Chapter 24: Delivering Weapons

"What? There's an ambush?!"

Cheng Qiuluo leapt down from the big rock in a flash.

"Keep your voice down!"

Cheng Qiuyun pulled her back down to sit, then looked toward Cheng Old Madam.

"Grandmother, what is your opinion?"

Cheng Old Madam's gaze swept over them one by one, her tone firm.

"Hiding is useless. We must strike first, catch the enemy off guard, and throw off their rhythm!"

Just then, a sudden clatter and clank came from inside the horse carriage.

The few of them hurried over.

"What happened?"

"Yu'an, are you all right?"

Cheng Qiuyun was the first to rush onto the horse carriage. She flipped open the curtain and saw Yu'an squeezed into a corner by two big chests, gazing at them with wide, pitiful eyes.

The little fellow pushed with all his might, his face flushed red, exerting every ounce of strength he had, but the chests didn't budge an inch.

"Elder Aunt, please help me, they're so heavy!"

Cheng Qiuyun quickly reached out to pull the chests aside and lifted him out.

Cheng Old Madam took him from her arms, helped the little fellow wipe away his sweat, and asked softly.

"Doesn't Yu'an have the Treasure Chest? Why didn't he put them away?"

Hearing this, the others also looked at him in confusion.

Right, why didn't he use the divine power bestowed by the Immortal?

Under the gaze of his Ancestors, Yu'an's little face flushed crimson with a whoosh of embarrassment. He covered his cheeks with his hands, buried himself in his great-grandmother's embrace, and stuck his little bottom out at them.

He said in a muffled voice.

"I-I forgot."

Watching this scene, An Luo screamed wildly inside her heart.

Aaahhh, Zaituan is so cute!

"Pfft!"

Cheng Qiuluo couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

The little fellow shot her an embarrassed, annoyed glance, then squirmed his little body to burrow even deeper.

"Little Aunt is not allowed to laugh at me!"

Just as Cheng Qiuluo was about to say something, Wang Shi beside her coughed heavily twice.

"Cough, cough!"

Meeting her own mother's warning gaze, she instinctively shrank her neck, grabbed Cheng Qiuruo, and scrambled onto the horse carriage as if fleeing.

"Let me see what good things are in here!"

Cheng Old Madam also walked over carrying Yu'an.

Truth be told, she was quite curious too.

"Wow!"

Cheng Qiuluo exclaimed.

"Is this… a bow and arrow? How strange!"

After all, she was a few years older. Although Cheng Qiuyun also found it strange, she didn't show the slightest emotion on her face.

But the movement of her hands betrayed the turmoil in her heart.

She picked up a bow and examined it carefully. From its construction alone, it was far more complex than the bows they commonly used. As for its power…

She drew out an arrow, nocked it on the bow, and with just one pull, her brows furrowed slightly.

The bow was already fully drawn, and she hadn't used much strength. How could it be so effortless?

The instant she shot toward the distance, the Cheng Family members' eyes went wide.

So far!

Cheng Old Madam gave Cheng Feng a look.

Cheng Feng understood and nodded, then channeled his Lightness Skill and hurried off in the direction the arrow had flown.

In no time, he came running back, arrow in hand, his face alight with excitement.

"Reporting to Old Madam, this arrow's range is a full six hundred paces!"

"Six hundred paces?!"

The Cheng Family members cried out in unison.

One must know that the bows they used on the battlefield had a range of at most three hundred paces. This bow's range was a full double that!

"Huh? This looks like a blueprint."

Cheng Qiuluo picked up a sheet of paper, on which was drawn the construction diagram of a compound bow.

"Grandmother, please take a look."

Cheng Old Madam took it and glanced at it, her expression instantly sharpening. She quickly had Yu'an put the blueprint away, then looked at everyone.

"This matter absolutely must not be leaked!"

With this blueprint, they could absolutely establish an elite force in the short term!

The expressions of the others were equally solemn, and they all nodded heavily in turn.

"Yes."

Cheng Qiuluo rummaged out another book.

"What is this again?"

An Luo also found it strange.

She hadn't bought any books.

Just then, a message popped up on the shopping Software.

It was the shop's after-sales customer service:

"Dear customer, we're so sorry — when packing your order, we sent the wrong free gift, and we sincerely apologize for the bad experience. We'll send you another copy of the simplified Chinese version of 'Mo Zi Mechanism Arts.' Would that be alright, dear customer?"

Mo Zi Mechanism Arts?

An Luo's attention returned to the Live Stream Room, where Cheng Qiuruo was holding that very book, as if she had found a priceless treasure, reading it like a madwoman utterly absorbed.

Well, I suppose this counts as planting willows by accident and having them grow into shade?

She replied to customer service that she didn't need it and didn't bother with it again.

The Cheng Family was discussing how to make the weapon given by the Immortal exert an even greater effect.

An Luo also tidied up briefly, preparing to go out and handle some business.

She was going to a gold shop to check the prices — if the price was right, she'd sell off that batch of gold.

……

Meanwhile, in the county city several dozen li away, at the County Magistrate's Residence.

Yuanhe County Magistrate Meng Feng personally received those two Jiedai.

"Bang!"

"What?!"

Meng Feng slammed the table and rose.

"What bandits are so bold as to dare commit mass murder within this official's jurisdiction?!"

The two Jiedai sat on stools, still terrified to this very moment, and naturally did not notice a servant quietly retreating out.

Meng Feng smiled as he looked at the two men.

"Please rest assured, the two of you. This official will send someone to deliver a letter to the capital right away and will investigate this matter as quickly as possible!"

The two Jiedai calmed their nerves, and seeing him so polite, the two exchanged a glance, their tone growing considerably more forceful.

"We brothers are injured, and the whole way here we've been sleeping rough and eating in the wind…"

At this moment, a servant walked in and whispered something into Meng Feng's ear.

Meng Feng raised his hand and gestured toward the outside.

"Someone come!"

"Quickly escort the two young brothers to the guest room in front to wash up, then go invite the best Imperial Physician in the city, and then order a table of signature dishes at Mingyue Tower, to be enjoyed by the two brothers after their wounds are treated!"

Afterward, he looked at the two men with a beaming smile.

"Two young brothers, please."

His manner, polite yet tinged with deference, made the two men — who had always only ever been the ones flattering others — grow increasingly smug.

The two Jiedai followed behind the servant, their backs considerably straighter.

After they left, the smile vanished instantly from Meng Feng's face; seeing their posture, he sneered coldly to himself even more.

"How is that lord?"

As he asked, he strode quickly out the door, heading toward the guest room in the back.

The moment he entered the guest room, a stench of blood mingled with a burnt smell rushed at his face, even overpowering the scent of medicine.

Meng Feng frowned slightly and covered his nose.

He looked at the Imperial Physician in the room and asked urgently.

"Doctor Qian, you are the best physician in the city, and this official has always trusted your medical skill. Just how are that lord's injuries?"

Doctor Qian replied respectfully.

"This nobleman's injuries are quite severe. Fortunately, his constitution is unusual — his heart is on the right side. Although the wound on his chest is deep, it did not damage any vital point. However, the burns on his body are serious, and that area…"

Saying so, he put on an expression of finding it difficult to speak.

Hearing his halting words, Meng Feng was so anxious he stamped his foot repeatedly.

"Well? Out with it, quickly!"

"That area has already been burnt to a crisp. With no other choice, I could only cut away the destroyed portion. In the future, as for matters of the bedchamber, I'm afraid…"

Doctor Qian gritted his teeth and quickly blurted out a sentence.

"In the future, I'm afraid he will be unable to perform as a man."

"What?!"

"You cut it off?!"