Chapter 85: 85, 86 Before and After the Peace Talks, Monsters in a Chaotic World (Big Chapter, Please Subscribe)

At the foot of Lu Yu Shan.

The wind is dancing, the snow is drifting.

There are three days left until the peace talks between Great Shang and the Barbarian north.

And not far from here lies the vast battlefield; many of the corpses have yet to be collected, yet people always tirelessly go to collect them.

Even in death, wrapped in horse hide, one should return to their homeland.

Doing this is for the sake of military morale and the military Soul.

An army has a Soul; if you do not respect this Soul, you cannot train a strong force with faith.

Death is a very solemn matter.

At this time, both Great Shang and the Barbarian north have sent many volunteers here to the battlefield to collect corpses.

Everyone knows that the war, at least the war for this year, is coming to an end, and perhaps a Ghost Tide natural disaster will descend soon; taking advantage of this time, they collect as many corpses as they can.

Xiao Hong Liao of the Barbarian north, with a small red medicine pouch swaying at her waist and leading two two-headed giant wolves by hand, walks across the windy and snowy battlefield with a desolate expression.

Her father is a commander of a small Barbarian tribe who moved south due to the Ghost Tide in the north.

This summer, he committed many sins.

Xiao Hong Liao hates such a father, yet she knows the reason he has for doing so; only a cruel tribe that knows how to bare its fangs will not be swallowed by other tribes.

Therefore, she is conflicted, and so, at this moment, she puts corpse after corpse into body bags with an attitude bordering on atonement, then loads them onto the wolf riders.

She is a robust and lively young girl, and also one of the few "Shamans" in the tribe who understands herbalism.

Using her status, she has quietly saved many Great Shang commoners, sheltering those people before finding opportunities to quietly let them go.

She is kind to everyone and very friendly.

Including that little guide she met when the tribe moved south last year—Xiaoding.

Xiaoding is named Ding Sigu, a very clever child who is very close to her.

So, at this time, when she comes to the battlefield to collect corpses, Xiaoding follows her.

Xiaoding does not have much strength, but he hunches his back and grits his teeth, working hard to carry them.

Xiao Hong Liao walks over and gives him a hand.

Xiaoding gasps for breath.

"It's enough for you to just follow me." Xiao Hong Liao brushes the snow off him.

"Sister Hong Liao," Ding Sigu looks at the young girl, wipes his sweat, and says, "I'm fine."

"Still fine? You're already sweating; your body is weak." Xiao Hong Liao smiles, reaches out to casually brush the pale falling snow from the little guy's head, and then says, "If I tell you to rest, then rest."

"Alright, Sister Hong Liao."

Ding Sigu stops arguing.

After he entered the Barbarian tribe, life was actually not smooth for him.

The Barbarians respect the strong; in the eyes of Great Shang commoners, he was considered a normal, ordinary youth, but among the Barbarians, he was completely powerless.

He had only one use: a guide.

And after the Great Shang county town was captured, this utility of his was greatly diminished because guides who were more proficient in the Barbarian language and stronger than him appeared.

Just when he fell into a low point, with a vast emptiness before his eyes, unable to see a future, not knowing if he could survive, and even beginning to suspect that everything was his own retribution, Xiao Hong Liao seemed like a light shining into his gray world.

This Shaman of the tribe took his hand and led him out of the dark corner.

Ding Sigu thought he was appreciated, thought this Shaman had noticed his superior qualities.

He did not know if he was actually superior, but... he always stubbornly and groundlessly believed so.

Because he wanted to be a person above others.

But soon, he discovered he was wrong.

Xiao Hong Liao not only pulled him into the light, but also pulled many people and many small animals; she would speak to those in distress in a gentle yet forthright tone, and would also bandage the wounds of injured wild beasts, including magic beasts like the two-headed giant wolves.

The evil youth learned for the first time that there really was light and kindness in this world.

If this kindness belonged to his enemy, he would wantonly exploit it and laugh out loud.

But this kindness belonged to his benefactor.

This kind of grace was different from the past, making him feel hope in the midst of true despair.

His mood was complicated.

