Chapter 258: Patrolling the Mountain
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling shook her head. “I don’t know. I rarely come here. I only discovered those rocks the last time I came with Haoran.” Mu Yangling paused for a moment before smiling. “At that time, I just felt that those rocks looked familiar. After thinking for a long time, I remembered what I read about iron ore in the books, but I wasn’t certain, so I asked Haoran to take them back and take a look.”
“Then why did you come to scout ahead of time?”
“Isn’t that obvious? She must think that there’s a high chance that this place is an iron mine, and that we’ll definitely come back to look for her when the time comes. So, she should do some homework in advance, right? Anyway, she has to enter the forest to hunt every day, so it was just on her way back.” With a frown, Qi Haoran said, “Big Brother, stop asking questions. Let’s hurry up and make something to eat after we go out. I’m hungry.”
“…” Qi Xiuyuan glared at his brother.
Mu Yangling pursed her lips and smiled as she led the way.
After they left the forest, they arrived at the other side of the Luocong Mountain. The old man went into the mountain with two guards. Qi Xiuyuan glanced at him and waved his hand. “Alright, let them take a look. Let’s hunt some prey to fill our stomachs first.”
Fan Zijin looked at Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling. Mu Yangling picked up her bow and smiled. “You guys sit here first. I’ll go hunt.”
Qi Haoran immediately grabbed his bow and arrow and jumped off the rock. “I’ll go with you.”
Qi Xiuyuan glanced at them and waved his hand with a smile. “Alright, go ahead. We’ll start a fire here and wait for you.”
Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling entered the forest together. Fan Zijin picked up a leather kettle and said, “Eldest Cousin, I’ll go nearby to see if there’s any water.”
“Bring Fei Bai and Yanmo along. If you can’t find it, just come back. Ah Ling brought two cans of water with her in the basket. It should be enough.”
“Don’t.” Rong Xuan smiled and said, “We still have to stay here for a day and a night. This bit of water is not enough for so many people. Let’s find a water source. But it doesn’t matter if we can’t find it. Since Miss Mu is familiar with the forest, we can ask her later. She probably knows.”
“You’re the only one who likes to be clean. I didn’t see you being so particular when we were at war in the past, right?”
“That’s because it couldn’t be helped and I have no choice but to adapt. Now that there might be better conditions, why should I settle?” Rong Xuan looked at a corner on the mountain and gestured. “I can tolerate it, but Old Master Chen might not be able to.”
“He’s not as particular as you. When we cross the mountains, it’s not inferior to the hardships of war.” Qi Xiuyuan waved his hand and asked Fan Zijin to bring Fei Bai and Yanmo away. As he and Rong Xuan picked up firewood, he asked, “Luocong Mountain is not small. How long do you think this secret can be kept?”
“Haoran’s 5th Division is here, and Xingzhou Prefecture is our West Camp’s territory. As long as we want to keep it a secret, we can.”
Mu Yangling led Qi Haoran through the forest. In the end, she squatted on the grass and looked at a mark beside her. She asked, “Will roe deer do? One is enough to feed us for an entire day.”
“My big brother has a big appetite. There being so many of us, one roe deer is just enough for one meal. How can it be enough for a day? Besides, won’t you get tired of just eating roe deer?” Qi Haoran lowered his voice and said, “I want to eat venison.”
“No, hunting deer takes too long. Besides, where can I find the deer herd?” She pointed at the marks on the ground and said, “I can only find roe deer. If you want to eat venison, enter the mountain next time. Let’s go!”
Qi Haoran could only follow. As he walked, he muttered, “I’ll get Big Brother to let me go into the mountains to hunt tomorrow. We don’t know how to mine minerals, so what’s the use of us tagging along? Moreover, since we’re using the excuse of going into the mountains to hunt, we can’t leave the mountains empty-handed, right?”
