Chapter 9 — The Marquis was wronged, I hid with my young master, and later overturned the capital to collect debt.

Co Chieu's answer made Ve Huan stunned. He didn't hesitate anymore.

“Do as he says.”

The soldiers, half believing and half doubting, put leaves in their mouths. An indescribable bitter taste immediately exploded in the mouth. But very quickly, they felt much more alert. The soldier was dizzy and his face returned to normal. Everyone's eyes changed. They looked at this eight-year-old child with a little more fear in their eyes. Co Chieu did not pay attention to their looks. It pointed ahead, a ridge stretching up high, almost invisible to the road.

“Go this way.”

"Why? That road is easier to go." A soldier voiced doubts.

“If the miasma is heavy, it will sink down.”

“Going to high places with strong winds is safer.”

Having finished speaking, Co Chieu did not wait for anyone and climbed the more difficult path himself. Ve Huan looked at its back, his eyes growing deeper and deeper. This child is absolutely not as simple as he looks. It is more than just being familiar with this mountain. It's like... it's part of the mountain. A wolf born and raised in the forest. A wolf cub... wearing human skin. The team continues to move forward. The path Co Chieu chose was indeed very difficult to follow. But everyone was satisfied. Because they could see clearly, down in the valley, those strangely colored mists were getting thicker and thicker. Like a deadly poisonous snake, curled up there. At night, they set up camp on a flat piece of land on the mountainside. Soldiers were busy building fires and keeping watch. Co Chieu went alone to a place a little further away. It doesn't start a fire. It used a shovel to skillfully dig a small hole. Line the inside with a layer of soft dry grass. Then, from my inventory, I took out a piece of dried meat that I wrapped in oil paper. Eat small pieces, slowly eat. Its movements are quiet and neat. There is no redundancy. After eating, it carefully checked its surroundings. Use the strong-smelling herbal juice that I once taught you, sprinkle it around the sleeping hole. To repel snakes and insects. After finishing everything, he lay down without taking off his shirt. Holding the small dagger in both hands, placed it in front of his chest. He closed his eyes and seemed to instantly fall asleep. Ve Huan stood in the dark, quietly looking at it. He did not raise his voice to disturb. But inside, there was a stir. This is not the look a child should have. Nor was it the alertness and expertise that a child raised in the mountains should have. He had met the best scouts in the army. Their wilderness survival skills... only go to this extent. Who is this child named "Chieu Nhi"? Who is its mother, that Han woman who looks weak but has extremely determined eyes? Why did they appear in the Nam Cuong mountains, separate from this world? Every doubt, like a vine, wrapped tightly in Ve Huan's heart. He knew that this mission... I'm afraid it wasn't just a simple survey of the terrain. He looked far into the darkness at that small body curled up. I feel like I've discovered a big secret. A secret that has been hidden by this immense mountain range for many years. The wind blew across the mountainside. Carrying the scent of grass and trees, along with unknown dangers. The night... is still very long. The road the next day was even more dangerous. They started to enter The real central area of O Mong Son. This place, even hunters rarely set foot. The roots of ancient trees, like dragons curling up on the ground. The layer of moss is slippery, covering every rock. Just a little carelessness and you will slip and fall. The team's movement speed slowed down. Soldiers began to complain. Only Co Chieu was like a fish in water, freely moving through the mountains and forests. On its feet, it wears shoes that I sewed with my own hands using animal skin and hemp rope. The sole of the shoe is very soft, making it possible to clearly feel every inch of ground under your feet. It always finds the most stable footing point. Ve Huan was always following closely behind it. He discovered that as long as he completely followed Co Chieu's footsteps, he would absolutely not slip or fall. This discovery raised his assessment of Co Chieu another level. At noon, the team rested under a waterfall. Soldiers took out water bags and prepared to drink.

“Don't drink.”

Co Chieu's voice rang out again.

“There is something in this water.”

One soldier did not believe it. He had been thirsty all morning.

“What does a kid know? I think this water is clear.”

He said, taking a sip of water to drink. Ve Huan tried to stop, but it was too late. Co Chieu coldly glanced at the soldier and said nothing more. It went upstream of the waterfall, coming to a large rock. It pried open the soft mud beneath the rock. A stream of clear water gushed out from the crack in the rock. He used a bamboo tube to collect water and took a sip himself. After that, he gave the bamboo tube to Ve Huan. Ve Huan took it and took a sip. Sweet, cool and pure.