The complete adapted version of "A Step into the Past" (910 episodes). Original author: Huang Yi. Adapted by: frank511127

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[Event] Chang'e Flies to the Moon, First to Arrive
Volume 9, Chapter
1, Attack at the Gorge
. Xiang Shaolong and Lord Longyang rode out of the city together, surrounded by skilled guards. Since the news spread that Xiang Shaolong was
coming to Handan, the already tense atmosphere in Zhao Capital
became even more strained, like a fully drawn bowstring, making it hard to breathe. Although everyone was eager to fight and seemed confident, in reality, everyone was in danger, afraid of becoming
one of . This also shows that he had established a "lofty" reputation, which no one dared to ignore.
Lord Longyang rode closer to him and said, "Why is there no sign of your servant Long Shan?" Xiang Shaolong secretly praised
Lord Longyang for his thoughtfulness. In this critical moment of war and danger, when everyone was on guard, any nobleman, if he had a skilled guard like Teng Yi, would definitely have him protect him for twelve hours a day. So it was really illogical that
Xiang Shaolong did not take him with him when he went out .
He smiled and said, "This is my wife's first time in a big city, and she's really into shopping. It
would ."
Longyang Jun was only asking casually, not suspecting anything, and changed the subject, saying, "Li Yuan sees Brother Dong as his number one
rival , which is a real mistake. It's laughable." Xiang Shaolong asked curiously, "Why do you say that, Your Majesty?"
Longyang Jun smiled and said, "The person Ji Yanran has truly fallen for is Xiang Shaolong. Alas! Yanran herself may not
realize it , but the way she looks at Xiang Shaolong is very different from how she looks at others. At that time, she may not have known
she had fallen in love with Xiang Shaolong, but I know for sure." Xiang Shaolong thought to himself, this Longyang Jun is indeed a person with keen
observation skills . He could easily see through her from the slightest glance. He really needed to be extra vigilant
.
Longyang Jun snorted coldly, "I don't believe there's no secret agreement between Ji Yanran and Xiang Shaolong. As long as we keep a close eye on
Ji Yanran , we can eventually dig out Xiang Shaolong from her." Xiang Shaolong frowned and said, "Your Majesty, you're not planning to deal with the talented Ji
Yanran, are you?"
Longyang Jun sighed and said, "I've always considered her a confidante, so it's
only . Mr. Dong hasn't met Xiang Shaolong
yet, but he's truly an exceptional talent. His speech, insights, and magnanimity are all outstanding. If I weren't on his side, I'd be trying to recruit him, but now I
must use any means necessary to put him to death." Xiang Shaolong deliberately probed, "Although I know I have no hope of
winning over the talented Ji Yanran, I do feel that she thinks highly of me, Old Dong. Heh! Judging by Your Majesty's judgment, what does she think of me?"
"How does she view Xiang Shaolong compared to her?"
Lord Longyang nodded and said, "She certainly thinks highly of you, but the problem is that she's quite stubborn.
Xiang Shaolong has the advantage of being the first to take over, so you and Li Yuan have no choice but to give up." Xiang Shaolong laughed and said, "Things
don't seem hopeless yet. With someone as capable as you, Lord, dealing with Xiang Shaolong, his days are numbered. Then,
won't Lady Ji be able to choose another suitor?"
Lord Longyang smiled bitterly and said, "Facts have long proven that all those who underestimated Xiang Shaolong ended up in bitter defeat.
No matter how the Zhao people arrange things, I still firmly believe that Xiang Shaolong has the ability to sneak into Handan undetected. With Lü Buwei and
Xiang Shaolong's cunning, how could they allow their whereabouts to be leaked to the Qin's opposing faction? There must be a trap."
Xiang Shaolong felt a chill run down his spine, straight to his head. He increasingly realized that Lord Longyang was no ordinary person; no wonder he was
a formidable rival of Lord Xinling. Among the powerful ministers of various states present in Handan, besides the heavyweight Tian Dan, the most formidable figure
was the unassuming Lord Longyang.
However, his weakness was this: he seemed to have "fallen in love" with him, and thus poured out his heart, hoping to win his
favor. My goodness! What a chaotic and complicated situation!
At this moment, the army had left the city of Handan and was galloping along the official road towards Cangjun Valley. The autumn scenery on both sides was bleak, with bare
branches and leaves. Lord Longyang's entourage seemed to be enjoying a break in the city's outskirts.
Seeing Xiang Shaolong deep in thought, Lord Longyang knew he was pondering and processing his words, and continued with pleasure: "Xiang Shaolong has three most
important enemies: King Xiaocheng, Zhao Mu, and Guo Zong. As long as Xiang Shaolong is alive, these three will likely
find it difficult to sleep soundly."
Xiang Shaolong suddenly felt uneasy. This was the alertness of a professional soldier, requiring no real
reason. Just then, the troops were about to enter a narrow, long mountain gorge, a necessary passage through the Hidden Army Valley. Surrounded by dense, dark
rainforest , it was an ideal place for a surprise attack. Xiang Shaolong abruptly reined in his horse. Longyang Jun
, after charging forward more than ten paces, reined in his horse and turned back, asking curiously, "Sir, is there a problem?" Seeing Longyang Jun stop
abruptly also stopped.
Xiang Shaolong, gazing at the entrance to the gorge, frowned and said, "Does Xiang Shaolong also have a grudge against the Lord?"
Longyang Jun, slightly taken aback, turned his horse, following Xiang Shaolong's gaze to the gorge entrance, and shouted to his men, "Clear the way
!" Immediately, more than ten men galloped out, rushing towards the gorge entrance. Their shields remained hanging on their horses' sides; clearly, none of them
believed that enemies were hidden within the gorge.
Xiang Shaolong was also greatly puzzled. Who wanted to deal with Longyang Jun? Had he simply been overreacting and made a
huge blunder? Longyang Jun watched his men gallop into the canyon with ease, smiling slightly. "If Xiang Shaolong were to come after me, he would be
putting the cart before the horse. Besides, how would he know I would go to Cangjun Valley today?" Xiang Shaolong's unease
grew stronger. His rigorous training as a special forces soldier, coupled with his practice of the quiet recuperation method from the Mo family's supplement, and
his numerous escapes, had made him exceptionally sensitive to unusual situations. His sixth sense was sharper, and it had repeatedly helped him escape dire straits
; otherwise, he might have already perished on the streets of Xianyang. Though the autumn sun hung high in the sky, a chill filled his heart.
Longyang Jun suddenly asked, "Mr. Dong, have you thought through what I said that day?" Xiang Shaolong felt a headache
coming on and changed the subject, asking, "Why haven't your guards returned yet?" Before he finished speaking, a cry rang out, and
one of Longyang Jun's men appeared at the canyon entrance, gesturing that everything was alright.
Xiang Shaolong felt quite embarrassed, inwardly thinking that he had been overly suspicious and paranoid. Instead, Lord Longyang comforted him, saying, "
It's always good to be careful! I greatly admire Mr. Dong's caution." The horses continued towards the narrow valley.
Lord Longyang, in his "delicate" and sweet tone, asked, "Sir, have you ever considered conquering the battlefield and creating an
immortal legacy for men?"
Xiang Shaolong secretly thought how impressive this man was; he possessed a keen insight rarely seen in others, discerning that Xiang Shaolong wasn't just someone content
to spend his life tending horses, and thus changed his tune. Now only a hundred paces from the gorge's entrance, Xiang Shaolong suddenly
sensed some kind of danger, but it was only a vague, indistinct shadow. He casually replied, "I..."
Aside from raising horses, he knows nothing of military strategy. He might be able to manage with brute force, but how could he command an army and gallop across the battlefield
?
Longyang Jun chuckled, "Sir, there's no need for modesty. Just look at your well-trained and fearless men; you're clearly
a born general. Otherwise, why would Tian Dan be so wary of you?" They were now only fifty paces from the gorge entrance, and
the vanguard had already begun entering. A thought flashed through Xiang Shaolong's mind. He pulled on the reins and shouted,
"Turn around!" He finally realized the reason for his mistake.
Longyang Jun's subordinate, who had just returned to indicate that passage was safe, had immediately rushed back into the gorge after giving the signal
. This was illogical, as there were already more than ten of Longyang Jun's personal guards inside. As the advance force, they should
have been guarding both ends and the various important strategic points within the gorge, waiting for Longyang Jun to pass before withdrawing.
Otherwise, if enemies rushed out from both sides and blocked the gorge entrance, wouldn't they be trapped inside?
Xiang Shaolong wouldn't have suspected anything due to Longyang Jun's momentary lapse in attention, but because he was already on guard, he
thought that the other party's actions were to avoid being caught in the ambush between them and the enemy, which was why they hurriedly
retreated into the gorge. At this moment, Longyang Jun and his men frowned, thinking that he was being overly suspicious
. The men in front ignored his warnings and rode into the gorge on their own.
Longyang Jun politely reined in his horse and was about to speak when screams faintly came from inside the gorge. As
everyone's expression changed, countless enemies poured out of the gorge, each armed with a crossbow. With the twang of the bowstring, more than ten men in front were caught off guard
and fell headfirst from their horses. At the same time, shouts of battle arose. Ambushers rushed out from the dense forests on both sides, and in an instant,
they were surrounded by ferocious enemies. These people were all dressed in civilian clothes, and at first glance, there were at least several hundred of them. Although
Longyang Jun 's men and followers were all battle-hardened elites, they were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the power of the crossbow bolts
. Before they could even mount a resistance, they were already routed and in complete chaos.
Xiang Shaolong ducked to avoid two crossbow bolts, but his mount let out a miserable neigh and reared up. He
didn't even have time to check where the horse had been hit; he kicked off the saddle, leaped off the horse, and rushed to Longyang Jun beside him. He
grabbed Longyang Jun's waist and jumped off the horse. When they landed in the roadside grass, Longyang Jun's mount was already collapsed, riddled
with arrows. Longyang Jun was naturally the enemy's primary target. His top subordinate, Jiao Xu, and his uninjured personal guards also
dismounted and rushed to protect Longyang Jun.
As Longyang Jun tried to leap up to fight, Xiang Shaolong grabbed him and rolled him straight into the woods. Although swords clashed and
shouts of battle filled the air, the trees provided cover, and the enemy, having already fired their first volley of crossbow bolts, hadn't had time to reload
. It was the perfect opportunity to escape. A gust of wind swept towards them. Xiang Shaolong, his back against the grass, leaped up and landed heavily
on the enemy's groin. The two men screamed and were thrown aside, crashing into three more attacking enemies.
"Clang!" Xiang Shaolong's longsword was drawn, and two more men fell to the ground, splattering blood. As he leaped up, Longyang Jun,
still shaken, drew his sword and sprang up with his waist, letting out a sharp cry. His sword moved like a dragon, and two more attacking enemies immediately
stumbled to the side. Jiao Xu and the other ten or so men, fighting and retreating, reached into the woods to protect them. Seeing
enemies all around him, Xiang Shaolong knew he was in trouble. He quickly assessed the strength of the encirclement and roared,
"Follow me!" Blood Wave unleashed a flurry of sword shadows as he charged into the forest.
His swordplay was fierce, his strength astonishing, and the enemies, outnumbered, were unable to use their power in the dense woods
. He was unstoppable. "Clang!" An enemy was sent flying by his sword, and
the others who were about to pounce immediately retreated. However, this was only a fleeting moment of glory. As reinforcements arrived, countless enemies surged forward again
. Xiang Shaolong entered the Mo Clan's Mind-Guarding Technique, calmly leading Longyang Jun and the others, killing seven or eight enemies in succession, and advancing
deep into the dense forest.
Xiang Shaolong glanced at Longyang and the others during a brief respite. Now, only seven followers remained besides Jiao Xu, all
wounded and bleeding, their situation perilous. But the enemy continued to surge forward like a tide. Although Lord Longyang fought bravely, he was already
covered in blood, though he couldn't tell which had flowed from his own body and which had splattered onto his clothes from the enemy.
A burning sensation ran through his right shoulder. Xiang Shaolong roared, slashing his sword backwards into the attacker's abdomen. Then, with
a flick of his wrist, he parried a sword strike coming from the left, and taking advantage of the opening as the attacker retreated
, he launched a fierce thrust, piercing the enemy's chest. Seeing his ferocity, the enemies retreated, allowing him
to advance several feet in an instant.
"Bang!" Lord Longyang stumbled, crashing into his back, clearly having been attacked again. Lord Xiang Shaolong
shouted, "Don't mind me!" and slashed down another attacking enemy.
"Ah!" One of their men was seriously wounded and fell to the ground; the situation was extremely critical. Xiang Shaolong's Blood Wave Sword flashed like lightning
, instantly felling another enemy dead. He grabbed Long Yangjun and shouted to Jiao Xu and the others, "Follow me
!" He charged into the enemy ranks on the left, his heavy sword waves forcing the enemy to retreat.
In this bloody battle, Xiang Shaolong displayed astonishing courage. His long, deep breaths and
years rigorous special forces training made him seem like a tireless machine, moving through the enemy lines. Even in the midst of the chaos
, he didn't forget to assess the surrounding situation. Seeing a slope not far to the left, he quickly summoned Long Yangjun and the others to follow him.
With a move of "offense as defense," he unleashed a flurry of attacks. With a "clang!", the enemy's sword was reduced to half. Terrified,
he was struck by Xiang Shaolong's side kick, spitting blood as he crashed heavily into a tree behind him.
Xiang Shaolong dodged, then with a backhand strike, stabbed the enemy who had rushed up from behind in the left flank. Simultaneously, he
shifted his body, using his shoulder to slam the man to the ground, sending him sprawling in blood. He had successfully reached the edge of the slope
, the pressure lessening. Peeking down through the gap, he saw a river flowing gently below.
Overjoyed rushed back, his sword flashing, striking with unparalleled accuracy between
the eyebrows of one of the men attacking Longyang Jun, Jiao Xu, and the others. The man instantly collapsed, lifeless.
Xiang Shaolong swept his sword aside, forcing the enemy aside, and shouted, "Jump! That's the only chance to escape!
" He turned and pounced on Longyang Jun, grabbing him and rolling down the slope, crashing through countless trees and crushing countless flowers
and leaves. Jiao Xu and the other five guards dared not hesitate and followed suit, rolling down the slope.
"Splash... Splash..." Eight people fell into the river one after another, instantly staining the water red. Xiang Shaolong
, pulling Longyang Jun along, swam downstream with the swift current, quickly disappearing into the distance. The enemy, shouting battle cries, pursued them along the river.
The sound of the water ahead suddenly intensified, like a flash flood. Before Xiang Shaolong and the others could figure out what was happening, their momentum
accelerated, and suddenly they found themselves suspended in mid-air. They had reached the edge of a waterfall cliff about two zhang high, and quickly followed the waterfall...
They plunged downwards into the pool below, splashing water high. As they fell, dizzy and disoriented, the river carried them
further away . The enemy's shouts were left far behind.
When Xiang Shaolong and Lord Longyang, escorted by Zhao soldiers they had encountered along the way, returned to Handan, it was already past midnight. Although
their wounds were properly bandaged, due to blood loss and exhaustion, everyone was pale and weak; two of them
even had fevers and urgently needed treatment. Zhao Mu and Yue Cheng, having received the urgent report, waited anxiously at the city gate. Zhao Mu
had been secretly colluding with Lord Longyang, and Xiang Shaolong was his hope for ascending the throne, so
he was naturally extremely anxious. Yue Cheng, as the defender of Handan, would also be held responsible if something happened to Lord Longyang, a high-ranking official of Wei, so they were equally
concerned .
