Chapter 34: Is This Person Actually Reliable?

The three of them intended to return to the tent provided by the military to sit down and discuss how to rescue Xiao Qing. However, they had only walked halfway when a burst of gunfire erupted.

Chaos broke out in the distance. Just as He Gaolang was about to dispatch men to investigate, a soldier came running toward him. "Report! Enemy attack ahead!"

"Damn it! It must be that scoundrel Ma Qibo," He Gaolang cursed, then signaled his men to grab their weapons and head toward the commotion. It was easy to guess that Ma Qibo, unable to find the stolen supplies, had realized someone was collaborating with the military and had likely used a diversionary tactic against him. Unable to catch the thief, his suppressed rage needed an outlet, and he had impulsively launched an attack on the platform under military and administrative jurisdiction.

Watching the crowds surge toward them, Fang Yun suddenly had a bold idea. While Ma Qibo was preoccupied with the front, they could slip into his camp, locate Xiao Qing, and bring her out. The plan was sound, but the reality was perilous. It was an exceptionally risky move; putting aside how many of Ma Qibo's men remained in the camp, simply finding a way to sneak back in was a massive problem in itself.

In the end, Li Wangcheng agreed to Fang Yun’s proposal, and she led him back to the old man they had encountered earlier. The old man’s tent was tucked away in an unremarkable spot that was actually a strategic vantage point. While many were fleeing in panic from the artillery fire, he remained calmly seated inside, as if the chaos outside had nothing to do with him.

Fang Yun did not waste words; she threw a small bag of rice into the tent, asking him to guide them into Ma Qibo’s camp. Even for an old man with the survival skills to keep himself fed, receiving such hard-to-come-by supplies was moving. Yet, compared to these rations, his life was more important. Just as he was about to painfully refuse, Fang Yun, seizing the moment, tossed in a heavier bag containing canned goods and other instant foods. The old man opened it, took one look, hurriedly tied the bag shut, and stashed it deep within his tent along with the rice. Moments later, he emerged.

Seeing the frail, trembling old man, the suspicion in Shang Xingbing's eyes was almost overflowing. Was this guy really reliable? Sensing his gaze, the old man shot him a disdainful look, clearly understanding his doubt. If the girl hadn't paid so much, he would never have put in this much effort or risked his neck.

The three followed him, carefully avoiding Ma Qibo’s men as they navigated a completely untraced trail up the mountain. Honestly, had the old man not been leading them, no normal person would have recognized it as a path. While Shang Xingbing had been doubting the old man earlier, once they were on this winding, treacherous trail and saw the old man moving with agile speed while they wheezed like oxen, his disdain vanished completely.

After a long, arduous trek, they finally reached a relatively open area, only for the old man to shove them all to the ground. Before Fang Yun and the others could react, they heard the whistling of air as something struck nearby.

"Bitch! You bitch! You made me look like such a fool!" A familiar curse rang out.

Fang Yun carefully peered over the edge and saw Ma Zhen nearby, looking frantic and furious, whip in hand, lashing out as she cursed. She was blocking their view, making it impossible to see who she was attacking.

"Is she always this brutal?" Even a man like Shang Xingbing felt a chill down his spine at the savagery of Ma Zhen's strikes.

"This is just an appetizer," the old man remarked with a cold snort, his voice dripping with sarcasm. It seemed he knew Ma Zhen well; otherwise, he wouldn't have spoken with such insight.

At that moment, two men brought a captive before Ma Zhen. Fang Yun recognized her instantly—it was Ji Qingwan. Recalling what had transpired between Ma Zhen and Chen Yuanlin, it wasn't hard to guess how Ma Zhen would treat her. True to expectation, as soon as she saw Ji Qingwan, Ma Zhen unleashed several heavy slaps, the force so great that the corners of Ji Qingwan's mouth tore, leaving her face swollen and bruised.

"It was your lousy idea! You said we could destroy that bitch Fang Yun without even lifting a finger! How did it turn into this?" Ma Zhen shrieked hysterically at Ji Qingwan.

Ji Qingwan, holding her swollen face, shook her head in panic. "No, it's not like that! Chen Yuanlin couldn't have made such a mistake. He knew you liked Li Wangcheng; he wouldn't have done something that hurts the enemy by a thousand while harming himself by eight hundred. It must be Fang Yun! It must be that bitch Fang Yun who sabotaged us!"

Hidden behind, Fang Yun was speechless. They couldn't get through three sentences without calling her a bitch; was that the only insult these two knew? Beside her, Li Wangcheng’s expression had darkened until he looked like he might explode. He hadn't realized that the incident between Ma Zhen and Chen Yuanlin was originally a trap intended for Fang Yun. Had he known, he wouldn't have left so easily, and he certainly wouldn't have let Chen Yuanlin live this long.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of more slaps. He looked up to see Ma Zhen ignoring Ji Qingwan's excuses, stepping forward to vent her rage on her. Her movement revealed the person she had been using as a punching bag.

"Xiao Qing!" Even without seeing her face, Fang Yun recognized her by her figure and clothes—the person lying motionless on the ground was indeed Xiao Qing.

Fang Yun moved to rush forward in a fit of rage, but Li Wangcheng and Shang Xingbing caught her just in time. "Don't be rash. If you go out now, it’s not just about whether you can save her—if you get caught, there will be no hope at all," Li Wangcheng whispered, trying to calm her.

Fang Yun knew he was right; she had only been impulsive due to a sudden rush of blood to her head. For now, Ma Zhen and her henchmen were still there; they could not act recklessly and had to wait for the right opportunity to save her.

Across the way, Ma Zhen grew tired and stepped back, panting. She stared at Ji Qingwan for a long while before a cruel smile spread across her face. "Don't give me any more excuses. Even if that bitch Fang Yun was behind it, none of this would have happened if not for your scheme. I see you're quite fond of that man named Chen Yuanlin. I'm a fair person; since I accidentally touched your man, I'll be generous and compensate you with a few of mine."

With that, ignoring Ji Qingwan's terrified expression, she smiled at her men: "She's yours. Make sure you treat our 'Miss Ji' well."

Fang Yun felt a wave of nausea. It seemed that whether it was Ma Qibo's subordinates or his children, they all favored such vile punishments. They were worse than beasts.