This official is so weak

Ning Rushen, adhering to the principle of dividing the Bei Di, spent a few days finessing around Landele.emoduUKuonAIxpEmohxKQvCuHPuobS

DgyAarzmvnaTeVO

He spun the man around so much that Landele was left completely bewildered, making things seem even more mysterious.tKAMBiGjHfxBYALyODgeqfICTlUnCy

hJOUqFxtCQybGut

After dinner, Landele called him back to the main tent. “Do you feel like you’re about to be struck by divine punishment? Quickly, divine for me.”QbvklUOhnJErYwpLsOOTViSioQSDPU

uoHNLRCkVTtAqMr

“…”XIErAUBhPHtfbyqEHApelByjQENnyt

pJvnYCuIZyOizGt

Ning Rushen glanced at him, lowered his lashes, and made a shushing gesture. “Shh, let me sense it.”ZFjkAApJGOEpQcKDLHmomtYYbEJcPF

tKsjBbRngZHLyim

Landele stopped talking, nervously watching him.MsHHQMOhSqrBPeZWdXSuKfOnUuNeSL

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After a moment, Ning Rushen got up and walked to the side of the tent.fldloarkaSUkxWVNpdxWIPpGUqMDyG

JYkaUTCWSdJJvme

It had rained several times that day, and now a light rain was still falling outside the tent.FxDtFvzOhdtyMfqUJTrFnkuyMMmcTB

IVjnvYcSohsPfbm

The entrance to the Bei Di tent was tall and wide, left fully open.IeYcvrCiuzMWfgtrzIrmYsbrlCSrrs

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Raindrops trickled down the edges, forming a curtain of water.OLFcGSNKyZwAyfnUjsCpLgribTDesG

KAiZefvQIrIlRmX

Ning Rushen reached out to catch the rain, suddenly recalling what Li Wuting had said before the expedition: “Camp at Yishui, bypass Hengyuan Slope…”gsSqsQoaAbHqAVYXjqxrCViaXTowGc

DMOkOOqSXJuCrkO

He withdrew his hand, folded it into his sleeve, and said, “The Grand Prince’s fortune rises from the water.”LHLcMqYIwCSZMKdGGXNeXJpRTcSNWl

EEZmbFDUwNznCgj

Landele hurriedly approached from behind. “Rises from the water? How long until it rises?”DOrwWhFVOjwuLDiAehEycLVmRueCJO

TCAZFwGaTaPiYpt

Ning Rushen was vague, “Soon.”dFmZrmNNTGHmtGgCSOnBWjTxwaIKtA

YwDJnnkEiBgYUPG

“How soon? Can’t you be more specific?”tVYuyxJTqTlRZtrvLsHPQHhpfdzShE

GWQASPbaFVdEsyJ

“Soon means… um!” He frowned and pressed his head, looking pale and fragile.rXhSkcnpppZaMpWTiUxnVvOREVfDrn

SnAXmMAPapOOaRK

Landele stared at him. “What’s wrong, are you about to suffer divine punishment again?”MldgxmcknSBpYysXApqhMAMwzvkQNb

TgvnkssfQbjMgjU

Ning Rushen, “…Mm-hmm.”agrrrSIJGnhOZulvDcKndZRlAvUykc

RVuYKPAEDIDdAhf

The gaze cast from beside him was instantly filled with dissatisfaction, anxiety, and some suspicion. Just as he braced himself for further scrutiny, someone outside the tent interrupted:lUdiwcwTbCdiBIZGNSMPRfapWcKklq

FZPbioVsumFmBrR

“Grand Prince! King Heku is here!”TEIoBMgDujIlVokQFbAGimfkCbOXbW

DVTxoAnkLIbBQwo

Landele’s head snapped up. “What!?”LIvspVxEgYSuNkhCrZQGyZFmGaPDWd

ZmBXtYZgLCyViUB

Ning Rushen’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat, and he also looked up.MWJPEZHTKvwRtqbcHKuACtNwpQNWZw

bSXSLZzbGQCIokx

…FmYZVkGjfldljfPlGVwzGpILPziCYY

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King Heku soon entered the main tent.yDdcJKlVquiWgRBKhzgKwUxKxEAQIU

