Magu felt very unlucky.
At that moment, he was lying face down in a hole in the woods, covered in mud and topped with a thick layer of fallen leaves.
At first glance, you wouldn't be able to tell that there was a person hiding underneath.
But Magu dared not be careless at all, because he knew that the people chasing him in the mountains were all martial arts masters, and some of them were no less skilled than him.
If you're not careful, you might get caught.
Once surrounded, even if he is very familiar with the area, he will have no chance of escape.
"What kind of mess is this?!"
Thinking about what he had experienced in the past two days, Magu felt miserable again.
The situation in the county town has been too tense lately; it's hard to say when it might explode.
While worried, the clan began to make two preparations, transferring some of its businesses to the prefecture.
A few days ago, he accepted a mission from his clan to escort a batch of goods to the prefectural capital.
After successfully delivering the goods, on his way back, he thought of going to the market to see how Xiaotian and the others were doing.
After saying goodbye to the other tribesmen, he left the group.
Looking back now, Magoo truly regrets his decision.
He wanted to slap himself a few times for having the brain fart to want to go to the market.
As a result, I've gotten myself into such big trouble.
Two days ago, after leaving the clan's group, he took a shortcut through the mountains to reach the market.
As they passed through a mountain valley, a group of people suddenly rushed out of the woods.
These people, clad in silver armor and exuding a menacing aura, formed a triangle, protecting a woman and a boy in the center.
The woman appeared to be injured; she looked listless and couldn't lift one of her arms.
Upon seeing the boy, Magu immediately sensed something was wrong.
He recognized the boy, and he even recognized the silver-armored guards.
They were none other than the young master of the Wei family and the Silver Moon Guards.
Magu wanted to avoid it, but it was too late.
The moment he saw these people, the boy also saw him and immediately shouted.
"Magu, what are you doing here?"
This shout immediately drew the attention of the silver-armored guards.
"Young master, who is this gentleman?"
The leading silver-armored guard, exuding a powerful aura, asked with a sharp gaze.
“Guard Pang, this is Ma Gu from the Ma family. When I was injured last time, the guards in the manor were temporarily staying at his residence,” the young man replied.
“That’s right, Captain, we did stay at his house for a while last time.”
One of the guards, clad in silver armor, said.
"oh?"
Pang's gaze softened slightly, but his vigilance remained.
It's really unusual for Magoo to be here.
If he hadn't realized that Magu was weak and alone, he would have suspected that Magu was deliberately waiting for them there.
"We've shaken off the men behind us for now. Let's treat Madam's injuries first!" Guard Pang ordered.
Immediately, a guard took out some wound medicine and gave it to the young master so that he could apply it to his wife.
"Greetings, young master and madam."
Seeing that Young Master Wei recognized him, Ma Guzhi forced himself to step forward and greet him.
Although he didn't know why these people were here, considering the recent situation in the city and the bloodstains on these Silver Moon Guards, he knew that he must have seen something he shouldn't have.
Does this mean that war has finally broken out in the city?
Will I be silenced?
Magu inwardly groaned.
But now even if he wanted to escape, he couldn't.
Each of these Silver Moon Guards was stronger than him; there was no way he could escape.
"Magu, what are you doing here?" Young Master Wei asked.
"I was just about to head back to the market when I unexpectedly ran into you here, young master," Ma Gu replied truthfully.
Just then, another commotion came from the forest, and all the Silver Moon Guards' expressions tightened.
"Captain, they're catching up!" a Silvermoon Guard reported.
"I know that the other side also has experts at the Inner Strength Realm. We can't shake off their pursuit with the lady and young master in tow," Guard Pang sighed.
"What can we do? They outnumber us and have the upper hand. Even if our battle formation can hold out for a while, it won't help. Besides, the lady is injured. If we don't find a place to treat her, she probably won't last long," the Silver Moon Guard said anxiously.
"Why don't you leave me here and take An'er away?" Madam Wei said, her face pale. "I am the mistress of the Wei family. They still want to take me back to coerce the master. They shouldn't kill me immediately."
"Mother!" Young Master Wei immediately called out.
"Madam, you mustn't!" Guard Pang hurriedly said, "Protecting Madam is our mission. Unless all of us Silver Moon Guards are wiped out, they won't be able to touch a hair on Madam's head!"
“But if we take me with us, we’ll all die in these mountains sooner or later. I can’t let everyone be dragged down because of me,” Madam Wei said firmly.
"There will always be a way, Madam, don't worry," Guard Pang comforted her.
But as the commotion in the woods behind him grew louder, he glanced around and his expression shifted when he saw Magu standing obediently to the side.
