Chapter 301: Catching Up

Chapter 301: Catching Up

"There are four brothers acting with me. By now, they should have arrived here as well."

"Oh?" Liu Hong's eyes lit up.

"The people Mr. Qin brings along must be highly skilled!"

Qin Xiaoyao smiled and didn't respond.

"Mr. Qin, please go and rest inside the tent. Our centurion will come over shortly. I'll go inform him of this good news!"

Qin Xiaoyao nodded.

Liu Hong quickly had Liu San follow Qin Xiaoyao and instructed him to take good care of her.

Only then did he go to find Chu Jin.

Qin Xiaoyao and Liu San entered a tent together.

Qin Xiaoyao then found a place to sit.

Seeing Liu San standing stiffly nearby, occasionally stealing glances at her, Qin Xiaoyao couldn't help but smile.

"Why is Brother Liu secretly staring at me?" she asked.

Liu San froze.

A look of embarrassment crossed his face after being caught.

Seeing Qin Xiaoyao smiling at him, he soon calmed his nerves.

"You—are you really 'Mr. Qin'?" he asked Qin Xiaoyao.

At the same time, his eyes swept up and down Qin Xiaoyao.

His uncle had mentioned before that Mr. Qin had unparalleled martial skills.

From what he observed, Qin San's skills were indeed impressive.

But—he remembered that Mr. Qin was a woman.

This Qin San—didn't act or speak like a woman at all.

Qin Xiaoyao nodded, looking at Liu San.

"It's me."

Liu San's eyes widened.

"Are you—a woman?" he then asked.

As soon as the question left his mouth, he realized it was inappropriate and quickly covered his mouth.

Qin Xiaoyao's expression froze.

She then remembered she was dressed as a man.

With a calm smile, she asked,

"Can't a woman kill the Liao dogs?"

"No—no!" Liu San's face flushed red instantly, and he responded instinctively.

"Other women might not be able to, but 'Mr. Qin' is different!" This was a person valued by the second prince.

It was said that obtaining Mr. Qin was equivalent to having an army of ten thousand.

Who in the entire Great Jin could deserve such praise?

"Haha—" Qin Xiaoyao was amused.

Her laughter made Liu San even more embarrassed, his face turning redder.

Fortunately, Chu Jin's voice soon came from outside the tent.

"Mr. Qin, is it really you who has come?!" Chu Jin's voice was loud and urgent.

It was clear from the sound that the person was walking in a hurry.

As soon as Qin Xiaoyao looked towards the entrance of the tent, Chu Jin strode in from outside.

Seeing that it was indeed Qin Xiaoyao in the tent, Chu Jin's face lit up with surprise and he quickly stepped forward.

"Chu Jin, greetings to Mr. Qin!" He bowed his fist in a salute towards Qin Xiaoyao.

Qin Xiaoyao smiled and returned the gesture.

"Chu Centurion, it's been a while."

The atmosphere immediately lightened.

"Haha, thanks to Mr. Qin's blessings, Chu Jin is doing well!"

"I heard from Liu Hong on the way here."

"The reason tonight's attack on Huanghua Town went so smoothly was all thanks to Mr. Qin's efforts! Chu Jin thanks you, Mr. Qin!" Chu Jin bowed again.

Qin Xiaoyao waved him off.

"It was just a matter of convenience. I didn’t expect that Centurion Chu would launch a city attack tonight as well. For now, it’s good that the battle is going smoothly."

Chu Jin’s face was all smiles.

"Mr. Qin has achieved a great feat and deserves congratulations. I’ve already arranged a banquet. Would Mr. Qin do me the honor of accompanying me for a chat?" he continued.

He had already gathered information from the Liao Army prisoners. Burning the grain supplies and chasing down the Liao Army’s Centurion amidst the encirclement of hundreds, eventually killing him in a single strike.

Initially, he thought the Liao Army might have exaggerated.

But now, knowing it was Mr. Qin who accomplished this, he felt it was only fitting.

Back in Lingquan Town, the second prince had been eager to win over Mr. Qin.

Unfortunately, Mr. Qin had no ambition for merit, and the prince had to leave with regret.

And now, Mr. Qin had come to Huanghua Town and taken the initiative to strike against the Liao Army.

There must be some twists in between.

With the second prince not here, it was only natural for him to take care of Mr. Qin.

If he could persuade Mr. Qin to stay on behalf of the prince, it would be a great achievement.

A tremendous benefit for both the prince and the Great Jin.

"In that case, I would be honored to accept your invitation," Qin Xiaoyao smiled and agreed.

As they were about to leave, Qin Xiaoyao suddenly remembered something.

She mentioned Huang Fei’s situation.

Chu Jin immediately arranged for it to be handled before taking Qin Xiaoyao away.

In a restaurant in Huanghua Town.

Chu Jin led Qin Xiaoyao into a private room.

The room was already set with fine food and wine, very sumptuous.

Qin Xiaoyao, feeling hungry at the sight, didn’t stand on ceremony. She greeted Chu Jin, exchanged pleasantries, and began eating. From time to time, she would drink a toast with Chu Jin, as if they were back in the Lingquan Town camp.

"The second prince will be very happy to know you’ve come, Mr. Qin!" Chu Jin clinked glasses with Qin Xiaoyao and probed.

Qin Xiaoyao gave Chu Jin a look but didn’t say much, finishing her drink in one gulp.

"I did come here looking for the second prince," she said after a moment.

Seeing Chu Jin looking at her, Qin Xiaoyao sighed and continued, "Something happened at home. After much thought, only the second prince can help me."

"What happened?" Chu Jin asked immediately with concern.

Qin Xiaoyao wore a bitter expression.

"My husband—was taken away," she finally revealed the truth.

Chu Jin was startled.

He quickly understood.

They had all seen how much Qin Xiaoyao cherished her husband.

If something happened to Song Que, it made sense that Qin Xiaoyao would go to great lengths to seek help.

Seeing Chu Jin’s curiosity, Qin Xiaoyao explained the details of Song Que’s disappearance.

"When I left, Liao troops had already appeared in Hua’an Prefecture."

"At that time, not only the borders but many places within the Great Jin were at war. After conscription, the arrangement of soldiers was chaotic. Therefore, I couldn’t determine where my husband had been sent."

"The only feasible option was to ask the second prince for help. To request his assistance in finding my husband."

"That’s why I left Hua’an Prefecture and came all the way to Huanghua Town," Qin Xiaoyao said, pouring herself a drink.

"Originally, I just planned to rest for a night in town and then continue to Tong Pass to find the second prince."

"But unexpectedly, I learned that the Liao soldiers had stockpiled a large amount of grain in Huanghua Town. And they were supplying materials to surrounding towns."

"Huang Fei and the others mentioned burning the grain supplies, and since I didn’t think it would take long, I agreed."

Chu Jin raised his cup to Qin Xiaoyao.

"Mr. Qin, you’ve helped me a great deal this time!" he said.

Qin Xiaoyao smiled, clinked glasses with Chu Jin, and finished her drink in one go.

"Actually, three days ago, I was ordered to leave Tong Pass."

"Although the second prince had curbed the increase of Liao troops, a large number of Liao soldiers had already entered the heart of the Great Jin."

"Many places within the Great Jin were in chaos due to previous famines and banditry, and the imperial army was overwhelmed. With the Liao Army’s arrival, the situation became even more complicated."

"The imperial court’s desire for peace, though a helpless move, is disheartening."

"That’s why the prince ordered me and Han Chao to each lead a group into the heart of the territory to eliminate some Liao troops."