Chapter Ten, Self-sacrifice.

Under the sound of hoofbeats, the green-clothed soldiers immediately gathered in groups upon seeing the situation.

At this moment, Kou Zhong also jumped onto another horse, clamping its belly. However, that warhorse stood up on its hind legs and threw him to the ground.

In this turbulent era, the power of an individual is utterly insignificant.

Li Jing took out dry rations and let everyone share. He said, "We need to stay here until late at night before we can leave. By then, the pursuers will have exhausted their horses and themselves, so even if we encounter them, we don't need to be afraid."

Continuing with Su Su's words: "Miss's equestrian skills are truly remarkable!"

In their hearts, both of them were filled with awe. Li Jing was able to deduce so much from just one sentence from Kou Zhong, which shows his insight and intelligence.

The two of them were so scared that they quickly turned around.

Li Jing was surprised and said, "I haven't asked for the names of the two young brothers yet!"

After walking for a while, they saw flames and heard screams of killing coming from ahead. The two of them were frightened and ran in panic, taking a detour from afar. This change completely disoriented them.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling jumped up and stood in front of Su Su.

Li Jing laughed and said, "Just based on Miss's righteous words, I, Li Jing, will risk my life to protect you. Rest assured, I came alone. That scoundrel Qi Laoda has already been secretly shot by someone named Li. Such a wicked and evil person will only harm more people if left alive."

The two of them regarded Li Jing as if he were a deity, nodding repeatedly.

The next morning, the two of them shouldered their burdens and set off on their journey before dawn.

Only then did the two of them understand why they smelled the approaching rebel army. The people in the entire county town were fleeing in a panic.

By the time dawn arrived, they arrived at a small village and were about to ask for directions when suddenly the sound of hooves became loud. A group of riders came charging down the hill, startling the two of them. They quickly hid in the nearby bushes.

When encountering resistance, the whip is immediately drawn and fiercely struck down, beating the person half to death.

Susu said, "Are those people you haven't killed still looking for us?"

Kou and Xu watched with tears in their eyes, knowing that stepping forward at this moment would be of little use. It was only then that they realized how foolish and naive their idea of joining the rebel army was.

Li Jing was surprised to see Xu Ziling making eyes at Kou Zhong while focusing on Su Su, and asked, "Which side is the young lady on?"

Kou Zhong laughed and said, "Sister's equestrian skills are really impressive."

Kou Zhong's favorite topic is to talk about the "Yijun Jing". It is only because Xu Ziling is not interested that he has no one to talk to. Now that he has met Li Jing, an "insider" in the field, he happily asks, "Brother Li, which of the current rebel armies do you think has the most potential?"

Kou Zhong sighed: "Listening to Brother Li's words is better than listening to his mother in the restaurant for three months. What Yang Xuangan, Song Zixian, Wang Xubai, Wei Dao'er, Li Zitong, Lu Mingyue, Liu Wuzhou, so many names, my head is spinning. It turns out that these few people are the most formidable."

Li Jing smiled and said, "Does Kou Xiaoxiong still have a childlike innocence! Wang Bo is the number one master of the Changbai faction, known as the 'Whip King' in the martial arts world, and calls himself the 'Zhi Shi Lang'. His work 'The Song of the Waves and Death in Liaodong' deeply resonates with the people and he also understands how to grasp their hearts. Therefore, he is highly supported by the people of Shandong and is much stronger than Du Fuwei."

Li Jing laughed and led the way out of the cave.

On this day, I arrived at a small county town and found a small hotel. I slept until midnight when suddenly there was a commotion on the street, causing chaos.

Kou Zhong replied, "We are going to Luoyang to find a friend."

Su Su lowered her head and said, "I want to go back to Xingyang to find Miss, please ask her to remind the master to be cautious of Li Mi."

Both of them were immediately moved.

Both of them nodded in agreement.

Zhai is known as "Big Dragon Head" and is the leader of the Wugang Army. Six years ago, he and another fierce general under his command, Xu Shixun, led a rebellion in Wugang Village, declaring themselves kings by seizing territory. They repeatedly defeated the Sui army, but were eventually subdued by the Sui general Zhang Xutuo, and failed to expand their influence.

