CHAPTER 628: CHAPTER 496: REINCARNATION REALM ASSASSIN STRIKES

Ye Lingyue was increasingly frustrated, and Song Jingyun heard from some refugees that since Beiqing and Daxia Capital were unwilling to officially accept them, they planned to cross Purple Bamboo Ridge and seek livelihoods in several small countries to the west of Purple Bamboo Ridge.

Song Jingyun took the initiative to suggest accompanying the refugees.

"We promised Young Master Long to escort him all the way across Purple Bamboo Ridge. So far, the journey has been peaceful, so maybe we should take these refugees with us. There aren’t many of them, about a hundred or so. We’ll only lose a bit of time."

"I disagree. The refugees are a mixed bunch, and no one can guarantee that there aren’t any ill-intentioned people among them."

The two team leaders from Emperor’s Slaughter disagreed.

It had been three days since they set out, and although there were only a few sporadic beast attacks and no encounters with assassins, they were approaching Purple Bamboo Ridge, where the terrain was rugged, and no one could guarantee they wouldn’t encounter danger.

"Miss Lanlan, what do you think?" Song Jingyun asked, glancing at Lan Cai’er.

Lan Cai’er furrowed her brows, glanced at Song Jingyun, and saw a provocative look in his eyes.

"I also disagree. Our mission is to escort Little Steamed Bun, his safety comes first. We are mercenaries, not sanctimonious do-gooders."

Lan Cai’er’s response surprised Dao Ge.

"Just as I thought, some people are selfish. These refugees look quite pitiful, and we feel that we should escort them along. Besides, with the strength of our dozen or so people, we’re not afraid of a hundred refugees." Xia Family’s Three Sisters scoffed.

"Let’s not argue anymore. Why don’t we vote on it and see which side has more people, then decide what to do with the refugees," Song Jingyun said, seeing both sides starting to quarrel and hastily came out to mediate.

The vote was without suspense.

Blood Drink had more people than Emperor’s Slaughter, plus Long Baobao saw a child about his age among the refugees and was overwhelmed with sympathy, so the hundred or so refugees were allowed to stay.

"That Song Jingyun is not simple," Ye Lingyue remarked, watching Song Jingyun mingle harmoniously with the refugees. "In any case, let’s be cautious."

Lan Cai’er nodded in agreement.

While she was out starting a fire, she encountered Dao Ge again.

"Lan Cai’er, you’ve changed," Dao Ge didn’t expect that the hot-blooded, justice-loving Lan Cai’er would today so coldly oppose keeping the refugees.

"Captain Dao, I didn’t expect you, someone from the Demon Sect, to turn into a good person. Indeed, the power of love is great, blurring the line between right and wrong," Lan Cai’er said with biting sarcasm.

"Lan Cai’er, I’m warning you for the last time, don’t get too close to Evil; he’s not simple," Dao Ge couldn’t understand why Lan Cai’er, who used to cling to him, had now become like a hedgehog.

Even if he had harmed his father, Lan Yingwu had also killed many from the Demon Sect.

"I’ll return that exact message to you. You should be careful of the person beside your pillow. Sometimes, the person closest to you is the most deadly," Lan Cai’er frowned, not far behind her, Yan Jiu was shouting loudly.

"Lan Lan, I asked you to make a fire, not to have a baby, dragging your feet like this. It’s your turn to keep watch, come back quickly."

She pursed her lips, got up, and walked towards the camp.

Dao Ge took a step forward but finally turned around and strode away.

Due to the addition of the refugees, the team’s progress significantly slowed.

Fortunately, the journey remained peaceful throughout.

It wasn’t until the seventh day when the team entered the area around Purple Bamboo Ridge.

Purple Bamboo Ridge, true to its name, had vegetation unlike that near Mercenary City, with purple bamboo growing all over the hills and fields.

From a distance, it looked like a massive cover of purple clouds enveloping the mountains.

Since this area had Purple Gold Bamboo, the number of Spiritual Beasts had surged, and they also encountered several small groups of bandits along the way, fortunately, the team leaders managed to stop them.

But even so, after a full day, everyone’s nerves were tightly wound.

"Settle the refugees well, deploy at least two people on each side, and take turns patrolling."

After nightfall, after discussing with Emperor, Dao Ge quickly made a decision for an all-night patrol.

When Ye Lingyue and Long Baobao returned to the camp, Long Baobao also brought back the refugee child who accompanied them.

"Sister Hei, can Little Xiao sleep with me, please? He doesn’t sleep well at the refugee camp every day?" Long Baobao blinked his big eyes, looking at Ye Lingyue.

Children of the same age always easily become good friends. This boy named Little Xiao, like Long Baobao, was six years old this year. Due to the appearance of Qiankun Purple Gold Bamboo, his family was killed by a group of Evil Alchemists who came to the village to inquire about the whereabouts of Qiankun Purple Gold Bamboo.

He also became an orphan, living solely with his grandfather.

Ye Lingyue glanced at the little boy, who was trembling with fear, and nodded.

As night fell, Long Baobao and the boy named Little Xiao soon fell asleep.

Ye Lingyue watched over them for a while, and before the third watch, she too went to sleep.

As soon as the sound of Ye Lingyue’s breathing could be heard in her sleep, the eyes of the boy named Little Xiao immediately opened.

The little boy quickly climbed up.

He lifted the tent canvas and looked outside.

Outside the tent, it was quiet, and Zhuge Yi, who was responsible for patrolling tonight, had fallen asleep beside the campfire.

Next to the campfire, there was a water bag scattered.

A sinister glint flashed across the eyes of the little boy, remarkably incongruent with his age.

He raised his hand, and from beneath his thin inner garment, a dagger slid out. He walked over to Long Baobao’s side and was about to slash at his throat, his movements showing the seasoned skill of an experienced assassin.

Just as the dagger was about to cut through Long Baobao’s throat, a sudden "ding" sound was heard.

The little boy’s wrist went numb, and the dagger was directly knocked out of his grip.

And the one who had knocked away the dagger was the supposed "sleeping" female mercenary.

The little boy was shocked.

The dagger fell to the ground, and Long Baobao, who had been sound asleep, suddenly woke up.

"Little Xiao?"

Long Baobao was still a bit groggy. The boy coldly snorted, and his figure flashed past like lightning, attempting to capture Long Baobao.

A thunderous finger force landed at his feet.

Long Baobao had already been grabbed by Ye Lingyue, who had moved to the side.

"Your skills?"

"Strange, isn’t it? Why didn’t I pass out? How come the poison your accomplices placed upstream in the water source didn’t affect us? Because I never drank the water you poisoned."

Ye Lingyue was naturally vigilant. When she was out on missions, all the water she drank was from Hong Meng Heaven.

Ever since Song Jingyun took in these refugees, she had secretly switched the water for both the people of "Emperor’s Slaughter" and Long Baobao to Rainbow Creek Water.

Sure enough, these refugees had an issue; they had placed a colorless, tasteless poison in the stream’s upstream that even a silver needle could not detect.