Su Muxian nodded with satisfaction.

Others don't know, but he knows Xia Jin's personality. She is too assertive, not someone who can let others send at will and is willing to listen to other people's commands.

But at the same time, she has great advantages, especially knowing what position she is in, never encroaching, and never speaking out when she shouldn't speak. Knowing current affairs and advancing and retreating, so that even if she is in the midst of people with higher status and more power than her, she can easily and gain everyone's appreciation and respect.

This is a point that Su Muxian particularly emotionally feels. He walked out of the simple temple and threw himself into the court disputes full of deceit, and most of the methods he adopted were learned from Xia Jin. And only after practicing it, he knows how difficult it is to swim among the powerful without being trampled on.

"I know you know this better than I do, and I believe you won't be as scared as a woman in the face of it. But I'm here, isn't it? You give it to me and let me do it for you. Su Muxian turned his face, and his deep eyes flashed with determination.

Xia Jin stared at him, a smile slowly bloomed on his face, and he nodded in response, "Okay." ”

Seeing that Xia Jin did not refuse him, Su Muxian also grinned happily, his handsome but vicissitudes of life showed white teeth, making his full manhood reveal a trace of pure childishness, these two contradictory temperaments were revealed on one face, which was very harmonious and charming, which made Xia Jin's heart move.

She has experienced too many dark sides, and the one that allows her to relax and trust the most is innocence; But at the same time, she has the mentality of a little woman, hoping that the man who will depend on her for life can give her a solid support. At this time, Su Muxian tried his best to use his plump wings to wrap her in a protective posture, and his unguarded purity when facing her, deeply plucked the string hidden in her heart.

After this simple conversation, the two of them did not speak again. In this desolate place. The wind mixed with the fine sand blew on their cheeks from time to time, and they sat silently next to each other in front of a pile of embers that burned with cow dung, and both of them felt unusually comfortable and peaceful.

"What about Lord Su......" There was a faint question in front of the tent a few meters away.

"Someone looked for me, and I passed." Su Muxian glanced at Xia Jin deeply, obviously full of reluctance, but he still stood up.

He patted the sand off his body. Turning his head and telling Xia Jin: "Go to bed early." He said and took a step. Go that way.

He was already very tall, 1.8 meters tall. Recently, I have been galloping on horseback and have exercised myself greatly. The body is getting stronger and stronger. The long legs walked forward forcefully and rhythmically, and the back reflected by the embers became more and more erect and tall.

Xia Jin stared at his back, a smile on the corner of his mouth that he didn't even notice.

Having seen the tragic situation in the first epidemic area, this team of about 20 people will spend the next few days. There is always an indescribable dreary atmosphere. The scenery ahead is getting more and more desolate, and I have been walking for three or four days. I didn't see anyone. The water brought by the team was almost running out, and the dry food was gradually bottoming out, if it weren't for Ruan Zhen, an old man who had run through the border twice, he knew that he knew what he knew. The team is now in fear of panic.

"If you walk for two more days, you will probably reach the second epidemic area." Ruan Zhen looked at the yellow sand in the sky and said in a deep voice.

The situation along the way. Where are the sick soldiers, there is a detailed explanation in the excerpt handed to the emperor by Xuan Pinghou. Ruan Zhen is familiar with this road. Therefore, the specific location of the epidemic area can be estimated.

The team, which had just recovered a little, fell silent again. Everyone looked ahead with heavy expressions.

There are no living people in the first epidemic area, but what about the second epidemic area?

They didn't know how to hope that someone would live, and they didn't want it to be as silent as before. Because even if someone lives, it never gives people hope. Sometimes, living with illness is more painful than dying.

Su Muxian turned his head and glanced at Xia Jin, who was sitting next to the car window. His eyes were very complicated, as if he was giving Xia Jin strength, and as if he wanted to draw strength from Xia Jin. But just one glance, his eyes calmed down, and the floating confusion, fear and worry receded like a tide, leaving only perseverance and perseverance.

He shouted at everyone, "Go." With his legs between his legs, he rode ahead of him.

The people of the team were shocked and followed him to gallop on horseback.

Two days later, the group stopped near the second epidemic area.

This time, Ruan Zhen sent another person to investigate. Not long after, the man came back with a white face, shook his head and reported: "There are no living people." But......" he paused, "some of them seem to have just died. ”

The hearts of all the people in the team were heavy, and they stood in the dusty wilderness.