“You’re right. You can mention it to Big Brother Qi when we get out.” Mu Yangling tugged at Qi Haoran and hid behind a tree. She stuck her head out and looked around. A roe deer was lowering its head and eating grass. From time to time, it would look up and look around vigilantly. Seeing that the other party was quiet, it lowered its head and resumed eating grass.
Mu Yangling looked at Qi Haoran. Qi Haoran took an arrow and nocked it on the bow. Just as he was about to pull the bowstring, the roe deer suddenly ran away as if it had been frightened. Mu Yangling chased after it without thinking.
Qi Haoran cursed in a low voice and ran as well. His speed was faster than Mu Yangling’s. With a few light leaps, he leaped past Mu Yangling and ran ahead of her. The arrow on the bow left the bow and shot straight into the roe deer’s neck. After falling to the ground from the impact, the roe deer raised its head slightly and wailed. Then, it struggled a few times before dying.
Qi Haoran handed the bow and arrow to Mu Yangling and carried the roe deer on his back. “Let’s go.”
Mu Yangling said, “Let me carry it. I’m stronger.”
“No, I’m a man. With me around, how can I let you carry this? Hurry up and leave! Don’t dawdle.”
Seeing that he could manage, but his round face was still slightly childish, Mu Yangling couldn’t help but purse her lips and smile. She happily agreed and carried her bow and arrow as she followed behind him.
After walking for a while, Qi Haoran suddenly stopped and said in a muffled voice, “How can I talk to you if you’re standing at the back? Walk in front.”
“Oh.” Mu Yangling had no choice but to walk in front and ask, “What do you want to tell me?”
Qi Haoran secretly heaved a sigh of relief. After thinking for a long time, he asked, “Didn’t I ask you last time if you were going to the temple fair in Hanzhong Prefecture? How is it? Have you decided?”
“I’ve asked my mother. She said that as long as you can arrange for us to meet my father, we can hire a carriage and stay in Hanzhong Prefecture for a few days before coming back.”
“Yeah, it’s so boring to stay in one place all the time. You don’t have to hire a carriage though. Just use ours. Come with us when the time comes.”
“But let me make things clear first. Although I’m going to Hanzhong Prefecture, I won’t do that kind of business with you anymore.”
“I know, I know. Big Brother doesn’t agree either.” Qi Haoran was a little disappointed. He said regretfully, “I have almost 400 horses now. As long as I have another 100 horses, I can build a cavalrymen camp.”
When the two of them walked out of the forest, Fan Zijin had already returned with water. Qi Xiuyuan had also started the fire. Qi Haoran threw the roe deer to the ground and asked, “Where is the water? If it’s not far, we can take the roe deer there to deal with it.”
“No, there are often ferocious beasts there. What if they smell blood and rush over?” Mu Yangling said, “Pick up a clean rock and set it aside. I’ll skin and shave the roe deer. Even if there’s not much water, I can clean it up.”
Qi Xiuyuan kicked his brother and said, “Go and help. Learn from her. It’ll be useful in the future.”
Qi Haoran took out his dagger to help. After they skewered the roe deer meat with a stick and hung it over the fire to roast, Old Master Chen returned with two guards. They each carried a few rocks.
Qi Xiuyuan hurriedly went forward to receive it personally. Old Master Chen took the opportunity to let him carry everything. He glanced at the roe deer on the fire and said, “You guys sure know how to enjoy life. However, this roe deer is old and doesn’t taste good. Gazelle on the grassland is the tastiest. Not only are they fat, but they’re also tender. Be it stewed, stir-fried, or roasted, they’re delicious regardless of the preparation method. After applying some chili and cumin, they’ll be even more delicious.”
Mu Yangling’s eyes widened. “Cumin?”
Old Master Chen looked at Mu Yangling and smiled. “Young lady, you don’t recognize it, right? That thing came from overseas with the corn and chili. Unfortunately, because of the corn, the things that came in with it have also been beaten into the abyss. Actually, I think cumin is quite delicious, but everyone isn’t used to it.”