Chapter 838: Chapter 526: I’m the Assassin!
Dushan, also known as Ghost Mountain.
The Dushan base is established at the peak of the main summit of Ghost Mountain.
The first Night Guard General once said, if they cross the hill only to find no one waiting…
Wrong, wrong.
If they’re allowed to cross the hilltop, then the Empire’s territories will be laid bare.
Even the imposing and rugged terrain of Ghost Mountain can barely intercept those tough-skinned, thick-fleshed Iron-eating Beasts, so what can stop the steel torrent charging towards the core cities inland?
Tang Fei and Lu Siyu sat inside a tank, examining the unique terrain of Ghost Mountain through the vehicle’s mirroring system.
Actually, there’s not much to see.
Rocks, all rocks.
Dry, sparse greenery.
Oh, occasionally you see some flame cacti like fire burning in the crevices of the rocks.
The soldier beside them stared at them warily; according to the rules, any strangers entering the base should be blindfolded…
Oh, rarely does any stranger get into the base.
After all, whoever comes in can’t leave.
For so many years, except for the few who achieved great merit and had a chance at pardon…
Others probably haven’t even waited for the opportunity before sacrificing in brutal fights with those evil ghosts.
Easy to come in, hard to get out.
Easy to walk in, hard to walk out.
Most are carried out either lying down or packed in jars by others.
The tank crawled along, stopping at the entrance of a large camp.
After a brief check, it rumbled forward again.
Click!
The tank shut off, and Tang Fei and Lu Siyu were ‘invited’ to get off.
Shen Qingping had already stepped off another tank, casting a sinister glance at Tang Fei before heading straight towards a cave.
“General.”
The soldier guarding the entrance saluted Shen Qingping with heads held high.
Tang Fei squinted and smiled, it had been a few years, Shen Qingping had quite improved.
Surviving in a place like Ghost Mountain, and being promoted to General…
The Shen Family’s influence is one aspect, but he personally also put in effort and blood.
A spoiled child can’t be promoted, subordinates would revolt easily.
An incompetent general harms three armies.
Shen Qingping ignored him, stepping into the alloy door blending with the stone wall color.
Tang Fei and Lu Siyu exchanged glances and followed in.
The space inside the cave wasn’t large, but it was neat and clean.
Moreover, the stone walls were reinforced with alloy, resembling a sci-fi steel chamber.
A bit like the large Training Room Tang Fei had purchased, but with entirely different decor and layout.
An orderly approached to ask Shen Qingping what he wanted to drink, Shen Qingping responded, “Give me a cup of coffee.”
“We’ll have coffee too,” Tang Fei laughed and said, “Thank you.”
Shen Qingping cast a glance at Tang Fei, this guy sure is impudent…
He had no intention of inviting Tang Fei to coffee.
After all, their relationship was more enemy than friend.
“The living conditions here aren’t bad,” Tang Fei looked around and praised, “Better than I imagined.”
Shen Qingping frowned.
These living conditions are not bad?
A cave house less than twenty square meters, a simple cot, eating canned bread, no entertainment facilities…
No cigarettes, no alcohol, no women, no games.
When bored to the bone…
You can only amuse yourself.
This is only when you survive the constant skirmishes.
After each battle, most teammates don’t make it.
Shen Qingping is of Shen Family’s blood; before, living in Phoenix City, he had everything, endless luxury and indulgence…
What kind of fine wine couldn’t he drink?
What kind of posture… couldn’t they display?
Can’t think about it.
Thinking about it raises ire and gritted teeth.
Moreover, he heard this punk stirred up quite the trouble in Phoenix City, with military wanted posters spreading everywhere…
Shen Qingping looked at Tang Fei thoughtfully.
This kid actually fractured the Empire? Overthrow the Zhong Family?
He’s the once Imperial Grand Marshal Tang Li’s son?
Besides Tang Family remnants… Qin Lu’s families also revolted because of him?
To put it simply… he now owns a third of the Empire’s power?
Hmm, can’t think about it anymore.
After all, the reason he was thrown here for trials was to disrupt his entrance exam to the Imperial First Military Academy…
If only I knew his status today, why bother with past actions?
For whom do I toil?
He doesn’t indulge, or he could have a friend pull his guts out to see if they’re green.
“Did you come all the way just to see how I’m doing?” Shen Qingping’s eyes sharp, questioned Tang Fei.
“That’s the main reason,” Tang Fei replied, “It has been years, I really wanted to see how an old friend is doing… eating well, sleeping well.”
“…”
Shen Qingping’s expression stiffened again.
He didn’t expect Tang Fei to really just go with it, this cheek… even thicker than seen before.
In the dead of night, he wished for Tang Fei’s death.
Reading on the internet and family gazettes how Tang Fei became the Direct Disciple of Great Grandmaster Xuanyuan Mingjing, and caught in a scandal with Empire Princess Zhong Yu Xiu Xue, Finance Minister’s daughter Sheng Xinhua…
He could grit his teeth and accept his own hardships.
But seeing his enemy living well would make his gums crack…
This was harder to bear than killing him.
“Of course, there are also some other trivial matters I want to discuss with Brother Qingping.”
Sure enough, he was getting to the main point.
“What matters?” Shen Qingping asked solemnly.
Since coming to this cursed place, he had forgotten how to smile.
What’s there to laugh about?
Living today doesn’t guarantee there’s still a tomorrow.
