Night Watch, Something Strange Happened in the Tent!

The forest was silent at night.

The sound of two people arguing came from inside the tent.

It seemed to regain some life at that moment.

"Take this! I'll stab you to death. So you're at the Xiantian Ninth Heaven, huh?"

Daoist Priest Four-Eyes raised one hand in a scissors gesture and jabbed it toward Master Yixiu's eyes.

"Hey! You old Daoist, how dare you use a dirty trick!"

Master Yixiu retaliated, swiftly using the monkey-steals-the-peach move.

"Ow, I..."

Daoist Priest Four-Eyes was caught off guard. He clamped his legs together and covered his lower body in agony.

Rustle.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps interrupted the two bickering men.

"Martial Uncle, Senior Disciple Brother, stop fooling around. Something seems to have happened."

Lin Fan became alert and stopped the two after hearing the noise.

Jia Le and Qingqing hurriedly got up and walked over.

They saw Dong, South, West, and North running over in a rush outside the window.

"This is bad! Master, something terrible has happened!"

A Dong shouted loudly.

"What happened? Don't panic. Take your time and explain."

Lin Fan reached out to support A Dong and asked him.

A Dong took a deep breath before continuing. "Master, we were patrolling together just now when we suddenly discovered that one of the corpses you told us to deal with earlier was missing. We counted them after finishing the job. There were ten in total, but now there are only nine."

"Are you sure you counted correctly? Did you check carefully and make sure?"

Daoist Priest Qian He asked repeatedly, his expression solemn.

A Dong recalled the details before answering, "Master, I'm absolutely sure. It's precisely because I'm sure that this feels even stranger. While we were cleaning up, there was one soldier I remembered especially clearly. He was tall and thin, with exceptionally long fingers. He was much more refined-looking than the other soldiers. Rather than looking like a soldier, he looked more like someone from a scholarly family. He's the only one missing, so I'm completely certain."

How could there be a soldier with such delicate and handsome features?

If he hadn't been wearing a soldier's uniform, no one would have thought he was a soldier.

After saying that, A Dong couldn't help muttering inwardly.

"Did you search the surrounding area carefully?"

Daoist Priest Qian He continued asking.

"Master, we searched everywhere. The four of us dug through every corner, large and small, but we didn't find anything."

A Dong answered helplessly.

Daoist Priest Four-Eyes stepped forward and said, "Junior Brother, don't overthink it. This forest is enormous. It wouldn't be strange if a wild wolf dragged the body away."

Daoist Priest Qian He nodded and agreed. "That's true. There's no use overthinking it. Everyone, hurry up and rest to conserve your strength. To be safe, let's take turns keeping watch tonight."

"Then I'll take the first shift, Master. All of you elders should rest first."

Upon hearing that, A Dong volunteered to take responsibility.

"That won't do. Let me keep watch with your martial uncle and Master Yixiu. You juniors should all go rest."

Daoist Priest Qian He thought for a moment before speaking.

"Master, I'm really fine. I can still stand guard properly."

A Dong insisted.

Daoist Priest Qian He was about to speak again.

Lin Fan stepped forward and raised a hand to stop him.

He said, "Martial Uncle Qian He, don't tire yourself out. Besides, you suffered a minor injury tonight. Go rest first. I'll stay with A Dong. That should be all right, shouldn't it?"

As soon as he finished speaking,

everyone seemed to have taken a reassurance pill.

They exchanged glances and all nodded.

"Oh, right. There's one more thing. Remember to replace the glutinous rice for that little brat while you're at it tonight."

Daoist Priest Four-Eyes picked up a packet of glutinous rice from his waist and tossed it to A Dong.

With that,

everyone returned to the tent to rest.

A breeze swept past, making the forest in the dead of night feel especially cool.

Jia Le entered the tent and immediately fell asleep.

The two Daoists and the monk closed their eyes and rested.

Amid the sound of steady snores, everyone continued sleeping peacefully.

Faint firelight flickered outside the shelter.

The flames licked at the silent night, illuminating the dark forest.

Lin Fan and A Dong gathered some firewood and built a bonfire.

"Now that I think about it, it really is a little cold, Senior Disciple Brother."

A Dong sniffed and started a conversation.

"It's fine. Sit a little closer and warm yourself by the fire."

Lin Fan pointed at the bonfire as he replied.

After that, neither of them spoke again.

The warm firelight shone over their bodies, making them feel comfortable.

Lin Fan enjoyed the tranquility of the moment.

A Dong seemed troubled as he stared at Lin Fan through the firelight.

When I said I'd keep watch, everyone seemed worried.

Even Master didn't trust me. But the moment Senior Disciple Brother spoke,

everyone seemed especially happy and reassured.

Judging by age, I'm several years older than Senior Disciple Brother Lin Fan.

What kind of world is this?

Comparing people really is enough to infuriate a person.

Unable to suppress his sighs, A Dong unconsciously shook his head.

Lin Fan noticed that something was wrong.

He chuckled and said, "Why do you keep looking at me? Is there something on my face?"

"N-no, Senior Disciple Brother."

A Dong was caught off guard and became extremely awkward.

He quickly replied, "Senior Disciple Brother, I just feel that you're too amazing. You've already reached the Xiantian Fifth Heaven, while I can't even touch the hem of your robe. I wonder when I'll get the chance to touch that threshold!"

Lin Fan merely shrugged, completely unconcerned.

Seeing how dejected the boy looked,

if he told him that he had advanced to the Xiantian Seventh Heaven tonight,

it would probably make him feel even worse. He might even—

A Dong saw that Lin Fan seemed embarrassed again.

He continued, "Back in my master's branch of the Maoshan, I was considered one of the more talented members of the younger generation. I also had some attainments in formations. I couldn't be called a so-called prodigy, but I was still considered a talented disciple of the sect.

"But ever since I met you, Senior Disciple Brother, I've learned what it means to be a frog at the bottom of a well. Facing a genius your age who has already reached the Xiantian Fifth Heaven... Sigh, I'm far too inferior!"

A Dong's successive praises left Lin Fan feeling awkward all over.

You're praising the wrong person, brother. I'm already at the Xiantian Seventh Heaven.

If A Dong found out, wouldn't he bang his head against a wall and die?

Lin Fan chuckled and hurriedly comforted him. "A Dong, don't think about these things. Everyone has their own opportunities. Perhaps yours just hasn't arrived yet."

A Dong merely shrugged.

Then he stood up and said, "Forget it. It's almost time. I'll go replace the glutinous rice for the Seventy-One Prince."

With that, he turned and walked toward the tent.

"Phew!"

As he watched A Dong walk away,

Lin Fan secretly let out a long sigh of relief.

Good riddance. If we kept talking, I wouldn't have known how to comfort you after all your praise.

I'm pretty good at comforting women. All you have to do is tell them to drink more hot water.

But comforting men...

Young man, why are you so depressed?

You have to believe that hope lies in tomorrow.

"You... Why are you here?!"

A Dong's blood surged as he cried out in alarm.

Before Lin Fan could think any further,

a sudden cry came from inside the tent.

Lin Fan spread out his aura.

He sensed that there seemed to be an unusual presence inside the tent.

He abruptly rose and leaped forward in a single step.

He shot toward the tent.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

Bang!

A loud sound rang out.

Glutinous rice scattered all over the ground, and A Dong grunted.

His entire body was sent flying out of the tent.

It looked as though he had suffered a heavy blow.