Xuanyuan Jing only fainted for an instant before being awakened by panicked elders. After waking, he stared straight at the ceiling, unable to get up.

Killing someone was just a matter of losing one’s head at most. When encountering Jing Hengbo on this narrow path, he thought the worst would be trading his life for it. He hadn’t expected this seemingly languid and delicate woman’s revenge to be far more vicious and terrifying than he imagined. She killed his eldest son, drove away all legitimate heirs with inheritance rights, but deliberately left behind the most dissolute and worthless second son. This was to utterly destroy the Xuanyuan family. No, not just destroy the Xuanyuan family, but use it as her treasury and personnel reserve, and finally change this century-old family’s surname, completely erasing this hundred-year noble house!

This final stroke was the most vicious and cruel, the one he could never accept even in death. If the Xuanyuan family ended in Xuanyuan Yan’s hands and couldn’t even preserve its surname, what face would the entire Xuanyuan clan have to meet their ancestors after death!

“Father,” that unfilial son was still urgently pressing beside his ear, “Where’s the bronze seal? Hand it over. Don’t try to resist. Her Majesty has first-class experts as guards. No matter how many guards we bring, we’re no match. Better take it out quickly. Whoever becomes family head is still being family head, right? Your son is also helpless. Nothing is more important than life, right?”

Xuanyuan Jing’s chest heaved. Listening to the commotion outside, secret signals had been sent out, but there was no sound of rescue coming. This meant Xuanyuan Yan’s words were correct—Jing Hengbo had come prepared, and indeed had experts around her.

He stared steadily at Xuanyuan Yan, who was still young. Having done such things today, his face showed half fear and half excitement, his gaze floating uncertainly.

This was his son… He had always valued the eldest son most, but pampered and spoiled this second son. He never thought the eldest son who bore his expectations would die before his eyes, and now the second son also…

He closed his eyes. After a long while, two streams of tears slowly flowed from his eyes, silently soaking into the coffin behind him.

Only now did he know regret, know that some people couldn’t be underestimated or shaken. When seizing others’ foundation, one must also see if one has the strength to stand firm. Otherwise it’s just temporary victory—before the cheering ends, fierce counterattack has already arrived.

“Father, crying won’t help. Hurry up, your son’s poison isn’t cured yet,” Xuanyuan Yan urged impatiently.

He took a breath and slowly moved his fingers.

“Fine, come closer.”

Xuanyuan Yan leaned in.

He reached into his robes, making as if to take out the bronze seal. The tears at his eyes had dried, and in that sideways turn, his gaze flashed coldly.

Jing Hengbo, standing behind them, suddenly said: “Little Yan, watch out—your father wants to kill you.”

At these words, before Xuanyuan Yan could react, Xuanyuan Jing was already roaring wildly, his hand sweeping out. In his palm appeared something golden yellow like a small axe, chopping toward Xuanyuan Yan’s chest!

Xuanyuan Yan was shocked and quickly tried to dodge, but he had leaned too close and it was too late.

Xuanyuan Jing’s eyes held both viciousness and grief!

Jing Hengbo suddenly smiled and waved her hand.

This wave was without any smoke or fire, graceful as plucking strings, yet that golden small axe suddenly left Xuanyuan Jing’s hand and fell before Xuanyuan Yan.

Xuanyuan Yan was wildly waving his hands trying to block when he saw the small axe and instinctively grasped it.

Xuanyuan Jing roared and sprang up, lunging at Xuanyuan Yan.

He had to kill this traitorous son who sold out the family first!

Xuanyuan Yan was shocked and panicked. In his confusion he couldn’t think of anything else, closed his eyes and screamed, chopping down fiercely.

“Crack.” A crisp sound of bone breaking.

Clear in the silence.

The sound of a body falling was so heavy, like striking one’s heart.

Xuanyuan Yan stood dumbfounded, holding up that golden small axe, looking at his father in the pool of blood before him.

Xuanyuan Jing’s left leg had a huge gash, white bone visible. The leg bone was probably broken.

He struggled in the pool of blood, his eyes full of fire and hatred, staring at Xuanyuan Yan. Xuanyuan Yan cowered back.

Jing Hengbo sighed inwardly—how truly marvelous fate was. This pair of partners, Xuanyuan Jing and Fei Luo, one with a bad left leg, one with a bad right leg—a perfect match.

After a moment, Xuanyuan Yan let out a cheer: “The family head’s bronze seal!”

