No title, no marriage? Do you think I'm some kind of lapdog?

Beacon tower.

Uncle Chen.

Su Chuang rubbed his fingers together, his eyes fixed on the pile of freshly unloaded grain sacks on the ground.

"You brought over a hundred men... how many of them are capable of carrying a gun?"

Chen Dashuan was taken aback. He hadn't expected that this Duke would ask about this first, without asking about grudges or grievances.

"Reporting to, Your Excellency."

He counted on his fingers.

"Forty-seven young and strong men."

"The rest are mostly elderly, weak, women and children, but they are all nimble and capable of cooking, mending clothes and taking care of horses."

Su Chuang's eyes lit up.

Forty-seven strong laborers.

This deal is a good one.

He put on that carefree smile again and patted Chen Dashuan on the shoulder:

"Uncle Chen, this is a real lifesaver!"

He then turned and shouted outside:

"Pengju!"

Yue Fei pushed open the door and entered, his black armor glistening with night dew: "My lord."

"You take care of those villagers outside."

Su Chuang explained, counting on his fingers.

"The strong and robust ones will be assigned to the auxiliary troops and learn the rules from the Mo Dao Guards."

"The elderly, the weak, women and children, those who can cook, go into the kitchen; those with skillful hands, mend armor and repair weapons; those who have nothing to do, sweep and clean."

He paused, then grinned:

"Wages will be paid as usual, at three times the rate for short-term laborers in urban and rural areas of Beijing."

Chen Dashuan shuddered upon hearing this:

"Your Excellency, this...this is unacceptable!"

"We're here to seek refuge, not to make money..."

"Hey, Uncle Chen, what are you saying?" Su Chuang waved his hand, looking like a nouveau riche.

"I may not have much else, but I have plenty of money. Besides..."

He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and a sly glint flashed in his eyes:

"These people you brought will all be my informants from now on."

"In northern Xinjiang, it's hard for newcomers to get by, but the locals know the place well... This money was well spent."

Chen Dashuan understood.

This Duke may seem carefree and irresponsible, but he's very shrewd.

"I understand," he said solemnly, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

"Go ahead and settle in first." Su Chuang waved his hand.

Yue Fei led Chen Dashuan out.

The earthen house fell silent.

The smile on Su Chuang's face slowly faded.

He walked to the window and looked at the busy crowd in the firelight outside, his eyes gradually turning cold.

"Lu Bing".

From the shadows, the gray-clad man silently emerged and knelt on one knee: "My lord."

"check."

Su Chuang didn't turn around; his voice was as soft as a sigh.

"Chen Dashuan, and everyone he brought. Six years... People change."

Lu Bing lowered his head: "Yes, Your Majesty. I will find out the truth within half a month."

"besides."

Su Chuang turned around.

"The old records of the battle at Luofengpo, the missing page from the Ministry of War... we pried it out of Chen Dashuan's mouth."

"I want to know who was handing me the knife back then."

"clear."

Lu Bingru disappeared as quietly as he had come.

Su Chuang finally let out a long sigh and slumped down on the earthen bed.

tired.

Pretending to be a coward or a useless person is more tiring than actually fighting a real battle.

He closed his eyes, and just then, that thing in his head started talking:

Main Quest "Successfully Arrived at Yumen Pass" Completion Rate: 100%

[Mission Reward: SS-Rank Chinese General Summoning Card x1, already issued]

【Should we use it immediately?】

"use."

Su Chuang silently recited in his heart.

Suddenly, my eyes lit up.

It wasn't real light; it was a golden virtual interface that exploded in my mind.

The card is flipped over, revealing an intricate cloud and dragon design on the back, while the front is blank.

[Summoning...]

[Summoning successful!]

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained: SS-rank general - Li Cunxiao!]

Su Chuang's breath hitched.

Li Cunxiao?!

Li Cunxiao, the Thirteen Protectors, the fiercest general of the Five Dynasties, known as "No king surpasses Ba, no general surpasses Li"?

His throat was a little dry, and he subconsciously licked his lips.

This is a huge profit...

[Li Cunxiao has arrived. Current location: Wild Wolf Valley, 30 li outside Wangbeitai. Identity: A wandering knight who has drifted to the northern frontier. He will "encounter" the lord within three days.]

