Chapter 1150: Appease the internal before resisting the external, Centipede Gu (Requesting monthly tickets at the beginning of the mon

The Gu room was dim, incense floating.

Inside the translucent glass jar, Gu insects crawled. Snakes, insects, rats, and ants were all present. Appendages, scales, and carapaces collided and rubbed against the jar, making a rustling sound. At this moment, without exception, they all clung to the jar, enviously watching the blue-armored centipede eating on the table, gorging itself.

*Click click click. *

Its mouthparts opened and closed, embracing a fist-sized, glistening water-attribute Great Elixir. A-Wei swallowed it in large gulps, its scales becoming increasingly shiny, oily, and smooth.

Magnificent!

"Cannot Move" took root in the plantation, immovable as a mountain; the Fat Catfish was oily-mouthed and slippery-tongued, clever in speech and appearance; the little Xiao Xiao Shenlong fawned over the mistress, taking a roundabout way to save the nation; the Round-Head had a crowd under its command, shrewd and capable; the Fist supported the Fat Party, willing to be a lackey.

Especially the little Xiao Xiao Shenlong—ever since the fat worm turned into a white dragon and learned to fly, it had been at their beck and call, relying on the ancestors' remaining prestige to bully the weak and fawn over the strong, bully men and humiliate women, engage in male-theft and female-prostitution, and indulge in wine and meat...

Little did they know, before the little Xiao Xiao Shenlong, it was the Heavenly God's number one personal guard, number one bodyguard, and number one loyal minister!

Ten years of drinking ice, it was hard to cool its hot blood. This heaven-splashing wealth finally reached it, A-Wei.

It especially remembered the origin of its name.

"You are so mighty, let's call you A-Wei."

Today, it worked hard, not to prove how great it was, but to tell those little bastards that what it lost, it would definitely take back with its own joints.

Mighty!

*Click click click. *

*Crunch crunch crunch. *

Crumbs of the water-attribute Great Elixir fell all over the table. The insect jar became restless. Li Xianghan stretched out her fair hand, wiped the crumbs on the table into her palm, went to the transparent jar, opened a few, and poured the dregs in evenly.

The collision was intense.

The insect swarm scrambled.

A poisonous snake with intelligence glared fiercely at A-Wei. Before this blue-armored centipede came to the insect room, they shared the Gu insect Great Elixir, but now they could only eat some leftovers, and couldn't even leave the jar for air.

Ignoring the Gu insects' reaction, Li Xianghan returned to her seat, propping her chin and watching the blue-armored golden wings, finding it more delightful the more she looked.

Hard work pays off.

After a full half-month of pursuit and spending countless elixirs to curry favor, the person and the insect finally established basic trust.

Perfect.

Too perfect.

The golden patterns on the wings, every piece of shiny blue back armor, the sharp and pointed curved mouthparts, the golden appendages—there was no place that didn't tend toward the ultimate centipede physique.

It was simply the handiwork of the Southern Frontier Gu God.

Li Xianghan couldn't imagine that there was a place or a corner in the world that could give birth to such a perfect beast-insect.

She could be certain that this centipede's strength belonged to the absolute elite among demon beasts. As long as she could refine it into her natal Gu, she would become the strongest among this generation of Saintesses.

Even if two Hunting Tiger Great Martial Artists died for this, it was worth it!

The only thing that puzzled Li Xianghan was that as a centipede, it should like elixirs like earth-vein Yin Qi, but this centipede in front of her insisted on eating water-attribute Great Elixirs, and they had to be freshly made, preferably with residual warmth. If it exceeded three days, it wouldn't eat or drink. It was truly a picky eater.

Fortunately, the Southern Frontier had rich water systems and didn't lack these water-attribute treasures.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

Their relationship was warming up day by day.

Li Xianghan looked forward to the day she could establish a blood connection with the Gu insect, then start from it to turn into a natal Gu, spread branches and leaves, and achieve a new Gu insect system, becoming an ancestor!

