Chapter 472: Any Plans?

Feng Zhou's heart gave a huge jolt — big wolf? dog cart?

This person is the Alliance Lord's man!

He stood where he was, as if stunned by the words, his head drooping lower, his shoulders trembling slightly.

To onlookers, he looked completely like someone humiliated and at a loss.

Feng Zhou slowly raised his head, forcing a wry smile: "Young Master, you're joking."

Xiao Ningyuan, however, furrowed his brows: "What, you don't take a liking to this Young Master's dog?"

"No, I wouldn't dare."

"Never mind." Xiao Ningyuan glanced around and asked offhandedly, "With so many people gathered in this manor, are you living comfortably?"

"Shall I report to Your Highness and allocate more silver for you to expand?"

Zhao Mang hurriedly replied, "Thank you, Young Master, for your concern! For now we're fine — only I and my brothers live in the manor; as for the others..."

He glanced at Feng Zhou: "These artisans and laborers are all housed in the buildings east outside the manor; they're only allowed in when someone is watching and they have work to do."

Xiao Ningyuan nodded, gave a casual glance, then waved his hand: "All right, I've seen enough. Colonel Zhao manages his troops well — quite proper."

"When I return, I will truthfully report to Your Highness."

Zhao Mang's face lit up with joy, and he added respectfully, "Thank you, Young Master! Please take your leave, Young Master!"

Xiao Ningyuan and Lu Qi mounted their horses, and amid the respectful farewells of the guards, they rode out of the manor.

All the way back to the carriage, his little sister stood with arms outstretched, waiting: "Big Brother! Hug!"

Xiao Ningyuan reined in his horse, dismounted, quickly walked to his sister, and wrapped his arms tightly around her — only then did he realize his back was already soaked in cold sweat.

Xiao Er saw his expression and asked, "What's wrong, Young Master? What happened?"

Xiao Ningyuan then slowly recounted everything that had happened in the manor.

"Is Feng Zhou here?" Tuan Tuan exclaimed joyfully, "Great! I haven't seen him in ages!"

Xiao Er's face grew grave: "So many? Young Master, this armory must absolutely not be left standing!"

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "But even counting Tuan Tuan, we're only nine people — how could we possibly do it?"

Everyone exchanged glances; the enemy forces vastly outnumbered ours, and they guarded so many weapons — the difficulty was too great!

Tuan Tuan tilted his head: "Big Brother, may I go ask Feng Zhou? He'll surely help us."

Xiao Ningyuan replied, "I haven't not considered it, but he's merely a supervised artisan now — I fear he can't do anything either."

"Moreover, this must succeed in one strike; once they suspect anything, there will be absolutely no second chance."

"This venture is risky; if we mishandle it, we could lose everything."

Tuan Tuan, however, disagreed: "We won't know until we ask, right?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ningyuan chuckled: "True — since it must be done, it's better not to overthink it."

He picked up the water bag, removed the Thousand Faces mask from his face, and energized himself: "Everyone, rest where you are! Recharge your spirits; after midnight, we'll first go see Feng Zhou, then decide."

"Yes!"

Just after midnight, the night was as dark as ink.

The group changed into night-clothes and sneaked to the buildings east of Chen Village.

In stark contrast to the manor's stern atmosphere, here only a few torches flickered sporadically, and the guards were much laxer.

Deepest inside stood a solitary hut, before which two sword-wielding guards leaned against the wall, arms crossed, dozing.

Tuan Tuan lay on Xiao Er's shoulder, obediently leaning against his brother.

Xiao Ningyuan gave Lu Qi a hand signal.

Lu Qi nodded, and together with the two guards silently scaled the roof, crouching above the hut.

He lifted his fingertips slightly, raising half a tile.

A single bean-sized lamp glowed; Feng Zhou sat alone at the table, facing a stack of blueprints, his brow furrowed in thought.

It was him!

Lu Qi jerked his chin at the two guards.

The three of them floated down together, striking simultaneously and instantly felling the two guards to the ground.

They didn't even utter a grunt before being swiftly dragged into the shadows, their outer robes stripped, wrists and ankles bound, and mouths gagged.

Soon, the two had donned the guards' uniforms, lowered their heads, folded their arms, and leaned against the door.

Lu Qi swiftly ran back, lifted Xiao Ningyuan, and gave Xiao Er a nod.

The four leapt onto the roof, hurried forward, and only when they reached the hut's roof did they drop down, slipping inside; the doorway guards swiftly shut the door.

Feng Zhou heard the commotion and looked up; Tuan Tuan poked his head out from behind Xiao Er: "Feng Zhou! I'm here! How are you?"

Feng Zhou's whole body jolted; he sprang to his feet, then hastily lowered his voice: "Alliance Lord! Is it really you?"

"Was it you who spoke earlier today?"

Xiao Ningyuan smiled: "It was me — sorry for the offense."

"Young Master!" Feng Zhou's eyes welled up, "No offense, no offense — I'm so happy I can barely contain myself!"

He stepped back half a pace, straightened his attire, and bowed deeply to Xiao Ningyuan and Tuan Tuan: "Feng Zhou pays his respects to the Young Master, Alliance Lord."

Tuan Tuan slid off Xiao Er's back, ran over, and pulled him up: "Come on, get up! My big brother has something he wants to ask you!"

Feng Zhou rose to his full height: "What does the Young Master wish to ask? I will tell you everything I know, holding nothing back."

Xiao Ningyuan stared at him: "Feng Zhou, I want to destroy Chen Village's armory!"

"Those ballistae and weapons, if taken to the battlefield, would kill countless soldiers — you know better than I that this place cannot remain! Do you have a good plan?"

Feng Zhou drew one sheet from the many blueprints on the table and spread it out.

He pointed at the various markings on the paper: "Since Prince Qing's men detained me here, I have been drawing this map every night."

"I told them it was for moisture-proof storage, and had them place the gunpowder crates in these four corners; they even praised me for being thorough."

Yet no one expected that the gunpowder stores, placed at the four corners, would, once ignited, explode in a chain reaction—even immortals could not save them.

Feng Zhou gazed tenderly at Tuan Tuan: "Alliance Leader, nearly every weapon in Chen Village is practically my painstaking effort."

But they actually intend to use these against the Ning Prince's Mansion!

Then I'd rather destroy them all! I absolutely cannot be such an ungrateful and treacherous person!

Tuan Tuan happily flung herself into his arms: "You're so good! Feng Zhou! You're the best!"

Feng Zhou stared for a moment, then after a while, tremblingly placed his hand on Tuan Tuan's back: "Little Alliance Leader, I have longed day after day for your return; seeing you safe puts my mind at ease."

Xiao Er gave him a thumbs-up: "Feng Zhou, you truly deserve the miss who went to Xibei for you, went down to Jiangnan, and ran across the grasslands!"

Lu Qi also nodded: "No wonder the Lord Master has gone to such trouble for this Sir Feng; it's worth it!"

Xiao Ningyuan also couldn't help but look moved: "Tuan Tuan, this is all your good fortune!"

He lightly coughed: "What should we do? Any plans?"