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Chapter 891: The Issue of Supplies (2) Editor: Henyee Translations

Qi Kaiming bowed respectfully, “Yes.”

Tang Jinghong stood up and headed towards the gathering area of the refugees.

Feeding over ten thousand refugees required a lot of porridge. Like a flowing river, porridge was continuously delivered to the gathering area, keeping the entire military camp extremely busy.

Upon seeing Tang Jinghong, Chu Qingzhi waved at him, “Jinghong.”

Tang Jinghong approached Chu Qingzhi, and they distributed porridge to the refugees together.

“General, thank you.”

“Thank you, General.”

Several youngsters, holding their porridge, kept thanking Tang Jinghong. Their pitiful appearances tugged at the heartstrings.

Chu Qingzhi said, “Jinghong, send people to collect food from the surrounding large cities. I have a feeling that someone is going to hinder our way in the future, and we might not be able to collect food.”

Although they had brought a lot of food, they required a significant amount daily. Now, with the need to share with the refugees, their food supply would last only five more days.

She strongly suspected that driving the refugees to this point was aimed at depleting their military supplies.

“Okay.” Tang Jinghong immediately instructed the officer in charge of food supplies to start collecting food.

It wasn’t until late at night that the affairs of the refugees were finally settled.

Tang Jinghong had some cotton clothes distributed to the refugees, as the weather was very cold at night, being the end of January.

The refugees expressed their gratitude in various ways.

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The supplies from the county magistrate arrived the next afternoon. The preparation was quite extensive, presumably in hopes of sending Tang Jinghong on his way as soon as possible.

But with the refugees present, he couldn’t leave yet and had to delay for a few more days.

Time flew quickly, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Meng Shengdong entered the main tent to report, “General, Officer Wang has not returned yet.” Officer Wang was the officer in charge of escorting the grain supplies.

Tang Jinghong’s brows furrowed, “You immediately take the fourth squadron of cavalry and go to their aid.”

Meng Shengdong bowed, “Yes, General.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

After making the necessary arrangements, Meng Shengdong led the fourth squadron of cavalry towards the west.

Chu Qingzhi, returning from outside, saw them departing and asked Tang Jinghong, “What happened?”

Tang Jinghong looked up at Chu Qingzhi, “Officer Wang and his team went to gather food supplies. By all accounts, they should have returned by now, but there’s no sign of them. I fear something has happened.”

Chu Qingzhi also expressed concern, “If we continue to consume our food and medicinal supplies at this rate, I’m afraid we won’t make it to Liang City.”

At that moment, a letter was delivered, stating that the second batch of supplies from the capital had arrived yesterday, asking if Tang Jinghong had received them.

Tang Jinghong’s expression changed slightly, “We haven’t received any supplies!”

After showing the letter to Chu Qingzhi, he immediately replied, indicating a significant problem.

Chu Qingzhi, after reading the letter, shared the concern, suspecting their supplies had been intercepted. With the vast world out there, where could they begin to look?

“Jinghong, I’ll go after Shengdong and the others. We absolutely cannot afford to lose this batch of supplies; otherwise, the military camp will soon run out of food.”

Tang Jinghong hesitated but eventually looked at Chu Qingzhi, “Then be careful.”

Chu Qingzhi assured, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

She left the tent, mounted a fast horse, and pursued Meng Shengdong and his team.

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At this moment, Meng Shengdong and his team were ambushed…

Atop a hillside, a burly man wielding an axe laughed boisterously, “Haha, capture them all!”

They were a group of bandits who had hijacked Officer Wang, planning to capture Meng Shengdong and his team next, then negotiate a ransom with Tang Jinghong, a cunning plan indeed!

Chu Qingzhi, riding fast, one hand on the reins and the other pulling a dagger from her boot, threw it towards the burly man.

With a flash of cold light, a blood mark appeared on the burly man’s neck, and he fell dead.

“Big brother!”

“Big brother!”

Seeing this, the other bandits panicked.

Some tried to retrieve the burly man’s body rolling down the hill, while others rushed to intercept Chu Qingzhi, “Kill her, she killed our big brother!”

Chu Qingzhi grabbed a handful of leaves, sending them flying towards the bandits like a celestial maiden scattering flowers. The leaves, swift and sharp, formed a line, cutting the throats of those unable to react in time.

On the hillside, the remaining bandits, seeing how formidable Chu Qingzhi was, immediately abandoned their attempt to retrieve their leader’s body and fled towards the forest.

The bandits who were ambushing Meng Shengdong and his team also saw the tide turning and chose to escape.

Chu Qingzhi handed the reins to Meng Shengdong, “Go back and bring more people to support me. Also, inform Jinghong to stay in the camp no matter what. I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

Meng Shengdong, awed by Chu Qingzhi’s martial prowess, responded, “Yes, Miss.”

Chu Qingzhi then climbed a tree to track the fleeing bandits. Logically, they would return to their stronghold, so following them should lead her right to it.

The bandits, in a frenzied rush, headed back to their stronghold, then ordered their subordinates to shut the gates, allowing no one in.

The second-in-command hurriedly went to a suspended floor in the stronghold, “Sir, our leader was killed by a girl.”

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In the suspended floor, a man with a black eye patch stood by the window, “Which girl?”

The second-in-command trembled with fear, “I was too panicked to see her face clearly, but she was incredibly powerful. A single handful of leaves killed my brothers.”

The man with the eye patch sensed trouble, “Chu Qingzhi?!”

“Chu Qingzhi!” The second-in-command was horrified. “How did she end up with Tang Jinghong?”

The man with the eye patch turned back, “They’ve always been together. Didn’t you know?”

The second-in-command panicked, “We rarely leave the stronghold, so we don’t know much. What do we do now?” Everyone knew that being targeted by Chu Qingzhi meant there was no escape.

The man with the eye patch said, “Pack up and run. She should be reaching your stronghold’s gate by now.”

The second-in-command’s heart raced, “What do you mean, sir?”

“Exactly what I said.” The man with the eye patch turned, his arm sweeping, and a glint of cold light from his fingers slit the second-in-command’s throat, who then fell dead.

It was essential to keep his visit to the stronghold a secret, so silencing him was the best option.

The man with the eye patch dusted off his hands and leaped out from the suspended floor, disappearing after a few jumps. Meanwhile, Chu Qingzhi arrived at the gates of the stronghold.

The gates were firmly shut, and the bandits inside ordered not to let anyone in. The second-in-command quickly went to a building in the stronghold to inform his superior, “Sir, our leader was killed by a girl.”

Inside, a figure stood by a window, “Which girl?”

Fearing for his life, the second-in-command stammered, “I didn’t see clearly in the panic, but she was formidable. A single handful of leaves was enough to kill my brothers.”