"Let's go." Su Muxian, who was wearing protective clothing, turned over and got on his horse, "Miss Xia's master and servant and sister-in-law Long stayed. ”

Xia Jin nodded.

Men are naturally protective of young girls. And the last time I came back from the epidemic area, I had hot water to wash my face and hands, and I was able to drink a bowl of reassuring medicine, and after that, everyone did not show any worrisome signs of illness. Therefore, not only did everyone have no opinion on Su Muxian's decision, but their fear was suddenly relieved, and they no longer hesitated, turned over together, and followed Su Muxian to the epidemic area.

Xia Jin's existence gives everyone a sense of security. With the protective clothing she made and the decoction she boiled, everyone believed that no matter what they encountered in the epidemic area, they would be able to avoid being infected with the disease.

After everyone left, Xia Jin asked Calamus to take out water and herbs and start boiling the medicine.

Although there is not much water left now, everyone moistens their lips every day, and there is no extra cow dung to make a bonfire at night, but they still keep the water and cow dung for medicinal purposes, in order to save their lives in the epidemic area.

This time, Su Muxian and the others did not stay in the epidemic area for as long as last time, and they came back after only one and a half hours. Probably because of the experience last time, the nerves were a little thicker, everyone's faces were not so ugly, but the mood was more dignified and low than last time, silently cleaned their hands and faces, drank the decoction, and then went on the road without saying a word, and no one spoke.

Su Muxian went against his usual pretended to be detached, and rode next to Xia Jin's carriage.

Xia Jin lifted the curtain and glanced at him, and saw that he didn't look here, let alone have any interest in talking, so he put down the curtain again—the wind and sand were too big.

And yet the next moment. She frowned, opened the curtain again, and said to Su Muxian: "Someone came on horseback behind, there were about seven or eight people." ”

Su Mu was stunned for a moment, and turned his head to look at the way he came.

Except for their group, there was no other movement except for the desolate Gobi and the wind and sand in the sky.

But he knows Xia Jin's ability very well. I also know Xia Jin's character. Xia Jin said that someone was coming. Someone must be coming.

He thought for a moment and raised his voice to everyone, "There are about seven or eight people riding here. Although there are few people, everyone still needs to be vigilant. Don't lose your life because of carelessness. ”

Even if there were merchants on this road, they stopped trading because of the imminent war. Now some people have appeared for no reason, and they are deeply responsible for escorting Xia Jin. Naturally, we should be vigilant.

When everyone heard this, they quickly looked around. There was no one to be seen on either side of the road. Listening attentively, he didn't hear the sound of horses' hooves, Ruan Zhen, who was relatively strong in martial arts in the team, frowned, and asked in a loud voice, "Master Su." Do you hear the sound of horses' hooves? ”

He believed that his martial arts were similar to Su Muxian, there was no reason why he didn't even hear the sound of horses' hooves, Su Muxian didn't just hear it. Seven or eight people could be identified.

"Yes." Su Muxian did not deny it.

His official position is higher than that of Ruan Zhen, and he walks in front of the emperor. Ruan Zhen said that he was very respectful to him. Along the way, he is the only one. But once in danger, Ruan Zhen believed that he had rich experience in dealing with the enemy, and he was afraid that he would not listen to him. In Su Muxian's opinion, no matter how high Ruan Zhen's ability is, he can't be higher than Xia Jin. The whole team should listen to Xia Jin's orders. At this time, he established his prestige, and once something happened, he could give orders on behalf of Xia Jin.

He answered this call and admonished: "Everyone should be on guard and look relaxed." If the comer is a villain, it can also make them show their feet. ”

Most of the guards immediately agreed, "Yes." Four or five hesitated, glanced at Ruan Zhen, and saw that everyone had responded, so they responded.

Su Mu looked at this situation and secretly exclaimed in his heart: "Sure enough." ”

But he wasn't angry. If you want to be the leader of a team, you have to speak with real skills. He is now inferior to Xia Jin in terms of ability, and not as good as Ruan Zhen in terms of prestige. It's normal for everyone to disagree with him.

He half-narrowed his eyes, used his strength, and listened carefully to the movement behind him.

