Chapter 147: News of Heifeng Zhai

Gu Han spoke bluntly.

They had just arrived in Zhong Cheng, and before that they had never even come into contact with Jiang Litian.

Jiang Litian had no reason to target them.

The other party's actions must have a reason.

But this does not mean Gu Han is willing to endure the other party's targeting; he continues to tolerate.

Jiang Litian also noticed Gu Han's change in attitude, yet he still said with a smile,

"I won't hide it from General Gu, it's just that the bandits around here are too rampant; if General Gu encounters any trouble escorting the provisions, I couldn't bear the responsibility."

Saying this, Jiang Litian suddenly shifted the topic,

"But if General Gu could first help my father deal with the bandits of Heifeng Zhai,"

"When my father returns and hands over the provisions to the general, I can also rest easy."

Gu Han's eyes turned icy as he stared at Jiang Litian.

His father, as the lord of such a great city as Zhong Cheng, has at least the strength of a Martial Venerable.

Moreover, among Martial Venerables he is definitely considered a strong one, not someone who has just entered the Martial Venerable realm.

Such a strong one would find it extremely difficult to wipe out Heifeng Zhai.

Can these soldiers of Mu Shan Cheng handle it?

Don't look at Gu Han, who, when he first entered the Martial Master realm, obtained terrifying attributes thanks to his ten-realm foundation and Soul Absorption talent.

This allowed him to oppose a Martial Ancestor while still at the Martial Master level.

Nowadays, killing a Martial Ancestor is not exactly easy, but it can still be considered effortless.

However, on the path of martial arts, the higher a martial practitioner's realm, the greater the gap between different realms.

Even if he breaks through to Great Martial Master, trying to contend with a Martial Venerable is practically a pipe dream!

All we can say is that there is hope!

From this it can also be seen that Jiang Litian wants them to exterminate Heifeng Zhai.

Letting them go straight to their deaths is not much different!

It seems Jiang Litian's so-called courtesy to the wise is merely a facade he puts on.

But before Gu Han could speak, Liang Fang and Pei Guang, filled with righteous indignation, stepped forward, one to his left and one to his right,

"Young City Lord probably doesn't know, but on our way to Zhong Cheng we were already attacked by bandits, which is why we now have only a hundred men left!"

Liang Fang's anger blazed, and he shouted lowly,

"Even if the Young City Lord doesn't speak, we will have no truce with the bandits of Heifeng Zhai—we'll fight to the death!"

Their speaking made Jiang Litian's face light up with joy.

Jiang Litian gratifiedly grasped their hands,

"In that case, I will rely on the two generals to exterminate the bandits."

He patted his chest and said,

"I will set up a banquet in Zhong Cheng and await the triumphant return of the two generals!"

After saying that, Jiang Litian made the excuse of being busy with state affairs and asked Gu Han and the three to leave the Chengzhu Fu.

Liang Fang and the others, having received such an honorable reception from Jiang Litian, were frankly overwhelmed by the favor.

Before leaving the Chengzhu Fu, they all swore oaths, promising to absolutely complete the mission.

But after leaving the Chengzhu Fu and feeling the cold wind blow, they realized something was off.

Liang Fang and Pei Guang exchanged a glance, then cautiously looked toward Gu Han,

"General Gu, what should we do next?"

Gu Han gave a cold snort with a gloomy gaze,

"Now you know to ask for my opinion?"

"Just now, when you bypassed me and directly promised the Young City Lord to exterminate the bandits, did you consider that I am the one in command of this operation?"

The military regulations of Mu Shan Cheng are strict.

If Gu Han had the intention to pick a fight with the two of them,

Simply based on their actions, Gu Han only needs to report to Guan Zhen, and they could lose their acting Bijang positions!

After all, they don't actually have Martial Ancestor strength; they're just standing in.

To dare ignore Gu Han's command is tantamount to violating military discipline and must be severely punished!

