Start with a red name

In response to the woman's question, Geng Xuan did not give a direct answer, but instead asked:
"How many people can you mobilize in Yuanjing?"

The woman hesitated for a moment and said:
"If it's an ordinary dispatch that doesn't seem unusual, I can mobilize four to five hundred people at most.

...But if I ask people to join me in attacking Wuyou Palace, I can only mobilize about 60 to 70 people at most."

At the end of her speech, a look of shame appeared on the woman's face.

Compared to how "Su Ruiliang" built up such a big situation from nothing in just a few months, she naturally has reason to feel deeply ashamed of her "incompetence" in this regard.

To make amends for herself, she then added:

“However, although the number is small, the strength is not bad.

Even those with the weakest strength have reached the bone refining level.

There are nearly twenty people with combat power in the early and middle stages of marrow refining.

They are good at both offense and defense, and are adept at combined attacks. If two or three of them join forces, they can defeat practitioners at a higher level.

There are also two direct disciples who are in the late stage of marrow refining, and a nanny who was almost perfect in skin refining but whose strength has slightly declined due to her old age.

They can be regarded as two combat forces at the peak of marrow refining level."

Geng Xuan nodded slightly and asked, "Are they all in Yuanjing now?"

The woman said:
"Except for Madam Xu who was worried and insisted on coming with me, everyone else is in Yuanjing now."

Geng Xuan was shocked when he heard this and asked, "Is Madam Xu in Qingyuanji now?"

The woman shook her head and said:
"I didn't let her enter Qingyuanji. She is now in a wilderness area more than ten miles away from Qingyuanji."

Geng Xuan nodded slightly, but turned to look at Han Jian and Xu Jiao beside him and asked:

"Brother Han, Sister Xu, what are your plans next?"

Xu Jiao looked at Han Jian, and Han Jian smiled bitterly.

“I haven’t thought about this issue yet. Yuanjing can’t go back for the time being.

But the little foundation I have accumulated over the years is all in Yuanjing..."

Having said that, Han Jian shook his head and smiled bitterly again.

"Would you like to stay and help me?" Geng Xuan suddenly asked.

"Join the Giant Bear Gang?" Han Jian was surprised, with a look of surprise on his face, and then gradually hesitant.

Family members know their own business, and he knew very well that this "senior brother or sister" actually had no weight to "Su Ruiliang".

If you ask him what he really thinks, he actually doesn't want to have anything to do with this kind of person.

But now, this identity label cannot be torn off just because he wants to.

Geng Xuan shook his head and said:

“If you are willing to join the Giant Bear Gang, that’s fine too.

If you don't want to be bound by too many gang rules, you don't have to join... You should know that in addition to formal gang members, I also absorbed many temporary gang members.

During this period of time, you two will stay in Qingyuanji as temporary gang members.

After the turmoil in Wuyou Palace is over, it won’t be too late for you two to consider whether to leave or stay.”

"This..." Han Jian was a little moved and turned to look at Xu Jiao beside him.

One of them is in the late stage of marrow refining, and the other is in the middle stage of marrow refining. As long as they don't show off too much, it will be easy for them to find a place to gain a foothold.

But the problem now is that they are both labeled as "Senior Brother and Sister Su Ruiliang".

As the news of Su Ruiliang's amazing achievement of killing six peak-level marrow refining masters in one battle spread like wildfire, everything about him would inevitably be watched and scrutinized by countless pairs of eyes.

There was no way they could escape.

Can't hide, can't avoid.

That being the case...

Xu Jiao nodded slightly at Han Jian.

"Okay, thank you, Boss Su, for taking me in!" Han Jian bowed in response.

Xu Jiao also followed suit and bowed.

【Get three points of white luck. 】

As the two accepted Geng Xuan's invitation, even though they did not receive the headband that symbolized temporary gang membership, a new message still emerged from the "Flint Pearl" in Geng Xuan's mind.

Geng Xuan looked at the woman and said:

"I can agree to your terms..."

A look of surprise immediately appeared on the woman's face.

"…But you have to agree to two conditions first."

"You say!" said the woman.

"That Madam Xu has to stay in Qingyuanji." Geng Xuan said.

The woman was stunned for a moment, and then a look of realization appeared on her face.

