Book 12 Chapter 10 - Devising Battle Plan in a Tent
One after another Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling leaped onto a big tree among a towering forest. Sweeping their gaze around, they saw all around them were long lines of torches; their escape route was completely sealed.
Xu Ziling sighed and said, "If not for the spring night's fog that makes the air wet, we could light a fire to create some chaos; perhaps we could then seize an opportunity to slip away.”
With a cold snort Ba Fenghan said, "Even if we have to fight with all our might and die, but as long as Kou Zhong and Shuni could leave safely, I have no regret.”
Severely shaken, Xu Ziling said, "If I did not hear it from Fenghan Xiong with my own ears just now, I really did not dare to believe that Fenghan Xiong is this kind of no-surrender, not-afraid-of death hero.” [Orig. honor does not allow one to glance back, viewing death as a return home.]
Smiling wryly, Ba Fenghan said, "‘Honor does not allow one to glance back', is just inflated praise, ‘viewing death as a return home' also still fall short. I simply never regretted the decision that I made. As long as things can go according to my wishes, I am happy. You, two kids, are so loyal and true to me, but I am not a despicable fellow with the heart of wolf and lungs of dog either. My wish right now is that in the future Zhong Shao will be able to kill Li Mi with his own hands to avenge us.”
Xu Ziling shook his head, "No!” he said, "I definitely won't allow Li Mi to kill you. Hey! If we can change our shape in a single shake and become two of Li Mi's men, do you think it will increase our chance of survival?”
Knitting his brows, Ba Fenghan said, "Are you thinking of grabbing two men and change into their clothes? But Wagang Army is famous for being highly organized. Under the army there's regiment. Under regiment there's battalion. Under battalion there are a number of smaller platoons. Each one has distinct line of command. Plus we may change clothes but we can't replace faces. We will only provoke jeers!”
From his bosom Xu Ziling pulled out a mask. Handing it over to Ba Fenghan, he said, "This is the handicraft, a legacy of, the number one master craftsman in the world, Mister Lu Miaozi. We change our faces first, then we'll find a way to change clothes.”
Finished speaking, he put on another mask first, and immediately turned into the scar-face hero who once battled the Four Big Bandits.
Watching that, Ba Fenghan clicked his tongue in amazement. And then with Xu Ziling's help, he also put on the mask. Changing shape in a single shake, he incarnated into a young warrior with sunken eyes, thin lips and protruding jaw.
His spirit greatly aroused, Ba Fenghan said, "Now this is different! Come! We'll cut some branches for secret projectiles first. Follow me!”
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Carrying Dong Shuni on his back, Kou Zhong ran wildly and leaped swiftly along the mountain and fields. After rushing through a forest, as he ran up to the top of a hill, he saw the Luo River flowing across in the valley ahead, and on the opposite bank were the glittering lantern lights of a big city.
Laughing aloud, Kou Zhong said, "We are here, at last!” and he halted his steps.
Reluctantly Dong Shuni left his thick and broad and warm tiger back. She looked at Kou Zhong's imposingly standing like a mountain, his eyes were gleaming as he gazed at the Yanshi City, standing tall and upright about five li across the plain. There was some kind of intimidating insufferably arrogant charisma around him. Her heart was trembling with enchantment, like a little bird relying on people she leaned into his arms and said in a low voice, "You must never tell anybody about us! If Da Jiujiu found out, he will definitely kill you.”
Kou Zhong looked down at this charming beauty, he could not help replaying what had just happened in his mind, while thinking that it would be perfect. Otherwise, if after having a physical relationship with him Dong Shuni forced him to ask her hand in marriage from Wang Shichong, what would happen would be greatly unpredictable.
Slightly angry, Dong Shuni said, "Why don't you say something? Is it because you don't like me?”
Kou Zhong felt big headache was coming; wrapping his arm around her delicate, soft, and small waist, he pulled her into his bosom, planted a deep kiss on her tender mouth and smiled and said, "What about later? Can we do what we just did later?”
Smiling enchantingly, Dong Shuni said, "It will be up to me. If I have time, I might come looking for you.”
Kou Zhong was positive that he was not her first man, because while they were doing the deed, Dong Shuni was more adept than he.
Although there was no denying that she beat Yun Yuzhen in every aspect, but just like with Yun Yuzhen, he maintained a chance-encounter mentality, and would never recklessly consider this affair as true love.
Besides, there were so many urgent and more important matters waiting for him.
As he ran all the way to this place, his mind was, for the most part, occupied by thought about Xu Ziling and Ba Fenghan's safety, while the rest was dedicated to thinking about how to exploit Wang Shichong to deal with Li Mi. Not once he thought about the moving, tender body on his back, let alone thinking about whether he would have a future with her together.
Dong Shuni yanked his hand and said, "Let's go!”
The two rushed down the hill toward Luo River.
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Li Mi was standing on top of a sloping hill. His brows were in deep frown as he looked at his subordinates setting up a vast net around their target, a two-li jungle, so tight that not even one drop could trickle through, also at the several dozen martial art masters under Fu Zhen and Fu Yan, two brothers' leadership combing the area. Yet more than half a sichen has passed, and there was still no movement.
Wang Bodang, standing to his left, ferociously said, "This is impossible. How could that baby girl's scent suddenly disappear?”
There were about a dozen high-ranking generals standing behind Li Mi; no one could answer this question.
Standing to Li Mi's right, the distressed Shen Luoyan spoke softly, "I have a feeling that something is amiss. Logically speaking, they can't fly even if they grew wings.”
Li Mi sighed and said, "There is no such thing as logically or illogically speaking. Kou and Xu, those two little thieves should have been dead dozens of times, but they are always able to run away from critical circumstances; it's really mind-boggling.”
Wang Bodang spoke heavily, "Supposing they really succeeded in bringing Dong Shuni into Yanshi, what should we do?”
Li Mi's eyes lit up with cold rays; he spoke slowly, word-by-word, "The best way is to attack Yanshi immediately, take Wang Shichong under control, make it difficult for him to return to Luoyang to oppose Dugu Clan and the King of Yue. But it will wreck our entire plan, plus during the battle with Yuwen Huaji we had suffered heavy casualties, our strength has not recovered. Therefore, it would be more appropriate for us to focus on defense and not on offense, hence we have to find another way.”
And then, turning to Shen Luoyan he said, "Luoyan has any suggestion?”
Shen Luoyan said, "Another countermeasure would be secretly sending martial art masters to infiltrate Luoyang, to instigate Dugu Feng to sweep away Wang Shichong's influence in Luoyang, so that Wang Shichong will be isolated, his support will be cut off. At that time, to take the head on Wang Shichong's neck will be as easy as feeling it in our pocket and take it out.”
Frowning, Wang Bodang said, "Wang Shichong's influence in Luoyang is deep-rooted; I am afraid it would not be easy to uproot it completely. There must be a proper arrangement.”
Li Mi said resolutely, "Whether this scheme will succeed or fail, it will only bring benefit to us without any disadvantages. The more chaotic Luoyang is, the better it will be for us. It would be best if Dugu Clan and the King fight each other until both sides suffer. That would be ideal.”
Turning to Shen Luoyan, he said, "We are racing against time. If we let Wang Shichong make the first move, his losses would be minimal. Does Luoyan understand the serious consequences?”
Shen Luoyan nodded and said, "Mi Gong may set your heart at ease. Leave this matter to Luoyan! I will not fail Mi Gong's trust.”