The next instant, his pupils dilated. "Xu Dafu, you've finally met your match, working as a lackey for my woman?"

That woman actually recruited Xu Manniu into her ranks!

Xu Dafu: ...Why does this sound so familiar? Karma shouldn't come too quickly.

He stubbornly tried to save face, saying, "What little brother? I'm a centurion. Who knows, I might become a commander-in-chief in the future."

Li Ruo walked over impatiently, grabbed his collar, and said, "What kind of commander-in-chief are you? Don't dream about it so soon. Hurry up and take your gang to move the grain."

Xu Dafu: ... "Damn it, do you think I have no shame? Let go!"

He went downstairs grumbling.

Xie Xiao grabbed Li Ruo's hand, "Come with me to Black Wind Stronghold, I have something to tell you."

Li Ruo secretly shook him off, saying, "Go back first, I'll come find you after I've dealt with things here." With that, she turned and left.

Xie Xiao's eyes darkened again. Hearing everyone calling him, he quickly headed towards Black Wind Stronghold.

Not long after, Uncle Luo came over and said to Li Ruo, "The chief wants everyone to put half of the grain at Ziyang Peak."

But Li Ruo said no, and told them to move all of them to Black Wind Village.

Xu Dafu led over two thousand brothers from the Fuyou Cuobang gang, along with several thousand new recruits from Ziyang Peak, and they quickly moved all the grain.

Because the granary in Xuzhou was very sturdy and airtight, and almost all of it was filled with rice, half of it was dry, while the other half was wet. It was still edible because of the cold weather, though not very tasty. If you roasted it over a fire, it would dry out and could be stored for a short time.

Li Ruo asked, "Didn't your leader bring General Zhao and the Marquis of Xinyang back?"

Uncle Luo said, "The chief has temporarily settled them at Baiyun Peak."

Li Ruo nodded.

Uncle Luo seemed to want to say something, but hesitated and stopped.

Inside Black Wind Village.

Upon returning, Xie Xiao immediately went to check on the Fourth Master, asking, "Is he alive?"

Mu Sisi said, "I just gave him acupuncture. Whether he wakes up or not depends on his own will."

"Talk to him more," Xie Xiao said.

Mu Sisi glanced at him, and for some reason, she felt that emptiness return to her heart. She looked at the unconscious Fourth Master again and replied, "Okay."

Xie Xiao went to check on the other wounded, while Liao Fusheng was taking care of them.

Sun Ergou came up and said, "Daoist, could you bandage up my chief's wounds too? He has several cuts."

Xie Xiao said it wasn't necessary and told Sun Ergou to give all the medicine to the others.

Then they called Little Li and the Third Leader over, asking, "What did you tell her when you came back?"

It took Little Li a while to realize what she meant. "You mean Miss Li? I told Miss Li about our whole trip to Xuzhou."

"You also mentioned the matter of the Marquis of Xinyang and Guan Siyu's identity?" Xie Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I already said that." Little Li was a little confused, wondering why his boss's expression seemed a bit off.

The third leader had been feeling something was off, but then he suddenly realized, "Boss, we don't know anything about the Marquis of Xinyang's affairs, and neither does Miss Li. We believe you must have your reasons. Miss Li isn't so unreasonable; she can explain herself and everything will be fine."

Xie Xiao suppressed the urge to get back to work. "I understand. You can go ahead and get busy."

Uncle Luo is back. "Boss, Miss Li doesn't want any grain, so the brothers have moved it all over."

Only after he finished speaking did he realize that his face looked very strange, pale like never before. Uncle Luo was anxious, "Boss, are you injured somewhere? Quickly take off your clothes so that Master Liao can take a good look at you."

"It's alright." Xie Xiao even stood up. "I'll go to Ziyang Peak—"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly fell forward. Luckily, Uncle Luo caught him in time. He was very hot, which startled Uncle Luo. "Boss, you have a fever!"

Xie Xiao remembered something, and everyone rushed over to hold him down. Uncle Luo said, "Quick, go and call Master Liao!"

When Li Ruo led his brothers to bring over the grain, what they saw was a group of people crowded at the door of Xie Xiao's house.

Everyone made way for her.

Li Ruo walked over quickly. Uncle Luo, Sun Ergou, and the third leader were holding him down, and Liao Fusheng was about to apply medicine to him.

But he kept fidgeting and moving around.

Sun Ergou looked at him like a savior, "Sister, the boss is in this state, but he insists on going out. Can you persuade him?"

"What, you're throwing away your life that you barely escaped with your life?" Li Ruo mocked, then asked Liao Fusheng, "Is he alright?"

"Overwork has depleted your qi and blood, you won't die for now," Liao Fusheng said irritably.

"temporary?"

Liao Fusheng said, "If we don't get some rest, we'll die."

Xie Xiao felt dizzy and pushed away Uncle Luo and the others, saying, "You guys go out first."

Everyone was perceptive; after glancing at Li Ruo, they all said, "Please, young lady," and left.

Li Ruo also wanted to leave.

But a large hand closed the door in front of her.

She turned around, and just as she opened her mouth, she said, "What—"

She was pulled into a warm embrace, and her slightly chapped lips were sealed with his.

She stepped back, and he pushed her forward against the door with a loud bang. Her back hurt as it hit the latch. Before she could curse, his tongue invaded her mouth, stealing her breath. She reached out to slap him away, but he was faster, pinning her hands and waist down with his other hand, forcing her to look up by gripping her neck.

The kiss was urgent and a little rough. His chapped lips made her very uncomfortable, and with his fever and hot breath, Li Ruo felt as if her whole body was being roasted by fire. She bit his lip hard.

Xie Xiao hissed, staring intently at her, his chest heaving. He was about to kiss her again when Li Ruo pushed him away. "Are you out of your mind?"

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