Chapter 1286: One Battle Secures the Southwest (Twenty-Three) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
To her utter surprise, she was proven wrong.
In order to catch up with Mei Meng, Wu You, disguised as nothing, brought no one else with him except Cui Mi, who led the way, while Mei Meng was accompanied by guards.
Upon seeing the traitorous Zhongli return to intercept them, the guards tensed up, stepping forward to block Mei Meng, prepared to risk their lives to buy time. Mei Meng's brows showed signs of fatigue, but her eyes remained as resolute as ever: "I come and go as I please, I am free to come and go as I please, how dare you, a fickle villain, interfere?"
Since Zhongli had clearly betrayed her, Mei Meng had no reason to give him a friendly look.
If she hadn't suffered a defeat and been unable to defeat her opponent, she would have taken their life no matter what. But given the current situation, it seemed the opponent wanted her dead. Mei Meng understood the rule of "the victor is king, the loser is villain"—she was simply outmatched, but she didn't want to beg.
Transformed into nothingness, he laughed nonchalantly, not taking Mei Meng's words "fickle and deceitful person" to heart: "Prime Minister Mei, you have quite the spirit. My lord has long wanted to experience Prime Minister Mei's demeanor. Shall we make a trip?"
Mei Meng scoffed, "What if you refuse?"
The avatar's tone suddenly turned cold: "Die!"
Mei Meng was willing to surrender, and Kang Guo received several prisoners of war.
Mei Meng was unwilling, otherwise there would be more water ghosts at the bottom of the river!
Faced with the undisguised murderous threat, Mei Meng responded with a calm smile: "My head is here, awaiting your arrival!"
Wu Yi, in his transformed form, pushed Cui Mi away from the danger zone with a single palm strike.
"Okay, I'll come and get it right away!"
Transforming into nothingness, he moved across the water as if it were flat ground. His long sword unleashed invisible sword energy, severing the wind and waves. The guards in his path, who had been fighting for a long time and were exhausted, did not even have time to scream in the face of this move. Blood-red lotuses bloomed and splashed across the area.
The severed limb fell into the water; the cut surface of the limb was smooth.
Just as the sword energy reached a point not far from Mei Meng, a powerful martial energy descended from above, forcefully cutting it off!
The aftershocks pounded the river surface, creating waves several meters high.
"Qi! Yan! Qing!"
Even without seeing, one can tell who is coming from the formless illusion.
Qi Cang's laughter grew louder and louder: "Interesting, really interesting! I'll take Mei Jinghe with me first. If she dies here, what's the point of this entertainment? If you're not happy about it, come and get me!"
I'm so eager to turn into nothingness and devour Qi Cang raw.
They immediately gave chase.
Cui Mi clung to a piece of driftwood, choking on the blood-stained river water. He tried to stop his lord—chasing after him was pointless, since they were fleeing in the wrong direction.
Mei Meng's way of doing things was unique and extremely deceptive; the lord fell for it the moment he made his move. However, the lord was incredibly fast, and Cui Mi couldn't even catch a glimpse of her exhaust fumes, let alone catch her.
"Why--"
He clung to the driftwood and looked around.
Before long, several corpses floated to his side, a bizarre scene that sent chills down Cui Mi's spine: "Go away!"
He pushed the body a few feet away.
Holding onto the driftwood with one hand, he used the other hand and his legs to paddle towards the battlefield. Along the way, he would occasionally see corpses of both sides, mostly from the Southwest Allied forces. If he encountered a lucky survivor still clinging to life, Cui Mi would draw his dagger and deliver the final blow. He didn't want to be picked off by some nobody while he was weakened.
I ran out of energy after paddling for a while.
He floated on the river, catching his breath.
The icy river water left his limbs numb and stiff, slowing his reactions considerably. He didn't even notice a small boat approaching him through the thick fog. When he finally realized what was happening, a jolt ran through him, and he gripped the dagger tightly, preparing to fight to the death with his newly recovered spiritual energy. But things didn't go as he expected; his collar was grabbed.
