Chapter 92
Chapter 92
Xiao Che reached for Jin Bao but failed to catch her.
Meanwhile, the group’s stamina had reached its limit. If they did not find somewhere to rest soon, several people would fall behind.
Aside from causing a brief commotion, Jin Bao’s sudden departure drew little reaction from the exhausted crowd.
“Old sir, I’ll leave the group in your care. I’m going after Jin Bao. This forest is enormous, and I’m afraid she won’t find her way back.”
“Don’t worry, Marquis. You can count on me.”
Old Han quickly answered.
Xiao Che ran after Jin Bao.
An ordinary person’s vision would be obstructed in the forest, but Xiao Che had practiced martial arts for years. His eyesight was better than most, allowing him to see farther.
Jin Bao chased the squirrel through the forest for fifteen minutes before finally catching it.
“Squirrely, why’d you run away without telling Baby? Baby was so worried! Don’t run away again, okay? We’re good friends!”
The little squirrel scratched its face with both front paws, then affectionately rubbed Jin Bao’s little cheek with its tail. Only then did it extend one paw toward the path ahead, squeaking insistently.
Jin Bao widened her eyes, tilted her head, and scratched it in confusion. She could not quite understand the little squirrel’s language, but she understood the gesture. It wanted her to go forward.
“Squirrely, do you want Baby to go that way?”
“Squeak, squeak!”
The little squirrel hurriedly nodded, chirped twice, then happily sprang from one of Jin Bao’s shoulders to the other.
Jin Bao smiled and patted its head. “Okay, let’s go see what’s up ahead.”
She had not gone far when a pitch-black cave came into view.
Her little mouth fell open in shock as she tipped back her head and stared blankly at the cave.
“Wow-Squirrely, this cave is so big! Daddy and everyone are looking for a cave. Did Squirrely hear them talking?”
The little squirrel squeaked twice more.
Jin Bao hurriedly lifted the squirrel down and vigorously ruffled its fluffy tail several times.
“Squirrely, you’re amazing! Baby likes you so, so much!”
The little squirrel proudly raised its head, only to be thoroughly mauled by Jin Bao again.
The little squirrel: Master, don’t repay kindness with cruelty! Squirrely’s fur is gonna go bald!
“Let’s go back and tell Daddy and Big Brothers, okay? They’ll be so happy!”
Holding the little squirrel, Jin Bao turned and ran back. She had an excellent sense of direction and still remembered the way she had come.
She had not gone far when she collided head-on with a dark shape.
Jin Bao was incredibly fast, but the thing coming toward her was not slow either. Unable to stop in time, she was sent flying. Her little body landed in a snow hollow with a plop.
The little squirrel squeaked frantically as it circled Jin Bao.
Jin Bao rolled over and sprang to her feet in one smooth motion.
Without even brushing the snow from her clothes, she shot forward in a flash.
The creature that had struck her had fared even worse. Jin Bao had sent it flying more than ten feet away.
It was still struggling in the snow hollow, unable to climb out.
“Jin Bao!”
Jin Bao was circling the creature when Xiao Che’s voice reached her from the forest.
“It’s Daddy!”
Jin Bao quickly cupped her hands around her mouth like a little megaphone and called back.
“Daddy, Baby’s over here…”
Jin Bao’s soft, sweet voice echoed through the forest.
Before long, Xiao Che finally found her.
“My girl, what happened to you? Why are you covered in so much snow?”
Jin Bao pointed at the ground. “Daddy, what’s that? It bumped Baby, and Baby’s butt-butt hurts from falling!”
The moment she saw Xiao Che, Jin Bao felt terribly aggrieved. Her little mouth puckered, and she looked ready to cry.
She kept rubbing her little bottom as she lodged her complaint.
Xiao Che hurriedly picked her up. After examining her carefully, he found no external wounds, though he did not know if she had suffered any internal injuries.
“We’ll have your Aunt Lu examine you later. It would be terrible if you injured an organ and were left with a lasting ailment.”
