Heirs of the Seven Swords of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 1950: Demon Slayer ()

Before Shi Lan could speak, Gu Xun smiled and waved at her:

"Come, come and try my new tea."

"Zhang Han said it was a newly-released Autumn Dew White, and he just sent it to me."

Gu Xun loved tea, so people who were close to him would often give him tea, especially his student Fusu, who gave Gu Xun all kinds of rare and precious teas.

The Qiulubai tea sent by Zhang Han is not very rare, but Gu Xun likes to drink tea, not collect it. The most important thing is the taste, and it doesn’t matter whether it is rare or not.

Gu Xun likes light-flavored tea, and this Qiulubai is just right.

Shi Lan was a little stunned.

How could someone invite an unexpected guest to have tea without asking any questions?
But after thinking about what he had seen and what others had said about Gu Xun's behavior, it seemed reasonable.

She walked to the stone table in the yard in silence and sat down obediently opposite Gu Xun.

Gu Xun picked up the freshly boiled water and poured a cup of tea for himself and Shi Lan respectively - he liked drinking tea, but he had never been interested in the complicated tea ceremony, and he always made tea simply by pouring boiling water.

Although it is a bit wasteful and the taste may be a bit worse, Gu Xun doesn't care.

He pursues enjoyment, but not extreme enjoyment.

After pouring the tea, Gu Xun couldn't wait to pick up the steaming cup and take a sip.

Gu Xun likes to drink hot water, and hot water seems to have the characteristic that the more you drink it, the less hot it gets and the more you like it, which led him to drink warm water at 30 or 40 degrees, then hot water at 50 or 60 degrees, then scalding water at 70 or 80 degrees, and finally to boiling water at 910 degrees.

Fortunately, he is not afraid of burns and is not worried about esophageal cancer.

Of course Shi Lan would not and could not drink the boiled water. She just held up the teacup and let the heat flow through the warm jade wall of the cup into her palm.

On a clear autumn day, the autumn breeze will inevitably make people feel a little chilly, so it would be nice to have a heat source to hold.

"I……"

"I know why you came to see me." Gu Xun interrupted Shi Lan directly, "It's nothing more than for Tianming."

"There is another letter." Shi Lan added, "It was sent to me by someone named Bai Feng not long ago."

"Oh!" Gu Xun put down the teacup, tapping the table unconsciously with his fingers, and nodded in realization, "There's also this one, I almost forgot about it."

"I've been living such a decadent life lately that I feel like my brain is degenerating."

"Well... tell me, what do you want to ask?" Gu Xun held the teacup again and said with a smile.

"Are you willing to help me?" Shi Lan asked back, holding the teacup, her fair face tense, trying her best to control her emotions.

"First of all, I am not helping you. I am just following my own wishes and answering your questions to a certain extent." Gu Xun first corrected, and then continued to explain, "Secondly, the reason why I am willing to selectively answer your questions is very simple. Whether it is for the sake of your mother and the Great Elder of Shushan, or your identity as the Master of Bingpo Sword, I am willing to chat with you and answer your doubts."

After listening to Gu Xun's explanation, Shi Lan was silent for a moment, then asked her first question, a question that got straight to the point:

"Can you help rescue Tianming?"

Gu Xun was slightly surprised when he heard this and asked, "Didn't Chen He tell you? I won't interfere with the affairs of the Mirage."

"Why?" Shi Lan was not disappointed because she had no hope at all, but she still asked the reason.

Reasons may also be valuable information.

"Because of the Yin-Yang family? Or because of the emperor?"

Gu Xun pondered for a moment and answered the question, "What the emperor said... is partly his reason, but not completely."

"At this moment, there are many people who hope that Tianming will stay in the Mirage obediently, not only the emperor, but also not only the Yin-Yang family."

“There’s even a part of me involved.”

"So you will stop us from saving Tianming?" Although Shi Lan tried her best to control her emotions, she still showed some nervousness.

If Gu Xun intervened, Tian Ming would be completely doomed.

Gu Xun shook his head. "I told you that I won't interfere with the affairs of the Mirage... The 'my reasons' I mentioned only represent my opinions and thoughts, and don't mean that I will personally intervene."

"Then... you won't answer my questions that can help rescue Tianming?" Shi Lan felt a little relieved and immediately asked again.

"Hmm..." Gu Xun replied after a pause, "To be precise, it is basically impossible for you to take people away from the Mirage, even if I tell you the answers to key questions such as Tianming's location in the Mirage."

"If you don't intervene, how can you be sure that we can't save people?"

