Chapter 727: Counter-Ambush (Part 1) [Two-in-One]

Watching Feng Shi gradually lose her life, Gu Chi lowered his eyes, concealing the pity and sympathy that quietly surfaced and then vanished like ripples in his eyes. He squatted down and picked up the sword; the crimson stain on the blade stung his eyes inexplicably, and the blood still dripped from it.

"This sword, though it has not drunk the blood of its enemies, has been stained with the lives of outsiders." Gu Chi's words were unclear, whether he was mocking himself or sarcastically referring to Tao Shenyu and his group who had been taken away. He took out a handkerchief from his bosom and carefully wiped the bloodstains off the sword. "Let this person's remains be buried."

Shen Tang naturally let Gu Chi have his way.

It was just digging a separate burial pit; the Martial Arts Master was incredibly efficient and could finish it in no time. Shen Tang even erected a stone tablet for the deceased, inscribed with "Tomb of Lady Feng," but since her birth year was unknown, only her death year was written.

Gu Chi then raised the torch to see his enemy off.

Tao Yan, perhaps knowing his end was near and there was no turning back, gave up and sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes slightly closed. He allowed the soldiers to bring a pile of firewood around him. The others, however, were unwilling to accept this fate, their faces filled with anger and hatred. Regardless of their reactions, the firewood was gradually brought in until the last pile was stacked on top.

As if sensing something, Tao Yan opened her eyes.

Gu Chi happened to be passing by with a torch.

The soldiers were pouring strange-smelling oil onto the firewood.

Tao Yan felt the constriction in his throat disappear and calmly asked Gu Chi, "Gu Wangchao, how is my wife?"

Gu Chi said, "Lady Feng has already gone ahead."

Tao Yan's expression changed drastically, seemingly both helpless and saddened by the outcome. He finally sighed, "Perhaps there really is such a thing as karma in this world. The things I did back then are now coming back to haunt me. Although it's true that the victor is king and the loser is villain, it's only right that I, Tao, pay with my life. But she is, after all, just an innocent woman. Why should our feud as two men involve her?"

Gu Chi said indifferently, "That's a question for you. Why did you slaughter my mother, brother, and sister-in-law? That's why Lady Feng died. Don't you understand? She died because of you, not because of me. Why don't you look for the answer within yourself?"

Tao Yan's face turned a deep shade of liver from these words.

"...But aren't you afraid of karma? Treating a woman like this will bring retribution upon yourself in the future. What if that happens?"

Gu Chi looked at Tao Yan for a long time, then sneered, "Tao Shenyu, that Lady Feng is a waste of your talent. She saw the situation clearly, so she volunteered to die. In terms of courage and boldness, she is far superior to you. And you—even when you are about to die, you still can't recognize your mistakes. If you really repent, you might as well die peacefully, instead of living to such an old age and becoming a laughing stock."

Upon hearing this, Tao Yan trembled.

He bent down slightly and lowered his head.

"Gu Wangchao, I beg you—"

Gu Chi looked at him: "What do you want from me?"

Gu Chi, who could read minds, naturally knew what Tao Yan was asking for.

No matter how much Tao Yan still loved Feng Shi, Feng Shi was dead, and no amount of words could bring her back. However, Tao Yan's offspring were still alive. If Gu Chi was determined to replicate Feng Shi's revenge, his offspring would naturally be found and dealt with, completely eradicating any potential threat.

This is what he fears most right now.

Tao said, "Please spare the innocent children."

Gu Chi's eyes flickered with a hint of emotion. He watched Tao Yan's humble and pleading expression with amusement, but felt no satisfaction at having avenged himself. Instead, he felt a strange mix of emotions. He said, "You can decide for yourself the answer to your request."

Tao Yan didn't understand what Gu Chi meant at first, but Gu Chi had already thrown down the torch and said calmly, "Being burned alive is the most painful thing in the world, the most painful way to die. If you're still a man, don't shout too awfully. At least leave yourself some dignity."

Although the firewood wasn't completely dry, it ignited instantly after being doused with oil, and a fire quickly took shape. Tao Yan endured the flames, veins bulging on his forehead, and soon flames climbed up his hair. He roared amidst the fire, "Gu Wangchao, I beg you, spare the innocent children!"

Tao Yan didn't know if Gu Chi had agreed, but he could vaguely see Gu Chi's mouth move a few times through the firelight before he completely lost consciousness.

Gu Chi stood by the fire for a long time.

Until there was no more sound in the flames.

Suddenly, a presence appeared beside him. The newcomer asked, "Has Military Advisor Gu agreed to Tao Shenyu's request?"

Gu Chi couldn't help but smile wryly upon hearing this: "I don't even know where Tao Shenyu's offspring are. How am I supposed to find them in this vast sea of ​​people?"

“Cutting the weeds and eliminating the roots is indeed a safe approach, but it means that I will have to remember this grudge and hatred for who knows how many years. But with Tao Yan and the others dying in front of me, the hatred in my heart is no longer enough to support me to do so.”

