My lord, spare his life!

Guan Zong's mouth was like it was coated with poison.

At least, that's how the right vice president sees it.

He continued his sarcastic remarks: "But you can't really blame Guan Siyin for this. He's never really lived a decent life in his own life, so naturally he doesn't know what a good life is like."

The right vice-president wanted to cover his ears.

She was terrified that Guan Zong would reveal Guan Si's past.

Although Guan Si never shied away from his past, nor did he consider his mother's past as a courtesan a shameful secret, the world might not be so kind to him. He feared that if this matter were to be exposed, and if one day the two armies were to clash, the other side might use his mother's identity as a pretext, or fabricate filthy accusations such as her being his patron... The Right Vice-Minister dared not even imagine the catastrophic scene that would unfold.

Intelligent people not only die from being too clever for their own good, but also from knowing too much. Fortunately, Guan Zong didn't dwell on this.

He said, "Could the people he saw in the building be normal? Could they be normal people in the Dongfan mountain stronghold? He's convinced that his life is normal; it's pitiful that you've all been misled."

The right deputy chuckled awkwardly: "I think things are fine as they are."

Guan Si spent his childhood in a brothel with his mother, so he had seen the decadence and debauchery. The Right Deputy and other soldiers of the Hundred Ghosts Guard mostly had memories of being in the Dongfan Mountain stronghold from the beginning of their lives. They were taught where the vital points of the human body were and how to strike the most lethal blows when they were shorter than the swords.

Every extra day you live means one more person you kill.

If I ever run into a tough opponent, I'll die when I've had enough of living.

Guan Zongdao: [Heaven have mercy.]

Guan Zong has plenty of strength and methods to deal with this kind of person.

Thus, a "war" without gunpowder was launched.

The Hundred Ghosts Guard had an independent camp with its own logistical support, and the canteen's menu was fixed. However, starting from the day the Right Vice-Commander noticed something amiss, the soldiers began to suspect something was wrong. The food seemed to be catering to their tastes.

The cleanest dishes eaten the day before appear most frequently.

Dishes that the soldiers rarely touch will basically not appear again.

Tailors from the clothing camp came to take their measurements and carefully recorded each person's foot measurements to ensure that the new shoes they received wouldn't rub their feet. The soldiers' old clothes and shoes were washed, dried, and repaired by designated personnel, and they were given a day off on the day they received their pay. They were all orphans without parents, so naturally they had no family to support them, and they had nowhere to spend the yuan they received.

They don't need a day off; they can stay in the camp.

Guan Zongdao said, "How could we not need it? Even weapons need to be sharpened and re-sharpened when they become dull, let alone people."

Rest is also for better recovery.

Speaking of weapons, Wu Zu really thought of something.

They can go to the blacksmith to order some daggers and short knives.

Most of the Hundred Ghost Guards had this plan, but a small number of them had been ordered by Guan Si to go down the mountain to monitor Tianyue County and thus learned about life down the mountain. They knew more about the uses of Yuan Yuan coins.

Guan Zong intentionally wanted the Hundred Ghosts Guards to experience normal society and understand what a good life truly meant. After one such encounter, the Right Vice-Captain remained silent, while the Left Vice-Captain hesitated but did not object. Training continued regardless of the method; the specific form of training was no longer important.

But he never expected to be caught red-handed by the general.

The deputy on the right was on high alert, barely daring to breathe.

After a long while, his general's usual cold voice came from above: "You go ahead with your business. Since the fault doesn't lie with you, we won't blame you. If anyone is to be held accountable, it'll be the culprit."

The right deputy secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, General."

But the steps he took as he turned to leave were heavy.

The general won't allow them to train like this...

At this moment, Guan Si added from behind: "The Hundred Ghosts Guards have no reason to give up halfway. Don't embarrass yourselves."

If you're not going to do it, then don't do it. If you're going to do it, then do it properly.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

The right deputy hurriedly turned his head and agreed.

He gestured to his comrades who were peeking in his direction.

Everyone could tell from this gesture that they had escaped unscathed, and their tense expressions visibly relaxed.

Guan Si: "..."

A subtle sense of unease arose in his heart.

Yeah, we'll double the blame on Guan Zong later.

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao.

Completely unaware of the impending bloodshed, Guan Zong rode up on horseback with a cheerful grin. He rode with one hand on the ground, half of his upper sleeves pulled down and tied around his waist, leaving him shirtless. His bare muscles were soaked with sweat, and under the sunlight, they looked as if he had been coated in oil.

Zhang Yang: "..."

Before the person even got close, the stench of sweat wafted over first.

Players never need to consider the feelings of NPCs when talking to them. Zhang Yang's reaction was even more direct; she immediately covered her nose with her hand, staring blankly at Guan Zong, whose smile was gradually fading. She frowned: "Just how many days has it been since you last showered?"