Subsequently, the youth silently swore: if one day he had power, he would definitely do his utmost to protect this girl's kindness. Perhaps, at that time, he would also express his love.

But this "love" should never be expressed by a nobody.

He must get ahead!

He must become a big shot!

He must no longer have his fate manipulated by others at will!

The wolf riders pace, carrying more and more corpses on the snowy battlefield.

Some of those corpses had terrifying causes of death, some had already rotted, and some were half-skeletons... yet Xiao Hong Liao carefully placed them one by one into body bags, humming an unknown requiem in the Barbarian language.

The wolf riders, the girl, and the youth walked very, very far, walking until the sky turned dark, before turning back.

The next day, the final day before the peace talks... it continued as before.

In the evening, the light snow cleared.

The rose-colored evening glow shone with cold rays, making the white snow glisten and dazzle the eyes.

Ding Sigu suddenly walked to Xiao Hong Liao's side and said timidly, "Sister Hong Liao, tomorrow is the peace talks between our Barbarian north and Great Shang; could you take me to see... the Golden Crow King?"

The Golden Crow King is one of the four Golden Tent Kings of the Barbarian north, and also the Golden Tent to which Xiao Hong Liao's tribe is a vassal.

A "Shaman" has a special status among the Barbarians; although Xiao Hong Liao is only a young, obscure Shaman, her status is here, so there is still hope... at least someone would be willing to help her pass a message to the Golden Crow King.

As for the leader of Xiao Hong Liao's tribe, the Barbarian who originally took Ding Sigu away, he had plenty of ferocity but lacked brains.

"Why?"

Xiao Hong Liao was stunned for a moment, but then looked at the youth with a grin, her gaze encouraging.

She always loved to support the weak in this way, to encourage them.

Ding Sigu said, "I—I have a way to let the Barbarian obtain even greater benefits."

Although he was at the bottom, he had observed along the way, and hidden in his heart was an incomparably ruthless and vicious scheme; this scheme could make him be looked at with new eyes, and could allow him to rise from a nameless, slave-like nobody.

At the very least, he would gain an opportunity.

"Greater benefits? Yo, Xiaoding is quite impressive. Tell me, what kind of benefits?" Xiao Hong Liao's eyes crinkled with a smile as she looked at this little brother of hers who was like a tag-along.

"Grain, of course." Ding Sigu suddenly became spirited and said, "Without grain, how will the Barbarian live this year? Eat all the magical beast cattle and sheep clean? Then what about next year? The Great Shang Dynasty has vast lands and abundant resources; they have stored grain. I just want to help the Barbarian demand a bit more from them. This is for the good of all Barbarian people."

Xiao Hong Liao said, "Then tell me first."

Without a second word, Ding Sigu grabbed a tree branch and began to draw on the snowy ground as he spoke: "Ending the war is certainly what both sides desire, but if one must pick who wants to end the war more, it is clearly the Great Shang Dynasty.

They know the consequences of not ending the war, and this place is their home.

And as long as we exert a small threat and propose a request that can satisfy both sides, we can easily obtain grain."

Immediately following this, he began to speak with great animation.

With deep accumulation and thin release, his silver tongue made the situation in every region and the thoughts of every place sound perfectly logical.

As he spoke, he used the branch to mark the ground, hypothesizing various scenarios of military offensives, and incidentally complaining that the Barbarian side fought too honestly, and how he would do things if it were up to him.

When he was speaking, his whole person seemed to be glowing.

Xiao Hong Liao was somewhat moved, because she knew the Barbarian were indeed very short on grain, but she hesitated and said, "But, using the method of threats to obtain grain, wouldn't that be a bit bad?"

Ding Sigu said, "No, this is not a threat.

It is the advantage that we Barbarian occupy.

When two races contend, how can one not utilize an advantage?"

Xiao Hong Liao said, "But—but if the Great Shang Dynasty doesn't agree, wouldn't that be a lose-lose situation? This would ruin the peace talks."