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He was tall and strong, with bronze arms encircled by gold bands. The faint outline of a totem was visible on his chest, exuding an untamed aura.xElaLaOiLizwbAGRXCrkwcdiaABRxa

mwaUpjFEeHeSkvJ

Ning Rushen shrank back silently to the side.SIiljhCQQIUcXanVvFbJKVUigUJATS

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He watched as King Heku strode in, Landele bristling as he faced him.fcgfduhUfBThlEzwnuuCgurvoSHuLG

iIGkBzPyHEUiqVh

“What are you doing here!?”yxAHbMfSMFolpvKIRdUORxHURMwWUz

QIVtNZOqgbLOQoT

“I heard that the Prince had captured Da Cheng’s grain supplies, so I came to see how impressive you are.”TnxlngIrqPfQzkKhGcepdpehzQyDUP

KNqUIkswNEtqNrJ

Landele watched him warily.gIEoEQvBcOQOVNCkwCSJQIFOGhkHvz

vCTKAnKTzzPuAkV

King Heku, however, seemed unfazed, exchanging a few light words before his gaze shifted to Ning Rushen——xfCXWambjWZvrqEkzIHcVDTTiJEnUF

RCrJASBzfMKLRgr

Ning Rushen felt uneasy under his stare.zIZClGuuOaDpjPYRljNxIMBZyKfUWr

ZeqgmuKUmCWKFXg

The next moment, as expected, King Heku raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so this is Da Cheng’s ‘Divine Officer’?”AecktTnmzQsLJbuJppvrhXEheiuGRM

MNSaRdcZDcAFffN

Just as Ning Rushen’s heart started racing, King Heku strode over.wNcgwzfBdNnwbzVexJwoEGPglLznqd

AxzCDnPfgpdvowb

Landele exclaimed, “What are you doing!”cEbfRZyqgLyhhCffZepTdXgzMaGOHR

lQBZjNWMghWvJcn

King Heku grabbed Ning Rushen’s wrist and dragged him outside, turning his head to speak in Da Cheng’s language:YUIXkBMeYGPwaFrOWQsrMULiPrnjgs

PQdFwXIuuiPsbVj

“This is interesting. I’ll try a divination myself.”LfcRTOTCCGAvrIyWYlBXpIOCROyQmT

HnRpJyigOIwgpAP

With that, he dragged Ning Rushen out of the main tent.WLIGUCpyHKtGrsJteOXbkPXkzDzLNN

fsRwkuEIhgfouvM

Ning Rushen’s eyes widened: …!???gIsYhpCmCjHUNdylwokJSGlAxwkEKl

BSaCtAlYOzSfKwZ

·xhCtTJZqxnKSAmWvAGEKXPzoUhpLgL

WoVvVcLhrdNPEsK

He was directly taken to his own tent.piswobSQjsOKqiQfAJLVMtGsNDXMAg

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The guards King Heku brought with him lined up outside.ltCgeOjxWlknIVvfpIciYmzfkkAcNS

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Inside the quiet tent, the curtain was lowered.lLueqgEedjoYKXgrStLRFmLyjKgOtq

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Ning Rushen sat on the blanket while King Heku knelt in front of him, resting one hand on his knee as he examined him closely.WdocLOjFfUtYcluEgxRUdYZAptyCCT

fzhlKmDwYzWaBxs

“You look familiar to me.”AUuuvuXrQHEBVNQkZUYsopiTGeRIPL

bEIPdOSsuVElhWA

“…”beSFLPYrHgQvAOegrELahFeavEiqti

rtCdMdxGlBpGEGU

Ning Rushen thought: No shit, you drugged me, and the spy you sent got skewered by my security system. Of course I look familiar.tXWGatCpWxbbLrTBvAtrjYlIWaiaAR

ZFLyZpUSNBgIIFV

He made a small sound, “I have a common face.”sCvMuMNmHUKxjfNhnXlcEMGstwCDOM

uGDzOhgNuPfpLhY

King Heku chuckled, his gaze sweeping over him. “I’ve never seen such a… unforgettable common face.”wusvufAuTBFhvQVvtClIXPkPSOJhkm

gfYbmYMCdMgfBrI

“So I thought Landele had captured some sort of divine officer? Turns out it’s the Emperor of Da Cheng’s prized minister, the Imperial Inspector of the Dingyuan Army.”DVZpMerJMYovGJUIRJimJOPYJSsGKy

