The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 238
Translated by Pure
Chapter 238 Trekking Towards Older Sister Mountain (2)
"The two mountains are over five kilometers apart. If we search Older Sister Mountain and find nothing, we'll have another opportunity to rescue the Commander-in-Chief," someone argued.
"Then if we search Younger Sister Mountain and find nothing, wouldn't it mean we've lost our chance to save the Little Marquis?" Wen Yantong countered.
The man slammed the table in frustration. "We have a rationale for our decision. Don't undermine the morale of the army here! You can't afford any mistakes. We must head to Younger Sister Mountain!"
Wen Yantong narrowed her eyes slightly, the back of her mind was sensing something amiss.
Mu Yang intervened firmly, "Zhou Qi, this is a discussion, not an argument. Let's stay focused."
Zhou Qi snorted in displeasure and turned away. "Fine, I'm heading to Younger Sister Mountain regardless. I can't disregard the only chance to save the Commander-in-Chief."
Acknowledging his decision, Wen Yantong nodded. "Very well. In that case, you lead a team to Younger Sister Mountain. Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fu will organize the remaining personnel, and we will head to Older Sister Mountain tonight."
"You!" Zhou Qi's face flushed with anger.
"How can a woman cause a commotion in the military during such a crucial political event?" someone shouted.
Wen Yantong slammed her hand on the table, her expression icy. "Shut up, all of you! I'm not here to boss you idiots around or disrupt your army's protocols. I'm here to rescue the Little Marquis!"
She rose abruptly, glaring at the assembled group. "You're a bunch of stubborn dumb muscle heads. In this time of turmoil where the matter of life and death is at hand, what’s the point of your mutual court deceptions? Don't think I'm unaware of whose side you're truly on!"
Despite Wen Yantong's formidable anger, the individuals at the table remained unfazed. Instead, they regarded her with sneers and disdainful snorts.
Wen Yantong had no intention of engaging further. Addressing Fu Zixian, she simply instructed, "Make the necessary preparations. We depart at nightfall."
She had no desire to argue with these individuals. Zhou Qi's insistence on heading to Younger Sister Mountain seemed either foolish or manipulative.
After her departure, Fu Zixian promptly announced the adjournment of the meeting and followed after Wen Yantong, ushering her into a room.
"This situation is not a game," Fu Zixian asserted.
"Do you believe I traveled all the way to Yibei just to play around?" Wen Yantong countered gravely. "Fu Zixian, at this critical moment, what I need is your trust. The Little Marquis is stuck in the mountains. We must locate him quickly, but if we encounter the enemy first, are you aware what will happen?"
Fu Zixian fell silent.
"You're all walking into a trap," Wen Yantong declared. "There's no Little Marquis on Younger Sister Mountain, only enemy troops."
Fu Zixian was taken aback. "How do you know?"
"Don’t worry about the source of my information right now. Our priority is rescuing the Little Marquis. I'll explain it all later," Wen Yantong insisted. "Zhou Qi undoubtedly has ulterior motives. Instruct him to lead his men to Younger Sister Mountain, while I accompany you to Older Sister Mountain."
Fu Zixian scrutinized Wen Yantong with a serious gaze. "As much as we're good friends, I can't make such a significant decision lightly. Can you assure me of your certainty?"
Wen Yantong met his gaze unwaveringly. "I'm one hundred percent sure," she affirmed, her eyes brimming with resolve.
With Chi Jingxi absent, Fu Zixian held the authority to alter the plan. Wen Yantong understood his skepticism; without a concrete explanation, his caution was warranted.
Despite the gamble involved, Fu Zixian ultimately chose to trust her.
Quickly assembling the troops, Fu Zixian and Mu Yang donned their armor, counted the men, and prepared to depart.
Wen Yantong hurried over, insisting on accompanying them. Despite numerous attempts by Mu Yang and Fu Zixian to dissuade her, Wen Yantong remained resolute, offering repeated assurances until they relented.
As night descended, the wind in Yibei grew fierce, stinging the skin upon contact.
