Chapter 45: Returning Home

Early in the morning at the mountain stronghold of Wang Guihe.

Jiang Chenghai and his brothers had packed their gear and were standing outside the stronghold gates, chatting and enjoying the mountain scenery.

A short while later, the sound of brass bells rang out from the stables. Wang Guihe led over seven sturdy bay horses, personally escorting them to the entrance.

The horses snorted twice. Wang Guihe stood still, handed the reins to Jiang Chenghai, and said, "Brother, I'll spare you the pretentious nonsense. Whenever you have time, come back and visit me."

"Good, good!" Jiang Chenghai nodded with a smile, then gave Jiang Xiaodao a gentle push.

Understanding the cue, Jiang Xiaodao put on a proper and respectful expression. "Uncle Wang, thank you for taking care of us all these days!"

Wang Guihe laughed heartily. "My good nephew, what kind of talk is that? It sounds far too distant!"

Jiang Xiaodao smiled as well.

Truth be told, with parting imminent, he felt a lingering reluctance toward the stronghold before him.

Now, standing alongside his uncles, Jiang Xiaodao still carried a trace of youthful innocence on his face, yet he was a fine young man in the prime of his growth, expanding with wild vitality.

At this age, while he might still seem like a mischievous little rascal one moment, perhaps in the blink of an eye, he would transform into a towering, indomitable man.

Over the past month, thanks to good food, fine drinks, diligent training, and turning a year older with the passing of the Lunar New Year, Jiang Xiaodao looked completely different from the night he had broken into the Wang residence before the year ended—if not like an entirely different person, at least deserving of a completely new appraisal.

Especially after experiencing so many extraordinary tales and life-or-death choices, a fierce edge had sharpened between his brows.

Jiang Chenghai took the reins, swung up onto his horse without further words, and simply cupped his fists alongside his brothers.

"Brother Guihe, take care!"

In the martial world, parting ways in life and death was a common occurrence; there was no room for superfluous words.

Wang Guihe also cupped his fists, returning the gesture with his men. "Brother Hai, take care on your journey!"

***

Bidding farewell to the stronghold, Jiang Chenghai and his men headed down the mountain.

The weather was growing increasingly warm. The surrounding hills, previously a cold grey, now showed faint hints of green in the distance, as if spring buds were beginning to sprout. Yet, upon closer inspection, they were still just clusters of bare, skeletal branches.

The group traveled until noon before finally emerging from the mountain region. After a brief rest, they pressed on without pause toward the northwest.

From here to Fengtian, the route inevitably passed through Liaoyang. Out of caution, however, they decided to stay the night at Guo Family Village, not far outside the city, resting for the evening before heading straight for Fengtian early the next morning.

They chose a modest inn of the martial world and had a simple meal. Just as they were about to settle in, Jiang Xiaodao spoke up.

"Dad, I need to make a trip into the city."

The others were somewhat surprised. The matter of the Longfeng Escort Agency had already been settled cleanly; what reason was there to enter the city again?

Jiang Chenghai saw right through his son's intentions and asked, "You're going to rescue Old Cui?"

Jiang Xiaodao nodded without hesitation. "If I don't go and try, I won't have peace of mind. It feels like an obstacle I have to clear."

Jin Xiaoyi immediately voiced his objection. "Old Cui has already been dragged off by the Russians. You'd better just stay put!"

Several other uncles also disagreed.

"Exactly. Is it worth all this trouble for a crooked-dealing swindler?"

"Xiaodao, you surely aren't planning to storm the Russian military camp to snatch a man back?"

Jiang Xiaodao couldn't help rolling his eyes. "Uncles, I might act rashly sometimes, but I'm not stupid! I know a fellow in town; if we have enough money, he might just be able to get Old Cui out."

"Do you have money?" Gong Baonan retorted. "With just your meager New Year's money? Go get some rest already!"

Indignant, Jiang Xiaodao snapped, "If the money isn't enough, I'll figure out a way!"

Hearing this, everyone instinctively turned their gaze toward Guan Wei.

"Hey, why are you all looking at me?" Guan Wei frowned, quickly adding, "Xiaodao, I taught you the rules! You can't do business before paying respects to the local bosses and securing your turf! If you're just scraping by with pocket change, Master Zhang Nine won't say a word, but to rescue Old Cui, you'll need to pull off a major operation. With your current skills, you can't handle this job!"

Jiang Xiaodao swept his gaze across the room and let out a cold snort. "You're saying all this simply because you're afraid I'll stir up trouble and implicate you! Don't worry, rescuing Old Cui is my own affair. Even if I mess it up completely, I'll never sell you out!"

The truth always carries barbs. Hearing this, the uncles lowered their heads, looking somewhat sheepish.

