Chapter 764 ends, taking you home (two updates)
Jun Xiuhan's destination was the Second Beacon Camp.
Gu Jiao unfolded the map, and Xiao Heng's markings were very clear and easy to understand.
Gu Jiao pointed to the cinnabar route and said, "Under normal circumstances, Jun Xiuhan would take this route, which is relatively flat and wide. He should be in this birch forest by now. Actually, there is a small path that can bypass it, which involves crossing the river."
Gu Changqing glanced at the sky and said, "It hasn't rained in the last few days, so the river shouldn't be too turbulent. We should be able to cross."
The two took a detour and entered the birch forest, successfully blocking Jun Xiuhan's path.
Gu Changqing stepped forward again.
Gu Changqing blocked Jun Xiuhan's path and said coldly, "Hand over your bamboo tube."
Jun Xiuhan was a tall and slender young man. He had the air of a scholar among the world's literati. If you hadn't seen him fight, you probably wouldn't have thought of him as a master at first glance.
But both Gu Changqing and Gu Jiao understood that those who made it to this stage were not just lucky.
Jun Xiuhan looked at Gu Changqing in front of him, seemingly without much surprise. He glanced at the big tree not far away and said, "Do you want it, or does that person want it?"
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow.
Hmm, have we been discovered?
Jun Xiuhan is good.
Gu Changqing said calmly, "What 'that person'? What 'this person'? Enough with the nonsense, hand it over!"
"I won't give you the bamboo tube." Jun Xiuhan looked coldly in Gu Jiao's direction. "If you want it, come and get it yourself!"
Is this a provocation?
Gu Jiao glanced at Jun Xiuhan from behind the big tree. Jun Xiuhan gave her an indescribable feeling, as if he had seen through all her pretenses.
In that case, there's no need to continue hiding it.
Gu Jiao rode Black Wind King out from behind the big tree and stopped beside Gu Changqing.
Her gaze fell on Jun Xiuhan's young and handsome face: "I've come to get it."
She had observed Jun Xiuhan in the military camp, and she believed that Jun Xiuhan had also observed her, but this was their first real encounter.
When Jun Xiuhan saw her standing with the "Han family," there was not a trace of surprise in his eyes.
So Jun Xiuhan knew all along that she was in cahoots with "Han Zeyu"?
How did he figure that out?
“I’ll fight you,” Gu Jiao said.
“I won’t fight you,” Jun Xiuhan said.
"Hmm?" Gu Jiao tilted her head and looked at Jun Xiuhan.
Jun Xiuhan untied the bamboo tube from his waist and tossed it to Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao: "???"
After Gu Jiao took the bamboo tube, she checked the note inside. It was indeed a secret letter, and Jun Xiuhan hadn't tried to deceive her with a fake one.
Gu Jiao was completely mesmerized.
Even Gu Changqing was extremely puzzled. They were prepared to fight Jun Xiuhan to the death, but... this is it?
Seemingly noticing Gu Jiao's confusion, Jun Xiuhan said calmly, "I owe someone a favor, and I'm repaying it to you now."
"Whose favor do you owe me?" Gu Jiao asked.
Jun Xiuhan did not reply.
He pulled on the reins, and the horse turned around and headed back the way it came.
He hadn't gone more than two steps when he suddenly tightened the reins: "There's a murderous aura!"
The next second, several whooshing sounds came from the other side of the forest.
Jun Xiuhan dodged the attack by sidestepping.
Gu Changqing drew his longsword and deflected the hidden weapons aimed at Gu Jiao and himself.
Gu Jiao looked at the dart embedded in the tree trunk and said calmly, "Tang Clan, Qi Xuan."
"Hahaha! That's right, it's me!"
With a loud, arrogant laugh, Qi Xuan led more than a dozen men in black down from the sky.
The men in black surrounded the three of them.
To avoid making too much noise and being noticed by the examiners, they did not ride horses, but instead used their light-footed skills to sneak into the forest.
Jun Xiuhan's horse was forced back several steps and stood with Gu Changqing and Gu Jiao.
"We meet again," Qi Xuan said to Gu Jiao with a smile, then his gaze fell on Gu Changqing's face. "It's you?"
