Page 444

Gu Xiaoxi sat in the passenger seat, the broken-down car coupled with the bumpy road made for a rough ride.

The man driving, clearly enjoying the bumps, blared classic rock music and danced along as he drove.

Gu Xiaoxi couldn’t understand what there was to enjoy.

After an hour of enduring the car’s tumultuous journey, she arrived at a densely populated small town.

The various shops and stalls in the town were visible everywhere.

She stood on the street corner, waiting for someone to come find her.

About twenty minutes later,

another car stopped in front of Gu Xiaoxi. This time, the driver, dressed in a shirt and trousers, looked more formal.

"Let’s go! Our boss wants to meet you," the arrogant man demanded.

Gu Xiaoxi didn’t hesitate and got in the car. "Where is your boss?"

"That’s none of your business," the man replied coldly.

Gu Xiaoxi smiled and asked no further questions.

These people were very vigilant. They had followed her along the way, making sure no one else was following before the boss appeared.

From a small town to a larger city, the low buildings gradually turned into skyscrapers.

Gu Xiaoxi was once again dropped off on a busy street.

The driver looked at her and pointed toward a shop not far down the street, speaking sternly, "Go to the fashion store there. They’ll give you an outfit to change into, remember to bring nothing with you. Otherwise, everything will be confiscated."

Gu Xiaoxi looked in the direction of his pointing, a fashion store located at the roadside.

She walked in, the people inside looked at her with caution, then a portly woman handed her a dress to change into.

She didn’t have anything with her in the first place, so she wasn’t afraid to change.

Soon, she had put on the dress.

"Please follow me," the smiling saleswoman said to Gu Xiaoxi. "Across the street, eight floors up in the hotel. You can go up by yourself."

Gu Xiaoxi nodded, smiled back, and asked, "What’s your relation to the person upstairs?"

"Oh, nothing. We just took his money to help take care of a distinguished guest," the woman replied.

Gu Xiaoxi was certain this was Kang Di’s place.

It must be a crime liaison spot.

Before leaving, Gu Xiaoxi took note of the store’s name and address, then followed the specified route to the eighth floor of the hotel.

She walked carefully, with all her senses alert.

Finally, she stood at the door on the eighth floor, hearing voices inside the room.

"Has she arrived?" a middle-aged man’s voice. Gu Xiaoxi was almost sure it was Kang Di.

"The boss is here. She might even be outside the door right now. I’ll go check," the voice barely faded when a burly man opened the door.

He bumped right into Gu Xiaoxi.

Gu Xiaoxi quickly pretended to be startled and asked, "I’m here to meet Mr. Kang Di. Is he in?"

"Oh! Come in!" The man seemed equally taken aback.

Gu Xiaoxi strode in.

Kang Di was sitting on a sofa directly opposite the door, looking younger in person than in photos. His eagle eyes were filled with cold calculations.

As Gu Xiaoxi appraised him, he scrutinized her in return.

"I didn’t expect such a woman to cause me such great losses. How should I execute you?" Kang Di’s tone suddenly turned cold, glaring at Gu Xiaoxi seriously.

Gu Xiaoxi looked straight at him and scoffed, "I am a soldier, you are a criminal. It’s only right that I should arrest you, how can you say I caused you great losses?"

Seeing Gu Xiaoxi’s calm and unflustered, not to mention fearless demeanor, Kang Di felt a hint of wariness rising within him.

"Just as well, I am a bad guy. You are a good one. Since we are natural enemies, I can execute you right here and save any trouble later," Kang Di said angrily.

From the room behind him emerged more than a dozen people, each carrying a weapon, all aimed at Gu Xiaoxi.

They thought that Gu Xiaoxi would be scared into fleeing or that she would kneel and beg for mercy.

Contrary to their expectations, she simply stood her ground, her cold laughter ringing out, "Where are my friends?"

"First, I’ll kill you, then I’ll send them to the western paradise," Kang Di suddenly pulled out a weapon from under the sofa cushion and pointed it at Gu Xiaoxi’s head.

"To think you few could take me down. Kang Di, if you release my people, we can sort things out slowly, but if they’re in any danger, I’ll make sure you die a horrible death," said Gu Xiaoxi, no longer hiding.

Suddenly, two daggers appeared, resting against Kang Di’s neck.

Kang Di had heard of Gu Xiaoxi’s bizarre quickness but had never imagined it to be so terrifying.

He hadn’t even seen how she moved the daggers, yet now they were upon his neck.

