"ah?"
"So I wasn't reborn after all?"
"You look like Gongxi Chou, I believe you."
Gong Xiqiu had briefly served Wenyan Gong, and as a former subordinate of Wenyan Gong, he naturally recognized the face that was extremely similar to Gong Xiqiu's and also noticed the distinctive Gongxi ethnic elements on the other person. He glanced down at the plan and tossed it aside.
Ji Moqiu was slightly surprised.
He thought it would require a lot of effort to communicate.
"You haven't been reborn. Rebirth is no easy feat. As far as I know, a spacetime is like a ceaselessly flowing river; time only moves forward. As a mere drop in the ocean of time, what merit do you possess to overturn spacetime?" Ji Moqiu's words were quite blunt.
It is not something that can be done by human power to reverse the flow of a river.
Even a god wouldn't do that so easily.
Ji Moqiu: "You are just trapped in a dream and unable to wake up."
He was told he hadn't been reborn, and his plans, conceived half the night before, had fallen apart. The tenth-rank Left Vice-Chancellor felt a pang of disappointment, but mostly a sense of calm. Even if he had truly been reborn, so what? His greatest regret in this life was his inability to protect his wife, children, and elderly parents.
Apart from that, he had no other obsession with changing things.
I can get by with my current life.
The tenth-rank Left Vice-Chief stood up and patted his shoulder: "Let's go."
He laughed freely: "...It's time for me to wake up too."
As soon as he finished speaking, a cracking sound rang in his ears, and his feet slipped from his feet, causing him to plummet uncontrollably downwards. At the far end below, a point of white light gradually grew larger. He struggled to maintain his falling posture, flailing his arms and legs, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw the High Priest accelerating in pursuit. The oncoming wind filled his sleeves, causing his magnificent robes to flutter wildly.
It was as light and graceful as if it were being carried by the wind.
The next instant, white light engulfed the entire world.
Faintly, he seemed to hear something break, like a torrent bursting through a dam, rushing in one direction. A strange warmth welled up from his limbs, and martial energy gradually gathered, from a puddle to a stream to a river, until it formed a swift and powerful force, surging ceaselessly through his meridians. This momentum only began to subside as his consciousness returned to normal—he had broken through!
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the unfamiliar tent roof.
The tent was brightly lit, and the air smelled faintly of blood.
Clearly, he had been rescued.
Not only did he survive, but his cultivation level also broke through.
"I didn't even die from this—"
He didn't even know how to praise himself anymore.
"Congratulations, righteous warrior, on your progress in cultivation." A strange female voice suddenly rang out from inside the tent. He looked over warily, his eyes flashing with a terrifying light that made people tremble with fear, but the aura emanating from her did not affect her. "How do you feel, righteous warrior?"
"Are you Mr. Shen?"
Compared to a few years ago, Shen Tang's appearance has not changed much.
Shen Tang pulled over a small stool and sat down beside his bed: "Yes, it's me. Although the righteous men need rest more now, I'm really worried about their situation. Is there any news from the righteous men?"
His pupils suddenly contracted when Luan Xin was mentioned.
The scenes before I fell into a coma flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern.
He sat up abruptly.
Only then did I realize my situation.
His entire body was covered in wounds, especially his neck. He had just been wondering why his throat hurt so much even when he spoke... Turns out he had almost been beheaded. Shen Tang's words still echoed in his ears: "The wounds have healed on the surface, but the internal injuries are still there. It's not advisable to use your strength or circulate your qi. Your severed arm has just grown back, so you can't use it flexibly yet. After three to five days of practice, it will be just like the original."
He took several deep breaths in disbelief.
He replied, "The day after my parents and the others infiltrated the Gao Kingdom's camp with He Shu, I was hunted down. That's when my identity was exposed. However, He Shu still wanted to use my parents and the others, so he didn't take any action. I managed to hold off the assassins for a while thanks to the convenience of my Martial Spirit Totem, but I almost met my end."
It's pretty much a case of dying with regret.
He never imagined he would survive such injuries.
He knew that the four-legged fish had an extremely strong ability to survive, but his own cultivation level was not high, and the martial spirit totem abilities he could inherit were limited. He never expected that he could still survive under such circumstances and wait until he was saved, and he never expected that the King of Shen would be willing to go to the trouble of saving him.
Shen Tang asked, "Is it He Shu? Or someone else?"
He rubbed his hair with his tightly wrapped right hand.
"I suspect it's more likely He Shu. When I approached He Shu earlier, I vaguely sensed that someone was secretly protecting him." The assassin was much stronger than him, but not so strong that he couldn't fight back. He could still exchange blows with him even if he fought with all his might, and he could fight and escape at the same time. "There are several terrifying auras in the Gao Kingdom's camp. Any one of them could easily kill someone."
Shouldn't murder to silence witnesses be handled swiftly and decisively?
Judging from the aura, it was most likely He Shu's men who made the move.
