Chapter 777: The Snake's Repayment of Kindness [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"Gong Xichou? It's him again!"

Zhang He did not expect Gong Xichou to appear at this time.

"Isn't he with Kang Jishou?"

But now he's helping Chu Wuhui distract them, could it be...?

In an instant, countless clues were strung together in his mind, and the key to them was Shen Tang and Shen Youli.

The military officer also speculated: "It must be that barbarian Gong Xichou has defected to Shen Youli and is being manipulated by her to ruin our plans."

Zhang He took a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety.

Zhang He, his trusted advisors, watched him close his eyes in deep thought. After a long while, they cautiously stepped forward to probe their lord's intentions: "My lord, what should we do next? With Gongxi Chou protecting that imperial seal, it might be difficult to obtain it..."

Simply put, it's not cost-effective at all.

If Chu Yao hadn't possessed the Imperial Seal and wasn't escorting such coveted grain and supplies, Zhang Yongqing wouldn't have risked offending Shen Tang by attacking Chu Yao's troops. Fighting Shen Tang at this stage would only result in his own losses and ultimately benefit someone else.

Whether it's turning back to chase Chu Yao and seize grain, or fighting Gong Xi Chou to the death to seize the national seal, the risks outweigh the gains.

Zhang He stared intently in Gong Xichou's direction, his chest seemingly simmering with a fierce anger that had nowhere to go.

His luck was really bad.

They had previously spent considerable effort driving Qian Yong to the brink of defeat, but the Imperial Seal mysteriously disappeared, and Qian Yong and his remaining forces vanished without a trace. They had only felt somewhat relieved after annexing two smaller forces along the way, when they unexpectedly stumbled upon a fat sheep laden with grain.

He was all ready to fight, but then Gong Xichou appeared out of nowhere.

This is incredibly bad luck.

He shouted angrily, "Withdraw!"

Although the martial arts experts sent out by Zhang He were skilled in stealth and tracking, Gong Xi Chou possessed the characteristics of a python, making searching, tracking, and lying in wait effortless for him, and his sense of smell was extremely keen. Although he was blind, he could sense subtle changes in the temperature of his surroundings.

That brave martial artist could conceal his aura and scent, and move as lightly as a swallow, but he couldn't change his own body temperature.

Gong Xiqiu immediately recognized that this was an outpost sent by Zhang He.

He simply crossed his legs, plopped down on the stone surface warmed by the rare sunny day, propped his chin on one hand, and waited for Zhang He's army to arrive. Zhang He's army numbered over ten thousand, and he was alone with no support; he knew he couldn't win a fight, but he could escape!

Gongxi Chou wanted to see Zhang He charging in with murderous intent, but he could only watch his retreating figure disappear into the distance and be unable to catch up with him.

The thought of Zhang He jumping up and down in anger made him want to laugh.

And what was the result?

He waited and waited, until darkness fell, until a light rain began to fall again, until the warm stone beneath his feet turned cold again, but Zhang He's troops never appeared. Judging from the Imperial Seal's perception, the enemy had rested for a long time before getting up and leaving.

Gong Xichou's mouth was practically pursed to the back of his ears.

"Pshaw! What a coward!"

Unexpectedly, Zhang He simply didn't dare to come.

He rose, dusted off his armor, and leaped towards Chaoli Pass. He hadn't arranged a meeting place with Chu Yao beforehand, hoping to bump into him on the way. Gong Xichou was lucky; he encountered Shen Tang's troops halfway there and was nearly ambushed as an enemy.

Chu Yao is unharmed, and Shen Tang is clearly alright.

"Here, this is for you!" As soon as he landed, Gong Xichou took off the sword box from his back and casually tossed it to Shen Tang.

Shen Tang caught the object with one hand, but instead of absorbing the national seal, he placed the sword box on the ground, patted it, and gestured for Gong Xi Chou to sit down and chat. Gong Xi Chou was not at all reserved and even ordered the quail-like young scholar beside him around.