The five direct subordinates of the Wuyou Palace who were at the peak of the marrow refining realm and were killed by "Su Ruiliang" are probably now lurking near Qingyuanji and may launch a suicide attack at any time.

Among these people, there are no strong ones who have reached the peak level of marrow refining.

There is no shortage of practitioners in the late stage of marrow refining, and there are even more practitioners in the early and middle stages of marrow refining.

If "Su Ruiliang" had not taken action, it would have really brought a severe impact on the Giant Bear Gang.

At this time, if Aunt Xu, who is at the peak of marrow refining, is in charge, the situation will undoubtedly be much better.

After figuring out the reason, she nodded and said, "Okay, I agree."

Geng Xuan continued:
"The second condition is that you, as well as the other people under your command who are participating in the operation, including Aunt Xu who stayed behind in Qingyuanji, must participate in the operation as temporary members of the Giant Bear Gang."

The woman looked surprised and asked curiously: "I don't understand, is this necessary?"

Geng Xuan said calmly:
“I really don’t like the current atmosphere in Yuanzhou… It’s okay if you don’t understand, this is my condition.

This temporary gang member's identity can only last until the end of the operation.

Once the operation is over, this temporary gang member status will be automatically cancelled."

The woman stared at Geng Xuan and wanted to say, "I still don't understand." She really couldn't see the difference.

However, she also didn't see how this would hinder them.

After confirming that "Su Ruiliang" insisted on this condition, she no longer had any interest in further investigation and nodded, "Okay, I agree."

Geng Xuan nodded and said, "Then go and bring Madam Xu over."

The woman nodded, turned around and was about to leave.

"Wait." Looking at the woman about to go out, Geng Xuan suddenly spoke.

The woman paused.

"I still don't know your name?" Geng Xuan asked.

"Tang Caizhu."

After she left, Geng Xuan looked at Han Jian and Xu Jiao again and said:
“As you can see, the Giant Bear Gang of Qingyuanji is likely to encounter another attack next time, which is also dangerous for you.

If you feel it is inappropriate, you two can temporarily avoid it."

Han Jian's expression did not waver at all.

"Since I have already agreed, how can I go back on my word?

...It would be fine if they didn't come, but if they really came at this time, we can still help."

Geng Xuan nodded and called in Fang Jintang and Xu Yao, who had been waiting outside the house for a long time.

He first asked Xu Yao to take Han Jian and Xu Jiao to settle down, and then he told Fang Jintang, the new deputy gang leader, about some of the things he had just discussed with Tang Caizhu.

"I'll try to go there and come back as soon as possible. During my absence, the gang affairs will be handed over to you."

"Yes."

I heard that there was a direct line of force from Wuyou Palace lurking in the dark, and they were all determined to die, but the leader chose to travel far away at this time. Fang Jintang's expression became very solemn.

Fortunately, the gang leader still took them into consideration and temporarily brought in three helpers, one of whom was at the peak of the marrow refining level, which made him feel more at ease.

"In addition to guarding against the Wuyou Palace's manpower, there are two other things you should remember."

"Master, you say."

“One is the reconstruction of Qingyuanji.

After a great battle, more than half of Qingyuanji was reduced to ruins.

The remaining areas were also requisitioned and renovated by us on a large scale, and many of them became dilapidated.

Now, it is time to start the reconstruction of Qingyuanji.

Qi Mingcheng is most familiar with this matter, you can let him take charge of it."

Like Fang Jintang, Qi Mingcheng also took the initiative to apply to join the Giant Bear Gang during this recruitment.

Ambition and enterprising spirit are secondary. The truth is that he and Fang Jintang are too deeply bound to "Su Ruiliang". Whether he gets on the "pirate ship" or not does not affect outsiders' view of him as "Su Ruiliang".

“Another thing is that a group of gang members led by Luo Qing have been working with the Wufang Camp to prepare for dredging the ancient Zhushui River for some time.

Now, all preparations have been basically completed. According to the original plan, once the Qingyuanji battle is over, they should set out to the north.

...If the hidden Wuyou Palace troops are exposed and successfully dealt with by you, you can start moving forward with this matter.

If they remain dormant, we can only discuss this after I return from Yuanjing."