The figure by the window tensed, “Chu Qingzhi?!”

“Chu Qingzhi!” The realization struck fear into the second-in-command. “Why is she with Tang Jinghong?”

The figure turned, his gaze cold. “They’ve always been together. Did you not know?”

The second-in-command, confused and scared, replied, “We seldom venture out, unaware of many things. What do we do now?” It was widely known that a target of Chu Qingzhi had no chance of survival.

“Pack up and flee. She must be approaching the stronghold’s gates by now,” the figure instructed, his tone ominous.

The second-in-command felt a chill run down his spine. “You mean?”

“Exactly as I said.” With a swift turn, the figure’s arm flicked, sending a fatal slice to the second-in-command’s throat, instantly silencing any future threat.

To prevent any leaks about his visit, the figure made a quick exit, blending into the night as Chu Qingzhi approached the stronghold, ready to confront whatever awaited her inside.

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Chapter 892: Tracking the Supplies Editor: Henyee Translations

As the bandits guarding the gate saw Chu Qingzhi alone, they opened the gate and taunted her, “Little sister, did you lose your way coming here all by yourself?”

“Tell your brother where your home is, and we’ll send you back.”

Chu Qingzhi’s eyes turned cold, and with a wave of her hand, she unleashed two streams of spiritual power, sending the two flying. Their internal organs shattered upon impact with the ground, dead on the spot.

The people inside the stronghold were terrified at the sight…

“The demoness has come!”

“The demoness has come!”

Shouting in panic, the bandits fled deeper into the stronghold.

With the second-in-command killed by the man with the eye patch and the third-in-command now stepping forward, a skinny middle-aged man questioned Chu Qingzhi, “Demoness, we have no grudge against you. Why kill my brothers?”

Chu Qingzhi walked slowly into the stronghold, “Where is Officer Wang?”

The third-in-command’s eyes darted, “You’re Chu Qingzhi?”

Chu Qingzhi slightly raised her eyebrows, “It seems even you bandits know of me. Since you recognize me, better come clean, or their fate will be yours!”

A sinister gleam flashed in the third-in-command’s eyes, “Think you’re so capable? Find him yourself!” He then signaled his men.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook, and a drawbridge moved backward, revealing a deep chasm in the middle.

At the same time, the bandits brought out Officer Wang and the soldiers, holding knives to their necks, threatening Chu Qingzhi.

The third-in-command, with eyes like venomous snakes, stared at Chu Qingzhi, “Surrender now, or I kill them!”

Chu Qingzhi’s lips curled up slightly as a golden bell appeared in her hand. With a shake, its sound pierced through the stronghold, dazing all the bandits, blurring their vision and freezing them in place.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

She then flew over to look for the mechanism.

It was clear that the bandits had triggered something, causing the drawbridge to move back.

Without finding the mechanism, Chu Qingzhi headed towards the unusual activity in the suspended floor.

Who killed this bandit?

After examining the wounds and reconstructing the scene in her mind, it appeared the bandit was suddenly killed by someone he recognized. But why?

She pondered the mystery as Meng Shengdong’s voice came from outside, “Miss Chu, are you there?”

Chu Qingzhi responded, “Yes, wait a moment.”

Stepping out, she noticed an odd-looking stone on the mountain wall and pressed it. The ground where Meng Shengdong and his team stood shook again, and the drawbridge moved forward, connecting to the stronghold’s gate where they were.

Meng Shengdong crossed the bridge to join her, “Who would’ve thought, a bunch of bandits designing such a complex mechanism.”

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“Never underestimate anyone.” Chu Qingzhi then got down to business, “Officer Wang and the others are indeed in the stronghold, but I haven’t found the supplies yet. Let’s split up and search quickly.”

“Right.”

Entering the stronghold, built around a mine with tunnels serving as rooms, Chu Qingzhi found it surprisingly wealthy.

Beyond the tunnels was a garden enclosed by mountains, with several caves around. She extended her spiritual sense into these caves.

One cave’s end was a storeroom filled with treasure and some food.

Another was sealed with a stone door, its contents unknown.

The rest were holding cells.

Heading towards the cell, Chu Qingzhi found a man, dirty and chained, unrecognizable.

Touching the lock, she entered the cell and asked directly, “Why did the bandits lock you up?”

The man slowly looked up, “You’re not from the stronghold?”

“I’m Chu Qingzhi.”

The man suddenly became animated, “Heaven has eyes, I’m the prefect of Linzhang City. I was kidnapped by bandits while on an inspection tour. Miss, please save me.”

Chu Qingzhi effortlessly broke the chains, “I’ll have someone take you to Tang Jinghong.”

The prefect hurriedly agreed, “Yes, yes, whatever you say.”

Leading the prefect out, Chu Qingzhi mused on the unusual circumstance of a prefect ending up like this.

Back in the garden, Meng Shengdong rushed over, “Miss, we haven’t found the supplies.”

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Chapter 893: Tracking the Supplies (2) Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingzhi pointed to the prefect, “He is the Prefect of Linzhang City. Assign someone to look after him; I’m going to search for the supplies.”

Meng Shengdong was momentarily taken aback, “Miss, this…?” The person before them looked nothing more than a beggar; how could he possibly be a prefect?

However, Chu Qingzhi’s words were not to be doubted. Regardless of his true identity, they would find out once they brought him back. If he dared to impersonate a prefect, he would soon learn the meaning of regret, “Xiao Wu, take care of him.”

Xiao Wu saluted, “Yes, General.”

Chu Qingzhi led her group towards the cave sealed with a stone, suspecting a secret lay behind it.

Reaching the entrance, Chu Qingzhi’s palm strike sent the stone flying, revealing the path hidden behind it.

A stone path extended downwards into the forest without stairs but with many signs of friction, indicating heavy objects had been dragged over it.

Meng Shengdong furrowed his brows, “Miss Chu, could it be that the supplies collected by Officer Wang were transported out by the bandits through here?”

“It’s possible,” replied Chu Qingzhi. She turned around, “Bring Officer Wang here.”

Meng Shengdong stepped aside, and two soldiers helped Officer Wang over.

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Chu Qingzhi pressed her fingers to Officer Wang’s forehead.

Gradually, Officer Wang regained consciousness, his gaze confused at first but soon cleared upon seeing Meng Shengdong, “Quick, pursue the supplies. The bandits have stolen them.”

Chu Qingzhi pinpointed a concern, “Your convoy had a thousand soldiers, and these bandits at most numbered four to five hundred. Even if ambushed, you should not have been entirely captured. How were you apprehended?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Officer Wang felt a chill; was Miss Chu suspecting an inside job?

