CHAPTER 707: CHAPTER 587: POACHING ALLIES

Si Snake met up with Lu Yuan and Ji Li half an hour later.

Ji Li snapped his folding fan shut with a clap: "Ah Snake! You finally made it! What did you tell that bastard with the surname Huo?"

Si Snake replied, "I told him the Grand Marshal is still alive."

Ji Li was taken aback but soon slapped his thigh and burst into wild laughter: "How ridiculous! But that’s good, someone as insidious as Huo deserves to be played like that!"

Only Lu Yuan gave Si Snake a glance.

Si Snake said, "Let’s hurry up, I feel like someone has already been to the Black Armor Army’s camp, besides us and the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, there are others coveting the Black Armor Army."

Ji Li opened his folding fan, scoffing dismissively: "Do they have any connection with the Black Armor Army, daring to covet them?"

Lu Yuan said pointedly, "You all have connections with the Black Armor Army."

Ji Li cleared his throat and shook his fan as he said, "That’s because we first ran into that guy Huo. He was never easy to deal with. As for me, I’m not familiar with him, I have other acquaintances in the Black Armor Army!"

Si Snake asked Ji Li, "Is your compass still usable?"

Ji Li took a compass from his wide sleeve: "After soaking in water, it can’t be used for now."

Si Snake paused and asked, "Were you calculating for Mao Tu at that time?"

Ji Li replied, "Yes, it was her."

Initially, Ji Li wasn’t calculating the position of the Black Armor Army, but of Mao Tu.

There are too many people in the Black Armor Army; calculating their position could be deadly.

And since Mao Tu took Shang Wuyou away, she should have hidden in the Black Armor Army’s camp.

Calculating her position is relatively easier.

"How long will it take to repair?"

Si Snake asked.

Ji Li spread his hands: "I don’t know. It’s the Heavenly Gang Compass from Witch Mountain; I’ve never repaired it before."

Lu Yuan walked away with his hands behind his back, walking leisurely.

Ji Li asked, "Hey, where are you going?"

Lu Yuan curved his lips: "Looking for the Black Armor Army."

"Do you know where it is? You’re just looking?"

"Of course."

"Eh?"

Ji Li caught up with him, walking shoulder to shoulder while curiously asking, "Where is it?"

Lu Yuan glanced at the sporadic rapeseed flowers by the roadside: "Just follow the rapeseed flowers, and you’ll find it."

Si Snake looked deeply at the rapeseed flowers: "So that’s it."

Ji Li exclaimed in puzzlement, "Wait, what kind of riddle are you two playing at? I don’t get it!"

Lu Yuan, unusually patient, curved his lips slightly and explained to him, "It’s the blooming season for rapeseed flowers now, but where did the seeds of these roadside rapeseed flowers come from? I guess they were accidentally spilled when the Black Armor Army was transporting the seeds. So, just follow them, and you’ll find a large field of rapeseed flowers. That should be not far from the main camp."

Ji Li seemed half-understanding: "Ah Snake, is this kid right?"

Si Snake responded calmly, "Although I’m no expert in farming, it should be roughly so."

He looked at Lu Yuan’s back, and another familiar figure flashed in his mind.

But it was only for a moment, he quickly repressed the emotion back into the depths of his heart.

"Why do I find it so hard to believe?"

Ji Li said to Lu Yuan, "Dare to place a bet with me? Five copper coins a game! Just bet—"

"No bet."

Lu Yuan refused without a second thought.

Five copper coins, a Grand Commander had never laid such a paltry bet.

It would be humiliating if word got out.

To avoid Ji Li’s pestering, he decisively changed the topic: "Who is in charge of the Black Armor Army ultimately?"

Ji Li was still thinking about gambling, but it was Si Snake who answered him.

"It used to be the Grand Marshal. After his death, the one managing the entire army should be the Great General Xu Zhongping. Under him, there are three Capital Commandants, you’ve already met Captain of Cavalry Huo Ting; the other two are Yun Capital Commandant Yun Chaomu and En Capital Commandant Song Yingzhong."

