Chapter 205 Post-War
As dusk settled, the firelight reached the sky.
The fire in Lianshan Village, like the fire in Shuizhen that night, dyed the entire sky red.
The officers and soldiers were overjoyed and celebrating.
The bandits of Lianshan have finally been eradicated, and we will no longer be troubled by them. We can now enjoy a peaceful and happy New Year!
But not everyone was immersed in joy.
Compared to the soldiers' tents nearby, the area where the knights lived was much quieter.
Xue Jiang sat on the cart, holding a small wine bottle in his hand, his eyes moist as he gazed at the still-burning flames.
The person who followed him and called him "senior brother" has really disappeared!
Behind him, the people from the martial arts school looked at Xue Jiang, wanting to step forward but not daring to.
They didn't understand why, even though they won in the end, the coach's back looked so desolate.
Just as they didn't know why Instructor Xue wanted to approach that little mute.
Xie Xing came out of the tent and saw the martial arts school disciples huddled together whispering. He said in a low voice, "You all go and celebrate with the government officials! Leave this to me."
"Alright, thank you for your trouble, young master!"
The crowd bowed to Xie and quickly disappeared into the vicinity to join the government's celebration.
They should have been on their way back at this time, but because there were too many injured people, they stopped to rest for one night and returned to the county the next day.
That's what they say, but in reality, Magistrate Fang couldn't persuade his daughter, so he had no other choice but to stay.
Xie Xing glanced at the campfire, took a few steps and sat down next to Xue Jiang. "The deceased is gone. Since he had made his choice, he had already prepared for this day. Brother Xue, you don't need to be sad. This is a relief for him."
The tiger descending the mountain had no way out; all that remained was torment.
Xue Jiang knew this all too well.
But who could understand that someone who was once so close to him would become his enemy and eventually fall before him?
The overflowing blood was also the tears from the corners of his eyes.
He sighed softly, raised the wine bottle, and toasted the mountain village.
The crystal-clear water sparkles under the light, yet appears exceptionally transparent, as if it can wash away all dirt and grime.
Xue Jiang took a sip and asked, "How is things going with Chen Wanshi?"
His voice sounded somewhat desolate and hoarse, lacking the seriousness and resolve he displayed during the day.
"Her emotions are temporarily stable." Xie Xing smiled slightly. "For a woman to be able to do this is already quite remarkable. Such a bloody scene is probably enough to make her bear it!"
Even though Xie Xing had been traveling the martial arts world for many years, this was the first time he had ever encountered such a tragic scene.
The blood flowed like a river from the village to the mountainside, and for the next two months, the mountain will likely be stained with the stench of blood.
Hopefully, next spring, the fragrance of flowers will replace the smell of blood.
Seeing that Xue Jiang hesitated, Xie Xing asked gently, "Brother Xue, do you want to ask about the child's condition?"
Xue Jiang paused for a moment, then gave a pale smile. "That's just a child."
They're not bandits!
Xie Xing answered his own question as if he were asking himself: "He will stay with Chen Wanshi for the time being, and we will deal with him after we report to the higher authorities."
“That’s...very good.” Xue Jiang couldn’t think of a better way to handle it.
As far as officials were concerned, he was just an ordinary citizen. No matter how respected he was, he could not contend with the court or the imperial power.
Their existence both benefits and threatens the government.
He looked at Xie Xing and asked, "What are your plans for the future? Go home, get married, have children, and inherit the family business?"
Xie Xing took the wine bottle from Xue Jiang, took a long swig by the firelight, and said, "It's not that it's not good. At least the officials still need us landlords, otherwise where would they squeeze us out from?"
Xue Jiang's expression turned serious. "It's fine if you say this to my face, but you can't let them hear it, or you'll bring disaster upon yourselves."
"So, Brother Xue also believes that the government's power is overwhelming, far beyond our reach?"
The two looked at each other; the firelight illuminated half of their faces, while the other half remained in darkness.
"Oh dear, my mule is still here... Thank goodness, I was just wondering how to explain this to my father... Thank you, sir, thank you, sir..."
Wu Gousheng's voice broke the silence.
He led his mule cart past the two men who were drinking, beaming with joy.
Perhaps because he was in a good mood, he stopped to greet the two of them before walking to a more secluded spot.
He found a sturdy tree, tied the mule cart to it, clapped his hands, took the food out of the cart, and happily trotted back to the camp.
"Sister, brother-in-law, you must be hungry, right? I brought you lots of food."
Wu Gousheng walked briskly, placing all the plates of various sizes on a small table made of wooden planks.
Then he stood aside and stared at the two of them.
Wan Qiqi and Chen Yongnian sat facing each other.
Their wounds and injuries had been treated, and they had been given new clothes, so they no longer looked so disheveled.
But Wan Qiqi's lips were as pale as paper, as if they would fall over with a gust of wind.
Chen Yongnian's hands were wrapped up like rice dumplings, but he still held Wan Qiqi's hands in his own palms, as if only in this way could he feel at ease.
In the shadows of the tent, the little monkey huddled in a corner, clutching the last remaining wolf cub.
His big eyes stared intently at Wan Qiqi, as if afraid she would run away and abandon him.
The wolf cub was the same.
In the dim light, its wolf eyes gleamed green, giving it an eerie feel.
Wu Gousheng glanced at it, then immediately looked away, afraid that the wolf would rush over and bite him.
"Little monkey, come here and eat." Wan Qiqi's voice sounded like an old, broken speaker, hoarse and unpleasant.
But to the little monkey's ears, the sound was like a beautiful musical note.
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