Chapter 74
Qiao also followed Ji Fang to fight monsters everywhere. Ji Fang let loose and no longer cared about the rumors in the army. He was disheartened by the betrayal of his friend, General Ji, and started to play around like his friend did back then.
Some people also say that Ji Fang is imitating Wei Liang and Guan, pretending to be a playboy who doesn't strive for advancement, but in reality, he keeps a low profile and may rebel at any time.
Qiao also found these ideas quite reasonable. He couldn't figure out Ji Fang's attitude, but this was a good thing for him. Now he felt fulfilled every day and no longer thought about sad and troublesome things.
The weather is getting increasingly hot and humid, and the weather forecast predicts that a level 10 typhoon will soon arrive. It is expected that the typhoon will move southeastward into the sea area, so the public should take precautions.
Joe had never experienced the power of a typhoon before, and he was somewhat worried.
However, Ji Fang is well-trained and has rich experience in various combat situations, including dealing with severe and extreme weather.
Seeing Ji Fang issue one typhoon defense measure after another, Qiao's admiration for his master grew even stronger.
Ji Fang is truly a powerful and charismatic person. His subordinates are all obedient to him. He has absolute authority, as if all problems have the answer to him and he can solve any problem.
The master is so powerful, but he also has the vulnerability of being betrayed. This vulnerability is known only to him and no one else knows it.
This knowledge, known only to him, gave Qiao a unique sense of superiority. He felt that he was different from others in his master's eyes, and no one could compare to his closeness to his master.
Qiao sat in a chair, eating local specialty fruits and watching Ji Fang work, feeling a sense of happiness that she wished this moment could last forever.
As the typhoon approaches, the temperature outside is dropping and the wind is picking up, and the sky is turning dark and gloomy—all signs of an impending storm.
Li Cheng suddenly led a team of people to Ji Fang's office. He came in with a report and told Ji Fang about the urgent matter.
Pirates have appeared in the sea. Two days ago, they robbed a passenger ship and massacred the passengers. The pirates fled towards Nanzhu Island.
Ji Fang frowned. He had cleared out all the pirates within a hundred kilometers of the sea area. Who was so bold as to deliberately cause trouble on a typhoon day?
The only survivor on the cargo ship has been brought back by Li Cheng.
Ji Fang said in a deep voice, "Bring that survivor up."
Li Cheng went out and brought over a short, stout man. The man, upon seeing Ji Fang, looked on with hope and pleaded anxiously, "Sir, those bandits are devils! They kill any man they see and rob any woman they see! They've taken all the women! My wife and daughter are inside too! Please, sir, save them! These women have fallen into a den of monsters; if we don't save them soon, it'll be too late! Sir, you must save them quickly, please!"
Ji Fang's expression was serious as he calmly asked, "What did those people look like? Describe them in detail."
The short, stout man described the pirates' clothing and strange accents. Ji Fang frowned; this group didn't seem to be among the pirates they had previously hunted down.
Ji Fang then asked, "Why were you the only one who survived?"
The short, stout man looked remorseful, covering his face in grief: "My wife and daughter covered for me, letting me hide in the box. They thought only my wife and daughter were in the room. I deserve to die, I should be the one to die, but if I die, they'll have even less hope. I jumped into the sea with my life on the line to escape. Please, sir, you must save them..."
Time was of the essence. Ji Fang looked at the rolling dark clouds in the sky and estimated the time. The pirates probably wanted to reach Pearl Island before the typhoon arrived, and then wait for the typhoon to come. This would effectively block the army's pursuit, and once the typhoon passed through this sea area, they could escape.
Ji Fang snorted lightly. Playing these tricks on him was simply outrageous!
Ji Fang immediately gave the order, personally leading the team to launch a full-scale attack, quickly pursue the pirates, and rescue the kidnapped people.
Li Cheng was somewhat worried about the extreme weather, as a typhoon was approaching, but Ji Fang did not hesitate; saving lives was the most important thing.
Qiao Ye was all ready to go with Ji Fang, but Ji Fang said, "Qiao Ye, you stay at the camp. The sea is too rough; it's very dangerous."
Qiao shook her head: "No, I want to stay with Master. If Master isn't afraid, then I'm not afraid either."
