"Brother, how are your arms?" Ying Zheng asked Qiang Yu as he walked quickly.
"The bleeding has stopped a long time ago, so it won't be a problem." Qiang He said, "But brother, according to what that guy said just now, there are their people on all the mountains now. Are they just waiting for us?"
Ying Zheng thought for a moment and said, "It's not impossible, but it seems that they are not the same group as the pursuers behind."
"Fortunately, if they had cooperated tacitly, it would have been a different result." Qiang Xu said.
Thorin said: "How about we fight back and deal with the pursuers first, and then talk about the rest?"
Qiang Yu retorted: "This is inappropriate. Firstly, we don't know the specific number and subordinates of the pursuers. Secondly, we can't let my eldest brother take such a big risk."
"It doesn't matter whether we take the risk or not." Ying Zheng said, "I just want to hurry up and hurry up. When we get to the destination, we can find help."
"Help?" The two brothers asked in surprise at the same time.
There is not even a single home among these high mountains. Where can I find help?
"Haha, do you still remember Xi Beast?" Ying Zheng said.
"Of course I remember." Qiang He said, "Although I haven't seen it with my own eyes, I can imagine what the little Nian beast looks like when it grows up. Could it be..."
Ying Zheng said: "Our helper may be better than Xi Beast in terms of combat power. It depends on whether it will take action."
The two of them then remembered that this trip was to accompany Ying Zheng to find the mythical beast. The two brothers couldn't help but get lost in imagination, imagining what the mythical beast Suan Ni looked like.
Along the valley, they passed a peak that was difficult to climb, and a short peak appeared in front of them. The bottom of the valley was also covered with dense grass and shrubs, making it impassable. The three brothers decided to climb over the short peak.
If there is an ambush, just clear it up, see if you can catch anyone alive, and then inquire for more information.
The pursuers behind him made no movement, but they discovered that two falcons suddenly appeared and circled in the sky.
"It's not good. This falcon was probably released by the pursuers." Qiang Yu said.
The Western Qiang people often use this method to determine the movements of their prey when they go out hunting or hunting wolves.
Thorin raised his hand and fired an arrow, but the range was obviously insufficient.
He wanted to raise his hand to shoot again, but Ying Zheng stopped him.
"Save some arrows for dealing with those assassins."
The three brothers packed up their clothes and began to climb up.
When we reached the halfway point of the mountain, we could faintly hear the sound of fighting each other on the top of the mountain.
what's the situation? Are there really reinforcements?
Ying Zheng made a silent gesture and led the two of them to slow down and move forward.
Approaching the top of the mountain, the sound of swords and killings gradually stopped. The three brothers hid behind a big rock and looked over there.
I saw two young men dressed as hunters holding swords against the throat of a man in black, seeming to be asking something.
Around them, six corpses were lying in a mess, seemingly lifeless.
Qiang Yu whispered: "It doesn't look like reinforcements. It seems that these two hunters had a conflict with these ambush soldiers."
The sound was not loud at first, but the two hunters seemed to have very strong ears.
"who?"
One of them raised his bow and aimed this way, while the other calmly maintained control of the assassin on the ground.
Seeing that Ying Zheng had been discovered, he slowly stood up and raised his hand to signal: "Brothers, don't be nervous. We also had conflicts with these robbers. We killed five on the other side of the mountain and escaped here."
The hunter saw that these three people were also dressed as hunters, looking embarrassed, and their knives were still stained with blood, so he put away his long bow.
"Have you fought against them too?" Orion asked.
Thorin said first: "It's almost been a day of recruiting, and there are still a lot of pursuers behind us. These few bastards alone won't make us so embarrassed."
They were indeed in a state of embarrassment. The dampness on their bodies had not yet completely dried up. Their clothes were all cut off. There were several large wounds from bee stings on their heads and faces, and blood was still oozing from their ragged arms.
"How far away are the pursuers from behind?" The hunter asked, "How many people are there? Why are they chasing you?"
