Fire burned in the small stove, and as the water boiled, a faint tea fragrance wafted out with the steam. Perhaps because the girl brewing the tea was not a refined person, the tea was simply boiled directly in the pot, without much fuss.

Having been together for a long time, the equality and inequality of their identities were no longer simple matters. As Liu Xigua squatted there brewing tea, Ning Yi continued to write those things with his head down, occasionally the girl would look back at him. After brewing it well, she poured the tea into a cup and handed it to Ning Yi, who placed it aside, letting the steam rise.

"I still insist, after this journey, no matter how the situation develops, we can't go to Qingxi again." After Xigua sat back in her chair and stared blankly, Ning Yi spoke somewhat abruptly. The girl turned her head and saw Ning Yi dipping his brush in the inkstone, not looking at her.

"Mm." Xigua watched him.

"A group of people with families and children, there are too many people to take care of. We only have eight hundred people here, and we can't afford to lose again. I have no relationship with your Uncle Fang, so these problems can be stated more plainly. Mainly, everyone can see that going back is pointless. They don't dare to say these words, but I can say them to you." As he spoke, he lowered his head and continued writing.

Xigua raised her head and looked at the top of the tent: "Why didn't you say this a few days ago?"

"Just broke the city, you were also considering it. You've considered it pretty much, and I can tell you now."

"...Chen Fan and the others want to go back."

"Focus on rescuing people and persuading them. If everyone wants to stay in Qingxi and fight to the death, in the end, there will only be one result. I've also told Chen Fan these days, even if you go back to Qingxi, tell only a few people to leave, otherwise someone will want their lives... People like Fang Qifo, and even General Lü, may be able to see the situation clearly, but your Uncle Fang and the others, I'm afraid they won't..."

Xigua was silent for a long time: "Qingxi still has many soldiers and generals, dragging it out might not be unbearable."

"The first stage can definitely be defended." Ning Yi said as he wrote, "Hangzhou has fallen, and Tong Guan doesn't have time. Anyway, you don't have more opportunities. In at most half a month, he will withdraw his troops and head north. Next, those surrounding Qingxi will be ordinary soldiers coming from all directions. Maybe the time can be dragged out longer, but the result won't change. You initially relied on their greed and fear of death to take Hangzhou in one go, but you only have the ability to do it in one go. Disaster victims, once beaten down at the highest point, will have no chance in the future. Many people here still have family and children, don't throw these last eight hundred people in."

As he spoke, he picked up the teacup, blew on it, took a sip, and then put it down. Xigua watched for a while: "Do you know what your words would sound like to others?"

"They just don't want to face reality. Some people don't dare to say it, but what should be seen, can still be seen." Ning Yi looked up at her, smiled, then shook his head and continued working. "According to what we said before, choose three places yourself. While everyone's thoughts are on Fang La, it's not wrong to go further away. Everyone can manage the lives in the Miao region, Xiangxi area anyway. You were originally close to that area, so go into the mountains first before anything else."

The brush in his hand paused: "Once... everyone calms down, all those who participated in the Yongle Uprising will be purged. This area that has suffered from bandits will be gradually swept clean, and our Badao Camp will definitely be on the list. So hiding well is a must. Once you're in the mountains, I don't know how you used to live, but some sanitary conditions need to be paid attention to. Try to drink boiled water, don't eat cold food, and there are many things that are related to the initial planning of the village. I've been thinking about it recently, and I've written it all down, with major and minor opinions, for the future..." Ning Yi pointed to the notebook he was writing, "We can study it together."

"You..." Hearing these words, Xigua vaguely felt that something was wrong and frowned. Ning Yi had already stretched out his hand over there: "Wait, wait, wait, I've thought of many things, don't interrupt me, I'm afraid I'll forget later."

