CHAPTER 2158: CHAPTER 2156: QUANRONG TRICK TECHNIQUE

Bai Ruozhu actually didn’t want her second brother to go back to serve as an officer either, but her second brother was different from her. He had been studying diligently since childhood, putting in so much hard work just to repay the country with what he had learned and to seek welfare for the people. Moreover, since Si Yihuan’s family held official positions at court, it was hard for him to give up his position and leave.

All the land under heaven belongs to the king; unless she left Danliang, she couldn’t truly turn her back on the emperor. But her parents were born and raised in Danliang, and they were unwilling to leave easily.

Besides, they still had members of the Bai Clan and other relatives and friends.

So she still wrote a letter, saying she was unwell and needed to stay in the Jiuli Clan to recuperate.

But thinking of Feng Cheng, she felt she wasn’t suitable to stay in the Jiuli Clan.

"Master, there’s also news about Tang, the Champion." Jianqi pointed to the back of the dossier.

Bai Ruozhu glanced at it and couldn’t help but gasp, "How is this possible!"

Others might not know, but she was all too clear that Tang Feng had already let go of his desire for power and wealth, seeing it as meaningless and uninteresting.

Could it be that he changed his mind because he fell in love with Princess Fu’an of Chengshui?

She suddenly smiled bitterly. Even Achun had developed an ambition for power and had changed; why couldn’t Tang Feng?

She quietly closed the dossier, "Let’s go back."

The two returned to the restaurant. Bai Zepei hastily inquired about the situation, and Bai Ruozhu did not hide anything, explaining everything in detail.

Bai Zepei also couldn’t calm down for a long time; after a while, he said, "Little sister, don’t worry, Du Zhongshu still can’t overshadow us, just that..."

It’s just that Tang Feng was a pity.

"I think Tang Feng isn’t that kind of person." Bai Zepei became absent-minded for a moment and then suddenly said.

Bai Ruozhu looked at him, thinking, if you think Tang Feng isn’t that kind of person, then is Achun that kind of person? But he told me himself.

People change.

She didn’t tell anyone what Jiang Yichun said, nor did she want her second brother to know, so she could only smile, "Who knows, if we meet again in the future, we can ask him."

"Three thousand miles away, it might be difficult to meet again, and if we do meet again, it might be in battle." Bai Zepei said with some emotion.

"But you just said he isn’t that kind of person." Bai Ruozhu retorted.

Bai Zepei chuckled, "But once some things happen, there’s no turning back."

Bai Ruozhu became somewhat absent-minded, some things? Could it be that Tang Feng was unhappy with the emperor favoring Du Zhongshu, thinking him incompetent and foolish, and thus wanted to overthrow him? But Tang Feng didn’t have any deep-seated hatred with Du Zhongshu, and from the dossier, it seemed that during the army’s struggle for the Imperial Capital, he conspired with Princess Fu’an, suggesting he had been prepared long ago.

Or maybe he was willing to risk everything for love.

Bai Ruozhu didn’t know how to judge him; if that were truly the case, he was deeply infatuated. Yet his mother didn’t know what had become of her now.

After everyone had eaten, they went for a stroll in the market. Jiao Ling and Wu Wu organized the shopping, quickly buying a lot of things, all entrusted to the male companions who came along to carry.

Bai Ruozhu asked Jianqi to contact the subordinates arranged outside to make sure there were no issues, but Yizi couldn’t be found. The others said Yizi had gone to the nearby mountains to find materials for array setup. Bai Ruozhu felt a bit regretful, as it had been a while since she’d seen the girl; she’d have to wait for another time to meet.

As dusk approached, they retraced their steps back, and just as they neared the barrier entrance, the atmosphere suddenly felt off.

"There’s an ambush," Bai Zepei said softly.

Bai Ruozhu tugged on Si Yihuan, whispering, "Stay close to Second Brother. Granny Zhang, keep Dengdeng safe, Jianqi, protect them."

Granny Zhang quickly held onto Little Dengdeng’s small hand. The child always said he wanted to protect his mother; hopefully, he wouldn’t really rush to the front, as children didn’t understand the danger.

Sure enough, the sound of arrows whizzing through the air came, one after another, arrows breaking the sky in assault. Bai Zepei, Xiu Shaojia, and that person from Wei Hall immediately formed an array, the three forming one with a sure defensive power, blocking the arrows outside.

Some arrows did penetrate before the formation was completed, but they were blocked by Fen Jiu and the others.

This wave of surprise attack left no Jiuli wounded.

Bai Ruozhu shot a sleeve arrow towards the direction the arrows came from. During the Jiuli rebellion, she was chased around by the second elder’s archers, so she had asked Jiao Ling for a sleeve arrow. Unexpectedly, two days later, Jiao Ling gave her an exquisitely made mechanical sleeve arrow with greater range and stronger force, saying it was a gift of apology from Fo Wen.

She accepted it, thinking Fo Wen had done nothing wrong, except being too obsessed with mechanical technique and neglecting his family and children.

A muffled grunt came from afar; someone was injured!

"Jiuli people love to act like turtles, never changing wherever they go," a sullen voice sounded out, followed by a middle-aged man in black emerging from the shadows.

His attire was unique, neither in the style favored by the Jiuli people nor in the tight-fitting clothes loved by the warriors of Danliang Country. It resembled hunter’s attire, complete with a hat decorated with fur.

Bai Ruozhu suspected these were Quanrong people, and sure enough, Fen Jiu’s voice rang out, "Quanrong people love to shoot dark arrows, doing those sly little tricks, even their clan leader is the same."

Everyone gasped; this person was the Qunrong Clan Leader!

"Fen Jiu, your mouth is still as sharp," the man said with a sinister smile.

Fen Jiu snorted, "You Meng, your heart is still as dark, always plotting against people."

"Plotting against people? My son and an entire team were murdered, don’t pretend you don’t know what happened!" You Meng’s voice rose sharply, his gnashing of teeth almost audible.

Muyu and Jing Lei exchanged glances; he spoke of the Xue Liang they had killed, no wonder called "Young Clan Leader" by subordinates; it turned out to be the heir of the Quanrong Clan Leader.

"We were having the time of our lives in the Jiuli Clan, who has time to bother with your son? You’ve offended too many being so treacherous; only ghosts know where you made enemies," Fen Jiu feigned ignorance.

"Hmph, there’s no point in words. Today, I’ll wipe you out to avenge my Liangliang!" You Meng gestured, and suddenly people appeared from all directions, each holding something resembling a command flag, appearing strange.

Fen Jiu looked grave, "Be careful everyone, the Quanrong Clan’s trick techniques are extremely sinister and not to be underestimated."

Bai Ruozhu made a hand seal, standing protectively in front of Little Dengdeng. A bad feeling surged in her heart; perhaps this was her instinctual sense of impending danger.

She had heard the name of the Quanrong Clan countless times, but this was her first face-to-face encounter. In her impression, the Quanrong Clan were the ones in the "Beacon Fire Drama" story who defeated King Zhou You and abducted Bao Si, right? She recalled some historical materials from her past life were recorded as such.

But upon meeting them now, she realized it was all different. This place was unlike any historical dynasty she knew; the Quanrong Clan gave her an extremely bizarre feeling, perhaps they were the ancestors of the people who defeated King Zhou You.