Even one day, leading her to become the Centipede Gu among the Five Gu and Nine Poisons!

Saintess, Saintess—the name sounds good, but if you can't walk your own path, in the end, you are nothing but a furnace for big shots. She, Li Xianghan, must fight for a name and grab a high position.

*Hiccup. *

A-Wei let out a full burp, its hundred feet stretching out.

Li Xianghan tried to look at it at eye level, stretched out her hand, and looked at the centipede nervously and expectantly.

A-Wei was lazy and didn't want to move.

Li Xianghan felt disappointed in her heart.

*Knock knock. *

"Who!" Li Xianghan's pretty face was filled with killing intent. "Didn't I say I was refining the Gu insect and if there was no urgent matter, don't come to disturb me?"

The guard outside was sweating profusely and hurriedly shouted: "It's your grandmother. She is setting off for the front line tomorrow to appease the people and support the front line. She wants to see you today."

"That old immortal thing, I feel unlucky just looking at her!" Li Xianghan couldn't help but slap the table.

It couldn't understand Southern Frontier language, but it could understand the reaction.

A-Wei became curious, turned around, and opened and closed its mouthparts.

"My grandmother?" Li Xianghan was surprised, then her face showed mockery, and she used the Gu insect communication method: "She is truly remarkable, a model of the Southern Frontier, a unique genius among generations of Saintesses. Born with good luck, she was promoted by the Tusi as a hero who sacrificed herself to poison the weak-legged genius of Great Shun, receiving many rewards and being respected by everyone."

"She pretended, and pretended until today, and the people of the Southern Frontier still think so. In reality, she is just a shameless, lucky slut."

"As a Saintess of a great stronghold, she actually privately promised herself to a Great Shun person while training at the frontier. Others said a few sweet words, and she forgot her own surname. Childhood engagement, national hatred—she forgot it all. In her brain, besides men, there were only men. It was my grandfather who was generous and didn't hold a grudge, willing to accept her."

A-Wei's wings vibrated, and it flew to Li Xianghan's shoulder.

The sudden intimacy made Li Xianghan overjoyed, her anger vanished, and she even felt three parts joy.

Their relationship warmed up again. Today's Great Elixir was not wasted.

"Where is she? Take me to see her."

"Yes!"

The stronghold was winding, crossing three mountain peaks.

Incense curled. The woman's long hair was black, and she wore a string of jewelry on each side of her forehead, amber shining.

"Xianghan pays respects to Grandmother."

A-Wei was surprised. Coming before the woman, Li Xianghan had none of the arrogance from the insect room, looking like a well-behaved junior.

This thirty-year-old little girl actually had two faces.

"Hmm." The woman nodded lightly, seeing A-Wei on Li Xianghan's shoulder at a glance, her eyes lighting up: "Is this the Gu insect you sacrificed two Great Martial Artists' lives to catch?"

"Yes." Li Xianghan's pretty face smiled, lying on the woman's knees, shaking gently, her cheeks rubbing: "Grandmother, Grandmother, this centipede loves to eat water-attribute treasures. I'm almost eaten poor. Have pity on me and reward me with some."

A-Wei was shocked. It remembered its mission, pricked up its ears, and secretly gathered information.

Can't understand, record it first.

"Eh, former Saintess, privately promised herself... the one she's talking about wouldn't be that egg Yuan Yuwen, right?"

Liang Qu choked and contacted A-Wei, harvesting the latest news, his face showing surprise.

He let A-Wei find a Saintess and infiltrate the Southern Frontier's interior. Reach the essence in one go?

"Master, please lift your noble right foot and illustrious left foot."

Liang Qu lifted his legs.

The broom swept past.

Long Yao and Long Li, one on each side, nimbly swept away the orange peels on the ground.

The little Xiao Xiao Shenlong flew a circle, its head dizzy, not knowing what use the sentence it said had. Its eyeballs turned, and it flew out from behind Long Eying, came to the little hedgehog, and hugged its claws: "You hedgehog, you've been following for several months. The boss doesn't keep idiots by his side. This prince wants to test you!"