He hurriedly explained, “Miss, please understand, those who ambushed us numbered at least a thousand, not less.”

“How can you be sure?” Chu Qingzhi’s frown deepened. If true, then there was much more to this incident. Worse, the attackers might not have been bandits but someone else entirely.

This theory matched the situation in the suspended floor!

Officer Wang affirmed, “I have spent years in the military, particularly managing supplies. I am highly sensitive to numbers and can estimate a crowd size with a glance, with an error margin of no more than five.”

Meng Shengdong confirmed, “I can vouch for Officer Wang. It’s well-known throughout the camp that he has this skill.”

Chu Qingzhi silently acknowledged the gravity of the situation. She instructed Meng Shengdong, “You return to the camp with the others. I will track the supplies.”

Meng Shengdong hesitated, “Miss Chu, let’s go back together. The General is very worried.”

“Jinghong will understand,” Chu Qingzhi reassured before proceeding down the path.

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Watching Chu Qingzhi’s departing figure, Meng Shengdong, realizing he couldn’t persuade her, resolved to follow her orders, secure the stronghold, and then lead everyone back to the camp.

Once out of sight, Chu Qingzhi contacted Tang Jinghong with the Golden Phoenix Messenger, updating him on the situation.

Tang Jinghong advised that if she reached Linzhang City, checking the prefectural yamen might yield some clues, confirming the person they rescued was indeed the Prefect.

After contemplation, Chu Qingzhi decided to visit the prefectural yamen in Linzhang City but chose first to track the supplies.

The trail into the forest soon disappeared, giving way to grass and dry leaves. It seemed the boxes had been carried from this point, leaving many footprints in the grass that faded with distance, making it hard to follow.

Feeling a bit hungry, Chu Qingzhi popped a candy into her mouth before climbing to the treetops to survey her surroundings, then headed towards the nearby official road.

Indeed, heavy wheel tracks marked the road. Following these, Chu Qingzhi moved forward.

Soon, Shuang’er, her bird, arrived, “Qingzhi.”

Chu Qingzhi looked at the seemingly thinner Shuang’er, “Did you find anything?”

“I lost them,” admitted Shuang’er. There was a traitor in the camp, and despite its surveillance, “He went to a nearby inn and then left in women’s attire. I didn’t realize it was him until too late…”

“It’s not your fault; the adversary was too cunning. Anyone else would have lost them too.”

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“I’ll keep a closer watch next time.”

“Go ahead.”

After Shuang’er departed, Chu Qingzhi used a spell to speed her travel, arriving at Linzhang City.

The city gates were tightly closed, with many people waiting to enter, creating a noisy and chaotic scene reminiscent of a market.

Chu Qingzhi approached a young servant, “Excuse me, young man, what’s happening here?”

The servant, though not particularly noticeable, was adept at gathering information. Seeing Chu Qingzhi’s polite manner and striking appearance, he willingly shared, “Lin Zhang City experienced a robbery last night. The city gates are currently closed as they search for the culprits.”

“A robbery? Why such a fuss over a theft?”

“It’s because the target was the storeroom of the Prefect himself.”

Chu Qingzhi raised an eyebrow, “What’s so important in the Prefect’s storeroom that someone would risk stealing from it?”

“That, I’m not sure of. But the Prefect was furious, leading to the gates being sealed.”

“How long have they been closed?”

“Since last night, continuing until now. No word on when they’ll reopen.”

“Thank you for the information.”

“No problem. Are you here to visit relatives or for business?”

“I’m here on business.”

“Then you might have to wait a bit longer. The gates should open soon.”

Nodding, Chu Qingzhi moved along the city wall toward the southern gate, following the trail of wheel tracks, “It seems they transported the supplies here last night. The Prefect’s order to seal the city likely forced them to redirect elsewhere. Unfortunate timing.”

About five hundred meters along, the trail led her to a bamboo grove where the wheel marks vanished.

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Chapter 894: A Terrifying Place Editor: Henyee Translationsn/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

In the camp.

After cleaning himself up, the Prefect finally looked presentable. Arriving at the main tent, he couldn’t stop wiping away tears, “General, I owe my life to Miss Chu. Otherwise, I would have been locked up until death.”

Tang Jinghong focused on the matter at hand, “Why did they kidnap you? And why imprison you?”

Sniffling, the Prefect recounted, “I was abducted a year ago. My wife and daughter went on an outing, and I, caught up in official duties, didn’t accompany them. In the afternoon, I was informed of an ‘accident’ involving them and rushed to the scene without suspicion, only to be ambushed by bandits.”

“That’s how I was captured and subsequently imprisoned.”

“General, could you send someone to the Linzhang City yamen to check on my wife and daughter? It’s been over a year since I’ve seen them.”

Tang Jinghong signaled to Meng Shengdong, “Go check.”

Meng Shengdong saluted, “Yes, General.”

The Prefect continued, “As for why they imprisoned me, I probed the bandits. It seems they coveted the fertile land around Linzhang City.”

“The General must know, the land around Dongling is sparse and barren, except for the vicinity of Linzhang City, which is relatively fertile and includes a plain.”

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“I gathered from the bandits that they intended to use the land to grow treasures.”

Tang Jinghong had a grim suspicion, those lands were probably intended for cultivating opium poppies, “Bandits wouldn’t normally dare to kidnap a city’s Prefect.”

The Prefect nodded vigorously, “You’re right, General. They were acting under someone’s orders. The bandits who imprisoned me weren’t the brightest, but their operations were meticulously planned, indicating a mastermind behind them.”

After pondering for a moment, Tang Jinghong stood and left the main tent for the one holding the captured bandits.

The bandits were still in a stupor. Chu Qingzhi had taught Tang Jinghong that stimulating the eyebrows with a silver needle could awaken them.

Tang Jinghong woke up the third bandit, “Will you answer my questions properly?”

Seeing the soldiers, the bandit caved, “If I speak, can I have a chance to live?”

Tang Jinghong replied, “Depends on your performance.”

Eager to redeem himself, the bandit promised, “I’ll cooperate fully. Ask away.”

Tang Jinghong inquired, “Tell me about your stronghold’s origins.”

Desperate to atone, the bandit confessed, “Our stronghold was formed a little over a year ago. The leader was a butcher from Linzhang City who turned to banditry after being wrongfully accused of murder.”

“The origins of the second-in-command are unclear to me.”

“I was a beggar, always following the leader. Initially, he only sought a hideout until it was safe to flee elsewhere.”

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“But then the second-in-command appeared, convincing the leader to form the bandits and recruit desperate men from all around.”

“People from all directions, unable to survive otherwise, joined us upon seeing a way out.”

“With manpower, we began looting and established the stronghold.”

