Chapter 142: Meeting Old Friends
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Yuan Hongjun quickly thought of a countermeasure. He couldn’t win a fight against them, nor could he outrun them.
As he walked towards Gui Yuzhou, his body suddenly went limp and he fell.
He pretended to be sick. Those people probably wouldn’t approach people with the epidemic.
Gui Yuzhou quickly helped him up. “Little Brother, what’s wrong? Are you sick too?”
Someone touched Yuan Hongjun’s forehead and exclaimed, “Brother Yuzhou, his forehead is so hot.”
Someone at the side said, “He’s sick too. Many of us are sick!”
“What sickness is this? Why are people getting infected one after another?”
“It’s terrifying.”
“It can’t be an epidemic, right? Otherwise, we’ll be doomed.”
Everyone immediately retreated from those who were sick.
The man walked over to look at Yuan Hongjun and reached out to check his pulse. Since Yuan Hongjun had already contracted the disease, there was no need for him to make a move. Otherwise, those refugees would not listen to him when they saw him kill someone.
The man returned. After a while, he continued to lead the refugees towards the capital.
Yuan Hongjun opened one eye and looked around. There were about a thousand refugees who were infected and could not leave.
Gui Yuzhou stayed behind, and the rest of his small group left.
Yuan Hongjun was very surprised. “Yuzhou, why didn’t you leave?”
Gui Yuzhou also wanted to leave, but he was indebted to Yuan Hongjun. “You saved my life. How can 1 abandon you?”
Yuan Hongjun smiled. “You are my good brother.”
Gui Yuzhou looked in the direction where the refugees had left. “They’ve all left. What should we do now?”
Yuan Hongjun said firmly, “To Xu City.”
Gui Yuzhou reacted. “Is what you said true?”
Yuan Hongjun patted Gui Yuzhou’s shoulder. “Of course it’s true. You risked your life to stay behind to take care of me. Why would I lie to you?”
Gui Yuzhou was immediately motivated. “Then let’s set off at once.”
Yuan Hongjun quickly got up. “Okay.”
When Gui Yuzhou saw Yuan Hongjun’s nimble movement, he said in surprise, “You’re not sick?”
Yuan Hongjun whispered, “They wanted to kill me. I have to pretend to be sick to escape.”
Gui Yuzhou’s mind was filled with question marks. “They? Who are they? Why do they want to kill you?”
“Let’s talk as we walk.” Yuan Hongjun planned to meet up with Tang Jinghong. He had already figured out the situation here. There was no need to follow the refugees.
After Tang Jinghong made arrangements in Xu City and left Tan Yibin to guard it, he brought Chu Qingzhi, Shen Yufeng, and the others to meet up with Yuan Hongjun.
Chu Qingzhi asked with concern, “Jinghong, 1 saw that you were very anxious after you read the letter. What happened?”
Tang Jinghong told Chu Qingzhi the contents of the letter.
“Did the Lord of the Northern Border send people to spread the rumor that we are suffering from Heavenly Punishment?” Chu Qingzhi frowned. “Jinghong, what do you plan to do?”
“I guess it’s the Lord of the Northern Border, but there’s no evidence. I can’t be sure that it’s him.” Tang Jinghong paused and said, “I don’t plan to do anything about the rumor. I can’t stop it from spreading. The best way to stop the rumor is to use facts to debunk it. As long as we handle the refugee crisis well, all the rumors will collapse.”
Chu Qingzhi thought to herself. Jinghong was very clear-headed. “1 will support every decision you make.”
Tang Jinghong turned to look at Chu Qingzhi. Qingzhi could always understand what he meant. He liked this feeling of being understood without explaining too much.
He waved his horsewhip. “Giddyup…”
The reinforcements that came to help were led by a deputy general called An Changfeng. At this moment, he was standing on a mountain and looking down the mountain.
Behind him were two of his trusted subordinates.