Ding Sigu said, "A lose-lose situation? No, the Great Shang Dynasty has plenty of people who are good at calculating. If they don't agree to peace talks now, my Barbarian might just break the pot and let it smash, bringing along the Ghost Tide to head south together, crazily invading the Great Shang Dynasty's rivers and mountains.

They wouldn't dare.

The masters of the Great Shang Dynasty would only lose a little money, and the Great Shang Dynasty's peace negotiators only need a little merit to report to the Emperor; being able to avoid a greater disaster is a heaven-drenching achievement! But we Northern Barbarian can save many people because of this! Our Chieftain is skilled in battle, but he cannot see through this kind of matter. Therefore, I implore Sister Hong Liao to take me to see the Golden Crow King. Even if it is just to have someone pass on a word, that would be good."

He looked at Xiao Hong Liao with immense longing.

This was a plan he had finally arrived at over the past year through various observations, various deductions, and various imaginings, combined with the timing of this moment.

Of course, what he told Xiao Hong Liao was only the first half of this plan.

The second half, he dared not say.

If he said it, Xiao Hong Liao would certainly not help him.

But even if he were blamed by Xiao Hong Liao later, he had to seize this opportunity.

Xiao Hong Liao thought for a long time, and looking at the pitiful, incomparably expectant gaze of the youth, she finally replied, "Okay."

The arrival of the Shaman finally caused the Guard before the Golden Crow King to go inside and pass on a message.

But after the person went in, a long time passed without them returning.

Ding Sigu stood in the ice and snow, his nose tip somewhat red; he blew on his hands, watching the camp tent where firelight and snow-light intertwined with extreme nervousness.

He was standing at the most important juncture of his life.

He would definitely succeed.

Xiao Hong Liao rubbed her hands together with him, standing outside waiting.

A long time, and then a longer time passed; Ding Sigu was almost on the verge of despair.

He was not a patient person, and his time and opportunities were very scarce.

Xiao Hong Liao seemed to see his mood, gently patted his shoulder, and encouraged him: "Xiaoding, don't be nervous, I am here with you."

Ding Sigu pressed his lips together tightly and nodded nervously.

Time was extremely agonizing; even a single breath felt like being roasted on a fire.

And after an unknown amount of time, hurried footsteps finally came from afar, and the Barbarian soldier waved his hand and said, "Follow me."

The two of them joyfully followed the Barbarian soldier into the camp, and then arrived at a magnificent gold-trimmed tent in the center.

The tent curtain was lifted, and inside sat a sinister man with deep-set eyes and a hooked nose.

The man's gaze hid scrutiny and cold killing intent; he did not even look up at the two, but just glanced casually at Xiao Hong Liao and said, "Little Shaman of the Valley Wolf Clan, why have you come to seek me at this time? Is there some urgent matter that your father could not come for?"

Xiao Hong Liao performed a salute and said, "Respected Golden Crow King, it is my brother who has words to speak; he can allow our Barbarian to obtain much grain from the Great Shang Dynasty in tomorrow's negotiations."

The Golden Crow King swept his gaze toward Ding Sigu, raised a deer-horn wine cup, and said coldly, "You had best say something useful before I finish this cup of wine."

Ding Sigu suppressed the panic in his heart and, without further hesitation, hurried forward to begin quickly analyzing the situation. He was originally a village rogue, and a rogue naturally has his own set of survival rules; with this... he analyzed the psychology of the Great Shang Dynasty and began to speak on how to threaten and force the Great Shang Dynasty to compromise.

He hurriedly pointed at the map, outlining a route on it, and said, "If the Great Shang Dynasty does not agree, as long as we follow this path, our Barbarian can fiercely thrust into the Great Shang Dynasty's interior; they will have no choice but to agree.

Even if we fail, we can still use the fact that the Ghost Tide will erupt in the deep winter of this year; when the time comes, we Northern Barbarian, together with the Ghost Tide, will head south to threaten them, and that will certainly succeed.

At that time, while they are in a panic, we can take the opportunity to express our submission to the Great Shang Dynasty, guaranteeing that we will not fight again when spring comes next year. As long as they can give us land to settle here and help us plant grain fields, we are willing to no longer incite war."

"Submission?!"

Xiao Hong Liao almost jumped up.

