Chapter 1153: The heavy rain has not stopped (Requesting monthly tickets at the beginning of the month, two-in-one)

The Nanhai King, who was seriously injured, has finally recovered, which is undoubtedly a great good thing to boost morale.

There were shadows of people outside the camp, cheering and jumping, accompanied by the movement of vehicles and horses. Small water droplets on the leaves gathered into one, *pitter-patter* falling onto the oilcloth of the tent roof, as if another small rain was falling.

Gripping the spear shaft with five fingers, Liang Qu looked toward the Otter.

"What's the date today?"

The Otter crawled up from the blanket, flipped out a yellowed calendar, and pointed its claw at the red circle.

"Hoo, it's the end of the thirtieth month. February 4th is the Beginning of Spring, February 16th is New Year's Eve, February 17th is the New Year... Spring rain startles spring, clear valley days... Summer full, awn summer, heat connected... The first period, the east wind thaws; the second period, hibernating insects begin to stir; the third period, fish ascend carrying ice. Truly full of vitality..."

"Reporting to Marquis Baron Xingyi, the Nanhai King's injury has healed, and he is coming by carriage, cooking cattle and slaughtering sheep, comforting the front-line soldiers with several prefects. General Xu invites Marquis Baron Xingyi to welcome him together. I don't know..."

The soldier outside the tent asked respectfully.

*Click. *

The weapon rack was empty. Liang Qu grabbed the Fubo, rotated it three times, shrank it to three feet as he wished, tucked it into his waist, and lifted the tent curtain.

"Take me."

"Yes!"

"Great Shaman? Why have you arrived? You didn't send anyone to pass the message..."

On the south bank of the Red River, the Southern Frontier camp was also surprised by the arrival of the Great Shaman. The Great General and the Five Gu and Nine Poisons gathered together, receiving them carefully.

The Hundred-Foot Great Shaman sat in the upper seat, closing his eyes and not speaking. Everyone looked at the House Steward on the side.

"To be on the safe side." The House Steward said concisely.

"Could it be..."

As soon as this was said, everyone understood, subconsciously gripping the weapons in their hands.

Zang Yunzhou and Ren Ye looked at each other, looking at the red fog on the opposite bank.

People are in the valley, not seeing the vastness of heaven and earth.

Only mountains can see mountains.

"The whole army is on alert!"

"The whole army is on alert."

On both sides of the Red River, it was lively for a while.

The ground was flat, trees were split, wheels rolled.

Cart after cart of rich supplies were sent into the camp, including live livestock, melons and fruits, and medicinal materials. The cooks cooked cattle and slaughtered sheep to treat the whole army, and there were thousands of treasure fish. According to the grade, they were steamed and drizzled with oil, sent to the dining tables of officers at all levels in turn.

The Otter lifted the lid. Taking advantage of the cook's inattention, its claw hooked and quietly stole two fish from the fish basket.

"'The enemy invades my border, brave and swift as a flying ape. Striving to fight with them, fighting one against a hundred.' Prefect Gong Qianqing of Lingnan White Water Prefecture, meets all the soldiers today. Thank you for your bravery and desperate fighting to kill the enemy. I, Gong, admire you! I toast you all!"

"The ancestral territory should be defended to the death, not a single inch given to others. Prefect Gong is too polite."

"Thank you for the treasure fish, Prefect Gong."

"Where, where. Soldiers just need to kill the enemy on the front line. Prefect Gong has to consider more. Where can the stable logistics be separated from Prefect Gong's help!"

Hearing this, the wine in Gong Qianqing's mouth almost choked him.

He came to strive for performance, not to make a fool of himself. Especially since he knew his own affairs, was this praising him or damaging him?

He looked at the speaker.

Gong Qianqing scanned up and down, his heart startled.

Such a tall person. Ordinary people are five feet five, which is considered tall. This person is at least seven feet. Is this a person?

"This soldier is so burly. I don't know the native place..."

