After the midday meal, the group set out, heading toward the shared ideal they all believed in.
By the time they reached the stretch leading into the Southern Barbarian Fort, it was already deep into the night.
As soon as the procession stopped, the brothers at the rear quickly began setting up camp.
At the front, Feng Jiu’er sat astride her white horse, head held high, chest out—despite traveling for most of the day, there wasn’t a trace of fatigue on her face.
The people of the Southern Barbarian Fort, seeing such a large group of men and horses approaching, immediately sent men out to meet them.
Coming out from the mountain ravine, every one of the men carried a torch.
“Who are you people?” The one leading them was an unusually tall, large-built man.
Even at night, in the blazing torchlight, his dark skin was clearly visible.
Feng Jiu’er looked at the man before her, who she judged to be about two meters tall, and the corner of her mouth curved up slightly.
Under the moonlight and torchlight, Feng Jiu’er’s frame was small and delicate, her skin fair, her eyes lively and bright, her nose bridge high, her mouth small, dainty, and rosy.
No one would have guessed that this petite woman was the leader of such a massive procession.
The tiny beauty, only half the height of their own captain, nonetheless radiated a presence that was anything but weak.
“I am Feng Jiu’er.” Feng Jiu’er cupped her hands in greeting toward the opposing captain. “We’d like to go in and take a look at the situation around here.”
“We mean no harm. We only hope your fort’s people will agree to let us walk through the area, and then we’ll leave.”
“Hahaha…” The captain, looking at such a delicate beauty, couldn’t resist teasing her a little.
“Since you already know that beyond here is the territory of our Southern Barbarian Fort, why would we let you in for no reason?”
Entering through the main road was a sign of respect toward others.
For now, Feng Jiu’er’s main goal was to find treasure, not to start a fight, so she certainly wasn’t going to sneak in through a side path.
Reclaiming the fort was just an idea—before finding the treasure, that probably wasn’t going to happen so easily anyway.
“To be honest, the purpose of our trip this time is to traverse the entire Black Canyon.”
“If the Black Canyon has something worth my, Feng Jiu’er’s, attention, then perhaps I’ll consider staying.”
“Hahaha…”
“Hahaha…”
Hearing such an outrageous statement from a little girl, not just the opposing captain but everyone else as well burst into laughter.
The laughter echoed deafeningly through the mountain ravine.
Feng Jiu’er still stood calmly at the head of her group, quietly watching them laugh.
“Hahaha…” The captain laughed heartily for a while, head tilted back, before his gaze finally settled back on the small girl and the laughter died down.
“Seeing how gorgeous you are, if you’re willing to stay and become the fort master’s wife, then you wouldn’t need to fight your way through—you’d be able to settle into the Black Canyon just like that.”
“What did you say?” Zhao Yusheng gave a cold snort, stepping out on Feng Jiu’er’s left.
Jian Yi rode his horse out on Feng Jiu’er’s right, his eyes sharp and full of chilling intent.
Feng Jiu’er, however, waved both hands, signaling them to stay calm.
In fact, she didn’t even need to do anything—seeing the two men flanking her on either side, the captain’s arrogant air had already faded considerably.
“Becoming the wife of some mere fort master of the Southern Barbarian Fort? Do you think I’d care?” Feng Jiu’er met the gaze of the tall, dark, burly man before her, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly.
“To be frank with you, I even turned down the position of young madam of the Zhao Family Stronghold. Do you really think I’d be more willing to become the Southern Barbarian Fort’s madam?”
“The Zhao Family Stronghold?” Hearing Feng Jiu’er’s words, the captain immediately frowned.
“Yes, the Zhao Family Stronghold.” Feng Jiu’er nodded with a faint smile.
“In every respect, the Zhao Family Stronghold is beyond comparison to the Southern Barbarian Fort. You wouldn’t disagree with that, would you?”
“More to the point, the young master of the Zhao Family Stronghold is young, accomplished, tall and handsome, and has never taken a wife or a concubine—and he’s about my age.”
Feng Jiu’er had no idea that, as she spoke of the young master of the Zhao Family Stronghold, the very young master of the Zhao Family Stronghold standing beside her had suddenly gone tense.
“With such a fine man and such a bright future laid out before me, and I still don’t want it—do you really think I’d care for the position of your fort master’s wife?” Feng Jiu’er’s mouth curved up for the third time.
“I’ll be honest with you, no matter what, I’m going in to take a look.”
“But I can promise you this: unless your people are rude to us, we won’t hurt anyone.”
“I know you can’t decide this on your own, so please go back and report to your fort master.”
“First, let us go in and walk around—I only need to get a feel for the lay of the Black Canyon. We mean no harm.”
“Second, if your fort master is interested in joining us to carve out our own future together, I might consider us all sharing the same pot of rice from now on.”
“The whole Black Canyon isn’t small. If it could be unified, none of us would have to look at anyone else’s face for approval, isn’t that so?”
Just as the opposing captain was about to argue, Feng Jiu’er’s voice rang out again.
“No need to say anything more. Just take my words back with you. It’s getting late, and our brothers need rest too.”
Feng Jiu’er glanced once more at the tall, dark, burly man before her and waved her hand.
“Go on. Be sure to relay my words back word for word.”
“Girl.” Just as Feng Jiu’er was about to turn away, the man standing beside the tall, dark man called out coldly.
Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to look at the one who had spoken, the corner of her mouth curving up slightly.
“I am Feng Jiu’er.” She looked at the man and cupped her hands in greeting.
“No one has ever dared come and act so wild at our Southern Barbarian Fort. You’re the first!” The man stared at Feng Jiu’er, his voice deep.
“If it weren’t for how beautiful you are, I would have already made my move.”
Feng Jiu’er met the man’s gaze without disdain, but also without any trace of fear.
“If you want to make your move, you may do so now.”
Hearing Feng Jiu’er’s words, the man’s expression darkened further.
“Such big talk!” He frowned and raised the broadsword in his hand.
“Today, if I don’t show you how fearsome my blade is, you’ll think our Southern Barbarian Fort is easy to bully.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the man, broadsword in hand, leapt into the air.
“Jiu’er, why should you dirty your hands dealing with him?” Zhao Yusheng raised his sword and met him head-on.
Left behind, Qiaomu, holding her silver dragon-tongue spear, felt a touch of disappointment.
While the others had been teasing Feng Jiu’er, Qiaomu had wanted to act, but Zhao Yusheng had beaten her to it.
With a series of clangs, in just three moves, the burly dark-skinned man crashed heavily to the ground.
His broadsword, weighing several dozen pounds, was flung up by Zhao Yusheng’s long sword and driven hard into the ground.
“You…” The fallen man clutched his chest, brows furrowed tightly. “What kind of sword is that?”
“Just an ordinary sword. Nothing special.”
Zhao Yusheng curved his lips slightly, turned, and leapt into the air, spinning two or three times before landing steadily back on his horse.
“Does anyone else wish to test my swordsmanship? Please, go ahead.” He looked at the men before him, opening his palm and gesturing.
One by one, the men holding torches involuntarily took half a step back. Only the man called the captain remained standing where he was.
Feng Jiu’er’s group not only outnumbered them but also had skilled fighters among them—how could the mere few dozen men who’d come out not be alarmed?