DjryAmZNIgodxDW

Ning Rushen: So, he recognized me after all.UOalYeBdNEibwQgGmtlsUmPIuxqvZd

jANMqOnIBZHKNvQ

And it seems King Heku knows a lot more about Da Cheng than Landele does.zPKoshIqoLujHCiSGXOoQuwraSbQTZ

pYbeTvxEfCgPfKO

He calmed himself and asked, “What do you want?”DgfTPgRMeAhKQAFPOcHmMjrXdbzBXP

sYafUFSTJjxCRzo

King Heku replied, “I should be asking you what you want. Sneaking into Landele’s camp as a ‘Divine Officer,’ sowing discord? Secretly bewitching others? Or perhaps——colluding with your Emperor from the inside?”sRjVqYTJOwxjYOgyoSysPctqdexRFt

WUBxYczwGNXsWbK

What the hell… he sure knows how to talk sweetly.IKRuhmSlKtQsxqnJPFFcQMzkOUgvJu

LBojSgbekVHSDgu

Ning Rushen restrained a smile at the corner of his mouth.djcpUvgBCKIoqSElNivIRjXBegvrrp

SUiIBLYmcCZshXE

Realizing he couldn’t keep bluffing, he decided to be straightforward, “Of course I’m trying to save my own life.”JEjQRkcsStzagSXNaoALEPoUimsmOB

wMlAAbcUwiBFTop

Considering the situation in Bei Di, he added, “Besides, whatever I do, it’ll be beneficial to you, King Heku.”uAlbXXrYNhWvqudrKolwHPfVetbjdC

dWoBHMNSHTavZOa

“Beneficial?” King Heku was intrigued, resting his head on his hand. “I’d like to hear how.”wEvOHVCJZJJBvpkZZOYxYfwRoQpxgD

rKyYkVGekjBXaOf

Ning Rushen gathered his thoughts and solemnly began:tqbZorwkyghEHnZEYPIvHysPNiykvM

yLzcKZhopvLXqMl

“Have you heard about the secret rumors circulating within your Bei Di royal family recently?”xflsZmbCtXxuXlTtIjSYgeNrcdixVr

QdUozsYIdUxwvOw

“Hmm.”bAdxbqDpZjHoMqOBnCJCkfkUGWqrEf

gWLEJQDZaGfbsQK

“These are all rumors spread by the Grand Prince. He’s trying to pin the label of ‘usurper’ on you, so that the King of Bei Di will be wary of you, giving him the military power to compete with you.”tIKJOWcbgPtLEYHYICHeILXQBDnPQs

CuaJebSnMLTdYyt

“He spread them?” King Heku narrowed his eyes. “I was wondering where those rumors came from. But there’s one thing they got right—I’ve indeed set my sights on that position.”fSLmJTASoONbWKfYUNcfvzQwXOFWYa

TMXmIcgVqmlmqgT

He made no effort to hide his ambition.hCZvUUVNgrMLnmoqCemlxMgnhtYikn

bTRrIkyEXsGVCNU

Ning Rushen met the sharp glint in his eyes up close, thinking that he might have accidentally hit the mark—perhaps King Heku really did mobilize troops for military power and merit?OFpoXaHIWdFJWwBWjEwUgOjZlQmqWd

kKyudWLTlAJgKsm

Brotherhood, kinship… none of it seemed to matter to him.aIKzuRjSbIbrnbBGnBWKVCTAWVmHMZ

kzYOrHwiVcZvPlc

Ning Rushen tried to remain calm and said, “If the Grand Prince fails, wouldn’t that be even better for you?”lFDoCToKTgnOchvoOHFJtmZNaedbHq

COAdINWymSCnqoU

King Heku smirked. “Well said.”fvWVYOtUGUhfDQfcfbLEcGJfTcxGUs

MJKwqmaJNAmSVDs

Just when it seemed like he was about to be convinced, King Heku suddenly changed his tone, “However… directly capturing you to use as leverage against the Emperor of Da Cheng seems like an even better idea.”yhNokrJJCdClfkOpOXyXlyoEYvWwCF

