Life-and-Death Struggle Begins

Green Mountain Pass, within the city, at the Marshal's Residence, the main hall in the rear courtyard remained as empty as ever.

In the silence, that deep, rumbling voice suddenly echoed, "Senior Brother, are we just going to keep waiting like this? We don't have the initiative, and unexpected changes are bound to occur."

Blinding sunlight streamed in through the doorway, illuminating the hall, and Hong Linying sat on the wide chair, his bald head reflecting the light.

"That kid is not only cautious but also slippery. In the last few times, he only gave us his feedback after verifying it through a few words from Liu Chengyong and the letters he brought. Liu Chengyong's messages were always key phrases, while the letters never mentioned cultivation methods or escape plans. He only said that if there was good wine next time, he would bring his family's secret cured meat. He's extremely careful, afraid that the letters might fall into Ji Wenhe's hands and give him leverage.

The initiative is indeed in his hands now. We gave him a method to escape last time, but he rejected it.

That was to have him enter the city again, and then I would send someone disguised as an assassin secretly sent by the Meng Kingdom to assassinate our important officials. Unexpectedly, he would run into him on the street and recognize him as Ji Wenhe's disciple. Then, he would kill Chen An and Li Yin on the street first, and then hide him in a secret chamber for a month or two. After Ji Wenhe searched for a long time and was helpless about the matter, he would give me the cultivation method, and I would secretly send him away from this place. But he resolutely disagreed, which also cut off our plan to capture him and then use coercion and inducement."

"Senior Brother, how about waiting for him to enter the city next time? I'll disguise myself as an assassin and just grab him, then find an opportunity to take him to the Secret Chamber."

"I've considered your idea, but there are some problems with doing that. After forcibly capturing him, will he cooperate? Can he give us the cultivation method? Will we have to use torture at that time? And who can guarantee that he won't harbor resentment? If he changes a few things in the cultivation method, it would be an irredeemable disaster for internal energy cultivation."

"This won't work, that won't work, it's really infuriating. I don't believe he won't tell the truth under my Tendon-Cracking Bone-Breaking Hand."

"Junior Brother, calm down. Let's wait a little longer. If it doesn't work, we'll have to do it this way." Hong Linying patted his bald head.

At this moment, they suddenly heard footsteps coming from outside. Soon, the footsteps stopped outside the door, and then a voice came from outside the door, "Marshal, Captain Liu is here to see you."

"Oh? He's here? Quickly, summon him in." Hong Linying straightened up, and after a moment of contemplation, a strange look flashed in his eyes.

Chen An and Li Yin looked at Li Yan, who was galloping away on horseback in front of them, with faces full of shame. Helplessly, they patted their mounts, "Clang, clang," "Clatter, clatter," and chased after him.

After entering the city today, Li Yan not only bought some clothes but was also quite interested in some of the things in Liu Chengyong's army. In the end, Chen An and Li Yin's horses were covered with helmets, armor, and military boots. The most unbearable thing was that there was even a large pot and a large spoon hanging on the horse's rear. Chen An covered his face in the midst of those malicious gazes in the military camp, and embarrassedly headed towards the north gate amidst the "Clang, clang" sounds.

After they entered the Military Advisor's Residence, they walked towards the inner valley amidst a burst of astonishment and sighs.

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This time, they even had to lead the horses in. As soon as they entered the valley, a Divine Sense swept over. When this Divine Sense swept over the two warhorses, it trembled suddenly and then shrank back as if it couldn't be seen.

Li Yan walked in front, and after feeling the Divine Sense retract, he couldn't help but sneer. Chen An and Li Yin followed him into the valley with their heads lowered, looking like they didn't want to get too close to him.

I'll let you scan. Every time I come back, I'll bring back more things for you to scan, Li Yan thought to himself.

Then, he turned his head back carelessly and pointed to his house, saying, "Put today's things over there."

When Chen An and Li Yin saw it, they said with a weeping face, "Young Master, your doorway is almost blocked." At this time, in front of the stone house where Li Yan lived, there were two or three wooden cabinets standing, with the doors wide open. Inside, they were filled with plows, rakes, hoes, stone mortars, and other farm tools. Next to the door, there was also a candied hawthorn stick leaning against it, with many dried candied hawthorns still stuck on it. This was after Li Yan entered the city last time and impulsively took the candied hawthorn seller and his pot back with him.