Geng Xuan had just finished explaining the matter to Fang Jintang when Tang Caizhu came to the door with a woman to ask for a meeting.

"Are you Aunt Xu?" Geng Xuan looked at the woman and asked curiously.

Before he saw the real person, he thought it would be an old woman who looked to be in her sixties or seventies and looked very old.

But the woman in front of him, although obviously old, but if you only look at her appearance, she seems to be in her early fifties. Although her figure is not as exaggerated as Tang Caizhu's, she is also tall and big.

There is a big difference between her and the "Mammy" that Geng Xuan had in mind.

Since entering the house, the woman has been looking at Geng Xuan carefully. Seeing him asking, she bowed and said:
"My name is Xu Yun, nice to meet Gang Leader Su."

Geng Xuan nodded and said, "You should be clear about the situation, right?"

Xu Yun nodded and said, "Caizhu has told me that for the next period of time, before you return, I will be in charge of Qingyuanji as a temporary member of the Giant Bear Gang."

【Get eight points of good luck. 】

Geng Xuan nodded and said to Tang Caizhu, "Let's go."

Tang Caizhu was surprised and asked, "Leaving now?"

Geng Xuan said:
"I have already explained the arrangements to Deputy Gang Leader Fang. He knows what to do... Now that we have made the decision, we must go early and return early."

When the two walked out of the room, they saw members of the Giant Bear Gang already waiting there with four Xuanyou horses, all of which were equipped with two days' worth of horse feed and enough Xuanyou pills for them to use.

——Han Jian, Xu Jiao, Tang Caizhu and Xu Yun rushed to Qingyuanji from Yuanjing, all riding Xuanyou horses.

After the two men mounted their horses, Geng Xuan nodded slightly to Fang Jintang beside him, and then took the lead in riding his horse into the night.

Soon, the four Xuanyou horses disappeared from Fang Jintang's sight.

After watching the two of them go away, Fang Jintang took a deep breath, looked at Xu Yun beside him, and said, "Let's go, let's go to the training ground now..."

……

In general, Yuanjing is located in the northeast of Qingyuanji.

Leaving Qingyuanji and heading northeast, passing through the wilderness on both sides of the ancient Zhushui River, you will diagonally enter the northwest of Yueluyuan.

Crossing Yueluyuan diagonally and extending northward from the peak to the eastern end, you will enter the broad "Gyeonggi region", which was once the territory of "ancient Junzhou".

Traveling a few hundred miles eastward, you will reach Yuanjing.

The entire journey is actually not far, only about two thousand miles.

After figuring out the direction, Geng Xuan controlled the horse's speed to about 70 kilometers per hour, then calmed down and tried to keep his body and mind in the most relaxed state.

When the night falls, the sunrise on the 19th opens a new day.

Geng Xuan and Tang Caizhu were resting in a field beside a road.

Geng Xuan was sitting casually on a fallen tree, holding a water bag in his hand.

Next to them, Tang Caizhu was feeding four Xuanyou horses.

While they are eating, take off all the weight from their bodies so that they can rest better.

Just then, a faint sound of horse hooves came from the west side of the avenue.

Soon, the sound of horse hooves became clearer and clearer, and three riders appeared on the west side of the avenue.

Geng Xuan and Tang Caizhu didn't pay much attention to the three people who appeared, and didn't even look at them intentionally.

On the contrary, the three people who suddenly appeared, after discovering them, all showed vigilance.

They were crawling on the backs of the galloping horses, their eyes fixed on the two of them, one hand holding the reins, the other hand quietly on the weapon.

Geng Xuan and Tang Caizhu ignored them.

There were no other unusual movements by these three people.

The three pairs of eyes reflecting the four Xuanyou horses were filled with fear and dread.

Although they could not see through the identities and cultivation levels of the man and woman on the roadside, these four mysterious horses alone were enough to give rise to endless imaginations for them.

When the three of them safely passed by Geng Xuan and Tang Caizhu on the avenue without encountering any obstruction, it was obvious that they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Soon, the three men disappeared from the east side of the avenue, and along with them, the sound of horse hooves became increasingly vague.

At this time, Tang Caizhu, who had just finished feeding the horses, could not help but said to Geng Xuan:
“Even if we don’t kill them, keeping them for a while will be beneficial.

