"Hurry up, hurry up, you short-legged guys." Ji Yijun urged the goblins, walking behind them.
The dozen or so goblins were mostly old, weak, sick and disabled, and walked very slowly. Ji Yijun wanted to leave them behind and take the shaman with him. But the shaman was unwilling to abandon his people no matter what.
"If we get to the village, those people will have already left. You'll be in trouble." Ji Yijun could only use empty threats to urge them on.
"Maybe they left yesterday. It's not our fault," the shaman argued.
"Shut up your crow mouth!" Unlike Ye Zi, he still hated these short and ugly guys from the bottom of his heart.
"Okay, save some energy. They are so small, it's not easy for them to walk fast." Ye Zi advised. She still held her big gun and walked quickly beside Ji Yijun.
"You are so kind, Holy Mother!" Ji Yijun muttered.
The morning light was slowly illuminating the forest. He looked at his watch and said to Ye Zi, "I've been out for two hours. I wonder if they've found me."
Ye Zi's delicate brows were furrowed. "Isn't it time for the battalion commander to inspect the sentry? Once he confronts the sentry, he will definitely find out that you have falsely transmitted the order. No matter if he sends people to chase us now or not, he will definitely make us pay when he returns."
Ji Yijun's face was not looking good either. "No matter what, even if I quit the guard team, I will avenge my father. Wang Jiyuan was timid and missed the opportunity. I can't be like him." He shook his head and said loudly: "Who said that only by following the rules can you succeed? Fuck the military regulations. I feel so free now!"
Ye Zi sighed and said nothing more.
After walking for a while, the sun had already emerged from the forest. The golden sunlight shone on my face, giving me a rare warmth in late autumn. Ji Yijun's mood suddenly improved, and he hummed a song while walking: "... Let's go when we say we will, you have it, I have it, we have it all... When we see injustice on the road, we will shout, when we need to take action, we will rush through the nine continents..." As he sang, his voice became louder and louder, and he even shook his head.
When Ye Zi saw him like this, somehow her heart brightened up, and even her steps followed the rhythm of the song.
However, Ji Yijun's good mood did not last long, because the goblin walking in front stopped and was unwilling to move forward.
"What's going on? What's going on?"
"We need to rest and eat. We haven't eaten anything since we were captured by you. They can't walk anymore, and I can't walk either!" said the shaman.
"Don't go too far! You are running for your lives. If you are caught up by the people behind you, you will have enough heads to chop off." Ji Yijun threatened.
"We still have to walk for another half a day to get there. It's impossible not to stop and rest." The shaman simply sat down cross-legged.
Although Ji Yijun was annoyed, he had to admit that the goblin shaman was right. He took out a compressed biscuit from his pocket and threw it in front of the goblin shaman: "Then eat it quickly! Don't waste my time!"
The rest lasted for more than an hour. The goblins were so tired that many of them ate a few bites of biscuits and then fell asleep.
Ji Yijun was ready to kick them up one by one, but he heard a strange sound in the woods on the left. He gave Ye Zi a look, and the two of them hid on both sides of the woods. After a while, three people really came out of the woods, but the people who came were what Ji Yijun didn't expect.
"Ji Yijun, Ye Zi, come out! I'm not here to take you back." said the man.
Ji Yijun came out from behind a tree and asked curiously, "Zhang Hong? Why is it you? And you brought two mercenaries with you?"
Zhang Hong wore an inconspicuous dark grey jacket and quick-drying pants. He smiled and pointed at the half-elf archer Cole and the warrior Gamero beside him and said, "Cole's elven blood makes him very comfortable in the forest, and it's easy for him to find your tracks. Gamero is very strong, and he can cut a path through the mountains with an axe. I also used the wind shoe technique, so we were more than half an hour faster than the team sent by Captain Wang."
"When did they realize we were gone?" Ye Zi asked.
"About an hour ago. They are following us in two groups. We don't have much time."
"We?" Ji Yijun asked suspiciously.
"Didn't you leave a note saying that you got news about the horse thieves from the goblins and wanted to avenge your father? Then our positions are exactly the same." Zhang Hong said.
"What revenge do you want?"