Luan Cheng pointed to himself: "Me?"

Gong Xichou said, "Otherwise what? You have no sense of propriety."

Luan Cheng muttered under his breath as he handed over the flatbread he was baking: "You rude brute!"

Gongxi Chou didn't mind the heat; he finished the whole pancake in just a few bites.

Shen Tang asked him, "Things were urgent before, and I didn't have time to ask you what happened to your eyes? Who gouged them out?"

Gong Xichou snorted and said, "Damn, there aren't many people in this world who can blind me, and I am one of them."

Shen Tang: "???"

Gong Xichou said, "This is a long story... Didn't I ask Zhang He for clarification before? That old guy is insidious, vicious, and cunning. Somehow he figured out that I was at a critical stage of my breakthrough and used some means to make my evil thoughts go out of control. Plus, the Martial Courage Totem came out to cause trouble, and I accidentally got some venom in my eyes... and that's how I ended up like what Mama saw..."

"Is there still something to do with Zhang Yongqing here?"

Gong Xichou said, "To him, I am a hidden danger."

In fact, Gongxi Chou had no ill intentions towards Zhang He.

The extermination of the Gongxi clan was spearheaded by the Geng royal family, who, under the instigation of his father Ji Mo Can, were plagued by internal strife and disintegration. With Zheng Qiao's assistance, the Geng kingdom was destroyed. Zhang He's involvement was solely due to his position as the Imperial Physician, tasked by the king to investigate the Wu kingdom's Gu poison. In Mama's words, why make things difficult for a working-class person who isn't even an accomplice?

However, Zhang He thought differently.

Gong Xiqiu's capricious and unpredictable actions made him feel dangerous.

Rather than passively waiting for Gongxi Chou's knife to fall at any moment, it's better to break it early and destroy it completely.

Killing Gong Xichou head-on is no easy task.

If a sneak attack is launched, Gongxi Chou can escape if he senses the situation is not good.

To his utter surprise, fate presented him with such a brilliant opportunity. If Zhang He didn't seize it, he would be the one with a sword hanging over his neck one day. As if possessed, Zhang He made his move.

Shen Tang nodded: "Can my eyes recover?"

Gong Xichou said, "Yes, I have to thank the healer under Mama's command. When I was carried back, that person helped me draw out most of the poison. The remaining poison is too stubborn to be removed in a short time and I need some time to recuperate."

"The healers under my command?"

Gong Xiqiu said, "An old doctor surnamed Dong."

To be fair, his luck wasn't bad either.

After Gong Xichou resolved his evil intentions, he was then injured by the self-destruction of the Martial Gallant Totem, leaving him on the verge of death. He lay in a tattered state at the bottom of a dark cliff for two days, his poison raging and his martial energy surging, leaving him with only half a breath to sustain his heart meridian.

Just as he was becoming dazed and could "see" Ji Mo Can in front of him, a stranger's body temperature carefully wiped away the dirt on his face.

The man asked gently, "Are you Gongxi Langjun?"

His voice carried a mixture of hesitation, surprise, and joy.

With Gong Xichou's injuries so severe, how could he possibly answer?

With his last bit of strength, he moved his eyelids slightly.

Before long, he was lifted up, followed by the sensation of a gust of wind rushing across his cheek, and he could vaguely smell an unfamiliar fragrance. He was curious about who this person was, but in the end, he couldn't ask, because the person jumped directly down the mountain.

The intense feeling of weightlessness knocked him unconscious.

When he regained consciousness, he found himself in a room filled with the scent of herbs. Someone cleaned him up, treated his wounds, and wrapped them in thick bandages. The old doctor, surnamed Dong, told him that he was now being treated at the Xiaocheng Medical Clinic.

It's safe here; he can rest and recover without worry.