Gu Changqing rode the Black Wind Riders. Today, only three people entered the forest on Black Wind Riders: Han Wuye's new Black Wind King, Gu Jiao's old Black Wind King, and "Han Zeyu's" mount.
Qi Xuan sneered, "It seems the Crown Prince misjudged this time, actually allowing a spy to infiltrate his residence. It's a pity you're unlucky to have run into me! Today, I'll settle the score for severing Han Ye's Achilles tendon!"
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh, your leg is all better now?"
Mentioning this, Qi Xuan's face darkened. Back in the woods, this kid had said "one, two, three" before he started shooting, but as soon as he shouted "one," he stabbed Qi Xuan in the thigh!
Not content with just stabbing him, he even twisted him around, nearly killing him with the pain!
Qi Xuan threatened coldly, "Xiao Liulang, don't be too smug. No matter how many times you've stabbed me, I'll repay you tenfold today!"
Jun Xiuhan said expressionlessly, "This is your business. I'm leaving."
Qi Xuan snorted coldly, "You're unlucky. No one can know about what happened today."
The implication was that they wanted to kill Jun Xiuhan to silence him.
Jun Xiuhan's identity is easy to guess. Among the six people, Jun Xiuhan is the most unfamiliar. Even without guessing, you would know that he is the poor student from Canaan Academy.
Qi Xuan didn't even consider these small fish and shrimp a threat.
Gu Changqing rode his horse to Gu Jiao, blocking Qi Xuan's view, and said to Gu Jiao, "You go first, I'll settle things with him."
Without hesitation, Gu Jiao led the Black Wind King to break through the encirclement.
Qi Xuan said disdainfully, "Trying to run? Chase after them!"
Two men in black leaped into the air and slashed at Gu Jiao from behind with their swords.
Gu Changqing turned around and unleashed a fierce sword aura, slashing the two of them down from mid-air!
...
On the other side, the contest between Master Qingfeng and Master Han Wu has entered a heated phase.
Han Wuye gradually felt the situation was getting difficult. Although he was not at a disadvantage for the time being, his internal energy was about to give out.
Although he was unwilling to admit it, Master Qingfeng's martial arts were indeed superior to his. Master Qingfeng only used five-tenths of his strength in each move, while he would have to use seven-tenths of his strength if he wanted to fight Master Qingfeng to a draw.
As a result, he naturally depletes his resources even faster.
After exchanging another punch, the two stepped back.
Han Wuye's once smooth silver hair was now wildly frizzy like a wooden brush. He said breathlessly, "You're supposed to be a monk! Can't you compete with me fairly and squarely? Why do you have to resort to such despicable means as stealing my secret letter!"
Master Qingfeng said strangely, "Steal your secret letter? I didn't."
Fifth Master Han said coldly, "You're still trying to deny it! Someone saw it!"
Master Qingfeng paused for a moment, seemingly oblivious: "Mu Qingchen? Before you, I had only met him."
Master Han was taken aback.
If someone else had said that, he would have thought they were being sophistical, but Master Qingfeng—
He frowned: "You didn't go to Huangshupo just now?"
"No," said Master Qingfeng.
Fifth Master Han: "You didn't steal my secret letter either?"
Master Qingfeng: "My secret letter is my own."
Fifth Master Han was taken aback again: "Yours?"
"Hmm." Master Qingfeng nodded and took the bamboo tube from his waist.
The moment he picked it, he sensed something was wrong.
He had marked his bamboo tube, but this bamboo tube had no markings.
"What's wrong?"
"My bamboo tube has been switched."
Han Wuye walked towards him with some skepticism.
Master Qingfeng opened the bamboo tube, but the note inside had already been taken by Gu Jiao, leaving it empty.
After pondering for a moment, Master Han extended his hand to Daoist Qingfeng: "Give me the bamboo tube, I have a way."
Master Qingfeng gave it to him without hesitation.
Master Han frowned: "Aren't you afraid I'll take your bamboo tube and run away?"
Master Qingfeng glanced at him and said, "I can take it back."
Han Wuye, unable to refute: "..."
"This is a military communication tube. To prevent anyone from tampering with it, information is also left on the inner wall of the bamboo tube."
