Chief, don't hit me in the face

Chapter 24: Lu Lingxi

The clouds were light and the mist faint; the forest was still and silent! A burly youth with bear-claw markings painted on his face held a longbow, aiming a sharp arrow at Xia Ye’s head with a fierce glare! Xia Ye held his crossbow steady. The sound of hurried footsteps rang out all around—clearly, the youth’s companions were rushing toward them. Soon, a tall, slender youth appeared. “What’s going on? How come it’s someone from our tribe?” Glancing at the tribal emblem on Xia Ye’s chest, Xia Yang sulkily sheathed his sword—he’d thought he might actually draw blood. Just as the others were letting their guard down, a stern, accusatory voice rang out among them. “Who told you to sheathe your sword?” Xia Qingyuan’s face darkened as he swept his gaze around the group. Not a single person dared to meet his gaze, let alone talk back. Xia Ye curled the corner of his mouth. He recognized this sixteen-year-old boy—reportedly a distant cousin of Xia Jie—who was well-liked and had an excellent reputation for frequently bringing food to his friends living in the slums. “Even if he’s a clan member, doesn’t that mean he could still be an enemy?” Xia Qingyuan lectured them: “Although his crossbow is pointed downward, as long as the arrow isn’t removed, he can fire at any moment. So be careful—when hunting in the wild, you must never let your guard down!” The group gasped in alarm and turned to look at Xia Ye. Sure enough, the boy wore a smile, and his crossbow was pointed downward—he appeared friendly, but his hands never left the crossbow. Xia Qingyuan sighed. These team members were really lacking—they hadn’t noticed that the boy with the single ponytail had initially aimed his crossbow at Xia Xiong, the archer, but had shifted his aim the moment he appeared. Although warriors wielding ranged weapons posed a significant threat, when there was only one chance to fire, the team leader’s value was clearly greater. “Got it, Brother Qingyuan!” Xia Yang cringed and shot Xia Ye a resentful glare—if it weren’t for him, he wouldn’t have gotten scolded by Xia Qingyuan. “Brother Xia, I know that blind guy!” The boy with the bear-claw-like facial markings was about to say that this half-blind man was one of the Xia family’s “two good-for-nothings” and posed no threat, but the moment he opened his mouth, Xia Qingyuan cut him off. “Xia Xiong, does knowing him mean you’re familiar with him?” Xia Qingyuan retorted, “Do you know his cultivation rank? Do you know what he specializes in? If you don’t know, shut up and keep a close watch!” “Impressive. No wonder he became the team leader!” This teenager with bear-claw facial markings, named Xia Xiong, was the oldest of the group and appeared to be quite a fighter, yet he willingly took the scolding—a clear sign that Xia Qingyuan was no pushover. “Where are your companions?” Facing Xia Ye, Xia Qingyuan put on a friendly smile—very approachable—though his eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, subtly scanned him from head to toe. “I’m flying solo!” Xia Ye was also examining everyone’s gear. In addition to Xia Xiong, who wielded a bow, and Xia Yang, who wielded a long sword, Xia Qingyuan’s team included a man and a woman. “Who are you trying to fool?” The young woman, Xia Li, snorted derisively. “Coming to the Fengjing Ruins alone to farm monsters? Are you some kind of moron?” “I recognize you—you’re Xia Lingyue’s good-for-nothing little brother. Aren’t you supposed to be bedridden all year round? I heard you even rely on Xia Lingyue’s wages to support you!” The speaker was Xia Qiufeng, a handsome young man whose face was now filled with confusion. The Xia Ye standing before them was a far cry from the sickly, good-for-nothing he’d heard about. Though still frail, he was clad in leather armor, with a curved sword at his left hip and a battle axe at his right, plus a crossbow in his hand—he was armed to the teeth and exuded a fierce, formidable aura. Xia Ye flashed a toothy grin, too lazy to argue. Warm sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the forest, casting dappled patterns onto Xia Ye’s delicate features. Xia Li couldn’t help but turn her head and glance at Xia Qiufeng. She used to think Brother Qiufeng was quite handsome, but compared to this Xia Ye, he fell short by quite a bit. The purple markings on his face resembled a crescent moon in a starry night or blood-stained fangs; his high ponytail, tied tightly at the nape of his neck, swayed gently in the breeze, exuding an air of grace. The eye patch covering his left eye not only did nothing to detract from his good looks but actually added a touch of fierce, unyielding courage. “So, can I go now?” Xia Ye asked. “Get the hell out of here!” Xia Yang urged impatiently. “Wait a moment.” Xia Qingyuan stopped him. Gasp! Everyone immediately drew their swords, glaring at Xia Ye, ready for battle. “Gah!” Song Guo clenched her stone hammer and bared her teeth like a little puppy: “Just so you know, I’m super fierce!” Xia Ye didn’t make any sudden moves, because he’d been keeping a close eye on Xia Qingyuan the whole time and realized he had no intention of attacking. “Don’t get the wrong idea!” Xia Qingyuan explained, “I’m just asking if you want to join my team.” “What?” A chorus of gasps filled the air. “Brother Xia, what do you need a good-for-nothing like that for?” Xia Yang felt insulted. “You saw it yourself—they don’t welcome me!” As soon as Xia Ye finished speaking, without giving Xia Qingyuan a chance to respond, he immediately made his escape. “Ha, that kid ran so fast—he must be terrified!” Xia Xiong scoffed. “I guarantee that kid won’t last three days—what a waste of all that gear!” Xia Qiufeng sighed with regret; he still had some principles—otherwise, he would have just snatched it. Xia Qingyuan shook his head. “What’s wrong?” Xia Li tugged at Xia Qingyuan’s arm, her tone slightly coquettish. “His expression hasn’t changed at all—he’s way too