Chapter 217: Thirteen Brothers [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"The gains were acceptable, and the losses were not significant." The middle-aged man, known as "Ninth Brother," looked gloomy. He wiped his face, spat, and then said, "Let's not talk about that for now. I have something more important to report to my elder brother."

The newly arrived young general knew something bad had happened upon seeing this.

He said, "My elder brother is in the main tent."

The "Ninth Brother" pointed at Shen Tang and the others, and instructed his brothers: "I met these people on the road. You send someone to settle them in. I will go see the eldest brother first and then explain to you in detail later."

The young general looked at Shen Tang and the other two with curiosity.

Upon first seeing Shen Tang's face, one might mistake her for a girl brought back by her elder brother. But upon seeing the floral monogram on her waist, one's inner thoughts turn to surprise—what a handsome and beautiful young man, more stunning than those who wear makeup, with red lips and white teeth.

His gaze casually swept over Qi Shan and the others again.

I was astonished!

They were actually three literary figures!

The soldiers who cared for Commandant Yang on the carriage, and those who led him away after disembarking, were all overlooked. Gu Chi, hearing this, looked at Shen Tang with a strange expression. He knew Shen Lang had feminine features, but everyone's first impression was wrong…

Sigh, being good-looking has its troubles too.

Gu Chi pursed his lips and bowed slightly in greeting.

The "Ninth Brother" rushed off to the main tent, while Shen Tang and the others were led by the young general to their tents. The tents were not in a remote location, but they were not exactly secretive either, and there were tight patrols around them, so every move they made was exposed to the enemy's watchful eyes.

In just a few steps, Shen Tang had already exchanged names and courtesy names with the young general. The two chatted and laughed, as if they were old friends who had known each other for many years. This young general's surname was "Chao," his given name was Lian, and his courtesy name was Qingzhi. He had just celebrated his birthday a few days ago and was twenty-two years old.

Shen Tang asked curiously, "Ah? The young general's surname is Chao?"

Chao Lian replied, "Yes."

Shen Tang asked, "Isn't his surname 'Gu'? I saw 'Gu' on the flag outside the camp, and you just called him 'Big Brother'?"

Chao Lian was taken aback by Shen Tang's question, then quickly explained with a wry smile, "No, no, Shen Lang has misunderstood."

He then gave a brief explanation.

He and his eldest brother, ninth brother, and several others were sworn brothers.

There were thirteen brothers in total; he was the twelfth, and there was a younger brother a few years his junior who was the youngest. The brothers came from diverse backgrounds. Some were legitimate businessmen, but due to the turbulent times, their businesses failed, forcing them to find other means of livelihood. Some were wandering knights-errant, while others, in their quest for justice, killed local powerful figures and their relatives, leading to their deaths…

Some came from humble backgrounds, others from poor families, and some even served as officials for a few years before resigning because they couldn't stand the corruption in officialdom.

Shen Tang listened with great interest.

She said, "Then you must be a trained martial artist."

This person has a steady breath, light steps, and abundant blood and energy throughout his body. Looking at the thick calluses on his palms, one can only imagine the result of years of rigorous training. Furthermore, he exudes an aura of righteousness, with clear brows and bright eyes, indicating that he is undoubtedly a person of upright character.

If Zhai Le is the blazing sun at its peak in summer, then Chao Lian should be a clear spring under the moonlight on a midsummer night.

It has a refreshing and pleasant feel to it.

Gu Chi secretly curled his lip.

This string of praise—is the father-in-law really looking to please his son-in-law?

Chao Lian smiled kindly, and said somewhat shyly, "Young Master Shen has a good eye. Our ancestors have served in the military for generations. In our clan, no matter how old the boys are, as long as they can walk, they all start learning martial arts to strengthen their bodies..."

Shen Tang exclaimed in surprise: "So strict?"

"After all, it's the foundation of one's life. A solid foundation in youth increases the chances of a stable adulthood..." As he spoke, a subtle, almost imperceptible darkness and bitterness flickered in his eyes, as if he were recalling something, but he quickly regained his composure. "I couldn't help myself for a moment; please forgive my embarrassment, Mr. Shen. Mr. Shen, please—"

He led Shen Tang and the others into the tent where they would temporarily stay.

Commander Yang was also carried off the vehicle by two soldiers.

Upon seeing Yang, who was covered in blood, Chao Lian was secretly astonished, never expecting that a living person could survive such severe injuries.

Shen Tang: "Young General, is there a doctor in the camp?"

"Of course there are, but our medical skills are limited. And Shen Lang's injuries are so severe that his foundation is completely destroyed. Even if we can save him, he will be a cripple..." Chao Lian's words implied that even if Shen Tang's side spent a lot of money and resources, the person they saved would only be a cripple.

Although Chao Lian's medical skills were only rudimentary, he had practiced martial arts since childhood, and as a brave and skilled warrior, he could still discern some clues about Commandant Yang's injuries. Under the tense and distressed gazes of the two soldiers, Shen Tang sighed, "I know."

