Finest Servant

Chapter 516 The Beautiful Spy

The silver needle technique was an unparalleled skill exclusive to Vixen An and Fairy Ning; others could hardly imitate it. At such a crucial moment, who else could intervene but Fairy Ning? Lin Wanrong's emotions were so stirred that words failed to describe them. It was as if a roaring fire blazed within his chest.

"Fairy Ning, Yuxi, where are you?" Lin Wanrong disregarded the hundreds of soldiers engaged in fierce combat with the nomads. He stood in the center of the long street and let out a heart-rending howl that pierced through the cacophony of clashing swords, neighing horses, and resonated through the heavens.

Following behind Lin Wanrong, Du Xiuyuan grabbed Gao Qiu's clothes and cautiously asked, "Brother Gao, who is the general calling for?"

Gao Qiu shook his head solemnly, "Brother Du, there are things better left unasked. It's not uncommon for a promising young man like Brother Lin to have several beautiful women by his side."

Du Xiuyuan chuckled, nodding as if he had just come to a sudden realization.

Lin Wanrong stood in the middle of the street, his voice carrying far and wide. Despite the howling desert winds, there was still no sign of Ning Yuxi.

Could it be that it wasn't her who intervened? A wave of questions filled his mind for a moment. He recalled the elusive song from Thousand-Forsake Peak and Fairy Ning’s ethereal presence, which filled him with a mixture of joy and sorrow, a flood of emotions welling up in his heart.

"General!" A soldier rushed over, saluting with clenched fists. "All eighteen Turkic warriors have been dealt with; eight were shot dead, and ten have been captured. What are your orders?"

A fierce glint appeared in Lin Wanrong's eyes. "What’s there to ask? At this point, it's our blades that will do the talking! Pass on my orders. Behead all the prisoners. Hang their heads on the north city wall as a demonstration to our troops. Also, lock down all the city gates—allow entry but no exit. Conduct house-to-house searches throughout the city, focusing on nomads who are doing business here. If you have any suspects, capture first and ask questions later. For those who resist, kill them on the spot!"

His fury was real this time; he radiated killing intent, disregarding anyone's advice. He was determined to make an example out of these hapless nomads. Although Du Xiuyuan's suggestions had been dismissed, he was secretly thrilled, having never seen the general so imposing. It was just the kind of dominance they needed as battle loomed.

Lin Wanrong paused for a moment. The flames in Li Tai's camp had already been extinguished, and the sounds of fighting had gradually ceased. Just then, Hu Bugui, who had been dispatched to seal off the city gates, galloped back, his face beaming as if he were a blooming flower. "General, we've been had!"

Was this old Hu still half-asleep? Happy about being deceived? Lin Wanrong rolled his eyes, "I've been overworking my brain lately, Brother Hu. Could you please elaborate? What do you mean by 'we've been had'?"

Hu Bugui nodded, "I followed your orders to seal off the city gates, only to find that Advisor Xu was personally guarding the north gate. All the gates have already been locked tight; not a single person is allowed to leave."

Xu Zhiqing guarding the North Gate? What was going on? Lin Wanrong glanced at Hu Bugui, who chuckled, "Initially, I was also confused. But later, Advisor Xu explained that it's customary to root out traitors within the city before a major battle. Please don't worry, General Lin, everything is under control."

Rooting out traitors before a major battle? Lin Wanrong began to understand and laughed, "So you mean, the surprise attack on the commander's camp was a loophole deliberately left by Miss Xu? Damn it, she really fooled me; Advisor Xu's acting skills are extraordinary!"

"I thought the same," Hu Bugui wiped the sweat from his forehead, still a little shaken, "The moment I saw the Marshal's tent on fire, my soul almost left my body. If something happened to the Marshal, how would we continue the war? But it turns out, everything was part of Advisor Xu's calculations."

‘Not just Hu Bugui, even I was played by that girl! When I was talking to her earlier, she was so charming and captivating; I almost offered myself to her right then and there. The moment I turned my back, this little minx had truly tricked me.’ Lin Wanrong grunted in frustration, the annoyance in his heart palpable.