ZKJfPEOUNePwMbG

Ning Rushen’s heart skipped a beat as he looked at him.DGSeSlQOREfZbWeMqqsNiyqfAdujvP

bBMfXKUbVauORXs

King Heku’s expression was dark and serious, not as if he were joking.yFCwzMLacKRQERxbtBQLZpEQNmnDxS

ioYMDtXPbPPxLjB

Ning Rushen met his gaze, took a deep breath, and stared back, “Then I’ll sacrifice myself for my country, and let Da Cheng’s iron cavalry flatten Bei Di.”wWWCAzPPbBHcdXJYeFseRaQudUlEsD

fktHqxsBpFPCIYF

Their eyes locked, and the atmosphere in the tent grew heavy.CVEWxRBpHAxtiODgPblLCKwYSmoeat

joFOGEXCdizDqHg

The sound of raindrops outside became distinctly audible.QcbxJyfzVzkbPMdkgiTMHAyzswQuRV

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It felt like an eternity of contemplation passed.DRJOSzFuoLbrZSzONlEgaZzwOQymdJ

CRSqnDGqaCssPjb

Finally, King Heku chuckled, “All I want is that position; I don’t care about anything else. If you can take care of Landele, I might even help you out.”RpBjTpEmbWXHiExKDrQvngVyGlCwuJ

VCFIjKsjtoRMKen

Ning Rushen squinted at him, “How would you help?”YbQzAGSKoKLhTlsPNUhGheELvRtwyI

RDWtkglBDHtxlJx

“Do you know where the weakest point in Landele’s camp is?”advYMgHkQRqCiNCDlgEepIGkfzbWEj

FYkHtsBxsvvYuUD

“——The dancers’ tent.”tGKLJPVpZOBMrYUEtjpFJZXQdnGjJg

yaBdHuRnTOrbSkQ

·wwrtnJFaShBKYRbFSwHLFnkjIlmwlN

pTqnyIgWLTBFwun

A quarter of an hour later.ItfxDPqJJykuASTWWLtxMiABALFPmM

ubtAbxOTjFjPgRr

Ning Rushen was being led out of the tent by King Heku, who had him by the arm.KwvkudegGCGFmEUGePaCqOLmFOFWIa

hBNJUywcjcAitDl

As soon as they stepped out, Ning Rushen saw that Landele was being kept at a distance by King Heku’s guards. When Landele spotted them, he was so angry that he drew his sword:mlmWhqIvSlJoOZiARbjZfoUINpSNby

sypgBrzksBGyPqK

“Asaihan! Don’t push your luck!”ttKGZUelqgZlhSGaTcMYjrugnrRAYN

mmjLwvvmcrtLnHh

King Heku laughed indifferently and shoved Ning Rushen forward, “I thought there was something special about him. Don’t tell me you’ve kept him in the camp because you’re smitten with his looks?”gkegZTXKlTXaiROYPnzAPRTJytkmAF

kvuglUiEAQqwTfN

“Wha—” Landele was about to snap, but then something seemed to occur to him, and he relaxed slightly, glancing at Ning Rushen with some relief:FljwVSQRGzrJlDzLthURxzGpPjcAbk

scPCCeIUzglAzZy

“Why do you care what I keep him around for?”uonRYQgUKqfnXPXbulEZhoQanYipeO

BeSsVbBhQvOhVVq

Ning Rushen noticed Landele’s satisfied expression:vuHnqSAvVlXCxcnDaRAaRObXJGvYEl

HdlxVDFfxGzYybP

It seemed Landele believed in his “loyalty” and hadn’t shown anything suspicious in front of King Heku.eegNpuaXzPcrIYFsHoDYYabjWnbNWT

WxuSizTLbmysVKZ

King Heku gave Ning Rushen another once-over, “If you ask me, little brother, you still don’t know how to enjoy life. With his looks and figure, if he were dressed in a dancer’s red silk and golden bells, it would be quite a sight.”kmUhnapAGzZRMJdlywNjSgBqklpQWQ

mZLhysmbRHBQFmI

Landele stood there, mouth agape, probably shocked by King Heku’s bizarre tastes.VLUyiNxcWjHdjxTRZDIjwhDfSVDTQb

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King Heku boomed, “Hurry up and get him changed, then have him join me for a drink!”OijtfBdkFsEksjuSHXMDmRCBUdovhI

ETBragEIKqLjCzO

Ning Rushen noticed Landele’s hesitation and seized the moment to speak, “Those who blaspheme against the gods will die.”NqiNJEkcszQANyNvAkKtPmUhByBumG

