knife

Chapter 275 Cherish each other
The male rabbit's feet are confused, and the female rabbit's eyes are blurred. Two rabbits are walking side by side, how can I tell which is male and which is female?

Xiao Changche disguised herself as a man and mingled among the army, so she naturally knew how difficult it was to conceal her true identity.

Therefore, for many years, she had to present herself in an arrogant and domineering manner. Apart from her subordinates, she had no friends. All her colleagues and even her superiors kept their distance from her, either out of respect, fear, or disgust.

It wasn't that she wanted to do it, but that she had no other choice.

Such lonely days are actually not easy to endure.

Therefore, Xiao Changche was deeply impressed and full of admiration for Jiang Qian, the Empress Dowager of Southern Chu, who was able to become the ruler of a country, even if it was behind the scenes.

She felt that Jiang Qian was on a completely different level compared to herself.

While they were risking their lives and struggling to survive on the border, others lived in luxury and managed to handle things perfectly with great skill and strategy.

However, Li Dachui did not agree with her point of view at all.

“You are much better than her!” Li Dachui said decisively.

Xiao Changche turned his head to look at Li Dachui and smiled, "You can't suppress other people's achievements just because you like me. I'm truly impressed!"

"I'm not showing favoritism, I'm just stating the facts!" Li Dachui said, "Ningyu, you need to understand that from the very beginning, you were doing this all by yourself. What could Xiao Dongwei, Xiao Chenggong, and the others do in the beginning, besides risking their lives for you with a knife?"

"That's true!" Recalling those difficult early years, Xiao Changche couldn't help but sigh. Xiao Dongwei and the others were luckier and survived, while some others died during those pioneering days.

“Jiang Qian is different. They have a mature organization that has been training and planning them since they were young. Countless people are protecting them every step of the way!” Li Dachui said, “Look at Lin Yunqi, a master of the ninth rank of Xuan Yuan. And is Lin Yunqi the only martial arts master by Jiang Qian’s side? I’m afraid she has all kinds of talents.”

"But Jiang Qian's ability to reach this point truly makes her an exceptionally talented individual!" Hearing Li Dachui's words, Xiao Changche felt relieved, and the faint trace of jealousy vanished without a trace. "Think about your mother; she failed back then!"

“That’s your mother-in-law,” Li Dachui laughed. “You can’t call her ‘your mother’ or ‘my mother’ anymore.”

Hearing Li Dachui say this, Xiao Changche snorted, "They don't even have a proper title, calling her that like that will probably make her laugh her head off in the afterlife!"

"Isn't today the day to finalize the official titles?" Li Dachui said. "Ningyu, to be honest, you look so much better in women's clothing than in military uniform. Once you change your clothes, other women are like chickens in front of you, while you are a radiant phoenix!"

"Do you dare say that to Xia Zhi's face?" Xiao Changche laughed.

After leaving Baozhou City, Xiao Changche and Li Dachui headed straight for Changchun Valley. Halfway there, Xiao Changche took off her armor and changed into women's clothing. She sat sideways on Xiao Hei's back, looking like a lady. You would never associate her with the decisive and arrogant General of the Cavalry, Xiao Changche of the Anxi Protectorate.

"That little girl is such a crybaby!" Li Dachui sighed. "A dignified general in command of troops, an eighth-rank expert, she cries at the drop of a hat. It's really annoying!"

“Xia Zhi is a very genuine person, and she never hides her true feelings from me. You didn’t notice, did you? The way she looks at me, I bet if she could beat me, she would definitely find an opportunity to hit me with a stick!” Xiao Changche laughed. “I quite like her.”

"Xia Zhi grew up with me in the wilderness when she was just over ten years old, and she has a very wild nature."

"I'm quite wild too!" Xiao Changche laughed. "Just watch how I train her, hmm, it sounds like a rather interesting thing!"

"Xia Zhi is very unruly. Don't try to discipline her, or you'll end up coming to me in a sorry state complaining. Let me tell you, she has powerful backing. Old Zhou has three disciples: Gu Xiaoman, Fang Xiaomao, and Xia Zhi. The first two are just hard labor for the old man, but the last one is his precious daughter!"

"Just you wait and see!" Xiao Changche twirled his riding whip and laughed, "It'll be easy to get her under control. Her weaknesses are too obvious."

Li Dachui shrugged; he had no desire to get involved in women's affairs.

"By the way, do you really have to go to the south?" Xiao Changche asked.

"We have no choice but to go!" Li Dachui said. "Right now, all the forces in Qin are scheming and fighting each other. They have no intention of protecting the country and its people! If Jiang Qian manages to unite the people of Chu and make them all stand together against a common enemy, and then launches a northern expedition, will those powerful families in Qin really fight to the death? No way. They might even open the door to thieves and let wolves into the house!"