Third Uncle Sun Chengmo stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said, "Xiaodao, it's not entirely out of the question for you to save Old Cui, but what is your plan? If something unexpected happens, what is your contingency? Have you considered these things?"

"Of course I have a plan, but I'm not telling."

It was clear that Jiang Xiaodao had indeed taken his father Jiang Chenghai's advice to heart, though he seemed to be applying it in the wrong place.

Advanced in years, Sun Chengmo was choked up by the retort and had no choice but to follow the others in turning to look at Jiang Chenghai, waiting for the eldest brother to speak.

To everyone's surprise, before Jiang Chenghai could utter a word, Second Uncle Li Tianwei, who usually wore a fierce and menacing expression, spoke up first.

"What are you cowards afraid of? Xiaodao wanting to save Old Cui is called loyalty. Instead of praising him, you lot are chattering away like a bunch of old women. Staying too long in the mundane markets has made you slick all over, and you've forgotten the very meaning of the word 'loyalty'? Big Brother, I say we let Xiaodao give it a try!"

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaodao's affection for his second uncle soared instantly, and he smoothly pressed his advantage.

"Dad, you said it yourself—when a real man speaks, his words must hit the ground with a solid thud! A man must keep his word! Otherwise, this mouth of mine is no better than an asshole!"

Jiang Chenghai blinked and asked, "So, you promised Old Cui you'd go rescue him?"

"Uh... well, I didn't actually say that."

To be fair, when Old Cui was dragged away by the Russians, Jiang Xiaodao had been too terrified to think straight, and apart from muttering a few things to comfort himself, he hadn't made any explicit promises.

"However, I made a promise to someone else, and I haven't fulfilled it yet!"

The group asked in unison, "To whom?"

Jiang Xiaodao grinned and replied playfully, "Shh! Can't tell!"

"Hey! Why are you like this, kid?"

"Exactly, why are you always playing games with us?"

"Xiaodao, if you have something to say, just spit it out. Who knows, we might even be able to offer you some advice!"

The uncles were naturally speaking out of good intentions, but Jiang Xiaodao was as stubborn as a turtle chewing on an iron weight—he was firmly resolved to say nothing.

The things he truly intended to do—he wouldn't speak of them even to a dead man!

Jiang Chenghai remained silent. He pondered for a moment, then looked at his brothers.

"You don't need to worry too much! Xiaodao is fourteen this year, not a child anymore. Except for the third brother, didn't the rest of you start roaming the martial world when you were fourteen or fifteen? Who hasn't been reckless in their youth? If you coddle him forever, he'll never amount to anything!"

Li Tianwei expressed complete agreement. "Big Brother is right! Xiaodao is a man in his own right. If we constantly shield him, he'll just end up like Zhou Yunfu's nephew—completely useless!"

Jiang Chenghai called Jiang Xiaodao over to his side.

"Son, I won't ask what you're going to do or how you plan to do it. But you only have tonight. If you can't pull it off, come straight back. Tomorrow at noon, we're hitting the road back to Fengtian. Understand?"

"Understood!"

"Then go on, get moving!"

Jiang Xiaodao looked out the window. Dusk was falling fast, and not daring to waste another moment, he immediately stood up and headed out the door.

Watching his retreating figure fade into the distance, the others looked at Jiang Chenghai, not daring to stop him.

After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, Gong Baonan couldn't help asking, "Big Brother, do we really not need to go keep an eye on him?"

Jiang Chenghai countered with a question, "How many sons do I have?"

"Uh... one?"

"Then why are you still asking?! Go follow him!"

"Ah?" Gong Baonan mentally cursed his own loose tongue. "Big Brother, the wind sort of choked my throat when I was riding earlier. This matter is of grave importance, so I think it's better to let Guan Wei..."

"Go!"

"Go, go, go."

Gong Baonan sighed mournfully and headed out the door, inevitably drawing a round of mockery from Guan Wei as he passed him.

"Guan Wei!"

"Ah? Big Brother?"

"You go too!"

Such were the unpredictable turns of fate. With a gloomy face, Guan Wei had no choice but to trudge after Gong Baonan.

By the time the two of them stepped out of the inn, Jiang Xiaodao was already far ahead.

As he walked, Guan Wei glared at the seventh brother and scolded, "Stop fucking grinning! Tell me, how does that kid plan to rescue Old Cui?"

Gong Baonan let out a cold snort. "He's the disciple you taught. You're asking me?"

Ahead of them, Jiang Xiaodao walked briskly with a firm and determined stride, as though his plan had been set in stone long ago—unaware that his two uncles were trailing steadily behind him all the way to Liaoyang.