Chapter 112: The Cost of Being Foolish
December 2nd, Monday.
The temperature deep in Longquan Mountain was even colder, yet some inexplicably brave young men and women continued to crawl and roll through the damp, mottled mountain forest.
“Wan Jie, Xiao Yan, today’s training subjects are all done, and I think everyone has improved quite a bit.”
After an unknown amount of time, as the sky gradually darkened, Zhao Peng stepped out of the woods and smiled at the two women sitting on a dead tree trunk, who were softly chatting.
“Not bad, in just three days, you’ve all improved quite a bit… But there’s still a long way to go to reach combat standards; after all, none of you are professional soldiers. Discipline, coordination, and adaptability still need much training.”
Wan Yue and Jiang Yan exchanged glances, the former gently nodded at Zhao Peng: “Fortunately, our opponents are mostly a group of bullies among the Black Blood clan. This type of tactical training that aligns with Hyacinth’s characteristics is just what everyone needs; the key is to persist.”
“Zhao Peng, the issues that have arisen these past few days, please review them again based on Jiang Yan’s training outline. If you have any thoughts, just discuss them with Jiang Yan. Once Zheng Shaolin recovers, hand this matter over to him; it’s not just the blood servants here, the knights and attendants of the Jinhe Club will also take turns for training here.”
With Wan Yue’s approval and direction, Jiang Yan finally felt a weight lift from her heart; after all, gathering this content had cost her a considerable amount of energy.
Having locked eyes with Jiang Yan, it seemed they had already reached a tacit understanding regarding work; Zhao Peng was also perceptive and said little, nodding often instead.
Good physical fitness, discipline, and trust in one another are the key prerequisites for all tactics, and Hyacinth happens to excel in these areas. Especially the latter, the centripetal force established around Wan Yue is something most small factions among the wandering blood clan cannot compare with.
This time, Jiang Yan combined the characteristics of the Blood Clan to devise a tactical training outline, which gave Wan Yue and Zhao Peng more room for imagination regarding the future.
“Okay, that’s about it. Signal everyone to come back and assemble! There’s a call from Su Xiaomeng; Zheng Shaolin and the others are recovering well. Tonight, let’s have some fun and hold a bonfire party.”
Wan Yue stood up, stuffing the half-burned cigarette into a soda can serving as a makeshift ashtray. This seemingly casual good news cleverly brought a conclusion to the unsettling atmosphere of this period, reassuring everyone.
Zhao Peng understood and quickly took out his communicator, sending the scheduled assembly signal.
Before long, nearly twenty members of Hyacinth began to emerge from the jungle, gathering in the clearing. Fully armed, Jiang Yao appeared with two plump gray rabbits in hand, chattering excitedly, her eyes squinted in delight.
“Hey, sister, look! Xiao Ling and I caught two rabbits. How about we roast them when we get back?”
“Don’t be so flashy!” Jiang Yan shot an annoyed look at the smug Jiang Yao, “The training exercises should be treated seriously as if they were real combat. You went off to catch rabbits?”
“I was lying in wait near a rabbit hole, and it jumped right into my chest!”
Jiang Yao was still a bit unconvinced, and the girls around them burst into laughter.
Having completed their special training, the members of Hyacinth began to head down the mountain in groups, planning to return to the camp of Hyacinth disguised by the resort villa, everyone now hungry enough to feel their stomachs touching their backs.
At the Longquan Mountain Resort that evening, it was bustling with people.
The scale of the Hyacinth villa could accommodate the living needs of over a hundred people, yet currently, even with the “ungraduated” little blood servants, Hyacinth only totaled just over fifty members.
For the little blood servants who had been hiding and studying there for a long time, these past few days were particularly joyful, as this was the first time they had seen the vast majority of the members gathered together since joining Hyacinth; the only downside being that the familiar Zheng Shaolin was absent.