calm!” That was precisely why Xia Qingyuan had invited Xia Ye—even when faced with a surprise attack, his expression didn’t waver in the slightest. “We’re all from the same clan—he must know we wouldn’t lay a finger on him!” Xia Xiong explained, “I wouldn’t be afraid either!” “Let’s go find the secret treasure. We have to beat those Cao clan people to it.” Xia Qingyuan didn’t want to waste any more words. In a dangerous situation, facing multiple sharp blades, people naturally feel a sense of tension and fear—but Xia Ye didn’t. Either he was a seasoned veteran of battle or he was just naturally fearless. Either way, he was worth recruiting—but Xia Qingyuan simply didn’t have the time right now. Using what his sister jokingly called the “Eye of the Ruler,” Xia Ye believed he could make a discovery, but after half a day, he had no choice but to halt the search. “Ah-woo!” Song Guo looked up at the sky: “It’s going to rain!” The sky was filled with dark clouds, heavy as lead, as if they might crash down at any moment, creating an overwhelming sense of oppression. “It’s going to be a downpour!” Xia Ye’s brow furrowed so deeply it could have crushed a crab to death. Based on his experience, this was definitely going to be a downpour: “Let’s find a place to spend the night first!” To minimize the risk of being discovered, Xia Ye chose the northern edge of the ruins and found an abandoned stone house measuring about ten or so square meters. After making some simple repairs to ensure it could shelter them from the wind and rain, the two went out to gather firewood. Once it started raining, the branches would get wet, and then they could forget about staying warm or having a hot meal. Everything was proceeding at a brisk pace. Song Guo was only four or five years old, but she had plenty of experience surviving in the wild. Far from being a burden, her great strength actually made her a huge help. They dragged back a wild pheasant, some bird eggs, and a small wild boar with a crushed skull. A fine, misty rain soon began to fall, splashing onto their faces and leaving them damp. “Song Guo, let’s head back!” Xia Ye tied the firewood securely with a vine and hoisted it onto his shoulder. “Ah-woo, people!” Song Guo was perched in a large tree several dozen meters away, rummaging through a bird’s nest, when he suddenly let out a cry and leaped down. “Watch out!” Xia Ye hurried after her; the little girl was great in every way, but her curiosity was simply too strong. A woman with waist-length, lake-green hair lay unconscious beside a spring. She was in her twenties, wearing a long dress woven from some kind of grass or leaves. The dress was somewhat torn and stained with blood; she had clearly been in a struggle before losing consciousness. “What a strange outfit!” Xia Ye furrowed his brow. The woman wore straw sandals, revealing her fair toes painted with green floral sap; slung diagonally across her waist was a small bag woven from rattan and grass, along with a bronze dagger. “Thank goodness you’re not a man—otherwise you’d be green from head to toe!” Xia Ye pursed his lips. The facial markings on the woman’s face weren’t particularly complex—her cheeks bore the leaves of a plant he didn’t recognize, and her forehead featured a deer-antler pattern. “Is that hers?” Song Guo wandered around the vicinity and returned with a leather backpack filled with herbs and a stack of animal hides covered in strange, intricate patterns. The rain was getting heavier. They couldn’t just leave this woman here. Inside the stone hut, a campfire was lit, dispelling the dampness of the rainy day. When Lu Lingxi woke up, she caught a whiff of a rich, meaty aroma—so strong that even she, a lifelong vegetarian, couldn’t help but sniff the air. A little girl was crouched by the campfire, staring longingly at the earthenware pot hanging over the flames like a puppy waiting to be fed. Inside, a thick soup bubbled and steamed, sending plumes of white vapor into the air. She was covered with a blanket, which kept her warm. Perhaps due to her weakness from her injuries, she instinctively pulled it tighter around herself, then looked around. Not far from the little girl lay a strangely shaped travel bag, three weapons, and a neatly folded set of leather armor. Her own belongings were placed within easy reach—not even the most dangerous bronze dagger had been taken away. A smile involuntarily tugged at the corners of Lu Lingxi’s mouth. Whoever had saved her must be a good person! “You’re awake? Would you like some water?” Song Guo glanced at the woman dressed entirely in green. Just as Lu Lingxi was about to answer, her crystal-clear ears twitched, and she turned to look outside. A slender teenager burst through the storm and rushed inside, wearing nothing but a pair of linen shorts and a pair of knee-high boots. Rainwater was streaming down his skin; as he shook his head, his single ponytail swung lightly, like a tuna’s tail, exuding a sense of freshness and ease. Seeing that she was awake, he didn’t rush to speak. Instead, he had the little girl hold up his travel bag, then stood behind her, wiped himself down, and put on his leather armor. Lu Lingxi felt like laughing—it was just a little caterpillar; even if she’d seen it, what difference would it make? “Can we eat it yet?” Song Guo fanned the earthenware pot with her hand, drawing the aroma toward her nose. With such a feast before her, even if the sky were to fall, she’d have to eat her fill first before running. “Let me take a look!” Xia Ye nodded at Lu Lingxi, then crouched down beside her, drew his survival knife, and poked at the piece of meat. “All right!” “Oye！” Song Guo cheered, then eagerly grabbed the sharpened chopsticks and went straight for the biggest piece of meat in the clay pot! “We have a guest!” Although he said this, Xia Ye didn’t stop her. Seeing that the water in the bronze lunchbox had come to a boil, he sprinkled in a small handful of brown sugar. “Want some?” Xia Ye chuckled softly.