"General, are we still going to the main camp?" Seeing General Lin's disgruntled expression, Hu Bugui cautiously said, "Actually, from my perspective, Miss Xu's actions are justifiable. Xingqing Prefecture is a crucial frontier, frequented by nomadic merchants, so there must be many spies hidden within the city. Our central tent being located here, it's foreseeable that the nomads would take covert action. Advisor Xu turned their plan against them, exposing and eliminating the spies. This action strengthens our rear, allowing us to confidently face the enemy. Moreover, to maintain the secrecy of the plan, it was appropriate for her not to inform us." ᚱ

Lin Wanrong just snorted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Moments earlier, he had been flirting with Xu Zhiqing, a feeling difficult to describe. Little did he know that the moment he turned his back, she showed her strong, independent nature, tricking him in such a calculated manner. Her personality was truly forceful.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

‘Stubborn horses, stubborn horses! It seems I have to practice my riding skills,’ Lin Wanrong thought, grinning lecherously. He made a mock saddle shape with his hands and shrugged slightly, his face showing a perverse delight.

"What's gotten into the general?" Seeing Lin Wanrong's alternately sly and delighted expression, Hu Bugui was puzzled and tugged at Gao Qiu's sleeve for an explanation.

After observing for a moment, Gao Qiu nodded solemnly, "Based on my experience, Brother Lin is practicing a mysterious martial art. Look at his firm stance, standing like a plum blossom pile, his hands shaped like claws, thrusting forward with hidden yet overwhelming power. This adheres to the three principles of martial arts: stability, accuracy, and ruthlessness. Brother Lin has truly mastered it; grabbing firmly and touching securely, any object in his hands would be as soft as floating clouds, ever-changing—truly a profound martial art!"

Soft as floating clouds, ever-changing? Hu Bugui paused, baffled for a moment, then finally nodded in realization, "Ah, so it's the 'Steamed Bun Technique.' I've learned something new!"

After completing his "mystical" training routine, General Lin realized that Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu were staring at him with wide eyes. Only then did he become aware that his movements might have seemed somewhat indecent. Given the lecherous gaze of these two men, who knows what they might be thinking. He chuckled awkwardly, "Tomorrow we will be in a do-or-die battle with the Turks. I was just practicing some horse-riding moves in my spare time. Brother Hu, do you think my form is standard?"

Hu Bugui gave him a thumbs-up and exclaimed, "Such profound skills! Always ready, both fist and song, truly you are a model for all of us."

Lin Wanrong nodded with satisfaction and pulled Hu Bugui aside. "Brother Hu, I have an important task for you. Do we keep a daily count of our army, which consists of tens of thousands of men?"

"Of course. Every day when we break camp and set up anew, we count the numbers. This is the military protocol. General, why do you ask?"

"That makes it easier," Lin Wanrong clapped his hands, his face glowing with excitement. "Brother Hu, I want you to instruct the various units to count the number of soldiers tonight. If you find any unfamiliar faces who are particularly good-looking, report them to me immediately. Remember, this must be done discreetly and without raising any alarm. I want to give her a big surprise, hehe."

As Lin Wanrong laughed lasciviously, Hu Bugui felt goosebumps all over his body and started to sweat. He thought, ‘So the general has this kind of hobby; I really couldn't tell before!’

Subconsciously distancing himself a few steps from Lin Wanrong, he carefully said, "General, we are on the eve of a major battle. I fear this will cause gossip and affect our army's fighting spirit, tarnishing your reputation. Please reconsider. If you have such needs, I know a place. In the capital, there is a place where actors who perform in operas are incredibly beautiful. When they put on dresses, they transform into enchanting beauties. Many people who appreciate this art form—"

Hu Bugui laughed, though it sounded more like crying. Lin Wanrong felt dizzy and wished he could smack Hu Bugui right then and there. ‘What kind of place do you think I am interested in? Do you think I am some sort of pervert?’