Splash—
Then there was another thud.
Cui Mi's back slammed against the wooden planks of the cabin.
He remained in a semi-supported position, looking up at the person who had rescued him. He should have looked away, because once he did, he felt a surge of heat coursing through his limbs, warming his icy hands and feet and flushing his cheeks red; even the air seemed to grow hotter.
Her savior had striking features and was exceptionally beautiful.
One glance was enough to captivate him, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.
Cui Mi barely managed to compose himself. Ignoring his soaking wet and disheveled appearance, he got up, cupped his hands, and said, "My lord."
He had never seen Shen Tang in person, but in the visions of the future he had foreseen, this face was not unfamiliar to him. Besides the future scenes, Cui Mi had also seen this face in paintings.
At first glance, he recognized this as his true lord.
Shen Tang said helplessly, "We lost them."
The slap in the face came too quickly.
He had barely declared that no one could steal his military merits when Qi Cang suddenly appeared and snatched them from his grasp. His avatar was far weaker than his original self, and would be at a disadvantage in a direct confrontation with Qi Cang, not to mention that Qi Cang also held Mei Meng in his grasp.
With both literary and martial arts skills combined, losing the chase was to be expected.
Shen Tang herself was tied up in the battlefield and couldn't leave for the time being. After instructing Gong Xichou and the others, she finally found him by following the directions in her memory and the literary aura left behind by Cui Mi. This battle was not truly over yet, and there was always deadly danger on the river. Cui Mi was adrift here alone, and if he was unlucky enough to lose his life, that would be the end of him.
Cui Zhi, like a fox, is hedging his bets on both sides, secretly acquiescing to the existence of "Zhong Lifu" and maintaining a vague, ambiguous relationship with Kang Guo. Cui Mi is essentially a tacitly understood "walking contract" between the two parties.
If anything goes wrong with the "walking contract," Cui Zhi might flip the table.
Just in case, Shen Tang came to pick them up personally.
Cui Mi struggled to twist his sleeves, turning them into two wrinkled clumps of dried mustard greens. This was rather unseemly, so Cui Mi could only forcefully smooth out the sleeves, looking quite disheveled: "We can't catch up. Perhaps if we send that guy named Gong Xi Chou..."
Why is that?
"My lord's luck hasn't been good lately; almost everything he does is fraught with difficulties and setbacks." Because of this low fortune, Mei Meng's escape was inevitable, and Qi Cang would arrive at the most opportune moment. The only saving grace is that this bad luck doesn't affect the overall situation; otherwise, the outcome of the battle with the Southwest Allied Forces just now would have been very uncertain. Low fortune easily leads to mistakes, and the battlefield is a place where opportunities change in an instant; even the slightest error can lead to a bitter defeat. "It's all about timing and fate."
So don't be too discouraged.
It's not the lord's fault that we can't catch Mei Meng.
Shen Tang's lips twitched, and she rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
“Yes, I almost forgot about Kang Jishou…”
Before the Kangxi era's scholarly way was perfected, this fellow still knew what restraint was, and wouldn't misuse his scholarly way unless absolutely necessary. Once the scholarly way was perfected, this fellow became completely arrogant.
Shen Tang could hear Kang Shi's little scheme even though Gu Chi wasn't Shen Tang.
Did this cost me 10,000 units of luck?
Divide it into thirty-six periods, with each period yielding less than three hundred points.
Did this take 100,000 units of luck?
Divide it into sixty periods, each period will have less than 1,700 points.
The more installments you make, the less luck you'll have to repay in one installment, the less luck you'll have to overspend, and the smaller the impact of bad luck.
That's a tiny, insignificant impact, nothing to worry about.
