Chapter 1337: Thunderous Fury (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Gong Xichou didn't quite understand Lin Feng's choice.

In his view, it would be best to leave quietly this time, and if not, he should try not to completely provoke Zhai Le. He wasn't afraid of fighting, but once a fight broke out, he couldn't consider everyone's feelings. Gong Xichou's confusion almost made Lin Feng laugh. She asked, "Since the General has this concern, why did you directly provoke Zhai Xiaofang just now?"

It is not easy to cultivate agricultural talents who can use words to transform objects.

There are restrictions not only on gender, but also on the type of employment.

In mainstream circles, those with cultivation talent are given priority for both literary and martial arts training. The few trained by the government are all direct descendants of their own academies; not a single wild one has been captured. Since Lin Feng has taken more than half of them on this mission, he cannot possibly sacrifice them.

To be blunt, aside from Gong Xichou and Luo Sha, everyone else's sacrifice level was higher than theirs. Gong Xichou's words were truly risky; he hadn't consulted her beforehand. He was clearly the one who took the biggest risk, yet afterwards he criticized her for being reckless.

Gong Xiqiu looked away guiltily, his eyelids drooping slightly as he focused his attention on the corner of his eye: "I couldn't help it."

He'll make anyone who makes him unhappy.

Others?

The discussion will be postponed.

Gong Xiqiu whispered, trying to salvage the situation: "Anyway, Zhai Xiaofang wouldn't dare to flip the table right now. Saying a few words to him is like getting some interest."

Lin Feng: "..."

"But I really don't recommend getting involved in his daughter's matter." Gong Xichou's face showed a hint of schadenfreude. "Young people are most easily swayed. When Zhai Xiaofang finds out that her precious child has been kidnapped and ruined, he will be so angry that he will dig up the ancestral graves of the kidnappers."

It's a pity we can't see that scene.

Gong Xichou was very vengeful, and his ideas were beautiful, but unfortunately, the person in charge was Lin Feng: "I know what the general is worried about. He is worried that I will feel pity for the plight of the young people?"

What gave Gongxi Chou such a misconception?

Lin Feng said, "While I feel pity, it's not because of Zhai Xiaofang's daughter, but because I put myself in her shoes and think of the future prince. As the crown prince, second only to the emperor, even those carefully selected cannot be completely trusted. Wasn't Zhai Xiaofang attentive enough to her? Yet, she was still taken advantage of. Who can guarantee that something similar won't happen to the future prince? You can't see into someone's heart; as long as someone has ulterior motives, they can always get what they want from her... It's truly frightening..."

How can one not worry about a young crown prince surrounded by wolves and tigers?

Those who use such despicable means to destroy the crown prince are truly despicable.

Lin Feng's first reaction upon learning of this from Gong Xichou was worry, followed by a murderous intent that even extended to the female official. Zhai Le's daughter had no connection to the future rule of Kangguo, but this case still held relevance.

"There's no need to worry so much about the future crown prince."

Gong Xichou couldn't help but think of that cunning and treacherous little red flower.

Who can make Him suffer a loss?

Rather than worrying that He might be seduced by those around Him and become addicted to male-female relationships, it's more worrying that He might not be able to control His murderous instincts when they arise.

These details could not be revealed to Lin Feng, since even Mama herself was unaware that she possessed a "hidden gem."

"...I originally intended to use the Gu worms on her body as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Zhai Xiaofang, but as a last resort...we'll see if he chooses this daughter or insists on keeping us here..." Lin Feng's mission was numerous and complex, the most important of which was to return safely. Shen Tang tacitly agreed to some sacrifices, but Lin Feng's idea was that as many people as he sent on the mission, they should all return.

She said calmly, "But since we've been given leverage..."

Then naturally we should choose the more prudent option.

Using the crown prince as leverage to threaten Zhai Le is a poor strategy. If Zhai Le refuses to release the person and goes back on his word, then she can strike back, and the two sides will be even. Exposing the hidden danger around the crown princess will cause a stir in the Qu Kingdom's court, allowing Lin Feng and his group to remain hidden in the background.

Seeing that Lin Feng had a plan, Gong Xichou stopped giving orders blindly.

He was curious about something else: "Gu? When was it administered?"

“Yesterday, on that female ruler.”

Won't she find out?

"Didn't she admit herself to being 'born with a defect'?" The existence of a defect in the Danfu means that it cannot be fully monitored, and it is possible for someone to take advantage of the situation. Lin Feng said, "I have seen this kind of defect on another person, but it was not congenital."

The "other person" she mentioned was Gu Chi.

Back then, Gu Chi paid a price for erasing the mark left by Wen Xinhua, which prevented him from completing the ritual of the Scholar's Path to Perfection to this day, and even made him a frequent patient. Medical practitioners from the medical community have been able to treat him every few days without being able to completely cure him.

What is little known is that Gu Chi is not missing many things.

At least not to the extent that literary monographs were affected.

