Chapter 59: Recovery

Jiang Xiaomu nodded at the words, the Ghost Face Army's mystery and strength once again refreshed his understanding.

"General, you're awake!" Xiong Kuohai walked in and said, his rough voice and Dong Zhang's coldness formed a stark contrast.

"How do you feel? Does the wound still hurt?"

Saying that, he carefully placed the medicine bowl on the small table beside the bed.

Jiang Xiaomu endured the pain and squeezed out an ugly smile:

"I'm fine, won't die. Dong Zhang said Xiao Yu is okay, so I'm relieved."

Xiong Kuohai looked toward Dong Zhang on the side and asked:

"This brother, you look unfamiliar—are you new here?"

Before Dong Zhang could speak, Jiang Xiaomu interjected:

"Well, he's a friend I used to hang out with on the streets, someone I've shared life-and-death bonds with."

"Running into him by chance this time is what saved my life."

Dong Zhang froze for a moment; although he didn't know why the chief was lying, he had no choice but to nod in cooperation.

Xiong Kuohai scratched his head honestly and didn't pursue the question.

"This medicine was specially prepared by the doctor; it will greatly help your injury's recovery—drink it while hot."

Jiang Xiaomu looked at that bowl of blackish medicine and hesitated.

Before crossing over, he was a staunch opponent of traditional Chinese medicine; this taste is really hard for him to accept.

"This medicine... what is it made of?"

Xiong Kuohai gave a hehe laugh:

"They're all good stuff, like hundred-year-old mountain ginseng, thousand-year-old lingzhi..."

He counted off a large heap of rare medicinal ingredients on his fingers, making Jiang Xiaomu's eyelids twitch.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Jiang Xiaomu hurriedly interrupted him:

"I just want to know, is this medicine... bitter?"

Xiong Kuohai froze for a moment, then burst out laughing:

"General, good medicine tastes bitter but helps the illness! Although this medicine is a bit bitter, its effect is definitely good!"

Jiang Xiaomu took a deep breath.

He thought: Drinking this stuff, I'd rather go to the system mall and get a few qilin fruits to eat!

But for the sake of putting on an act, he had no choice but to lift the medicine bowl, close his eyes, and gulp it down in one go.

"Ugh..." Just after finishing, Jiang Xiaomu couldn't help but retch.

Seeing that, Xiong Kuohai quickly handed over a piece of candied preserve.

"General, quickly eat a piece of candied preserve to suppress the taste."

Jiang Xiaomu took the candied preserve and stuffed it into his mouth whole, only then feeling somewhat better.

He waved his hand and said:

"Alright, Kuohai, you go first; I'll catch up with this old friend!"

Xiong Kuohai bowed with clasped fists and exited the tent.

Jiang Xiaomu leaned against the bedhead and asked weakly:

"Dong Zhang, how did the Ghost Servant know we would encounter danger?"

Dong Zhang took a sip of wine and replied:

"The Ghost Servant Sir is versed in the Mysterious Gate Escape Technique, observing celestial phenomena to recognize stars."

"This time he calculated that the chief and the miss would face a bloody calamity, so he sent me to secretly protect them."

"Mysterious Gate Escape Technique?"

Jiang Xiaomu's heart stirred: this ancient world truly is a place where hidden tigers and dragons lurk, all sorts of extraordinary people emerging endlessly.

"Dong Zhang," Jiang Xiaomu gathered his thoughts, his gaze falling on Dong Zhang.

"There's something I need you to do."

Dong Zhang set down his wine gourd, rose, and bowed with clasped fists.

"Chief, please give your orders."

"Go to Tieniu Stronghold and find Long Er and Nan Shan and their group." Jiang Xiaomu said in a low voice:

"Tell them that although Cao Meng is dead, his remnants might still seek revenge."

"Have them strengthen their defenses, especially the stronghold's fortifications, making sure to leave no room for error."

Dong Zhang nodded: "Subordinate understands."

