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"Here we are~"

Before the gates of Zhang Residence, a phantom streaked through the streets and alleys at incredible speed. Only after stopping did it reveal the figures of two people. Huang Feng had been carrying Wu Xin while running desperately. By the time they arrived, he was panting nonstop, his legs weak and trembling. He did not even dare move while leaning against a pillar.

"Stay here and don’t move."

Wu Xin said this to him. Seeing the crowds gathered outside, he grew anxious and hurried over to push through them. "Make way! Please, let me through." As he spoke and walked, he barely squeezed his way to the gates, only to encounter heavily armed guards.

"Sorcerer Wu Xin!"

One of the guards recognized Wu Xin and quickly ordered the others to let him in.

"What’s the situation inside~"

Wu Xin asked urgently. Seeing the guards on watch, however, he had already guessed that Zhang Xianzong should be fine. Otherwise, no one would have been able to order the guards to seal off the residence.

"A few violent criminals came to the chief of staff’s home. They could transform into giant wolves. Two were captured alive, and three were killed."

The guard who recognized Wu Xin hurriedly explained, "The chief of staff is furious now. He ordered us brothers to search carefully and make sure not to miss any suspicious items, so we sealed off the residence for inspection."

"What about the people? Is anyone hurt?"

This was what Wu Xin cared about most. Although he did not have a particularly good impression of Zhang Xianzong—Gu Sheng—he still did not want anything to happen to Gu Sheng.

The guard quickly replied, "None of our people are hurt. The chief of staff is fine, and so are the several madams. However, two Onmyoji from Japan came to help. They were caught off guard when the Wolf Demon went berserk. One died on the spot, and the other had a leg torn off. He has already been sent to the hospital."

"That’s good. That’s good~"

Wu Xin let out a sigh of relief, finally relaxing somewhat.

"Move aside! Move aside!"

At that moment, Gu Xuanwu arrived on horseback with a large force. As soon as he dismounted, he ordered the soldiers to drive away the crowd. By the time he reached the gate, he was extremely anxious.

"How is the situation?"

Gu Xuanwu hurried to the entrance, taking three steps in two, and immediately questioned Wu Xin beside him.

"Commander, you’re here. The chief of staff is waiting for you inside."

A guard quickly saluted and reported this. Gu Xuanwu felt somewhat relieved. If the chief of staff was waiting for him, it meant he was all right. As long as he was safe, everything else could be discussed.

"Commander, let’s go in together! They might have left some dangerous things inside. The two of us know exactly what they are."

After Fang Yun learned the situation from Huang Feng, he hurried over to Gu Xuanwu and spoke. The two of them were in poor condition now. If they were separated, there was no guarantee they would not fall victim to Wu You.

"All right~ Let’s go in together."

Gu Xuanwu nodded and entered at the head of the group with Wu Xin. Wu You, Fang Yun, and Huang Feng followed close behind. The latter two stayed nearer to Wu Xin. Careful as he was, Fang Yun noticed that Wu You was unusually wary of Wu Xin.

"Old Zhang, Old Zhang, where the hell did you go, groom?"

After entering the main hall, Gu Xuanwu shouted loudly, looking left and right for Gu Sheng.

"Over here!"

Gu Sheng, who was engaged in a "friendly conversation" with Shirakawa Rin, raised his hand. Once Gu Xuanwu arrived, he pointed toward Shirakawa Rin and the others and introduced them. "Commander, this is Mr. Shirakawa Rin, the great sorcerer of the Japanese Shirakawa Family.

"Mr. Shirakawa, this is Commander Gu Xuanwu, the master of Wen County."

Gu Sheng then introduced Gu Xuanwu to Shirakawa Rin.

"Greetings, Commander Gu!"

Shirakawa Rin stood and bowed, offering a polite greeting.

"Ah~ Greetings~ Greetings~ Greetings~"

Gu Xuanwu smiled and greeted him. Inwardly, he muttered, Shirakawa Rin, the Shirakawa Family… Isn’t that the Japanese Onmyoji family Old Zhang mentioned before? Another charlatan pretending to deal with ghosts and spirits!

"Old Zhang, seeing that you’re all right, I’m relieved. By the way, what were you talking about just now?"

Gu Xuanwu laughed heartily and exchanged pleasantries with Gu Sheng before asking with a smile.

"It was nothing much. We were discussing economic cooperation between the Shirakawa Trading Company and Wen County."

Gu Sheng smiled as he answered.

Gu Xuanwu’s expression changed instantly. He grabbed Gu Sheng by the shoulder and pulled him aside. "Old Zhang, how could you not discuss such a major matter with me? Do you know what you’re saying? Cooperating with the Japanese—this will get us cursed to death!"

"Don’t get excited. I have my reasons."

Gu Sheng patted Gu Xuanwu on the shoulder. Of course he knew what kind of reputation cooperating with Shirakawa Rin would bring, but he had his own plans. Although Wen County was prosperous, it provided no boost in military affairs. If he wanted to grow stronger in this era, he had to rely on outside forces.

"Old Zhang~"

Gu Xuanwu held Gu Sheng by the shoulder and lowered his voice. "I know you’re clever and have plenty of good plans, but you have to listen to me on this matter. I, Gu Xuanwu, don’t want people pointing at my back and cursing me as a traitor. You wouldn’t want your own son being cursed as Er Gouzi’s son either, would you?"

Shirakawa Rin’s expression had already changed. Although Gu Xuanwu’s voice was low, to someone as accomplished as him, it sounded as though the words were being spoken right beside his ear. Being mocked through insinuation like this naturally displeased him.

Gu Sheng glanced back at Shirakawa Rin without losing his temper. His composure is impressive. He then turned around, pulled Gu Xuanwu out of the main hall, and said, "Do you know that our current situation isn’t very good? Plenty of people are eyeing Wen County, this fat piece of meat!

"Today’s incident definitely can’t be kept secret. Wen County will probably be thrown into chaos for a while. Ding Datou has always been thinking about fighting his way back in. With our current troop strength, even holding Wen County steady is incredibly difficult. How can we afford to offend the Japanese?"

"I don’t care. No means no. If Ding Datou comes, at worst we’ll fight him."

Gu Xuanwu’s temper had flared, and he could not take Gu Sheng’s words in at all.

"Didn’t we agree from the start to use the Shirakawa Family to eliminate the Ghost Fiend, then find a way to trick them out of a batch of weapons, or even more? What’s gotten into you now?"

Gu Sheng also lost his temper. Why had he gone to such lengths to placate Shirakawa Rin? Shirakawa Rin would be leaving soon anyway, and Yue Qiluo had little use for these things. In the end, the weapons and other supplies left behind would only benefit Gu Xuanwu.

He had considered all this for Zhang Xianzong precisely because he genuinely treated him well. How could this fellow fail to appreciate his good intentions?

"Then was then, and now is now. The Ghost Fiend has already been eliminated, and Wu Xin is here too. We don’t need to court disaster by negotiating with the Japanese or putting on a false show of friendship."

Gu Xuanwu was adamant. "I don’t care what your plans are, but the Command Headquarters in Wen County will never cooperate with them. That’s what I say—what Commander Gu says."