Chapter 53 : Entering the camp

Song Ying wiped the blood from her hands and face in disgust, then looked up in the direction Faer was pointing and sure enough, it was the Huo character on the army’s banners.

Chen Hong shouted, “Great! It’s our reinforcements!”

The bandits, who had been so arrogant just moments before, were now panicking at the sight of the sudden reinforcements. They didn’t know what to do.

It wasn’t long before the bandit group was utterly defeated.

Except for a few who continued to resist, the rest either surrendered or were killed.

Song Ying glanced toward the reinforcements but didn’t see Huo Zhen among them.

Seeing her still standing there dazed, Chen Hong quickly pulled her back into the carriage. “Don’t just stand there like an idiot. The bandits haven’t all been cleared out yet.”

Then Song Ying suddenly asked, “Do you really think they’re just bandits?”

Chen Hong was confused. He stretched his neck to look out at the corpse of the bandit Song Ying had killed earlier. “Aren’t they?”

Song Ying didn’t answer. Everything had happened too suddenly and too perfectly.

For reinforcements to arrive exactly in time and find the caravan so accurately, someone must have informed them in advance. And… these “bandits” had clearly been well prepared. Something felt off.

Outside, most of the bandits had been wiped out. A few fled into the mountains, and people were already pursuing them.

Song Ying jumped off the carriage and searched among the corpses on the ground. She found that some of them had strange tattoos on their faces.

She had read about them in a miscellany these tattoos were unique to the people of Xiyue, symbolizing prayers for either life or death.

“They’re not bandits. They’re from Xiyue.”

Chen Hong was shocked. “What?! People from Xiyue? How is that possible? This is Yongzhou, Dayin territory! We’re so far from the border. How did so many Xiyue people get in?”

Song Ying shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Just then, the rice shop owner returned. “It’s safe now… ahh—”

Noticing the wound on his abdomen, Chen Hong and Xiaomi quickly helped him into the carriage.

Song Ying pulled out a bottle of hemostatic medicine from her bag and gave it to him.

When he lifted his shirt, his tight abdominal muscles were revealed.

Faer blinked and exclaimed, “Boss, you’re in amazing shape!”

The rice shop owner turned away awkwardly. “Ahem, I can do it myself.”

Chen Hong teased Faer, “Little brother, why are you staring at another man’s abs? That’s a little odd.”

Faer replied seriously, “The innkeeper is about the same age, but he’s got a belly.”

The rice shop owner quickly applied the medicine, wrapped the wound, and got out of the carriage. “I’ll go take a look. You guys keep chatting.”

Song Ying asked, “Where’s your companion?”

The rice shop owner didn’t even turn his head. “Gone.”

Chen Hong said to Faer, “See? You scared him off.”

Faer: “No way?”

Song Ying: “Let’s go find the third shopkeeper.”

After regrouping with the third shopkeeper and others, everyone began counting supplies and personnel.

Thanks to the timely arrival of reinforcements, the caravan had only lost a small amount of goods. However, there were 53 casualties in total. The third shopkeeper made arrangements for those affected.

While Song Ying was helping apply medicine to the injured, a general came walking toward them.

She handed the medicine bottle to Faer and stepped forward. “Excuse me.”

The Deputy General stopped and answered in a hoarse voice, “What is it?”

Song Ying asked, “Is Huo Zhen here?”

The Deputy General frowned and replied coldly, “He’s not here,” then turned and left.

Faer overheard and muttered, “So fierce…”

“Shh,” Song Ying put a finger to her lips. “Don’t talk. Help me.”

There was a doctor traveling with the caravan. When he saw the medicine Song Ying had made, he was surprised and asked, “Boss Fang, how did you come up with this formula?”

It worked much better than the medicine he had.

Song Ying replied generously, “If you’re interested, I’ll write down the recipe for you once we get to Wucheng.”

The doctor’s eyes lit up. “Thank you so much!”

After hearing this, Chen Hong pulled her aside and said, “You’re really going to just give him the formula?”

Song Ying: “Medicine is meant for those who need it. If I can help more people, I’ll be happy.”

Chen Hong felt she didn’t get what he meant. “Boss Fang, let me remind you if you give it away for free, what if he turns around and uses it to make money? You won’t get a single coin.”

Song Ying only smiled and replied, “No problem.”

Chen Hong shook his head. “You’re way too generous. Can I try it too?”

Song Ying: “Sure.”

She could share the formula freely but whether they could find all the required herbs was another matter entirely.

Song Ying had already arranged for the pharmacy manager to purchase large quantities of medicine. When those doctors tried to make the medicine themselves but couldn’t obtain the necessary herbs or enough of them, they had no choice but to buy from her.

Master Yu didn’t allow her to profit from the newly developed medicine, but selling medicinal herbs was fine.

She was just a humble little herbal merchant.

With the Huo army escorting them, the caravan arrived in Wucheng smoothly.

As soon as they entered the city, Song Ying instinctively covered her nose.

“What’s wrong?” Chen Hong asked with concern.

Song Ying replied, “It’s nothing, just an indescribable smell.”

Chen Hong took a deep breath and said, “I don’t smell anything odd, but the place does feel a bit damp.”

Song Ying asked, “Should we go to the city first or to the military camp?”

Chen Hong said, “Let’s go to the city first, distribute the supplies, then send a team to the military camp.”

Song Ying nodded. “Faer and I will go to the military camp. Are you coming?”

Chen Hong snorted, “Of course I’m coming. I’ve never seen a real military camp.”

The city officials were already waiting. Everyone worked together to deliver the supplies into the city.

After the goods were distributed, the third shopkeeper and the city officials took charge of handing out the supplies to the people, while Song Ying and the others transported the remaining goods to the military camp.

Faer leaned on the window and asked, “Young Master, do you think General Huo will be at the camp?”

Song Ying replied, “I don’t know.”

Chen Hong asked curiously, “Why are you looking for this General Huo?”

Faer quickly said, “Of course to see him, he’s my miss—mmph!”

Song Ying covered Faer’s mouth and gave her a stern look, warning her not to talk nonsense.

Faer nodded, signaling she understood.

Song Ying released her hand and said, “We’re old acquaintances with General Huo.”

Chen Hong: “Oh? In that case, we should properly pay our respects.”

Xiaomi, in the corner, quietly turned his head away. This Boss Chen was just too naïve.

When they arrived at the destination, Faer was the first to jump out of the carriage and helped Song Ying down.

“My goodness, we’re finally here.”

“Yes, yes. Are you feeling unwell?”

Faer shook her head. “Not bad.”

Song Ying then asked Xiaomi and Chen Hong, “How about you two?”

“We’re fine. Are you feeling unwell?”

Song Ying shook her head. For some reason, her nose became more irritated the closer they got to Xiyue.

“I keep feeling like there’s something strange in the air.”

Faer said, “Then cover your nose.”

Song Ying replied, “Good suggestion.”

She took out a dark square handkerchief and covered her mouth and nose, which did make her feel a bit better.

Faer looked around and asked, “Where’s that grumpy man? He just left us here?”

Song Ying replied, “The military has strict rules. He probably had to report to the commander first.”

Faer’s eyes sparkled. “Is the commander, General Huo?”

Song Ying said, “Probably.”

Chen Hong craned his neck and reminded them, “Look, someone’s coming.”