"Capital, not long ago, when the investigation team was ordered to go out to investigate the situation, they found a suspicious person. The team leader felt that something was wrong, so he sent people to control him. Although he tried to escape, we still caught him When he came back, he said that he was a Netherworld hunter, but the team leader couldn't confirm his true identity and didn't dare to deal with him at will, so he brought him back and handed him over to you."
After receiving the news, the general reported the brief situation to Shen Dutong. Shen Dutong was having dinner with Luo Ting. He didn't want to pay too much attention to this kind of thing, because he had experienced this situation before. All heard.
The Netherland Hunters have existed for a long time. They do not operate on a large scale. They only have some small groups with no more than ten people. However, they have formed a large-scale business gang behind the scenes. The main way to obtain heavenly materials and earthly treasures is by the royal family. Monopoly, other aristocratic families can only rely on the hunters of the Netherland if they want to obtain heavenly materials and earthly treasures, so they have contacts with many aristocratic families in the imperial capital. Normally, the guards turn a blind eye to their activities on the border. Naturally, , the merchant gang also pays donations to the guardhouse regularly, and they are all in peace with each other.
But right now, they are carrying out a large-scale operation such as the exploration operation. They should not have any interaction with the Netherland Hunters, not to mention that Luo Ting and other Luo family members are also shouldering other secret missions. Shen Dutong does not want to cause trouble, so Then he ordered: "Bring the man here, I have something to ask him."
After a while, a tied-up man was brought up. He looked to be about forty years old, with a medium build and a square face. Due to being exposed to the wind and sun all year round, the skin on his face looked particularly rough. His dark hands were covered with thick calluses, and he looked more like an old farmer than a ghost hunter.
As soon as he was sent in, the man began to shout his injustice: "Sir, Xiaomin is just a hunter living in Qingguan Town. He listened to other people's rumors and wanted to try his luck in the Netherland. He had no other ideas. I hope you, sir, will be aware of this and let me live. I promise I will never come here again."
Shen Dutong cut off a piece of mutton leg with the knife in his hand, dipped it in the seasoning and stuffed it into his mouth. He raised his hand and stopped the man's words, and the man shut his mouth obediently.
"There's no need to pretend in front of me. Leader Yang of your business gang and I know each other. I can still see your characteristics. Although you usually use farm work to cover up your true occupation, the hilt of the knife in the tiger's mouth is You can't deceive people with calluses. Tell me, did you do what happened just now?" Shen Dutong asked.
The man whose identity was exposed no longer concealed his identity, and the slightly honest expression on his face began to disappear, replaced by a sophisticated and ruthless one, "My lord, you are truly well-deserved, and the soldiers you brought out are even more so. I wanted to I deceived the captain who caught me, and I didn’t want to cause any trouble to you. However, that captain was really hard to talk to. The four of us originally planned to follow your team so that we could safely enter the depths of the secluded realm. Unfortunately, the other two The three idiots didn't listen to my advice and insisted on going to some cave paradise they discovered last time. As a result, they released such a large group of fragrant birds and ended up dead without any body parts."
Shen Dutong didn't say anything after hearing this. The truth was not much different from what he thought. He put down the knife in his hand, walked up to the man, and kicked him hard in the lower abdomen. The man who was tied up couldn't struggle and was hit hard. After this kick, the intense pain made him hunched over, and the acid in his stomach flowed out of his mouth.
Shen Dutong knelt down and looked at the man, "The good things you did have made me sacrifice so many soldiers in vain. This kick is to repay them. If it weren't for Gang Leader Yang's face, I would kill you right now." , don’t even think about leaving. Next, you have to take us to those places where there are treasures of heaven and earth. Lead the way. Maybe I can ensure your safe return. Otherwise, I don’t mind getting a new one. Corpse."
Under Shen Dutong's threat, the man did not dare to disobey. He knew that as long as he showed his willingness to refuse, Shen Dutong would kill him without hesitation and then feed his body to the monsters as food. So he nodded repeatedly and expressed his willingness to cooperate.
Shen Dutong waved his hand, and the two soldiers beside him immediately came over and dragged the man out. He sat back on the chair, picked up the half-eaten leg of lamb and continued to cut it.
Luo Ting looked at his calm look, which was very different from the fierce look just now, and couldn't help but sigh: "Old Shen, you really haven't changed at all. When you were still a general, you used thunderous methods. Even I would be scared to see you, now you carry a sense of power in every move you make, and your methods are even more ruthless than before."
After hearing this, Shen Dutong just smiled lightly, "There is nothing to be polite with these birdmen. As long as it is driven by profit, let them do whatever they want. I don't want to be like this, but there is no way. Regarding the matter, the commander of the guard station is a poor man, especially the guard station on the northern border. I don’t know how many people are coveting this position, and these people who are coveting are often not people around them, but the children of the aristocratic families in the imperial capital. They If I could become the Commander-in-Chief of the Guards, I would gain both fame and fortune within a year or two. If I hadn't been ruthless, I would have been replaced by these people long ago."
