Chapter 195: Return to Jiangnan 4

Chapter 195: Return to Jiangnan 4

With Zhang Xiaolin’s joining, the situation on Li Shu’s side began to turn around. He looked at Xu Zeping, who was on horseback, and, lifting Hong Dongbao with one hand, fought his way toward Xu Zeping. When they were about three meters apart, Li Shu hurled Hong Dongbao toward Xu Zeping.

"Xu Zeping, take the young master and leave first!"

Xu Zeping was taken aback by Li Shu’s brute strength as Hong Dongbao landed squarely in front of him.

"Don’t let Hong Dongbao get away!"

The leader of the black-clothed men roared and charged at Xu Zeping.

With Hong Dongbao no longer a burden, Li Shu was free to fight without restraint. With a couple of quick front flips, he closed the distance and engaged the leader in a fierce battle.

Seizing the opportunity, Xu Zeping clamped his legs against the horse’s sides, turned the horse around, and galloped down the mountain. Only when he reached the main gate of Bowie Academy did his tense muscles finally relax.

Xu Zeping hopped off the horse first and held out his hand to Hong Dongbao. "Come down, Young Master Hong."

Hong Dongbao looked at the hand in front of him, hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly grabbed Xu Zeping’s hand and jumped down. Awkwardly, he muttered, "Thanks for today."

Xu Zeping led Hong Dongbao toward the stables, holding the reins of the black horse. Curious, he asked, "Young Master Hong, do you have any idea who those black-clad men were?"

Hong Dongbao sneered. "Who else but the second branch? They can’t have sons of their own and want to kill me. How ridiculous!"

Xu Zeping was shocked by Hong Dongbao’s tone, realizing this might be the result of internal family struggles within aristocratic clans. And the way Hong Dongbao spoke… it didn’t seem like the first time he had been chased by assassins.

"Your clan is really..." Xu Zeping thought for a moment, swallowing the word 'terrifying.'

"It’s terrifying, isn’t it?" After this ordeal, Hong Dongbao felt that Xu Zeping wasn’t as annoying as before. He shrugged indifferently. "I’m used to it. If only my grandfather had better self-control!"

In Hong Dongbao’s view, if his grandfather had been able to control himself and not taken a second wife after his grandmother’s death, would he have had to face this bloodshed from birth?

There was only one position for the West River Commander and only one title of Marquis of Zhen Guo. The second branch had no sons. How could they be willing to remain submissive after all these years? How could they not feel resentful?

Hmph, they even wanted his father to take on more wives to have more sons! How absurd! Was his grandfather trying to make the situation even more embarrassing?

Thinking about it made Hong Dongbao furious, but his wings weren’t yet strong enough. If they were, he wouldn’t have to live in this hypocritical Hong family!

Hong Dongbao’s blunt honesty, saying whatever came to mind, was something Xu Zeping couldn’t bring himself to do. He remained silent for a moment before saying, "Young Master Hong, today I helped you a little. Could you also help me with a small favor?"

Hong Dongbao wasn’t used to owing favors. He replied straightforwardly, "What do you want? Money or an official position?"

"Neither," Xu Zeping said seriously, looking at Hong Dongbao. "I want to ask about someone. His name is Xu Fanlin. In the first year of Sheng'an, at the age of 17, he joined your Western River Navy. In the fourth year of Sheng'an, he went to the capital to report on behalf of your Western River Navy and disappeared along the way.

"It’s been twelve years now, with no sign of him alive or dead."

"You want me to help you find this person?"

"Yes."

Hong Dongbao, born in the fifth year of Sheng'an, knew nothing about Xu Fanlin, who had disappeared in the fourth year of Sheng'an.

"Who is Xu Fanlin to you?" Hong Dongbao stared intently at Xu Zeping. What kind of favor could be worth so much to him that he'd trade it for information about this person?

"He’s like an uncle from my clan," Xu Zeping answered truthfully. "His parents are both over seventy now. A man is rarely fortunate enough to live to seventy... They don’t have much time left. I don’t want Ah Yang’s grandfather to leave this world with regrets. Even if he’s dead, having a definite answer would be something."

Hearing Xu Zeping’s tone, Hong Dongbao felt a bit of irritation for some reason. He nodded. "I haven’t heard of Xu Fanlin, but when I return to the Western River, I’ll ask my father about him. If I get any news, I’ll write to you."

"Thank you, Young Master Hong Dongbao."

Xu Zeping felt relieved as he had gotten Hong Dongbao's promise so easily.

Xu Zeping escorted Hong Dongbao back to Prefect Yuan, then prepared to return to find Li Shu and the others. Zhang Xiaolin was still there, and he couldn't let anything happen to him.

Just as he reached the stables, Zhang Xiaolin and Li Shu's group of five returned.

Seeing Zhang Xiaolin covered in blood, Xu Zeping was so frightened that his legs went weak. He rushed forward, "Zhang Xiaolin, are you injured?"

"I'm not injured. It's just blood from the black-clothed men that Brother Li killed. It splashed onto me by mistake," Zhang Xiaolin pushed Xu Zeping away casually. "I'll talk to you later. I need to go take a shower. This blood is making me very uncomfortable."