“Then, a mysterious man appeared, only known to the leader and second-in-command. With his help, the stronghold expanded significantly.”

Tang Jinghong contemplated, “This mysterious man wouldn’t help you for nothing. What did he want?”

The bandit replied, “He didn’t ask for anything, just used our stronghold to transport boxes, the contents of which we never knew.”

“Where did these goods come from?”

The bandit shook his head, “I don’t know. I only saw goods frequently arriving, then being moved after a few days. I asked the leader, who only mentioned striking it rich, revealing nothing more.”

“Why wait a few days?”

“I don’t know. Those goods were secretly kept in a room, then quietly moved out and carried away through the back mountains.”

Tang Jinghong’s eyes narrowed, “If it’s a secret, how did you find out?”

The bandit hastily explained, “I saw it by chance.”

“Kaiming, take him. Let’s visit the stronghold.”

“Yes.”

Upon reaching the now deserted stronghold, the bandit, seeing no room for betrayal, hurriedly led them to the storeroom.

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Chapter 895: A Terrifying Place (2) Editor: Henyee Translations

The dwelling was a cave remodeled into a home, filled with bottles and jars, closely resembling Chu Qingning’s medical lab.

At first glance, it seemed ordinary. However, as Tang Jinghong surveyed the room, he discovered a hidden compartment. He moved a stone that held an oil lamp, revealing a mechanism.

Activating the mechanism, the cabinet full of bottles and jars shifted aside, unveiling a door. A strong medicinal scent rushed out from behind it, sharply pungent.

Tang Jinghong proceeded inside, finding what truly was the main medical lab.

No, it was a tobacco mixing room. Using opium poppies as the main ingredient for the tobacco, the room was saturated with the same scent he had encountered in the capital city.

If opium poppies were cultivated in Linzhang City, then this place, being used for tobacco production, was aptly chosen.

On the table, there were medical tools and baskets filled with surplus opium poppies.

Exiting the house, Tang Jinghong issued a stern order, “Burn this place down.”

“Yes, General.”

Riding back to camp, Tang Jinghong, accompanied by the magistrate, headed towards the fertile land the magistrate had mentioned.

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It was a vast plain, an hour’s ride from the camp.

Upon their arrival, everything became clear.

The plain was densely planted with opium poppies, thriving robustly, some even in bloom. The sight was spectacular; however, the beautiful white flowers were tainted with sin.

Many people were weeding the fields, with someone who looked like a supervisor standing by, watched over by four others, all gazing out over the plains.

Xia Lan, a close guard, expressed shock, “General, I didn’t expect all this land, meant for grains, to be sown with such harmful stuff.”

Tang Jinghong’s voice carried a hint of severity, “Bring all of them here.”

Xia Lan complied, “Yes.”

Seeing the soldiers, the workers panicked, especially those posing as supervisors, who lost their haughty demeanor and knelt, begging for mercy, “General, spare us, we were just following orders, it’s not our fault, not our fault.”

Tang Jinghong’s eyes were cold as he looked down at the people kneeling before him, “Who made you plant these?”

The supervisor stuttered, “General, it was… it was…”

Xia Lan kicked the supervisor, sending him rolling, “If you don’t confess now, you’ll lose your lives, you maniacs!”

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Pain prevented the supervisor from moving for a while.

One of his subordinates, seeing the situation, hurriedly spoke up, “I’ll tell, I’ll tell, General, please spare us.”

Tang Jinghong remained silent, his gaze sharp as a blade.

The subordinate felt a chill, “General, we were following the orders of Linzhang City’s magistrate. He threatened us with our families, we dared not disobey, please see the truth.”

It seemed it was time to confront the magistrate, Tang Jinghong thought.

Hearing this, the real magistrate shivered with fear, understanding the grave implications of the situation. Disguising someone else to take his place meant he would be the one to face death.

Tang Jinghong ordered, “Pull out all these opium poppies and burn them, leave none behind.”

“Yes, General.”

Xia Lan led a group of soldiers towards the plains to uproot the opium poppies.

Seeing the soldiers’ actions, the workers pleaded to redeem themselves, “General, we also want to contribute. This thing harms others and ourselves. We wouldn’t have tended it if not for being forced.”

Tang Jinghong nodded, “Go.”

The group of farmers also joined in. A young boy lingered behind, then rushed forward, kneeling before Tang Jinghong, “General, please, help me find our families.”

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“What’s the matter?” Tang Jinghong scrutinized the boy, ordinary and timid.

The boy, in tears, explained, “We’re villagers nearby. After the officials took our land, they drove the villagers away. Now, the village is empty, and no one knows where the villagers have gone.”

“When did this happen?”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“A year ago. I was in the county selling eggs and avoided being driven away, but I was caught to tend the opium poppies. Despite my efforts, I found no trace of them.”

“Did the villagers take their belongings and clothes when they left?”

“No, everything was left behind, just the people disappeared.”

Tang Jinghong’s brow furrowed, realizing the villagers’ fate might be grim, “I’ll have someone look into it.”

The boy knelt deeply, “Thank you, General, thank you.”

The magistrate approached, “General, what do we do now?”

Tang Jinghong glanced at the magistrate but said nothing.

At the camp, Yi Chuanchuan entered the tent to find Rong Shenning and Du Zhaolin wrapped in blankets, shivering, “What’s wrong with you?”

Rong Shenning rolled his eyes in discomfort, “I feel terrible, so cold.”

Du Zhaolin’s teeth chattered, “I feel awful too. Despite it being spring, it feels like the depth of winter. Liu Zhu, please find us a medic.”

“Alright, wait here. I can’t just watch you suffer.”

Exiting the tent, Yi Chuanchuan made straight for the medic’s tent, “Rong Shenning and Du Zhaolin are ill, who can assist?”

Several medics were busy preparing medicines, exchanging looks, none too eager to help.

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Chapter 896: She is the Devil Editor: Henyee Translations

Yi Chuanchuan approached the nearest military doctor, who was his uncle. “Uncle, could you please take a look at them? Otherwise, they might die.”

The doctor’s brows were deeply furrowed. “Is it really that serious?”

Thinking of their condition, Yi Chuanchuan described, “They’re pale, lips are white, sweating profusely, and still feel cold despite being wrapped in blankets.”

Realizing the gravity, the doctor agreed, “Let’s have a look.”

They quickly made their way to the tents of Rong Shenning and Du Zhaolin.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

“Cough, cough, cough…”

Both were coughing violently, as if competing, which sounded distressing.

Du Zhaolin urged, “Doctor, quick, check me out. I feel cold one moment and hot the next, like I’m in an ice and fire ordeal. It’s unbearably uncomfortable.”

The doctor, with knitted brows, approached Du Zhaolin and checked his pulse.