Inside the tent, Xigua had already stood up, while Ning Yi took a sip of tea and continued writing with his head down. His words were unhurried and somewhat disjointed, without a major focus, but the main axis was still around how to change the system of the Badao Camp, and how to absorb and accommodate more people who came to join them. Actually, this was a variant of later generations' corporate culture. The core of the Badao Camp was ultimately a small group supported by benevolence and righteousness, which was relatively exclusive. If it were to be expanded, the atmosphere of a home, like brothers, would be diluted. What Ning Yi was saying was mainly to open up many ports at the lower level, how to restrict, evaluate, and even set performance targets. Once the rules were set, Liu Xigua would not have to be as tired as before.

In the past, the two often talked about these things, the transformation from human relationships to the rule of law, which Ning Yi had been doing for half a year. But he was not impatient, and even the core of the Badao Camp, he did not recklessly modify. A village that could be maintained to this extent by human relationships was actually better than pure rule of law. The seemingly useless rules and regulations that he suggested were only shown to Liu Xigua internally at this time, and were not even sent out, all for the day when the Badao Camp wanted to expand.

It was just that before, when the two of them talked about these things, they were just talking back and forth, sometimes joking. But today, the girl found that there was no room for her to interrupt. Ning Yi was just speaking in a leisurely and jumpy manner. Some ideas, what the ultimate purpose was, which he had not mentioned in the past, he would mention at this time.

Finally, in such an atmosphere, Xigua walked over, looked at him, raised her hand slightly, and finally pressed it on the paper he was writing on: "You... say these..."

She didn't organize her words, because Ning Yi raised his head, looked at her eyes with a smile, after a moment of silence, he thought for a while, finally put down the pen, patted the back of the girl's hand, and stood up: "Actually, I've almost finished writing what I need to write." He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and walked around from the table.

"You... you..." Xigua stared at him for a long time, until her eyes were almost moist, and finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Heh, you knew, you knew... what I was going to ask you tonight." She breathed out and took two steps back: "You are a spy of the imperial court?!"

Saying these words, the girl's eyes were crystal clear, and her voice was already stern. Ning Yi glanced at her, smiled somewhat complicatedly, and walked towards the tent door. The girl suddenly waved her hand, sweeping the inkstone and brush off the table: "Can you leave! If you're a man, explain it clearly here!"

"Anyway, I can't leave, come out."

Ning Yi opened the tent and walked out. After a moment, Xigua followed out almost woodenly. The camp of more than five thousand people, with spots of fire spreading along the valley in front. Today was the Qingming Festival, and some people were still commemorating their dead family members. Ning Yi looked at all of this. In the darkness not far away, the silhouette of Fang Shuchang vaguely showed, and there were a few others hidden in the darkness. Xigua took a few steps. In front of everyone, she still had a strong, cold beauty: "You can speak now, right? Ning Liheng!"

Ning Yi held the teacup, looked down at the tea inside, and said nothing.

"You've been here for so long! Has my Badao Camp ever mistreated you!?"

"Have I, Liu Qianqian, ever opened my heart to you!?"

"Those things you said before, were they all lies!?"

The girl was probably heartbroken by his attitude. These words were all cold and sharp, but Ning Yi looked at the situation in the camp, did not answer, and when he opened his mouth, it was another matter: "More than five thousand people, after being cleaned up, and entering the mountains, it can be considered a foundation. In any case, seeking self-preservation is ultimately the first path. Maybe you will really be able to accomplish something in the future, and the things you want to do may really be successful one day. But next, will be your most difficult time..."

In such words, he took a sip of tea. In the darkness, not far behind the girl, Liu Tiannan had already come out with the long box containing the Badao (Overlord's Blade). The figure of Qian Luoning, and the voice of Zheng Qiming also began to appear. Ning Yi glanced around, and smiled: "I still have a few words, no need to be so anxious."

Everyone frowned, with different expressions. Fang Shuchang over there opened his mouth and said: "I believe you have your difficulties. If you have a way to prove your innocence or are forced to, you can say it."