Zhao Mu and Yue Cheng rushed onto the carriage carrying Xiang Shaolong and Longyang Jun. Seeing that although their injuries were frightening, they weren't
fatal , they both breathed a sigh of relief. Longyang Jun looked at Xiang Shaolong with tender affection and said with difficulty, "If it were
n't for Mr. Dong risking his life to save me, I'm afraid I wouldn't be alive to see you both again." Xiang Shaolong smiled bitterly to himself. Longyang Jun
could be considered one of his mortal enemies, but at the time, he hadn't had time to think about that. Even if he had, he wouldn't have stood by and watched them die
. This was just as Tian Dan criticized: "A soft heart" was his greatest weakness.
Yue Cheng asked in a deep voice, "Have you seen Xiang Shaolong?" Xiang Shaolong and Longyang Jun were both taken aback. The latter frowned and
said, "It doesn't seem like Xiang Shaolong, but the situation was extremely chaotic at the time. We were busy escaping, fleeing along the river
, and had no chance to see the enemy clearly."
Yue Cheng said, "I have already sent out elite troops to block all the key roads and search the nearby mountains. I hope to have good
news to report to the lord." Judging from his tone, Longyang Jun and Xiang Shaolong knew that he was not confident. If the attacker could
sneak up to within thirty miles of the Battle of Handan undetected, he must also have the ability to withdraw the enemy. But who would want to kill Longyang Jun?
Xiang Shaolong certainly knew that he was not the one who did it.
Longyang Jun's face was somber, perhaps because of the many wounds on his body, and he had no interest in speaking. At that moment, Zhao Mu and
Yue Cheng personally escorted Longyang Jun and Xiang Shaolong back to their residence separately. Shan Rou and the Tian sisters had already received the news and
welcomed him at the gate. Yue Cheng, having been idle for a long time, took his leave.
Shan Rou complained, "I should have gone with you!" Wu Guo asked curiously, "Who did this?"
Tian Zhen and Tian Feng helped him back to the inner courtyard, their pretty eyes already red and swollen from crying. Xiang Shaolong smiled bitterly,
"Can I tell you everything in detail after I wake up?" Suddenly, he remembered
the scene of Longyang Jun's subordinate luring them into the trap at Xiakou. His body trembled violently, and he guessed who was trying to take Longyang Jun's life.
No wonder Longyang Jun's face was so ugly.
Chapter Two: Feigning Injury
While the Tian sisters and Shan Rou were frantically applying medicine and bandaging Xiang Shaolong, Xiang Shaolong had an idea and
said to Wu Guo, "Is there a way to make me look bad? I want people to think I'm too badly injured to get up?"
After Wu Guo scratched his head for a while, Shan Rou said impatiently, "Let me make you look like a dead fish, that'll scare
anyone half to death!"
Tian Zhen and Tian Feng couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle. Xiang Shaolong said, "That's not enough. It would be best if my wound looked like
it was oozing blood, and it would be even more exciting if I also had a fever." Tian Feng laughed, "Leave that to
us sisters. We just need to secretly put a hot water bottle inside the blanket."
Shan Rou and Wu Guo exchanged a glance before looking at him, both wondering what he was up to.
Xiang Shaolong said to Wu Guo, "When it's light, immediately send someone out of the city to ask my elder brother and Xiao Jun to select half of the men to come back
. Also, I need you to find someone to see me immediately." He then explained how to contact Pu Bu.
Wu Guo knew that Xiang Shaolong was planning something important, so she readily went, while the Tian sisters went to get the hot water bottle. Shan Rou
sat on the edge of the bed, and before personally applying a layer of grayish-white foundation to his fake face, she frowned and said, "Aren't you going to
tell me what you're planning to do?" Xiang Shaolong, however, was thinking about something else. He shook his head and said, "No, if someone touches my
face, their hands will be covered in powder, and everyone will know I'm faking it."
Shan Rou didn't say a word and went out. After a while, she returned carrying a cloth bag full of things. She
said coldly and angrily, "I shouldn't have bothered with you. Tell me what's going on, or I won't use
my best skills to make you pretend to be sick." Xiang Shaolong smiled bitterly and said, "Let's get it done first. Otherwise
, if the opportunity passes and someone comes to me, my brilliant plan will be ruined."
Shan Rou pouted and angrily took out seven or eight bottles of various sizes from the bag, poured out a liquid, and mixed it in
a ceramic plate. Xiang Shaolong reached out and touched her incredibly bouncy legs, saying softly, "I'm
going to kill someone! But it's not time to reveal it yet!" Shan Rou's delicate body trembled slightly as she looked at him.
Before dawn, King Xiaocheng, surrounded by his entourage, came to see him. When he saw Xiang Shaolong, whose forehead was still burning hot from the fever and
whose face looked like a dead fish, he was startled and said, "Minister Dong! They say your injury isn't
too serious, no! I must immediately send the imperial physician to treat you." This time, Xiang Shaolong was greatly startled and hurriedly said in
a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty's kindness is immense, I am extremely grateful. I was just soaked in the river and caught a cold, and
also lost too much blood. I'll be fine after resting for a few days. Besides, I have a skilled physician under my command. I'm used to
the medicine he prescribes, and if I suddenly switch to someone else, it might backfire. Oh!" The last sound was naturally a feigned cry of pain, and it even allowed King Xiaocheng to see the " blood seeping" from his shoulder and rib wounds
after the blanket slipped down .
King Xiaocheng hadn't expected his situation to be more serious than Lord Longyang's.
After a moment of stunned silence, his eyes flashed with a fierce light as he asked, "Have you seen Xiang Shaolong?" He then slapped his forehead, saying, "I was truly foolish
; I forgot you've never seen this traitor before."
Xiang Shaolong found it amusing. After a moment of silence, King Xiaocheng continued, "This entire effort was
thanks
. If you hadn't risked your life to protect Lord Longyang, he would surely be dead. How could I explain that to Anli, who had lost his manhood? This peace treaty would be impossible to achieve." Xiang Shaolong smiled bitterly to himself. He had come to Handan to kill, but by sheer coincidence, he
had ended up saving both Zhao Mu and Lord Longyang. Now, even he was starting to doubt that he was Xiang Shaolong, let alone anyone else
. He deliberately asked, "Your Majesty must have met with Lord Longyang. Did he say that Xiang Shaolong was responsible?"
King Xiaocheng shook his head and said, "Lord Longyang is only slightly better than you. He is listless and unwilling to speak. However, if it weren't for
Xiang Shaolong , who could be so capable? Only he could secretly communicate with the remaining followers hidden in Handan. Now that he has become
a lackey of the Qin people, he will naturally target the people of our five states." Judging from his tone, Xiang Shaolong still did not consider the Yan state
an ally. From this, he deduced that this foolish king had not yet yielded to the pressure from Li Yuan and Tian Dan.
Seeing that Xiang Shaolong could barely keep his eyes open, King Xiaocheng patted his burning shoulder and said, "Minister Dong, rest well.
I will send someone to bring you the holy medicine to heal your wounds." He stood up and added, "So it turns out your skills aren't limited to horse-raising
. I will make arrangements for you in the future."
After King Xiaocheng left, Xiang Shaolong truly couldn't hold on any longer and fell into a deep sleep, exhausted.
In his hazy state, he vaguely sensed a bustling crowd at his door, with people constantly coming to visit him. Wu Guo, naturally, was there,
exaggerating . In truth, he didn't need to elaborate; the pervasive smell of medicine in the room and the wounds "constantly oozing blood"
were the strongest evidence.
At noon, Pu Bu arrived. Xiang Shaolong roused himself and discussed things with him. Then a servant came to report that Zhao Ya
had come to see him, and Pu Bu hurriedly escaped through the back door. Zhao Ya moved closer to the bed and reached out to touch Xiang Shaolong's still-warm forehead
. Startled, she withdrew her hand, exclaiming, "You're sick!" Xiang Shaolong smiled, half-closing his eyes, "It's nothing! Ya'er,
I'll be fine after sleeping with you for a couple of days."
Zhao Ya sighed, "I was scared to death, and you still have the leisure to tease me? But your
eyes are still bright; you don't look sick at all." Xiang Shaolong's heart skipped a beat; he knew Zhao Ya had seen through his only
weakness .
Zhao Ya said, "The mastermind behind the attack on Lord Longyang could be Tian Dan, Li Yuan, or even Zhao Mu or Lord Xinling
, but it certainly can't be Xiang Shaolong. If I can think of it, these people will too; the one who knows best is Lord Longyang.
" Xiang Shaolong knew Zhao Ya was meticulous. He had only suspected Lord Xinling, but Zhao Ya's words immediately
shook his resolve. He naturally knew this had nothing to do with Zhao Mu, but Tian Dan and Li Yuan both had the motive to kill Lord Longyang and were both
suspects. The power struggle in Wei was primarily a contest between the King of Wei and Lord Longyang, and the
faction led by Lord Xinling. Lord Longyang was Anli's lifeblood; if anything happened to him, Anli would
certainly suspect and want him dead. The biggest beneficiaries of Wei's internal strife were naturally
the two powerful states of Qi and Chu, who desperately wanted to divide the Three Jin states. Now, everyone believed that Qin was internally unstable and unable to attend to external matters, so it was the perfect
time to expand its power.
While Xiang Shaolong was agonizing over this, Zhao Ya couldn't resist leaning forward, pressing her fragrant lips to his, gently
extending her tongue. Xiang Shaolong responded by sucking on her nimble tongue, while his hands reached out to knead her full
breasts . Zhao Ya leaned in, trembling, her body brimming with desire.
In the throes of passion, Zhao Ya abruptly pulled back, her face flushed, panting, "Seeing you're injured,
I'll let you off this time." She then glared at him, saying, "Once you're healed, you'll make me
pay for it however I want!"
Although Xiang Shaolong was burning with desire, he knew now was not the time, and sighed, "Alright, I'll
pay you back with interest then, you'd better accept it all!" Zhao Ya blushed, smiled charmingly, and gracefully departed. No sooner had she left than
Ji Yanran arrived. Upon seeing Xiang Shaolong's terrifying appearance, tears immediately welled up in her eyes. Only after learning the truth
did her sorrow turn to joy.
Xiang Shaolong, embracing the fragrant beauty, asked, "Have you ever met Longyang Jun?" Ji Yanran replied happily:
"You're really something! Nothing can be hidden from you. Sigh! I was the last to know you were injured.
When I was burning with anxiety, I had to force myself to go and check on that guy who likes to dress as a woman first, to avoid suspicion. And that's not all, when I came to see
my husband , I had to pretend to be a wild woman to pay my respects to my husband's concubine,
and be questioned by her with the look and tone of an interrogator. Husband! Please, give Yanran some justice, and give me some peace!"
Xiang Shaolong was overwhelmed with frustration. He slipped his hands inside her clothes to distract her
, and then changed the subject. "Before the attack, Lord Longyang confided in me, advising me against having any illusions about you, because the
talented Ji Yanran has fallen for neither Dong Kuang nor Li Yuan, but Xiang Shaolong, the most wanted criminal in the Six Kingdoms." Ji Yanran
trembled and writhed under his rude hands, panting as she said, "The most wanted criminal in the Six Kingdoms, Shaolong, your language is truly novel and
interesting. Hmm! No wonder Lord Longyang has been staring at me. Oh! Shaolong! Do you want to kill Yanran? Ah! If you continue
like this , I won't let you go."
Xiang Shaolong was so frightened that he immediately stopped. Who could say for sure that someone might come to check on her injuries at this moment? Ji Yanran, her face flushed, nestled against him
, panting, "Shaolong, do you know who the attackers are?" Xiang Shaolong stroked her back,
saying , "I'd like to hear your opinion, talented lady."
Ji Yanran whispered in his ear, "The prime suspect is Lord Xinling, of course. I don't believe he didn't
send someone to Handan this time to retrieve the Lu Gong Secret Records you stole. Don't even mention him; I think everyone's after the records
." Xiang Shaolong said with a troubled expression, "If the records are in Guo Zong's hands, then the marriage between Li Yuan and Guo Xiuer can definitely
be arranged ."
Ji Yanran sat up straight, proudly declaring, "If I immediately reject Li Yuan's advances, their marriage can be arranged immediately
." Xiang Shaolong suddenly understood. A stunning beauty from a prominent family like Guo Xiuer wouldn't be disliked by any man
; the only issue was the status. Guo Zong naturally wouldn't allow his daughter to be subservient to anyone, let alone become a concubine.
However, Li Yuan's difficulty lay in having to leave the position of principal wife vacant to await Ji Yanran, which was
the main reason why his marriage to Guo Xiuer had not yet been agreed upon.
Ji Yanran, recalling past events, exclaimed in surprise, "I think Xiang Lang is even more capable than Lu Gong; even Lu Ban couldn't have designed
those ." Xiang Shaolong felt ashamed. After a passionate encounter with Ji Yanran, Wu Zhuo
and his large group returned under the pretext of visiting him. After the beautiful woman reluctantly left, Wu Zhuo, Jing Jun
, Wu Guo, and Shan Rou gathered in the room to discuss matters with him. Zhao Zhi had also arrived earlier and came to see him with the others.
After they were seated, Xiang Shaolong smiled and said, "Suppose tonight Le Cheng is beheaded by a group of masked men, do
you think people will suspect who did it?" Everyone was shocked and stared at him wide-eyed. His actions were too
unexpected. The Shan Rou sisters cried out, "Ah!" Zhao Zhi reached out and tightly grasped Shan Rou's hand
, her eyes reddening with emotion.
Jing Junqi asked, "Do you two sisters-in-law have a deep-seated grudge against Le Cheng?" Xiang Shaolong sighed inwardly; Le Cheng had always
been Zhao Mu's top henchman, how could he possibly be responsible for Zhao Mu's heinous crimes? Hearing this young man
call her sister-in-law without any resentment, Zhao Zhi glanced at him happily before blushing and lowering her head. Shan Rou seemed perfectly
entitled to be called "sister-in-law," her eyes flashing coldly as she said, "The one who came to arrest my Shan family that day was none other than Le Cheng
, and he also… sigh!" She lowered her head sadly, saying, "I don't want to mention it anymore!" Then she raised her head again, gritting her teeth,
"I want to personally cut off his head."
Wu Zhuo said cautiously, "Third brother, are you really confident? Le Cheng is cunning and cowardly, and he always has a large number of skilled men with him. "
"With guards on duty and the city so tense, it's unlikely we'll succeed," Xiang Shaolong said confidently. "But
the tense atmosphere creates an opening. Only by doing what others cannot can life truly be interesting. Assassination is all about strategy. As long as we can
accurately track Le Cheng's movements, we can meticulously plan the entire operation, deciding on our advance and retreat, and
the method of assassination to avoid detection."
Wu Zhuo still hesitated, saying, "Won't this alert them and let them know I've really arrived in Handan?"
Shan Rou scoffed, "Coward!"
Wu Zhuo's expression immediately changed. This man valued honor and disgrace highly; how could he bear such a remark, especially coming from a woman?
Zhao Zhi was greatly surprised and shook Shan Rou's arm resentfully. Xiang Shaolong shouted angrily, "Don't you know I
respect ! How dare you be so disrespectful! Apologize to me right now!" Shan Rou realized she had gone too far
and chuckled, saying, "I wasn't talking about Brother Wu. I just saw Xiao Jun trembling, so I blurted out that he was a coward, which caused
Brother Wu to misunderstand."
