Chapter 769: Evil Thoughts (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"What! Gu Ziyi is dead?"
Shen Tang was completely stunned when she heard the news.
He pressed on, "Xian Deng, are you sure it was Gu Ziyi who died in battle, and not someone else? Was it Gu Ziyi from Shangnan?"
Gu Ren, who loves to form sworn brotherhoods with others?
"No, how could he—"
Shen Tang couldn't tell whether she was more shocked or regretful. She knew that Zheng Qiao's actions would reshape the power structure of the allied forces and lay the foundation for the future situation in the Northwest Continent. But she never imagined that Gu Ren would die, after all, Gu Ren's power was not weak.
She clenched her fist and then slowly relaxed it.
With a grave expression, he asked again, "Who did it?"
Jiang Shengdao: "Huang Lie, Huang Xiguang."
Qian Yong, standing to the side, seemed to understand and clicked his tongue in disbelief.
"I never expected Gu Ziyi to be the unlucky one... Heh, although it was unexpected, it's also reasonable. Putting aside the fact that Gu Ziyi offended Huang Lie, that villain, even if he hadn't, Huang Lie was still wary of him. It's normal for him to launch a sneak attack and seriously injure him when he was off guard. Warfare is all about deception. Shen Jun is lucky. If you hadn't divided your forces, Huang Lie would have dealt with you first."
It took Shen Tang a while to calm down.
Qian Yong chimed in, "Because you, Gu Ziyi, and Wu Zhaode are too close. If you could form an alliance, the three of you would definitely unite to deal with Huang Lie's family. Huang Lie would naturally not give you that opportunity. Among the three of you, you and Gu Ziyi are upright men. So if one of you is eliminated, Wu Zhaode, seeing that the situation is not good, will naturally know when to back down."
Gu Ren and Shen Tang, one of them must be eliminated.
Shen Tang's forces were divided in two. One force, commanded by Chu Yao, was far from Huang Lie, while the other half, led by Kang Shi, was reinforced by the temporarily added Gong Xi Chou. In Huang Lie's eyes, this was a tough nut to crack. In comparison, Gu Ren's forces, which were still unprepared, would be a better fit.
Qian Yong said gloatingly, "Gu Ziyi is in trouble."
Huang Lie is quite good at seizing opportunities.
If Huang Lie had acted more slowly, Gu Ren's troops would have joined forces with Wu Xian and his ilk, and Huang Lie would probably have thought twice before making a move.
but--
Qian Yong became curious again and asked Jiang Sheng about the details of that battle: "...Based on my understanding of Huang Xiguang, although he wouldn't spare Gu Ziyi's life, he would definitely play with him first, such as trying to persuade him to surrender...Why, is Gu Ziyi so stubborn? Even when he's at a significant disadvantage, he refuses to surrender or show weakness?"
Jiang Sheng said, "I heard it's a fight to the death with coffins in hand."
Upon hearing this, Qian Yong's flippant expression vanished, replaced by a deep respect: "He fought to the death with his coffin?"
"Yes, it's said that nine coffins were carried."
Qian Yong counted on his fingers: "How come there are nine people?"
The intelligence was obtained from the refugees, but they didn't know the specific details. They vaguely heard that Huang Lie had killed several of Gu Ren's sworn brothers, leaving Gu Ren with no way out. He carried several simple coffins to express his determination and vowed to avenge Huang Lie for killing his brothers.
If Qian Yong were in his shoes, he knew he couldn't do it.
He then sighed, "Gu Ziyi is too sentimental."
To put it bluntly, if it were Qian Yong, his decision would most likely have been to concentrate his forces to attempt a breakout, cutting off his losses to survive. Although the losses would be significant, the chances of survival would be high, and he could then quickly join forces with Wu Xian or Shen Tang's troops, forming a united front.
Even if Huang Lie had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to make a direct attack!
Once he has recovered his strength, he will fight Huang Lie to the death to avenge his fallen brothers. Neither outsiders nor the surviving brothers will blame him. People of the world and future generations will only say that Gu Ren is loyal, brave, and resourceful; his sworn brotherhood was truly worthwhile.
