In the morning, the wind chimes on the eaves trembled in the cold wind.
Occasionally, the clothes drying inside the room would also be playfully moved by the wind sneaking in.
Strange, a piece of South Border’s local attire seems to have disappeared.
I wonder if it was hidden by some master thief or if there was an issue somewhere along the way.
Ice Chunk still quietly complemented the Jade Phoenix Divine.
She had not returned to the military camp, seemingly having reached a crucial point in her practice.
“How strange.”
“Why can’t I level up?”
Coming out from the storeroom, Little Li put away the Golden Creation Seal into the system space and fell into deep thought.
It turns out that Brother Monkey is truly the strongest here.
The seal hasn’t been stamped yet.
“Didn’t I already comprehend the Cloud Somersault?”
As Li Mo walked down the street, he bought a breakfast from the South Border on the go, eating the spicy and fragrant pancake.
While heading towards Green Wood Camp, he began pondering.
The Vajra Body actually reaches perfection; it’s just that the duration depends on his physique.
The Seventy-Two Transformations need no explanation.
Could it be the Cloud Somersault?
“The true marvel of the Cloud Somersault lies in traveling vast distances in an instant.”
“I can only fly through the air, which isn’t considered perfect.”
“It’s not light enough, and it’s too mysterious…”
Just as Li Mo was brainstorming, he suddenly bumped into a somewhat familiar figure halfway.
Li Mo was taken aback, almost failing to recognize him.
The person before him looked disheveled, with tattered and blackened clothes, except for his piercing eyes and the familiar wariness and inexplicable thievishness…
Huang Donglai?!
“Donglai, has your part-time job expanded to include the Beggar Gang? Your network is too broad.”
“Brother Li? Cough, I didn’t expect you to be in Green Wood City.”
Huang Donglai’s eyes lit up, then he smiled bitterly:
“To be honest, Brother Li, I was entrusted to deliver a military message to Green Wood Camp, so as to act conveniently.”
Li Mo nodded, the light of his divine eye fading, smiling:
“So it’s part-time courier work. Yesterday, I even missed you when I was thinking of you. Even when Commander Qu offered me a fine steed, I didn’t take it.”
“????”
After all, few people remember him, so Huang Donglai felt oddly moved.
If he hadn’t heard the original story.
“Donglai, since the military message will eventually reach Commander Qu’s hands anyway, and since this one is quite urgent, why don’t you come into the camp with me?”
“That’s exactly what I intended.”
Li Mo led Huang Donglai, and they both entered Green Wood Camp. The patrolling soldiers saw Li Mo and let them pass without any hindrance.
The South Border has many types of disaster beasts. He hadn’t even shown all the ones from the Seventy-Two Transformations yesterday, and now he needs to continue military exercises.
On the training ground today, squad leaders were already leading the troops in specialized training, giving the whole camp a bustling atmosphere.
This scene fell into Huang Donglai’s eyes, creating a sense of impending storm.
“Brother Li, it looks like Green Wood City will soon see battle. You should make early preparations, and leaving is best.”
“Battle?”
Li Mo was taken aback, his brows furrowing.
The South Border hasn’t seen battles for years, why is it so sudden…
He vaguely thought of something possible, but with his brow furrowed, he did not answer Huang Donglai’s question.
A moment later, a personal guard brought Commander Qu’s reply, leading the two into the central command tent.
Inside the tent was a sand table over three yards wide, depicting the map of Green Wood City. This must be a military secret. Qu Sheng could have chosen another place to meet them, but for some reason, he chose this spot.
Qu Sheng stood in front of the map, revealing a friendly smile upon seeing the two:
“I hear from the guards that this friend of Young Hero Li brings important military news?”
“Commander Qu, I am Huang Donglai…”
Huang Donglai handed over the letter, feeling relieved once it was delivered.
Li Mo was curious about what this so-called military news might be, but he did not pry further. Deep down, he felt a heavy heart.
Because he noticed that Qu Sheng’s expression grew increasingly serious.
“Please sit.”
Qu Sheng invited them to sit, pouring tea for them personally:
“This letter is very important. Thank you, brave man, for delivering it from afar at the cost of your life. No wonder you are Young Hero Li’s friend.”
Having said that, he looked deeply at Li Mo, taking a deep breath:
“Let’s leave Green Wood City.”
Li Mo held his teacup and asked anxiously: “Is the battle in Green Wood City very severe?”
Qu Sheng stared at the map, no longer hiding his exhaustion:
“These days, I’ve used the Art of War to calculate the battle situation many times. Initially, the odds were only three out of ten, until Young Hero Li appeared, bringing the odds above fifty-fifty.”
“Until I saw this letter today.”
“Yes, I knew this battle would happen long ago. A few days ago, I originally planned to have you and the young lord leave together, but I swallowed my words to increase our chances.”
“I really don’t want to see my brothers and the prince lose everything they built from scratch, including Green Wood City, to ashes…”
“…”
Li Mo fell silent for a moment.
Why did Qu Sheng know in advance?
Celestial Divine Jade.
He wasn’t stupid; he just hadn’t experienced war.
“What about you, Commander? If there’s no chance of winning…”
“A pot always breaks at the well, and a general may d*e on the battlefield.”
Qu Sheng filled their cups with tea:
“In fact, many years ago, when I accompanied the prince to slay that evil crocodile, I should have died then.”
“You two are different. Both of you are rising dragons and prodigies, young heroes with a bright future ahead.”
“Let’s go, we’ll miss our chance if we wait any longer.”
Qu Sheng bowed tiredly to the two.
The tent fell silent again, the wind outside sounding particularly sharp.
At this moment, Huang Donglai added:
“This letter was given to me by a scout on his deathbed. He should belong to Green Wood Camp.”
A bamboo card was placed on the table.
“Hero Li, the person you’re looking for is here. There’s nothing else for you to worry about here.”
They left the central command tent.
Huang Donglai whispered: “Brother Li, are you okay?”
“I… Let’s go, we should give Lu Yi’s family compensation.”
Li Mo shook his head, his gaze fixed.
All he wanted was to achieve glory on the battlefield, his might unparalleled.
But this military token in front of him was so glaring.
Right, a pot always breaks at the well, and a general may d*e on the battlefield.
Isn’t it normal for wars to cause bloodshed and deaths?
He had never met this soldier, Lu Yi, but helping to send his compensation home would fulfill his duty, right?
Unless…
This war started because of him, didn’t it?
A few minutes later.
The two went to the supplies tent, which was also an ordinary tent.
The quartermaster took the military token and arranged for a pile of copper coins to be counted out.
“Hero Li, that’s all we have.”
“There’s only this much?”
“There are indeed regulations stating that fallen soldiers receive twelve taels of silver in compensation, but here, far from the emperor’s reach, the military rations are funded by the prince’s private wealth…”
Thirty to forty copper coins, each polished to a bright shine.
Reflecting the pale face of the young man.
…
PS: Second update, the previous chapter had me editing until my scalp tingled, sorry for the delay.