He looked down at the animal still struggling on the ground. To his surprise, it was a silly roe deer.
The roe deer had probably been frightened into running wildly through the forest and happened to crash into Jin Bao.
But another animal must have frightened the roe deer. Could an even fiercer beast be lurking nearby?
Xiao Che’s eyes flickered. He drew his dagger and finished off the roe deer Jin Bao had knocked away. Then, carrying Jin Bao in one arm and the roe deer in the other, he headed back.
“Daddy, there’s a cave over there! Squirrely led Baby to it.”
Jin Bao’s eyes sparkled, and the little squirrel on her shoulder squeaked loudly in agreement.
Xiao Che looked down at the two pairs of bright eyes-one large, one small-both begging for praise. The corners of his lips lifted. “You two did wonderfully. You’ve helped us enormously. If we hadn’t found a cave, more than half the group might have died tonight.”
Jin Bao and the little squirrel were both thoroughly pleased by the praise.
Xiao Che returned to the group carrying the roe deer.
The Xiao Family had been waiting anxiously. At the sight of Jin Bao returning unharmed, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
“My good girl, where did you run off to? You scared Mommy to death! Are you hurt?”
Pei Wanqing hurriedly took Jin Bao into her arms.
“Mommy, Baby’s okay! Baby found a cave. We can sleep in the cave tonight!”
Jin Bao’s clear voice carried through the area. Everyone nearby had been watching the situation, and at her words, the entire crowd grew excited and passed the news along.
“Marquis, is what the Young Miss said true? Did you really find a cave?”
Xu Huaijin was overjoyed.
He had led everyone out here and did not wish to see them freeze to death along the road. Finding shelter for the night was a crucial part of whether they could survive.
Now that they had found a cave, one major problem was solved.
“That’s right. We found one a few li ahead. Everyone, hurry onward. The forest is even more dangerous at night.”
Holding a torch, Xiao Che led from the front beside Old Han.
Half an hour later, the procession finally stopped at the mouth of a cave.
“This cave is huge! There’s room for all of us!”
Delighted cries immediately rose from the crowd.
Everyone filed into the cave. Remembering Old Han’s warning, no one lay down immediately. Those who were truly exhausted merely sat and caught their breath.
Without needing Xiao Che or Xu Huaijin to assign tasks, everyone already knew what to do.
They gathered dry wood, lit fires, and built simple stoves.
Xiao Jingmo led his team in distributing rations, and everything proceeded in perfect order.
Firelight soon illuminated the cave. Only then did everyone sit or lie down near the fires.
Xiao Che selected several strong men and formed an armed squad.
They would be responsible for patrolling and standing guard over the procession.
Xiao Che intended to train these men first.
They all had some foundation in martial arts. With a little guidance, they would quickly learn what to do.
That night, after everyone had fallen asleep, Xiao Che spoke with Old Han.
“Old Master Han, did you make the bow on your back yourself?”
Old Han removed the bow and handed it to Xiao Che.
“That’s right. I’ve used it for more than ten years and grown attached to it.”
Xiao Che weighed it in his hand and examined it carefully before praising it. “Not bad. This is a fine bow! There’s something I’d like to ask your help with.”
Old Han immediately sat up straight. “Please tell me, Marquis.”
Xiao Che glanced at the sleeping crowd inside the cave.
“I’d like you to teach those craftsmen how to make bows. I intend to teach everyone archery. That will strengthen our ability to fight and increase everyone’s chances of survival.”
Old Han’s eyes lit up. “An excellent idea, Marquis! If every person can fight, our group will be able to survive in the Black Pine Forest. Even if we encounter a nomadic tribe, we’ll have the strength to battle them.”
Since Old Han had no objections, the matter was settled.
Late that night, one of the patrolling men suddenly woke Xiao Che.
“Marquis, there seems to be movement outside. We didn’t dare go out.”
Xiao Che had always been vigilant. The moment he heard this, every trace of sleep vanished from his eyes. He sprang up, seized his long saber, and led the way toward the cave entrance.