Burigude looked at Gu Ruiji, not replying.
Changmingshan, impassable!
"Teqin..."
Burigude raised his hand, stopping Gu Ruiji. His voice carried a chill, like scalding blood instantly frozen in extreme cold. "Go and investigate! Find out where Xiong Shi took those Lin Yuan people!"
Gu Ruiji was slightly stunned. He clearly hadn't expected Teqin to ask him to investigate this matter. More than this, Gu Ruiji wished to personally kill the murderer of the Turkic Divine Eagle.
Seeing Gu Ruiji not complying, Burigude slowly closed his eyes. His hands rested on the table, his knuckles slightly protruding, as if struggling to control something...
"Teqin?" Gu Ruiji saw his furrowed brow and wondered what he was thinking. Feeling concerned, Burigude abruptly opened his eyes. He gazed at Gu Ruiji and uttered with difficulty, "The Khan... might want to use the Lin Yuan people to eliminate the Eagle Division!"
"What?"
Burigude's words struck Gu Ruiji like a shattered silver bottle spewing water. Gu Ruiji stood up abruptly, his face filled with horror.
How could the Khan, how could he want to eliminate them?
Why?
"The Khan is old..."
Burigude spoke slowly. This matter had been buried in his heart for a long time. If not for the death of the Turkic Divine Eagle, he might have harbored illusions, fantasizing that the Khan would not treat him this way, would not treat their Eagle Division this way.
"And the Young Khan cannot control the situation, so the Khan, while still having strength, is currently clearing threats for the Young Khan... The Xiong Shi lineage originates from the Young Khan's maternal clan. They claim loyalty to the Khan, but in the end, they are actually loyal to the Young Khan. As for the Lang Shi lineage, more than fighting, they are skilled in crafting weapons. With Xiong Shi keeping them in check, Lang Shi poses no threat. Only our Eagle Division..."
"Our Eagle Division is brave and skilled in combat, and we follow your lead. So the Khan fears that after he passes away, we will establish our own faction?" Gu Ruiji finished Burigude's words.
Burigude nodded with difficulty.
He looked at the corpse of the Turkic Divine Eagle and said to Gu Ruiji, "Half a month ago, I received an order from the Khan. The Khan instructed me to lead the Eagle Division to replace Xiong Shi in guarding Changmingshan. Our Eagle Division is known for its combat prowess and has always been a sharp sword in the Khan's hand. At the time, I wondered why the Khan would use his sharpest sword to guard Changmingshan."
"Until recently, I heard that something happened on the other side of Changmingshan, the Lin Yuan side."
"Changmingshan was shrouded in fog, and the Langhuan Army entered the mountain to investigate, but never returned."
"What, Changmingshan was shrouded in fog?"
Gu Ruiji exclaimed. They had been stationed at the foot of Changmingshan for over half a month. When had Changmingshan ever been foggy?
Burigude ignored Gu Ruiji's question and continued, "And a few days ago, someone delivered a message to me, saying that Feng Luan, a close friend of Lin Yuan's Regent Ji Jinmo, was on his way to Changmingshan. The message stated that Feng Luan's investigation was a pretense, and his true intention was to find a mountain path directly leading to Liaojiang. I was warned to be extremely vigilant and absolutely prevent him from leaving Changmingshan and appearing within Liaojiang territory!"
"But what was the result?"
Burigude wanted to laugh but couldn't. "The result was that he entered my Liaojiang territory without a sound. Gu Ruiji, even now, I cannot determine whether the Turkic Divine Eagle's encounter with them was an accident or a carefully planned coincidence."
Gu Ruiji felt an immense chill. He thought of how the Eagle Division had fought for the Khan in campaigns across the land for years, achieving countless military exploits. If not for the Eagle Division, how could the Khan have unified Liaojiang and become the Heavenly Khan? Yet, years of loyalty were repaid with suspicion and elimination.
Gu Ruiji's eyes reddened. The scent of wine and anger surged, and seeing the corpse of the Turkic Divine Eagle again, he felt an overwhelming sense of grief and indignation. He wished he could draw his saber and charge into the Heavenly Khan's tent right now, to question him why he treated them this way. Were their years of support and respect for him not enough for him to put away his cruel heart?
"Teqin, are we just going to accept this and do nothing?"
"If the Khan truly intends to trap and kill our Eagle Division, what if we rebel?"
Gu Ruiji was afraid that Teqin still wouldn't resist. If that happened, their brothers in the Eagle Division would likely die with unfulfilled grievances.
"Perhaps, the Young Khan only wants my life. If..."
"Teqin!"
Gu Ruiji was angry at his lack of defiance. "Do you think the Young Khan will spare us after you're dead?"
"He won't. Your death will only accelerate the demise of our Eagle Division. Teqin, your subordinate knows you owe the Khan a great debt and are willing to lay down your life for him. But now, the Khan is forcing our entire Eagle Division to its death for the Young Khan's smooth ascension. Even if you decapitate yourself and present it, wouldn't the Khan fear that we would resent him because of your death?"
"For the sake of our brothers in the Eagle Division, you cannot just let the Khan and Xiong Shi persecute us!"
Gu Ruiji, fearing that Burigude intended to sacrifice himself to protect the brothers of the Eagle Division, pleaded with every word, his voice filled with sorrow and desperation, using every possible argument to dissuade him from this dangerous idea.
Burigude remained silent. Gu Ruiji lamented his inability to persuade him. He abruptly turned and walked towards the outside of the tent. Since he couldn't persuade him, he would have to lead the troops to kill Agu Jie first.
He, Gu Ruiji, was rebelling!
"You stop!"
Burigude reprimanded Gu Ruiji. Gu Ruiji turned and looked at Burigude. "Since Teqin hasn't made up his mind, your subordinate will make this decision for Teqin!"
"Henceforth, all matters will be borne solely by me, Gu Ruiji. Teqin can still be a loyal minister and a good general to the Khan!"
"You're spouting nonsense!"
Burigude roared, his chest heaving. Gu Ruiji's actions enraged him.
He took a breath and commanded, "I told you, go and investigate the whereabouts of those Lin Yuan people first!"
Gu Ruiji was slightly stunned, then his eyes lit up. Did this mean Teqin didn't intend to be manipulated by the Khan?
He quickly cupped his fists and accepted the order. "Yes!"
Gu Ruiji lifted the tent flap and strode out.
...
Nan Shiying, along with Ying Shi and Ying Shi'er, exited the cave. The other exit of the cave was on the mountainside east of the entrance to Liaojiang's Changmingshan, concealed by large rocks and dry grass. If one hadn't come from within, it would have been impossible to tell that a cave entrance was hidden there.
So, did that group of people wearing Rakshasa masks enter the mountain through the entrance guarded by the Eagle Division?
No, not the Eagle Division.
According to Shen Xing, the Eagle Division was transferred to guard Changmingshan half a month ago. Before that, Changmingshan had always been guarded by the Xiong Shi.
Liaojiang!
Xiong Shi!
This matter was definitely related to Xiong Shi. As for whether the Eagle Division was aware of it, she didn't know yet.
This location was far from where Qing Zhu and Qing Yuan were found. Nan Shiying and her shadow guards returned the way they came, leaping onto the cliff from the stone platform.
Only when they saw Nan Shiying safe and sound did Qing Zhu's worried heart finally settle completely!