A gentleman takes his revenge, even after ten years.
As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn.
But everyone understands the principle.
Different temperaments lead to different choices.
It cannot be said that either choice was absolutely right. Qian Yong sought a living, while Gu Ren sought a clear conscience. Although Gu Ren's desperate army did not achieve victory, it did take a significant loss from Huang Lie, and it is said that the sixteenth-rank Grand Master was even severely injured.
Shen Tang asked in surprise: "Seriously injured?"
She had fought against the sixteenth-rank Grand Master.
Even a mediocre person like Jiang Qianshen is far beyond the capabilities of a mere fifteenth-rank junior officer. Gu Ren's strongest fighter should be Shao Chong, right? He risked his life to severely injure the opponent?
Or have they all played their last trump card? For example, the self-ignition tactic used by Yang Gong against Gongxi Chou back then?
Jiang Sheng sighed, "I don't know the specifics."
His intelligence came from refugees, and he knew very little about the details.
However, Chu Yao's side was much more detailed.
——
Luan Cheng sighed with emotion: "...I heard that Gu Ziyi and his brothers all burned their dantian. After all, they fought to the death with their coffins, so they didn't need to consider what would happen if their dantian burned. As the old saying goes, the tough are afraid of the stubborn, and the stubborn are afraid of the reckless."
Gu Ren and his troops were determined to take revenge.
I'd give up my life for this.
Upon hearing this, Chu Yao and the others were filled with admiration and regret. Luan Cheng whispered, "Uncle, what should we do now?"
After being rescued, he frantically studied information about Shen Tang's faction, learning that Shen Jun, whom his uncle served, had close ties and extensive cooperation with Gu Ren's faction. Gu Ren's defeat would inevitably affect Shen Jun's side; should they prepare contingency plans in advance?
Chu Yao tapped the table rhythmically with his fingers.
Luan Xin remained silent.
Luan Cheng was so intimidated by the atmosphere that he dared not say much.
After a long while, he saw his uncle and Chu Yao exchange a glance.
Chu Yao sighed, "Shall we leave it at that?"
Luan Xin's uncle said helplessly, "That's the only way."
Luan Cheng: "???"
He suspected that the two of them had used the "secret transmission of sound" behind his back; otherwise, why were so many words missing?
He left behind his uncle.
His face was full of doubt and curiosity.
After a long while, he couldn't contain his curiosity any longer: "Uncle... what exactly did you say to Mr. Chu just now?"
Luan Xin said, "We'll wait for our lord to return and take charge of the overall situation."
Luan Cheng: "That's it?"
Luan Xin said helplessly, "Otherwise what? Should we send troops to form an alliance with Wu Zhaode on our own, or go head-to-head with Huang Xiguang?"
Is this small force even enough to satisfy the enemy?
It's clearly an old man who hanged himself; he's tired of living.
With Gu Ziyi dead, Huang Lie's next target will be either them or Wu Xian. If he can't catch them, Wu Xian will be the one who panics.
However, Wu Zhaode has little integrity, so we should be wary of him.
Luan Cheng vaguely heard Luan Xin muttering.
We need to hurry.
The largest granary in Ganzhou has already been moved by them. As long as the grain is transported to Chaoli Pass, with the natural barrier of the pass as their stronghold, they can turn the tide of the battle. Ganzhou is full of refugees, and Huang Lie's troops will run out of ammunition and food in just a few days.
In order to obtain grain, it is necessary to attack Chaoli Pass.
At that time, the initiative will be in your own hands.
Luan Xin hurriedly explained his plans, and Luan Cheng suddenly blurted out, "Running out of ammunition and food... isn't that easy either."
Luan Xin glanced at his nephew: "What do you want to say?"
Luan Cheng said softly, "There are also refugees."
Refugees from half of Ganzhou and Yanzhou...
It adds up to several million.
Could Shen Jun, to whom his uncle was loyal, harden his heart and starve Huang Lie to death?
Before Luan Cheng could say anything more, his uncle's expression suddenly changed.
"Who's there? Come out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a handsome young man walked out from around the corner.
