem "ungrateful," instilled in him an unprecedented sense of suffocation and a vague, lingering fear. This man was far more than the rumored rising star he was, relying on superior weaponry, skilled soldiers, and a bit of luck. His cunning, his subtle methods, and his far-reaching schemes far exceeded Jia Wen's previous understanding of the powerful figures of the North.

"Sir, are we... really going to keep heading east?" a guard captain couldn't help but ask in a low voice, his voice filled with exhaustion and confusion. Days of traversing mountains and valleys, filled with fear and anxiety, would take their toll even on the strongest men, let alone the fact that they also had to care for the physically weakened Jia Wen.

Jia Wen stopped and leaned against an old tree to catch his breath. His narrow eyes gazed at the layered mountain shadows to the east. After a long silence, he said in a hoarse voice, "Since Chen Xing could predict that we would take Guyun Ridge and set up an ambush in the valley in advance, how could he not have made further preparations ahead? This man... has seen through us."

He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Eastward, into the Central Plains, might be exactly what he wants. He'd be happy to see us away from the north, no longer a possible variable. Westward, returning to Liangzhou is a dead end. Northward, it's the land of the barbarians, not of our kind. Southward..." He shook his head. The south was rife with warlords, the situation even more complex. He, a rootless and powerless fugitive from Xiliang, would only die sooner.

"Then...where do we go?" The head guard was even more confused.

Jia Wen didn't answer immediately. He looked down at the bag of gold and silver in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white. After a long while, as if making a decision, he said in a low voice, "Turn northeast. Don't take the main roads, and don't go through the deep mountains. Try going along the edge of the mountain range towards Youzhou. The situation there is more chaotic, with various forces intertwined. Perhaps there will be a place for us to hide. Chen Xing's tentacles can't reach there."

This was a risky decision. Youzhou was located in the northern frontier, a place where Han and non-Han peoples lived together, and where warlords, powerful clans, and non-Han forces were deeply entrenched, making it more chaotic than the Central Plains and the living environment even harsher. But perhaps, only in such a chaotic place could one escape Chen Xing's unsettling "care."

The group changed direction and headed northeast. In order to leave the area where Chen Xing's influence might be strong as soon as possible, they had to risk choosing a relatively easier route, a winding, abandoned ancient trade road along the bottom of the valley. Although still hidden, it was much faster than simply traversing mountains and valleys, and they could find more water sources and some supply points left by predecessors.

They traveled for another two days, and seeing that they were nearly a hundred miles away from Lonely Cloud Ridge, the surrounding mountains were gradually gentler, and the forests were no longer so dense. It seemed that they were about to leave this continuous mountain range. The group's spirits lifted slightly, and they felt that perhaps they could really get rid of that invisible "eye".

However, in times of chaos, crises never come from just one side.

That afternoon, they were walking along a dry riverbed, with towering earthen cliffs on both sides, limiting their view. Suddenly, from a bend in the riverbed ahead, came a chaotic and rapid sound of horses' hooves!

"A cavalry unit! Take cover!" The experienced guard leader's expression changed drastically. He shouted and pulled Jia Wen to a slightly deeper depression in the riverbed. The other guards also quickly scattered, finding cover, drawing their weapons, and standing ready for battle.

The sound of hooves drew rapidly closer, and in an instant, twenty or thirty riders rushed out from around the corner! These knights were dressed in a motley collection of clothes; some wore tattered leather armor, while others were simply dressed in coarse cloth. But each of them had a fierce look on their faces, carrying swords, spears, bows, and arrows. Plump bundles of unknown contents hung beside their saddles. They clearly hadn't expected to encounter anyone in this remote, abandoned riverbed. They all reined in their horses, eyeing Jia Wen and his group with suspicion and uncertainty.

The lead man, a one-eyed giant, glanced at Jia Wen and his companions, whose clothes were somewhat disheveled but still of decent quality. His gaze lingered for a moment on the heavy bundle that Jia Wen was carrying, which was being tightly protected by several guards, and a glint of greed flashed in his eyes.

"Heh! What a stroke of luck!" The one-eyed giant licked his chapped lips and grinned maliciously. "Brothers, looks like a pack of fat sheep! They're carrying some serious goods! Judging by their attire, they don't seem like ordinary refugees, more like... heh heh, whatever! Kill the men, take the loot! That old guy looks like a wealthy fellow, let's keep him alive, maybe we can squeeze some money out of him!"

"Brother, you are wise!" The bandits roared in agreement, raised their weapons, and charged forward on horseback! They were clearly local bandits who specialized in robbing lone travelers along secluded paths.

"Protect the sir!" The head guard roared, his eyes bloodshot, and charged forward. The other guards, knowing there was no way to retreat, rushed forward with bloodshot eyes. Although there were fewer than ten of them, and they were exhausted from days of travel, they were still elite soldiers of the Xiliang army, with rich combat experience. Now, like cornered beasts, they fought fiercely, and for a time, they were evenly matched with the outnumbered bandits. Swords flashed, blood splattered, and screams, shouts, and neighing horses filled the air.

