A Man's Sentiments

"You heard that, right? Brother Jian Shang has sharp eyes. We'd barely known each other, and he already saw at a glance that I have the makings of a military strategist. Unlike you—after looking at me for twenty years, all you see is eye gunk!"

At Jian Shang's teasing, a complicated look flashed through Sun Ji's eyes. Then he grinned mischievously at Gao Gong and shouted smugly.

"You're fit to be a dog-headed strategist!"

Gao Gong raised his fan-like hand again and threatened him with another blow.

"Brute!" Sun Ji swiftly shifted his gaze, raised his head to the sky, and sighed.

"Hehe... Brother Jian Shang is really amazing. A few years ago, when we went to Yongjia City, a high official said the same thing about Brother Sun!"

They were deep in the wilderness and fleeing for their lives, so there was naturally no room for niceties. Jian Shang simply sat on the ground beside the others. Jiang Qing seemed to have forgotten their earlier unpleasantness. Smiling sweetly, she handed him a palm-length dagger and looked at him with admiration as she spoke in a rush.

The dagger was only palm-sized, sharp and gleaming. Its owner had clearly kept it well; it looked as good as new. Looking at Jiang Yao, Gao Gong, Sun Ji, and the others, none of them seemed like its owner. It was somewhat like the legendary Chastity Dagger, though Jian Shang had no idea whether it belonged to Jiang Qing or Gao Hong. Still, he could hardly ask about such a thing, and there was no better tool at hand for cutting meat. He quickly changed the subject and asked with interest.

"Oh? That happened?"

"Of course! That official even wanted him to be his accountant! What a pity he had no ambition and refused. Otherwise, we'd have somewhere to turn to now instead of being alone and friendless, not knowing where to go!"

Thinking Jian Shang did not believe her, Jiang Qing answered with a slightly anxious expression. But as she reached the end, her voice gradually softened and lowered, carrying a trace of sighing, confusion, and complicated emotions.

"That was rather regrettable."

For the first time, Jian Shang studied Sun Ji carefully. Then he nodded meaningfully.

With Sun Ji's shrewdness, and considering the enormous gap between Yongjia City and Shizhuang, he naturally had not lacked ambition. Rather, he could not bear to leave Jiang Qing, Jiang Yao, Gao Gong, and the others. Perhaps he was also worried about Jiang Yao and the others, who had neither family nor kin, living alone in Shizhuang.

In truth, Sun Ji was not bad-looking at all. He could even be called remarkably handsome. He stood eight chi tall, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, refined features, and an elegant bearing. With his looks and temperament, combined with his eloquence and scheming mind, calling him a dragon among men would not be an exaggeration.

"Hmph! Do you know why I'm called Shi Mou? I was born to be a military strategist. How could I possibly think highly of such simple, lowly work as bookkeeping!"

Sun Ji, usually sharp-tongued and unruffled no matter what happened, unexpectedly glanced at Jian Shang. Helplessness and bitterness flickered across his face, followed by an unregretful, infatuated glance at Jiang Qing. Then he snorted coldly and said with smug disdain.

"Oh, stop it! You're always so narcissistic and full of yourself. I can't stand you!"

Jiang Qing rolled her eyes at Sun Ji irritably, then swiftly looked away.

"Hehe..."

Seeing this, Jian Shang more or less understood. He said nothing more, merely smiled and began cutting the meat.

Who would have thought that Sun Ji, who had been at daggers drawn with me from the start and annoyed me far more than the others, had such feelings and sentiment within him?

This world was not like reality. If that man truly was an official, then being an accountant meant becoming a trusted aide and confidant, not the simple, lowly job Sun Ji had described.

Jian Shang now understood Sun Ji's way of handling things. What was called the wisdom of seeming foolish was, in Sun Ji's case, simply that he was too clever and therefore suffered more. He could only use narcissism and smugness to conceal certain matters and emotions, deliberately giving himself more obvious flaws so that the people around him would not distance themselves from him.

After all, if someone was too outstanding, so exceptional that others could only look up at him, people would unconsciously feel that he was difficult to get along with. Even if they forced themselves to stay together, things would feel awkward.

From this, it was clear that Sun Ji was actually someone deeply lonely inside and terribly afraid of solitude.

Of course, Jiang Yao, Gao Gong, and the others surely knew what kind of person Sun Ji was. They had simply grown up together and understood one another without speaking, unwilling to lay the matter bare.

