Chapter 525: So It Was a Trap!
Liangzhu Kingdom’s forward camp.
Three Generals Camp.
Military Advisor’s Office.
Ning Zhuo focused his mind, his spiritual sense locked onto the jade slip in his hand as he continuously observed the images within.
These were the latest scenes of Liu Er and the others using three Mechanical Constructs to harvest Dragon Ginseng Root.
“The performance of the Golden-Scale Saw Serpent almost perfectly matches my expectations.”
“The Rolling Lightning Sphere Cage has also performed quite well.”
“Only the Root-Drilling Hammer isn’t working.”
“In almost every battle, this mechanical hammer gets destroyed. Only one instance survived, and that was purely an accident.”
While thinking, Ning Zhuo muttered to himself, “How should I improve it to increase the survival probability of the drilling hammer?”
In Shuangjing’s view, the cost the Three Generals Camp had already paid was pitifully small. Yet Ning Zhuo was still dissatisfied and wanted to improve it further.
To a certain extent, it was precisely this tireless pursuit of improvement in mechanism arts that allowed his skills to continually advance.
Sun Lingtong said, “That’s easy.”
The three types of Mechanical Constructs Ning Zhuo created had also caught Sun Lingtong’s interest.
Over the past few days, he had been studying these things as well and found them quite interesting.
Whenever Ning Zhuo comprehended and improved mechanical constructs, Sun Lingtong often joined in. Over the past decade or so, such situations had happened frequently.
In the past, Sun Lingtong’s greatest motivation for studying mechanism arts had been to search for his missing master.
But gradually, that motivation changed.
Sun Lingtong’s ambition was not in mechanism arts. He was merely interested in it, yet he knew that Ning Zhuo loved it from the depths of his bones.
Through their joint research, he could also visibly feel his own technical skills improving.
Sun Lingtong continued with a suggestion, “Little Zhuo, you could design a mechanical hammer and let Liu, Guan, or Zhang hold it directly.”
“With them protecting it, the hammer will fire more accurately and safely. It definitely won’t be smashed apart by a rampaging Dragon Ginseng Root.”
Ning Zhuo let out an “Ah,” standing there blankly.
A few breaths later, he slapped his forehead.
“That’s right! Why didn’t I think of that? This method is the simplest and most convenient solution.”
“Boss, you’re amazing.”
Inside the Puppet Dragon, Sun Lingtong grinned from ear to ear after being praised and laughed loudly.
“Little Zhuo, actually you’re the one walking the righteous path.”
“I’m just being lazy.”
“According to your approach, if you could design a Root-Drilling Hammer that can operate independently and protect itself, that would definitely be better.”
“That way Liu, Guan, and Zhang would free up at least one hand and wouldn’t need to carry out that task, giving them more room to perform.”
Ning Zhuo shook his head.
“Boss, while that’s true, I actually fell into a mental trap.”
“I always can’t help wanting mechanism arts to solve every single problem. I enjoy the process and eagerly anticipate the wonderful feeling when it succeeds.”
“But in practical terms, I may have been thinking too far ahead. Just like what you pointed out now, it can be handled much more simply.”
“This will save me a huge amount of time and energy.”
“All mechanism arts are merely tools. The primary goal is to solve real problems.”
“I may love this craft, but I can’t forget my original intention.”
“Thank you for your guidance, Boss.”
Ning Zhuo sighed with realization.
“I often hear that some people read so many books that they become bookworms. If I study mechanism arts too rigidly, I might become a mechanism arts fool.”
Sun Lingtong burst into laughter.
“Little Zhuo, I only said it casually. If it gave you inspiration, that’s great.”
“In the past, you stayed in Huoshi Immortal City, living in one place, reading endlessly while enduring life in silence. That life was really too monotonous, oppressive, and depressing.”
“Many people think that with your talent and comprehension, you should remain somewhere stable, cultivate peacefully, and only travel after reaching a certain level of cultivation.”
“But in my opinion, what do those outsiders know?”
“Traveling the world like you are now is what suits you best.”
“You might not realize it yourself, but watching from the side, I can see how much you’ve changed along this journey.”
Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and nodded slightly.
“That’s true.”
“Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles truly is the best way to broaden one’s experience.”
“Along this journey, I’ve met all kinds of people. No matter how detailed books are, they are never as vivid as real life.”