Didn't understand, didn't understand, and still wants to test me. Stupid little dragon, unlearned and unskilled. The hedgehog slandered, piled up a smile: "It should be, it should be. Third Prince, please test little Hedgehog!"

"Humph humph." The little Xiao Xiao Shenlong cleared its throat and asked in a low voice, "Why did the Qinzhou Governor defect?"

"He felt wronged. To take care of the local great clan's face, he beheaded the main culprits early. There was no big mistake, only because Lingnan Province was worried about offending the Censorate, so he was framed, lost his official position, and before that, he was also exploited and sucked dry by Gong Qianqing in the name of investigation. He didn't treat the Qinzhou Governor as a person, but as fish and meat—sacrificing and sucking blood. He was willing to spend so much money, originally wanting Gong Qianqing to say a few good words. Who knew it would be a bamboo basket to fetch water—all in vain."

"Why would he offend the Censorate?"

"The Censorate reported to the Emperor. Afterward, it was discovered to be a misunderstanding. Saying there was no such thing, the Censorate reported based on hearsay, didn't they lose face? They won't act now, but it's hard to guarantee later. This matter is actually a bit absurd."

The little Xiao Xiao Shenlong's eyes lit up: "Then what about the Nanhai King? Why is his responsibility so great? Mayfly Blood Collection takes two or three months. After the White Ape incident, the Southern Frontier attacked. Isn't it prepared early?"

"Because Lingnan falling is a fact, and Qinzhou falling quickly is also a fact. Someone must be found to blame. Finding the Dragon and the Southern Frontier is unrealistic. The Nanhai King ran into it. Moreover, Lingnan Province has responsibility for this matter."

"The Nanhai King wants to hide Gong Qianqing, not only because he is his nephew. If he pushes his nephew out, emotion is one aspect. On the other hand, it makes him look like he doesn't stick to the pot, chilling people's hearts. The impression in front of the Emperor and subordinates is too bad!"

"If there's no problem now, there will be later. Good things in the court won't be your turn, and your immediate superior doesn't like you. If you want to continue moving up, there's little hope. Naturally, you will think about changing one."

"Oh, cough cough, not bad, not bad. I also thought so. You passed! But I have an advanced question! If you answer correctly, I'll count you as formidable!"

Count me as formidable? What's the use? It's not as good as sharing half of the treasure fish leftovers you often eat with me.

The hedgehog bowed: "Please ask."

"How to splash dirty water on the Southern Frontier."

"This..."

The light of wisdom in the hedgehog's eyes extinguished by more than half.

It also couldn't understand this point.

How to splash dirty water?

The Southern Frontier isn't stupid and will never agree. Maybe they will turn around and sow discord between the Nanhai King and the Imperial Court.

Thinking of this, worried that speaking directly would reject Liang Qu's face, the hedgehog took the opportunity of communicating with the little Xiao Xiao Shenlong to remind him sideways.

"This matter, little Hedgehog also doesn't understand. Third Prince, you say, what if the Southern Frontier hears the wind and sends someone to tell the Nanhai King that this is the Imperial Court's excuse, groundless, and actually to divert disaster, just to appease you temporarily, and after the war, they will settle accounts later? What then?"

"Right, right." The little Xiao Xiao Shenlong nodded repeatedly.

"More than half of a province fell. Finding the wrong party, how big is this crime? Later, the Great Shun Nanhai King will likely be removed, or at best, changed to a poor fief. The Nanhai King worries about this, so he sells misery."

"If I were the Southern Frontier, I would directly throw out an olive branch, let the Nanhai King come to the Southern Frontier, be a 'Red River King', the fief is still in Nanhai Commandery, bigger and better. Whether the Nanhai King is tempted, no one knows, but it is definitely a risk. The adult is fighting bloodily on the front line, so we must guard against it."

"Makes sense." The little Xiao Xiao Shenlong worried.

