Volume 1: The Fierce Tiger Leaves Its Leash Chapter 13: A Dark and Windy Night (Part 2)

  Madi made a self-introduction. He graduated from Kabul University and came here as a teacher twelve years ago, responsible for teaching multiple courses including English. At the same time, he is also the most respected and welcome person in the village. Then, he introduced the general situation. The girl who helped Ling Tianxiang was called Yigisi, only 14 years old. Her father, Mustafa, was a doctor in the village, which also made Ling Tianxiang understand why he could get medicine at the girl's home back then.

  "A traitor has appeared in the village." Maide's expression was very disheartened. "We didn't expect that someone would inform the US military, and on that night, Mustafa was taken away by the US military, and the house was also set on fire and burned down..." As he spoke to the end, even Maide couldn't continue speaking.

  "Who are they?" Ling Tianxiang suppressed the sadness and anger in his heart, glancing at the middle-aged couple.

  "They are Iqbal's uncle Haryali and aunt, Mustafa is from outside, not a local villager."

  Ling Tianxiang had already noticed that Yigisi and the middle-aged man looked a bit alike, so when he rushed into the house, he didn't make a reckless move to kill.

  "It's very dangerous here now, you shouldn't have come here."

  "I knew that. I just wanted to confirm her situation." Ling Tianxiang looked at Ygease, who was still lying in bed and hadn't woken up yet. "Does she have any relatives now?"

  Maddy looked at the middle-aged couple and asked them something in the local language. After getting their reply, he turned to Ling Tianxiang and said: "Mustafa is still being held in the US military camp, and Iqisu's mother also disappeared that night. Now Iqisu only has this uncle as a relative."

  Ling Tianxiang looked at the middle-aged couple and hesitated for a moment before saying to Maidede, "Ask them if they agree, I can take Yige to live a better life."

  Maddy immediately showed a joyful expression, and again a burst of native language to the middle-aged couple, who also became excited, it seemed that both sides were arguing. Ling Tianxiang was watching calmly on the side, he also knew that letting Yige leave here would be a very difficult thing for the middle-aged couple.

  The quarrel continued for a while before gradually subsiding, and after seeking the middle-aged couple's opinion one last time, Maddy said to Ling Tianxiang: "Hari needs you to guarantee that Yige will live a happy life."

  "No problem, I'm sure..."

  "Sir, please don't get excited, our 'happy life' means something different from what you understand."

  Ling Tianxiang slightly furrowed his brow, indicating for the translator to continue speaking.

  "What Harry means is that you should marry Ijigwen as your wife, so..."

  "Absolutely not!" Ling Tianxiang jumped up at once, "Yijisi is only fourteen years old. According to our law, women must be at least twenty years old to get married, and I won't agree to marry her either."

  "But... "Maddy seemed to know a lot more about the outside world than Harry did, but he was still an Afghan.

  "Tell them I can give Igis a life one hundred times better than what she has now, but I won't marry her, nor will I promise to. Ling Tianxiang paused for a moment, "Of course, I respect their decision, and now they are Igis's guardians, I won't force my way, and I'm already very grateful for the help you've given me."

  Maddy's face was difficult to look at, but he still turned around and started talking to Harry and his wife, another good argument. Ling Tianxiang sighed silently, it's really a place with its own customs, maybe in Afghanistan, girls are considered adults when they're 14 years old.

  Finally, Maidede and Hary seemed to have reached a consensus. He said to Ling Tianxiang: "Hary has agreed to your request and is very grateful to you. He asked what they need to do now."

  "I still can't take Yixi away now." Ling Tianxiang also breathed a sigh of relief, "Do you know the way to go east?"

  Maidi nodded immediately and said: "I have been to Buzai Jabba, I know the way there."

  "Alright, you guys set off quickly and take Iqisu to Buzaijabad, find a place to settle down. Remember, leave two triangular symbols outside your door." Ling Tianxiang took out his dagger and carved the symbol on the table. "Leave it half a meter high on the wall, and when the time comes, I'll come find you, then take Iqisu back to our country."

  Mehdi nodded and said a few words to Harry, then said: "No problem, we'll set off at dawn tomorrow, and in about three days we'll arrive in Buzai Jabal. We'll stay at my cousin Mustafa's house, where we'll leave our mark."

  Ling Tianxiang put away his dagger, and asked the last, also the most crucial question. "So, do you know which US military camp Mustafa is being held in now?"

  Maddy was startled and immediately stood up as well. "You're going to rescue Mustafa?"

  Ling Tianxiang did not answer the question. "I have something to do, and this may be my only clue now. If possible, I will rescue Mustafar, but I make no guarantees."

  "But... "Maddy bit her teeth and swallowed the second half of the sentence, then changed her words to say, "I know where it is. There's a small road on the mountain that can avoid the US military patrol highway. I'll take you there."

  Ling Tianxiang looked at Maddy with some disbelief - could a teacher really be of any help?

  "All men in Afghanistan are warriors. We fought against the Russian devils for ten years and now we have been fighting against the American devils for five years. Every one of us is a warrior."

  "Alright, if you need to prepare anything, go ahead and we'll leave in half an hour." Ling Tianxiang didn't say anything else, he indeed needed a guide.

  "Then I'll go prepare right away, you wait for me a bit!" Maiti De excitedly ran off, clearly he had never carried out combat missions before.

  Ling Tianxiang sat down, and after glancing at the grateful Harry and his wife, his gaze fell on that delicate face. The last time he had seen Yige at such a close distance was when he was in a difficult situation, and it was Yige's help that allowed him to grab onto a thread of hope for survival, along with Wei Daming. Just as he thought, perhaps he couldn't change the entire world, but he could change some people's destinies within his power, such as Yige's destiny. Although there was no way to prove it, taking her away would be happier than leaving her here, Ling Tianxiang believed that he would let Yige live a happy life.