“Just as I asked Brother Qingping earlier…having been a ghost for so many years, don’t you want to return to being human?” Tang Fei looked directly into Shen Qingping’s eyes, wearing a sincere expression as if truly considering his well-being.
Shen Qingping fell into silence.
This was his heart’s burden.
Earlier on the Red Gobi, when those words were spoken, Shen Qingping’s raised arm couldn’t swing down anymore.
He had originally intended to execute Tang Fei by firing squad.
Of course, he wanted to go back, he dreamed of it.
What could he do here?
No matter how many of those barbarians he killed, what would it change?
How much would it contribute to the country or his family?
Would his family remember him?
Perhaps he had already been forgotten?
Going home…
If these words came from the family elders, he would surely be overjoyed.
But the speaker was Tang Fei…
What was he up to?
Sowing discord?
What made him think Shen Qingping would betray his family?
Truly… wishful thinking.
“If I could go back, I’d certainly be willing.” Shen Qingping looked up at Tang Fei and said, “But this is an internal family matter, as a member of the Shen Family, I must follow the arrangements of my family elders.”
“Follow the family’s arrangements?” Tang Fei’s lips twitched, appearing disdainful of such an idea: “Brother Qingping is here risking his life, fighting evil ghosts every day… does anyone at home appreciate your efforts? I fear you’ve long been forgotten by the family?”
“Born of the Shen Family’s direct bloodline, the Shen Family brought me up… Do you think disparaging words like these can damage my feelings for the Shen Family? Affect my loyalty to the Shen Family?” Shen Qingping said, his voice icy cold.
Ridiculous, he was no longer the Shen Qingping of the past.
In the past, he might have believed a few discordant words people said.
After years of honing at Ghost Mountain, his will was as steadfast as iron…
He knew what he was doing and what he wanted.
This was growth.
“Brother Qingping misunderstands me, how could I think such things? Betraying the family would be forgetting one’s roots. How is that different from those ungrateful animals?”
“Just like me… all call me a leftover from the Tang Family… the Empire has even listed me as a wanted criminal, everyone calls for my head… but I have no complaints at all, because I have the Tang Family’s blood coursing through my veins.”
“???”
Shen Qingping looked at Tang Fei with confusion.
What did he mean?
Was he encouraging him to maintain the Shen Family… What benefit would that be to him?
He was well aware that the Tang Family and the Shen Family were enemies who wouldn’t rest until one perished.
“The reason I’m saying this to Brother Qingping is mainly to stand up for you.” Tang Fei took a sip of the steaming coffee delivered by the orderlies, savoring its rich aroma, and said with concern: “Brother Qingping, for the past few years you’ve been guarding the border and battling barbarians in Dushan for the Empire, you might not be aware of the internal changes happening within the Empire.”
“The Empire is in chaos, the Zhong Family has fallen, and even the Phoenix Palace was blasted flat by your cousin Shen Lewu.”
“Of course, they have now rebuilt a new palace, named Fengming Palace… Sitting inside is Zhong Tianque, the puppet of your Shen Family.”
“The Fengming Palace used to be controlled by Shen Leyou, who is said to be your family’s Shadow Emperor? Holding significant behind-the-scenes power for the Shen Family?”
“…”
Shen Qingping felt disturbed inside.
They were all cousins; why were they given important roles by the family?
“Shen Leyou is capable and powerful, but his morality is not good, having an affair with the Crown Princess Consort…”
“You know, no man can stand that? Cuckolded Zhong Tianque hired someone to kill him…”
“???”
Shen Qingping looked at Tang Fei in astonishment.
Could words be twisted like this?
I was merely exiled to Ghost Mountain, I’m not actually a ghost…
Shen Qingping couldn’t hold back anymore, who spouts such blatant lies?
If he didn’t refute, the other might think he was a fool.
“Wasn’t Shen Leyou killed by you?” Shen Qingping said with a mocking tone: “Do you think you can hide this from me?”
“How could I hide it from Brother Qingping?” Tang Fei pointed to himself, saying earnestly: “I’m the assassin Zhong Tianque hired.”
“…” Shen Qingping.
“…” Lu Siyu.
Could he really cover it up like that?
Lu Siyu was leisurely enjoying coffee while sitting on the side, but upon hearing Tang Fei’s words…
his face almost turned coffee-colored.
“You know, Zhong Tianque is held in confinement by the Shen Family, needs to report his whereabouts, basically a puppet…”
“Naturally, he was unwilling, so he had his strategist Qian Taian actively contact us, asking us to find a way to take out Shen Leyou.”
“Qian Taian contacted you proactively?” Shen Qingping’s eyes flashed with a hint of murderous intent.
Qian Taian, must die.
“Yes, otherwise how could I freely enter and exit the Fengming Palace?” Tang Fei nodded firmly and said: “Thinking about it, Shen Leyou is a Grandmaster, I had no one to use in Phoenix City, so I had to handle it myself…”
“And it was precisely because of this successful collaboration that the great battle of the three Great Grandmasters at the East Coast took place… Initially, Zhong Tianque and I planned to partner up and take out your family’s Great Grandmaster…”
“Unexpectedly, Zhong Tianque harbored wolfish ambitions, wanting it both ways… wanting to kill your family’s Second Master Shen Boyu and also my mentor Xuanyuan Mingjing…”
“No wonder Qian Taian is now on the run, nowhere to be found… looks like he’s guilty.” Qian Taian’s eyes gleamed with vicious light, his father had communicated what happened at home through intelligence.
Then, he looked warily at Tang Fei and asked: “Why are you telling me all this?”