After checking, the doctor broke into a cold sweat; Du Zhaolin had smallpox, but with even more severe symptoms.

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“How can this be?”

Seeing his uncle’s increasingly worried expression, Yi Chuanchuan’s heart raced, “Uncle, what’s wrong?”

The doctor pulled Yi Chuanchuan aside at the tent entrance, cautioning, “Stay here, don’t go near them, and don’t leave. It’s gotten more serious.”

Yi Chuanchuan’s heart thumped wildly, “Uncle, what do you mean by ‘more serious’?”

“Don’t ask too much now, just stay here as I told you,” the doctor instructed.

Yi Chuanchuan nodded, “I understand.”

The doctor went back to check Rong Shenning’s pulse; their symptoms were identical, both worsening.

This indicated one thing: the smallpox was becoming even harder to cure.

“Have you taken your medicine?” the doctor asked them.

Du Zhaolin, as if his throat was on fire, replied with difficulty, “Yes, but it’s not improving. doctor, you look pale. What illness do we have?”

The doctor did not answer his question, “Wait until Miss Chu returns, and I’ll examine you again.”

Du Zhaolin felt uneasy, “What do you mean? Aren’t you able to treat us? Why must Miss Chu see us?”

Without responding, the doctor walked to the tent entrance, put on a mask, and headed toward the camp entrance, telling the guard, “When Miss Chu returns, tell her I have something very important to discuss with her.”

“Yes, doctor.”

Fang Zerong witnessed this scene, approaching the doctor, “Doctor Lan, what happened?”

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The doctor took Fang Zerong aside and shared his findings.

After listening, Fang Zerong’s heart pounded, “This is of great importance, let’s not publicize this. We’ll discuss further when Miss Chu returns.”

The doctor nodded, “That was my thought.”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Meanwhile, Chu Qingzhi was exploring a bamboo forest. After wandering for a while, she discovered an even more powerful array than the one in the northern border bamboo forest.

In the depths of the bamboo forest, an old man watched Chu Qingzhi with a sinister look, “The array in the northern border was broken by you due to my oversight, but I don’t believe you can break this one!”

Beside him, a young man in blue also eyed her maliciously, “Master, let me go meet her.”

The old man smiled and nodded, “Go, let me witness Chu Qingzhi’s strength.”

The young man bowed and flew towards the bamboo forest.

Chu Qingzhi smirked as someone approached. Around her, the bamboos started spinning, some moving backward, others forward, creating a chaotic sensation. Without strong concentration, one would quickly feel dizzy and hallucinate, leading to a feeling of being unable to find a way out.

Chu Qingzhi snapped a branch, her body soared, and in a flash, she disappeared.

The old man and the young man were shocked. During their surprise, a branch flew straight toward the young man’s chest, while Chu Qingzhi appeared behind him.

This scene made the old man’s eyes widen in panic, “Be careful!”

His outcry immediately gave away his position. The next second, Chu Qingzhi was in front of the old man, the young man no longer a concern as the branch had pierced his chest.

Seeing Chu Qingzhi, the old man, despite his composure, was taken aback, “You, you…”

Chu Qingzhi kicked the old man against the wall, forming a human-shaped pattern, and smiled innocently, “Answer my questions honestly, and I might let you die a quick death.”

Chilled by Chu Qingzhi’s smile, the old man, shaken by Chu Qingzhi’s menacing grin, complied fearfully, “I’ll tell you everything.”

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Chapter 897: She is the Devil (2) Editor: Henyee Translations

Just when I thought I had a tough opponent, a mere threat made him yield. “Is this where Lord Cang’s military rations are hidden?” Chu Qingzhi asked.

The old man quickly confirmed, “Yes.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of people dressed in black emerged from the bamboo forest, surrounding Chu Qingzhi with crossbows in hand, their sharp tips aimed at her.

Chu Qingzhi glanced back and sneered at the feeble tactic.

A man in a blue robe emerged from behind the men in black, fanning himself and laughing, “I’ve long heard of Miss Chu’s skills in business, martial arts, and medicine, but I didn’t expect you to be so adept at mechanical tricks as well, breaking the formation with just a word. Truly impressive.”

Chu Qingzhi raised her hand and flung several silver needles at the man in the blue robe, hitting him in the forehead, chest, dantian, and both shoulder blades.

Before anyone could react, the man in blue screamed terribly, startling a flock of birds.

The men in black were terrified; they only saw Chu Qingzhi flick her hand, and their master was screaming in agony. What had she done exactly?

Writhing on the ground in pain, the man in blue shouted, “Witch, what have you done to me?”

Chu Qingzhi smiled, “Guess!”

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The man in blue roared, “Release me now, or you’ll regret it!”

Chu Qingzhi taunted, “As if releasing you would make you let me go. Keep suffering, I’ll talk after I find the military rations.”

Enraged, the man in blue wanted to tear Chu Qingzhi apart, “You…”

Ignoring him, Chu Qingzhi turned back to the old man, “Where are the rations?”

Seeing Chu Qingzhi’s formidable nature, the old man’s earlier confidence had vanished, “Right under your feet, they’re buried here.”

Chu Qingzhi addressed the men in black, “Dig up the rations, or I’ll kill your master.”

The men in black looked at each other, uncertain.

Chu Qingzhi pulled the man in blue towards her using her spiritual power, grabbing his neck, “Give the order now!”

The man in blue, now truly scared, forgot his fear, “What kind of monster are you, able to pull me from such a distance?”

Terrified, he commanded, “What are you waiting for? Start digging!”

Holding the man in blue by the neck, Chu Qingzhi walked towards the old man and threw him into the wall, forming another human-shaped indentation next to the old man.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The crowd was stunned…

The men in black hurriedly began digging up the rations.

Chu Qingzhi leaped onto the roof, taking the opportunity to inform Tang Jinghong that she had located the rations and would have them sent back soon.

She crossed her arms and asked, “What happened last night in Linzhang City? Was there a robbery?”

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“It wasn’t a robbery,” the old man explained. “The magistrate’s storehouse was emptied by a mysterious figure. The magistrate was furious and swore to dig three feet into the ground to find the perpetrator, hence the city gates were closed.”

Chu Qingzhi pondered, “So the items are still in Linzhang City?”

The old man was unsure, “Probably.”

Chu Qingzhi considered whether to meet this mysterious person. The magistrate was an impostor, so the items stolen were surely no ordinary goods. She was somewhat intrigued by this vigilante.

It was an opportune time to recruit someone capable.

First, to resolve the current situation and then to investigate.

The man in blue gasped in pain, “Can you please remove whatever you put in me? I’ll do whatever you say.”

The constant pain was driving him to despair.