As the sea grew rougher, Ji Fang ordered a full-speed pursuit, and they arrived at Nanzhu Island amidst the prelude to the storm.
Nanzhu Island has gently rising peaks and flat beaches. Towards the center of the island, there are many low shrubs and beautiful seashells. These seashells often contain large, round pearls. Many fishermen pass by here while fishing and collect some to earn some extra money.
The place they were chasing was at the mouth of a canyon, where a passenger ship was stranded—the same passenger ship that had been hijacked by pirates.
The passenger ship appeared quiet from the outside, with no sign of human movement. Ji Fang analyzed the ship's structure and began organizing a rescue operation.
Boarding went smoothly without any obstacles or encounters with anyone. It was as if the ship were empty, with no signs of a struggle inside.
The whole thing suddenly became strange.
Ji Fang gritted his teeth. He realized that this was a trap set for him.
The past events are still vivid in his mind; his mother was also murdered because of a similar scheme.
Ji Fang's eyes were filled with frost; at this moment, they had fallen into the enemy's trap.
The typhoon is approaching. In Ji Fang's plan, there should be just enough time to rescue the people, subdue the pirates, and return home. But now, what awaits him on his return journey is the enemy's mechs.
Li Cheng felt his mecha swaying in the storm. He looked up sharply, his eyes wide with horror: "Report, General, I've detected that the wind force has reached level 15. The typhoon is expected to be level 18. There's an error in the data from higher command."
What worried Li Cheng even more was the loss of contact. He was somewhat anxious: "We can no longer contact the camp headquarters. Our magnetic field is blocked, and people outside can't contact us either."
Ji Fang understood immediately. The weather data had been falsified and communication had been cut off. The higher-ups had really gone to great lengths to target him. So now, he either had to drown in the tsunami and beast tide on Nanzhu Island, or go against the current and race against the wind and waves to land on the shore and fight to the death.
He stared at the waves surging on the sea, high enough to make a ship stand upright, his eyes filled with unwavering fighting spirit. They thought, "You think you can kill me? Not so easy. I'll drag everyone on the shore down with me, even if I have to become a water ghost."
Ji ordered: All personnel to return to base at full speed and prepare for battle.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense and urgent. Qiao's mind was also on edge. He knew that he and his master had encountered the biggest conspiracy. Someone wanted his master dead.
If he takes the master's life, his own life is likely in danger as well.
Ji Fang encountered intense firepower suppression. In the sky above the coast, the mechs shot down by Ji Fang fell into the turbulent sea like dumplings being dropped into boiling water.
The guards protecting Ji Fang fell one by one.
The mech was running out of energy and emitted a sharp, scraping sound as it broke.
The mecha's audio channel, which had been cut off and remained silent, emitted a crackling sound. Suddenly, Zhou Shiqing's voice came through: "Ji Fang, give up resisting. No matter what, you won't survive today. How does it feel to be defeated?"
Ji Fang sneered: "If I die today, you'll be next. Do you think Mu Jingchuan is any kind of benevolent ruler?"
"Stop trying to sow discord, Ji Fang. You're about to die and you're still spouting so much nonsense. I'm just showing you my pity and letting you know who wants you dead," Si Ze's voice suddenly rang out.
Zhou Shiqing was concerned about Ji Fang's Yuanren. He did not see any Yuanren in Ji Fang's camp and thought to himself that Ji Fang was indeed indulging in frivolous pursuits and had actually brought Yuanren into battle.
He said, "Ji Fang, it's not that I want you to die, it's that the higher-ups want you to die. If you act with some dignity today, everyone around you except you can be spared. Look at how many soldiers have died because of you! And your former people, I'll take care of them for you. Your death benefits everyone else, what a worthwhile deal..."
"If the master lives, I live; if the master dies, I die!" A clear and firm voice suddenly came from the channel.
Qiao's face was pale, but his eyes were fixed on Ji Fang with determination; this was his resolve.
If the owner dies while the pet is still alive, a pet that cannot be loyal to its owner will not be respected. It will either be made into food or kept as a trophy to survive.
If he survives, he will bear the shame and have to ask the murderer of Ji Fang for Yuanren food, which is worse than being killed!