Even Jiang Qing, who appeared simple and forthright, understood everything as clearly as a mirror. She knew even better why Sun Ji had not stayed in Yongjia City; otherwise, she would not have reacted that way. But many things truly could not be forced. Perhaps the time was not right, or perhaps Sun Ji had not done enough.

"Judging by the situation at the foot of the mountain, the battle is about over! Those barbarians should scatter soon. That's always been their way!"

As they ate, everyone chatted about this and that. Jian Shang took the opportunity to learn more information and common knowledge.

Below the mountain, the land was a mess. Corpses lay everywhere, and patches of ground had been scorched bare. Only a handful of Northern Di Barbarian Cavalry still rode back and forth, patrolling and inspecting the battlefield.

As they ate and talked, the half-man-sized roast pig was unknowingly divided up and completely devoured, leaving only a pile of bones.

Roasted meat in the forest, a harmonious atmosphere—Jian Shang had not eaten so comfortably or felt so relaxed in a long time. If not for the war below and corpses strewn everywhere, it would have been perfect. Jian Shang had never liked owing others favors, and he also wanted to prove something. Concealing his actions by reaching into his clothes, he took out three books from the Game Dragon Ring and handed them to Jiang Yao.

"Oh, right! Brother Jiang, I have a few cultivation manuals here. I don't know whether they'll be useful to you, but since we aren't leaving for now, why don't you study them?"

The three books were respectively Basic Saber Technique, Northern Di Saber Technique, and Northern Di Horsemanship.

As for Jiang Yao, he was the oldest person present, seeming close to thirty. Whether out of courtesy, friendship, or their current circumstances, he deserved Jian Shang's address of "big brother."

"Ah? Cultivation manuals?"

Before the others could react, the fat Shi Jin immediately perked up. Even the flesh on his face seemed to glow as he hurriedly shouted and reached out for them.

"Hm?"

Jiang Yao promptly glared and let out a muffled sound. Shi Jin awkwardly withdrew his hand, whereupon Jiang Yao looked at Jian Shang with gratitude and emotion, waving his hand as he said.

"Thank you greatly for your generosity, Brother Jian Shang. However, cultivation manuals have always been secret teachings not passed down by lineages and sects, and they are extremely valuable. We appreciate your kindness, but these cultivation manuals..."

"Stop!"

Before Jiang Yao could finish, Jian Shang raised a hand to cut him off, saying rather angrily.

"Just now, Little Ji said brothers shouldn't be so formal with each other. Being formal makes us seem distant! If you don't consider me a brother, then forget it!"

"Brother Jian Shang, you misunderstand. I didn't mean that! It's just..." Jiang Yao hurriedly explained.

"No more 'it's just.' You're overthinking it. They're merely ordinary books, not some profound secret manuals! I couldn't produce any deeply profound or precious manuals even if I wanted to!"

Jian Shang cut Jiang Yao off again, his tone firm. After pausing, he directly tossed the three books in his hand onto the ashes of the firewood and continued, "Anything I give away will never be taken back! If you don't want them, then burn them!"

"Ah... Careful!"

At Jian Shang's action, everyone jumped in fright. The others looked toward Jiang Yao, while Jiang Yao shot out his hand like lightning and caught the three books. He brushed away the ashes that had stuck to them and began flipping through them with great care and distress, though they were only ashes and there had long been no fire left.

"Sigh... Since that is the case, then I'll thank Brother Jian Shang on everyone's behalf!"

Seemingly sensing Jian Shang's determination and seeing that he was not putting on an act, Jiang Yao let out a long sigh and thanked him with deep emotion and gratitude.

"Why be so nagging between brothers, like a bunch of women? Just call me Little Shang or Jian Shang, or even simply 'Shang.' Stop calling me Brother Jian Shang over and over again—it sounds so distant!"

Jian Shang broke into a smile and spoke boldly.

"Shang!"

Everyone wore different expressions. Sun Ji's face turned solemn as he patted Jian Shang on the shoulder and called out to him, his tone complicated.

This was not merely because Jian Shang had generously produced three books. It was also because of all the little things since they had met, especially how Jian Shang had seen through at a glance the true reason Sun Ji had not left Jiang Yao, Jiang Qing, and the others, yet tactfully chose not to expose it.

Perhaps part of Sun Ji's complicated feelings also came from knowing that Jian Shang had seen Jiang Qing's feelings for him.

******

It was another new day. An old classmate had come over that evening and stayed for several hours, making Shadow anxious as a cat on hot bricks. He had been worrying about it the whole time—during the new book period, every second counted for Shadow!