As soon as the system notification sound ended, the door to the earthen house creaked open.

Xu Mengran came in carrying a wooden tray with two bowls of steaming hot noodle soup and two golden-brown baked flatbreads on it.

She changed into casual clothes, taking off her red dress and wearing only a plain-colored, narrow-sleeved shirt. Her long hair was loosely tied back, revealing her smooth neck.

"Chuang, let's eat."

She placed the tray on the kang table, glanced up and saw Su Chuang still leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, and frowned:

"Who are they plotting against this time?"

Su Chuang opened his eyes, and a lazy smile instantly appeared on his face:

"You're scheming against Sister Xu—bringing food into my room in the middle of the night, aren't you afraid of gossip?"

Xu Mengran rolled her eyes at him and pushed the bowl towards him: "Eat it or don't, it's up to you."

After saying that, he picked up another bowl, sat down by the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and sipped the soup slowly.

The candlelight flickered on her profile, her eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes, and a slight sheen of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose.

Looking at it, Su Chuang suddenly felt that this dilapidated beacon tower wasn't so bad after all.

At least... she's there.

"Sister Xu".

He leaned closer, his shoulder touching hers, and asked, "How much truth do you think there was in what Uncle Chen said?"

Xu Mengran paused.

"Seven points."

She put down the bowl and lowered her voice:

"My father also mentioned back then that the defeat at Luofeng Slope was suspicious. But who exactly was behind it..."

She shook her head: "The investigation can't go any further. The trail went cold at the Ministry of War."

Su Chuang's eyes turned cold.

Ministry of War.

It's the Ministry of War again.

That old fox Yue Zhanpeng can't escape responsibility.

Take your time.

He grinned, reverting to his carefree demeanor.

"The more debts you have, the less you worry; the more enemies you have... the more you chop them down one by one."

Xu Mengran turned her head to look at him.

In the candlelight, the man had handsome features and a slightly roguish smile, but deep within his eyes lay both ice and fire.

She suddenly reached out and gently brushed her fingertips across the corner of his eye.

"Go for it," she said softly. "Don't shoulder this alone."

Su Chuang's Adam's apple bobbed.

He took her hand and held it in his palm; the warm touch burned from her fingertips all the way to her heart.

"Then Sister Xu..."

He leaned closer, his breath brushing against her ear, "Will you stay with me tonight?"

Xu Mengran blushed, but instead of looking away, she met his gaze: "How will you accompany me?"

Su Chuang smiled.

He lowered his head, his lips almost touching hers, his voice low and husky: "What do you think?"

Just then—

"My lord!"

Zhao Yun's voice came from outside the door, tinged with urgency.

Su Chuang paused.

Xu Mengran hurriedly shrank back, her face flushed red.

"Go in." Su Chuang released his grip and took a deep breath.

Zhao Yun pushed open the door and entered, his face grave:

"Urgent report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard: Ye Qingyue has spread the word that our lord is escorting 500,000 taels of gold as military pay to the northern frontier and is currently stationed at Wangbeitai."

Su Chuang was stunned for a moment, then grinned and laughed.

"Five hundred thousand taels? In gold?"

He shook his head, looking like a nouveau riche who had gotten a bargain: "Ye Qingyue really thinks highly of me."

Xu Mengran's expression changed drastically: "She's trying to lure bandits and brigands here to rob us!"

"Rob them?" Su Chuang's smile deepened, a cold glint in his eyes. "That depends on... whether they're alive to take them."

He looked at Zhao Yun:

"Pass down the order: the Mo Dao Guards are on duty tonight, and their bows and crossbows are fully prepared."

"Bring Jia Xu over again. I have a 'big deal' to discuss with him."

"Here you are."

Zhao Yun withdrew.

Only two people remained in the earthen house.

Xu Mengran looked at Su Chuang and suddenly felt that... this man was like a knife hidden in its sheath.

It looks rusty and harmless on ordinary days.

But once drawn, it will inevitably draw blood.

"Break through."

She called softly.

"Um?"

Be careful.

Su Chuang turned to look at her, then suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Xu Mengran stiffened for a moment, then went limp and let him hold her.