Chapter 18: It's All the Military School's Fault

He wiped a nonexistent sweat bead from his forehead and casually waved his hand.

"Boss, I know a shortcut that's guaranteed to be several times faster than this road—we can go straight down the mountain! Then we brothers can reach the camp earlier and avoid unnecessary trouble."

Ying Tuzi narrowed his eyes suspiciously and sized up Jiang Xiaomu from head to toe.

He's walked this road over a hundred times and never heard of any shortcut.

Although this kid saved them, he kept thinking something about the whole situation felt off.

He couldn't be trying to lure them into an ambush, could he?

The scar‑faced man also stepped forward and said in a deep, gravelly voice:

"Boss, this kid is sneaky; I don't think he's anything good—don't let him fool you!"

Jiang Xiaomu wasn't angry; he just gave a heh‑heh laugh, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth.

"Scar Brother, you say that, but I just saved everyone's life today—how am I sneaky? I, Jiang Xiaomu, may not have a great reputation, but my word is my bond—what I say goes! If you don't believe me, follow me; if I delay your important business, I'll offer my head!"

His chest‑thumping, earnest look actually seemed somewhat credible.

Although Ying Tuzi still harbored doubts, the situation was urgent.

Reaching the camp even a little earlier would mean safety; he simply had no time to waste here.

"Alright!"

Ying Tuzi gritted his teeth and said harshly:

"I'll trust you once! If you try any tricks, I'll skin you alive!"

"Don't worry, Boss—you know what kind of person I am, Jiang Xiaomu? Absolutely reliable!"

Jiang Xiaomu grinned, showing an inscrutable smile.

Thus, the group followed Jiang Xiaomu onto a concealed side path.

The road was rough and overgrown with weeds, bushes, and thorns.

Without Jiang Xiaomu leading the way, they would never have found this "shortcut".

As night deepened, a thick fog rolled through the mountains, visibility dropping to near zero—you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

They could only feel their way forward, the atmosphere growing ever more oppressive.

"Boss… does this road actually lead down the mountain?"

The thin monkey's voice trembled slightly; he kept feeling as if something was watching them.

It had frightened him the whole way.

"Shut up!"

Ying Tuzi gave a low shout.

"Stay close, don't fall behind!"

Jiang Xiaomu walked in front, seeming careless while secretly observing Ying Tuzi and the others' reactions.

After walking a stretch, an open clearing suddenly appeared ahead.

"What… what is this place?"

The scar‑faced man's voice trembled as he instinctively tightened his grip on his knife.

Ying Tuzi also felt a twinge of unease; he warily scanned the surroundings and asked in a low voice:

"Jiang Xiaomu, you'd better explain—what is this place!"

Jiang Xiaomu stopped and turned around.

"What are you nervous about? Look ahead—we're almost there."

He said it as if nothing were wrong.

They peered forward and indeed saw they were nearing the mountain base; without Jiang Xiaomu's lead, the path would have been tough to follow.

At this point, Ying Tuzi narrowed his eyes and asked, "Weren't you dead at Mount Zhengyang Stronghold? How did you survive?"

Jiang Xiaomu feigned surprise, widening his eyes.

"Boss, you say that, but I'm standing right here alive and well—what's all this talk of death? Bad luck!"

Ying Tuzi grabbed Jiang Xiaomu's collar with one hand.

He lifted him off the ground, his hawk‑like sharp eyes locking onto him.

"Cut the act! I heard you were chopped up by Xie Sandao and fed to the dogs! How the hell are you still alive? Spill it—are you a spy sent by Xie Sandao?"

Jiang Xiaomu, choked by Ying Tuzi's grip, face flushed, struggled and managed to gasp out a few words:

"Boss… you… you listen to me… explain…"

Ying Tuzi loosened his grip slightly but still held him tight, snarling through clenched teeth:

"One last chance—if you dare lie to me, I'll send you to the grave right now!"

Jiang Xiaomu greedily sucked in a few breaths of fresh air, coughed a few times, then spoke:

"I really was almost fed to the dogs, but when Xie Sandao went to get his knife, I seized the chance to escape!"

He paused, his eyes darting, organized his thoughts, and continued:

"Actually… actually it was that Jun Xiao kid… he… he betrayed us!"

"Jun Xiao?"

Ying Tuzi froze for a moment, then blazed with anger.

"Bullshit! Jun Xiao's been with me for years, loyal as can be—how could he betray me?"

Jiang Xiaomu put on a mournful face, blubbering as he fabricated:

"Boss, I… I'm telling the truth! When Xie Sandao's men rushed in, that Jun Xiao kid… he, to save his own skin, actually turned and helped Xie Sandao cut us down! I saw him slice Tianyi to death with one blow, then swing at me—I fainted right then…"

He sobbed, continuing:

"I… I also don't know what happened after… when I woke up, Xie Sandao and his gang had already left; I struggled hard to get away, and then, as you know, if I hadn't threatened Big Boss with a knife, you guys wouldn't have escaped!"

The scar-faced man and the skinny monkey looked at each other; his words sounded full of holes.

But upon further thought, it seemed to make some sense.

After all, the Military Academy is already dead—dead men tell no tales—who could know what really happened back then?

Ying Tuzi stared at Jiang Xiaomu half-believing, half-doubting, his heart still full of suspicion.

Would the Military Academy really betray him? Is what this kid said true or false?

He shoved Jiang Xiaomu to the ground with a shove, letting out a cold snort:

"Even if everything you say is true, how do you explain the wounds on your body? You don't even have a scar—how could you have escaped from Xie Sandao's butcher's blade?"

Jiang Xiaomu hurriedly got up, pointing to several bruises on his body, and said:

"Boss, look, aren't these injuries? Although I wasn't hit in a vital spot, I still got hurt plenty! I played dead back then, that's how I narrowly escaped…"

【Ding…】

【The system grants you five Heaven's Mandate Points.】

【Gained the trust of the Military Guard Chief.】

【But your actions leave a hidden danger, causing both sides to distrust you, putting yourself in a dilemma.】

【While gaining trust, remember to be cautious; if a villain has their eye on you, don't show your flaws—danger lies ahead. Try to act like a petty person, don't be too rash.】

【Make wide connections, leave yourself a way out, so you can escape at critical moments】

Jiang Xiaomu finished receiving the system's prompt, paused, then as he spoke, he secretly glanced at Ying Tuzi's complexion.

He naturally had many scars on his body, so he wasn't worried about being examined, and he continued to add:

"Actually, that Military Academy kid also wanted to kill me to silence me; I only escaped because I reacted quickly!"

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes rolled around, and he had guessed correctly.

Ying Tuzi, this rough fellow, never even carefully examined his "wounds".

He secretly rejoiced that the bruise from his earlier fight with a bandit in the stronghold had not yet faded.

Now it came in handy.

"Boss is wise! Boss is wise! Or rather, Boss has discerning eyes like a torch!"

Jiang Xiaomu nodded and bowed, smiling obsequiously, just like a fawning pug.

The scar-faced man and the skinny monkey still stared at each other, feeling something was off but unable to put their finger on it.

They spoke in muffled voices:

"Boss, is what this kid said really believable?"

"Whether we believe him or not, we'll first spare his dog's life," Ying Tuzi kicked Jiang Xiaomu in the butt.