Chu Qingzhi retrieved her silver needles, “Who are you? Who sent you? How did you know I would come?”

The man in blue hurriedly explained, “I am the brother of the magistrate. We had intelligence that you would come to the bamboo forest, and everyone wanted to capture you, so I came.”

Chu Qingzhi questioned, “Are you the real magistrate’s brother, or the impostor’s?”

Wen Juncheng was confused, “What do you mean? What real or fake magistrate?”

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“Don’t you know?”

“I know nothing,” Wen Juncheng thought to himself, what’s really going on here? Why does everyone seem so mysterious?

This person doesn’t even know whether his own brother is real, Chu Qingzhi was incredulous, “What was stolen from the magistrate last night?”

“Last night, my brother locked me in a room. I couldn’t even leave,” Wen Juncheng replied. “He said it was the most important thing in the storehouse, but I don’t know exactly what it was.”

The most important thing?

While Chu Qingzhi pondered, the men in black had dug through the dirt and exposed the crates below.

“Open it and let’s see,” she commanded.

The men in black quickly opened the nearest crate. Inside were sacks, and upon opening them, they revealed piles of gleaming white rice.

“Seal them back up, and move all the crates out,” Chu Qingzhi instructed.

The men in black continued their labor, moving crates with reluctant efficiency, having been transformed from enemies to unwilling servants. They felt incredibly frustrated by the turn of events.

In the shadows, one of the men in black communicated quietly with Wen Juncheng before retreating into the darkness. He then aimed his crossbow at Chu Qingzhi and pulled the trigger.

Chu Qingzhi stood unflinchingly, merely observing the men carrying the crates.

A scream of agony erupted from Wen Juncheng as the arrow, intended for Chu Qingzhi, inexplicably struck him instead.

Chu Qingzhi smirked with satisfaction. The men in black were confounded; they had clearly aimed at Chu Qingzhi, yet their arrow had veered off course.

Wen Juncheng bellowed in rage and pain, “Are you trying to kill me?”

The man in black stepped back, fear overtaking him, “Master, I…”

Chu Qingzhi’s voice floated down from the rooftop, “Stop your futile resistance! I’m telling you, you won’t get the better of me.”

The group was now even more convinced of Chu Qingzhi’s diabolical nature.

The old man, looking at his disciple’s corpse not far away, thought in despair. His most talented disciple had died in mere moments at Chu Qingzhi’s hands. She truly was a devil.

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Chapter 898: Ruthlessly Mad Editor: Henyee Translations

Nobody dared play tricks anymore, they all followed Chu Qingzhi’s orders diligently.

One by one, the crates were moved out from the ground, stacking up into a small mountain.

Chu Qingzhi, watching the pile of crates, breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she could alleviate the military camp’s food shortage. She leaped down from the rooftop and confronted the old man, “Who ordered you to do this?”

The old man, both hating and fearing Chu Qingzhi, replied, “It was Lu Ziming.”

Lu Ziming, the steward of the Prince of the eastern border’s household. Chu Qingzhi furrowed her brows, “Whose side is this Lu Ziming really on?”

The old man insisted, “I don’t know, I’m just a friend of Lu Ziming, helping him out of goodwill.” He hadn’t expected that this would provoke Chu Qingzhi, a demonic woman!

Chu Qingzhi scorned, “Living such a long life, you bring calamity upon the nation, can’t distinguish right from wrong, help tyrants commit evils, wasting air by just breathing!”

Without another word, her dagger flashed as she swung it horizontally, killing the old man.

Wen Juncheng, witnessing Chu Qingzhi’s efficient ruthlessness, trembled uncontrollably, “I, I…”

Chu Qingzhi turned to Wen Juncheng with a gentle smile, “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you.” Not until the grain is safely returned to the camp.

Seeing this, the men in black realized that Chu Qingzhi was accustomed to killing and dared not play any tricks.

After a while, the leader of the men in black approached, “All crates have been dug up, can we release our young master now?”

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Chu Qingzhi glanced at Wen Juncheng, who was looking hopeful, “Transport all the crates back to the military camp, and I’ll release him. You have two hours.”

Wen Juncheng urged them, “Hurry, find the carts and get the crates back.”

The men in black, feeling Chu Qingzhi was excessively cruel and hard-hearted, doubted her, “Can we take your word?”

Chu Qingzhi countered, “Do you have any leverage to negotiate with me?”

Wen Juncheng was nearly in tears, “Hurry up, what are you dallying for, go and transport them!”

The men in black reluctantly went to find carts to transport the food.

After loading the crates onto the carts, Chu Qingzhi pulled Wen Juncheng out from the wall, threw him onto a horse, and followed behind the convoy.

Choosing the nearest routes, they managed to return the military supplies to the camp within an hour and a half.

…

Inside the tent, Yi Chuanchuan touched his forehead, feeling it slightly warmer. Was he also infected with smallpox?

Du Zhaolin and Rong Shening had taken their medicine and were sleeping fitfully, but their symptoms had not subsided at all.

Yi Chuanchuan looked at them, puzzled about what his uncle meant.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Yi Chuanchuan couldn’t help but start coughing violently, feeling his entire chest ache.

“Uncle, Uncle…” Seeing Doctor Lan passing by, Yi Chuanchuan quickly called out to him.

Doctor Lan, seeing Yi Chuanchuan’s reddening face, sensed trouble and promptly checked his pulse.

Yi Chuanchuan was also infected with a more severe form of smallpox!

“Go lie down in bed, do not leave the tent, I’ll go get your medicine.”

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Yi Chuanchuan grabbed Doctor Lan’s wrist, “Uncle, can you tell me what’s wrong with me?”

Doctor Lan tried to stay calm, “You’ve got smallpox, but it’s alright, we have medicine.”

Yi Chuanchuan slowly released his hand, “Please go get the medicine for me, Uncle.” If there was medicine, why did his uncle look so worried?

Doctor Lan was deeply concerned, “Why hasn’t Miss Chu come back yet?”

Just then, a green silhouette approached him, “Doctor Lan, I heard the soldiers say you were looking for me?”

Doctor Lan whispered, “The smallpox has worsened.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

It had evolved? Chu Qingzhi felt a heavy weight in her heart; medicinal supplies were already scarce, and the second batch of resources had been hijacked. The situation was worsening, adding insult to injury.

“Organize the medics, isolate everyone infected with smallpox, and keep it quiet to avoid panic!”

“Yes.”

“I’ll go see Yi Chuanchuan and the others, and get the prescriptions ready.”

“Be careful, Miss. The three people in Yi Chuanchuan’s tent are all infected with a more severe strain of smallpox.”

“I understand, go on.”

They split up to take action.

Chu Qingzhi headed to Yi Chuanchuan’s tent and checked the pulses of the three men, confirming her fears, “It really has evolved!”

