Li Lei looked at Xu Yuehuai with admiration in his eyes: "Your Highness, today's trip has made me deeply appreciate your wisdom and courage. I, Li Lei, am willing to bow down to your wisdom."
Xu Yuehuai smiled and waved his hand: "General Li, you flatter me. This is all thanks to the efforts of all of us."
At this moment, as the first rays of dawn shone and all things came back to life, they seemed to already see the dawn of victory shining ahead.
Xu Yuehuai and his group, riding the tall horses that had been arduously towed across the turbulent river, continued their arduous journey to Tiger Head Mountain.
Gradually, the sunlight, like a sharp blade, cut through every inch of air, testing the traveler's will and endurance.
The group paused briefly under the sparse shade of trees, where everyone took out their dry rations to replenish their energy.
A soft hissing sound broke the silence, and Xu Yuehuai turned around abruptly, only to find that her package was no longer in its original place.
Her eyes sharpened instantly as she scanned her surroundings, while Yan Qing and the others quickly went on alert, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
"Don't move." Xu Yuehuai said softly but firmly to Yan Qing and the others, her gaze fixed on a man not far away who looked flustered and was about to turn and run away.
The man was thin, but his eyes gleamed with cunning and unease.
Xu Yuehuai did not rush to chase after him, but calmly analyzed the situation. Then, she rushed out and subdued the man with lightning speed.
As the man struggled, he revealed extraordinary strength and agility, surprising everyone present.
“You stole my things, and I caught you red-handed. Now, you’re one of my men,” Xu Yuehuai said sternly, glaring at the man.
The man, who identified himself as Wang Mang, was taken aback upon hearing this, then smiled slyly: "So, will you give me something to eat?"
Xu Yuehuai was slightly taken aback, then a playful smile appeared on her lips: "As long as you work hard under me, you can have whatever you want to eat."
Upon hearing this, Wang Mang nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, deal!"
This scene left Yan Qing and the others looking at each other in bewilderment, their hearts filled with confusion and doubt.
Xu Yuehuai seemed to see through their thoughts, but did not explain much. Instead, she gently released Wang Mang, who had been staring at the package, and handed it back to him.
Wang Mang eagerly opened the package, and the remaining dry rations inside were instantly devoured by him. He ate with great relish, as if they were rare delicacies in the world.
"This is our rations for ten days!" Guard Gu Shen couldn't help but exclaim, his face full of disbelief.
Wang Mang let out a burp, and asked with lingering satisfaction, "Is there anything else?"
Yan Qing frowned and looked at Xu Yuehuai with concern: "Your Highness, even if we take him with us, this amount of food won't last until we return."
Upon hearing this, Wang Mang grabbed Xu Yuehuai's skirt and said in a cute and coquettish manner, "Little sister, you promised to take me in, you can't go back on your word!"
His appearance made it hard to connect him with the cunning thief from before.
Xu Yuehuai helplessly pulled her skirt back and sighed softly, "Fine, then we'll just hunt more wild game to fill our stomachs."
Upon hearing this, Wang Mang laughed heartily, as if he could already foresee a table full of wild delicacies in the future.
Seeing Wang Mang's appearance, Xu Yuehuai couldn't help but rub her forehead, hoping that her choice was not wrong.
The group set off again, with Wang Mang and Yan Qing riding together. Although there was a slight awkwardness between them, the atmosphere gradually eased.
Xu Yuehuai rode ahead, glancing back at Wang Mang from time to time, her eyes filled with both scrutiny and expectation.
She knew that her decision might be fraught with unknowns and risks, but she believed even more that there was always a good side to human nature, and that given the opportunity, she might be able to gain unexpected loyalty and strength.
As the sun began to set, the group traversed forests and mountains. The scenery along the way appeared exceptionally magnificent under the glow of the setting sun, and a resolute strength surged within Xu Yuehuai's heart.
Wang Mang was perhaps the most unexpected turning point and gain in this journey...
Night fell silently, like a thick silk ribbon, covering Tiger Head Mountain and tightly enveloping this ancient and mysterious land.
Li Lei, Yan Qing, Xu Yuehuai, and the rest of the team finally arrived at their destination, traversing the rugged mountain path under the moonlight.
"This is Tiger Head Mountain, the legendary treacherous place." Li Lei stopped, took a deep breath of the crisp air, and said with a touch of emotion.
Yan Qing looked around at the scenery, his brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes: "Why does it look different from the description in the books? The Tiger Head Mountain described in those books seems more desolate, with an indescribable sense of desolation."
Li Lei smiled slightly and explained, "Most of the records in the books are from decades ago. Time flies, and everything changes. This Tiger Head Mountain may have also undergone its changes. You see, although the surrounding peaks are still steep, they are more tranquil and less noisy."
Xu Yuehuai suggested, "Since it's getting late, let's set up camp nearby. Safety first."
Everyone sprang into action, and Wang Mang joined in as well. Although he was burly, he worked with remarkable efficiency.
Before long, several tents were erected on the open ground.
Wang Mang patted the dust off his hands and smiled as he approached Xu Yuehuai: "Little sister, after all that work, my stomach is growling."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuehuai couldn't help but chuckle: "Your appetite is truly astonishing. How did your family manage to raise you to be this big?"
A fleeting hint of sadness crossed Wang Mang's face, but he quickly regained his optimism: "I've had a big appetite since I was born, and my family couldn't afford to feed me, so they abandoned me in the mountains. Luckily, they would occasionally bring me some food, otherwise I might have lost my life here."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuehuai felt a surge of sympathy. She sighed softly, "Your background is truly heartbreaking. However, you don't seem to resent them?"
Wang Mang shook his head, his eyes full of magnanimity: "What's there to resent? They have their own difficulties. Besides, it's quite nice to be free and unrestrained in the mountains and fields."
"Why don't you come with us to hunt some wild game later? You've almost finished off all the food we ate on the way here," Xu Yuehuai said with a smile, patting Wang Mang on the shoulder.
Immediately, the group, carrying torches, stepped into the surrounding dense forest.
Wang Mang followed closely behind Xu Yuehuai and the others, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and anticipation. However, as they ventured deeper into the area, the surrounding silence instilled a strange unease in them.
"Have all the wild animals here died out?" Soldier Li Guang couldn't help but ask in a low voice, his voice filled with disbelief.
Li Wang chimed in, "Yes, it's really strange that there isn't even a single bird."
Xu Yuehuai and Yan Qing exchanged a glance. The latter nodded slightly, took out an exquisite hidden weapon from his sleeve, flicked his finger, and the hidden weapon cut through the air with a sharp whistling sound, and stabbed into the tree trunk next to him.
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