His facial muscles twitched violently, and gritting his teeth, he patted Hu Bugui on the shoulder. "Very well, Brother Hu, you certainly know a lot of places. After we win the battle and return, I'll buy a couple of these famed performers for you to enjoy. I hear they are quite something!"

Hu Bugui shrank back, his face turning pale, and his body began to tremble.

‘Serves you right for having such filthy thoughts!’ Lin Wanrong, feeling a sense of vindication, couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry, I was just joking with you. Just make sure you complete the task I assigned you. Remember, if someone is exceptionally good-looking, you must report it to me. Better to wrongfully identify three thousand than to let one escape."

Hu Bugui left, trembling. Lin Wanrong hummed a few times. From a distance, the sound of footsteps approached; it was the official army dispatched by Xu Zhiqing, combined with the soldiers led by Du Xiuyuan. They were conducting house-to-house searches. When he looked for Gao Qiu who had been beside him, he was nowhere to be found.

This kind of dragnet search was not actually very effective, but its purpose was to create a tense atmosphere so that any remaining Turkic spies would not dare to make a move.

Speaking of Turkic spies, Lin Wanrong suddenly thought of the girl with pale blue eyes he had seen earlier that day, "Yueya'er" [Crescent Moon]. Her eyes were like a deep lake, captivating enough to make one's soul leap out. If she hadn't left the city yet, she could likely be found tonight.

He hoped that Du Xiuyuan would not listen to Gao Qiu and come up with the ridiculous idea of kidnapping a civilian girl. But what if they did, ignoring his advice? What if they were intent on bringing her back to warm his bed? Did he really want that? Or did he just think he did? ‘Ah, what's the point of thinking about this now? I should go home and make my bed,’ he muttered to himself.

His mind wandered, and the signs of his arousal became increasingly apparent. Fortunately, news arrived from the Marshal's tent: Miss Xu had brilliantly lured the enemy, the Marshal was safe, and they had captured more than 80 Turkic warriors that night. Their army had won its first battle!

‘Ah, a successful first battle!’ The news was invigorating. Lin Wanrong returned to his tent, admiration filling his heart, but sleep eluded him. One moment he was thinking about Qingxuan and Qiaoqiao, and the next, about Vixen An and Fairy Ning. Finally, he sat up and turned up the lamp to study the warning note more closely.

The color of the ink resembled Ning Yuxi's, although he wasn't sure if she even wore makeup. The handwriting seemed to belong to Fairy Ning, but it also resembled Qingxuan's or perhaps even Eldest Miss's. He named all the women he knew in his mind and then scratched his head in frustration. ‘If it was a matter of recognizing them by touch, I could do it with my eyes closed,’ he thought. ‘But this skill of identifying people through handwriting is really not my forte.’

"Brother Lin, are you asleep?" A sneaky voice came from outside the tent; it was Gao Qiu.

Looking at the sky, it was well past midnight. ‘Why does old Gao like to knock on doors at this hour? Probably enjoys the thrill of midnight,’ Lin Wanrong thought as he yawned and let Gao Qiu in. "Brother Gao, where have you been? I had a hard time looking for you when you came back to camp."

Gao Qiu was covered in dust but looked exhilarated. "I went to kidnap a girl—no, no, I mean, I was doing you a favor."

"Doing me a favor?" Lin Wanrong sized him up and sighed, "Brother Gao, next time you claim to be doing me a favor, at least look more decent. Lots of eyes are watching, and I don't want people to think I'm a sleazy man."

Gao Qiu chuckled. "Brother Lin, I really was doing you a favor. I went with Du Xiuyuan to search for Turkic spies."

Lin Wanrong nodded appreciatively but then noticed Gao Qiu gulping down some water, his eyes gleaming. "Do you remember the Turkic woman we saw when entering the city today? I found her—so beautiful, she must be a spy! We must capture her!"

"You mean Yueya'er? Oh no, the Turkic woman? A beautiful spy?!" Lin Wanrong's eyes widened as he jumped up. "Brother Gao, you didn't actually bring her back, did you?! That's a crime! Weren't we supposed to win people over with virtue?—Ah, darn it, I haven't even made my bed yet!"

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