Chao Lian acted very quickly.

Soon after, someone arrived carrying a medicine box.

Chao Lian called him "Sixth Brother," but this "Sixth Brother" was not a martial arts expert, but a scholar with a thick goatee and a deep, earthy yellow monogram on his waist. Surrounded by Shen Tang and the others, he carefully took Yang Duwei's pulse.

He revealed Yang Duwei's situation in just one meeting.

He asked, "Did this person recently spontaneously combust his martial arts courage?"

Shen Tang said, "Yes, we encountered a formidable enemy."

He stroked his beard and said, "That must be a very powerful and formidable enemy."

Three literary scholars were present, yet they were reduced to barely escaping only by burning their own courage... How terrifying must the enemy be?

"Sixth Brother" stroked his beard, pondering treatment options.

Before long, he had an idea: "Martial courage cannot be saved. But this person has a profound foundation, there is still martial energy in his meridians, his will is firm, and he is still hanging on by a thread... How about this, I will give him acupuncture to let the martial energy in his meridians stay for a while longer, and then find a martial artist to replenish his qi. With the nourishment of martial energy, the heart meridian will be maintained, and with the help of herbal medicine, he will recover in a month at the latest."

Shen Tang breathed a sigh of relief and cupped her hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you."

Sixth Brother waved his hand and laughed, "It's just a doctor's duty."

Chao Lian helped Sixth Brother carry his medicine chest, took the prescription he had written, and sent someone to get the medicine. He instructed the soldiers to keep a close watch and not to be careless.

Watching the two leave, Gu Chi seemed lost in thought.

Qi Shan poured herself a glass of water to moisten her dry throat and lips, and asked, "Is there anything wrong with these two?"

Gu Chi pointed to himself: "You're asking me?"

"If I don't ask you, who should I ask?"

Qi Shan sensed that the "Sixth Brother" was no pushover either. In order not to alert him, she did not use mind-reading techniques to test him—it would be fine if she wasn't discovered, but if she was, it could be seen as an unfriendly provocation—Gu Chi's way of the scholar was different.

Unless he says it, virtually no one will notice.

Gu Chi chuckled and said, "You're too comfortable ordering people around."

Qi Shan said, "Who told you that we were in the same boat?"

If the boat leaks, we'll all go down together. Even if Gu Chi can swim, he'll pull Gu Chi down with him!

Gu Chi: "..."

His face was so black it could rival the soot at the bottom of a pot.

He said reluctantly, "Chao Lian is fine, but the new guy is not simple. He has roughly guessed Yang Duwei's identity and is also suspicious of our origins..."

Qi Shan asked, "Is there any ill intent?"

"There was no malice, but there was an intention to recruit them."

Upon hearing this, Qi Shan felt much relieved.

We need to find out more about these forces right now.

This task was originally intended for Gu Chi—such a talented spy, while he still has the chance to seduce women, let's take full advantage of him and fleece him.

Who would have thought that Shen Tang was the more suitable person than Gu Chi?

This homebody, who considered herself to have "mild social anxiety," excused herself to go check on her medicine preparation. Upon returning, she had already gathered most of the information. She downed a bowl of water, burped after finishing it, and asked the two, "Have you ever heard of the Oath of the Peach Garden?"

Qi Shan: "..."

Gu Chi: "..."

Shen Tang slapped his thigh and said, "This force is practically a plus version of the Oath of the Peach Garden—I mean, in terms of numbers, ten more than Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei! There are thirteen brothers in total, each with their own unique skills. Their eldest brother is named Gu Ren, originally a scion of a once-wealthy family that had fallen on hard times. He was taken in by his mentor at fifteen, lost his wife at twenty-five, was then taken in by the local prefect, lost his wife again at thirty-five, and his current wife is the daughter of a wealthy local gentleman. She is forty-five years old this year, and a fortune teller has predicted that his wife may suffer a bloody disaster this year..."

Qi Shan: "..."

Is there something wrong with his teaching methods? Why does Young Master Shen always become unusually excited and enthusiastic when he mentions these kinds of news?

Gu Chi said, "I have heard of Gu Ren. It is said that he is charitable and generous, distributing alms and porridge, building bridges and repairing roads, and often helping the poor. He is known as a 'benevolent man'... Many of his retainers voluntarily become his disciples and are willing to serve him without pay..."

Qi Shan's gaze became subtle.

have a look--

The difference between genuinely inquiring about gossip and gathering intelligence.

Shen Tang continued, "That's true. Many soldiers in the camp volunteered to follow Gu Ren after hearing that he was going to start an uprising. Although there aren't many men, his other twelve brothers each have their own areas of expertise, and they've managed the camp quite well."

Qi Shan said, "He's not simple."

What a great reputation one must have for voluntarily going to the battlefield!

I wonder if this reputation is really good?

Is it better to use a fake one?

