Chapter 51, Chapter 51: Buffs? ...
"Mom, I'm awake! I'm getting up!"
Seeing that she was awake, Urina stopped paying attention to her.
By the time she finished getting ready, it was already past ten o'clock.
It was bright outside, with no clouds in the sky, and the weather was warm and pleasant, not too hot.
Luo Yin led Big White out, preparing to groom its fur.
With her tools in hand, she rubbed her hands together, ready to trim some of the excess fur off the animal.
As the weather gets hotter, she rarely uses Big White at this time.
But every time I take it out, Big White gets unbearably hot.
Normally, this was something her family did. Luo Yin had tried cutting hair twice, but her family disliked it and discontinued her skills. But today was special, so she chuckled and walked towards Big White.
"Big White, don't worry, I've learned it. This time, I'll teach you how to be the most handsome horse."
Big White shook its head, and a lewd image of her facing it flashed through its eyes.
He somehow understood her intention and turned to run away.
"Hey, hey, don't go! I have some good food here, why don't you try it?"
Big White barked a few times, as if responding to her "no, no."
"Really, try it and see, you're wearing such a thick layer of clothing, aren't you hot?"
She combed it from top to bottom, and Big White stood there comfortably enjoying it.
“Huihui~”
"Yeah, it's really hot. Don't worry, I'll definitely do my best."
Luo Yin coaxed and flattered it, first giving it a comfortable full-body massage, then smoothing out all its fur, and then feeding it a lot of its favorite food.
After using both methods simultaneously, Big White remained comfortably still.
The horse seemed to want to stay still, not even moving its head, only occasionally twitching its mouth and eyes.
"Good boy, you really are my Baymax."
Luo Yin circled around it and affectionately patted its head.
Urina watched from the sidelines for a long time, finding the sight of the man and horse in this state both amusing and exasperating.
That girl is really something, she even knows how to trick the horse.
"Luo Yin, cut it carefully later, so that Da Bai won't let you touch it next time."
Luo Yin, who was about to make her move, felt her face flush when she heard her mother say that.
Last time, the big white dog was so disgusted by its appearance that it wouldn't let her near it for half a month. Yes, it kept eating and drinking, but it wouldn't let her touch it.
"I understand, Mom, don't worry."
"Here you go, be careful not to move!"
Following the direction of the hair, Luo Yin left a section and cut it off with a pair of scissors.
"Click, click~"
"Click, click~"
Once the first cut was made, the rest of the process went much more smoothly.
When Da Bai heard the voice in its ear and felt the touch on its body, it tried to move, but was suppressed by her.
"Don't move, don't move, it's not done yet."
Loin gently stroked its back to comfort it, and seeing that it was no longer tense, she continued cutting.
This whole process took her more than three hours.
Urina couldn't stand it anymore and helped her for another hour before it was finally over.
After the grooming, Big White looked very energetic, at least in Luo Yin's eyes.
Urina looked at the conspicuous, pitted area and instinctively looked away.
"Alright, take it back and let's eat."
"Yeah, I almost forgot how busy I've been. Where's Ani?
Loin looked around but didn't see Ani.
"The old man went to visit some neighbors, saying he was going to bring back some wine."
Luo Yin nodded, "So that's how it is." The mother and daughter left food for Ani, and after eating and drinking their fill, they began to rest.
Luo Yin was exhausted after a long morning, and fell asleep as soon as she lay down.
I slept very soundly and didn't hear any noise from the encampment.
Urina woke up not long after lying down. She was making shoes for her grandson.
Upon returning from this trip, she began preparing things for her grandson.
Thinking that I would be able to wear them when I came back for the New Year, I never expected that a group of people would come from the east.
When Urina found them, they were already very close.
Judging from the direction they were coming from, Urina quickly put down her things and counted the number of people—eight in total.
No, it seems like there's another one on its back.
"Who are these people..."
She turned to look for Luo Yin, but just then Ani rode back on horseback.
Urina turned around instantly and saw that the nine people behind her were also looking at Ani.
Annie, running from a distance, naturally saw things more clearly than she did.
Those people walked very orderly, taking large steps with their arms swinging steadily.
Ani figured out what was going on and arrived home first.
"Take the things inside first, call Hua Hua over, and don't come out unless I say anything."
