Chapter 90: Three-way cooperation, mutual trust

"Oh?" Jiang Yun Chu heard Bai Zhi's introduction and was somewhat surprised.

Kang Zhi Chun, however, was somewhat beyond her expectation.

Everyone else's actions were within her expectations, but this girl gave her a surprise.

Second aunt, this is sending me a talent.

"The Young Master has already reached the resting point; if the pace is right, he should be there soon." Zi Su's earlier worry eased, and she relaxed completely.

Jiang Yun Chu glanced at her, seeing through but not exposing it.

"Since... they've worked so hard..."

"Let's treat these kids to a feast today."

"Tell the academy cafeteria that today's meals for these kids will be served at the Rhyme Courtyard."

Zi Su's eyes widened, then she said with a delighted face, "They'll be laughing so hard they can't keep their mouths shut."

The Princess Consort rarely cooks, but her culinary skills surpass even the cooks in the Wang Fu, let alone the chefs of the grand restaurants outside.

"Haha, we should reward these little rascals."

Jiang Yun Chu rose, tied up her hair, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and walked into the small kitchen.

Over there, the kids who had rested enough.

Kang Zhi Chun clapped her hands, saying, "Get ready, rise."

"Go slow; the rope in your hands could be someone else's life."

"Yes, very good."

Her words seemed to have a kind of magic, filling people with motivation and making them unconsciously obey.

"One shoe's distance."

"Everyone, pull!"

Everyone now had the distance down, and Ning Hanmo over there had grown accustomed to jumping that distance.

When Kang Zhi Chun said "pull," he stepped up, and the rope over there tightened instantly.

A word, a pull, a jump.

Three parties cooperated, trusting each other without any hesitation.

"We're almost there, right away—the dawn of victory has already appeared!"

Kang Zhi Chun looked at the exhausted crowd, especially Ning Hanmo, who had been up in the tree for over half an hour; his face was pale, blood and viscera mixed together.

How could this be the capital, where the pampered young masters the children fear?

"This time, everyone, control your strength—half a shoe's distance."

"Everyone, pull!"

Everyone precisely pulled to half a shoe's distance.

After Ning Hanmo finished his jump, he stepped directly onto the branch tied to Kang Zhi Xia.

That branch, also selected by Bai Zhi, is thick enough to easily bear the weight of both of them.

"Let me rest a moment."

Ning Hanmo gasped a few rough breaths, finally feeling solid ground under his feet.

Before, he had been hanging in midair, his arms and legs feeling like they weren't his own.

The few people below also had red palms; when they had just pulled the rope, their nervousness prevented them from noticing in time.

But only after they relaxed did they feel the sharp pain in their palms, seeing the red, swollen flesh; they exchanged glances, yet no one spoke.

Compared to Ning Hanmo's injuries, their palm hurts were trivial.

"Those below, look—see how I'm tying the rope to him..." Ning Hanmo shouted while gasping for air.

Now he only feels his head is fuzzy, unable to think at all!

Kang Wu and Ning Qiancheng exchanged a glance, then looked at the tree trunk.

"I'm afraid only the boss can hang there and tie the rope for him; we prepared two ropes earlier, but we didn't think it through—we can't change direction."

"The boss must have a rope on him, otherwise it's too dangerous."

Ning Qiancheng said lightly, then turned to look at Kang Wu beside him.

Kang Wu also had no other option; at this point, their only method was this one.

The two exchanged a glance and nodded helplessly.

"This is how it is, boss: we'll pull you, slowly lower you, then in midair you'll tie the rope around Zhi Xia Ge's waist and untie the rope binding his hands."

"We'll first secure Zhi Xia Ge's rope to the tree, lower you down, then go set up the other rope."

Kang Wu loudly announced the plan.

Ning Hanmo didn't mind; after all, the mission was to save someone, just a bit difficult, and now thinking was impossible for him.

He tapped the tree trunk and asked, "What do you say?"

Kang Zhi Xia had kept his mouth shut, after all, they had told him to stay silent.

Now he could finally speak: "You decide."

As a rescued person, what face does he have to speak?

To save himself, watching their efforts, seeing their unity, although he came down later, he had no objections.

"Then let's settle it like that." Ning Hanmo nodded.

He wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve; streaks of sweat had long made his features unrecognizable.

"Well, let's begin." Kang Zhi Chun positioned herself at the best vantage point; although she was in the middle of directing, she needed to constantly shift her stance to judge distance and required strength.

"Begin."

Kang Wen waved his fist.

"Ning Hanmo, are you ready?" Kang Zhi Chun raised her head and asked.

"Ready."

The youth's voice was steady, as if devoid of emotion.

Kang Zhi Chun looked at everyone's condition, then said to all, "Everyone, pull the rope tight, prepare to lower the branch."

"Down!"

At her command, Ning Hanmo embraced the branch with both hands, but his feet had already left the ground, trusting.

In the instant he descended, everyone unconsciously took a small step forward, but quickly steadied themselves.

"Excellent!"

What Kang Zhi Chun feared did not happen.

She feared they couldn't control their speed, feared they couldn't adapt to the weight, which would let Ning Hanmo fall straight down.

But such a thing did not happen.

"Half a shoe forward."

"Go."

Everyone had already formed a certain tacit understanding.

Now Kang Zhi Xia could only see Ning Hanmo's feet...

"Half a shoe's distance, everyone, walk!"

Again, half a shoe.

Unlike going up, going down she feared everyone couldn't control their strength; if the distance was too great, they wouldn't be able to hold the rope, not to mention the effort would be wasted, and Ning Hanmo's safety could not be guaranteed.

Thus, everyone, step by step, step by step, again a step.

How difficult the retreat had just been, now advancing is even more difficult...

"We're about to reach the position, everyone get ready, final half-shoe distance, everyone, walk!"

Kang Zhi Chun's voice carried a kind of magic, as if even if the sky fell, no matter how anxious she felt inside, her voice remained forever steady, without fluctuation.

Just like...

As if devoid of her own emotions.

This voice brings everyone peace of mind.

The peace of mind brought by a voice—that is her magic.

"Everyone, hold the rope, don't sway, stay steady."

Kang Zhi Chun said, then told Ning Hanmo, "Ning Hanmo, you can act on your side now."

Ning Hanmo no longer hesitated; the waist that was bound ached a little, but he neither spoke nor made a sound.