Do you need something?
This idea... at first glance, it did indeed pique Gu Jinghong's interest.
But Xiao Chengyan might be mistaken. Although Gu Jinghong has the demeanor of a young girl, she holds a high position in the intelligence center of the martial arts world, so not everyone is worthy of her attention. For example, that Mu Chuchu, even though Gu Jinghong mentions her, she has never minded her in her heart.
Mu Chuchu was more like a piece of cloth that she could casually pull out to cover herself when she needed it. The person she truly cared about was Princess Yongning, the "A-Ning" mentioned in Xiao Chengyan's murmurs.
Princess Yongning is no longer alive, so Gu Jinghong has no reason to hold a grudge against someone who is no longer here.
She turned to look at Xiao Chengyan: "Does Your Highness think Jinghong is the kind of jealous woman who gets upset easily?"
Gu Jinghong blinked, a sly glint in her eyes. "But I still prefer researching my explosives and mechanical arts."
Xiao Chengyan guessed her intentions just from her expression.
She wanted to know his true intentions.
The real reason he insisted on sending her to the Southwest Headquarters.
Xiao Chengyan paused, reaching out to smooth Gu Jinghong's hair. He knew he couldn't reconcile Gu Jinghong with ordinary women; she was bold, intelligent, proud... and even had a habit of being in control. Sometimes, he didn't even know how to show her care and love.
But so what?
He loves Gu Jinghong for who she is, so shouldn't he respect her even more?
After a short while, Xiao Chengyan said, "Do you remember the few scouts we captured in the battle of Laoyatan last time?"
Gu Jinghong nodded, his expression serious: "Forty-three..."
Xiao Chengyan looked down at her, and found her answer so earnest and adorable that it made him want to laugh.
"...Yes. What I mean is, someone escaped and took our defense map with them."
Gu Jinghong's eyes widened, and after a moment's thought, she lowered her voice: "Your Highness, you did this on purpose!"
Xiao Chengyan's expression was indifferent.
Gu Jinghong frowned: "That scout who escaped death probably didn't survive after bringing the item... But this matter concerns the deployment of both armies, so the other side will definitely not believe it easily."
She pondered for a moment, then looked up at Xiao Chengyan: "So, the injuries to Wang Yang and Changfeng... Your Highness did it on purpose."
Then she muttered to herself, "No, the injuries of these two people alone shouldn't be enough to convince the enemy."
She frowned slightly, then relaxed her brows after a moment, and even the mole at the end of her eyebrow seemed to lift up.
Her eyes sparkled: "I see!"
Xiao Chengyan gently rested his chin on Gu Jinghong's shoulder, turning his head to look at her: "So, won't you cooperate with me?"
Gu Jinghong also turned his head slightly: "That's natural..."
His nose touched her cheek, and his warm breath brushed against the back of her ear, causing her face to flush instantly.
"I can also test out my newly modified gunpowder."
Xiao Chengyan frowned: "...The thing I asked you to cooperate with is to send you to the headquarters."
Gu Jinghong, however, took the initiative to kiss Xiao Chengyan's cheek lightly: "What I want to cooperate with is... killing the enemy!"
Xiao Chengyan's eyes darkened, and then he gently bit his lower lip—what else could he say? She was taking the initiative to please him; if he didn't comply, he would be ungrateful.
So he simply replied, "Let Changfeng handle all the actions. You are only allowed to give orders; you must never personally take any risks, understand?"
Gu Jinghong: "Yes, Jinghong obeys."
She curled her lips into a smile, like a cat that had successfully stolen some fish.
...
That day came quickly.
The north wind, carrying the rough sand and gravel from beyond the Great Wall, swept across the camps.
Inside Gu Jinghong's tent, a solitary lamp illuminated her profile as she bent over her desk.
The wind outside the tent grew stronger, and the faint, uneasy neighing of horses could be heard in the distance, but she kept all of this out of her mind.
