Early in the morning, officials were already waiting at the entrance of Stronghold 111, trembling with fear.
It was drizzling, but this group of officials did not even dare to open their umbrellas. They just stood there in the rain in a daze.
News of Luo Lan's massacre had already reached Stronghold 111 last night.
Although the officials knew the other party's target was not them, the problem was that anyone would be a little afraid of someone who could wipe out the Kyung Clan's hidden threats in just three days.
Even if they knew he would not kill them, or even if he did not care about them at all.
An hour later, the special forces convoy that Luo Lan was in finally arrived. As usual, the convoy rumbled past the main entrance.
The muddy water kicked up by the wheels splashed on the officials' bodies and faces. It was as though Luo Lan had slapped them in the face one by one.
When the convoy reached the foot of Mt. Ginkgo, all of the special forces came to a stop. Only Luo Lan's vehicles could continue up the mountain.
On the mountain road, Luo Lan suddenly asked, "Were you the one who accompanied my younger brother up this mountain? It was snowing heavily that day."
Zhou Qi recalled, "Yes, at that time, he already knew those old fogeys of the Kyung Clan were going to make a move on him. So he deliberately sent you away to the Yang Clan's Stronghold 88 as a hostage. Regardless of whether it succeeded or not, at least you would survive. "
Sometimes, Zhou Qi lamented that in this era, these two brothers did not care about their own gains and losses but still had to think about each other. This kind of relationship was really enviable.
Zhou Qi said, "Later, when he became the leader of the Kyung Clan, the first thing he did was to plan how to rescue you from Stronghold 88. At that time, many officials were waiting to vouch for him. In the end, he refused to see anyone on the mountain and waited for news of you."
Luo Lan asked, "Why? Are you touched?"
Zhou Qi curled his lips. "What's there to be touched about? I'm an emotionless hitman who only cares about money. This kind of relationship is useless to me. It's a waste of money. "
Luo Lan did not say anything else.
The mountain road was more than 20 kilometers long. In fact, it could be reached in the blink of an eye by car. In the past, Luo Lan always felt that the road was rather short, but when he thought about how Qing Zhen had walked barefoot up the mountain in the snowy weather, he felt that the road was very long.
That day must have been very difficult. Every step must have been very difficult.
This Ginkgo Mountain was like a high threshold in Qing Zhen's heart. Once he stepped on it, he would cross over.
From then on, Qing Zhen was no longer the Qing Zhen who liked to plant flowers and listen to music.
…
When he arrived at the entrance of Ginkgo Manor, Xu Man was already waiting there. "Boss Luo, the commander is waiting for you."
Luo Lan glanced at Xu Man. "It's been hard on you to protect him day and night."
"It's only right," Xu Man said in a low voice.
The soldiers outside Gingko Manor stole glances at Xu Man. Some of the new recruits who had just been transferred to Xu Man's command thought to themselves, 'Even Luo Lan is greeting his superior so politely …'
Over the years, Xu Man's status in the Kyung Clan had gradually risen.
Although Xu Man was only a major general, the only person who could command him was Qing Zhen. Even Luo Lan was not qualified to do so.
In the early days, Xu Man was in charge of the nuclear test site. Later on, he was also in charge of taking in the bandits in the northern valley. Now, Xu Man was basically the one who handled all the troublesome and dangerous matters.
Now, the intelligence network was divided into internal and external departments. The internal department was managed by Luo Lan, while the external department was handed over to Xu Man.
Back when Qing Zhen went to Jing Mountain, he also brought Xu Man with him.
In the early years, many people had tried to bribe Xu Man, but all of them failed.
For a person like Luo Lan, he was very relieved to have Xu Man protecting Qing Zhen. At the very least, he would never have to worry about someone stabbing Qing Zhen in the back.
When he entered Ginkgo Manor, Luo Lan immediately saw Qing Zhen smiling and sizing him up.
