Day 03: “Oh My God, Bandits!”

Have I ever told you that a dominant woman had a powerful aura until no one dared to talk back to her? If you are wondering why I gave such a phrase, it's because we couldn't reject Zhao Baiguang's offer. Apparently, our identities are too peculiar to her, and she loves anything that sounded bizarre to this world. In short, she loves something unique and we just happen to be what she called a 'prey'. Anyhow, I was recruited as her personal physician while Liao Yan was hired as a storyteller. We both are from different majors in our college, I was a student at the pharmaceutical major while Liao Yan was in a music major. We have both known each other since high school and happen to go to the same university (just because it's close to our home). Now back to the present time, we are currently riding a horse leading Zhao Baiguang's carriage. Zhao Baiguang said they were traveling alone, but why are there two extra horses beside the one in the carriage? Li Xiang was the one who drove the carriage, what's the purpose of these two extra horses? Is it for food or something? Is horse meat a popular delicacy in this age?

"How much further until the next town?", I said while trying to balance my body on this horse, I was a pharmaceutical student, where is there a lesson on how to ride a horse?

Li Xiang tilted her head to me and said, "Around a hundred kilometers.", she took a deep look at my pale face and showed a rare smile, "You have to get used to riding a horse, because it's the main transportation on this time.",

Until now I realized why Liao Yan was acting all weird around Li Xiang. This girl's appearance is what people often call a cool beauty, it attracts many people just by her genuine smile like a sweet flower that attracts many bees.

"Then, this subject will try to get used to it.", I forced a smile and began to cry inside due to the back pain I felt.

While we painfully enjoyed our journey, Li Xiang suddenly stopped the carriage and unsheathed her sword on her waist.

"Be careful, there's an ambush ahead.",

"How did you know?", Liao Yan asked, then corrected his words, "This subject means, how did the lady know?",

"I heard a few steps moving abruptly, this kind of steps usually belongs to a band of bandits.", Li Xiang got off from the carriage and slowly walking up ahead, she suddenly stopped walking and turned behind, "Protect the carriage no matter what it cost.", after those heroic words, she flew straight ahead and just like what she said, a band of bandits did an ambush ahead. Li Xiang is clearly outnumbered, the band of bandits was around 7 people, how could such a slim girl defeat them?

"Yan, protect the carriage. I'll help lady Li to fight off those bastards.", I rushed with my horse without paying any heed to Liao Yan's response. However, it's not as heroic as I imagined. Due to my lack of experience in riding a horse, I felt nauseated by the undulations caused by the horse's speed. As a result, by the time I got there, I accidentally vomited at the bandit's leader and fell off the horse. Li Xiang was quite surprised by my series of hasty moves to act like a hero with a white-horse, and at the same time, while the others were distracted by my embarrassing move, Li Xiang quickly annihilated them in a blink of an eye, then, she hurriedly approached me who pretend to lie dead on the ground. My ears were probably red too…

"Xun Jinyun, are you alright?",

"No, I want to dig a hole and bury myself in it.",

"Huh? Why do you want to do that?",

Right, she doesn't understand a modern joke.

"Nevermind.",

I tried to stand but almost stumbled again, it turns out I sprained my leg a bit. Not only that, my whole body was bruised, I think just being able to stand without any broken bones was already a miracle bestowed by heaven. Li Xiang wanted to help, but my manly pride beats the pain on my left leg, "It's okay, this subject could still walk.", Li Xiang just stood there and seemed to be thinking of something. But I pay no heed to her due to the pain in my leg, however, I heard a soft voice coming from behind,

"Thank you for rescuing me.",

Rescuing? Right, I have almost forgotten the purpose why I rushed with my horse who ran to God-only-knows where.

When I got back I expected Liao Yan to laugh at me, but he didn't. Instead, he patted my shoulder sympathetically and said, "At least you tried…", which is even worse than a burst of laughter.

"Is your leg alright?", Zhao Baiguang suddenly asked as she lifted the curtain on the carriage, "You sprained your leg during the fall, right? Just get in, I'll apply some ointment to you.",

Dang, is this the reward for my bravery?

"No, this subordinate will do it. We'll stop for a while.", Li Xiang pulled me to sit on the carriage and began to undress my upper clothes. My arms suddenly moved on their own and covered my nipples as a cold wind suddenly blew by. Zhao Baiguang handed the ointment to Li Xiang and she began to apply the ointment on the bruised area on my back. I was busy holding down the pain from my back, but my ears could still hear Liao Yan whispering softly in profanity.

"Next time, think before you take an action.", Zhao Baiguang reprimanded softly.

I am someone who dislikes being told what to do, but being reprimanded by Zhao Baiguang makes me somewhat happy.