Luo Ting also laughed. How could he say that Lao Shen had changed? In order to climb to where he is today, how many children of the Luo family with the same surname as him have he personally destroyed, and how many geniuses have been allowed to perish? The world has changed, and he has long since become no longer the honest young man he was before, but now the decisive and murderous steward of the Luo family.
"It seems that I'm really getting older and I'm starting to miss the past. Don't be surprised." Luo Ting said a little apologetically.
"Who is not? After what you said just now, I want to apply to quit the army after completing this mission. Seriously, give me the ownership of a few caravans, and I will definitely bring you some fame. ." Shen Dutong brought up the joke they made when they met.
Luo Ting thought he was just joking, but he didn't expect that he was really considering this matter seriously. However, if he really wanted to, with his current status as the manager of the Luo family, it would not be difficult to do it, so He agreed, "Okay, since you said so, when this mission is over, I will help you with it when you get back."
"Haha, then it's settled." Shen Dutong stretched out his hand towards Luo Ting.
Luo Ting held his hand and said, "It's a deal."
After resting, the whole team set off again and continued towards the depths of the Netherland. The attack by the fragrant birds only delayed some rest time and did not have any impact on the overall progress. After entering the Netherland, they kept With a steady marching speed, it took less than three days to cover most of the distance. If we continue to march at this speed, we will probably be able to reach the designated location one day earlier than expected. There is relatively plenty of time, so After dusk, Commander Shen ordered the camp to be set up in place so that all personnel could rest for a while.
The soldiers cleaned up the stones and low shrubs in the field, filled the uneven areas with soil, and then unloaded the various supplies loaded on the vehicles. The guards set up camps around the baggage convoy to guard the supplies on the vehicles. , and the vanguard's camp was built around the Luo family's carriage. Now that the weather is not cold, the tents they carry are relatively lightweight. Some soldiers set up tent supports, installed windows and doors, wrapped the supports with waterproof tarpaulins, and used Tie the ropes securely, and finally cover the roof with a raincloth, and a tent is completed.
Another group of soldiers built a bonfire, put an iron pot on it, poured water into it, and threw in a few pieces of dried meat to make a pot of broth. Then they used spoons to share the broth with others. The sky was getting darker and the temperature The temperature has also begun to decrease. At this time, drinking a sip of hot soup and eating a bite of pancake can drive away the cold.
Yan Zheng filled a little broth with the kettle he carried with him, and sat around the campfire with the soldiers, enjoying the rare quiet time. After eating a full meal, he was ready to go to bed early, because he would continue to travel tomorrow, and tonight as a They in the rear guard also take turns guarding the whole team. In the secluded world, danger is everywhere, and the role of patrolling and guarding is very important. When they were attacked by the fragrant birds earlier, if Yan Zheng hadn't warned them in time, The losses suffered by the entire team will only be greater.
After nightfall, it started to rain in the sky. The rain was heavy. The big raindrops hit the soldiers' armor with a crisp sound. Yan Zheng stood in the rain with a spear in hand, looking at the forest shrouded in rain in the distance. , Dark shadows flashed through the forest from time to time, but they were just weak monsters, they only dared to watch from a distance, and they did not dare to come out if they sensed the aura emanating from the monks.
Yan Zheng silently recited the formula of "Breaking Steel", and the scarlet blood in his body flowed with the thoughts, setting off waves, washing the meridians all over his body, making the meridians stronger and stronger. According to what Lu Wuchang said, practicing "Breaking Steel" The art will put a great burden on the body, and the pain during the practice is unbearable for ordinary people. Therefore, Wu Zhang warned Yan Zheng not to be too eager for success. There must be a few days between the two practices, but Yan Zheng's body is not afraid of any damage at all, so whenever he has the opportunity, he will silently practice the Steel Breaking Technique.
However, as his practice gradually deepened, the speed of his improvement with the Broken Steel Art also began to slow down. After all, this was just a method used by mortals to strengthen their bodies. Even if they practiced to the extreme, they could not open up the sea of qi, awaken their supernatural powers, and transform themselves from mortals to human beings. As a monk, Yan Zheng regretted not asking the Luo family scouts for the formula for the Demonic Shadow Heart-Eating Curse. Even though that technique was not suitable for him, it was still much better than not having it now.
Suddenly, an unusual sound caught Yan Zheng's attention. He subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound. There was where another sentry was standing. A black shadow attached to the sentry's back and stabbed towards him. A sharp bone spur suddenly pierced the sentinel's throat.
The sentry covered his throat with both hands, trying to stop the flow of blood, but it was in vain. He slowly fell to his knees, losing the breath of life, and around him, more black people The shadow is breaking out of the ground.
