"Your apprentice is also a pitiful person."
Dali Luo acted as if he hadn't heard. He grabbed the paper money and dumped it all into the fire. After it burned to ashes, he bluntly reminded him, "My master's grave is in our motherland, not here."
"Xie Ying, don't pretend in front of me. Do you think I don't know what you're trying to achieve? You're just trying to act like you're so kind and righteous."
"Actually, you're very hypocritical!"
Dali Luo found it laughable from the moment she started greeting the servants, still acting like a leader in a democratic society. Little did she know that this was a rigidly hierarchical feudal society, where social status was a major barrier between different eras.
Servants can never have anything in common with the nobility. And when the nobility shows friendliness, their friendliness is like teasing a stray cat—a fleeting pleasure.
The social classes in this society can never be changed.
Given how much nonsense she had been spouting at him, Dali Luo replied, "Xie Ying, you really are self-important."
He finished speaking and didn't want to guess what Xie Ying was trying to do anymore. Because Xie Ying had gone off-topic. She seemed rather narcissistic and just wanted to talk to herself.
"Don't think that just because you offered incense to my master, he will forgive you for killing him. You're just feeling guilty!"
Xie Lanzhi stared at him, her gaze gradually shifting from complex to indifferent. She looked away, refusing to look at Dali Luo again. She stopped talking, seemingly having given up hope as well.
The more Daliro looked at her, the stranger she seemed. What was she trying to do? If she wasn't testing him, why was she always talking about Artur and her? And why was she even showing sympathy for the real Daliro?
This is crocodile tears.
"You're the one who killed Artur."
"You're the one who caught me."
"What right do you have to say such things! How dare you speak these seemingly compassionate words to me in your current position!"
That's utter bullshit!
Dali Luo sneered, "Grand Marshal, put away your compassion."
Xie Lanzhi merely smiled gently, her eyes filled with tenderness. She seemed unaware of anger or resentment. She clearly accepted the sarcasm with remarkable magnanimity. This infuriated Dali Luo.
For some reason, he just couldn't stand Xie Ying's attitude! Utterly hypocritical!
They were all just abusing their power by taking advantage of their status as time-traveling prophets, just like him. Yet, the world was foolish enough to see her as the hope for pacifying the chaotic world.
An unpredictable individual, someone who, like him, deserves to be killed by the Heavenly Dao! How dare he dream of becoming the protagonist of this world! Utterly laughable, utterly shameless!
Absolutely disgusting!
Seeing his angry and resentful expression, Xie Lanzhi's smile widened.
"Alright, I've said what I needed to say." Xie Lanzhi suddenly seemed relieved and made peace with herself. It seemed she had also made peace with Dali Luo.
“Go back and tell your king that he may be able to beat me, but he can never defeat Si Xitong.”
"Si Xitong, she is the true protagonist of this world!"
Dali Luo remained silent. He had no intention of continuing the conversation with this woman. His body was no longer subject to divine punishment. The child had already taken his place.
Looking at Arturo again, Derrick closed his eyes one last time, seemingly in silent tribute to this hero.
Xie Lanzhi carried the empty basket and slowly walked back.
Dali Luo followed her, not taking the opportunity to escape, for he couldn't escape Xie Ying anyway! Because Xie Ying possessed the same superpower as him.
Finally, Dali Luo was sent back to the house.
Yelü Lili came out, his face showing exhaustion but also a hint of joy. He held a letter in his hand, probably containing good news.
Xie Lanzhi guessed that it must be Si Caifeng who gave birth.
She took the initiative to greet him: "Li Jun, is something good happening?"
Yelü Lili held up the letter. His once handsome face, usually clouded by the war, now brightened considerably: "I...I'm a father!"
"The Crown Princess gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, and I am now the father of two children."
"Congratulations!" Xie Lanzhi immediately clasped her hands in a fist salute. This was another great joy following the stabilization of the war in Lu.
Yelü Lili's mood, which had been shrouded in gloom, finally cleared up and the sun shone through.
He noticed Xie Lanzhi was carrying a basket containing some leftover incense. He asked, puzzled, "What's this?"
Xie Lanzhi picked up the basket: "Oh, you mean this?"
She told Li Li about taking Dali Luo to sweep his grave. Li Li didn't say anything. Instead, he gave her a strange look and said, "Marshal, have you been feeling unwell lately?"
Xie Lanzhi smiled faintly and remained silent.
Li Li was even more confused. However, he soon received an order from Xie Lanzhi to reinforce defenses on the border of Lu State. Li Li felt he had been intentionally sent away by Lü Dan; he wondered what Marshal Xie was planning.
The following day, the Hu Xiongnu envoy, accompanied by three hundred men, personally received Dali Luo. Two large ships were also used to transport the Xie and Fan soldiers from the base, along with some surviving Luochuan civilians, to the State of Lu.
Li Li was overjoyed to receive his people. Later, he learned that 30,000 Hu people who had flocked to Luochuan had died or been wounded. He was immediately plunged into grief. He was both saddened and overjoyed.
When the surviving soldiers saw that they had been safely returned to the border of Lu, they also saw Xie Lanzhi. The group of men wept bitterly.
"Marshal, we thought we'd never see you again!"
"If you don't come to rescue us soon, the base will run out of food."
"Every day we live in fear of being killed by artillery shells."
"I have an adult and a young child in my family, and I thought I... I'm so glad, thank God."
"marshal..."
