Chapter 1478: Whose Funeral is This? (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Shen Tang and a few others did not understand the Central Allied Forces' actions.
Little did they know, the Allied forces themselves were not entirely in favor of it.
Lin Su laughed when she heard the suggestion. Not out of anger, but she laughed at the absurdity: [Leaving aside the fact that Shen Youli was heavily guarded, she herself was a top expert. How could she have died without warning? What reason could she have to die at this time?]
They fought for more than half a year in the Yudi Mountains, spent more than a month clearing out the remnants of the allied forces, and carefully pushed the battle line outside the Yudi Mountains. How could they suddenly die of illness at this time? It's impossible even with a child's eyes, unless there is a reincarnation of Emperor Guangwu of Han on the central allied side.
Lin Su was more inclined to believe that Kang Guo was up to something.
This was just bait she threw out.
Whether Shen Youli is alive or dead, let's wait three to five months and see.
If they were dead, Kangguo wouldn't have been able to hold out for so long without withdrawing its troops; if they were alive, further military action would be imminent. However, no one wanted to listen to these arguments, and Lin Su was too lazy to explain. The Central Allied Forces had an almost blind trust in the three ancient diseases, willing to ignore many unreasonable aspects for this reason.
The phantom: [Perhaps they're still hiding something from you.]
The Allied forces had reservations about Lin Su and had always doubted his stance, so it was understandable that they might be keeping some secret plans from him.
Lin Su: [...]
The illusory figure floated in front of him: "Hey, don't waste your brain."
Given the self-destructive tactics of these madmen in the Central Allied Forces, who knows how many will survive this battle? Perhaps even Lin Su won't escape death. It's good that they're all dead; everyone will be with him, and he won't have to watch the fighting and killing anymore.
Lin Su pursed her lips.
The phantom knew he was secretly annoyed and sulking again.
I'm going out for some fresh air.
No matter how beautiful Lin Su was, his perpetually droopy face couldn't compensate for it; seeing his ghostly figure too often even gave him a stomachache—heaven knows how long it had been since he'd had a stomachache. Since no one but Lin Su could see him, he felt free to wander around and watch the spectacle.
Unfortunately, their activity range is limited.
Less than fifteen minutes later, Lin Su, who was sharpening his sword by lamplight, saw the illusory figure leisurely drift back: [Anzhi, big news!]
Lin Su didn't even bother to lift her eyelids.
The phantom: [Why didn't you ask me what the news was?]
Lin Su scoffed: "Didn't you tell me to stop wasting my brain? Any big news is none of my business, why should I ask you?"
"You're so boring." Even the illusory figure admired itself for tolerating Lin Su's bad temper all these years. "It's okay if you don't ask, I'll tell you anyway. I just saw someone leaving the camp."
Is this abnormal?
The Allied forces in the central region specifically chose to launch their attack in the latter half of tonight.
The troops are all ready.
The illusory figure said: "[He is a student of Kang Guoluan Gongyi.]"
Lin Su didn't react for a moment, then remembered that Xiang Zhao had been captured by the Central Allied Forces, and his body had become a vessel for the high-ranking members of the Central Branch. The current "Xiang Zhao" was no longer Luan Xin's student; an old man of unknown age resided inside his body. However, the illusory figure didn't mention the high-ranking members of the Central Branch, only referring to him as Luan Gongyi's student…
He asked in surprise, "Isn't Xiang Laiqu dead?"
The original owner of the container will definitely be wiped out.
Is Xiang Zhao still conscious?
Even at this critical juncture, did he regain control of his body?
The phantom laughed gleefully: "I'm certain that was a brilliant move; the Allied night raid is going to be a disaster."
After all, you can't lie with your eyes.
Even if a dying soul is stuffed into a young body, its eyes will remain dull and lifeless, exuding an air of decay. In contrast, a youthful soul radiates vitality in its eyes.
Lin Sudao: [It could very well be a scheme within a scheme.]
If it truly is Xiang Zhao's consciousness, then it proves that the Allied forces' so-called possession and immortality is a joke. Lin Su couldn't help but twitch his lips, wanting to see the Allied forces make a fool of themselves. He wasn't on the same side as the Allied forces, and had been humiliated and ostracized several times, so naturally he wouldn't go out of his way to make a fool of himself this time. He would pretend he knew nothing about Xiang Zhao's matter.
Xiang Zhao turned his head to look at the prison van covered by a black cloth, and a chill ran down his spine.
The Central Allied forces ordered Lao Deng to deliver a shipment to the ambush area, and Xiang Zhao seized control while he was leaving the camp. She had already figured out Lao Deng's identity, who had possessed her body, and her disguise was quite convincing. Plus, it was nighttime with poor visibility, so she wasn't afraid of being discovered. Xiang Zhao calmly withdrew her gaze and secretly sent a signal to Gongyang Yongye, hoping he would act quickly.
"Be careful, everyone!"