"Young master, can this man be trusted?" Guard Pang asked.
Young Master Wei was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "The people in Magu are quite nice. I was injured and unconscious before, and it was because of his advice that I was able to survive."
Pang was not very satisfied with this answer, but he had no better solution at the moment.
He could only grit his teeth and say to Magu, "Brother Magu, I have a favor to ask of you!"
Magu, who had always pretended to be an honest man, felt a sudden jolt in his heart and forced a smile, asking, "What is it?"
"Protect the lady and young master to safety for us. Once it is done, the Wei family will reward you handsomely," Guard Pang said solemnly.
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Guard Pang.
Magu broke out in a cold sweat: "This gentleman is joking. Even you cannot protect the lady and the others. How could I, a mere cultivator at the Bone and Tendon Realm, possibly be qualified to escort the lady and the young master?"
Having overheard the Silver Moon Guards' conversation, Magoo knew they were being hunted down. He was too busy running away to dare get involved in such a matter.
“You have no choice, because those people are already nearby. With their strength, you can’t leave this mountain forest without our help. Those people are ruthless killers. If they run into you, killing you will be a piece of cake!” said Guard Pang.
Magu's face stiffened.
That's what he's afraid of.
The person chasing an entire squad of Silver Moon Guards must be incredibly powerful to have managed to make them suffer such a ruckus.
If he were to encounter such a person, he would likely be chopped down without a word.
In the county town, Ma Gu had witnessed firsthand just how unreasonable those people could be.
Now that they've left the county town and are free from constraints, they're probably even more reckless.
“My lord, even if we have to split into two groups and take the lady and the young master from another place, any one of the Silver Moon Guards would be more suitable than me, wouldn’t they?” Magu asked doubtfully.
“It would have been possible before, but not now,” Guard Pang said, shaking his head. “We lost some men earlier and don’t have enough people to protect the lady.”
Thinking of this, Guard Pang felt a pang of pain in his heart.
If they hadn't suffered heavy losses during the initial ambush, the Silver Moon Guards would now only be able to form the Silver Moon Battle Formation, unable to spare any personnel.
How could he entrust the safety of his wife and son to an outsider?
Without the support of the Silver Moon Battle Formation, they simply couldn't have stalled for much time against so many powerful enemies.
"Now, you only have a chance to escape if you agree to help us hold them off!" Guard Pang's gaze sharpened as he looked directly into Magu's eyes. "Brother Magu, what do you think?"
Magoo stared at him for a moment, then gave a bitter laugh: "Just as you said, I had no choice."
"Brother Magu, I entrust the safety of the lady and the young master to you!"
After seeing that Ma Gu had agreed, Pang suddenly knelt down on one knee and pleaded.
"team leader!"
"Guard Pang!"
The other Silver Moon Guards, along with Madam Wei and her son, were all taken aback when they saw Guard Pang kneel down.
Magu was deeply shocked.
A powerful expert at the Inner Strength Realm actually kneeling and begging him, a mere Bone and Tendon Realm cultivator, was a scene he never dared to dream of.
Looking at the pleading on Guard Pang's face.
Unconsciously, a sense of pride arose in Magu's heart.
"Don't worry, Lord Pang, even if I have to risk my life, I, Magu, will protect Madam and the others!"
Thinking back to the boastful words he had made two days ago, Magu, stuck in the mud, wished he could slap himself twice more.
Why did you have to show off? Now look what happened, you're probably really going to lose your life.
That day, after he agreed to escort Madam Wei and Young Master Wei.
That group of Silver Moon Guards took the initiative, formed a battle formation, entered the mountains and forests, turned the tables, and ambushed and killed those who were chasing them.
Because of the commotion, the enemies throughout the entire mountain forest were quickly drawn to it.
Meanwhile, Magu, carrying Madam Wei on his back and taking Young Master Wei with him, quietly moved in another direction.
However, he hadn't gone far when he discovered that the outer perimeter was already surrounded, and he couldn't get out at all.
Left with no other choice, he changed direction and headed straight into the deep mountains.
Fortunately, during the years he stayed in Daji, he often hunted in the vicinity when he had nothing to do, so he was quite familiar with the terrain of the area.
Only by taking advantage of the terrain were they able to barely shake off their pursuers.
But as a result, he and Madam Wei could only hide in the deep mountains for the time being, and dared not go out.
We have no idea what became of that Silver Moon Guard team in the end.
After staying in the pit for a long time, seeing that there was still no movement in the forest, and that it was getting dark.
Magu didn't find any trace of the enemy; instead, he saw a large, fat rabbit walk past him.
