Chapter 1270: One Battle to Secure the Southwest (Part 7) [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Why are you so stubborn?
His old friend tried to steer the conversation back on track, but remembering Cui Xiao's recent grief over the loss of his wife, he knew he wouldn't listen to anything at this critical juncture, so he swallowed his words. He had known Cui Xiao for many years, and although he didn't know the depth of his feelings for his deceased wife, he knew he wasn't the type to commit suicide for love or disregard the greater good. Even for the sake of his lord's imperial ambitions, he would persevere to the very end.
"Your ex-son-in-law has a powerful background; be careful of a raid."
"Raid the camp? Unless you want to steal a corpse."
The old friend hissed inwardly.
Meeting this kind of old man must have been a terrible thing in his past life.
Before even meeting Cui Zhi, Old Taishan had a bad impression of him. He thought that, to put it bluntly, divorcing an ordinary woman who had borne him two sons and a daughter, and letting her wander aimlessly, made him no good man. Cui Zhi suspected he was joking.
He asked bluntly, "Is your father-in-law talking about himself?"
Cui Xiao: "I never claimed to be deeply affectionate or righteous."
No matter how anxious Cui Zhi was, he knew he would have a hard time escaping and could only quietly wait for a better opportunity as a prisoner. Before he could even warm the mat, he heard his father-in-law cough several times, and his yellowed handkerchief with frayed edges was stained with glaring bloodstains.
Cui Xiao calmly put away the handkerchief, and then a soldier came over and said that someone outside wanted to see him. The person even introduced himself.
The visitor was Cui Hui.
Cui Xiao sighed softly, "A daughter is like a tree that cannot be kept at home once she grows up."
Despite saying this, he still forced himself to meet Cui Hui. As soon as the father and daughter met, he told Cui Hui, "You can't take Cui Zhishan back. Considering that he is the father of your child, it's not that there's no way to resolve this. I won't take his life. Go back."
The son who accompanied Cui Hui down the mountain turned pale. He couldn't help but plead in a low voice, "Father, do you really have to do this? My sister just lost her mother, do you want her to lose her husband right after?"
Cui Xiao merely glanced at him coldly: "What do you know?"
The son choked and immediately turned red with embarrassment.
"You're the one who's getting senile!"
My brother-in-law has been running around taking care of Mother's funeral arrangements; if it weren't for him, my sister wouldn't have been able to hold on these past few days. Looking back at those old grievances, when they needed filial piety the most, their father was never there. And after so many years apart, this is what they're getting at?
Cui Xiao sneered, "You're the one who's brainless."
After scolding her son, she softened her expression when facing her daughter.
He said, "Ke Wu, go back."
"My daughter wants a reason."
“Now that Cui Zhishan knows your father’s identity, how can he not suspect you? He is a husband who loves you deeply, but he is also the absolute head of the Cui family and a trusted minister of the King of Qi. Before, you didn’t have any evidence in his hands, so at most he only suspected you. Because of our years of affection, he could still live in a daze. Can he still do that now? Everything has been made clear. Can you still pretend to be deaf and dumb?”
These words caused Cui Hui's expression to change drastically, while his son was dumbfounded.
"Wh-what?"
He was just a middle-aged, overweight, wealthy man in Tianqing County, completely unaware of the momentous events happening outside. His life was simple and straightforward: serving his mother, supporting his family, and simply getting by. With his brother-in-law as his backer, life wasn't difficult for him.
What Cui Xiaogang just said was a bit like gibberish.
Is his older sister up to something big?
His gaze darted back and forth between his elderly father and older sister, and he stammered, "Older sister, are you hiding something from me?"
“Things you shouldn’t know don’t need to be reported to you, so what’s the point of hiding them?” Cui Hui’s words almost made her younger brother shut up. She looked at Cui Xiao with a complicated expression, knowing that what he said made sense. Given her and Cui Zhi’s relationship and temperament, although the couple wouldn’t necessarily become enemies, a quarrel was inevitable. Cui Zhi’s imprisonment by their father spared them from this turmoil.
Having received the answer, Cui Hui did not press the matter further.
Without saying a word, she turned and left.
"Sister, are we just leaving like this?"
"Otherwise what? Stay and become a prisoner too?"
"But...but brother-in-law..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was stunned by a glare from Cui Hui. He blinked pitifully, but unfortunately, he had gained a lot of weight in middle age. His once charming and amorous eyes had shrunk considerably due to the fat, and even blinking until his eyelids cramped could not elicit a shred of pity.
Faintly, Cui Xiao heard his son ask worried questions.
"What if something happens to my brother-in-law..."
Cui Hui did not answer, but this was a question that Cui Zhi was also curious about: "If my son-in-law dies, how does my father-in-law plan to explain?"
Cui Xiao asked in return, "Explain what?"
He was pleased with the fear that Cui Zhi's eyes showed.
He sneered repeatedly: "What if something happens to you? It's just that the Cui family will change heads and Ke Wu will change husbands. All your children are born to Ke Wu. No matter how ruthless I am, I wouldn't harm my descendants. I will naturally protect your lineage."