Jing Jun's eyes widened, looking wronged. Seeing Zhao Zhi winking at him repeatedly, he had no choice but to
swallow his anger. Wu Zhuo didn't really care about her. He knew that in Shan Rou's eyes, this was a disguised
apology He shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I'm not cowardly, but I hope to prioritize things and not lose sight of the bigger picture!"
Jing Jun, out of affection for Shan Rou, quickly smoothed things over, saying, "It's just me, the little devil, who's cowardly! Brother Wu is incredibly brave and
fearless." Everyone chuckled at his exaggerated words, and the atmosphere immediately eased and became harmonious.
Xiang Shaolong analyzed, "Le Cheng is an extremely dangerous figure. He could easily wipe out our entire army. The biggest problem
is that no one can figure out whether he is still loyal to Zhao Mu, or whether he has already been won over by King Xiaocheng. More likely
, he is only loyal to himself, like a blade of grass on a wall, grazing whichever side the wind blows strongest."
After everyone had fully digested his words, he continued, "Suppose Zhao Mu were to rebel tomorrow, he would
have to reveal our relationship with him to Le Cheng today to bolster Le Cheng's confidence and avoid problems with deployment.
That would be extremely dangerous. Do you understand what I mean?" Shan Rou and her sister, Wu Guo, and Jing Jun all
frowned deeply, clearly not grasping the danger Xiang Shaolong was referring to. Only Wu Zhuo let out a long sigh and said, "Yes
! I understand why we must kill Le Cheng first. If he is a spy planted by King Xiaocheng within Zhao Mu's camp, he
will naturally immediately inform King Xiaocheng of our secrets. We would die without even knowing what happened."
Shan Rou and the others then realized. Xiang Shaolong smiled and said, "Killing Le Cheng has another great benefit." Even
Zhao Lianwuzhuo was puzzled. Xiang Shaolong calmly said, "We'll make the whole assassination operation seem ambiguous
, making it appear as if it were done by me, Xiang Shaolong, but upon closer inspection, it doesn't seem like it. Given Le Cheng's fickle nature, Zhao Mu
and King Xiaocheng will inevitably suspect each other, each thinking that the other is using me, Xiang Shaolong, as a cover.
What ?"
Everyone was impressed; who else could think of something so comprehensive? Jing Jun sighed, "The two of them are naturally
suspicious and eager for a direct confrontation." Wu Zhuo nodded, "It would be best if that foolish emperor immediately recalled
either Lian Po or Li Mu to return and protect the king. Then Zhao Mu would be forced to immediately launch a rebellion, and we
would have an opportunity to catch Zhao Mu, this big fish, in troubled waters."
Shan Rou frowned, "But the biggest problem is how to cut off Le Cheng's head?" Xiang Shaolong
smiled calmly, and just as he was about to answer, his subordinate reported that Tian Dan had arrived. Xiang Shaolong felt a chill in his heart. Now,
the person he was most worried about in Handan was Tian Dan.
Chapter Three, Dark Night Murder
: After entering the bedroom, Tian Dan, flanked by the brothers Liu Zhongxia and Liu Zhongshi, went straight to the bedside and
said warmly, "Mr. Dong, are you feeling better?" Seeing Tian Dan's imposing aura, Xiang Shaolong became even more
vigilant, not daring to utter a single wrong word. He nodded and bowed, saying, "Recently, I've been indulging in those two sisters, leading a dissolute life
, excessive drinking and womanizing. I only soaked in the river for a short while before catching a chill. Oh! Minister Tian, please sit!"
Tian Dan smiled and shook his head, saying, "I often prefer to speak standing up. Hey! Look at Brother Dong's bright eyes
, how could he be someone who indulges in excessive drinking and womanizing?" "It's because I used too much force that I'm susceptible to dampness and cold!" Xiang Shaolong knew
he couldn't fake it in front of this man, so he genuinely smiled bitterly and said, "It seems that's how it is!"
Tian Dan looked at him for a while, then said calmly, "Were the men under Brother Dong's command
trained ?" Upon hearing this, Xiang Shaolong immediately realized
that this man must have been observing when he forced his way through the city gates to compel King Xiaocheng to make a statement that day. He felt a chill in his heart, knowing that Tian Dan had become suspicious, but he acted as if nothing had happened and said, "To raise horses,
the first thing to do is to prevent others from stealing them. There are many barbarians in the south, so I train them every day to prepare for this.
"
Tian Dan pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "If Brother Dong can train the soldiers of my Great Qi to be
as fearless and elite as the men under Brother Dong's command, what is there to fear from the Qin, the tiger and wolf?" Xiang Shaolong was relieved. So Tian Dan had his eye
on this strength of his, and he secretly thought it was impressive. Xiang Shaolong's greatest strength was his ability to
apply to the Warring States period. Tian Dan immediately seized upon this strength.
After a moment of eye contact, Xiang Shaolong closed his eyes, then opened them again, looking at
Tian Dan said, "I understand. Prime Minister Tian, please give me some time." Tian Dan was surprised by his frankness and directness, but
then readily agreed, "I understand that Brother Dong is a man of loyalty and righteousness; otherwise, he wouldn't have risked his life to save
Lord Longyang . Anyone in that situation would have simply fled."
Xiang Shaolong feigned pain from his wound and shook his head, saying, "At the time, I didn't think of
anything else; I only knew to share the burden and overcome the crisis." Tian Dan's eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice, "Listen to Lord Longyang..." "
Brother Dong, you seemed to have sensed something at the time. I wonder how you were able to have such foresight?"
Xiang Shaolong felt uncomfortable under his gaze and questions, and wished he could leave quickly. Feigning
fatigue , he said casually, "Horses are mainly trained to guard against horse thieves, especially since horse thieves often ambush and attack them on the way to transport horses. Having encountered this many times,
they naturally become more sensitive. Or perhaps, having spent so much time with horses, they've picked up some of their keen senses. In fact, whenever a
major disaster strikes, or even a sudden change in weather, everything from birds and beasts to snakes and insects
behaves ."
After all, Xiang Shaolong wasn't a criminal, so he couldn't keep pressing him with questions. Tian Dan sighed, "Brother Dong
is indeed an extraordinary person. The mastermind behind this ambush must have had some bad luck to encounter Brother Dong, causing
their efforts to fail . With someone of Brother Dong's talent, King Kaolie of Chu might have misjudged him, but how could Lord Chunshen Huang Xie treat you so lightly?"
"Let him go?" Though he seemed to be flattering Xiang Shaolong, he was actually pressing him relentlessly, determined to uncover his true nature.
Xiang Shaolong inwardly cursed his unease; this man was exceptionally intelligent, and if he wasn't careful, he'd be finished. He smiled bitterly
, "Lord Chunshen probably doesn't even remember what I look like. What's the point of letting him go? I've
long since lost interest in the Chu people and no longer wish to think of them." This time, it was Tian Dan's turn to feel inwardly alarmed. Xiang Shaolong's seemingly casual
reply only made him feel that this man was unfathomable and difficult to understand. Nodding, he said, "The people of Chu are short-sighted,
seeking only immediate comfort, and repeatedly making the same mistakes. They are indeed not worth mentioning. But if Chu falls into Li Yuan's hands,
what kind of situation do you think will arise, Brother Dong?"
Xiang Shaolong snorted coldly and said with a sneer, "Li Yuan is a heartless and ungrateful man, narrow-minded, indulging in wine and women,
and relying on nepotism. What great things can he accomplish?" Tian Dan's eyes flashed with lightning-like light as he stared at Xiang
Shaolong's face, and he chuckled, "Brother Dong is indeed a discerning judge of character. How could I believe that you are merely a horse breeder!"
Xiang
Shaolong felt a chill run down his spine and coughed, saying, "Prime Minister Tian flatters me too much." Tian Dan
said solemnly, "If Brother Dong has the ambition to govern the world, he should not remain in this dying land of Zhao. He should be like a steed in its stall, his ambitions
soaring beyond a thousand miles. Brother Dong is a wise man and should understand my intentions."
Xiang Shaolong knew that he was still just trying to recruit him, so he felt relieved, slumped onto his pillow, sighed, and
remained silent. Although Tian Dan was a man of great eloquence, he was helpless against him, and Xiang Shaolong forced a bitter smile, saying, "Brother Dong, is there
something you're having trouble saying?" Xiang Shaolong pretended to be struggling, sitting up a little higher, leaning against the couch, and pondered, "
It's because of my late father's dying wish that I return to Zhao to set up a pasture. Life and death are predestined, and I don't usually care much about many things
. However, I felt an instant connection with Minister Tian, and I'm grateful for your patronage. That's why I've thought of giving it some more thought, and I hope you
can understand my predicament."
His frankness impressed Tian Dan. Realizing it was difficult to force him to give an immediate answer, Qi Feng took a deep breath and blurted out
, "The attacker must have absolutely nothing to do with Xiang Shaolong!" Xiang Shaolong was startled and feigned ignorance, asking, "What
insightful opinion ?"
Tian Dan stepped forward, patted his shoulder lightly, and smiled, "I hope one day Brother Dong will set foot in Qi territory
. I will certainly treat you with the utmost respect. Have a good rest! In a couple of days, when Brother Dong recovers, I hope to visit his
ranch." He then avoided answering Xiang Shaolong's question and simply left. Xiang Shaolong was filled with questions,
wondering what other profound plans this man had up his sleeve.
At dinner, everyone was preoccupied with the upcoming crucial assassination attempt, and the atmosphere was not
lively. Zhao Zhi ate a little and then put down his chopsticks, watching Xiang Shaolong eat heartily. Jing Jun was the only
one who seemed particularly excited, teasing Zhao Zhi, "Sister Zhi! How can you have the energy if you don't eat your fill?" Zhao Zhi whispered, "
I'm not hungry!"
Shan Rou scolded, "You're so useless! It's not like someone's here to assassinate you, yet you look so restless!"
Tian Zhen and Tian Feng came over to pour wine for everyone, but Wu Zhuo stopped them, saying, "It's not a good time to drink tonight!" Turning to Xiang Shaolong,
she laughed , "Lord Longyang sent two large jugs of wine, one medicinal wine and one tonic. Ha! I think Third Brother
is in trouble this time."
Xiang Shaolong felt a headache coming on from Lord Longyang's gratitude and concern, and could only smile bitterly. Shan Rou snorted, "Wouldn't it have been better if he
had been killed? Why did you have to risk your life to save him, only to get yourself into this mess?" Zhao Zhi said in a panic, "Elder Sister
!"
Shan Rou glared at her and said, "You're just a yes-man." Xiang Shaolong and Wu Jing could only exchange bitter smiles
. Shanrou patted her belly, stretched, and said in a gruff voice, "Don't forget me for tonight's operation.
Now, I'm going to get some sleep, so you can prepare the best of those wall-climbing gadgets for me
."
To everyone's astonishment, she did as she was told and went to her room to sleep. The Tian sisters quickly sent one of them to attend
to her. Zhao Zhi nervously said to everyone, "Gentlemen, please forgive Sister Rou, she..."
Xiang Shaolong laughed, "Don't worry, Zhizhi, no one will really blame her."
Wu Zhuo nodded, "She truly is a master assassin, knowing to rest and relax before an operation. We
should learn from her." At this moment, Wu Guo arrived with Pu Bu's partner, Liu Chao. The crowd, who had been anxiously awaiting news, were overjoyed and invited
him to sit down. After briefly expressing their feelings of parting, Liu Chao said, "After receiving Pu Bu's message, I immediately contacted several of my most reliable brothers
currently working at the Le Cheng Mansion. After some effort, we finally have some progress." Everyone
listened with great joy.
Liu Chao said, "Le Cheng is an extremely cautious man, and having committed countless evil deeds, he fears retaliation and is therefore very
secretive He is always protected by a large number of skilled warriors, and so far, none of our brothers have been able to infiltrate his inner circle
." Jing Jun asked in astonishment, "Didn't you say you had some leads?"
Liu Chao replied, "That's usually the case, but the situation in Handan City has been tense these past two days. Le Cheng has transferred a large number of his household
guards to his personal guard, so two of our brothers managed to infiltrate as well. Otherwise, we would have no
face to see Lord Xiang." Xiang Shaolong frowned. Mei said, "He seems terrified that I'll deal with him!"
Liu Chao was taken aback and said, "Lord Xiang has a deep-seated hatred for him, of course he's terrified!" This time,
Xiang Shaolong surprise, "What deep-seated hatred does he have for me?"
Liu Chao was stunned and said, "What? Lord Xiang doesn't know that Shu'er was gang-raped to death by him and Zhao Mu? Afterwards, he even
talked about it with great pride, boasting that he had freely played with Lord Xiang's woman." Xiang Shaolong was initially stunned, but then understood. He first
told Liu Chao what had happened that day, and then said, "Although Shu'er escaped a calamity, this man is cruel and cannot be allowed to live."
Wu
Zhuo asked Liu Chao, "Where will Yue Cheng be tonight?" Liu Chao replied, "These past few days, he's
been spending most of his time at the command post near the East Gate, preoccupied with city defenses. He rarely goes home; in fact, he almost wishes he did
n't have to go back to the General's Mansion."
Xiang Shaolong asked in a deep voice, "What is he afraid of?" Liu Chao said, "Lady Yue is the sister of King Xiaocheng and Zhao Ya
's elder sister. She's very powerful, and Yue Cheng is somewhat afraid of her. He has to hide his philandering from her."
Zhao Zhi said worriedly, "If he stays at the command post tonight, how will we have a chance?" Liu Chao said,
"He also has three other residences to house newly acquired women and concubines given to him by others. This man is cruel
and lewd, and loves to abuse beautiful women. He has crippled or killed countless women. Recently, a minister in Handan
offended King Xiaocheng, and Yue Cheng was in charge of confiscating his property and executing his entire clan. He secretly kept two of the minister's beautiful concubines, intending to enjoy them.
He hasn't had time to do this heinous thing these past two days, so we estimate that he will definitely sneak away tonight."
"He was indulging his lust."
Xiang Shaolong suddenly understood, finally grasping the reason for Zhu Ji's hatred and resentment towards Le Cheng. Wu Zhuo pressed Liu Chao for details about
Le Cheng , including the location of the hidden villa, the situation of his carriages and guards, and other relationships
. Liu Chao answered each question in detail. After Wu Zhuo finished questioning, he praised Liu Chao to Xiang Shaolong, saying, "Brother Liu is indeed remarkable; he has clearly been working hard
all along ."
Liu Chao humbly replied, "Since the Da Liang expedition, which of us brothers wouldn't be willing to risk our lives for Lord Xiang? In our
eyes, no hero in the world can compare to Lord Xiang." Xiang Shaolong nodded and said, "After this matter is settled,
you will all come back to Xianyang with me! We will share the good fortune from now on, so let's not stand on ceremony anymore." Liu Chao was overjoyed and thanked him.
Xiang Shaolong personally saw him off, instructing him to order his brothers mixed in with Le Cheng's guards
to find an excuse not to come along that night, before returning to his inner residence. Wu Zhuo and the others went to prepare for tonight's operation, leaving only Zhao Zhi and
the two beautiful Tian sisters behind. Xiang Shaolong calmed himself, recalling that since returning to Handan, he had only encountered
the friendly and approachable side of Yue Cheng. Although he knew it was feigned, there had never been any direct hatred. Now, of course
, everything had changed. The death of such a person would be beneficial to everyone.
What Xiang Shaolong found most objectionable about this era was the attitude of treating women as playthings and slaves. Those with power,
like Zhao Ya, ultimately depended on men for survival. Human rights should come from
the protection of relatively objective and fair laws. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but think of Li Si and Han Fei of the Legalist school. Could he try to influence them so that
the rule of law could replace the Confucianism that advocated rule by men? But upon closer reflection, as long as the monarch's power was supreme, true rule of law
would always remain a mirage, utterly unreal.