Ying Zheng said: "It's a long story. We were hunting in the mountains, and suddenly we met a group of people who released a lot of bees to sting us. So we were chased to a river. We thought we had wet our clothes. Shoes and socks are fine, I never imagined that there would be someone ambushing you there."
"Those people should be the bandits here. When we saw their numbers, we ran away with all our strength. We never expected them to pursue us."
"On the hillside behind, there were five of their accomplices lying in ambush, blocking our retreat. They fought hard for a while, and finally those few managed to escape here."
As Ying Zheng said this, Solin behind him took the opportunity to apply medicine to Qiang Yu and re-bandage the wound.
No one noticed that the assassin on the ground with an injured leg had his eyes swaying and his hands moving as he listened to their conversation.
He suddenly raised his hand, but before the Hidden Sword was released, the Orion who was looking at him raised his hand and lowered his sword.
Half of the arm flew out.
With a scream, the assassin rolled on the spot.
The hunter beside him stabbed him again, and the forest became quiet again.
Orion sneered: "You want to attract thieves before you die."
Ying Zheng said gratefully: "Since the two brothers have also had conflicts with them, they are likely to be hunted down by them. How about going on the road together and helping each other."
The two hunters looked at each other and nodded.
Qiang Yu said: "There was a falcon circling above just now. It is not suitable to stay here for a long time. Let's find a hidden place to talk."
Several people nodded in agreement, then climbed over the mountains and ran towards the valley.
Finally arriving at a secluded place, the five of them sat down to rest and catch their breath.
Ying Zheng looked at the two hunters and asked, "Look at how these two young men from unknown places came to be in the wild mountains."
The hunter who had spoken to him before clasped his fists and said, "My name is Zhao Tuo. I am eighteen this year. This is my sworn brother named Yang Huai. We are both from the Zhao country and have practiced martial arts since we were young. We are here this time." Get some experience and try your skills.”
Ying Zheng cupped his hands and said, "It turns out they are brothers Zhao Tuo and Yang Huai."
Yang Huai replied: "I don't know where you are from."
Ying Zheng said: "We are all from the Qin State. We also come here to hunt and take a look at the scenery."
"Sure enough," Zhao Tuo said, "The robber said he was ordered to kill several Qin people. At first we didn't believe it, but now it seems to be true."
Qiang Yu asked: "What else did he say?"
Yang Huai said: "It's just that they shot the wrong person, but we took care of him. He begged us to spare his life, but judging from his last performance, it was you who they wanted to assassinate."
Ying Zheng looked at the two young hunters opposite and said, "They are indeed coming for us. It has nothing to do with you. You'd better find a way to escape."
Yang Huai looked at Zhao Tuo, as if asking for his opinion.
Zhao Tuo said without thinking: "We can't get rid of this matter anymore. After all, the people who killed them will be hunted down if they run out. Besides, I also have relatives in Qin who can help you get through it." This calamity is also a duty.”
Ying Zheng became interested and asked: "Do you have any relatives? What are their names? I can take you to visit them after you are free."
Zhao Tuo smiled bitterly and said: "Although we are close relatives, I have never met him. I have a cousin who followed him to Qin when he was a child. It is said that he even entered the palace and became a celebrity around the current King of Qin. There is also an aunt. , it is said that she is the mother of the Qin Dynasty, and her cousin born from my aunt is even more impressive."
Ying Zheng's mouth opened wide and he was stunned on the spot.
What Zhao Tuo is referring to is clearly Zhao Gao and Zhao Ji!
Qiang Xu said from the side: "Little brother, you can't mistake this person by mistake. If you have such a background, why don't you go to Qin to seek wealth and honor." "How can I admit it by mistake? It's all because of what my father said." Zhao Tuo said, "My father said that he was still young at that time. Later I heard from my grandfather that when he was young, he adopted a daughter from the royal family named Ji, who was my aunt, and then we had my uncle and my father."
