"Is he really that hotheaded?"
As soon as Master Fuli opened his mouth, he suggested either sweeping across two streets or taking out the entire family, which made Tang Lian's expression a bit peculiar. He exchanged a glance with Brother Dao, and they completed a silent eye communication.
Both man and sheep wore somewhat strange expressions.
"Brother Dao, why don't you tell Master Fuli that I'll go ahead and round them up first."
Tang Lian thought about it and decided to leave the task of leading the way to Daolang the Sheep. Whether the two honey badgers lived or died didn't matter much to Tang Lian, but the Black-skinned Rabbit was different.
This rabbit spirit was incredibly powerful and needed to be brought back to the Potou research institute for philosophy lessons.
"Me? Sure, I can handle it..."
Daolang the Sheep lifted his hoof, pulled out a crumpled cigarette from his bag, lit it for himself, and glanced at Master Fuli before speaking, "Where do I even begin?"
"Well... Master Fuli, you're a bit late. Those savage spirit beast rogues around here, they got three strikes back when we were sweeping away the criminal elements. One strike at the mouth to silence them, another at the legs to prevent escape, and the last one just kept on going."
Daolang the Sheep spoke matter-of-factly, "Our Northern Grasslands are vast and boundless, with very low interaction between humans and spirit beasts. The chaos now is mainly due to the turbulence in the Outer Region, causing a chain reaction."
"Our main tasks are threefold: first, strengthen border patrols; second, protect the border markers and the safety of trade routes along the way; and third, capture spies."
"We don't need to concern ourselves with other matters." Daolang the Sheep explained the arrangements above.
At present, the Outer Region is no different from being in ruins.
An earthquake, affecting hundreds of kilometers, crippled their grassroots management, while neighbors to the north and European noble lords and new landowners were fighting like mad dogs to seize that Spirit Particle Era relic site.
That relic site isn't what's important, but the potential remaining documents inside.
The former glory of the Spirit Particle Civilization, longevity, or even immortality [the original mysteries] might be buried there.
It's a contest over [the leap of life].
The overall strength of the Outer Region is almost negligible, unable to resist the armed groups of the landlord class from invading.
Moreover.
This also involves some game-playing and tacit understanding among the big, medium, and small Russias, alongside Xia Country and European officials.
The landlords who completed their archaeological digs in the Outer Region can't leave northwards if they have any such thoughts.
Katyusha is no joke.
Their only choice is to head south, toward Xia Country's territory.
If they want to pass through here, they have to pay a fee, which is the passage fee Wang Qiqi mentioned earlier.
From a national level, the Outer Region now obviously shows traces of a pig-killing scam.
But recognizing it does no good; the relic site is right there, and obtaining the right to excavate means paying the price.
"Isn't this just a big scam?" Master Fuli said with a stunned expression.
They allow people in the north, but block them in the south.
They drive folks away in the north but let them in from the south.
It's like sandwiching the landlords as if they're a tasty morsel!
"Let's not talk nonsense. We're just protecting our own territorial security. They're the ones insisting on crossing the border." Daolang the Sheep exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "Sitting back and reaping profits is much easier than waging war against a bunch of beggars."
"If I weren't explaining the situation to Master Fuli, I wouldn't even bother mentioning the Outer Region. We're not on the same page at all."
In Daolang the Sheep's tone, one could easily detect his disdain for the Outer Region.
Outer Region specialties: sandstorms...
Sandstorms affect the Imperial Capital, Sichuan, Chongqing, Lingnan, and half of Xia Country's people who complain online.
But we in the Northern Region are always on the front lines, enjoying the freshest, fiercest sandstorms every spring!
"So, there's really no particularly fierce spirit beast in the Northern Region? Or gang bosses? Can't you run a duty-free business at the very least?"
Master Fuli pondered for a moment before inquiring.
"As for spirit beasts, it's hard to say, but criminals, we have. Every night, we go out to catch enemy agents or thieves coming from the Outer Region to make trouble." Daolang the Sheep confirmed.
People in the Northern Region were tired of those from the Outer Region.
But Outer Region folks also didn't like Northern Region people; they were green with envy of how well their neighbors lived.
"And, Master Fuli, didn't you say before that you wanted a strong smoke?"
"Tang Lian and I pondered for quite a while and finally thought of what smoke has the biggest kick. The smoke from the exhaust pipe of a turbocharged tank definitely must be it!" Daolang the Sheep said confidently.
From the moment he saw Master Fuli's file...
Normal tobacco's so-called strong kick could surely never satisfy Master Fuli. A bundle of cigars inhaled might be just like morning mist to him.
Then, Daolang the Sheep remembered that during his advanced studies in the Imperial Capital, a classmate mentioned that in the south, there was a fierce spirit beast that smoked the afterburner of fighter jets like cigars...
But obviously, fighter jets were out of reach.
Fortunately, Potou City produces an abundance of tanks, and it's possible to get some tanks with their weapons removed.
A turbocharged large tank, puffing out smoke, surely packs enough punch in its smoke.
Although...
He somewhat misunderstood Master Fuli's intentions, but using a tank's exhaust pipe to burn spies' butts seemed quite fitting too.
"Bang—"
When Daolang the Sheep mentioned offering a tank as a water pipe, Master Fuli hadn't even recovered from the shock of such a notion.
A low, muffled sound reverberated.
Tang Lian, who was on the phone with the Security Bureau dispatch station to cancel the danger alert, was suddenly thrown over the shoulder.
The Black-skinned Rabbit he was holding woke up, grabbed Tang Lian's finger, and started tossing him, managing to embed the toweringly strong man in spiritualized form into the grass.
"Squeak..."
The Black-skinned Rabbit landed on the ground, eyes vigilant, taking a tentative step forward, glancing at Master Fuli.
Seeing no reaction from Master Fuli, it took another tentative hop forward.
Under the gaze of Master Fuli, Daolang the Sheep, and Tang Lian holding his head.
The Black-skinned Rabbit didn't flee but instead took steps to get closer to Master Fuli.
"Squeak?"
The Black-skinned Rabbit faced outward, maintaining about a meter's distance from Master Fuli and ready to bolt if necessary, but seeing Master Fuli only looked puzzled without smacking him, grew two points braver.
The Black-skinned Rabbit stretched its hind legs and lightly tapped Master Fuli's leg.
"Hmm?"
Ansheng displayed a blank expression, looking at the odd Black-skinned Rabbit before him.
"Buddy, speak up if you've got something to say. Why are you cautiously probing? I, Ansheng, don't eat raw meat!" Ansheng lifted his hind leg to push the Black-skinned Rabbit's foot away.
"Squeak?"
The Black-skinned Rabbit hesitated slightly, as if it suddenly understood something, eyes brightening, it hopped over to Master Fuli, lifted its head, and rubbed against Master Fuli's snowy shoulders.
"Purr purr purr—"
The Black-skinned Rabbit cuddled against Master Fuli's shoulder, reaching up on tiptoe, rubbing against Master Fuli.
"......"
Watching the "Reversed Celestial Spirits" scene unfold, Ansheng's mouth twitched as he shifted a position to the side, not noticing the Black-skinned Rabbit rubbing away until it slipped and fell to the ground.
The Black-skinned Rabbit's wide-spread legs, oblivious to Master Fuli's refusal, kicked off the ground, smoothly gliding forward, placing its head against Master Fuli's seated thigh.
"Purr purr purr—"
Bro, fierce indeed! I want to follow you!