Chapter 132: Do Not Worry, I Am Well

A massive boulder plummeted from the mountainside, smashing directly onto the off-road vehicle and flattening it in an instant.

Qi, Li, and Jiu felt a cold sweat break out across their backs. They had narrowly escaped being crushed into pulp along with that car.

However, it was not over yet.

The rustling mountain wind suddenly intensified, mingled with the sound of ragged, heavy breathing. Soon, a dozen shadowy figures sprang out from the front, the rear, and the heights above.

Qi was the first to act, scattering four-leaf silver throwing stars. After striking the vital points of several attackers, he retreated to a safer position to wait for the right moment to strike again.

The brawny Li drew two segments of a specialized steel staff from his belt. With a click of a mechanism, a sharp blade extended from the tip of each. Wielding his weapon, he met the nearest attackers head-on.

Though Jiu was slender, she excelled at rapid strikes. She gripped the two daggers at her waist, drawing them in a blur while darting nimbly between the assailants.

The opponents were Pseudo-Variants, possessing strength and speed far exceeding that of ordinary humans. Yet, the three were veterans of countless battles, and their teamwork proved more than capable of handling the situation.

Jiang Mohe stood to the side, watching the fray with a calm gaze. These Pseudo-Variants were merely the vanguard; he estimated that a more formidable wave would follow.

Sure enough, before the first dozen had been fully neutralized, six or seven Poison Wolves arrived.

At the sight of them, the expressions of Qi and his companions shifted.

*No way, more?* Usually, even two or three Poison Wolves were enough to overwhelm the three of them.

However, these Poison Wolves did not target them; they charged straight at Jiang Mohe.

As sharp, venomous claws swept through the air, Jiang Mohe parried calmly, a short blade in his hand.

Cold light flashed repeatedly.

Poison Wolves were among the most difficult of the Pseudo-Variants to deal with, both in terms of strength and speed, and their claws were lethal weapons. Yet, since Jiang Mohe had been able to slay twenty or thirty of them even while wounded last time, these few were of little consequence.

As the skirmish ended for the trio, Jiang Mohe pulled his short blade from the chest of the final Poison Wolf.

"Damn it!" Li could only utter this in sheer admiration.

The light in Jiu’s eyes grew even brighter—this guy was definitely not human!

Qi walked toward Jiang Mohe, clutching a wound on his arm. Glancing at the short blade in the man's hand, he remarked, "In Country C, I only knew of the Jiang family in the North City who could wield a short blade like a kitchen knife. Now, there’s you, too."

Jiang Mohe wiped the blade on the body of the Pseudo-Variant at his feet, sheathed it behind his back, and walked away without a word.

Li trotted to catch up, patting Jiang Mohe on the shoulder with a hint of reverence. "Hey, brother, that move you used—stabbing four people at once—how did you do it?"

Jiang Mohe glanced back at him. "Your speed is insufficient," he said, and continued walking.

Li, unwilling to give up, pressed him for other techniques.

"Brother, I'm hurt!" Jiu called out indignantly from behind, but Li ignored her.

Qi patted Jiu’s shoulder helplessly. "Let’s find a place up ahead to rest first."

***

By midnight, the winter rain had finally ceased.

The group took temporary shelter in a cave, lighting a fire to warm themselves and rest. Jiang Mohe sat alone in a corner, while Qi studied a map and Li bandaged his sister’s wound.

"Ah, brother, it hurts!" Jiu cried out dramatically.

Li looked at her, puzzled. "This small scratch shouldn't be anything for you, right?"

Normally, it wouldn't be, but feeling neglected, Jiu felt aggrieved. "Brother, your sister is just an ordinary human, not one of those Variants!"

At these words, all three fell silent, awkwardly glancing toward Jiang Mohe.

Jiang Mohe’s eyes were closed; he appeared to be asleep, and it was unclear if he had heard.

Qi knew Jiu was outspoken and meant no harm, but he reminded her, "Little Jiu, if it weren't for Cang Yu today, we would all be corpses in the wilderness by now."

"That's right!" Li agreed with a nod.

Jiu muttered under her breath, "I wasn't looking down on him. I was just envious and jealous, okay?"

Li was speechless. "What are you jealous of?"

"He’s so strong, one of him is better than the three of us combined! With him here, why did the boss even send us?"

Qi chuckled. "This mission was assigned to us; he’s just here to assist. The situation in Xiao City is complex, and since we grew up there, we’re more familiar with the place than an outsider."

Jiu finally felt relieved. "Fine, pretend I didn't say that."

Li finished bandaging her wound and urged, "There are surely harder battles ahead. Get some rest."

Deep in the night, the fire died down to a few embers.

Jiang Mohe opened his eyes and pulled his phone from his pocket. Opening his messaging app, he saw a message from "77": [Safe?]

It was from Xianyu Ling, sent earlier that day.

When Jiang Mohe was on a mission, he kept his phone on silent and rarely checked for messages or calls. Yet, lately, he had developed a habit of checking it every night.

He hesitated to reply. It was two or three in the morning; a message might wake her.

As he pondered, another "ding" sounded: [Safe?]

Jiang Mohe replied immediately: [Yes.]

Xianyu Ling, unable to sleep, sat up in bed the moment she saw his reply.

Hua Xiaocui, sleeping in the next bed, sat up as well. "Miss, is something wrong?"

Xianyu Ling whispered, "It’s nothing. Go back to sleep."

"Oh." Hua Xiaocui lay straight back down.

Glancing at Ning Wenyan, who remained motionless, Xianyu Ling slipped out of bed and went to the bathroom.

She silenced her phone: [Have you arrived in Xiao City?]

[No.]

[Is the journey going smoothly?]

Jiang Mohe thought for a moment and replied: [I am not injured.]

As for the flattened car and the attack by the Pseudo-Variants—it was too long a story for a text message.

That single sentence was all Xianyu Ling needed.

[Why are you still awake?] she asked.

In truth, she wanted to ask if the situation was so difficult that he couldn't rest.

Jiang Mohe replied: [You are awake, too.]

Xianyu Ling paused. She had been worried about him, as he hadn't replied to her messages all day.

Jiang Mohe, sensing her concern, reassured her: [Don't worry, I am fine.]

Tears suddenly welled in Xianyu Ling’s eyes.

The last message she had received from her brother was also this very sentence. After that, there had been no word from him ever again.

Sometimes, one thinks there will always be a chance to see the other person again. Yet, after a single turn or a single sentence, the opportunity disappears forever.

[You must come back!]

After typing this, without waiting for his reply, she added: [I like...]

Before she could finish the word "you," she heard Ning Wenyan calling from outside: "Lingling, are you in the bathroom?"

With a tremble of her hand, Xianyu Ling hit send.