Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 317 The Kindness of Mortals

The dark fog gradually thinned, eventually shrinking to an area of ​​about ten steps in diameter. The Kaiping Division's hooks searched within it relentlessly, but ultimately found nothing.

"What about people?!"

Min Yuanxiu rode up on horseback, the half of his face that was exposed looking even more stern than his mask.

"Reporting to the commander, we...we couldn't find him. He probably teleported away again."

"compass!"

Min Yuanxiu raised his hand, and soon a compass was handed to him.

He glanced at it only once, then shook his head and said, "He hasn't used the Shadow Transmission Technique again."

Puzzled, the crowd asked, "Then where else could he go?"

Min Yuanxiu frowned, then suddenly shouted, "Everyone stay put! Don't move! Release the dogs!"

Soon, Ti Si Xu Yun personally led a team of hunting dogs to the woods.

Although they are the same size as ordinary dogs, their eyes are much sharper and they are better able to understand human commands. These are actually exotic beasts raised by the Kaiping Division, specifically used to hunt down criminals.

The important thing is that Gu Jingnian could not possibly disguise himself as a dog.

To prevent anyone from releasing Gu Jingnian without permission, Xu Yun didn't even use Wang Qinghe or Pei Nian.

Soon, the hounds began sniffing everyone present, including Min Yuanxiu.

He even deliberately let the hunting dogs sniff him first, since Gu Jingnian was the most likely to leave disguised as him.

However, the hounds showed no interest in him, barking incessantly in a certain direction beyond the woods.

“Governor.” Xu Yun approached Min Yuanxiu cautiously and whispered, “It seems that Gu Jingnian fled in that direction.”

"how is this possible?"

"Perhaps he runs very fast."

"Ah."

Min Yuanxiu was furious and gave a cold laugh.

He paced back and forth, a thoughtful look in his single eye, and finally murmured, "That's not right."

"Governor, what's wrong with this?"

“There must be an inside agent of Gu Jingnian in the Kaiping Division,” Min Yuanxiu said. “Disguised as my and Wang Qinghe’s clothes and tokens, he shouldn’t have been able to steal them so easily; Wang Qinghe sent people to keep an eye on Yi Yan, but they failed to keep an eye on him; he was able to track my whereabouts in just one day; and today, despite the heavy ambush, he was still able to escape… There must be an inside agent.”

“Not surprising.” Xu Yun stroked his beard thoughtfully and said, “Could the inside man be Pei Nian?”

"No, we're on guard against her; she can't do it."

"That's... Wang Qinghe?"

Min Yuanxiu countered, "Why Wang Qinghe?"

Xu Yun said, "Pei Nian mentioned that Wang Qinghe is highly suspicious."

"is it?"

Min Yuanxiu looked thoughtful. Although he didn't quite believe that Wang Qinghe would betray him, his doubts deepened.

"Why? Whoever it is, why would they help Gu Jingnian?"

--------

"Who are you? Why are you helping me?"

After passing through the woods and bypassing the official road, they entered a deep mountain. Gu Jingnian reined in his horse and asked the mysterious man riding ahead.

Together they emerged from the dark fog.

During this process, Gu Jingnian developed more admiration and curiosity for this mysterious person.

In the absolute darkness, surrounded by trees, traps, and the relentless pursuit of the Kaiheiji hooks, stray arrows were constantly being shot at them.

Gu Jingnian couldn't see anything, but the mysterious person seemed to know everything and could accurately find the best escape route.

They slipped through narrow gaps between trees and crossed ravines... narrowly escaping before being surrounded.

Gu Jingnian had to admire him for this, knowing that if someone else had led him, he would probably have gotten himself into trouble.

The mysterious man, who had been holding the reins of Gu Jingnian's horse, released them once they reached a safe place and rode off alone, putting some distance between himself and Gu Jingnian.

He didn't turn around, but with his back to Gu Jingnian, he gave a curt reply.

"Liu Bing".

"Thank you for saving me, Brother Liu." Gu Jingnian clasped his hands in gratitude and asked, "Brother Liu, are you also an extraordinary person?"

"I am just a mortal."

"A mere mortal?" Gu Jingnian asked. "Brother Liu is highly skilled; how could he be a mere mortal?"

“There are many ordinary people in this world, aren’t there?” Liu Bing said something quite Zen-like, his tone like that of an old monk.

Gu Jingnian guessed that he must be an extraordinary person who could see in the dark, or even have a stronger ability to control the darkness.