Guan Zong's name above his head changed from green to yellow.

Guan Zong's favorability towards you has decreased by five.

He complained, "...Even the lord cares about this?"

Zhang Yang didn't care about the sudden silence and said, "Your sweat smells too strong, it's become sour and rancid."

Meanwhile, Wang Qi stared at Zhang Yang with great interest.

A hint of excitement flickered in his eyes, as if he could almost see blood splattering on the scene at any moment. Even though Wang Qi was illiterate, he knew how much conflict a lord openly disliking his subordinates could cause. Those with mild tempers would simply walk away, while those with stronger tempers might even draw their swords and cause their lord to bleed on the spot. He keenly sensed that Guan Zong's emotions were dissatisfaction, tinged with murderous intent.

However, things did not turn out as he had expected.

Xiao Sui also gripped the knife fan with a solemn expression.

Only Guan Si looked indifferent, as if it were none of his business.

Guan Zong wiped his bare upper body, his palms sweaty and greasy; if he rubbed them, he could probably rub off a few strings of body grime.

It is indeed somewhat indecent.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Rong Mo will go and tidy things up."

The yellow name above my head has quietly turned green again.

However, the drop in favorability rating didn't recover, but Zhang Yang didn't care. In the game world, the level of favorability between NPCs and players is the most insignificant thing; the only thing of value is her own favorability rating towards the NPCs.

Zhang Yang chose a shady spot to wait.

About fifteen minutes later, Guan Zong appeared, fully dressed.

He not only took a bath, but also soaked his clothes in water several times and dried them with starlight, making them barely presentable.

"During my absence, has anything important happened to Tianyue?"

Guan Zong replied with a serious expression, "My lord, no. Under the supervision of the Prefectural Magistrate and Chief Clerk, everything in the prefecture is safe and sound. How have you been lately, my lord? Was your trip to Tianjiang successful?"

"Everything went smoothly. Tianjiang County was very easy to talk to, but the root of the problem wasn't with them, but with Dongxian. After friendly communication with Dongxian, we left Youzheng to handle the aftermath."

Zhang Yang likes to look people directly in the eye when he speaks.

She stared at Guan Zong, a subtle yet natural smile curving her lips, even softening the coldness in her captivating eyes. It was a delicate change she herself hadn't noticed, but a keen observer could detect. Her smile was starting to look somewhat human.

Guan Zong's favorability towards you increases by two.

Zhang Yang: "???"

She had a peculiar habit: she wouldn't force herself to think about things she couldn't understand. "By the way, what's the deal with all those official trees and flowers along the main road?"

"The seeds left by the lord have been planted and cultivated by the Household Department." The advantages and disadvantages of each type must be recorded. When Du Guan casually flipped through the records, he found that this official tree grows quickly, grows straight and has a dense canopy. It is not picky about the land and its root system has the effect of stabilizing the soil.

To ensure smooth traffic and commerce within the prefecture, the official roads will certainly need large-scale repairs. Since the official roads are being repaired, the trees lining both sides should naturally be replanted. These newer, easier-to-plant and easier-to-care-for trees are far more suitable than the original varieties.

Tianyue County is not short of money now, but the common people are.

How to ensure that the Tianyue County government's funds are distributed reasonably to the common people without fostering a dependency mentality? The only solution is to implement more projects that improve people's livelihoods. The more projects implemented, the more money the common people will have, and naturally, they will be more willing to spend it to improve the lives of their families. Once this money is spent, won't the county's economy be stimulated?

A seemingly hopeless situation was completely turned around.

Zhang Yang nodded: "Yuan Yi and the others did a very good job."

Finally, it feels a bit like a rural home.

She paused for a moment, then said, "Young master, you did very well too."

Upon hearing this, Guan Zong was the first to be stunned. He tilted his head and thought for a while before belatedly realizing that "Young Master" was referring to him. The usually carefree Guan Zong now showed a rare restrained shyness, and a blush spread across his neck.

His name does indeed have a mischievous and teasing connotation.

The lord had never called him by his courtesy name before.

This time, the serious way he shouted it made him uncomfortable.

Wang Qi belatedly realized that "Young Master" was not a title but Guan Zong's courtesy name. He scrutinized the unfamiliar man before him with a critical and discerning gaze. For some reason, the more he looked at the man, the more familiar he felt, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

Perhaps it was his overly direct and blatant gaze that Guan Zong couldn't ignore even if he wanted to: "My lord, is this a new colleague?"

Zhang Yang shook his head: "No, they are hostages."

Guan Zong: "???"

Wang Qi, who was being referred to as a hostage, didn't show any displeasure. Instead, he frowned and stared at Guan Zong: "Have we... met before?"

Guan Zong thought about it carefully, then shook his head.