Gu Xun took a sip of tea slowly to moisten his throat, then replied, "Without considering any other factors, the Yin Yang family has seven masters. Even if Yun Zhongjun is inferior, it still counts as six and a half."

"Can you handle the seven of them?"

"There are just as many Mohist masters as before, and there are other forces helping us, so we have just as many manpower as before." Shi Lan did not accept Gu Xun's explanation.

There are very few Mohist masters. Not counting Tianming who is in prison, there are only two people, Xue Nu and Gao Jianli, plus the semi-non-staff member Gai Nie, which makes a total of three. In terms of quality, it can barely be counted as four.

However, the Mohists can ask for external assistance.

There are Chen He and Tian Heng, who had just worked together, as well as the old ally Xiaoyaozi, the leader of the Renzong Sect, as well as Shi Lan herself and Shao Yu, and they can even borrow experts from the farmers' side - since they are saving their own tyrant, the Mohist School will definitely spare no effort to find helpers. I dare not say how many there will be, but it will definitely not be difficult to get ten or eight.

The Yin-Yang family is indeed extremely powerful, but they are not capable of fighting against all anti-Qin forces on their own.

Gu Xun replied indifferently, "Anyone can find helpers. The Mohists can do it, and the Yin-Yangists can do it too."

"Of course, this is not the point. The point is... even if you have people, you have to be able to use them."

"Do you think you can sneak up to the mirage as easily as before?"

Shi Lan felt something was wrong and quickly asked, "What do you mean?"

Gu Xun explained calmly, "The top priority of the empire right now is the safety of the Eastern Tour Caravan, or in other words, the safety of the emperor."

"Apart from Ying Zheng's life, the most important thing is Mirage."

"I won't interfere with Mirage's affairs, but even I have to do my best to ensure that Mirage can sail again smoothly without taking any action myself."

"The farce you put up yesterday just gave the Yin-Yang family an opportunity to take advantage of it and strengthen the defense of the Mirage to the greatest extent."

"All the Shadow Secret Guards and Luowang have been deployed to block all channels that can reach the Mirage. Most of the local garrisons in Jiaodong County have been mobilized to garrison the Sanghai Port as quickly as possible. The Gongshu Family must also provide the greatest assistance and provide all-round monitoring and defense from the sky to the sea."

"I can't say you have no chance, but if one or two people sneak up to get information, it's possible. But if more than 70 or 80 people go up at once, they will definitely be discovered."

"Once you are exposed, do you think you can escape with Tianming?"

Shi Lan fell silent.

If what Gu Xun said was true, then it would be very difficult for them to rescue the people quietly, and they would inevitably face a head-on conflict with the Yin-Yang Family.

Even if other possible interference factors were eliminated and Master Ban was able to drive the Xuanwu directly under the mirage to ensure that they could escape by jumping into the sea, the process would still be difficult.

The Mirage was too big. It was anchored in the sea, making it difficult to enter and exit. Theoretically, it was a semi-enclosed area, but its large area made it equivalent to an open area. Before they could escape, it was enough for the Yin-Yang family and the Shadow Secret Guards to surround them.

It would be troublesome to escape at that time. It is very likely that no one could be rescued and two more people would be killed - if the Yin-Yang family had not made a deal with Tianming for some inexplicable reason, Chen He would have been trapped together with Tianming yesterday.

Not to mention, there are all kinds of interferences and accidents in actual operations, and these impacts are basically aimed at them, but there is nothing on the Yin-Yang family's side.

Taking both factors into consideration, it is not an exaggeration to say that the success rate is almost zero.

Shi Lan was silent for a long time, and finally could only force herself to say, "We can't give up Tianming."

Gu Xun put down his teacup, crossed his hands leisurely in front of his chest, and said with a smile, "I know you won't give up, and I didn't ask you to give up, I just suggested it."

"As for how to do it, that's up to you."

Gu Xun did not explain to Shi Lan the inseparable fate between Tianming and Mirage to persuade him.

Gai Nie knew about this matter. If there was any need to discuss it, let Gai Nie decide. He was too lazy to waste his breath on it.

"Then I can use the requirements in that letter to exchange for a certain degree of help from you, okay?" Shi Lan made a request.

Gu Xun refused without thinking, "No, these are two different things!"

"The matter in the letter is my request to the Ice Soul Sword Master. Whether you agree or not is up to you as the Sword Master. It has nothing to do with other things."

"If you are not willing to help, I will not make other promises in exchange for your agreement."

"Then can you tell me why the Yin-Yang family attaches so much importance to Tianming?"

"Because he is very useful." Gu Xun smiled and gave a perfunctory answer.