Long Eying looked toward Liang Qu.

Sensing the worry in her gaze, Liang Qu let go of his wrist and grabbed the stool.

"So the Southern Frontier cannot know this, and the world cannot know this."

"Ah?" The hedgehog was shocked. "Adult, if we don't know, how to splash dirty water?"

Liang Qu shook his head and tapped his temple: "This is a thinking misunderstanding. The so-called appeasement, from beginning to end, the key is to appease the Nanhai King's own thoughts, let him work for Great Shun steadily, and resist the Southern Frontier peacefully. It has nothing to do with anything else. In essence, as long as you change his thoughts, it's enough."

Long Eying tilted her head.

The hedgehog racked its brains and couldn't understand, its claws joined: "Little Hedgehog is stupid, please solve the puzzle, Adult."

Liang Qu asked with a smile: "How do you think the Nanhai King feels now?"

"Anxious, uneasy, uncertain, in a dilemma, letting his imagination run wild."

"Then, if I let the Nanhai King 'know' that this is the Southern Frontier's sowing discord, the bandits who abducted the granddaughter during the New Year, and the misreporting to the Censorate—all were arranged by the Southern Frontier, what will happen?"

The hedgehog turned three circles on the spot, and its eyes lit up with Long Eying.

"All emotions will turn into grievance, turn into anger!"

*Snap! *

Liang Qu snapped his fingers.

"Exactly! Let the person involved believe it!"

"Let the Nanhai King believe he was wronged! Let the Nanhai King believe this matter was framed by the Southern Frontier, let the Nanhai King believe that as long as he finds evidence and explains it clearly to the Imperial Court, there will be no problems."

"The Southern Frontier and Great Shun are not important. What's important is the Nanhai King. The dirty water splashing the Southern Frontier is not to be splashed on the Southern Frontier, but to be presented to the Nanhai King! Let him see the Southern Frontier through the dirty water!"

The hedgehog opened its mouth wide, its four claws stepped on the ground, and it turned around excitedly on the spot.

A furry hedgehog rampaged in the tent.

Not from the Southern Frontier to the Nanhai King, but from the Nanhai King to the Southern Frontier!

"Let the Nanhai King believe, then accuse the Southern Frontier. The Southern Frontier will feel inexplicable, thinking it must be the Nanhai King slandering them to shift the blame. The more the Southern Frontier denies, the angrier the Nanhai King gets, the more he wants to prove himself..."

Trust between people doesn't just appear on one side; it appears between Great Shun and Lingnan.

A simple change of order.

Wonderful.

Too wonderful.

The building hasn't collapsed yet; Great Shun is ultimately better than the Southern Frontier.

As long as there is a line that doesn't affect the future and a chance to shift responsibility, the Nanhai King will never let it go.

As for the Imperial Court, regarding the Nanhai King's rhetoric, they can believe it or not. And because it's misleading, it's impossible to find substantial evidence. The result brought about by this...

Long Eying and the hedgehog spoke at the same time: "Regarding Gong Qianqing and the Nanhai King, the Imperial Court has the right to hold them accountable!"

Liang Qu bared his teeth.

"Madam is smart!"

Appease the internal before resisting the external.

If it were the other way around, it would be better to go shave his head early.

It just so happens that cutting hair in the south is convenient for him to follow local customs.

He didn't come to the Southern Frontier for these messy things; he came to make up for the impact he caused in the middle of the year, end the war early, and let the millions of people in deep water go home to farm.

But since he ran into it, he absolutely cannot let Gong Qianqing and others escape punishment because of appeasing one side.

What is a capable official?

It's giving all the options, both this and that!

Appeasement? Accountability?

He wants them all!

If it is really characterized as a Southern Frontier trick to sow discord between the Nanhai King, then for Gong Qianqing and others, this matter is equivalent to turning the page, with no further influence.

There is always a way, always the ability. Long Eying's eyes shone brightly, while Long Yao and Long Li quietly pursed their lips.