Zhao Zhi then stepped forward and took his arm, saying, "Master Dong! You look terrible, it's really worrying.
" Xiang Shaolong felt a chill in his heart; in his current state, he was certainly not suited for an assassination mission. He reached out and put his arm around Zhao Zhi's
waist , saying softly, "Zhi Zhi, you'll have to stay here tonight and wait for me to return."
Zhao Zhi was startled and said, "Ah! No! I want to stay by your side. Don't underestimate my swordsmanship, okay?
" Xiang Shaolong's hand moved down, giving her two hard slaps on her buttocks, and he said seriously, "Your skills and swordsmanship are excellent
, but you've never actually killed anyone. That's a completely different matter. Listen to me obediently, understand?"
Zhao Zhi shuddered at the thought of killing someone, and lowered her head in silence. Suddenly, Xiang Shaolong remembered a wonderful method to relax her.
He whispered in her ear, "Zhizhi, wait for me in your room. Don't wear a single piece of clothing. I'll come in
and make love to you right away, understand?" Zhao Zhi was both shy and happy. She let out a soft moan and broke free from his embrace, not daring to look at
him, and ran straight into her room. The Tian sisters stared at them blankly, seemingly understanding but not quite. Xiang Shaolong beckoned the two women forward,
embraced them tightly, and kissed and touched them, saying, "Tomorrow night it'll be your turn!"
After thoroughly touching the Tian sisters' voluptuous bodies, Xiang Shaolong went to Zhao Zhi's room. Zhao Zhi
obediently hid under the covers, only her pretty face showing, clearly already naked. Xiang Shaolong laughed heartily
, quickly stripped off all his clothes, revealing his strong physique, threw off the blankets, and plunged into Zhao Zhi's soft, fragrant
, and tender embrace, exploring her secrets.
As soon as Xiang Shaolong got into bed, he immediately found Zhao Zhi's long, slender legs, tracing their smooth skin to their base, where
her moist vulva awaited his exploration. Xiang Shaolong skillfully parted her legs, kissing her newly parted
labia, his tongue probing deep into her vagina, licking and sucking. Zhao Zhi, unable to control herself, grabbed his hair, moaning, "
Ah...ah...there...oh...no...don't...um...you...you...bullying...
me...oh..." At the same time, her legs gripped Xiang Shaolong's shoulders, tightening with each moan.
Xiang Shaolong sipped Zhao Zhi's flowing nectar, his hands reaching forward to grasp her firm breasts, teasing her
alluring nipples. Zhao Zhi was now completely aroused by Xiang Shaolong's flirtatious methods, her body weak and powerless. All she wanted was for his penis
to to unite with him in lovemaking. Her honeyed orifice gushed forth like a burst dam, overflowing Xiang Shaolong's lips and teeth
, filling his nostrils with a lustful fragrance that ignited his burning desire.
Xiang Shaolong cupped Zhao Zhi's buttocks in his hands and mounted her. Zhao Zhi's jade-like legs eagerly wrapped around his waist.
His penis plunged into her honeyed orifice with a soft "plop," thrusting and withdrawing rapidly. Zhao Zhi immediately arched her back and twisted her hips, responding to his thrusts. The sounds of their lovemaking
echoed through the small room, the candlelight flickering, until finally quieting down after an hour or so.
Around midnight, the gates of the eastern city command post opened, and a troop of about two hundred knights galloped out, forming a battle formation
. They marched down the main street, then turned left onto the fast road near the city wall, patrolling the city. Except for four lanterns at the head and tail for
illumination , the middle of the troop disappeared into darkness, making them difficult to see clearly. Two rows of forty knights each, marched in
a long line, one after another along the outer perimeter, like two movable walls protecting the five groups of knights in the middle. Each knight carried a long shield facing outwards, making it impossible for anyone to hit them
with arrows fired from the eaves or roadside . The central group was particularly large, numbering fifty, with those around them carrying tall shields, indicating the presence of important figures within. The other four groups, each about twenty men, carried long spears, useful for both charging and throwing . The autumn wind blew sharply, adding to the solemn and imposing atmosphere. The sound of hooves shattered the stillness of the night. The groups were spaced more than thirty paces apart, making it difficult unless the enemy outnumbered them tenfold. After marching about half a mile, the men and horses left the fast road along the city wall and turned right back into the city. Thick clouds hung in the sky, obscuring the stars and moon. The elite team members who had been tracking them scrambled to higher ground, using the firelight to signal their nearest comrades from a position out of the enemy's sight, indicating the location of Yue Cheng's group. Xiang Shaolong and his men, who were patiently waiting outside Yue Cheng's villa, quickly determined the route Yue Cheng was taking and made their arrangements. Xiang Shaolong and his men lay prone on the rooftops, their faces completely covered by black cloth, only their eyes visible, like a group of ghosts that only roamed in the night. Only when they saw the dim lantern light appear in the distance along the long street did their hearts finally relax. If Yue Cheng hadn't come from this direction, tonight's operation would have to be canceled. With the clatter of hooves, the prey drew nearer. Wu Zhuo, standing to the left, said, "Although Yue Cheng is licentious and wicked, he is indeed a renowned general of Zhao Just looking at this battle formation, one can tell he is truly skilled." Shan Rou, standing to the right, whispered, "Yue Cheng is mine. I want to personally cut off his dog's head." Xiang Shaolong deliberately moved closer and lightly nibbled on her earlobe before whispering, "This is a hunting ground in the city. Whoever has the greatest skill will reap the greatest reward." A cold glint flashed in Shan Rou's beautiful eyes, and she turned her head away with disdain.

Judging from his posture, yet without moving his delicate body, Xiang Shaolong felt a surge of ecstatic excitement.
At this moment, the vanguard, carrying lanterns, had reached their hiding place below and moved forward. Groups of enemies
rushed across the long street, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense. Xiang Shaolong knew the time was right. He lightly nudged Wu Zhuo, whose largest group of knights, including
Le Cheng , had just reached the center of the street.
Wu Zhuo let out a sharp whistle, breaking the rhythmic sound of hooves. The enemies were all terrified,
looking . A continuous "whoosh" sound rang out as elite troops lying in ambush on the eaves of the houses on both sides unleashed a volley of crossbow bolts, targeting the horses but not
the riders. The pitiful neighs of warhorses and the angry shouts of men echoed through the air.
Lanterns fell to the ground, warhorses leaped in surprise in the darkness, chaos reigned. Yet, the overall formation remained largely
intact , demonstrating that the Zhao army was indeed a well-trained elite force. Wu Zhuo knew the time was right and launched another bluff.
Before
attachingXiang Shaolong her climbing gear. Like a celestial warrior, she appeared above the street in the darkness.
At the same time, more than a dozen burning fireballs were thrown from both sides, vaguely illuminating the enemy's position.
The enemy, still believing the attackers were coming from both sides, were completely unaware that a horde of monstrous figures was already above them. The throwing
knives hurled by these celestial warriors were flawless in accuracy and force. By the time the enemy realized what was happening, at least half had been struck and fallen from
their horses. Their once-intact formation instantly crumbled. The horses, now without their masters, charged wildly,
creating utter chaos. Le Cheng's group, being the primary target, suffered the most severe injuries; nearly twenty of their fifty-odd men were felled, the
rest tumbling from their horses. Most of those struck were wounded in vital areas such as the face or chest. The once tranquil street had become
a scene of carnage and devastation. Xiang Shaolong and his men descended from the sky using their waist ropes. Before his feet even touched the ground, Xiang Shaolong braced himself to the left and right, striking two enemies
who hadn't had time to dismount, sending them flying to their deaths. As he landed, a wave of blood erupted
from his sword, instantly killing two of the three attacking enemies. The third was slashed from behind by Shan Rou, collapsing towards Xiang Shaolong with a scream.
Xiang Shaolong dodged, glancing around to see, amidst the red glow of the burning ground, more than ten of his personal guards protecting
the still relatively calm Le Cheng, leading him towards a nearby alleyway. The shouts of battle shook the long street as elite soldiers rushed out from both sides
, wielding giant axes, hacking down the routed enemy, leaving Le Cheng's group isolated and helpless. Xiang Shaolong exchanged a glance with
Wu Zhuo , then led four of his men to charge in. Shan Rou, like a tigress released from her cage, swiftly dispatched two men before throwing
a flying knife. Her attack, though delayed, struck first, piercing the throat of one of the men before Xiang Wu and
his companion could react.
She truly lived up to her reputation as a first-rate female assassin. Le Cheng shouted, "Attack!" Instantly, five men rushed forward to meet Xiang Wu and his group, while he himself continued to retreat.
Xiang Shaolong roared, "Le Cheng, you traitor! Let me, Xiang Shaolong, take your dog's life!"
Le Cheng, now back at the alley entrance, felt confident and sneered, "Come on then!" Shan Rou swept past
Xiang Shaolong , her sword flashing, and met the enemy first. Xiang Wu and the others, fearing for her safety, rushed forward to attack.
A flurry of swords and blades filled the air, a palpable sense of killing intent. These men were Le Cheng's best swordsmen, barely managing to hold them off.
Just as Le Cheng was about to turn and flee into the alley, those covering him fell, riddled with arrows. Jing Jun led several men
down , forcing Le Cheng and his men to retreat hastily back into the street. Those ahead could no longer hold out, collapsing to the ground, blood splattering everywhere. Helpless,
Le Cheng shouted, "Follow me!" The remaining six followed him towards Xiang Shaolong and the others.
Le Cheng let out a sharp cry, his sword flashing out faster than lightning, exchanging three blows with Xiang Shaolong in the blink of an eye. His
hearing couldn't keep up with Xiang Shaolong's, and with the final strike, he couldn't withstand the impact and was forced back three steps. Jing Jun, having
cleared the path of enemies, performed a somersault, landing with both feet before he landed, landing with a resounding thud against Le Cheng
's back. Le Cheng staggered forward, his helmet falling to the ground. A flash of sword light, and Shan Rou, who had just slain an enemy
, appeared out of nowhere, appearing before Xiang
Shaolong
. With a sharp cry, Le Cheng's head fell to the ground, his body severed from his body, a gruesome death on the spot. Wu Zhuo picked up the severed head and gave the order to retreat. The long ropes spanning the street were also quickly retrieved, leaving
no trace. The entire operation, which took less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of hot tea, thoroughly demonstrated the high efficiency and
explosive power of the special forces. Amidst the raging flames, the ground was littered with corpses and Zhao soldiers groaning in pools of blood.
(To be continued)
Chapter Four: The Position of City Guardian
Zhao Mu came to find Xiang Shaolong early in the morning, his eyes bloodshot and his gaze unsteady, clearly disoriented.
Xiang Shaolong, however, was still half asleep, struggling to sit up, wrapped in the covers, and asked, "Why does Your Excellency look
even worse than I do?" Zhao Mu sat on the edge of the bed, scrutinizing him for a while before asking in a deep voice, "
How are ?"
Xiang Shaolong tried to move his arms with difficulty, striking a tough pose, and groaned, "Actually,
it's just flesh wounds, but I caught a cold, and after lying down for a day and a night, I'm much better." Zhao Mu didn't doubt him; in fact,
among those who had survived the operation, none were able to get out of bed yet, so it would be strange if Xiang Shaolong were full of energy
.
Zhao Mu sighed, "Yue Cheng was attacked last night!" Xiang Shaolong gasped,
"What?!"
Seeing Xiang Shaolong's wide eyes, Zhao Mu sighed again, "Yue Cheng was attacked on his way back to his residence last night.
His off, and over two hundred of his guards were either killed or wounded. Alas!" Xiang Shaolong asked in horror, "Is that Xiang Shaolong really that
powerful?"
Zhao Mu sneered, "When the incident happened, people in the nearby houses did hear someone claiming to be Xiang Shaolong, but these people
were all masked, so no one could see their faces. Afterwards, the search party discovered that a group of city soldiers in the east of the city had also been killed
, leaving only some ropes for scaling the city walls." "But there are no footprints outside the city walls." Xiang Shaolong, "spirited," said, "
Then Xiang Shaolong must still be hiding inside the city. Why don't you hurry up and dig him out, Lord Marquis?"
Zhao Mu retorted angrily, "Do I need you to tell me? The entire city of Handan has been turned upside down. Unless Xiang Shaolong and
his men have become rats that can dig holes, they will definitely show themselves. But we can't even find a trace of him.
Can you tell me what's going on?" He was clearly in a bad mood, having lost the respect and
courtesy . Xiang Shaolong found it amusing, pretending to be deep in thought, and after a while, he said, "Who has taken up the position of city guard?
"
Zhao Mu said dejectedly, "For now, it should be Cheng Xu!" Xiang Shaolong's expression changed, "This matter is quite bad."
Zhao Mu said, "You understand. With Le Cheng dead, the biggest beneficiary is King Xiaocheng.
What ? If Xiang Shaolong wants to kill, when will it be Le Cheng's turn? King Xiaocheng's move is indeed ruthless, and it's hard to say..."
"It must have been that bitch Zhao Ya who taught him. If Xiang Shaolong could come and go as he pleased, I and Prince Xiaocheng would be dead long ago." Xiang Shaolong
gritted his teeth said, "Strike first, then strike. If you, Marquis, could use Queen Jing to poison him, wouldn't you be able to solve all the problems at once?
"
Zhao Mu smiled bitterly, "Do you think Queen Jing is my subordinate? She wouldn't be stupid enough to directly participate in the assassination
. But if I could kill that tyrant Prince Xiaocheng, I would have a way to manipulate her. Alas! What should I do now
?" Xiang Shaolong was overjoyed, finally understanding the relationship between this traitor and Queen Jing. It seemed they were just
using .
Seeing Xiang Shaolong remain silent, Zhao Mu assumed he was plotting something for him. He let out a long sigh and said, "
Some things can't be rushed. Fortunately, I still have your secret force, so we haven't suffered a complete defeat. But without
Yue Cheng, our strength is greatly diminished, and Tian Dan will certainly not treat me as warmly as before." He stood up and said, "Let's
recover from our injuries first! I need to see the others to reassure them. Try to find out
more and see what Prince Xiaocheng is up to."
Xiang Shaolong said, "My lord, be careful someone might betray us. People's hearts are unpredictable, it's hard to say!" Zhao Mu said irritably
, "How could I not know that? I'll only come to you if I need anything later."
After Zhao Mu left, Xiang Shaolong lay on the couch, his thoughts churning. When the Tian sisters came to help him wash and change, Shanrou,
radiant with joy, skipped in like a little girl, smiling as she came up behind him. She lightly
bumped his shoulder against hers and said triumphantly, "Who killed the biggest tiger?" Xiang Shaolong chuckled, "
Of course, it was the other tigress. I, Dong, concede defeat." He reached back and pulled her close, providing
intense stimulation.
Shanrou was in high spirits, letting him flirt with her, and said with surprising gentleness, "We only injured a dozen or so people, truly a rare
and unbelievable event. No one would believe it if I told them. Why don't we just do it all to Tian Dan? Then you
can make them do whatever you want, like those two sisters." The Tian sisters immediately blushed. Xiang Shaolong felt a headache coming on and changed
the subject, saying, "Where did your sweet little sister go?"
Shanrou broke free from his embrace and scolded, "Don't beat around the bush! What kind of man are you?"
Tian Zhen, who was combing his hair, said softly, "Zhi Madam went outside to gather information. Ouch!" Of course, she had been pinched by Shanrou
.