"I've been captured by horse thieves before! I've told you that I want revenge just as much as you do! And I know Orville and Awan's abilities very well. They are two masters under Cadiz. If they gather a group of horse thieves, you two will just be sending food to death! But it will be different with us. Cole is a magic archer, Gameiro is a blood warrior. And I'm already a magic... apprentice." Zhang Hong stretched out his hand, and a small ball of flame took shape in his hand. Although the fireball was not big and not very stable, he still looked very proud.
Although Ji Yijun always hated Zhang Hong, he could not find any reason to object at this time, so he could only agree to let these people join his team.
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Li Jia rode on the horse, looking at the small castle in front of him. The castle was not big, even smaller than Viscount Ruiz's castle. Not to mention compared with the castle like Neuschwanstein Castle on Earth in his memory.
Serinda seemed to have guessed what he was thinking and said, "This is just a hunting estate in our family's territory. Our main castle is much more magnificent than this. People in the capital are too lazy to come here, so the old man can be out of sight and out of mind. He will just stay here to recuperate."
Li Jia could see that whenever Serinda mentioned Count Arias, she always had a kind of disdain. Not only disdain, but even hatred in her words. He couldn't help but feel a little worried, and asked softly: "Serinda, your relationship with your father seems to be a little strained."
"So what?"
"Uh... I wonder if he'll have any opinion of me?"
"I have always made my own decisions. I don't need to listen to him," Serinda said confidently.
"Well... Even your marriage is a big deal, he doesn't care?"
Serinda laughed out loud, with a hint of amusement on her innocent face. She patted Li Jia's face and said, "Dear Li Jia, aren't you here to negotiate business with him on behalf of the magicians? Are you still worried about these things?"
"Well, you know what I mean." Li Jia's face turned a little red.
Serinda looked at him with a smile and said, "Look, this is what makes you lovable. Those playboys from noble families have lost the ability to turn red, so they can do whatever they want without any guilt."
"You, you, I'm serious!" Li Jia didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He was really serious. He had been with her day and night these days, and every face in her ever-changing image made him unable to extricate himself.
Selina sighed and said, "You know what? Our family's territory is not small, and there are many castles like this. Although the western region is not as rich as the eastern region, it is also rich in resources." She pointed to the guards behind them who were ten meters away from them, "And there are many such loyal warriors in the family. Our family's ancestor, Melo Arias, who was known as the strongest berserker, was a partner with the first king in laying the foundation of the kingdom. But even so, we still have no power in the entire kingdom."
"Is the king on guard against you?" Li Jia asked.
"Humph, the kings of all generations have tried their best to reduce our power. And my ancestors were really disappointing. When Lord Melo Arias died, his son was not yet an adult, and he did not inherit his father's legacy. When the old king was alive, he made him a grand duke, but as soon as the old king died, our family became a thorn in the eyes of the kings. Not only was our title reduced to an earl because of an ancestor who 'made a mistake', our territory was reduced by half, and we never got an important official position in the capital. When it came to my father's generation, he was even more of a bastard who spent his days in debauchery. Even when my mother died of illness, he was fooling around outside."
"Oh, sorry." Li Jia felt uncomfortable hearing this.
"What is there to be sorry about? It has nothing to do with you!" Serinda retorted, "Never apologize for someone else's jerkiness. I will never forgive that kind of person! The revitalization of our family can only rely on me!"
"So, Li Jia!" She stared at the solemn man in front of her, "No matter how much I like you, the person I will eventually marry must be someone who can help me revitalize my family. This is my mission as this generation of Arias. You must prove this to me, and to my people and subordinates."
Li Jia's face turned pale, not knowing whether he was shocked or frightened. His love for her was pure and strong, but he had never carefully considered anything other than love. Perhaps he had, but at least he still had some sense of superiority towards a local girl, or a bit of charity. When she became Sir Arias, he had more respect for her. However, after listening to what Serinda said today, he suddenly felt a little panic again. He was afraid whether he was qualified to fight for this love.
Serinda watched him, taking in his every expression.
"However, you have already taken a good step." Serinda gently stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. "You must become a powerful magician. You must become a bridge between us and your castle. Only in this way can we be together."
Li Jia laughed, with a hint of embarrassment.
She also laughed: "Look how scared you are. I just want you to be more focused and work harder. If you can rule this land with me in the end, I will have no regrets in my life."
For a lifetime? Li Jia looked at her beautiful face. The images of a farm girl, a brave knight, a gentle lover and a noble lord merged together at this moment, making his heart burn with passion.
He held her hands and promised word by word: "Even if I die, I will do it!"