The Double-Chapter 657 - 202 Protection_2

From Huangzhou to Yanjing, beyond the city gates, the number of houses dwindled with each step. To avoid Prince Cheng’s troops, Zhao Ke and his companion were taking back roads, which nearly always led into the mountains. By the third day, they had entered complete wilderness—with no village ahead, no store behind, nothing at all.

Wen Renyao looked outside for a while and said, "It looks like we’ll have to spend the night in the mountains today."

Jiang Li didn’t seem to mind at all.

When Wen Renyao saw her indifferent attitude, he asked, "Miss Jiang the Second, we have to stay in the mountains tonight, and you’re not surprised at all?"

"There’s no other inn around here, but there are houses in the mountains, although they’re not easy to find. Searching blindly could lead us astray. Compared to that, staying in the mountains is a good choice," Jiang Li answered, "Only, making a fire at night is too dangerous; it could attract bad people. It’s better to rest in the carriage."

She didn’t find it hard at all; in fact, she spoke very naturally, which made Wen Renyao look at her oddly, unsure of what to say.

Jih Heng, however, laughed, as if he understood everything perfectly. Back in Tongxiang, Xue Fangfei and Xue Zhao used to go hunting in the mountains, and sometimes they couldn’t return home, so they would light a fire and sleep under a tree. The mountains of Tongxiang had no bad people, only wild animals, and the fire was just to keep those animals away.

At that moment, Lin Yao’s stomach grumbled, and Lin Yao said, "Sister Jiang, I’m hungry."

Jiang Li pulled some dry cakes and water from her bag and handed them to him, saying, "Have a little to eat."

It was noontime, but with no inns in sight, it looked as though even if they walked a long way further, they’d find none. They were definitely not going to have a meal at an inn today and could only eat dry rations. Jiang Li distributed the rations to Lu Jiu and the others, while Zhao Ke and Wen Ji also stopped the carriage to rest for a while and have something to eat.

Everyone got off the carriage.

Jih Heng also held a dry cake in his hand. Jiang Li originally thought that someone as picky and refined as he was would unlikely touch the dry food. Curious about what he would eat, she was surprised when he simply picked up the dry food and started eating slowly.

Jiang Li was taken aback. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

His elegance seemed ingrained in his bones; he ate the dry cake with composure and methodically as if he was savoring a delicacy. Jiang Li stared at him, forgetting to eat her own food. Noticing her gaze, Jih Heng looked over, paused, then suddenly smiled, saying, "Why are you looking at me?"

"Nothing," Jiang Li lowered her head and ate her own food.

Wen Renyao came running over from the bushes, complaining, "These dry cakes are really hard to eat. Isn’t there anything else?" Then something occurred to him, "Hey, Second Miss, didn’t you say you can roast venison and make Beggar’s Chicken? There are plenty of rabbits and birds in these mountains, why don’t we go hunting and have you cook for us?"

Wen Renyao was probably the pickiest eater among them, fussier even than Lin Yao, the child. He was single-minded about having better food. Jiang Li replied, "We don’t have any bows and arrows for hunting here, and we’re in a hurry to continue our journey."

"Wen Ji and Zhao Ke are very skilled; I’ll go ask them. Or I could go rummage for bird nests myself, catch some sparrows. Come on, Sister, your cooking is so good, it would be a waste not to use it."

He even went as far as saying "come on, Sister", which showed his shamelessness. With no other choice, Jiang Li watched as Lu Jiu sat leisurely under a tree eating his rations and gave Wen Renyao a disdainful look. Jih Heng didn’t pay him any mind at all. Wen Renyao dropped the line "I’ll take that as a yes" and ran over to where Zhao Ke and Wen Ji were. However, the two guards didn’t seem to agree with Wen Renyao’s plans. Jiang Li watched as Wen Renyao lingered around them for a while, then stood up dejectedly. Not giving up, he headed for some nearby bushes.

Was he going to catch birds by himself? Jiang Li looked at Jih Heng, "He’s alone... Won’t he be in danger?"

Jih Heng smiled slightly, "He’ll be fine."

He seemed very confident in Wen Renyao. Jiang Li was puzzled about what made Wen Renyao trustworthy, as he didn’t seem to have any martial arts skills.

But since Jih Heng said so, Jiang Li naturally had nothing more to say. Lin Yao squatted on the ground, eating his dry cake while watching ants on the ground—a child from a common family, not fussy and demanding like Wen Renyao, but sensible and well-behaved instead.

By the time everyone had finished their rations, Wen Renyao had not yet returned. Jiang Li felt uneasy and asked, "Should we go look for Young Master Wen Ren? It’s been quite a while..."