Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Tang Qingsong instinctively lightened his footsteps as he walked into the inner room.

Pushing the door open, he saw the youth lying on the bed.

He was terrifyingly thin, and his face was deathly pale.

Those features were unmistakably characteristic of the Ji Family.

He really was sleeping. Considering the poison he had been struck with, falling asleep was no easy feat.

At that moment, he didn’t notice Jiang Yunsui’s presence.

The Little Mushroom had hidden herself the moment she heard the noise outside.

Only after the man turned and left did she poke her head out from behind the bed curtains and cautiously step out.

Tilting her head, she rubbed her stomach with a slightly aggrieved expression.

She was so hungry.

Seeing that Ji Yan’an was sleeping soundly, the Little Mushroom grew a bit bolder. She leaned over the bed and used her small finger to poke his cheek.

“Ji Yan’an, when are you going to wake up? I’m hungry.”

“So hungry, so hungry, so hungry…”

She muttered incessantly in a soft, listless voice, her tone almost becoming a rhythmic chant.

She failed to notice the eyelashes of the person she was poking flutter slightly.

“You’re not going to sleep until tonight, are you? If so, can I go eat first and then come back?”

She gave him another poke. “His face isn’t as soft as mine.”

The next second, the person on the bed snapped his eyes open.

Their eyes met instantly, scaring Jiang Yunsui so much that she let out a yelp and tumbled straight onto the floor.

Ji Yan’an slowly sat up, his eyes fixed on a certain Little Mushroom who was currently trying to act like a shrinking violet.

Jiang Yunsui clutched her head and played dead.

“You’ve got quite the nerve.”

Jiang Yunsui: *I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you…*

Ji Yan’an said, “If you can’t hear me, then there’s no need for you to eat.”

Only then did Jiang Yunsui realize she had been muttering out loud.

It had to be said that this threat was extremely effective against the food-loving Little Mushroom.

“I was wrong.”

The Little Mushroom knelt on the floor, pinching her own ears as she obediently admitted her fault.

She looked up at him with a pitiful expression. “I’m just so hungry.”

“It’s not good to sleep too much in the morning.”

Ji Yan’an gave a dry chuckle. “In that case, I suppose I should thank you.”

He crouched down and pinched the little thing’s soft cheek.

Though she was incredibly audacious, he had to admit she was right-her face really was quite soft.

The petty Young Master felt much better after pinching her cheek, so he stood up to put on his outer robe.

In the process, he ordered the Little Mushroom around until she was spinning in circles.

Jiang Yunsui grumbled inwardly, but she did whatever she was told.

She was just a bit dizzy from all the movement.

Once Ji Yan’an was dressed, she let out a small sigh of relief. Finally, it was over.

Ji Yan’an didn’t linger and walked straight outside.

She hurried to follow him. *It’s time to eat now, right? It has to be time to eat!*

Nanmo was standing guard outside. A look of pleasant surprise flashed in his eyes when he saw Ji Yan’an emerge.

“Young Master, Old General Tang is outside.”

Hearing this, Ji Yan’an nodded and walked toward the courtyard.

Jiang Yunsui followed behind him. Once outside, she saw the old man holding her two puppies.

As the supreme commander of the Tianxuan Camp, Old General Tang was very experienced in raising horses and dogs.

Like Old General Ji, he felt that animals like dogs and horses were far more loyal than humans.

Therefore, when he saw the two dogs in the courtyard being brought over by Heiwa, he couldn’t help but reach out to pet them.

Upon closer inspection, he realized these two pups were truly exceptional.

They were quite fierce too; even while being held by him, they were yapping and trying to find a way to bite him.

“Hahaha… these two dogs are excellent! Where did you find them, kid?”

There were mastiffs at the hunting grounds, but there were no white ones.

Mastiffs were rare, and high-quality ones were difficult to train.

Hunting dogs had to retain their ferocity while remaining obedient and talented.

A good hunting dog was comparable to a trained elite soldier.

“Grand Uncle Tang, those puppies aren’t mine.”
At the sound of the youth’s voice, General Tang looked over.

“You’re awake.”

He set the two puppies down. The little creatures yapped twice at Old General Tang before wagging their tails and scurrying toward Ji Yan’an-or more accurately, toward Jiang Yunsui, who was standing behind him.

Jiang Yunsui peeked out from behind him, stole a quick glance at Old General Tang, and then crouched down to grab each puppy by the muzzle.

“Don’t bark.”

“Tattling won’t help; I can’t beat him in a fight.”

She spoke in a tiny voice, but Tang Qingsong’s martial arts training meant he heard her clearly regardless.

He studied the young girl for a few moments.

Were these dogs hers?

To be able to raise dogs in this manor and follow Ji Yan’an out here-what was this girl’s status?

He hadn’t heard anything about the Old General having such a young granddaughter.

Ji Yan’an only spared a glance for Jiang Yunsui before heading over to speak with Old General Tang.

They found a pavilion to sit in, drinking tea and chatting.

“The last time I saw you, you were only five years old.”

Tang Qingsong sighed with emotion. “Things have certainly changed. You were a little butterball when you were young.”

As he spoke, his expression turned complex while looking at the current Ji Yan’an.

“And yet, how many years has it really been?”

The mischievous little butterball of the past had become this thin and frail, a sight that tugged at one’s heartstrings.

Ji Yan’an’s voice was calm. “Things always change.”

If he hadn’t changed, he would be dead.

How could a child sheltered by his elders be the same as the one who had to shoulder the weight of the Ji Family alone?

Tang Qingsong understood this, of course, but that understanding only made him feel more bitter.

“My reach is too short to help with your situation in the Capital City, but I can still manage a few things here in Mobei. It’s just that this old man prefers dealing with horses and dogs; I don’t have much patience for people. There might not be much I can help you with.”

He had a blunt, straightforward personality. He had offended many people in his youth because of it, and it was only because Old General Ji recognized his talent that he had been promoted.

Those war horses and hunting hounds were vital to the Ji Family. To manage them, one had to be someone Old General Ji trusted implicitly.

In the end, he became that person.

Tang Qingsong remembered the kindness of Old General Ji. Now, he was willing to protect the sole remaining son of the Ji Family.

However, he didn’t have many men under his command-just a whole lot of dogs.

“That is more than enough.”

Ji Yan’an looked at Tang Qingsong with sincere eyes. “I, Ji Yan’an, will remember Grand Uncle Tang’s kindness today.”

Tang Qingsong patted him gently on the shoulder.

He didn’t dare use any real strength, fearing he might accidentally knock the boy over given how thin his frame was.

“Don’t blame your other uncles either. They carry the burden of so many lives; they have to look out for their survival. Don’t mind me speaking harshly, but they have to see if you’re worth it-if you can shoulder this responsibility. After all, no one dares to gamble with that many lives.”

Ji Yan’an stood up and bowed deeply to Tang Qingsong. “Uncle Tang, I understand. I don’t blame them.”

He had known from the very beginning that if he couldn’t stand on his own, why should anyone follow him with their lives or trust him?

If he truly took it for granted that as the sole heir of the Ji Family, the Ji Family Army should naturally obey him and be at his beck and call, then he wouldn’t have survived until now.

Tang Qingsong looked at him and nodded in satisfaction, then burst into a hearty laugh.

“As expected of a member of the Ji Family. Then this uncle will be waiting for you. I won’t interfere with that man named Wang. Don’t let us down.”

This Wang Hu was the first blade they had left for Ji Yan’an here in Mobei.

They would see if this boy truly had the ability to carry the responsibility resting on his shoulders.