The more damage inflicted, the greater the price to pay; and the greater the price, the heavier the "purpose." That female official likely harbors deeper secrets, and her demands extend beyond mere profit. Unable to conduct a thorough investigation within Qu Kingdom's territory, Lin Feng has no choice but to gamble. He gambles that a powerful figure is behind the female official, and that this spark will ignite a conflict within Qu Kingdom's upper echelons…

Lin Feng sighed: "It's not my intention to lay a hand on a child."

She considered herself to be of the same generation as Zhai Le, while Wang Tai Nu was a junior. Her scheming against a junior made Lin Feng, who had a high moral standard, feel somewhat ashamed.

“Lin Xiaoma should learn more from Gongyang Yongye and the others… These old geezers don’t hesitate to lay a hand on children, let alone their grandchildren…” Gong Xichou silently mourned for his moral bottom line for three seconds, “It’s not shameful.”

Lin Feng's smile appeared slightly forced: "Mm."

Gong Xichou finally took up his post, and Luo Sha was able to take a break from his shift.

The two agreed to take turns on six-hour shifts. When Luo Sha came to relieve him, he found him transformed into a giant snake coiled on a pine tree halfway up the mountain. The location was high and secluded, offering a wide view. The python was wrapped around the branch, its tail occasionally flicking up and swaying from side to side.

A pair of snake-like eyes frequently darted around, watching the figure below.

He didn't look at any one person individually, but he was looking at all the women.

Luo Sha: "...Did I catch you doing something wrong?"

He was going to accuse Gong Xi Chou of abusing his power for personal gain, spending his days spying on beautiful young women! Luo Sha had no idea how this snake had managed to cultivate his virginity to such an advanced age! Gong Xi Chou didn't even bother to look over, lazily saying, "What do you know? The most beautiful thing in life is peace and tranquility, when all good things are vibrant... No wonder you're under Mama's command, everyone here is a good person..."

Luo Sha remained silent for a few moments.

"Are you referring to 'good people' who tamper with the crops?"

The wagging tail stopped: "Hmm?"

Luo Sha chose to remain silent.

Gong Xichou probably didn't know that Lin Feng's initial backup plan wasn't about using a Gu poison on the Crown Princess—Zhai Le sending his daughter over was a spur-of-the-moment decision, an uncontrollable variable—nor was it about triggering a major scandal involving the Crown Princess! It was about planting a Gu worm in Jitian, a safe area where she could move freely and where Zhai Xiaofang wouldn't dig too deep, making it suitable for her to act.

Luo Sha witnessed her doing it firsthand.

Not only were they buried under the rice paddies, but also among the harvested rice grains. Luo Sha didn't know the specific purpose of those things, but he could tell from the shadows that often clouded Lin Feng's eyes—

It's nothing good.

It is highly likely that the impact will be widespread and will implicate innocent people.

Gong Xichou's swaying snake tail regained its liveliness, clearly having discovered something at Luo Sha's prompting. His voice remained cheerful: "Although you tampered with things, you feel remorse, which makes you a good person. Reflect on yourself, do you feel remorse after killing someone?"

Luo Sha: "...No."

"So, do you consider yourself a good person?"

"no."

"So, they really are a group of kind little mothers."

Luo Sha: "..."

He felt a sense of despair for the minds of the creatures on the shore.

The busy days flew by, and more than a month passed in the blink of an eye. With Zhai Le's tireless cooperation, Lin Feng was even able to deliver ahead of schedule with a surplus. The supply of provisions on the front lines of Qu Kingdom was completely relieved, and the ministers of Qu Kingdom who had previously opposed the plan all fell silent.

Beneath the seemingly calm surface, a terrifying undercurrent is brewing.

With her mission complete, it was time to submit her resignation. Lin Feng noticed the gazes directed at her growing clearer and more intense, as if they wanted to tear her apart. Meanwhile, the Crown Princess, having left the royal court, visibly relaxed.

He occasionally joked and laughed with the female officials without deliberately avoiding outsiders.

Even if there are doubts, they can always claim it's just sisterly affection.

Princess Wang had an older sister. However, this older sister, who was a year older than her, was an ordinary person, and the two sisters had completely different personalities and could not get along. The elder sister, Zhai Le, was gentle and introverted, and her greatest hobbies were needlework and poetry. She was unwilling to learn martial arts to strengthen her body, while Princess Wang liked to practice martial arts. They talked most about the affairs of the Crown Princess's residence and trivial matters of the court. The two sisters did not get along.

Lin Feng saw all of this.

She discovered that the affair between the Crown Princess and the female official was not a secret.

Other female officials also noticed something amiss, but the matter never reached Zhai Le's ears. This is interesting, implying that the families behind these female officials also had their own stances, and for various reasons chose to turn a blind eye and secretly cover for them.

Zhai Le will be plotted against, and his descendants will also be plotted against.

The root of it all is simply the word "interest".

The political landscape, so different from that of Kangguo, broadened Lin Feng's horizons.

On the third day after completing his task, Lin Feng packed up and prepared to leave and return home. Zhai Le was surprisingly accommodating, replying that same day that he would host a farewell banquet, with the civil and military officials of Qu Kingdom in attendance.