Xiang Shaolong turned around, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "I, Old Dong, have never seen such a domineering woman before.
Let me use my skills in taming wild horses to deal with you!" Shanrou puffed out her breasts and came in front of him, her almond eyes wide open, saying
, "You dare!"
Tian Zhen and Tian Feng knew he was up to his old tricks again and both peeked at him with smiles. Xiang Shaolong reached out his large hand
and pinched , but pulled it back before she could brush it away, laughing, "Sister has improved a lot, just using her hands without drawing her knife.
" Shanrou chuckled, rolled her eyes at him, looking both charming and adorable. Xiang Shaolong was overcome with lust and
wanted to embrace her, but Shan Rou slipped away. At the door, she turned back and giggled, "You're not quite good enough
to make this young lady's heart flutter. Go home and learn some more kung fu!" She laughed and left, her silvery laughter
echoing like the wind.
Xiang Shaolong was seething with anger when Tian Feng said with a smile, "Madam Rou is actually head over heels for Master Dong. She always
talks about you with us." Xiang Shaolong put his arms around the two women's waists and said softly, "And you two?"
The two women lowered their heads shyly. Looking at the two women, similar in appearance but different in their allure, Xiang Shaolong's lust, aroused by Shan Rou,
transformed into primal desire. He thought to himself, "Handan is in chaos today. Those who came to check on my injuries all arrived yesterday.
I can steal half a day of leisure. Why not have some fun with these two beauties? It wouldn't be a waste of this moment." With a thought and a touch, the room
was spring. The favor the two women had been eagerly awaiting finally descended upon them during this beautiful time.
The Tian sisters, Tian Zhen and Tian Feng, were being caressed relentlessly by Xiang Shaolong's devilish hands as they explored their clothes. Their hair was disheveled, and they were panting heavily. They
impatiently quickly undressed, and in the blink of an eye, their exquisitely beautiful bodies clung to Xiang Shaolong's
. Their small hands busily removed all of his clothes, revealing
the robust . Two beauties helped Xiang Shaolong to the bed, allowing him to lie comfortably sprawled out. Tian Feng
then slid down to Xiang Shaolong's lower body, her slender hands grasping his penis and testicles, stroking them. Her lips parted slightly, her tongue dancing like a lotus flower
, as she took his penis into her mouth, sucking and entwining it. Tian Zhen lay on top of him, her full breasts rubbing and sliding against his chest,
her nipples like two cherries constantly grinding against him. Her tongue flicked out, licking his strong chest muscles, leaving behind fragrant saliva. Her sparse hair and honeyed
orifice rubbed against his bulging arms, glistening with drops of lustful fluid. Her jade hands caressed every sensitive spot on Xiang Shaolong's body.
The two beauties' hands moved over him, and Xiang Shaolong felt as if he had ascended to a paradise of bliss, his soul captivated by their beauty, losing all sense of time .
Xiang Shaolong's hands were not idle either. One hand explored and teased Tian Zhen's anus, while the other
kneaded and grasped Tian Feng's breasts. Holding her warm, soft body in his arms, he was utterly intoxicated! The two sisters, their cherry-like mouths unable to utter a sound,
let out soft moans and groans. Their bodies writhed and slicked like snakes and eels, their inner thighs already glistening with lustful fluids, eagerly awaiting
Xiang Shaolong 's favor.
Tian Feng felt the dragon's penis in her mouth burning hot and swelling like a branding iron, almost reaching deep into her throat, making her whole body go limp.
She saw Tian Zhen's buttocks swaying beside her, her honeyed orifice slightly open, her labia already glistening with dew. He released his grip , letting the dragon's penis stand erect and proud. He then
casually pulled Tian Zhenjiao over and made her straddle Xiang Shaolong. He grasped the dragon's penis with his jade hand
and thrust it into Tian Zhen's honey hole. Love juices splashed everywhere. Xiang Shaolong and Tian Zhenjiao responded with thrusting and stroking. Tian Zhenjiao could no longer control herself and cried out in a wanton voice
: "Ah...ah...Little Zhen...oh...Xiang...Master Xiang...ah...Little...Little Zhen...I'm going to...
I'm going to die...ah...ah..."
Tian Fengjiao lay between Xiang Shaolong's legs. The thick and hard dragon's penis appeared and disappeared rapidly between Tian Zhen's crotch.
The overwhelming pleasure from Tian Zhenjiao surged within her body, making her feel aroused. She kept stroking her own honey hole, which was overflowing with lustful juices
. With a swift movement, Xiang Shaolong pulled Tian Feng up and straddled her. He pressed his large mouth against her honeyed vulva, sucking hard. His mouth was filled with tender flesh and love juice
, the air thick with a sensual, fishy fragrance. Caught off guard, Tian Feng cried out wildly, "Ah...ah...
ah...oh...Master Xiang...ah...oh...no...no...ah...ah...ah..." The two
sisters faced each other, as if admiring themselves in a mirror, both equally alluring and beautiful, both moaning softly. Their two curvaceous
, fiery, and sexy bodies twisted and turned at the same angle. Xiang Shaolong felt like the luckiest
man , having long forgotten that he was still surrounded by enemies. He wholeheartedly enjoyed
the ultimate climax brought by these two beauties, and hoped that they would enjoy a peaceful and happy life by his side from then on.
When Xiang Shaolong awoke, Tian Zhen and Tian Feng's alluring bodies were still clinging to him like octopuses. Even the slightest
movement from him startled the two languid sisters awake. The two women glanced out the window and saw the
bright , startled, and quickly got up. Xiang Shaolong was
captivated by their beautiful, delicate, and snow-white bodies, almost unable to suppress the urge to pull them back into the tent. However, remembering the situation in Handan, he reluctantly
got up .
The two women happily helped him wash and dress. Seeing the happiness and joy radiating from their jade-like faces, Xiang Shaolong
was completely intoxicated. His hands, like theirs, were constantly busy, until the two women's ears were flushed red, before he finally left the room. The hall
was quiet, not a soul in sight. Xiang Shaolong felt extremely content; this tranquil atmosphere was rare.
A feeling of languid indifference washed over him, and he walked to a low table and lay down.
Tian Zhen, now dressed gracefully, emerged and knelt beside him, her voice soft and tender:
"What would you like to eat, Master Dong? I'll go get it for you." Xiang Shaolong, upon hearing her suggestion, felt his stomach rumble with hunger. He
reached out and touched her cheek, saying, "Anything is fine! Hey! Where did that tigress go?"
Tian Zhen couldn't help but chuckle, "Tigers naturally hide in their dens to sleep during the day! Xiao Feng went to serve her."
With that, she happily left.
While Xiang Shaolong was dozing, Jing Jun and Zhao Zhi returned together. Seeing the two chatting happily without any reservations, he
felt even more relieved and his heart was filled with joy. With Le Cheng gone, the entire tense situation had changed, and the initiative was firmly in
his hands.
While Jing Jun and Zhao Zhi were having their meal with him, the latter said, "I've never seen Handan City like this before.
Zhao soldiers are everywhere on the streets, searching and questioning people house by house. All the warriors in our guild have been conscripted to help, causing
widespread panic." Xiang Shaolong, while wolfing down his food, asked, "Does anyone think I did it?"
Zhao Zhi looked at him with admiration and said, "Master Dong, your greatest skill is not using flying needles. That has become
your trademark, so now everyone is suspicious. My master even suspects Li Yuan did it. Heh! It's really funny
!" Jing Jun said, "I've never seen Sister Zhi so happy."
Zhao Zhi glared at Jing Jun and scolded, "So nosy!" Jing Jun quickly smiled and apologized. Xiang Shaolong thought to himself that this
was a case of one thing subduing another, and asked, "Where did Big Brother go?"
Jing Jun replied, "Big Brother went back to the ranch." He lowered his voice and said, "While the Zhao people are focused on the houses
, send those wounded brothers back to the ranch to recover and rest, so as not to be discovered."
Xiang Shaolong felt relieved. Wu Zhuo was shrewd and cautious, and must have a way to deceive everyone. Jing Jun continued, "
Big Brother originally wanted to talk to Third Brother, but Third Brother... Hey!" Zhao Zhi glared at him and said, "Xiao Jun
, why are you hesitating? What happened to your Third Brother?"
Xiang Shaolong was not afraid of Zhao Zhi. He reached out from under the table and touched Zhao Zhi's thigh. The girl immediately stopped talking and
lowered her head. At this moment, Tian Feng came out of the kitchen with a pot of wine and said, "Master Dong, would you like to try
the tonic wine sent by Lord Longyang?" Jing Jun clapped his hands and said, "Third Brother needs this the most. Come and have a couple of drinks with us too."
The two women's pretty faces immediately flushed. Xiang Shaolong was both amused and exasperated, chuckling, "Unless you're too weak to handle the nourishment
, every man needs this. Come on! Call Xiao Zhen over, let's all have some fun." Time
passed in this joyful atmosphere. At dusk, Shan Rou finally left the bedroom, pulling Zhao Zhi to the back garden to pay respects to the spirits
of her parents and relatives.
Jing Jun, who loved excitement, led over ten men, ostensibly to gather information, but actually to wander around aimlessly.
Xiang Shaolong didn't stop him, as this was perfectly reasonable; they had no reason to ignore what was happening in Handan. He
was thinking of Ji Yanran, but knew he shouldn't go out, so he suppressed these tempting thoughts and chatted with Tian Zhen and Tian Feng
, making them very happy. Other men were only interested in their bodies; who would listen to their innermost
thoughts ? Zhao Zhi was now his semi-public mistress, so he decided to stay, and he couldn't bear to refuse.
After dinner, just when Xiang Shaolong thought he could have a peaceful evening, a guest arrived unexpectedly—it was none other than Marquis Han
Chuang of Pingshan. After sitting down in the hall, Han Chuang carefully examined Xiang Shaolong's complexion and nodded, saying, "Brother Dong is indeed stronger than a horse, and
your complexion is much better than yesterday. Does your wound still hurt?" Xiang Shaolong replied, "Your Excellency is very kind; I am indeed much better today.
Alas! I never imagined General Le Cheng would pass away like this!"
Han Chuang revealed a cold expression and said disdainfully, "There are some people in this world who, if suddenly killed,
will never be able to guess who committed the murder. Because they have harmed far too many people. If I had the chance, I would also stab
him twice. Back when Le Cheng was stationed on the border between Zhao and Han, he frequently invaded our territory and committed crimes, his hands stained with blood. Humph
!" Xiang Shaolong felt a chill run down his spine. He had always seen Han Chuang and Le Cheng as brothers, but this was the true nature of their relationship. Feigning
surprise, Xiang Shaolong asked, "So General Yue is such a person?"
Han Chuang replied, "Let's not talk about this person anymore. Let's discuss the future." Xiang Shaolong
wondered , "Is he going to encourage me to deal with Li Yuan again?" Han Chuang accepted the fragrant tea offered by Tian Feng, lecherously watching
her retreating figure. He swallowed hard before his thoughts returned to his body and he said, "Brother Dong's return to Zhao this time is nothing more than hoping to achieve something
. But raising horses is still just raising horses; at best, he'll become the second Wu Shi, with no hope of official rank . Do you
agree with what I've said, Brother Dong?"
Xiang Shaolong thought to himself, even if I were truly Dong Kuang, I would never go to Nanbang, a country weaker than Zhao, to wait for death. On the surface,
he said, "I am naturally very grateful for your high regard, but..." Han Chuang interrupted him, "
Brother Dong misunderstands. Of course! If Brother Dong were to come to my country, I would certainly welcome you with open arms. But what we need to discuss today is
the vacancy left by the death of Yue Cheng as the garrison commander of Handan."
Xiang Shaolong was stunned. Han Chuang, being a Han citizen, had no right to interfere in the affairs of the Zhao people. As for the position of city garrison commander
, it was equivalent to the general protecting the King of Zhao. Anyone not favored by
the
King of Zhao should not even dream of it; it was something he had never even considered, not even in his dreams. Han Chuang said smugly, "Brother Dong, you wouldn't believe it, but if you knew that Queen Jing was my cousin, you would know that I am not without influence over the Zhao court."
Xiang Shaolong then remembered that Queen Jing had married into the royal family of Nanbang under the grand plan of unifying the three Jin states,
naturally having some connection with Han Chuang. He couldn't help but secretly reproach himself for his oversight, and exclaimed in surprise, "I didn't know that
!" Han Chuang said proudly, "As long as I say a few words to Queen Jing, I guarantee she can influence the King of Xiaocheng's decision
. Since Zhao Mu lost power, the most influential people on the King of Xiaocheng are Queen Jing and Zhao Ya."
Xiang Shaolong felt a chill in his heart, realizing that he had underestimated Han Chuang, just as he had underestimated Lord Longyang. This man was obsessed with Zhao Ya…
While it was certainly due to his lust for her beauty, the primary reason was likely to manipulate King Xiaocheng through Zhao Ya, thereby
annexing the Zhao state without bloodshed. From this perspective, Zhao Mu was at best a pawn of Queen Jing. In this Warring States period
, who didn't exhaust their wits for survival, openly and secretly plotting various schemes? Frowning, he asked, "Didn't King Xiaocheng choose
Cheng Xu to replace Le Cheng?"
Han Chuang scoffed, "What is Cheng Xu? He forcibly took half of Xiang Shaolong's credit to get to
his current position. His reputation and ability are insufficient to command respect. This is just a temporary measure in a crisis!
" Xiang Shaolong was greatly tempted; if he truly became the city's governor, Zhao Mu would be his for the taking. But then he
thought King Xiaocheng would never fall for such a big trick, and said with a wry smile, "I have only been in Handan for a short time, and I haven't
even warmed my seat yet. I don't even have the qualifications to queue up. Marquis Han, you don't need to bother."
Han Chuang's interest was not diminished. He said, "Brother Dong, you underestimate yourself. You are already a household name among the people of Handan
, and your fame is at its zenith. From the grand ceremony with a thousand warhorses to defeating the Chu people, breaking through the city gate, and bravely rescuing Lord Longyang,
if you were to be the city's defender, who wouldn't think you are the most qualified?" Xiang Shaolong shook his head and said, "Just the matter of breaking through the city gate, don't even think that
the king would agree."
Han Chuang revealed a sly smile and said, "Black can be turned into white, and white can be turned into..." Cheng Hei, it all comes down to his
mouth . If King Xiaocheng employs you, it will demonstrate his magnanimity and his meritocratic approach to personnel management. Brother Dong, everything is ready,
the only thing that's been a while is your silver tongue! I can also try to influence Zhao Ya; with both of them speaking on your behalf, what's there to worry about in achieving
great things?" Xiang Shaolong was truly dumbfounded this time, but his heart was racing. He stared blankly at Han Chuang and said
, "How should I repay this kindness, Lord Marquis?"
Seeing that he was moved, Han Chuang was even more excited than him, and laughed loudly, "We're all family, why say such things
! Come! I'll arrange for you to see Queen Jing first, and we'll talk about the rest later." He stood up. Xiang Shaolong hurriedly pretended to be
strong as he stood up with him and saw him out. Han Chuang said as they walked, "Remember, never get involved with Zhao Mu or Guo Zong
in any way, and at the same time, don't offend Zhao Ya or Guo Kai. Otherwise, the position of city garrison commander will most likely fall to you. Hey!
King Xiaocheng really appreciates your rescue of Lord Longyang!"
Xiang Shaolong asked, "Is Lord Longyang alright yet?" Han Chuang sneered, "If you need to lie down for a day, he'll
need to lie down for at least ten. Oh! Were those twin sisters interesting?"
