The so-called world is better than the reach of the people.

"Lord Lu, were those originally food and forage?"

"What else did Brother Zhang think they were?"

"Where is the food and forage being sent?"

"The food and forage of Hanwu Commandery was seized by General Zhenbei, and now they are awaiting food for survival."

Lu Gaosheng, who could no longer hide the truth, was too lazy to lie. After all, the food and forage were already in his control.

Two snow-maned horses as swift as lightning galloped along a narrow path, heading straight for Tian Ruo City.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!" Zhang San's voice revealed anger.

Lu Gaosheng, with a puzzled expression, asked, "Why? Does Brother Zhang care about this? I didn't expect Brother Zhang to be a compassionate hero. If that's the case, why not just kill me here and now, and consider it eliminating a threat to the people?"

Lu Gaosheng laughed.

But Zhang San couldn't find it in himself to laugh.

"What are you going to do with that food?"

"I need the starving masses of Hanwu Commandery to rebel."

"What benefits does that bring you?"

"The rebellion of the starving masses, the defeat of the Zhenbei Army, the loss of all the lands beyond the borders. At that time, the entire court of the Dawu Country, and even the entire world, will need a scapegoat."

Zhang San furrowed his brow, not understanding these political intrigues.

With a sense of great accomplishment, Lu Gaosheng was in a good mood and didn't hide it. "The emperor's fury, the responsibility of the officials, the blame for the defeat of the Zhenbei Army, and the grievances of the people, all of these will require someone to bear it. And I have already chosen that person for the world."

Zhang San stared at Lu Gaosheng and asked deliberately, "Just to kill one person? Lord Lu, don't you think you're insane?"

But Lu Gaosheng burst into laughter and asked in return, "Then I'm curious, Zhang San, are you really so righteous? And do you really not know what Xu Guoyun's... is? Food, perhaps!"

Lu Gaosheng stared at Zhang San, as if trying to see into the depths of his heart.

Zhang San felt a moment of panic for no reason.

Even he asked himself.

Can't I see through it?

Lu Gaosheng turned his head and smiled faintly, saying, "The other day, those assassins under Liu Hu used rocket carts. It's certain that there wouldn't be gold, silver, copper, or iron in those carts. And you've been in the south for a long time, what are wooden ox carts usually used to transport? Can't you think of that? Or... you don't want to think about it?"

Zhang San lowered his head slightly.

"Brother Zhang is quick-witted. You might as well listen to my thoughts."

Zhang San turned his head and looked puzzled.

While riding, Lu Gaosheng spoke, "In my opinion, you and I are actually the same kind of person."

Zhang San didn't speak, but he snorted coldly.

Lu Gaosheng didn't mind at all. He even lowered his head and looked at the white jade cloud-patterned finger guard on his hand, saying,

"The common people of the world? What bullshit is that? It's invisible and intangible. The similarity between you and me lies in the fact that, compared to those distant and nonexistent notions of justice, we both care more about those within our reach."

Like Bai Fang.

Like Wang Xiaoer.

How can distant and lofty righteousness compare to the warmth within reach?

"But the difference between you and me is..."

"My shamelessly open-mindedness and your cowardice."

The sarcasm in Lu Gaosheng's words and his true meaning were clear to Zhang San. It was nothing more than:

Why are you pretending here?

We are the same kind of person!

The conversation took a turn.

The snowmaned horse truly lived up to its reputation as the most elegant steed in the world, and Tian Ruo City was now within reach.

Liu Gaosheng turned his head and said, "Zhang, you will soon be reunited with your esteemed disciple. Of course, regarding the thirty thousand taels afterwards, with your prudence, you probably won't settle for ordinary banknotes that can be traced. I have already prepared banknotes from Bai's Money House, which can be obtained within a few days."

However, Zhang San couldn't find joy in his heart.

He knew why.

Last night, Wu Qi Xue.

That man who knelt down.

He cried and said, "This is life-saving food."

The appearance of Han Wang from ten years ago unconsciously emerged.

...

...

In the outskirts near the city.

"This is far enough," Zhang San said.

Liu Gaosheng looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Zhang San directly said, "This place is surrounded by fields, it looks safe. I've been injured, but the one thousand government troops in Lord Liu's city are still intact, so..."

Liu Gaosheng immediately understood Zhang San's meaning.

"So, we'll make the trade here?"

Zhang San nodded, "The inventory and the list in exchange for Wang Xiaoer."

Liu Gaosheng generously said, "Since that's the case, Zhang, I'll also give you the snowmaned horse under your crotch. I believe you're about to leave. I wish you and your disciple a smooth journey. As for the thirty thousand taels of banknotes..."

Zhang San suddenly grinned at Liu Gaosheng, "Lord Liu, please hold onto them for me. Who knows... I might come back soon."

Liu Gaosheng stared at Zhang San.

The two of them locked eyes for a while.

"Alright, I'll wait for you... to come back," Liu Gaosheng said.

After speaking, Liu Gaosheng rode his horse straight towards Tian Ruo City.

...

...

Near the city gate.

