Seeing Shen Zhi Again

Green Name's gaze lingered on Zhang Yang for a moment before shifting away.

A moment later, as if seeing an unbelievable existence, his gaze suddenly turned back, this time staring intently at Zhang Yang without blinking.

Zhang Yang, whose eyes met the other person's, was speechless.

Does the green-named person recognize its own identity?

Zhang Yang's view was blocked by a burly figure. Ge Zhou, dressed in plain clothes, was directly facing the green-named light cavalry leader. Seeing this, Guan Si, who had been hiding in the shadows, retracted the step he had just taken. He had been on the ship all this time, and his seasickness hadn't lessened. He had only sat on Zhang Da Gu's back and flown into the clouds to ease his discomfort when he couldn't bear it any longer. After disembarking, he left alone to catch his breath.

I really don't want to expose my vulnerable side.

That little thief named Bi Gong is always being sarcastic and provocative.

He came back after he felt a little better.

Upon arrival, he immediately noticed the presence of the light cavalry and the unusual gaze the leader was giving Zhang Yang. That look was clearly reserved for someone he recognized. Guan Si had no recollection of this person; it was highly likely someone Zhang Yang knew before he came to Tianyue.

Guan Sicai lowered his guard after realizing the other party meant no harm.

Green Name confirmed the guess.

He turned and ordered his men to leave first, as he had some matters to attend to. As the other light cavalry departed, the green-named rider approached. Just a few feet from Zhang Yang, he dismounted, removed his visor, revealing a familiar face, now weathered and resolute, the youthful innocence gone. The tea vendors had scattered before the patrol even appeared, fearing arrest and imprisonment.

"Is that Boyuan?"

"How did Uncle De recognize him?"

"Why have you gotten so short?" Shen Zhi gestured with his hands to indicate Zhang Yang's current height. He used to be so tall, reaching Shen Zhi's ear. In all this time, not only had he not grown taller, but he had shrunk considerably. "Is it because of the 'Descending Stars'?"

In this world, sudden weight loss may be due to a serious illness, but sudden rejuvenation is most likely due to the wrath of the stars.

Zhang Yang had not previously received any celestial descents.

It's also possible to be unlucky and "win" something during this period.

"I can't just use my original appearance. Qin Shiming has seen me before. Changing my identity will save me some trouble."

Shen Zhi smiled wryly: "It's not that bad."

There was no life-or-death conflict between Qin and Huang.

Her answer also explained the reason for her current appearance to some extent, so Shen Zhi didn't delve into it further: "I went to Tianyue County last time, but unfortunately I didn't see you... This place is a den of dragons and tigers, you shouldn't have come."

Puyang Kui's attitude was clear at the time, and Shen Zhi thought that Tianyue County would stay out of it. He never expected to meet an acquaintance at the ferry.

Upon seeing Zhang Yang, Shen Zhi vaguely guessed his brother's implication.

Boyuan is the person I've been waiting for.

"What kind of dangerous place is a dragon's den or a tiger's lair?" Zhang Yang didn't think so. If it really was a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, she could take a dragon's tendon to make a belt and a tiger skin to make a winter coat. "I can come whenever I want."

Shen Zhi: "You're not much different from before."

Zhang Yang said, "It's not like we last met years or decades ago. In such a short time, how could there be any difference between us? You're so young, why do you speak with such an old-fashioned air?"

He's so young, yet he's already so old.

It looked as if it had been marinated in the flavor of the sample being observed.

Shen knew: "...Perhaps I'm just too tired."

When was the last time you went to sleep?

"More than twenty hours ago... right?"

Zhang Yang: "No wonder."

Anyone who works for such a long time will look haggard.

Shen Zhi's eyelids trembled slightly, and she blinked slowly.

"Once you're done here, you can go back and rest." Shen Zhi didn't ask Zhang Yang about the purpose of his trip, nor did he invite him to stay at his home, as if they were just having a normal chat.

Shen Zhi didn't speak, but Zhang Yang brought it up first.

"Are there any large houses nearby for temporary rental? This batch of goods can be temporarily stored in the ferry warehouse, but the people who brought it cannot."

Shen Zhi's expression became somewhat complicated, and he said softly, "If you don't mind, there's an empty house next door. It's just been vacant for a long time, so there's a thick layer of dust. The original owner also died a rather unlucky death."

As soon as he mentioned it, Zhang Yang immediately agreed.

"I don't care whether a house is haunted or not."

In theory, people have died on every piece of land beneath our feet.

Fan You and his men had arranged the goods and paid the boatmen and laborers. When he saw Shen Zhi, he casually avoided eye contact. Both he and Puyang Kui were wearing disguises given to them by their lord, so theoretically they shouldn't know Shen Zhi. Seeing him dressed as an accountant, Shen Zhi guessed that Fan You was among the group Zhang Yang had brought. However, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, Shen Zhi pretended not to know.

He looked admiringly at Ge Zhou, who was following behind Zhang Yang.

"Boyuan, I still don't know this righteous man's name." Knowing his exact strength, Shen Zhi knew he couldn't defeat him. Ge Zhou's imposing aura was probably comparable to even Qin Huang's most capable generals. Clearly, he was a talented individual.