Xiang Shaolong, of course, understood Han Chuang's true intention and cursed inwardly, whispering, "Those twins..." " The twin sisters were just taken into the manor and
sent to serve my wife. They're still recovering from their injuries and haven't had a chance
to appreciate their beauty. Only when I'm recuperating and have truly become the city lord will I have the opportunity to experience their charm. But since they come from Zhao Mu's household,
Your Excellency should be careful." Han Chuang sighed helplessly, "Brother Dong is right, it's best to be cautious.
I'll inform you as soon as there's news from Queen Jing."
After seeing Han Chuang off, Xiang Shaolong almost shouted to release his excitement. Who would have thought that
killing Le Cheng would bring such a wonderfully unexpected outcome?
Chapter Five: Covering
One's Ears While Stealing a Bell. Before Xiang Shaolong could turn back to the manor, Madam Ya's convoy passed Han Chuang and drove into the square in front of the manor
. Xiang Shaolong quickly went to greet her and personally opened the car door for her. Zhao Ya looked at him with delight and said softly, "
Can you get up and move around now?" Xiang Shaolong accompanied her up the steps into the mansion, stretching his arms and legs, and said, "If you don't get up soon, you
'll get sick from all the boredom."
Zhao Ya laughed, "Your health is better than Longyang Jun's. He's still lying in bed. It looks like he won't
recover for at least ten days." Then she lowered her voice and asked, "Why did Han Chuang come to see you?"
Xiang Shaolong led her to the east wing of the outer residence and said, "What good could it be? He's just trying to win
me over. That lecherous fellow even took a fancy to my twin sisters, wanting to borrow them for his pleasure, but I refused.
Humph! So what if he's unhappy? Once my women are with me, no one else is allowed to touch them
!" Zhao Ya was stirred by his words and couldn't help but mutter a few curses at Han Chuang.
Xiang Shaolong felt ashamed. To be honest, he wasn't much better than Han Chuang, because the Tian sisters were also
taken in by him from Zhao Mu. The only difference was that the Tian sisters willingly followed him! Zhao Ya took his arm and led him through
the side door into the garden outside the pavilion, walking towards the pond in the center of the garden. She whispered, "Brother Wang still has doubts about you. He
asked Ya'er to ask you what your relationship with Zhao Mu is? Why does he take special care of you? And why did he rush to see you this morning?"
Xiang
Shaolong shrugged and said, "Just answer like I'm telling you, I don't need to explain to
anyone why so- and-so is particularly nice to me, or particularly mean to me! I, Dong Kuang, don't care." The two then arrived at the pond
. Zhao Ya pulled him to sit down and laughed, "I love seeing you act angry, like a wild
child ."
Zhao Ya leaned against him like a little bird, wrinkling her nose and saying, "Ugh! You still smell like medicine, it's so pungent
! When you come to see me tonight, let me help you wash up first." Xiang Shaolong was delighted and put his arm around her
slender waist, laughing, "Don't you like this style? This is more like Dong Kuang."
Zhao Ya laughed heartily, and Xiang Shaolong smiled and said, "Now everyone's saying your ex-lover
broke into the city and committed murder, but you seem quite leisurely. Be careful not to be found out."
Zhao Ya glanced at him with her beautiful eyes, rolled her eyes at him, and then chuckled, "Most people would..." " Those who think it's you,
Xiang Shaolong, who came to kill and set fires are just ignorant people guessing like blind men."
Xiang Shaolong laughed, "Then who else in Handan has such a deep hatred for Le Cheng that they must kill him?"
Zhao Ya pressed even closer, her alluring breasts mostly on his arm. Looking up at the bright moon, she said softly, "
Does killing necessarily require hatred? Le Cheng not only has many enemies, but he's also a two-faced villain. Aren't
there many people who want to kill him?"
Xiang Shaolong laughed, "I didn't expect killing Le Cheng to cause so many speculations. He's like a rat crossing the street, everyone
wants to kill him. Ya'er, are you trying to take this opportunity to reward me with yourself?" Zhao Ya blushed and said, "I
'm already yours, how can that be a reward? To Ya'er, your beloved pet is the greatest reward. Alright, quickly
give me an explanation so I can go back and report to the King."
Seeing her charming and lovely demeanor, and feeling a sweet, flirtatious atmosphere he hadn't experienced in a long time, Xiang Shaolong's mood also improved
. Zhao Ya said, "You always act alone and make decisions on your own. Handan is fraught with danger right now; one wrong move and we could lose
everything worried sick." Xiang Shaolong said, "Just tell him that his trip didn't have any secrets at all, only..."
They've come to inquire about the situation in the State of Chu. And they seem to have something on their mind; perhaps they've been frightened by your elusive former
lover, Xiang Shaolong.
Zhao Ya chuckled, "You really are elusive. The King truly believes Zhao Mu
is the prime suspect in Le Cheng's death! He thinks Zhao Mu miscalculated and made a mistake, so even the slightest hesitation he had towards him
has vanished . " Xiang Shaolong frowned, "Then why didn't the King arrest Zhao Mu immediately?"
Zhao Ya replied, "The problem is that you acted too swiftly. Over two hundred people were
either dead or wounded in less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of hot tea. Zhao Mu's men don't have that kind of ability, so the King believes that Tian Dan must have been backing
him up and sent someone to kill Le Cheng. But without concrete evidence, he dares not act rashly. Although Your Majesty very much wants to recall
Lian Po or Li Mu, this fear plays right into his trap." Xiang Shaolong inwardly exclaimed, "My God!" It turned out that
Tian Dan had been innocently dragged into this incident, and perhaps Li Yuan was also not immune. Le Cheng's death had indeed had a
far-reaching impact.
Xiang Shaolong sneered, "Looks like I'll have to stay at the ranch for the next few days. Not only can I escape
the trouble , but I can also use that as an excuse to focus on raising horses, spend more time with women, and have some fun." Zhao Ya playfully scolded
, "You're so carefree, sneaking out to enjoy yourself with other women. What about me?"
Xiang Shaolong laughed, "Just prepare some hot water tonight, and I'll sneak into your boudoir so you can serve me a bath, and I
'll get a reward for it!"
Zhao Ya laughed so hard she almost fainted, pressing her lower abdomen and saying laboriously, "Ah! Time flies when I'm with you. I
only regret that I have to go to the palace to see my brother. Can I come and keep you company later?" "Xiang Shaolong said with a wry smile, "Everyone knows I
have seven open wounds, big and small, bleeding all over my body right now. If you come here, it'll be like I'm risking my life to accompany a beauty."
Zhao Ya retorted, "You always have a bunch of excuses. I don't care, you have to come tonight, or I'll sneak over here myself
!" Xiang Shaolong exclaimed, "Good Ya'er, stop it, okay? The situation is so chaotic right now. If we're
discovered everything will be ruined!"
Zhao Ya laughed and pulled him over, saying, "You! I'm not going to argue with you anymore.
Can you see me to the door?" Xiang Shaolong and she walked hand in hand back to the East Pavilion, through the corridor, and towards the outer residence. Zhao Ya was in a good mood,
humming a pleasant tune that Xiang Shaolong used to hear, her steps light and cheerful.
Zhao Ya boarded the carriage, then gently whispered to him through the curtain, "Since you left, I've been waiting for this moment
. Now that success is in sight, I'm so happy to think about flying away with you!" Xiang Shaolong was overwhelmed with
emotion leaned closer and whispered, "We'll never be apart again. How about I let you receive rewards every day?"
Zhao Ya's pretty face flushed red, and she looked at him tenderly, saying, "Remember what you said. Ya'er will keep an eye on you and make sure you
keep your ." The curtain fell, blocking Xiang Shaolong's view.
Xiang Shaolong stood in the square, recalling Zhao Ya's affection, feeling a unique mix of emotions. Only after the carriage had gone far away and they returned to
the hall did Shan Rou and Jing Jun remain. The former was enthusiastically studying the map spread out on the table, while the latter
yawned frequently, unable to find a way to leave. Xiang Shaolong asked curiously, "Where are they?" Shanrou replied impatiently, "
Who knows if you'd be willing to come back? I sent them to their rooms to sleep."
Jing Jun said with a bitter face, "I've never slept a whole day like my elder sister, so why didn't you send me to sleep too
?" Shanrou rolled up the map with one hand, glared at him, and said, "Are your legs attached to my body?
Who can you blame if you don't know how to go back to your room?"
Jing Jun exclaimed, "I just said I was going to sleep, but who dragged me to look at the map?" Shanrou knew
she was in the wrong , so she shoved Jing Jun and shouted, "Hurry up! Now I have someone to keep me company."
Jing Jun shook his head and smiled bitterly, casting a sympathetic glance at Xiang Shaolong before disappearing into the inner quarters like a wisp of smoke. Xiang Shaolong
sat down opposite Shan Rou and said, "Show me what kind of monstrosity you've drawn!" Shan Rou was about to unfold the map again
when she heard this and pulled it behind her back. Her almond-shaped eyes widened as she scolded, "Say it again!"
Xiang Shaolong backed down, saying, "Good sister! Please let me admire your masterpiece, which you've poured your heart and
soul
into." Shan Rou's scolding turned to joy, and she spread the silk map out on the table, murmuring, "Poured your heart and soul into? You're the best at exaggerating." Xiang Shaolong took a closer look and was immediately captivated. This map of the geographical situation in and around Handan City
was extremely detailed. Although it couldn't compare to the military maps produced by aerial photography in the 21st century, it was still very rare. He hadn't expected
Shan Rou to have such skill, but it was also a basic requirement for an excellent assassin. Seeing his complete concentration
, Shan Rou happily gestured and explained. Xiang Shaolong listened attentively, nodding repeatedly and silently taking notes. When Shan Rou's mouth
was tired from talking, the third watch of the night was announced outside.
Xiang Shaolong stretched and yawned, "Will you sleep with me tonight?" Shan Rou blushed, glanced at
him, carefully put away the silk painting, and shook her head, "I'm not sleepy at all right now. Go back to your room and get
a good ! Zhizhi is in my room. If you like, you can take me, your sister who values you more than the heavens
."
Xiang Shaolong pretended to be nonchalant and said, "Whether you sleep or not is up to you!" and walked towards the bedroom. Shan Rou
jumped up , hands on her hips, and scolded, "Hey!"
Xiang Shaolong found it amusing, stopped without turning around, and said with his back to her, "What can I do for you, Miss Shan?" Shan Rou said
, "Are you willing to help us sisters deal with Tian Dan?"
Only then did Xiang Shaolong turn around and offer her his hand, saying, "Come! Let's discuss this properly on my bed.
" A blush rose on each of Shan Rou's cheeks, making this uniquely beautiful woman even more radiant. She stared at him fiercely
for a moment, then stamped her foot and said, "Go then! If you're just a liar, I'll kill you with one blow."
Xiang Shaolong smiled and walked over, took her soft, warm hand, and triumphantly returned to his room. As soon as he stepped into the room
, Shan Rou forcefully pulled her slender hand away from his grasp and turned to leave. Xiang Shaolong
dodged to block her path, surprised, "Didn't we agree?" Shan Rou blushed crimson, placing her small hand on his chest to avoid
bumping into him, shaking her head, "No! No way!" She then withdrew her hand, straightened her body, and lowered her head to avoid
his blazing gaze.
Xiang Shaolong was greatly stimulated and laughed, "You've been with me in bed before, what's wrong with
that?" Shan Rou shook her head vigorously, blushing, "No! I know this time is different."
Seeing that she still dared not look at him, Xiang Shaolong chuckled, "So even the fierce and domineering Sister Rou has moments of shy and
adorable !" Shan Rou reluctantly raised her flushed face, but upon meeting his gaze, she lowered it
again in fright, stamping her foot and pouting, "Aren't you going to let me through?"
Xiang Shaolong reached out and untied her knot, saying calmly, "If you like, then use the knife!" Shan Rou let his hand touch her...
She struggled to even stand up, let alone use a knife, and stammered, "Ah! Please spare me!"
At that moment, his skilled hands had already unbuttoned her blouse, revealing her snow-white inner
garment and a deep opening that hinted at her cleavage. Shan Rou trembled violently, closing her beautiful eyes, her breathing rapid, her alluring
breasts heaving. Xiang Shaolong pulled her inner garment further open, stopping only at her shoulders
, revealing her sword wound, a large section of her pink, full, and snow-white breasts, and her chiseled shoulders
without reservation before his eyes. Xiang Shaolong placed his left hand on her bare shoulder, freeing his right hand to lightly touch the
sword wound .
He asked tenderly, "Does it still hurt?" Shan Rou trembled like a startled bird as his fingertips traced her skin. "Ah!" she cried, opening her mouth
to groan, "Of course it hurts! You... Oh! Xiang Shaolong! You're bullying me."
Xiang Shaolong moved his hand up, gripping her other shoulder, and lowered his head to kiss the sword wound. Shan Rou could no longer resist
, letting out a soft moan that could make any man's heart flutter. Xiang Shaolong casually removed her lower garment,
lifted , and carried her to the bed. Shan Rou weakly wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder,
breathing heavily. Only when Xiang Shaolong lifted the bed curtains and climbed onto the bed did she regain some strength. She rolled off his arms and hid
behind the wall.
Xiang Shaolong, consumed by lust, pressed forward, reaching out to remove her undergarments. He recalled
the alluring image of her legs, exposed after their encounter that night, and a burning, inextinguishable fire ignited within him. Despite Shan Rou's
weak and ineffective resistance, this usually domineering beauty was left only with a thin, snow-white
undergarment and alluring shorts. Shan Rou suddenly snapped back to reality, desperately clutching her collar to prevent his
insolent hands from already caressing her shapely legs.
She gave him a weak, disdainful look, her voice trembling as she pleaded, "Xiang Shaolong! You can't do this! You
didn't !" Xiang Shaolong, both amused and exasperated, caressed her legs before getting up from the bed, laughing, "I
thought you were fearless, but it turns out you're afraid of a door that wasn't closed properly. I'll grant your wish!"
When he returned to the tent, Shan Rou sat up, glaring at him fiercely. Xiang Shaolong chuckled, sat down in
front of her, crossed his knees, and leaned forward, saying, "Rou Rou, did you forget your dagger?" Shan Rou chuckled, gave him
a charming glare, and said irritably, "Even if I had a knife, so what? A mere dagger, could it stop you,
you lecher?"
Xiang Shaolong brazenly reached out, slipping his hand inside her collar, and caressed her incredibly firm breasts
, praising, "You're not only a first-rate assassin, but also a first-rate natural beauty." Shan Rou's beautiful eyes
blazed with passion, her hands... She pressed hard on his shoulder, panting, "Have you been indecent enough?"
Xiang Shaolong felt a surge of masculinity, filled with the pleasure of conquering this untamed beauty, and retorted, "Sister Rou, have you had enough
?" Shan Rou couldn't even open her eyes, and suddenly grabbed his wicked hand through her clothes, panting, "Stop
for a moment, okay?"
This was the first time Xiang Shaolong had heard her speak to him in such a pleading tone. He stopped his activity, leaving his right hand on the most strategic
stronghold, and laughed, "So what?" Shan Rou struggled to open her eyelids, staring at him coquettishly,
"I told you long ago that you were planning something bad tonight, look what you've done to me!"
Xiang Shaolong feigned surprise, "What do you mean? Of course, you're the most alluring and adorable one!" He continued to knead
her. Shan Rou was utterly powerless to resist, trembling and moaning with his movements, pleading, "Can I say a few more words
?"