As the cracks in Gongxi Chou Danfu gradually healed, and his meridians were repaired by tempering the energy of heaven and earth, his injuries improved rapidly. In less than half a month, he was able to walk with crutches, and the next day he was able to play the role of a general and fight with the sick children in the clinic with crutches...

The old doctor surnamed Dong was amazed.

"The physique of a martial artist is truly enviable. I have examined you; while the toxins in your body are troublesome, what's even more troublesome is the dislocated and shattered spine in your back. Even if an ordinary person survives, they will be unable to move for the rest of their life..."

Even the mildest case is high-level paraplegia.

Gong Xichou didn't care much about these things.

[Sir, who saved me?]

His benefactor would come to check on him every day, sometimes bringing medicine, sometimes inquiring about his recovery. Judging from her voice, she was probably a very young woman. Gong Xi Chou was extremely grateful; since she had saved his life, he was determined to repay her!

Dr. Dong: [Lin Hucao.]

Before dusk, the forest ranger arrived.

Gong Xichou suddenly went blind. Even though he had gained some of the traits of the Martial Courage Totem, he could only "see" a red, humanoid shape, which made him very uncomfortable. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to the red humanoid shape: "I am Gong Xichou, thank you for saving my life."

Lin Hu Cao said, "My benefactor, there's no need to say that."

Gong Xichou: [? ? ?]

Lin Hu Cao said: "My name is Lin Feng, courtesy name Lingde. I was once saved by a benefactor. Without you, I would not be alive today."

Gong Xichou's mind went blank for a moment.

He vaguely felt that the name Lin Feng sounded familiar.

Lin Hucao poured him a cup of water and said with a smile, "Recently, everyone in the Hucao department has been busy with cotton seed matters, and I have been unable to get away, so I have only been able to come and see my benefactor now. Please forgive me."

Some things are quite serendipitous.

That day, Lin Feng visited the graves of her relatives and also went to sweep the grave of her senior brother, Tu Rong. Just as she was about to leave, she noticed something unusual about the direction of the cliff and went to take a look. Lin Feng had been trapped at the bottom of the cliff for several days years ago and was rescued by Gong Xi Chou.

Times have changed, and their situations have reversed.

Lin Feng then took him back, as a way of repaying the life-saving debt.

As Lin Feng recounted his story, Gong Xichou managed to glean fragments of memory from a corner of his mind, vaguely recalling a small, bean sprout resembling a bamboo pole. After several years apart, this person could actually carry him and leap over mountains to continue their journey. Gong Xichou suppressed the twitching at the corner of his mouth by taking a sip of water.

but--

Gongxi Chou honestly replied: "It's not a tie."

Lin Feng asked in surprise: "What?"

Gongxi Chou, honest and simple-minded, replied: "I still owe you my life."

Previously, during the battle in Xiaocheng, he was captured by Mama, and his eventual release was an act of repaying his debt of gratitude to Lin Feng and Tu Rong for saving their lives. In other words, Gong Xichou still owed Lin Feng a life.

Does Ms. Lin have any enemies?

Even if an enemy has nine heads, I can still cut them off.

Buy one, get eight free! More for the same price!

Lin Feng shook his head, realizing the man couldn't see him, and continued, "I have no enemies, and even if I did, the sword at my waist isn't just for show. It's almost time; I have an appointment with a colleague and important matters to attend to, so I won't disturb my benefactor's rest."

Gong Xiqiu recovered under the meticulous care of Dr. Dong.

The body of a 16th-grade superior being is durable.

After recovering, he immediately went to find the sacred object. Gongxi Chou finished his biscuit and took a sip of warm water: "Mama knows everything that happened afterward. Overall, it was a blessing in disguise. If I were to fight you again today, I would definitely be the victor..."

Shen Tang listened to his casual recounting, but imagining the harrowing scene, she knew that Gong Xichou had truly faced death. Just as she was about to sympathize, his words poured cold water on her: "Win against me? You're that confident?"