"Shude has a good eye; he saw Xidan's extraordinary nature at a glance. Her surname is Ge, her given name is Zhou, and her courtesy name is Xidan. She is now my guard."

Ge Zhouchong and Shen Zhi smiled shyly and honestly.

When Shen Zhi saw Bi Gong, his eyes widened in surprise for a moment.

He asked Zhang Yang in a low voice, "How did you recruit these river pirates?"

"Do you know him?"

Seeing Bi Gong subtly provoking him with his eyes, Shen Zhi grew increasingly displeased. He rolled his eyes, not wanting to get entangled any further: "Both Lord Qin and the Zhao traitor want to control the waterways to ensure the smooth flow of the water supply lines. However, the waterways are a complex place, and neither side has a particularly good navy. So they both think of starting with the river pirates, recruiting a group to work for them, and then helping them grow stronger. This Bi Jingzhi is two-faced."

They tricked both Qin Huang and Zhao Chai.

Leave the benefits, and get out of here.

Bi Gong was a cruel scoundrel. He outwardly released the envoy, but secretly disguised himself as a pirate from another water fortress, ambushed and captured him, stripped him naked, and hung him on the mast to freeze in the wind for a day and a night. Zhao Chai's envoy fared even worse; he was strung on a fishing line and thrown into the water as bait. When the body was discovered, it had been gnawed away by fish, leaving only bones. In short, Bi Gong was no good.

Qin Huang was furious and ordered Shen Zhi to carry out the purge.

They didn't win the fight and were even humiliated by the other side across the river.

"How did he humiliate you? Was it too much?"

"He ordered all his pirates to remove their armor and belts..."

"...It won't happen again." He thought Bi Gong was normal, but he didn't expect him to be a pervert. Thinking about the morals of his subordinates who were below average and their lack of manners that couldn't be found even with a magnifying glass, Zhang Yang felt that education in this area was urgent, so that the history books could be written more decently in the future. "I only knew that he could dress up as a woman and had a habit of acting like a young master to others, but I didn't expect him to have this other side to his name."

Shen Zhi: "The river pirates are cunning and treacherous; you must be careful."

You must remain vigilant and avoid being harmed.

The two walked at the front of the column, while Bi Gong stood respectfully beside the medic's stretcher, moving towards the back. At such a short distance, he could hear everything clearly. Shen Zhi recognized him, and he recognized Shen Zhi in return. He hadn't intended to argue with his defeated opponent, but the other party's outrageous accusations right to his face made him laugh in exasperation.

He did indeed intend to kill Zhang Yang, but he hadn't had the chance to do so yet. He had outwardly surrendered, but was still met with suspicion.

Both of them had ways to bring about their own demise.

At that moment, Bi Gong's hand was grasped by a soft, boneless, warm hand. He looked down at the warmth, his eyes indicating that his sister was alright. He wouldn't do anything foolish at this moment; he would only strike to kill.

Zhang Yang: "Jingzhi wouldn't."

Shen Zhi lived in a somewhat remote place, but the place was quite large.

He instructed his servants to help tidy up the house next door and prepare to entertain Zhang Yang so they could catch up. As soon as they sat down, Zhang Yang asked a question he was quite concerned about: "Shude, have you found your brother?"

Shen Zhi didn't expect Zhang Yang to still care about this matter.

A long-lost warmth welled up inside me: "Mmm."

Seeing Zhang Yang looking around for someone, he said, "My elder brother is on duty at the imperial palace now, and he doesn't live with me..."

"A temporary palace?"

"Yes, the king's palace."

Zhang Yang looked somewhat conflicted upon hearing this: "The King?"

Shen Zhi immediately knew what royal scandal Zhang Yang had heard at the ferry crossing, and he couldn't even imagine what impression the other man had of the royal family. He smiled wryly and said, "The Queen is weak and is recuperating in a palace. What you heard isn't all true..."

Zhang Yang: "...It's actually true?"

Shen Zhi: "..."

"Why is your elder brother serving as a guard at the palace? Even if the royal rumors are half true and half false, the fact that the king's scandalous behavior is being spread throughout the city shows that the royal family doesn't have the power to deal with these things. Why doesn't your elder brother find another job instead of choosing this one to hang himself on?" Looking at Shen Zhi's beautiful light armor and thinking about the horse he rode at the ferry, neither of them were cheap.

This shows that Shen Zhi did not serve the royal family.

Did Shen know that his brother had chosen a terrible career path?

Or is it that the other party was merely ordered to guard the king?

It's unclear what Zhang Yang's words struck a chord, but Shen Zhi's mood noticeably sombered. His lips were tightly pressed together, his fingers unconsciously twirling the teacup in his hand, his eyelashes trembling slightly. Just when Zhang Yang thought he wouldn't hear a reply, Shen Zhi said, "My elder brother is loyal to the royal family. He denounces the Duke of Qin as a traitor and refuses to submit or accept any offers of service. He would rather go to the palace to accompany the king. I cannot persuade him otherwise."

If you don't understand, you can only choose to respect it.

Shen Zhi could only do his best to take care of his elder brother.