The Golden Crow King turned his head back, looking at Ding Sigu with the eyes of someone looking at a madman, his cold, sinister gaze full of mockery.

Ding Sigu hurriedly said, "The Great Shang Dynasty will first be frightened by us, and then seeing that we are willing to submit, they will inevitably be overjoyed, and this is the time for us to set our conditions.

We can take the opportunity to exchange for more grain, or even rewards and resources. For the sake of peace, for the sake of merit for the officials, and for the sake of the situation for the generals, everyone will agree to our demands."

The Golden Crow King's eyes slowly lit up; he set down his wine cup and looked seriously at the youth whom he had completely ignored at the start.

And that thin, weak youth, who a moment ago had seemed as tame and obedient as a lamb, suddenly curled the corners of his mouth the next moment, revealing a sinister smile that showed his true colors.

He continued, "And this will provoke the Six Towns."

The Six Towns fight tooth and nail to defend us, yet they receive no resources and cannot obtain food; they can only rely on their own limited grain stores to survive the winter, and who knows how many will die.

A bandit, because he stops robbing, is given good food and drink by the master of the house.

A loyal dog, fighting to the death to help its master defend, ends up having to go hungry.

"Heh, hehehe, hahahahaha."

Ding Sigu's eyes suddenly turned frantic, and evil light flickered around his body, "Respected Golden Crow King, with your wisdom, do you know how this will end?"

Without waiting for an answer, Ding Sigu said loudly: "They will rebel! The Six Towns will rebel!! The Six Towns are the Great Wall of the Great Shang frontier."

By next year, this Great Wall will not only fall, it will turn its weapons against us.

The chaotic age of the world begins here! Fishing in troubled waters is the very opportunity for our Barbarian race to swallow the rivers and mountains!

When two races contend, it is always either you die or I perish.

All is fair in war; the winner is always the king, and the loser is always the bandit."

Inside the golden tent, the youth spoke eloquently; he spoke faster and faster, clearly explaining the details and various possibilities.

He had traveled with the Barbarian troops, reached various counties, and even luckily snatched a military manual from a schoolhouse while Xiegu County was being slaughtered.

He had walked across long battlefields, witnessed war time and time again, and added to that the discussions he heard within the tribe, the many things Xiao Hong Liao taught him, the many things they chatted about casually, and his own heart.

These formed this poisonous scheme at this moment.

The more he spoke, the brighter the Golden Crow King's eyes became.

On the other side, Xiao Hong Liao looked at this familiar yet strange Xiaoding with terrified eyes.

Facing Xiao Hong Liao's angry, complex, and fearful gaze.

Ding Sigu dared not look at her, only continuing to speak rapidly.

Finally,

Xiao Hong Liao roared angrily: "Xiaoding, what are you doing?!"

As she spoke, the young girl screamed and wanted to rush up to stop Ding Sigu.

But the Golden Crow King clapped his hands.

Several Barbarian soldiers soon walked out from behind the tent.

The Golden Crow King gave a signal.

The Barbarian soldiers lunged forward quickly and grabbed Xiao Hong Liao.

Ding Sigu immediately revealed a look of panic and hurriedly stopped, saying: "I implore the Great King, do not hurt her..."

The Golden Crow King nodded with a smile and then said: "Please take the little girl from the Valley Wolf tribe down to rest."

The Barbarian soldiers immediately began to carry it out.

Xiao Hong Liao shouted angrily: "You lied to me! Ding Sigu, you lied to me!"

Ding Sigu said softly: "Sister Hong Liao, I... I was just..."

"Pah!"

As Xiao Hong Liao was being dragged past the youth, she spat a mouthful of saliva, spitting it onto his face.

Ding Sigu was as if struck by lightning.

"Despicable and shameless, Ding Sigu, I misjudged you, you lied to me! Ding! Si! Gu!"

The voice gradually faded.

Ding Sigu raised his hand to wipe the saliva from his cheek, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes turned red.