Long Yanrui ate rice in large mouthfuls without raising his head. The soldier on the side, to avoid embarrassment, immediately introduced: "This is a Jianghuai Dragon person, Long Yanrui, following Marquis Baron Xingyi, coming from Pingyang to support us. If you talk about the native place, it is Southern Zhili."

"Good, Southern Zhili is good. The first-class fertile land under heaven. 'I am a captive's child, don't understand Han songs. Strong men need fast horses, fast horses need strong men. Under the yellow dust, then distinguish male and female!' I have long heard of the great name of the Dragon clan, gifted, handsome men and beautiful women. Unfortunately, I have never been to Southern Zhili. Seeing it today, it is truly so. I, Gong, thank the warrior for helping here."

Long Yanrui didn't raise his head, still eating rice in large mouthfuls.

Gong Qianqing felt that this Dragon person was a silly big guy, perhaps having lived in Jianghuai for a long time, rarely going ashore, not understanding the basic etiquette of the human race, or isolated from the world, never having attended a private school, not understanding human language. Immediately after, he remembered another thing.

The Dragon person followed Marquis Baron Xingyi, so...

The first-class romantic figure under heaven.

Gong Qianqing's spirit was lifted. He raised his wine cup high and poured wine personally: "'Jade-like forehead, eyebrows brushing green, Liang Lang is truly a man.' Seeing Marquis Baron Xingyi today, it is a great honor, a great honor."

The wine swirled.

Liang Qu hugged his hands: "I don't drink."

Gong Qianqing was stunned. His movements were coherent, immediately splashing the wine in the cup, and changing it to tea.

"I don't drink tea either."

Gong Qianqing realized something was wrong, calm and composed: "Also, the south has beautiful trees, good tea is distinct in four seasons, tasting four kinds of flavors. In Jiangnan, not Lingnan. Lingnan is like summer all year round. Marquis Baron Xingyi is from Pingyang, Jiangnan has good scenery, not being used to drinking it is also normal. Then eat more vegetables, eat vegetables."

He originally wanted to make a familiar face with Liang Qu and get to know the famous Marquis Baron Xingyi. If he could let Marquis Baron Xingyi say a few words, the trouble on him wouldn't count as trouble at all. Now he didn't know what the situation was, hot face sticking to a cold butt. Gong Qianqing said a polite word and hurriedly withdrew.

"Southern Frontier Mayfly Blood Collection, I don't eat even more."

*Clang. *

The porcelain bowl swirled. Long Yanrui wiped his hands, and the gnawed bones smashed into the porcelain plate, crisp and audible.

Xu Yuelong and Wei Lin at the back table looked up.

The scene was awkward for a while.

The Grandmasters at the surrounding tables looked at each other.

What's going on? Did Gong Qianqing offend Marquis Baron Xingyi?

Lingnan locals have all heard of Gong Qianqing. It is rumored that he has a relationship with the Nanhai King and is the youngest son of the Nanhai King's younger sister.

Aunt and uncle are relatives, generations are relatives, breaking bones and connecting tendons. His background is heaven-defying. He came with the comfort team. They are Grandmasters, and they all have to smile at this Prefect at the banquet. But the powerful one is the Nanhai King, not Gong Qianqing.

The devil is one foot high, the Tao is one foot high. Wanting to touch Marquis Baron Xingyi, this legendary Jiang Zongshi and hero of the generation...

Not qualified.

If he really did something to offend Marquis Baron Xingyi, the Nanhai King would instead grab Gong Qianqing by the ear and let him come to apologize.

Gong Qianqing had a serious expression, put down his wine cup, flicked his sleeves, bowed with both hands, and bowed down.

"I have admired Marquis Baron Xingyi for a long time. I have taught my juniors to take Marquis Baron Xingyi as a model. Seeing you today, I fear there is a villain at work, causing some misunderstandings. I don't ask to resolve the misunderstanding immediately, only hope that regardless of whether I am right or wrong, Marquis Baron Xingyi will not be unhappy because of me, delaying the war."