“At Mist-Hidden Mountain, I met the local Mountain God. At the Myriad Medicines Sect, I befriended a wine-loving confidant and truly felt how leisurely life could be. In Thousand Peaks Forest, I met Liu Er. He holds great ambitions, and even though his circumstances place him beneath others, he still continues forward with determination.”
“And there was the Vanguard Army.”
“During Iron Flow Across the Plains, I personally witnessed the style of the military strategists. Even though I didn’t know them at all, I admired them from the bottom of my heart.”
“Such fearlessness in the face of sacrifice, facing death without hesitation… that too is a remarkable way of living.”
As he spoke, Ning Zhuo slightly raised his head. His gaze seemed to pierce through the roof and look toward the vast heavens.
“How vast this world is. So many people live and cultivate within it, advancing in their own ways. Some hold great ambitions, others enjoy peaceful lives. None is inherently superior or inferior. Each has their own beauty.”
“When I meet and befriend these people, sometimes I feel humble, sometimes envious, and sometimes filled with longing.”
“It’s truly interesting.”
As he said this, a faint smile curved at the corner of Ning Zhuo’s lips.
Sun Lingtong laughed heartily.
“Little Zhuo, you seem much happier lately.”
Ning Zhuo scratched his head.
“Yes, Boss.”
“We came to Thousand Peaks Forest to retrieve my mother’s relic.”
“Because of that, we were hunted by a Nascent Soul demon cultivator and nearly died escaping. We joined the Liangzhu Kingdom army for long-term plans. We even impersonated the Stone Dwelling Old Monster and risked ourselves on the battlefield.”
“And now, we’ve finally reached this step.”
“Du Tiechuan and the Dragon Ginseng King fought fiercely and both suffered injuries. They’re also wary of the Stone Dwelling Old Monster as a third Soul Formation–level presence, so neither side can go all out.”
“The situation is now at a stalemate, where the various armies and Nascent Soul– and Golden Core–level experts are competing against each other.”
“This is exactly the best opportunity for us to deal with the Six Caves Sect.”
“Not only can we avenge our family, we can also retrieve my mother’s relic. After working so hard for so long, we finally see hope.”
“How could I not be happy?”
Sun Lingtong nodded.
“That’s true.”
Ning Zhuo’s eyes shone brightly as he suddenly said, “Right now, at this very moment, I feel very happy!”
Sun Lingtong: “Hm?”
Ning Zhuo said sincerely, “I’m not envious of the brotherhood of Liu, Guan, and Zhang at all. Because I have you, Boss.”
“Being able to travel the world with you, exploring and taking risks together, I always feel secure inside.”
“This way of living is far more interesting than staying in Huoshi Immortal City.”
“I get to meet all kinds of people while gradually getting closer to my goal. You and I grow stronger together and strive forward together. Almost every so often, we achieve something completely new.”
“These days are truly wonderful! Boss, thank you!”
Sun Lingtong was completely caught off guard by these words.
His eyes reddened slightly, and his nose tingled. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Little Zhuo, you…”
He took a deep breath and burst into laughter.
“You brat, don’t be satisfied so easily.”
“I’m still waiting for you to rescue your mother so we brothers can explore hidden secrets and become great thieves across the world!”
Ning Zhuo nodded heavily.
“I’ll accompany you, Boss!”
Sun Lingtong put his hands on his waist and laughed heartily.
Just then, a soldier came to report and delivered a letter.
It was a message specifically sent to Ning Zhuo by Shuangjing.
In the letter, Shuangjing invited Ning Zhuo to meet outside the camp.
Sun Lingtong said, “This Shuangjing must have seen Liu Er occupying first place on the leaderboard for several days, so he came looking for you.”
“That guy has schemed against you several times, and his aunt even ruined our plans in Canglin Immortal City.”
“This is a great opportunity. We can have some fun teasing him.”
Ning Zhuo shook his head calmly.
“There’s no need.”
“It would be a waste of time.”
“I wish I could split myself into two right now. There are too many things to do.”
“Teasing him or humiliating him doesn’t create any value. What’s the point?”
Sun Lingtong widened his eyes.
“This is your chance to hold your head high!”
“Just imagining that arrogant guy getting humiliated and flattering you is satisfying.”
Ning Zhuo shook his head again.
