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甲士粼粼，如过江之鲫。
艳阳天高照，江心洲畔树荫下的一群劲装皮甲之人正在抱怀来看江中舟船与洲上道路往来不停的甲士，各自面色铁青。这些人，皆是真火教骨干，而面前的甲士如流赫然是所谓黜龙帮对大梁的新...
JiangZhiqingstoodattheedgeoftheriver,gazingoutattheboatsandshipsmakingtheirwayupriver.Thesunbeatdownonhisface,itsintenseheatawelcomerespitefromthechillofthenightbefore.Hewasdressedinfullarmor,hisarmorpolishedtoamirrorfinishbytheskilledhandsofhiscomrades.
Ashewatched,agroupofsoldiersemergedfromthetreesandbegantomovetowardshim.TheywerehisfellowmembersoftheFireTigerBrigade,theirfacessetwithdeterminationandtheireyesnarrowedagainstthesun.Eachonewasaveteranwarrior,havingfoughtcountlessbattlesalongsideJiangZhiqingintheiryearsaspartoftheFireTigerBrigade.
Thegroupdrewcloser,theirmovementsfluidandpracticed,likeawell-oiledmachine.Theywereallarmedtotheteeth,theirswordsandspearsattheready.JiangZhiqing‘seyesflickedbetweenthem,hismindracingwiththoughtsofthemissionahead.
“Whereareweheaded?“oneofthesoldiersasked,hisvoicelowandeven.
“Totheoldcity,“Jiangreplied,hisjawclenchedinatightsmile.“Weneedtogettherebeforenightfall.“
Thegroupnodded,theirfacessetwithresolve.Theykneasatstakehere-notjusttheirownlives,buttheveryfutureoftheirbrigadeandtheentireFireTigerBrigade.
Astheyapproachedtheriverbank,JiangZhiqingspottedafigurestandingonthefarshore,watchingthemapproach.ItwasLiQingwen,hiseyesnarrowedsuspiciouslyashetookinthesightoftheapproachingsoldiers.
“Ah,goodtoseeyou,“Lisaid,hisvoicedrippingwithsarcasm.“Iseeyou‘restillaliveandkicking.“
Jiangrolledhiseyes,awrysmilespreadingacrosshisface.“Li,alwayssoquickwiththeinsults.What‘sitgoingtotakeforyoutocrackarealsmile?“
Liraisedaneyebrow,hisexpressionunreadable.“I‘llgiveyouasmilewhenIseesomegenuineprogressaroundhere.“
Jiangsighedinwardly,rubbingthebackofhisneckinfrustration.HeknewthatLiwasstillholdingontohisoldideals,clingingtothemlikealifelineevenashestruggledwiththeharshrealitiesoftheirnewworld.
Buthealsoknewthathecouldn‘tletLi‘sdoubtsbringhimdown.Theyhadamissiontocomplete,andnothingwasgoingtostandintheirway.
Thegroupreachedtheriverbank,theireyesscanningthehorizonforanysignofdanger.JiangZhiqingspottedaboatmakingitswayupstream,itsoccupantshuddledtogetherlikerabbitsinasack.
“Lookslikewe‘vegotsomecompany,“oneofhissoldiersmuttered.
Jiang‘shandwenttothehiltofhissword,hisgriptighteningashewatchedtheapproachingboat.Hecouldseethatitwaspackedwithcivilians,theirfaceswhiteandterrifiedastheyclungtowhateverwouldkeepthemafloat.
Withouthesitation,JiangZhiqingturnedtoLiandtheothers.“Alright,let‘sgetmoving.Weneedtofindasafeplaceforthesepeoplebeforethingsgetanyworse.“
Linodded,hisexpressionsofteningeversoslightly.“I‘lltakepoint,“hesaid,drawinghisswordwithafluidmotion.
Thegroupfannedout,theirmovementspracticedandpreciseastheymovedthroughthedenseundergrowth.JiangZhiqingbroughtuptherear,hiseyesscanningthehorizonforanysignofdanger.
Astheywalked,thesoundsofcivilizationgrewfainter,replacedbythecallsofbirdsandtherustlingofleaves.Theywereheadingintotheheartofnowherenow,whereonlythebravest-ormostfoolhardy-adventurersdaredtotread.
ButJiangZhiqingwasnofool.Hehadfaceddowndeathmoretimesthanhecouldcount,andcomeoutontopeverytime.Heknewthatthismissionwascrucial,notjustforhisownsurvival,butfortheentireFireTigerBrigade.
Hepushedthroughathicketofbrambles,hisswordattheready.Asheemergedintoasmallclearing,hespottedafigurewaitingforthem-anoldmanwithalongwhitebeardandeyesthatseemedtoseerightthroughhim.
“Welcome,youngJiangZhiqing,“theoldmansaid,hisvoicedrippingwithwisdom.“I‘vebeenexpectingyou.“
Jiang‘sgriponhisswordtightened,hismindracingwithquestions.Whowasthisoldman?Whatdidhewant?
Butbeforehecouldaskanyofthem,theoldmanspokeupagain.
“You‘rerunningoutoftime,“hesaid,hiseyesglintinginthesunlight.“TheShadowEmperorwillstopatnothingtocrushyourbrigade.ButIcanhelpyou...foraprice.“
Jiang‘seyesnarrowed,hismindracingwithpossibilities.Whatdidthisoldmanwant?Andwhatcouldhepossiblyofferinreturn?
Butashelookedintotheoldman‘seyes,hesawsomethingtherethatgavehimpause-aglimmerofhope.