Chapter 408: Chapter 408. Scheming
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“You dare to play tricks?”
Ji Shuisheng shouted coldly and poured a bucket of water on the black shadow. The black shadow pounced at him, and its pale face met Ji Shuisheng’s. The black-clothed ghost’s hands were like eagle claws, revealing sharp nails as it reached for Ji Shuisheng’s face. However, before it could touch Ji Shuisheng, it was splashed by a bucket of water.
“Ahem.”
Caught off guard, the ghost choked and coughed. He was exposed, so Ji Shuisheng did not give him a chance to react. He smashed the bucket on his head and knocked the ghost to the ground.
“Who is playing tricks here?”
Ji Shuisheng pulled out his Phoenix Saber and pressed it against the black-robed ghost’s neck. His cold voice was filled with killing intent.
“Let him go.”
A low growl sounded from behind Ji Shuisheng. Soon, dozens of people appeared in the courtyard. The people in the front row held weapons and ordered Ji Shuisheng to let him go.
Ji Shuisheng picked up the black-robed ghost from the ground. The Luan saber did not leave his neck. The sharp blade cut through the black-robed ghost’s neck, and he let out a shrill cry,
“Big Brother, help! Help!”
“You guys attempt snatching people?”
Ji Shuisheng swept his gaze around coldly. With the help of the moonlight, he could see the appearance of these people. Their clothes were ragged, and they were emaciated. The weapons they held were also broken weapons. When he saw the man leading them, he looked a little familiar.
Guo Longjiang cupped his fists at Ji Shuisheng.
“Let go of my brother, and we’ll leave your house.”
“Are you rebelling?”
Ji Shuisheng asked Guo Longjiang without batting an eyelid. The main reason was that he had lost so much weight that he had to confirm it.
“Brother, it was wrong of us to occupy your house. I apologize to you. It’s best if you don’t ask about our identities.”
Guo Longjiang once again cupped his fists at Ji Shuisheng. For his brother, he did not hesitate to beg Ji Shuisheng.
Ji Shuisheng asked him,
“The government is chasing you, and you ran to my house to avoid trouble. To not be discovered, you pretended to be a ghost?”
“Yes, we rebelled. The imperial court doesn’t want the commoners to live, so why should we tolerate it? Brother, if you let us go, we will part ways and not harass each other. We promise not to come to your residence again. If you don’t let us go…”
Before Guo Longjiang could finish his sentence, he held his knife horizontally.
“Then we brothers can only spill our blood on the spot.”
“Big Brother Guo, you don’t recognize me anymore?”
Ji Shuisheng was certain that Guo Longjiang had sent out the black-robed ghost, so he cupped his fists and smiled at Guo Longjiang.
“And you are?”
Guo Longjiang sized up Ji Shuisheng and saw that it was a middle-aged man who was dressed luxuriously. He had a handsome appearance but was sure he had never seen this person.
“Brother, you even dragged me to rebel!”
Ji Shuisheng smiled and reminded him.
“There are many people who want to rebel, but no one like you.”
Guo Longjiang sized up Ji Shuisheng very seriously, confirming that he had never seen this person before.
“I led a group of people to escape back then…”
Ji Shuisheng smiled and told him where he met Guo Longjiang. What the situation was at that time.
“Brother, it’s you? Why did you…How did you change?
Guo Longjiang had a deep impression of Ji Shuisheng. At that time, he wanted to pull him into the team, so he remembered what Ji Shuisheng said. He threw the steel knife to the ground and hugged Ji Shuisheng excitedly.
“1 disguised myself.”
Ji Shuisheng warmly invited his brothers into the house.
“Brother Guo, let’s talk inside. I’ll go and get some food and wine.”
“Good, good. I’m not afraid that brother will laugh at us. We haven’t had a full meal for a long time. Hiding in this house, not daring to go out, how cowardly!”
Guo Longjiang had a defeated look on his face. Rebellion relied on hot-blooded passion, but hot-blooded passion was useless. One had to have absolute strength. Under the suppression of the powerful imperial court army, the team he had gathered with great difficulty could not withstand a single blow.
To avoid being hunted down by the imperial court, he could only hide in the Su family’s old mansion and pretend to be a ghost. He had thought of rushing out to fight, but in the past, he had thousands of troops defeated by the imperial court. The city’s defenders were now more powerful than the imperial court’s army. If they went out, they would be courting death.
It was okay if he died, but he could not bear to see his brothers die innocently. He had struggled to hide in the Su Residence for a few months. At first, he could still find food, but now he was on the verge of running out of ammunition and food. If this continued, even if the Imperial Court did not kill him, he would starve to death.
“It’s fine. After eating and drinking, we’ll be good men again. We still have to continue rebelling.”
Ji Shuisheng admired Guo Longjiang for being a man. He was also in urgent need of recruiting troops. Guo Longjiang had more than forty brothers here. If they were trained correctly, they would be a new force.
“All?”
Guo Longjiang looked at Ji Shuisheng suspiciously. Previously, he had advised him to rebel with him, but Ji Shuisheng disagreed. Now that he had money, why did he want to rebel?
“Haha, when the time comes, we brothers will have a detailed chat.”
Seeing the confusion in Guo Longjiang’s eyes, Ji Shuisheng laughed out loud and affectionately hugged his shoulder as they walked towards the front yard.
Su Qing had just come out of the temple hall to look for Ji Shuisheng when she heard Ji Shuisheng’s laughter. She walked out of the room and looked over under the moonlight. Ji Shuisheng had brought dozens of people over from the backyard.
“Su Qing, look who he is here!”
When Ji Shuisheng saw Su Qing come out, he called out to her happily.
Su Qing walked over and only recognized Guo Longjiang after a closer look. Guo Longjiang was too thin, leaving only a skeleton. He had long lost his appearance.
“She…”
Su Qing had disguised herself, so Guo Longjiang naturally couldn’t recognize her. He asked Ji Shuisheng.
“She’s my fiancee. Brother Guo, don’t worry.”
Ji Shuisheng comforted him with a smile. When he introduced her as his fiancee. Su Qing looked up at him. If it weren’t for Ji Shuisheng still not knowing about their relationship, Su Qing would have thought he already knew.
“Oh, hello, Miss.”
Guo Longjiang quickly cupped his fists and greeted her when he heard Ji Shuisheng’s introduction.
“Alright.”
Su Qing nodded as a greeting. She didn’t like socializing.
“Qing’er, 1 want to treat big brother Guo and the brothers to a good drink.”
The Su residence had no food for cooking, so one could only go outside to the restaurant to buy. Ji Shuisheng can’t leave Su Qing and a big gang of men alone, so he only troubled her to run a trip.
Su Qing agreed and left the Su residence. She locked the door outside to prevent anyone from barging in.
If the government discovered they were harboring rebels, they could wipe them out.
When Su Qing left, the two bailiffs guarding the alley opposite came out and looked at Su Qing’s back in confusion.
She lived in a haunted house, yet she dared to walk alone at night?
“Do you think this house will still be haunted tonight?”
“I don’t know. First Master asked us to keep an eye on this couple and see if there’s anything fishy going on..”