"How did the matter go?"

She looked at Fang Yu.

"Very smoothly, I’ve already sent the others to the location provided by Hui Yao to check the goods. They’ll deliver the goods to various Rebel Army outposts in succession."

After all, it was Fang Yu who negotiated the deal, and only Fang Yu knew the details.

Fang Yu just hitched a ride and asked Hui Yao a few things outside the transaction.

"Well done, Shen Baimei, come with me."

Qiu Xiaoping needs to get more details from the overseer, Shen Heilian.

As the two left, Fang Yu naturally moved into the room.

Upon entering the room, the strong smell of blood hit hard, mixed with other indescribable strange smells. It was a wonder how Ding Hui tolerated working in such an environment.

"Ding Hui."

Fang Yu called out, but Ding Hui didn’t react.

Fang Yu leaned in for a closer look and saw Ding Hui engraving extremely intricate patterns with a small knife on a piece of demon viscera. It resembled an array, but Fang Yu couldn’t understand it.

Yet Ding Hui was utterly focused, beads of sweat forming densely on her forehead, without wiping them off.

Fang Yu found a spot beside and sat down, quietly waiting for a while...

"Whew—"

Ding Hui suddenly let out a big sigh of relief, putting down the small knife.

"It’s done." She said without preamble.

"What’s done?"

Fang Yu leaned in to look; it was still that viscera, with the incomprehensible patterns, seemingly unchanged.

"The first step is done, next is the actual application... By the way, did you find Hui Yao at the Zhang Mansion?"

Switching topics, Fang Yu immediately discarded the previous matter.

"Found him! And learned quite a lot... about Big Brother’s information!"

"Oh?"

Ding Hui’s expression visibly turned cheerful.

She had made mistakes, she wanted to make amends, and finding Diao Ruonian would resolve many obstacles.

"Is he still alive? Where is he?"

"Two possibilities: one, detained in an underground secret room at Shen Zhu Square, along with slaves from Tianyuan Town. Regardless, I must make a trip."

Ding Hui’s expression stiffened: "The second possibility, is it..."

"No! The second possibility is that Big Brother might be detained and sent to the Capital."

"...Capital?" Ding Hui froze, surprised at the mention of the Capital, leaving her puzzled.

"Yes, the Capital."

Ding Hui, being highly intelligent, frowned slightly but quickly understood all the contingencies.

"...Jiuyao... has quite a background."

Fang Yu shook his head: "I’m not concerned about their background; I’m planning to go to Shen Zhu Square now. Would you like to join me?"

Considering the possibility that Big Brother, held as a medicinal figure, might be physically weak or in poor condition, even possibly crippled, bringing Ding Hui along could provide immediate rescue.

"Sure, but since I’m going out, you might need to apply to Minister Qiu first." Ding Hui winked, apparently staying with the Rebel Army hasn’t affected her spirit.

After all, what matters is research, not where you are...

"I’ll go tell her."

Fang Yu was about to turn and leave but suddenly remembered something, stopping mid-action.

"By the way, Hui Yao asked me to deliver a message to you."

"What?" Ding Hui clearly hadn’t caught on.

"Hui Yao? A message for me? What did you talk about with him?"

Fang Yu shook his head: "I feel... Hui Yao might know you."

Ding Hui frowned, quickly thinking about people she knew in Thunder City, quite a few, but hardly connected to Hui Yao.

"What did he say?"

Ding Hui simply asked the core question, hoping to find some clues.

"He said..." Fang Yu looked at Ding Hui, slowly continued: "He wants you to connect with the Ten Pillars, saying that within the Ten Pillars lies what you’ve pursued your whole life!"

Fang Yu was observing Ding Hui’s reaction.

But Ding Hui appeared somewhat confused.

"Ten Pillars? Haven’t I contacted them already? Indeed, it’s quite interesting, but the contact duration was indeed short; within the Ten Pillars must remain many unknowns, is Hui Yao implying I should continue researching the Ten Pillars?" Ding Hui mused.

"As for what I’ve pursued my whole life..."