As he spoke, he broke the bamboo tube open, took out a tinderbox, and heated the outside of the bamboo tube.
Before long, a line of small characters appeared on the inner wall of the bamboo tube: "Enter the Songshan Mountains, launch a surprise attack on the enemy camp near Zicaotan, seize the secret letter, and deliver it to the Third Beacon Fire Camp, and personally hand it over to the Left Deputy Commander of this camp."
Han Wuye wasn't too surprised; he guessed that they were going to send the secret letter to different beacon camps.
“This should belong to Mu Qingchen,” said Fifth Master Han.
Only Mu Qingchen and Daoist Qingfeng went to the Third Beacon Fire Camp. If it wasn't Daoist Qingfeng, then it could only be Mu Qingchen.
Master Qingfeng suddenly spoke up: "Huh? His mission is different from mine."
Master Han looked at him suspiciously: "What's your mission?"
Master Qingfeng read aloud the contents of the letter from his memory: "I am a spy, and I am going to deliver this secret letter to the Third Beacon Camp."
Master Han seemed thoughtful: "Just now, only Xiao Liulang got close to you. If your bamboo tube was switched, then it must have been Xiao Liulang who did it. Strange, why would he steal your bamboo tube? Don't we all have our own missions?"
Master Qingfeng thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps it's because... my secret letter is the only genuine one?"
"A real secret letter?" Master Han was even more confused.
Master Qingfeng didn't shy away from reading out his mission: "You are a Turkic spy. This is the Turkic army's true secret letter. Quickly take this unique secret letter to the Third Beacon Camp and personally deliver it to the Right Deputy General of the rebel army in this camp."
After he finished reading, he and Master Han fell silent.
Because the two of them finally realized that something was wrong.
"Han Zeyu, Mu Qingchen, and I have similar missions, only the locations and destinations of our robberies are different. All three of us are cavalry. If the secret letter in your hand is genuine, then the one we robbed from the enemy camp is fake. No wonder Xiao Liulang stole your secret letter; only your secret letter can complete the mission."
“No,” said Master Qingfeng. “If there are three cavalrymen, then there should also be three spies. Your cavalrymen have the same mission, and so must we spies. The one I have is not the only genuine letter; the letters in the hands of the three spies are all genuine. Your cavalrymen’s mission is to obtain all three letters, while our mission as spies is to destroy the other two letters and make our own letter the only genuine one.”
Master Han meticulously unraveled the mystery: "We know that the three cavalrymen are me, Han Zeyu, and Mu Qingchen, then the three spies are—you, Xiao Liulang, and Jun Xiuhan!"
Master Qingfeng: "Hmm."
Fifth Master Han frowned: "Xiao Liulang must have come to snatch your secret letter for this reason, but how did he know?"
Who would suspect a hidden mission from the outset?
He and Master Qingfeng compared the bamboo tubes of the four people before they figured out the truth, okay?
Master Qingfeng looked up at the azure sky and said earnestly, "Perhaps he is a genius."
Fifth Master Han: "..."
"I'm going to find Xiao Liulang now. Until we meet again!"
Master Han mounted the black demon horse and, taking advantage of the moment when Master Qingfeng was standing there in a daze, quickly disappeared from the spot.
Master Qingfeng also planned to go after them.
Although his secret letter may have been destroyed by Xiao Liulang, it doesn't matter, there is actually a hidden trigger mechanism for this selection.
That means their identities can be switched at any time.
They didn't register each person's identity or destination when they drew lots, which means that none of that mattered. What mattered was who completed the task in the bamboo tube.
He stole Xiao Liulang's secret letter and delivered it to the No. 1 Beacon Fire Battalion, and was still able to complete the mission.
Once Master Qingfeng understood the key point, he immediately mounted his horse.
Unfortunately, before we even set off, a soft laugh came from the big tree ahead.
Liao Chen lay drunk on the lush tree branches, propping his head up with one hand and holding a wine jug in the other, taking a sip of fine wine.
His delicate Adam's apple slid.
His monk's robes were austere, yet his captivating eyes exuded a mesmerizing charm, and the beauty mark beneath his eye made him seem naturally alluring.