Upon arrival at their destination, the black cloth covering the prison van was removed, revealing "people" bound hand and foot inside. Calling them "people" wouldn't be entirely accurate; they were all blue-faced with fangs, and their eyes had an abnormally large amount of white. Their mouths and limbs were completely wrapped in thick, coarse cloth.
The soldiers worked together to drag them from the prison vans and throw them into pre-dug underground caverns. The caverns were interconnected, crammed with over a thousand "people." Among those thrown down were not only humans, but also severely wounded living soldiers. Short, piercing screams were quickly swallowed up. Those thrown down while unconscious fared better; some were thrown down while still conscious.
The rustling sounds continued for about fifteen minutes.
After the prison van was unloaded, the soldiers, expressionless, filled in the pit's exit, carefully finished the camouflage, and covered it with old soil.
Xiang Zhao watched this scene indifferently until the military officer in charge of the matter came to report on the progress of the operation: "Everything has been handled properly."
"They...won't escape?"
The military general said confidently, "We can't escape this inescapable net."
But once the enemy is lured over, things will be hard to say.
"General, you have acted with great care and consideration. When you return to camp and meet the Alliance Leader, I will certainly put in a good word for you with him."
This military officer came from a humble background, a disastrous start in the central region, making upward mobility extremely difficult. Therefore, despite his considerable strength, he had no chance of being given important responsibilities and was often relegated to dirty and menial jobs like guarding the gate. He desperately wanted to climb the ranks, but unfortunately, no one paid him any attention.
He was extremely attentive to Lao Deng, who had possessed Xiang Zhao's body, and frequently sent gifts in an attempt to curry favor with the Yuan family. He hoped to be accepted and have his social status changed. Lao Deng, however, remained indifferent to him, keeping him hanging on.
Upon hearing the response, the military officer was naturally delighted.
After the ambush was completed, everyone prepared to return to camp.
They hadn't gone far when Xiang Zhao tightened the reins and stopped.
The group was forced to stop as well. The military officers looked at them with concern and inquiry, but Xiang Zhao said out of the blue, "You're slow enough. If you had come any later, it would have been too late."
The general's pupils dilated, and just as he was about to draw his sword from his waist, he heard a crisp cracking sound from someone's neck, and then felt himself fall from his horse. A figure had descended from the sky, riding on his warhorse, and raised his hand to deliver the final blow.
Then this person used martial energy to transform into soldiers and quickly cleared the area.
The commotion here was obscured by the words of the accompanying scholars.
Gongyang Yongye: "Ancestor, I've arrived fast enough."
He didn't expect Xiang Zhao to contact him at this time.
They couldn't even spare a thought for Shen Tang, who was still wailing at the funeral.
Gongyang Yongye borrowed Luan Xin from Shen Tang and rushed over. Looking back, it was still a bit risky. If Xiang Zhao had more men and his clearing speed had been slower, he might have alerted the enemy. However, Chu Wuhui said not to worry, so he believed him.
Xiang Zhao reminded him, "Burying or burning these corpses will only make those things more agitated, as the strong smell of blood will easily cause them to become restless."
Gongyang Yongye: "What is that?"
"Those heartless bastards in the Central Allied Forces have set up an ambush ahead, feeding livestock and people, and raising a lot of blue-faced, fanged monsters, just waiting for us to step on their trap."
Gongyang Yongye knew what it was as soon as he heard it.
He cursed angrily, "These lunatics!"
Just when things were starting to look promising in Kangguo, the Allied forces in the Central Region are causing trouble on the front lines again? These guys really aren't afraid of the backlash.
"Coming and going."
Luan Xin also emerged from the shadows.
Seeing that Xiang Zhao's limbs were intact and she was conscious, he finally felt relieved. It was clear that the old man who had possessed her cherished this body very much, providing her with the best of everything, and managed to make Xiang Zhao's complexion rosy, her height increased, and her face plumper.
Xiang Zhao dismounted and bowed, "Why has Master come in person?"
"Since I have nothing to do, I've come to pick you up."
The real reason was that he simply couldn't cry.
Not everyone is as shameless and dramatic as Gu Chi, who can pull off a whole series of dramatic gestures like crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide. What should have been a sad occasion was turned into a comedic spectacle, with the funeral hall becoming a noisy and chaotic mess that gave everyone a headache. Xiang Zhao, unaware of the truth, only felt a warmth in his heart.
"The student is unfilial, which worries the teacher."
Luan Xin was more worried about something else. He asked, "Is the person who possessed your body still around? Does it have any effect on you?"
How can one body have two souls?
The only example available for reference is the He Shu brothers.
These two brothers were born together, but their bodies developed incorrectly in the womb, forcing them to share one body. Xiang Zhao, on the other hand, was possessed later in life, with a soul forcibly inserted into her body; it's unknown what impact this will have on her.
"The students have suppressed it, and it shouldn't have any impact in the short term. At that time, we will still need to trouble the teachers to completely eliminate it."
Xiang Zhao can do it himself.
