Mr. Zhuang listened to the entire conversation from the carriage at the back. Seeing that Assistant General Nie was tempted but hesitant to agree, he lifted the curtain and stepped out, smiling, "Assistant General Nie, you should go." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Assistant General Nie turned around.

Mr. Zhuang pointed to Bai Shan and the others, "Although my disciples have only average skills, they’ve learned the Six Arts since childhood. Assistant General Nie, take them with you. Let them gain some experience."

"How can that be?" Assistant General Nie said, "Lord Zhou cannot be exposed to danger."

Moreover, there is a future Prince Consort among them, and although Bai Shan doesn’t have a special status, he holds significant weight with His Majesty and the Crown Prince.

Mr. Zhuang said, "The journey to the Western Regions is fraught with dangers. With your protection now, the number of bandits is few, which is a perfect opportunity to let them gain experience. This way, they’ll know how to evade when danger arises in the future, and the burden on Assistant General Nie will be lighter."

Assistant General Nie: ... They would lighten his burden if they just stayed put.

However, as Mr. Zhuang personally requested, Assistant General Nie was persuaded. He then took the group onto the main road, while Mr. Zhuang and others stayed behind.

Yin Huo also joined in the fun. Assistant General Nie glanced at him several times but didn’t ask him to stay. Instead, he had a soldier scout ahead, then parked the horses at the foot of the mountain, which was higher on one side with dense trees and grass, effectively concealing the horses completely unless viewed from the main road or from the higher ground.

Then he led them up the mountain. Of course, he and the soldiers jumped.

He turned back to look at the people behind him.

This slope was nearly half a person’s height, on the side close to the road it seemed repaired, with some soil removed, forming a ninety-degree slope without any buffer.

Seeing this, Bai Shan and the others lifted their robes and tied them to their belts, took two steps back to gain speed, and jumped up, leaving Yin Huo and Liu Huan standing dumbfounded at the bottom.

Liu Huan looked around, then rolled up his sleeves, approached, and climbed up the slope, lifting his foot to ascend.

Assistant General Nie: ...

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang immediately extended their hands to grab his collar and pulled him up, successfully helping him climb up.

Liu Huan stood and dusted off the grass on his body, then turned back with Bai Shan and Bai Erlang to look at Yin Huo, gesturing, "Come on, we’ll pull you."

Yin Huo declined and looked at his family’s guard.

Thus, a guard directly hugged him and jumped up.

Manbao and the others looked disappointed, while Liu Huan opened his mouth wide and said quietly, "Why didn’t you say earlier, then I wouldn’t have climbed."

Yin Huo replied softly, "You moved too fast."

While they spoke, Assistant General Nie had already found a spot for them. He returned and led them to a slope, telling them to lie down, "You wait here."

He sternly said, "Lord Zhou, we agreed before leaving the capital, you must listen to me regarding safety."

Manbao lay obediently and nodded, "I know, we’ll cheer for you from here, you go ahead without worry."

Assistant General Nie left with his men.

Daji, with the Bai Family’s guards, glanced at the Yin Family guards. Both sides nodded, leaving two to lie down with them while the rest found better vantage points nearby for an ambush.

Daji lay beside them, watching as the youths grew restless after lying down for a while, secretly pulling apart the grass in front of them and squinting to look outside.

He didn’t stop them but listened intently with his ear to the ground. Soon, he heard noises.

Manbao and Bai Shan also heard, and their eyes lit up as they focused.

Bai Erlang also listened closely, asking softly, "Did you all hear it?"

Manbao and Bai Shan nodded together.

Assistant General Nie and his team, stealthily advancing, also spotted three people stumbling toward them, chased by four armed men. Though tightly pursued, it’s unclear if the pursuers were taunting them or genuinely exhausted, as they couldn’t catch up with the three, only closely trailing behind.

Assistant General Nie raised his right hand, made several gestures to disperse his men, and took out his bow and arrows...

If a matter could be resolved from afar, it shouldn’t be resolved up close...

Five arrows shot from different directions at the four bandits...

The bandits were startled and dodged quickly, but three couldn’t evade in time. One died instantly, and two were hit in the shoulder and thigh, falling to the ground.

The remaining bandit dodged the arrows, uncertain of how many people were hidden; without thinking, he turned to flee.

Assistant General Nie had already drawn his knife, stepping on several trees to gain momentum and quickly catching up, turning to fight the person...

The soldiers dashed forward, ignoring the fleeing three and directly charged to cut down the injured, one soldier even attempting a final blow but was stopped, "The Captain ordered to keep them alive. If you use the blade, we’ll have to get medicine from Imperial Doctor Zhou for treatment, which isn’t worthwhile."

The medicine prepared for them would be wasted on these bandits.

The soldier realized this was true and used the back of his blade to slap the bandit several times, glaring threateningly, "Behave, or we’ll kill you."

They looked more like bandits than the bandits themselves.

The bandits immediately fell silent.

The soldiers bound the two, while Assistant General Nie kicked a person flying toward them; the opponent, spitting blood and barely standing, attempted to get up.

A foot suddenly stepped on his back, pressing him down, and his hands were twisted and bound before he could struggle.

Assistant General Nie looked around, "There really is no ambush? Right, where are those three?"

The soldiers paused, looking back, but the three were long gone, "Did they run away?"

Assistant General Nie frowned, "Take the captives back."

Manbao and the others were lying on the ground, listening closely though they only heard some thuds, thoroughly engrossed and enjoying it. While they listened intently, Daji suddenly lifted his head, looking ahead.

Bai Shan also heard faint cries for help, raised his head, and discreetly parted some grass to look forward.

Everyone crowded together to peer ahead.

In the distance, three people, barely visible, were running toward them, gasping and calling for help, though the sound wasn’t loud, they all heard it.

Before Daji could react, a Yin Family guard perched in a tree jumped down, blocking their path.

The runners, startled, tried to change direction without seeing clearly, but the Yin Family members said, "Don’t run, we’re here to rescue you."

Despite the words, the three continued running far back, cautiously peeking from behind the trees.

The guard said speechlessly, "Are you Old Master You’s workers? Lord Zhou is waiting for you ahead."

Having traveled together for some time, the guard didn’t know their names but recognized them at a glance, which is why he jumped out.

The three workers didn’t have the guard’s insight and hesitated, while Bai Erlang, unable to contain himself, tried to stand up but was held down by Daji, who got up and walked out, "Lord Zhou is here. Come and report."

The workers recognized Daji immediately; they didn’t know the other guards but knew this one who always stayed near Lord Zhou and Young Master Bai. Tears filled their eyes as they rushed forward to embrace Daji, "Guardian Daji—"

Daji: ...

The guard: ...

Such obvious preferential treatment?