He held up the blood-soaked small axe and pulled open a clasp, only then seeing this wasn’t an axe but shaped like a scroll, just with sharp edges that made it look like an axe. It was precisely because of this that the blow hadn’t taken Xuanyuan Jing’s life.

“Congratulations, Family Head Xuanyuan,” Jing Hengbo smiled lazily.

Xuanyuan Yan looked at the bronze seal in his hand, then at his unconscious father on the ground, his heart in a daze, not knowing if he should feel joy or sorrow. He wanted to give orders but didn’t dare look up at Jing Hengbo’s gaze.

Before this legendary young queen, he felt bone-deep fear. Especially having just committed such a treasonous crime, he knew that in the future, only by clinging closer to the queen could he preserve his lifelong peace.

But Jing Hengbo had already turned her gaze away.

She didn’t want to see this hall full of bloodstains, didn’t want to see this noble family’s strife, and even less wanted to see the tragic results she had orchestrated. These were all things she had once most hated, yet now she was so skilled at them.

A path of blood and fire—who could maintain their original pure heart?

Then she smiled lazily and flicked her fingers.

Having done it, there was no need for regret. This path through Dahuang was so crowded—if she didn’t clear away those blocking the way, how could she strut around in the future?

Suddenly a loud shout came from behind: “Jin Zhaolong, where are you going!”

It was Pei Shu’s voice.

Then Jing Hengbo heard the sound of the back door being smashed, a crowd of footsteps rushing past. A gray shadow flashed, bringing a fierce current of air as Pei Shu swept past her side.

Jin Zhaolong was cunning. Seeing the situation was bad, he immediately hid in the back hall, never coming out to deal with the Xuanyuan family’s affairs. Instead, he quickly gathered his own guards, broke through the back hall’s windows, and fled hurriedly all the way.

Pei Shu discovered his trail. With such a life-and-death enemy before him, how could he let him go? He immediately gave chase.

Jing Hengbo didn’t interfere. Jin Zhaolong traveled with many troops nearby. Pei Shu would have difficulty succeeding, though of course his martial arts were sufficient for self-preservation. When he finished chasing to his heart’s content, his poison would probably flare up and he’d have to return to eat herbs.

She made the remaining Xuanyuan family elders and stewards present swallow Tianhui Valley’s poison, swear death oaths to forever keep secret what happened today, and support Xuanyuan Yan in obtaining the family head position. Then she had the remaining of Pei Shu’s subordinates accompany Xuanyuan Yan back to the Xuanyuan clan. These people had high martial arts and strange movement techniques—even if unsuccessful, they could protect themselves. The Xuanyuan family’s Tianhui Valley expedition had deployed all their elites, who all perished in her hands, greatly reducing the family’s internal guard strength. With Xuanyuan Yan holding the bronze seal, supported by this group of elders and stewards, plus mysterious experts helping, and with the Xuanyuan family’s capable disciples all missing, the Xuanyuan clan had no choice—Xuanyuan Yan’s position as family head was certain.

Jing Hengbo wasn’t worried about Xuanyuan Yan betraying her after becoming family head. She now controlled Tianhui Valley, which contained all kinds of poisons and medicines. Now this group of people’s lives were in her hands. These life-cherishing villains who could commit patricide for power would never suddenly become brave.

She wanted to control the Xuanyuan family not just to anger Xuanyuan Jing to death, but more importantly because such century-old noble clans usually had their own communication systems and networks of hidden agents throughout the country. Such hidden power cultivated over a century was incomparable to her—a queen who came to power halfway with no foundation. With such communication networks in hand, her future actions would be twice as effective with half the effort. Moreover, century-old noble families all had connections with each other. Controlling the Xuanyuan family would also help in future dealings with other families among the Six Kingdoms and Eight Tribes.

