Song Yuzhi's blank expression immediately disappeared, her beautiful eyes were glistening as she locked gaze with Kou Zhong's eyes. She said in heavy tone, "Although we have considerable influence toward the Zhuhua Bang, we may not necessarily be able to influence the candidates of Bangzhu election.”
"Don't lie to me,” Kou Zhong said, "If Zhuhua Bang loses the Song Clan's support today, it will collapse tomorrow. If I killed Ren Shaoming, you guys will support Gui Xiliang to be the Gang Leader. The first order of business is to delay the General Assembly of the Bamboo Forest. In this short period of time, I will rely on you to do your magic.”
Song Yuzhi said in distress, "You are too overbearing and love to force others to do your bidding.”
After looking deep into her eyes for a moment, Kou Zhong said, "I am leaving now. Miss Song, please think about it! Anytime Miss Song sends us intelligence about Ren Shaoming, we'll carry out the transaction.”
Song Yuzhi recovered her calm-demeanor completely; not letting the proximity between them, so close that they could smell each other's breath, bothered her, she looked back into his eyes and said, "Don't you still have the ‘Duke Yang's Treasure' thing to tell me about?”
Kou Zhong smiled and said, "Please tell your esteemed father, if he is willing to give his beloved daughter in marriage to me, Kou Zhong, the ‘Duke Yang's Treasure' will be my, Kou Zhong's betrothal gift to offer to him. If your esteemed father could accept Gui Xiliang as his disciple, that will be even more ideal. Yuzhi ought to understand my meaning!”
With a loud laughter he simply walked away, leaving Song Yuzhi whose thought was in a whirl.
Four mule carts were tied together. Driving the cart at the head of the train were Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling. Gui Xiliang and Xing Rong urged their horses to send them off out of the city.
The city defense was strengthened substantially, the Zhuhua Bang men joined hands with the citizens of the city, working hard together to set up fortifications.
Kou Zhong turned toward Gui Xiliang and said with a laugh, "Kid, you need to work a bit harder, and then your brother, me, will help you to attain the Bangzhu position.”
Gui Xiliang was greatly shocked, "What nonsense are you talking about?” he said.
"Nonsense?” Kou Zhong sneered, "This is more real than a piece of pearl. With me and Xiao Ling supporting you, plus the Song Clan behind you, your chance of becoming the Bangzhu is greater than anybody else's.”
Xing Rong, who was riding on the other side, was so shocked that his face turned green and his lips paled, "Are you going to kill us? How could Shao Junshi let Xiliang become the Bangzhu?” he asked.
Xu Ziling remained silent, but from his expression, it was clear that he resented Kou Zhong's remark.
Kou Zhong calmly said, "We are all brothers, how could I harm you? The fact will prove everything. Go back now!”
Lashing the whip down, he drove the mule train faster passing through the city gate and into the dusty road outside.
Kou Zhong cast a glance toward Xu Ziling. He sighed and said, "Xiao Ling, just consider it I am asking for your help, all right? Don't give me that kind of look, you made my heart feel so uneasy.”
Xu Ziling smiled wryly and said, "What did you talk about with Song Yuzhi? You made us waiting anxiously for more than half a sichen.”
"Naturally talking about the conditions of our business deal,” Kou Zhong nonchalantly replied, "But in passing I was also teasing her, to see whether she would refuse or welcome my advance with her alluring seductive appearance. Don't you think she is alluring?”
Xu Ziling let out a subdued snort and said, "I don't care how alluring she is, it's no use. Because what you are looking for is not her as a person, but her Song family's tremendous power. If you obtain the Song Clan's support, you would obtain power over half of the south. Now I am convinced that in order for you to win over the world, you will do anything, by hook or by crook.”
Kou Zhong said exasperatedly, "Xiao Ling, not again! To tell you the truth, I really have adoring thought toward her. But I realized it's just a delusion. Because she has been betrothed early on. Ay! Right now my great undertaking is just getting started, your support is very critical for me. Besides, don't you forget that if we do not expand our power, sooner or later we will be slaughtered by either your precious Princess or Li Mi.”
Xu Ziling's heart softened. He heaved a sigh, and no longer said anything.
By the time the sun set over the western hills, the jungle where Duan Yucheng and the others, along with their salt, were hidden appeared on the horizon.
The surging water of the Yangtze River outside the jungle looked spectacular under the glow of the setting sun.
Kou Zhong let out the secret signal. But after waiting for half a day, they still did not see Duan Yucheng and the others coming out of their hiding to meet them.
The two boys exchanged glances, both felt something was not right.
They jumped down the cart, untied the mules from the carts, and let them rest and eat some grass. And then side by side they walked down the hillside toward the jungle.
Kou Zhong said in a low voice, "If something is wrong, we'll flee toward the river and regroup. Do you think it could be Ren Shaoming's men?”
"I don't know!” Xu Ziling replied.
Fully alert, the two boys entered the jungle. They crept toward the place where they hid the salt, while sending their qi toward their feet and eyes, to see whether there were any traps around.
When they reached the clearing in front of the place where they hid their salt, the two boys could only stare blankly with mouth agape. Because they saw Duan Yucheng and the others, four men, were tied with their arms behind their back and the rope looped around their necks. Even their mouths were stuffed that they could not speak. And they were placed on top of the salt sacks that were piled up into a small hill.
A cold snort came from behind them.
The two boys turned around in shock, only to see Fu Junyu standing enchantingly behind the two boys. Her face was as cold as ice and snow while her pretty eyes shot incomparable hatred toward them.
A warning signal went off in their hearts.
The two boys turned their eyes toward the pile of salt again, and saw a handsome, dignified Ba Fenghan, whose entire being exuded some kind of cold blade aura, was sitting leisurely at the edge of the salt hill, and was looking at them up and down, with a hint of smile at the corner of his mouth.
The two boys' scalp went numb, while in their heart they groaned incessantly.
Any one of these two adversaries would give the two boys a very hard time to deal with, and now both of them were here and worse yet, they seemed to work together.
Acting as if he was ready to destroy them, Ba Fenghan calmly and leisurely said, "Kou Xiong, Xu Xiong are now renowned figures. Early on Zaixia [lit. under, myself (humble)] had a mind to make friends with you. It's a pity that you have provoked Junyu, so that even Zaixia is in an extremely difficult position.”
After a short pause, he went on, "If you are willing to fight one-on-one with Junyu, life or death will depend on your real skill, Zaixia can promise not to interfere. I wonder what the two brothers think?”
Kou Zhong and Xu Xiling exchanged some glances. Suddenly they roared in laughter together.
Their laughter was filled with strong fighting spirit.