Chapter 1659 - 619: Fateful Encounter (Part 1)
The moon was cold and the stars were high. Though it was just after the first spring snow had melted, the thaw was colder than the fall.
At this time of night, the sudden spring wind brushed over the body, bringing a chill that seeped from the inside out.
Fang Jie felt as if he were in an ice cellar; he unconsciously wrapped his arms around himself, but the more he hugged, the colder he felt.
He couldn’t help opening his eyes.
In a haze, he let out a huge yawn and looked around: the carriage was parked at the edge of the forest.
The people traveling with them, lying or sitting, were already asleep.
Chen Dinghai was sitting cross-legged not far from him, meditating.
He seemed to hear a sound and opened his eyes to glance over.
"What’s wrong?"
He asked casually.
Fang Jie hurriedly shook his head:
"Nothing, nothing."
He glanced at the campfire beside him; it was about to go out.
He immediately picked up a stick, gently poked at it, and threw two more pieces of dry firewood in.
Hoping the flames would rise quickly.
"Woke up from the cold?"
Chen Dinghai came to his side, took a Water Bag from his chest, and tossed it over:
"Take a sip, but don’t drink too much.
"The Young Master has ordered that when we are out, we must drink sparingly."
Fang Jie took it, opened the cap, and a strong smell of wine rushed into his nose.
He smacked his lips, mustered his courage, and leaned forward. But even without drinking, just the smell alone made his forehead spin dizzily.
He couldn’t help shaking his head and said:
"Uncle Chen, I don’t know how to drink..."
"A grown man—how can he not drink?"
Chen Dinghai shook his head with a smile:
"You don’t know any martial arts and have no Inner Strength to drive out the cold. You can’t go on like this.
"Drink just a little. It won’t help much, but it can ease it a bit."
"Um... thank you, Uncle Chen."
Hearing this, Fang Jie gritted his teeth and drew a small sip through the gap of his teeth.
It entered his mouth icy and spicy.
He forced down the urge to spit it out and swallowed hard.
The moment the wine went down his throat, it was like a line of fire shooting straight into his stomach.
He immediately felt much of the chill in his body ease.
"Warm now?"
Chen Dinghai asked.
"Mm, mm."
Fang Jie nodded repeatedly; his resistance to the wine vanished, and he at once wanted another drink.
But Chen Dinghai snatched it back:
"Don’t be fooled by the wine; you’re still cold... But right now, take the chance to build up the fire, and it won’t be so hard to bear."
Fang Jie seemed thoughtful and nodded lightly:
"Thank you, Uncle Chen."
"What are you thanking me for?"
Chen Dinghai sat down beside Fang Jie and put away the wine-filled Water Bag:
"You brought this back for me two days ago. If you must thank someone, thank yourself.
"All right, if nothing’s wrong, go back to sleep.
"We still have to hurry on tomorrow."
"Uncle Chen..."
Fang Jie hurriedly spoke up.
"Something else?"
Chen Dinghai glanced at him.
Fang Jie thought for a moment; for a while he hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.
Chen Dinghai seemed to think of something and said with a smile:
"Uneasy?"
"Mm..."
Fang Jie nodded:
"I really am a bit uneasy... Do you think Brother Wu will really take me as a disciple?"
"I don’t know."
Chen Dinghai shook his head:
"The Young Master’s wisdom is extraordinary. What he thinks and decides is not for me to presume to judge."
Although Su Mo had given his word.
But Su Mo going back on his word was nothing new.
Fang Jie lifted his eyes, a bit lost:
"But if Brother Wu doesn’t take me, how am I supposed to avenge my family?"
"You want to become a disciple solely for revenge?"
Chen Dinghai asked.
"Yes."
Fang Jie nodded deeply: "My parents’ great hatred is irreconcilable. What’s more, my elder sister’s life or death is unknown. If I cannot avenge this, I am unworthy to be their son."
"Then you don’t have to worry."
Chen Dinghai said softly:
"Even if you don’t become a disciple, the Blood Lotus Sect won’t be rampant for many more days.
"They took your elder sister, and they took the Young Master’s friend as well.
"Anyone in this world who becomes the Young Master’s enemy never comes to a good end."
"Really?"
Fang Jie instinctively looked at Chen Dinghai, as if searching for some comfort in his face.
But when he looked at Chen Dinghai, he found that Chen Dinghai was not looking at him.
He was looking toward the place beyond the reach of the firelight.
His doubt lasted only an instant; the next moment, he heard Chen Dinghai bark a sharp shout:
"Who’s there?"
The three words fell like a clap of thunder.
In an instant, everyone in the camp was jolted awake.
And just then, the sound of something cutting through the air came suddenly.
They heard a series of whooshing sounds as arrows whistled through the air one after another.
Fortunately, Chen Dinghai had shouted in time. Everyone woke from their dreams; seeing this scene, they immediately snatched up the weapons at hand to fend off the rain of arrows.
In a flash, the clanging of metal rang out incessantly.
Fang Jie’s heart tightened. He turned his head, and with a sharp swish, before he even realized what was happening, Chen Dinghai had already stretched out his hand; an arrow halted three inches before Fang Jie’s brow.
If not for that reaching hand of Chen Dinghai, he would have died on the spot.
Before he could catch his breath, Chen Dinghai had already yanked him behind him:
"Don’t run around. Guard your life."
As his words fell, they saw a figure shoot out from the carriage.
Like an arrow leaving the string, the figure landed, stomped once with a booming crash, and that thin body soared up, charging straight into the forest.
The next moment, shrill screams rang out from within the woods.
At the same time, Old Ma’s voice came:
"Old Chen, Xiao Mu, each of you take ten men into the forest to support Miss Xiao Xiao."
"Yes!"
Chen Dinghai answered at once, gave Fang Jie a look, then led his men away in haste.
As for Mu Shanshan, she couldn’t even be bothered to bring anyone; her steps were already flying as she dashed toward the forest.