Yi Chuanchuan, watching her intently, asked anxiously, “What’s happening to us?”

Chu Qingzhi maintained her composure, “It’s just an infection, nothing more. I’ll go prepare some medicine for you. You three must not leave this tent, understood?”

Yi Chuanchuan nodded, “Understood.”

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Chapter 899: Ruthlessly Mad Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingzhi arrived at the tent where the military doctors were stationed and wrote down a new prescription. “Immediately send people to collect these medicinal ingredients, and start preparing the medicine as soon as they return.”

The person in charge of the medical supplies, Official Luo, took the prescription from her hands. “Yes, Miss Chu.”

After leaving the tent, Chu Qingzhi headed towards Tang Jinghong’s tent.

Finding the tent empty, Chu Qingzhi turned and asked a guard standing outside, “Where is General Tang?”

The soldier kept his gaze forward, “The general has gone to the stronghold and has not yet returned.”

“What was he doing at the stronghold?” Chu Qingzhi inquired further.

The soldier replied, “I do not know.”

Chu Qingzhi returned to her tent and contacted Tang Jinghong through the Jin Yu Phoenix communication device to find out his whereabouts.

Tang Jinghong quickly informed her of his situation.

He had discovered a place where the poppy plant was cultivated, which turned out to be a front for a drug production site masquerading as a simple village.

Clever tricks by the ancients!

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Since Tang Jinghong was returning soon, Chu Qingzhi decided not to go there. She left her tent and walked towards the area where the displaced people were gathered.

This area was now under the supervision of Tang Jinghong’s personal guards, with Jia Liyu and Jia Lixia assisting.

The displaced people had initially been in chaos and diseased, but now they were organized and settled. Once a suitable village or location was found, they could be moved to recuperate and rebuild their lives.

Jia Liyu and Jia Lixia approached her, “Miss, you’re back?”

“Is everything running smoothly?” Chu Qingzhi asked.

“There were many problems at first, but it has gotten much better now,” Jia Liyu reported.

Chu Qingzhi responded, “You have been working hard during this time…” She continued talking as they walked forward.

Ying Shengtian, sitting under a tree, hurried over when he saw Chu Qingzhi. “Miss, Miss…”

Chu Qingzhi stopped and looked at him, “What is it?”

Ying Shengtian said, “Miss, I was wondering when we could settle down? Everyone is almost recovered, and we don’t want to burden you any longer.”

Chu Qingzhi was somewhat surprised that a displaced person would say such a thing. “Do you wish to return to your original village?”

Ying Shengtian shook his head, “We have no homes to return to after fleeing; any nearby arrangement would suffice.”

Returning might lead to problems with village chiefs or the local magistrate; it might be better to start anew.

Chu Qingzhi thought for a moment, “Wait a little longer. General Tang is currently looking for places to resettle you, and arrangements will be made soon.”

Ying Shengtian expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, Miss, thank you, General.”

…

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On the plains, Tang Jinghong had gathered a thousand soldiers to uproot the poppy plants, and after a day’s hard work, they managed to eradicate the menace.

Looking at the ashes of the eradicated crops, Tang Jinghong led his men to a nearby village.

Xia Lan asked, “General, what are we doing here?”

Tang Jinghong looked at the nearly deserted village and counter-asked, “Don’t you think this area is suitable for resettling the displaced people?”

Xia Lan, as if enlightened, replied, “Yes, General, you always think ahead.”

There were about a dozen villages nearby, all virtually unpopulated, making them ideal for resettling the over ten thousand displaced people. The success now depended on whether Qi Kaiming could bring back the original villagers.

Usually, displaced people do not return, but these villagers were driven out under different circumstances and might come back if found.

However…

Qi Kaiming returned on horseback, his expression grim. “General, we’ve found the villagers.”

Tang Jinghong urgently asked, “Where?”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Qi Kaiming hesitated, then said, “Follow me, General.”

They arrived at a cliff.

Qi Kaiming dismounted, walked to the edge, and pointed down. “General, the people are below, now turned to bones.”

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Tang Jinghong’s face darkened instantly, “You mean, all the villagers died here?”

Qi Kaiming nodded, “Yes.”

“Ruthlessly mad!” Tang Jinghong cursed fiercely, feeling a surge of uncontrollable rage.

The soldiers accompanying him also cursed the perpetrators as beasts, too cruel for their brutal acts.

Qi Kaiming asked, “What do we do now, General?”

“Get some shovels; let’s bury the bodies right here,” Tang Jinghong said, closing his eyes briefly as he grappled with the heavy reality. The thought of so many lives lost was overwhelming; how could anyone commit such a heinous act?

“Yes, General.”

The soldiers brought shovels, and Tang Jinghong joined them in burying the bodies. Thousands of lives, men, women, elderly, and children, none had been spared in this cruel act. The scene was more harrowing than any battlefield he had witnessed, truly a mountain of bones.

Qi Kaiming, filled with righteous indignation, declared, “General, we must make those responsible suffer the most severe of punishments!”

The soldiers agreed, “Indeed, General. These people are not human.”

Tang Jinghong, heartbroken, commanded, “Let’s head back first. We will not let those who did this go unpunished!”

…

Meanwhile, the soldiers who had been sent to investigate the disappearance of the second batch of supplies returned. Chu Qingzhi prepared to interrogate them, eager to recover the missing supplies and head back to the military camp. As she was about to leave, Tang Jinghong returned, his expression somber and dark—a look she had never seen on him before.

“Jinghong!”

Seeing Chu Qingzhi, Tang Jinghong’s mood lightened slightly, “Qingzhi, let’s talk inside the tent.”

Inside the tent, they exchanged updates.

Chu Qingzhi, who was accustomed to scenes of violence, was shocked by the news of the massacre. “They’ve slaughtered an entire village… they’ve lost all humanity!”

“Jinghong, let’s first take care of resettling the villagers,” Chu Qingzhi suggested, bringing his focus back to the immediate needs.

Tang Jinghong rubbed his temples, “You’re right. I’ll immediately arrange for the resettlement of the villagers. We’ll sort out the rest after stabilizing the situation here.”

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Chapter 900: Missing in Action Editor: Henyee Translations

As Tang Jinghong went to arrange for the resettlement of the refugees, Chu Qingzhi stayed behind in her tent to question the soldiers about the disappearance of the second batch of supplies.

A soldier reported to Chu Qingzhi, “There was a traitor among the soldiers transporting the second batch of supplies. In the middle of the night, they secretly opened the gates and let the enemy in, catching them completely off guard.”

“They killed or knocked out everyone and then took the supplies away in the night. Now, their whereabouts are unknown.”

