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"Young Master, Young Master, wait for me!"

Down the street, a figure dashed swiftly, Wei Gongyan pursued frantically, while Wei Gongzhan, holding the liquor he had prepared, followed far behind. He felt an impulsive urge, suddenly wanting to run back to Daqing Mountain.

He didn’t wish to betray the Young Master, he only wanted to give the neighbors—whom he treated close as family—time to prepare.

After all...if the Imperial Court really invaded, it was likely they would be purged.

Even if they weren’t purged, the methods of the local gentry could be more brutal than those of cruel officials. They would squeeze dry every last nutrient from the valued farmers of Daqing Mountain!

The wish to bring his mother here to enjoy her old age might end up...just wishful thinking after all...

"Gongyan..."

All of a sudden, Weichi Feihu stopped in his tracks and, without looking back, said, "You go and stabilize those wealthy men, you must ensure the literary gathering they speak of goes smoothly tomorrow."

Wei Gongyan’s steps halted, and he excitedly faced the other, "Don’t worry, Young Master, I will definitely complete the task!"

With that said, he turned and ran off, no longer worried about Weichi Feihu’s just now apparently unwell state.

After Wei Gongyan left, Weichi Feihu paused, gazing at the sky, lost in thought.

At this moment, the War God Army gathered at the base of Daqing Mountain, the bonfires lit, hosting a rare bonfire feast, and he had intended to bring Wei Gongyan and Gongzhan along.

Although they weren’t part of the War God Army, many soldiers had brought their wives and children to liven things up, and bringing two brothers along should not have raised any objections.

But now...

After about fifteen minutes, Wei Gongzhan caught up slowly.

Weichi Feihu didn’t turn around, just asked indifferently, "Aren’t you joining Gongyan to tend to matters?"

"I’ll pass..." Wei Gongzhan forced a smile, "All of the credit goes to Gongyan alone, I...don’t have that kind of ability, to acquaint myself with so many important figures in such a short time, I’m sorry to disappoint you, Young Master."

Weichi Feihu was startled for a moment, then turned to look at Wei Gongzhan, "You don’t know anything?"

"I don’t know..." Wei Gongzhan shook his head with a wry smile, "That’s not even an honor I can claim..." He then looked up, "Young Master, I’ve brought some liquor, would you like a drink?"

"Sure!"

----------------------------

They were still at North Street, in the same house where Shen Yuan had lived before.

The two had nothing to accompany their drinks, so they just drank straight from two pitchers of liquor.

The liquor was fragrant; upon opening the lid, its aroma spread throughout the room, soothing any avid drinker.

"This liquor is better than the last!" Weichi Feihu said with a smile, looking at the jug, "Hongshen Wine, right?"

"The Young Master recognizes it?"

"How could I not?" Weichi Feihu chuckled, "No matter which Provincial Government Office it comes from, the newest batch tasted is always by us soldiers first. Shaoyang Mountain’s Sword Melody, Liang Mountain’s Rice-scented Brew, and your Daqing Mountain’s Hongshen Wine are all hot commodities in the military.

Want to borrow some troops from the Warrior Army Leader next door?

Showing up with your liquor works the best! "

"Really?" Wei Gongzhan suddenly gloated, "This Hongshen Wine is a product of half a year’s research by Mister Liang; cultivation is extremely tricky, requiring Third-level Immortal Fields, and only Old Wu from Beipo and I can grow it on the whole Daqing Mountain.

Now, many overseas merchants in Lyuzhou City are eagerly waiting for my wine! "

"Hahaha!" Weichi Feihu burst into laughter, "You lad, didn’t think you had such a talent. Immortal Fields of the third level need a fifth-level Immortal Farmer to sustain, right? In Yunzhou’s major divine regions, totaling up there are only two. Good job, fellow!"

Wei Gongzhan’s face flushed with pride. He could tell the Young Master was sincerely praising him. The Young Master, who used to solely respect warriors and even looked down on magicians, now thought differently.

"If only Gongyan were like you..."

Wei Gongzhan was taken aback and looked puzzled, "Why do you say that, Young Master?"

"How do you think Gongyan handled this matter?"

"I..." Gongzhan’s initially happy smile faded, as he evasively replied, "I don’t know... I... never really understood those things..."

"You understand very well..." Weichi Feihu looked at Gongzhan intently, "He has already betrayed me. I hope that you won’t do the same."

"Hmm?" Wei Gongzhan looked up sharply.

"For his own personal gain, he casually revealed my secrets to those so-called spies from Imperial Court. To me, that’s betrayal!"

Wei Gongzhan immediately realized what was going on, and nodded, "Yes, my cousin... has acted rashly."

Spies from the Imperial Court, just like that, huh?

Blabbering to others and exposing the Young Master to danger, just based on a few words. Is that what a subordinate should do?

He knew all too well the character of his cousin. Putting it harshly, his cousin’s actions were almost akin to trading the Young Master for personal glory!

"That wasn’t mere rashness; he planned it all meticulously..." Weichi Feihu sneered, "The three of us joined incognito, even our everyday comrades are unaware of our background, how would those fat-bellied rich men even find Wei Gongyan? Wasn’t it him who approached them?"

