Zhang Jinglin and the others had already determined through the “3” marking on the ground that Ren Xiaosu was not in any serious trouble. If someone could really abduct Ren Xiaosu so easily, it would mean he was willing to be abducted.
Currently, there was actually no need to worry about Ren Xiaosu. If it were out of humanitarian reasons, they should be worried about the sorcerers from the nation of sorcerers instead.
After all, Ren Xiaosu’s nickname of the Stronghold Destroyer was not just for show. To be precise, it was a summary of all he had done before.
The Great Hoodwinker had already started informing their intelligence personnel in the nation of sorcerers that if they discovered any out-of-the-blue situations such as a Sorcerer’s Tower collapsing or a castle collapsing, they should quickly go over and join up with the future commander to see if he needed any intel support.
When Zhang Jinglin returned to Fortress 178, he kept a very low profile. However, most of the high-ranking commanders were aware of his itinerary. Everyone was a little puzzled. Didn’t the commander say he would be away for two months to accompany the future commander on a tour to the outposts? Why was he back so soon?
Moreover, where was the future commander? Why wasn’t he back as well?
Wasn’t he with the commander?! Where’d such an important figure disappear to?
However, no one explained anything to them. Zhang Jinglin, Wang Fengyuan, the Great Hoodwinker, and the others who knew the inside story all remained tight-lipped.
When the high-ranking commanders saw their expressions, they knew this was probably yet another top-secret matter. It was better not to ask about things they should not know about.
The Great Hoodwinker returned straight to Stronghold 144. But before he could return to his residence, he saw Yang Xiaojin blocking the entrance of his house.
Yang Xiaojin asked calmly, “Don’t you live in Stronghold 144? Why’d you suddenly head over to Fortress 178?”
The Great Hoodwinker laughed and said, “I’m in charge of field intelligence operations, aren’t I? So of course I’d have to go report on my job progress.”
“Didn’t Mr. Zhang go with Ren Xiaosu to tour the outposts? Who are you reporting to at Fortress 178?” Yang Xiaojin asked.
“Wang Fengyuan, of course. He’s a rank higher than me, so I’m his subordinate,” The Great Hoodwinker replied. “Ms. Xiaojin, don’t think too much about it. Future Commander is only touring the outposts on foot. He’ll be fine.”
It was not that the Great Hoodwinker wanted to hide it from Yang Xiaojin, but he was worried she would go to the nation of sorcerers on an impulse. It would not be good if she did not manage to find Ren Xiaosu and ended up encountering a sorcerer instead.
After all, even though Yang Xiaojin was a supernatural being, she was still a sniper who needed teammates to cover her. If she were to rashly head into the nation of sorcerers, it would truly be very dangerous.
Just as the Great Hoodwinker was about to continue speaking, Yang Xiaojin suddenly took a step forward and pinched the Great Hoodwinker’s wrist with two fingers. Then she stared intently into his eyes. “Did he encounter a spy? Did he encounter danger? Was it some strange creature? Sorcerers? An ambush by a supernatural being from the Wang Consortium?
“Hmm, looks like he encountered a sorcerer.”
Yang Xiaojin did not wait for the Great Hoodwinker to answer her barrage of questions. Instead, she took the Great Hoodwinker’s pulse to confirm her speculations!
These questions dumbfounded the Great Hoodwinker. He did not expect Ms. Xiaojin to actually have such a unique skill!
How multitalented was she?
The Great Hoodwinker smiled bitterly. “Ms. Xiaojin, you’re really impressive.”
Yang Xiaojin smiled. “I was just bluffing you. What can you possibly determine from a pulse?”
With that, Yang Xiaojin turned around and left.
The Great Hoodwinker was stunned. He thought to himself that with the number of people he had bluffed over the years, it was really rare he would get fooled instead. It was no wonder she could keep the future commander in check so well.
Looking at Yang Xiaojin’s receding figure, the Great Hoodwinker called over some intelligence personnel anxiously. “Keep a close watch on Ms. Xiaojin’s movements. If anything happens to her, the future commander will probably turn the whole world upside down!”
Yang Xiaojin did not return home. Instead, she headed straight to the black market outside the stronghold. On her way there, she even called up Zhou Yingxue.
When she arrived at the black market, Zhou Yingxue was waiting at the entrance for her obediently.
“Um… madam, would you like to go inside and shop around?” Zhou Yingxue asked meekly.
“I’m not interested. Follow me,” Yang Xiaojin said.
“Follow you?” Zhou Yingxue asked curiously, “Where to?”
“Something might have happened to your master. I want you to go with me to a place beyond Fortress 178.” Yang Xiaojin turned around and left.
Zhou Yingxue hurriedly caught up to her. “Master? What happened to Master?”
“It’s related to the sorcerers.” Yang Xiaojin said, “First of all, Ren Xiaosu is most definitely fine at this moment. Otherwise, the Great Hoodwinker wouldn’t have returned to Stronghold 144 as though nothing had happened.”
“Since Master’s fine, what are we going there for?” Zhou Yingxue asked.
“Just because he’s fine now doesn’t mean he’ll be fine later.” Yang Xiaojin said calmly, “Why? You’re not willing to go?”
Zhou Yingxue said meekly, “Of course I am…”
After Yang Xiaojin left the black market with the maidservant, the intelligence agents in the black market immediately relayed the news to the Great Hoodwinker.
The Great Hoodwinker smiled bitterly. It looked like he had not managed to deceive Yang Xiaojin after all.
However, Ms. Xiaojin did not seem to be a reckless person. She actually went to find an assistant first.
With Zhou Yingxue protecting her, she should not have any problems.
Other people might think Zhou Yingxue had only made the superhuman rankings because of the Eight Vajras. But as the future commander’s trusted aide, the Great Hoodwinker knew Zhou Yingxue was a legendary superhuman on her own who was capable of destroying cities and ransacking strongholds.
And legendary was probably a general term for any superhuman capable of taking on 10,000 enemies by themselves.
The Great Hoodwinker thought that if even Ms. Xiaojin and Zhou Yingxue were about to enter the nation of sorcerers, could it be that the future commander’s Prosperous Northwest 3.0 plan was to destroy the magus order?!
What was Fortress 178’s reason for existence? Logically speaking, it was to prevent the magus order from plundering the Central Plains’ population.
What was their purpose for carrying out the Prosperous Northwest plan? Logically speaking, it was also to prepare for wars in the future, and the enemy they were going to face was the Magi.
In that case, wouldn’t destroying the Magi also be considered as fulfilling the Prosperous Northwest plan?
Mhm, this was in line with the future commander’s logic!
…
At this moment, Sorcerer Melgor was leading Ren Xiaosu, Liu Ting, and Li Chengguo westwards.
However, Ren Xiaosu realized Sorcerer Melgor was very cautious on the journey. Even though he had already left the outposts’ surveillance perimeter, he still chose to travel under the cover of darkness. Furthermore, he would often change his route as he advanced.
The farther northwest they went, the heavier the sandstorm became. Sometimes, it would only take a few minutes for a violent sandstorm to erase everyone’s tracks.
“Hey, you, sorcerer up front, don’t make haste with such a heavy sandstorm blowing.” Ren Xiaosu used his shackled hands to pull up the bandana covering his mouth and nose to prevent sand from getting into his orifices. “Make those two sheeple set up the tents so we can rest for the night!”
Sorcerer Melgor had no expression on his face. At some point, he wondered when he could fully reform the young man from the Central Plains..