"May I ask your honorable name, sir?" He couldn't refer to Wang Qi as a hostage—given that Wang Qi wasn't wearing shackles or having his personal freedom restricted, he knew that this hostage was no ordinary person and couldn't be measured by the standards of a common prisoner—so he used a form of address that was impossible to find fault with.

Wang Qi said, "Wang Qi, Wang Gongsun."

Guan Si guessed something and gave a reminder.

"He is Wang Hongtu's son."

Wang Ba, courtesy name Hongtu.

Upon hearing the name, Guan Zong immediately recognized it. His expression suddenly became distorted and strange, and his eyes began to wander aimlessly.

Wang Qi pressed further, "You know that old man?"

Guan Zong: "...We don't really know each other, but we've fought each other."

He spoke vaguely.

To be precise, he did fight Wang Hongtu.

If Wang Hongtu hadn't run away quickly, and if a female general hadn't sacrificed herself to stay behind and hold them off, while the rest of his troops hadn't delayed, Guan Zong might have been able to kill Wang Ba back then. Who would have thought that years later, Wang Ba's son would come running over? It was fate, after all.

Upon hearing this, Wang Qi excitedly asked him.

"You've fought that old man before? Who won and who lost?"

"Hmph, is that even a question? It's definitely me..."

Before Guan Zong could finish speaking, a strong sense of crisis shot straight to the top of his head. Without thinking, he dodged from his original position. When his vision cleared, he saw Wang Qi, who had just been looking at him with a curious expression, now with an unnatural flush of excitement, dragging a sharp blade that exuded an ominous aura. Half of the blade was embedded in the spot where Guan Zong had just stood; if he hadn't dodged—

Being cleaved in two by the opponent is to be expected.

Wang Qi tilted his head, a wicked grin spreading across his face, and questioned, "Didn't you say you beat my old man? Why do you look even weaker than him? You're not lying to me, are you?"

Guan Zong's lips twitched slightly.

Suddenly, I could empathize with Wang Ba from back then.

Did Wang Ba feel the same way when he looked at him back then? The person standing in front of him wasn't a living person, but clearly a vengeful ghost!

But unlike before, Wang Qi couldn't land a second blow. In an instant, Wang Qi became the one awkwardly dodging. Zhang Yang's cane barely grazed his waist, failing to sever him in half.

She said, "This is my territory."

Chong Guanzong pouted, "You touched my people!"

"Mountain Spirit, don't be angry. I just had a sudden urge to spar with you, senior. It's not a life-or-death battle." Wang Qi's angry expression twisted into a grotesque smile. He sheathed his weapon, glanced sideways at Guan Zong, and said in a cold tone, "What do you say?"

Guan Zong received a threat from Wang Qi.

He suppressed the urge to curse.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Yes."

Where did the lord find such a living ancestor?

Zhang Yang glanced at Guan Zong, then at Wang Qi, and reluctantly believed her. She grabbed Guan Zong's wrist with one hand and Wang Qi's wrist with the other, forcefully dragging them over and placing her hands together: "In this way, it can be considered that your past grievances are completely resolved."

She wasn't particularly clever, but she wasn't stupid either.

It seems Guan Zong and Wang Qi's father have some grudges, and Wang Qi genuinely intended to kill Guan Zong just now. To prevent Guan Zong from being killed by Wang Qi without my noticing, as the lord, I need to help the two reconcile.

Guan Zong: "..."

Wang Qi, who couldn't break free no matter how hard he tried: "..."

Guan Zong's favorability towards you has decreased by one.

Wang Qi's favorability towards you has decreased by three.

Zhang Yang stared at the system log notification, thought for a moment, and deliberately kept the two of them pinned down. Only when she felt she had disgusted them enough did she mercifully release them, completely disregarding the fact that a full quarter of "game time" had quietly passed.

Finally, Zhang Yang earnestly instructed Guan Zong: "Since Gongsun is the son of an old friend, you must treat him well and fulfill your duties as a host."

Guan Zong's lips twitched.

They stared at each other from Zhang Yang's blind spot.

The closer you get to Weiyin County, the more vibrant the atmosphere becomes. Farmers are everywhere in the countryside, crops are lush and green, and waterwheels are efficiently transporting water from low-lying areas to higher ground, saving farmers the arduous task of fetching water time and again. As noon approaches, wisps of smoke rise from the farmhouses in the distance, and the faint sounds of adults calling to children can be heard.

Wang Qi simply watched quietly.

Upon entering the city, the streets and alleys were teeming with tourists.

It was bustling and lively, not at all like a rural area.

Even in Dongxian County, the capital city where the old man had ruled for many years, such a relaxed and lively scene was rarely seen. Dongxian County was strictly governed, and most pedestrians on the street were in a hurry. They would tremble with fear at the sight of a soldier in armor.

"roar--"

Just then, a loud tiger's roar interrupted his thoughts.

??(*ΦwΦ*)

So it was Guan Zong who killed He Ning's biological mother...