86. Suppressing the Bandits
"Xiao Kongming, are you still reading?" Yun Ling walked over with a few pastries.
Xiao Kongming was initially delighted to hear Yun Ling's voice, but then pretended not to care.
"It's Yun Ling."
Xiao Kongming held the book, but her eyes couldn't help glancing at the pastries in Yun Ling's hands.
"...Never mind, let's take a break. It's essential to balance work and rest."
When Yun Ling heard Kongming call him by his name, his lips twitched, but he didn't take it to heart and patted her head.
"Yes, that's true!"
Xiao Kongming then put down her book and picked up the pastries to enjoy them.
"Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Rita is here to help you."
Kongming basically spends all her time in the study, which is completely unlike what one would expect from someone her age.
"Grandpa doesn't know how much longer he can hold on. I must grow up quickly and become strong enough to support the entire Ming Empire." Xiao Kongming shook her head sensibly.
"If my third brother knew how hard Xiao Kongming worked, he would be very pleased in heaven," Yun Ling couldn't help but sigh.
Adopting Xiao Kongming was actually an accident.
He was originally a fourth-rank commander in the Ming Dynasty, but his entire family was exterminated because he was involved in some matters. To save his life, he launched a rebellion.
His third brother was killed when he led troops to suppress the rebellion, and the rebels disappeared without a trace.
Yun Ling rushed there upon learning of this, but it was too late; only the hidden Xiao Kongming remained in the military camp.
Because Kongming was born in a military camp, and that camp was cleared out by rebels, no one knew about this.
Yun Ling recognized the Third Prince's daughter, his niece, from the jade pendant in her bosom.
"Hmph, the person who used me as a shield has no right to say that." Xiao Kongming turned her head away, looking sullen.
Yunling didn't reveal her true identity, but instead allowed Kongming to appear in everyone's sight as Yun Ling and Rita's daughter.
After learning of this, Kongming would call him by his full name whenever they were alone, as a small act of revenge.
"Alright, alright, don't be angry anymore. If you get angry easily when you're little, you won't grow tall." Yun Ling pinched Xiao Kongming's little face.
"No way!" Kongming said, gesturing wildly, clearly quite concerned about her height.
After playing with Xiao Kongming for a while longer, Yun Ling took away the empty dessert plate.
"Rita, you're still awake? Is something the matter?" Yun Ling asked, curious as he saw that Rita's room was still brightly lit. He pushed open the door and went in to inquire.
Rita was looking at the dossier with her delicate brows slightly furrowed, as if she had something on her mind. When she saw Yun Ling arrive, she smiled slightly and moved aside to let Yun Ling sit next to her.
"In recent years, there has been a bandit group in the northern desert that frequently robs caravans traveling between countries and sells women and children as slaves."
"The Ming Empire sent troops to suppress them many times, but the complex terrain and the desert environment gave the bandit groups that had been entrenched in the northern desert a natural advantage."
"Not only are they skilled at using the terrain to hide themselves, but they can also set up ambushes based on the terrain."
"Moreover, this bandit group isn't your average bandit group. They're as well-trained as an army. Under their leader's command, scattered searches will be easily defeated, and once an encirclement is launched, they hide like rats..."
Yun Ling lowered his head and pondered for a moment.
"How about I go?" Yun Ling suggested.
The current situation of the Ming Empire isn't optimistic. Although it is powerful, it has attracted the apprehension of many neighboring countries.
With increasing friction, the Ming Empire had no choice but to allocate a large number of troops to guard the frontier.
If the banditry in the northern desert isn't dealt with soon, it will greatly reduce trade between countries, thus slowly weakening the Ming Empire's national strength.
This could lead to serious hidden dangers if it continues in the long run.
"But my husband, your health…" Rita was clearly worried.
Her fingers gently traced the sword wound that ran across his entire body.
"It's nothing serious, at least I can still draw my sword," Yun Ling chuckled.
"Husband, please don't force yourself," Rita said, knowing she couldn't persuade him otherwise.
"Don't worry, who do you think your husband is... cough, cough, cough cough..." Yun Ling started coughing violently before he could even finish speaking.
A large amount of blood gushed from his mouth, staining Rita's desk red.
"Sigh." Rita rubbed her forehead, already used to this kind of thing.
The next day, Ahua lay on the ground crying and making a scene.
"I want to go too! I want to go too! Ling, please take me with you!"
Ahua looked at Yunling with teary eyes.
"I'm not going there to play around..." Yun Ling pinched his brow and pondered for a while.
"Why don't you take Ahua with you? Going out for a walk now and then might help her recover her memory," Rita said with a smile.
"Okay, okay, I'm going to take you with me."
Helpless, Yun Ling had no choice but to take Ahua with him to the northern desert.
"Yay! I love Ling the most!" Ahua instantly perked up.
Yun Ling took Ahua on a flying sword to the northern desert.
To everyone's surprise, Ahua wasn't scared at all; instead, she looked at the scenery below with a sense of wonder.
"Ah~~" Ahua opened his mouth to the oncoming airflow and made a slight trembling sound.
"Be careful not to drool," Yun Ling teased.
"No way!" Ahua glared at him with shame and indignation, then wiped her mouth with her sleeve without leaving a trace.
However, the journey was destined to be tedious, and Ahua soon lost interest in the scenery below. She yawned and leaned against Yun Ling, falling asleep.
Yun Ling was also somewhat worried about whether Ahua could recover.
After recovering, will she be Jingwei or Ahua?
Will Ahua's memories remain in her mind?
These are all still unclear...
He was greedy; he didn't want to lose either Ahua or Jingwei.
"We've arrived," Yun Ling reminded her.
"Um... let me sleep a little longer..." Ahua rubbed her eyes, looking reluctant to get up.
"I'm really troubled by you. Come on up." Yun Ling squatted down slightly.
"Hehe." Ahua lightly leaped onto his back.
"Let's go! Let's go!" Ahua shouted to Yun Ling.
Yun Ling carried Ahua on his back and walked forward.
The destination wasn't far from here, and with his exceptional hearing, the bandit gang had nowhere to hide, and he easily found their base.
However, it seems that someone else has already arrived here before them.
The young girl moved with agility and easily subdued the four bandits.
"Your Golden Sands Gang has a few people; there are only four of you. Where are the others?"
The girl sat sideways on the back of the big man, her slender fingers gently tapping the back of his head as she asked.
"I want to hear the truth."
The girl issued an ultimatum.
Suddenly, the girl looked up and gazed at the person approaching from not far away.
...