His posture was calm and unhurried, showing no intention of obstruction.

The more cheerful Zhai Le appeared, the more displeased the courtiers became. They were naturally unwilling to let Lin Feng and his group off the hook; these people were veritable mobile granaries, and they had finally solved a long-standing mystery for them—why Kang Kingdom didn't consider supply lines or the losses during transport when waging war; it turned out they were simply using local resources!

Whether it's making excuses to delay or keeping these people around...

Their king actually made a big show of sending them back!

Is this the time to talk about heroism and loyalty?

Because Kangguo had a grain surplus, its domestic wine industry was relatively developed, and everyone, regardless of social status, could afford to have a few drinks. Lin Feng's alcohol tolerance was naturally quite good as well. Others took turns offering toasts, and Lin Feng accepted them all. The guests and hosts enjoyed themselves until late at night before finally parting ways.

Before dawn, my luggage was already packed.

"Even after a thousand miles of travel, we must part ways. Lin Feng thanks King Zhai for his care over the past few days." Outside the capital, Lin Feng and his entourage were fully prepared to depart. King Zhai Le himself was also present, and it was clear to everyone that he was sincere. However, Lin Feng remained unmoved.

Zhai Le said reluctantly, "Sigh, have a safe journey."

In this situation, he couldn't help but recall some events from years past.

He clasped his hands in greeting and said, "The green hills remain unchanged, and the clear waters flow forever—gentlemen, may we meet again someday! Please give my regards to Mr. Shen."

Lin Feng returned the greeting: "May your country prosper."

After saying that, she turned to the crowd and said, "Let's go!"

The King of Qu's capital gradually shrank behind her, but the ever-present gaze lingered, pushing Lin Feng's nerves to their limit. She closed her eyes, silently counting in her mind, her hands gripping the reins unwavering: "Don't look back, go—"

There were Qu Kingdom officials along the way to guide the way.

"...The more grand the publicity, the more worrying it is."

Everyone knew they had left the Kingdom of Qu, and if they didn't return to the Kingdom of Kang on time, whatever happened along the way would be irrelevant to the Kingdom of Qu. The group traveled lightly, their journey not slow. As they were about to leave the borders of the Kingdom of Qu, the dark night held a hint of danger.

"Tsk, not a single insect chirp has been heard."

As if suppressed by something, they trembled and dared not utter a sound.

Lin Feng gripped the hilt of his sword, and suddenly a thick fog rose at the end of the road.

"Since you're a guest, won't you come out and greet me?"

"This mountain is mine, this road is mine. Little girl, if you want to pass through, leave your head behind!" A strange cry like that of a night owl rang out, a ghostly voice coming from all directions.

What if I don't answer?

"If you don't want to die, then don't cross the line."

Lin Feng glanced at Luo Sha out of the corner of his eye.

Over the course of time we've spent together, we've developed a certain level of understanding.

Luo Sha frowned slightly and slowly shook his head. He couldn't sense the other party's location, and Gong Xichou's response was the same.

Lin Feng calmly countered, "Are they men of the King of Zhai? Ordinary bandits wouldn't possess such skill, wouldn't you agree?"

The man sneered, "Why can't it be a frame-up?"

"That's possible, but it doesn't matter. Whether you're acting on the orders of the King of Zhai or on behalf of some other faction to sabotage the cooperation between Kang and Qu, isn't your goal to stop us? To us, it makes no difference." Lin Feng drew his sword, his warhorse carrying her a few steps closer to the thick fog, about ten feet away from the main force, and coldly shouted, "In short, get out of the way!"

Those in the shadows scoffed, "Overestimating themselves."

Lin Feng said, "So, he is one of the people of the Di Kingdom."

If it were a third-party force attempting to disrupt both countries, Lin Feng would have unleashed his killing move the moment he stepped out of the crowd. At such close range, even Gong Xi Chou and his companion couldn't guarantee she wouldn't be affected by the aftershocks. The body of a scholar like Wen Xin is very fragile; even if she doesn't die, she'll suffer internal injuries.

Her being safe and sound means that her life has value.

Killing her was only a last resort.

"Hmph, clever little thing."

"If you use your cleverness well, it can save your life..."

It can further delay the process.

Lin Feng leisurely circled around on his horse twice: "It might not be difficult for him to keep us here today, but can Zhai Le afford to gamble?"

"bet?"

The voice belonged to someone else.

"Whether to spare us at any cost, turning the Qu Kingdom upside down, or to pull back from the brink and try to mend the situation... choose one! If I'm not mistaken, the capital should be changing by now." Lin Feng laughed. "King Zhai's hospitality is beyond my ability to repay, so I can only do my best to repay his kindness. Tell him some... secrets that he has been kept in the dark about."

(;Д｀)

Sigh, it seems like everyone planned this together today. Several friends asked me when I'd start my new book, and I said I'd start around the end of this one. They also asked what my ideas were for the new book and what genre it would be. I said I'd write what I like to write and what I'm good at.

P.S.: Zhang Yang, let's meet in March at the latest.