"He said, 'Du Fuwei has defeated the Sui army in the east and occupied Liyang, but he did not expect his troops and horses to arrive so quickly.' After speaking, he left in a panic."

Li Jing obviously holds Ko Zhong and Xu Ziling in high regard. He said with a serious expression, "Although there are rebels everywhere in the current situation, there are not many outstanding figures. The most prominent one now is Zhai Rang, also known as the 'Big Dragon Head'. However, Zhai's subordinate general Li Mi has even greater influence than him and is well-versed in military strategy. Such unclear hierarchy will surely lead to trouble in the future."

Although Susu is happy, she is also horrified by his complete disregard for taking someone's life.

Both of them were surprised to have such an encounter and quickly expressed their gratitude.

The person who came is Li Jing, who once criticized the leader of the Green Scarves Army. He is not handsome, with a rough and bold face, but a straight nose bridge and a broad forehead. His eyes are bright and spirited, giving people an impression of both stability and intelligence.

Qi Laoda coldly snorted and said, "Li Jing, mind your own business. Am I now committing adultery with a married woman? I am going to take this beauty home, marry her properly, and make her my wife. Ha! Does Duke Du have to meddle in my marriage affairs?"

Kou Zhong was at a loss at this moment, and when he heard the call, he leaped up in a frenzy, actually jumping onto Xu Ziling's horse, embracing Xu Ziling's waist, and shouting, "Let's go."

The warhorse let out a wild neigh, charging forward like an arrow, carrying three people. It seemed about to crash into the woods, but little did they know that there was a hidden muddy path within the forest. With sudden twists and turns, in the blink of an eye, they left the unfamiliar path behind, leaving the enemy soldiers far behind.

Kou Zhong said with a sneer, "It turns out that Zhai Rang is still not considered the most formidable. Then, is Li Mi the most promising?"

The two of them felt extremely embarrassed, secretly thinking that there were no heroes who didn't know how to ride a horse.

Li Jing thought that the twists and turns in it, and even thought that Yuwen Huaji was the one who killed their mother, just like the tragic situation where Yang Guang caused many people to lose their homes and lives. After Xu Ziling explained it clearly, he knew the details and couldn't help but solemnly say, "It seems that you two brothers are not deeply involved in the world. You should know that there is a saying in the martial arts world, 'When meeting people, only speak three points.' Many people who seem reliable on the surface may suddenly become enemies in certain situations. Every word you have said before may become a fatal cause."

Li Jing smiled and said, "The main reason is that he is trying to settle the score with me. Although Du Fuwei has a great reputation, he is not capable of contending for the world. He not only indulges his subordinates but also pursues immediate gains. Forcibly recruiting Ralph into the army has caused anger and resentment, leaving villages and towns deserted. It is nothing more than a desperate move. I initially thought he was someone of importance, but now I can see through him."

As they approached the Yangtze River, they felt increasingly oppressed by the war. They often encountered refugees on the road, but when they asked why they were fleeing, no one could give a clear answer. Even the Sui army or the rebel army could not distinguish who was who.

After leaving Cuishan, they walked on a night road for the first time and surprisingly found that they could clearly see the way with the help of the faint starlight.

On that day, Song Lu once said that after handling matters in Sichuan, he would go to Luoyang to search for the legendary He Shi Bi. As this was not something that could be done in a short period of time, even though half a year had passed, they still wanted to go to Luoyang to try their luck and see if they could encounter Song Lu.

Kou and Xu saw the desperate expression on the pretty girl's face, and they were filled with indignation. Without caring for their own safety, they picked up stones on the spot and jumped out, throwing them at the Green Scarf soldiers who had caught up with the village girl.

At this moment, the village woman finally exhausted her strength and fell to the ground.

Li Jing said as if nothing had happened: "This is the second reason for my lateness, which is to release the innocent villagers. Killing Qi Laoda and his few followers is just a matter of drinking a few sips of hot tea."

They were only about fifty steps away from the nearest guerrilla fighters, which was extremely dangerous.