Chapter 28

"There are too many people being sponsored, and now it seems a bit mixed. I'll find someone to screen the sponsored people again. Those with mental problems should be kicked out directly." Wu Chaochao stuffed the sponsor list into the housekeeper's hands: "And those who forget their roots after getting rich should be kicked out as well."

"Are you still sponsoring people? I gave up a long time ago. The last time I sponsored three students, two were clueless, and one just became a fifth-rank official and backstabbed me. Ha!"

"You've invested too much, haven't you? Although I've sponsored many people, my help to each person is limited. It's like planting a field. I sprinkle water on each seed and see what sprouts. If I'm in the mood, I'll drive away the insects. If the seed can grow into a big tree, that's my contribution to the court." Wu Chaochao lifted his cloak, sat back in his chair, and wiped his hands with the towel handed to him by the butler. "From the time I can remember until now, I've sponsored more than a hundred poor people. Some of them have become mediocre, some died young, but there are also a few lucky ones who have escaped the stranglehold of fate and entered the court to serve the country."

"Today's... is that the same?"

"Not really. He's just a minor character that can be solved without any brains. If he were in a storybook, I'm afraid he wouldn't even be a cannon fodder." Wu Chaochao sneered: "There are so many people who spend my money, and he's the only one who has such a wishful thinking! He thinks the Duke is the Duke of Anping, but I earned the title from horseback!"

"Okay, don't be angry. We finally managed to book the hunting grounds, but today is Qixi Festival!" Qiqiao is not. For them, Qixi Festival is a day when they can hunt until curfew.

"So, will we be spending the night in the mountains?" As ordinary people, the residents of Yuanshan Village naturally didn't have access to a paddock, but Yuanshan was also a natural enclosure for them. Upon learning that Xinji was organizing a mountain hike, everyone signed up, including some who had never been to a mountain before.

"No, why would I leave my bed at home and sleep out in the wild?" Xin Ji was speechless. "Again, this isn't a picnic. There are real wild animals on Yuanshan Mountain. Those who can't protect themselves should go catch chickens for fun. Don't crowd in here."

"How can you call catching chickens fun? Catching chickens is so difficult, isn't it?"

"Yes, yes, so put your hands down, I'm serious. Even if you give me real money, I won't take you up the mountain." Originally, there was more than one hunter in Yuanshan Village, Xinji, but the accounts of other hunters are gone now. The reason is that they risked their lives for money, and in the end they really lost their lives.

After comparing the latest skill data submitted by all applicants, Xin Ji ultimately selected ten individuals to join him in the mountains, naturally including Bei Qiao, who would later collaborate with him on escort duties. Due to the high risk of this hunting trip, Xin Ji selected individuals with high martial arts skills, including painter Li Qingqing and Xishi, who Bei Qiao knew. Interestingly, all ten individuals had already signed up for Bei Qiao's part-time job posting.

"Xi Shi, you don't run a bun shop anymore," Li Qingqing greeted Xi Shi.

"It's just that I'm not opening it today. If I don't open it for one day, I won't starve to death. But if I open it every day, I'll die of exhaustion." Xishi turned her arms. The rolling pin behind her, which was thicker than a pillar, did not affect her movement at all: "It's too boring to work all day. I need to come out and get some fresh air."

"Okay!" Seeing that everyone had almost finished chatting, Xinji clapped his hands and sent everyone a note about going up the mountain: "Some people may have seen it before, but there are also people who haven't, so I'll send it again. Everyone pay attention, and remember to bring flares, otherwise you won't be able to come back if you get lost." Don't think that everything will be fine just because there is a forum. If they really get lost, where can they find people? The grass under the tree under the moon is not a real game, and the forum can't take pictures and upload them, let alone real-time positioning.

"There's no need to elaborate on everyone's abilities. Most of them have worked with me before, and I can guarantee with my account that the skill data they posted in the thread is completely accurate." Xin Ji patted his chest and said, "I swear to Mazu!"

"Okay, I believe you." Bei Qiao turned around and nodded at everyone: "Hello everyone, I'm Qiao Qiao from the escort agency. I won't say anything more, I'm sure you've all read the requirements in the job posting. In short, if there's money, I'll ask everyone to make it together, and if there's no money, I won't bother you at all. That's all for now. The rest will be implemented in the contract, which will be verified and monitored by the system."

The others applauded. "Great!" This is much more realistic than just empty promises. How many people don't work part-time to make money? If you can't make money, then don't waste your time. Let's part ways amicably.

