Chapter 1138: What a Miserable Old Man

Xiao Ye heard the voice, his face indifferent: "Although we practice different martial methods, shouldn't a grown girl find a lover? I've set my sights on the tavern owner."

The rough-faced man's mouth twitched fiercely.

These sword-wielding women—none of them are decent wives.

Could she even say something like that herself?

After a long silence, he still earnestly advised: "Xiao Ye, although your idea... is somewhat normal, don't forget—the tavern owner is not just a tavern owner, but also Marquis Zhenyuan! If you approach with an agenda, I guarantee you'll die miserably."

Xiao Ye ignored him, merely murmuring: "To die at the hands of one's beloved—wouldn't that be a blessing in life?"

The rough-faced man was utterly exasperated; he flung his hand, angry: "I'm really wasting my breath talking to you—has the porridge finally cooked? I'm starving to death!"

"This is soup!"

"Soup is soup—has it cooked?"

"Not yet!"

"..."

At that moment, two men and one woman walked over from afar.

Dressed in white, a pure-faced woman asked with a coquettish, giggling voice: "What are you two arguing about? I heard your voices from afar—who's dying? Come on, tell me to scare me."

The rough-faced man jumped down from the wall: "I'm about to starve to death—someone wants to die in their beloved's hands—how's it going?"

"Going fine—just a few petty fish, boring." The white-clad woman said casually: "You wanting to starve doesn't surprise me—you eat ten meals a day and still never fill your belly; you'll starve to death sooner or later. But... Xiao Ye wanting to die in her beloved's hands—makes me very curious? Which family's fine young man?"

"Tavern owner!"

The rough-faced man's words left the other three silent in unison.

They stared in disbelief at the bare-legged girl, their expressions shifting from shock to solemn.

The elder among them spoke in a deep voice: "Xiao Ye, this isn't a joke—you should know the tavern owner's status, and what we're doing now. Old Zhangtou messed things up; we're now making amends."

Xiao Ye's expression was indifferent, somewhat impatient: "I'm the strategist, alright? Why are you all worrying about me? Drop your little schemes—I won't drag you down. But, tavern owner—I've decided on her. When the time comes, just watch me act."

Everyone fell silent instantly.

Seeing Er Huang and the white-clad woman Shen Tu not pressing further, the rough-faced man said leisurely: "Even strategists miscalculate sometimes—Old Zhangtou played chess his whole life, yet still kept hitting walls at the tavern owner's place? Ciji Zhai nearly got uprooted—don't you remember?"

Er Huang and Shen Tu's expressions jerked violently.

Shen Tu weakly said: "This... what Marquis Jiu Gong said kinda makes sense—Old Zhangtou used to be so imposing, a single gesture commanding heroes of the world, but now... what a miserable old man, forced to personally lobby those old fogies—have any of you seen Old Zhangtou like this?"

The rough-faced man and Marquis Jiu Gong grunted in agreement, nodding heavily.

Xiao Ye, annoyed by the talk: "I won't act recklessly, alright? You should be relieved now—I was just talking, not saying I'll do anything right now."

She flicked her fair palm: "Stop overthinking—tell me what you've found out? And where's Old Zhangtou?"

"Lately, it's not just lively—scholars clutching pens, jianghu in chaos!" The middle-aged man called Da Huang, about fifty or sixty, sat directly on the ground.

Xiao Huang, around thirty, dressed as a peddler, followed suit: "My dog-brain's nearly beaten out, but the tavern owner's taken it easy now—become an island observer."

Shen Tu glanced at them disdainfully, voice soft and sweet: "Old Zhangtou just arrived at Jiannan Commandery—should reach Taiyuan Sect by tomorrow."

"But there's unexpected news—the tavern owner hasn't sent reinforcements to Taiyuan Sect; Chen Clan's only expert seen is Chen Li, others still silent."

"Confirmed no movement?" Xiao Ye's expression turned grave.

Shen Tu nodded: "Confirmed none—whether the tavern owner's preparing, we don't know. After Ciji Zhai was so thoroughly dealt with by the tavern owner, we dare not act rashly—once noticed, Old Zhangtou's remedial game will collapse again."

Xiao Ye pressed his forehead: "Already collapsed."

"Huh? Where does that come from?" Marquis Jiu Gong's face shifted slightly.

Xiao Ye sighed leisurely: "If no accident, that cow-nosed old Daoist Yu Yu is already nearby, and Chen Shiyi isn't rushing to strike Taiyuan Sect hard—just waiting for Old Zhangtou."

"Impossible? Our backup Old Zhangtou is hidden deep." Marquis Jiu Gong asked in surprise: "With the Chen Clan's past abilities, they shouldn't be able to dig this deep, right?"

"Never underestimate the foundation of the world's greatest military clan—if they had no hidden hands, how could they ever deserve 'the world's greatest'?" Xiao Ye murmured: "Their decline isn't all due to Dayu Court suppression—there's also—seizing opportunity, these four words are what truly matter."

Da Huang and Xiao Huang in unison raised hands to cover their foreheads, nearly identical in shaking their heads.

"What sin—Old Zhangtou's probably in for misery again this time." Da Huang said.

Xiao Ye nodded: "This is probably just one thing countering another..."

"Don't rush to sigh—hurry and think what to do!" Marquis Jiu Gong urged anxiously: "If Old Zhangtou messes this up, it's all previous effort wasted—everything we've done will collapse."

Xiao Ye waved: "Not that exaggerated—first, eat!"

"At this time, what's there to eat? Speak first!" Marquis Jiu Gong shouted.

Xiao Ye turned: "You're not hungry?"

"In this state, what's one more or less bite?" Marquis Jiu Gong said anxiously, directly lifting the copper pot from the fire with bare hands, setting it aside: "Speak first, eat later—you lot can be heartless, I can't bear it."

"Alright." Xiao Ye agreed: "I guess since Old Zhangtou went to Yunan County, he's no longer a player but a pawn—everything he does is under Chen Clan's control."

"If Old Zhangtou heard this, he'd surely die of anguish!" Lao Huang said: "But I have a doubt—if the Chen Clan knew all this early, why did Ciji Zhai still rebel earlier? That bunch of short-sighted fools nearly ruined our big plan."

"Actually, this—I think we should blame Old Zhangtou." Xiao Huang said: "How many in Lou Li's five departments dare probe heavenly secrets, calculate Mandate of Heaven? Old Zhangtou just said a few vague lines—they'd naturally wonder more, nothing strange."