He was a person who lacked a sense of security and was neglected in his upbringing; to him, Xiao Hong Liao was somewhat like a mother, somewhat like a teacher, and somewhat like the wife he dreamed of in his fantasies... He wanted to be a big shot, to protect her kindness, to protect everything about her, so that those around him would never again be dragged away like dogs for forced labor, only to die meaninglessly and worthlessly in some distant place.

Was he wrong?

Was he... wrong? He... he was not wrong!

The one that is wrong is this world!!

Has this world given him fairness?

Has this world let him live? This world pressed him into the position of an ant, wanting him to submit to fate and die like an ant, but he refused! His teary eyes soon turned blood-red, like dark clouds gathering.

In the tent, the Golden Crow King said with a smile: "Ding Sigu, Xiaoding, right? Don't go back to the Valley Wolf tribe anymore; follow me. I will not treat you poorly."

Ding Sigu knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, saying: "Thank you, Great King."

The Golden Crow King suddenly said: "Do you like that little shaman of the Valley Wolf tribe?"

Ding Sigu's heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

The Golden Crow King laughed heartily: "Become my man, perform great service for me, and I, along with the Great Barbarian King, will propose marriage on your behalf. She will be your wife!" "Little Song, tomorrow, the Great Shang and the Northern Barbarian will hold peace talks.

What I worry about most is that the peace talks will go wrong."

Lady Zhushan, who had wrapped herself into a large fat ball, pursed her chubby face, her eyes hidden with gravity, "I knew the news from the front lines two days ago, but even knowing it, there is nothing I can do.

Tomorrow, if the Ghost servants take the opportunity to make trouble, deliberately guide conflicts during the peace talks, provoke military chaos, and incite a great war... then the consequences would be unimaginable.

I have a premonition that the Ghost Tide will still come this year, and it will be even more violent than the last time.

No matter how much hatred there is between the Great Shang and the Northern Barbarian, these peace talks must succeed.

Otherwise, if the Northern Barbarian goes completely mad and ignores everything, continuing to attack cities in all directions with magical beasts during the Ghost Tide Period.

That would be a true catastrophe."

Song Cheng nodded silently, and suddenly, he asked a question he had been puzzled by for a long time: "How did you, Senior, know the news from the front lines?"

Lady Zhushan looked at him quietly.

If it were when the two had just become partners, she would certainly not have paid any attention to this blind man at all, and might even have felt he was overstepping his bounds.

But after these six months, her mindset had changed somewhat.

Because of Tong Jia.

For a person with a strange soul and a twisted spirit, a lively, straightforward young girl who is close to you and has a close relationship with you is absolutely a priceless treasure.

Had there been no "Tong Jia" before that? Truly, there had not.

First, few people had the opportunity to approach Lady Zhushan; those who could were mostly her disciples. Her disciples would revere Lady Zhushan, appearing close to her on the surface while actually fearing her, yet their words and subtle actions were filled with distance.

Secondly, Lady Zhushan did not want to interact with others. She seemed to have some unspeakable past.

Tong Jia suddenly appeared in her world, and within a few days, she had already begun to make her feel warmth.

Over the past half year, Lady Zhushan had basically come to view Tong Jia as her daughter, granddaughter, and only disciple.

Therefore, regarding the husband that Tong Jia often mentioned, Lady Zhushan also felt a sense of "loving the house and its crow."

Added to this was the fact that the two were partners who killed Ghosts together, never once making a mistake.

Moreover, Song Cheng was able to use his talent of "observing favorability" to keep Lady Zhushan's favor toward him steady or rising, rather than falling.

Because of all these elements, Lady Zhushan inexplicably developed a strange, affectionate feeling of treating Song Cheng as a "son-in-law or grandson-in-law."

Of course,

Lady Zhushan's mental state was problematic.

Her long-frozen mental world, upon touching sunlight, began to automatically construct a "home."

An ethereal, perhaps merely imagined, "home."

After adding Tong Niangzi to this family, she then pulled Song Cheng into it as well.

And it was precisely because of this relationship that she said directly: "Ghost Artifacts.

I know of them through Ghost Artifacts.

Ghost Artifacts can absorb Yin Qi when the moonlight is thick, and subsequently take effect.