The surrounding Grandmasters had strange expressions, even more curious.

First meeting? How did he offend him?

Could it be...

Someone couldn't help but turn their neck, looking around.

Everyone in the world knows him. The earth has four directions. Liang Qu has a reputation in Southern Zhili, Southern Frontier, and Northern Court, and he also left a very powerful reputation in the Hantai Prefecture in the west. It is said that once during a visit to Blue Lake, just because a junior of the Bai family, the number one local snake in Hantai, looked at Lady Long on the road and was fascinated, even without taking action, showing greed in his eyes, from small to old, all had their ashes scattered by Liang Qu. Afterward, the Imperial Court only gave a painless demotion and suspension of salary, and because of the Northern Court's war merit, he was soon promoted back.

Strange.

Looked around.

The fairy-like Lady Long didn't come to the banquet today. Gong Qianqing wanted to see her but had nowhere to look.

Liang Qu leaned against the back of the chair. Gong Qianqing bowed and didn't get up.

Xu Yuelong was happy, Wei Lin glanced sideways, understanding that he knew the inside story, and snorted coldly.

After a while.

Liang Qu waved his hand.

Gong Qianqing was like receiving amnesty. His waist bent down another three inches. He didn't get up immediately, bowed and retreated three steps, then turned and left.

Long Yanrui asked in a low voice: "Brother-in-law, just let him go like this?"

"He has this attitude, and there's no other way." Liang Qu picked up his chopsticks to pick up vegetables, and immediately a Jiang Zongshi opposite moved the vegetables closer.

He couldn't press Gong Qianqing to death on the spot. Ling Xuan had a hard time misleading the Nanhai King, making him 'recover'. Before the matter was truly done, teasing him was enough, no need to add waves.

"Marquis Baron Xingyi, is there any misunderstanding between you and Gong Qianqing?" A Jiang Zongshi on the side asked.

"Maybe."

Seeing that Liang Qu had no intention of explaining, no one came to ask again, for fear of offending him if they opened their mouths.

"Hoo."

Leaving the big tent, Gong Qianqing took a deep breath. He didn't stay too long, walked a hundred steps quickly, confirmed that he wouldn't be easily overheard, and smashed a big tree with a punch: "What exactly is going on? Where did I offend Marquis Baron Xingyi?"

The guard was ashamed: "The subordinate doesn't know. It is rumored that Marquis Baron Xingyi is kind and shouldn't be like this..."

"Now he 'is like this'!"

The guard racked his brains, a flash of inspiration: "It is rumored that Marquis Baron Xingyi was born in poverty. Could it be that he heard some wind?"

"Hoo." Gong Qianqing took another breath and restrained his expression. "Go check!"

"Yes! This matter... should we tell the Nanhai King?"

Gong Qianqing shook his head, flicked his sleeves and put his hands behind his back: "It's just a bit of unhappiness, giving a bit of embarrassment. It's not a school student who has been wronged and cries back to call for elders. Check it. If you find out, tell me. If the matter can be solved, solve it. If you can't find out, or can't solve it, this matter ends here. Just pretend I never knew Marquis Baron Xingyi."

"Obey the order."

Gong Qianqing twisted his beard.

After a while.

He shook his head, took the wine pot handed by the guard, and stepped into the next big camp.

Both sides of the Red River were on alert.

The Nanhai King didn't stay long, and to avoid suspicion, didn't show his face. For three days, it was mostly Gong Qianqing and several prefects who entertained and arranged.

The fourth day.

The Nanhai King and the Hundred-Foot Great Shaman moved away from the front line one after another.

The patrolling soldiers breathed a sigh of relief one after another.

If a Wu Sheng makes a move, a slight carelessness will implicate the innocent.

No one knew if it would be the next moment that the two sides fought, and they would die in the aftermath.

