0140 The Golden Winged Envoy (Part 5)
Zhan Yaoguang didn't dare to sleep soundly all night. He slept with his hands behind his head, swaying back and forth in the hammock. Only when a sliver of white light wafted in did he lazily get up. His mind was still hazy, and he almost thought he was still in Chang'an. He didn't sit properly and almost fell off the soft hammock.
Outside, Shi Yunkai personally called him to get up, and it wasn't until the third time that the door creaked open from the inside.
The boy walked out sleepily, instinctively shielding his eyes from the light, and casually asked, "Why are you up so early?"
Shi Yunkai was a little embarrassed. He couldn't very well tell him directly that he was worried that he might run away at any time, so he had to make up an excuse: "Does your tribe have the habit of eating breakfast? If not, since you've come here today, you can have breakfast. The rice was just transported back from Sangzhi this morning. The brothers carried it up the mountain bag by bag by themselves."
Upon hearing the words "this morning" and "Sangzhi," Zhan Yaoguang's eyes flickered slightly, then he smiled and said, "Alright, then wait for me a while, and find someone else to guide me. I need to find a mountain stream to wash my face first, right?"
"Why look for someone else? I'll take you there myself."
They followed quite closely.
Zhan Yaoguang was too lazy to argue with him, so she nodded perfunctorily and let him lead her to the mountain stream where she had delivered the letter the night before.
The air was thick with the smells of cooking fires, and the aroma of rice and meat mingled together. Some people were already eating, and when they saw the two of them passing by, they even slightly raised their chins in greeting.
Seeing that they were eating to their heart's content, Zhan Yaoguang's smile became even more genuine.
When they reached the mountain stream, he slowly scooped up water to wash himself, and Shi Yunkai patiently stayed by his side.
It seems they won't give up until they get him a single bite to eat.
Zhan Yaoguang stood up, shook the water off her hands and face, and said, "Alright, let's go eat breakfast."
There was originally a special dining hall in the village, but Shi Yunkai was afraid that Zhan Yaoguang would be picky, so he specially ordered someone to bring the food to the main hall and set up a table with a few of Shi Yunkai's confidants accompanying him.
"Zhan Shisan, sit here first. I'll have them bring the food up. Have some wine first."
Shi Yunkai pulled Zhan Yaoguang to sit in the seat below him, and then had someone bring over a jar of turbid rice wine, personally pouring him half a dish.
"This wine is brewed by ourselves on the mountain. It's not a very good wine, but it's good enough to satisfy a craving."
Zhan Yaoguang picked up the wine cup, first casually sniffed it, then gently set it aside, but didn't take a sip.
Shi Yunkai's expression changed slightly, and his voice turned serious: "What do you mean? Do you look down on my wine or on me?"
Zhan Yaoguang lifted her eyelids to look at him: "If you want to act close to me, why didn't you ask me beforehand if I drink alcohol?"
He wasn't lying. He hadn't drunk much since he was a child, but that time at the Kuai Zai Pavilion in Chang'an, Shu Fu wanted to drink and asked him to drink as well, so he accompanied her.
But that was Afu.
Shi Yunkai didn't think it was worth it for him to drink that one sip of wine.
Hearing Zhan Yaoguang's words, Shi Yunkai's expression softened a bit, and he said, "Since you're not going to drink, you still have to eat. Someone, bring the food over."
"What did you eat?" Zhan Yaoguang asked after glancing around.
"The meat chunks, stewed with rice, are sure to be delicious."
As they were talking, Shi Yun waved his hand, signaling someone to bring over rice. Hai Da filled a silver bowl to the brim, and because it had been braised with large chunks of pork, every grain of rice was glistening with oil.
Zhan Yaoguang picked up the silver chopsticks, fiddled with them for a bit, then slammed them on the table and leaned back in her chair: "Too oily, I have no appetite, I don't want to eat."