Kang Shi became increasingly excited and adept at using it, like a floodgate bursting open, completely out of control. If it weren't for the fact that the installment plan was interest-free, Shen Tang strongly suspected he would have even resorted to usury, with interest compounding and potentially betraying his lord completely.
Cui Mi: "...My lord, do not be discouraged."
The overall situation is still in our favor.
He had already foreseen the future of the Southwestern Allied forces' defeat and retreat.
Shen Tang naturally wouldn't lose her composure because of a temporary gain or loss. Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war, especially since she hadn't lost this battle yet; at most, the outcome wasn't as sweet as she had expected. Shen Tang slapped the water's surface with her palm, and the small boat darted across the river like an arrow.
There are still some unresolved issues surrounding this battlefield.
Because the two armies were engaged in hand-to-hand combat on the water, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe, even a martial artist of Gong Xi Chou's skill and courage couldn't quickly expand his side's gains. All he could do was eliminate them one by one; recklessly unleashing powerful attacks as before was no longer an option. The efficiency was too low; when Shen Tang returned, the battle cries hadn't stopped, but they didn't last long either.
The soldiers looked tired, but their spirits were high.
"We really owe a great debt to the High Priest this time."
Seeing Cui Mi's pitiful, soaking wet appearance, Shen Tang used her inner energy to dry his clothes. Just as Cui Mi thanked her, a vine carrying Ji Moqiu descended from the sky. As the great hero of the night, Shen Tang naturally wouldn't overlook his presence: "Is there anything you want?"
Ji Moqiu tucked the wooden staff behind his waist: "It is my honor to serve Your Highness. How could I ask for credit or reward? As long as the war goes smoothly and Your Highness can smile more, that would be the greatest blessing."
He didn't miss Cui Mi's probing and suspicious gaze.
He then asked, "And who is this?"
Shen Tang introduced to Ji Moqiu: "The second son of the Cui family is also Wu You's right-hand man in the Qi Kingdom in the southwest these past few years."
In short, they are our own people.
Ji Moqiu greeted him, which was considered a way of saying hello.
Perhaps it was intuition, but he didn't really like Cui Mi. He always felt that this seemingly simple-minded young man was not so simple behind the scenes.
Contrary to his usual behavior, Cui Mi placed his hand on Ji Moqiu's hand, carefully stroking the other's skin, a gesture that carried a hint of offense. Ji Moqiu abruptly withdrew his hand, glaring angrily at Cui Mi as if looking at some lecherous rogue. Shen Tang was also dumbfounded by Cui Mi's actions.
Is this blatant flirting?
Cui Zhi, are you aware that your son has this peculiar habit?
Cui Mi's eyes flashed with a complex expression, but more so with deep confusion and unease. However, he still had to explain: "It was not an offense, but my ability is special. I felt something strange when I saw the High Priest for the first time... I lost my composure for a moment, please forgive me, High Priest."
He's young, what's wrong with letting him have his way?
When his lord addressed Ji Moqiu as High Priest, he assumed it was a title from the Kang state and followed suit. Ji Moqiu, however, was clearly not so easily fooled; he was curious about what this "special" title meant.
"What are you curious about?"
Cui Mi said, "The High Priest's future is uncertain."
If being by the lord's side means the future might flicker and change erratically, then Ji Moqiu's future is a blank slate. Who doesn't have a future? Even if he dies in the next breath, it should be a scene of death!
Cui Mi explored further by touching it.
As a result, Ji Moqiu misunderstood that he was flirting with him.
Before Ji Moqiu could speak, Gong Xiqiu, who had rushed over, caught the tail end of the conversation and practically grabbed Cui Mi by the back of the collar.
He asked in a harsh voice, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
How could his older brother be in trouble?
If you dare utter another word, I'll tear your mouth apart.
In the end, it was Shen Tang who rescued Cui Mi from Gong Xi Chou. Cui Mi was frightened, her eyes round and wet, and she huddled behind Shen Tang, looking pitiful and wronged. This posture seemed to be as if she was afraid that Gong Xi Chou would suddenly attack and kill her, which displeased Gong Xi Chou.