Perfected Form contracted. In the dense forest, Smoke and Hunting Tiger continued to move in the dark, ambushing and assassinating each other, eliminating effective strength, gathering intelligence, and even fugitives from the 'three-no-man's-land' received rewards and transformed, obtaining the other party's legal identity.

The tent curtain was lifted.

"General Xu."

"Marquis Baron Xingyi!" Xu Haitao stood up to welcome him. "Is there any urgent matter? I heard that you and Prefect Gong had some misunderstandings yesterday? It's better to resolve enemies than to knot them. If Marquis Baron Xingyi is willing, I am willing to be the host, building a bridge for you two to reconcile. Prefect Gong should apologize, apologize, how about it."

"Future matters will be discussed later."

"Also good." Xu Haitao secretly thought it was a pity. Hearing this, he knew that reconciliation between the two was unlikely. "Marquis Baron Xingyi came for other matters?"

Liang Qu stared at the sand table: "Has the Hundred-Foot Great Shaman left?"

"The Nanhai King sent a message, the Hundred-Foot Great Shaman has already left."

Liang Qu went straight to the point: "I am preparing to raid the south bank of the Red River tonight! I need General Xu to coordinate and cooperate, organize Perfected Form to respond at any time, and expand the results."

Xu Haitao's pupils dilated: "Tonight? The Wu Sheng arrived, three days of tension, tonight is the best time to sneak attack..."

"Not tonight!"

"Still nothing?"

"Nothing..."

In the big tent, the Southern Frontier Grandmasters gathered together, looking at the sand table, indirectly learning about the front-line dynamics through the Great Shaman's movements, seeing the Wu Sheng retreat, anxious.

Until today, Liang Qu returned from the pursuit.

"How many did you say?"

The reporting Perfected Form knelt on one knee, sweating profusely.

"Changmu Dian Red Water Poison was captured, Wanxiang Meng Black Water Poison fled, whereabouts unknown. Lower Dragon Bay was lost, more than seventy Perfected Form experts died in battle, Hunting Tiger and Smoke are countless. When the subordinate reported the news, the front line was still fleeing. Liang Qu carried people and rode a dragon to pursue, calling wind and rain, suspected of having the ability to track in water. Casualties in three days, not yet counted..."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1154 =====

The Bone Fiend E Qirui frowned: "How is that possible? Could it be that Great Shun has acquired a secret technique to crack the Mayfly Blood Collection?"

"I heard Great Shun prepared herbal sachets; could it be that the sachets slowed down the collection speed?"

"No, the mayflies given to Liang Qu were personally cultivated by the Great Shaman himself. It is the only one of its kind and can withstand Great Shun's herbal formula." Zang Yunzhou shook his head.

Mayfly Blood Collection takes two to three months to collect the Qi of one Jiang Zongshi, allowing for tracking over a thousand miles. It is divided into four to five stages, meaning one can be collected every half month or so; once all are gathered, one can sense the location.

Great Shun used herbs to extend the time to half a year, which is indeed effective. Currently, it has been a month since the supporting Grandmasters arrived in Southern Zhili, and only three Grandmasters have had their first stage collected. But Liang Qu is a special case, and he is worth the Great Shaman specifically researching a special version, just to collect Liang Qu's Qi as soon as possible and grasp his location.

However...

In one month, at least two stages should have been collected, yet so far, there has been nothing.

The first time was an accident, the second time...

Even the spies say that for the past month, Liang Qu has not deliberately avoided eating or drinking, and he has a meal every few days.

"Has Great Shun really cracked the mayflies?"

"No, I would rather believe Liang Qu is a special case." Ren Ye shook his head. "If Great Shun really cracked it, why were three others collected despite also being reinforcements? This shows Liang Qu is special, and his methods are likely non-replicable."

"Has he controlled his own metabolism?"

The crowd was shocked.

Humans are metabolizing every moment; if one stops metabolizing, wouldn't that be equivalent to eternal life?

