"We are not fishermen," Xiao Jinyan continued with his sardonic smile.
The others had no choice; they were soldiers and naturally understood the principle that military orders must not be disobeyed.
Since Xiao Jinyan insisted, they could only bite the bullet and go.
They only hoped that should they die, their families would be given more Silver in compensation.
Xiao Jinyan was also a leader who knew how to win hearts. Now that they were preparing to climb the mountain, he declared, "All soldiers, heed my command. Follow me up the mountain. Those who return alive will be rewarded a thousand taels of Silver; those who unfortunately perish will be rewarded two thousand taels, ensuring their families need not worry about food and clothing. I do not like to threaten others. Those willing to climb with me, come; those unwilling, may return to the ship to wait."
A thousand taels, two thousand taels? Such amounts were more than they could ever earn in a lifetime as marines. Who wouldn’t take the offer? Everyone jostled to take part. Moments ago, no one had been willing, but now not a single person wanted to leave.
Even Gui Yunxi, who had been dazedly intent on escaping, began to climb up with ropes tied around her.
Xiao Jinyan laughed and said, "That’s more like it. Before us, three people have already ascended, among them two weaklings and two delicate young ladies. You cannot let them outdo you."
How confusing did that sound? Three people, two weaklings, two delicate young ladies?
Several marines were motivated by the Silver and their pride, but Gui Yunxi was there to see with her own eyes if that malevolent healer was indeed a woman, as Xiao Jinyan had claimed.
Recalling the sight of the bellyband she saw that night, she felt that it was very likely Xiao Jinyan was telling the truth.
The mountain was not a perpendicular climb but was inclined at an angle, and there were plenty of rocks and trees to grab onto. In fact, for these agile marines, climbing such a mountain was not difficult, and they were much faster than Gu Youyou and her companions.
As they had predicted, they encountered a troop of monkeys halfway up the mountain.
The monkeys, having gathered here not long ago, arrived particularly quickly and soon surrounded them.
Gui Yunxi, who did not know martial arts, was in the center, while the others formed a circle, cutting down the monkeys that charged at them from all sides.
However, after a while, the monkeys seemed to increase rather than decrease, and that’s when they started to feel something was wrong.
The monkeys weren’t formidable; the problem was their sheer number.
Continuing was no solution; they would be exhausted to death, considering human energy is finite.
"Cousin, we need to find a quick solution. There is still about half an hour’s journey to the top, but the number of monkeys is growing," Gui Yunxi announced.
Jin Zijin naturally understood, furrowing his brow deeply.
Looking at these monkeys, severely affected by the chill, he seemed to have guessed something.
So formidable—how could Jin Ziyuan not know about his own abilities? He managed to get up there with two defenseless women, how could it be just on his own strength?
He had pretty much figured out the problem.
Therefore, he made a significant decision.
He retracted the red dagger in his hand and moved it close to his arm. With a hiss, he sliced a cut on his arm.
The hot and bright red blood sprayed out, startling Xiao Jinyan.
"Cousin, what are you doing?" he exclaimed.
Jin Zijin replied, "We cannot set fire to the mountain, so I must use my blood."
The crowd: "..." Why on earth is his blood so powerful?