“It’s only a dispute of pride.”
His nature was different from Sun Lingtong’s.
For more than ten years, Ning Zhuo had lived with constant restraint and endurance. He was long accustomed to it.
Such life experiences made him extremely steady and mentally far more mature than his age.
Sun Lingtong pouted.
“Little Zhuo, you’re no fun at all. Life should be lived freely and boldly. Otherwise what’s the point?”
“Besides, I’m not just looking for entertainment. If you don’t show up and string Shuangjing along, how will we buy time?”
“If you reject him directly like this, he’ll definitely hold a grudge and won’t let it go.”
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly.
“Don’t worry, Boss. I’ve already made arrangements.”
White Jade Camp.
“Hmph!” Shuangjing slammed the table and stood up angrily.
He glared toward the direction of the Three Generals Camp.
“He didn’t even bother replying to my letter? That brat Ning Zhuo is really arrogant. Fine, very fine!”
“Then don’t blame me for taking action.”
Shuangjing immediately made his decision. He left White Jade Camp and went to visit the Quartermaster.
As someone with the royal surname and noble status, he was quickly brought into the study for a private conversation.
Shuangjing exaggerated the situation while explaining it to the Quartermaster.
The Quartermaster pretended to suddenly understand.
“So that’s the case. I wondered how Liu Er, a mere Golden Core junior, could monopolize first place on the leaderboard for so many days. So there’s such a hidden reason.”
Shuangjing immediately said, “Liu Er is just a human-demon hybrid with narrow vision. With such a powerful tool, it should be handed over to the army and widely distributed.”
“If that happens, the time our army spends scavenging the battlefield will greatly decrease, which would greatly help the overall war situation.”
“But right now, Liu Er prioritizes his personal gain above the Liangzhu Kingdom army and nation. If such thinking and behavior aren’t corrected, others will follow suit and ruin the army’s good discipline.”
Shuangjing spoke with the air of someone worrying for the country and its people.
The Quartermaster glanced at him in surprise, thinking privately:
Liu Er is an outsider who was only recently recruited. Being able to form a new army is already rare. Expecting him to sacrifice personal interests for the nation is asking too much.
He also thought: My main army troops are currently resting. Commanders are using the time to collect battlefield spoils. Even if the scavenging time decreases, the army still can’t move out. What difference would it make?
Even though Shuangjing lacked extensive command experience, it was obvious he was talking nonsense. He must have another scheme.
So the Quartermaster narrowed his eyes.
“I wonder what advice Lord Shuangjing has?”
Shuangjing immediately cupped his hands.
“I wouldn’t dare call it advice. I’m asking for your help, Lord Quartermaster. Please take action to correct such bad tendencies for the sake of our army and Liangzhu Kingdom!”
As he spoke, he handed over a Storage Bag.
The Quartermaster accepted it and swept his spiritual sense inside. A faint smile immediately appeared on his face.
“Good!”
“For the sake of our army and His Majesty’s grand cause, we officials must each do our duty and serve with all our strength. Such bad tendencies must indeed be strangled in their infancy.”
Shuangjing was delighted but not surprised.
With his status, persuading the Quartermaster to trouble a human-demon hybrid and a wandering cultivator who had just entered Liangzhu Kingdom’s official system was not difficult.
He immediately stood up.
“Better now than later. Why not depart immediately and punish the Three Generals Camp?”
The Quartermaster nodded.
“You’re right. Liu, Guan, and Zhang have merits, but they still lack refinement and discipline. This time I will personally teach them the way of being officials.”
Shuangjing added, “The key figure in this matter is the military advisor of the Three Generals Camp, called Ning Zhuo. He designed and built those mechanisms.”
The Quartermaster asked who this person was.
After hearing the explanation, he relaxed.
“Just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and from Southern Dou Country. Heh.”
“Let’s go.”
“Leave immediately. Lord Shuangjing, please accompany me as witness.”
Shuangjing hesitated.
But the Quartermaster grabbed his arm forcefully.
“Come along, come along!”
Helpless, Shuangjing had no choice but to comply.
The Quartermaster gathered a squad and aggressively headed toward the Three Generals Camp.
However, they were stopped at the camp gate.
Du Tiechuan governed the army strictly, and the punishment for violating military discipline was severe. The Quartermaster didn’t dare force entry and ordered the soldiers to report inside.
