"Brother Zhang, I'm here."
My sudden appearance drew looks of surprise from everyone present, especially Fatty Kang, whose face was etched with astonishment, as if my arrival was completely beyond his expectations.
I showed no outward reaction to this, nor did I directly accuse Fatty Kang of being responsible for my delay. Instead, I happily walked towards Zhang Dabiao and Yue'er, who were approaching me.
Zhang Dabiao walked towards me with a hearty laugh, first giving me a warm embrace, then pulling back to examine me from head to toe before letting out a sigh of relief.
"Little brother, why are you back so late? I thought that fatso had gotten rid of you, and I was just about to go cause him trouble."
Zhang Dabiao's words caused Fatty Kang's skin to twitch. He wanted to say something, but was glared into silence by Fang Niuzi.
I glanced at Fatty Kang and Li Jian, who were staring at me with their eyes wide like soybeans. A faint smile touched my lips. If they wanted to make my life difficult, would I let them have their way?
A gentleman's revenge may take ten years, but a villain's revenge is swift. While I wasn't exactly a villain, I wasn't a gentleman either. Since they wanted to set me up, we'd see how things played out on the road ahead. Who would end up playing whom?
If I couldn't make their journey smooth from here on out, I'd write my surname backward.
"It's nothing. I just got lost while running from the mountain fiend. Since Fellow Daoist Kang managed to return alive, how could I have lost my life? Wouldn't you agree, Fellow Daoist Kang?"
Hearing this, Fatty Kang's fleshy cheeks twitched. He chuckled and didn't reply.
I didn't press the matter further. I certainly couldn't reveal Fatty Kang's betrayal right now. If I spoke plainly, given Zhang Dabiao's temper, he would never let it go. If blood wasn't drawn today, it wouldn't end.
In that case, it would be impossible to resolve, and more importantly, we would be the ones at a disadvantage. We only had three people, while they had over a dozen. Hei Zi and the other bodyguards even had guns. So, I could only swallow my anger.
"Brother Zhang, I just got lost while being chased by the mountain fiend, and I'm also not very familiar with the mountain paths, which is why I'm a bit late. I apologize for making you worry."
I patted Zhang Dabiao's arm, gently pressing down.
Zhang Dabiao, whose face was beaming with a smile, suddenly stiffened. Fearing he would directly confront Fatty Kang, I patted him again, signaling him not to act impulsively and that this matter could be discussed later.
Fortunately, Zhang Dabiao was experienced enough to understand my intentions. He turned and glared at Fatty Kang, saying, "My brother has returned safely, so we'll let this matter rest for now. However, next time you want to find someone to go up the mountain, I'll accompany you."
Fatty Kang's expression turned somewhat awkward at this, but he merely snorted and said nothing.
Seeing that the situation was becoming a bit tense, Li Jian quickly stepped in to mediate.
"Oh, this is all a misunderstanding. When being chased by mountain fiends, everyone runs their own way. No one can guarantee their own safety, so you can't entirely blame Fellow Daoist Kang for this, can you, Fellow Daoist Zhang?"
Although Fang Niuzi remained silent, he also stepped forward, as if to say that if Zhang Dabiao intended to trouble Fatty Kang, he would have to ask him first.
"It seems you intend to bully the fewer with the many?"
As soon as Yue'er spoke, all eyes shifted to her, including Hei Zi and the other bodyguards. However, no one dared to point a gun at her. They were all as meek as quails hiding in a cave, truly pitiful.
Seeing Yue'er speak, Fang Niuzi had no choice but to step forward, though the conflicted expression on his face was all too obvious.
"We have no such intention. As Fellow Daoist Song said, he got lost while being chased by mountain fiends, so can we just let this matter go?"
Hearing Fang Niuzi's somewhat pleading tone, I sneered inwardly. "Old man, I don't believe you don't know that Fatty Kang tried to harm me." But I couldn't escalate the situation too much. After all, Li Jian and the others had guns, and if we resisted forcefully, we would be the ones at a disadvantage.
Before Yue'er could speak, I interjected, "Fellow Daoist Fang is absolutely right. I'm exhausted from escaping the mountain fiend. If you have anything you want to know, ask Fatty Kang. I'm going to sleep now."
Seeing my discretion, Fang Niuzi stroked his goatee and said with a smile, "Please, make yourself at home."
Then, I pulled the somewhat reluctant Yue'er and Zhang Dabiao into the cave. Li Jian and the others remained outside, seemingly to discuss something further.
As soon as we entered the cave, Yue'er began to complain, "What's the matter? Are you afraid I can't beat them?"
I gave a wry smile. "My dear grandmother, I know you can beat them, but we can't, can we? Besides, they have guns. Those things are not something we can resist."
"Hmph, can that thing even hurt me?"
Faced with Yue'er's arrogance, I could only remain silent. If I said anything more, she would definitely go out to test it, and that would make things worse.
"Little brother, what exactly happened? Did that Fatty Kang trouble you?"
I nodded. "Indeed, that fatso wanted to harm me."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Dabiao grabbed his mountain-splitting saber and prepared to go out, but I stopped him. He looked at me, puzzled.
"Brother Zhang, now is not the time to fall out with them. We just need to wait. Someone will deal with them naturally."
My words made Zhang Dabiao stop in his tracks, looking at me with confusion. "Someone will deal with them? Who?" Su Dan Novel Network.
Then, I recounted everything that happened in the valley with the white-haired mountain fiend. I paused briefly when mentioning Bai Ling'er, but I told it all in front of Yue'er.
No matter what, Yue'er was one of us, and she was someone brought by Fifth Princess. Her background and identity were definitely not an issue.
As expected, after my story, Yue'er's eyebrows didn't even twitch. It was as if she already understood everything, which surprised me.
Zhang Dabiao chuckled after listening. "I knew why you were so slow to return. With your abilities, that fatso couldn't have kept you."
I gave a wry smile and didn't explain. Although there was no danger to my life this time, it was still a close call. Only I knew the joys and sorrows of it.
Just as we finished talking, Li Jian and the others entered the cave.
With them present, we couldn't continue our conversation. I didn't want to tell them about the mountain fiend. If the mountain fiend wanted to stop you from entering, I'd just watch the show. It coincided with my plan anyway.
I glanced at Li Jian, who was leading the group, and then prepared to get into my sleeping bag for a good night's sleep. After a day of toiling, my whole body felt like it was falling apart. If I didn't rest well, I'd be utterly exhausted.
Just as I turned to go to sleep, Li Jian's unpleasant voice sounded again, "Fellow Daoist Song, please wait."
Turning back to look at Li Jian, I said impatiently, "What is it? I've had a tiring day and want to rest. If you want to know something, go ask that fatso. Don't bother me."
Li Jian cleared his throat awkwardly, a faint smile on his face. "I naturally asked Fellow Daoist Kang, but he didn't explain the specific details clearly. You were the last to come into contact with the mountain fiend, so I have a few questions for you."
"I can answer, but will you pay me?"