“What exactly do you want to do?”

Geta stared at him without blinking.

Ji Huan finished the cup of wine he’d poured himself and gently set down the wine cup.

Though gentle, when the cup’s bottom touched the table, it still produced a muffled sound.

He looked at Geta before him—puzzled yet full of vigilance—and spoke to him word by word: “Tomorrow Prince Rong will return to Xiamen Pass. He came out this time with only about twenty people. Apart from me and Lang Bo at his side, the rest pose no threat.”

With a hint of reminder!

Geta wasn’t a fool and naturally heard the hidden meaning.

He narrowed his eyes, pondering for a long while, and asked, “You’re trying to tell me that tomorrow, while your prince is on his way back, I should…”

He didn’t finish speaking directly.

But he understood in his heart.

Ji Huan smiled slightly, tapped his finger on the table, and leaned forward. “I hope what I just said can help you.”

Geta’s mind was turning as he asked, “Why would you help me?”

“I’m not helping you!”

“Then what do you mean?”

“In any case, I stand on the side of justice.”

“Heh heh, General Ji, I, Geta, am no fool. What if you’re trying to lure me in, deliberately setting an ambush for me?”

Ji Huan laughed again at his words. “You’re overthinking. Prince Rong only has a few dozen people with him. How could he scheme against you? Besides, this is still Houliao territory. What could I possibly do?”

That made sense too!

But in his heart, he remained half-believing and half-doubting.

Ji Huan poured another cup of wine but pushed it across the table, continuing, “I rather think the position of Houliao’s leader should be occupied by someone with ambition, not by the weak.”

Ugh!

Having said this, he rose and left.

From entering to leaving, without the slightest hesitation!

Geta stared at the cup of wine before him, thinking about what Ji Huan had just said.

“I rather think the position of Houliao’s leader should be occupied by someone with ambition, not by the weak.”

Someone with ambition—wasn’t that implying him?

Gradually, his face contorted, revealing a bloodthirsty, ferocious expression.

Immediately after, he drained the cup of wine before him in one gulp.

…

On another side.

After the earlier disturbance by the Houliao people, Lang Bo became even more vigilant. He instructed the guards standing watch outside, “Watch carefully. Be sure to pay attention.”

“Yes!”

He searched around outside once more before feeling assured enough to enter the tent.

Jingrong sat cross-legged inside with a map placed before him.

It was a map of Houliao.

He was examining it carefully.

Lang Bo walked before him and said, “Your Highness, I think we should leave quickly. I see that Geta is no good person. If he causes trouble again, the consequences would be unthinkable.”

Jingrong’s slender, articulated fingers traced across the map bit by bit, finally stopping at one position.

His expression tightened.

But that furrowed look vanished in a flash.

He raised his head, looking at the timid-faced Lang Bo, and said, “It’s still nighttime. Outside is even more threatening than here.”

That made sense too!

Lang Bo said, “Your Highness, Geta barged in with people to seize someone right in front of Muzar. I saw that Muzar actually feared him too. Who knows what trouble he might stir up in the future? Better to eliminate him early for peace of mind.”

“Right now, Geta isn’t the issue. Most importantly, we need to resolve the problem at hand.”

“Yes!”

Compared to him, Jingrong was much calmer. He pointed with his hand to the spot across from himself. “Sit down. I have something to tell you.”

“Hm? Your Highness?”

“Sit.”

Suddenly very serious!

Lang Bo froze, then sat cross-legged, his face puzzled.

Quietly waiting for what Jingrong would say.

Jingrong looked at this big fool who had followed at his side for many years and asked earnestly, “How many years have you followed me?”

Lang Bo calculated in his mind. “This subordinate started following you at age twelve. Counting it up, that’s about fifteen years.”

“Mm, that is quite long.”

“Why does Your Highness suddenly ask this?”

Jingrong said, “Lang Bo, after this matter is resolved, go find that Miss Qin.”

Ah?

Lang Bo was alarmed and quickly said, “Your Highness, are you trying to push me away? I…”

“What are you thinking! I just don’t want you following me through wind and rain anymore. I don’t want to say anything sentimental about being reluctant to part! In any case, if you can be together with the person you love, I’ll be happy for you! Besides, I can’t have you following me forever. You need to have your own life too.”

Speaking of this, Lang Bo, that rough fellow, felt his nose grow sour.

Although he had promised Qin Xi that once everything settled down he would find her, and had planned to find a suitable opportunity to tell his prince, now that Jingrong had spoken first, he felt very uncomfortable.

In any case, he wanted to cry!

He said, “Your Highness, actually even if this subordinate is together with Qin Xi, I can still continue following Your Highness.”

“Enough, I know you’re loyal. But Miss Qin needs stability. You should bring her to live a good life.”

Lang Bo smacked his lips and patted his chest, saying, “As long as Your Highness needs me, no matter where this subordinate is, I will come to help Your Highness.”

Jingrong smiled.

He poured two cups of wine and pushed one before him.

“You two should have a good drink!”

The two drained their cups.

Afterward, Jingrong became serious and told him, “However right now, I still need you to help me handle something!”

“Your Highness, please speak.”

Jingrong’s finger tapped on the map on the table before him.

Exactly the position where his finger had paused earlier!

…

The next day.

Jingrong left with his people.

The twenty-some people rode on horseback, getting farther and farther from Houliao’s main camp.

They traveled for half a day!

Just two more hours and they would reach Dalin’s border.

Lang Bo looked around. Behind was the grassland; ahead was a patch of forest.

The forests at the grassland borders were all very large, and the trees were lush. If a small troop hid inside, perhaps no one would detect them.

Just at this moment—

A sharp arrow shot out from somewhere unknown.

It struck squarely into the body of the horse one of the soldiers was riding.

The horse’s abdomen took an arrow. It neighed, its front hooves buckled, and it pitched forward in a very sorry state.

The guard on the horse’s back also fell together with it.

“Neigh!”

As that horse fell, all twenty-some horses were startled.

“Neigh!”

Chaos erupted.

Jingrong’s people immediately drew their swords, searching for the direction from which the arrow came.

Lang Bo shouted loudly, “Protect His Highness!”

Instantly, several guards immediately surrounded Jingrong.

Protecting him well!

Immediately after, several more sharp arrows shot from the forest.

But they were all deflected one by one by those guards.

“Kill!”

A deafening shout suddenly came from the distance.

Looking toward the sound, they saw about a hundred Houliao people charge from that forest, swiftly surrounding all of Jingrong’s people in the middle.

The leader was Geta!

Full of murderous intent!

Jingrong was not surprised. Sitting on his horse, he pulled the reins, pushed off the stirrups, and dismounted with a flip.

Those guards also dismounted one after another.