In the Blade

The academy has no classes today.

In the Shanzhang Jingshe, Ruan Shantao sat upright, and even the wide robe could not hide his sturdy figure. Opposite Ruan Shantao, a middle-aged man named Xiang Rong was leisurely sipping tea. Although he was facing the heavy pressure of a huge mountain, he was still calm.

This was a private meeting between former classmates, and all outsiders were driven out of the mountain.

Including the students, the gatekeepers, the cooks in the cafeteria, and Du Chengfeng and Cui Yuan.

"The old man is really good at making trouble for me."

Thinking of Cui Yuan's identity as a wanted criminal, Du Chengfeng couldn't think of any good ideas for a while, so he borrowed a big pot from the cooks in the cafeteria and put Cui Yuan into the pot.

Although the curled-up posture must be a bit aggrieved, it can at least hide his tracks.

"I just don't know what's going on in the mountain..."

Du Chengfeng couldn't help but look back in the direction of Ziyang Mountain.

Although he complained, when Ruan Shantao asked all the strangers to leave, he realized that the middle-aged man who had just communicated with him might have a big problem - but just when he was about to draw his knife to chop him, he met Ruan Shantao's eyes.

The knife in the saddle bag was not pulled out after all, which was a respect for old man Ruan.

The old man was going to reminisce with his former classmates alone and didn't want others to interfere.

"I hope nothing will happen..."

Du Chengfeng always had a bad premonition, you know, he was ready to settle down in Yanzhou.

In the Shanzhang Jingshe in the distant mountains, the middle-aged man named Xiang Rong said the same thing.

"Brother Ruan, you can't be in trouble. This Yanzhou is managed so well by you. I want to live here."

While sipping tea, Xiang Rong laughed.

"And this tea, the meat buns for breakfast just now... they taste exactly the same as they did in the Imperial College. I really miss it, Brother Ruan. Those things from our youth seem to have happened just yesterday. By the way, Brother Ruan, are you still persisting in your benevolence?"

"Never slackened off."

Ruan Shantao had no expression on his face.

"Is that why you came here to ask me this?"

"It's good that you're still persisting. That's really amazing."

Xiang Rong sighed.

"So, Brother Ruan, even if it's for your benevolence, surrender."

...

Ruan Shantao didn't answer, but just looked at Xiang Rong coldly.

That look was more like looking at some kind of filthy animal than looking at his former classmates.

"I still don't understand why you are a talented person, but you have to be a dog for those grassland people."

"Hey, Brother Ruan, didn't you also work as a dog for the Southern Chen court? There's no difference between us."

Xiang Rong still laughed, as if Ruan Shantao's insults were just wind in his ears.

"Brother Ruan, I'm not kidding you. Just surrender, just for the sake of the people of Yanzhou."

"You dog!"

Ruan Shantao immediately slammed the table and stood up, with a heavy momentum like a mountain pressing down on his head!

"How could my Great Chen give birth to such a shameless person like you!"

Angry, it was the first time that Ruan Shantao was so angry. He didn't understand why his former friend had become like this - they were so high-spirited and energetic back then, all full of passion, and all wanted to make a career.

But in the end, he was the only one who really walked down.

Only he, only himself, only he chose this most bitter and difficult path. No matter when, he never really gave up. Even though he knew that the court had other ideas, he came to Yanzhou, to this place close to the border, just hoping to teach a few more talents and let the people have more peace for a while...

"So what?"

Xiang Rong still had a smile on his face, but when he looked at Ruan Shantao, there was no smile.

"So? Brother Ruan, is your benevolence only as good as that in Yanzhou?"

"You..."

Ruan Shantao frowned instantly.

But Xiang Rong didn't give Ruan Shantao a chance to speak.

"Yes, it's so far from the capital of Jiankang to the remote Yanzhou, but you've worked hard, brother Ruan... So what about Jizhou? What about the real border? Why didn't you go to the place that really needs education? Is it because the journey is too far? Or is it because you're worried about a fight? Or in other words, in your eyes, the people of Jizhou are not the people?"

"You..."

Ruan Shantao frowned more and more.

"Yanzhou has tried its best to accept the people in Jibei, find them another home, and let them resume their lives... If it weren't for your Mobei Royal Court! If it weren't for your people who started the war! How could they be displaced! How could they fall to this point!"

"So... Brother Ruan, have you been to the Mobei grassland?"

Even though he saw Ruan Shantao's hand touching the ruler beside him, Xiang Rong remained unmoved.

