Sending Yin (1)

When his senses returned, Yu Xing found himself sitting on the ground, his rear aching from a stone jutting up beneath him.

The area around him was noisy. The mountain breeze carried the scent of wild grass and animals, though he couldn't tell whether it was fresh or overpowering.

He opened his eyes. A leather water flask came flying at him. The burly man who'd thrown it had dark skin and wore coarse hemp clothes. His hair was carelessly tied into a bun on top of his head. He called out to Yu Xing, "Boss, have a drink! We'll be eating soon. Want the brothers to go catch a couple of rabbits or pheasants?"

Several men dressed just like him swallowed hungrily.

...Boss? Had he become a bandit chief without even noticing? Yu Xing's first reaction was to gripe inwardly.

He nodded, and the men called to one another before heading into the woods. With their arms slung over each other's shoulders and their voices loud and unrestrained, they really did look like bandits.

"..." Yu Xing unscrewed the flask and took a few gulps. As he tipped his head back, he discreetly surveyed his surroundings.

He was in the mountains.

The landscape looked a lot like Guo Long Ridge, but the woods were denser and the ecosystem more lively. Several little bugs were crawling beside the hand he was using to support himself. One even tried to climb up his finger.

He shook it off without mercy.

Aside from the "bandits" from before, several other burly men were sitting on the ground resting. Every one of them was muscular, with a broad saber at his waist. There were about a dozen people between the two groups.

Several horses stood in front of a cart loaded with goods. A flagpole