However, the disadvantage in numbers and physical strength was ultimately insurmountable. Taking advantage of their horses' charge, the bandits quickly separated the guards. One guard was pierced through the chest by a spear, falling with a scream; another was slashed in the shoulder by a saber, bleeding profusely. The circle of guards rapidly shrank, and Jia Wen was forced against the riverbed cliff, his face ashen, a short blade trembling slightly in his hand, tightly gripped by a guard. He watched his loyal men fall one by one, his heart filled with despair and sorrow. Had all his cleverness, his evasion of the King of Xiliang's pursuit, and his avoidance of Chen Xing's "courtesy," ultimately led to his death at the hands of these nameless bandits?

At this critical moment—

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

A sharp whooshing sound suddenly rang out from the earthen cliffs on both sides above the riverbed! Dozens of powerful crossbow bolts rained down like a storm, hitting the bandit cavalry with perfect accuracy!

"what!"

"There's an ambush!"

"My horse!"

Caught off guard, the bandits were instantly thrown to the ground, their screams echoing through the air. The one-eyed giant was pierced through the throat by a crossbow bolt, his remaining eye wide open, before he fell from his horse and died instantly.

Immediately afterward, dozens of agile men in gray leaped down from the earthen cliff, plunging into the battlefield like cheetahs. Their movements were swift and coordinated, their swordsmanship swift and deadly; upon contact, they dispatched the remaining bandits as easily as cutting vegetables. The battle ended in a mere few dozen breaths, leaving the riverbed littered with the corpses of bandits and the groans of wounded horses, the stench of blood filling the air.

Jia Wen and his guards were still in shock, staring blankly at the sudden turn of events. The men in gray quickly took control of the situation, began clearing the battlefield and treating the wounded guards, while several others vigilantly kept watch over the surroundings.

A gray-clad man who appeared to be the leader strode up to Jia Wen, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed respectfully, saying, "Mr. Jia, you have been frightened. I am late, please forgive me."

Looking at the other man's attire and demeanor, which were exactly the same as those of Wang Cheng's previous subordinates, Jia Wen understood immediately. He moved his lips a few times, but no sound came out. He simply closed his eyes slowly, an indescribable weariness and...sense of destiny welling up in his heart.

"Again... General Chen's men?" After a long silence, he asked hoarsely.

"Indeed," the gray-clad leader said frankly. "Our lord anticipated that the mountain roads would be difficult for you, and feared that something unexpected might happen. Therefore, he ordered us to divide into several teams to patrol and guard the perimeter of the routes you might take. Just now, our scouts discovered shouts of battle here, so I rushed over immediately. Fortunately, we didn't miss anything."

Divided into several teams, patrolling in shifts, covering all possible routes... Jia Wen felt a chill run down his spine. This wasn't "patrol and surveillance" at all; it was clearly a vast net woven to cover all his possible destinations! Chen Xing had not only accurately predicted his change of direction, but had even foreseen the dangers he might encounter!

He glanced at the corpses of the bandits on the ground, then at the few remaining guards beside him, each wounded and looking relieved to have survived. He thought that if Chen Xing's men hadn't arrived in time, he would probably be dead by now... A complex mix of humiliation, relief, resistance, and the inability to acknowledge the other party's "kindness" overwhelmed his mind.

Chen Xing not only saved his life, but also preserved his loyal old subordinates once again. This "favor" was a thousand times heavier than that bag of gold and silver!

The gray-clad leader, seemingly oblivious to the complex expression on Jia Wen's face, continued respectfully, "This place is not safe to linger; the smell of blood will attract wild beasts. Five miles ahead, there is a temporary camp we have set up, which is relatively safe and has medics and medicine. Please, sir, and all the wounded brothers, move there to heal and rest. Once your injuries have stabilized, you may leave as you see fit."

It's another "temporary camp," another "rest and recuperation," another "stay or leave as you please." Same recipe, same taste.

Jia Wen waved his hand weakly, unable to even utter a word of refusal. Faced with absolute overwhelming strength and a "just right" "favor," his little bit of wisdom and pride seemed so pale and laughable.

Supported by his guards, he followed the men in gray away from the blood-soaked riverbed. Looking back, the setting sun stained the bandits' corpses a dark red, and also reflected the silent, efficient figures of the men in gray cleaning up the battlefield.

The second capture (rescue), the second release (again with courtesy). This time, Chen Xing not only demonstrated his complete understanding of Jia Wen's movements once again, but also appeared as his savior at his most critical moment. This "gratitude," like the strongest thread, began to quietly entwine Jia Wen's proud and suspicious heart.