The major setback Hyacinth had recently suffered left many anxious, but as Wan Yue, Zhao Peng, and Xiao Ling nonchalantly announced some optimistic results, the suppressed emotions of both men and women among the little blood servants quickly dissipated.
In the minds of a few senior members like Zhao Peng, even with Zheng Shaolin and Xiao Dong absent, the actual combat effectiveness of Hyacinth had not diminished. With three half-barons in charge, it was the strongest moment for Hyacinth in twenty years.
The absence of culinary expert Zheng Shaolin was a significant loss, making cooking a problem. Wan Yue simply canceled the intricate cooking plan in favor of a nighttime outdoor barbecue party.
In the small square in front of the villa, a dozen bonfires were lit alongside rows of barbecue grills, and a large selection of beef, lamb, pork, chicken, duck, and exotic seafood, gathered by Zhong Jing from outside the mountain, became the barbecue ingredients.
The winter chill of the deep mountains was dispelled by the bonfires, and the flickering firelight mixed with the aroma of sizzling fat danced like fireflies in the air above the villa.
Wan Yue sat alone by the waterfall pool, eating and drinking in solitude, not joining the lively crowd.
Jiang Yan and Zhao Peng, meanwhile, sat in a corner discussing the training arrangements.
Zhong Jing, busy with the logistics, was caught up in the excitement and unconsciously blended into a large group of blood clan members, joyfully indulging and chatting with Jiang Yao.
Among the vast majority of the girls in Hyacinth, Zhong Jing was seen as a nice-tempered, handsome young man, especially with his status as Wan Yue’s disciple, which added an extra layer of trustworthiness.
Even though his reputation as a “scumbag” was not without basis, Zhong Jing had a nonchalant charm towards the girls, consistently leaving a deep impression on them with his gentle and considerate nature.
When the first skewers were done, Zhong Jing placed some on Jiang Yao’s plate, then sliced off several greasy pieces from the roasted pig’s leg, mixing them with black pepper sauce and lettuce leaves before piling them next to Jiang Yao.
This display of servitude drew rolling eyes from the self-reliant Hyacinth girls nearby.
With Zhong Jing’s attentive care, Jiang Yao completely transformed into a typical pampered girl, her plate of barbecue food never running out, and she ate with greasy lips, her cheeks puffing out like a winter hamster.
“What? Over a hundred million?! My goodness, that old Japanese lady gave you that much money just like that? Zhong Jing, did you sell your looks again?”
Hearing the whispers and smug laughter from the young man next to her, Jiang Yao’s eyes widened.
Saying that, Jiang Yao quickly wiped the grease from her hands on the hem of her tactical jacket, cautiously took the foreign exchange cheque Zhong Jing offered, and scrutinized it in the bonfire’s light.
“Seven hundred million! When she saw that long string of zeros, Jiang Yao gasped, her mind suddenly racing with thoughts.
“What selling looks? She values my abilities!”
Zhong Jing’s joyful expression slowly turned serious, a bit dissatisfied as he took the cheque back from Jiang Yao’s hands and bit into a mutton skewer, mumbling, “Just right, you’ve all been spending too much this year, this can solve a big problem. Free money is money, debts won’t be a worry if they increase.”
“Is Hyacinth really short on money? It doesn’t seem like it… Just updating the club’s clothes and shoes each month must cost about a hundred thousand,” Jiang Yao glanced around at the lively crowd, somewhat doubting Zhong Jing’s words.
“Heh, often, just a little money can be a hero’s downfall. Over the past few years, the most frequent thing Zhao said to me was about money. Do you think the expenses for the entire Hyacinth, indulging in lavish meals every day, just fall from the sky?”
Zhong Jing downed a beer in one gulp, his expression a mix of struggle: “Do you think my office is just for scamming people?”
“Isn’t it?” Jiang Yao blurted out, taken aback.
Nearby, Xiao Ling, who had been eavesdropping, suddenly sprayed her drink everywhere.
“Ha ha, Little Yao is so cute!”