"Unfulfilled in Lyuzhou, I thought of other paths. Those wealthy merchants, always plotting covert operations—how secretive they usually are. To be approached means they had planned to use me as a bargaining chip from the start."

"Young Master..."

Wei Gongzhan looked at his own infuriated young master, momentarily unsure of what the young master was thinking. After hesitating for a while, he mustered some courage and asked, "Then, Young Master, do you... plan to participate in their scheme?"

"Participate? Why should I?" Weichi Feihu glared at him: "Do you want me to participate?"

"I will follow the Young Master’s orders."

"Really?" Weichi Feihu stared intensely at him: "If I asked you to betray Daqing Mountain, would you be willing?"

Perhaps it was the influence of the alcohol, but a surge of passion rose in Wei Gongzhan, who had avoided confrontation for a year. He suddenly lifted his head, his eyes reddened as he met his young master’s gaze: "I am not willing!!"

"Not willing?"

"Not willing!" Wei Gongzhan replied firmly: "If the Young Master wishes to proceed, then go ahead. I won’t betray you, but... please forgive Gongzhan... I can no longer accompany you. If you think I’m going to betray you, then... after we finish drinking, you may silence me!"

"Good..." Weichi Feihu nodded, raising his wine jug: "Drink!!"

Wei Gongzhan felt a sense of relief wash over him, perhaps this was the most relaxed he had felt all year.

He lifted the jug and poured the wine into his mouth...

What excellent wine!

Who knows if, in the next life... I will have the chance to taste such a delicacy again!

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Baisheng Hall was once a private school established by a teacher in Lyuzhou. Recently, it has been occupied by a group of scholars with official titles and has become their gathering place.

The commoners on North Street unconsciously made way for these people.

Today, these former wealthy merchants are finding their status in Lyuzhou increasingly awkward. Many people recognize them as former masters, but many also see that they can now only survive on relief.

A complex feeling—uncertain whether to respect them or not—causes the commoners on North Street to keep their distance from these people who frequently indulge in poetry and angrily denounce the world.

After all, the average commoner still finds it difficult to distinguish between the students of Lyuzhou Academy and these scholarly gentlemen.

So even though these scholars have been receiving relief for a year, at least nobody openly despises them.

Inside the Hundred Herbs Hall, there was a considerable crowd, almost a hundred strong, all dressed in the most splendid long robes they own.

They were new, purchased with much silver and gold. In Lyuzhou now, silver and gold aren’t worth much. To exchange for the luxuriant silk recently produced in Lyuzhou with silver, it would take at least five times the amount in Fragrant Silver.

For them, who are finding it increasingly hard to maintain their dignity, this is an extravagantly high price.

So most people actually only have one such presentable outfit, which they couldn’t bear to wear for collecting relief on ordinary days.

It’s only on such occasions of gathering among the scholarly community that they would wear it.

"Gentlemen!" The portly Official Lu stepped onto the platform, facing hundreds of like-minded individuals, his face full of excitement: "The latest news, the fog in Nanming Prefecture... has dissipated! Nothing can stop the Imperial Court’s army now!"

"The dark clouds that loomed over our Jiangnan for a year are finally going to disperse. I’ve had someone observe the waters of Lyuzhou City closely—the fog is thinning. A preliminary estimate, at most ten days, and Lyuzhou will also return to the bright world beneath the heavens!"

"Bright world beneath the heavens!!" A group of scholarly offspring shouted along, so excited they were on the verge of crying.

A year of humiliation, of living like refugees, was finally about to end.

"Next, let me tell you the second piece of good news!" Official Lu’s face flushed with excitement: "The Imperial Court has been aware of Chen Qing’s wild ambitions for quite some time and has been prepared!"

"Chen Qing thought he could do whatever he wished under the cover of this fog, but little did he know that the Imperial Court had already taken action against him.

We have made contact with many generals, all of whom are loyal to the Imperial Court, just waiting for the royal forces to move south and restore order! "

"Now, let us welcome our General Feihu. Oh, by the way, this name might be puzzling to you, but if I were to mention the well-known General Huang Feihu of Yunzhou, surely you’ve heard of him?"

Everyone was suddenly shocked, and some merchants hurriedly asked, "Teacher Lyu, do you mean General Huang Feihu is one of ours?"

"Brother Feng speaks inaccurately—the same as us, General Huang Feihu is a man of the Imperial Court!" Official Lu promptly saluted.

"Really?" A group of people who had been somewhat uneasy about Official Lu’s plan to collaborate from within and without now felt reassured, thinking that with General Huang Feihu’s help, the plan sounded much more reliable!

"Of course, it’s true. Now, let’s have General Feihu say a few words!"

Official Lu led the applause, and the rest, excited, joined in. Amidst applause, Weichi Feihu slowly ascended the platform step by step.

His towering figure dwarfed Official Lu by half, making people even more convinced that this man was the renowned General Huang Feihu of Yunzhou!

"General, please say a few words..." Teacher Lyu said with a smile.

Weichi Feihu looked down at the audience, swept his gaze across them, and nodded: "Is everyone here?"

"Of course!" Official Lu nodded: "Since you, General, personally came, we naturally had to make sure everyone was present..."

The remark was cut short; there was no more sound. Everyone looked on in horror as the towering man grabbed Official Lu’s neck with one hand and his head with the other, brutally twisting it into a twisted shape!!!