Seeing that the soldiers had survived the ordeal, she ordered them to be taken back to the Xie family's headquarters for a good meal, and also sent a doctor to check on their health.
Xie Bing's treatment is evident to all. He only enjoys this treatment because he has a good leader.
Although many people have discussed Xie Lanzhi's lavish spending on logistics, many also feel that she is wasteful and may have spoiled Xie Bing into a pampered prince.
Experience has shown that only when soldiers are well-fed, clothed, and have access to medical care can their fighting capacity truly be unleashed. Everyone understands the principle that poverty prevents military service, but not everyone can put it into practice.
Xie Lanzhi escorted Dali Luo to the border, then turned and rode away on her horse.
Seeing that there were no ambushes around, the Hu Xiongnu envoy couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Xie Ying kept his word.
However, Dali Luo was suspicious and refused to board the ship, insisting that everyone inspect it before he would get on.
The Hun envoy had no choice but to send someone to investigate and then report to Dali Luo.
Dali Luo still insisted on continuing the inspection. The Hun envoy felt that the general's temper had become even more eccentric than before.
While the previous events were bloody and violent, that was a tradition among the Xiongnu. They revered primal violence to cultivate elites. The consensus among all Xiongnu people was to subdue others with force.
Now that Dilro had spoken, the sailors went back into the water to inspect the ship several more times. Dilro was still not satisfied; he had a feeling that something was wrong with the ship.
He always had a strange sense of crisis in his heart, but he couldn't explain it now. Where did this sense of crisis come from?
His intuition told him he shouldn't get on this ship.
"Check it quickly!!"
The Xiongnu envoy was already dissatisfied with being ordered around by him repeatedly. Now he's making trouble for the entire ship.
The sailors checked the area repeatedly, at least ten times. Just as they surfaced from the water, they heard the general's voice: "Did you even check it carefully?"
"Is water the only way to travel?!"
He can't swim at all, and if something happens, he won't be able to protect himself.
The sailors dived back underwater to inspect. The entire army had been waiting on the shore for almost two hours, and it was nearly afternoon. If they sailed back now, they feared they wouldn't arrive until the next day.
The water level of the Red River has been unstable recently, with frequent rapids, which is already causing concern.
The Xiongnu envoy couldn't help but remind him, "General, if you don't board the ship soon, and Xie Ying attacks back, we really won't be able to leave!"
The sailors were exhausted from being in the water. They unanimously agreed with what the messenger had said.
Dali Luo still refused to board the ship: "Are there any horses?"
"We rushed here by boat to ensure your safe return," the Hun envoy said anxiously. "There was no time to prepare horses, and traveling by land is not safe either. You would have to go around to Huayin Kingdom to get there."
Upon hearing the mention of Huayin Kingdom, Dali Luo's expression immediately changed, clearly showing deep apprehension.
He had no choice but to board the ship. The State of Lu was truly no place for a human to live. Perhaps Xie Ying could keep his word, but Yelü Lili was different.
Dali Luo immediately boarded the ship, and the Hun envoy breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that he was truly difficult to please. Even more difficult than before.
As Dali Luo stepped onto the deck, the sky suddenly became overcast, as if a downpour was imminent. Fearing that the rain would delay their journey, the Hun envoy hurriedly ordered the ship to set sail.
Two large ships had just left, one after the other.
Yelü Lili arrived with two thousand men, only to find he was too late. He stomped his foot in anger!
The soldiers around him were filled with resentment, saying, "Damn it, we're too late!"
"If Marshal Xie hadn't stopped us, we wouldn't have arrived so late."
"What does Marshal Xie's agreement have to do with us!"
"Your Highness, we should have arrived sooner."
"You insist on doing this for the Marshal's sake!"
Yelü Lili was also in a bad mood. He didn't know when he would be able to kill Dali Luo after missing this opportunity.
He clenched his fist and shouted, "Marshal Xie helped us exchange our other citizens and compatriots. For her sake, do you think I can break her agreement with Dali Luo?!"
Upon hearing this, the barbarian soldiers all lowered their heads in shame. They had been blinded by rage to utter such words, for most of them had relatives who had died in Dali Luo's massacres.
Yelü Lili also lowered his head: "Brothers, a gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years, but once you lose your conscience, it can never be undone!"
The soldiers began to reflect on their actions.
At the same time, Gongfu Ling was about to consult with Xie Lanzhi on countermeasures against the enemy. He sent people to look for Xie Lanzhi, but found that she was neither in her bedchamber nor in the military camp.
Gong Fuling immediately asked in confusion, "Where would the Marshal go at this critical juncture?"
He summoned Captain Xie to search for Xie Lanzhi. Upon hearing this, Captain Xie's expression changed drastically. Based on his understanding of the Marshal, each of his mysterious disappearances was always related to something special.
Captain Xie immediately lied and said, "Oh, the marshal is rewarding his soldiers. We Xie have this tradition within our clan."
"Compensation for soldiers?" This was the first time Gong Fuling had ever heard of such a thing. "Does that mean slaughtering pigs and sheep?"
Captain Xie said, "Yes, the Marshal always treats us brothers well, making sure we eat and drink well."
Xie Bing's treatment was obvious to all. Even he envied Xie Bing's meals. He had meat three times a day. His logistics were impeccable. It could be said that his treatment was almost the same as that of the emperor's soldiers.
The official then offered to help with the recruitment of soldiers. After thinking for a moment, Captain Xie realized that many people already knew that the official was looking for a marshal, so he had no choice but to go along with it and ask the official to go.