A Familiar Scene

"Brother, when you go to the checkpoint with Qi Lang later, I won't go with you," Li Wu Ya said.

Li Qi Lang looked puzzled and asked, "Why not, Wu Jie?"

Li Wu Ya patted her naive brother's head and explained, "I need to stay behind because if I go, others will know that I also possess martial skills."

Li Qi Lang blinked, "But you already know martial arts!"

Li Wu Ya raised her chin confidently, "Yes, but as a girl, I learned martial arts for self-protection, not for gaining recognition or establishing a career. I don't need others to know or approve of my abilities."

"If outsiders don't know about my martial arts, they will protect me even more. By saving the black-clad people who couldn't be saved by others, we will undoubtedly be noticed by important figures. If I'm present, it might leave a bad impression, which could be detrimental to our future interactions."

Li Qi Lang was still puzzled, "I don't get it, Sister. How does this relate to picking a wife?"

Li Wu Ya sighed, "People prefer gentle and quiet girls. I need to protect my reputation. If I'm always seen fighting alongside you, how can I have a good reputation? Keeping my martial arts hidden will be better for my future."

Li Qi Lang still seemed confused, prompting Li San Lang to understand his sister's thinking. He chuckled and said, "I don't think we'll have much chance to interact with General Zhuang and the others in the future."

Li Wu Ya nodded and pointed at the young man, "Brother, we saved his life. We don't have any strong ties, and that can be our breakthrough."

Li Qi Lang added, "We are his saviours; we don't have any real connections. So, there's no need to think too much about it."

Li Wu Ya ignored Li Qi Lang's comment and focused on her older brother. Li-San Lang understood her point and said, "Father risked his life to secure a chance to change our family's military status this time. Mother has been worrying every day while we were on the battlefield. We have had too few days to be together as a family."

"That third party going to the Northern Yan's rear is not related to us. We are now in the Northern Yan's rear, stealthily handling their troops and successfully rescuing two people. It proves the formidable strength of the person who intervened. If we reveal ourselves, the officials at Dielian Pass will try to keep us, and even my silly little brother might be kept there."

Li Wu Ya smiled and nodded, as she had the same thoughts.

Going to the Northern Yan's rear, silently dealing with their troops, and successfully rescuing two people – these achievements were impressive. There was no need to continue taking risks on the battlefield when their family's military status had been resolved.

Li-San Lang continued, "Now that our family's military status has been resolved, there's no need to take unnecessary risks. You and Qi Lang should head over to the checkpoint."

Li Wu Ya agreed, "Yes, you should go quickly."

Li Qi Lang chimed in, "Oh, right! If that young man has a powerful background, make sure to ask for some benefits!"

"Wu Jie, you can rest assured, I'm here," Li Qi Lang said, patting his chest confidently.

At this moment, no one noticed that the young man's fingers moved slightly.

Afterwards, Li San Lang and Li Qi Lang each carried an injured person and ran towards Dielian Pass.

Inside Zhuang Yutang's tent, Cai Jian Cheng was consumed by extreme grief, and Zhuang Yutang sat beside him without saying a word. At this moment, any words of comfort would be superfluous.

Just then, Deputy General Xu Cheng Kun rushed in, appearing anxious.

Zhuang Yutang looked displeased, "What's so urgent?"

Xu Cheng Kun was gasping for breath, his face still showing disbelief, "General, Lord Governor, Lord Cai has been rescued!"

"What?!" Both Cai Jian Cheng and Zhuang Yutang stood up in shock.

Zhuang Yutang asked hurriedly, "What happened?"

Before Xu Cheng Kun could finish, Cai Jian Cheng quickly stepped up to him and grabbed his collar, asking anxiously, "You're not lying to me, right? What do you mean by my son being rescued? Is he alive?"

Xu Cheng Kun nodded quickly, "Young Master Cai is alive. I saw it with my own eyes. He was just sent to the army medic tent."

Before Xu Cheng Kun could finish, Cai Jian Cheng had already rushed out of the tent in a flash.

Xu Cheng Kun was finally free and took a deep breath, "Lord Governor's grip is really strong; I almost got choked."

As he regained his breath, Zhuang Yutang asked, "What exactly happened?"

Xu Cheng Kun exclaimed in astonishment, "General, it's Li San Lang. He took his ten-year-old brother and rescued both Li Zhang Sen and Young Master Cai."