After pondering for a moment upon hearing this, Chu Qingzhi asked, “Do you have the list of soldiers who were transporting the second batch?”

“Yes,” the soldier handed over the list.

Chu Qingzhi looked at the list and then asked, “Is there a list of soldiers who died?”

“Yes,” the soldier replied, handing over a second page.

Comparing the lists, Chu Qingzhi noted that there were five survivors, three of whom were unconscious and two were missing. “Are the two missing soldiers being searched for?”

“Yes, but the culprits were very thorough, and it also rained that day, so we’ve lost their trail.”

It was indeed a case of perfect timing and execution for the perpetrators.

Chu Qingzhi mused that it would be necessary to visit the site of the incident to gather more insights, as conjecturing without seeing the scene might prove unfruitful.

“Hand me all the information you’ve gathered, and you may leave for now. I need to think this through.”

“Yes,” the soldier handed over all the documents to Chu Qingzhi and then left.

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Chu Qingzhi perused the documents, wondering if Lu Ziming could be involved, considering he had also tampered with the military’s grain supply.

…

Meanwhile, the refugees, upon hearing that they finally had villages to settle in, were overjoyed. They quickly packed their belongings and followed the soldiers.

The dozen or so villages could accommodate all the displaced individuals.

After the refugees chose their houses, Tang Jinghong had the soldiers distribute seeds to them to begin planting immediately. He also distributed some grain to help them sustain themselves during this period.

In a tent, Chu Qingning helped a woman pack her belongings.

Holding her child, the woman expressed her gratitude, “Young lady, thank you for taking care of us during this time. Otherwise, my child and I might not have survived till today.”

Chu Qingning smiled as she looked at the child, “It’s no trouble at all; meeting you was fate.”

The woman put down her child, hoisted her bundle on her back, picked up her child again, and said, “I have to go now, young lady, or I’ll fall behind the others.”

Chu Qingning nodded, “Let me walk you out.”

As they left the tent, Chu Qingzhi happened to be passing by. She had come specifically to see Chu Qingning before leaving the camp, “Fourth Sister.”

Chu Qingning, who hadn’t seen Chu Qingzhi for over a day, brightened up at the sight of her, “Fifth Sister, did you encounter any danger on your trip?”

“No trouble, don’t worry,” Chu Qingzhi internally remarked that others should worry when they encounter her, not the other way around.

After the sisters finished catching up, the woman thanked Chu Qingzhi, “Miss, I must go now, thank you for saving me back then.”

“I’ll walk you out.” It was a good opportunity for Chu Qingzhi to see Tang Jinghong.

The woman nodded, “Okay.”

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At that moment, Jiang Zhanglin and Yan Zihao approached Tang Jinghong, “General Tang, please assign us tasks!”

Tang Jinghong had no intention of entrusting these city-dwelling young masters with any significant responsibilities, “Return to the camp, it’s dangerous out here.”

Jiang Zhanglin insisted, “General, we didn’t come here to be coddled. We came to gain experience. Please assign us tasks!”

Yan Zihao bowed, “Please assign us tasks, General!”

He was determined to seize this opportunity to rise to prominence, to make those in his family who looked down on him regret their disdain. An outcast of the family he might be, but he was capable of forging his own path to power.

Tang Jinghong looked at them with a sharp gaze, “Very well, then help Jing Xu with his tasks.”

Fan Jingxu, the son of General Fan, was young but already capable of holding his own. He was currently at the front lines dealing with the refugees.

Both men firmly responded, “Yes, General.”

…

In the village, the dilapidated scene caused Jiang Zhanglin and Yan Zihao to frown as they walked through, feeling uncomfortable.

Yan Zihao looked around with discomfort, commenting, “This village is too run-down. The authorities in the eastern border have really let their people down.”

Jiang Zhanglin, who had done his homework on the eastern border’s situation prior to arrival but had not anticipated this level of desolation, agreed, “Indeed, it’s a good thing General Tang is here now. Otherwise, managing this mess in the eastern border would have been a nightmare.”

Yan Zihao’s brows furrowed slightly, “I heard that many were sent here before, but it always ended in silence and mystery.”

Jiang Zhanglin glanced at Yan Zihao, reassuringly, “Others might have failed to return, but with General Tang, we can be assured of safety. We will make it back.”

Nodding, Yan Zihao responded, “Right.”

As they spoke, they approached Fan Jingxu. “Young General,” they greeted him.

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Fan Jingxu’s expression soured slightly upon seeing them, “Why are you here? This place is chaotic, not suitable for scholars like you. You should go back.”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Jiang Zhanglin explained, “We are here to assist you. General Tang has approved our stay. Please assign us tasks.”

After a moment’s consideration, Fan Jingxu relented, “Since Brother Tang has agreed, then stay. We are currently distributing seeds to the villagers. You can help with that.”

Gratefully, the two men bowed, “Understood.”

…

Chu Qingzhi approached Tang Jinghong, “Jinghong, I spoke with the soldiers investigating the disappearance of the second batch of supplies. We couldn’t retrieve any substantial leads. I plan to personally investigate the scene.”

After a moment of silence, Tang Jinghong suggested, “Take Jia Liyu and Jia Lixia with you.”

Chu Qingzhi thought to herself that indeed, she needed some assistance on the ground, “Alright.”

“After the refugees are settled, we’ll need to break camp. I thought to inform you in advance.” He would need to stay at the camp to maintain order, otherwise, he would have joined her.

“Okay,” Chu Qingzhi squeezed Tang Jinghong’s hand, “Remember to eat, I’m leaving now.”

“Alright,” Tang Jinghong watched her go, hoping that all these troubles would soon end so Chu Qingzhi wouldn’t have to keep running around so exhaustingly.

After leaving the camp, Chu Qingzhi checked on Du Zhaolin and Rong Shening, who were recovering from their fevers. She then mounted a horse with Jia Liyu and Jia Lixia and rode out of the camp.

As soon as she left, news of her departure spread across the region.

On a narrow official road, a group of masked men emerged from the bushes, blocking Chu Qingzhi’s path. The leader shouted, “Witch, you’ve finally come out!”

Chu Qingzhi, not one to waste words, snapped her whip, sending a slicing wind blade that decapitated the leader.

Her whip danced, and several more wind blades flew out, striking the masked men. Those who were slow reacted died instantly, while the quicker ones were left with deep, bleeding gashes.

Chu Qingzhi showed no mercy. With another powerful flick of her whip, more masked men fell, unable to even flee.

She left one alive, the real leader, “Who sent you?”

Her piercing gaze was intimidating; he had been spotted despite hiding among his men, “It’s…”

Suddenly, three arrows flew from different directions, the sound of them slicing through the air chilling to the bone.

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