"What nonsense are you talking about? I told you to put it there, are you going to put it in the house? Then how am I supposed to sleep?" Li Yan began to look at the two of them with unkind eyes.

"Okay, we'll put it there right away." Chen An and Li Yin shivered and quickly agreed. Then, amidst a clanging sound, they unloaded a pile of things, and then Chen An and Li Yin quickly led the horses away, covering their faces.

From beginning to end, there was no movement or anyone coming out of the first stone house.

Li Yan nodded in satisfaction, then walked around the things on the ground a few times, picked up the helmet and armor, and gestured with them on his body a few times. After a while, he seemed a little dissatisfied, and casually threw them into the pile of things with a "clang," muttering a few words, and then turned and walked into the house.

After entering the house, Li Yan poured a glass of water, took a sip, and then lay down on the bed, lazily closing his eyes, looking content. In fact, at this time, his heart was already in turmoil.

It had been more than half a month since he made his last decision. Today, he went to the city to find Liu Chengyong and gave him the letter. The letter stated that he wanted to have his uncles and elders bring his family's ancestral secret cured meat to Li Yan's house during the farming season in a little over a month. At noon, he would go to get the meat first, and adding the time on the road, it would take about an hour. He asked Liu Chengyong to prepare a good wine in advance, and they would drink together in the tavern at that time. If the wine was not good, then he would take the cured meat back to enjoy it himself.

This was also the agreed-upon secret code between him and Hong Linying, meaning that "he plans to escape on the day when farming begins in a month and a half. He needs Hong Linying to find a reason to dismiss Military Advisor Ji from his side for about an hour at noon, and then he will find Liu Chengyong and take action. If everything goes smoothly, he will hand over the cultivation method to them."

After he really made this decision, his mood became tense. After returning, he lay on the bed and closed his eyes to calm the waves in his heart.

He was definitely not going to escape on his own. He was planning how to take Military Advisor Ji's life. He had been planning repeatedly for several months, but even today, the chances of success were still extremely small. Thinking of the legendary terrifying Martial Arts of Military Advisor Ji, no, it should be said Immortal Arts, he had no confidence at all. Although he had never seen Wood Spike Technique, Fireball Technique, and Wind Blade Technique, these Immortal Arts, just thinking about these names made him feel a sense of powerlessness.

But he absolutely couldn't wait for half a year or a year. At that time, before he could think of a way, Military Advisor Ji would come to find him. Facing someone who knew Immortal Arts and was already prepared to kill him, he really had no chance of winning at all. But now, if it was in a situation of surprise, perhaps there was still a possibility of surviving in death. At worst, he would just die. If he really died in front of him, it was estimated that Military Advisor Ji would not have any intention of dealing with his family anymore.

After lying on the bed for a long time, Li Yan felt that his mood had calmed down a bit. He stood up and walked towards the Water Pool outside the house. His current task was still cultivation, cultivation, and continuous cultivation.

In the passage of time, the willow catkins had reached the time of flying, and the sun was getting warmer and warmer. Hundreds of flowers were blooming in the valley, and some trees had shed their dark leaves and put on tender green branches.

Military Advisor Ji looked at the valley and stroked his forehead. The valley was really full of flowers. Li Yan had almost transplanted the wildflowers from all around the valley in patches. Now, from the Water Pool to the south to the foot of the mountain, and from the Water Pool to the north to a few feet in front of the stone house, there were colorful wildflowers everywhere. The large, small, tall, and short mixed fragrances in this spring season were so strong that they made people dizzy. Even when he was in the house, his nose was filled with various floral fragrances.

He shook his head and looked at the Water Pool in the flower bushes, where Li Yan was cultivating with a steady breath. At this time, his breath had the appearance of breaking through the early stage of Qi Condensation First Layer.