"Remember, we're just regular college students, not martial artists. Next time, just leave it to lady Li.", Liao Yan also reprimanded, now this time, I disliked this one, yet he was right. I knew Li Xiang is a master at martial arts, I should have stood still, but when I saw her getting surrounded by a couple of muscular men, it drove me mad rather than scared.

After Li Xiang finished applying the ointment, I thanked her and apologized to her for the unnecessary action earlier. Li Xiang shook her head and said, "It's fine… however, never do it again.", I nodded and since my horse ran away, Li Xiang told me to sit next to her. Since sitting inside the carriage with Zhao Baiguang was somewhat inappropriate, I could only shrug on the carriage. Still, this is better than riding a horse, my poor ass won't hurt this way.

The sun began to set and forced our group to sleep in the wilds for a night. Li Xiang said we need to enter the forest to arrive at a small village ahead. It's dangerous to enter the forest at night, so we built a camp at the entrance near a big tree. I was tasked to guard the campfire, while Li Xiang and Liao Yan hunted a rabbit inside the forest. Li Xiang originally wanted to hunt alone, however, Liao Yan wasted no chance and pretended that he wanted to learn hunting. Li Xiang took him seriously and brought him with her. It's been thirty minutes and they haven't come back. I don't really know how long it takes for a professional hunter to hunt their game, but I began to worry, Liao Yan had no experience in fighting just like me.

"Are you worried about them?",

I don't know when Zhao Baiguang got off the carriage. The moment I realized it, she was already sitting in the opposite direction. I must say she is quite tomboyish for a princess.

"Yes, I'm worried about Liao Yan, he is a clumsy guy.",

"Said by a man who got vomited from riding a horse.", Zhao Baiguang said with a smile.

Since she's a princess, I didn't dare to talk back and only looked at my knees pathetically.

"Li Xiang is a trained assassin, Liao Yan is going to be alright.",

"This subject thanked the princess for reassuring this subject.",

Zhao Baiguang got surprised all of sudden, then she laughed freely, "Did you think I was a runaway princess?",

She is not? Li Xiang called her 'Your Highness', doesn't that mean she's a princess? Or did I make a mistake?

"Do you want to know my true identity?",

"No, this subject didn't dare.",

Zhao Baiguang smiled and threw another wood to the bonfire, "How did you live your life before?",

"This subject used to play an instrument called piano and sing, this subject liked music as much as Liao Yan does, but this subject's grandparents wanted this subject to inherit their traditional clinic. Hence, this subject decided to be a pharmaceutical student.",

"So, you had no choice but to continue their business?",

"No, it was this subject's wish to grant grandfather's wishes. Besides, this subject felt happiness if this subject could cure and save lives.",

"You have a noble attitude. I like that about you.",

I like that about you…

Those words kept ringing inside my ears, once again, I felt my face hot and my heart racing. I kept wondering why I like Zhao Baiguang? Did I have a fetish for stealing somebody else's wife? No way.

"This subordinate and Liao Yan have come back and hunted enough game for the four of us.", Li Xiang came with Liao Yan who carried most of the dead rabbits in his hands. Judging by Liao Yan's pale face, it seems like he didn't quite enjoy the hunting session with Li Xiang.

"Let me cook the rabbit, I happen to be an expert at making rabbit soup.",

Zhao Baiguang and Li Xiang were surprised to hear that from me. I guess not all scholars could cook a meal…

And once again, Liao Yan took a step forward and raised his hand, "Let me help to clean the rabbit. I think I saw a river close by.",

The two women agreed and waited at the campfire, meanwhile, as soon as we reached the river, Liao Yan spoke freely, "Dude, I know you're into a pretty lady like lady Li, but I was the first person to like her, don't steal her.",

I tilted my head and stared at him in disbelief, "Steal her? The fuck were you talking about?",

"What was that about acting all heroic in front of those bandits?",

"It was a mere act in a pulse, I didn't know what am I doing.",

"Holyshit, man. You have a bad reflex.",

"I know right.",

The two of us sighed while taking the rabbit's intestine out of its stomach like a pro butcher.

"I already have someone I like and it's definitely not Li Xiang. So, don't worry about it.", I said to reassure Liao Yan. I hate to fight with him for a girl…

"Really? That's great! Promise me!",

"I promise not to make a move on her.",

We both bro-fisted and went back with several cleaned rabbits. From here out, I cooked all the rabbits into various dishes using the seasoning inside the carriage. I make a roasted rabbit, rabbit stew, and rabbit skewers. Zhao Baiguang and Li Xiang were even more surprised that I could cook such a tasty meal. Liao Yan is already used to seeing me cooking, since he often visited my house to play PS4 together. I often cooked a meal for him and he was surprised that I could cook. I thought it was normal, but now seeing these two women had the same reaction, I began to doubt my face, is my face the type who cannot cook at all? Regardless of the shocking truth, the four of us enjoyed the meal and took turns to guard the night. While leaning on the carriage, I can only pray for tomorrow's good fortune...