Chapter 371: Sister-in-law

On the road.

Liu Zheng was currently taking in the scenery of Chuan Shu.

Qin Zhangfeng then brought Pei Yanran along to express his gratitude in person.

"Gratitude?"

Liu Zheng was a bit bewildered and chuckled, "Sister-in-law, what do you have to thank me for? We are all family, why be so formal?"

Pei Yanran was teased by Liu Zheng until she blushed again.

She was thinking to herself...

Why does this Prefect Liu always have such a humble smile, looking just like the shy, scholarly boy from next door... but why are the things he does always so earth-shattering?

But regardless.

Facing Liu Zheng this time, she had grown much more accustomed to him and said with a sincere face, "I thank the Young Master for the grace of not killing me."

The grace of not killing?

Liu Zheng recalled the two letters he had given to Qin Zhangfeng and couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Sister-in-law is joking. That you are safe and sound is entirely due to your deep-rooted affection for Brother Qin; come to think of it, I, Liu Zheng, am also very impressed."

Pei Yanran smiled beautifully and continued, "I thank the Young Master for saving my life."

Saving a life?

Liu Zheng did not understand this.

Pei Yanran then smiled, "The Young Master also knows that I am a person from Wangbei Academy. Wangbei Academy has a rule..."

She recounted it in detail.

Liu Zheng himself was truly very interested in this Wangbei Academy, so he listened with great relish.

Wangbei Academy was not some land of immortals.

They were all human, just a group of people who had transcended the secular world. Therefore, anyone who entered Wangbei Academy was forbidden from revealing their identity without authorization.

This Pei Yanran had been unable to help herself and revealed her identity to Qin Zhangfeng because she wanted to help him take back Jiangzhou. Because of this, Wangbei Academy would certainly be furious, and according to the rules of Wangbei Academy, they would launch an endless pursuit!

Upon hearing this, Liu Zheng was even startled, "Wangbei Academy also has people who practice martial arts?"

Pei Yanran smiled bitterly, "Wangbei Academy is full of talent; not only are there those proficient in the Art of War and Mathematics, but of course there are also those with superb skills."

Liu Zheng was indeed becoming more and more interested.

He smiled bitterly, "So, Sister-in-law, did this great fire of mine turn you from a Great Evil into a Great Good? So, Wangbei Academy does not intend to hold you accountable anymore?"

Pei Yanran nodded happily.

This surprise truly made her very happy.

Liu Zheng suddenly felt something was wrong and asked, "But, since your identity has already been exposed, how should this be handled?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Pei Yanran's expression faltered, and then, a trace of panic that was difficult to detect flashed across her face and vanished, yet she still smiled beautifully, "Young Master need not worry. When I have time, I will go to the Academy and simply sever ties with it."

"Just like that?"

Liu Zheng chuckled and did not expose her.

It was not easy to enter such a reclusive Academy, and it was likely even harder to leave. Looking at the situation, there might even be a danger to her life.

This Pei Yanran was also very understanding and did not want to tell Qin Zhangfeng about these concerns. She wanted to shoulder it all alone.

However...

After encountering Sikong Jing once, Qin Zhangfeng had already suffered a terrible emotional wound. As a brother, how could Liu Zheng let him get hurt again? He absolutely would not allow this Pei Yanran to have anything go wrong!

So he chuckled and said, "That is also fine. A master's sect is comparable to one's family. This time when we arrive in Shuzhou, we will first propose marriage to the Pei Family, and then we will go to that Wangbei Academy to propose together!"

"Ah? This..."

Pei Yanran's pretty face changed.

Go together?

In her heart, she was refusing. However, she did not know why, but in front of Liu Zheng, she never had the courage to say another word.

She could only smile bitterly.

Three days later.

The great army finally returned to Shuzhou.

The army's powerful annihilation of the Southern Barbarians finally allowed the people of Chuan Shu to hold their heads high. The commoners, naturally, lined the streets to welcome them.

"Prefect Liu!"

"Young Master Liu!"

"General Qin!"

The commoners naturally knew who the good people were, and one by one, their eyes were filled with tears. When they were still thirty miles away from Shuzhou City, many people had already begun to welcome them.

The 150,000-strong army entered the city in sequence.

The atmosphere was quite harmonious.

After taking Shuzhou, Qin Zhangfeng had begun military control over the entire city. Therefore, when he left, the person in charge of Shuzhou was Zhong Lin.

