Three horses, five people.
Dong Huiying glanced at Hong Xiangjun, who was slightly lagging, noticing she was sitting behind Hong Wen Bin, arms wrapped around his waist. They talked quietly from time to time, and she could hear Hong Xiangjun’s laughter, clearly in a good mood.
She then looked at the young boy, realizing that she still did not know his name up until now.
Every time the boy realized she was looking at him, he would quickly shrink his neck.
It seemed that her earlier demeanor with Haoming had scared the boy.
Uh... she hadn’t meant to.
Who had time to consider so much at that moment?
Faced with that fearful gaze, she touched her chin and could only sigh helplessly.
On the way back, as their group passed through the Sand Sea, they saw a mess near the sand with many traces of blood mixed with sand, though no corpses were visible.
However, Dong Huiying guessed that the bodies had probably been thrown into the Sand Sea.
The Sand Sea was part of the Quicksand Region, similar in nature to a swamp. It appeared benign on the surface, but once someone fell into it, it was extremely difficult to extricate oneself.
The usual end was being devoured by the continually sinking quicksand.
They crossed another sand dune where the previous camels had been stored, but then—with a clang—Liang Haoming passed his arms under his wife’s armpits, drew his long knife with one hand, and tightened the reins with the other, making the horse stop.
His expression was stern. Looking again at Hong Xiangjun, Hong Wen Bin, and the pale-faced boy, they all wore serious expressions.
The second-in-command of the Nu Woer Tribe, accompanied by a few personal soldiers, was again waiting for them.
As Liang Haoming drew his sword, the second-in-command was feeding the camels some dry food.
The personal soldiers immediately grasped their weapons, but the second-in-command just smiled slightly, gesturing for them to keep calm.
"I have been waiting here for a long time, but with no ill intentions."
She had a confident demeanor, turning to Hong Wen Bin sitting next to Hong Xiangjun, "Please pass my regards to Sir, this time the death in Nu Woer counts as owing you and Sir a favor. Should you need assistance in the future and it’s within my capacity, I will definitely offer my full support!"
Afterward, the second-in-command and her followers left leisurely, leaving Dong Huiying and the others exchanging puzzled looks.
Hong Xiangjun looked worriedly at Hong Wen Bin, "Brother?"
Hong Wen Bin gently touched her head; his expression complicated and thoughtful.
"There’s no need to worry, the second-in-command has always been suppressed by Nu Woer. She’s very ambitious. Since she hasn’t harmed me this time, she likely won’t in the future."
But he was also somewhat doubtful, wondering how the second-in-command knew that he had been rescued by "Sir."
He pondered, recalling the traitor’s behavior, and finally understood.
The second-in-command was brave and strategic, perhaps deducing something from this, but that was unimportant.
He suddenly grasped Hong Xiangjun’s hand tighter, still feeling as if he were in a dream.
Just a day before, he had been fretfull, thinking once Nu Woer was dead, he—as a man kidnapped by Nu Woer and once her favored husband—would have to die to accompany Nu Woer in death if he did nothing.
Yet, now he was not only alive but had also reunited with Xiangxiang.
However, thinking of the years lived in The Outside, his heart filled with bitterness.