Chapter 1492: The Two Most Guarded People

Weng Xing, however, still had one reservation: "What about us? We want to eliminate evildoers, but we can't just live on air."

Ever since Tu Yuanhong was killed, the two brothers had been living freely, but they were genuinely poor.

This point met with unanimous agreement from everyone: "Oh yes, that's important too!"

Ideals might be noble, but the body needs sustenance.

"Don't worry," said Dr. Li confidently. "I personally own several estates that can supply two to three hundred people with food and drink, and weapons, equipment, and medicine will be no problem. What's more, when we take down evildoers, we'll distribute their family's wealth. We'll keep enough for ourselves and use the rest to help the poor!"

Upon hearing this, everyone felt it was a very promising venture, allowing them to do good deeds and earn money simultaneously.

The Weng brothers exchanged a glance. They had lived hand-to-mouth until they killed Xue Zongwu, the avaricious steward, securing a few hundred taels of silver. From then on, their lives had been wonderful, with wine and meat every day. So, Mr. Bo was right: combating evil must also be profitable for the endeavor to be sustainable.

Moreover, Dr. Li had his own assets, ensuring the team could be self-sufficient even if they had to retreat, much like when Tu Yuanhong ran his business, the Weng brothers never had to worry about money.

Weng Su then asked, "Who do you intend to target this time?"

They needed a clear objective. This ragtag group, having assembled, needed an initial success to build cohesion and morale within the team.

"To the south of Cangzhou, there's a Yao national named Qi Ling. His family is said to be very influential back in the Yao Nation. In Cangzhou, he outwardly conducts business, but in reality, he's a loan shark and operates gambling dens. Desperate losers or those too drunk to think straight end up signing IOUs in a daze. Tsk, tsk, if you don't repay within three months, the interest alone will exceed the principal!"

Weng Su rubbed his nose. "Such exorbitant interest rates?"

"Interest compounds, generating more interest until people lose everything and still can't pay it back." Dr. Li pointed to a young man beside him. "Five years ago, his father fell victim to Qi Ling's casino. Their home was seized, and they still owed a substantial debt, so the casino even took his fifteen-year-old sister. In a fit of rage, he confronted Qi, and his thumb was severed as a result."

The young man extended his left hand, revealing only four fingers.

He couldn't even use chopsticks.

"Qi didn't establish himself through legitimate means back then. Many wealthy merchants in Cangzhou died under mysterious circumstances, their businesses and assets seized. Yet, he's a Yao national, so the local authorities dare not touch him; it's even rumored they're complicit with him. Over a month ago, someone in Cangzhou attempted to emulate the Great Emperor Jiuyou by eliminating this menace, Qi Ling, but was instead killed by him. Over the years, Qi Ling has indeed amassed a considerable number of henchmen, all of them despicable scoundrels."

"Should such a person be eliminated?" Dr. Li asked the group. "Since the Great Emperor Jiuyou is too busy, how about we take care of him?"

Dozens of men, hearing this, were already itching for action.

Weng Su said, "Throughout our journey, we've encountered many who wish to emulate the Great Emperor Jiuyou by eliminating tyrants and fighting injustice, and they've tried to recruit us. But we found most of them quite unreliable."

He wasn't exaggerating; indeed, groups were forming everywhere under the guise of upholding justice. The two brothers, traveling quickly, had encountered over a dozen such factions in the past few days alone.

Especially after the Great Emperor Jiuyou killed Xue Zongwu, a high-ranking Yao general and notorious villain, the entire Blazing Gold Plains was now greatly encouraged and buzzing with activity.

Weng Xing interjected, "Your approach seems more reliable. Alright, we'll join."

Dr. Li nodded. "In fact, many groups have already succeeded and gained some recognition, particularly in the central and eastern Blazing Gold Plains. We'll definitely need to establish more contact with them later."

The group then sealed their alliance with a blood oath, and the Weng brothers honorably joined.

The team was thus formed, and they immediately began discussing recruitment.

Dr. Li produced a long staff of black wood, exquisitely carved. A long dragon coiled around its head, with every single scale distinctly visible.

He planted the staff into the ground. "This will be our symbol."

Others might raise a pole to rebel; they would raise a staff.

A team member couldn't help but ask, "Captain Bo, will we also use the Black Dragon Deity's emblem?"

"Yes, we will," Dr. Li replied without hesitation. "Without the Black Dragon's name, we won't attract anyone! The Great Emperor Jiuyou, the Black Armored Army, and the Black Dragon totem are all recognized symbols. People in the Blazing Gold Plains currently only acknowledge these. The Pang brothers from Ruhai, for example, used the Black Dragon banner and recruited over three hundred people in less than two days, selecting about a hundred to form their own team."

"Won't the Great Emperor Jiuyou be upset if we do this?" someone asked, as they were borrowing his name without prior permission.

Dr. Li already had a contingency plan. "If the Black Armored Army comes for us, we'll simply present our staffs and ask for forgiveness!"

Weng Xing declared loudly, "As long as we genuinely uphold justice, eliminate the tyrannical, and bring peace to the innocent, the Black Dragon Deity certainly won't mind!"

The two brothers were, after all, individuals who had spoken deeply with the Great Emperor Jiuyou and knew that the Emperor genuinely wouldn't object.

Dr. Li gave a thumbs-up. "Exactly. The night after tomorrow, we'll deal with Qi Ling so he can no longer exploit the common folk. We'll use his blood to consecrate this coiled dragon staff!"

Everyone raised their wine bowls in unison. "To that!"

Their collective voices roared like thunder, shaking the roof beams until dust rained down.

Boom! A clap of thunder echoed from the eastern night sky.