Having been hungry for two days, he couldn't resist any longer. He leaped up, knocked the fat rabbit unconscious, and grabbed it in his hand.
After catching the rabbit, he didn't linger. He cleaned up the marks of the pit and then quietly carried the rabbit in a certain direction.
They concealed their tracks and finally arrived at a hidden cave.
"Who's there?" a wary voice came from inside.
"It's me."
Magu shook his head, feeling helpless at Wei Xiaogongzi's performance.
If it were truly the enemy arriving, his shout would be tantamount to admitting his location without being asked.
However, considering that the other party was the pampered young master of the Wei family, he couldn't say anything.
"Magu, you're back?" Young Master Wei came out of the cave in surprise.
"Hmm, how is Madam's condition?"
"Mother is still unconscious, and her forehead is still burning hot. Magu, do you have any ideas?"
Upon hearing this, Young Master Wei's expression turned worried.
“I can’t help you either.” Magu shook his head. “Your mother’s wound hasn’t healed, she’s lost a lot of blood, and she’s been invaded by external pathogens. It’s similar to your situation back then. I’m not a doctor, I can’t cure her wound.”
When Madam Wei broke through the encirclement, she was slashed. The wound was on her back and waist, and it was quite severe.
Although he was given wound medicine, he had already fallen into a coma by the time Magu found the cave because he did not receive timely medical treatment and recuperation.
"Similar to what I was like back then?"
Young Master Wei felt a dull ache in his stomach as he recalled the injuries he had sustained.
A sense of fear rose within him: "Magu, could my mother be dead?"
Magu remained silent.
If things continue as they are, it's hard to say.
Although Madam Wei's injuries were not as severe as those of Young Master Wei.
However, her physical condition was also not as good as her son's.
Seeing his silence, Young Master Wei's fear intensified: "No, I can't let my mother die! Magu, you have to think of something!"
Seeing Young Master Wei's panicked and screaming appearance, Ma Gu felt a strange sense of irritation rise in his heart.
"Shut up!"
Magu grabbed Wei Xiaogongzi by the neck and pressed him against the cave wall.
He said in a low, stern voice, "Do you think your mother will wake up if you keep shouting like this? If you attract the enemy, we'll all die here!"
Young Master Wei's neck was grabbed, and his eyes widened instantly, as if he couldn't believe that Ma Gu dared to treat him like this.
But as his breathing became increasingly labored, he knew that Magoo was not joking, and a sudden fear rose in his heart, causing him to struggle with his hands and feet.
Magu remained unmoved, staring intently into his eyes: "If you want me to put you down, fine, but you have to promise not to make a fuss anymore, or believe me, I'll chop you up with one knife."
Young Master Wei was already feeling his vision blurring when he heard this, and immediately nodded frantically.
Seeing that his face was starting to turn purple, and that if he didn't breathe, something really bad would happen, Magu finally let go.
Looking at the young master Wei lying on the ground, coughing incessantly, Ma Gu felt a surge of pleasure for some reason.
Every time he encountered this guy, nothing good ever happened, so it would be a lie to say he didn't harbor resentment.
In the past, he would never have dared to lay a hand on this young master.
But now, martial arts experts are everywhere searching for them, and they might be discovered at any time.
In this precarious situation, Magu became much bolder and naturally stopped being so polite to this ungrateful young master.
"Young master, you are not young anymore, so please stop being so childish. Think carefully about how you should survive in these mountains. Those Silver Moon Guards risked their lives to ensure your and Madam Wei's survival. How can you be so useless as you are?"
"I'll go out again tomorrow to see if I can find some medicine to bring down Madam Wei's fever. Think about it carefully yourself."
After leaving a few words of advice, Magu took the rabbit outside and began skinning it.
Only Young Master Wei remained standing there, lost in thought.
Not long after, Magu brought in some meat in a large leaf and handed it to him.
"Eat."
"What is this?" Young Master Wei asked, looking at the pink slices of meat.
"Rabbit meat, fresh."
"This meat is raw, how can you eat it?" Young Master Wei asked incredulously.
"What, do you want to start a fire and roast meat? Believe me, we'll be surrounded and your mother taken away soon after we start the fire," Ma Gu sneered.
"But I can't eat it," Young Master Wei said fearfully, looking at the meat.
“You have to eat, whether you can’t or not. You haven’t eaten for two days. If you don’t replenish your strength, you’ll have trouble even walking. It’s already hard enough for me to carry Madam Wei on my back, I can’t carry you on my back too! Do you want me to abandon your mother?” Ma Gu said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Young Master Wei struggled to stand up.
In the end, he reached out, took a piece of rabbit meat, closed his eyes, and swallowed it.