With that, Zhang Xiaolin left with a carefree swagger.

Xu Zeping couldn't help but envy Zhang Xiaolin's carefree attitude, completely unbothered by fear.

"Lieutenant Li, did you catch the attackers?" Xu Zeping hesitated on how to address Li Shu, and after some consideration, chose a neutral term.

"Xu Zeping, just call me Li Shu. This 'Lieutenant' business makes me feel awkward," Li Shu, though seemingly a decisive tough guy, was actually quite approachable. This was why Hong Yanchen, Hong Dongbao's father, had assigned him to Hong Dongbao's side.

Hong Yanchen knew his son's temperament well—no malice, but extremely willful. Only someone with a good temper could stay by his side for long.

Li Shu tied the reins as he spoke, "These black-clothed men have been following us for a while. Earlier, Young Master Hong was afraid that the people staying at the inn would be implicated, which is why he insisted on clearing the area. He's just not good at expressing himself. If there were any shortcomings, please don't take it to heart, Young Scholar Xu."

"Following us for a while?"

Xu Zeping was shocked. Were they following them all the way from Nanzhou?

"Initially, there were twenty of them. We've managed to take out ten along the way. We thought they'd give up once we reached Jinzhou... but it seems they're relentless." Li Shu nodded, explaining, "We took out three more just now. They should lay low for a few days."

"Are they arranged by the second branch of the Hong family?"

Xu Zeping had been thinking about this, but to his surprise, the words slipped out before he could stop himself.

Li Shu fell silent for a moment before saying, "That's the general's family's private matter. Young Scholar Xu, best not to mention it again."

Xu Zeping understood and immediately assured him it wouldn't happen again.

By the time they finished, it was already noon, and the morning's elimination rounds had concluded. The teams that successfully advanced to the afternoon's hunting event had been decided.

They were Xu Zeping's team from Arithmetic Classics Class A, Zheng Anhe's team from Arithmetic Classics Class B, Sheng Changhong's team from Arithmetic Classics Class C, Qiao Jiuage's team from Book of Songs Class A, and Zou Chengzhang's team from Book of Songs Class C.

Like Qiao Youmin, Qiao Jiuage is also part of Minister Qiao's extended family. However, unlike the outspoken Qiao Youmin, he was very low-key.

The hunting event was set to begin in the afternoon, and it was now lunchtime for the students after the morning's elimination rounds.

After lunch, the five members of the team sat together to discuss the afternoon's hunting event.

"Guangzhi, Zhang Xiaolin, we'll have to rely on you two for the hunting this afternoon."

As soon as Xu Zeping spoke, Shi Hua and Zhang Xiaolin looked at him in disbelief. Shi Hua was the first to ask, "Zeping, are you thinking of dropping out?"

Xu Zeping explained Prefect Yuan's request for him to tutor his son and how he had declined. After finishing, he looked at his four teammates staring at him and added, "Guangzhi, Shi Hua, my archery skills are just average. After all, if the prefect's son wants to practice archery, there are plenty of instructors who would be happy to teach him. I was just too afraid of any complications, so I declined. When I refused, Young Master Hong and the others were also present."

"Sigh, I know my excuse was pretty weak." Xu Zeping looked apologetic, so to cover up the lie, he had to continue playing the part. "If Young Master Hong doesn't participate in the hunting event, I might be able to sneak in a few shots at some game. But if he participates, I'm afraid I'll just have to watch from the sidelines."

After hearing the explanation, Shi Hua and the others could only accept it helplessly.

One lie often leads to more lies to cover it up.

Although they didn't know why Xu Zeping had caught the attention of Prefect Yuan to the extent that Prefect Yuan wanted him to teach his son archery, Xu Zeping had the nerve to turn it down.

They couldn’t wrap their heads around Xu Zeping’s ‘insolence,’ but what could they do now that it had happened?

They couldn’t just stand by and watch their classmate tick off the prefect and get in trouble.

The bell tolled, signaling that it was time for the event to begin.

Prefect Yuan and Ouyang Xu stood at the edge of the arena, ready to oversee the competition. Six teams were lined up in the arena.

Yes, six teams.

In addition to the five teams that had qualified earlier from the Bowie organization, the other team was Hong Dongbao’s.

At the front was Hong Dongbao, flanked by Li Shu and three soldiers. The elite who had signed up earlier had dropped out.

Just as Xu Zeping had guessed, this hunting event was probably just a little show Prefect Yuan set up to keep Hong Dongbao entertained.

Nine days ago, Li Shu had mentioned that Hong Dongbao was planning a hunting trip to Fengming Mountain, but it seemed that Hong Dongbao found it too boring when it was just him and his men.

It seemed that Hong Dongbao didn’t feel any sense of accomplishment when he hunted at Fengming Mountain with just Li Shu and his men.

Then he remembered that his cousin seemed to have a thing for Xu Zeping, the scholar.

So, that’s why Prefect Yuan came up with this hunting event.