Qing Zhen smiled and said, "You must be tired, right?"
"Yeah, I'm a little tired." Luo Lan did not mind. He pushed Qing Yi, who was next to him, up and snatched the cushion he was sitting on. Then he sat down on it himself.
Since Qing Yi addressed Qing Zhen as "Second Brother," Luo Lan would naturally be the "Big Brother."
Back when they were fighting on the streets of Stronghold 111, Luo Lan was the "Big Brother." Even though Qing Yi had become the highest-ranking military commander in the Kyung Clan, he was still in awe of this big brother.
If anyone else had snatched the cushion from him, Qing Yi would have flown into a rage.
But since Luo Lan snatched it from him, he could only obediently go to the house to get a new cushion. He also brought one back for Zhou Qi.
Luo Lan said casually, "What's your decision about that old punk, Wang Shengzhi, sending you to Stronghold 61?"
Qing Zhen smiled and said, "Since he wants me to go, I'll make the trip."
"Is there really a need for that?" Luo Lan wondered, "No matter how powerful the Wang Clan and the artificial intelligence are, can they really attack our Kyung Clan directly? Without the missile troops, let's just fight them with our automatic rifles. I don't believe they can be that fierce! "
Qing Zhen shook his head. "Things are worse than we expected. As of today, not only has Base 012 been infiltrated, but even Bases 002 and 004 have not been spared."
Luo Lan was taken aback. "All of the missile troops' bases have been destroyed?"
"Fortunately, I had Qing Yi separate the missiles from the vehicles, and the missile silos were not loaded with missiles either." Qing Zhen said, "If the enemy could not only destroy and infiltrate our bases, but also directly control our military systems, I'm afraid those missiles would have landed in Stronghold 111 by now."
Luo Lan frowned. "But …"
"No buts." Qing Zhen said calmly, "I've also made some preparations for my trip to the Central Plains this time. I won't be going there personally. Have you forgotten that I have a body double?"
When he said that, Luo Lan reflexively looked at the other party's hand. However, he did not see any scars.
This was the real Qing Zhen.
Luo Lan thought for a moment and said, "You're planning to let that clone go in your place? That doesn't seem too bad either. It'll be a little safer. Besides, that old punk, Wang Shengzhi, definitely doesn't know about the existence of a body double. "
After returning from the Sacred Mountains of the Pyro Seed, Qing Zhen had been very careful about his whereabouts. He was certain that there were no loopholes in the identity swap between his body double and his real body.
Even the artificial intelligence could not analyze any clues from the itinerary.
Luo Lan heaved a sigh of relief. He thought Qing Zhen was really going to go to the Central Plains by himself.
But at this moment, Qing Zhen suddenly said, "But there's something I need to discuss with you, Bro. You and Zhou Qi will have to go to the Central Plains as well, because I have something more important for you to do. We can only succeed in this matter. Failure is not an option. "
Luo Lan was taken aback. "What is it?"
At this moment, Qing Zhen suddenly got Xu Man, who was standing at the door, to fetch a document and hand it to Luo Lan.
Luo Lan took out the document and only took a few glances at it before looking up in shock. "Will it work?"
"It'll work," Qing Zhen said with a nod.
It was only at this moment that Luo Lan realized it was no wonder he and Zhou Qi had to make the trip personally. It turned out that in Qing Zhen's plan, going to the Central Plains was not as simple as just negotiating with Wang Shengzhi.
A plan like this could not be carried out without someone he could trust.
On the large chessboard, the artificial intelligence and Qing Zhen had been setting up their plans for a long time. Now that both sides had revealed their cards, Qing Zhen let the other party take the black stone and make the first move. Now, it was time for Qing Zhen to make his move.
Qing Zhen said, "This time, we can't use the people from the Central Plains anymore. Xu Man will lead his garrison troops and follow you."