"Enemy attack—southeast!" The shrill bugle call and the warning shouts almost simultaneously ripped through the night's tranquility, followed by a dense, rain-like whistling sound!
"It's a rocket! Protect the food and supplies!"
"Shield Formation! Quickly!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Countless arrows trailing crimson flames rained down from the sky like a meteor shower, heading straight for the supply area where military rations, medicines, and important documents were stored.
Fires instantly ignited on several tent roofs and haystacks, illuminating the enemy elites who pounced out of the darkness like ghosts.
They were dressed in dark, close-fitting clothes, and moved swiftly and ruthlessly, their blades flashing in the firelight.
Soon someone in the crowd shouted, "There's a mole! Someone gave us the defense map!"
Chaos spread like a plague, with shouts of people and neighing of horses, and flickering firelight illuminating terrified faces.
Gu Jinghong was suddenly jolted awake from his deductions!
She grabbed a few thin bamboo tubes, no longer than the palm of her hand, that had just been freshly prepared and packaged on the table, and at the same time picked up a short dagger, and rushed out of the tent without hesitation.
Outside the tent was a purgatory of fire and sword flashes, and Changfeng was fighting fiercely in front of the tent.
The heat wave hit us, and the thick smoke was choking.
The enemy forces split into several groups. One group set fires and created chaos, while another group launched a light cavalry raid, heading straight for the core of the supply train near Gu Jinghong's camp.
*Whoosh whoosh!*
Before he could think further, a mournful and desperate neighing of a horse rang out beside Gu Jinghong.
Her chestnut horse was grazed by a stray arrow. The excruciating pain and the surrounding flames drove it completely mad. Its eyes turned bloodshot, and its iron hooves, as big as bowls, rose up violently as it neighed and charged toward the core of the supply train.
Gu Jinghong's pupils suddenly contracted!
Once they charge in, not only will the horses be instantly hacked to death or burned, but their immense force could also knock down soldiers fighting the fire and even ignite more supplies, especially since there are still some experimental saltpeter and sulfur left in her tent...
Without a second thought, she charged forward toward the raging horse's head, reaching out to grab the bridle!
However, the mad horse was severely frightened, and Gu Jinghong's strength was insufficient to subdue it.
Just as she was about to be dragged down by the raging force, a dark figure shot towards her like an arrow from a bow.
In an instant, his figure darted between Gu Jinghong and Mad Horse like a ghost. His left hand gripped the vulnerable tendons under the bridle, and a powerful, hidden force instantly penetrated it. His right hand transformed into a blade, slashing at the acupoint on the side of the horse's neck!
"boom!"
The mad horse's massive body trembled violently, letting out a short whimper. Its forelegs buckled, and it collapsed to its knees, kicking up dust.
"Um--"
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his brows furrowed as he forcefully suppressed the pain.
Gu Jinghong's gaze lingered on his face for a moment before shifting to his shoulder blade, and she suddenly felt as if something had stabbed her in the heart!
Suddenly, the dark fabric on his shoulder blade darkened, and blood began to seep in rapidly—it was blood!
That poisoned arrow that struck me in the desolate miasma of Medicine Master Valley!
It's been months and it still hasn't gotten better!
Before he could think any further, Gu Jinghong's gaze instantly passed over him and locked onto the elite troop that was launching a surprise attack on horseback not far away.
"Close your eyes! Cover your ears—!"
In a flash, she yanked the stopper off the thin bamboo tube in her hand and hurled it forcefully toward the enemy's elite troops.
Almost instinctively, Xiao Chengyan turned around and pulled Gu Jinghong into his arms.
Boom—!!!
A terrifying explosion, as loud as a hundred gongs exploding simultaneously, and a blinding white light, several times more dazzling than the sun.
"ah--!"
Those few enemy elites who were caught off guard were the first to be hit. Instantly, they were blinded by the stabs, their eardrums felt like they were being torn apart, and they screamed and covered their heads and faces. Their attack movements were completely deformed and stopped!