Gong Xichou grinned smugly: "I have the will of a martial artist."

The implication is that even if Shen Tang has now broken through to the sixteenth level of the Great Upper Realm, there is still a gap between the two—the difference of a Martial Artist's Will.

Having and not having are two different concepts.

Shen Tang: "...I'll have one too!"

Gong Xichou replied seriously, "You won't have it!"

The necessary condition for obtaining the martial artist's intent is to go through a life-or-death experience. As one of the last descendants of the Gongxi clan, Gongxi Chou would not allow the most important sacred artifact of the clan to fall to this point!

Shen Tang: "???"

Ever since Shen Tang led his troops away, Kang Shi and the others had been on tenterhooks, and over the past few days, they seemed to have lost weight. Only when the vanguard scouts brought back good news did they finally feel completely relieved.

Chu Yao apologized to everyone. This whole affair was his fault. If he hadn't been limited in his abilities, his lord wouldn't have been forced to risk his life alone, causing his colleagues to live in fear.

Shen Tang immediately threw a grand banquet to celebrate.

A celebratory banquet plus a welcome dinner.

It's definitely worth celebrating.

This trip yielded four national seals, four-fifths of the granaries in Ganzhou, and also made progress in terms of talent, making it a big win.

Before the banquet, Old Cui returned the imperial seal he was keeping to Shen Tang, and said with a smile, "The item has been returned to its rightful owner, and the jade has been returned to its rightful owner."

Shen Tang was slightly surprised to see his luggage.

"Mr. Cui, what's this?"

The scholar surnamed Cui blinked, cupped his hands, and smiled, saying, "Previously, Mr. Shen said that I could not go south to avoid trouble until the dust settled. But now that Mr. Shen is safe, I suppose the likes of Huang Liezhang and He are no longer a threat. In that case, I should take my leave."

Shen Tang pursed her lips and remained silent.

After a while, he smiled slightly and said, "It is fate that we have met. Why don't you stay a little longer, Mr. Cui? I have been kind to you, Mr. Cui. If it weren't for you, carrying the imperial seal would have attracted countless fierce soldiers and generals along the way. It is only right and proper that I treat you with respect to show my gratitude. Besides, Yan and Gan are in chaos and plagued by disease. If you travel alone, you will encounter many troubles. It would be better to wait until the fighting in the two states has subsided before you leave."

Shen Tang certainly wouldn't let this person leave so easily.

He knows too many secrets!

Moreover, his abilities are quite interesting.

Perhaps the ability to conceal the imperial seal has other ingenious uses?

Shen Tang smiled and took his hand, her voice warm and friendly: "To be honest, I felt an immediate connection with you when we first met, and I long to get closer to you but don't know how. If you don't mind, I'm willing to assist you and work together to achieve great things. I will repay you as a national hero in the future."

Old Cui looked at Shen Tang's hand.

Shen Tang looked at Old Cui's face.

He laughed and said, "How is it?"

Old Cui sighed and pulled his hand back: "To be honest, I'm afraid Mr. Shen has misjudged me. I used to serve under Lord Wu of Tianhai, but for many years I was not given important positions by him and have been frustrated and unfulfilled. I am a mediocre person like myself and I am afraid I will fail to live up to Mr. Shen's expectations."

Shen Tang seemed somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

He then said, “Alas, this…this…It is said that Brother Zhaode and I are known to the world to be close brothers, and there are some things that I should not say. However, it is truly heartbreaking that you are so self-deprecating, and I have something to say.”

She's about to start putting down Wu Xian and praising one while putting down the other!

(_)

I stayed up until 9 a.m. last night, and I'm completely exhausted. Ugh, the high fever is taking a toll on both the baby and me. My temperature went up and down, and around 3 a.m. it suddenly spiked to 39 degrees Celsius without any warning.

Tonight will be another tough battle.

(End of this chapter)