The young men were very excited. The guards didn't have to work, they could learn more skills, and they were given more food than the guards.

The guards, who were filled with envy, were very proud. Their captain had said that their mission was to protect the leader's family, and they didn't need to worry about anything else. They felt incredibly lucky to have such a good opportunity.

Shenxi instructed Zhao Rong to observe carefully while training everyone. If he found any promising individuals, he could select them for separate training. Although they might not be able to join the guard team, they could receive more food and occasionally go hunting with Zhao Rong in the surrounding area. They could eat the prey they caught themselves.

Six days passed like this. On this day, everyone was still digging for kudzu roots with great enthusiasm. The kudzu roots they dug up in the past few days had already had their water squeezed out, dried, and stored. The water they drank was kudzu root water.

Looking at the large pile of dried kudzu roots, everyone became even more excited and full of energy.

"Aunt Wang, have you learned how to write the characters that Xiao Liuzi taught you yesterday?"

"You can write two, but there are three you can't. Little Liu, teach me slowly, two characters a day is enough."

“That won’t do. Xiaochun’s team can learn five characters a day. I can’t fall behind.”

"Haha, Little Liu, look how cocky you are."

"But, Xiao Liu, I'm already over sixty years old. What use is it if I can't read?"

"Didn't the leader say that a thirst for knowledge is never too late, even at a hundred years old? You're only in your sixties, not even a hundred yet!"

"Yes, yes, what a thirst for knowledge! It's never too late to learn, Commander! You're truly cultured!"

The sounds of discussion and laughter filled the air, making it feel like it wasn't a year of famine.

Shenxi has been quite busy these past few days. In the mornings, he trains the guard team, and in the afternoons, he takes them out into the deep mountains.

When they encounter wild animals, let them fight them. This is an intentional training of their speed and skills. These people all have some basic skills, at least they are good at fighting, and some of them even know some kung fu.

Chenxi carefully observed the ground and trees, but it was a pity that he never encountered such a large area of ​​kudzu again.

For small areas, she would make clear labels.

It wasn't that she didn't want to mark everything up and lead people step by step into the deep mountains to find more food, but the risk was too high and everyone's physical condition was too poor.

The vast kudzu field will be dug up in another day; what remains are the small patches she has marked out here and there.

When Chenxi discovered more than a dozen large elm trees, he was very excited, but upon closer inspection, he gasped in shock.

She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but as she walked further in, there were more trees, but almost no leaves, and even green branches were hard to find, making it not much different from the outside.

The grass was also sparse.

Shenxi frowned. There were signs that someone had been here, meaning that someone had come from another direction.

And quite a few people came!

The elm bark was stripped off, and people swarmed through like locusts, leaving nothing behind.

Judging from the marks, they were left sometime yesterday or the day before.

The guards were also taken aback.

Shenxi instructed, "Follow the trail."

The guards had been "brainwashed" by Chen Xi; upon hearing her instructions, they followed her forward.

About half an hour later, scattered corpses began to appear, some from starvation and others from attacks by wild animals.

After walking a while longer, they came across twenty or thirty corpses, all killed by wild beasts. Chenxi stopped in his tracks.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the animal had killed the person with a wolf or a wild dog.

Just then, a groan was heard.

"Help me!"

Zheng Anxiang, the deputy captain of the guard team, stepped forward to check, his face twitching slightly: "Commander, it's Li Si."

Shenxi frowned. This guy is still alive.

Upon closer inspection, it was indeed Li Si, but he was covered in injuries and unable to move.

With blurry eyes and dim light, Li Si thought he was hallucinating. How could the person in front of him be that brat Chen Xi?

"Ask him what happened."

Shenxi disliked this person and sent his guards to inquire about him.

Zheng Anxiang answered crisply, "Yes."

"Li Si, what are you doing here?"

Li Si finally confirmed that it was Shen Xi and also recognized some people from Shen Family Village. He said weakly, "Save me first."

"If you're not going to save them, let's leave."

Shen Xi's answer was firm and resolute: there is no reason to save such a person.

Seeing that Chen Xi had really left with his men, Li Si chuckled behind them and shouted in a sinister voice, "Do you think you can survive? I saw it. There are hundreds of people who went into the mountains, some of them carrying weapons, and several thousand refugees following them."

Shen Xi suddenly stopped and turned to look at Li Si: "What do those hundreds of armed men look like?"

Li Si chuckled sinisterly, "If you save me, I'll tell you everything."

Shenxi turned and left, ignoring Li Si's voice behind her, since Li Si couldn't make much noise anyway.

"Sir, save him first, and kill him after we find out the truth." A hint of doubt flashed in Zheng Anxiang's eyes.

Shen Xi remained expressionless: "I am never threatened!"

"Besides, I've already figured out who they are!"

"Ah!" Zheng Anxiang was shocked. Li Si hadn't said anything, so how did he figure that out?

Shen Xi revealed a sly look: "Use your brain. What kind of people could be carrying weapons, especially hundreds of them, and they even allow refugees to follow behind them?"

Zheng Ankang was the first to react: "Commander, could it be the rebel army?"

Shen Xi nodded in satisfaction: "Didn't you see many rebel uprisings on your way here?"

Zheng Anxiang also realized: "But usually they attack county towns; those in the mountains are bandits."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!