"General Bai, do you think I should continue?"

If his parents found out he had become such a horrible sight...

Gu Chi felt an indescribable weariness.

This is the emptiness that follows the triumph of revenge.

Bai Su said calmly, "You can continue if you want, or stop if you don't. You can continue if you change your mind someday. You are the one who suffered the most, and the one who suffered the most has the right to decide. You have the final say in everything."

Gu Chi sighed after a long while, "...Grandfather and Father dote on Tao Shenyu. If this filthy thing goes down and learns a few phrases from them, they won't have a peaceful life in the underworld..."

Bai Su knew Gu Chi's decision as soon as she heard it.

She said, "I do believe it to some extent."

Gu Chi asked her, "Believe in what?"

"That Lady Feng once said that when you were young, you were full of vitality, like a free-spirited crow on the horizon."

Gu Chi: "Everyone has a time when they are young and impetuous."

It's perfectly normal for a young man from a happy and loving family to be cheerful and outgoing. It would be abnormal if he were gloomy and withdrawn all the time.

Bai Su raised an eyebrow and asked a completely unrelated question: "So, you're saying that Military Advisor Gu has finished writing his new manuscript?"

Gu Chi's expression froze. Remembering the pen he hadn't touched in a long time, he protested in an embarrassed tone, "I'm writing, I'm writing..."

It's infuriating that people keep urging you to update.

Just then, a furtive cat appeared. She'd only heard something about "writing," and leaned closer: "How much have you written?"

Gu Chi: "..."

When did you arrive here, my lord?

He said helplessly, "We're still at war, what's the rush!"

Bai Su smiled and left a message saying, "Alright, I won't rush you. Let's see when you catch that thief."

Gu Chi: "..."

Only after Bai Su had completely walked away did a magnified image of their lord's face appear before them. The lord said, "Has our camp been robbed?"

Gu Chi said, "No."

Shen Tang frowned, her suspicious gaze sweeping up and down: "Why do I feel like your conversation is weird? Are you talking in riddles? Or have you secretly started a new story? As your lord, am I not worthy of seeing fresh and hot stories?"

Gu Chi was speechless in the face of his lord.

Fortunately, Shen Tang didn't take the matter to heart. As dawn approached, the Miao River returned to calm, and the bodies that had fallen into the water were all retrieved and given a proper burial. Even the few drops of blood on the riverbank were washed away by a rain.

Aside from the ever-flowing river, no one knew what had happened here. Shen Tang and his side were fully prepared. Tao Yan, this potential threat, had been eliminated, but the troubles before them remained. They had to set up an ambush and strike before Zheng Qiao could react.

She counted the time on her fingers.

The previous brisk walking was still useful.

We have plenty of time.

She climbed onto the back of the motorcycle and waved her hand.

"Move forward!"

On the opposite bank of the Miao River, several groups of Tao Yan's remaining troops stood silently facing each other. They were lucky; last night, they had secretly escaped into the water behind the main force, before the fighting spread. Fearing pursuit, they had hidden all night, not daring to show themselves easily.

Only after Shen Tang's troops left and peace returned to both banks of the Miao River did they truly escape with their lives. However, their future became a major problem. They were too few in number; even becoming outlaws would mean starvation. Their eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness.

One of them spoke up: "What should we do next?"

"What else can we do... We're lucky to be alive."

"I want to go home."

"Go home? We don't have any food..."

Someone whispered something.

"Shouldn't we send the message back?"

When this suggestion was made, everyone fell silent.

They were all insignificant figures, cannon fodder on the battlefield, who might never even have a proper name in their entire lives. They had no idea what the higher-ups were up to, let alone the grudges between those people. All they knew was that Shen Tang's forces had launched a surprise attack on their side, leading to their annihilation, the death of their lord, and that they had nowhere to go... Based on their pitiful intelligence, they deduced that it must be that Lord Shen who was at fault.

After all, how could the lord who provided them with military pay be a bad person?

Their lord died unjustly; should they do something for him?

At the very least, we cannot let that Mr. Shen get away with it.

"How do we send the message back? Can we even get back?"

Tao Yan's forces have fallen, but Shen Jun has not. Even with all the evidence, what can a few ordinary people do to the other side? How can they seek justice? This time, they might not even be alive when they go back.

The thought lingered in their minds, and everyone hesitated.

"Then... our lord died in vain?"

The crowd fell silent once again.

"What else can we do?"

Then one of them stepped forward, his face flushed with excitement: "You're all afraid to die, but I'm not! At worst, I'll be a man again in eighteen years! I'll go back and deliver the message! I still have some food on me... I'll crawl back even if I have to!"

In fact, everyone carried dry rations, usually hidden inside their clothes and kept warm by their body heat, to eat when they were hungry. Although they smelled a bit bad, at least they were warm and not too difficult to chew. The crowd was deeply moved by his impassioned speech.

So they all gathered some dry rations.

