Luo Zheng hadn't expected that although the people here were slaughtering each other and living a life of hardship, they were so hostile to outsiders; perhaps this was the power of religion. The descendants of Allah were all one family; it didn't matter if they fought among themselves, but as soon as they faced bullying from foreigners, they would unite. Indeed, they were a formidable nation. It was fortunate that the militants weren't included, otherwise everyone would have had no choice but to flee.
After understanding the critical relationships, Luo Zheng and the others quietly breathed a sigh of relief and decided to continue staying here. After chatting leisurely for a while, everyone went outside to organize manpower and began setting up defenses, an easy task for professionals like them.
That evening, everyone had a wonderful al and took a hot bath, feeling refreshed. Having a place to stay really made a difference. They casually discussed the war situation and unanimously decided to check out the military base after they had rested properly. The mission couldn't be abandoned, but they couldn't ignore their physical condition either.
In the next three days, Luo Zheng and his team organized the villagers to set up three lines of defense. During this ti, the Wata Organization didn't attack, probably too preoccupied on their own. This gave everyone quite a bit of relief. Since strengthening the defenses, everyone's physical condition gradually improved, and their spirits were high.
On this day, as everyone was working on the final touches of the defense line, Lucia, who was acting as an interpreter, suddenly told everyone that a little vagabond had co to the village outskirts and needed to be looked after. Luo Zheng and the others weren't particularly concerned. While touring the defenses with Lucia's husband, they found everything perfectly in place. The work was successfully completed, giving an account to the villagers. It was ti to leave.
Back in the village center square, everyone saw a local-looking child standing next to Lucia, about thirteen years old, all dirty and with a filthy face, wearing a short coat, hair all ssy, a scarf wrapped around the neck, and shoes clearly one size too large, munching on a flatbread hungrily, looking like they had traveled a long distance.
"Is this a boy or a girl?" Luo Zheng curiously approached and said, seeing the other person with a pair of bright eyes that looked quite spirited, which aroused his curiosity.
"A little girl, quite pitiful. Who knows what she's been through, this damned war." Lucia said with compassion, helping the child to pat off the dust, and said with care, "Don't rush, eat slowly, here's so water, don't choke," saying the last part in the local language.
Luo Zheng looked at her curiously, but noticed that she was also curiously looking at him. There was inquiry, doubt, expectation, caution—such a complex gaze. Luo Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help squatting down to say in a common international language, "Don't be afraid, we're not bad people, eat slowly." Realizing that the child might not understand what he said, he gave an embarrassed smile, stood up, and turned to Lan Xue, saying in Huaxia language, "Let's get ready to leave."
At this mont, the child suddenly spoke to Lucia in the local language, looking very eager, but her eyes fixed on Luo Zheng, as if apprehensive, yet more vigilant. So young and yet so cautious—what kind of hardships had she faced?
"This little one is asking who you guys are? I told her you're rcenaries, from who knows where. She's very curious, wants to ask you," Lucia suddenly said to Luo Zheng.
"We're from Huaxia Country," Luo Zheng didn't hide it and told the truth.
Lucia and the child spoke in low voices, and Luo Zheng was surprised to see that the child suddenly beca excited, staring intently at him, forgetting to eat her flatbread, her eyes full of joy, but with hesitation, she slowly continued to eat her bread, looking weighted down with thoughts.
Luo Zheng keenly noticed that there was sothing unusual about the child. If she were an ordinary vagabond, there would be no reason to be so curious about his identity, especially the look just now—expectant, hesitant, worried—a mix of conflicting emotions. What was this all about? Luo Zheng thought for a mont, didn't want any complications, gave everyone a look, and they all walked towards the yard.
Having rested for three or four days, everyone had recovered to normal conditions. It was ti to continue the mission. Then, Luo Zheng suddenly noticed that the child had quietly followed them into the yard, and he hadn't sensed a thing or heard any noise. Startled, he beca wary and called out to the child who had entered the yard, "Are you looking for us?"
Lan Xue and others, who were packing their luggage, also noticed the suddenly incoming child and were startled. They were alert and walked out, looking at the girl with surprise. Being able to co into the yard unnoticed was certainly no simple feat. No one dared to be careless or to underestimate this child.
The child showed no sign of fear, curiously looking at Luo Zheng, then at Lan Xue and the others who had co out. Her gaze shifted inside the room as if looking for sothing. Luo Zheng, feeling puzzled, took two steps forward and asked in a common international language, "Are you looking for us for sothing?"
"What kind of people are you from Huaxia Country?" the child suddenly spoke up, indeed in Huaxia language, though not very standard, but still fluent enough to understand.
Luo Zheng and the others were taken aback, imdiately crowding around the child, inadvertently surrounding her. Suddenly encountering a child who could speak their own language in this place was definitely not simple. Everyone watched the child warily, only relaxing when they realized she ant no harm.
"How do you know our language?" Luo Zheng asked the child with suspicion.
The child took two cautious steps backward, staring into Luo Zheng's eyes as if trying to see through his real identity, her face full of hesitation. At such a young age and so careful—Luo Zheng beca even more cautious and continued to ask, "What's your na, and what do you want with us?"
"I learned from soone else; you answer my question first," the child said with determination, turning her head to glimpse Lan Xue and the others closing in, her expression stiffened, and she spoke coldly, "It's better if you don't move; you might not be a match for ."
"Oh, what big talk," Luo Zheng was amused by the child's words. A thirteen-year-old girl actually threatening five well-trained Soldier Kings? What was this all about? However, Luo Zheng quickly realized sothing was amiss. The girl's expression was resolute, and the bright glint in her eyes beca colder, like a hungry tiger, making him inwardly flinch. He hurriedly signaled everyone to stay still, switched to a more peaceful tone, and said honestly, "Our identities are special; we can't reveal too much, I hope you understand."
"It's very important to ," the child said firmly.
Luo Zheng looked at the child, roughly thirteen years old, whose clear, bright eyes hinted at a yearning and hope. He was startled and quickly said, "Did you co here specifically to find us?"
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