"Okay, now you can do whatever you want. If you continue to cultivate like this, it is estimated that you may be able to break through to the late or peak stage of Qi Condensation First Layer in another year. At that time, whether you reach the peak of the First Layer or not, you have to try it. Now, even using more than 30% of my spiritual power is a problem. In a year, it is estimated that I can only use 20% of my spiritual power. 20% of the spiritual power is the minimum requirement to deal with the late stage of Qi Condensation First Layer. Otherwise, if it is delayed any longer, I don't know who will be able to suppress whom." A trace of ferocity appeared on Military Advisor Ji's black, silky face.

Half an hour later, it was about Chen Shi (7:00-9:00 AM). Li Yan came out of the Water Pool, went back to the house to change into a clean Black Robe, and came to the front of the first stone house.

"Teacher, I want to go to the city today. I haven't brought last month's silver to my family yet."

"Alright, go ahead." A voice came from the house. Military Advisor Ji was used to Li Yan's behavior of going out of the valley every half month or a month. Anyway, every time he came back, his cultivation would improve for a period of time, and his spirit would also be stable for a period of time.

Li Yan bowed and planned to go back to the house to get the silver and go out, but at this time, Ji Wenhe's hesitant voice came from behind, "Disciple, after you enter the city this time, try to leave more silver for your family to use. Don't waste it all on some useless things. You bring back so many packages of things every time, but I don't see you using much of them."

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Li Yan was stunned for a moment, then smiled knowingly, turned around again and replied, "Teacher, don't worry, I won't buy a lot."

"Oh." There was a moment of silence in the house.

Before long, there was a flurry of chickens and dogs outside the valley, and Chen An and Li Yin led the horses away amidst shouts.

Time passed little by little. At noon, inside the Military Advisor's Residence, "Sir, someone from the city has come to find you. Marshal Hong needs you to go over, saying that he has important matters to discuss."

"Oh, it's noon already, what important matter is there?" Ji Wenhe was meditating in the house. Since returning from the Great Green Mountains half a year ago, he had changed from going to the army once every few days to going only once every ten days or even half a month. He usually meditated in the valley. He had just entered the city two days ago to discuss the military defense of the Meng Kingdom, so why did he have to go again today? Could it be that something big had happened? Although he didn't want to go, he still had to rely on this place, so he really couldn't ignore it.

Thinking of this, Military Advisor Ji stood up and walked out.

Li Yan looked at the sun, then smiled at Li Yu and Li Shan, who were at the same table. Today, there were only the three of them at the table, and he didn't call anyone else. Chen An and Li Yin were at a separate table not far away.

"Li Yu, in the past half year, I've seen that your cooking skills have really improved a lot. Now you've gone from being a helper to a cutting and matching cook. I was originally hoping to eat the dishes you cooked, haha."

Li Yu's face turned red and he said, "Brother Yan, I'm still a long way from being a cooking cook. Well, I estimate that in another year or so, I may be able to start learning. At that time, I'll make whatever you want to eat."

"Alright, I'll definitely come eat then, Yan-ge." As he said this, a hint of almost imperceptible loneliness flickered across Li Yan's face.

Li Yu and Li Shan didn't notice this subtle change in him; half their attention was focused on dealing with the delicious food on the table. Every time Li Yan came to town, he always treated them to a good meal, which made them extremely happy.

Li Yan paused only slightly, then smiled at Li Shan again. "Li Shan, did you buy the belt I asked you to get for me last time?"

Li Shan, his mouth full, looked up and smiled, saying vaguely, "Got it, got it, it's right here." As he spoke, he reached into his chest and pulled out a belt, handing it to Li Yan.

Li Yan reached out and took it. It was a purple belt, about the width of a palm. He stood up with some delight, unfastened his own black belt, and put on the purple one. Paired with his Black Robe, it really gave him an air of handsome elegance.

Chen An and Li Yin glanced over here, then lowered their heads to continue drinking. They were utterly speechless at this Young Master's shopping addiction. When he had an episode, he had to buy everything, but he wouldn't use most of it.

Li Yan hesitated for a moment, then handed the original black belt in his hand to Li Shan, saying, "Li Shan, give this and the silver I gave you earlier to the uncle who goes to town next time, and have them take it to my parents." As he said the last part, his tone became somewhat subdued.

Li Shan and Li Yu looked up at each other, feeling that Li Yan seemed a little off today.