The method given by Doctor Jin couldn't be implemented immediately, so Jiang Wan decided to lie low for the time being, which would also lower her parents' guard.
Since they were in the mountains, age was not a concern. She spent her days by Gu Chenzhou's side, practicing martial arts with him and hunting. In just half a month, both of them had made significant progress.
Jiang Wan's abilities were also growing rapidly, and she was on the verge of another upgrade.
Meanwhile, the little subordinate brought good news from outside the mountains.
Another army had arrived and was currently fighting the rebel forces in the city!
Jiang Wan hurried to ask Gu Chenzhou, "How many factions are currently in conflict in Daliang?"
Gu Chenzhou replied, "Three. The rebels in the city are Zhao Jingyun's. Of the other two, one is led by a general surnamed Lu, who is Zhao Jingyun's sworn enemy. The other is led by a general surnamed Han, who commands a local uprising army. Both of these forces are at odds with the Zhao faction."
Jiang Wan then asked, "Between these two factions, which one is more worth helping?"
Gu Chenzhou thought for a moment and said, "General Han's side. The man surnamed Lu is not exactly a good person either."
Jiang Wan smiled, "Then it's quite a coincidence. The army currently fighting the rebels in the county town seems to be General Han's forces. What do you think? Should we lend them a hand?"
Gu Chenzhou was taken aback, "Really?"
Before Jiang Wan could nod, Yan Li rushed back, "Chenzhou, grab your sword. Come with me down the mountain to the city and help General Han!"
Before Gu Chenzhou could respond, Jiang Wan declared, "I'm going too!"
Yan Li glanced at her, "You..."
Without a word, Jiang Wan drew her sword and performed a set of sword forms right in front of him.
Yan Li stared in astonishment, "When did you learn this sword technique?"
Jiang Wan proudly sheathed her sword, "Just in the past few days. I practiced when I had nothing else to do. Uncle Yan, please take me with you. I can also treat Chenzhou anytime if he gets injured."
Yan Li wanted to agree, but he dared not make the decision himself. "You should go and talk to your father and mother yourself."
Jiang Wan immediately went to find Chen Yuezhi.
However, Chen Yuezhi outright refused, "You stay put in the mountains. Once things outside are resolved, then we'll go down."
Jiang Wan stomped her feet, "Mother, can you please not be so unreasonable? Father and brother are all going down this time. Aren't you afraid they'll be in danger? If I go with them, I can treat them if they get hurt."
"Mother, what happened last time was really an accident. This time, the old immortal surely won't fail us."
"Just let me go. If you don't agree, I'll sneak away. You can't keep me locked up anyway."
Chen Yuezhi was furious, "Why are you so disobedient?!"
"Mother, do you really want to keep me confined like this forever? I've been very unhappy lately. I know you're doing this for my own good, worrying about me getting hurt or into accidents, but I'm not some pampered young lady. I want to be a free bird, to embrace the unconstrained blue sky, not to be trapped in a cage like a canary waiting for the owner to feed me."
"If you insist on confining me, I will comply. After all, you are my mother, and I am your child. I cannot defy your will. However, I will be unhappy. Can you truly bear to watch me, bit by bit, have my wings broken and turn into a soulless puppet?"
Chen Yuezhi sighed, "We don't have that intention. We just don't want you to do dangerous things..."
Jiang Wan interrupted her, "But I have the ability to protect myself. Mother, these past few days, I've learned a lot of martial arts from Chenzhou Ge. Chenzhou Ge said that he might not be able to defeat me now. Besides, I have the old immortal protecting me, so it's not easy to hurt me."
She was never a person who feared danger.
How could an eagle fear wind and rain?
Jiang Wan took Chen Yuezhi's hand and gently shook it, "Mother, please let me go out, I beg you."
Seeing the pleading in her eyes, Chen Yuezhi felt a pang in her heart.
But she knew that if she tried to stop this girl, she would find a way to escape. The fact that she came to talk to her was simply to avoid her worrying.
Finally, Chen Yuezhi turned her head away and said coldly, "If you get even a little bit injured this time, you'll never be allowed to do these things again!"
Jiang Wan jumped up with joy, hugged Chen Yuezhi's face, and kissed her heavily, "Long live Mother! I will definitely protect myself and make sure not a single hair falls out."
Chen Yuezhi, however, couldn't feel happy.
Because this time, out of her children, all three except Jiang Xiao and Sanlang would be going down the mountain. Coupled with her husband, all the pillars of the Jiang family were leaving.
Jiang Pan, knowing she was upset, quickly said to her, "Don't worry, we will all return safely."
Chen Yuezhi retorted fiercely, "If you don't come back, I'll remarry with your two daughters-in-law! And disgrace your names!"
Jiang Pan and his two sons: ...
While the Jiang family was in distress, the other families in the village were not faring much better.
Many men from the village were going down the mountain this time, and many people from other villages had also joined.
County Magistrate Cheng tallied the numbers, and there were over a hundred people, including himself.
"Fellow warriors! Let us descend the mountain together, join forces with General Han's army, and reclaim our homeland! Let us avenge our fallen brothers and sisters, elders and children!"
County Magistrate Cheng's impassioned call was met with a resounding chorus from the men.
That night, their group had lost over twenty people, men and women, old and young.
Therefore, when they learned that the Jiang family was going down the mountain to provide support, they also stepped forward.
Many were also influenced by County Magistrate Cheng. He was a scholar, yet he possessed such courage and conviction.
Thus, they decided to risk their lives and fight the rebels to the death!
The contingent was assembled and quickly rushed down the mountain.
Chen Yuezhi and Madam Cheng, along with the other women, climbed to the mountaintop. Watching their receding figures, they couldn't help but kneel down, praying to heaven to protect their husbands and children and ensure their safe return.
The little subordinate followed Jiang Wan and reported what Chen Yuezhi and the others were doing on the mountaintop. Jiang Wan looked back towards the summit and silently vowed in her heart that this time, she would ensure all one hundred-plus people returned home safely!
On their way down the mountain, they passed by the battlefield from that night.
The battlefield had already been cleared by Jiang Pan and his men over the past few days.
Their companions who had died that night were properly buried, with a tombstone erected for each of them. The bodies of the rebel soldiers were piled together and buried on the spot. Regardless of their identities, it was already an act of mercy that they were not left to the elements to be devoured by wild beasts.
Looking at the more than twenty new graves, over a hundred men couldn't help but have their eyes well up with tears.
Everyone knelt before the graves and said in unison, "May the spirits in heaven bless us with a great victory in this battle!"