The old man told Urina to do it, and Urina quickly ran into the tent.
The old man stood there steadily, waiting for someone to arrive.
"Huff, huff~"
"Finally, we can see signs of human habitation. This place is really remote."
"Who says otherwise? This night has been quite a hassle." Someone said, glancing furtively at the person on his back.
Seeing that no one was willing to reconcile, he didn't dare say anything more.
After all, the request was indeed bizarre, and they only hesitated for a moment before immediately carrying it out.
But little did we know that it would take more than ten hours just to decide on the destination.
If it were just about traveling, it wouldn't be a big deal, as they weren't familiar with these things during their daily training. But thinking about what they would do in the mountains late at night, it was incredibly arduous. When they caught up with Old Chen and heard him say that he was going to the grasslands to bring someone over, the entire team was speechless for half a minute.
After descending from the fifth peak, they walked for three hours before finally emerging from the forest, getting lost and turning in the wrong direction along the way. After all this trouble, they hadn't eaten or drunk a single drop of water.
Because they lost all their belongings while protecting Old Chen.
Old Chen wanted to give them his own grain, but who would dare?
They all told them to protect him, which is going against the will of Heaven.
But once they set foot on the grassland, they felt lost again.
This lush, green wasteland is deserted!
Looking at a mountain can make a horse run itself to death, but aimlessly searching for someone on a grassland is no easy task either.
Because of his past criminal record, they all harbored doubts about Chen Lao's path. Although he was very capable, they had all made contingency plans along the way.
Mark the way as you go, and take out the map to check it as you go.
After reminiscing, Old Chen patted the man on the shoulder, signaling him to put down.
"We've finally arrived. Put me down quickly, I'll do it myself."
"Really! This family has several yurts!"
"This is my first time on the grassland. They really eat meat every day."
"Shh, shut up, or the captain will yell at you."
Old Chen rushed over quickly and saw an old man waiting there.
"Oh, hello old comrade."
Mao Yixige's wary gaze faltered when he saw the old man in front of him.
Standing before him was a man named Chen the Blind, covered in mud and looking pale and aged by more than ten years.
Would bad guys send someone like this to lead the charge?
He looked serious and scanned him, searching for a place to keep his weapons.
It turns out there really isn't one.
Hello, I don't know who you are...
"Hello, sir. We are colleagues from next door who came here for an inspection. We came from the mountains over there and would like to rest at your place for a while. Is that alright?"
The captain came up first, shook his hand, and explained.
Ani looked at the increasingly familiar outfit and glanced at the men who had followed her.
Do you have work permits?
Chen the Blind Man, who had already plopped down, stopped to look at them after hearing this.
The soldiers all looked at their captain, who patted his pockets. "No, I don't have any! Where did they get their work permits?"
Ani observed their expressions and, sure enough, sensed their guilty conscience.
His gaze instantly turned serious, and Blind Chen beside him knew something was wrong.
"Hey, wait a minute, herdsman comrade, we're not bad people, we're really all good people. They're all good young soldiers. If you don't believe me, I'll show you their officer IDs."
"Boss, hurry up and stop hiding it. We have to talk about this sooner or later, so that the comrades don't misunderstand."
He figured he couldn't hide it anyway, so he might as well tell the truth.
Aside from his face burning, the captain was completely unaffected by being exposed.
"Old comrade, I'm sorry, we are indeed soldiers. This is my officer's ID card, look."
The captain not only handed over his own, but also gave him all of his men.
Ani examined them carefully, checking each one meticulously, and found no fakes.
Although his gaze was relaxed, there was still some unease.
"Oh, I see. Please sit down, please sit down. I'll get you some water. Haven't you eaten yet? I'll go and ask them to cook something."
Seeing this, the captain quickly handed over the prepared money and tickets.
"Thank you for your trouble, old comrade. We must accept your money and tickets."
I thought there would be some back and forth, but to my surprise, the old man accepted it very readily.
"Okay, okay, I know you don't take a single penny from the masses."
He walked into the house as he spoke, leaving his comrades behind him sighing in admiration.
"I didn't expect even my compatriots on the grasslands to know this. Our country is doing very well!"
"That's right. When I get home after this mission, I'll have to tell my daughter that her dad has been to the grasslands."
