Chapter 102: Over Mountains and Ridges

Xiong Zhigang dared to propose going to the Jade-Faced Luo Sha's forest bandit stronghold to find clues, naturally because he knew where it was.

This matter had to start from the last time he was dismissed and returned home.

The process was simple: he had been "invited" to the stronghold as a "guest."

That was why the Jade-Faced Luo Sha recognized him at a glance.

To this, Chu Danqing could only say that this group of people was truly arrogant.

Xiong Zhigang was, after all, a general who held heavy troops, but the imperial court didn't react at all; it could only be said that someone deliberately wanted to humiliate Xiong Zhigang and suppress this matter.

After attacking the stronghold, this group of rabble was quickly cleaned up.

Several secret letters were quickly found hidden in the Jade-Faced Luo Sha's room.

"It's impossible to determine who it is from the lines, but there are two purposes for being located here."

"First, to occupy a favorable area, and second, to..." Xiong Zhigang said, looking at Yuan Shanhu: "Target Senior Yuan."

"What? My father?" Yuan Shanhu was somewhat incredulous; she didn't quite understand why.

"Senior Yuan's reputation is not small, but it only circulates among a group of experts," Xiong Zhigang explained: "His power is not as good as major sects like the Canluo Sect, and he is free and unwilling to serve the imperial court."

"It is inevitable that he became a thorn in the side of some people."

"The Qiutan Party disdains people from the countryside, let alone using women as an important tool."

"On the contrary, the Secret Service Factory is not restricted in its use of people."

"There is a very high probability that this is the work of the Secret Service Factory."

"Killing me was just to frame the Qiutan Party," Xiong Zhigang quickly analyzed the reason.

As long as he died at the hands of forest bandits, the Secret Service Factory had plenty of ways to pin this pot on the Qiutan Party.

All that was left was to make a big deal out of it.

Yuan Chong should just be incidental.

"According to what you said, the couple Mr. White Wolf of the Western Regions Snow Mountain might also be the work of the Secret Service Factory," Chu Danqing suddenly diverged and thought of this matter.

"The possibility is not small," Xiong Zhigang said in a deep voice.

"Little Chu, people!" Dabao chimed in, and without waiting for Chu Danqing to respond, he rushed out.

Before long, some fighting sounds came from outside.

Then Dabao dragged a person in and threw him in front of everyone.

"Come, eavesdropping." Dabao briefly described the process.

Xiong Zhigang was about to speak when the person's eyes rolled back, black blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, and he died on the spot.

The whole process happened very quickly; Dabao didn't have time to stop it.

Zhao Mingqian checked and said, "Committed suicide by taking poison; the poison was hidden under the tongue."

Afterward, a secret letter was found on his body.

He reached out to open it, but was stopped by Yuan Shanhu.

"Wait a minute, there is poison in the letter." Yuan Shanhu took the letter and began to retrieve it with her unique method: "My mother's martial arts were derived from poison techniques."

"So there are many similarities; I know a little bit of the method."

Saying that, Yuan Shanhu cleared the poison from the letter and checked it twice to make sure it was correct before handing it to Xiong Zhigang.

Xiong Zhigang took it and looked, his brows furrowed.

"The Jade-Faced Luo Sha is actually Li Wanwu's goddaughter," Xiong Zhigang revealed the identity of the Jade-Faced Luo Sha.

Li Wanwu is the Commandant of the Investigative Factory, the sharpest blade in the hands of imperial power.

"There are probably many god-relatives with high martial arts skills like the Jade-Faced Luo Sha," Zhao Mingqian understood what Xiong Zhigang wanted to say.

With the resources of the imperial court, and the Secret Service Factory not lacking children, as long as there was enough time, they could cultivate a large number of experts in batches.

In fact, the place with the most experts was not any sect or forest, but the imperial court.

The special thing about the Jade-Faced Luo Sha was that she was young, but if she were twenty years older, no one would find it strange.

"The letter indicates that the Jade-Faced Luo Sha was to kill Senior Yuan within a month, then wipe out Yuan Manor, and frame it on me," Xiong Zhigang continued.

"Grand Coordinator Xiong, how come you are like an egg with a crack; why does every fly want to come and take a bite?" Chu Danqing said quite speechlessly.

"Naturally, it's because of military power," Xiong Zhigang said calmly: "Troops and horses cannot be conjured out of thin air."

When he went back, he had to share power; everyone just wanted to make money, so it was very abrupt.

"Doesn't this mean that Emperor Taichang also cannot fully control the Secret Service Factory?" Zhao Mingqian suddenly raised this point.

Xiong Zhigang said sonorously: "That's why I must go back, sweep away the treacherous officials in the court, and return a bright and clear world to the world."

"Then you have to kill Emperor Taichang together, after all, he is the culprit," Chu Danqing's words shocked everyone present.

In an imperial power society, Chu Danqing's words were simply rebellious.

The three of them remained silent, and finally Xiong Zhigang spoke: "We cannot go to the Capital by the original route anymore, otherwise we will be dragged to death by them."

"I know a shortcut, but it is relatively remote and dangerous, but it can be at least five days faster."

"And if we change the route, we can also get rid of their pursuit."

The successive targeting made Xiong Zhigang unable to bear it.