After finishing the Xuanyuan family business, she returned to Tianhui Valley. In just a few days, the terrible and bizarre incidents at Tianhui Valley had spread throughout the entire Huangjin Tribe. This time the rumors about Tianhui Valley were even more terrifying—they said the chief had secretly organized a powerful army to enter the valley, but after one night all those people died at the valley entrance with incomplete corpses, heads torn off, and backs covered with trampling footprints. Each footprint was as big as a washbasin, clearly from ferocious prehistoric monsters. These monsters were said to be transformed from the souls of those who died in the valley, incomparably cruel and vicious. Now not only was entering the valley forbidden, but even approaching the valley entrance meant certain death, because during that period, many scattered corpses also appeared around the valley entrance…

The rumors were naturally spread deliberately by people Jing Hengbo sent out. The corpses at the valley entrance powerfully supported this claim. Jin Zhaolong, terrified by Pei Shu’s harassment and attacks, fled back to the capital in panic without sending anyone to collect those bodies. Some bold people who went to investigate were immediately scared out of their wits by the corpses at the valley entrance. From then on, these rumors became ironclad evidence. Spreading from one to ten, ten to a hundred, soon not only was entering the valley forbidden, but even a ten-li radius around the valley became nearly a forbidden zone. At night, ghost fires flickered with no human presence. People far and near moved away one after another. The area around Tianhui Valley finally became a ghost realm no one visited.

Therefore, Jing Hengbo’s comings and goings became extremely convenient. She erased the markers of the gold mine in the valley. The gold mine couldn’t be moved, but the valley contained extremely rare dog-head gold. Taking just one or two pieces made her wealthy. Some smaller quantities of black steel and soft iron ores were dug out by the titled school officers to forge weapons for them later.

The titled school officers said that according to military law, each of them had twenty personal soldiers. These personal soldiers were also warriors who had followed them across battlefields for many years. Because their masters were unsuccessful, they were also confined to barracks. Now that they had no choice but to defect from the Kanglong Army, as long as they didn’t return to camp, they would be considered deserters, and those personal soldiers would also have no way to live. They requested Jing Hengbo to take them in as well.

Jing Hengbo was delighted. Over twenty titled school officers plus twenty brave personal soldiers each—that was enough for a small special operations team. She pondered what to name it. How about the Flying Tigers?

After organizing everything, she continued her journey. A few days later, Pei Shu also returned. As soon as he came back, he grabbed antidote herbs and devoured them. When asked about Jin Zhaolong, he wiped his mouth and said: “He didn’t take advantage of this master, and this master didn’t let him off easy either!”

Jing Hengbo believed this, because news came that the Huangjin Tribe chief fell seriously ill after returning to the capital.

“Why not try to die together with him?” she teased Pei Shu.

“Seeing your method of revenge, this master deeply approves,” Pei Shu grinned. “White blade in, red blade out—that’s how brutes take revenge. For noble people like us, revenge must leave him with nothing, family destroyed, territory lost, soul unable to return to his homeland!”

“Excellent!” Jing Hengbo gave a thumbs up and asked him: “Full?”

“Full.”

“Tired?”

“This master doesn’t know what tired means!”

“Good. The betting starts now. First match, Yi Qi! Yi Qi!”

“Coming, wifey!”

“Fight with Pei Pei, kisses!”

“Good, is there a prize for winning?”

“You can play with him!”

“Good, good, I want to know why he’s so gray…”

“Shut up! Go die!”

Clang clang clang.

Half an hour later.

“You lost, Little Shu Shu. Come, take off your clothes…”

The next day.

“Er Lu! Second match!”

“Give me a prize!”

“Name it yourself!”

“I want him to try my newest disguise technique!”

“No problem, kisses!”

“Damn it! Come fight!”

Clang clang clang.

Half an hour later.

“Da Bo, Da Bo, look, is this beauty beautiful?”

“Not bad, just a bit gray in the face.”

“What do you know? This is smoky makeup!”

…

The third day.

“Shan Wu, third match!”

“If I win, he has to help me practice exorcism and puppet arts!”

“No problem, kisses.”

Clang clang clang.

Half an hour later.

“Shan Wu, Shan Wu, where’s Pei Shu?”

“Streaking on the street.”

“Huh?”

“Puppet arts!”

…

The fourth day.

“Si Si, fourth match!”

“This time no prizes allowed!”

“No prizes, but if I win, I’ll help you remove the gray color from your body, okay?”

“Hmph!”

Clang clang clang.

Half an hour later.

“Si Si, where’s Pei Shu?”

“Right in front of you.”

“Huh? This is clearly a piece of firewood!”

“No help for it. I wanted to remove the gray from his body, but maybe the needles were wrong. He became alternating gray and white. Seeing his face like a colorful flag, that wouldn’t do, so I tried another method. This time there’s no gray on his face, but his upper body is grayer. Actually this isn’t bad either—grayer with more character. Oh, gray poison generally stores in the body’s hidden organs, like that little brother. Now it’s probably black as charcoal, very distinctive. Want to take a look…”

“Si Si, I will definitely kill your whole family!”

