Chapter 227: The War Begins
After listening to Longxiang’s words, Luxianbei fell silent. She really wanted to help Longxiang, but…
Would this truly not affect the past? If anything went wrong, the Longxiang Army Armor Soldiers responsible for returning those tokens to Yumen Pass might have originally been destined to d*e on the road.
If the past truly changed because of this, wouldn’t this time of reloading be in vain? It would be like finishing seeing the answers and then discovering that the questions had changed, and they might have to start all over again.
Moreover, this kind of thing, our dear reload queen, Miss Shen, would surely refuse, right?
Luxianbei thought, glancing instinctively at Shen Baiwei, and then froze.
She saw Shen Baiwei, after a brief hesitation, seemingly making a difficult decision, clenching her delicate fist, her gaze intense as she looked at Longxiang, exclaiming loudly, “Don’t worry, leave it to us!”
At that moment, her flushed face and gritted teeth made it seem like she was about to go fight someone.
But… perhaps it was indeed going to be a fight? Luxianbei wondered.
Although the Shaman Queen’s Army wasn’t directly nearby, there were various small vanguards, scouts, and light cavalry units already roaming around Yumen Pass. With their luck, it would be very difficult for the two of them not to encounter any trouble.
Of course, being attacked was secondary; the real dangerous part was what happened after escorting the two Longxiang Army Armor Soldiers to Yumen Pass.
Shen Baiwei had told Luxianbei that interfering with the past without permission would result in punishment, and she had witnessed how painful it was for Shen Baiwei every time she reloaded.
Now, with Shen Baiwei voluntarily agreeing to Longxiang’s request, from a certain perspective, it could be said that she was risking her life to complete this escort.
“……”
How strange! Clearly before, she was worried about affecting the past and reluctant to interact with bystanders, yet now she seemed ready to risk her life?
What exactly had changed her mindset so drastically? Luxianbei mused, thinking back over the time she had been by her side, but hadn’t seen anything particularly strange happen!
Was it because she had stolen glances at me dozens of times just now? That shouldn’t be the case. If glancing at me worked, wouldn’t printing out my photo and distributing it widely result in world peace?
Luxianbei observed Shen Baiwei, increasingly feeling that something was off, yet for some reason, she found Shen Baiwei suddenly more pleasing to the eye.
Seeing the usually quiet Small Shen Girl suddenly speak, Longxiang was taken aback for a moment, but soon regained his composure.
He only knew that with the abilities of the two Miss Shens, escorting the letters and tokens from the Longxiang Army’s soldiers back to Yumen Pass would be nearly without danger. He had no idea that Shen Baiwei was taking on a life-endangering request, so when he saw her looking tense, her muscles all taut, he couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hahaha! Miss Shen, you don’t need to be so nervous. It’s just a small favor! If we really encounter an insurmountable enemy, you can just abandon them!”
“Not happening…” Shen Baiwei shook her head. “As long as I still draw breath, I will definitely escort them to their destination.”
Although she feared the punishment of time, feared dying again, driven back to that little room that felt like a nightmare to her by that unseen serpent that was always by her side, she really wanted to help those Longxiang Army Armor Soldiers.
Just delivering some letters and items shouldn’t be a big problem, right? Shen Baiwei thought.
“Hahaha, Miss Shen is indeed a woman of great spirit!” Longxiang laughed after hearing her words, patting Shen Baiwei on the shoulder. “With you saying that, I’m relieved. When I return victorious, I must celebrate with you!”
Luxianbei, listening to their conversation from the side, felt annoyed and rubbed her throbbing forehead.
A small favor? As long as I’m still breathing? When I return victorious, I will celebrate with you?
Come on! Could you two not set so many flags?!
Even Yama would want to give you guys a “6”.
Luxianbei pondered, sighing silently after a few seconds, shaking her head. “Since she has already agreed, I don’t have much to say…”
After all, they would have to start over anyway. She thought she might as well indulge her.
Besides… Time, or was it years? Whatever, just remember, this is Shen Baiwei’s doing, and it has nothing to do with me. If there’s punishment, let it fall on her and not me!
Though I’ve also had similar thoughts, but I haven’t acted on them, right?
Just as Luxianbei silently prayed that Shen Baiwei’s reckless actions wouldn’t bring trouble to her, Longxiang waved his hand and summoned two Longxiang Army Armor Soldiers hiding behind a nearby weathered rock.
The two appeared to be about the same age as Long Bang. Their faces, worn and darkened by the harsh sun and sand of the Gobi, still carried the distinctive youthfulness. The black armor they wore looked loose and ill-fitting on their slightly emaciated bodies.
Each of them carried a wooden frame on their shoulders, holding iron boxes containing letters and items from the Longxiang Army Soldiers, or thoughts of theirs, tightly bound with several hemp ropes.
They stepped up in front of Longxiang and clasped their fists, saying in unison, “General, we…”
They seemed to want to convey something, but before they finished their words, Longxiang waved his hand to interrupt them. “No need to say more. I know you want to stay and fight together with everyone, but it’s equally important to ensure these two iron boxes return to Yumen Pass. I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving it just to anyone but you.”