Zhuang Yutang's calm demeanour was gone now, and he sounded urgent, "Explain it clearly. Did they bring back the bodies of the two or are they both still alive?"

Xu Cheng Kun said, "Both of them are alive. I checked their pulses, and they're both still alive."

Hearing this, Xu Cheng Kun was also incredibly surprised. They had fought against Tuoba Yun for so many years, and they knew just how ruthless he was. Those who burned Northern Yan's food supply would never be spared.

However, Li Zhang Sen and Young Master Cai both survived!

Zhuang Yutang was first shocked and then relieved, "As long as Young Master Cai is fine, the Personal Guards not bringing him back will surely be upsetting for Lord Cai. But now, there's no need to worry about that anymore."

With that, Zhuang Yutang left the tent and headed straight for the army medic tent.

When he arrived, Zhuang Yutang didn't see Governor Cai or Young Master Cai. Before he arrived, Governor Cai had already taken his recovered son to be treated in his tent.

This was not surprising to Zhuang Yutang. After all, Governor Cai was the Emperor's uncle, and the Emperor had assigned two imperial physicians to accompany him to the border to ensure his safety.

Now, there was only Li Zhang Sen inside the tent, and several military doctors were swiftly dealing with the wounds all over his body.

Li-San Lang and Li Qi Lang were standing anxiously nearby.

Zhuang Yutang walked up and examined Li Zhang Sen's injuries. There was almost no intact part of his body. Yet, he was still alive, which was a testament to his great fortune.

Even the military doctors were amazed.

"Captain Li has a robust body. If it were someone weaker, they wouldn't be able to withstand such serious injuries," one of the doctors said, looking at Li San Lang and Li Qi Lang.

Li-San Lang nodded, "Yes, we bandaged him up. Did we do it correctly?"

The doctor smiled and said, "Yes, you did a good job. The hemostatic powder and golden wound medicine you used were quite effective. I checked Li Captain's wounds, and they stopped bleeding so quickly because of the medicine you used. Where did you get these medicines?"

Hearing this question, even Zhuang Yutang turned his gaze to Li San Lang and Li Qi Lang.

Li-San Lang calmly replied, "My maternal family are hunters from the mountains, and they also collect herbs when hunting. My mother learned some medicinal knowledge from them, and we siblings know a little bit about it too. These medicines were all made following our maternal family's old recipes."

Upon hearing that the medicine came from someone else's old recipe, the doctor stopped asking further questions. Medicinal recipes with extraordinary effects were usually passed down as family secrets.

Zhuang Yutang looked at the two brothers and then at the doctor. "Be sure to treat Captain Li well," he said.

The doctor immediately nodded, "General, rest assured, we will do our best. However, Captain Li's injuries are severe. Even if he survives, he will need careful recuperation in the future."

Li Qi Lang glanced at the speaking doctor, sneered, and quickly lowered his gaze.

With his sister around, it wouldn't take long before his father regained his vigor!

Zhuang Yutang noticed Li Qi Lang's small gesture, raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. After confirming that Li Zhang Sen was not in danger, he led the two brothers out of the medical tent.

Back in his own tent, Zhuang Yutang finally spoke up, "Tell me, how did you rescue your father and Young Master Cai?"

Li San Lang immediately recounted the rehearsed account, omitting Li Wu Ya and inventing two skilled martial artists who appeared to help them.

"If those skilled martial artists hadn't suddenly appeared and killed the Northern Yan soldiers, we wouldn't have been able to bring my father and Young Master Cai back so smoothly."

Zhuang Yutang frowned, "Skilled martial artists?"

Li Qi Lang quickly nodded, "Yes, skilled martial artists. They were incredible, leaves were flying everywhere, and the Northern Yan soldiers fell to the ground without getting up."

Zhuang Yutang looked at the two brothers, and though their story seemed reasonable, he still felt something was off. He was about to dig deeper when a soldier outside announced that Governor Cai had arrived.

Upon hearing that the Governor had come, Li Qi Lang's eyes brightened, and he excitedly blinked at Li San Lang.

They really rescued an important figure!

He had heard from the military doctor that the young man with the white complexion was the Governor's son, and he was even a little lord.

Soon, Cai Jian Cheng entered the tent, and when he saw Li San Lang and Li Qi Lang, his stern face softened with gratitude.