For him, there was no harm at all, only benefit.
After this analysis, he really wanted to kill his former son-in-law.
He and his elder sister were childhood sweethearts, and she was already used to his service. Traveling alone would be lonely, so it would be better to send her a devoted son-in-law to serve her as soon as possible. The thought crossed his mind, and Cui Zhi immediately caught a glimpse of murderous intent flashing in his father-in-law's eyes.
Cui Zhi pursed his lips, closed his eyes, and stopped communicating with the other party.
A widowed old man is truly utterly unreasonable.
For a regular army like that of Kangguo, the idea of silently infiltrating and raiding a camp is practically a pipe dream. Those with low strength wouldn't be able to break through the heavily guarded lines, and even those with high strength would be discovered by the experts stationed in the camp. However, this group in front of them is a rabble.
There were few true warriors; the rest were ordinary believers.
After Cui Zhi was trapped, he secretly released the news.
As the head of the Southwest branch, his network of connections was considerable. To ensure he wouldn't be secretly killed by his political enemies, he spent a fortune maintaining assassins. These assassins weren't geniuses, but they each possessed unique skills that could prove invaluable in crucial moments. It was they who rescued Cui Zhi when he was trapped.
Cui Zhi simply forgot the saying, "Old ginger is spicier."
Your father-in-law is still your father-in-law.
Cui Zhi clearly sensed that the assassins who had infiltrated were nearby, but they couldn't find him, leading to the failure of the rescue.
no--
Is it really that hard to find him among two or three thousand people?
Find him among two or three thousand ragged believers—wouldn't that make him an easy target? Cui Zhi, his hands bound behind his back, leaned against the wooden stake, lost in thought. When he came to his senses, he saw his father-in-law's ambiguous smile and immediately realized it was the other man's doing.
"The Cui family is indeed very powerful and wealthy, and the assassins they raise are also extraordinary. It's just a pity that my abilities are limited, and I made a wasted trip."
Cui Xiaoyou uttered sarcastic remarks that could choke someone to death.
Cui Zhi: "..."
It's understandable that some men are abandoned by their wives.
Cui Xiao used the power of words to read his thoughts: "Are you courting death?"
His expression suddenly softened as he said, "Weren't you also divorced by Ke Wu? It's not like the head of the Cui family has a wife he wants."
No matter what, he and his sister never officially divorced, and the couple still registered under the same household registration, unlike some others.
Cui Zhi: "..."
However, this is far from the limit of Old Taishan's shamelessness.
Cui Zhi watched helplessly as the other party used his own Wenxin Huaban (a type of calligraphy) to write a letter, impersonating his handwriting, and wondered what they were going to do with it.
“The Cui family is not so easily fooled.”
Although the Cui clan is currently being managed by the young master Cui Xiong, the elders and the old clan head are not to be trifled with and will not stand idly by while Cui Xiong is deceived into doing something to harm the Cui clan. After saying this, Cui Zhi saw the old man's subtle smile, and even his haggard face had a different kind of radiance: "When did I say I wanted anything from the Cui clan? The Cui clan is my grandson's future estate."
Cutting off the Cui family's property would harm the future assets of the grandson.
Seeing that Cui Xiao regarded the Cui family as his own, Cui Zhi gained a deeper understanding of this old bandit's behavior: "What is that?"
Choi Hyo's smile was chilling.
"The Southwest Main Society, right?"
How do you know?
The Gods Society is ostensibly a legitimate organization, so it's not surprising that Old Taishan knew of its existence. However, it was quite alarming that he knew the head of the Southwest branch was him. It's worth noting that members of both the main and branch societies typically conceal their appearance and identities at gatherings, only revealing their true identities when there's a mutual interest in cooperation.
Few people outside the organization know the true identity of the main organization.
Cui Xiao: "My colleague is also a so-called master of the society."
Cui Zhi's expression was blank: "..."
Yes, Qi Yuanliang is the head of the Northwest branch.
Since everyone in the main community knew each other's identities, it was only natural for Qi Shan to tell his father-in-law the information. He couldn't help but think of Cui Hui's role in the matter, and closed his eyes, choosing to ignore it.
No matter what the father-in-law does, how bad can the situation get? It's just the fall of the Qi Kingdom, the victory of Shen Tang, and the entire Cui family changing their nationality. Cui Zhi's reaction made Cui Xiao raise an eyebrow.
"I thought you would start cursing."
"My son-in-law's upbringing and manners are not up to par."
"Hmph, so sarcastic."
Cui Zhi let things take their course, letting them do whatever they wanted.
His calm demeanor made Cui Xiao quite uneasy: "I only said that I would guarantee the safety of your lineage, not that the entire Cui family would be safe. It's good to get rid of this burden."
Cui Zhi said, "No, that won't happen."
Seeing that his father-in-law didn't believe him, he smiled ambiguously: "Since you are Shen Jun's confidant, do you know who Zhong Lifu is? Is she Qi Yuanliang's person or Shen Youli's person? Who sent Ke Wu? Is You Bao from the You family really the real You Bao? Or has the real You Baojun already met with misfortune and been replaced by someone else?"
