The Elixir is for You, The Poison is for Me

#625 - On the Reuse of Emperor Zhaozong

With Luo Changshi, this local tyrant, leading the way, the four of them traveled even more smoothly after entering Tong Tuqiu's territory. Lu Jing didn't even need to take action.

Seeing that they were about to reach Ganding County, where Tong Tuqiu was located, Qi Wenren finally couldn't hold back. During a rest stop, he pulled Lu Jing aside and lowered his voice.

"How exactly did you get those father and daughter to join us? Did you coerce them with force?"

Qi Wenren had been thinking about it all the way and still couldn't figure out what Luo Changshi and his daughter were after by following them. After all, it wasn't easy for Luo Changshi to escape Tong Tuqiu's territory and save his life.

Now that he's back, despite pulling the tiger's skin and things going smoothly so far, the danger is actually not small. Once his identity is exposed, Tong Tuqiu will definitely send people to arrest them immediately.

And even if they succeed in finding the fish swarm in the end, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with Luo Changshi and his daughter.

"Oh, this matter requires thanking Mr. Ji," Lu Jing said.

"Mr. Ji, what does it have to do with him?" Qi Wenren asked, puzzled.

"Not only are the three northwestern prefectures in chaos, but the world has long been turbulent. For ordinary people, this is certainly not a good thing, but for those with ambition, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"What do you mean? Luo Changshi also wants to contend for hegemony?" Qi Wenren suddenly felt that one should not judge a book by its cover.

Lu Jing said, "No, he has a relatively clear understanding of his own capabilities. He just wants to find a suitable person to rely on and display his lifelong learning."

"And then you introduced Mr. Ji to him?" Qi Wenren's expression became serious.

"How could I? He doesn't even know Mr. Ji," Lu Jing shook his head. "I introduced Zhao Zong to him."

"Zhao Zong, didn't he die more than forty years ago?"

"Well, pretty much, but in order to gather people's hearts, Mr. Ji revived Zhao Zong's banner. He found someone to pretend to be Zhao Zong and swindle everywhere. He even came to the three northwestern prefectures before."

"As Tong Tuqiu's chief clerk, Luo Changshi had also heard similar rumors, which saved me a lot of trouble. I promised to take him to see that Zhao Zong, and he agreed to be our guide because he was getting bored in Liangcheng."

"… … … …"

Qi Wenren didn't know what to say for a while. After a long while, he said, "Then wouldn't he become Mr. Ji's man later?"

"No, I am absolutely sure that Zhao Zong won't want him," Lu Jing said confidently.

Considering the latter's situation, Lu Jing was sure that he would obediently do whatever he was told.

On the other side, Luo Changshi didn't know that he had been dismissed by his new employer before he even met him. At this moment, he was still actively working and striving to show his abilities.

He walked over to Lu Jing and Qi Wenren and said, "We are only twenty miles away from Ganding County. If all goes well, we can reach it before sunset, but we still have to get past the gate guards to enter the city."

Seeing Luo Changshi frowning, Qi Wenren couldn't help but feel strange and asked, "Can't you trick them into letting us in like before?"

"That trick won't work here anymore," Luo Changshi said. "I was Tong Tuqiu's chief clerk for three years, and before that, I worked in Ganding. Too many people in this city have seen me. If I show my face, I'll probably be recognized before long."

"Then how do we get into the city?" Qi Wenren's brows also furrowed as he looked at Lu Jing.

As a result, he saw Lu Jing staring at Luo Changshi.

Luo Changshi knew that his first big test was coming. Previously, tricking those Shen tribesmen on the road could only be considered icing on the cake. After all, with Lu Jing's martial arts, it wouldn't be a problem to deal with those guys.

And now it was time for him to truly play a role.

Fortunately, with his understanding of Ganding County, this kind of thing shouldn't be able to stump him. After a little thought, Luo Changshi came up with a way to enter the city.

"I can find a friend to take us. He is an Aku Man."

"What is an Aku Man?"

"Most of the Shen tribesmen believe in the Fire God. Aku Man in the Shen language means someone who serves the Fire God. These people dedicate their lives to the Fire God, do not marry or have children, and are poor and destitute, but they are highly respected among the Shen tribesmen.

"They rarely speak, but whenever they speak, their words are like divine pronouncements, and no one can disobey them. Even the soldiers guarding the city gates dare not question them."

"But would such a person help us?"

Although it was called a temple, it was actually just a few small houses made of stones. Not only did it look very shabby, but it also leaked wind everywhere, and it didn't have the majesty of a temple as imagined.

And there were very few people inside, only two, one large and one small.

Although it was already winter, both of them were only wearing a single layer of clothing, barefoot, constantly kowtowing to a flame in the house.

Just from Lu Jing watching from the side, they had kowtowed at least a hundred times, and even the ground they were kowtowing on had been smoothed out, looking unusually smooth.

Luo Changshi waited until they straightened up before speaking to the older Aku Man, "Tuo Le…"

The Aku Man named Tuo Le also looked up at Luo Changshi.

Only when he was face to face with him did Lu Jing notice that Tuo Le had a knife scar on his face, extending all the way from his left eye to his lips, looking very terrifying.

Tuo Le didn't speak, just quietly waiting for Luo Changshi's next words.

And Luo Changshi didn't waste any words, going straight to the point, "I need you to do me a favor and take the four of us into the city."

Tuo Le finally spoke when he heard his words, saying in somewhat awkward Chinese, "You shouldn't have come back."

"Whether I should or shouldn't have, I'm back anyway. I'll just go in and take care of something and leave. As long as you are willing to help, we will be quick, and no one will know I've been back."

"You underestimate Tong Tuqiu too much. He hasn't been idle during the time you've been gone. He has recruited many experts during this time," Tuo Le said. "If I were you, I would turn back while it's not too late."

"We Chen people have an old saying: 'Knowing there are tigers in the mountain, one still heads for the tiger mountain,'" Luo Changshi said. "If I had been hesitant, I wouldn't have saved you back then."

Tuo Le was speechless. "You don't have to keep bringing that up. I'll help you, but you have to wait until tomorrow to enter the city."

"Why?"

"Because Tong Tuqiu's daughter is getting married today, and the city gates closed early."