"Later, grandpa married the aunt to the hostage of the Qin Dynasty, but unexpectedly she became the queen in the future. Later, the aunt took her cousin, the current King of Qin, to leave the State of Zhao and went to the State of Qin. Grandpa wanted his My grandson also became more promising, so we sent him away from Handan together."
"I was not yet born when they left. My cousin's name is Zhao Gao. I think you must have heard of him."
Of course, Ying Zheng knows this past event better than anyone else.
At that time, Lu Buwei accepted the ancestral order of Tai Gong and married a girl named Zhao from Ji to his father Ying Yiren. Later, after having him, his father Yiren returned to Daqin and became the crown prince. Then the Battle of Changping broke out, and Zhao Ji He was forced to take Ying Zheng in advance and rushed back to Qin with Lu Buwei's support.
Mr. Zhao gave his grandson Zhao Gao to Zhao Ji in the hope that Zhao Gao could show his prominence in Qin.
Although Zhao Ji and Zhao Gao have no actual blood relationship, she loves her nephew very much. However, the laws of the Qin Dynasty were strict, and if you wanted to enter the palace, you had to become a eunuch, so Zhao Ji took Zhao Gao into the palace, but she concealed this relationship from then on.
Ying Zheng's eyes swayed, and he stood up and said, "The relatives you mentioned are all good, and they often miss their home in Zhao country."
Of course, Zhao Tuo heard the meaning of these words and asked doubtfully: "Is it possible that my brother is... very familiar with them?"
Before Ying Zheng could say anything, Solin laughed and said, "Of course I'm very familiar with you. The person in front of you is your cousin who was born in Zhao Kingdom as you just mentioned!"
"Ah?" Zhao Tuo said in shock, "You, you, you are... King Qin?!"
Ying Zheng nodded and said, "Yes, I am Ying Zheng. If what you said is true, I am also your cousin."
Zhao Tuo met his bloody cousin in the mountains by chance. More than an accident, he was more of a surprise. His hands trembled slightly, and he knelt down on one knee and said, "Zhao Tuo, meet my brother."
Ying Zheng quickly helped him up: "Brother, get up quickly. I wonder how my uncle and aunt are doing?"
Zhao Tuo stood up and replied: "My body is fine, but I'm a little embarrassed."
"Embarrassed?" Ying Zheng asked doubtfully, "How can your Zhao family be considered a noble of the royal family, how can you be embarrassed?"
"Brother, you don't know something." Zhao Tuo sighed and said, "When you left, grandpa paid some money and took care of it. Unexpectedly, those old stubborn people made it difficult for you and turned around to express their anger at grandpa. "
"Grandpa was so ostracized that he sold his house. He also told the people who bought the house that if anyone with the surname Qin Guoying came to find him, they would find a way to notify him. But until his death, grandpa did not give you any advice. Looking forward to coming."
Ying Zheng thought to himself: No wonder he accompanied Hu Yu back to Zhao State a few years ago and went to the old house. The old couple seemed a little strange. They must have thought of grandpa's instructions, but they also knew that grandpa was gone, so they didn't speak.
"It's my fault. I should have gone to Zhao State to have a look."
Zhao Tuo shook his head and said: "How can I blame you? You managed to escape at that time, how dare you come back so easily."
"What happened next?" Ying Zheng asked.
"Later, grandma followed grandpa. My aunt probably missed her cousin, fell ill, and passed away. In order not to be sad, my uncle joined the army on his own and was never heard from again."
"Dad took us to the east of Huashan Mountain and found me a master to teach me martial arts."
After hearing this, Ying Zheng felt a little more sorry for the Zhao family, especially Zhao Gao.
"When things are over here, take me to meet your father." Ying Zheng said, "I remember when I was a child, he always hugged me. I'll ask him if he is willing to take you back to Qin with me. .”
Zhao Tuo thought for a moment, nodded and said: "Okay, let's rush out now!"