While speaking, Si Snake moved to Lu Yuan’s other side.

Ji Li, on the other hand, cursed and fell half a step behind them.

Lu Yuan listened attentively.

Si Snake continued, "Huo Ting isn’t all that stubborn. The other three are much more so."

Lu Yuan rubbed his chin, "Did your Grand Marshal have some peculiar hobby of recruiting only stubborn folks?"

Si Snake said, "Stubborn folks have their uses. Once they pledge loyalty, they’ll follow for a lifetime."

Lu Yuan smiled with vague understanding, no longer commenting: "Tell me more about these people."

"Xu Zhongping, skilled in both literature and martial arts, can single-handedly confront a multitude, can plan and gather alliances, and can also lead in battle. The cities he’s attacked have never been unbeaten, and the territories he’s defended have never been lost. In terms of martial arts, he may not be a match for the Twelve Guards, but in terms of warfare, even if the Twelve Guards had ten times more troops, they’d still be no match."

Lu Yuan’s lips curved slightly: "Continue."

"Yun Chaomu, the Divine Archer, Commander of the Vanguard Camp, is always the first to charge into battle. The elite force under his command is the strongest unit in the Black Armor Army."

"Song Yingzhong manages provisions and logistics. He seems the most unremarkable of the three Capital Commandants."

Lu Yuan noted three words—seems unremarkable.

"As for Huo Ting."

At this point, Si Snake suddenly paused.

Ji Li interjected, "Let me! Huo Ting had luck on his side. He was initially just an attendant by the Grand Marshal’s side. By a stroke of luck, he saved the Grand Marshal, who had fainted in the bathtub, rising rapidly after that. His position has often changed; it’s said he later managed the Reconnaissance Camp."

It’s no wonder he was the one to discover them, given he managed the Reconnaissance Camp.

Lu Yuan pondered for a moment, then asked, "The Grand Marshal fainted in the bathtub?"

Si Snake gave him a discreet glance: "You’re all men, what are you thinking?"

Lu Yuan said lightly, "Nothing."

Si Snake said, "Xu Zhongping is the most stubborn. The best way is to first gain the support of the three Capital Commandants."

Ji Li, exasperated, said, "That Huo Ting is so stubborn and stingy! Let’s go find Yun Chaomu and Song Yingzhong! I have a good relationship with them — especially Song Yingzhong, he’s like a sworn brother to me!"

Lu Yuan asked, "Does he have a scar on his forehead?"

Ji Li was startled: "How do you know?"

Lu Yuan pointed to the east and said nonchalantly, "Oh, your brother is no more."

Ji Li turned his head to see vast fields of rapeseed flowers stretching before his eyes, like a golden ocean.

Yet he was in no mood to appreciate the scenery.

On the field ridge stood Song Yingzhong, dressed as a farmer, and behind him was Lu Qi, who had changed out of his night clothes.

Ji Li’s eyes widened.

Si Snake’s expression remained calm, but it did not mean his heart was unperturbed.

Lu Qi carried a hoe on his shoulder and held wild vegetables just picked from the ground.

This was not the look of just a mere acquaintance.

Lu Qi had even changed his attire and footwear.

Ji Li exclaimed, "This guy’s backer turns out to be Song Yingzhong, no wonder he could screw us over like this!"

Lu Yuan rubbed his chin: "Does Yun Chaomu have feelings for Mao Tu?"

Ji Li was shocked once more: "Whoops! How do you know everything? Who told you? Did Yin Hu reveal everyone’s secrets before dying?"

Lu Yuan said casually, "Oh, no, I just saw it."

"What?"

Ji Li turned his head again, and in the rapeseed fields, Lan Yeyue and Yun Chaomu in white robes were walking towards them gracefully.

Ji Li clutched his head with both hands: "Damn! All the corners have been dug out!!!"