Xiang Shaolong, smugly ceasing the fighting, declared with the air of a conqueror, "What's there to say now?
You know what's coming next!" Shan Rou, blushing with embarrassment, lowered her head and nodded, saying, "I know, that's why
I wanted to discuss this with you, you big bad guy."
Xiang Shaolong laughed loudly, "In a battle, when one side is defeated, what is there to discuss besides surrendering
?" Shan Rou retorted angrily, "Who wants to surrender? You're just..." "A small victory, and others..."
Xiang Shaolong found it even more amusing, withdrawing his right hand and laughing, "Oh! I almost forgot you still have land that hasn't
been occupied, and the capital hasn't fallen yet." As his hand moved up her leg, Shan Rou, flustered and embarrassed, regained her strength,
flipped over, escaped his clutches, and rolled from beside him to the edge of the outer couch, giggling, "Don't come any closer, or I'll
immediately slip out of the room."
Xiang Shaolong had no intention of chasing her, leisurely turning around and moving back, comfortably stretching his long legs against the wall, and scooping up
a spoonful with his finger, saying, "My lady, be a good girl and give me..." "Come here." Disheveled, with her hair in disarray and her private parts exposed, Shanrou put her hands on her hips
and retorted, "No!"
Seeing Xiang Shaolong confidently feasting on her magnificent figure, Shanrou softened and pitifully
said , "Unless you promise not to violate me again." Xiang Shaolong said irritably, "In this era
, what battle ends with a sudden retreat after the initial success? Shanrou, you're an adult now; you should know that some things tonight are unavoidable
."
Shanrou gave him a wistful glance, then resignedly moved to his side, mimicking his posture by sitting against the wall, stretching out her legs
... Looking at her beautiful legs, she said with surprising gentleness, "You should know perfectly well that from the moment someone wanted to play your wife, they
already considered you my man. But I just can't stand men's arrogance and conceit. What I resent most is that we
women are born to be humiliated and oppressed by them, and to be abused at the slightest provocation. Sigh! I don't want to say anymore." Xiang Shaolong
felt ashamed. It turned out that Shan Rou had views that other women of this era dared not even think of. He reached out and put his arm around her fragrant shoulder,
leaned in and sealed her lips with his, gently letting them silently enjoy the contact that could make a man and a woman's souls melt.
Shan Rou responded with tender affection. After their lips parted, Xiang Shaolong turned her pretty face towards him, looking into her
tender, watery eyes, and said, "I respect Rou Rou's wishes. So, that's enough for tonight. You can sleep here, and I
'll find somewhere else to sleep." Shan Rou was stunned for a moment, then said softly, "Do you want to find Zhi Zhi or the Tian sisters?"
Xiang Shaolong laughed, "It's not like I'm really insatiable for women every night. Isn't there an empty room? I'll
sleep there. We can talk about it another day when Rou Rou begs me to conquer her." Shan Rou was a little touched and said, "I never thought there was
a man like you in the world, so considerate of others. Alright, let's go there together."
Xiang Shaolong asked in surprise, "Go together?" Shan Rou reverted to her usual willful self, pouting, "
After you've done your evil deeds to me, roll me back here before you sleep. You're not allowed
to mention it , and don't expect me to be as obedient to you as Zhi Zhi is. Unless I take the initiative to be with you, you can't be
rude to me again."
Xiang Shaolong was stunned and asked, "Is this what they call 'covering one's ears while
stealing a bell'? " This time it was Shan
Rou's turn to be taken aback and asked, "What is 'covering one's ears while stealing a bell'?" Xiang Shaolong explained, "A thief who steals a bell covers his own ears. When he can't hear the sound of the bell as he runs away, he
thinks that no one else can hear it. Isn't that exactly what you're doing, Miss?" Shan Rou laughed so hard that she bent over and said angrily,
"How can that be? There's no bell here for people to cover their ears!"
Xiang Shaolong laughed and said, "Miss Rou seems to have forgotten the beautiful sound of her moans?" Shan Rou was very embarrassed and pulled him off the bed with a fierce look, saying
harshly , "Come on! It's almost dawn."
Xiang Shaolong couldn't help but burst into laughter and said, "Rou Rou, have you forgotten that there are clothes on the bed and the floor that
prove ?"
In the quiet night, their two fiercely beating hearts felt like the sound of a bell, making them feel that the whole world
was listening and watching, and they were immediately filled with the thrill of being thieves and having an affair. After the two entered the room and closed the door, Shan Rou
pushed Xiang Shaolong onto the bed, straddling his waist, and swiftly
stripped him naked . As he removed Shan Rou's clothes, Xiang Shaolong chuckled, "Rou Rou, is this a mountain bandit raping a commoner?"
Shan Rou giggled, "I said I'd come to you willingly. Since you're so considerate, why not go all the way
and let me be the tigress who forcibly takes a commoner?" Xiang Shaolong laughed heartily, "Rou Rou really
doesn't want to lose out at all. Please, elder sister, have mercy on me and don't skin me alive." He then made
a gesture of surrender, appearing completely submissive.
Shanrou, amused by his teasing, trembled with laughter, nestled against his chest. Just as she was about to retort with a playful retort, she suddenly froze. While
she wasn't looking, Xiang Shaolong had subtly thrust his hips forward, his hard, burning-hot penis sliding into her tight
crevice, pressing against her anus, poised to enter. Shanrou, only vaguely familiar with matters of the bedchamber, was terrified and
quickly raised her plump buttocks, fearing he would take advantage of her vulnerability. However, this only exposed her most vulnerable spot completely to his penis. As Xiang Shaolong mischievously thrust
forward, his penis, by sheer accident,
slid right into her vagina, the head half-inserted, forcing open the barely perceptible opening. Shanrou cried out in pain, simultaneously jerking her hips away, throwing her fists
at Xiang Shaolong's chest with a playful, angry outburst.
Xiang Shaolong chuckled as he embraced Shan Rou's smooth, supple body, whispering comforting words in her ear. His hands kneaded her
firm, rounded buttocks while gently caressing her soft, delicate labia. Shan Rou struggled and resisted
, but it was all in vain; she soon softened, letting his hands wreak havoc.
Xiang Shaolong propped himself up, pulling Shan Rou to his waist and hips. One hand slipped between her thighs from behind,
gently pinching her vulva, while the other grasped her pert breasts, sucking on the other nipple. His tongue licked and swirled
around it, and his burning hot penis rubbed against her full, thick mons pubis. This multi-pronged approach eventually overwhelmed even the formidable and resilient female assassin, Shan
Rou . She gasped and moaned, her juices flowing freely, her waist swaying,
her legs wrapped tightly around his neck, her arms around his neck—her wantonness was fully revealed.
Shan Rou, aroused by Xiang Shaolong's flirtatious advances, finally couldn't resist raising her plump buttocks. Xiang
Shaolong understanding the situation, guided his penis towards her already wet lips. Shan Rou gritted her teeth, lowered her hips,
and the head of his penis slid into her tight vagina. With a determined heart, she tightened her legs and sat down, her hymen breaking
open. The thick, hard penis thrust deep into her core. Shan Rou felt a tearing pain in her groin, as if her internal organs
had shifted. She stubbornly held back her cries, but her fingers dug fiercely into Xiang Shaolong's back muscles, wishing
she could devour this tormentor alive.
Seeing Shan Rou's stubbornness, Xiang Shaolong couldn't bear it. Even though she was pinching his shoulders, he didn't cry out in pain. He gently kissed
her tightly clenched lips, his tongue slowly licking between her teeth, his hands caressing her back to distract her
and ease her pain. In a short while, Shan Rou's tense skin gradually relaxed, and her clenched teeth slowly
parted, allowing Xiang Shaolong to gently suckle her fragrant tongue. Taking advantage of this, Xiang Shaolong slowly thrust in and out with minimal movement. Shan Rou's delicate eyebrows
furrowed slightly , then relaxed. Xiang Shaolong took a deep breath, his mind completely open, taking in all the sensations within their bodies
. As Shan Rou's vaginal canal tightened and became slippery, he gradually increased the amplitude of his thrusts, one hand kneading her erect, cherry-like
nipples, the other caressing her full buttocks and the base of her jade-like thighs. At the point where they were joined, a drop of blood ran down his penis and dripped onto
the bedsheets . Then the frequency increased, and the gushing of their love juices sprayed everywhere, leaving droplets of fluid on their pubic hair.
At this moment, Shanrou had finally reaped the rewards of her suffering. Her vaginal fluids gushed forth
, making the thrusting of Xiang
Shaolong's penis even smoother. Shanrou was now enveloped in an orgasmic pleasure she had never experienced before. Her last shred of restraint vanished, and she no longer held onto Xiang Shaolong's hands; instead, she used them for support, her hips twisting and turning, taking the initiative and moving up and down with his thrusts.
Xiang , taking advantage of the situation, sat comfortably, letting Shanrou's breasts bounce before his eyes, her ears filled with
the sounds of her ecstatic pleasure.
He fully enjoyed this sensual spectacle, and as he sensed Shanrou's growing fatigue and the approaching climax, he
thrust his penis in and out with frenzied passion, simultaneously releasing the electric current that had accumulated in his lower abdomen. Shan Rou, already weak and utterly lost
, was overwhelmed by the intense thrusting and electric shocks. It was as if she had reached the summit and been caught in a raging tornado, floating high in the air
with no support, yet struck by lightning. The sensual climax and tingling pleasure merged into one, and her last shred of consciousness finally collapsed
. She screamed incoherently, her hips thrusting in response like a sudden downpour. Xiang Shaolong let out a soft breath, thrusting
all the way in, and his ejaculation was released. Semen and electric current gushed out violently. Shan Rou felt a scalding heat rush into
her lower abdomen , and at the same time, her clitoris was extremely weak and numb. She saw stars, her mind went blank, and she suddenly hugged Xiang Shaolong,
trembling all over. After a long while, the two of them collapsed and fell asleep, exhausted.
Chapter Six, Each with Their Own Intentions.
The next morning, Shan Rou, having tasted forbidden fruit for the first time, kept her promise and casually took Zhao Zhi to the garden to practice swordsmanship
. Jing Jun, preoccupied with the beautiful village girl, returned to the pasture at dawn, leaving Tian Zhen and Tian Feng to accompany Xiang Shaolong for breakfast
. Wu Guo entered at this moment and said, "The Marquis of Pingshan has sent a message, requesting that Third Master come to his residence this afternoon."
Xiang Shaolong's heart stirred. He immediately realized that it wasn't Han Chuang who wanted him to be the city's garrison commander, but Queen Jing herself. Otherwise, how could Han Chuang have
so easily arranged a meeting with the First Lady of Zhao?
Upon careful consideration, this made perfect sense. Currently, all the generals in Handan belonged to different factions, and only he had not yet
become involved with any of them. If he were appointed as the city's garrison commander, he would naturally feel a sense of kinship with Queen Jing. In the future, when King Xiaocheng
passed away and Queen Jing became the ruling mother, he, Xiang Shaolong, would become her most powerful and trusted general. But why
would she choose him?
Seeing him remain silent in thought, Wu Guo dared not disturb him and was about to leave when Xiang Shaolong summoned him back and asked, "What's
the situation ?" Wu Guo stood respectfully and reported, "It's much calmer now, but Zhao soldiers are still stopping and checking pedestrians everywhere on the streets
. King Xiaocheng has also issued a notice forbidding residents from taking in any strangers for lodging, and all inns are being checked by Zhao soldiers."
Tian Zhen and Tian Feng both liked Wu Guo very much, and seeing his respectful manner, they couldn't help but chuckle. Whenever
Xiang Shaolong wasn't looking, Wu Guo would wink at the two women, making them even happier. Xiang Shaolong suddenly said, "Wu Guo
!" Wu Guo was startled and quickly replied, "Yes." Xiang Shaolong said, "Find someone to inform Lady Ji that I
will formally visit her at dusk and hope to have dinner with her."
Wu Guo obeyed and left. Zhao Zhi and Shan Rou returned, drenched in sweat, and sat down on either side of Xiang Shaolong. The Tian sisters busied
themselves serving them. Xiang Shaolong, recalling Shan Rou's alluring body and wildly seductive beauty from the previous night, felt a sweet warmth in his heart and said, "
Don't you two want to take a shower first?"
Shan Rou remained noncommittal, but Zhao Zhi exclaimed excitedly, "We're starving!" She added between bites, "Sister Rou
's pace is much slower today, but I can keep up." Xiang Shaolong naturally understood the reason for the slower pace and almost
spat out the steamed bun in his mouth. Shan Rou's face flushed red, and she pinched Xiang Shaolong's poor thigh hard
.
Zhao Zhi was initially stunned, then seemed to understand, her pretty face also turning red, and she lowered her head to eat silently. The atmosphere was
extremely awkward. Xiang Shaolong chuckled inwardly. He patted each of the two women on the bottom of the table, then patted his stomach and stood up, saying, "
I need to go out for a walk and stretch my muscles." Zhao Zhi exclaimed, "Wait for me!
I almost forgot Master told me to take you to the martial arts school."
Xiang Shaolong laughed, "Is this an invitation?" Zhao Zhi's pretty face flushed red, and she glared at him, saying, "Your
feet aren't attached to my body, who cares where you go?" She smiled sweetly, gave him a flirtatious look, and then left
.
Xiang Shaolong said to Shan Rou, who was chewing her food with her head down, "We'll wait for our sister!" Shan Rou scolded loudly and kicked him
. Xiang Shaolong laughed and dodged, saying, "Good Rou Rou, did you think your kicking skills were as good as last night, almost killing me
?"
Shan Rou was so angry that she picked up a steamed bun and threw it at his face. Xiang Shaolong casually took the gift,
took a bite, and remarked thoughtfully, "It's not as delicious as Sister Rou's." Before Shan Rou could leap up like a mad tiger
, he had already slipped into the bathhouse after Zhao Zhi.
That morning was spent at the Warriors' Guild. When Zhao Ba asked about "Long Shan," Xiang Shaolong claimed he had gone to the ranch.
While Zhao Zhi was instructing the guild's fifty-odd female soldiers on drills, Zhao Ba pulled Xiang Shaolong aside
and said , "Last night, His Majesty summoned me to the palace and also inquired about you." Xiang Shaolong asked in surprise, "What about?
"
Zhao Ba whispered, "Mainly about how you and your servant Long Shan defeated Li Yuan that day. Of course, I
praised you highly !" Xiang Shaolong quickly thanked him, but inwardly he was filled with suspicion. King Xiaocheng might not be
as astute enough to detect his suspicious behavior, but Guo Kai was cunning and intelligent; he might become
suspicious of their large horse-herding army. Of course, King Xiaocheng might just want to arrange a suitable position for him, hence his
inquiry to the chief instructor of Zhao.
Judging from Zhao Ba's tone, King Xiaocheng seemed to have asked him about other things as well; he would definitely have Zhao Zhi inquire about them later. For
everyone's safety, he really needed to quickly inform Zhao Ya to observe Guo Kai's cunning scheme.
After lunch, Xiang Shaolong left Zhao Zhi at the guild and went to Han Chuang's place alone. The atmosphere in Handan had largely returned to
calm; the number of pedestrians had significantly decreased, and he occasionally encountered patrolling soldiers who all bowed and paid him respects,
displaying even more authority than when he was a guard officer. Han Chuang's residence was heavily guarded, filled with Zhao soldiers. Xiang Shaolong guessed that
Queen had arrived before him. Why was she so concerned about him? It was clear that she had some ulterior motive and urgently needed a
trusted confidant to secure military power in Handan for her, and this newcomer was the most suitable.
