Chapter 176: Something's Stirring in the Nanjiang Army!

Watching the Young General's expression shift in an instant from raging storm to radiant sunshine.

Cheng Yao scratched the back of his head, turned around, and walked back.

That happy?

What great news must this be?

After a brief rest, the army continued westward toward the Western Border.

……

Meanwhile, Cheng Sitao had walked for a day and a night before finally spotting a small village.

From afar, he saw an old man pulling a donkey cart and hurried over.

"Old man, please wait a moment."

He bowed deeply to the old man.

At the sight of him, the old man kept backing away several steps, gripping his hoe tightly, watching him with a wary face, as if he had seen some strange creature.

"Who are you?!"

Seeing his panicked look, Cheng Sitao lowered his head and took a look at his own clothing.

That's right — although torn a bit by branches and shrubs, his clothes were indeed Da Yin attire.

He raised his hand and touched his face.

No problem there either.

Still the same face, not scary at all.

His hand continued upward, then froze abruptly, his expression stiffening.

Right, he'd almost forgotten.

His wig had fallen into the river.

He was now in a short-haired look — no wonder the old man wore that expression.

Cheng Sitao immediately covered his face in agony.

"Old man, you don't know — I was just a common soldier in the Cheng Family Army. In that great battle before the new year, I was captured by those despicable Nanjiang people."

"Those people not only beat me, forced me into hard labor, but also humiliated me — they cut off my hair!"

Upon hearing him say he was from the Cheng Family Army, the old man's expression changed.

He hurried to take a bamboo tube of water and a flatbread from the basket on the donkey cart, looking at him with a kindly face.

"Come, come, come. Hungry, child? Eat something quick."

After hearing his 'miserable ordeal,' the old man grew even more indignant, gnashing his teeth and cursing furiously.

"Those heaven-struck southern barbarians!"

"Heaven has eyes — why doesn't it send down a few bolts of lightning to strike them dead!"

Then he looked at Cheng Sitao with a kindly expression.

"Our village is all protected by the Cheng Family Army. Although those above all say the Cheng Family…"

As he spoke, his face filled with grievance.

"But we all know in our hearts — we all believe in the Cheng Family Army!"

"Don't be afraid, child. Escaping is what matters — you've made it home."

Hearing these words, Cheng Sitao's nose stung, and he bowed solemnly to the old man.

"Thank you."

Thank you for believing in the Cheng Family.

"Don't be like that, get up quick."

The old man hurriedly helped him up.

"It is we who should be thanking the Cheng Family and the Cheng Family Army."

Saying so, he was about to pull him toward the village.

"Come, come, come — rest your feet at our village. I'll have my old wife fry up a few good dishes for you."

Cheng Sitao waved his hands repeatedly.

"Old man, there's no need to trouble you."

"I still have urgent matters and need to reach the Border Camp as soon as possible."

Saying so, he glanced at the black donkey hitched to the cart.

"Would you sell me that donkey?"

Hearing this, the old man slapped his thigh and stamped his foot hard.

"How could that work?!"

"How can a donkey's pace compare to a horse's!"

"Come! The village chief has a horse at his house — I'll take you to find him!"

Saying so, the old man pushed Cheng Sitao onto the donkey cart to sit properly, cracked his whip, and hurried off at full speed toward the village chief's house.

The village chief was the same — upon hearing he was from the Cheng Family Army and had urgent business needing to reach the Border Camp as soon as possible,

he ran straight to the Backyard without a word, and in no time came back leading a horse with his right hand and carrying a bundle in his left.

He handed them all over to him.

"Go take care of your business!"

Cheng Sitao thanked him again.

"Many thanks."

He quietly left two twenty-gram gold beads in the village chief's yard, and one on the old man's donkey cart.

He then solemnly bowed to the two of them, mounted his Horse, and prepared to leave the village.

There was a small episode on the road — when the village chief mentioned he had come from the Cheng Family Army, the villagers all crowded around to send him off with food and drink.

Cheng Sitao politely declined everyone's kindness on the grounds that it would be inconvenient to carry.

Before leaving the village, looking at the water and food in his bundle, his eyes gradually reddened.

He cast a long, deep look in the direction of the village.

To be trusted by such a group of simple, kind-hearted people — is that not a blessing in itself?

