After he finished speaking, Song Chi turned to Lu Yuan, who was off to the side, and offered a slight bow.
"Brother Lu Yuan, regarding my sister... I really can’t thank you enough.
What I said earlier wasn’t directed at you. It’s just that leading troops into battle is no child’s play. You can’t be reckless.
This mission to exterminate the bandits is incredibly important to both and my sister. If we fail, things will go badly for both of us.
I must be going. Once this is all over, I’ll find you, and we’ll have a proper drink!"
With that, Song Chi walked right out of the tent.
This made Song iqin frown in annoyance.
Lu Yuan, however, simply stood by, his expression calm.
Lu Yuan understood.
’What’s this like? It’s like being a high school senior at the top of their ga.’
’You’ve done ten thousand practice exams, but then so middle schooler cos along and tells you, "You don’t have what it takes. I could get into Harvard with my eyes closed."’
’Would you believe them?’
’Besides, Song iqin had just been hyping him up way too much.’
’To be fair, Lu Yuan did think he was quite exceptional.’
’But...’
’The way Song iqin was talking about him just now... it was as if he were a god descended from the heavens.’
’Maybe that’s really how he seed in her eyes.’
’But hearing it made Lu Yuan’s face flush with embarrassnt.’
’It’s too much, really. The way she was boasting... even I can’t listen to it anymore.’
’No wonder Song Chi couldn’t stand it.’
’However, Song Chi wasn’t entirely blaless either.’
’Song iqin hadn’t said that Lu Yuan should command the troops, or that her brother should obey Lu Yuan’s every word.’
’She just said that Lu Yuan’s sixty-man Firearms Team was very formidable.’
’Their sixty Flintlock Guns could be a huge help.’
’His n were right outside. They could have shown Song Chi just what a Flintlock Gun could do.’
’But Song Chi refused to believe it. He wouldn’t even take a look.’
’He just took off.’
"He’s been as stubborn as a bull since he was a child. It’s so infuriating!!"
Song iqin said, standing where she was and glaring angrily at the entrance of the large tent.
anwhile, Lu Yuan stood in the center of the tent, carefully studying the Waterway Map.
"Yuan’Er, why don’t we just go back? Let’s not get involved. He can figure it out on his own."
Song iqin ca to Lu Yuan’s side, tugging his arm as she spoke softly.
It was clear that Song iqin was still very worried about her brother.
She knew how much trouble he was in.
But with Song Chi being so unappreciative, there was nothing she could do.
Lu Yuan studied the map for another mont before looking up at Song iqin with a smile.
"Let’s just hang out here for a bit."
"There’s nothing much to do back ho, and the New Year is still over ten days away."
Hearing Lu Yuan say this made Song iqin delighted.
Song iqin had wanted to stay, too. Even if she couldn’t be of any real help, she felt it was better to at least be here to watch.
Besides, if things were still going poorly in a few days, she could try talking to her brother again.
’Maybe if he runs out of options, he’ll be willing to use Lu Yuan’s Firearms Team.’
’Although the Firearms Team only has sixty n, so it’s not certain what difference they can make.’
’But Song iqin just had this inexplicable faith in Lu Yuan.’
But it was cold here, and she had been afraid Lu Yuan wouldn’t be comfortable, which was why she had suggested leaving.
Now that Lu Yuan himself said he wanted to stay, Song iqin was overjoyed and nodded eagerly.
anwhile, Su Liyan watched her man’s expression, blinking her beautiful and bewitching eyes.
’Hmm...’
Finally, the group left the large tent.
Before leaving, Song Chi had arranged tents for them.
Song Chi’s ssage was simple: they could stay if they wanted. After all, Song iqin was his sister.
He couldn’t bring himself to kick his own sister out.
However, Song Chi wouldn’t be visiting them.
That way, he could avoid having Song iqin bring up the subject again.
In truth, there was nothing wrong with Song Chi’s attitude. After all, how could a general leading an army in the field just listen to any random person’s advice?
If he didn’t have a mind of his own, he’d be useless in a fight.
"You all head back and get warm. I’m going to see if I can find a place to fish."
As he spoke, Lu Yuan headed toward the large tent where the Zhao Family nursing ho staff and Travelers were staying.
The three won all knew about Lu Yuan’s love for fishing.
No one said anything more.
Only Su Liyan, as she walked back with Zhao Qiao’Er and Song iqin, watched her man’s retreating back, a thoughtful expression on her face.
Arriving at the quarters for the Zhao Family’s Travelers and nursing ho staff, Lu Yuan found the old steward and grinned.
"Uncle Li, could you grab a few n to go for a look around with ?"
The old steward was taken aback for a mont, then replied:
"Of course."
Afterwards, Lu Yuan borrowed a small boat from the military camp. He, the old steward, and two mbers of the nursing ho staff—four people in total—rowed out of the main camp.
Along the way, Lu Yuan directed them, telling them where to row.
The old steward sat beside him, watching.
But the longer he watched, the more the old steward felt that sothing was off.
’This...’
’Why does the young master... seem so familiar with this area?’
’Is it because he saw the Waterway Map in the main tent earlier?’
’But beyond that, the old steward felt that the young master also seed to know the general lay of the land.’
’Sothing just feels... strange...’
Soon, they had been rowing for quite so ti.
As they rounded a bend, they ca face-to-face with another small boat.
An old acquaintance was on board.
Daoist Longchuan!
Lu Yuan stared at Daoist Longchuan, completely baffled.
And Daoist Longchuan was just as baffled to see Lu Yuan.
Huh??
The two n stared at each other, then, with a tacit understanding, each had their boatman stop rowing.
Finally, when the two small boats drew parallel, both n rose to greet one another.
After a bit of conversation, Lu Yuan learned the situation.
These bandits were worshipping an evil spirit.
In the Divine Ling Empire, this wasn’t considered anything unusual.
Or rather, in this world, it would be stranger if people who did such vicious deeds *didn’t* worship an evil spirit.
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