The night was gentle, and the bonfire in the valley gradually became warm …
The horses formed a large group in the darkness. On this side of the field of vision, tents surrounded the bonfire, forming a small camp. Next to the bonfire, the members of the Bamboo Shop were still awake. After experiencing today's battle, they needed to take advantage of the fact that the feeling in their hearts had yet to dissipate. They needed to reflect on today's battle as soon as possible to ensure that they would not make the same mistakes in the next battle. However, in the darkness, there were always people secretly looking in a certain direction in the valley with curious and gossipy expressions.
Half of the members of Takeshi's team came from the Lone Dragon Hill Camp, so they more or less knew about the relationship between Ning Yi and Hongti. The rest of them were mostly curious. For example, Yuwen Feidu, the youngest member of the team, could be considered a child taught by everyone in the Lone Dragon Hill Camp. He was talented and lively, and had learned all kinds of martial arts. Although he was only 15 years old, he had already shown signs of becoming a master. During the discussion, he was glared at by one of his teachers because he asked in private.
However, it was not hard to imagine that there would be no lack of secret discussions and gossips this night …
Ning Yi took a bowl of meat soup, walked to the stone in front of the tent, and handed it to the woman sitting on the ground. Then, he sat down beside her. Hongti held the bowl and took a small sip.
The tent was not far from the wooden hut, and there was a bonfire in front of the tent. The light from the bonfire shone on their faces.
"Two questions." Ning Yi looked at Hongti, who was wearing a black martial arts outfit and a cloak, and laughed. "First of all, what's with the Blood Buddha? Doesn't the River and Mountain Iron Sword sound good? You're a woman, and yet you have such a nickname. "
"No one knows about your Bloody Butcher, right?" Hearing Ning Yi's question, Hongti also laughed. She held the small bowl in her hand and paused. "I also want to be called River and Mountain Iron Sword, but nicknames are given by others. What can I do …"
The woman smiled and looked at the sky as if she was thinking, "Lu Liang's side, my name is Hongti. In the beginning, I always wanted to help people. That's why they called me Bodhisattva, Red Bodhisattva. But this name doesn't scare people. Later on, there were fights in the mountains, and I killed many people. My brothers in the mountains said that it's better to call me Blood Bodhisattva than Red Bodhisattva … This name only came about in the past two years. Even if I wanted to change it, I couldn't. You … just have to put up with it. "
"Primitive totem worship …" Ning Yi mumbled softly.
"What?"
"It's nothing." Ning Yi smiled. Although he did not have a very detailed understanding of the situation in Lu Liang Mountain, he had heard about Hong Ti's situation in the village in the past.
She had taken over the stronghold from her master in the early years, and she had regarded it as the greatest responsibility on her shoulders. Red Ti was not afraid of killing, but the core of her personality was actually more gentle. She was more like a well-behaved woman who was suitable to take care of her husband and children after marriage. Because of this, although she had superb martial arts skills, her companions in the village did not necessarily fear her. For example, when she went to Jiangning to kill Song Xian, it was her responsibility as the chief, but in fact, it was more like she was forced to do it by the people in the village. Until she reorganized the Green Wood Village under Ning Yi's guidance, the people in the village still loved and respected her, and very little feared her.
At that time, she was called "Red Bodhisattva", and it was not wrong. It was not until later that she hardened her heart to let the people in the village cause trouble. After killing some and splitting some, the village began to truly grow. After that, she more or less kept a distance from her subordinates in the village, and strictly enforced the rules. That was how the Green Wood Village became what it was today. She finally became the infamous Blood Bodhisattva in Lu Liang's killing. In all fairness, the more dangerous a place was, the more barbaric her nickname was. Being barbaric was far more useful than being civilized. Indeed, the River and Mountain Iron Sword could not influence many people here.
However, in more than a year, the title "Red Bodhisattva" had transformed into the image of "Blood Bodhisattva" in places that he did not know. Ning Yi could only imagine how much Red Ti had experienced. It was impossible for him to empathize with what she had experienced.
Thinking of this, Ning Yi did not want to talk about this anymore. He changed the topic. "Then … the second question, what's going on with the martial arts competition for a spouse … how can I defeat you …"
When Ning Yi asked about the martial arts competition for a spouse, Red Ti was about to answer, but when she heard the second half of Ning Yi's question, she suddenly froze and blushed. After the incident in Liangshan, the two of them had a period of intimacy, but that was a year ago. Now that they had just met, she immediately felt a little uncomfortable. Ning Yi looked at this scene with great interest. After a long time, Red Ti recovered her usual expression and looked at him.
"That was a rumor," Red Ti said softly. "After I received the letter, I told Grandpa Liang that you were coming to Lu Liang. Grandpa Liang might have secretly done something … something. Afterwards, he happened to meet some people entering the mountain. Their main purpose was to contact the Green Wood Stronghold, because of whatever Tan Daren's enlistment edict from the Capital. Quite a few people in Lu Liang Mountain also knew about this matter, thereupon they gathered at the Green Wood Stronghold. When it came to the outside world, it was said that I was going to have a martial arts competition for a spouse. Grandpa Liang said that it didn't matter. As long as everyone was willing to come to the Green Wood Village to discuss things, it would prove our status, and business would be better in the future. So, as long as it was someone who wanted to go, they would all be carefully received. But regarding the enlistment order, I thought that you, Liheng, would understand it better, so I wanted to wait for you to come before making a decision. "
"Enlistment order …" Speaking of this matter, Ning Yi's expression became solemn, and he shook his head with some disdain. "Tan Zhong received the first fire from Tong Guan. This was the effect of Zhang Jue's death last year. The big shots in the capital also began to fear, so they wanted to consolidate the line of defense from Yanmen Pass to Taiyuan, and then from Taiyuan to the capital. Although Tong Guan had already retired, he still promoted and participated in this matter. Although the higher-ups said that discipline after enlistment must be strictly enforced, the ones responsible for enlistment are Tan Zhen and Tong Guan's people. However, the ones in charge of enlistment are Tan Zhen and Tong Guan's people. The ones in charge of supervision are Tong Guan and Cai Jing's people. And the ones in charge of supervising these inspectors are the Imperial Censors. The majority of them have relations with some of the great clans in the north. And even if they don't … the person at the very top is a bit fond of grandiose achievements. Therefore, the Imperial Censorate is currently … a place that only slaps flies, not tigers.