"Will the Yin-Yang family use Tianming to kill him?" Shi Lan asked again.

"I don't know either." Gu Xun immediately gave an excellent answer.

After three questions were either rejected or answered perfunctorily, Shi Lan fell into silence again. After a long time, she took a sip of the tea that was no longer hot, stood up and said goodbye.

"I'm leaving...thank you for answering my question."

Gu Xun raised his hand and waved, smiling as he saw the guest off, "Goodbye."

………………

After Shi Lan left the general's mansion, she wandered around the street absent-mindedly for a few laps.

She didn't know how much the Mirage's defense had improved, but the city was still quite peaceful.

In fact, Gu Xun strictly implemented the principle of "mirage is a mirage, mirage is a mirage", and completely separated the mirage from Sanghai City.

Apart from the increase in the volume of freight carriages entering and leaving Sanghai and a slightly increased level of inspection at the city gate, there was no other impact.

Even if Shi Lan strolled around the street openly, she would not attract any trouble.

After wandering aimlessly for a few rounds and eating something to fill her stomach, Shi Lan rushed to the meeting place she and Shao Yu had agreed on in advance.

When she got there, she found that Shao Yu had already arrived.

She didn't stay too long at Gu Xun's place. She just walked around twice because she thought Shao Yu might not be able to handle it in a short time - of course, it was also to relieve her emotions.

As a result, Shao Yu came back quite early...or maybe she had been shopping for too long.

Of course, none of this matters.

Shi Lan hurried forward to meet Shao Yu, but saw that the other party's face was not very good, and she was afraid that there was bad news.

Seeing Shi Lan return safely, Shao Yu's expression lightened up a little, and he immediately said, "There is bad news."

"The defense of Mirage has been strengthened. All the Empire's manpower in Songhai is being concentrated in the port and on the ship. In addition, the local garrison in Jiaodong County has also been transferred and will arrive soon."

"In two days, the entire mirage will probably be surrounded like an iron barrel!"

Shi Lan had already heard this news from Gu Xun, and hearing it again from Shao Yu only served to confirm it completely, so her reaction was indifferent.

Shao Yu didn't notice and just said to himself, "Time is running out. I don't think I can listen to Master Ban and wait any longer."

"I want to go on board right away to gather intelligence."

"No!" Shi Lan stopped him immediately.

"Why?" Shao Yu asked back, "If you don't go now, it will be more difficult later!"

"The defenses of Mirage have been strengthened. All the manpower of Shadow Secret Guards and Luowang have been deployed there. The Yin-Yang family has also strengthened their precautions. It is very dangerous for you to board the ship rashly!" Shi Lan explained.

Shao Yu didn't think much about it and just thought it was information that Shi Lan had obtained through her own channels - although in fact it could be considered that way.

"Well... then it's better to go now than later. Mirage will further strengthen its defenses later."

"Shao Yu, don't be anxious. We can't take any risks. Let's go back and think about it." Shi Lan advised.

Seeing Shi Lan's strong opposition, Shao Yu thought about it and decided to suppress his impulse for the time being, "Okay, let's go back first."

………………

After Shao Yu Shilan returned to the base outside the city and told Master Ban the intelligence he had obtained, he still insisted on his original idea.

Because Shao Yu had entered and exited the mirage many times, he developed path dependence and also underestimated the danger of the mirage.

Even though he knew that the Yin-Yang family had deliberately let him win before, he still couldn't change his habit of contempt.

Letting him rashly go up to the Mirage again and alerting the enemy is just a small matter. After all, the Yin-Yang family has begun to strengthen their defenses without limit. But if others are involved, it will be a big loss.

Of course Master Ban couldn't let him go.

It would be better to wait for Dao Zhi to come back and let this professional do it. Even if he can't find out any information, at least he can ensure his own safety.

Shao Yu was somewhat unwilling, but after being persuaded by both Master Ban and Shi Lan, he finally held back.

It was not until the evening of the next day that Dao Zhi was the first to arrive back.

He didn't even have time to rest, and immediately rushed to the Mirage to find out the situation.

More than an hour later, he returned to the base and brought back some terrible news.

"The ship is now too heavily guarded!" Dao Zhi panted heavily and gulped down tea while talking. There were faint bloodshot in his eyes and he was obviously very tired.

Master Ban stroked his beard, his brows knitted into a complicated shape, "You can't even find an opportunity to take advantage of?"

Dao Zhi touched his chin, thought for a moment with an embarrassed look on his face, and then replied, "It's not that there is no chance at all, but... it's very difficult!"

(End of this chapter)