Shen Tang's biggest concern right now is the whereabouts of Qi Shan and the other two.
According to the information brought back by the martial artist, Qi Shan and the other two were safe and sound before his accident, and their identities had not been exposed or they had not been imprisoned openly. Their situation was much better than she had expected. Even so, Shen Tang could not be completely at ease. These were three precious children; if she had known there would be these variables, she wouldn't have made this terrible move.
She rubbed her forehead, reflecting on herself and calming her emotions.
"The righteous man can rest and recuperate here in peace."
"But parents..."
Shen Tang said confidently, "The three of them will return safely."
If they don't come back, then all the ministers of Gao State shall be buried alive with them!
The martial artist struggled to bow deeply to Chen Tang.
Thank you!
Previously, it was speculated that Qi Shan and his group might have had their identities exposed, but now the matter of them being martial artists has been completely confirmed. His old friend Yuan Liang is more cunning than he imagined; perhaps he wasn't deceived in the first place.
Shen Tang was both worried and amused.
It's rare to see Yuanliang capsize.
but--
If I remind Yuanliang in time, they will also think of countermeasures. He Buzuo's plan may not go as planned: "Since our side has already been exposed, the intelligence that Shanxiao sent back is probably more false than expected. Let's change the plan."
Let's get started now.
Zhao Feng was somewhat tempted: "Now?"
Even though he had been itching to attack Tianhai a thousand times over, the Gao Kingdom's troops stationed there were already on guard, making a surprise attack unlikely to succeed. If he were to act now, he would have to launch a frontal assault to push the battlefield forward. This would put him at a disadvantage in terms of manpower.
They also need to be wary of the main force of the Gao state on the Yiru side.
They were worried that the other party would take advantage of their vulnerability.
If we're going to make a move, we must strike decisively. Failing to eliminate the enemy in one fell swoop will easily lead to a protracted stalemate, which would be detrimental. Shen Tang shook his head: "No, this time the target is Yi Ru. We'll use this as a feint to mislead them."
She planned to personally lead her troops to confront Wu Xian. Wu Xian had invited even the gods from heaven this time; she was determined to ensure their departure was swift and decisive!
Several hours later.
The young girl and the old man exchanged a glance.
"Finally, we see the boundary marker of Luxia County."
A hint of nostalgia flashed in the girl's eyes.
The last time I came to Luxia County was many years ago, when my lord had just established himself in Heyin County, facing encirclement and defeat. He had to exert all his strength to maneuver around the surrounding forces, barely managing to survive. Years have passed, and now I'm setting foot here again. Most of this elite force from Gao State is disguised; only a small contingent is openly marching, while the rest have broken up into smaller groups, entering as commoner refugees. Even if Shangnan received advance warning, they might misjudge the enemy's strength.
"How could this place be so desolate?"
Wasteland is everywhere, and farmland is overgrown with weeds.
The old man said, "Isn't this normal? There's a war going on."
He had clearly misunderstood the girl's meaning.
"But the war is only a matter of the last six months or so."
The old man and his mentally challenged brother joined relatively late and didn't know much about Luxia County, which had once been affiliated with Shen Tang's forces.
Since the death of the previous governor of Lu County, Lu Xia County has been without a leader. Shen Tang, through Lu Ji, indirectly cooperated with the former governor of Lu County and was the de facto ruler of Lu Xia County. After all, Lu Xia County was not as "upright" as Longwu County and Heyin County, and Shen Tang's management was somewhat lax, but the governance was still considered excellent in the chaotic times.
The people within the territory were able to recuperate and thrive under these circumstances.
It's not exactly a peaceful and prosperous place, but it's not this desolate either.
The old man said, "Then we'll have to ask Wu Zhaode."
The desolation and ruin of Luxia County should be questioned by Wu Xian.
After the decisive battle at Chaoli Pass, Shen Tang and Wu Xian tacitly divided the spoils of war. Due to the border between the two countries, Lu Xia County was ultimately ceded to Wu Xian and incorporated into the territory of Gao State. In the years since the founding of Gao State, the development of Lu Xia County had been irrelevant to Kang State. Upon entering Lu Xia County, the three saw no increase in population. The army acted with impunity, cutting directly through barren fields to shorten their marching route. A complex expression flickered in the young girl's eyes.
Just as complex as the young girl was He Shu, He Buzuo.
He rode on his horse, gazing into the distance.
Upon seeing the relatively clear boundaries between these fields and the straight ridges, he sighed with regret. The fifth-rank official asked in bewilderment, "Master, what's so regrettable about these fields? There's no one to tend to them during the war. They can be cleaned up after the war is over."
He Shu shook his head: "That's not it."
He said it was a pity because the distribution of farmland in Luxia County was significantly different from that in other counties of Gao State, and it was obvious to anyone with eyes that the current planning was better. Some of the farmland was reclaimed in recent years, and although the fertility of newly reclaimed wasteland was far inferior to that of fertile land, it was almost ready to be cultivated over the years. If all of this farmland were cultivated, how many people would be spared from starvation?