…

The fifth day.

After Wu Shan won, he kindly requested Pei Shu listen to him chant sutras, saying Pei Shu had too much malevolent energy and killing intent. He needed to chant sutras to pray for him, cleansing his spiritual dust.

Pei Shu originally would rather die than compete with the Seven Kills anymore, preferring to admit defeat. However, pure and honest Wu Shan looked at him with innocent eyes, face full of sincerity and puzzlement. Even this mass-murdering demon couldn’t withstand it and decided to trust once more for his dignity.

Half an hour later Pei Shu lost again. Another half hour later, he collapsed headfirst amid Wu Shan’s chattering sutra chanting. Six senior brothers who had been waiting outside the door burst in, giggling as they stripped him naked and threw him into a prepared pool.

The fools clapped in celebration, joyfully telling Jing Hengbo they had painstakingly found a solution to Gray Mouse Pei Shu’s problem. Tomorrow morning, she could see the snow-white, tender, beautiful, and moving authentic Jade White Gold Shu. He would definitely be so beautiful her eyeballs would drop to the ground.

Jing Hengbo felt only the gray mouse in the corner would believe this.

But the next morning, when poor Pei Shu was dragged out of the pool barely breathing, her eyeballs really did drop to the ground.

Pei Shu had indeed changed color!

He had turned purple!

…

The last two matches Pei Shu absolutely refused to compete, the proud fellow admitting defeat without fighting for the first time.

He was afraid that after competing, he wouldn’t be called Jade White Gold Shu anymore, but Rainbow Shu.

The eighth match also wasn’t held, because Jing Hengbo herself stepped forward.

Pei Shu had been poisoned for years, his martial arts actually only half of what they once were. He relied on the strange movement techniques practiced in the valley to defeat enemies, but this was precisely what Jing Hengbo countered perfectly.

Why compete? Surrender!

The ninth match was Tian Qi’s turn, another expert in movement techniques. These two had a solid match without tricks. In the end, Tian Qi still won. After winning, he said melancholically to Pei Shu: “If you restored your appearance, she might let you win…”

Pei Shu vomited on him immediately. After vomiting, he sighed to the heavens—after five years of imprisonment, were there already so many experts in the world?

Quite disheartened. His arrogant spirit was immediately halved.

Actually he was wronged. There weren’t that many experts in the world—just the strongest were all with Jing Hengbo recently. With his constitution of five years imprisonment and unhealed poison injuries, being able to fight these people was already prideful. The seven fools played with him endlessly, privately telling Jing Hengbo she’d found a treasure.

For the tenth match, Jing Hengbo was troubled. Originally she had calculated that Yelu Qi could handle the tenth match. She hadn’t expected this fellow to run away midway. Where could she find another expert of this caliber?

Fortunately, Pei Shu was repeatedly defeated and dejected, temporarily not wanting more abuse. He didn’t bring up the tenth match either. Jing Hengbo was happy to pretend to forget. They had already traveled into Zhanyu Tribe territory. Past Zhanyu, they would approach Seven Peaks Mountain. Not far from Seven Peaks Mountain’s southwest foot was Blackwater Marsh, her destination.

On the first day entering Zhanyu Tribe territory, she heard two pieces of news.

One was that Yuzhao Dragon Cavalry Grand Commander Ying Bai had offended the court, been stripped of all military ranks, and exiled from the Imperial Song.

The other was that State Preceptor Gong Yin, hearing that the Huangjin Tribe privately gathered forces to explore Tianhui Valley, flew into a rage, believing this was the Huangjin Tribe tearing up old agreements and intentionally arming forces privately to oppose the Imperial Song. Kanglong Grand Marshal Cheng Gumo, for unknown reasons, was also very dissatisfied with the Huangjin Tribe, even personally requesting assignment under the State Preceptor, strongly demanding military sanctions against the rebellious Huangjin Tribe. Finally receiving permission three days ago to march against the Huangjin Tribe.

On the peaceful Dahuang lands that had been quiet for five years, war began again.

…

The Imperial Song’s wars against individual tribes were always local wars, not affecting the peace of other tribal kingdoms, and similarly not causing great impact to the Imperial Song.

Especially when such wars were intentionally promoted by those in power.

Early in the morning, sunlight filled the entire Quiet Court. After wind and snow, the Imperial Song’s New Year welcomed fine weather.