Ding Hui suddenly looked up at Fang Yu.

One step. Two steps. Three steps.

With somewhat seductive strides, she slowly approached Fang Yu, almost against his cheek, whispering toward his earlobe.

"...Isn’t it far away, yet right here?"

The familiar flush of heat surged immediately, Fang Yu quickly grabbed Ding Hui’s shoulders, shifting her away.

Though his breath became quickened, Fang Yu still tried to keep his voice steady, despite Ding Hui entirely hearing it.

"In broad daylight, don’t act crazy... We’re discussing serious matters here. Do you know Hui Yao?"

"No, I’ve never met him before, and..." Ding Hui stretched out her words.

And?

Fang Yu listened attentively, only to see Ding Hui gradually calm her smile, with her expression becoming serious and earnest.

"And I’m not joking. My lifelong pursuit, right now, is right in front of me! Diao Deyi, no matter what Hui Yao says, it’s nowhere near as important as you!"

...What!

It’s as if I’m competing with Hui Yao for a woman...

Even Fang Yu couldn’t withstand such a straightforward confession.

Immediately, he let go of his hand, but with a quick motion, Ding Hui grabbed his hand back, holding on tightly.

Although her small hand clearly wasn’t strong, Fang Yu found he couldn’t break free.

"Diao Deyi, if Diao Ruonian is at Shen’s alley and I successfully separate Diao Ruru from him, are you willing to..."

"Young Master Diao! I heard from Shen Baimei... ah."

Qiu Xiaoping’s voice suddenly rang out, then abruptly stopped, interrupting Ding Hui’s words and breaking the current atmosphere.

Ding Hui opened her mouth, then closed it, ultimately turning it into a sweet smile.

"Husband, when are we leaving?"

Under Fang Yu’s calm expression was an unsettled heart.

He retracted his hand and turned to face Qiu Xiaoping.

"Minister Qiu, I have a request, although it’s shameless."

...

Fang Yu and Ding Hui left the Rebel Army’s base.

This was a decision fraught with risk, but Qiu Xiaoping approved it.

Now a high-ranking member of the Rebel Army, she could independently make decisions she previously couldn’t.

"You only have half a day. You must return to the base before sunset."

This was Qiu Xiaoping’s order, hoping they wouldn’t stir up trouble outside.

Turning to busy herself with the shipment Hui Yao provided, Qiu Xiaoping suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.

Because there was someone standing in front of her.

"General... Lord Commander!"

The General Commander was a tall man, requiring Qiu Xiaoping to look up to speak to him.

He exuded a steady demeanor that Qiu Xiaoping couldn’t quite describe, as if he could smooth over any monumental issue.

And this was crucial in the Rebel Army’s step-by-step development to its current scale.

"Lord Commander, Xu Qingqi isn’t here; she went to..."

"Where is Diao Deyi?"

...

Qiu Xiaoping felt puzzled, wondering why the General Commander suddenly came in person asking to see Diao Deyi...

She looked down.

"He’s not here; he just left."

"...And Ding Hui?"

"She... also left with him."

...

The General Commander said nothing, but Qiu Xiaoping felt the pressure of his gaze rest upon her.

The immense pressure weighed down on her.

As Qiu Xiaoping stood in anxious anticipation...

"Call back Wang Zhijun and the other ministers; I have something to discuss with them."

The Deputy Commander and the other ministers were all summoned back...

Was something major about to happen?

Qiu Xiaoping felt tense, but she was relieved that the General Commander didn’t take issue with her letting Ding Hui leave.

"I’ll send someone to call Young Master Diao back immediately."

Just as Qiu Xiaoping finished speaking...

"No need."

No need?

What does ’no need’ mean?

All the top brass of the Rebel Army are meeting, but he doesn’t need to come...

It seems that whatever trouble Young Master Diao caused really angered the General Commander, even not being invited to the meeting...

Qiu Xiaoping thought to herself, but didn’t dwell on it.

Because as long as he makes amends, she was confident that Young Master Diao would regain the General Commander’s trust sooner or later.

...