Remembering the discord between Queen Jing and Zhao Ya at the banquet, Xiang Shaolong further realized that if Queen Jing recommended someone else, Zhao Ya would definitely
object. However, if she recommended Dong Ma Chi, Zhao Ya might have a completely different attitude. After being informed
, Han Chuang came to the main hall to greet him, first leading him into a side hall, and said with a solemn expression, "Be careful what you say later. My queen is
very formidable. If you say the wrong thing, your position as city garrison commander will be over." Han Chuang continued, "I
have another mission in Handan this time, which is to escort our country's seventh princess to marry the crown prince. Queen Jing is using the excuse of visiting her,
and she will not arouse any suspicion."
Xiang Shaolong suddenly understood. This political marriage must have been arranged by Queen Jing, which also shows that among the six kingdoms,
the people of Zhao and Han are particularly close. Taking this opportunity, Xiang Shaolong inquired about the alliance. Han Chuang said with distress, "It's all because
Tian Dan and Li Yuan are making a big fuss about the Yan state. These two are colluding and pose a greater
threat . Ji Zhong and I both suspect that they were the masterminds behind the attack on you and Lord Longyang. They wanted to kill
Lord Longyang and also get rid of you."
Xiang Shaolong felt a chill in his heart. In fact, after Zhao Ya's reminder, his initial confidence that the attackers were Lord Xinling's men
had begun to waver. Although Tian Dan wanted to win him over, that was just another
way to "get rid of" Xiang Shaolong. In this era, those who couldn't be used were simply killed to avoid benefiting others. At this moment, someone came to report that
Queen Jing could see him.
Xiang Shaolong followed Han Chuang, passed through two courtyards, went through a large garden, and met the First Lady of Zhao in the inner pavilion
. After bowing, Queen Jing gave Han Chuang a wink, and the latter, along with his maids and guards, all withdrew,
leaving the two of them seated facing each other at a small table. Adorned in magnificent robes and finery, the Queen of the Kingdom appeared even more dignified and regal, her beauty radiant.
Xiang Shaolong secretly compared her to Lady Pingyuan, finding that each had her own strengths and it was difficult to determine who was superior.
Queen Jing scrutinized him intently, then said calmly, "Mr. Dong, do you know why I summoned you today?
" Judging from her tone, Xiang Shaolong was even more certain that it was she herself who was interested in him, not Han Chuang, who was merely acting as a go-between
. He respectfully replied, "As Marquis Han has said, I will repay Queen Jing's kindness even if it costs me my life
."
Queen Jing remained unmoved by his obvious loyalty, coldly stating, "I think highly of you for two
reasons . Would you like to know?" Xiang Shaolong was taken aback, wondering if this beautiful woman, confined to the palace, had taken a liking to his
"male beauty." Queen Jing gazed at him intently, slowly saying, "The first reason is that Tian Dan also
thinks highly of you, so you, Dong Kuang, cannot be too bad."
Xiang Shaolong suddenly understood, and his curiosity was piqued. He asked, "May I ask what the other reason is, Queen Jing?"
"What is it?" Queen Jing sighed softly, "Because I see the shadow of another person in you. He
is also the kind of person who is fearless, just like you. It's just a pity that the timing is not right, and he can never be used by me."
Xiang Shaolong's heart trembled, and he naturally knew that the person she was talking about was himself. Seeing him remain silent and lost in thought, Queen Jing
asked in surprise, "Sir, don't you want to know who that person is?" Xiang Shaolong bowed and said, "Since Your Majesty hasn't mentioned his name
, I naturally won't press the matter." Queen Jing nodded slightly in satisfaction at his understanding, then her tone turned cold as she asked, "
What exactly is your relationship with Zhao Mu? Why did he go to such lengths to give you the Tian sisters, whom he had already sent away
?"
Knowing he couldn't hesitate at this moment, Xiang Shaolong shrugged and said, "The Marquis of Julu has shown me
great favor , but as for the reason, I don't know." Queen Jing glared at him for a moment, then said in a deep voice,
"From today onwards, Dong Kuang, you can only be loyal to the King and me, otherwise, disaster will befall you. Don't blame me for
not mentioning you. With your intelligence, sir, you should understand what's going on without me saying it explicitly!"
Xiang Shaolong secretly thought how clever this queen was. She had singled out King Xiaocheng to be on par with her, making
it difficult . She used Zhao Mu while simultaneously guarding against him. Queen Jing then asked, "Has the Marquis of Julu
said anything particularly important to you?" Xiang Shaolong pondered for a moment before replying, "The Marquis of Julu seems to dislike Li Yuan very much.
He often asks me what methods I have to deal with him, but nothing else is particularly noteworthy."
Queen Jing nodded in satisfaction and changed the subject, saying, "Does Zhao Ya often bother you? Isn't she beautiful?
Why do you always seem so distant towards her?" Xiang Shaolong knew she was using this private matter to test his loyalty,
and deliberately muttered, "I dislike women who easily attract attention.
" The Queen laughed, "I admire your straightforward nature, but if you wish to become the city lord, you
must feign compliance with Zhao Ya. Consider this my first instruction to you!" Xiang Shaolong feigned difficulty
and said apologetically, "Please forgive me, I am a rough man, and it is truly difficult for me to intentionally deceive others. If Queen Jing were to order me
to the battlefield to fight to the death, I would not hesitate in the slightest."
This was a strategic retreat; if he were to completely deviate from his usual style for the sake of the city lord position, this ruthless
woman would despise him. As expected, Queen Jing was not offended at all, and said with a charming smile, "I knew Mr. Dong
wasn't that kind of person, but a beauty like Zhao Ya can easily tempt a man. I'm not forcing you to deceive her,
but just to show her your masculine charm, as if she were a courtesan offering herself up."
Seeing her alluring demeanor, Xiang Shaolong's heart fluttered, and he deliberately teased her, saying, "That makes sense, but I
know my own limitations. Women who have been with me find it difficult to leave me afterward, and I don't like
my women having any further involvement with other men. Wouldn't it be troublesome if Zhao Ya fell in love with me?"
Queen was originally... She glared at him fiercely, then burst into laughter, giving him a meaningful sidelong glance. "
Why do you men always boast about your skills with women? How can anyone know who has the real talent
?"
Hearing her teasing words, Xiang Shaolong wanted to say that if there was any doubt, why not give it a try? However, he didn't dare say it aloud,
and instead chuckled, "Hearing Queen Jing's words, I realize that other men also love to boast like this. Anyway,
it's not like a real battle on the battlefield; who would willingly admit defeat?" Queen Jing's pretty face suddenly flushed red. She realized she had let something slip
. Wasn't this blatantly telling him that she had been with many men? Xiang Shaolong suddenly thought of Cheng Xu
, the ungrateful wretch who had risen to power through Queen Jing's connections? But why
didn't Queen Jing guarantee his continued position as city lord, and instead chose him instead? Then it dawned on him that if this ambitious woman had people both inside and
outside , she would naturally be able to manipulate the political situation more easily. For a moment, the two were speechless, and the atmosphere was awkward.
Queen Jing stood up, her face regaining its stern and unapproachable expression, and said coldly, "I'm leaving! You must not tell anyone
about this , or I will never forgive you." Xiang Shaolong cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he did
his best to be obsequious, and only breathed a sigh of relief after respectfully seeing her to the door. When he bid farewell to Han Chuang, Han Chuang acted like
an old friend , insisting that they go to the brothel together sometime to enjoy the festivities, and only then did he let him leave.
With nothing to do, Xiang Shaolong went to find Ji Yanran early in the morning. From a distance, he saw Tian Dan's convoy entering the Liu residence where
Ji Yanran was staying, and he was so frightened that he turned around and left, returning to his own residence first. Shan Rou and the Tian sisters were not there. When he asked, he learned that
Shan Rou had gone shopping and had taken her sisters with her. Wu Guo accompanied him to the bedroom door and whispered, "Le Cheng
's head has been transported to the pasture. Master asked Third Master what to do with it?" Xiang Shaolong replied, "Please let Elder Brother handle it! In
a few days, when things aren't so tense, send this traitor's head back to Xianyang to Prime Minister Lü, who will then hand it over to Empress Ji. Make sure
they absolutely do not leak the news, otherwise everyone will know that we killed Le Cheng."
Wu Guo accepted the order and left. Xiang Shaolong returned to his room and slept for two hours before rushing off to the Liu residence. Shan Rou and
the others still hadn't returned. As the sun set, the city looked even more bleak because the residents dared not go out unless necessary. Xiang Shaolong
was deeply moved, thinking to himself that this was all caused by the incompetent King Xiaocheng. However, it was more likely
an arrangement ; otherwise, there would have been no future Qin Shi Huang like Xiao Pan. Alas! This might be what Zou Yan called destiny
.
Upon arriving at the Liu residence, Ji Yanran was already waiting for him. She had someone lead him directly to a small building to meet Zou Yan
, who was also there. The three of them were delighted to be together. Ji Yanran had prepared a fine feast, and as they sat down around the table,
the beautiful woman personally poured wine for the two of them. After they drank a cup together, she complained, "I only received news of you
today . I've been thinking about
you so much that I've gotten a few more gray hairs." Zou Yan laughed and said, "If your hair is really so uncooperative, then I will punish you with a cup on behalf of all the men in the world."
The two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp. After Xiang Shaolong apologized to Ji Yanran, he gave the beauty a wink, and she
understood, waving away the two servants who were serving them. Ji Yanran lowered her voice and said, "It really was you who did it. You're really something
. More than two hundred people? Everyone there was either dead or injured. It not only shocked the whole city, but even Tian Dan and Li Yuan were shocked and
suspicious ." Zou Yan frowned and said, "However, this has also exposed your whereabouts. When Tian Dan came to visit Yanran earlier
and mentioned this matter, he expressed his suspicion that Xiang Shaolong was behind it."
Xiang Shaolong felt a slight unease. He knew that even if he could deceive King Xiaocheng and Zhao Mu, he could never deceive this powerful figure.
Fortunately he still had Teng Yi as a hidden card, enough to mislead him. He nodded and said, "What other purpose does he have in coming to see Yanran?
" Ji Yanran was concerned about his safety and did not answer him. Instead, she said, "What should we do? What if he really suspects you?"
Xiang
Shaolong laughed, "Don't worry, everyone in Handan is suspicious of each other right now. King Xiaocheng and the others suspect that
Tian Dan and Zhao Mu are working together. Besides, I have made arrangements to keep the enemy busy and on edge."
Zou Yan laughed, "On edge? That description is very apt for Handan. Yanran and I have also studied
the matter of Le Cheng's murder. We thought it wasn't you who did it. Firstly, because you have too few men, and secondly, we both thought you wouldn't
do something like this to alert the enemy before capturing Zhao Mu alive."
Ji Yanran was worried and confused, complaining, "Shaolong! You're too reckless." Xiang Shaolong sighed and said, "
I thought about it carefully before making this move. I took advantage of the fact that I was injured in the battle, so no one would suspect me, and
then I put it into action." He then explained his reasons for wanting to kill Le Cheng and the consequences that would follow.
He added, "If someone investigates afterward, they'll find that there were only a little over a hundred people in my residence at the time, and my top subordinate, Long Shan,
wasn't even in the city. Who would believe we were capable of doing such a thing? And the next morning, these people returned to the ranch unharmed
, making it even more unbelievable that they were Xi Lecheng's men." Ji and Zou stared at him in disbelief.
A little over a hundred people fighting against more than two hundred, without losing a single soldier—who would believe that? Even someone as
shrewd .
Ji Yanran breathed a sigh of relief and poured him more wine, saying, "You always manage to do what others can't, which is truly astonishing.
Alas! I feel like I can't bear a day without seeing you!" Xiang Shaolong said apologetically, "But the reason I came to see
you is to ask you to separate from me for a while and return to Xianyang first."
Ji Yanran's slender hand trembled, and she poured the wine onto the table, her expression changing as she said, "I can't agree to that no matter what.
There's no room for discussion, and I won't listen to any reason." Xiang Shaolong looked to Zou Yan for help, but even the great philosopher could only offer
a helpless bitter smile. After filling Zou Yan's wine cup, Ji Yanran smiled sweetly and said, "I can't
help it ."
Zou Yan chimed in, "Why does Shaolong want us to go to Xianyang first?" Ji Yanran placed a piece of food into
Zou Yan's bowl and said with a slight reproach, "No one is allowed to mention this again."
Xiang Shaolong surrendered, "Alright! I'll give up on that idea! Are you satisfied, talented lady?" Ji Yanran gave him a deep, affectionate
look, her beautiful, expressive eyes seeming to say, "Fine, you get it!" Xiang Shaolong could only exchange a wry
smile . The latter said, "Handan is not a place to stay for long. What new plan do you have?"
Xiang Shaolong said, "If I can really take up the position of city garrison commander, many things will be easily solved. Otherwise, I will have to use a scheme
to lure Zhao Mu to the pasture and forcibly capture him back to Xianyang." Ji Yanran said, "Let's not even talk about whether Zhao Mu has the courage to
leave the city. Even if he were willing to leave, without one or two thousand men to escort him, he would never step out of the city gate, and he would proceed
cautiously. So this is only a last resort."
Xiang Shaolong snorted coldly, "Right now, I am racing against time. The problem is that the Zhao people are waiting for
the day when my non-existent relatives and livestock arrive in Handan. Therefore, I must force Zhao Mu to rebel in the short term. If he becomes isolated
and helpless will be at my mercy. The biggest problem now is still time." Both of them were troubled by him.
Xiang Shaolong, remembering Tian Dan, asked again, "What brings Tian Dan here?" Ji Yanran blushed slightly and replied
, "There's some good news. He formally invited me to be a guest in Qi."
Xiang Shaolong thought to himself that Tian Dan was quite direct, and asked, "How did you respond to him, Yanran?" Ji Yanran said, "I told
him I needed a few days to consider it. I needed to ask you before replying."
Xiang Shaolong pondered for a moment and said, "It seems only Lord Longyang has guessed the nature of our relationship. This situation
is greatly advantageous to us. Although we still don't know who attacked Lord Longyang, it has indirectly helped us." "You've done me a great favor, relieving
Longyang Jun of the threat of having people spy on you." Ji Yanran said happily, "I don't care anymore, I must come to see
you tonight, because I have many things on my mind that I want to talk to you about!"
Xiang Shaolong asked curiously, "What things on your mind? Can't you say them now?" Zou Yan laughed, "Should I
leave a while?"
Ji Yanran's cheeks flushed red, and she stomped on Xiang Shaolong's foot a few times, saying shyly, "Mr. Zou is laughing at
me ." Xiang Shaolong suddenly realized that the so-called things on her mind were just a grand excuse for Zou Yan, in fact
, she couldn't suppress her lustful thoughts and wanted to have sex with him. Xiang Shaolong checked the time and said with a smile, "Then tonight, I, Dong,
will await Miss Ji's arrival. Oh! Do you know when Le Cheng's funeral will be held?" Both of them shook their heads.
He pondered for a moment and asked about the situation at Li Garden. Ji Yanran said, "He comes to visit every day. Judging from his
tone, he and Guo Zong have been very close lately. It seems that Guo Zong marrying his daughter to him is a done deal." Xiang Shaolong
sighed for the future fate of the lovely Guo Xiuer and then took his leave. There are many things that
cannot be rushed at the moment. He could only wait and see if the position of city garrison commander would fall to him.

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The complete adapted version of "A Step into the Past" (910 episodes). Original author: Huang Yi. Adapted by: frank511127

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