"That's right, I wonder what Grandpa will prepare for us to eat later. We'll finally be able to eat things from the grasslands! Hahahaha!"
"Alright, alright, be quiet for a bit, aren't you tired?"
The deputy captain told them to find a place to rest, and then followed the captain to see Old Chen.
Old Chen found a comfortable spot and lay down to rest.
He leaned back in his chair, gazing at the distant scenery, savoring the moment.
"This place is comfortable, I'm really enjoying myself!"
The old man was limp and listless, not wanting to move or say much. He just lay there calmly, occasionally humming a few words, very leisurely.
The vice-captain was about to say something when he saw this, but the captain stopped him.
"Hey, hey, what are you doing? Don't talk nonsense!"
The captain interrupted sternly, and the vice-captain's face stiffened, turning his head away with disapproving eyes.
"Captain, didn't he say he was coming to find someone? Why isn't he looking anymore?"
The captain sighed. He was also puzzled, but he was ordered to take good care of him and do everything according to his wishes, so he suppressed his doubts and waited for the result.
"I don't know, let's wait and see."
"Fine, I won't worry about it anymore. Let's find a place to rest!"
People nearby had already taken off their smelly socks and started treating each other's blisters.
Some people even circled the area several times, figuring out every spot, so they weren't afraid of anything that might happen later.
A delicious aroma wafted from inside the house, and people's bellies began to rumble.
"Gurgle~"
"Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle~"
"Haha, this smells so good! I can smell the meat."
"That's true, but can we eat it?"
"team leader..."
The captain nodded: "Everyone behave yourselves from now on. If anyone embarrasses this uniform, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Many people toned it down and said they wouldn't.
Old Chen jumped up. "Hmm, that's the taste. It's true that only local water can nourish local people."
"Comrades, please come in and eat. There are seats available inside."
Ani opened the yurt and invited them inside.
The group's eyes lit up as they all looked at their captain.
The captain looked at Old Man Chen, who nodded. "Let's go, everyone go inside."
Ani turned her gaze to Old Chen again, and only after everyone went inside did she realize that there were still two people inside.
Many people's eyes lit up when they saw Luo Yin.
Luo Yin felt several gazes directed at her. She turned around and found that she didn't recognize them.
I made way for them to sit down, and then followed my mother out.
Old Chen, whose gaze had been fixed on her, spoke up at this moment.
"Wait, is this your granddaughter? How old is she and isn't in school anymore?"
Ani waved her hand, signaling Urina to leave.
"The children are on holiday, come and pour tea for the soldiers." Luo Yin stayed behind beside him.
When Loin heard Ani say that, she stood by the stove.
Looking at the large bowl of mutton soup on the table, the aroma of the meat almost enveloped them.
The soldiers, who had been starving for a long time, were also a little overwhelmed, and their reactions were slightly delayed for a few seconds.
"No need, we can do it ourselves. Let the children go out and play."
"Yes, yes, how can we let the girl do it? We can do it ourselves."
The youngest person present was in their mid-twenties; compared to them, Luo Yin could have been their younger sister.
"Haha, is that so? I'll trouble you to treat me to this meal today, old herdsman. I won't stand on ceremony." Old Chen said with a smile, and then began to eat.
Luo Yin stared at him for a few seconds, not noticing nothing at first, but her heart skipped a beat when she saw him groping for food.
Is this person blind?
She observed carefully and found that his eyes did look strange every time he spoke to Ani.
She stared at him for a while, then looked at the people around her when she noticed that Ani hadn't said anything.
Seeing them munching away so heartily, I quickly went up and filled their cups with the freshly brewed milk tea.
When she reached Old Man Chen, she was about to walk around him to pour him tea when a hand as sharp as a chopstick accurately placed the teacup in front of her.
"Thank you, eight-tenths full is fine!"
Luo Yin was very close and could see that his eyes were indeed different from those of ordinary people.
Not sure if there would be any problems, but surprised by his efficiency, she poured the tea and softly said, "It's ready."
When I sat down next to Ani again, I couldn't help but perk up my ears, wanting to find out more about them.
According to Ani, all of these people, except for the old man, were soldiers, but they inexplicably appeared near them, and no one knew what their intentions were.
There seemed to be no malice, but for some reason, Luo Yin thought of the weather those days.
