Chapter Thirty-Eight: An Unfortunate Coincidence

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Unlucky Coincidence

"Boss, Fang Meng apologizes for being late and causing you injury. Please punish me." He knelt on one knee, head lowered. Xiao Tianci felt awkward—after all, this was an era when such gestures felt outdated and unnatural.

His leg was still numb and swollen; it must have been badly bruised. Xiao Tianci hurriedly extended a hand, saying, "Get up quickly. If you hadn't arrived in time, the consequences would have been much worse."

Hearing Fang Meng call him "boss," Xiao Tianci realized that he must have been informed about his orders and the recent marriage arrangements. Watching his performance earlier, Xiao Tianci’s appreciation grew—he’d always heard tales of skilled experts, but had never truly witnessed one. Today, he finally saw someone who surpassed ordinary limits.

He was certainly a formidable warrior, groomed by his father from a young age, destined to be an invaluable ally. With him by his side, Xiao Tianci felt newfound confidence.

Meanwhile, Lu Man and the others had finished their tally: two dead, one suffering severe blood loss—luckily, strong enough to avoid fatal danger. The rest were all wounded; the losses were heavy. What stung most was that their opponents were merely monkeys.

The corpses scattered across the ground reeked of blood, and the cries of the wounded monkeys echoed mournfully. In this dim, sunless woods, the atmosphere felt desolate and terrifying.

Chief Steward Lin Jian spoke, "Boss, this is no place for conversation. Now that we’ve found Captain Fang, there’s no need to go further. Many are injured and need treatment. We should withdraw along the original path."

Xiao Tianci glanced back at the dead and the others. Though their wounds had stopped bleeding, the brutality of the battle was still evident on them.

It was the first time Xiao Tianci had experienced such an ordeal. He said little, but his gaze swept over the members of the guard. They remained strong and resolute, sweat and blood streaking their bodies, determination burning in their eyes. It was they who forged a shield with their bodies, who built walls with their lives to block attacks. They were the sons of Xiao Family, whom his father had always urged him to cherish.

Without saying much, Xiao Tianci nodded to everyone. Truly, from the moment he stood up inside, picked up a rifle, and fought alongside them, words were no longer necessary.

He stepped forward, intending to carry the fallen soldier on his back. Just as he was about to lift him, before Lin Jian or the others could persuade him otherwise, Xiao Tianci felt the weight on his back lighten.

Looking up, he saw King Kong Fang Meng carrying one in each arm. "Boss, let me," he said, already leading the way.

He was a man of few words, just as Lin Jian had described. Xiao Tianci didn’t insist further; his leg still ached when he touched the ground, but it didn’t hinder his walking. The others supported each other, maintaining a formation centered around Xiao Tianci, following King Kong Fang Meng.

They boarded the helicopter and flew to a nearby city, where the fallen warriors were cremated in silence. Only after boarding the aircraft did the mood improve somewhat; medical equipment and staff were on board, and wounds were attended to promptly. Xiao Tianci’s injuries weren’t serious—no bones or tendons harmed.

The others were far more gravely injured. Xiao Tianci remained below, watching their treatment, only ascending after confirming that everyone’s wounds had been properly managed and the seriously injured were stable.

During this time, Fang Meng and Chief Lin Jian stayed close, and Xiao Tianci finally had time to learn the origin of the incident. Fang Meng explained concisely, and everyone, including Xiao Tianci, was left frustrated.

It turned out that this troop of monkeys had long inhabited the island, the largest group among the island’s animals, fierce and powerful. Yet they had their own territory, rarely attacking or harassing others.

Fang Meng had discovered them only in recent years, after encountering the monkey king—a powerful, fierce creature over a meter tall.

He had known about the monkeys for some time, but since there were no incidents, all parties avoided conflict. This time, he needed something and entered their territory, clashing with the monkeys and their king. True to his reputation, King Kong Fang Meng bested them all. Fortunately, his regard for animals was greater than for humans, and he didn’t deal fatal blows.

The monkeys came to fear him—among animals, strength rules. The monkey king later often brought gifts to King Kong Fang Meng. Recognizing the king’s intelligence, Fang Meng befriended them, becoming good friends with the troop in this isolated place.

On the morning of Xiao Tianci’s arrival, a group aware of the monkeys’ presence on the island came to hunt them. Well-prepared, they launched a surprise attack right at the monkey king’s domain, killing many and injuring the king, capturing him alive.

The hunters were highly experienced, slaughtering numerous monkeys and taking many captive, including the king. They released smoke bombs, preventing the rest of the troop from pursuing them, and retreated swiftly.

However, they were unaware of who truly ruled this dangerous territory—otherwise, even ten times the courage wouldn’t have brought them here.

When Fang Meng arrived, the monkeys were in a frenzy, and if not for their fear of him, might have attacked him as well. Using his experience, Fang Meng quickly gave chase. The enraged monkeys then encountered "humans," launching a desperate attack.

As for what happened afterward, Fang Meng explained simply: he rescued the monkey king and the captives, performed a minor emergency surgery to remove a bullet from the king. The voice that called the troop away at the end was the monkey king’s.

Now Xiao Tianci finally understood the monkeys’ attack. He and the guards had originally intended to return and wipe out the monkeys.

With proper preparation—heavy weapons, protective gear, extra manpower—they could easily deal with the troop. But after hearing King Kong Fang Meng’s account, everyone abandoned the idea, especially as the monkeys were now his "friends."

"Let it go," everyone could only accept their misfortune—after all, such things are sometimes inevitable.