Ning Yi just raised his cup to him, paused, and said: "The twelve hundred people who followed us later are not Tong Guan's Imperial Army, but they are Kang Fangting's Wu Zhou Camp elite. Half an hour later, they will launch a surprise attack from the southeast. Uncle Nan better prepare first. I don't understand fighting very much, but I have a suggestion. Mr. Du and Qiming lead a team of one hundred and fifty people and travel ten *li* east. You can see their military camp. Although everyone carries military rations with them, there is also a small team in charge of grain behind the military camp. One hundred and more people use rockets to harass and feign an attack. They will think you are attacking the grain, and the military formation will shrink and retreat. Xigua, take five hundred people to Jingfeng Gang, two *li* away, and eat the front line of the sneak attack, and they won't follow you anymore."

Hearing him say this, everyone was stunned, even Liu Xigua was a little doubtful, then just tilted her head, and said somewhat laboriously: "Uncle Nan, go and confirm..." Liu Tiannan nodded and left. When everyone thought that Ning Yi had his difficulties, he had already opened his mouth again.

"Everyone has different things to do. I've been here for so long, and there are some things that you don't know. My relationship with the imperial court is not that great, but there is an old man named Qin Siyuan who recently became the Right Chancellor. In Jiangning, I played a few chess games with him. Some things have to be done now. After leaving here, I will go to the capital, to do my part as much as possible..." He smiled and cupped his hands, "Blood-Handed Human Butcher Ning Liheng, although our paths are different, it was nice to meet you all..."

"You can leave..."

"...You have gunpowder next to you."

Two rockets flew over from a distance!

Everyone in the Badao Camp knew about Ning Yi's battle record using gunpowder in Taiping Alley. At first, when he was in the Badao Camp, everyone was naturally wary and would not allow him to have too much contact with such things, but later, having gradually trusted him, they naturally let go. Ning Yi did make some preparations when he left the city. Whether there was gunpowder or not, everyone didn't know, but although this area was relatively open, there were still a few small carts of miscellaneous items from the other side. The rockets were nailed to two wooden barrels, and Fang Shuchang and others hurriedly tried to avoid them.

Ning Yi had just come out of the tent, naturally keeping a few meters away from Liu Xigua. Liu Xigua felt that he couldn't run away, and was also disturbed, so she didn't pay too much attention. One of the wooden barrels was right next to the tent. If she wanted to chase Ning Yi, going forward would be approaching the gunpowder barrel. Ning Yi was already retreating, but when he looked over, the girl's gaze made him stunned.

From the initial three questions, after Ning Yi's almost taciturn opening outside the camp, she seemed to have lost some kind of power. That sentence to let Liu Tiannan check was also spoken with great difficulty. After that, all the words, perhaps everything Ning Yi said, had one meaning in the hearts of others, but in her heart, she didn't know what it had become. At this time, when Ning Yi looked over, it was difficult to describe what the girl on the opposite side felt like. Her body was thin and she was standing there as strong as possible, tilting her head slightly, her features were delicate and pale, with a strange, crystal-like feeling that seemed to be becoming transparent. That might be the reflection of the Milky Way in the sky in her moist eyes. For a time, there seemed to be a kind of beauty that could make people feel unforgettable.

Ning Yi saw those thin and pale lips move slightly. She was speaking, as if talking to herself, but at that moment, Ning Yi heard that sentence, like a drop of water dripping on a quiet surface.

"...I won't let you go."

Ning Yi raised his gun at the first moment! The girl bent down, her slender legs exploded with power, pushing out ripples on the grass, countless droplets of water flying out, drawing traces in the air...

"Ah--"

Those eyes seemed to be staring at his soul, approaching. Ning Yi sighed in his heart and moved the muzzle with difficulty.

"Bang--"

Gunshots, fire, pushing airflow, bullets shooting out of the barrel... the blade raged—