Shi Yunkai could no longer contain himself. He threw his chopsticks at Zhan Yaoguang and shouted angrily, "Zhan Yaoguang, don't push your luck!"
The boy sat up straight, unfazed by his anger, and instead smiled, saying, "I'm not eating to save you food, aren't I? Why are you in such a hurry? What, is there something in this food that I have to eat?"
Shi Yunkai's expression changed drastically. Unable to contain his temper any longer, he clenched his fist and was about to step forward to hit him.
Just then, a young man tumbled in, shouting, "Yun Kai, something terrible has happened! Someone's attacking the camp!"
He suddenly stood up, took two steps forward, and, ignoring Zhan Yaoguang, asked urgently, "What? How is this possible! People were sent to guard the stone wall long ago. If someone came, how could no one have reported it!"
The man's face was deathly pale, and his forehead was covered in sweat. He stammered, "They...they came from the cliff behind the mountain. They used grappling hooks to attach themselves to the rock face and climbed up step by step..."
Upon hearing this, Shi Yunkai calmed down slightly: "Where did they come from? They do have some guts... Hmph, since they're here, they can't leave unscathed. Call a few men, and we'll transport some boulders over and smash them down!"
The young man's face turned even paler: "It's too late, and...and many people in the village have started having diarrhea, the symptoms are just like those laxatives you prepared for that Zhan fellow..."
"What?" Zhan Yaoguang raised an eyebrow and slammed the table shut. "Shi Yunkai, you tried to drug me in my food?"
He hadn't expected this, but his natural wariness prevented him from eating the food Shi Yunkai had prepared.
Furthermore, he just wanted to buy some time for his cousins to launch their attack.
Yesterday, he wandered around Shi Yunkai's camp, sketching out the general terrain and sending it out via the mountain stream. In addition, he also learned by chance that Shi Yunkai and his men usually had their food transported from Sangzhi County, and that tomorrow was the day the next batch of rice and grain was to arrive.
He quickly thought of something and decided to mention it as well, asking Zhan Yuheng to send someone to add some additives to the rice on the way.
Unexpectedly, Shi Yunkai had the same idea as him, but his method worked while Shi Yunkai's failed miserably.
Shi Yunkai, completely unaware of Zhan Yaoguang's scheme, cursed angrily, "A bunch of idiots! I told them to put something in Zhan Yaoguang's food, and they actually mixed it into their own pot!"
"Enough! Bring me my iron fork! Any of you who can still stand up straight, go and get your own weapons and drive them down the mountain!"
Zhan Yaoguang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he rushed out to stop him, but he was unarmed and was stabbed by Shi Yunkai in the back, his palm was cut open with a bright red gash.
"I almost forgot about you." Shi Yunkai turned around, his eyes full of resentment. "Wait until I capture you as a hostage, then let's see if your cousin will be so timid!"
Shi Yunkai's eyes were bloodshot. He raised the iron fork and thrust it straight at Zhan Yaoguang's face. Zhan Yaoguang steadied himself and raised his hand to block. The hard iron fork hit his arm directly.
He cried out in pain and tried to grab Shi Yunkai, but his arm was extremely weak and Shi Yunkai was strong enough to stand up, so he was forced back several steps.
Sweat beaded on the boy's forehead, his lips were crimson, and his dark eyes were fixed on Shi Yunkai. Suddenly, he smiled, and taking advantage of the other's unpreparedness, he abruptly released his grip and turned to the side, leaving Shi Yunkai scrambling and staggering a few steps before regaining his balance.
Without weapons, it's hard to resist.
Zhan Yaoguang did this because he caught a glimpse of a Lanqi in the hall, and upon closer inspection, he saw that it was filled with a number of weapons.
He took a few steps forward and was about to pick out a suitable sword when Shi Yunkai reacted and approached him with a steel fork: "What are you looking for? Are you looking for a single-edged sword?"
