knife

Chapter 104 You Can Call Me by Another Name

Stepping into the cave, Xiao Changche, who was sitting cross-legged on the heated kang, had already tied up his long hair into a warrior's topknot. The Xiao Ningyu who had just appeared somewhat weak outside instantly transformed back into the resolute, aloof, and ruthless Xiao Changche.

"what news?"

Sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), Li Dachui handed the scroll of paper to Xiao Changche: "Linghu Ye's reaction is much more intense than we expected. He is actually preparing to attack us."

After reviewing the intelligence, Xiao Changche frowned deeply.

"Such a strong reaction? Your information can't be wrong, can it?"

Li Dachui shook his head: "The signature on the document is Qian Jia's. Oh, Qian Jia is my intelligence chief. He's experienced and prudent. He wouldn't send me this information without absolute certainty. It seems that this time, we've really touched a nerve with Linghu Ye."

"This also shows that this person truly harbors rebellious intentions and wants to lead troops into the interior!"

"Of course, if you are allowed to rise to power, the people outside the pass will have a second option!" Li Dachui analyzed, "The reason why Yan Sheng is preparing to join the Northern Yuan is simply because he doesn't think Linghu Ye will succeed in marching into the pass and vying for the world. And there are quite a few people and forces like that outside the pass. In the past, they didn't have many choices; besides the Northern Yuan, there were only two paths: Linghu Ye and the Northern Yuan. After fighting with the Northern Yuan for hundreds of years, most of them still have doubts and won't join them unless absolutely necessary. So once Linghu Ye decides to march into the pass, the possibility of everyone following him is extremely high."

“Now that I can stand on equal footing with him, everyone might abandon him and come to me!” Xiao Changche said. “Besides, I am originally a representative of the local forces, and many opportunists will probably have to reconsider their stance.”

“It’s not just these local forces, but also the troops from beyond the Great Wall!” Li Dachui said. “The officers of the mighty troops from beyond the Great Wall come from all directions, but more than 80% of the soldiers are recruited locally. I’m afraid this is the most important reason why Linghu Ye wants to eliminate you.”

“If he really decides to make a move, I can’t beat him right now, Li Dachui, what should we do?” Xiao Changche worried. “If Baoping Prefecture can’t be saved, everything will be back to square one, no, it will be worse than before, because I have completely fallen out with him.”

"It's not necessarily true that we can't beat him!" Li Dachui said with a smile. "Of course, it would be best if we could avoid fighting."

"You think you can just say you won't fight?" Xiao Changche rolled his eyes at him. "Even if I use all my strength, I can't gather ten thousand men. You probably only have that many men at most, right? Tell me, how are we going to fight? Everyone says that my three thousand iron cavalry are invincible, but I know that Linghu Ye's five thousand personal guards are no less capable than my men. Among them are many veterans who have fought on the battlefield their whole lives."

“Tai’an City began preparations twenty years ago,” Li Dachui said. “Ten years ago, it entered a stage of rapid development. Five years ago, it had acquired a certain strength. And now, we can contend with any force. Xiao Changche, if we mobilize fully, Tai’an City has 30,000 soldiers available. If we are truly driven to the brink, we can even muster 50,000 men.”

"Thirty thousand?" Xiao Changche asked in surprise.

"If you were to hand over these 30,000 men, along with your own troops, would you be confident in challenging Linghu Ye?" Li Dachui asked with a smile.

"Logistics, supplies, intelligence?"

“Don’t forget, Tai’an City has always been a major trading center for bulk commodities outside the Great Wall.” Li Dachui tapped the edge of the bed: “Outsiders say that Tai’an City’s underground treasury holds hundreds of thousands or even millions of taels of silver. I’m telling you, it’s all true. Whether it’s armor or weaponry, I’ve been saving for twenty years. As for intelligence, outside the Great Wall and even in the Northern Yuan, Black Ice Guard, Iron Curtain, Wolf Fortress are all little brothers in front of my Zhi Qiu Academy! If there’s any weakness, it’s food. Tai’an City’s food relies on external imports. Helan Plain is still struggling to support the overall situation, but now that we have Bao Ping Prefecture, this weakness has been filled.”

Xiao Changche's eyes gleamed: "If all of these are fine, then I'm confident I can give Linghu Ye a go. Even if he's a seasoned veteran, I'm not afraid of him at all. But Li Dachui, let me be honest with you, with these, I can only guarantee I won't lose, but I can't guarantee I'll win. Linghu Ye has fought his whole life, so we can't underestimate him."

“Of course we can’t underestimate him.” Li Dachui said happily, “I was afraid you would get carried away and confidently say that defeating Linghuye is a sure thing. We’re showing our strength to make Linghuye hesitate. It’s best not to fight this battle.”

"Who is the rat, and who is the vessel?"

"Don't worry about that!" Li Dachui laughed. "As long as Linghuye knows that going to war with us would be a losing proposition, that he might not only lose money but also lose everything, he will naturally not fight."

"And then it just became a stalemate?"

