"Only two?"
Shen Tang was somewhat disappointed, but quickly felt relieved.
"Two will do, better than nothing. The most important thing for this mission is the old scholar's way of the scholar; we must bring that back." As Shen Tang spoke, a very clever idea popped into his mind, "Justice, I have an idea, I don't know if it will work. The enemy's way of the scholar can overturn both civil and military affairs. Could you copy his way of the scholar and then overturn it back?"
If you reverse them twice, they will cancel each other out.
Looking at the chaotic camp of the past two days, Shen Tang secretly felt a chill for Kang Guo. Relying on these hastily-made "literary minds" and "martial arts warriors" was truly a recipe for disaster for Kang Guo. Luan Gongyi possessed such a twisted method of scholarly pursuits, capable of exploiting loopholes!
Shen Tang felt that this bug could be put to good use.
Luan Xin's reply, however, was a cold shower for her.
He said regretfully, "No, it can't be turned back."
Shen Tang asked, puzzled, "Why?"
Luan Xin said with shame, "My understanding of the way of the scholar is not yet complete, while the other party has been famous for a long time. A scholar who survived that chaotic era could not possibly have not perfected the way of the scholar. The same way of the scholar is more advantageous when it is perfected than when it is not."
The former has a higher priority than the latter.
Most of the ways of the scholar have two stages.
An incomplete state is one kind of ability, while a complete state enhances or gives rise to another ability. Because Luan Xin's way of the scholar is incomplete, he can only copy the abilities of the old scholar Deng in his incomplete state; he cannot copy the complete state.
It's unclear whether this disruptive ability existed in the incomplete state or arose after it was perfected. Therefore, Luan Xin wasn't confident he could copy the opponent's ability, let alone confront it directly. Shen Tang could only abandon her original idea.
"Sigh, we'll see how far we can go."
I was just being too optimistic.
"If only the way of the scribe could be perfected..."
Luan Xin felt increasingly guilty.
The perfection and imperfection of the scholar's way are two completely different concepts. Luan Xin also wanted to share more of his lord's burdens, and it would be a lie to say he wasn't envious whenever he saw Qin Li, Jiang Sheng, and others. However, perfecting the scholar's way was too difficult, and after searching for many years, he had only just begun to get a clue.
"This can't be rushed."
Looking at Luan Xin, Xun Zhen, and the others, Shen Tang finally understood what Jiang Sheng meant when he said that the difficulty of perfecting the way of the scholar was relatively small. Jiang Sheng only needed Zheng Qiao's head to achieve perfection, while the others—
Sigh, let's not talk about it.
Luan Xin knew that haste makes waste, so he didn't get bogged down in details: "For this mission, does Secretary Qi want to accompany me?"
Shen Tang said, "I feel more at ease with Yuan Liang by my side."
Luan Xin's skill bar is always full of five Scholar's Way skills, so his reaction speed isn't fast enough. Shen Tang fears he might get into trouble if she sends him alone deep behind enemy lines to contact the enemy's literary scholars; if he suffers a double loss, who will she turn to for help? Qi Shan has extensive experience in the martial world, and his [Miraculous Hands Painting] skill is already at its peak, greatly reducing the risk. As she spoke, Shen Tang suddenly remembered something.
“The other scholars under Wu Xian are alright. Regardless of whether their scholarly path is perfect or not, they are unlikely to be able to see through Yuan Liang’s disguise. But that old antique is different.” Shen Tang recalled that Yun Da had exposed his identity in one glance last time. “A 20th-rank Marquis can see through the authenticity of [Miraculous Hands and Painting]. That old antique is from the same era as Yun Da. He may also have his own trump cards.”
This was the first time Qi Shan had heard about this.
Shen Tang understood his gaze.
He explained, "A lot happened back then."
"Shan will pay attention."
Shen Tang thought about it again and again but still felt uneasy.
"Why don't we let Shanxiao go along too?"
Qi Shan: "..."
Shen Tang forced a smile and said, "Ahem, anyway, you've already talked things out with Shanxiao. The more colleagues you spend together, the better your relationship will become. Shanxiao's scholarly way can greatly improve your safety. Yuanliang, don't you think so?"
Qi Shan said, "I personally believe that Cui Shanxio is dangerous."
What's the difference between this and putting a mouse in a rice jar?
Cui Shanxio is a giant rat, and he is a pile of white rice.
Shen Tang blinked her innocent, bright almond-shaped eyes at him and whispered, "Yuan Liang, is it really not possible?"
Qi Shan: "..."
The air outside the tent was bone-chillingly cold.
Inhaling it cools down the overheated brain.
Cui Xiao sneered, brandishing his sword fan: "You want me to disguise myself as a woman, Qi Yuanliang? Do you think I'm too easy to bully?"
This guy was actually persuaded by the master to cooperate with him?
Tsk, something's fishy going on!
Alarm bells were ringing in Cui Xiao's mind. He felt that every step Qi Shan took was a trap waiting for him to fall into. Little did he know that Qi Shan was also being tricked. At this moment, he could only cover his face with his hands to calm his mind—the master's almond-shaped eyes reminded him of Su Shang. Su Shang liked to use those eyes to get free food and drink, and he was completely powerless against it.