Shen Tang also took the time to wander over to the neighboring camp and heard a slightly different evaluation—doing good deeds and accumulating virtue also requires capital. Gu Ren was originally a scion of a once-prosperous family that had fallen on hard times. His family was poor and needed help from others, but he knew how to get married.

Moreover, his wife's family consisted of either only daughters or sons with poor abilities who couldn't uphold the family's reputation. As their son-in-law, he was treated like a son by his father-in-law. In his early days, he relied on the support of his wife's family and wife to build his fortune; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to cultivate such a good reputation.

At first glance, he seems to be a template for a scumbag.

The strange thing is that his former in-laws were very satisfied with him. Even after their daughter died and their son-in-law became someone else's son-in-law, they still praised him highly. Judging from his reputation alone, Gu Ren truly lived up to his name, arousing the sour jealousy of the neighboring camp.

Shen Tang took stock of his thirteen brothers one by one.

He knows them like the back of his hand.

Let's focus on that "Sixth Brother".

I've heard that he was once a royal physician serving the Xin Kingdom's court, possessing exceptional medical skills. However, a few years ago, something happened that led to his demotion and reprimand, nearly costing him his life. Deeply aware of the darkness in the political arena and the incurable nature of the Xin royal family, he angrily resigned and went into seclusion, wandering the world.

Coincidentally—

"He was the one who was responsible for ensuring Chu Ji's safe pregnancy back then."

The State of Chu, the homeland of Chu Yao.

Chu Ji, Chu Yao came to Xin Kingdom as part of her dowry. Shen Tang didn't expect to encounter someone connected to this case; it seemed that "Sixth Brother" probably knew something inside. Shen Tang just hadn't found out yet; perhaps there would be an opportunity later.

As for "Ninth Brother," that middle-aged man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face, he used to make a living by tomb raiding and burglary, and had never failed in his many years of work. Later, he stole from Gu Ren, who had clearly discovered his whereabouts but neither arrested him nor reported it to the police.

The next day, Gu Ren sent someone to deliver a batch of silver to his door.

Hopefully, this petty thief can repent and use the money to buy some land, marry a beautiful wife, and live a good life. He wasn't caught before because he only robbed ordinary people; if he had stolen from martial artists or scholars, he would have been killed if caught. "Ninth Brother" inquired and learned it was Gu Ren, and on the third day, he brought the stolen money to his door.

From then on, he turned over a new leaf and started anew.

Gu Ren and his twelve sworn brothers each had a remarkable story to tell, which Shen Tang listened to with great interest when he inquired about them.

Of the thirteen brothers, the youngest, the thirteenth, was the strongest. He was practically raised as a son by Gu Ren and was said to possess superhuman strength. Unfortunately, his mind was no different from that of a six-year-old child, and he also suffered from some form of madness, becoming like a ferocious beast when he went berserk.

He listens to no one but Gu Ren.

Besides Gu Ren and his twelve sworn brothers, Shen Tang also learned other news—such as the edict issued by Zheng Qiao, which called on heroes from all over the world to jointly attack the traitorous forces led by the King of Pigs. There were as many as twelve groups involved this time!

It's said to be twelve routes, but the actual number is more than that.

Each force is small, but when all are gathered together, their numbers should be enough to overwhelm the rebels. As for their quality—

That depends on how it goes in actual combat.

Shortly before Shen Tang and his group arrived, Gu Ren's troops clashed with a rebel force. Gu Ren's side won a great victory and captured more than a hundred people. The other side was less fortunate, fighting to a draw and only managing to drive the rebels away with Gu Ren's assistance.

Shen Tang was speaking enthusiastically when he suddenly stopped.

At that moment, the voices of soldiers could be heard outside the tent.

Gu Ren wanted to see them.

Shen Tang stopped talking and looked at Qi Shan and the other person questioningly.

It's not a question of whether or not to meet, but rather who should represent them to meet.

The result was as expected.

Who made Shen Tang the "Master"?

But Qi Shan was also worried about letting Shen Tang go alone.

Gu Chi was simply there to join in the fun, to see what the rumored Gu Ren was really like, and to hear if this person was as he seemed.

The main tent was located quite far from Shen Tang's location.

When the three arrived, several powerful figures were already inside the tent, and they had also noticed them. Lifting the tent flap, the first thing they saw was a middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table.

This person has kind and gentle features, a refined and peaceful temperament, and no hostility about him, giving people a kind and approachable first impression.

Although he is actually 45 years old, he looks like he is in his early 30s because of his good skills and proper maintenance.

Besides this man, the tent also contained Chao Lian, "Sixth Brother," "Ninth Brother," and two unfamiliar faces—these two were tall and burly, so imposing that they resembled a thick wall when seated. Judging by their height, they were about the same as Gong Shuwu when they stood up.

Shen Tang thought about her small frame and inwardly grimaced.

She also wanted to breathe the air at high altitudes.

They all looked at Shen Tang and the other two.

The soldier reported, "My lord, the three gentlemen have arrived."

(End of this chapter)