"Gu Xiaoxi, you treat me like this, do you not care about the lives of your comrades?" Kang Di said furiously, clearly miscalculated; Gu Xiaoxi was more difficult to deal with than he had thought.

"I am here obviously for everyone’s sake. If we can talk peacefully, I’m more than willing. But if you want to kill, I’ll be faster than you," Gu Xiaoxi said through clenched teeth, her voice nearly squeezed out from between them.

And those deathly eyes of hers made Kang Di inexplicably feel a choke in his heart.

This woman was not simple.

"Put your knives away first, then we can talk," Kang Di immediately changed his tone.

"Fine, let’s talk then. You’ve captured our people, what exactly do you want to do? You should know that opposing Liuli Country has no good end," said Gu Xiaoxi.

"Negotiations aren’t out of the question. Just as long as your forces from Liuli Country withdraw and stop interfering with Dongqi Country’s affairs, I will immediately release your comrades," Kang Di gestured to his men, who all put away their weapons and stepped aside.

Gu Xiaoxi also retracted her own daggers and walked forward, sitting down on the sofa beside her.

"They say you’re smart, but I didn’t expect you to be so foolish," Gu Xiaoxi looked up at Kang Di.

Being called foolish caused Kang Di’s face to turn the color of iron, "Woman, dare to say that again."

"Isn’t it the truth? Using my friends as leverage to force Liuli Country to withdraw the Qiwei Troops, do you think I have that much power at the Military Department?" Gu Xiaoxi spoke with indifference. She gestured to two of Kang Di’s subordinates, "Go get me a glass of water!"

After a moment, she turned to look at Kang Di again, "Rather than that, let me give you some advice!"

"Audacious! Do you know what you’re talking about?" Kang Di said incredulously. The idea of Gu Xiaoxi giving him advice was absurd.

"Didn’t you hear what I said? Our Liuli Country has been helping Dongqi Country for so many years, suffering heavy losses in personnel.

If we could withdraw, it would also be the will of our Liuli soldiers.

We’ve never had a proper reason. Since you so wish for us to withdraw, perhaps we could make a deal," Gu Xiaoxi reasoned.

Gu Xiaoxi merely wanted to rescue her teammates, to buy time as much as possible, uncertain when the Military Department of Dongqi Country and Cheng Guang would arrive.

At this point, she could only spout nonsense, going along with Kang Di. Somehow, she had to collaborate with the military, capture this ragtag bunch, and perhaps they would have peace for several months.

Kang Di was naturally suspicious and overly ambitious.

Regarding Gu Xiaoxi’s words, he didn’t trust them, but neither could he say he completely disbelieved.

"Ridiculous, does the military ever conduct deals and collaborate with the enemy?" Kang Di scoffed. He knew Gu Xiaoxi was bluffing, yet he still harbored hopes.

He also did not wish to make an immutable enemy of Dongqi Country’s military.

Gu Xiaoxi carefully watched his expression, which had significantly softened from the previous cold and ferocious demeanor.

She felt the need to bait him further, "Why not?

From time immemorial, military forces have only protected their own nation.

The longstanding relationship between Dongqi Country and Liuli Country originated from the defining battle a hundred years ago.

Dongqi Country provided immense aid to Liuli Country, and now, as Dongqi faces trouble, we naturally offer our support. However..."

Gu Xiaoxi paused, seeing Kang Di listening intently, then explained, "Think about it, the affairs of Dongqi Country’s black and white factions have nothing to do with us in Liuli Country.

Yet, every year, so many of our people die in your battles.

For our Heping Country, that is most heartbreaking.

Especially since their commander is too foolish, unskilled in tactics. Many comrades die in vain."

Kang Di’s sharp eyes gleamed, well-aware of Mo Wensheng’s character.

It wasn’t that he lacked tactical skills, but rather he wasn’t one to play the strategist.

Kang Di pretended not to believe Gu Xiaoxi at all, "Enough talk. I will never believe you. Come on, seize her. If you want to see your comrades again, just submit without struggle."

A slight smile played on Gu Xiaoxi’s lips, a sense of understanding dawning on her.

"You could consider it. Let yourself be caught, then use so many of us as leverage against the military, and you might just succeed. If you’d rather kill us, then try it, and see whose blade is faster.

Worst comes to worst, we all go down together. "

That was enough conversation for the moment.

Kang Di would weigh his options himself.

Often, those too clever for their own good have a fatal flaw, they cannot stop plotting.

He thinks he will never lose, yet he doesn’t realize that she has dug a trap, waiting for him to jump in.