Be loyal to those who entrust you with your mission.
Hu Xingche looked at him, and Tang Qi continued softly, "Jinnan is not full of bad people; it is the people who are bad, not the region. Hu, don't be prejudiced."
Hu Xingche, having been lectured, silently slumped down, but his eyes still held a defiant glint in them. He turned his head away, showing no intention of admitting his mistake. Tang Qi found it amusing and gestured with her chin, smiling, "Why are you angry? I didn't ask you to admit your mistake, I was just giving you a heads-up. Don't do anything you'll regret because of prejudice. As for right and wrong, you know what's right and wrong. As you meet more people and experience more things, you'll redefine right and wrong in your heart. Until you have those abilities, avoid being impulsive."
Hu Xingche pouted again after being pointed at by him, his face slightly flushed, and turned his head to whisper "Oh". When Tang Qi pressed him for an answer, he immediately perked up and asked, "So, boss, what should we do next?"
“Next, we may have to split into several groups. There will definitely be a large force lying in ambush on Centipede Mountain by noon tomorrow. We are short-handed and cannot resist stubbornly. We can only outsmart them,” Cheng Junshi said.
They all agreed, but they were completely stumped about what would happen tomorrow.
"What should we do about Centipede Mountain tomorrow?" Ye Qian asked.
"You and Shen Zhiqing must not get involved." Tang Qi suddenly said to Ye Qian. His words quickly drew two questioning glances. Tang Qi immediately added, "You came here to open the granaries and distribute grain, not for anything else. Besides, they want to use grain to threaten and control the people, so we must not let them have their way."
"If Qingqing and I don't go, are you going to send us to our deaths?" Ye Qian looked at him and continued, "Your injuries are still like this, and Shaoqing's poison has just been neutralized. Even if you two are together, you might not be able to reach Centipede Valley."
His words were merciless. Tang Qi wanted to argue, but just as he straightened his neck, a sharp pain shot through him, and blood gushed from his wounds. He had no choice but to shut his mouth in frustration. In the past, given some troops, Tang Qi was absolutely confident he could take Centipede Mountain. No matter how heavily guarded it was, he was confident he could successfully rescue Wu Shunyi. But now...
Let alone going up the mountain, his injuries were too severe, and even his hand ached when he lifted his sword. He fell silent for once. Suddenly, Cheng Junshi pressed down on his hand, smiled slightly at Tang Qi, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Don't worry, you are not just a martial artist. Remember, you are also the majestic General Tang of Da Shuo. Let's arrange the troops."
"Cheng Junshi, the county magistrate of Jinning, was at the general's beck and call."
Tang Qi was taken aback and turned his gaze to him. Cheng Junshi's eyes were full of seriousness, and the shimmering light seemed to be condensed around Tang Qi, coating him with a layer of light. Even at this moment, he was so ordinary that he could no longer stand at that peak, but it was as if this person was born to be looked up to and worshipped, from the beginning to the end, always.
"Okay." Tang Qi suddenly smiled with relief.
"Wait—Master!" A sudden exclamation came from outside the door. Soon, Lu Juezhen burst through the door. Cheng Junshi was frowning and turning around, intending to give Lu Juezhen a good talking-to for his recklessness. However, when he saw the person standing outside the door, his pupils suddenly contracted. Tang Qi on the bed also tensed up abruptly and almost instantly rolled off the bed. Cheng Junshi picked up the sharp sword on the table and rushed to his side to protect him.
Ye Qian and the others were even more shocked, and the atmosphere immediately became tense. Lu Juezhen, who had barged in first, was still sitting on the ground. Startled by the person outside the door, he took several steps back, his finger trembling as he pointed at the person and stammered, "You...you...how could you...Master...Master, save me!"
"Hey~ Why do you all bow so deeply to me? Although I don't have any money, I don't want to offend you, so I'll just have to accept it reluctantly."
The newcomer leaned against the door, his voice drawn out with a half-smile, a slightly sarcastic tone that brought everyone back to their senses.
"Gui Luo! What are you doing here?" Tang Qi was the first to speak, his tone tinged with anxiety. This person's presence here was not a good sign.
The sharp gaze beneath the mask swept over everyone in the room, finally settling lightly on Cheng Junshi, who was holding a sword: "If I were you, I wouldn't choose to expose my sword in such a disheveled state. Hunters who come attracted by danger love readily available weapons."
"Want to bet? I'm confident that the sword in your hand will be the end for everyone here." He continued with a smile.
Seeing that everyone was still staring at him nervously, Gui Luo's eyes suddenly changed, and then he suddenly spread his hands, tilted his head and laughed: "Just kidding, it was just a joke, why are you all so nervous?"
As he spoke, he tried to come in on his own, but Lu Juezhen, terrified, pointed at him and threatened, "You, you, you, don't go—hey, hey, hey!"
Hu Xingche grabbed him by the back of the neck and dragged him away from Gui Luo. Seeing that they were still wary, Gui Luo innocently spread his hands: "I just told a joke, wasn't it funny? Why aren't you laughing?"
Having barely escaped with his life, Lu Juezhen patted his chest and said, "Who would believe you! Why would a Southern Continent person like you come to my Shuo Dynasty's territory!"
"A hundred men are enemies, one man is a guest." Tang Qi stared at Gui Luo and said coldly, "You didn't bring any men, did you?"
"Smart." Gui Luo snapped his fingers crisply and continued, "Not only my subordinates, but I didn't even bring any weapons. Isn't that enough to show my sincerity?"