They were all from the same village, and they'd been seeing each other so often these days that they were quite familiar with each other, so the small talk didn't take too long. Changing into short-sleeved shirts for easier movement, everyone, armed with their own weapons, followed Xin Ji, heading straight for the stables under everyone's envious gaze. They rode all the way to the foot of the mountain before beginning their ascent on foot. For hunting convenience, Xin Ji brought his own dog, not an AI guard dog, but a hunting hound he'd specially bred.

Before going up the mountain, everyone transferred the guide fee to Xinji through the bank. After Beiqiao paid, the only assets left in the other world were a sign and ninety-six coins.

Bei Qiao: I think I must not be the protagonist? Whose protagonist makes money so slowly?

The roads in Yuanshan are not easy to walk on, at least not compared to the real scenic spots. There are no man-made stone steps or handrails, and even the dirt roads that have been walked on are covered with weeds, as if they will cover the dirt roads again at any time.

Using a bamboo stick to push through the brush, Xin Ji held his bow in hand and sent his hunting dogs ahead to scout the way. He then signaled everyone to follow him in formation and not to fall behind. "Don't form too neatly, and don't get too close to each other. Just keep up with the group. And be sure to tell us everything you encounter, no matter how big or small."

Standing too close together can easily lead to accidental injuries to teammates, while standing in a row can easily become a domino effect. If one person in front falls backward, the others behind them may be affected and tumble down the hill one after another, and by then, they alone will be unable to stop themselves.

"Do you want to keep absolutely quiet?"

"You don't have to be so absolute. If you need to shout for help, just shout for help. Don't be too loud, just enough for me to hear."

The mountain path was difficult to navigate, and while everyone struggled to climb, they occasionally looked out for each other, creating a harmonious atmosphere within the group. There were many trees and mosquitoes on Yuanshan Mountain, so everyone applied a lot of insect repellent to prevent bites, but even so, some people were particularly susceptible to bites, especially from mosquitoes.

"It's this kind of black and white mosquito again, damn it!" Xishi took out a rolling pin and smashed the mosquito directly into the mud: "Why are you biting only me!" Remembering that she was still hunting, Xishi quickly muted herself manually: I didn't hear it, I didn't hear it, the beast didn't hear it!

Mosquito: Damn it, I will die with my eyes open!

"Give me some more mosquito repellent cologne," Bei Qiao handed over the small bottle in his hand.

"Thank you, but no, this stuff is useless to me! I've applied it so much that it's almost marinated, but it's still going to bite me!" Xishi raised her hand with a grin and slapped to death another mosquito that was sucking blood on her arm: "Hiss!" She accidentally used too much force.

For some reason, Xishi's luck was particularly bad today. After entering the forest, Xinji hadn't gone a hundred meters before he'd caught a rabbit, and Li Qingqing had shot down a bird with a slingshot. While the others didn't catch any animals, they did manage to pick some fruit and dig up some unfamiliar herbs...

Since entering the mountains, she's only gotten a body full of mosquito bites. Furious, she's used a rolling pin as a pestle, swatting the biting mosquitoes one by one. Even more infuriating is that even after she's swatted at least ten, some still buzz over, insisting on biting her. Is she Tang Sanzang's flesh? Is her blood really that fragrant?

"Sometimes the bumps on your body are not necessarily caused by mosquito bites. If applying wind oil doesn't work, remember to tell me and I will take you down the mountain depending on the situation." Xinji hung the rabbit on his belt, freed his hands and continued to move forward.

It's summer, not winter, and food is plentiful. Animals generally won't attack humans unless they're desperately hungry. But there are always exceptions, so it's best to be cautious.

After walking a little further, Xinji stopped and raised his hand to signal the others behind him to stop. He squatted down to catch the hound that had returned from its scouting trip. He rubbed its head and spoke to it: "Are you done exploring? Are there any large animals around? No, only small ones. That's great. Thank you for your hard work."

"It's safe for now." Xin Ji stood up, holding the hound. "Now, everyone has fifteen minutes to move freely. You can hunt or gather anything, even mushrooms. But you have to show it to Qi Zhi before you can eat it."

"Everyone's range of movement is limited to my sight. This is the area I can take care of. It's okay if you want to go further away, but if you encounter danger, I may not be able to take care of you. Remember to wear a neck guard to avoid being bitten to death by wild animals."

Hearing that they could move freely, the ten people dispersed one after another and walked towards the direction they had previously aimed at.

Bei Qiao, standing at the back of the group, had been observing the others, not wanting to go in any particular direction. Seeing that everyone else was free to move around, and thinking that choosing a partner was more important, Bei Qiao didn't move far away, but stood closer to Xin Ji so that he could see everyone's situation at a glance.

"How is it? Do you think we get along well?" Xin Ji caught a leech from somewhere and was stuffing it into the gourd: he would sell it to Qi Zhi when he got back.