Zhan Yaoguang did not respond. Instead, he quickly scanned the area around the Lanqi and found that among all the weapons, only the sword was missing.
Shi Yunkai sneered: "Since you are wary of me and dare not even put my things in your mouth, how can I not be wary of you? Everyone knows you are skilled with a knife, so why would I leave a knife here for you to use? The way of fighting and using troops is nothing more than playing mind games and scheming."
In the world of martial arts, it is rare to find someone who is proficient in even one skill. As for the saying that one is "skilled in all eighteen martial arts," it is just something made up in legends and novels to scare people. Once one loses a suitable weapon, it is no different from a tiger with its teeth broken, or fighting bare-handed.
Shi Yun said, "It hurts a lot to be stabbed by an iron fork. If you surrender obediently, you will suffer less physical pain."
"Is that so?" The young man smiled disdainfully. "Then let me tell you another principle of warfare—never underestimate any of your enemies, and don't be deceived by appearances..."
"What?" Shi Yunkai frowned, puzzled.
"I mean, I'm better with a stick than a knife."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhan Yaoguang's eyes sharpened, and he grabbed the long stick beside him and struck towards Shi Yunkai.
He does indeed use a knife often, because it is something that many people in Miao areas are skilled at. His father taught him for several years, and other aunts and uncles in the clan also taught him.
But his mother was different. She was once the daughter of a general who controlled the garrison. She wielded the Water and Fire Dragon-Binding Staff with great skill. Even after falling into a ravine and losing all her memories, she never forgot the martial arts skills that were deeply ingrained in her bones.
In martial arts, he resembles his mother more. Although he is proficient in most basic martial arts, he is more skilled in light-footed movements and staff techniques that resemble a dragon playing in the water.
"Shi Yunkai, just because you haven't seen me use it doesn't mean I can't."
Zhan Yaoguang lashed out with his long staff, which pierced through the gap in Shi Yunkai's movements like a silver snake, striking his wrist with a fierce blow.
Shi Yunkai's wrist went numb, and he barely managed to hold back from dropping his weapon. However, his face was struck hard again, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. He lost all strength in his hand, and the iron fork was lifted up by Zhan Yaoguang with a stick. It spun around in mid-air like a child, and was finally slammed into the wall by a backhand.
Shi Yun Kai lay on the ground, watching the tall young man approach him with a stick. His heart sank, and he subconsciously begged for mercy: "Thirteen Lang, calm down. If you want to recruit us, I will. Please don't hit us anymore..."
"Oh?" Zhan Yaoguang raised his chin, seemingly quite interested, and actually lowered the long stick.
Shi Yunkai glanced at it out of the corner of his eye, his heart tightened slightly, and he pretended to be scared as he backed away, moving silently toward the spot where the iron fork had pierced.
"It's true, I give up, I completely give up. I'm not going to argue with you anymore. Besides, those idiots outside have already been drugged and are probably tied up by your cousin and the others. How can I possibly cause any more trouble..." His thoughts raced as he desperately tried to find something to say to attract Zhan Yaoguang's attention, hoping to create an opportunity for himself to get closer to the weapon. "And, and..."
A thought suddenly struck him, and he blurted out, "I saw it coming long ago. You've been away from the clan all this time, and you've even lost your virginity, yet you've returned alone. Did the young lady outside reject you? Here's what we'll do: let me go back and negotiate with my clan. I'll personally speak to my elder sister and ask her to marry you, so our two clans can be forever united. My elder sister is beautiful and kind; she would never disgrace you. Isn't that better than you following that young lady outside?"
Shi Yun's words flowed out like beads on a string, unaware that the young man opposite him had already changed his expression, and the long staff he had put away was now held horizontally in front of him again.
Before he could finish his last sentence, Zhan Yaoguang grabbed a long stick and struck him on the forehead.
He rolled his eyes and completely fainted.
———
Fei Fei's inner monologue: What nonsense is this? It's kind of scary. I should knock him out first.
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