The destination this time was pre-arranged by Lin'er to be at the foot of Niuli Mountain, outside the city of Xizi.
The place was spring-like all year round, with lush green grass, and beside it flowed a river known to the locals as Grid River.
The guards, driving the carriage, hurried out of the city and soon arrived at the foot of Niuli Mountain.
At this moment, a guard dismounted, bowed, and knelt to serve as a human chair. Lin'er poked his head out, saw him like this, and waved his hand, saying,
"Bring a stool."
He then got up, took down the stool he was sitting on, and used it as a footrest for us. Lin'er alighted from the carriage first, and I followed closely behind.
After getting out of the carriage, I didn't see anyone rushing up. So, I turned my head to the unfamiliar young man and asked Lin'er,
"This young man doesn't look like he's from our Heishan, does he?"
Lin'er replied, "He used to be a stable boy in Xizi City."
I beckoned him closer and asked, "What's your name?"
"My name is Yugu."
"Yugu... The orioles' songs herald autumn's arrival, tears hastily urge the grains to ripen. A good name. You don't need to be formal in front of me; just be yourself."
He still dared not look up and said firmly, "Yes."
I chuckled inwardly, finding everyone I met for the first time quite endearing.
As we chatted, we heard shouts from a distance, "We're here!" "We're here!"
Soon, Ye Changfeng, leading his three good brothers, arrived first.
Then came Liu Shinian and Xue Gucheng, followed by the twenty-four Mountain Lords. However, one of the twenty-four Mountain Lords was missing.
Lin'er recognized this at a glance and asked them, "Where is Mountain Lord Huang Shang?"
Feng Xiaoyi replied, "I saw him falling behind. He should be here soon."
"Let's wait," I said.
Lin'er then told everyone, "You can unload your heavy belongings and rest first."
"Yes."
After a long wait, Huang Shang finally appeared, looking disheveled and covered in mud. He waved his hand and shouted loudly, "Here I am!"
When he reached us, everyone saw his sorry state.
His face and body were covered in mud. Many of the vegetables he carried had fallen off, and even the horse he rode was caked in mud.
Everyone started speculating if he had some peculiar hobby, casting him peculiar glances.
He quickly explained.
"On the way here, this horse suddenly became disobedient and ran off.
Without it, how could I have come? So, I chased after it and finally caught it by jumping into a mud pit."
I laughed heartily and asked him, "Did you bring new clothes?"
He grinned foolishly and replied, "Yes."
"Quickly find a good spot to wash up and change."
"Okay."
Saying that, he took off the package from his horse's back and then slipped behind the carriage to change.
Turning back to everyone, I said, "Now you can open your packages."
They then proceeded to open their respective packages one by one, but the contents were rather peculiar.
There were golden cups, small wooden stools, large cooking pots, and hundreds of bottles of fine wine.
However, the most unusual was Mountain Lord Aluda of Dazhi Mountain.
His package contained medicinal wine, regular wine, plain water, fruit platters, flower platters, vegetable platters, a sharp knife, a curved knife, and scissors.
I was momentarily stunned. Were they here for a picnic or a fight?
Then I looked at Ye Changfeng. His package contained red, white, black, and purple clothes of all kinds, along with over a dozen bottles of good wine, bedding, and quilts.
I asked him in confusion, "Why did you bring all this?"
He chuckled and explained.
"Well, you said we'd play for a day, and I worried we might have to stay overnight. With so many people, we might not have good spots, so I brought the bedding.
You said we should wear nice clothes, and I didn't know which one I'd like best, so I brought them all."
I was momentarily speechless.
At that moment, I suddenly had an idea and wanted to see what Liu Shinian's package contained.
So, I grabbed his package and opened it. All I saw inside were liniments for bruises, wound medicine, and bandages.
I looked at him with confusion and asked, "What did you bring? Are we going to fight?"
Liu Shinian smiled sheepishly and said, "I was worried someone might get hurt, so I brought these."
Although I couldn't quite understand, I still felt he was very thoughtful.
Looking at Yan Wushuang's package, there were fruits, handkerchiefs, and desserts. This was what a person venturing outdoors should bring.