But the user is also easily invaded by the Ghost Artifact.

Martial Artists cannot use them.

As for ordinary people, it is best to use such ominous things sparingly."

As she spoke, she reached into her bosom and pulled out a "Skull Double Fish Pendant."

The fish were otherwise normal, except their heads were like skulls, and the whole thing exuded a cold, chilling aura.

Lady Zhushan said: "This kind of double fish pendant looks ordinary on normal days, but as long as it absorbs enough moonlight at midnight, its head will transform into a skull. Once it becomes a skull, it means the double fish pendant can be used.

For the users, both parties hold one pendant each, and then even if they are separated by a hundred or a thousand miles, they can see the scene in the other's area and converse.

When Laoduwu and the Big Hall Master set out, I gifted them two.

Although they cannot use them, if they reach a place and settle down, they will always find an ordinary person to activate them, and then exchange information with me."

Song Cheng was stunned for a moment.

Isn't this just video calling? The uses of Yin Qi are truly diverse.

Suddenly, he thought of something and said with some hesitation: "Senior, could you give me one Skull Double Fish Pendant?"

Lady Zhushan asked curiously: "What do you want it for?"

Song Cheng said: "To be honest with you, Senior, the Ruyi Chamber of Commerce actually still has many small branches scattered outside, among which are many relatives and friends of mine, Tong Niangzi, and An Daxiaojie.

With the war and the city under siege, we are all very worried.

Therefore, if we could have a Ghost Artifact like the Skull Double Fish Pendant, we would like to go and check on those small branches and send one to them, so that even if they encounter a Ghost Tide, we can communicate remotely and feel a little more at ease.

Before, we couldn't get out.

But now that peace talks are about to happen, the fighting in the surrounding areas has also slowed down."

Lady Zhushan pondered for a long time, finally took one out and handed it over, saying: "Martial Artists cannot use it; ordinary people must use it with caution."

A sense of gratitude arose in Song Cheng's heart.

"Many thanks, Senior."

He took the jade pendant.

The jade pendant was cold to the touch; when it touched his skin, it felt like ice and fire meeting.

Either the fire would be extinguished, or the ice would melt.

Lady Zhushan handed over another ancient wooden box filled with many hair-like filaments and said: "Put it in here."

Song Cheng placed the jade pendant inside, and through the ancient wooden box, that feeling of ice and fire meeting vanished.

He glanced at the box.

Lady Zhushan said: "The filaments inside are made from the hair of Ghost servants."

After the brief exchange, Lady Zhushan hurried away again.

She needed to wait for a response from the Big Hall Master and Laoduwu.

She had to remind them again, and have them also be sure to warn the experts from other prefectures participating in the peace talks, that they must be careful of Ghost servants causing trouble during the peace talks.

This was actually quite difficult, because the Great Shang and the Northern Barbarians already had a feud and did not trust each other much.

It is extremely difficult to calm things down, but simple to ignite them.

Golden Crow King's camp.

In an inconspicuous tent stationed in a remote area, a chilling aura was permeating; there was no fire pit here.

Yet the four burly barbarians in the tent felt no cold, nor did they have any intention of starting a fire; they were huddled together, whispering about something.

At this moment, the tent curtain was lifted.

The four burly barbarians turned their heads to look, and seeing it was the Golden Crow King who had walked in, they turned their heads back and continued their discussion.

They were discussing how to create chaos tomorrow and ignite the peace talks into a great war.

Their true identities were naturally not real barbarians, but Ghost servants.

Yet the Golden Crow King listened to their conversation as if he saw nothing.

After a long while, the Golden Crow King interrupted: "There is no need for that tomorrow."

The barbarian Ghost servant was stunned for a moment, then said fiercely: "Do you regret forming an alliance with us? The future belongs to the evil ghosts; you should know that."

The Golden Crow King said, "It is just that there is a better plan now."

The Barbarian Ghost Servant said, "Let's hear it."

The Golden Crow King then slowly recounted the "strategic layout proposed by Ding Sigu," and upon hearing this, the Ghost Servants were all stunned.

As Ghost Servants, their power had ceased to grow, and their minds had become dull.

