Chapter 232: Finally, everyone's assembled! [Requesting monthly votes]

Looking at Kang Shi, who seemed struck by lightning, Shen Tang was utterly bewildered and cautiously asked, "Mr. Kang, is something wrong?"

Kang Shi then asked, "How much wealth do you have?"

Shen Tang was asked a sore spot.

She stubbornly held on, trying to salvage her dignity: "I don't have much money now, but I will in the future..."

Kang Shi: "..."

His mood at this moment was even more desperate than when he awakened the way of the literati. There were some things he didn't know whether he should tell Shen Tang.

Shen Tang suddenly felt a little uneasy.

He asked, "Mr. Kang, is there something you want to tell me?"

Kang Shi, however, asked, "Are you lucky to be alive?"

Shen Tang: "???"

Kang Shi then said, "Do you know your birth chart? I'll cast a divination for you; it would be best if you had a 'lone star' destiny..."

Shen Tang: "???"

One question mark after another popped up on her forehead.

Kang Shi slapped his thigh, his handsome face filled with an indescribable, strange emotion, and blurted out, "You're in big trouble!"

Shen Tang became increasingly certain that Kang Shi had some mental issues, but she still patiently replied, "What trouble have I gotten myself into?"

Kang Shi pointed to the dice cup and said, "Because you lost to me."

As is widely known, his philosophy as a scholar was "to always lose when gambling."

He can't win any betting game.

However, this was something Kang Shi did intentionally.

The more he loses, the longer his "Way of the Scholar" will take to develop and accumulate strength, and the greater the probability of finding the "true dragon." His current "Way of the Scholar" is actually in a semi-sealed state. If he wants it to be truly perfected, matured, and feasible, Kang Shi needs to find a lord.

A fully activated "Way of the Scholar" can change the outcome of a battle.

For example, our army was surrounded and annihilated by the enemy, putting us at a great disadvantage.

He activated the "Way of the Scholar" and used the morale-boosting power of "Fighting with one's back to the river." The remaining soldiers under his command could receive a motivational effect several times or even ten times greater than the normal "Fighting with one's back to the river." Each of them transformed into a powerful and courageous warrior, and if operated properly, they could turn the tide of battle to the extreme.

This is still the most conservative estimate.

Sounds impressive, right?

The only drawback is that it's a bit useless for the lord, because to change the predetermined "loss", you must have enough "wins" - where do these "wins" come from? Anyway, it's far from enough to just lose a few games every now and then during the Kangshi era, the main thing is to rely on the lord!

To put it more simply—

Kang Shi would inflict a permanent luck-weakening debuff on the future ruler. If the ruler was a fake "true dragon," he might be killed by him. If he was a real "true dragon," he certainly wouldn't die; at most, he'd be unlucky, choking on water, or slipping on potholes while walking...

So, how do we determine if our lord is a "true dragon"?

Kang Shi needs to take a gamble with the other party.

Those who lose to Kangshi have a certain chance of being the "true dragon," but those who win against Kangshi are definitely not. Then again, how do you determine whether someone who loses to Kangshi is the "true dragon" and not a "fake dragon"?

It all depends on whether they will be defeated by Kangshi's scholarly way of life.

Anyway, those who are cursed to death are not.

therefore--

Kang Shi looked at Shen Tang with great hesitation.

Should he stay or leave?

What if staying behind causes someone to die?

But what if it's a "real dragon" if we don't leave it behind?

Shen Tang suddenly felt a chill down her back and sneezed.

She rubbed her nose.

Is it just my imagination?

Why does she feel the temperature has dropped?

Out of caution, Kangshi decided to observe further.

After all, the cost of activating his scholarly path was too high...

Gu Chi, forced to hear all of his inner thoughts: "..."

This scholar named Kang Shi is actually Qi Shan's half-brother, right? Good heavens, really good heavens, if these two were to get together, which lord could withstand the chaos?

Even a cat with nine lives wouldn't be enough to keep up with the two of them—

"Achoo—"

Shen Tang's nose started to itch again.

One sneeze after another.

"Could it be that Yuanliang is talking badly about me behind my back?"

This suspicion is highly likely.

Gu Chi, forced to hear all of his inner thoughts: "..."

He felt that Qi Yuanliang might be innocent. "Shen Lang, turn around and look at Kang Shi. That guy is the real culprit!"

The nights in early winter are always exceptionally long.

Shen Tang couldn't help but take a nap in the latter half of the night.

When she awoke, the golden dawn light outside the cave had already playfully kissed her eyelids, illuminating her long, thick eyelashes and making each lash distinct. Shen Tang's eyelids fluttered, and she raised her hand to shield her eyes, opening them sleepily: "It's dawn?"

"Goro's awake? Wash your face with water."

Chu Yao handed over a water bag.

It's filled with lukewarm water at a comfortable temperature, perfect for washing your face.

Shen Tang saw Chu Yao backlit and noticed that he looked much better than last night, with a healthy glow on his clean face. She finally felt relieved. She took the water pouch, got up, took out her handkerchief, wet it, and wrung it out in her hand.

He wiped it haphazardly: "Is Wu Hui alright?"

Chu Yao: "I slept well last night, I feel much better, but—"

Shen Tang asked, "But what?"

A somber look appeared between Chu Yao's brows as he said in a heavy tone, "Before dawn, two soldiers succumbed to their wounds, their flesh festering and rotting..."

Shen Tang paused in wiping her face.

It felt like someone had poured a bowl of extremely strong bitter medicine into my heart.

She asked, "Where is the body?"

Chu Yao said, "It's already buried."

The body could not be taken away or cremated; it could only be buried on the spot with a simple grave.

Nameless and faceless, they lie here in eternal rest.

This is the fate of many people born in this era.

Shen Tang was silent for a moment, then said, "Bury it deeper."

If it's buried too shallow, it might be dug up by hungry wild animals in the forest. This is the only thing Shen Tang can do.

Chu Yao: "Hmm."

Shen Tang then asked, "How many people are left now?"

"Only forty-six people remain." Chu Yao was prepared and tried to make his tone sound cheerful. "Fortunately, their injuries are not very serious, and they can recover with some rest. Banbu's injuries have also stabilized, and he will wake up today."

Shen Tang knew that this was the best possible outcome.

"How could Banbu be so badly injured? Who attacked him?"

Chu Yao said, "Who else could it be? It's Gong Xichou."

Other brave generals might not have been able to control the excited and agitated Gong Shuwu, but Gong Xichou was different; he basically dominated Gong Shuwu. Fortunately, Gong Shuwu did not follow Yang Duwei's example and attempt a suicidal attack; with defeat already certain, he fought and retreated.

Otherwise, Gong Shuwu wouldn't be lying here; he would be buried in the ground. Hearing Chu Yao mention Gongxi Chou, Shen Tang felt a throbbing pain in her head. Gongxi Chou was indeed a formidable figure; just thinking about him filled her with despair.

However, if the opponent is Gongxi Chou—

Shen Tang smiled bitterly and comforted himself: "Being able to escape with my life from Gong Xi Chou's hands, the outcome isn't too bad."

There is always hope as long as a person is alive.

But if you die, there's absolutely no hope left.

Shen Tang said, "Pack up and go back to the Alliance Army camp."

Just as Chu Yao was about to agree, he heard the words "Allied Forces".

He asked in surprise, "The Allied Forces?"

∑(っ°Д°;)っ

There will be another chapter updated in the early morning.

I glanced at the calendar today and realized it's the 17th! Damn, I'm going to be posting a huge update next week!!!

Ah, we need to get serious.

(End of this chapter)