The long corridor outside Quiet Court’s study was warmed by sunlight. Snow-white robes shone with crystalline light in the gentle winter sun.

Gong Yin sat in the corridor with a basin full of feed, a brush, and a grass mud horse before him.

The grass mud horse was tiny, named Little Yin Yin. Its master had adopted it on a whim but quickly forgot about it after three minutes of enthusiasm. Later when she left, she took nothing with her, including this camel sheep.

Dahuang called this beast a camel sheep, but everyone at Quiet Court called it a grass mud horse, having grown used to her name for it. Moreover, this name always made people feel particularly bright—in her words, particularly refreshing.

The person had left, but the tea was still warm. Her palace was carefully cleaned, her belongings secretly sealed away. Her grass mud horse was personally cared for by the most noble State Preceptor himself.

The little grass mud horse had grown much taller recently. Like Gong Yin, it was snow-white and clean, with a bright red ribbon tied around its neck and a golden bell attached to the ribbon. Gong Yin preferred quiet—Quiet Court previously didn’t even have golden bells under the eaves. Now only the bell around Little Yin Yin’s neck rang, ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, crisp as countless pearls scattered in the lake of one’s heart. Yet this didn’t make one feel lively—instead, the heart felt even emptier.

Gong Yin grabbed a handful of feed, letting the little grass mud horse lick from his palm. This was how Jing Hengbo used to feed Little Yin Yin. He had always thought this was dirty, but now he was used to it and didn’t think much of it.

The little grass mud horse was very gentle, its pink tongue slowly licking his palm with a rustling tickle.

Sunlight fell on the golden feed and his snow-white fingers, creating a faint glow.

Quiet Court was very quiet. Only the pattering sound of the grass mud horse’s tongue and people’s long, slow breathing could be heard—serene and peaceful.

The grass mud horse finished eating and turned its head away. Gong Yin moved his fingers closer, but it gently yet firmly turned its head. This grass mud horse’s temperament was somewhat like hers—seemingly agreeable but actually proud and aloof.

He turned to wash his hands in a basin nearby, dried them, and reached out to scratch the little creature’s chin. The snow-white fur under its neck was short and soft. His fingers moved gently, and the little creature comfortably half-closed its eyes, resting its head against his hand.

He was slightly dazed.

He seemed to hear someone laughing coquettishly, running around like a butterfly through flowers in a field of emerald green, her voice lazily scattered everywhere: “Little Yin Yin! Little Yin Yin! Come chase me!”

“Ah! Little Yin Yin, why are you so lazy!”

“Stand straight! Hold up your noble head! You’re called Little Yin Yin, not Little Bo Bo!”

“Little Yin Yin, come on, let’s go find your big brother!”

Back then when he was in Quiet Court, every time he heard this he would put down his documents, not knowing whether to be annoyed or pretend not to hear. The guards in the corridor would snicker, so he could only tell them to get lost.

Now the lazy provocations were gone, and the guards hadn’t laughed like that for a long time. The world she inhabited was too brilliant, so when she left, the world instantly became pale.

Meng Hu, Yu Chun, and others stood far away, knowing the State Preceptor didn’t like to talk when feeding the grass mud horse.

But today, Gong Yin suddenly spoke.

“Where is Ying Bai now?”

“Replying to Master,” Meng Hu quickly said, “he should have passed Xiang Kingdom.”

“Why so slow?” he frowned. “Is he drinking and meeting beauties along the way again?”

“Yes. Grand Commander Ying Bai encountered a confidante in Xiang Kingdom, so he stayed for a few days…” Meng Hu felt embarrassed saying this—Ying Bai’s confidantes were spread across the world. He met one on average every day, dozens in each territory. His speed of encountering confidantes was about the same as normal people eating meals.

Seeing his master’s expression, he quickly added, “However, Grand Commander Ying Bai heard a piece of news and immediately bid farewell to his confidante. He didn’t encounter any more confidantes along the way and sped up.”

“Hmm?”

“I was just about to report to you—news just received.” Meng Hu presented a scroll. “The Queen participated in the Tianhui Valley expedition, gained titled school officers, and encountered Pei Shu.”

Gong Yin’s fingers scratching Little Yin Yin paused.

This news surprised him a bit too.

“So there really was…” He paused, then said, “Pei Shu!”

His voice revealed neither joy nor anger, but carried a trace of sternness.