Jiang Xiaomu paused, then added:

"Once the stronghold's affairs are settled, bring them back to the Ghost Face Army's main camp together."

"Remember, the fewer people who know about the Ghost Face Army's affairs, the better."

"Chief, rest assured, I will certainly act prudently."

Dong Zhang received the order and departed.

Jiang Xiaomu watched Dong Zhang's retreating back.

He thought to himself: the Ghost Face Army is my trump card; I shouldn't use it unless absolutely necessary.

The tent flap was suddenly flung open, a figure rushed in and threw himself into Jiang Xiaomu's arms, bursting into loud sobs.

"Brother! Brother! waa waa waa..."

Xiao Yu cried so hard she couldn't catch her breath.

Jiang Xiaomu lowered his head to look at his sister tightly hugging him, a surge of sourness in his heart, and comforted her:

Xiao Yu, be good, don't cry, brother is fine, brother is fine...

Jiang Xiaoyu lifted her head, her eyes blurred with tears, looked at Jiang Xiaomu and said:

"Brother, I thought… I thought I would never see you again..."

Jiang Xiaomu felt a pang in his heart, tightly hugging his sister.

As her brother, he failed to protect her, letting her suffer such a great fright.

"Sorry, Xiao Yu, it's my fault for making you worry..."

Jiang Xiaomu's face was full of self-reproach.

"It's not brother's fault, it's all those bad people's fault!"

Jiang Xiaoyu clenched her small fists, puffing with anger as she said:

Jiang Xiaomu gave a light smile, flicked Jiang Xiaoyu's little nose:

"Xiao Yu is truly brave; from now on, brother will never let Xiao Yu face danger again."

Jiang Xiaoyu nodded, tightly hugging Jiang Xiaomu, refusing to let go.

After a moment, she lifted her head, looked at Jiang Xiaomu and asked:

"Brother, who are those bad people? Why do they want to kill us?"

Jiang Xiaomu's gaze darkened; he pondered for a moment, then said:

"Xiao Yu, some things, I'll tell you when you're older, okay?"

Although Jiang Xiaoyu is young, she is very sensible, so she obediently nodded.

"Brother, are you hungry? I'll go get you something to eat."

Jiang Xiaoyu said, and was about to get up.

"No need, Xiao Yu," Jiang Xiaomu said, pulling her back.

"I'm not hungry, brother; keep me company and talk."

Jiang Xiaoyu leaned into Jiang Xiaomu's embrace, and they stayed quietly together for a while.

"Brother," Jiang Xiaoyu suddenly said.

"Can you promise not to do dangerous things anymore in the future?"

Jiang Xiaomu stared, since he had transmigrated into this chaotic world, to survive he had to do things against his conscience.

"Xiao Yu, brother promises you, from now on I will never do dangerous things again," Jiang Xiaomu said solemnly.

He gently stroked Jiang Xiaoyu's hair, speaking softly:

"Xiao Yu, brother indeed promised you he would not do dangerous things anymore."

"But in this chaotic world, danger won't just disappear if we don't seek it out."

Jiang Xiaoyu blinked her big eyes, half-understanding.

Jiang Xiaomu continued:

"Think about it, if it weren't for Dong Zhang arriving in time, brother and you..."

He paused, not continuing, but the danger therein, Jiang Xiaoyu could also feel.

"Brother," Jiang Xiaoyu's voice trembled slightly.

"I'm scared..."

"Don't be scared, Xiao Yu," Jiang Xiaomu held her tightly.

"Brother will protect you. But brother cannot always be by your side."

"So, Xiao Yu also needs to learn to protect herself, okay?"

Jiang Xiaoyu lifted her head, tears still in her eyes, yet she nodded:

"Okay, I'll listen to brother."

Jiang Xiaomu smiled with relief, flicked her little nose:

"This is truly my sister, Jiang Xiaomu!"

"Like this, starting tomorrow, brother will teach you some self-defense techniques."

"In the future, if you encounter bad people and I'm not around, you'll also be able to protect yourself."