Especially after hearing that they came from over there, I really wanted to ask them.
Before she could ask, Old Man Chen slowly said, "Indeed, the mutton here is the best, the most authentic."
Wow, judging from his tone, this old guy has seen a lot.
Seeing his smug look, Luo Yin couldn't help but look around.
Ani's expression remained unchanged; among the people beside her, some clearly looked on with envy.
"Mr. Chen, you've eaten mutton from the grasslands before? That's amazing! I haven't eaten it for over thirty years."
"Yes, this is my first time too. People always say that there's no shortage of food and drink on the grasslands, but I never thought I'd actually get to eat here one day."
Ani's gaze remained fixed on Old Man Chen without flinching.
Old Chen's smile deepened as he noticed the two people opposite him staring at him.
Looking at the old man's smiling face, Luo Yin felt a chill run down her spine for no apparent reason.
She shivered and silently shrank back.
"Yes, I've eaten it quite a few times, but the best mutton is still from the herders' homes. It's very different from what you get elsewhere."
"I don't know what the difference is, but as long as it's meat, it tastes good!"
A young man spoke up, which made everyone burst into laughter.
The atmosphere improved considerably. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Urina helped her clean up the mess.
The group moved outside and fetched water to wash themselves.
Old Chen has now spoken to Ani.
As they probed each other's backgrounds, they quickly realized they had a mutual acquaintance: Old Master Qin.
"So you're saying we're all acquaintances? Hahaha, I never would have guessed! I actually know you, my old buddy."
He watched as Old Man Chen, with an enthusiastic expression, praised him.
Mao Yixi felt something was off, and after thinking about it carefully, he realized that it was indeed him who had mentioned Lao Qin.
As for how Lao Qin was mentioned, oh right, it was when they asked about their origins. He said they came from the capital, and naturally, he had to ask about the capital.
The old man Qin who told me about it later fit the story perfectly in every way, so it must be true.
Moreover, this old guy even revealed the details of Taohuo City, so it's even less likely he's wrong.
After thinking for a moment, Ani suppressed her unease and told him about Lao Qin's situation and the current situation in the capital.
The two were about the same age, and although one was a feng shui master and the other a herdsman, they always found common ground in their conversations.
Seeing that the two were chatting enthusiastically, their relationship had improved considerably.
The team leader, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly seized an opportunity to interject.
"Old Chen, what do we do today..."
Old Chen waved his hand, "Let's stay here for today. My brother and I had a great chat. We'll set off tomorrow after we've rested up."
He pulled a wad of bills from his pocket and said, "I want to eat a whole roasted lamb. You guys decide what to do."
"Brother, I've been into this for a while now, so please don't be reluctant to let me go!"
Looking at the wad of money and hearing his polite words, how could Ani refuse? But as they were about to leave, she called Luo Yin over to help.
"If you need anything, contact her."
Upon hearing the reason, Luo Yin led them to select sheep.
Luo Yin was largely uninvolved in the selection, slaughtering, and preparation of the meat, as well as the setup of the fire and the subsequent roasting. She only gave instructions at key points.
I must say, these soldiers are really amazing. They can hit any target with just a few commands.
Luo Yin was very satisfied, thinking it was even better than her brother's.
Seeing the meat being grilled, the people nearby couldn't help but ask her about it.
She asked some routine questions, and Luo Yin responded in kind. When asked about their situation, she didn't ask too many questions, only focusing on their hometown customs.
Everyone was talking at once, and almost all of their conversations revolved around food. Everyone had a lot to say about their hometown cuisine.
Luo Yin remained hidden in the back, secretly gathering clues as they began to talk.
Her gaze fell on the departing captain, then she looked at the only vice-captain.
"Young man, won't this meat burn when you roast it like this?"
"No, just check on it from time to time and flip it over. But you have to pay attention to the heat; it won't taste good if the heat is too low."
"ah!"
"How could this not taste good? As long as it's meat, it's fine."
"Yes, yes, this is the first time I've ever eaten a whole sheep."
"It must weigh at least fifty or sixty pounds, skin and bones included. This is such a waste."
Someone slapped him and said, "Slap! How can you talk like that? If you can't speak properly, then shut up."
The vice-captain looked at Luo Yin apologetically, "Young comrade, he's just naturally bad at talking, please don't mind him!"