Suddenly, one of his subordinates pointed in a direction and said, “Deputy General, look, refugees!”
An Changfeng quickly looked over. “Let’s go down the mountain to intercept them.”
“Yes.”
An Changfeng brought 10,000 soldiers over and stood on the path the refugees had to take to reach the capital. He looked very mighty.
When the man leading the way saw the soldiers, he knew that something was wrong and quickly hid among the refugees.
An Changfeng looked very burly and had a big beard. He looked very powerful. “Everyone, stop. Otherwise, I’ll kill you without mercy!”
Indeed, it was easier to convince people when you had the advantage in numbers. With his order, no one dared to move.
An Changfeng instructed the soldiers, “Distribute a portion of the water we brought to everyone. Also, set up a pot to cook porridge for them.”
The soldiers replied, “Yes.”
When the refugees heard this, uneasiness and panic immediately turned into joy.
“Did he just say that he’se going to give us water?”
“I think he said something about making porridge for us.”
“We’re saved. We’re saved.”
An Changfeng instructed the soldiers to set up camp. Then, he also wrote a letter and sent it to Tang Jinghong.
“Brother Tang.” Yuan Hongjun stood on a hill and waved at Tang Jinghong. His voice carried the unique clarity of a young man, and his face revealed the lively side of a young man.
Tang Jinghong stopped. “Hongjun, why are you here?”
Yuan Hongjun flew down the hill and landed in front of Tang Jinghong’s horse. “Brother Tang, give me water first. I’ll tell you after I drink it.”
Tang Jinghong threw the water bag to him.
Chu Qingzhi sized up Yuan Hongjun. What a smart and cute young man. His body was filled with a faint medicinal fragrance. He should be dealing with herbs all year round.
Shen Yufeng smiled and said, “Little Divine Doctor, why are you in such a sorry state?”
Yuan Hongjun was still wearing the tattered clothes of the refugees. His hair was messy and he looked like a little beggar who had been on the streets for many years. “If I didn’t wear these clothes, how could I blend in with the refugees to gather information?”
Shen Yufeng smiled and asked, “Then what did you find out?”
Yuan Hongjun pointed at Tang Jinghong. “I told him everything.”
Shen Yufeng was secretly shocked. He did not expect the little Divine Doctor to have already contacted his general.
His gaze slowly became filled with admiration. His general was getting more resourceful and powerful.
Gui Yuzhou, who was on the hill, was dumbfounded. Not only did his little brother know martial arts, but he also seemed to know some powerful people.
His identity didn’t seem to be simple!
Yuan Hongjun drank the water and realized that Gui Yuzhou was still on the hill. He hurriedly waved at him. “Come down quickly. There’s water here.”
Gui Yuzhou immediately rushed down the mountain, stumbling as if he was drunk.
Yuan Hongjun smiled and handed the water bag to him. “Drink it. It’s all yours.”
Gui Yuzhou was extremely thirsty. He did not refuse and took the water bag to drink.
Tang Jinghong threw some dry food to Yuan Hongjun. There was definitely nothing to eat in this wilderness. He didn’t know how many days Yuan Hongjun had starved, but he looked much thinner.
Yuan Hongjun smiled. “Brother Tang is still the best.”
Tang Jinghong said, “Eat. We have to continue on our way.”
Yuan Hongjun ate half of it and gave the other half to Gui Yuzhou. “This is for you.”
Gui Yuzhou looked at the donkey jerky in his hand and cried. “I… I haven’t had meat for seven to eight months.”
Yuan Hongjun patted his shoulder. “If you follow me in the future, you will have meat to eat every day.”
Gui Yuzhou nodded and thought to himself that he had met a benefactor. He was too lucky.
After the two of them finished eating, Tang Jinghong asked Chu Qingzhi to ride the same horse with him. Chu Qingzhi gave her horse to Yuan Hongjun and Gui Yuzhou, and the group continued on their way..