Gu De had spoken with complete sincerity.
Even Captain, a man so seasoned he seemed to have become a spirit, couldn't detect a trace of falsehood in his words. But past experience told him that when it came to Literary Scholars, you could only take their words with a grain of salt—even if the owner of that mouth was dead. You could never trust them completely! Captain made no comment on Gu De's words and tucked the letters into his robe. "If your dean had even a third of your cunning, he wouldn't have died there..."
That dean had been far too upright.
In his view, nothing in this world mattered more than one's own life—especially not a mere academy. Burning oneself alive along with the academy had been a foolish choice beyond measure. But the man was dead, and the dead deserved respect. Captain didn't want to keep criticizing this old friend, as wooden as ever, despite their age difference. "For your dean's sake, I'll spare your life. Don't try any tricks."
Gu De cupped his hands in thanks. "Many thanks, Captain."
"Don't thank me just yet. If I find something to hold against you, sooner or later I'll still send you to join your dean."
Captain ordered his men to verify whether Gu De's words were true.
"...The more than two hundred people he brought with him really are ordinary people?"
"They are ordinary people, but more than half know a few moves. They've trained in martial arts." According to the report from his subordinate, the two hundred were no match for Low-Tier Gongshi, but they were warriors who had been on battlefields and seen blood. Each had a cold Killing Intent in his eyes.
That made perfect sense.
As far as Captain knew, Gu De was one