"Alright." Luo Lan said solemnly, "If Xu Man cooperates with me, I'll be like a tiger that has grown wings. Don't worry, this plan will definitely succeed! "
Qing Zhen hesitated for a moment before saying, "You might be in danger this time, but I have no other choice."
"Mhm, I understand." Luo Lan smiled. "There's no need for such pleasantries between us."
When Zhou Qi saw this, he sighed inwardly.
In the end, Qing Zhen still decided to let his brother lead the charge. He would let Luo Lan seek death and let him enjoy the power. He really wanted to ask Luo Lan if it was worth it, but he could not bring himself to do so.
Zhou Qi even thought that although Luo Lan appeared carefree on the surface, he was actually a very meticulous person.
He did not believe that Luo Lan wouldn't have thought of what he could think of.
At this moment, Qing Zhen said loudly, "Come on out. You and my brother will make a trip."
With that, clone Qing Shen walked out from a secret door and said to Luo Lan with a smile, "It's been a pleasure working with you, Bro."
However, just as clone Qing Shen walked up to Luo Lan, he saw Luo Lan's palm slash at his neck like a knife, easily knocking him out.
Everyone present was dumbfounded by this turn of events. What was Luo Lan trying to do?
Qing Zhen sat on the pillow and frowned. "Bro, it's fine if you don't want to go to the Central Plains."
Luo Lan sneered, "Shut up. You don't have the right to speak here."
Saying that, Luo Lan helped clone Qing Shen to slowly lay him flat on the marble floor. Then he grabbed "Qing Shen's" left hand and looked at it. To his surprise, there was a scar on it.
However, Luo Lan did not mind it. He rubbed the back of "Qing Shen"'s hand a few times, and the extremely realistic scar was rubbed off!
Luo Lan then lifted up Qing Zhen's sleeves and confirmed that there were four moles on his forearm. Only then did he feel at ease.
Although Third Brother Qing was a clone and looked exactly the same as Qing Zhen, moles were melanin deposits, and they were something that could not be faked even if one wanted to.
Luo Lan had taken precautions against this earlier. Even Qing Zhen did not know that he had found an opportunity to remember the moles' locations.
Zhou Qi and Qing Yi were both stunned. It was only at this moment that they realized that the unconscious person on the floor was actually Qing Zhen!
They looked at the person who had impersonated Qing Zhen earlier and saw Third Brother Qing smile bitterly. He also consciously rubbed off the realistic concealer on the back of his hand. "Bro, how did you recognize me? Didn't I imitate him well?"
"You did, you really did." Luo Lan said, "I have to say, your acting skills are pretty good. Even I, your brother, did not recognize you."
Third Brother Qing was puzzled. "Then how did you know our identities? Could there be some kind of loophole?"
"The biggest loophole is that Qing Zhen would not let me take the risk alone." Luo Lan sneered. "Was this his plan or yours?"
"Of course it was his plan." Third Brother Qing chuckled and quickly shifted the blame. "I'm not as smart as he is."
Zhou Qi looked at Luo Lan quietly. He could not understand it. Qing Zhen and Qing Shen's acting skills were clearly flawless, so how could Luo Lan be so sure that the person sitting on the pillow was not Qing Zhen just because of such a simple reason?
'Is it just because you firmly believe that Qing Zhen will never betray you?'
Zhou Qi's emotions were a little complicated. He had just been thinking that people would always change because the world would change.
But when he turned around, he suddenly realized that no matter how the world changed, the brotherly bond between Qing Zhen and Luo Lan had never changed.
The Kyung Clan's patriarch gave up all his power just to accompany his brother in the risk?
Zhou Qi mumbled to himself, 'How childish.'
At this moment, Luo Lan looked at the unconscious Qing Zhen and said, "He's been like this since he was young. I thought he would change after becoming the Kyung Clan's patriarch, but he's still the same."