Ji Fang looked at Qiao Ye, who had just spoken, and suddenly burst into laughter: "You've even forced my pet to learn to speak human language! Look at some people, some are not even as good as Yuan, but my Yuan is more loyal than any human! Qiao Ye, I'll show you my true strength. Your master will bring you home alive!"
Zhou Shiqing and Si Ze looked puzzled. What was that? The pet was talking?
Sze thought Ji Fang was so obsessed with playing around that he brought his mistress into battle and even played the master-pet game: "Oh, playing so fancy, having a mistress by your side to die together is quite a good thing, General Ji is very lucky with women... Ah!"
A loud bang interrupted Sze's daydreaming.
Ji Fang kept trying to identify the sounds in the audio channel. He locked onto the mecha group that seemed to be Si Ze's and used an energy cannon to take down the two mechas in front of Zhou Shiqing and Si Ze, startling Zhou Shiqing and Si Ze into immediately muting their microphones.
Ji Fang smirked and said into the communicator, "Found you. So, how about it? Let's see who dies first!"
Still reeling from the shock, Si Ze was stunned. He hadn't expected Ji Fang to be able to find them hiding in ordinary mechs. He cursed, "Let's see how long you can keep breathing! Now, whoever shoots down Ji Fang's mech gets promoted, and whoever kills Ji Fang becomes the commander of the Seventh Army! All of you, charge!"
The allure of profit fueled the fierce competition, making the battlefield even more intense.
The azure sea turned black and red, and the mechs and limbs floated on the surface. Accompanied by the severe typhoon weather, they were instantly swallowed by the sea, which was filled with a nauseatingly salty smell.
Because Ji Fang had locked onto Sze and Zhou Shiqing's mechs, he relentlessly pursued them. Sze had already experienced the feeling of being watched by the "living Yama" once before, and in this life-or-death battle, Sze was somewhat flustered, desperately directing his subordinates to block in front of him.
No one could stop Ji Fang when he went berserk. At the cost of having a third of his mecha cut off, he hit Sze's mecha energy bay. Sze's mecha fell instantly. Ji Fang followed closely behind and, the instant Sze's mecha hit the ground, precisely located Sze's position inside the mecha and fired an energy cannon at the cockpit, causing Sze's body and mecha to shatter into pieces.
Sze's death caused the enemy soldiers' morale to collapse instantly. With General Sze dead, the previously promised promotion was void. Nobody wanted to die, which made Ji Fang feel much more at ease.
Zhou Shiqing was still there. Seeing that Ji Fang's damaged mecha still possessed such astonishing combat power, his understanding was once again refreshed. That was, Ji Fang was very strong, so strong that he might never be able to surpass him in this lifetime.
Ji set his sights on Zhou Shiqing, and when he actually faced him, he was already fearful and became even more flustered.
When Zhou Shiqing and Ji Fang's mechs both crashed, Ji Fang's mech was already damaged, with a large area exposed.
With his mecha energy depleted, Ji Fang's mental energy collapsed. A severe headache made the outside world appear blood red to him. He felt dizzy and was in danger of fainting at any moment.
Qiao felt like he was about to die. He had lost his hearing and was bleeding from all seven orifices. He struggled to unfasten the safety pod and climbed onto Ji Fang. He wanted to wake Ji Fang up.
Ji Fang pointed to a hidden compartment in the cockpit, and Qiao helped open it, taking out the syringe inside. Qiao identified the medicine as a hormone that could temporarily enhance bodily functions. Under Ji Fang's guidance, he quickly injected Ji Fang with it.
Zhou Shiqing, who fell with him, regained consciousness at the same time. He stumbled towards Ji Fang's mecha, weapons in hand. He blasted a larger hole in Ji Fang's already badly damaged mecha with a single shot. When his energy cannon ran out, he picked up his energy gun and continued forward.
Today, either Ji Fang or he will die!
Zhou Shiqing found Ji Fang and, without a moment's hesitation, fired at Ji Fang. Qiao Ye's pupils dilated, and his body acted before his mind, shielding Ji Fang.
When Qiao realized that she had a large gash in her chest, she fell into Ji Fang's arms. Ji Fang then fell backward and was thrown out of the mecha.