Great Shun's First Marquis.

The Bone Fiend E Qirui's eyes flickered repeatedly.

Furthermore, the Southern Frontier Grandmasters realized a more terrifying problem.

"What if we can't catch Liang Qu's Qi? Are we just going to keep cowering like this?"

"No need." Ren Ye tapped the sand table. "We can deduce it from others, such as his wife Long Eying, and the water beasts he keeps; these people have close relationships."

"Too dangerous. As long as one location deduction is wrong, we will lose miserably. He has the strength to wipe out more than two digits of Grandmasters at once."

Silence.

The Plague Fiend spoke: "It's not bad that the front line has reached here. Swallowing more than half of Lingnan is already the most fruitful result since the founding of Great Shun. As long as we can hold it..."

"National affairs have always depended on Martial Saints; when has it ever been necessary to look at the expression of a Perfected Form?" The Bone Fiend E Qirui was furious.

Pitter-patter...

The oilcloth stretched over the tent roof made a muffled sound.

"It's raining?"

"Squeak!"

The black cicadas shrieked violently.

"Enemy attack!"

Everyone's thoughts moved like lightning; they kicked the ground and rushed out. A gust of true qi swept through, and the central tent was torn to pieces.

Clatter, clatter...

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"Run quickly."

"Ah, my spirit weapon, my spirit weapon, save me."

The heavy rain poured down, noisy and clamorous.

The obstruction of vision and the black cicadas' warning magnified the fear in people's hearts infinitely. Martial artists' true qi flew horizontally, turning the tents into ruins, collapsing into the mud.

The rain pitter-pattered on the ground, on the oilcloth, and the world was a vast expanse of white.

The Black Water Poison Ren Ye's clothes were completely soaked in the blink of an eye. Touching his body, he was surprised to find nothing had happened. Looking at the soldiers who were like headless flies, he roared furiously: "Quiet!"

The soldiers' brains went blank for a moment. When they were refilled, there was no abnormality in their ears except for the chirping of cicadas.

"What's going on? Who can explain?" The Red Water Poison Zang Yunzhou grabbed the collar of a Hunting Tiger.

"This subordinate doesn't know. I was patrolling, and the black cicadas suddenly chirped..."

Looking at the other Grandmasters, it was the same for all of them.

No enemy attack?

"It's the rain!" The Plague Fiend spoke, rubbing his wet fingers. "This is not ordinary rain; it is man-made. It triggered a ritual reaction, which in turn affected the black cicadas!"

Man-made?

Everyone looked up. The bean-sized raindrops were smashed to pieces in the air, and the water spray fell on their faces.

Great Shun wants to paralyze them!

"How far does it cover? Investigate and report quickly!"

"Yes!"

The military camp gradually restored order.

The Hunting Tigers mounted their horses and galloped away.

After two quarters of an hour.

The horse's hooves slipped and it knelt on the ground. The Hunting Tiger flipped off the horse's back.

"Reporting to the General, it extends from the opposite bank of the Red River to one hundred and fifty miles south of the north bank!"

Over one hundred and fifty miles!

"How is that possible!" The Plague Fiend exclaimed.

"It is already possible!" Ren Ye shook off the water mist from his body. "The whole army is on alert!"

The black cicadas perched on the trees.

Three hours later.

"Is there any way to make these damn cicadas stop chirping!" A soldier was irritable; he felt his ears could no longer accept any other sounds.

"What kind of method is this? Can someone really make it rain continuously?"

Zang Yunzhou and Ren Ye looked at the surging water level of the Red River.

This is a rainstorm.

A three-hour rainstorm.

The soil inside the camp completely collapsed and turned into a swamp.

The rain did not stop for a moment, the cicadas did not rest for a moment, and the spirit could not relax for a moment.

"Could it really rain for three days?"

Zang Yunzhou frowned.

Three days passed in a flash.

The rainstorm had not stopped.

(End of chapter)