Shangguan Jin finished the flatbread in her hand, her empty stomach finally feeling much better and her strength somewhat recovered: "Miss, the trade route has changed, what do we do now?"
"I have a plan, no need to worry. The sandstorm won't pass until tomorrow, so we have to wait here until it subsides. I left a message for Qin Xue; she'll bring people to meet us." Xiao Man searched for some firewood and started a fire. After nightfall, the desert gets very cold, a stark contrast to the daytime. It's crucial to stay warm, or one could freeze to death.
"Miss, we were schemed against this time. I saw..."
"Yan Chi." Xiao Man interjected, "I saw him too."
"Has he defected?" Shangguan Jin asked cautiously. Yan Chi was one of the Miss's fiercest generals, once hailed as the empire's twin jewels alongside Zhan Tian Que. If Yan Chi had defected, his subordinates likely followed suit.
Xiao Man fell silent. Yan Chi's defection was a foregone conclusion. What made her even more despondent was that the person Yan Chi had joined was likely Feng Mo Ran.
"He is very likely the true culprit who murdered my father," Xiao Man said slowly. "He was the unseen third party in my father's murder case."
Shock filled Shangguan Jin's eyes. They had investigated Xiao Zhen's murder extensively but found no clues. The National Preceptor was with the Emperor playing chess that day. Prince Qin was at South Luoshan Manor, but he had no reason to kill Xiao Zhen, especially since he was also severely injured. In the vast capital, few people possessed the ability to shatter Xiao Zhen's chest bones. Yet, no suspect other than Prince Qin had been found. Now, that suspect turned out to be Yan Chi.
"Are... are you sure?" Shangguan Jin asked incredulously. He could tell Xiao Man still harbored a sliver of hope that the person wasn't Yan Chi.
"If it wasn't him, would you have almost died here?" Xiao Man said slowly. "Didn't he lure you out of Xing Tang Road?"
Shangguan Jin fell silent. Yes, Yan Chi had betrayed them. Otherwise, why would he have lured him into the desert and intended to kill him?
"Perhaps he had his reasons."
A bitter smile touched Xiao Man's lips. "Ah Jin, what did I tell you on your first day with me?"
"Loyalty and obedience, and never harm a fellow comrade."
"He joined the enemy and intended to take your life; he has already violated the rules," Xiao Man said faintly. "From now on, on this path, there is no place for him."
Shangguan Jin remained silent. What Yan Chi had done was too egregious; no one could save him now. The moment he killed Xiao Zhen, he had no way back, or rather, Xiao Man would not give him one.
"Miss..."
"Qin Xue is also here." Xiao Man, unwilling to dwell on Yan Chi, quickly changed the subject. "When she heard you were in trouble, she rushed to Xing Tang Road regardless of the danger, practically turning the place upside down."
Speaking of Qin Xue, Shangguan Jin's expression instantly softened. "Miss, I wish you would officiate our wedding."
"I've already agreed to that," Xiao Man teased. "I don't think we need to go to Bian Jing to get married. We can do it right here in Xing Tang Road. I'll officiate for you, though it will be a bit humble."
"I fear it would be a disservice to Xue'er," Shangguan Jin said with apprehension.
"If you truly love her, cherish her, and protect her, she will not feel wronged," Xiao Man said slowly. "I had originally planned for her to have a grand wedding. I've failed you both."
"Master, you haven't failed us," Shangguan Jin quickly replied. "If it weren't for you, we would have lost our lives long ago. We wouldn't be here today. The luckiest thing in my life was meeting you."
"Shouldn't the luckiest thing be meeting Qin Xue?"
"Without you, I would never have met Xue'er. Because I met you, I was able to meet Xue'er. Master, thank you."
"Cheesy. Get some rest. Tomorrow, we'll return to Xing Tang Road and settle accounts with those inside."
As night fell, the desert temperature gradually dropped. The wind blew low, slowly drawing away the daytime heat, and with it, their body warmth. Sudan Novel Network
Xiao Man stoked the fire, drawing everyone closer. They found a spot sheltered from the wind, but it could only ward off the breeze, not the cold.
Du Gu Luo looked curiously into the distance: "A'Man, the meat has arrived."
"Meat?" Those who had been hungry for days, upon hearing the word "meat," their eyes gleamed with wolfish hunger. At this moment, even if they were given a whole ox, they could devour it clean.
Xiao Man stood up and looked in the direction of the desert. Pairs of glowing green eyes, approaching from afar, were encircling them. Xiao Man's lips curved upwards, "Indeed, the meat has arrived."
Du Gu Luo was eager to try, and Shangguan Jin also stood up: "Can you still move? The food has come to us."
"Family Head, this isn't food coming to us; this is them wanting to eat us," the guards said, watching the wolf pack charge towards them and quickly surround them. They couldn't help but panic. In the desert, the worst thing is encountering wolves. Wolves are pack animals, and once provoked, one would be stripped to the bone even if they survived. Moreover, they were weak now, facing a wolf pack was truly a matter of life and death.
"A'Luo, let's have a competition to see who kills more."
"If I win, I want two legs!"
"Alright, no problem."
Xiao Man and Du Gu Luo transformed into two afterimages, charging into the wolf pack. Sword light and blade shadows flashed, accompanied by wolf howls. Du Gu Luo possessed innate divine strength and was ferociously powerful; the wolves couldn't even get close to her.
Watching the two incredibly fierce women, the guards looked at Shangguan Jin: "Family Head, these two ladies are more ferocious than any man."
Shangguan Jin glanced at the guard beside him: "What are you standing around for? Go! If the two ladies aren't afraid, are you men afraid?"
Several guards looked at each other, then divided into pairs and went out to kill wolves.
Half an hour later, dead wolves lay scattered on the ground. Xiao Man picked out a large, plump wolf, skillfully skinned it, removed the entrails, and then used her sword as a makeshift grill over the fire.
"I want two legs!"
"Alright, here are two legs for you." Xiao Man said with a smile, then skinned another wolf and placed it on the grill. The group gathered around the fire, watching Xiao Man roast the meat and swallowing their saliva.
"Miss, I never expected you to be so talented. You can kill wolves with your martial prowess, roast meat with your culinary skills, you can grace a hall and manage a kitchen. You are simply an ideal..." Shangguan Jin smacked the guard on the head.
"Don't be disrespectful."
"It's fine," Xiao Man said with a smile. "A woman like me, skilled in both literature and martial arts, is not someone an ordinary person can handle."
Du Gu Luo turned the roasting meat, while Xiao Man sprinkled salt and spices. Du Gu Luo's face was full of anticipation; if the meat weren't still cooking, she would have pounced on it already.