Chapter Thirty-Six

Jiang Bai and Pan Rui closely followed. Although their strength was nearly exhausted, the current situation allowed no room for slack. Jiang Bai gripped her knife tightly, eyes fixed ahead, her mind singularly focused: they must not escape!

The leader of the black-clad men was clearly a seasoned veteran. While running, he frequently glanced back to assess the pursuers. Seeing Lin Qing in relentless pursuit, he sneered coldly, suddenly drawing a concealed weapon from his bosom and hurling it fiercely at Lin Qing.

“Watch out!” Jiang Bai’s sharp eyes immediately warned.

Lin Qing reacted swiftly, twisting his body just in time to narrowly avoid the flying projectile. The weapon grazed his sleeve, embedding itself with a crisp clang into a tree trunk behind him.

“A mere trifle!” Lin Qing snorted coldly, maintaining his pace as he pressed the chase.

The black-clad leader’s face darkened upon his failed attempt. He quickened his stride, attempting to widen the gap. Yet Lin Qing’s stamina far exceeded expectations; instead of increasing, the distance between them steadily closed.

“You won’t get away!” Lin Qing shouted, leaping forward with his long blade aimed straight at the leader’s back.

Sensing the killing intent behind him, the leader shuddered and swiftly dodged aside. Lin Qing’s blade grazed his shoulder, leaving a streak of blood. The leader grunted, stumbling several steps but quickly regained balance and continued fleeing.

“Not bad at all!” Lin Qing sneered, pursuing once more.

Meanwhile, Pan Rui and the others caught up with several black-clad men. Although formidable fighters, they found themselves increasingly cornered, disadvantaged by numbers and dwindling strength.

“Surrender now!” Pan Rui bellowed, sword pressed to a black-clad man’s throat.

The man’s face turned pale, clearly too weak to continue fighting. Gritting his teeth, he suddenly produced a small black pill from his bosom and swallowed it in one gulp.

“No! He’s poisoning himself!” Jiang Bai cried out in alarm, rushing forward to stop him, but it was too late.

The man’s body convulsed violently before collapsing, black blood gushing from his mouth and nose. The poison took swift effect, killing him instantly.

“Damn it!” Pan Rui’s face turned ashen. He hadn’t expected such desperate resolve—preferring death to capture.

Elsewhere, Lin Qing faced a similar scene. The leader pulled a dagger from his chest without hesitation.

“Stop!” Lin Qing shouted, rushing forward, but again it was too late. The black-clad man fell lifeless to the ground.

“What on earth are these people?” Lin Qing stood beside the fallen leader, brows furrowed deeply. He knelt to examine his clothes and belongings, seeking clues. Aside from a few concealed weapons and some poison vials, there was nothing indicating identity.

“Who are they really?” Lin Qing murmured to himself, confusion thick in his heart.

Jiang Bai and Pan Rui arrived, their expressions equally grave upon seeing the fallen.

“All we know is they were after Captain Duan,” Jiang Bai said solemnly.

Pan Rui nodded, tightening his grip on his sword. “We must hurry to rendezvous with Tie Zhu and the others.”

On the way, Pan Rui briefed Lin Qing on the situation. They decided to cease hunting and travel together, wary of further enemies. Soon, they reached the cave where Duan Qi and Zhang Tie Zhu awaited.

Upon their entry, Zhang Tie Zhu immediately approached, weariness and concern etched on his face. Seeing Jiang Bai and the others in disarray, he anxiously inquired, “Did you encounter enemies?”

Jiang Bai nodded. She left Pan Rui to exchange information with Zhang Tie Zhu and moved to carefully check Duan Qi. Fortunately, his condition hadn’t worsened since their departure, though he still required descent for proper treatment.

“No major issues, but the mountain conditions are too rough. We need to get him down,” Jiang Bai said, sitting on the opposite side of the stone bed, too fatigued to stand.

Pan Rui clenched his fists, anger flashing in his eyes. “Who are these black-clad men? Why such mercilessness toward Captain Duan?”

Lin Qing fell silent briefly, then retrieved a cloth from his pocket, revealing several unusual concealed weapons and miscellaneous items. He examined them closely, seeking clues.

“These weapons are distinctive, unlike those used by common folk,” Lin Qing murmured. “Their skills and coordination are highly professional—clearly well-trained.”

Zhang Tie Zhu approached, eyeing the weapons with a frown. “Can you tell which organization they belong to?”

Lin Qing shook his head. “Not yet. For now, all we know is their intent to kill Captain Duan.”

Jiang Bai leaned against the wall. “Whoever they are, our priority is ensuring Captain Duan’s safety. If he wakes, we might learn more.”

Pan Rui agreed. “Right. We need to rest well tonight and descend at first light.”

Everyone concurred and settled to rest. The cave was silent except for the crackling fire and Duan Qi’s faint breathing.

As night deepened, only the fire’s dim glow remained. Jiang Bai rested against the stone wall, eyes closed, yet her mind raced. The recent attacks made her question her choice to join the army. With such relentless assassination attempts and a flawed force, neither she nor Jiang Ye’s safety seemed assured. How could she protect Jiang Ye?

At dawn, they prepared to depart. A dispute arose over who should carry the captain. Others suggested taking turns, but Jiang Bai insisted on doing it herself—she was uninjured, while the others bore wounds, some severe. She decisively took charge, with the others guarding her and Duan Qi.

Jiang Bai hoisted the unconscious Duan Qi onto her back, and the group cautiously left the cave, heading down the mountain.