"I didn't do anything, why do you look like you've been bullied?" Gong Xichou disliked Cui Mi's pitiful and weak demeanor.
Cui Mi said, "I misspoke."
He looked stubborn yet beautiful, and his youthful figure appeared frail in comparison to Gong Xichou, making him a sight to behold.
"My lord, General Gongxi has misunderstood me." Cui Mi sniffed pitifully. His dantian was exhausted from being soaked in the river for too long, and his hands and feet were weak and powerless. He estimated that he was about to fall ill. "The High Priest's fate is the most special one I have ever seen in my life. I cannot help but misspoke."
Saying his future is uncertain is not accurate; it should be said that he has no future.
I wonder what this person's background is.
"It's because you're not skilled enough, you didn't look carefully, and you spoke without thinking. What do you mean I misunderstood you?" Gongxi Chou felt increasingly uncomfortable looking at Cui Mi. He didn't have many sore spots, but his elder brother and mother were the two most important ones. "For Your Highness's sake, I won't hold it against you."
Although he said that, he couldn't help but keep it in mind.
Once the fighting has temporarily subsided, he needs to get to the bottom of this.
Despite his pursuit, he failed to catch her and returned empty-handed. When Qi Cang, who had been chased by her, heard Mei Meng say that they were safe, he breathed a sigh of relief: "Finally, I've shaken her off."
If you get entangled with them, that would be troublesome.
Qi Cang came to have fun, not to be someone else's fun.
The two hid in a treacherous valley near the riverbank. The terrain was rugged and crisscrossed by waterways, making it relatively safe. However, Mei Meng couldn't understand one thing: "Qi Yanqing, why did you come to rescue me this time?"
Given Qi Cang's temperament, if the Southwest Allied Forces' defeat in this battle is irreversible, he will definitely take advantage of the chaos to leave in order to play it safe.
Not only did they not leave, but they also risked their lives to save themselves?
This is not the first time.
"Heh, do I need a reason to go mad?" Qi Cang reeked of a heavy bloody aura, clearly from the carnage of some battlefield. "I can save you if I want, or not if I don't. What does it have to do with you, Mei Meng, whether I save you or not?"
Mei Meng tried to smile, but accidentally aggravated her wound.
She couldn't help but gasp.
During the previous chaotic battle, even with the protection of guards, Mei Meng suffered several external injuries. They were not fatal, but the wounds were large and bleeding profusely.
As the flow of knowledge returned, the stinging pain in the wound subsided.
Qi Cang walked over with his arms crossed, plopped down next to Mei Meng, and said, "I want to see another way."
"What road?"
Qi Cang, however, gave an irrelevant answer and started talking about something else: "Do you know? Zheng Qiao once had a senior brother, a foolish senior brother who never abandoned him and dreamt of dragging evil spirits out of hell. I think you are a bit like him."
"so?"
Mei Meng hadn't heard Qi Cang mention his old employer for a long time.
The fact that this is being brought up now suggests that Qi Cang has discovered something that can give him an immediate, intense thrill.
"Zheng Qiao is a born villain. He stubbornly claims he doesn't regret killing his senior brother, but judging from the location of his final grave, he does seem to have some regrets. I want to see what would happen if he hadn't killed his senior brother!" Qi Cang mocked Mei Meng. "The King and Zheng Qiao are actually quite similar, both heartless and ruthless. The former is good at pretending, while the latter disdains it. You are also similar to that Yan An, both of you like to take desperate paths... I want to see what you'll look like when you break ties with your King. If this battle goes poorly, Jing He, you'd better be careful not to become a scapegoat!"
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Today, the Xiaomi app notified me that the tire pressure was abnormal. When I looked, I was shocked to find a hexagonal screw stuck in the tire. Waaah!
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