Liu Er, Guan Hong, and Zhang Hei were training troops. Upon hearing the news, they arranged the soldiers and went to the gate.
The Quartermaster, a Nascent Soul cultivator, sat arrogantly on horseback when the three generals came to greet him.
“Why isn’t your military advisor here? Tell him to come greet me immediately.”
Liu Er cupped his hands.
“Our military advisor is not currently in the camp. He is surveying the battlefield outside.”
The Quartermaster immediately turned to Shuangjing.
Shuangjing cursed inwardly at the “old fox” but stepped forward with a cold snort.
“Stop lying. I’m certain Ning Zhuo is in the camp. This matter is serious—tell him to come receive punishment immediately.”
Liu Er was quite surprised and replied that they had been diligent, risking their lives in battle and never neglecting battlefield cleanup. Their achievements were obvious—what crime had they committed to deserve punishment?
The Quartermaster replied directly:
“You secretly possess powerful tools that allow efficient battlefield cleanup. Since they help the overall war effort, they should be handed over to the army. Yet you prioritize personal profit above the army and nation.”
He then questioned them:
“Are you still generals of Liangzhu Kingdom?”
Without waiting for them to respond, the Quartermaster waved his hand.
“Men, enter the camp and bind that little military advisor and bring him to me. His arrogance is outrageous—he didn’t even come to greet me! Even if he’s a foreigner, since he joined our army he must obey our control.”
Two Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately rushed toward the camp gate.
Zhang Hei glared.
“You dare?!”
The next moment, he struck.
Bang! Bang!
Two punches knocked the two Foundation Establishment soldiers to the ground, screaming in pain.
This sudden turn shocked Shuangjing.
The Quartermaster was furious and pointed at Zhang Hei.
“You black brute! How dare you behave so wildly before this official! Bind your own hands now. If I have to act personally, your crime will be doubled.”
“Pah!” Zhang Hei spat toward him.
Shuangjing sucked in a breath of cold air, not expecting Zhang Hei to be so reckless.
“Ah!” Liu Er cried out, trying to ease the situation.
But the enraged Quartermaster gave him no chance and pushed his palm forward.
A palm imprint formed out of thin air and shot toward Zhang Hei.
Liu Er stepped sideways and blocked it with his body.
Thud.
He was blasted away, vomiting blood as he flew backward and crashed to the ground.
The Quartermaster was startled and immediately felt something was wrong.
Then a sharp voice rang out.
“What impressive official authority.”
The Quartermaster hurriedly turned around. His heart jumped as he forced out a smile.
“Lord Zhao—you’ve come!”
The newcomer was none other than Military Supervisor Zhao Xi.
Zhao Xi acted decisively and simply swung his arm.
Smack.
Despite being a Nascent Soul cultivator, the Quartermaster didn’t dare block it and took the slap directly.
He fell off his horse and staggered, nearly collapsing.
His cheek swelled red instantly. All his previous arrogance and fury vanished, replaced with fear and reverence.
“My lord—Lord Zhao—please listen to my explanation.”
Smack!
Another slap.
Now both cheeks were swollen symmetrically.
Military Supervisor Zhao Xi pointed at him.
“Good thing I came here to supervise the army. Otherwise I would never have discovered someone like you—abusing public authority for personal gain!”
“Shut up. You are not allowed to speak here.”
“If you open your mouth again, your crime will be increased.”
The Quartermaster panicked and suddenly turned to glare at Shuangjing.
Zhao Xi also narrowed his eyes and looked at Shuangjing.
Shuangjing’s face turned pale as he hurriedly dismounted and bowed.
The Quartermaster glared at him with fury and hatred mixed in his eyes.
Zhao Xi snorted and waved his sleeve, dismissing Shuangjing.
Shuangjing took a deep breath and quickly left the scene.
Only after walking far away did he turn back toward the Three Generals Camp, grinding his teeth.
“Good. Very good.”
“The Three Generals Camp… Ning Zhuo…”
“So this is where you were waiting for me!”
He completely understood now.
This time he had tried to scheme against Ning Zhuo.
But Ning Zhuo had already prepared and established connections with Military Supervisor Zhao Xi.
Ning Zhuo had essentially set a trap—
and Shuangjing had led the Quartermaster straight into it.