However, since it involves the soul, and the spiritual realm is too fragile, a single misstep could trigger the opponent's self-destruction and retaliation. Xiang Zhao couldn't guarantee her safe escape. With Luan Xin and others protecting her, she was absolutely certain of success. Even if her soul was damaged along the way, medical practitioners would provide timely treatment, minimizing the losses. Xiang Zhao's decision to "betray" at this particular time naturally indicated that she possessed crucial intelligence.
Enough of the digressions, let's get back to the main topic.
"Teacher, I have urgent information here."
Old Deng, who possessed her, held a high position in the Allied forces in the Central Region and had access to many classified operations; otherwise, he wouldn't have been sent to oversee the ambush in the cave. In addition to the "monster" lurking underground, the Allied forces were also preparing to launch a night raid on the Kangguo camp.
After speaking, Xiang Zhao paused again.
"...On the Allied side, there's a scholar skilled in astrology who used his literary arts to claim that the Kang Kingdom's imperial star is no longer among us." Xiang Zhao naturally didn't believe it, but the scholar was indeed capable, and Allied scouts had discovered that Kang Kingdom was preparing to build the Huangchang Ticou (a type of ancient Chinese zither). Seeing her teacher today, she knew her son's claim was baseless. If Shen Jun were truly in trouble, her teacher would have already wept to death.
How could he possibly act like nothing happened?
She turned out to be right.
Luan Xin said, "There may be a misunderstanding. Your Majesty is well."
Xiang Zhao also breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
After saying that, she was stunned for a moment.
I realized something was wrong.
"...The teacher isn't surprised by the Allied actions tonight?"
Luan Xin's reaction just now was very calm.
It seemed she had said something he already knew.
"Yes, I received the relevant information in advance."
Actually, it wasn't much earlier, just a little bit earlier.
Xiang Zhao said dejectedly, half-jokingly, "Alas, I thought I had brought back some important intelligence and could make a great contribution."
"You can only blame Chu Wuhui for this. If you had arrived an hour earlier, you could have reached him. But you're young; you'll have plenty of opportunities to make a name for yourself in the future." Luan Xin noticed a faint smile in his eyes. With that kind of ambition, you'll succeed at anything.
Xiang Zhao hurriedly waved his hand.
She wouldn't dare to blame Chu Ling.
Hearing that Chu Yao had only been there an hour earlier than her, Xiang Zhao felt no resentment, but rather more pride—after all, she had no idea who she was being compared to. Luan Xin, seeing that she showed no displeasure, was quite satisfied. A single thought can broaden one's horizons; scholars and writers should avoid getting bogged down in trivialities.
One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black.
Luan Xin had worried that Xiang Zhao might lose her way if she stayed in the Central Allied Army for too long, given the madness that permeated the region. Now, seeing her clear-headed, he was truly relieved. As long as she maintained this clarity, Xiang Zhao could thrive even outside the court.
"Don't be arrogant or complacent, but don't underestimate yourself either. The information you brought back will be very useful." Luan Xin recalled the brief eye contact he had with Chu Yao before setting off and clicked his tongue inwardly. Given Chu Yao's current scholarly approach, he couldn't possibly be unaware of the ambush.
They knew, but never mentioned it.
This is quite intriguing.
He must have known that he had unintentionally "stole" the credit from the younger Xiang Zhao, so he deliberately concealed it to ensure that Xiang Zhao didn't end up with nothing. Thinking of this, Luan Xin couldn't help but find it amusing.
Who in the royal court isn't a shrewd and calculating person?
Xiang Zhao, unaware of the details, simply recounted the various pieces of information she had gathered while infiltrating the Allied forces—information large and small, fragmented and incomplete. If it weren't for the fear of being discovered by Old Deng, who was trying to possess her, she would have written them down: "Teacher, there's one more piece of information—"
She had tried to spread the news that the Allied forces were dropping the disease.
"Has the teacher received any warning?"
There should be, otherwise why wouldn't the teacher be surprised at all by that monster?
Luan Xin frowned: "You spread this rumor?"
"The teacher didn't receive it?" Xiang Zhao's face suddenly turned pale.
"No."
Xiang Zhao: "..."
If Kang Guo didn't learn about the ancient disease from the information she sent out, then where did her message go? Or was it intercepted by someone? Was her identity actually exposed long ago?
Luan Xin also considered this possibility.
He wasn't in a hurry: "If the sky falls, Chu Wuhui will hold it up."
That scholarly way is truly perverse.
He was so eager to see it that he couldn't resist.
Fortunately, what his colleagues had was his, so he didn't need to be envious.
Gongyang Yongye, busy cleaning up the battlefield, said irritably, "You lazy master and apprentice, can't you come and help me out? Do you really think I'm a free handyman?"
ヽ(ー_ー)ノ
I had a terrible headache last night, so I applied some medicine to it and slept until 2 p.m. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the pain had subsided.
P.S.: I received the sample copy from the publisher (it's frustrating seeing the copy I bought; why couldn't they have sent the sample copy sooner?), I don't know what to do with it (I wonder if I can get a free copy).
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