Meng Hu lowered his head. He knew the State Preceptor’s opinion of Pei Shu, and he himself had no good feelings either—that kid loved stealing things. During the Huangjin Tribe rebellion, as the Huangjin Tribe’s commander-in-chief, after hearing there were rare treasures in Gong Yin’s sleeping quarters, he actually abandoned his army at midnight and rode all night to the imperial capital, trying to break into Gong Yin’s chambers to steal. Coincidentally Gong Yin wasn’t there, and he nearly succeeded. Even after being surrounded, he escaped unharmed. His arrogant laughter that night was still deeply remembered by Quiet Court’s guards, who considered the “Pei Shu Palace Intrusion” incident a lifelong humiliation.

The State Preceptor’s sleeping quarters were classified as the highest secret in Dahuang. The internal situation couldn’t be shared with outsiders. Pei Shu’s intrusion sounded an alarm for everyone. Afterward, Gong Yin’s sleeping quarters were even more heavily guarded, until years later when Jing Hengbo entered—but her entry was only because everyone let her.

Gong Yin’s leisurely fingers scratching Little Yin Yin had stopped. Little Yin Yin rubbed against him dissatisfied, but Gong Yin seemed lost in thought.

“Grand Commander Ying Bai sped up, perhaps because he heard news of Pei Shu.”

Jade White Gold Shu—once famous throughout the world. But unfortunately, the two great commanders had never formally met. It was Cheng Gumo who fought Pei Shu. By the time Ying Bai reached the battlefield, the war had already ended under Gong Yin’s counter-intelligence scheme, and Pei Shu had fallen into hell.

Meeting a worthy opponent but being unable to fight—Ying Bai considered this a lifelong regret. Now hearing news of Pei Shu, how could he not run faster?

Gong Yin stood up.

Meng Hu’s heart tightened. He immediately bowed low—this was a sign the State Preceptor had made a decision.

“Tell Ying Bai to slow down.”

Meng Hu was stunned.

Gong Yin’s gaze had already fallen toward the north.

“Pei Shu…”

…

Jing Hengbo was still on the road.

The titled school officers’ personal soldiers had indeed all arrived. These were all veterans, skilled in marching, road travel, defense, and guard duty. Though her team was expanding, their travel speed had increased considerably.

Sometimes Jing Hengbo looked at her team and felt proud, thinking she was awesome now—hundreds of experts! Strutting across Dahuang!

But the Seven Kills once threw cold water on her.

“Blackwater belongs to Daimao. Daimao is the tribe with the most experts and hermits among the Eight Tribes.”

“According to rumors, Daimao’s Three Gates, Four Alliances, Seven Great Gangs, and Thirteen Guardians are all no easy targets.”

“There are also countless lone wolves, unorthodox thieves, martial artists, bounty hunters, and mystic practitioners. Various powerhouses—if you can think of it, they have it.”

“No force can control all these factions. They’ve long divided their territories with deep roots. Poor Daimao’s tribal chief is the most powerless among the Six Kingdoms and Eight Tribes. After the powerhouses divided up the good places, they only left him Blackwater Marsh.”

“Ah, no problem. Our Queen is about to arrive! Once she comes, the powerhouses will immediately obediently give up the best territories to build her a palace!”

“Yeah, Three Gates, Four Alliances, Seven Great Gangs, and Thirteen Guardians are nothing. Just tens of thousands of subordinates. I alone can fight a thousand!”

“Yeah. That year when you were taken by the Fierce Fire Alliance young miss and tied up in the alliance to be a live-in son-in-law, you didn’t suffer much. Just got groped a bit and escaped in three days, even killing several cats in the alliance! Amazing! Amazing! Those were Fierce Fire Alliance cats!”

“Yeah, at least those were cats. Better than Old Seven in Wild Blade Alliance, who flew out without even killing a grasshopper.”

…

Listening to the Seven Kills exposing each other’s embarrassing past, Jing Hengbo blinked. She felt she had indeed been happy too early.

So this little bit of power wasn’t enough to make a difference.

“What good things does Zhanyu Tribe have?” she asked.

“Nothing else worth mentioning, but Zhanyu Tribe is famous for producing skilled craftsmen,” Tian Qi said. “The so-called ‘Zhanyu’ refers partly to a type of ore produced near Zhanyu Swamp. Combined with Zhanyu Swamp’s mud, the forged swords are unparalleled in sharpness—’geese passing, feathers severed.’ It also refers to Zhanyu craftsmen’s skill in making ingenious tools. Many things they make have the function of ‘geese passing, feathers severed.'”