“It’s settled then. Just follow the two Miss Shens closely, and don’t say much more. Otherwise, I will deal with you according to military law!”
As he spoke, he looked at Luxianbei and Shen Baiwei, introducing them, “The taller one is called Li Tietou, and the shorter one is Zhu Sanming. If you have any needs on the way, feel free to order them around. Don’t hesitate to ask!”
“Okay.” Shen Baiwei nodded, silently committing their names to memory.
After Longxiang spoke, the two fell completely quiet and silently moved from beside Longxiang to follow behind Luxianbei and Shen Baiwei.
Luxianbei observed the two Longxiang Army Armor Soldiers, who could still be regarded as children, and suddenly recalled the Longxiang Army Soldiers she had seen at the Dai Mu Institute, comparing them mentally and furrowing her brows slightly.
She realized that the Longxiang Army Soldiers she had seen within Yumen Pass, aside from the ambushers hidden in Zawen Temple, were either older veterans or those with disabilities, or they were like the two guys behind her—young boys—while this camp was filled with strong, sturdy men.
Perhaps it was to prevent them from dragging others down, and it was also a special kind of care? Luxianbei thought.
As she contemplated this, Longxiang quietly moved closer to her side, slipped a letter into her hand, and began to nudge her with his brows.
“Miss Shen, could you please help me with one more small favor? Since you’ve already agreed to escort Li Tietou and the others back, could you help me deliver a letter to Long Bang as well?”
“I really felt awkward coming out among so many people earlier, and furthermore, as a leader, it’s not good for the soldiers to see my vulnerable side.”
Luxianbei, “……”
d*mn! How did it come to this?
Shouldn’t it be me playing this role normally?
Luxianbei thought, impatiently rolling her eyes at Longxiang. “I thought you were going to give me a red envelope!”
“A red envelope? This isn’t New Year’s; why would I give you lunar new year money?” Longxiang asked, puzzled.
Although “Miss Shen” appeared to still be of the age to receive red envelopes, it’s only October; wanting red envelopes now seemed a bit strange.
Luxianbei facepalmed, explaining, “It means bribery. In our hometown, we call bribes red envelopes. Now you understand, right?”
“Oh!” Longxiang understood, nodding. “I see, I see! You mean a reward, right?”
“Exactly!” Luxianbei blurted out.
Having helped you out so much, with me putting in the effort and the reload queen risking her life, it’s only reasonable to have some reward, isn’t it? Luxianbei silently added in her heart.
“But…” Longxiang said, “I probably don’t have anything on me at the moment that Miss Shen would find appealing. How about… after you return, you stop by Zawen Temple and have Hong Bian pick some treasures for you?”
“It can be like that?” Luxianbei tilted her head.
What is this, cash on delivery? You ancient people play this too?
After internally scoffing for a moment, she pouted, quietly stuffing the letter into her pocket. “Fine, fine, money and wealth are just external things. I actually don’t care so much…”
Look at my Siye Society; when have we ever accepted rewards for our work?
Speaking of which, asking for rewards from the person in Zawen Temple? I wouldn’t dare!
What if he suddenly goes crazy and locks us up again? Luxianbei thought.
————
With war imminent, the Longxiang Army Armor Soldiers were preparing to break camp and embark on their expedition, and the matter of escorting their letters and tokens back to Yumen Pass needed to be done sooner rather than later.
According to Longxiang’s calculations, the Shaman Queen’s Army would arrive around this area in less than half an hour.
So, after Shen Baiwei agreed to Longxiang’s request, they soon set off from the Longxiang Army camp.
Not long after the four of them departed, the Longxiang Army Armor Soldiers also completed their preparations. After a brief, deep-sounding drumroll, they moved onward into the vast Gobi.
The sound of countless footsteps, the clash of weapons and armor, created a chaotic and jarring noise.
Luxianbei and Shen Baiwei rode on the same warhorse, their backs to the nerve-wracking din, traveling toward the direction of Yumen Pass.
【She turned to look back】 or 【They turned to look back】 these anticipatory thoughts flashed through Luxianbei’s mind dozens of times, but only when Shen Baiwei and Li Tietou finally stopped glancing back did Luxianbei loosen the reins, allowing the warhorse to slow its pace, and turned to look back like Shen Baiwei.
Just one glance and her brows furrowed.
The sounds of hoofbeats and the footsteps of the Longxiang Army Soldiers had already faded away. Their figures left only a dark line on the endless Gobi, and just then, Luxianbei suddenly noticed that the Longxiang Army Soldiers, who had been moving, had actually stopped.
Why did they stop? They hadn’t even walked two kilometers yet, right? There’s no way they’re resting already?
As Luxianbei pondered this, a dense cluster of red dots suddenly burst into her view.
Those red dots hung high in the sky like burning stars.
Seconds later, the crisp low hum of steel and bowstrings being released, along with the mournful whistling of arrows slicing through the air, reached her ears in succession.
Accompanied by the fierce wind, was a hint of a charred scent.
Those were the arrows of the Shaman Queen’s Army.
Burning arrows.
The Longxiang Army’s soldiers had encountered the Shaman Queen’s army sooner than expected.
And thus, the war began with no warning…