Yuheng City Frontline, Tapu Watchtower.

The watchtower stood four *zhang* high, and its top platform was small, usually large enough for only a few people to stand in addition to a few crossbows. However, the sentries were currently absent, and instead, a small tea table with a chessboard had been set up. Two people sat inside, playing a game.

Night had fallen, but a cool breeze from the river kept the watchtower top from becoming oppressively stuffy.

Hearing the thunder, Wen Daolun looked eastward, a hint of worry in his eyes. "Mr. Xin isn't in trouble, is he? He's been gone for two hours already."

After all, he was a distinguished guest sent by Mount Ling, with a special status. Should anything happen...

He Lingchuan placed a piece, not looking up. "Infiltrating enemy territory is never easy, especially this particular mission! But rest assured, his cultivation is formidable; even if he can't complete the objective, he can at least retreat safely."

If Xin Yi's true identity was as he suspected, then undertaking such a mission would pose no difficulty for him whatsoever.

He Lingchuan was the commander of two armies, so why would he not utilize such a formidable asset?

"You certainly have a lot of faith in Mr. Xin."

"When he accepted this mission, he was quite eager, wasn't he? Didn't show any sign of hesitation?" He Lingchuan chuckled. "A skilled person is a bold one. If he isn't worried, why should we be?"

No sooner had he spoken than another muffled thud came from the east.

It wasn't thunder, for flames and thick smoke shot skyward in unison, creating an astonishing spectacle.

That direction... He Lingchuan clapped his hands and burst out laughing. "Excellent, excellent! It seems he's succeeded!"

Wen Daolun also stood, gazing eastward. "It really looks like the transit depot is on fire?"

Tonight, with a bright moon and sparse stars, visibility was exceptionally clear. From the watchtower's summit, they could see the enemy's main camp across the river. Thick smoke and fiery light were now blazing fiercely behind enemy lines.

"I knew it," He Lingchuan said. "Mr. Xin was bound to succeed."

Wen Daolun was both pleased and anxious. "I hope he can make it back safely."

He Lingchuan pointed to the chessboard. "Look, you're about to lose."

"Nonsense! With your amateur skills, you're nowhere near that level!" Wen Daolun's attention was immediately drawn back to the board. "Perhaps if Master Sun were playing."

He Lingchuan found it amusing. Wen Daolun prided himself on his exceptional chess skills, yet he was consistently outmatched by Sun Fuling and always remained unconvinced of his defeat.

Wen Daolun glanced at him. "You've been with Master Sun for many years; how come your chess skills haven't improved?"

He Lingchuan stopped smiling.

When he was with Master Sun, how could he possibly have time for chess?

Besides, Master Sun wasn't keen on playing with such a terrible chess player as him.

From their elevated position, they could observe the commotion east of the river. As soon as the transit depot caught fire, the forces He Lingchuan had arranged immediately began to harass the Xiluo army camp, both to assist Xin Yi's escape and to amplify the night's achievements.

The chaos continued for over two *ke*, or about half an hour, yet the massive fire behind enemy lines raged on without a single pause, still consuming everything in its path.

Wen Daolun murmured, "It seems Mr. Xin employed some special tactics."

He Lingchuan, however, noticed a faint green light rising from the enemy camp, moving back and forth above the blaze.

It was too far to discern clearly what it was, but He Lingchuan found it strangely familiar.

It circled several times, and above the transit depot, clouds began to gather, obscuring the bright moon.

In an instant, a torrential downpour began.

He Lingchuan remembered, letting out a soft gasp. "Qingyang!"

Wen Daolun didn't understand. "Hm? What did you say?"

"I said, that's the Shangyang Rain Prayer spell." It went without saying that Qingyang was the one who cast it.

When He Lingchuan caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace, and Zu Ju was setting fires all over the Star-Plucking Pavilion, National Preceptor Qingyang, freshly released by the Heavenly Palace, unleashed this divine ability, which not only extinguished the flames but also restricted Zu Ju's movements.

However, the "Shangyang" He Lingchuan saw now was quite indistinct, clearly indicating that Qingyang's cultivation at this time was far less profound than it would be in later eras.

Oh, right, "Qingyang" was the title she adopted after becoming the National Preceptor. For now, she was simply Lu Wushuang.

The chaos on the opposite side gradually subsided, and on the river surface not far from the watchtower, a giant turtle emerged.

The turtle's shell was as wide as a round dining table for ten, carrying seven or eight people on its back.

The first to disembark was Xin Yi, followed by Liutiao and the Tiger Wing Army soldiers.

"Mr. Xin!" He Lingchuan leaped down from the watchtower and rushed to greet him. "You've performed a great service!"

"Fortunately, I didn't fail the mission," Xin Yi said with a chuckle. He was completely unharmed, while Liutiao had a gash on his neck, which he was covering with a hand, blood still seeping through.

"How is it?"

Liutiao didn't dare shake his head. "It's an arrow graze, nothing serious."

He Lingchuan raised a hand, and A Luo, seemingly out of nowhere, appeared with a medicine box to treat Liutiao and the others' injuries.

Just then, someone from the magistrate's office came looking for Wen Daolun, so he could only offer a quick farewell and hurry away.

He Lingchuan personally offered a large towel to Xin Yi, who politely declined. White steam began to rise from his body as he dried himself with internal energy.

So He Lingchuan walked with Xin Yi toward Tapu, listening as he recounted his experience.

Ever since Lu Wushuang arrived at the front line as supervisor, for reasons unknown, the Jintao Nation had resumed supplying provisions to the Xiluo army. Despite several threats from Yuheng City, the Jintao ruler feigned ignorance.