Although Zhan Xinjia was disgusted, Yan Yuyao still shamelessly sneaked into the team on the day of the mine exploration.

Since General Qu had no objections, she didn't care. If anything unexpected happened, she could just betray him; it wouldn't be her who died then. But the problem was…

"Holy crap, what are you bunch of useless idiots doing following me for?!"

Cui Wanzhao, Pei Yi, Qiao Qiao, Wangcai: "..."

Holy crap, all the gods have returned to their places, and the immortals are lined up like hemp.

Zhan Xinjia clapped expressionlessly.

She suddenly felt a profound sense of world-weariness, as if she had seen through the illusions of the world. She wished she could squat by the roadside and imitate that old man smoking his pipe, hoping it might relieve her current headache.

Speechless, she rubbed her forehead and took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.

"No, I'm not going on a picnic or to eat and drink well. I'm going to take care of serious business, understand?"

The four of them nodded obediently in unison.

Pei Yi still wore that gentle and refined fake smile.

"Commander Zhan, I have already consulted with General Qu. As for those few, I have no say in their affairs."

Leaving aside the ridiculous masked guy for now, Zhan Xinjia looked desperately at the other people who were scratching the back of their heads and chuckling to themselves. One was looking at the sky, one was looking at the ground, one was whistling to appear relaxed, and another was looking around and coughing for a long time, pretending to look at the scenery.

The letter is warm and comforting.

"What are you guys doing there if you can't lift a finger or carry anything? If you get caught, I'll have to bail you out. Seriously, guys! Don't mess with me! You're just making the game harder for me!"

She was practically kneeling down to kowtow to these ancestors.

For once, Yan Yuyao acted like a human being, standing up to speak up for him with righteous indignation and awe-inspiring presence.

"This is no joke. And you, if you really can't stand being idle, have General Qu send someone on horseback to take you back to Canghan City to go shopping. What are you doing meddling here?"

As he spoke, he glanced coldly at Cui Wanzhao.

Cui Wanzhao choked, then immediately became angry, stubbornly arguing with him.

"If you can go, why can't I? I don't care, I'll be wherever you are!"

Meng Qiao: "Then I want to stay with A-Zhi too!"

Wangcai: "I'm worried about you, little sister!"

Zhan Xinjia: "..."

Is there anyone who can listen to me? I'm asking you this.

Damn, I just want to find a place to hug myself and cry.

Even if she were a goddess descended from heaven, you can't really expect her to carry four others, especially since there are more than four mentally challenged individuals like her.

According to her original plan, she intended to sneak into the mine alone, bury gunpowder deep in the mine shaft to blow up the tunnel, and then, together with the reinforcements waiting outside, move all the mined ore back to the mine warehouse.

But now, damn it, they're playing a five-player team match here!

Even the five-player team has an extra substitute, great, we're doomed.

With a sigh, Zhan Xinjia decided to convince herself to ignore them and treat them as if they were invisible.

But she has to issue a disclaimer first—

"According to the map, the mine is located deep in a snowy valley. Wolves, enemy troops, avalanches... anything can happen. Whoever runs the slowest will be in the front line. Front line, remember to take the hits for everyone."

Still feeling unsatisfied, she turned her head and added—

"Anyone who dares to hold me back, I'll hang them from a crooked tree! Do you all understand?! Look me in the eyes! Answer me! Lucame! Answer me!"

The five people looked at each other in bewilderment.

Zhan Xinjia angrily mounted his horse.

Actually, the map isn't that complicated; what's complicated is the terrain. Originally, the area where Dasheng and Nanjun bordered was the Xueling Mountains, where the climate was frigid, with frequent blizzards and winds so fierce they could make your bones ache.

I must say the first person to think of mining in this bend was a genius.

Who would be so bored as to come here to dig for stones? The conditions are even worse than in Ningguta. What the hell is the difference between this and being exiled?!

After dismounting, Zhan Xinjia trudged through the snow, inwardly complaining. Looking out, the mountain seemed to soar into the clouds, its peak invisible, a pristine expanse of white...

My face was covered in snow, making it impossible to see the road, and the howling wind almost deafened me.

The snow was up to her calves, making each step incredibly difficult. Zhan Xinjia wiped the snow off her face with her sleeve, stopped, and braced her aching knees with her hands to catch her breath.

Sigh... Her leg injury has never been properly treated, and after this mission, she'll probably be limping for another two weeks.

Finding a large rock that could block the wind, Zhan Xinjia decided to rest there.

They had to cross this mountain to reach their destination. The mining area in the valley was definitely guarded by the Southern County. Besides, it was already late, and the temperature would be even lower at night. She couldn't risk going any further.

We should at least wait until tomorrow when the sun is out.

By the way, are those gods who followed her still alive?

Zhan Xinjia turned around and was startled to see several "corpses" lying haphazardly on the ground. Some were still trying to move, while others looked peaceful, as if they had been dead for quite some time.

"Holy crap!"

Without a moment's rest, Zhan Xinjia tirelessly gathered fallen firewood and used flint to start a fire. As soon as the campfire was lit, the corpses on the ground came to life and gathered around it.

The stars shone exceptionally brightly on the snowy plains at night, and the Milky Way, as smooth as silk, was clearly visible, but Zhan Xinjia was in no mood to appreciate it.

Qiaoqiao leaned on her shoulder, sniffling. Yan Yuyao, pale-faced, shivered like a leaf wrapped in a blanket from her bundle. Cui Wanzhao was using a small iron stove to boil hot soup to warm everyone up, while Wangcai was seriously studying how to set up a tent.

Despite the harsh conditions and biting wind and snow, there was also a poignant sense of reliance on each other for survival...

Since everyone was an acquaintance, Pei Yi seemed somewhat out of place in this situation.

However, Pei Yi was a very tactful and gentle person, with a friendly manner, making it difficult for anyone to dislike him. By the time Zhan Xinjia realized what was happening, Pei Yi was already able to speak with everyone else in the group.

In a daze, Zhan Xinjia sensed something was off.

When she was still in the capital, why did no one ever mention to her that there was a military supervisor named Pei in Canghan City...?

Moreover, the other soldiers in the garrison, including General Qu, seemed to have a very weak impression of Pei Yi. They knew nothing about his family background or clan, only that he was a person sent by the imperial court.

Even Yan Yuyao, a member of the royal family, had never met Pei Yi before coming to Canghan City and had no idea that such a person existed.

From this perspective, Pei Yi is practically a fabricated mannequin, silently altering everyone's memories and perceptions, subtly influencing them to accept all his information.

A slow, uneasy heartbeat and a chilling sense of dread made Zhan Xinjia feel uneasy and terrified.

Just as she was about to say something, Qiaoqiao, who had been resting on her shoulder, suddenly sat up straight, her expression turning serious.

"A pack of wolves is approaching!"