The wording on this damn thing is always so blunt and shocking. Is a deadly struggle the only option between Liangshan and Fang La? I noticed there's no mention of surrender in parentheses. That's the most despicable part; it only uses one point to connect you. If they didn't surrender, why would the heroes oppose Fang La?
I rubbed my hands together vigorously, my face full of embarrassment.
Old Liu chuckled and put his arm around my shoulder, saying, "Don't be so bitter and resentful. The mission is actually quite simple. If we study it carefully, we can always get away with it. You'd be betraying your conscience if you didn't deceive the will of Heaven. No matter how powerful it is, it's still an inanimate object. Besides, we still have plenty of time."
We're both immortals, but I much prefer listening to what Liu Laoliu has to say...
I said, "The earliest I can leave is the day after tomorrow. Since we're going to Liangshan, I won't go into Fang Zhenjiang, but I can always ask Hua Rong for some things to watch out for." I decided not to tell the Yu Cai version of Fang La and the Four Heavenly Kings yet. I really don't know how they would react if they knew I was going to incite the heroes to fight back. At the very least, it wouldn't be good for their unity with Fang Zhenjiang and Hua Rong.
Liu Laoliu nodded: "Yes, try not to tell Hua Rong the truth, otherwise he will insist on going with you as soon as he hears there is going to be a war."
I said, "I still have to keep Baozi company these next couple of days. Mulan is always accompanying her to her checkups, and the nurses at the hospital all think she's a single mother. They keep cursing men for being heartless. I bet the last time we went to see Ying Ge, the car ran out of gas was because of their curses!"
Liu Laoliu and He Tiandou were both happy.
I said with a pained expression, "Besides, this can't go on forever. I need to make sure she can contact me, right? You know, the first two months of pregnancy are a sensitive time for couples. If she suspects I'm having an affair, wouldn't I be wronged?"
Speaking of this, I suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "By the way, when I came back from Ying Ge's place, I was already receiving text messages in 2007. How do you explain that?"
The two old charlatans exchanged a surprised glance and asked in astonishment, "Is that so?"
Chapter 107 Forced to Join the Liangshan Rebels
Liu Laoliu asked, "Are you sure it's 2007?"
"Sure."
Liu Laoliu looked at He Tiandou and said, "Then what is this...?"
He Tiandou pondered for a moment and slowly said, "Isn't this how it works? After the human world's axis reversed, all the eras became parallel. So, if we replace the eras with years, months, and days, wouldn't that also work in theory? Then 2007 and 2008 would also be parallel, so the timeliness of text messages wouldn't be affected by this year span. When the distance is just right, you'll receive it."
I said, "If that's the case, then I'd be essentially in Xianyang during the Qin Dynasty, so why couldn't I receive the message?"
He Tiandou said, "How would I know? I'm just guessing."
I waved my hand and said, "Never mind then. There's one more thing. What about Qin Wuyang a year from now? If he wants to go back to the Qin Dynasty, should I stop him again?"
He Tiandou stammered, "Well...theoretically, no. You know, we've never encountered a similar situation before and lack the corresponding experience in handling it."
"...Alright then, one last question: have you finished processing your Temptation Herb?"
Upon hearing this, He Tiandou immediately became confident. He brought down a large bag from upstairs, laid it out on the table, and found it filled with small blue pills.
"Wow!" I exclaimed, leaning over the bag and frantically stirring it with my hands, like a child seeing a bag of candy: "How many are there?"
He Tiandou said smugly, "No matter how much you have, it's enough for you."
When I heard him say that, I started stuffing handfuls of stuff into my pockets. He Tiandou then said anxiously, "Hey, why are you carrying so much?"
Liu Laoliu patted his hand and said, "It's alright, let him pretend."
I grabbed another handful and said, "Exactly, are you afraid I'll embezzle it? This stuff isn't ecstasy. Do you think I can sell it for money or steal it?"
He Tiandou said helplessly, "Then arresting so many won't do any good."
"How is it useless? Liangshan alone has more than fifty of them."
He Tiandou said worriedly, "Let me remind you, when you're giving the medicine, you must be very careful to remember who took it and who didn't, otherwise, if someone has memories from three or four lifetimes, that person will definitely suffer a mental breakdown. Also, in my opinion, I don't recommend that you give the medicine to those 54 people. The medicine is prepared for Li Shishi, and those 54 heroes may not be willing to oppose Fang La..."
