In a Fantasy World as Cannon Fodder, I Got Entangled with the Heroine - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Ambushed

Translation by: Weebsread👹

Jiang Qian spoke up without hesitation.

The moment the words left his mouth—

Chen Shimin and Jiang Chenghai both turned to face him.

Jiang Qian and Bai Piaoxue stepped into the chamber together.

Jiang Chenghai, startled by his son's outburst, sprang to his feet and rushed over. "Son, do you even know what you're saying?"

"King of Qin, please don't misunderstand! My son didn't mean it like that!"

Jiang Chenghai was terrified that Chen Shimin might have taken offense. This was the King of Qin—a figure far beyond what the Jiang Clan, with its small influence, could hope to challenge or displease.

But Chen Shimin only waved it off, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Patriarch Jiang, why not let the Chief Disciple finish? I suspect he's got more to say to me."

"King of Qin, please take these gifts back with you," Jiang Qian said, his voice steady. "As for joining your camp, I’d rather not be involved in this matter."

...

Jiang Qian laid everything out on the table.  

Hell, if I join your faction, within a year—

It won’t just be me—my whole family could end up buried.

Staying out of this, I might not gain anything,

But at least I’ll keep my life.

Chen Shimin showed no sign of displeasure at Jiang Qian’s refusal. Smiling calmly, he replied, "Senior Brother, there's no need to rush into a decision. As for the gifts, I won’t be taking them back."

"Think of them as a sign of respect from your junior."

"Oh, one other thing—here's an invitation. I hope both you and the Holy Maiden can attend!"

He handed the invitation to Jiang Qian.

Jiang Qian had already made things awkward before—if he refused the invitation now, it wouldn’t just hurt Chen Shimin’s pride, it would look like outright disrespect. He had no choice but to accept.

Seeing this, Chen Shimin finally smiled in satisfaction.

After a moment, he prepared to leave. At the doorway, he paused and turned back. "Senior Brother, there's something you should know."

"Duan Yuqing is now working for the Crown Prince. You'd best be careful."

With those final words, he strode out of the Jiang Estate.

As if I needed you to warn me about that bootlicker, Jiang Qian thought to himself.

Once Chen Shimin was gone, Jiang Qian shot a helpless look at his ever-treacherous old man.

"Seriously, Dad—why did you accept gifts from the King of Qin?"

"Why wouldn’t I?" Jiang Chenghai replied, genuinely puzzled. "If someone offers gifts, why not take them?"

Especially gifts from the King of Qin! He was already restraining himself from lighting firecrackers to celebrate.

Jiang Qian shook his head. "Never mind—I don’t have time to explain everything right now."

"But listen up: if the King of Qin sends anything else, you must refuse him. Politely but firmly. This concerns the life and death of our whole family!"

Jiang Chenghai looked at his son's solemn face. He didn't seem to be joking.

"I understand. Don’t worry!" Jiang Chenghai patted his chest, making a grand promise.

Why do I have such a bad feeling about this? Jiang Qian couldn't help but fret as he watched his father's confident performance.

After all—

Jiang Chenghai might be his father, but he was also famous for his shameless betrayals!

He'd thrown his own son under the bus more times than he could count. Trusting him completely was impossible.

Suddenly, Jiang Chenghai remembered something. "By the way, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ll go get the kitchen to prepare something right away!"

With that, he bustled off excitedly.

Bai Piaoxue, watching Jiang Chenghai’s retreating figure, couldn’t hide her curiosity any longer. "Jiang Qian, the King of Qin was trying to recruit you, wasn’t he?"

Jiang Qian glanced at the invitation in his hand and sighed. "Honestly, this is the last thing I want to get dragged into."

"Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I’ll always stand by your side." Bai Piaoxue gently clasped Jiang Qian’s right hand in hers, her smile warm and steadfast.

Looking at the gentle, radiant Bai Piaoxue in front of him, Jiang Qian couldn’t help but lose himself for a moment. "Senior Sister Bai…"

A subtle, electric tension rose between them, the air charged with unspoken feeling.

But at that crucial moment, a baby’s cry split the air.

"Waaah—waaah—"

Bai Piaoxue’s cheeks turned crimson. She quickly released Jiang Qian’s hand and looked down, clearly embarrassed.

Jiang Qian’s attention was drawn outside, where a nanny swayed with a crying baby in her arms.

Wait—isn’t that the child we rescued in Guxi Village?

With that thought, Jiang Qian walked over to the baby.

"Young Master Jiang!" The nanny saw him approach and quickly offered a respectful greeting.

Jiang Qian nodded and looked at the wailing infant.

Oddly enough, the moment he drew near, the baby stopped crying and broke into a wide, gummy smile.

Jiang Qian couldn't hold back a laugh. "By the way, what’s her name?"

"Jiang Ling, Young Master."

"Jiang Ling, huh? You’d better grow up strong and healthy, little one!"

"Hee hee hee~" Jiang Ling giggled joyfully.

Not long after, Jiang Ling drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

"Young Master Jiang, I’ll be off now."

"Alright."

The nanny gently carried Jiang Ling away.

Jiang Qian turned back to Bai Piaoxue. "Senior Sister, let’s head back."

"You don’t want to stay a few more days?"

"No, let’s return to the sect for now."

"Alright," Bai Piaoxue nodded in agreement.

And so, without alerting anyone, the two slipped out of the Jiang Estate as quietly as they’d arrived.

Jiang Qian had originally planned to spend a few more days in Tianze City, but because of the invitation he’d received, he had to return to the sect ahead of schedule.

When Jiang Chenghai eventually came back from the kitchen, he found that Jiang Qian and Bai Piaoxue had vanished.

"Huh? Where’d they go? They already left? And I worked so hard preparing all these dishes…"

"Sigh, I guess I’ll just have to eat it all myself. Whatever’s left, I’ll give to the elders."

The elders: ???

…

Meanwhile, Jiang Qian and Bai Piaoxue were soaring through the skies atop their Thunderflame Skywing Eagle, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility.

But without warning, the eagle suddenly shuddered and veered violently.

The abrupt movement almost tossed Jiang Qian right off its back.

"Whoa—what the hell?!" Jiang Qian steadied himself, eyes sweeping over the surroundings.

Bai Piaoxue tugged urgently at his sleeve and pointed to the ground below.

Jiang Qian followed her gaze—

Below them, a swarm of figures surged forward, weapons drawn, unleashing a barrage of attacks.

The Beast Taming Sect? No, their Young Sect Mistress is still at our sect. They wouldn’t know I’d returned to Tianze City.

The Demon Sect? No, this doesn’t fit—their arts aren’t demonic.

That only leaves one possibility—Crown Prince Chen Jianzhi!

He must think I’ve joined the King of Qin, and now he wants to nip a future threat in the bud.

As Jiang Qian pieced it all together—

A sudden flash of sword-light roared toward him, cutting through the sky with a crackling fury!

"Jiang Qian, look out!"

Without thinking, Bai Piaoxue flung herself in front of Jiang Qian and summoned a shimmering wall of ice, the barrier erupting just in time to intercept the deadly blow!