Liu Gaosheng, with a triumphant expression, was preparing to enter the city when he was caught up by Li Xing, who looked dusty and exhausted.

Li Xing was riding one horse and leading another, his face weary and his clothes covered in scratches.

His face was bleeding.

He definitely didn't take a major road.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have caught up with Zhang San and Liu Gaosheng's snowmaned horses.

"Li Xing? Aren't you supposed to be in charge of the grain and forage?" Liu Gaosheng asked.

"Sir... Sir, are you... planning to return that child to him?" Li Xing rushed over, gasping for breath.

Liu Gaosheng furrowed his brow and said, "Is that why you came back? Now that the plan is successful, of course we'll return him. Besides, I've already figured it out: that Black Mountain Guest in the secret building, he's most likely the one who killed him!"

When they were fighting Xu Guo, even though the situation was urgent, Liu Gaosheng still noticed every detail on the battlefield.

Including the scene where Zhang San cut open Xu Guo's Golden Armor.

And in the document he found about the killing of the Black Mountain Guest, there was a record.

The invincible and unyielding famous blade, "Madness," was cut open!

The broken blade was next to the Black Mountain Guest, and it appeared to have been cut open by a dagger or something similar.

"Sir, you mustn't! You've seen Zhang San's martial arts for yourself. Have you considered that once we release that child, the chips in our hands will..." Li Xing hurriedly said.

Indeed.

Liu Gaosheng now knew more and more about Zhang San's background, including Zhang San's true appearance and the matter of killing the Black Mountain Guest.

These could be bargaining chips to ensure that after Zhang San retrieved Wang Xiaoer, he wouldn't turn against Liu Gaosheng.

But, were these chips really enough?

Can Zhang San really guarantee that he won't have the intention to kill Lu Gaosheng, this 'Lord Lu' who knows so many secrets?

That's why Li Xing came back in a frenzy.

However...

Lu Gaosheng's expression turned cold.

Could Li Xing think that he couldn't figure it out?

Lu Gaosheng coldly said, "I know what you want to say. Returning that child to him now is like releasing a fierce beast, giving it back its sharp fangs."

"You're not wrong. This time, I am indeed taking a gamble! But I have no choice! To kill Song YanShi is right before our eyes. As long as we use this batch of supplies well, Song YanShi is as good as dead. Remember that!"

Lu Gaosheng's voice suddenly turned into a raging storm.

"Right now, if we don't return that child to him, perhaps I won't die, but chaos will immediately ensue."

"Although we already have the supplies in hand, we still need stability for the subsequent arrangements. We can't afford to be chaotic right now."

"Therefore, this time, I must continue to gamble!"

After speaking, Lu Gaosheng rode his horse back to the city.

From Lu Gaosheng's words, Li Xing finally confirmed the speculations that had been troubling him these past few days.

"The Lord's actions this time, although still meticulous, reveal a hint of madness from beginning to end!"

This wasn't the Lu Gaosheng that Li Xing used to know.

The one who calculated a hundred steps ahead.

...

...

Not long after.

"Master!"

Wang Xiaoer rushed into Zhang San's embrace.

The winter wind in the open field was cold.

Wang Xiaoer's return relieved Zhang San's worried heart these past few days.

Then...

Zhang San thought, this time when he goes back...

Should he break one of Wang Xiaoer's legs, or both?

After all, isn't everything starting from buying the shop?

"Zhang San's reunion with his disciple is a cause for celebration, but I don't know about my shopping list..."

Not far away, Lu Gaosheng rode on a horse, with Li Xing and fifty to sixty guards behind him.

Zhang San had Wang Xiaoer step aside first, took out two envelopes from his pocket, and threw the papers like darts into Lu Gaosheng's hand.

Lu Gaosheng opened them and saw that the contents were intact, showing a smile.

Zhang San then said, "Speaking of which, Lord Lu gave me these things to ease my mind, but it wasn't really necessary."

Lu Gaosheng raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh?"

"Li Xing, the Double Wolf, although both are skilled, Lord Lu should have witnessed my martial arts. Unless you and those one thousand guards live together day and night, it shouldn't be difficult for me to kill Lord Lu..."

"Zhang San, you speak quickly and straightforwardly. I'm not hiding anything. The one who killed Heishan Ke is you. Up until now, I can probably confirm it. The Master of the Dark Tower and Heishan Hu are still looking for you throughout the martial world. The person you came to Tian Ruo City to hide from should be them, right?"

Zhang San wasn't too surprised.

Although he didn't know if it was because he was discovered when killing Xu Guo or because Lu Gaosheng's subordinates made a new discovery these past few days.

But ever since that night when Lu Gaosheng threatened him with his life, Zhang San understood that with this person's intelligence, as long as he was willing to spend time investigating, it was only a matter of time before he found out that Zhang San killed Heishan Ke.

But just as it was said before.

Lu Gaosheng smiled at Zhang San and said, "You know my secret, and I know yours."

Zhang San said calmly, "Farewell, the martial world."

After speaking, the two groups of people departed separately.

It seemed like everything had finally come to an end.

Or so it seemed.