If it weren't for these two, he would have lost his son!

Cai Jian Cheng walked up to Li San Lang, patted his shoulder, and then took the main seat that Zhuang Yutang offered.

"I heard from General Zhuang that you performed well on the battlefield. Being able to enter the Northern Yan's rear and rescue my son and your father shows that you have real skills. So, how about becoming one of my Personal Guards?" Cai Jian Cheng made his most sincere offer.

For Li San Lang, a commoner from a military household, becoming a Personal Guard to a second-grade official was undoubtedly a great honor.

In the past, Li San Lang might have accepted, but now he shook his head and refused, "Thank you for your kind offer, Governor. But my father is seriously injured, and I am the eldest son. I need to go home and take care of him."

Cai Jian Cheng hadn't expected to be rejected. He truly wanted to thank these two brothers. Asking Li San Lang to be a Personal Guard was both a way of repaying their kindness and recognizing their talents.

"What can you do at home?" Li San Lang looked at Zhuang Yutang, "My father will return, and the change of our family's military household registration will still be valid, won't it?"

Zhuang Yutang nodded, "Of course, it will still be valid." He knew that Governor Cai didn't understand these minor details, so he explained, "Before, Li Zhang Sen proposed to change their family's military household registration."

Cai Jian Cheng fell silent upon hearing this. He looked at Li San Lang and said, "Your talents shouldn't be buried. Especially at such a young age, given time, you could have a bright future on the battlefield."

Li Qi Lang couldn't help but interject, "Not necessarily. My father is so skilled in killing enemies, but he has always remained a squad leader. People without skills have become centurions."

Hearing this, Cai Jian Cheng looked at Zhuang Yutang.

Zhuang Yutang glanced at the two brothers and then quietly said to Cai Jian Cheng, "I'll explain to the Governor later."

Cai Jian Cheng knew that it must be about using connections and backdoors to replace genuinely talented individuals. Such things were common everywhere.

Zhuang Yutang was stationed at Dielian Pass, which was relatively fair. He was still satisfied with it, and he wouldn't make things difficult for him at this time. But looking at Li San Lang, he said, "Your family's registration has been changed, and you can still be my Personal Guard. It's not contradictory."

Li San Lang still refused, shaking his head.

Zhuang Yutang was surprised by Li San Lang's determination. Even if the Li family became civilians, life would still be difficult in this border region. Military households had fields at least, but civilians would lose even that.

How would the Li family make a living then?

Seeing Li San Lang's unwavering will, Cai Jian Cheng stopped trying to persuade him further, "Alright, I respect your choice. If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime."

After that, Cai Jian Cheng didn't say anything else and just picked up his tea, sipping slowly.

Li Qi Lang couldn't bear this ending. They had saved his son, yet they didn't receive any tangible rewards?

Li Qi Lang suddenly covered his chest and stood up, making an expression as if he was enduring great pain.

His movement immediately drew the attention of both Cai Jian Cheng and Zhuang Yutang.

Li San Lang was taken aback for a moment before he anxiously asked, "Qi Lang, what's wrong?"

Li Qi Lang forced a nod, "Brother, I'm fine. It's just that when I carried Young Master Cai out from the corpse pile, someone hit me with a palm. I'm just feeling a bit better now."

Li San Lang instantly understood that his brother was putting on an act. His face froze, and he had no choice but to support Li Qi Lang and play along.

"Brother, I thought several times that we might be killed by the Northern Yan soldiers. But we made it out alive, so I can definitely bear this little injury."

Although he said that, Li Qi Lang's expression of pain seemed to intensify.

Li San Lang had never known that his brother was such a good actor. Look at how twisted his facial features were from the supposed pain. If he hadn't known the truth, he would have believed it himself.

Cai Jian Cheng observed Li Qi Lang's performance, feeling somewhat silent. After a while, he took off the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Li San Lang, "This is my personal jade pendant. In the future, if you encounter any troubles, you can come to the Governor's residence with this pendant and find me."

After he finished speaking, Zhuang Yutang clearly saw a spark of excitement in Li Qi Lang's eyes. He couldn't help but sigh; this little guy was just like when he was a child. He remembered that back at the post station, Li Qi Lang and his twin sister were daring and audacious. Now, he dared to ask for benefits from the Governor.

Sure enough, they were twin siblings who understood each other's hearts!