Chapter 732: He Who Strikes, Heals |
Seeing the change in his expression, a commander asked, "What?"
Jin Jue's hands trembled, and he said discontentedly, "Meng Shan Min should not have left Luo Zhao behind. The Yan Kingdom's forces haven't fully retreated yet, and Wu Gun Lin dared to make a move. Could it be that Wu Gun Lin is helping Meng Shan Min finish his task?"
A commander said, "Does the Minister of Military Affairs think Wu Gun Lin has returned to the Yan Kingdom's side? That's impossible! Wu Gun Lin killed many people and commoners in the Yan Kingdom. He has committed too many transgressions. He knows that as soon as the situation in the Yan Kingdom stabilizes, he won't survive in the Yan Kingdom. The Yan Kingdom will settle accounts with him sooner or later."
Jin Jue: "Meng Shan Min could threaten him and order him to carry out tasks for him."
Another commander replied, "The Minister of Military Affairs himself said that Meng Shan Min would not forgive him. And only we are his salvation. Moreover, our cultivators are with him. He wouldn't dare go against the Minister of Military Affairs. That would be courting death."
Hearing this, Jin Jue also found contradictions. But then, what was this devil up to? Therefore, he resolutely stated, "Contact the three sects immediately. Let them find out clearly what's happening. If he dared to rebel against our plans, then let them kill him at once!"
By the time the news reached the sects, they had already crossed the river. Wu Gun Lin was already in the territory of the Song Kingdom.
Naturally, pressure descended upon them. And Wu Gun Lin was stopped. He was led aside.
Cao Yong Yu from the River Valley, Xiang Tian Guang from the Unsurpassed Palace, and Qi Bi San from the Heavenly Maiden Doctrine stood before Wu Gun Lin. Hui Qing Ping was also there.
Everyone felt uneasy at his words. Not only Hui Qing Ping, but the others also felt uncomfortable.
Of course, Hui Qing Ping had become a sacrifice. And the Unsurpassed Palace and the River Valley had agreed to compromise with the Heavenly Maiden Doctrine. They would grant them more territory in the Song Kingdom.
There was nothing to be done; Wu Gun Lin had latched onto Hui Qing Ping. And for him, it was unacceptable for the Heavenly Maiden Doctrine to make such a sacrifice for nothing.
Hui Qing Ping snapped, displeased, "Shut your stinking mouth!"
"Wife, there's no need to be so modest. You'll get used to it." Wu Gun Lin said, and winked at her.
Hui Qing Ping understood what he was referring to. She didn't know if the others knew about it. It made her wish the ground would swallow her whole. Some things truly couldn't be spoken aloud. For whenever Wu Gun Lin felt the urge, he would immediately come to her.
If she refused, he would immediately start shouting and threaten to go to the three sects. To ask them to mediate. He would say they weren't fulfilling their duties.
She had seen shameless people, but never one to this extent. However, in this matter, Hui Qing Ping was no match for him, so she had no choice but to constantly give in to him!
Wu Gun Lin gave her a satisfied look and dismounted from his horse: "Gentlemen, what's the matter?"
"You ask what happened?" Cao Yong Yu asked in a cold tone. And in accordance with Jin Jue's suspicions, he began to question him.
Learning what they wanted, Wu Gun Lin pointed to his own nose and said, "What does this mean? Didn't Jin Jue order me to attack Luo Zhao after he crossed the river? You all know this too. Otherwise, why did you cross the river with me? You said nothing before, but now you're questioning me. And who am I to ask?"
Xiang Tian Guang: "Only Luo Zhao has crossed with all his forces now. But the Yan Kingdom's forces haven't fully retreated yet. And you, at great risk, are preparing to attack..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wu Gun Lin interrupted him: "I'm speaking, and you don't comprehend?
Jin Jue said earlier that if Luo Zhao crossed the river with all his forces, he was to be attacked. No? The Yan Kingdom's forces haven't withdrawn yet, and I'm risking my life to act. Is that not true? Gentlemen, according to the news, the Song Kingdom's forces will soon receive provisions. We must pursue them. If we don't pursue them now, when will we?"
He slapped his riding crop against his chest and said, "Should we wait for news to reach Jin Jue, and then for it to come back to us from him, only then to pursue them? We were already far from Luo Zhao to begin with. If we start pursuing them too late, then once Luo Zhao's forces meet with their provisions, a battle against over two million well-fed warriors will spell our doom! Are my words clear to you? I'm merely acting according to Jin Jue's instructions. If I don't act, then I'll be seen as delaying the troops. Then wouldn't you say I'm guilty of delaying the battle?"
At his words, everyone merely exchanged glances. It seemed he was speaking logically.
Standing aside, Dan Dong Xing smiled to himself. This fellow is truly something.
Wu Gun Lin looked at Hui Qing Ping and said, "Wife, perhaps you could say something on your husband's behalf?"
She turned her head away as if not paying him any attention at all.