Luo Yin shook her head, "It's alright. There was a lot of meat in this meal. My family makes a living by herding livestock, and we don't dare to eat meat all year round."
"That's right, you don't farm, you don't have food, so you have to use these to pay off debts."
Luo Yin nodded. Although her family was not short of money now, she still had to cry pitifully and complain about being poor!
"The mutton offal soup should be almost ready."
In another pot, Urina was looking at the lamb offal she had personally cooked.
"It smells so good! The original soup helps digest the food. After eating this, I can go a year without eating meat."
"Bang!"
"Oh dear, Mr. Chen, why did you fall to the ground!"
The captain looked in surprise at the two people not far away, and saw that for some reason, one of them was sitting and the other was standing up.
The group of people all turned their gazes toward the three of them, noticing the strange atmosphere between the two.
"It's nothing, it's nothing. I just accidentally lost my balance."
Old Chen looked at the group with an expression that said, "Don't worry, I'm fine."
Mauisig, standing beside him, had a stiff expression; the anger in his eyes had not yet dissipated before it was replaced by shock.
Luo Yin rushed over and stood beside Ani.
Then they saw Ani staring at Old Chen with a strange expression, while Old Chen looked at her with a smile.
Luo Yin frowned. "Is Ani alright?"
Ani shook her head, and seeing that it was her coming, hurriedly told her to go back to her book.
Luo Yin wondered what book to read. She hadn't read anything these past few days. Looking around at the people around her, she nodded and obediently went to read.
Back in my room, I could still faintly hear a lot of noise.
She composed herself and flipped through a few pages of the book, but couldn't concentrate for long.
Her attention was quickly drawn to the octagonal box beside her bed. She opened the lid and began searching for the treasures inside.
Upon opening the box, there was no extravagant display of jewels; instead, many small items lay quietly inside.
Luo Yin picked and chose; there were gifts from her family, awards from the school, and several stacks of money at the bottom.
Looking inside, she saw the pendant Ani had given her, the yellow rough stone.
She held it between her fingers and saw that it emitted a faint luster.
"It's so beautiful!"
I don't know if Ani still has this. We'll have to tell them later that they can't exchange it anymore.
Thinking of this, Luo Yin suddenly missed her second brother and father. It had been more than a month since she last saw them, and she wondered when they would return.
How is Dad's leg treatment going?
As Luo Yin pondered this, she put her hand inside to play with it, but her eyes were fixed on the book on the other side.
When her fingertips touched the round beads, she suddenly paused and looked up at the box.
"Hua Hua, Ani wants you to come over."
Suddenly, Urina called out to her from not far away.
"Okay, I'm coming right away."
When Luo Yin went outside, she found that Ani and the others had moved into the yurt.
Upon entering, I saw two people, one on each side, seemingly negotiating; the atmosphere was serious.
"Come, brew us some tea."
As usual, Old Man Chen instructed Luo Yin, pointing to the teacup.
Ani didn't say anything, so Loin obediently did it. Then she heard some shocking things.
"Brother, I really have no other choice this time. Old Qin also knows, and it's true what he said about your position."
Older brother? Old Qin?
"Look at that medicine bottle, anyone can fake it, but there are ten pills he made inside that can save your life in dangerous situations."
"You know about what happened at Changbai Mountain, right? If we don't take advantage of the fact that it hasn't developed yet and bring it down, you guys will be the first to be affected."
Moiseig stared at him intently, his gaze unwavering.
"You said those people outside are soldiers, here to protect you, right?"
Old Chen nodded, "Yes, they are all good soldiers. You saw it too, right? They are all exceptionally skilled!"
“Since there are already so many people, why should my granddaughter go? She’s just a child and doesn’t know anything.”
"Bang!"
The sound of a teapot almost being knocked over came from the stove.
Luo Yin stared blankly at the two of them. Was there anything else about her?
No, this old man and those people really did come from Changbai Mountain.
No, that thing, Changbai Mountain?
Luo Yin suddenly highlighted these words in bold red in her mind, and many unspeakable things surged into her head.
Seriously? What good is she? What use could she possibly be?
"Hehe, you can't say that. Having more people doesn't necessarily mean you'll be more useful. Sometimes, the right people need to be in the right positions to be able to make a big difference."