“You idiots only know half the story,” Pei Shu suddenly leaned over with a disdainful expression. “What are weapons and arms? With Tianhui Valley’s mineral deposits, what good weapons don’t we have? Zhanyu craftsmen are strong, but their strength lies in making swamp boats!”

Pei Shu had been in good condition lately. The gray on his face had faded considerably, gradually revealing stunning beauty. He wasn’t happy about this, but rather regretful—if he’d known coming out wouldn’t kill him and he’d have a chance to restore his appearance, why hide in the valley refusing to come out?

Jing Hengbo scoffed that he was thinking too simply. If he hadn’t met her, could he have encountered the Seven Kills brothers? Though the Seven Kills were unreliable, they had high martial arts and each had unique mystical techniques, so they naturally had ways to deal with his poison. How many people in the world wanted to meet the Seven Kills but couldn’t? In the end, it was just his good luck.

“What’s so rare about swamp boats? Every tribe has them,” Tian Qi sneered. “They’re just boats that can move freely in swamps. No matter what kind of swamp boat, when facing Blackwater Marsh, none work!”

“Calling you stupid and you still don’t admit it!” Pei Shu laughed heartily. “Zhanyu has treasure boats! Zhanyu Tribe has no mines, no strange beasts, no gold, no gems—why are they wealthy? Because they master the best treasure boat technology! Why can the Three Gates, Four Alliances, Seven Great Gangs, and Thirteen Guardians establish themselves in Daimao’s Blackwater Marsh and become first-class local powers? Because they’ve been buying treasure boats from Zhanyu Tribe, allowing them to travel through Blackwater Marsh more smoothly than others. For many years, Blackwater Marsh has been feared throughout Dahuang. Everyone thinks it’s a godforsaken place, but besides the Daimao people, who knows that Blackwater Marsh is actually Dahuang’s greatest and most precious marsh, with mysteries beyond description. They say even with treasure boat assistance, the Three Gates, Four Alliances, Seven Great Gangs, and Thirteen Guardians have only explored one-third so far. Imagine that!”

Jing Hengbo imagined it and felt quite shocked.

“So impressive! These so-called terror legends are actually smokescreens!”

“Not smokescreens, but facts,” Pei Shu said coldly. “The treasures of Blackwater Marsh may not be known to the world, but the terror of Blackwater Marsh is world-famous. For many years, as many people refused to believe in evil, that many died there. Zhanyu Tribe’s Star Treasure Boats are the most sturdy yet lightweight among all swamp boats, with the strongest protective capabilities. Ordinary swamp boats might rot from Blackwater Marsh’s poisonous gases after just a few steps, not to mention those various shaped swamp poison beasts that appear in strange ways. To occupy a place in Blackwater Marsh, Star Treasure Boats are essential.”

“Buy buy buy!” Jing Hengbo immediately called Zirui to count money.

“Do you have any ambition!” Pei Shu jumped up furiously, pointing at Jing Hengbo’s nose. “Can you afford it? Do you know how much one treasure boat costs? Enough to buy half of Beixin City!”

“Ah, so expensive?” Jing Hengbo bit her finger, calculating whether selling the Seven Kills could buy one boat. Maybe adding Pei Shu could buy an extra oar?

“You think this thing is easy to make?” Pei Shu nearly flattened her nose with his pointing. “Hundreds of craftsmen working day and night can only make two boats a year. Not to mention the various rare materials needed for boat construction. This thing is completely priceless—even with money you can’t buy it. Otherwise, everyone in Blackwater Marsh would have one and would have swallowed up Dahuang long ago!”

“Rob rob rob!” The Seven Kills began rolling up their sleeves.

“Where’s the shipyard? Rob it!”

“Where are the craftsmen? Rob them!”

“Or go rob in Blackwater Marsh!”

“Stupid!” Jing Hengbo slammed the table, shaking the whole room. “What’s the point of robbing boats and people? Are they easy to transport? Convenient?”

The Seven Kills stared at her blankly.

“Then what do you say we should rob?”

Jing Hengbo grinned and glanced at Pei Shu.

A pair of fierce people showed telepathic expressions, speaking in unison:

“Rob the blueprints!”

“Excellent!” Jing Hengbo and Pei Shu high-fived with a crisp slap.

What was most important? Technology!

The Seven Kills began plotting.

“The blueprints are naturally in the royal palace.”

“Rob!”