Don't look at the fact that they have been counter-killing all along, but as long as they make one mistake, they are done for.

Chu Danqing was a bit reluctant; changing the route was indeed safe, but the benefits would drop significantly.

However, he didn't object; time was just that much time anyway, and going to the Capital might earn more.

After the group agreed, they set fire to this forest bandit stronghold to avoid others occupying this place and continuing to cause chaos.

On the way, Chu Danqing found an opportunity to open the Jade-Faced Luo Sha's treasure chest.

【You opened: Treasure Chest (Excellent-tier), obtained: Skill Book (Basic Sword Art), Paradise Points × 2900, Paradise Points × 2900】

【Skill Book: Basic Sword Art】

【Type: Basic Skill】

【Quality: None】

【Effect: After use, obtain the skill Basic Sword Art, improve sword art damage and enhance sword art combat skills】

He was very satisfied with the rewards; Basic Melee plus Basic Sword Art, their value was definitely not something ordinary Apostles could afford.

Those who could afford them were all big spenders.

However, he was considering one thing: what would happen if Guo Ming learned the basic skills?

It was just that Guo Ming's situation was a bit special; his combat style belonged to the composite type. In addition to melee and sword art, he also needed a basic long-range skill.

"If I can gather them all, I won't sell them then, but give them to Guo Ming to use." Chu Danqing muttered.

The difficulty of the rank breakthrough trial was very high, so the stronger Guo Ming was, the more confident he would be in completing the five-attribute breakthrough.

Even if he sold them, it was just getting stronger; it was better to skip this process directly.

The Blood Oath Covenant had the disadvantage of being P2W, but the advantage was also very saving.

He didn't need to bear the resources of the covenant object.

As for not being able to learn, then take them back and exchange them for resources.

"With us climbing mountains and ridges like this, can we really be five days faster?" While Chu Danqing asked, he used the thorn vines summoned by the Green Vine Nine-Section Staff to clear the way.

This piece of equipment still had flaws; the summoned vines needed to take root.

That certainly couldn't take root on Chu Danqing himself; he couldn't bear taking root once every ten seconds.

So it was taking root on the Green Vine Nine-Section Staff, and because it was a living thing with attack desire and protection commands, Chu Danqing saved a lot of trouble.

Of course, if Chu Danqing had enough strength, he could also throw the thorn vines onto the enemy to take root, causing secondary damage.

The nine-section staff was similar to a walking stick, but because it added a thorn vine about two meters long, it looked more like a whip.

The attributes of the thorn vine were not very high; it was fortunate that there was Chu Danqing's summoning foundation and the Five Elements Spirit Beast Command Art bonus, otherwise, it would have to sit at the same table as the original ghost.

【Thorn Vine】

【Attributes】

【HP: 100%】

【Energy: None】

【Strength: 3】

【Agility: 1】

【Constitution: 3】

【Spirit: 1】

【Perception: 2】

【Talent】

【Protect Master】

【Skills】

【Lash (Passive) LV. 10】

Chu Danqing was not dissatisfied; he could station six summoned objects without using mana, and although there would be rotations, they were much more intelligent than the Five Elements magic orbs in terms of attack and defense.

The Five Elements magic orbs operated in a fixed trajectory when not controlled, but the thorn vines were on full alert twenty-four hours a day and could be controlled at will when taking root on the Green Vine Nine-Section Staff.

"Yes, I have walked it several times before," Xiong Zhigang said: "It's just hard for you, Mr. Chu, to walk the mountain road with us."

Horses couldn't come up, let alone carriages.

As for the horses and carriages, Xiong Zhigang let the old servant handle them.

Therefore, only the five of them set off.

"It doesn't matter, but I just want to ask, what's the situation with that bird?" Chu Danqing looked up and pointed to a black dot in the sky.

"It has been following us since we started climbing the mountain; could it be used to track us?"

Hearing this, everyone looked up in unison, and sure enough, there was a black dot circling above their heads.

"Mr. Chu, let the Single-Horned Flood Dragon shoot it down." Zhao Mingqian didn't care about anything.

On the contrary, Xiong Zhigang looked at it carefully and only felt it looked familiar, but he also agreed with Zhao Mingqian's words.

Chu Danqing estimated the distance and shook his head: "Too far, can't hit it."

Seeming to perceive their intentions, the black dot circled a few more times and then flew away.

Xiong Zhigang estimated the position where it flew away and immediately said: "If it was really sent to track us, perhaps someone is waiting for us at the foot of the mountain."

"This can also be leaked?" Chu Danqing was incredulous.

"I think I might have guessed who it is," Xiong Zhigang said: "Someone who knows this shortcut and can train eagles, and knows something about me."

"Among the people who once served under me, there happens to be one."

Xiong Zhigang's route change was a temporary decision; the Qiutan Party and the Secret Service Factory couldn't have arranged manpower in every area; they didn't have that much manpower.

"Tsk, Grand Coordinator Xiong, with your situation, I'm afraid you won't live long even if you reach the Capital," Chu Danqing complained; even your old subordinates have turned against you, what advantage do you have?

"Perhaps they are here to pick us up," Xiong Zhigang said with a smile on his face: "Mr. Chu, I was able to rise again because of someone's help, not just the Emperor's choice."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 103 =====