Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 326 - 321: Dark Retaliation in the Army Camp
When the assessment was mentioned, Song Tingfan’s pupils darkened slightly, but he quickly concealed it. He glanced at the account book in front of her, frowned slightly, then reached out and tossed it aside, "Sleep."
Lin Qiao: "..."
She dared not resist, got up, and went to bed, glancing at the man lying on the straw mat.
Alright, not so frightening after all.
...
The next day, in the military camp.
By this time, the sun had risen, the bright sunlight so sharp that it was hard for people to open their eyes.
The drumming continued for a while.
The assessment began.
Each camp had a different time, the archery camp was in the morning.
Xu Bo and Song Tingfan were evidently among those participating in the assessment.
Song Tingfan glanced around, finally resting his gaze on the two-storied tower where, besides Qin Dewen, there was another person.
Quickly he withdrew his gaze.
"Vice General Song, beat the General, and I’ll treat you to flower wine," Gao Qiang approached with an arrow, whispering.
Song Tingfan glanced at him, "Be careful."
Be careful?
Gao Qiang did not understand, but still nodded, "Alright."
The archery camp’s assessment wasn’t simple but not difficult either. The target at the mountain foot had to be hit, and whoever hit the bullseye most often would be the winner.
As the Vice General of the archery camp, Song Tingfan shot first, and the General last.
Others were somewhat nervous, but Song Tingfan wasn’t at all. He lifted his bow and slightly exerted force pulling it back, his gaze fell on the distant target, eyes narrowed like a fierce eagle.
At once, the arrow flew from his hand, slicing through the air, directly hitting the red bullseye.
After a moment of silence, cheers erupted, "Bullseye, bullseye, Vice General Song is mighty."
The next two arrows were no exception.
The entire venue was in a fervor, morale was high.
Xu Bo’s face darkened, three bullseyes meant he also needed three bullseyes, it wasn’t impossible, but he couldn’t make any mistakes.
Then the soldiers shot in groups of ten, compared to Song Tiefan there was a considerable gap, and no matter how many groups passed, a tall and robust man glanced over at Xu Bo’s side, then raised his arrow, with the corner of his eye observing the handsome man on the other side.
He didn’t know that the handsome man coldly glanced at him.
Gao Qiang inadvertently noticed something wrong with the man, initially thought nothing of it, "Who is that, embarrassing himself, can’t even find the bullseye."
"We’re still reliable."
Zhou Fu’an burst into laughter, glanced along the arrow’s direction, and landed his gaze on Song Tingfan. He froze for a moment, quickly thought of something, his face changed color, just as he was about to shout, the arrow shot out, "Quick, dodge!"
Before he finished speaking, Song Tingfan swiftly dodged, then grabbed his bow and shot at the man, hitting directly in the chest.
One shot to kill.
Xu Bo’s face changed sharply, looking at Song Tingfan in disbelief, before he could say anything, he heard him say, "There’s an intruder! Be on guard!"
This sudden change caused the two on the tower to frown, the middle-aged man next to Qin Dewen said in a deep voice, "How did the intruder get in?"
"Not an intruder, probably a mis-shot," Qin Dewen respectfully replied.
The middle-aged man stared at him, not speaking for a moment, finally uttered two words, "Thorough investigation."
The military camp fell into chaos, and after a long while, a letter communicating with enemy states was found in the pillow of the deceased.
The content inside made Qin Dewen’s face change, the middle-aged man naturally saw it, and said to the guards beside him, "Huai Shan, go take it."
"Yes." The guard took it from Qin Dewen and handed it to the middle-aged man.
After reading, the middle-aged man’s face sank, "Qin Dewen is this what you call a mis-shot?"
"Rubbish!"
Qin Dewen immediately knelt on the ground, "This official admits guilt, please punish me, Your Majesty!"
"Now’s not the time for punishment, investigate thoroughly, there must be more," the middle-aged Zheng Mingren said angrily.
The archery camp was thoroughly investigated, checking each tent, even General Xu Bo’s tent was not spared, searched inside and out, just as about to leave, a soldier shouted, "General, there’s a small box on the tent."
Instantly, everyone’s gaze moved upwards, Xu Bo had never placed a box on the tent’s top, a bad premonition arose, "That’s not mine."
Qin Dewen glanced at him, then swept his gaze over everyone, "Take it down and have a look."
Upon opening the box, it was full of letters and a map of the border defenses.
Qin Dewen’s face changed, Xu Bo’s face turned ashen, "It’s not mine, this box isn’t mine, someone is framing me."
"This box is yours, I saw it last time," Zhou Fu’an, who always disliked him, was even less polite having found him out as a traitor.
Xu Bo, like an ant on a hot pan, ignoring his words, knelt and explained to Qin Dewen, "General, it really isn’t mine, someone is framing me, you must investigate thoroughly."
No need for a thorough investigation anymore.
The seals on these letters alone were enough to convict him.
Qin Dewen’s gaze at him now held suspicion, finally turning a bit dim, "Take him away."
Xu Bo knew he was being abandoned, "General, it’s really not me, General," struggling as he spoke.
In the next moment, Qin Dewen stabbed a sword into his chest, and he quickly breathed no more.
Qin Dewen threw down the sword, coldly said, "Continue searching, any more resistance, kill without mercy!"
A not far away man at the entrance silently watched towards the tent, with an ominous look.
...
At night, when Song Tingfan did not return, the Song Family was worried, Lin Qiao was also concerned and asked someone to inquire. The person who went returned saying the camp was inaccessible, something must have happened.
Song Rong and Song Qin, uneasy, sat in the main room waiting, Lin Qiao naturally accompanied them.
Gradually, around midnight, noisy footsteps echoed in the alley, with sounds of locks being turned next door.
Song Rong couldn’t wait, got up, and stood at the door, after a while, joyfully shouted, "Niu Niu."
Soon a low voice replied, "Grandfather, still not asleep?"
A shadow soon appeared from outside.
Song Rong, unable to rest easy, "Can’t sleep, you haven’t eaten, let me get you some,"
"No need, I’ll get it myself later." Song Tingfan gently restrained him, his voice much softer.
Indeed, raising the two old ones of the Song Family was a wise choice, without them, the villain wouldn’t be in this state.
"The food is cold, I’ll cook a bowl of noodle dumplings."
Lin Qiao yawned, then went to the kitchen, followed by Mrs. Fan to help. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
By the time he finished eating and went for a bath, it was already past the second hour, and when Lin Qiao heard the door being pushed open, her mind was already groggy.
She turned her head to glance, "Tingfan, something happened today in the camp?"
Song Tingfan paused his hand at undressing, sharply asking, "Who told you this?"
Lin Qiao perked up, but her voice remained soft, "Uncle at the alley entrance said."
As she spoke, she grabbed his hand, then blinked naturally changing the topic, "Tingfan, help me massage my shoulders, they’re a bit sore."
Seems like it’s better not to ask too much in the future.
He’s too vigilant.