I waved my hand and said, "Alright, alright, are you going or am I going?"
As I stepped outside, I bumped into Baozi and Hua Mulan, who were returning from a hospital checkup. Baozi had one hand on her hip and the other around Hua Mulan's arm, her pregnant belly protruding as she slowly walked forward. I laughed and said, "Is it really that serious? It's only been two months..."
Baozi glared at me the moment she saw me, but then remembered that pregnant women shouldn't get angry, so she quickly put on an indifferent expression and pointed a finger at my nose to tell me to be careful. I hurriedly ran to her other side and carefully helped her up, smiling apologetically. We had just climbed the steps when Wu Sangui came out of the door. Seeing the three of us like this, he looked at Baozi and said, "Is your leg numb?"
Baozi realized he'd exaggerated a bit, and sheepishly shook off me and Hua Mulan, gracefully floating into the house. Hua Mulan then had a chance to ask me, "Is the matter settled?" I nodded.
Wu Sangui glanced back at Baozi and whispered to me, "I've thought about it. Could you take me with you when you go to Liangshan?"
What are you going to Liangshan for?
Wu Sangui scratched his head and said, "Let me see if I can be of any help. Maybe I can even get a chance to fight."
I laughed and said, "In a few months, when you go back, there will be plenty of battles to fight." We know that Wu Sangui is different from Qin Hui. Just like the madman who is both a literary and a martial arts madman, there are also literary traitors and Wuhan traitors. Wu Sangui is a typical Wuhan traitor.
Old Wu's expression changed as he said, "To be honest, I really don't want to go back. Even if I have to be a laborer and get beaten and scolded in my next life, I really don't want to live like that again. Xiao Qiang, remember, don't come looking for me after I leave, or I'll have to make things difficult for you twice more."
I really wanted to ask Old Wu what he would have done if he had the chance to choose again, but I didn't ask. I looked at Mulan and said, "What about you, sister? If your father didn't have to go to the battlefield in your next life, would you still want to be a soldier? Would you find someone to marry and live a peaceful life?" Mulan didn't care much about honor. She suffered so much in her past life; if she had to choose again, she would probably choose to truly be a woman. I saw envy in her eyes when she looked at Baozi; she envied that Baozi could be a mother.
Because Mulan and Wu Sangui haven't left yet, their information isn't on the task list. Wu Sangui will definitely not let him off easily, but Mulan is different. Her existence has a negligible impact on history, so I guess she's probably not on the task list. In that case, she can choose to live as an ordinary person.
To everyone's surprise, Mulan resolutely shook her head and said, "I still want to be myself, to join the army, to fight, because my country is there and needs me to protect it."
I sighed, "If only you didn't have to dress as a man, it would be great to find someone in the army, both of you get high salaries..."
"Pah!" Mulan spat at me and walked away.
I chuckled awkwardly and said to Wu Sangui, "Brother San, your matter isn't easy to handle either. It's one thing for Qing Dynasty people to go to the Song Dynasty, but the main problem is that there's no precedent for my carriage carrying people. If there's an accident, it'll be bad. Look at moon landing and cloning technology; they usually test on animals first..."
"Pah!" Wu Sangui spat at me and left.
I was still lost in my daydreams: using animals for experiments really is a great idea, especially if anyone has a purebred dog that needs identification. I could help figure out what that dog really looked like as a puppy. Didn't I read something in the newspaper the other day about someone who spent a fortune buying a half-grown Labrador, only to find out it was actually an adult dog with glasses in disguise?
That evening, I focused on comforting Baozi because we are unable to have deep physical intimacy as a couple, so she is quite suspicious of me. I feel very wronged about this, since I didn't even want any of the children.
Baozi pointed out: "A man who's been away from home for days on end during this period and whose phone is unreachable is extremely malicious and suspicious. He's being irresponsible as a husband." Baozi threatened me, "If you dare do this again, I'll abuse your son!" She patted her belly triumphantly, "He's in my belly now, I can do whatever I want with him. If you dare treat me badly, I'll watch 'Only Mother is Good in the World' every day from now on."...
In the end, I had no choice but to gamble and promise her that I would take her on a honeymoon after I finished this busy period. She knew I was busy with client matters, so she didn't ask any more questions.