Xia Yun woke up to find it was already dawn.
"Su Fan, I'm sorry," Xia Yun said to Su Fan, who hadn't slept all night, with a hint of apology in her voice.
Xia Yun's face flushed slightly.
She had slept until morning, and felt a little sorry for Su Fan.
"It's fine, eat something. We'll hit the road after you're done," Su Fan said, handing Xia Yun a rice ball that had been heated by the campfire.
Su Fan didn't have a habit of carrying food. This rice ball was a special item that provided some attributes. He had used it before and kept it in his backpack. Now, he didn't care for such minor attribute boosts, but it was enough to fill one's stomach.
After Xia Yun finished eating, the two continued on their way towards the bandit camp.
After several hours of walking, they stopped on a hillside to eat something. They were not far from the bandit camp now.
"Eat up. We'll continue after you're full." Su Fan, who didn't feel hunger himself, gave the rice balls and other food to Xia Yun.
Xia Yun didn't put on any airs of a young lady and ate the dry rice balls with relish.
"Su Fan, why aren't you eating?"
Xia Yun suddenly realized she hadn't heard Su Fan eating and stopped what she was doing, asking curiously.
"I'm not hungry, you eat," Su Fan said with a smile.
Xia Yun thought for a moment and broke the rice ball in her hand in half.
"Let's share. I don't eat much, this is usually enough for me," Xia Yun said, offering half to Su Fan.
Su Fan smiled faintly at Xia Yun and took it from her hand without saying anything more.
Xia Yun immediately smiled happily and sat down to continue eating the rice ball in her hand.
Su Fan also took a few bites of the rice ball.
After Xia Yun finished the rice ball in her hand, Su Fan took out another one.
"Here, are you full yet? There's more."
"Ah?"
Xia Yun was stunned, not understanding where Su Fan had gotten another rice ball.
"If you don't finish it, you're not allowed to talk to me," Su Fan said sternly.
He hadn't refused her at first because he didn't want to deal with her polite refusals. He had rice balls in his backpack anyway, and she wouldn't go hungry.
Xia Yun, with a wronged look, hugged the rice ball and started to eat it.
By the time she finished the rice ball, Xia Yun was almost stuffed, pouting with a wronged expression.
After resting for a while, Su Fan and Xia Yun set off again.
"This road is mine, this tree is mine! If you want to pass, leave your..." Su Fan was interrupted.
They had barely taken two steps when a figure blocked their path.
The person started with a familiar opening line that Su Fan recognized.
"Su Fan!"
Cheng Yaoyin looked at Su Fan in surprise.
Su Fan also looked at Cheng Yaoyin with some surprise.
"Why are you here?"
"Why are you here?"
They both asked almost in unison.
They were both very surprised to encounter each other here.
"Didn't you... go to do important business? Why are you robbing people again?" Su Fan stopped himself mid-sentence, remembering that Xia Yun was with him, and changed his question.
"Sigh, I don't have any money. Who knew recruiting soldiers and buying horses would cost so much? I had no choice but to get back to our old ways with my brothers," Cheng Yaoyin said helplessly.
He had underestimated the cost of rebellion. Just raising an army required a large amount of money. He was penniless.
"And why are you here?" Cheng Yaoyin asked Su Fan.
Cheng Yaoyin knew Su Fan was working for the government now and should still be in Tianlong City.
Su Fan told Cheng Yaoyin that he had been assigned as the commander of the bandit suppression camp.
He thought to himself, could he change Cheng Yaoyin's fate?
According to the original plot, Cheng Yaoyin would later receive sponsorship from a wealthy merchant, start a rebellion, and become a major opponent of Tianlong City.
However, the rebel army was ultimately a ragtag force. After Lord Pingnan quelled the Northern Ridge, the rebel army was wiped out by the Tianlong army.
Su Fan wondered if he could use his current authority to bring Cheng Yaoyin into the Tianlong Dynasty's camp, thus avoiding his tragic fate.
"What? Bandit suppression camp? Then aren't you going to be my opponent?" Cheng Yaoyin frowned, displeased.
He had always wanted to recruit Su Fan, but Su Fan always made excuses.
"Let's not talk about that for now. Is Qi Ling doing well?"
Su Fan gestured for Cheng Yaoyin to stop talking about it. Xia Yun was nearby, and she was the daughter of Lord Pingnan. If she heard Cheng Yaoyin talking about rebellion, Cheng Yaoyin would be in trouble.
"She's doing very well, helping train the new recruits on the mountain." Cheng Yaoyin nodded slightly.
"Enough talk, let's go! Come up the mountain with me, we'll have a good drink, brother!" Cheng Yaoyin didn't want to think about it anymore and pulled Su Fan along, insisting they drink.
"Drinking again?" Su Fan was speechless.
Can't you do anything else when we meet? Drinking every time we meet, are you a reincarnation of alcohol?
"No, I have things to do. It will take at least half a day to get to the bandit camp from here. I have other people with me," Su Fan politely declined.
Cheng Yaoyin then glanced at Xia Yun.
"Brother, you have quite the luck with women. Aren't you afraid Qi Ling will see?" Cheng Yaoyin whispered in Su Fan's ear.
During the time Cheng Yaoyin traveled with Qi Ling, he could tell from her behavior that Qi Ling liked Su Fan. Seeing another beautiful woman by Su Fan's side now, he was impressed.
"You've got it wrong. This is Lord Pingnan's daughter. Don't mention your rebellion in front of her," Su Fan whispered in Cheng Yaoyin's ear, reminding him.
Cheng Yaoyin's expression changed. When he looked at Xia Yun again, his eyes were filled with solemnity.
Xia Yun, not far away, twitched her ear but showed no unusual expression.
"Don't worry, she can't see, and it's not directed at you," Su Fan said, patting Cheng Yaoyin on the shoulder.
"Let's not talk about this anymore, come on, let's go up the mountain and sit for a while," Cheng Yaoyin enthusiastically invited Su Fan.
"I still need to get back. Let's not waste time. It will probably be dark by the time we get back, and if I delay, I might not be able to return today," Su Fan said politely.
"It's fine, there are horses on the mountain. We just caught a batch of wild horses yesterday, and they even have reins. I'll give you one," Cheng Yaoyin said to Su Fan casually.
Huh?
Su Fan was taken aback.
Wild horses? With reins? How familiar.
However, since there were horses, Su Fan decided to go up and take a look, and also to see Qi Ling.
"Xia Yun, I've met a friend who is willing to lend me a horse to travel. We'll go sit with him for a bit," Su Fan told Xia Yun. It would be impolite for them to go up the mountain without knowing anything.
"Mhm," Xia Yun simply nodded, saying nothing more.
Cheng Yaoyin led Su Fan and Xia Yun up the mountain.
The mountain was well-developed. Most importantly, the terrain was complex, offering a commanding view and being easy to defend and difficult to attack.
"This is our Dragon Tiger Mountain Wind and Cloud Stronghold," Cheng Yaoyin introduced to Su Fan.
Dragon Tiger Mountain? How familiar.