It's as if he could be a Buddha who saves all living beings, or a demon who wreaks havoc on the world.
He laughed and said, "This poor monk is lonely. Why don't you keep this poor monk company for a drink, Taoist priest?"
...
Gu Jiao rode Black Wind King at breakneck speed.
In fact, just now, she had guessed the hidden trigger mechanism. The identities of the six of them could be swapped, so even if she destroyed the other two secret letters, it didn't mean she could rest easy.
She needs to complete the task as soon as possible.
First, we need to get out of this forest as soon as possible. It will be much safer once we get to the main road, where at least no one will be openly trying to assassinate us.
However, just as Gu Jiao was about to leave the woods, Fifth Master Han rode his black demon horse up from the side path.
Gu Jiao sensed an incredibly powerful killing intent. Her eyes narrowed, and she suddenly drew the red-tasseled spear from behind her, using it to block the Black Wind King's head.
There was a crisp clang, and sparks flew everywhere.
It was a dagger.
If Gu Jiao had reacted any slower, the Black Wind King's head would have already been pierced by the dagger.
To catch a thief, first catch his king; to shoot a man, first shoot his horse.
He truly deserves to be called a fierce general of the Han family!
Gu Jiao hung the red-tasseled spear on the specially made slot of the saddle, grabbed the large bow on her back, drew three arrows from the quiver, and shot them mercilessly at Master Han!
Master Han cut all the arrows in half with a single sword stroke!
At the same time, his horse completely blocked Gu Jiao and Black Wind King's path.
"Xiao Liulang, hand over your secret letter!"
Han Wuye was met with yet another barrage of arrows from Gu Jiao!
Fifth Master Han hadn't expected Gu Jiao to be so ruthless and decisive; she didn't waste any words and just got to work!
Master Han was startled by the murderous intent in the boy's eyes.
He narrowed his eyes, unleashed a sharp sword aura, and instantly cleaved Gu Jiao's arrow into dust!
Gu Jiao raised her hand and ripped off her cloak.
The boy, dressed in a red battle suit and black iron armor, leaped off his horse!
Master Han sensed the powerful aura of the young man, but the next second, he was terrified by the red-tasseled spear in the young man's hand, which had a small braid and was decorated with a big red flower.
Where did these weapons come from? They're so horrifying!
As shocking as it may be, the force of that shot once again astonished Master Han.
The black horse beneath Master Han trembled.
Han Wuye frowned, deflected Gu Jiao's red-tasseled spear with his sword, and with a light tap of his toes, dismounted and slashed fiercely at Gu Jiao with his sword!
Gu Jiao blocked a sword, and both of her arms were slightly numb.
No wonder he could fight Qingfeng Daoist for so long. It wasn't that Qingfeng Daoist was holding back; this guy was indeed very strong.
Han Wuye said coldly, "Xiao Liulang, you are no match for me! According to the rules today, I cannot kill you, but I have a hundred ways to torture you, so you'd better hand over the secret letter obediently to avoid suffering!"
Han Wuye is already difficult to deal with, but if Qingfeng Daoist also comes, she has absolutely no chance of winning.
We must finish this quickly!
Gu Jiao no longer hesitated.
She looked coldly at Master Han, and under his bewildered gaze, she snatched the amulet from her neck.
"Boss, here you go."
She tossed the amulet to the Black Wind King.
Black Wind King caught it in his mouth.
"What is this kid doing?" Master Han looked at Gu Jiao strangely.
Gu Jiao's fingertips lightly traced the sharp blade of the red-tasseled spear, and a string of bright red blood beads oozed out.
She smeared the blood on her lips.
The next second, her aura suddenly surged!
Master Han's expression changed drastically: "This is—"
Gu Jiao drew her red-tasseled spear, took a step forward, leaped into the air, and with a somersault in mid-air, swung the spear down like a dragon towards Master Han!
Master Han's Xuan Tie sword was cleaved in two on the spot!
She knelt down on one knee, supporting herself on the ground with one hand, and holding the red-tasseled spear behind her back with the other.
Her eyes were bloodshot.
She is no longer that dashing young man; she is a killing god, a demon, an Asura!