It's clear that they put a lot of thought into it.
That's why it's all the more regrettable.
The fifth-rank physician only had a superficial understanding of this.
There were indeed very few people in Luxia County.
All the able-bodied young men who could run had fled, most heading south, with a small number choosing to head south. Those left behind were mostly the elderly and infirm. Only near towns could one see some younger faces, but these people, seeing that the army had also dispersed, feared that if they were even a step too slow, they would be forcibly conscripted and sent to their deaths…
He Shu sighed, "Our lord is not very popular."
The fifth-ranking official said, "That's how it is in most parts of the world."
Those in power never consider the common people when it comes to their power struggles. The lucky ones survive, while the unluckier ones are swept away by a bowl of Meng Po soup and reincarnated. The fifth-rank physicians were already used to this.
During a break in the march.
He Shu ordered someone to bring some food to the three girls. For the conditions of marching, this meal was far too lavish. The girl poked at the food with her chopsticks a couple of times: "There are vegetables and meat. Even a last meal wouldn't be this good."
Neither the old man nor his mentally disabled brother touched their chopsticks.
It's not that they don't want to eat, but rather—
The food was laced with a large amount of drugs that could cause unconsciousness.
The person who applied the pesticide didn't even remember to stir it.
The girl tossed her chopsticks aside, curled her red lips, and sneered rudely, "He Buzuo, you're too lazy to even pretend anymore? I thought you would cooperate until the end, but you're already getting impatient. It seems you haven't improved much over the years."
The fifth-rank physician reported these words truthfully.
He Shu put down his chopsticks, a slight chuckle escaping his lips.
"Tell me, which old friend is this female ruler?"
The fifth-ranking official replied, "...This subordinate does not know."
He had been by He Shu's side for quite some time, but looking back over the years, he hadn't found anyone who truly met the criteria. He Shu hadn't expected to find the answer from him anyway. Whoever this old friend was, he was essentially a free offering, solving his immediate problem.
The fifth-rank doctor couldn't hold back any longer.
"Parents, aren't you worried that the three of them might run away?"
The fifth-ranking physician initially only suspected the three men's identities, believing they were most likely enemy scouts. They were just three ordinary people; crushing them would be as easy as crushing ants. Unexpectedly, before the army set off, their parents suddenly revealed that all three were literary scholars.
But one of them was a woman...
Then I remembered that there were many female scholars and writers in Kangguo.
Most importantly—
When did the parents discover that the three children had problems?
He Shudao said, "If we don't run, we'll die tomorrow."
Run, or you'll die.
It's better to live a wretched life than to die a good death.
Fifth-rank physician: "..."
He didn't understand the thoughts of these literary scholars.
The main force of Kang State was drawn away and delayed in Heyin County, leaving Shangnan County relatively weak in defense. Even so, this place was not easily breached by ordinary troops. Upon learning during the day that reinforcements were on their way to Shangnan County, the local commander was disheartened.
There's always a sense that my superiors are doubting my abilities.
Now that reinforcements have suddenly been sent, how should we handle this situation?
However, these thoughts were completely dispelled upon hearing the name of the commander of the reinforcements, replaced by ecstatic joy: "Is this news true?"
The messenger reported, "General, it is true, it is indeed true."
The commander of the reinforcements is General Chao!
Chao Lian and Chao Qingzhi were the sworn brothers of Ziyi Gong!
The general before me was also a former subordinate of Ziyi Gong.
He was sent here because he was more familiar with the terrain of Shangnan.
The messenger had barely finished speaking when he vanished.
The military commander had already hurriedly ordered his men to meet the reinforcements.
In Shangnan County, after many years, old friends are finally reunited.
Chao Lian and Fang Yan originally intended to enter the city discreetly, sending someone in advance to inform the garrison commander of Shangnan to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings. However, they did not expect to see swirling yellow sand on the horizon from a great distance.
The clear sound of horses' hooves came from beneath the yellow sand.
The ground tremors were clearly felt.
Chao Lian almost thought he was too late, that Shangnan County had already fallen to the enemy. As the yellow sand drew near, he clearly saw the leading general, his eyes lit up with joy: "Sixth Brother, it's one of our own!"
The two sides met and were almost moved to tears. The commander rushed to Fang Yan like an ox, his hands trembling with excitement: "Military Advisor—Waaah, I've finally seen you again—am I dreaming?"
Fang Yan dodged the snot and tears that nearly splashed onto his face: "This isn't a dream. This isn't a place for reminiscing. Let's enter the city first and then make arrangements. Let's take stock of the manpower in each area and see if there are enough guards at the pass."
(=ω｀=)
Fang Yan and Yuan Liang both said that He Shu was mentally ill, and the next step was to demonstrate his condition.
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