Chapter 2715: One Cannot Bear the Blame for What Isn't One's Own Pot

"Besides Jie City, I also have subordinates in Qingshan Dian and Tao County, and normally I have to coordinate matters between several transfer warehouses — this is official business to begin with. I can get it done!" Coordination of material quantities and transport capacity is needed between transfer warehouses too; it's just that Jie City hasn't operated at full capacity for over a year, and Wang Lushi tossed all that to other transfer officers.

"Good. Every ten days, you will update me on intelligence — including the logistics corps' destinations, the categories and quantities of supplies, the number of guards, and so on. If any sudden major event occurs——"

"Every, every ten days?" Wang Lushi was baffled.

If this were a one-time deal right now, he wouldn't mind selling some intelligence in exchange for his own safety. But judging by the other party's posture, they actually want him to be a spy, betraying Mahe Plain's logistics intelligence long-term!

Th-this is far too dangerous.

Besides, he is the grandson of the Vice Minister of Agriculture of Lingxu City! As long as he reports his situation, his grandfather might be able to find an antidote for him.

Lingxu City has so many immortals, so many gods, each with vast divine powers — how could they possibly be helpless against a mere Corpse King Pill!

Right, but for now he still can't let the other party see through him; he has to play along.

The other party seemed to see through his thoughts, stating bluntly: "The Corpse King Pill's poison is planted in your heart-field; even gods find it hard to cure. Don't think your backing is strong enough to find another way out. The last two who were this confident have already died from the poison flaring up."

This person let out a low chuckle: "I can monitor you in real time. If you dare seek help from outsiders, so much as uttering one extra word, you'll die from the poison flaring up instantly."

Indeed, this person had already demonstrated to Wang Lushi just now that they could control Wang Lushi's bodily movements, and even see what he sees without being beside him.

This person can't possibly stay in Jie City twelve double-hours every day, but if he seeks help from others, or even writes a letter back to Lingxu City and it's discovered, isn't that a dead end?

This is truly a terrifying divine ability! Wang Lushi swallowed: "I won't, bu-but can you let me go?"

"Every month, I'll send someone to deliver you one antidote pill to alleviate the pill poison. If you exceed five days without taking it, you're dead." This person said indifferently, "As long as you're useful, you'll stay alive."

Wang Lushi's heart was in chaos: "Wh-what if you can't deliver the medicine in time?"

"Then there's no helping it." This person laughed, "You'd best pray that I always have this much free time."

He added: "Now, return to the bedroom, open the hidden compartment at the head of the bed."

Wang Lushi complied, retracing his steps. When he passed those two guards again, his heart was already dead ash; he couldn't even be bothered to spare them a second glance.

Useless! Not the slightest use.

Opening the hidden cabinet at the bedhead, there was a cloth pouch inside; pouring it out revealed a small green pill.

"Eat it."

One command, one action — Wang Lushi swallowed the pill. In just a dozen breaths or so, a rumbling sound came from his abdomen, and his whole body felt much more comfortable.

"You've already taken the antidote for the next thirty days. Also, don't think about fobbing me off with fake intelligence." This person gave him a preemptive warning, "My informants aren't just you. I'll cross-check the intelligence you give me; once there's a mistake——"

Wang Shilu's heart went half-cold; he could only reply with difficulty: "Yes."

"Work hard, and you'll live to see the war's end. Otherwise, you'll become the fifty-eighth official's son to die on the Mahe Plain."

Fear, like a needle, pierced Wang Lushi deeply once more. As expected, the first fifty-seven were killed by them!

No movement in the room; that figure was long gone. Wang Lushi tentatively called out a few times; no answer.

That person seems to have already left. To come and go freely in this heavily guarded official residence — the other party's cultivation is truly remarkable. The mechanisms and spell formations in this residence, just the ones Wang Lushi knows of, are no fewer than seven; the anti-infiltration barrier is active round the clock, especially the main gate and high walls guarded by special watch-beasts — yet he doesn't know how the other party slipped past their eyes and ears.

The moment he relaxed his legs went weak, and he sat down directly, unknowingly shifting from sitting to lying down.

The next day, Wang Lushi was woken by bird calls outside the house.

He opened his eyes to find it was already mid-morning.

The guards on the corridor weren't those two anymore; the maidservants coming and going all saluted him.

Everything as usual; he could move freely, and his belly didn't hurt either.

Could last night have been a nightmare?

Wang Lushi harbored a fluke hope.

However, three days later, two urgent dispatches were delivered to his desk. Wang Lushi was drinking tea; one glance, and he couldn't hold the cup steady — tea spilled onto the tabletop:

A grain escort convoy headed for Longhou Pass was robbed; the grain was entirely burned.

Among the convoys traveling the Mahe Plain at the same time, this one carried the largest quantity, had the most elite military escort, and even two great yaos as guards. Some time ago, the fiends popping up all over the Mahe Plain had put every logistics garrison on high alert and prompted them to add manpower, yet they still couldn't prevent it.

Most importantly, this convoy's movements were in the list Wang Lushi had handed over three days ago!

It was him — he betrayed this convoy.

It was him — he caused the Beijia military grain to be robbed and soldiers killed!

"My lord?" The clerk beside him awaited his instructions.

Wang Lushi frowned and slammed the table in anger: "Outrageous! Over five hundred guards, plus two great yaos, yet they were routed by a hundred enemy troops — how exactly did they lose!"

"The enemy commander is extremely fierce; in a single exchange he killed the accompanying great yao Li Jiu. The long spear pierced in from here——" The clerk pointed at his own chest, "a one-hit kill. Survivors say this convoy's commander might be a woman, because her figure is slimmer than the others."

"A woman?" Wang Lushi's heart stirred, recalling three nights ago, that figure hidden in the darkness — their build also seemed somewhat slender. Could it be a woman?

But that person made no sound, only conversing with him in Wang Lushi's mind.

"There are many female warriors in the Panlong Army."

"Can the witnesses be certain?"

"Uh, no, the natives on the Mahe Plain are originally rather short." Unlike Beijia soldiers who are tall and sturdy.

"So that means no new leads? I had you interrogate them — how exactly was this battle lost! Five hundred pieces of trash, how they lost to a hundred men — I didn't ask you to give me an explanation!"

"Ah, yes yes."

Watching the clerk's brush fly, Wang Lushi exhaled violently. Only he himself understood that taking this step meant there was no turning back.

Whatever the reason, he had revealed the Beijia logistics situation across half the Mahe Plain to the enemy!

From now on, the successive ambushes on Beijia logistics convoys would all be chalked up to him, Wang Lushi.

He had read the laws; he knew perfectly well how severely Lingxu City and the Beijia army punish traitors and spies.

Even if he voluntarily surrendered now, it wouldn't mean he could escape punishment.