Xiao Ling leaned closer, hugging Jiang Yao’s waist with exaggerated laughter: “Yes, Zhong Jing is just scamming for money and sex; that two hundred million is what he extracted from women. Tsk tsk, that He Jianqing is really a rich lady.”
“Can you not ruin the mood like this?” Zhong Jing helplessly tossed aside the beer can and picked up a few chicken wings and squid rings from the barbecue rack.
As he placed them into Jiang Yao’s plate, he remarked, “Little Yao, how do I feel like you’ve become more foolish since you became a knight?”
Saying this, Zhong Jing’s gaze inadvertently met Jiang Yan’s in a far corner. Under the flickering light of the fire, the girl with black hair had a hint of coolness on her face, neither happy nor sad, simply staring at him.
“Cough… Jiang Yan has always had an opinion of me, as if she fears I might do something to you…”
Zhong Jing avoided Jiang Yan’s gaze and turned back, only to find Jiang Yao in a daze, even forgetting to chew her food.
“What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?”
Quickly, Zhong Jing waved his hand in front of the girl’s eyes.
“Uh… It’s nothing, I was just thinking about what you said about me being foolish.”
Jiang Yao put down her plate, hugged her knees, looking thoughtful, “When I was a child, Grandma Jiang often said I was foolish, thanking my sister for taking care of me so that I wouldn’t suffer in the future.”
As she spoke, she waved to Jiang Yan in the distance, forcing a smile, which was reciprocated by Jiang Yan.
“I can see you heavily rely on Jiang Yan; you probably haven’t thought much about your independence.”
Zhong Jing pondered for a moment, choosing his words delicately: “I’m the complete opposite; not only my older brother but even my parents wouldn’t dare step into my personal life or interfere with my thoughts and choices.”
“Why be independent? My sister treats me well, and I trust her; with her there, no one will bully me, I can feel safe…”
Jiang Yao lifted her head with a light smile, speaking as if it were the most natural logic formed since childhood.
“She graduated from high school and left the welfare home to work. For those two or three years, I often had nightmares, feeling abandoned, unable to concentrate whether on studying or working. Later, when I found her again, I was so happy, I told her I’d always follow her…”
“I don’t know if it’s because I really am foolish; I never thought there’d be a day my sister might leave me… After all, I’m not her biological sister.”
As Jiang Yao reminisced, she smiled at times, felt dejected at times, was confused, and calm, as if her carefreeness from the past was merely a false facade.
“Wait, did you just say… she’s not your biological sister?”
Zhong Jing frowned, catching a small detail.
“Huh? Who told you Jiang Yan and I are biological sisters?”
Jiang Yao tilted her head, stuck out her tongue with a mischievous grin: “But in a sense, you could say we are, since the blood flowing in her veins is the same as mine.”
“Yeah, you don’t really look alike, but that’s okay… Maybe I’ve always misunderstood.”
Realizing that some matters were known only to Wan Yue and Zhao Peng, Zhong Jing smiled, not minding. In his thoughts, it was better not to delve too deeply with women, driven by the excitement of newness.
When Zhong Jing saw Jiang Yao’s eyes, pure and almost untainted, he grasped Xiao Ling’s hand behind him and smiled amicably at Jiang Yao, speaking in a surprisingly calm tone: “Jiang Yao, I guess, perhaps, you might like me, right?”
“So, don’t fool me; I actually understand. Many guests at the club have looked at me this way; I know what they think deep inside, and sometimes it feels quite interesting and thrilling…”
At this point, Jiang Yao lightly patted her slightly flushed cheeks with both hands, stealing a glance at Jiang Yan in the distance, seeming somewhat shy.
“As long as my sister is watching me, she’s never really held me back. I know if my sister restrained me, I wouldn’t have done anything truly foolish. Hmm, that’s my cost of being foolish.”
“You know, I was quite nervous for several days when she hugged your older brother that night… I know it’s not right, but I really fear that one day, I won’t seem that important in her eyes, or I won’t be the most important person anymore…”
After saying this, Jiang Yao also covered her knees, staring blankly at the bonfire not far away, silent, as her smile slowly faded.