Third Brother Qing took advantage of the fact that Qing Zhen was unconscious to say to Luo Lan with a smile, "Brother, you have incredible foresight. I knew you weren't ordinary. You've always been deliberately hiding your abilities in the past. It's like this. You've seen the plan, and if you want to complete it, you'll need Zhou Qi. But if you don't go to the Central Plains, given Zhou Qi's character, he'll definitely not go. In Qing Zhen's plan, this mission has to be completed no matter what. Only by succeeding in this will there be a glimmer of hope for the future. Therefore, the two of you must go. "
Third Brother Qing continued to say with a smile, "In order to ensure your safety, Qing Zhen has made many plans, so Xu Man has to go as well. He doesn't trust anyone else. But even so, he's still unwilling to let you take the risk alone, especially because he's ordering you to take the risk. Therefore, he plans to disguise himself as me and go with you. "
"What about you?" Luo Lan frowned.
"Me?" Third Brother Qing gave it some thought and said, "He's already told me all of his subsequent plans. Qing Zhen said that if he and you don't make it back, I'll be the one to carry out the subsequent plans. When that time comes, I'll be Qing Zhen, and I'll protect the Kyung Clan on his behalf. "
Luo Lan took a look at the unconscious Qing Zhen. In this era, the chessboard was already filled with existences like extraordinary humans. Perhaps only someone like Qing Zhen would be able to influence this chessboard as an ordinary person.
Third Brother Qing stood up from the meditation cushion and said, "Since you've already seen through all of this, I'll follow you to the Central Plains. I'll negotiate with Wang Shengzhi as Qing Zhen. I think this will be much more fun than staying at Ginkgo Manor. "
Off to the side, Zhou Qi suddenly shouted, "Wait, did I say I'm going?"
Luo Lan turned to look at Zhou Qi and asked in a serious tone, "Aren't you going?"
When Zhou Qi saw how serious he was, he immediately lowered his voice. "I can go, but you'll have to pay more!"
"Pay more." Third Brother Qing said with a smile, "Qing Zhen has agreed to let you enjoy 100 years of Stronghold 89's taxes after you return. Although you won't be able to live for 100 years, your descendants can."
Zhou Qi was stunned. 100 years of taxes for an entire stronghold?
Although he still did not have the authority to govern the stronghold, this was definitely enough for him to not have to worry about food for the rest of his life. If he were to have children in the future, his children would definitely become one of the wealthiest people in the Kyung Clan.
"Alright, riches come with risks. I'll do it!" Zhou Qi said through clenched teeth.
"Did Qing Zhen say anything else? Don't leave anything out, "Luo Lan asked Third Brother Qing.
Third Brother Qing said, "He doesn't tell anyone about anything now. I'm an outsider, so what can he say to me?"
"Think about it carefully." Luo Lan raised his eyebrows. As he spoke, a golden light flickered behind him. It looked like he was about to summon a martyr spirit to beat someone up.
"Haha." Third Brother Qing laughed and said, "He did mention you to me before."
"About what?" Luo Lan was puzzled.
"He said that because of something that happened when you were young, you always felt that you owed him something." Third Brother Qing said, "But in his heart, it's actually him who owes you. If it weren't for him, you might have had your own life."
Luo Lan crouched beside Qing Zhen for a long time and did not say anything. The others also stayed silent and waited.
Qing Shen's clone suddenly asked in a serious tone, "I have a question. If it weren't for that incident, would you still treat him like this?"
After a long time, Luo Lan laughed. "As an elder brother, it's my duty to shelter my younger brother from the wind and rain."
He took one last look at Qing Zhen before saying to Qing Yi, "Take good care of your second brother. If anything happens to him, just wait and see how I'll deal with you when I get back."
With that, Luo Lan turned around and walked out of the Ginkgo Manor. Qing Yi looked at his burly and tenacious figure as he walked away.
As he strode across the dark gray marble floor, it was as though he had walked from the surface of a black lake into the light outside the door.
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