Luan Xin's expression softened: "So it was Yuan Mou."
However, they held two different attitudes: Yun Ce was Huang Lie's man!
For some reason, Luan Cheng sensed a dangerous aura in the air, but it only lasted for a moment before disappearing without a trace.
Yun Ce had a complicated expression, with a bag slung over his shoulder.
He said, "Ce originally intended to say goodbye to Mr. Chu."
With Zheng Qiao dead, the Dragon Slaying Bureau naturally disbanded.
Logically speaking, Yun Ce should have voluntarily submitted his resignation.
He had planned this for a few days, but Chu Yao's side was still busily moving supplies, and Yun Ce didn't want to disturb them, so he quietly stayed to help. Now that Chu Yao's troops were about to withdraw, it wouldn't be right for him to stay any longer, so he picked up the baggage he had prepared beforehand. He was going to tell Chu Yao, but unexpectedly, he overheard Luan Xin and his nephew talking halfway there, and subconsciously concealed his presence.
Luan Xin nodded: "Wu Hui is inside the house."
As the two passed each other, Yun Ce said, "Wait."
Luan Xin asked, "Is there anything else?"
Yun Ce asked, "Regarding the matter of using refugees as food..."
Caught red-handed speaking ill of the lord behind his back, Luan Xin was not embarrassed. He simply said, "Yuanmou, you misheard."
Upon hearing this, Yun Ce stopped asking questions.
Chu Yao was not surprised to see Yun Ce carrying a bag on his back. He simply sent someone to give him some food and money and told him to be careful.
Yun Ce swallowed the words he wanted to say.
He then changed the subject, saying, "Zigu is too young. If he does anything wrong, please correct him."
Chu Yao: "Of course."
Yun Ce clasped his hands in farewell and said, "Farewell."
Chu Yao cupped his hands in greeting: "May your military career flourish."
Yun Ce carried his luggage and left under the starry night.
Along the way, they kept asking the refugees about the whereabouts of Huang Lie's troops, and even more so about the details of the battle between Gu Ren and Huang Lie.
Two days later, they passed through a city.
The area outside the city was filled with refugees, and the city gates were tightly shut.
Taking advantage of his skills, he sneaked in.
Although the atmosphere in the city was tense, a few pedestrians could still be seen on the streets from time to time, and teahouses and rice shops were still open. He learned upon inquiring that the city had been taken over by Huang Lie's forces. Yun Ce wasn't in a hurry to return and sat down in a corner of a teahouse.
A group of commoners at a nearby table were recounting the story of Gu Ren's death in carrying a coffin, their words flowing freely with excitement. Because they were going into such detail, the listeners assumed he was making it all up. The man slapped his crippled leg and roared, "I came from the battlefield!"
The audience asked, "So, which side are you on?"
The man then fell silent.
The audience wisely avoided the question and continued listening to him.
He stroked his injured leg, recalling that day, and spoke softly.
He would never forget what happened that day.
The three armies of Gu Ren hung white banners and carried nine coffins. The majestic dragon shadow above the army shocked Huang Lie's vanguard into chaos.
"presumptuous--"
Who has come to their death?
With a loud shout, a warrior in black robes flew out from behind the formation. He hovered in mid-air, looking down at Gu Ren's troops below.
Gu Ren said calmly, "Please give me your head."
Then he glanced at a certain spot and met Huang Lie's eyes.
"I will take your head to avenge my brother's heroic spirit!"
The black-clad warrior was naturally furious upon hearing this.
"Insolence! You think you can do this?"
Gu Ren cupped his hands in greeting: "I invite you to a battle!"
A duel was out of the question. The brothers were all burning with rage; they had no time for a duel.
Huang Lie had by then recovered from his shock.
His face darkened as he said, "Gu Ziyi, you're asking for death!"
Since Gu Ren has voluntarily sought death, there is no need to show him mercy.
Almost at the same time—
Gu Ren and Huang Lie uttered the same word.
"kill!"
The vanguards of both armies set off simultaneously.