"So you're going to cause her trouble?" Xiao Changche said, "Your methods of causing trouble are first-rate. You've turned the once-prosperous Yuan Kingdom into what it is now after just a few months. But you've been planning and laying the groundwork for the Northern Yuan for over a decade, so you have a foundation. But against the Chu Kingdom, you're penniless and have nothing!"

"How could this be?" Li Dachui stretched out his finger, and in the next moment, blue sparks appeared on his palm. The sparks disappeared, but a chilling sensation seemed to linger in the air. Even in this icy and snowy season, one could feel its uniqueness.

Immediately afterward, an extremely familiar aura surged from Li Dachui's body, and Xiao Changche's Heaven-Slaying True Qi immediately began to stir. These past few days, the two had been staying together, and the Universe Qi had been continuously regulating Xiao Changche's internal Qi. Each time the Universe Qi circulated through Xiao Changche's body for one cycle, Xiao Changche could feel himself becoming a little stronger.

If things continued like this, Xiao Changche felt that he wouldn't even need to practice so hard; he could reach the Innate level just by following Li Dachui.

She always felt there was some kind of story between the unity of heaven and earth and the battle against heaven.

"I am the destined leader of the Demonic Sect!" Li Dachui said with a smile. "As long as I go, there will naturally be followers. I have already confirmed this with Lin Yunqi. And don't forget, although your mother-in-law has been dead for more than twenty years, she still left behind some people. In any case, she is one of only two great masters who have stepped into the Divine Realm since the founding of the Demonic Sect. These people also have the potential to be recruited by me."

“That’s not wrong, but with your identity, the moment you appear, there will be people who want to kill you as soon as possible!” Xiao Changdao said, “I don’t know how many years ago this broken rule is still being followed. Do you really expect anyone to abide by it now? I guess those who claim to uphold this rule are just doing so for their own benefit.”

Li Dachui clapped his hands: "That's exactly right! That's exactly what we need. If they were a bunch of old fogies clinging to their ideals, that would be more troublesome. What I enjoy most is guiding those with aspirations in a way that allows everyone to make money and share the good fortune. That's called sharing the benefits. I would never try to monopolize anything!"

"You've described greed for power and wealth in such a refined and elegant way; I'm truly impressed!"

"Ningyu, if I didn't have such eloquence, how could I have gotten you?"

With a whoosh, the riding whip flew over with a sharp whistle, but in the next moment, it landed in Li Dachui's hand. Then, Li Dachui floated onto Xiao Hei's back like a willow catkin, reached out and hugged Xiao Changche, laughing loudly, "Ningyu, you can't beat me now. Dealing with you will be too easy!"

Xiao Changche struggled for a moment, but was held tightly in the other's arms and unable to move. He could only grit his teeth and say, "You wait and see how I deal with you after I advance to the Innate Realm!"

"Yes, so I have to take advantage of the fact that you haven't advanced to the Innate Realm yet, and bully you enough!" Li Dachui laughed and kissed Guo Yun with a pout. Xiao Changche cried out in surprise and immediately turned his head, only to have Li Dachui bite his ear. At that moment, his whole body went limp.

At this moment, no matter how skilled she was, it was all in vain. She collapsed into Li Dachui's arms like a limp rag doll.

Li Dachui laughed heartily, squeezed his legs together, and Xiao Hei let out a long neigh as it galloped forward.

The chestnut horse followed behind, keeping a distance of about ten paces from Xiao Hei.

Ever since being scolded by Xiao Hei on Qiyue Island, the chestnut horse has kept its distance from Xiao Hei. Even when the two horses are alone together, the chestnut horse doesn't pay much attention to Xiao Hei, showing great determination.

Xuanwu Prefecture's harbor, once a somewhat desolate and dilapidated place, has undergone a complete transformation in the blink of an eye thanks to the strong support of the Anxi Protectorate and the investment from the insightful merchants of Tai'an City.

Not far from the harbor are rows of large warehouses and markets.

In a short period of time, a city of tens of thousands of people has been formed here, and the buildings and population are still increasing.

Where there is wealth, there will be crowds.

Everyone's face was beaming with joy.

As long as a large ship docks, it means that someone will have a lot of income coming in.

The local government officials were also beaming with joy. Taxes, commissions, land rent, house rent—any one of them was money!

Amidst laughter and cheers, Lin Yunqi boarded a ship with a worried expression, while Zhu Chi, who was seeing him off, also looked somber.

"May you have a safe journey!" Zhu Chi bowed deeply to the ground.

"Brother Zhu has worked hard for the country in this harsh land, and the court will not forget it. When I return this time, I will definitely report to the Empress Dowager truthfully!" Lin Yunqi said with a double meaning.

"Thank you!" Zhu Chi bowed repeatedly.

Watching the ship sail away, Zhu Cheng beside Zhu Chi was beaming with joy: "Brother, this time he has a huge weakness in our hands."

Zhu Chi glanced at his younger brother and said coldly, "Forget about this!"

(End of this chapter)