Along the way, they remained vigilant, wary of another black-clad ambush. Fortunately, nothing unusual occurred.

Suddenly, a faint rustling emerged from the dense forest. Lin Qing immediately tensed, sword ready. “Be careful, someone’s coming.”

Pan Rui nodded, gripping his sword tightly, eyes fixed on the sound’s origin.

Moments later, a figure emerged: a man with a wooden staff, weariness and caution on his face. Seeing Lin Qing’s group, he hesitated, then smiled.

“Qiao’s guards!” Lin Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Reinforcements had arrived.

Qiao Hang’s appearance eased their tension. He strode forward, scanning the group before focusing on Duan Qi on Jiang Bai’s back, frowning. “How is Captain Duan?”

“He’s severely injured, unconscious,” Jiang Bai replied briefly, tired and worried.

Qiao nodded without further questions, clearly knowing this was no time for details. He gestured into the forest, whispering, “Come out, it’s us.”

Several lightly armored soldiers stepped out, alert and armed—battle-worn but relieved to find them.

“How did you find us?” Lin Qing asked, a mixture of curiosity and gratitude.

Qiao smiled, pointing to the woods behind. “There were several bodies and signs of struggle. We tracked those marks to find you. Luckily, you hadn’t gone far. We encountered a few black-clad groups en route, which delayed us.”

“Black-clad?” Pan Rui frowned, tightening his grip. “They’re still pursuing us?”

Qiao’s expression hardened. “Yes, quite a few, and they seem well-informed of our movements. We must leave quickly; if they encircle us, the consequences will be dire.”

Jiang Bai’s brows knit tightly, Duan Qi growing heavier on her back. She took a deep breath and asked gravely, “What now? His wounds can’t wait—we must find a safe place to treat him.”

Qiao pondered briefly, then said, “Before we left, Medic Chen prepared some medicines, just in case. Dr. Jiang, please see if they’re useful. As for shelter, we found an abandoned village down the mountain, not far from here. It’s a good temporary refuge. The terrain is complex, so the black-clad won’t find us easily.”

“Good. Let’s go there.” Jiang Bai checked the medicines brought by Qiao’s men, confirming what she needed was included, then nodded in agreement. The others had no objections.

Qiao had been uneasy about the scene earlier. Now he understood the problem. “Why are you carrying Captain Duan?”

“Huh?” Jiang Bai was momentarily caught off guard, shifting Duan Qi on her back to keep him from slipping.

“Quick, get Dr. Jiang off that burden!” Qiao nearly exploded with frustration. A group of grown men, yet a young girl was carrying the injured?

Qiao’s soldiers hurriedly relieved Jiang Bai. “What’s going on here?”

“Oh, everyone’s hurt—no one’s arms or legs are intact. I thought it best since I’m uninjured to carry him, while others protect me,” Jiang Bai hastily explained. She hadn’t thought much at the time, but now understood how odd it looked.

Qiao frowned, glancing at the soldiers, many unable to stand properly—some with bandaged arms, others with bleeding legs. He sighed, softening his tone. “Still, you can’t bear the injured alone. You’re the doctor, not a laborer. If you collapse, who will treat everyone’s wounds?”

Jiang Bai lowered her head, cheeks flushing, softly apologizing, “You’re right, Qiao.”

Qiao waved it off, signaling her not to blame herself. He turned to his men: “Take turns carrying the wounded. Don’t let Dr. Jiang work herself to exhaustion. Everyone else, stay alert. This place is unsafe; enemy ambushes are possible.”

The soldiers responded in unison, “Yes, sir!”

With the group reorganized, they pressed onward. Jiang Bai walked behind Qiao, occasionally glancing back at the still embarrassed injured man. Though she was a reincarnated soul, sometimes she forgot her role, explaining the earlier surprise when she took up the burden.

Qiao seemed to notice her unease, slowing to walk beside her. Quietly, he asked, “Dr. Jiang, are you alright?”

Jiang Bai paused, then nodded. “I’m fine, just worried about everyone’s injuries.”

Qiao glanced at her, offering gentle reassurance. “You’ve done very well. The battlefield is complex; no one can handle everything perfectly. What matters is that everyone is still alive—that’s enough.”

Jiang Bai’s face warmed with embarrassment. In her previous life, she was already twenty; adding fifteen more years in this one, she was older than Qiao. Yet here he was comforting her. Perhaps her earlier life was too easy, given the many mistakes she’d made along this journey.

The group moved swiftly. Qiao and his soldiers led, with Lin Qing and Pan Rui flanking Jiang Bai, eyes alert for danger. Though reinforcements had arrived, the threat of the black-clad men kept everyone tense.

After about half an hour, they emerged from the dense forest into a broad valley. At its center stood several dilapidated houses—undoubtedly the abandoned village Qiao mentioned.

“That’s it,” Qiao whispered, pointing. “We must be careful. Though deserted, black-clad enemies might have hidden traps.”

Everyone nodded, slowing their pace, cautiously approaching. Most buildings had collapsed, leaving only a few barely sheltering from the elements. Qiao’s guards led them into one relatively intact house—simple but suitable for temporary refuge.

Jiang Bai gently laid Duan Qi on a sturdy bed, then exhaled deeply, sweat beading her forehead. Lin Qing handed her a water flask; she took a sip before crouching to inspect Duan Qi’s wounds.

“How is he?” Qiao asked softly, approaching.

Jiang Bai nodded. “He’s stable. We found him soon after he was injured, so we treated the wounds promptly. There’s no critical danger.”

The group settled in, their respite brief but vital, as the shadow of the black-clad threat loomed ever near.