She charged forward, then lifted the curtain only to have a sleeve dart shot directly at Lu Qingwan's face.
Perhaps driven by haste, Lu Qingwan didn't dodge. She grabbed the sleeve dart, intending to rush in, when a fierce roar reached her ears, "Don't move!
Come any closer and I'll kill him!"
A bizarrely shaped curved saber pressed against Lu Zhenting's carotid artery.
A man dressed as a Xuanjia Army soldier twisted his neck like a snake, his disgusting tongue licking his upper teeth as he smiled, sending a chill down one's spine.
The unconscious Lu Zhenting was dragged forward by him, his fate unknown.
"It hasn't been easy, finally waiting for the Regent's Consort to arrive in the northwest."
He wasn't masked, facing Lu Qingwan with blatant arrogance. "The Noble Consort has wanted to see you for a long time. Regent's Consort, shall we step aside and have a chat?"
Lu Qingwan retreated step by step. "Release my father, and I'll go with you."
"That won't do."
The man grinned. "I've heard the Regent's Consort is a master of medicine, her poison skills are even more extraordinary. If I release Marquis Lu, I might not be able to control you."
In just a moment, the camp was surrounded by Xuanjia Army soldiers.
Li Su, who had rushed back, flew into a rage upon seeing the man. "Consort, it's him!
He's the one who poisoned Marquis Lu's waist pouch!"
The man, upon hearing this, didn't flinch. Instead, he let out a proud laugh.
"You're quick, but unfortunately, you've discovered me!"
He spoke of regret, yet his tone lacked any genuine disappointment, as if he had expected Lu Qingwan to discover the poison all along.
Lu Qingwan said coldly, "It only shows your poisoning skills are subpar. Be smart, release my father, or you won't know how you died.
Let me remind you, my poison isn't discovered as early as yours.
By the time you realize it, it will be your death day."
The man's pupils contracted, clearly intimidated by her invisible, lethal poison.
But soon, he suppressed the little fear he had shown and resumed his wicked demeanor. "Is that so?
Then Consort, try and see if I can make your father have another seizure before I'm poisoned to death.
The Regent's Consort has exquisite medical skills, and it seems you've found a way to solve the mad dog disease. But what about mad dog disease combined with qi deviation? Can you cure that?
The renowned Marquis Zhaolie turning into a mad dog that bites anyone it sees, foaming at the mouth and barking like a dog in front of hundreds of thousands of troops from two countries.
Just imagine how utterly spectacular that scene would be, haha..."
With a "bang," a short, sharp sound interrupted the black-clothed man's arrogant laughter.
A bloody hole appeared on his forehead, still smoking. As he fell, his eyes remained wide with disbelief.
Lu Qingwan rushed to support Lu Zhenting, checking his pulse while issuing orders.
"Duan Yue, chop off this man's head and send it to Xie Shiyu. Tell her I've received her grand gift!
Let her wash her neck and wait, I will personally send her back to her hometown!"
Having said that, she ignored the soldiers watching, bent down, picked up Lu Zhenting, and returned directly to the camp.
After settling him on the bed and giving him an injection, she intended to stay by his side but suddenly remembered something and walked out.
Behind her, Lu Zhenting, who had been unconscious, slowly opened his eyes.
He raised his hand, gazing blankly at the spot where the injection had been administered. Tears streamed from his peach-blossom eyes, a stark contrast to the image of a military general.
Lu Qingwan exited the camp and began her inquiry, "Who was protecting Marquis Zhaolie just now?"
Several young soldiers stepped forward. More black-clothed figures appeared from the shadows, and two female guards under Duan Yue's command also came forward.
"With so many people guarding him, and yet someone managed to infiltrate. Can anyone tell me how that was possible?"
Duan Yue quietly stepped forward. "Mistress, please do not be angry. It was my oversight. I didn't expect him to have smoke bombs.
The brothers of the Xuanjia Army had never seen such a thing, they couldn't even see the way clearly. This was beyond their capabilities. Please do not punish them, Mistress. I am willing to bear all responsibility."
Lu Qingwan looked at her in surprise. "You know about smoke bombs?"
Duan Yue pursed her lips and nodded, but offered no further explanation.
Lu Qingwan understood. This was another rule of the Reincarnation Hall. She increasingly suspected that the ancestors of the Reincarnation Hall must have been traversers.
However, that was not important. She moved past Duan Yue to address the Xuanjia Army soldiers.
"First gunpowder, then smoke bombs, and more unfamiliar things may appear in the future.
This time, Duan Yue said you hadn't seen them and asked me not to punish you.
Next time, if the defenses are breached, if the battle is lost, who will you tell that you haven't seen these new things?
And who will forgive you?"
The middle-aged man left in charge of the camp, a man of very upright appearance, said shamefacedly, "Consort, your reprimand is correct. However, we have truly never heard of these things and don't know how to deal with them. We beg the Consort for guidance."
Lu Qingwan shook her head. "I cannot provide guidance."
The man's face fell, but Lu Qingwan continued, "I don't know what other unfamiliar things await you in the future.
But you must know that things are dead, but people are alive. We don't know what weapons the enemy will use to attack us, but we know where our own mission lies.
Remain calm in the face of crisis, hold your posts. Can you do that?"
The expressions of the group changed. Indeed, with so many of them, they had nearly formed an impenetrable ring around Lu Zhenting's tent.
If they hadn't panicked and caused chaos, that person could not have silently entered Lu Zhenting's tent and taken him hostage unless he had crashed through the two guards at the entrance.
Upon realizing this, the middle-aged man said shamefacedly, "Consort, your reprimand is correct. Your subordinate will certainly learn from this mistake and will never make such an error again."
Lu Qingwan mixed sternness with leniency. "It's good that you understand. After all, this is the first time everyone has experienced such a situation. Learning from it is enough.
However, regarding what that scoundrel said just now, I hope those words stop here.
If I hear them again, I will report directly to the Prince. Regardless of who it is, they will be dealt with for leaking military secrets."
Her sharp gaze swept across the entire assembly, and the Xuanjia Army soldiers collectively lowered their heads.
"Disperse now, don't stand here."
Having said that, she turned and stood outside Lu Zhenting's tent, acting as a guardian.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man said anxiously, "Consort, how can we let you guard the door?
You must be tired from your journey. Please go and rest. Leave this to your subordinate. I guarantee that Marquis Lu will be safe."
Lu Qingwan's expression remained unchanged. "Guards will be arranged as needed. Pay no mind to me, I have my own plans."
The middle-aged man was merely a captain, and dared not disobey Lu Qingwan's orders. He could only arrange for a few more soldiers to guard Lu Zhenting's tent.
Li Su walked up to Lu Qingwan and whispered, "Consort, Li Qing has returned. Fearing it would attract attention, she is waiting for you in the storage room behind the camp."