Ding Dachui and Ge Laosan had positioned people outside to keep watch, but it was completely useless against the new boss.

The new boss had positioned formidable people who could provide timely warnings, but—

Warnings seemed useless too.

This was a military camp, and everyone here belonged to that girl. Even if they discovered her, what good would it do?

The new boss couldn’t fly away even with wings.

Would she act desperately, like a cornered dog jumping over a wall?

Ding Dachui looked worriedly at the woman, only to see her eyes full of panic, completely lacking their previous brilliance—the new boss was afraid of that girl?

That girl was actually quite formidable too. During that day’s fierce siege, she showed no fear whatsoever and calmly treated the wounded. Moreover, she’d clearly seen through their identities but pretended not to know, and even dared use them as guards—

If the new boss was playing the long game to catch big fish, was this girl daring to invite wolves into her home? Did she have the confidence to catch them all in one net once they entered?

This girl was shrewd enough. Previously she hadn’t questioned them, even ignored them, but as soon as the new boss arrived, she immediately targeted and blocked the door.

Was she about to expose them?

The new boss was so afraid—was it because she feared the business deal wouldn’t work out?

Though Ding Dachui’s mind raced through all these thoughts, it was actually just an instant. That girl’s voice came again, already at the tent entrance.

The sneeze could only warn, but couldn’t stop her.

“Uncle Dachui? Are you there?” The girl’s voice was clear and polite. “May I come in?”

What if it wasn’t convenient? They couldn’t hide in the tent forever.

Ding Dachui glanced at the new boss. She seemed like a lost soul, motionless and silent—the new boss must be devising a brilliant plan.

“Ah, Miss,” Ding Dachui stammered, took a deep breath and said, “What do you need?”

“So Uncle is here.” The girl’s voice was cheerful, and her next words were, “Then I’m coming in.”

Along with her words, the curtain was lifted.

The girl walked in with a smile, her gaze sweeping over the three people in the room—

Ding Dachui’s body stiffened, and the already rigid new boss suddenly turned around, her back to the girl.

The girl’s gaze landed precisely on her back.

“Uncle, you—have a guest?” she asked, her eyes curious.

Strange—Ding Dachui felt he must be having an illusion. The new boss seemed to be trembling.

“Well, actually, yes,” Ding Dachui could only continue, trying to calm himself down.

To be a good blade, one must not only kill but also know how to talk.

An excellent hunter facing difficult prey shouldn’t think of running but should advance—that way there’s a chance of survival.

Ding Dachui took a deep breath, stepped forward, looked at the girl, blocking the new boss, turning passive into active. “Miss, what are your orders?”

Chu Zhao smiled, tilted her head slightly to look past him at the woman standing with her back turned, and made up something casually. “I heard Uncle had a guest, so I came to see.”

She then became solemn.

“Uncle, you are my lifesavers, so your guests are also my honored guests.”

With that, she bowed to the woman.

“This young lady greets the guest.”

This bow seemed to startle the woman. She suddenly turned around.

“No,” she said, reaching out to grab Ding Dachui’s arm. “I’m not any guest. I came to find my, my husband.”

Husband… Ding Dachui’s body froze, feeling as if the arm she grabbed had been dislocated.

Chu Zhao’s expression showed sudden understanding—so it was Uncle’s wife who had come looking for him.

“—A’Zhao.”

Xiao Man’s voice came at this moment, and she rushed in with the cold wind. Seeing the woman standing beside Ding Dachui, she froze completely in place, her voice becoming strange.

“You—what are you doing?”

She’d deliberately avoided Xiao Man, but hadn’t expected to be discovered so quickly. Chu Zhao smiled, looking at the girl whose face and body were both tense.

“Xiao Man, you’ve come at just the right time.” Chu Zhao took Xiao Man’s arm and said, “Uncle Ding’s wife has arrived.”

Uncle Ding’s. Wife.

Xiao Man looked rigidly at the woman opposite.

Everyone in the tent, except for Chu Zhao and A’Le, became very strange. But Chu Zhao didn’t find it strange at all, instead showing a knowing smile.

She’d been watching this group of hunters posing as guards all along. Though she hadn’t spoken much with them, observing them these many days had confirmed they were local bandits.

She naturally trusted Xiao Man, but also wanted to help her. When Xiao Man had been desperate, she’d used desperate means to rope in these bandits. Now that her crisis was resolved, these bandits had fallen into crisis—trapped by her, trapped by the military camp.

After all, they were bandits. If pushed to the wall, they might do something mutually destructive.

Especially today, after she spoke with the military officer, she saw the two bandit leaders who were eavesdropping nearby—who the leaders were among this group was actually easy to identify—exchange glances with wrong expressions. Sure enough, not long after they went off to whisper in secret.

No matter what, she had to move forward. To avoid trouble on the road, it was better to cut the Gordian knot quickly—everyone should be frank with each other, lay everything on the table, renegotiate terms, and only then could they work together wholeheartedly. So she’d simply come to block the door.

She hadn’t expected to actually catch such a special situation.

Chu Zhao examined the woman beside Ding Dachui. The woman was also dressed as a hunter, her face covered so her appearance couldn’t be seen clearly. Moreover, sensing her gaze, she seemed nervous and afraid, lowering her head even more—

Still a shy aunt.

No need to be so nervous.

Cutting the Gordian knot quickly, Chu Zhao looked at everyone and said, “I know your identities.”

At these words, everyone’s expressions became even stranger.

Chu Zhao didn’t give everyone time to overthink, continuing, “But this isn’t a big deal. I—”

She looked at Ding Dachui, Ding Dachui’s wife, and Ge Laosan.

“My identity is also hidden.”

She smiled as she spoke.

“Xiao Man hid your identities from me, but I guessed them. Xiao Man also hid my identity from you, and you can’t guess it.”

“So you don’t need to be nervous. Since everyone has their own identities, we’re even.”

After she finished speaking, the expressions of the people in the room became even more peculiar. Except for Aunt Ding who kept her head lowered so her face couldn’t be seen, the others seemed to understand yet seemed to have heard nothing—

“What exactly do you want?” Xiao Man waved her hand, dispelling the annoying confusion, and grabbed her. “Whatever you have to say, come say it to me directly—”

Chu Zhao pressed her hand. “Xiao Man, before it was you who needed their help, so you did the talking. Now it’s me who needs their help, so I must speak personally.”

Xiao Man bit her lower lip and glanced toward Ding Dachui’s side—quickly withdrawing her gaze, then turned her head and snorted. “What’s the difference?”

“It’s about sincerity,” Chu Zhao said, then looked at Ding Dachui. “Uncle Ding, you should know I’m going to Yunzhong Commandery, but the road ahead is even more dangerous than that night, so I need to persuade you all to face danger with me.”

So this is what she wants to talk about, Ding Dachui thought. Today not only did speaking of someone make them appear, but the same words had to be heard twice.