With the trade caravan guards, Qian Weining collected the longbows and arrows the bandits had brought with them. “Bring everything back. Remove their leather armor as well. We can still put them to use with some cleaning after we get back.”
He held a bandit’s longbow and drew the bowstring twice. As soon as he did that, he realized it was even better than the ones issued by their own Chamber of Commerce!
This made Qian Weining feel that something was amiss. What bandits would have access to such high-quality bows?
Something was not right! However, Qian Weining did not make a fuss about it. Instead, he had the caravan guards equip themselves with the better quality bows. On the way back, he said to one of the guards, “Chen Lin, when we get back, check with the other merchants regarding the guards they brought with them. Distribute a set of bow and arrows to whoever is good at using them.”
The guard was stunned. “Vice President Qian, we might get castigated for distributing bows and arrows without authorization. These are prohibited weapons.”
“One more person equipped with a bow means an extra person fighting on our side.” Qian Weining whispered, “I’m afraid that it won’t be peaceful on the route north. Do you want to die, or do you want to obey the rules? Don’t worry, I’ll speak with President Li when we get back. He’ll handle it for us.” When Ren Xiaosu heard this from nearby, he thought to himself that Qian Weining was really quite a talented individual. Just by looking at the bandits’ weapons, he was able to conclude a lot of things. It was no wonder the York County Chamber of Commerce had chosen him as its vice president. It seemed like he was truly capable. Therefore, Ren Xiaosu seriously contemplated if he should also abduct this person to the Prosperous Northwest.
However, talents like him were not urgently needed by the Northwest. After all, the modes the two sides did battle in were completely different. If he were to abduct Qian Weining to the Prosperous Northwest, it might take a long time for him to adapt to the way the Northwest fought.
Moreover, it seemed that Qian Weining was more suited to being a company commander in the short term. Whether or not he joined Fortress 178, it would not affect the overall situation of the Northwest by much.
Ren Xiaosu decided to put this thought aside for the time being and watch for a while longer.
When the group returned to the camp, many of those in the caravan stood up nervously at their campfires in salutation. Qian Weining said with a smile, “The bandits are already dead, so there’s no need to worry. Additionally, does anyone from our caravan have experience in the bow? Please step forward if you do.”
A guard looked at Ren Xiaosu. “Sir, do you want to take a longbow with you?”
“No.” Ren Xiaosu said with a smile, “With Vice President Qian’s skills, what do I need a longbow for? That would be such a waste of arrows.”
After that, he returned to his campfire.
To Ren Xiaosu’s surprise, the young man named Chen Cheng followed him over. Melgor looked up and asked Ren Xiaosu, “And this is?”
Chen Cheng smiled and said, “I’m just a new friend of Brother Xiaosu’s.”
Ren Xiaosu shook his head. “Nope, don’t know him.”
Melgor was speechless.
Chen Cheng was speechless as well.
This time, it was the two servants who looked at Chen Cheng sympathetically. They thought to themselves, ‘Of all people, you actually chose to be friends with him?!’
Chen Cheng was not discouraged. He sat down at the campfire as though he were already part of the group. “Your Excellency Lord Melgor, where are you guys heading on this trip?” Melgor replied with a smile, “We’re heading north to Ghe-“
Before he could finish speaking, Ren Xiaosu stomped on his foot. Melgor suddenly gasped and said, “Tss! We’re going to Reese County!”
Reese County was situated along the way to Ghent City.
Ren Xiaosu glanced at Melgor and thought to himself what a sweet idiot he was. Why was he always so honest when talking with strangers? He had already confirmed there was something suspicious about Chen Cheng, so how could they tell him the truth about where they were going?
He wasn’t afraid Chen Cheng would do anything to their group if he knew their whereabouts. It was just that Ren Xiaosu had already spoken with Melgor before setting off that they should not speak carelessly on this journey. If they were really serious about helping Melgor win his love back from the Tudor family, they would have to be extremely careful. Therefore, Ren Xiaosu was just trying to help him develop that habit now.
Chen Cheng was stunned by this sight. This was the first time he had seen a steward treating his own lord sorcerer like that.
More importantly, Melgor did not even seem too angered by that!
Ren Xiaosu turned to Chen Cheng and said with a smile, “And where are you heading?”
Chen Cheng answered, “I’m on the way to Ghent City.”
Melgor smiled and said, “Oh, what a coincidence!”
Ren Xiaosu snapped, “… Are you dumb?!”
He decided to change the subject and interrogated Chen Cheng further. “Are you heading to Ghent City by yourself?” “Oh, no.” Chen Cheng said with a smile, “There’s me and my aunt. She had a short conversation with you in the carriage today. Have you forgotten?”
Telling 10% lies and 90% truth was the best strategy in deception. Chen Cheng had said that to hide An’an’s whereabouts so Ren Xiaosu would not continue asking about who was in the carriage.
“Why are you going to Ghent City?” Ren Xiaosu asked.
“My aunt said we have some relatives there, so she’s thinking of going there to seek help from them.” Chen Cheng said with a yearning look, “They say Ghent City is extremely prosperous, and even the walls are built out of sandstone and look extremely exquisite. Someone also said that Ghent City never sleeps, so there’s many opportunities for young people there.” When Ren Xiaosu realized he could not get any answers from all the questioning, he casually took a leg of ham from the campfire and handed it to Chen Cheng. “It’s getting late. Lord Melgor needs to rest already, so take this back with you for your older sister. She hasn’t stepped out of the carriage for the entire day already.”
Chen Cheng was stunned by the words. Sweat broke out and beaded on his back.
“You’re really funny, sir. I don’t have an older sister,” Chen Cheng quickly said with a smile.
Ren Xiaosu hurriedly said apologetically, “Look at how forgetful I am. Sorry, I misspoke. I meant your aunt!”
Chen Cheng took the ham and thanked him before leaving. After hopping back into his carriage, he immediately parted the curtains a little and secretly checked the outside. However, he realized Ren Xiaosu was not looking at their carriage.
“Could he really have misspoken?” Chen Cheng wondered.
“What’s the matter?” the young sorceress, An’an, asked.
“Somehow, I feel like he’s already discovered us and even knows our identities, but I can’t be sure.” Chen Cheng related the conversation he had with Ren Xiaosu.
An’an said, “It could have been a slip of the tongue. Look, he doesn’t even know how to use a bow. Maybe all he has is that great strength of his.”
“I don’t think so.” The middle-aged woman refuted, “If he only had great strength, how could he possibly have discovered you sneaking into the Sorcerer’sTower in the middle of the night? You should be more careful for the time being. He might really have realized something.”
“Then why didn’t he capture us?” An’an muttered, “Although it looks like there’s only the four of them, quite a number of the traders’ guards are actually protecting them in secret. If he gave the order, we would probably get attacked by several dozen people at the same time. So why didn’t he say anything if he realized something?”
“I’m not sure what his motives are either.” The woman was also puzzled. They could not even figure out whether Ren Xiaosu was friend or foe right now.
“Wait a minute.” An’an was stunned before saying, “This might have something to do with those words he mentioned previously. Riders! Ren He!”
The woman asked, “What were you saying before he mentioned those words?”
An’an recalled, “Only faith, the sun, and the moon are eternal.”