A black-clad warrior under Huang Lie raised his hand to stop the other generals and said arrogantly, "Leave these ants to me."
He alone can hold back Gu Ren's high-end combat force!
He gathered his energy in his palm and threw a punch.
A phantom fist, about ten feet long, shot out.
Gu Ren didn't even glance at it.
【drink! 】
With a low, menacing growl echoing from the void, the three giant arms moved. One arm opened its palm and swept out. The giant's hand grasped the phantom fist, completely enveloping it, and the two collided with a piercing hum.
boom--
The giant's hand clenched, and the phantom fist exploded.
The black-clad warriors only stopped their disdain upon seeing this.
Before he could attack again, several beams of martial energy shot towards him simultaneously, each beam surging with martial energy. The one with the strongest momentum was approaching the peak of the fifteenth-level Lesser Upper Realm and was still rising. He didn't use any fancy moves or unnecessary actions, but instead focused his energy on his weapon, his entire being resembling a blazing flame, dazzling and eye-catching.
It was as if the sun, obscured by a curtain of rain, had come to earth.
"Die, you grandpa!"
The black-clad warrior's expression turned slightly serious.
He remembered clearly that, apart from Shao Chong, Gu Ren had no other fifteenth-rank junior warriors under his command. But the moment their weapons clashed, his pupils trembled at the truth. In close combat, the black-clad warrior discovered the truth behind the opponent's surging martial energy!
Self-igniting courage!
ruthless methods!
The moment the black-clad warrior had this thought in his mind, the others arrived one after another, their attacks sealing off all his escape routes.
"Hmph—you're asking for it!"
Although the ability to spontaneously combust martial spirit and lifespan can grant the power to kill opponents of higher levels for a short period, this process is brief. As long as one survives past their peak and the opponent's lifespan is exhausted, the black-clad martial artist will die without even lifting a finger.
Unexpectedly, there was more than one madman like this.
Faced with the brothers' combined attack, the black-clad martial artist clashed with their martial energy, only to be astonished to find that they had all spontaneously combusted. Their cheeks flushed an unusual red, their bloodshot eyes seemed about to pop out of their sockets, and their auras surged rapidly. Few martial artists possessed the courage to spontaneously combust; to encounter seven at once, simultaneously besieged, was truly unprecedented and likely to remain so.
[Hmph, do you think this will work?] The black-clad warrior was naturally disdainful. Forcibly raising one's realm is different from a true sixteenth-level Grand Master. Only one person can pose a threat to him. Even if the others ignited their martial courage, they would just be easy prey.
Sizzle sizzle—
The collision of metals produced dazzling sparks.
"There's a world of difference between us!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than, without realizing it, several marks were left on his armor. Although they did not injure any vital organs, they still left wounds.
Gu Ren's sworn brothers didn't bother with words, but the black-clad martial artist could still see the mockery in their eyes through the aura of their martial energy. It was as if they were saying, "You bit off more than you can chew, does it hurt?"
"I'll show you what true strength is before you die!"
The black-clad warrior was slightly annoyed.
A single, seemingly effortless swing of the blade distorted the air, its target the weakest of the brothers. Given the latter's strength, he couldn't dodge or escape. But he had clearly forgotten the three giant arms above Gu Ren.
The other pair of long arms moved in response.
The attack was blocked as if the palm of a hand were holding a toy.
The other hand pierced through the clouds and rain, heading straight for the face of the black-clad warrior, with two murderous intents coming from the left and right behind him!
ヽ(ー_ー)ノ
Using people as food... In fact, this is quite common in times of chaos.
Whoever has the lowest morals and is the most ruthless often has the last laugh. Thank goodness we live in a peaceful and prosperous era. Huang Lie and Zhang He will meet their demise in this volume, but don't worry, after that, Tang Mei will basically be able to sweep through Lingzhou, Ganzhou, and Yanzhou, because the elite forces from all those regions are concentrated in this area.
PS: There's no title like "Evil Thoughts Part 2" anymore. The next chapter is about Gu Ren's death.
P.S.: Another bug found, it's not eight, it's seven ＿|￣|●
(End of this chapter)
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