Zhong Lin was a Chuan Shu general who had truly witnessed the power of the Liangzhou Army, so he was also quite respectful and curious about this Prefect Liu.

He had long been waiting expectantly.

"Young Master Liu..."

From afar, he watched as Liu Zheng, Qin Zhangfeng, and Pei Yanran rode over on horseback.

Zhong Lin was just about to go and greet them.

Who would have thought that at this very moment.

Suddenly, from among the onlookers on the side, a scholar in a long robe darted out, holding a wine jar, and lunged over while cursing angrily, "Great traitor and great evil, a hypocrite! Shuzhou has no one to welcome you!"

As he said this, a stream of black liquid splashed out from the wine jar.

It spilled directly onto Liu Zheng.

The entire scene was almost deathly silent.

Hundreds of thousands of eyes watched, dumbstruck.

The air.

Seemed to have frozen in an instant.

……

Jiangzhou City.

The negotiation, for the umpteenth time, had finally begun.

These past few days, Jia Shu had truly been walking on air; a great victory had allowed him, a man who had nearly been sliced to death, to suddenly turn the tables and become the master.

On Luo Huo's side, there was all manner of fine food and drink being served.

By this time, the war situation in Chuan Shu had already become clear.

Xie Yang was imprisoned, Agutuo had died in battle... the 150,000 Nanman Army troops in Jiangzhou City found themselves in a very awkward position.

Leave...

Of course they had to leave.

However, they wanted to leave with some dignity, and their bargaining chip was the 300,000 civilians in Jiangzhou City.

Yet Jia Shu believed that they belonged to the defeated side.

It was enough that they weren't paying reparations or ceding territory. What else did they dare demand from him? His young master was benevolent and would give them 50,000 Gold Coins as military expenses to roll back to Jiaozhi; did they still want slaves?

Wishful thinking!

This negotiation.

Was one Murong Che had come to conduct with Jia Shu in person.

Yet Jia Shu still gave him absolutely no face.

The two sides spent another day in a war of words, slamming tables and glaring at each other.

Seeing that dusk was approaching.

The people on both sides were helpless, desperate, and also hungry and thirsty.

Murong Che suddenly laughed aloud: "Lord Jia is truly eloquent, citing classics and speaking with a tongue like a lotus flower! This humble one is no match! Why don't we call it a day for now?"

The others also shook their heads one after another.

Another day with no progress...

Jia Shu stood up and gave a cold laugh: "Mr. Murong, go back and tell your Great King that if he has not the slightest bit of sincerity, there is no need to waste time here! Jia Shu shall take his leave!"

"No, no, no..."

Murong Che accompanied him with a smiling face and waved his hands: "You all may go down! I shall keep Lord Jia company!"

The group of officials participating in the negotiation bowed and took their leave.

Jia Shu snorted coldly: "Mr. Murong, those with different Daos cannot make plans together; what is there for you and me to keep company with?" Having said this, he turned and left.

Murong Che was caught between laughter and tears, hurriedly trotting to follow; seeing that Jia Shu's Horse Carriage had already started moving, he gritted his teeth and leaped onto it.

"What are you doing? Get down!"

Jia Shu cursed loudly.

For a moment, Murong Che's eardrums were buzzing.

He, however, remained indifferent, waiting for him to finish cursing.

It seemed that only when this Jia Shu cursed like this did it sound normal to others.

"You, you, you, why are you so shameless?"

Jia Shu was furious.

Murong Che looked through the window at the situation on the street outside and said as if casually: "Lord Jia, do you wish to annihilate the Nanman in the city?"

"Get out, you, you, you... what did you say?"

Jia Shu was still cursing vigorously, but the more he cursed, the more he felt something was wrong, and then, he looked at Murong Che in disbelief.

【Author's Note】

Some brothers say that Wangbei Academy is a flaw. Let me explain here. Although Wangbei Academy looks quite divine, it is definitely not about immortal cultivation. Haha. The setting of Wangbei Academy, in my mind, is just like the Mohist School during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. It represents chivalry and romanticism, a place where all kinds of talents gather. I think such a place should exist in any dynasty.

At this time, coming up with a Wangbei Academy is also quite consistent with the protagonist's development. On one hand, it provides talent; on the other, it provides technology.

I won't spoil the rest; you all can think about it yourselves.

In short, this book will definitely not involve immortal cultivation.