But the next moment, Liu Bing turned around and calmly said something.

“And I am actually not even as good as an ordinary person.” Gu Jingnian looked at him, but was stunned.

He clearly saw that Liu Bing's eyes were dull and lifeless, his pupils were unfocused, and his posture did not shift at all because of the gaze.

It's obvious that he's blind.

"you……"

Gu Jingnian raised his hand and waved, asking incredulously, "Brother Liu, can't you see?"

Liu Bing's eyes showed no reaction; he simply listened intently to something.

"Yes, I can't see it."

"But you just led me out of that black mist."

"Precisely because I can't see it, whether it's black fog or not makes no difference to me."

Gu Jingnian was still somewhat stunned and asked, "You really don't have any special abilities?"

Liu Bing laughed, his expression tinged with sadness.

"I've been blind since birth, and I can't even do many things that ordinary people can do. How could I possibly hope to have superpowers that transcend ordinary people?"

Gu Jingnian remained silent.

He was extraordinary from birth, which led him to be seen as exceptional, and he considered this a misfortune.

Compared to Liu Bing, his misfortune seems somewhat laughable.

Even in that instant, he somewhat understood the madness of Gu Jizu when he ignored his pain and cut his flesh to treat his leg ailment.

After a long silence, he finally asked, "Are you a 'mortal'?"

"Maybe."

Why are you helping me?

Why can't we help you?

"You are a mortal, I am an extraordinary person, we have different positions."

Liu Bing smiled and said, "Young Master Gu has extraordinary opportunities and may be able to help Zhongzhou restore peace and tranquility... I said perhaps, but in any case, it is not appropriate to let the young master fall into the hands of the Kaiping Division."

Why do you believe I can help restore peace and tranquility to Zhongzhou?

"Perhaps you still seem like a good person."

Gu Jingnian didn't believe Liu Bing would save him for such a reason, and pressed further, "What do you need me to do? I am grateful for your kindness today, and I will repay you in the future."

Liu Bing shook his head.

He seemed unwilling to answer Gu Jingnian's endless questions any longer, so he turned around, kicked the horse's flank, and spurred it forward.

"If one day, when you are able to do something for Zhongzhou, it will be enough if you remember the kindness we, as ants, have shown you."

As he spoke, he urged his horse onward, and before he finished speaking, he was already deep in the mountains.

Gu Jingnian stood there for a long time, recalling Liu Bing's words, then turned to look down the mountain.

In the distance, the Zhuo River meanders, and the vast city of Zhuojing stretches out along the river, covering an area of ​​great scale, with wisps of smoke occasionally rising from its chimneys.

--------

Smoke was rising from the teapot.

By the fire, two people were playing chess by the lake.

"The Kingdom of Yong wants peace talks, and His Majesty actually intends to agree?"

"Why don't you agree?"

"As far as I know, one of the main reasons why Yong must be destroyed is to break through Fujie Mountain. Once peace talks begin, this matter will probably be very difficult to resolve."

“Even if we destroy Yong by force, we may not be able to break through Fujie Mountain. If we negotiate with Yong, we might be able to unite with Yong to suppress it together. Moreover, I think that Kaiping Division has placed more hope for breaking through the boundary on Gu Jingnian.”

"Did Lord Pei go to Jusai City earlier to inquire about this matter?"

The man wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat looked up; it was Pei Wugou.

He nodded and said, "If Song Jian is telling the truth, then using Gu Jingnian and Ying Yao to break the boundary is indeed a good idea."

The young man sitting opposite Pei Wugou had a composed demeanor; he was Du Xingyan.

Du Xingyan shook his head and said, "In my opinion, the Kaiping Division appears to be all-encompassing, but in reality, they are still working for the benefit of the people. If they occupy the realm but do not destroy it, but instead use it for cultivation, the result will only be worse."

"Therefore, I didn't let the Kaiping Division capture Gu Jingnian. Judging by the time, Liu Bing should have brought him out by now."

Du Xingyan nodded, knowing that Pei Wugou must have an inside accomplice in the Kaiping Division to be able to accomplish this task, but he didn't know if it was Pei Nian.

He paused for a moment, then came up with a unique idea.

In my opinion, it's better to try to win over Gu Caiwei than Gu Jingnian.

"It's difficult; I won't be able to see Gu Caiwei either."

Pei Wugou pondered for a moment, then slowly placed a piece and said, "This game of chess is difficult for ordinary people. To survive in such a precarious situation, one must be extremely cautious."

(End of this chapter)