...We are using four Xuanyou horses for transportation, which is still a bit too eye-catching."

"No need." Geng Xuan shook his head.

Tang Caizhu said:

"I'm sure they are express couriers from a certain faction in Yuanjing... and the information they carry is most likely related to you.

During this period of time, looking at the entire Yuanzhou, you are the most popular one.

All the forces in Yuanjing have gone crazy. Some have arranged for their people to inquire around, while others have offered high rewards, just to get any information related to you.

Any news related to you, even the most insignificant and trivial matter, can be sold at a high price in Yuanjing.

These days, the number of horse messengers traveling on this road is almost as many as the total number in the previous decades.

The exchanges have been continuous and have never stopped. "

Having said this, she looked at Geng Xuan, who had changed his appearance and was no longer the image of "Su Ruiliang", and said with a smile:
"If they knew that the real owner was right next to them, I wonder if they would all collapse on the ground in fear."

Geng Xuan smiled but didn't say anything more. Instead, he asked another question:
"How long will it take for the message to reach Yuanjing using this method?"

"One day." Tang Caizhu said.

"So fast?" Geng Xuan asked in surprise.

Tang Caizhu explained:

"This information is relayed, with people changing hands when they get tired and horses changing horses when they get tired.

Although they are riding only good Yuanzhou horses, their overall speed is not much slower than ours."

Having said this, Tang Caizhu paused and said:

“This is still relatively slow. As far as I know, in addition to the Wuyou Palace, other high-ranking families in Yuanjing also have the means to send messages via flying birds.

However, its scale is not as large as Wuyou Palace, its reliability is also worse, and the cost of each transmission is relatively high.

But if there is an emergency, they can also send the news back to Yuanjing within three or four hours."

Geng Xuan nodded, and inexplicably recalled what Meng Bufan had revealed, that a noble family member in Yuanjing had used huge sums of money to compete for Xuan Qinghai's sand sculpture.

Perhaps, this is not just a comparison or a joke.

Mastering certain secret techniques can certainly help you better control certain birds and beasts.

But even without these secret techniques, humans still have the ability to tame and control them.

After confirming that the four Xuanyou horses had almost recovered through the "horse-judging technique" that had just reached perfection, Geng Xuan said something to Tang Caizhu, then climbed onto one of the horses and continued on his way.

This was their second rest stop. After a night of rapid travel, they had already covered more than half the distance.

Now this road runs between the southern foot of Cenling Mountain and the northern side of Yueluyuan.

After continuing eastward for more than a hundred miles, this road will turn from east to north, and after another three hundred miles, it will enter the broad territory of Yuanjing.

Another 400 miles eastward is Yuanjing.

According to the itinerary, this journey of eight or nine hundred miles only requires one more rest in the middle, and you can arrive in Yuanjing around three or four in the afternoon.

……

The real reason why Geng Xuan accepted Tang Caizhu's invitation was not "the longer the delay, the faster the Wuyou Palace will recover."

If the sole purpose was to destroy Wuyou Palace, Geng Xuan even felt that waiting a little longer would be a good thing.

Because according to the operation of Wuyou Palace, the other side of its "rapid recovery" is that a large number of middle and low-level people have become "consumables" and the complete organizational structure has quickly become hollowed out.

In other words, if he gave Wuyou Palace enough time to "recover", and then killed a group of peak marrow refining masters, Wuyou Palace would "recover" again...

If this pattern continues a few times, the "tentacles" of Wuyou Palace that originally made him feel difficult to deal with, spread all over Yuanzhou, will be sucked dry and killed by Wuyou Palace itself.

But when Geng Xuan had this picture in his mind, the first feeling he had was not pleasure, but regret.

It is a pity that tens of thousands of "fruits of good fortune" have disappeared.

It can be said that all the sins committed by Wuyou Palace over the past few decades have been deposited on these "fruits of good fortune".

When they did not go through his hands, they completed the internal "cleaning".

Also “cleaned up” at the same time are the rich “fruits of good fortune” containing a huge amount of good fortune points.

Geng Xuan was unwilling to sit back and watch this huge amount of luck points being wasted.

And this is just one of the reasons.

Another more important reason has little to do with the situation in Wuyou Palace or even Yuanzhou.

But because of another person——

Dong Guan. (End of this chapter)