"Yes, and then the area outside the pass will be clearly divided." Li Dachui said, "Linghu Ye's group, our group, and Beiyuan are the third force. The three will engage in open and covert struggles on this land. Then we'll see who can't hold on first."

"The one who can't hold out first will be between us and Linghu Ye. Beiyuan's foundation is much stronger than ours!"

Do you think it could be us?

"Of course it will be Linghuye!"

"That's the spirit we've been looking for!" Li Dachui said, "With Linghuye gone, it's our turn to face off against Beiyuan outside the pass."

"Then what are we waiting for? We should go back!"

“How can you go back like this? You need to recover properly for a few more days. The Rejuvenating Pill is hard-won, we can’t waste it. I’ve already given them the message, and Xiao Mao and the others will come to pick us up in a few days.” Li Dachui said, “Hurry up and recover, because once you go back, your leisurely days will be over, and you will be faced with endless military and political affairs.”

"What about you?"

“I told you before that I was going to Beiyuan Yandu to have a good talk with my cousin!” Li Dachui said, “In the future, the area outside the pass will be contested by three parties. How can he be absent?” Four or five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Changche's internal injuries were improving day by day, thanks to the amazing effects of the Rejuvenating Pill. More importantly, Li Dachui's Universe Qi had an unexpected effect on the Heaven-Slaying Technique, and the healing process entered a virtuous cycle. Xiao Changche finally had some rosy cheeks.

"Xiao Changche, you've gained weight." Li Dachui pointed to his face and laughed, "Your face has become rounder."

"He doesn't do much exercise all day, and his diet is so good. How could he not gain weight? He's even got some thigh fat on his body." Xiao Changdao said.

"It's better for girls to be a little chubby!" Li Dachui lay on his back on the felt blanket, squinting as he enjoyed the caress of the sunlight. He said casually, but then realized his words were a bit inappropriate. He secretly opened his squinted eyes a crack and glanced at Xiao Changche out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that she looked very calm, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Li Dachui!" Xiao Changche's calm voice came from beside him.

"what?"

“When it’s just the two of us in the future, you can call me by another name,” Xiao Changche said.

Li Dachui sat up abruptly, facing Xiao Changche, and asked, "Xiao Ningyu?"

Xiao Changche nodded.

"it is good!"

Both of them were very calm, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

A clear, melodious cry of an eagle echoed from the sky. Li Dachui looked up and saw a gyrfalcon circling overhead. He laughed and said, "Ningyu, they're here!"

"They're here, it's time for us to go back!"

"You lie down, I'll go pack my things." Li Dachui stood up, leaning on his crutch, and walked into the cave.

Hearing the clanging sounds coming from inside the cave, Xiao Changche turned to look inside, a slight blush rising to her face.

The rapid sound of hooves approached, and Fang Xiaomao and Xia Zhi took the lead and charged forward.

"Young Master!" Xia Zhi dismounted and rushed to Li Dachui. Seeing him leaning on a crutch, with one leg tightly clamped between two boards—clearly a broken leg—tears streamed down her face. "What happened? How badly is he injured? Are there any other injuries?"

"It's just a minor injury, nothing serious!" Li Dachui reached out and pinched Xia Zhi's nose, laughing, "This is just a small injury for me, but the one next to me is the one who is really badly injured."

"Young master, how could this be?"

Seeing the disheveled state of Li Dachui and Xiao Changche, both ninth-rank Xuan Yuan cultivators, Fang Xiaomao was horrified.

"We encountered a master of innate level, and it's already quite good that we survived!" Li Dachui said. "This time we really lost out. We didn't manage to kill Tiele, but we two almost got killed instead. If it weren't for our good luck, you wouldn't be seeing us now."

"Tiele is more seriously injured than me!" Xiao Changdao said from the side. "I will recover in a month at most, but Tiele will definitely not recover in less than six months to a year, even if he has the Rejuvenation Pill!"

“We’re all on the same side, so don’t be afraid of losing face!” Li Dachui said. “We were lucky this time, but I’m afraid our luck has run out. We’ll have to be extra careful from now on. Let’s go. We’ve been holed up in this cave for so many days, we’re practically moldy.”

They arrived as swiftly as a shooting star, but left with utmost caution.

There were two carriages. Li Dachui was sitting in one of them, while Xiao Changche and her warhorse Zhaoyu Lion Xiaobai were lying in the other.

"Young Master, it seems your relationship with the General of Chariots and Cavalry has improved considerably this time!" Fang Xiaomao said with a smile, leaning against the carriage window on horseback. "The General of Chariots and Cavalry used to look at you with a fierce glint in his eyes, but this time it's clearly different."

"What's the difference?" Li Dachui asked.

"I can't explain it, but it's different!" Fang Xiaomao thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"After all, we're comrades-in-arms and partners who've been through life and death together, so naturally things are a bit different now!" Li Dachui said with a smile, "Our relationship will only get better and better in the future, yes, it will get better and better, better than you can imagine, hahaha!"

(End of this chapter)