Luan Xin, frowning as he switched to the scholarly way of Gu Chi, was speechless.
Rumors circulated that the emperor had an affair with Qi Zhongshu. Because of this, Luan Xin had a bad impression of Qi Shan. After all, the relationship between the emperor and his subject should not be too intimate. Moreover, Qi Shan was already the Grand Secretary of the country and had been granted the title of Grand Tutor. He was in a high position and had great power. How much higher could he be?
Looking back now—
The possibility of Qi Shan marrying a cat is greater than the rumors of a scandal between the master and his minister.
"The woman's identity is unlikely to arouse suspicion."
Being male makes one an easy target for assassination attempts by scouts.
In chaotic times, the elderly, the weak, women, and children are easy targets; people are far less wary of these groups than of young, strong men. If Qi Shan and his companions want to infiltrate Yiru County, they must minimize their presence along the way. Being the weak makes it easier to approach their targets.
Emmm...
This is why Qi Shan is so skilled at female disguise.
Having offended too many people during his years of wandering, he escaped several life-or-death crises by dressing as a woman, making him very experienced.
Cui Xiaodao: "Can't I transform into an old man?"
Why does it have to be a woman?
Qi Shan could not persuade Cui Xiao otherwise.
The three of them made some quick preparations and set off.
To ensure everything went smoothly, a tenth-rank Left Vice Minister was secretly escorting them along the way. This person would maintain a safe distance from the three of them, would not show himself unless absolutely necessary, and could handle ordinary enemies. However, this person was not arranged by Shen Tang; he was Luan Gongyi's man.
Gu Chi was the one who discovered this person's existence.
The other party had been following Luan Xin since before the establishment of Kangguo.
If Gu Chi had a good relationship with Luan Xin, he could have subtly suggested that Luan Xin recommend this person to the emperor. However, it was common knowledge that the two had a terrible relationship. Gu Chi could only take a roundabout approach, having the emperor speak to him personally. Only then did he learn the person's true identity.
Luan Xin: [It's not that he's hiding his feelings, but rather that he's unwilling.]
Shen Tang asked: "Why are you unwilling?"
With his abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for him to become a general in the army during wartime, and he could also be appointed as a prefectural commander or a military commander if sent out to a remote area.
Why would you only want to remain a commoner?
Luan Xin looked slightly embarrassed and said, "[He was originally a military officer under Wen Yan Gong. Back then, he escorted Wen Yan Gong's family back to their hometown to pay off his debts, and then became obsessed with farming...]"
His supposed obsession with farming was merely a face-saving excuse; the real reason was that he still harbored resentment, and being alone and weary of the endless war, he had begun to enjoy rural life, occasionally working part-time as Luan Xin's bodyguard. He had also opened a martial arts school outside Fengluo City and adopted several talented orphans.
Since Luan Xin had already put it that way, Shen Tang naturally didn't press the matter further: "Cultivating good land is just as admirable as winning a good war."
Shen Tang turned a blind eye to this person.
There are no secrets that stay hidden forever.
Qi Shan and others had also heard about this.
Qi Shan disguised herself as the delicate, thin, and weak woman fleeing from disaster, which she was best at. Cui Xiao was an old man in his sixties, and Luan Xin was a bit slow to react, so she simply gave him the persona of a mentally disabled child.
A mentally disabled younger brother, an elderly grandfather, and a broken woman.
The hidden tenth-rank left vice-chief: "..."
If he hadn't been following me the whole way, I really wouldn't have believed my eyes.
The three of them initially used the Word of Power [Chasing the Wind and Stalking the Scenery] to approach the enemy scouts' patrol area and begin their act. They moved along, stopping frequently, and successfully blended in with the refugees fleeing to Yiru Village. The three leaves hidden in the tree made them even less likely to be discovered.
Luan Xin would occasionally switch to Gu Chi's way of being a scholar.
They silently eavesdropped on the thoughts of the patrol scouts.
The subtle reactions of being tormented by inner turmoil, with a blank, painful, and numb expression, further align with the persona of a "mentally disabled child."
I turned it on for a while and then immediately turned it off.
He rubbed his temples in pain.
He could never understand one thing—
Why is this scholar's way so draining? After all these years, it still hasn't brought Gu Wangchao to meet the King of Hell? I suffer terribly after using it for a short while: "A scourge lives on for a thousand years."
Our ancestors were right.
Qi Shan asked, "What's the news?"
Luan Xin paused for a moment before his ears returned to normal: "We didn't go wrong. Although Wu Zhaode's main camp isn't in this direction, it's not far. We need to find an opportunity to get separated from the group and get lost. We can attract a few enemy soldiers who have fallen behind and take the opportunity to switch identities."
If Luan Xin's health hadn't prevented him from switching to the path of the literati, which would have required some buffer time, he could have completed the task alone.
Qi Shan said, "Okay."
It's easy to get separated from your group during an escape.