With each question he asked, Cui Xiao's expression changed slightly.
Cui Zhi: "My son-in-law's silence and tacit agreement do not mean he was unaware of the situation. Shouldn't Shen Youli be grateful for this favor?"
Now it was Cui Xiao's turn to be speechless.
Judging from Cui Zhi's words, the head of the Southwest branch may not know the whole story, but he has glimpsed some of the truth and deduced that someone in the court has an incorrect stance. Cui Zhi knew this but did not report it to the king, instead feigning ignorance, which is suspicious.
He served the State of Qi, yet tacitly accepted Zhongli Fu's actions.
While there was certainly a reason to protect Cui Hui and not want to involve her, wasn't it also a case of Cui Zhi hedging her bets?
It has been from the very beginning.
Since it involves multiple bets, the tacit understanding between them is simply not enough. Without proof, wouldn't it be easy for them to turn their backs on each other? Therefore, solid stakes are needed to prevent anyone from defaulting. Otherwise, Cui Zhi wouldn't have allowed Cui Mi to run away from home.
Cui Xiaohou ground his molars.
"Clan head, I have witnessed it all."
Cui Zhi said, "Father-in-law has also broadened my horizons."
Neither of them, father-in-law and son-in-law, should laugh at the other. Peel back this facade of respectability, and beneath lies only filth.
"The ultimate victor will undoubtedly be Kangguo. I'd like to see what good this ambitious head of the Cui family can achieve." He may have a career in government, but he'll never reach a high position. Given Cui Zhi's character, he probably wouldn't be happy in this awkward, in-between position.
This is utterly self-destructive!
What does he have to be proud of?
Faced with Cui Xiao's merciless mockery, Cui Zhi remained calm: "No need for such sarcasm. Didn't my father-in-law just say that the Cui family will be handed over to my eldest son, Cui Xiong, your grandson? If fate does not favor the Qi state, would my father-in-law allow him to suffer in court?"
Cui Xiao himself still owed Cui Hui a huge debt.
In the end, won't the compensation still fall on Cui Xiong and the others?
Retirement is fine, but Cui Hui is more important! The moment Cui Zhi chose to return from the front lines, he was fully prepared.
Cui Xiao: "..."
The scheming, despicable man in front of him is the son-in-law his daughter found for him.
The internal injuries that had just stabilized almost recurred.
"Fine, fine, you've got nothing to fear!"
Qi Guosheng and the Cui family made a killing.
Kang Guosheng and the Cui family can also break even.
Good, good, good, what a brilliant scheme you've devised!
Cui Zhi shook his head: "It's just taking precautions."
You can't expect a patriarch of a powerful family to be completely cunning, utterly disregard the family, and only have his mind filled with romance, can you? He has his calculations, but he also has genuine feelings; you can't condemn him outright. That's how Cui Zhi angered his father-in-law to the point of turning away in anger.
Despite being a prisoner, Cui Zhi maintained an excellent mindset. From the moment he left the front lines, the outcome of the war became meaningless to him and the Cui family. With Cui Xiong and the others around, Cui Xiao was hesitant to act rashly, and even if he did something mad, it wouldn't affect the Cui family.
He couldn't help but think of that secret letter.
That secret letter could accelerate the progress of the battle.
The secret letter originated from Lin Anzhi, a member of the Chinese branch of the organization.
Who is Lin Anzhi?
He is also a number one dangerous person.
Cui Zhi loosened his wrists, which were bound until they were numb, and murmured with his eyes down, "As soon as the bait was thrown, the fish that usually hide in the water jumped out. I just wonder who is behind the net..."
The situation seems to be gradually becoming clearer.
Despite being thoroughly angered by his former son-in-law, he had to admit that his status was indeed advantageous. His position as the head of the Southwest branch carried more weight than that of the Cui family patriarch. After a series of maneuvers, the already uncontrollable Eternal Life Cult rebellion grew even more powerful after "Chief Cui's intervention." Members, receiving hints from the main branch, turned a blind eye to the chaos within their territory.
Passive resistance.
The passive suppression of the rebellion.
Don't ask, the answer is that the main organization is playing a big game.
With the reshuffling of power in the southwest, the interests will naturally be redistributed, which is one of the unspoken rules of the game within the Gods' Guild.
There's nothing wrong with Cui taking the lead in reshuffling the deck.
However, not everyone was deceived; some noticed inconsistencies in the details of the situation. These individuals either chose to remain silent or sought to profit from the chaos.
It's not impossible for them to replace the Cui family!
(ゝω)
Isn't National Day just around the corner?
Mushroom was planning to hang a national flag on her SU7, but when she opened the JD.com app, she found that many links were sold out and there was no stock available locally. _(:з」∠)_
In the end, I could only buy it from Pinduoduo; hopefully, it will be in time.
P.S.: I've been having some emotional issues lately. I was hoping to relax by playing games, but it took all four heroes 120 tea cakes to finally appear, which completely ruined my mood. Being forced into marriage by spending real money is just too unfair.
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