The firelight illuminated the girl’s face, her light golden hair bathed in the passionate glow of the fire, and in her clear, dark eyes, flickered two golden flames, resembling two romantic gazes.
Seeing Jiang Yao’s rosy cheeks under the firelight, Zhong Jing’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
“Huh? You’re secretly looking at me again… Hehe, what are you staring at? You have no capital to pursue me.”
Jiang Yao suddenly turned her head, locking eyes with Zhong Jing, her beautiful big eyes glistening with mischief.
“Capital… Are you still hung up on this worn-out line? I warn you, don’t PUA me, or I’ll bring over seven or eight girls in a minute, believe it or not?”
Zhong Jing’s mouth twitched, and the bamboo skewer in hand snapped immediately, then he tossed it into the bonfire, looking helpless.
“Hehe, Zhong Jing, why do you like to tease others, and sometimes even yourself? Plus, you’re just so easy to break.”
Jiang Yao bent her knees, tilting her head, watching the young man with keen interest, pressing further: “I’ve even browsed through the ‘Tao Te Ching’; it says this is how men deliberately catch women’s attention by showing off their charm!”
“Teasing, huh…”
Zhong Jing muttered, laughing as he grabbed a skewer of meat and slowly chewed, his eyes harboring a hint of mockery.
Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds… Zhong Jing did not continue his words; instead, his expression grew calmer, even somewhat serious, as if recalling something unhappy.
Zhong Jing’s unexpected change in emotions left Jiang Yao feeling inexplicably tense; the atmosphere between them suddenly turned heavy and awkward.
“Who… who are you putting on this act for? If you’re not going to answer, then just pretend I never asked.”
Jiang Yao grimaced and turned her head away, her enthusiasm waning.
“Teasing is, in fact, a form of restraint… Do you wish for me to guess correctly?”
Zhong Jing dropped the eaten skewer, grabbed a can of beer, fixated on Jiang Yao’s face again, while his cheeky smile returned.
“……”
Zhong Jing’s words carried deeper meaning; under his gaze, Jiang Yao suddenly felt a bit guilty. She slowly turned her head away, pretending to clean the dirt on her tactical jacket, avoiding his gaze.
“Hehe, I was just joking with you. Actually, I was still teasing you; it’s about mastering the initiative in emotions. Learn it well!”
Zhong Jing suddenly broke into a wide grin, laughed out loud, and placed an unopened juice bottle on Jiang Yao’s lap.
Jiang Yao froze momentarily, then a few seconds later, anger surged from nowhere as she snatched the juice from his hand and splashed it onto Zhong Jing, then rose and walked away without looking back.
This little episode caught the attention of Xiao Ling and several other girls, who covered their mouths, whispering to one another, guessing what gossip might arise next.
Zhong Jing paid no heed to the surrounding stares; he simply lit a cigarette and smoked leisurely, his smile unwavering.
…
Unnoticed, time slipped to midnight, when a sharp whistle suddenly echoed in the night sky. Zhao Peng stood in a noticeable spot, surveying the surroundings with an experienced smile.
A cliché but effective method, especially for the blood clan who enjoy night missions; this was the perfect time to launch some training projects.
About a dozen Hyacinth members, still in battle gear, displayed briefly puzzled expressions, then, as if awakened, hurried to put down their food and stand up.
“All action members, assemble immediately and return to your dorms to sort gear. We’ll enter night training in thirty-five minutes!”
Zhao Peng blew out the whistle, his expression turning serious; beside him, Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao were already fully armed.
In the distance, Wan Yue sat up from a large stone by the waterfall pool, watching the slightly chaotic scene at the bonfire party with interest.
Zhong Jing watched Jiang Yao walk away, smiled, and then grabbed some cooked food from the barbecue rack, holding a beer can in his other hand as he turned towards Wan Yue.