Refugees don't all know each other, nor do they all come from the same village. Adhering to the principle of "better to avoid trouble," they don't remind each other to cooperate. As a result, many die of illness, starvation, or even being murdered for their money.
You can fall behind for any reason, and no one will bother you.
Finding a few isolated enemy soldiers is also easy.
Large camps often house tens of thousands of people, making basic necessities like food, water, and sanitation a major concern. Improper handling of waste can easily lead to large-scale disease outbreaks, so every day, designated personnel transport the waste outside the camp for centralized disposal.
These people did all the dirty and hard work, usually the lowest-ranking, older soldiers. These soldiers were far less vigilant and less skilled than the elite troops. After waiting for a while, the tenth-rank Left Vice-Commander brought the message: "Proceed according to plan."
Unfortunately, plans can't keep up with changes.
A team of twenty or thirty people disrupted the plan.
This is a small team.
More than twenty guards protected the carriage in the middle.
The caravan guards questioned the three men about their identities. Qi Shan answered confidently, while Luan Xin switched to Gu Chi's scholarly methods to probe their identities. Cui Xiao coughed incessantly, as if having a seizure, to maintain his presence. Having received their answers, the guards turned to report to the owners inside the carriage.
"Parents, these three are a grandfather and grandson who are fleeing from disaster."
"Refugees fleeing?"
"Yes, there's a woman among the three."
The guards were clearly used to this kind of situation; it was normal for the grandfather and his two grandsons to panic and break away from the fleeing group in their haste to escape.
He asked the parents how they planned to deal with the three children.
A warm male voice came from the carriage.
"Let's give them some dry food to get rid of them."
The guard responded in a low voice, "Yes, sir."
The convoy didn't bring much food, and could only spare a little. If the grandfather, grandfather, and grandson ate sparingly, they should be able to last until they reached a nearby village.
Qi Shan accepted the dry rations with tears in his eyes, thanking him profusely. The girl he was pretending to be was not very old, with a sallow complexion and a thin figure, but her features were outstanding, especially her eyes, which were extremely cute when they were wide open, adding a lot to her appearance.
"You should leave quickly, it's not safe around here."
The guard kindly gave some advice.
Unexpectedly, the grandfather and his two grandchildren, after taking the provisions, didn't leave but instead clung to the caravan, following them at a distance. The guards tried to drive them away, but when that didn't work, they tried force. To their surprise, the emaciated "girl" began to sob softly.
The old man pleaded, "Sir, the weather is..."
The sky had already darkened.
The grandfather, his grandson, and their two grandchildren would likely perish if they traveled alone.
The guard, looking troubled, went to consult the head of the family again.
The man in the carriage sighed, "It's really not easy being in the middle of nowhere. Fine, let the three of them follow us. They must leave at daybreak. If they keep bothering us, we won't hold back."
The guard readily agreed.
It gets dark quickly this time of year.
Without the sun's warmth, the air quickly turned cold, and the three raggedly dressed men shivered from the cold. The guard brought them firewood to keep warm, as well as a few old clothes for protection: "These were given to us by our parents; please keep them."
"Thank you, thank you!"
The intellectually disabled younger brother laughed, drool dripping from his mouth.
The guard looked at it and felt a pang of sadness.
Despite his sighs, he didn't dare get too close to the three of them.
The grandfather, his grandson, and his grandchildren sat around a small campfire.
The old man's unfriendly gaze swept over his granddaughter, signaling to Qi Yuanliang that he had better give an explanation. Qi Shan secretly lowered her hand, signaling him to calm down, and turned to look at her "younger brother".
The intellectually disabled younger brother used his fingers to make pen gestures in the air.
[It is the goal.]
As long as he gets within a certain range, he can replicate the scholar's way of life of others. The man in the carriage emanates two beams of light, one bright and one dim. This means the man possesses the scholar's way of life, and it's at its peak. He needs sufficient time and distance to replicate and analyze it.
The old man asked: "Which one is the biggest?"
The intellectually disabled younger brother shook his head slightly.
Judging from the aura emanating from the carriage, this person shouldn't be the main target the master wanted to focus on, but rather fits the description of the literary scholars Wu Xianxin had recently recruited. The young woman made a hand chop gesture.
It means whether this person is easy or difficult to kill.
They also secretly had a tenth-rank Left Vice Minister.
The highest-ranking doctor in this team is only a fifth-grade physician.
If we can kill him, the chances are very high.
The mentally challenged younger brother moves his eyes from side to side: [To be determined.]
Killing someone right away would easily alert the enemy.
The old man gestured: [Sneak in?]
Intellectually disabled younger brother: [Checking the situation in the middle of the night.]
The girl was more concerned about something else.
How long does it take to get the results?
It will be soon.
It was approaching midnight.
Candles were still lit inside the carriage.
The man closed the book and put it away, then bent down to get out of the carriage. The cold wind that hit him chased away his drowsiness. He stretched his limbs and looked at the faint light behind him: "How are that grandfather and grandson? Have they shown any unusual behavior lately?"
"Everything is normal. I sent them warm clothes as you instructed. I felt sorry for them; that little boy was almost naked..."
The man sighed, "Life is hard for the people."
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