"The sound of horses' hooves!" After a while, he heard the sound of horses' hooves coming from behind. He immediately glanced at Ruan Zhen, and saw that Ruan Zhen also had a solemn face, and seemed to be listening carefully, but judging from the expression on his face, it seemed that he had not heard the sound of horses' hooves.

Su Muxian's heart relaxed slightly. Although he is not as good as Xia Jin's ability, he is at least slightly stronger than Ruan Zhen.

After a few breaths, Ruan Zhen must have heard the sound of horses' hooves. He raised his head in shock and looked at Su Muxian: "Sure enough, someone is here." ”

He turned his head and looked behind him. After a while, a few black dots appeared on the road they had just walked, and the black dots came quickly, and gradually people could tell the number of people. Ruan Zhen counted silently, and then turned his head to look at Su Muxian in horror, his face was a little ugly.

The people who came on horseback came on horseback, no more, no less, exactly seven and a half. The reason why it is said is seven and a half is because there are eight horses, and there are only seven people who ride horses.

Su Muxian didn't have time to look at Ruan Zhen's face again. He was now facing forward, seemingly leisurely, but in fact he was engrossed, listening carefully to the number of horses' hooves on the ground. And as the sound of the horse's hooves got closer and closer, he finally used the method taught by Xia Jin to identify the number of people riding horses from the sound of the horse's hooves.

As the men drew nearer and saw them, the man at the head seemed to be overjoyed, and hastened to catch up, and then clasped his fists on his horse and said, "In the lower Bahar, you are polite." ”

If it was usual, Ruan Zhen would have stepped forward to answer. But at this time, he didn't move, rode on the horse, and waited for Su Muxian to speak: this was tantamount to acquiescing to Su Muxian's position as the leader.

Seeing this, Su Muxian had to return the salute with his fists: "Under Su Muxian, brother." ”

Everyone also hugged their fists, but they didn't speak.

Bahar laughed, revealing a mouthful of white teeth: "My brother is a businessman, and he shipped goods to the capital two months ago. When I heard about the war, I wanted to stay in the capital until the end of the war and then come back. Helplessly, there was a sick father at home, so he wanted to rush back. Unexpectedly, the road turned out to be desolate like this, and the families along the way moved away. Ahead is the Devil's Town. We wanted to be with you, so we hurried to catch up. I wonder if you'd like to go with us? ”

In every place he passed along the way, Ruan Zhen also talked to everyone in his free time. This Devil's Town is a deserted ancient city, half of which is buried underground. Taking advantage of this shelterable terrain, robbers often settled there to hide and rob passing merchants. But because there are springs and oases, it is a place for merchants to replenish, and everyone can't go around it. And because the number of robbers is small, everyone can avoid robbery by walking together, and it has become a common practice to come and go.

Su Muxian seemed to be uncomfortable by the wind and sand, stretched out his hand to block his face, and with this action, he glanced at Xia Jin without a trace.

Xia Jin nodded invisibly.

"That's fine. We're worried about the lack of people, and it's not going to be good for Devil's Town. Su Muxian agreed.

Ruan Zhen looked at Bahar and the others carefully. I saw that Bahar was in his forties, with deep eyes, a high nose and many beards, and a typical border man's appearance. The rest were in their twenties and thirties, three were of the same ethnicity as Bahar, and two were Han Chinese. It is worth mentioning that there is also a woman in this group, who is veiled, making it impossible to see her appearance and age. But judging from the costume, this woman should be a Han person.

"Let's go." Ruan Zhen said, "After another hour, it will be dark." Sleep all night, get up early tomorrow morning, and try to get past Devil's Town by noon. ”

Since Su Muxian agreed, and Ruan Zhen did not raise any objections, naturally no one in the escort team said much. Everyone said yes, and the horses continued to walk.

And the woman rode to Xia Jin's carriage, lifted her veil, and looked into the window, only to meet Xia Jin's gaze. She hurriedly smiled and accosted, "Are you going to the border gate too?" ”

Judging from the fair skin and beautiful face exposed, this is a beautiful young woman, about the same age as Xia Jin.

Xia Jin also smiled at her: "Yes." He looked at the horse under her seat again, "You are very good, you can ride a horse." ”

The woman triumphed and patted her mount: "I learned to ride a horse at the age of ten. This horse was a birthday gift from my father on my thirteenth birthday, and I have been with him for two years. ”

Two young girls, one in the car, the other outside the car chatted. (To be continued)