This could be considered his last act of service to his former master. Little did anyone know, the man took the provisions and headed in another direction. Similar scenes occurred in several places, but only one person resolutely turned back the way he came. He ate some provisions when he was hungry and drank some river water when he was thirsty. The only saving grace was that he was still a martial artist with great courage; although his martial energy was thin, his speed was still faster than that of ordinary people.

When he finally returned to the Allied forces' encampment after overcoming numerous hardships and saw the familiar banners, the situation had already changed drastically.

Let's turn to two different parts of the story.

While the soldiers were still on their way back, Shen Tang had already led his troops to their destination and found a suitable ambush location.

The army had marched swiftly and fought Tao Yan, and even with the blessing of the spirit, their bodies were beginning to give way. Shen Tang ordered the army to rest in place in batches. Some rested to recover their strength, while others continued to set up ambushes.

They performed the procedures in rotation until the patient was fully recovered.

Shen Tang examined the Kunyu map several times before finally unable to contain herself: "Is this map really not a pirated copy?"

She had two maps in her hands.

One map was drawn by Gong Shuwu from memory before the army set off. He came from the Gong clan, a family that had served the Xin state. Because of his family background, Gong Shuwu was given important positions at a young age and had access to maps from various regions.

One copy was obtained with the help of Wei Shou.

Compare the two sets, and then look at the terrain before you...

The vast discrepancy in the terrain conditions made her question the meaning of life.

Wei Shou knew what Shen Tang meant as soon as he saw her exaggerated expression: "Zheng Qiao conquered Xin Kingdom by fighting his way through."

"Then……"

Wei Shou spread his hands.

"Isn't it normal for the terrain to change during wartime?"

The war between the Xin and Geng kingdoms was a national war, and the scale of the conflict between the two countries was completely different from the current Dragon Slaying Game.

Shen Tang: "..."

Wei Shou: "Furthermore, this place is not under my command, and the garrison commander and I have a very bad relationship. It was not easy for me to obtain a decent map, so please make do with it, my lord."

Because of his ethnicity, Wei Shou couldn't get along with anyone.

Fortunately, he has a big heart, otherwise he would have been driven to depression long ago.

Shen Tang could only rub his temples and accept it.

Why can't she update in sync?

She was just hoping the big fish would bite, otherwise she would suffer a huge loss.

She prayed to God that He wouldn't let this matter get her into trouble.

Perhaps Heaven truly heard the news; Zheng Qiao's order for the guards to intercept and kill Shen Tang successfully reached the garrison commander. The commander was practically dragged out of bed; still hungover from a night of drinking, he barely slept. Suppressing his anger, he listened to the message: "Really?"

The messenger replied, "It is absolutely true."

The garrison commander rubbed the weariness between his brows, and his mind cleared up a bit.

He turned to his subordinate and ordered, "Go and reorganize the troops."

After the messenger left, the subordinate said worriedly, "General, I've heard that Shen Youli from the Dragon Slaying Bureau is no ordinary person. Even Wei Yuanyuan was captured by her. If you go to fight her..."

The garrison commander said, "Wei Yuanyuan is a barbarian of foreign origin, who has never been loyal or righteous. He's nothing more than a spineless dog that sticks out its tongue at the sight of meat. It's no surprise that he betrayed his master. So what if Shen Youli really comes? If he dares to come, this will be his burial ground! Or do you think that I, this general, am inferior to Wei Yuanyuan?"

"Your subordinate wouldn't dare." He then flattered, "General's martial arts are superb; how could Wei Shou, a mere barbarian, compare?"

The garrison commander sneered, "Remember, this is Ganzhou."

The person Wei Shou couldn't touch, he might not be unable to touch either.

The subordinate official said, "What the general says is very true."

The guard ordered someone to boil water, and he carefully bathed and changed, washing away the lingering stench of the previous night's debauchery. Feeling refreshed, he enjoyed a hearty meal. Finally, he wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth, took the hot towel handed to him by a maid, and carefully wiped his hands.

"Alright, are the troops ready?"

The subordinate official replied, "We await the general's order."

The commander rubbed his wrists and neck, looked at his well-organized elite troops, chuckled, conjured weapons and armor, mounted his horse, and pointed in the direction of advance, saying, "My men, let's take down the head of the traitor, and then we'll ask the king for a reward: women, money, grain... the choice is yours!"

(ノ￣▽￣)

Seriously, is the Jurchen (female author) experiencing a last gasp of popularity lately? There are so many veteran authors starting new books. *sigh*

Dong Wuyuan, female readers should also remember her, she is also a master of writing ancient romance novels.

My new novel, "A Thousand Pieces of Gold," is also a historical romance. Those interested can check it out.

P.S.: I've been helping my friends grow seedlings lately. You guys are so cute, you probably don't mind, right? Raise a bunch of saplings, and after a while, you'll have a whole forest of trees!

Synopsis: This is the second year since He Xianjin became the head of the Chen family based on his own abilities.

The old woman who was doing her makeup said, "Master, this rouge on the cheekbone will ruin your marriage prospects."

He Xianjin said expressionlessly, "Get to the point."

(End of this chapter)