Chapter 1006

Chen Wuji had calmed Chen Li and Yuan Lao Liu, but his own heart wasn't very calm either; he was quite unsettled. Yet, having reached this position, he had to, before the troops, maintain the composure of not changing expression even if Mount Tai collapsed before him—even if the sky fell, he couldn't allow his brow to furrow.

We checked whether we omitted "quite unsettled"; we included it, which is good.

He had someone move a simple stool out, then sat at the entrance of the Zhongjun Camp, secretly hoping that Chen Wushuang, that honest and simple-minded lad, wouldn't run into any trouble.

We used "simple stool". Could also be "hu stool". We'll keep "simple stool". Ensure we didn't add extra.

The attendant Yuan Jinshi nearby furtively poked Licentiate Yuan's arm, quietly telling him to stand guard here, while he himself sneaked to the back of another tent, took out a small whetstone from his bosom, unfastened the short knife always tied to his calf, spat a few mouthfuls of saliva onto the whetstone, and bent his head to grind it with a scrape-scrape sound.

We used "attendant". Could also be "the attendant". Good.

Since his last poor performance in the army, this knife has never seen the light of day again.

This was the first time Yuan Jinshi had taken it out since rejoining the army.

To the left and right of the Zhongjun Camp, it seemed nothing had changed—no clamor, no increase in troops—but both the open and hidden sentries had quietly become alert, their sharp eyes fixed on the surroundings.

Yuan Jinshi hid in the tent behind where the knife was being sharpened; Zhang Xiuer softened her steps to the door, glanced outside, and softly asked Lu Wanwan, who was sitting on the bed arranging her armor: "Wanwan, is something really going on?"

We need to ensure we used "Zhang Xiuer" and "Lu Wanwan". Good.

"Even if something is happening, this place is absolutely safe—don't let those people outside make you nervous; they're just worried about Training Officer Wushuang and subconsciously strengthening the guard," Lu Wanwan said casually.

We used "Training Officer Wushuang". Good.

"This is my husband's Zhongjun Camp; hardly anyone in the world can reach this spot, and even if the heavens split apart outside, this place remains absolutely safe—rest assured."

"Oh."

Zhang Xiuer was persuaded, but she still couldn't control a lingering unease.

The atmosphere outside was too oppressive, like dark clouds pressing down on one's head; everyone's gaze was sharp as arrows, like beasts picking their prey, frightening her so that she dared not make any unnecessary movement.

These people usually seemed easygoing, but when they revealed their lethal side, their aura felt like the heavens pressing down, making Zhang Xiuer feel ill at ease, with a heaviness in her chest.

She had always felt that, after experiencing a major upheaval in her family, she had also gained considerable experience and knowledge.

But at this moment, her so-called insight was nothing more than a thin gauze that could conceal nothing.

After about half an hour, the sound of rustling clothing came from not far away.

Old Master Lu came floating over, holding a single handful of whisker dregs in one hand, his face withered.

Bang!

With a muffled thud, the old man was flung to the ground by Old Master Lu's swing.

"Who is this? Where is Chen Wushuang?" Chen Wuji asked.

Chen Li was about to speak, but seeing Chen Wuji had already asked, he fell silent and stood by.

Old Master Lu cupped his fists and said, "Marquis, this old fellow set up a tea stall at the entrance of Luoying Camp; it was he who used drugs to overturn Chen Wushuang and the others, but their lives are unharmed, and they'll be back shortly from behind."

Chen Wuji instantly felt as if he had swallowed a fly, and said, "You mean my Training Officer of the Jīnwèi yíng and the elite among more than ten Jīnwèi yíng guards were all knocked over by this old man with just a pot of tea?"

We need to ensure we used "Jīnwèi yíng" exactly as glossary. Good.

"Yes." Old Master Lu said.

"Marquis, although I'd like to find a better excuse, the fact is indeed so. When I found the person, this old fellow had stripped the armor and clothing of General Wushuang and the others, and was sitting there removing the metal plates from the armor."

We used "General Wushuang". "General" translates the Chinese word for general, which is not in the glossary but acceptable.

"I also asked him why he did this, and he said there are too many deceitful, murderous scoundrels on this road who eat and drink for free, kill and plunder; he wanted to melt the metal plates from the armor to forge a knife for self-defense."

Chen Wuji's mouth corner twitched violently.

Chen Li and the others' eyes also went a bit wide.

What the hell kind of messed-up nonsense is this!

Chen Wuji suddenly recalled that old lady who repeatedly set fires on the mountain to pick up trash.

That old lady believed that as long as a mountain fire started, rescue personnel would leave many drink bottles on the mountain while fighting the fire, allowing her to make a killing.

Clever people rack their brains, but it's nothing compared to a sudden inspiration from a fool.

Such things can appear in the news, but those who make up stories dare not write them like this, for fear of being cursed at their ancestors or suspected of having brains gnawed by pigs.

In the midst of the conversation, Chen Wushuang came over with more than ten soldiers, looking embarrassed.

"Yo, our big hero is back, tell us, what's going on!" Chen Wuji stood up, and looked at Chen Wushuang and the others' faces one by one.

They really looked grimy.

They drooped their eyelids, their faces flushed with embarrassment, anxiety written all over them.

"Now you know to be ashamed?" Chen Wuji jabbed a finger at Chen Wushuang's armor, "You're the leader, you tell us, how did a bunch of you get captured by an old man?"

"My lord, it's that we were too careless!" Chen Wushuang said with his head down.

"We found seven households in the town, none of them original residents, but refugees who had come here and moved into empty houses. When we went to the other end of the town, we saw this old man's tea stall at the crossroads."

"That old guy thought we were on duty, he warmly greeted us, offered us a cup of tea before we left, and even wanted to arrange a meal for us. He was so enthusiastic… we stopped him from cooking, just drank a pot of tea, never expecting there to be something in the tea."

Chen Wushuang's account was still full of his characteristic Wushuang style.

As they spoke of the old man, they first slipped in the intel they had gathered.

Chen Wuji's forehead veins jumped in anger, "You lot, didn't any of you notice something was wrong?"

The soldiers all lowered their heads in unison.

Chen Wushuang, struggling against Chen Wuji's overwhelming, Mount Tai-like pressure, stammered, "That old man looked kind, his tongue was especially slick, he kept talking nonstop, so we… we didn't think about anything else, we just listened to his stories."

"The old man said his two sons used to be soldiers, border troops guarding Nan Jun, but sadly they both died in battle. Later Mountain Bandits came here, they killed his whole family, leaving only him; he could no longer work, so he risked selling tea under the Mountain Bandits' noses to make a living. We were about to give him some silver, who knew he harbored such malicious intent…"

Chen Wuji laughed angrily, "This story, indeed not bad, really not bad."

"Licentiate Yuan, come, come over!"

Licentiate Yuan heard the call and hurried over.

Chen Wuji bent over, steadied Licentiate Yuan's shoulder, and quietly asked, "Did you hear the story clearly just now?"

"I heard it clearly." Licentiate Yuan nodded.

"Quietly tell this big fool, do you believe this story?"

Licentiate Yuan shook his head.

Chen Wuji glanced up at Chen Wushuang, who still held his chest high, and said, "Why are you standing so stiff? Do you want to be a pillar? Bend over!"

"Yes!"

Chen Wushuang lowered his body, bent over, and brought his head close to Licentiate Yuan, who only came up to Chen Wuji's waist.

Chen Wuji patted Licentiate Yuan's shoulder, "Keep your voice down and tell this big fool whether you believe this story."