Therefore, a strategy of this level was enough to shock them.

They digested it slowly, while the Golden Crow King explained it slowly.

The Golden Crow King himself was not a Ghost Servant; it was just that after discovering the Ghost Servants within his own tribe, some "other thoughts" arose in his heart—in the human world, even if one holds power, it is not safe, because one could be completely swallowed by a Ghost Tide at any moment. Therefore, supporting a "Ghost Monarch" to ascend to power was hedging his bets on both sides, which would never be a loss.

Thus, he chose to cooperate with the Ghost Servants, secretly provided them with a foothold in the camp, and simultaneously cooperated quietly with their plans to provide them with convenience.

Originally, the time of the peace talks was when the Ghost Servants would use all their strength to "detonate the chaotic situation," but now, following the Golden Crow King's description, the Ghost Servants began to realize: this idea is good, and much more ruthless.

First, if they detonated the chaos tomorrow, the possibility of failure would still be quite high.

Second, even if it did not fail, it might not necessarily lead to the deaths of those powerful experts.

Third, after such chaos, the Great Shang and the Northern Barbarians would very likely become completely aware of the existence of the Ghost Servants, and it is not certain they wouldn't join forces because of it.

But the idea now proposed by the Golden Crow King simply spoke to the very Heart Eye of the Ghost Servants.

This method of manipulating human hearts and stirring up a chaotic world was many times stronger than their own methods.

"Good, then we will not make a move tomorrow, and we will do as you say," one Ghost Servant said.

Another Ghost Servant added, "Golden Crow King, this idea isn't yours, is it? You aren't that smart yet."

The Golden Crow King chuckled and said, "It is a subordinate I recently recruited."

The Ghost Servants looked at each other and said, "Let us see him."

The Golden Crow King was taken aback and said, "You cannot kill him. He not only has a good brain but is also young; I intend to collect military treatises and the like to cultivate him further. If he becomes a Ghost Servant, it would be a waste."

The Ghost Servant said, "We won't kill him, we won't kill him, we'll just take a look, keep him, and let him come up with ideas for us."

Another Ghost Servant said, "However, we must control him."

The Golden Crow King said, "He is very fond of a woman; that woman is enough to control him."

The Ghost Servants looked at each other and suddenly grinned hideously, their ghost shadows flickering on the thick cloth wall of the tent.

An evil voice rang out.

"Then let that woman become one of our own."

The next day.

Sunny.

The talks began.

Outside Hanping Prefecture, several fast horses left the city, and the person in the lead was none other than Mr. Wang of the An Mansion.

Mr. Wang carried a piece of cold jade in his bosom and headed toward the east.

Although Hanping Prefecture was in the midst of a great war, the flames of war had not spread much to the east, and perhaps because they knew the role of the Yunhe, the Northern Barbarians did not deliberately destroy it.

After all, if the Yunhe were open, the Northern Barbarians could also travel down the river to plunder grain.

A good thing.

Therefore, in such an environment of geographical safety and lack of targeting, Hanping Prefecture had been at war for over half a year, while the Yunhe had also been dug for over half a year; the two sides were like insulators, each doing their own thing.

Several days later.

A piece of good news arrived.

The peace talks were unexpectedly smooth, and the Northern Barbarians were willing to submit! Although some grain and resources were paid, the Northern Barbarians swore to Heaven that they would no longer cause trouble.

Mr. Wang also led his men and finally arrived at the banks of the Yunhe, and after using gold and silver to pave the way, he quickly met the two members of the An Family acting as supervisors—Wang Tianchuan and Gao Lin.

After roughly understanding the situation, Mr. Wang also told the two about the situation of the An Family in the Prefecture City.

Wang Tianchuan and Gao Lin were both extremely excited.

As the An Family grew, they would also rise in status.

But they were also quite depressed, because both had thought the Young Miss and the son-in-law had some arrangements, but it had been over half a year and there was nothing.

They needed to perform meritorious service.

Mr. Wang then handed an ancient wooden box to the two, explained its purpose and how to use it, and then exhorted, "The Young Miss and the son-in-law have repeatedly emphasized that this matter is extremely important. If the moment truly comes, you must do it even if it costs you your lives."