……

On the Modern Era side, a week later, An Luo saw a piece of news on the local channel.

It mentioned that the president of the Cheng Group had a car accident seven days ago, and the perpetrator was a distant relative of the Cheng family.

The cause was that Cheng Sitao had discovered a certain member of the Cheng family embezzling company funds and had obtained evidence; to cover up his crime, that person killed to silence him……

She had just finished reading the news when a phone call came in.

Cheng Ruonan?

What does she want with me?

After she answered, a voice came from the other end.

"Miss An, do you have time now? Let's meet and chat."

An Luo hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

"Sure."

Half an hour later, in a private room of a nearby café.

Cheng Ruonan, dressed in a suit and radiating an aura of capable, sharp vigor, was already waiting there.

She was holding a tablet in her hand, apparently looking at some document.

Hearing the door open, she turned her head to look over and smiled slightly.

"Miss An."

An Luo gave her a polite smile.

"C-Cheng, President Cheng, what can I do for you?"

Cheng Ruonan set the tablet down.

"No need to be so formal, we're about the same age — just call me Ruonan."

She lowered her head and pondered for a moment.

"My brother — no, I should say Cheng Sitao — he's already told me everything."

"As for the matter with Sun Chuan, please help me pass along my thanks to him, thank him for helping us deal with those parasites."

"Before, I was just a bit unused to it, couldn't believe my brother had just left us like that."

At this point, her voice caught for a moment.

"I've already questioned the medical staff who cared for my brother back then, and I've also recovered the surveillance footage from the hospital room — my brother really has already……"

She paused, then changed the subject and continued.

"My parents are old, and they couldn't accept it all at once, so their attitude toward him has been a bit harsh. I hope he won't take it to heart."

An Luo lowered her eyes and looked at the tabletop.

"Don't worry, he won't. He also asked me to pass along a message — he said thank you."

"He's already gone back, hasn't he?"

An Luo's fingers twitched slightly; she said nothing.

"Don't worry, I haven't mentioned this guess to anyone."

Seeing that she kept her eyes lowered and silent, Cheng Ruonan understood, and then waved her hand.

"Alright, let's not talk about those things anymore."

She looked at An Luo with an excited expression.

"Your experience is really too amazing — hurry up and tell me about it!"

An Luo: "……"

The person before her, face full of expectation, eyes sparkling, was utterly unlike the decisive, dashing female CEO she had seen when first walking in.

The two chatted for a long time, had lunch together, and finally added each other as friends.

……

Over in Da Yin, three days later, Cheng Sitao rode his Horse and arrived at the Border Camp.

"Who's there?! How dare you trespass into the Military Camp!"

Seeing someone coming, several soldiers ran over to block him.

After getting a clear look at the newcomer's face, the few men cried out in disbelief.

"It's the Young Master!"

"The Young Master has returned!"

Cheng Chengxuan made a gesture, signaling them to keep their voices down.

One soldier excitedly ran inside.

"This Subordinate will go find General Xu right now!"

Several soldiers followed behind Cheng Sitao as they walked in, excitedly talking with him.

"Where? Where is he!"

Xu Zhongquan hurried out, looking around, and the moment he turned his head, he spotted Cheng Sitao surrounded by the soldiers.

He hurried over, so moved that his eyes were moist. He patted Cheng Sitao on the shoulder, his throat tight, his voice slightly choked.

"Good that you're back, good that you're back."

Thinking of something, he pulled a long face and bellowed at the crowd.

"No one is to speak of today's matter. Violators will be punished by military law!"

"Enough, all of you, disperse!"

With that, he dragged Cheng Sitao toward the camp tent. Once inside the tent, he looked at Cheng Sitao with clear disapproval.

"There are bound to be spies in this army. The Heir Apparent coming in like that was far too risky."

Cheng Sitao gave him a smile.

"It's fine, Uncle Xu."

Xu Zhongquan looked him up and down, his gaze settling on his head, seething with anger.

But very quickly, an unstoppable relief welled up in his heart.

So long as the person could come back safe and sound, that was enough.

"Quick, tell me—where have you been all this time?"

Just then, a soldier rushed in from outside.

"Bad news, General Xu! The scouts report that the Nanjiang army is on the move!"