“Maybe there are many traps. What if they destroy the blueprints when we rob hard?”

“Or we could use a honey trap!”

“Ah, honey trap—I must go!”

“You look like God’s rough draft of a human. Get lost!”

“With your looks, even if you chased me three thousand li, if I turned back it would count as me raping you.”

“You’re beautiful? The difference between you and a basket of dung is just the basket.”

“Boss is the most beautiful, beautifully avoiding all human features.”

“Old Seven, don’t laugh. When you smile your nose hair nearly pokes your philtrum.”

…

No one paid attention to them.

Pei Shu crossed his legs, looking sideways at Jing Hengbo with a leisurely air: “I have some relationship with the Zhanyu tribal chief’s mother. I’m confident I can get these blueprints, but you have to give me some benefits.”

Jing Hengbo was eating sunflower seeds—watching the Seven Kills argue while eating sunflower seeds was one of life’s great pleasures. Hearing this, she spat them out with a “pff.”

“The Zhanyu tribal chief’s mother…” She pointed at Pei Shu and laughed heartily. “You really are… so accepting…”

“What do you understand? His stepmother! His father’s last wife!” Pei Shu slapped her hand away. “A beauty! Also a Zhanyu mage, much more beautiful than you!”

“Oh oh, then you go work hard,” Jing Hengbo held her heart with both hands, eyes sparkling. “I believe in you. You can do it. You can definitely become the Zhanyu tribal chief’s cheap stepfather!”

“A person of such talent and beauty like me implementing a honey trap,” Pei Shu looked at her sideways, “aren’t you afraid I’ll be seduced away and stay in Zhanyu?”

“Fine by me.” Jing Hengbo waved her hand. “A married son-in-law is like spilled water. Heaven wants rain, you want to marry—I can’t control it, kisses.”

“Jing Hengbo.” Pei Shu wasn’t angry but maintained that strange look. “Don’t you think it’s necessary to first use a woman or emotions to tie me down to ensure I don’t betray you and you can get the blueprints?”

“Huh?” Jing Hengbo was stunned and muttered, “When you men harden your hearts, you’re harder than iron. If you really want to betray, you’d dare kill even parents. I don’t think women can tie you down…” She glanced at Pei Shu, feeling he was speaking and acting very strangely today.

She looked at Zirui and Yong Xue—one quietly reading, one quietly embroidering. Both were serene and beautiful women. Pei Shu had lived through many storms with a rebellious nature, so he should be most easily interested in such quiet beauties. Could he have taken a fancy to one of them?

She remembered that a few days ago Zirui seemed to have helped Pei Shu deliver medicine, and Yong Xue seemed to have helped him wash clothes?

Jing Hengbo had a bit of a headache. Sigh, if he really spoke up, should she grant his wish or not? Zirui seemed to have feelings for Tie Xingze, but Tie Xingze was a hostage still stuck in Imperial Song and couldn’t come out. She probably shouldn’t randomly play matchmaker, right? But then again, Tie Xingze seemed to have a fiancée and unbreakable old marriage contracts—a whole mess of troubles. Zirui might not have hope. Pei Shu wasn’t bad either. Maybe she should persuade her to try someone new?

Or did Pei Shu like an old cow eating tender grass and had taken a fancy to Yong Xue? Ah ah ah, the little girl wasn’t even fully developed yet. Was this really okay? Besides, she couldn’t bear to have them marry so early…

Across from her, Zirui and Yong Xue looked up in surprise at Jing Hengbo—why was Da Bo suddenly looking so conflicted? Like an old mother worrying about her daughters’ marriages…

Jing Hengbo was still conflicted about how to bring this up with them… Pei Shu’s voice drifted over intermittently, but she didn’t hear it.

Sigh, it better not be Yong Xue—she’s too young…

Suddenly a loud crash startled her awake. She looked up dumbfounded.

Somehow the Seven Kills had jumped onto Pei Shu, their seven huge bodies pressing him down and beating him frantically. She could still hear Yi Qi’s screaming: “Damn it, you dare steal my wife…”

Pei Shu struggled to extend one hand from under the crowd, shouting at her: “Just give me an answer whether it’s yes or no!”

Zirui and Yong Xue were giggling.

Jing Hengbo asked in bewilderment: “What happened? What did he ask?”

Tian Qi snorted very unhappily, leisurely threw a broad bean in his mouth, and crunched it.

“He asked if you want to hurry up and marry him.”

“Huh?!”