Ning Yi rambled on, but Hong Ti didn't necessarily understand. He only listened attentively. Ning Yi naturally understood this point. He laughed and treated it as a joke. "You don't need to care too much. Since there are people coming, I have already expected their attitude. Did the Zuo and Qi families from the north send people?"
Hong Ti thought for a moment. "I heard … that there seems to be a large merchant family with the surname Qi as their backer. Then there are people from General Dong's side, as well as people from the Wu Sheng Army at the border … there have been many people going over these past few days. As for the specific details, I'm afraid only Grandpa Liang's side would know."
"That Tian Hu should have also sent people over, right?" Ning Yi asked. He suddenly thought of something. "Oh, that's right, that Little Rattling Horse seems to be one of Tian Hu's people. He suddenly lost his mind and attacked me. In the end, what was the reason … if I have the chance, I'll kill him."
"But he's already dead," Hong Ti said.
Ning Yi was taken aback. "I remember … … he escaped. I saw it."
Hong Ti leaned against the rock and smiled lazily. "You wrote me a letter saying that you would arrive earlier. You came late. I was worried that something had happened to you, so I left the village. Recently, I have been waiting for you on the road. Tonight, I saw the battle, so I went to find someone to ask for the reason. Then, I went to kill Qiu Mengtang and a few of his confidants before returning to the wooden hut. "
"Uh … ah?" Hong Ti said it casually, but Ning Yi couldn't help but be stunned. Then, he couldn't help but laugh. After a moment of calming down, he shook his head and smiled. He gently held her hand. The two of them sat side by side by the rock. Hong Ti didn't resist. She just looked at the fire. Her eyes became increasingly peaceful.
"Whatever … enlistment isn't a big deal. With a title, it's more convenient to do many things. It's just that it's difficult to be in charge of logistics. These people are said to be enlistment, but most of them definitely won't be able to command them. But with a title, they want money and weapons. When we were making the budget this time, everyone was cursing and swearing for half a month. The Prime Minister's Residence can deduct most of the resources that should be used, but there will always be a small portion that will be divided. However, the Prime Minister's Residence still has the final say on how to divide the resources … "
The light flickered. Hong Ti just listened quietly.
"Since you're here this time, you don't have to worry too much about the negotiations. I probably can't make an official appearance, but … whether it's the Zuo Family, the Qi Family, Dong Pang Er, General, or Tiger King, since they want to talk business, I'll skin them one by one … "
Ning Yi said softly. Then, he talked to himself for a while. Hong Ti closed her eyes and fell asleep quietly beside him …
After a while, Ning Yi took a deep breath and looked at the sky. Then, he looked at the sleeping woman beside him, and looked at the group of people in the distance who were probably full of curiosity … The woman grew up in an environment like Lv Liang. She should be vigilant in all situations. Any noise could wake her up, but she slept so peacefully in his voice …
"We won't go with them tomorrow. Let's go by ourselves … Yes, it's decided."
When he carried the woman back to the hut, he said in a low voice and made his decision.
The eerie midnight had long passed. On the other side of the foothills, the summer wind of the night had yet to calm down. In the stronghold at the foothills where the fire was lit, chaos spread. Small-scale fights suddenly broke out in the courtyards that originally belonged to the chief of the stronghold. In a larger area, people were panicking and running around in a daze. At the outer gate of the stronghold, there were already people packing up their bags and quietly descending the mountain.
After the death of the young rattlesnake — especially the fact that he was killed by the Blood Bodhisattva — came back, a scene that made people panic suddenly appeared in the stronghold. Some people looked on blankly, some people ran away uneasily, and some people began to seize the opportunity to fight. Amidst the chaos, a group of men and horses were ascending the mountain path. More than two hundred people, led by Tian Shi and Yu Yulin, rushed back to the stronghold gate from the front. Then, they spread out and rushed into all parts of the stronghold.
This group of people, who were originally guests in the stronghold, entered the chaos in the night as the host. Lou Shuwan walked in the crowd. Her face was pale but determined as she watched her subordinates behead the leader of the small resistance in the stronghold. Then, with the name of Tiger King Tian Hu, they calmed the chaos in the stronghold.
The smell of blood, in a sense, was weakening her body, but it further strengthened her spirit. The birdcage that used to nourish the canary had long been broken when Hangzhou City was breached. At that time, she was still in a daze. In the Lou family at that time, only her father and big brother were fully aware of this. Now, she finally understood why Ning Yi rushed into the Lou family and killed her father and big brother. It was because in the heart of a tiger, on the scale of victory and defeat, only they could be considered opponents and cause trouble for him.
Without a doubt, she paid a price for this. After that, during the escape and under the command of the Tiger King, she could already understand this kind of unreasonable stubbornness. Especially when her second brother, Lou Shuheng, was completely beaten into the abyss and unable to recover, she had no way out.
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