Underworld entries, starting with ghost stories.

Wu Qing opened the system and took a look.

[Strangeness Level 0, Ferocity Level 0, Evil Charm Level 11, Mystery Level 2, Infectivity Level 16.]

These past few days, the infection rate has been increasing little by little, and now I know what's going on.

He looked at the experience points after "Strange Tales Lv3", which were almost one-tenth of the total.

It seems I need to reach 300 experience points to level up again.

Although each level up requires more experience points for the next upgrade, the increase is not unacceptable.

In many games in another world, the initial experience points required are 50 or 100, but as the player's level increases, the required experience points can reach hundreds of thousands or even millions.

The midday sun was shining brightly, and the two walked forward together.

Behind the village was the training ground. The martial artists from Doujiazhuang were well-trained, and the newly joined recruits were in complete disarray no matter how they moved.

Wu Qing then summoned the martial artists who were training and spoke to them at length.

Dou Xianniang listened from the side and felt that he was speaking logically and that all the solutions he came up with were practical and feasible.

She was secretly surprised, thinking, "Is there anything Qing-ge'er doesn't understand?"

Wu Qing knew that training troops couldn't be rushed at the beginning.

For these new recruits, fleeing upon hearing the wrong thing is considered the lowest form of bravery, fleeing upon hearing of the enemy is considered the middle form of bravery, and fleeing upon seeing the enemy is considered the highest form of bravery.

However, these can all be improved through daily training, the sense of security brought by enhanced equipment, and the strategies of strategists and the martial prowess of generals.

The victor is always victorious, and the loser is always defeated. The great victory a few days ago, although most people didn't participate, has greatly boosted the morale of the entire stronghold.

Dou Xianniang did not interfere with Wu Qing's guidance to these trainees.

After Wu Qing finished, the two headed towards the front of the mountain.

Dou Xianniang smiled and said, "Speaking of which, in this village, not only do people trust you very much, but even Sister Ailian is very fond of you."

At this point, she glanced at Wu Qing to see his reaction.

Wu Qing said, "Miss, you jest."

"If that's not the case, then why did she blush and run away from you that morning?" Dou Xianniang continued to stare at him.

Still thinking about this? Wu Qing whispered, "Perhaps... it's just a matter of time?"

Dou Xianniang remained noncommittal and continued, "Qing-ge'er, don't underestimate Ailian. Just because she looks weak doesn't mean you can bully her. You'll end up being sold out by her without even realizing it."

Wu Qing laughed and said, "I don't have much to be sold off."

Dou Xianniang laughed and said, "Do you know that Sister Ailian's father, Uncle Shan, is not only a good man who can make money off the ground, but also has a wide network of connections in the bandit world. He is secretly the chief of the bandit world in the seven south and sixty-three north provinces."

"He wanted to befriend a certain hero, and that hero would always fall into misfortune for various reasons, be rescued by him during his most difficult time, and thus be extremely grateful to him."

"Although Ailian was sickly as a child and never practiced martial arts, she learned some of her father's skills in this area."

Wu Qing let out an "uh"... So it was a family heirloom?

They returned to the royal palace.

Shan Ailian stayed in her room all day and didn't come out.

Wu Qing found it amusing... You have the ability to grab a man's private parts, but you don't have the ability to show yourself in public?

He actually wanted to go and knock on the door to ask her how she felt. However, the backyard was full of female soldiers, so he couldn't go over there.

Dou Xianniang was also curious, because Shan Ailian was the daughter of a bandit leader who made a fortune by sitting on the ground, and she usually didn't have such a young daughter.

But at that time, I really just hurriedly put on a big fur coat and came out. In such a short time, what could have happened between them?

Why is she so embarrassed? Did Qing-ge touch her, or did she grab Qing-ge?

Surely things haven't gotten to this point between them? Although she had a cheerful personality, she didn't press the issue further.

What if you ask too many probing questions and find that they really are...?

As evening approached, an urgent military dispatch arrived from outside the mountains.

Dou Xianniang summoned everyone again to gather in the Great King's Palace.

Shan Ailian then came out. She had changed into a high-waisted turquoise ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and a pinkish-white jacket. At some point, she had changed her hairstyle to the lingshe bun, which she did not usually wear.

She sat quietly to Dou Xianniang's right, head down, occasionally glancing at Wu Qing, her face still flushed.

"A report has just arrived from outside the mountains!" Dou Xianniang's face was grave. "Guo Xuan, the prefect of Zhuojun, has sent 10,000 troops to attack Gao Shida and the remnants of my father's army while Zhang Jincheng was resting after defeating Sun Anzu."

"My father defected to Gao Shida, but Gao Shida was intolerant of people and wanted to kill my father. My father led his men and fled Gao Shida's territory overnight."

Dou Bin snorted: "I never thought Gao Shida would be such a narrow-minded person. With the government troops about to wipe him out, he still can't tolerate the Duke of Jiande."

Dou Kui said, "Miss, the Duke of Jiande's troops are just remnants of Sun Anzu's forces, and they are completely incapable of fighting against any side."

"Now that government troops are surrounding and suppressing them, Zhang Jincheng is in the north, and Gao Shida is even pursuing and killing the Duke of Jiande. Should we rush over there and bring him to our aid?"

Dou Xianniang looked at Wu Qing: "Brother Qing, what do you think?"

Wu Qing waved his feather fan: "It's alright!"

Dou Bin raised an eyebrow: "Is it alright?"

Wu Qing said: "The government troops are about to encircle and suppress us. 'Wolf King' Zhang Jincheng has just defeated Sun Anzu. Although he is resting, his momentum is unstoppable."

"Gao Shida isn't stupid. He would never turn against Dou Gong at a time like this. Besides, Gao Shida has always been known for his virtue. Even if a hero like Dou Gong were to disagree with him, he would never resort to such a heinous act of pursuit."

Dou Xianniang said, "You mean...?"

Wu Qing sat in the advisor's seat, smiling, and fanning himself, saying, "Warfare is all about deception and deception!"

"Do you think it's possible that the forces Dou Gong is currently leading are the remnants of Sun Anzu's army, exhausted and wounded, already vulnerable, and being pursued by Gao Shida's troops?"

"But in fact, when he met Gao Shida, the two sides had already quietly switched places. In reality, the Duke of Jiande was leading the elite of Gao Shida's troops at that moment, all the warriors and elite soldiers that Gao Shida could use?"

The others looked at each other, bewildered.

Wu Qing got up, stepped towards the gate, and stood in front of the threshold.

With his back to the crowd and facing the setting sun beyond the mountains, he said loudly, "The news of the breakup between Lord Dou and Gao Shida has spread too far and too fast. In an instant, even we know about it."

"At this moment, before any party has had time to consider the truth behind it, it is the time when speed is of the essence and victory can be achieved amidst chaos."

With his left hand behind his back and his right hand pointing at the setting sun with a fan, he declared: "By this time tomorrow at the latest, we will see the outcome!"

Golden light shone upon him, and his reflection filled the hall, as if to replace the golden crow about to fall from the sky, the sun shining brightly under the heavens.