"She's grown cold!" Wu Gun Lin tilted his head skyward and said. Then, looking at everyone, he said, "In any case, my life is in your hands. There's no point in much talk. Perhaps I should begin the attack. No matter how many men Luo Zhao has right now, I will still crush him. As Jin Jue said. If I don't crush him, you can kill me at any moment. Satisfied?"
Everyone exchanged glances among themselves. It seemed this was the only way.
Qi Bi San said with displeasure, "You'd better stop making a fool of us."
"Hmph!" Wu Gun Lin waved his hand dismissively and approached Hui Qing Ping. He wrapped an arm around her waist. "Ping Ping, are you offended?"
Hui Qing Ping abruptly turned her head, as if bitten by a snake. And slapped his hand away. She warned, "Keep your distance from me!"
Who would have thought Wu Gun Lin would just embrace her: "We kiss every day, what is there to be shy about?" In front of everyone, he began to dally with her.
The others began to avert their gazes. They didn't want to put Hui Qing Ping in an awkward position. Everyone pretended they saw nothing.
Thwack! A sharp slap resounded, and someone fell.
Everyone looked and saw Wu Gun Lin already lying on the ground, with blood streaming from his nose and mouth.
... Everyone's eyes widened, and then they looked at Hui Qing Ping. Everyone was startled and rushed to him.
"Hui Qing Ping, have you lost your mind?" Cao Yong Yu from the River Valley stood before Hui Qing Ping and sternly asked. If Wu Gun Lin died now, how would they explain it to their masters?
Watching everyone rush to Wu Gun Lin, and then seeing them look at her as if she were a stranger, Hui Qing Ping's chest heaved continuously. Her face alternated between crimson and pale.
Fortunately, after an examination, they found that Wu Gun Lin was only stunned. Hui Qing Ping hadn't killed him.
After his Qi was regulated, Wu Gun Lin opened his eyes. He regained consciousness.
Wu Gun Lin immediately grew furious and pushed away the one who was regulating his Qi. He struggled to stand up.
Dan Dong Xing breathed a sigh of relief. This was already the third time he had been struck like this.
Wu Gun Lin staggered as he walked and, pointing at Hui Qing Ping, said, "Is this how you treat me? You are merely using me. And once you're done, you'll kill me?"
"General, don't get agitated. Let's treat you first." Xiang Tian Guang wanted to treat the gradually appearing swelling on Wu Gun Lin's face.
"Don't try to play the good guy." Wu Gun Lin pushed his hand away and, pointing at Hui Qing Ping, said, "The one who struck me, must heal me. Wouldn't that be fair? You married me, and this is how you act? Have you ever seen such a wife? You act like this now, and when you achieve your goal, if she doesn't kill me, it would be strange. Do I even have a chance to survive?"
"Ah!" Xiang Tian Guang said with a bitter smile, "General, you've overthought things. You yourself went a bit too far acting like that in front of everyone. Elder Hw... your wife couldn't tolerate it. She is already yours, why bring up this matter unnecessarily?"
"Alright, I hope I've overthought everything. So many brothers saw me fall to the ground. How can I command them now? How will they believe in my authority? I need to restore my authority. Would it be too much if my wife tended to me?" Wu Gun Lin pointed to his face and, poking at Hui Qing Ping again, said, "I don't need anyone else. You struck the blow, you heal the wound. Furthermore, from now on, a wife should act like a wife. Don't hide from me. Humbly stay by my side!"
Having been given an inch, he took a mile. Hui Qing Ping angrily said, "Do you seek death?"
"Disciple-sister!" Qi Bi San blocked her path.
Wu Gun Lin watched all this, then turned around and shouted, "Listen to my command. Halt!"
At his command, all the troops immediately began to halt.
"Is it too much to ask for my wife, and me? You yourselves saw how she treats me. If your plan is to burn the bridge once we've crossed the river, then I will die sooner or later. What then do I have to fear? I'll give you the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn. Decide for yourselves. If you don't decide, then don't play games with me. The troops will turn back, and whether to kill me or not, that's up to you!" Wu Gun Lin said, and walked away, winking at Dan Dong Xing.
Dan Dong Xing glanced at everyone, then followed him as well.
Everyone was speechless. And then they looked at Hui Qing Ping. However, they said nothing. Instead, they began to wink at Qi Bi San. They wanted her to persuade her.
"Disciple-sister!" Qi Bi San took Hui Qing Ping's hand.
Hui Qing Ping threw her hand off and sternly said, "I've already stooped to this. What more do you want? That shameless wretch. Isn't the position I'm in already enough?"
"Ah!" Qi Bi San sighed again and said, "No one wanted this, but things have already come to this point. I understand that you are resentful. But just think. Why did you agree in the first place? Wasn't it for the sake of your disciples? You yourself saw how your disciples grew up. They are like daughters to you. And with your emotional act, you will put them in an awkward position. What consequences will befall them because of your actions? You have already lost your elder's post, and things are not easy for us. If you stand firm like a mountain here, then they too will be under your strong patronage. Since you've made your decision, you must stand by it to the end. Otherwise, what was the point of all you've already endured? Listen to your disciple-sister. Though this path isn't good, I doubt this is the only way here. I don't believe a mere mortal can truly conquer you!"