Chapter 77: If You Must Lie, Find a Better Reason

“If you’re going to lie, you should come up with a better excuse.”
Xu Yu paused, then decided to play along. “Xu Jing will transfer the money to my father.”
No matter what Xu Huaimin planned to do with the two hundred thousand, it was not Shen Liangyan’s place to interfere—nor did he care to.
“Go ahead, then. Don’t let your hand shake.”
…
Brother Ku raised his twin axes, a savage expression twisting his face. In stilted Mandarin, he shouted, “If you want Brother Ku’s life, you’ll have to prove you have what it takes!” With that, he charged with both axes raised.
“Heh, the guy in charge of rations wants to take the lead now? Do you really think the Turks are made of clay?” Wang Wei couldn’t help but laugh, half in anger, at Xing Dayang’s words.
“What’s going on? Professor Ampei still hasn’t been released? What exactly are you trying to do? I told you already, this is all a misunderstanding…” Ruiko Saten burst in from outside, her words tumbling over each other as she shouted furiously at the armored guards inside.
But just as Han Feng’s thoughts had begun to drift toward the Great Xia, a long leg suddenly stretched out from the roadside bamboo grove. Caught off guard, Han Feng tripped and fell flat on his face, his whistle flying from his mouth and landing far away.
After reading the letter, Yang Bo felt elated and made his way slowly toward the Artisans’ Barracks. He was still preoccupied with the matter of the muskets. Now that the mortars were finished, everyone there was focused on forging muskets, and Yang Bo wanted to equip at least two platoons before the Fragrant Sect rose in rebellion.
He rubbed his throbbing head, muttering one nerve-racking name after another. A flood of emotions surged in his heart—pride, yes, but also bitterness.
The soldiers burst into laughter. Liu Jun’s face turned crimson all the way to his ears—this was a truly spectacular embarrassment... Why did Cheng Yin always have to tease him every time they met? He couldn’t understand it.
The two sides were now less than a hundred meters apart. The enemy had not yet sensed the deadly trap ahead, but the low mound made these horsemen—so used to living in the saddle—instinctively spread out in a fan shape, planning to pass through on both flanks.
At a time when relations between China and America were strained and the armies of Japan and America were locked in confrontation.
The crowd, having just looked up, now lowered their heads again in shame. Then, somewhat resentfully, they shot glances at Big Liu, as if blaming him for his bluntness.
“Is this not the ending you expected?” Duan Ye sat down in front of Chu Yu as if he were an old friend.
Lin Zhiwei had already arrived in the main hall of the Gathering of Worthies, though he had no idea which room they were in.
“There’s thick fog here. To keep from getting separated, we could tie ourselves together with rope. What do you think?” Yan Yunsheng suggested.
Only now did he notice: on this side of the pool, a sheer cliff rose a thousand feet high, and overhead, a monstrous bird resembling an eagle flew past.
Xun You said nothing. If it was just a rumor, then why was Dong Jun gone? Could it be that Dong Jun, being in the thick of things, failed to see through the rumor himself?
Chen Kaiqi, the Grand Protector of Xiguan and eldest son of the Marquis of Zhenbei, made his way home through the ten-mile avenue, cheered by the people.
Yi Ji smiled, his brows arching. There was no shortage of capable generals in Xiangyang, especially that Huang Zhong at the governor’s mansion. But when Yi Ji heard the names, his smile only grew wider.
As soon as the two sides clashed, Liu Chong’s forward unit of over a thousand men scattered at once, breaking ranks in confusion. Both sides stared in disbelief, then Hu Zhen burst out laughing, while Liu Chong scrambled in panic to rally his men. But as soon as they engaged again, within less than two minutes, they broke and scattered—not a retreat, but a rout, with men fleeing in all directions.
Yet his own identity could hardly withstand scrutiny. If the full power of the state were brought to bear, many flaws would quickly come to light.