After Fu Zixian ensured the troop count, he silently led the group out of Yibei alongside Mu Yang and Wen Yantong.
Wen Yantong rode her horse, gazing into the darkness ahead, where the moon cast an ethereal glow over the mountains.
‘Chi Jingxi, just hold on a little longer. We're coming,’ she whispered silently in her heart.
…
After departing from Yibei City and traveling south for several kilometers, the group arrived at a terrain ensconced by mountains. It was summer, and the thick foliage obscured much of the surroundings, with only the gentle rustle of leaves accompanying the breeze.
Wen Yantong, astride her horse, slowed her pace alongside the others and queried Fu Zixian, "Do you know where the mountain entrance is?"
Fu Zixian gestured, summoning a guard from the rear. "This soldier hails from Yibei and is familiar with the mountain's location," he explained.
Mu Yang lifted the lantern, peering into the distance with narrowed eyes. "I believe I've spotted it."
Wen Yantong and Fu Zixian exchanged surprised glances. "You can see it from this far?" they queried in unison.
"Isn't Older Sister Mountain known for its abundance of ginkgo trees?" Mu Yang reasoned, scrutinizing the landscape. "I can see faint yellow hues in the distance."
Fu Zixian wasted no time. "We can't afford to delay. Let's proceed into the mountain swiftly."
Chi Jingxi had previously convened a meeting to devise a contingency plan for encountering enemy troops while on patrol.
To maximize the soldiers' survival chances, the strategy entailed avoiding direct engagement with the enemy. Instead, they would retreat and conceal themselves in the mountains, awaiting reinforcements before emerging. The objective was to preserve as many troops as possible.
The Sister Mountains were deemed the optimal location due to their distinctive features, making them the primary choice for implementing this strategy.
The group entered the mountain in single file, with individuals at the front and rear tasked with providing illumination, holding lanterns aloft.
Night in the mountains always carried an eerie silence, yet beneath the stillness, a myriad of sounds seemed to echo, prompting everyone to remain vigilant.
Wen Yantong felt relatively at ease, knowing that the enemy troops were situated on the other, more distant sister mountain. Her primary concern now was locating Chi Jingxi as swiftly as possible.
The night wind was refreshingly cool, a stark contrast to the daytime heat. Had Wen Yantong not diligently fortified her constitution during her travels, she might have succumbed to illness due to the drastic temperature shift.
However, it was primarily due to Mu Yang's reminder that she had donned two additional layers of clothing before departing. Though not as luxurious as those found in the capital, the garments of Yibei boasted exceptional thickness and top-notch wind resistance.
As she proceeded alongside the team, Wen Yantong pondered the likelihood of Chi Jingxi leaving markers along the path. They would be subtle, imperceptible to the untrained eye, yet unmistakably recognizable to those familiar with his methods.
So she turned to Fu Zixian and inquired, "Did you discuss beforehand what kind of coded guidance should be left in this kind of situation?"
Fu Zixian replied, "The Little Marquis did mention leaving a secret markings, but our discussion was cut short by a surprise attack, and he didn't finish explaining. If the Little Marquis indeed left a secret code, it would be something that Mu Xingyi could understand at a glance."
Wen Yantong glanced at Mu Yang in surprise, and he shrugged, indicating he was unaware of its meaning.
However, Wen Yantong quickly deduced that Fu Zixian's implication was that Chi Jingxi had immense trust in Mu Yang. If Chi Jingxi went missing, Mu Yang would undoubtedly join in the search. Therefore, Chi Jingxi would leave a secret code recognizable to Mu Yang immediately.
As for the secret code, it was the unspoken understanding between Mu Yang and Chi Jingxi.
Wen Yantong remarked, "Then let's search for any signs around here later."
Fu Zixian concurred with the suggestion, nodding in agreement.
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The author has something to say:
[After the meeting, Mu Yang stayed awake throughout the night.]
Mu Yang: Strange. Didn’t Wen Yantong say that ‘dumb muscle head’ was a praise? Why did she curse and praise others at the same time during the meeting today???
(Little Marquis will definitely make an appearance tomorrow, I promise!)