Zhou Shiqing fired wildly, while Ji Fang dragged Qiao Ye and used the mecha as cover to take cover.
The injected medication began to take effect, and Ji Fang's physical strength began to recover. He finally defeated Zhou Shiqing.
Zhou Shiqing's eyes were closed. He died without regrets. Dying at Ji Fang's hands was his destiny.
Qiao Ye lay on the ground. Ji Fang picked him up and quickly found safe cover. Looking at the blood gushing from Qiao Ye's chest, his voice was more panicked than ever before: "Qiao Ye, Qiao Ye, wake up, don't sleep."
Qiao felt his head buzzing and his consciousness starting to dissipate. He could no longer hear anything. He stared intently at Ji Fang's emotionally distraught and somewhat dirty face, and his mouth opening and closing as if he were speaking. He wanted to reach out and touch it.
Ji Fang grabbed Qiao Ye's hand, pressed it tightly against his face, and hugged him closely, his voice a little unsteady: "Qiao Ye, hang in there, I'll take you into the treatment ward, be strong!"
Qiao smiled faintly, her face pale, and struggled to open her eyes, speaking with difficulty: "I...we're even. You saved my life, I saved yours. Don't be sad..."
Ji Fang didn't want him to fall asleep, so he forced a smile that looked worse than crying: "Now you've finally revealed your true form, haven't you? You've always been able to talk, haven't you? After I heal you, I'm going to interrogate you properly. What kind of demon are you? If you don't confess properly, see how I punish you."
He steadily carried Qiao Ye and ran towards the military medical station of the army's logistics department. However, at this time, it was impossible to find a military doctor quickly and accurately; everywhere was a scene of ruins.
His men suffered countless casualties, and the First Prince sent five times his number of troops to deal with him. Even so, the two sides were still severely injured. Ji Fang's strength was truly beyond people's expectations.
Ji Fang and Qiao Ye kept talking: "Didn't you say, 'If the master lives, you live; if the master dies, you die'? Now that I'm alive, you have to live too!"
Qiao was bleeding heavily, and he was very cold. He just wanted Ji Fang to hold him tighter.
Unfortunately, the weather turned against them, with strong winds and torrential rain. Ji Fang could only find shelter in the wreckage of a mecha. Rainwater streamed down Ji Fang's forehead, past the corners of his eyes, and dripped onto Qiao Ye's face.
Ji Fang shielded Qiao Ye's head against his chest, trying to protect him from the rain.
Qiao Ye looked into Ji Fang's bloodshot eyes and knew that he was suffering because he couldn't save her. Qiao Ye felt happy instead. Who isn't afraid of death?
But if someone is saddened by his death, he feels an indescribable sense of happiness that lessens his fear of dying.
Qiao gripped Ji Fang's thumb tightly. His breath was already very weak. He didn't want to see Ji Fang in such pain. "Ji Fang, I... I told you before, I'm not from this world. I come from another world. I won't truly die. If I die here... I'll live on in another world..."
Ji Fang stared at Qiao Ye, wiping the water from her face: "No, you won't die. I've already sensed the nearby treatment wards. I'll carry you there right away. Don't talk, save your energy. Be good, listen to me."
Joe, with his eyes closed, forced a smile and continued his last words: "Don't be sad. Maybe, after I die, I'll... come back to you, and I'll become... a Cohen."
Ji Fang pressed his hand against the bleeding hole in Qiao Ye's chest, but blood seeped from the edge of his palm. Ji Fang's voice choked as he replied, "Fine, you'll become a Cohen, and you'll come find me."
Joe also felt his life force draining away, and there seemed to be a beam of white light in front of him, guiding him there.
Qiao murmured, "Master, take care, don't be sad... If I die, raise another Yuan, a Yuan that's more obedient than me... Let it love you in my place..."
Seeing Ji Fang so heartbroken, Qiao also regretted speaking to him at the end. If he hadn't spoken, he would have just treated him as a mere sapling. Would he have been less sad if he had died?
He really couldn't bear to part with his master. Being by his side brought him a happiness and peace he had never experienced in his human life. If there were a next life, he would be happy to be Ji Fang's former master again.
Qiao also stopped breathing in Ji Fang's arms.
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