Fifth Master Han threw away his longsword and changed his palm into a fist, attacking Gu Jiao's vital point!
Using the red-tasseled spear for leverage, Gu Jiao leaped high into the air once more, her right knee slamming into Han Wuye's chin!
Fifth Master Han was sent flying!
He fell heavily to the ground and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Three moves.
The boy defeated him... in just three moves!
He ultimately underestimated his opponent and didn't use his full strength after the boy's aura changed.
What happened to Xiao Liulang? Why did he suddenly become so much stronger?
Han Wuye gritted his teeth and shot a hidden weapon from his sleeve at Black Wind King!
Almost at the same time, Master Han fired his second hidden weapon at Gu Jiao.
She could only protect one of them: herself or the Black Wind King.
Gu Jiao protected Black Wind King without hesitation.
The hidden weapon flashed past Gu Jiao's temple.
The hidden weapon did not harm Gu Jiao, but the poison powder on it all entered Gu Jiao's eyes.
Gu Jiao is no longer able to see.
"Hahaha...hahahaha..." Han Wuye coughed up blood as he collapsed to the ground, laughing maniacally. "Xiao Liulang, so what if you defeated me? You're still poisoned by the Tang Clan! You're blind, you can't even leave this forest! How are you going to get to the Beacon Fire Camp!"
The enraged Black Wind King stood in front of Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao was already on the verge of losing control, but thanks to the pain in her eyes, she regained a sliver of her senses.
"Boss, give me the amulet." She held out her hand and said.
Black Wind King placed the peace charm in Gu Jiao's palm.
Gu Jiao put the amulet back around her neck.
My eyes hurt.
It is also afraid of light.
She couldn't open her eyes.
My master's wife should be able to cure this poison.
She sensed the Black Wind King's murderous intent, but now was not the time for revenge.
Black Wind King must conserve his strength.
"Boss." She called out to Black Wind King, closing her eyes and gently soothing him, while also trying to calm herself down.
Black Wind King knelt down considerately, allowing Gu Jiao to easily mount him.
Gu Jiao touched the saddle and sat down.
Black Wind King stood up.
Gu Jiao untied the headband and covered her eyes with it.
Han Wuye was too injured to move, but seeing Gu Jiao's condition, he couldn't help but mock her: "What? You still want to deliver the secret letter in this state? Can't you even see the road?"
Gu Jiao gripped the reins and straightened her back: "I can't see, but the boss can."
Fifth Master Han sneered: "Boss? You mean this old Black Wind King? I admit it's an excellent warhorse, but it's a pity that it's been with the Han family for fifteen years and has never been to the Beacon Fire Camp."
“It doesn’t need to go,” Gu Jiao said. “It was born in the Beacon Fire Camp.”
In the First Beacon Camp, in Xuan Yuanli's temporary courtyard, it lived until it was over a year old before being taken back to the Xuan Yuan family's mansion.
Gu Jiao bent down and gently stroked the Black Wind King's mane: "Can you remember, boss?"
You must remember this, just as you would your owner.
The Black Wind Cavalry do not belong to the Han family.
This treacherous 300-mile stretch is not the road to pass through levels and advance, but the road to bring all the Black Wind Riders home.
The Black Wind Riders have been waiting for this day for a long time.
Take Black Wind home, boss.
"Hmph~" Fifth Master Han laughed mockingly, "Xiao Liulang, don't bother trying anymore. You won't get out of this forest, you—"
Before he could finish speaking, Black Wind Rider let out a long howl, suddenly raised his front hooves, and like an arrow released from a bow, galloped off to the northeast with Gu Jiao on his back.
That direction is—
First Beacon Battalion!
Master Han was so angry he vomited blood: "Xiao Liulang! It's no use! Your horse is old! It can't run three hundred li anymore! It has to rest after less than thirty li! Master Qingfeng will catch up with you! The Han family will catch up with you too!"
...
Lightning flashed and thunder roared, and torrential rain poured down like pillars.
Black Wind King raced through the hail-like downpour, covering hundreds of miles without stopping for a moment.
It wants to take Black Wind home, and it also wants to take Gu Jiao home.
The Black Wind Knights will be going home in the next chapter!
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(End of this chapter)
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