"Have you seen herdsmen freezing to death in the cold wind? Have you seen children and mothers starving to death? Yes, you may have read in a book that the grassland people live by following the water and grass, then do you know how many people will die on the road chasing the water and grass?"

Seeing that Ruan Shantao's ruler was about to hit his head, Xiang Rong's smile became even wider.

"You see, this is your benevolence. There are only Chen people in your benevolence, and now there are only Yanzhou people. I am different. I know why I came here, so even if you kill me now, it won't change anything."

Even though it carried enough force to split stones, the ruler finally stopped in front of Xiang Rong's forehead.

"Ah, it seems that you have understood, brother Ruan. If you kill me, you will only get an opponent you don't understand, and he probably won't reason with you. But if you keep me, you will at least know how to deal with me, and maybe I can make the Khan's army retreat."

Xiang Rong sighed.

"Just like my apprentice, he has such a good swordsmanship, but you caught him to read some sage book... Brother Ruan, you are not going to use him to threaten me, right? Then I advise you to change someone, the boy who gave me the buns before is quite suitable, I think he is a good person."

"You talk too much nonsense."

Take a deep breath, Ruan Shantao put down the ruler and took the chessboard beside him.

"Well, let's play a game. Show me what you have learned over the years and stop harming the people of the world."

"Well, if I lose, I will write to the Khan and lead the team back north. After all, with you, Brother Ruan, in charge, it will cost a lot to take over Yanzhou."

At this point, Xiang Rong paused.

"But if you lose, it also proves that you will definitely not be able to beat me when the two armies really face off. It is better to open the city and surrender directly to welcome the Khan. At least this will save the whole city from the disaster of war."

"Stop talking nonsense and start."

Ruan Shantao was too lazy to talk nonsense with Xiang Rong, and raised his hand to place a piece.

On the chessboard, you and I fought back and forth, and the two of them were inseparable for a while. This is more like practicing the battle formation of two armies than playing chess. Ruan Shantao's way of using troops is as fierce as his swordsmanship. After a while, Xiang Rong was defeated and his army was in disarray.

"I won."

The last move fell, and Ruan Shantao narrowed his eyes.

"Even if you have three armies, this Yanzhou City can bleed the grassland king's court, so even for the sake of your benevolence and the grassland people, you should lead your troops to retreat."

"No, brother Ruan, I haven't lost yet."

Xiang Rong raised his hand and pointed at the chessboard.

"Look, I have a hidden piece here..."

"Huh?"

Ruan Shantao frowned and looked down at the chessboard.

But at this moment, his heart suddenly hurt.

"You..."

Looking down at the hairpin nailed to his chest, and then looking up at Xiang Rong with disheveled hair, Ruan Shantao's face was full of disbelief.

But Xiang Rong lowered his head.

"Sorry, brother Ruan, there are times when I can't afford to lose."

Take a deep breath, Xiang Rong raised his head and pushed the door out, no longer looking at Ruan Shantao lying on the ground.

At this moment, there was a blazing fire, slashing towards Xiang Rong head-on.

"Good boy! You dare to come back!"

Xiang Rong raised his hand and slapped his waist, and the Bailian soft sword drew two arcs of light like a poisonous snake, and actually blocked the blazing sword light like a blazing flame!

And a human-faced giant eagle had already jumped out of Xiang Rong's sleeves and flew up against the wind.

"Still want to run!"

Seeing that Xiang Rong jumped onto the eagle's back and was about to fly away on the spot, Du Chengfeng, who hurried back, immediately turned the heavy sword in his hand upside down, wanting to nail the human-faced giant eagle to death in the air.

But at this moment, Xiang Rong raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the Shanzhang Jingshe.

"Rather than killing me, I think you'd better deal with the thing inside first."

"What..."

Du Chengfeng subconsciously turned his head and looked in the direction of Shanzhang Jingshe.

But he saw more than ten withered arms like green bamboos, which instantly broke through the wall and grabbed towards him.

"Right, since you want to see your teacher for the last time, how can you go empty-handed... huh?"

The giant eagle under his feet had just taken off, but Xiang Rong's brows suddenly froze.

The giant eagle under his feet was indeed still flapping its wings.

But the human face on the giant eagle's neck had been nailed by a blazing fire blade and flew all the way to the sky.

The second update is here, everyone should rest early.

In addition: Thank you for your recommendation votes and monthly tickets, thank you for your encouragement and support, and see you in the evening.