"Is it true that the king was starved and mistreated, as the common people say?"

"...Yes, it's true, but not now."

The king and his courtiers were truly pathetic when they fled, and afterwards suffered endless humiliation under Zhao Chai, with almost everyone losing ten or twenty pounds. Their most wretched moment was when they were forced to beg for food and were given a bowl of moldy wheat porridge. Zhao Chai achieved his own pleasure by utterly humiliating the king. Trampling on a person is meaningless, but trampling on that person's status is exhilarating.

Whoever held the title of king, Zhao Chai would trample upon.

After falling into Qin Huang's hands, life became slightly better.

At least they can have a hot meal and be served.

However, they still had to be mindful of Qin Huang's mood.

Qin Huang once forced the king to go on a four-day hunger strike as a minor punishment to serve as a warning.

These rumors had already spread among the common people; even if Shen Zhi hadn't said anything, Zhang Yang would have found out by making careful inquiries. Zhang Yang: "These two have trampled the royal family to such an extent, why should the royal family be kept alive?"

Killing is not cruel to living beings.

The most extreme player Zhang Yang had ever seen was one who simply removed their equipment and, relying on a level advantage, used minimal damage output to fight a boss that players deeply hated in the storyline. What should have been a single ultimate attack took that player two days and one night of AFK grinding to finish.

The video was released, and the action was criticized by many players. Some even recommended that the player see a psychologist. It's terrifying that people in this era have such a strong desire for revenge, especially when it involves taking revenge on a string of data.

Shen Zhi shook his head: "I don't know either."

Perhaps it was because she didn't want to bear the infamy of killing a tyrant.

Zhang Yang looked at Shen Zhi with his chin resting on his hand, avoiding asking the sensitive question—how could the royal family, having issued the Xuanwu Decree, have failed to benefit from it?

Zhao Chai and Qin Huang's forces not only escaped heavy losses, but expanded even faster, devouring other scattered forces that had responded. The royal family's tactic proved largely ineffective.

If she had known this would happen, why would she have rushed into the mountains?

Zhang Yang always felt that something was strange about this place.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't figure it out.

The only certainty is that there is undoubtedly another force within the royal family, whose strength is unknown. Zhang Yang is certain to cooperate with them on this trip, so he can now wait patiently for them to take the initiative to contact him.

Where is Qin Shiming now?

"I can't reveal Qin Gong's whereabouts to you. I can only say he's not in Dog Kingdom County." He could only say what he could; he couldn't help Zhang Yang if she wanted to know anything else. Fortunately, Zhang Yang didn't pry. She wasn't too surprised to hear that Qin Huang wasn't there.

If Qin Huang were here, the guards of Dog Kingdom County would be even stricter.

"Where is Hsieh Ru-xin?"

Shen Zhi shook his head: "I don't know either."

Zhang Yang had no choice but to give up: "Then you help me out and see who can take this shipment. It's not easy to come all this way, we can't afford to lose money."

Shen Zhi: "..."

He didn't expect the other party to actually go out and do business.

He replied, "Okay, I'll keep that in mind."

The house next door was quickly cleaned up, but the stove was still cold. Shen Zhi invited Zhang Yang to stay for dinner. Qin Huang didn't value Shen Zhi, but she didn't treat him poorly either; the food and supplies were far better than those of many officials in the royal court. But for Zhang Yang, the food was barely palatable.

Halfway through the meal, a servant leaned close to Shen Zhi's ear and whispered something.

Shen Zhi whispered, "What?"

He quickly looked up at Zhang Yang, then looked down again.

He said, "Go and invite my elder brother in."

Zhang Yang hadn't stayed with him for long when his elder brother received the message. This made Shen Zhi wonder about the network of informants his elder brother controlled, and his brows furrowed even deeper.

Zhang Yang: "Did your older brother come for me?"

There are no coincidences in this world.

She had just arrived when Shen Zhi's older brother, who lived separately from Shen Zhi, showed up. Wasn't it obvious who their target was? Zhang Yang's words exposed the truth, and Shen Zhi's cheeks flushed with embarrassment: "...Possibly, but, Bo Yuan, this was not the trace I leaked."

Zhang Yang said, "It's alright, I know."

It's possible that she was noticed as soon as she appeared at the ferry crossing.

Perhaps even before meeting Shen Zhi.

"Speaking of which, you once mistook me for some princess and asked me for your brother, saying that he was a trusted military commander in the princess's household." Zhang Yang didn't blame him. "Upon closer examination, it can be considered a predestined fate between your brother and me, that we were destined to meet."

Her intention was to tease Shen Zhi and help him relax.

But for some reason, the worry between his brows deepened.

He pursed his lips twice, as if he wanted to say something, but at that moment, footsteps approached from outside, and a young man who looked quite similar to Shen Zhi entered. As soon as the young man arrived, Shen Zhi quickly turned his face away, suppressing all his emotions, and stood up to greet him.

The young man asked knowingly, "Shude, do you have a distinguished guest at your residence?"

Shen Zhi happened to stand between Zhang Yang and the young man.

"Big brother."

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Sogou Input Method is so annoying, it always makes typos.