Chapter 17

Liang Xiao did not leave immediately. He circled around Jin Kui Mountain a few more times, repeatedly considering Lord Huan's advice.

Although he thought it was a bit exaggerated to use military strategy for a fight, he couldn't help but worry about the worst-case scenario. What if Hu Lai didn't follow the rules and tried to kill him? From past experiences, this possibility wasn't small.

Tu Niu followed behind, holding his face and groaning in pain. "Ah Xiao, are you possessed? Qingming has long passed, and the winter sacrifice is still far away."

"Shut up!" Liang Xiao said angrily, "Do you know why Lord Huan took you as his disciple?"

"Because I have great potential and can naturally defeat thousands of people."

"Spit, you shameless pig." Liang Xiao was deeply distressed. "Remember, he took you as his disciple to protect me."

"Even if he didn't take me, I would still protect you." Tu Niu jumped over a ditch, his face jiggling, and he sucked in cold air in pain. "Ah Xiao, we've been friends since childhood. You protect me, and I protect you; it's only natural. Haven't we always done this?"

"In the past, it was just fighting. In the future, it will be warfare." Liang Xiao carefully observed the surrounding terrain. "If you lose a fight, you might just get a swollen face. If you lose a war, you might lose your life. I am an only child, and so are you. Neither of us can die, do you understand?"

Tu Niu half-understood and half-didn't, but he responded. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "What does this have to do with you being possessed?"

Liang Xiao was annoyed and turned to point at the shoe print on Tu Niu's face. "You're the one who's possessed. I'm just surveying the terrain, understand?"

"It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!" Tu Niu screamed like a pig being slaughtered, jumping and cursing, "Ah Xiao, what are you doing? This is my face!"

"Does it hurt (teng)? Or is it a melon?" Liang Xiao repeated Lord Huan's advice, not sure if Tu Niu had understood, but he himself had sorted out some thoughts.

A dead end is not scary. Sometimes a dead end can be a path to survival, depending on how you use it. Han Xin's back-to-the-water formation was a self-imposed dead end, but he won a great victory. Fighting Hu Lai on the tree would make it hard to escape, but at least it wouldn't lead to being surrounded from the start.

The key was what to do after winning, in case Hu Lai didn't follow the rules. How to escape.

Liang Xiao stood on an unmarked grave, hands on his hips, looking around and mentally simulating escape routes in case of conflict. He chose a path and, to be safe, ran it back and forth twice. He found it a bit too time-consuming. He chose another path, which was faster but too steep, and if he fell, it would be a disaster.

Liang Xiao thought for a long time and was about to give up when he suddenly saw two tomb robbers' holes. An idea struck him, and he said to Tu Niu, who was standing beside him, looking up with admiration, "Niu, can you find some people to help?"

"Finding people is no problem. What kind of help? The two guys from last time owe me a favor. They'll come at a call."

"Rob graves!"

"I like that!" Tu Niu leaped up but then squatted down, holding his face and sucking in cold air.

Liang Xiao didn't have time to deal with him. He walked back and forth along the chosen escape route, designated several points, and told Tu Niu to find people to dig overnight. Robbing graves was just a cover; these graves had been robbed several times and had nothing valuable left. Digging pits was his real goal. Choosing a path that seemed certain death and digging pits on it, if someone chased him, hehe...

"Make sure it's done before dawn tomorrow." Liang Xiao emphasized.

"Ah Xiao, don't worry." Tu Niu held his face. "I can't go home like this. I'll stay here tonight. If Mother asks, tell her I'm playing with others, and don't mention that I was beaten."

Liang Xiao looked at Tu Niu's deformed face, wanting to laugh but not daring to. Tu Niu, unusually sensitive, glared at Liang Xiao, grunted, and waved his fist in a show of defiance. Liang Xiao quickly suppressed his smile to avoid provoking Tu Niu.

"Be careful. If you see Hu Lai, stay far away."

"Don't worry. With my face like this, even if I run into Hu Lai, he won't recognize me."

...

Liang Xiao returned home alone, and it was almost dark. The east wing was pitch black and silent. Liang Xiao found it strange and went to knock on the door. Lord Huan didn't come out, but Liang Miao came out from the west wing.

"Xiao'er, Lord Huan has gone on a long journey and won't be back for a while."

Liang Xiao was surprised. "Mother, didn't he leave any message?"

"He didn't say much, just told you to practice archery. Xiao'er, are you sure you want to learn archery from him?"

Liang Xiao scratched his head. "Mother, I... I feel that he..."

Before Liang Xiao could finish, Liang Miao gave a clear opinion. "Lord Huan is a hero. Learn from him well and don't take it lightly. This is a rare opportunity."

"But, Mother, I always feel..."

"Extraordinary people have extraordinary actions; there's nothing strange about it." Liang Miao said casually, "Lord Huan is not an ordinary person. Following him is better than wandering around aimlessly."

Liang Xiao smacked his lips and said nothing. His mother had strong opinions and seemed to have more confidence in Lord Huan than he did. He couldn't say much. He returned to his room, had dinner, and cleaned up the dishes. Then he went to the west wing to practice his eyesight by watching the shuttle move back and forth on the loom. His mind, however, was on the terrain of Jin Kui Mountain, wondering if Tu Niu had found people and if the pits could be dug in one night.

"Xiao'er, are you worried about something?" Liang Miao asked while pushing the loom.

"Ah? No." Liang Xiao responded casually, then thought for a moment and added, "Mother, I have to meet Hu Lai's challenge tomorrow, and it might be dangerous."

Liang Miao's hands slowed down, then resumed. She glanced at Liang Xiao. "Are you prepared?"

"I checked the terrain and made some preparations. Niu didn't come back, so I prepared an escape route overnight."

Liang Xiao recounted the entire situation, including the apprenticeship. Liang Miao's hands never stopped, and it was unclear if she had understood. When Liang Xiao finished, she stopped her work, looked up, and stared at him.

"Xiao'er, what grudge do you have with Hu Lai that it has come to this?"

"I... I'm not sure." Liang Xiao scratched his head, feeling guilty.

"Find out the truth." Liang Miao resumed her work. "If it can be resolved, resolve it early. If it can't, prepare early. Whether to fight or flee, you need a plan."

Liang Xiao looked at his mother in shock, deeply moved. My dear mother, you are definitely not an ordinary person.

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