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墨書 Inktalez
Qi Xiaomian tore off a roasted chicken leg for her, and you seem to understand the information inside quite well.
In the military camp, when there is no fighting, it can be quite boring. During my free time, I enjoy these strange tales. The stories of Black Flame City were first mentioned by a storyteller, and later I asked him about it and even looked it up myself.
Did you really go into such a perilous place?
Qi Xiaomian nodded. Not only did I go in, but I also stayed there for two or three years.
Aren't you supposed to be fighting?
Qi Xiaomian admitted, "Do you think my Wolf Howl Camp was raised for nothing? There are more than one who can take my place, and among them, Qi Shuo plays the role best."
So how did you enter Black Flame City?
At that time, I was young and reckless. Disguised, I ventured into the world and provoked enemies. One misstep led me to a cliff with a deep pool below. I didn't suffer any major injuries; it was just that I couldn't get back up.
The Bottom of the Valley had food and drink, and some fierce beasts were nothing to fear. I spent several months exploring the entire Bottom of the Valley without finding any other way out. The only thing I saw was an opening shrouded in thick fog, where I could vaguely see the Remains within the mist.
I knew this fog was dangerous, so after ruling out other possibilities, I turned my gaze back to the thick mist. They say that where there is poison, one might find an Antidote. After careful observation, I discovered that around the fog there were not just barren lands.
At the boundary of the mist grew a strange black withered grass that looked as if it had been rotted by the fog. However, upon closer inspection, I could see that fine black leaves were growing on the withered branches.
I observed it for a whole month; the leaves would grow and fall off in a half-month cycle, blending into the black soil below without anyone noticing. This indicated that the fog did not affect this strange grass's growth; it could possibly be an Antidote.
I then captured several animals from the forest to experiment on them. After countless trials, I finally discovered that extracting the slime from the core of this strange grass and drying it in sunlight until it turned into a gray-white powder was the safest method.
Old Vine listened with envy and hurriedly asked Qi Xiaomian to show it to him.
Qi Xiaomian took out a small paper bag and opened it; indeed, it contained gray-white powder that was delicate and emitted a faint fragrance—pleasant to smell.
He demonstrated how to swallow it; when warmth spread in his lower abdomen, it indicated that the medicine had taken effect, allowing him to enter the mist safely. Just a small amount—like a fingernail's worth—was enough for a complete journey through.
After Qi Xiaomian finished speaking, Old Vine snatched it away, complaining that Qi Xiaomian was stingy for giving such a tiny amount.
Li Cu listened to Qi Xiaomian's description in amazement. That terrifying fog could be resolved with such a method? Did no one in Black Flame City notice?
On the side facing Black Flame City, there is no such strange grass. This method must not be known by those in the city; I haven't even told Qi Shuo and the others about it—consider it a backup plan.
As for opening the city gates, we need to start from the city wall side.
Li Cu quickly asked how he planned to deal with the city guards.
"Direct negotiation," Qi Xiaomian replied. "If they don't listen, I'll kill them." In truth, he hadn't killed many; they reached an agreement instead. Now it's not just Guard Commander’s thirty thousand men anymore; they have expanded to over fifty thousand troops—those reinforcements are all from my Wolf Howl Camp hidden through battlefield losses.
"You make it sound so easy, is it really that simple?"
I can only say it's not difficult, easier than I had anticipated before taking action. The thirty thousand soldiers of the Guard Commander, aside from a few important generals appointed by the court, were mostly hereditary.
Which family would want to guard a city of exile for generations? Even the important generals sent by the court often had their own faults or were marginalized by the Court. When military pay was distributed each year, they were always the most overlooked.
Each of them harbored resentment; how many remained steadfast in their loyalty?
I threatened them with force and lured them with benefits, achieving a verbal agreement for cooperation. Then, I took their most cherished family members as hostages, imprisoning them in Black Flame City, leaving them furious yet unable to speak out.
Once I tested their trust and confirmed their reliability, I allowed them to reunite with their loved ones.
During my command, the treatment of the city guards was on par with that of Wolf Howl Camp; military pay increased tenfold or more. Their descendants, regardless of gender, all had access to education. When they grew up, they could join the military or engage in commerce through strict selection processes.
Now, the entire City Defense Camp was united in purpose.
Li Cu listened with rising excitement and patted Qi Xiaomian on the shoulder several times. "You did it! You quietly seized such a large territory."
What I thought was an untouchable place now sounded like a treasure from your words; those city walls are hardly an obstacle.
If the Great Yu Emperor were to find out and send troops, all the city guards would retreat to Black Flame City—an offensive and defensive stronghold where they could shut the gates and live without much loss.
Huo Qi reminded us that only a small opening had been made in the city gate; with over fifty thousand warriors, how long would it take to enter?
Ah, I overlooked that detail.
Qi Xiaomian then said, "I've obtained the blueprints for the gate mechanism from the city guards and discovered that originally, it was designed to be fully opened for craftsmen and materials to pass through easily."
However, they later locked the mechanism to prevent full opening. I've inspected that mechanism; there's no rust at all, just some minor wear that shouldn't affect its use.
The only issue is that activating the mechanism is extremely complex, and there are no detailed explanations on the blueprints. While there are experts in mechanisms within Black Flame City, this matter cannot be left in their hands.
I initially planned to ask Liu Family for assistance later on.
Qi Xiaomian's gaze fell on Liu Cong; what a coincidence!
He continued explaining to Sang Qingxiao, "I didn't plan anything against a child; besides, this child is under your protection. Bringing him here was Yin Can's own decision; I never hinted or suggested anything."
There are others who can solve mechanisms besides Liu Family; it would just be more troublesome. "Xiaoxiao, please don't misunderstand me about this coincidence."
Sang Qingxiao ignored him and looked at Liu Cong instead. The moment he heard there were complex mechanisms to play with, his eyes sparkled with excitement. Knowing Sang Qingxiao held the most authority among them, he gazed at her with eager and pleading eyes.
This was an excellent learning opportunity; how could Sang Qingxiao stop him? Without responding in front of Qi Xiaomian, she planned to give him some private advice later.
In Black Flame City, with tens of thousands of rogues inside and tens of thousands of rebels outside, along with a nearby county, we couldn't afford to make too much noise. Even if we figured out how to operate the mechanisms, we had to choose our timing wisely when it came time to activate them.
Amidst various circumstances, one must be cautious, cautious, and even more cautious.
After a sufficient rest, Qi Xiaomian took the lead once again. This time, everyone’s demeanor was different; they understood the path ahead and, driven by curiosity, quickened their pace significantly.
Old Vine wanted to enter the city from the direction of the Misty Forest, while Li Cu wished to stretch his muscles at the City Defense Camp. The two childish souls began to bicker, competing in various playful ways typical of children, much to the amusement of the onlookers.
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