Long Eying couldn't help but ask: "Husband, if you were that Qinzhou Governor, what would you do?"

"Ah?" Liang Qu was stunned, falling into thought. "The Qinzhou Governor had no backer, so Lingnan Province could easily abandon him to avoid offending the Censorate. If it were me, having climbed to the position of Governor, I shouldn't have no thigh to hug. If I were forced to be placed in that position without a premise, I wouldn't have a way either."

"Really no way?"

"At most, ask Lingnan Province for some money to compensate for the loss." Liang Qu scratched his temple and spread his hands. "No good way for now."

"Think carefully."

How did it become his task?

Liang Qu was helpless.

"No time now, I have urgent business."

"Then think about it at night."

"... Night matters are for night. I'm going out."

The big case is clear, no time to lose.

Running out of the tent, Liang Qu, as one of the very few generals who ignored the password, dived into Xu Haitao's main tent.

Xu Haitao was surprised, putting down his brush: "Marquis Baron Xingyi, why..."

"Wait." Liang Qu raised his hand to interrupt. "General Xu, I have something I'd like to ask."

"The capable come first. It's not asking; Marquis Baron Xingyi, just speak."

"What exactly happened with Yuan Yuwen and the Southern Frontier Saintess back then?"

Xu Haitao was stunned: "Why would Marquis Baron Xingyi be interested in this?"

"A bit curious." Liang Qu sat down opposite, letting the guards pour tea. "General, as a great general stationed in the Southern Frontier, you should know quite a bit about this, right?"

"I suppose." Xu Haitao fell into memory. "The reason I came to guard the Southern Frontier is because Yuan Yuwen died in the Southern Frontier, and the previous general was held accountable by the Imperial Court and replaced. To avoid repeating the past, I naturally learned more about my predecessor."

Sure enough.

Liang Qu sat up straight: "Please tell me in detail, General."

The guard brought tea.

"The Northern Court, Southern Frontier, and going to sea have always been good places to train descendants. Now add the Jianghuai Ghost Mother. Yuan Yuwen was a Hunting Tiger at nineteen and chose to come to the Southern Frontier. During peaceful times between Great Shun and the Southern Frontier, there was a 'three-no-man's-land' where descendants often hid their identities to train. It just so happened that one of the Southern Frontier Saintesses was also there."

"One of?"

"Every generation of the Southern Frontier has Saintesses, sometimes eight or nine, sometimes four or five. They belong to a natural physique called 'Spirit Source' and 'Spirit Lotus Body', with extremely strong talent, good for raising Gu insects, and very beneficial for dual cultivation. They are extremely rare furnaces."

"And then?"

"Time and fate. That Southern Frontier Saintess who was training actually ran away. Yuan Yuwen, I don't know how, hooked up with her. How they hooked up, why they could hook up—no one knows. So now there is still a theory that the Southern Frontier deliberately sent a Saintess to seduce Yuan Yuwen, just wanting to use the Great Shun person's lustful nature to poison him."

Speaking of this, Xu Haitao also felt it was incredible.

*Hiss. *

Liang Qu was startled.

Is there a story of a love saint inside?

"Anything else?"

"Nothing else. The two privately promised themselves, often meeting in secret, until one day Yuan Yuwen returned, went to a brothel, the love Gu activated, and he died suddenly on the bed. The Southern Frontier Tusi heavily rewarded that Saintess. At the time, it was truly shameful, and there were even nursery rhymes singing about it."

"What nursery rhyme?"

Xu Haitao opened his mouth, ashamed to speak: "Too much time has passed, some forgotten. It was just mocking our Great Shun men for being untrustworthy, two-timing, and so on."

"Good!"

"?"

"Ah, no, nothing."

Drinking the tea in one gulp, he ran out of the tent again, and Liang Qu found Ling Xuan's tent.

"Brother Ling!"

"Brother Liang, is something the matter?"

"Is Brother Ling willing to risk your life to accompany me on a trip?"

"Where?"

"Qinzhou!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1151 =====