Although Gu Jinghong had warned them to cover their ears and eyes in advance, several of their own soldiers nearby were still shaken and staggered backward.
"Take them down!"
The nearby squad leader was the first to react, roaring and leading his men to charge!
Xiao Chengyan glanced down at Gu Jinghong, whom he was holding in his arms, his expression dark. Then he let go and stood up, his voice still cold and hard.
"Right flank, second squad, advance thirty paces! Archers and crossbowmen, cover the enemy's retreat route!"
"Once the fire at the A-class warehouse is under control, the supply battalion will immediately reinforce the main camp's defenses!"
"Changfeng! Once the target is cleared, immediately return to reinforce the central army and wipe out the remaining enemy forces!"
A series of commands brought the rhythm of the entire battlefield back under his control.
He then looked at Gu Jinghong, his tone icy: "Special Envoy Gu is frightened. Remain where you are. Assign a squad of armored soldiers to guard her tent. Without orders, she is not to leave without permission, nor is she to allow anyone to approach or interfere."
Gu Jinghong stood still, her chest rising and falling slightly.
She could tell he was angry.
Even during this crucial moment of command, I managed to find a moment to get angry with her.
She knew he was angry because she had clearly agreed that Changfeng would do everything for her, but she still kicked him out.
Gu Jinghong subconsciously tightened his sleeve, his fingertips touching the cold bamboo tube inside—which contained the secret message delivered by the mechanical bird earlier.
"A hawk has been spotted at the residence of a prince in the southwest."
This is also why Gu Jinghong was so determined to drive Changfeng out.
...
Deep within the military camp, in the central command tent.
The tent was brightly lit by candlelight, yet it could not dispel the pervasive atmosphere of death and gloom.
The smell of gunpowder and rust mingled together, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.
Xiao Chengyan sat upright in the main seat, his black armor still on, the dark red bloodstains on his shoulder armor showing a cold, hard texture in the candlelight.
He rested his head on one hand, his long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles pressing hard on his throbbing temples, his thin lips pressed tightly together beneath his handsome nose.
The generals below, their armor dusty and their expressions grave, were debating in hushed tones about the enemy's route of attack and counter-attack strategy the previous night. Their voices, muffled within the tent, added to the tension.
"Your Highness, in my humble opinion, this raiding squad is familiar with the terrain and moves like ghosts. Someone must have betrayed our southwest, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to strike so accurately at the grain and supplies."
"Yes, I think General Zhang is absolutely right."
"This surprise attack was very well-organized. Our army must seize the time to adjust its defenses, otherwise we will still fall into the enemy's trap."
"..."
The generals continued their debate.
Suddenly, a guard outside the tent announced loudly, "Your Highness, Special Envoy Gu requests an audience!"
The argument inside the tent abruptly ceased.
Xiao Chengyan spoke in a low voice, hoarse from not having slept all night: "Go in."
Changfeng, who was standing to the side, understood and said in a deep voice towards the direction of the tent door, "Please invite Special Envoy Gu."
The heavy curtains were lifted, bringing with them a wisp of the cool night breeze from outside.
Gu Jinghong, dressed in a neat, plain-colored outfit, walked in with steady steps.
Her cool gaze swept over the generals who were rising to take their leave, and she gave them a slight nod in greeting.
The generals nodded to each other, then clasped their hands in return, and filed out.
Gu Jinghong stopped and naturally turned her gaze to the man in the main seat.
The candlelight cast deep shadows on his striking features, highlighting the dark circles under his eyes and his pale, exhausted face. Last night's terrifying attack had clearly drained him.
Her gaze unconsciously slid to his left shoulder—the dark red bloodstains covered by the black shoulder armor were like a silent brand, forming a cold and heavy arc.
Xiao Chengyan stood up and walked towards Gu Jinghong. The weariness on his face suddenly disappeared, replaced by a deliberately cold expression.
"What's up?"
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