Liang Fang and Pei Guang instantly broke out in a cold sweat, hurriedly apologizing to Gu Han,

"General Gu, we are also like this because our comrades died in battle earlier, and after hearing the Young City Lord mention the Heifeng Zhai bandits, we acted this way."

"Please believe General Gu that we certainly did not intend to ignore your command."

If it were before experiencing the Heifeng Zhai attack, Liang Fang would definitely have applied to Gu Han.

He would have led the team to assist the Zhong Cheng army in exterminating Heifeng Zhai.

But now, although Liang Fang may not be wholeheartedly convinced of Gu Han, he can still be considered to acknowledge Gu Han's command position.

That's why, upon realizing they had stepped into the pit Jiang Litian had set, they hurriedly apologized to Gu Han.

"Moreover, if we don't meet the Young City Lord's demand, we're afraid we'll just have made the trip for nothing."

"Are we supposed to return to the Military Camp and watch the soldiers' disappointed gazes helplessly?"

Gu Han knows that the two's considerations are not without reason.

Looking at Jiang Litian's attitude, Gu Han thinks obtaining the provisions probably won't be that easy either.

Furthermore, since the two's attitude in admitting fault is good, Gu Han can't really do anything to them either.

But his opinion of the two of them and Jiang Litian had dropped another level.

Nothing happens more than three times.

Gu Han stared coldly at the two of them,

Since I am the commander of this operation, if you disobey my orders a third time, then we will each go our separate ways.

Liang Fang and the other repeatedly nodded, promising never to offend again.

The three arrived at the place where Gu Chen and the soldiers were temporarily resting, and gave a general account of the situation.

Most of the soldiers didn't feel anything was wrong.

In a certain sense, Mu Shan Cheng can be considered a subordinate city of Zhong Cheng.

Assisting Zhong Cheng in suppressing bandits is also within our duty.

Gu Han naturally understood this as well.

But according to protocol, if Zhong Cheng needs Mu Shan Cheng's help in suppressing bandits, it should be straightforwardly proposed.

Mu Shan Cheng will naturally try, without affecting border defenses, to dispatch troops to assist in suppressing bandits.

Rather than using the pretext of escorting grain and provisions to deceive Gu Han and the others into coming.

To have this mere hundred of them go to Heifeng Zhai to assist in suppressing bandits.

This is simply pushing them into a fire pit!

This is what makes Gu Han the most angry.

Gu Chen and the others also figured this out, understanding why Gu Han was so furious.

While everyone was taking a brief rest,

Gu Han sent Gu Lin to hire someone familiar with Zhong Cheng's environment as a guide to lead them to Heifeng Zhai.

But when Gu Lin went to taverns and the Escort Bureau and such, not a single person was willing to make this trip!

Upon hearing the name Heifeng Zhai, the vast majority of people avoided it like snakes and scorpions!

Only when Gu Han was willing to pay five times the market price did an old escort agent agree to make the trip.

"But I'll say the unpleasant thing up front."

The old escort agent with sharp eyes spoke in a low voice,

"If danger arises, I will flee at the first moment; you cannot stop me."

Gu Lin laughed and said,

"Don't worry; as long as you lead us to Heifeng Zhai, you can leave anytime."

Returning to the resting inn, upon hearing Gu Lin's report, Gu Han's brows furrowed instantly.

I never expected that, in the locals' minds, even hearing the name Heifeng Zhai would inspire such fear!

His assessment of Heifeng Zhai's danger level increased by another notch.

Facing Heifeng Zhai, which very likely harbors a Martial Sovereign,

As long as Gu Han does not directly confront the chief of Heifeng Zhai, his own safety is absolutely not an issue.

But many of the soldiers are merely Martial Practitioners and Martial Masters.

Even an ordinary follower of Heifeng Zhai could pose a threat to them!

This expedition to Heifeng Zhai is likely to be far more difficult than he imagined.

He must be doubly cautious and careful.