He didn't bring any subordinates? Isn't this the perfect opportunity to get rid of him? Hu Xingche, who had been listening quietly to the side, suddenly had a thought. But just as this idea popped into his head, Gui Luo's gaze suddenly turned and stopped: "I welcome your thoughts of killing me~ But if you start, I won't show any mercy."
Hu Xingche was startled and unconsciously gripped his sword tighter. Tang Qi looked at Gui Luo and asked, "Why did you come here?"
"Oh dear, I've traveled a long way to get here, I'm a little thirsty." Gui Luo deliberately didn't answer.
Tang Qi: ......
"Ah Hu, pour him some water."
"Boss!"
Do as instructed.
"It's still more comfortable dealing with smart people." Gui Luo slowly walked in and sat down. Hu Xingche poured him some water indignantly, then slammed it on the table in a huff. Gui Luo didn't care and picked it up to drink. Under the watchful eyes of the others, he continued to sigh and complain, "Oh dear, why is my arm so sore? And my legs, oh dear, what am I going to do?"
He turned his gaze to Hu Xingche's face, blinked, and looked completely innocent.
Hu Xingche: ......
Hu Xingche was furious, but he had nowhere to vent his anger.
While he and Gui Luo were still locked in a stalemate, Lu Juezhen suddenly lunged forward and, with a silly grin, pinched Gui Luo's arm: "For things like aches and pains in the back and legs, I'm a professional. Going to him won't help! Go to me! I guarantee I'll give you a good massage!"
Hu Xingche: ...tsk
Everyone: ...Huh?
Gui Luo: ...Huh?
Lu Juezhen: Wow!
Those arms! Those muscles!
No wonder he's known as the God of Slaughter! When Lu Juezhen first saw Gui Luo's slender figure, he thought it was someone in disguise, but now that he touches him, he's the real deal.
Gui Luo's gaze slowly shifted to Lu Juezhen: "Have you touched it enough? Do you like it? Should I cut it off and give it to you?"
Lu Juezhen seemed to wake up from a dream, withdrew his hand, scratched his head awkwardly, and laughed: "Hey, I've never seen this before, it's so sturdy, hehe."
Gui Luo, with her arched eyebrows, chuckled and let out two soft hums.
"Now you can tell me, right? What's your purpose?" Tang Qi continued.
"I have been entrusted with this task, so I must do my duty." Gui Luo picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip: "I owe someone a favor, and today I have been entrusted to help you out."
"Who? Who asked you to do this?" Tang Qi asked.
"There's a prize for guessing correctly!" Gui Luo said with a smile, putting down his teacup.
"What award?" Lu Jue asked innocently, and Hu Xingche was taken aback. How come there was actually someone to respond?
"The reward is that if you guess correctly, I'll tell you the name." Gui Luo continued to smile at him.
Lu Juezhen: ......
"Is it...?" Ye Qian suddenly asked tentatively.
"You already know I'm here to help you, don't you? I always keep my mouth shut about my employers." Gui Luo winked at him.
"How can you help?" Shen Zhiqing asked from the side, as this person's level of danger could not be ignored.
Gui Luo raised his hand to Tang Qi, who steadily caught what he threw and looked up to ask, "What is this?"
“What you want—soldiers.” He tilted his head and smiled.
"Southern Continent soldiers?" Tang Qi asked subconsciously, holding the token. Gui Luo paused, looking at him speechlessly: "Regular army, your own soldiers."
"...oh."
Without a trace of shame.
However, looking at Tang Qi, Gui Luo made a new discovery. He seemed to sense the strange gaze directed at him becoming more serious, and after a long while, he slightly tilted his head and said, "You seem to..."
Noticing his gaze, Cheng Junshi turned to the side, trying to shield Gui Luo's probing eyes, but Tang Qi looked directly at him without flinching: "What do you mean?"
Seeing his calm expression, Gui Luo simply raised his eyebrows slightly and shrugged, saying, "It's nothing. I just think you look a bit like someone I've met before."
"Who is he? Is he important to you?" Cheng Junshi asked, looking at him. This question not only puzzled Gui Luo, but also Tang Qi found it strange. He didn't understand why Cheng Junshi was suddenly asking Gui Luo this.
Gui Luo glanced at him, initially unwilling to answer, but seeing his serious expression, she gave him a quick look and replied casually, "It's naturally unimportant to me, just a fleeting encounter. But—"
He suddenly stopped talking, then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, and after a few seconds, slowly said, "To someone I know, if you really are that person, I think she would be happy."
"But there are no 'what ifs' in this world." Gui Luo said calmly, his gaze shifting back to Tang Qi. "Let me remind you, I'm not here for free. The people who hired me only paid for one day of my time. Happy cooperation~"
Tang Qi gripped the token in his hand. With Gui Luo's help, his chances of success were even greater. Now, all he had to do was figure out a way to break the deadlock and turn the situation from a hopeless situation into a situation where the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
He immediately turned to Ye Qian and asked, "You should have arrived here earlier than us. Do you have a detailed map of this place?"
Ye Qian paused briefly, then looked up and replied, "Yes. What I got from opening the granary here was a map showing all the granaries in this area."
"I'll go find it." Shen Zhiqing immediately stood up.
Shen Zhiqing quickly retrieved the map and spread it out on the table. It was a detailed military map depicting the mountains, rivers, and official roads and post stations in Jinan and the surrounding area, with the terrain of Centipede Mountain clearly marked.
The group quickly gathered around. Tang Qi's eyes scanned every mark on Centipede Mountain on the map. Suddenly, he pointed, and everyone's gaze fell on a place in the center of the map marked "Wind and Domain": "If I'm not mistaken, they will definitely have a large force guarding this place."
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