"Don't you think so, little girl?"
Luo Yin felt as if she were locked onto by his lifeless eyes; she tried to move in terror but couldn't.
"Click!"
The sound of the barrier breaking through rang in her ears.
She can move her limbs again!!!
Luo Yin was so frightened that her back was covered in sweat. This old man is suspicious. What kind of crooked and evil trick is he using?
Luo Yin insisted on going along, not knowing that she had a strong destiny or was going to take the blame for him.
No, no, I absolutely can't go!
"Ani, I'm going out now. I just remembered that the school wants me to go there again. I need to pack my things and leave early tomorrow morning."
"Haha, girl, don't be in a hurry, sit down and let's talk it over."
"Don't worry, this trip isn't very dangerous. If it succeeds, it will actually benefit you."
The more he said that, the less the grandfather and grandson believed him.
Even with Old Man Qin involved, Ani didn't dare to believe it completely.
The main problem is that what he said earlier was too frightening.
"Brother, we've already talked so much, so I won't beat around the bush. The reason I came here is to ask you for a favor. There's something in the mountains to the east that's taking shape. I was fighting it a few days ago, as you probably saw. But I don't have enough manpower, so I'd like your daughter to go with me. Don't worry, she doesn't have to do anything. She just needs to stay by my side. I'll provide her with good food and drink, and I'll even have someone protect her. I'll bring her back safe and sound when I get back."
Do you have any requirements?
"No, I won't agree!" Ani refused outright.
"Hey, this isn't something we can discuss here."
"Bang!"
Returning our gaze to the yurt, the scene is strikingly similar.
Luo Yin took a while to calm down, but she still couldn't regain her composure. At this moment, she stared at Old Chen with a deep gaze.
She knew it; that old guy was definitely not a good person.
Once they were out of the house, she dared not get close to him again, for fear that she might be taken away if she wasn't careful.
"Hey, little girl, what kind of look is that? I really wouldn't hurt you. We've met before, don't you remember?"
All of Aniloin turned their gaze toward him upon hearing this.
"Yeah, not long ago at the Taobao Market, you forgot you visited my stall and I gave you a few sea willow beads. How were they? Pretty good, huh?"
Blind Chen skillfully used his connections to clear Luo Yin's mind of memories.
"Oh, oh, it's you, beggar!"
She really remembered it; after all, Ani had made a fortune back then, and she would never forget any of the details in the past ten years.
Hearing him recount the events so accurately, Luo Yin's suspicious gaze swept over him again.
No way, they couldn't have planned this so early on. Let's get in touch with her.
He seemed to see through her thoughts at some point, saying, "That's right, that's exactly what you think. I noticed your difference back then."
"Now that you're here, I'll tell you why I'm involving you in this."
“Your Ani and Old Qin have been friends for many years, and I have also been friends with Old Qin for many years, so we should be considered friends for many years as well. But I know you are worried, so I will reveal a little more.”
Luo Yin instinctively knew she shouldn't listen to what was about to be said, but her damned curiosity and the formalities prevented her from leaving.
Ani's worried gaze fell on her, then turned away.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but as you get older, your abilities become more and more apparent, don't you think, little girl?"
Luo Yin's heart pounded wildly, feeling both nervous and somewhat surprised.
She looked up at him instantly, then quickly looked at Ani.
"I have met countless people, and it is rare to find someone with such a unique aura as you. However, I have seen such people before. But the second time we met, I found that you were much better than the last time, and a unique aura emanated from you."
"Simply put, people around you are easily influenced by you, and they will find it easier to do anything. If you are determined to keep challenging yourself, the probability of success will be even higher."
Loin was taken aback. So I'm just a buff?
"Moreover, I've discovered that you're also very lucky. In our view, you're a person born with good fortune. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, your life will be smooth sailing and you'll have a smooth journey ahead."
"If what I'm doing under orders from above succeeds, it will be a tremendous success, greatly benefiting you; if it fails, I'll accept it, and it won't affect you. So, Comrade Luo Yin, would you be willing to give us a chance and go to Changbai Mountain with us?"
"Don't worry, it won't be a wasted trip. It's a special business trip with the best benefits. If you're still worried, I can have Old Qin, the middleman, talk to you. I have a satellite phone, so you can contact me directly!"
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