YCYXuDGYjcVnuvA

Before Landele could respond, his lieutenant leaned in, whispering, “Grand Prince, if King Heku commits the blasphemy, any divine punishment will fall on him instead…”HHjXnTXOFKRHvrENVdjigWmVKDTwpV

pAhpOoxeRBkBnTa

Landele’s mind stirred at the suggestion. Just then, King Heku shouted again, so Landele feigned reluctance and said, “To conceal divine power, do as he says.”XjZCDsnOvBkhXzpfyKUROHtakAinTu

mxijOaKFpSjQIVT

Ning Rushen closed his eyes in “shame” and descended the steps.VOqZoIqxBJmwkvfLFHEnnRFKoeOEGk

VaZcmaovPrAuEEW

…jrZnupuYEQVWGAiRWmqkBQabASEjgK

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The dancers’ tent was situated at the edge of the camp.xTcirWXCgkSzCsXJdOxPwBxTGIrOVk

btCcJleGPuGZpdW

Ning Rushen was pushed inside by the Bei Di soldiers, where he saw about a dozen dancers draped in red silk, sitting listlessly in the tent. phKTOQkkYQzdPJnniiZWLUEizKHeyI

akdOlMQavxnHKaH

There were both Bei Di women and girls from Da Cheng, likely abducted, with some bearing visible wounds. Their heads were bowed, and their eyes were lifeless.XDxamtGVWHVloPDvuDOdonEsunGzif

rgHdbGvHYGSnvKb

Ning Rushen clenched his fists, lips pressed tightly as he thought:mzhTQHomTtuuXTvxQtTMwdytMeESfx

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*Just hold on a little longer. When the army arrives, I’ll take you all home.*UVIuHjQTGSWwuaNgsGxNXveiHJoWWb

hLCXXzujMkOdzwH

The Bei Di soldiers behind him urged him forward, so he bypassed the women and headed toward the corner of the tent.YnQyJCSPFOviDcqNTdUbDQsyUfFeqP

pAUclDMPJMDzxvT

The dancers paid him no mind, likely accustomed to new arrivals now and then. Seeing that he was a man, they all averted their gazes.xouysBHFUJXJRbFpHOAFAxlOrpTUQk

PXMFvUeFolAcDzI

In the corner of the tent, there were clothes laid out for him to change into.dhzFsyhfvejyAzBGmtdaslEurjzTop

ylANpHHXpqYEIkN

Ning Rushen picked up the clothes and glanced around:yGgHzRtzMSBPzogBzAiEyWsZWUnLwe

RiAfenQkJqdfmtj

The tent was large enough that from his position, he couldn’t see the Bei Di soldiers guarding outside. Only the faint sounds of their idle chatter reached him.zNPeaxxEwFlDWEPlAVnfEdXKzXsdgN

TZrYUboIpEsgZxp

They probably figured that a tent full of defenseless women required little vigilance—gshlzrGQnIyEMYfdGgWafHxIPkDMng

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*Indeed, this is the weakest point of the camp.*gpgHkQwUClXpJsBEUtQbStoIwWmCFB

vxNylqRnLaDsXvd

Now, how should he stay here, and once he’s here, how would he gather and relay information?UEyGqBbeblAQfdrZgSusoVVpFWElYC

XHpiKEWmLCepUEF

Should he leave markers during the camp’s relocation or…?tXvFYkwRKIxsNPGZCMGBHdNKqbHesU

vIqGdBLQTiEuols

As Ning Rushen took in the surroundings, he slowly began to untie his belt, lost in thought.EFLJgnymHZvAeyvptNxJyQgJAlbGlE

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Just then, there was a subtle movement beneath the tent.oWzuOidVmiDvsmnOZhkXfncylXCbNv

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Looking down, he saw the edge of the tent lift slightly.vZnXhsARBJPjmeDfQyIWOGkfdlaDUJ

tdkzuXXsiuEfznE

A white, fluffy head, seemingly waiting for an opportunity, finally snuck its way inside with a soft rustling sound.cUDVTbROsXNRTPykwLaAiOjfwDYvvk

wRHUrkWQPrXJadB

“…”UucquGEAXyrtViaDeVXYvAygJnXdCA

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Ning Rushen met the gaze of a white falcon: *Hello?*IViBxDEqfKPTDQsRGJOyxHngUGzsQw

DsJwpIQHCdLYVjl