Gao Lin's face showed joy, and he nodded heavily.

Mr. Wang patted Wang Tianchuan on the shoulder again and said, "Tianchuan, this might be the time for the An Family to soar. We have followed the An Family for generations; we must not make a mistake in this major event."

Wang Tianchuan said solemnly, "My son knows."

Mr. Wang then took out gold and silver for the two, which was to be used for bribes.

In a place like this, gold and silver were more useful than silver notes, and gold and silver were also true sharp tools for opening paths, capable of making things that could not be done and places that could not be reached, possible and reachable.

Another few days passed.

In front of the Great Barbarian King's tent, bonfires were blazing, and many Barbarians were dancing around the bonfires, celebrating.

Why?

Because cart after cart of grain had arrived from afar; this winter, no one would go hungry.

Seeing this scene, the Barbarian King could not help but laugh loudly.

After whispering with the Golden Crow King, he directly summoned the chieftain of the Ancient Wolf Clan and said, "Little Village, you have raised a good daughter. And this King has a good subordinate.

Look, all this grain in the carts was secured for our Barbarian people by this good subordinate."

The big man named Xiao Cun was somewhat confused.

It was not until the Golden Crow King beckoned that he saw Ding Sigu.

Thinking back, wasn't this the child he had brought into the clan when he went south before?

The Great Barbarian King said, "Xiao Cun, this is Mr. Ding."

The chieftain of the Valley Wolf clan was stunned, but still called out: "Mr. Ding."

The Great Barbarian King followed up by saying: "I, along with the Golden Crow King, will help him propose to you; marry Xiao Hong Liao to him."

The status gap between the two sides was significant; although Xiao Cun harbored doubts, he still repeatedly said yes, but then nervously added: "But Xiao Hong Liao has gone missing."

The Golden Crow King laughed: "It was just that when she brought Mr. Ding to offer his strategy, I was afraid the plan would leak, so I invited my little niece to rest in my tent for a while; I have caused you worry, Xiao Cun."

The chieftain of the Valley Wolf clan laughed: "That is Xiao Hong Liao's good fortune."

The Great Barbarian King looked into the distance and said: "Now that we do not know when the Ghost Tide will rise, and perhaps signs have already appeared in some places, setting the wedding date early will settle Mr. Ding's heart, and he will be able to serve our Barbarian people well."

Several days later.

An auspicious day.

Ding Sigu used trembling hands to lift the red bridal veil, looked at the beautiful person inside, and said with self-abasement: "Sister Xiao Hong Liao, I'm sorry, I... I... no, no, no, don't worry, I won't touch you."

"With me, you are free to do anything."

"Although my methods are despicable, I will help you realize your wishes, I will make it up to you, and I will show you."

"I'm sorry."

Xiao Hong Liao was his light.

He had already lost everything: parents, brothers.

He committed every evil, because he had never experienced true kindness.

Yet, Xiao Hong Liao gave him everything.

He cherished it dearly.

Ding Sigu tremblingly lowered the red bridal veil and was about to step back, but the beautiful bride under the veil suddenly reached out and grabbed his hand, then pulled that hand to move slowly downward, brushing past her snowy neck and resting upon her snowy peaks: "Husband, what are you saying?"

"Tonight we are wed; my wish is naturally to be your wife."

The beauty's favor is heavy, waiting for his pity.

Ding Sigu was so clever; he suddenly turned his head, looked at the smiling, beautiful bride, and his pupils abruptly constricted; the next instant... it was as if half of his Soul had been lost, his lips twitched, his whole body trembled, his eyes widened, and two lines of tears suddenly slid down his cheeks.

As he cried, his two lips trembled and curled upward, squeezing out an exaggerated smile.

"Good!"

"Good!"

"Too good!"

He laughed exaggeratedly, and his tears flowed exaggeratedly as well.

It was as if happiness had reached its peak.

If there is a hell in the human world, it is likely... right here.

Postscript: Xiaoding exits the story in the next chapter.

(End of chapter)