Chapter 77

They hadn't yet waited out Zhao Jiangui's arrival, but first in their wait came members of the Haoran Alliance.

Yan Buhuo obviously wanted to trap them a few days first, waiting until the time their minds are tired and bodies are exhausted to once more make a move to capture them. But this cave is in a high place, also rather hidden, and Ji Han had originally thought it wouldn't be easily discovered by the Haoran Alliance like this. They cultivate for a day in the cave, the moods of too many people extremely forlorn, hanging their heads crestfallen and crouching in the corner, not uttering a sound. On the side, however, Wei Qi leans forward to roast up rations, and for a moment the scent is everywhere, already there are a few people looking a little towards this side.

All in all, Ji Han is still injured, already having closed his eyes to rest, but smelling the scent while half-asleep, he can't help opening his eyes, looking towards that side.

Everyone before who had a look of despair on their whole face is already seated in a circle around the fireside, opening their eyes wide miserably and waiting for Wei Qi to give them momo.*

Ji Han, "..."

...Suddenly he's a bit hungry, too.

Abruptly the sound of footsteps comes from outside of the cave.

One by one, everyone covers the momo held in their mouths. Ji Han doesn't speak, dodging behind the rock wall, he silently holds his breath and listens.

Someone is speaking in a low voice outside.

That person's voice sounds quite young, the voice however is very serious, and the Chinese isn't spoken that well, but Ji Han can detect the breath of three people outside, even though he's only heard one person's voice.

Simple words and sentences almost leap out from that person's mouth, "Have, cave."

Their footsteps get a bit closer.

That person breathes out his nose, continues, "Good smell, hungry."

Ji Han coldly shoots a glance at Wei Qi and Hua Hufa still holding momo in their mouths. Scared witless, Hua Hufa wants to hide the momo, however Wei Qi's eyes are full of innocence as he looks back at him.

The noise outside stops slightly, another voice opens up to say, "Friend inside, no need to hide anymore. Is it possible to come out and talk?"

This person is probably someone from the Central Plains. At least his Chinese is spoken well, his voice extremely steady. Ji Han thinks this voice is somewhat familiar, soon extending his head out slightly to take a peek.

The people who've come are Bashan Daxia Jin Beiguo, and behind him, following astonishingly behind are Mobei's two twin hero brothers.

Ji Han's expression instantly becomes quite complicated.

He recalls that shocking tale he'd heard from Zhao Jiangui.

Although Ji Han knows Zhao Jiangui was tricking him about a lot of things, he can't help paying some mind to this story. Every time, Jin Beiguo always shows up together with these two brothers, the relationship between them, actually makes one's...imagination run wild.

Moreover, he heard Zhao Jiangui and Jin Beiguo are friends in life and death, but he wouldn't go so far as to arrange this nonsense, the good brothers are stuck waiting awkwardly in the middle of this.

Mobei's two heroes are twin brothers, their tones of voice extremely similar. Without taking the time to look, the outcome is that Ji Han actually finds it hard to distinguish who said what. Moreover, he doesn't know why now the four big words 'the Qi man's happiness'** are floating across his whole brain. He basically doesn't have the mind to listen carefully to their speech again. It's just three people outside and after they chat a few sentences in soft voices, he again feels someone approaching the cave.

This time there are even more people coming. Ji Han suspects it's the Haoran Alliance members who had escaped the precipice turning back and returning again, wanting to find a place to stay, and coincidentally discovering this cave.

They smelled the scent when Wei Qi roasted the rations, they already know there are people hidden inside the cave, but they still don't know whether it's an enemy or a friend, not daring to go inside. And, at the moment, if they're warring with the Haoran Alliance, they will certainly be extremely harmful to them. For a minute, Ji Han doesn't know what would be best, also slowly unwilling to reveal his movements.

People also stand around outside for a moment, suddenly avoiding entering the cave quickly. They haven't yet had time for the Demon Sect members to advance this deep. Although the two groups of people haven't run into each other, Ji Han is slightly apprehensive. After all, he doesn't know what's happening. Inclining an ear to listen, he suddenly detects sounds coming in from outside again, seems there's another group approaching.

His heart sinks.

It may be that Yan Buhuo has come.

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*馍馍/mómo - a type of steamed bun/dumpling

**齐人之福/Qírénzhīfú - an idiom that says "the happy fate of the man from Qi (who had a wife and a concubine)," meaning the joy of having multiple romantic partners... (I think it's generally used ironically, but, well, we know what Ji Han is thinking about.)