I suggested to everyone, "Let's play a game."
Everyone looked confused and turned to look at me.
I said, "Let's play Cops and Spies."
Everyone looked puzzled and didn't quite understand. So, I explained,
"In Cops and Spies, there are Generals, Bandits, Detectives, Enemy Spies, and Civilians.
We identify enemies through capture and voting. I am the one who assigns the tasks."
I looked at the guard sitting alone in the carriage and called him over, "Gu Yu, come and play with us."
He seemed a bit at a loss, shaking his head in disbelief as he walked over.
I stood up and pulled him over to explain to everyone.
"Let me introduce you all. This young man's name is Gu Yu. He's a skilled horseman. Don't bully him; let him play with us."
Liu Shinian chuckled and called him over, "Come, sit here."
He walked shyly to Liu Shinian's side and sat down.
I asked everyone, "Who has a pen and paper?"
Liu Shinian immediately flicked out a bandage, which instantly transformed into a roll of paper. He asked, "Muye, what are you going to do?"
"We have thirty-eight people now. So, there will be three Generals, five Spies, and three Detectives.
Five Bandits, and the rest will be Civilians. Generals can arbitrarily check one person's identity card. Detectives can arrest anyone at will. Spies can kill anyone at will.
Bandits can randomly rob someone's identity, gaining a dual identity. Civilians can vote to eliminate one person.
So, we need to cut thirty-eight small pieces of paper, write 'Three Generals,' 'Three Detectives,' 'Five Spies,' 'Five Bandits,' and the remaining twenty-two 'Civilians' on them."
After Liu Shinian understood, he took out some wine, dipped his finger in it, and quickly wrote the words on the white paper.
Then, he drew his sword and swiftly slashed, dividing them into thirty-six pieces of paper of uniform size.
He then sheathed his sword with a flourish, slammed his hand on the ground, and the paper slips flew up.
Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang then quickly flew up, folded them into small slips of paper, and landed neatly.
"Amazing skill!" everyone exclaimed, clapping their hands.
I smiled with satisfaction and said to everyone,
"Alright, now you can come forward and randomly pick a piece of paper. You can only see your own identity; don't let others see it."
Everyone then furtively tucked the slips into their clothes, looking at them crouched on the ground or lying on the grass, each in their own unique way.
"Are you all set?" I asked.
"Yes!" they replied.
"Good. Now listen to me. Everyone close your eyes. Those who drew the General, please open your eyes."
At this moment, Xue Gucheng, Hei Feng, and Baili Wenqing opened their eyes.
"Now, the three Generals can designate one person whose identity they want to see."
The three of them thought for a moment. Baili Wenqing suspected Liu Shinian the most, so he pointed at him. The other two agreed.
So, I walked over to Liu Shinian and took his slip to show them.
It turned out he was just a Civilian.
Then, I returned the slip to Liu Shinian.
"Alright, three Generals, please close your eyes. Bandits, please open your eyes."
The five Bandits were Feng Xiaoyi, Mountain Lord of Jiji Mountain Ji Xiaohai, Mountain Lord of Hebie Mountain Hebie Yuan, and Fuzimo and Zhu Yan.
"Good. Now you can randomly seize someone's identity."
Everyone thought for a while, pointing at Yan Wushuang, then at Mountain Lord Junziyi of Magan Mountain. Finally, they decided to seize Junziyi's identity.
So, Fuzimo stepped forward and showed his slip to everyone. It turned out he was a Spy. They had guessed correctly.
The group exchanged glances and decided to give this Spy identity to Hebie Yuan.
"Alright, everyone, please open your eyes. Since Junziyi's identity was seized, he is forced to be eliminated."
"Wuwuwu, I haven't even started playing yet," he said aggrievedly.
I comforted him, "It's okay, you can help later."
So, he had to get up and stand aside. I thought for a moment and then called him back.
"Come back. I've thought of something more fun: free play. I won't set the rules; you guys identify the spies yourselves."
Everyone looked at each other, not understanding.
I then said again,
"This will be more fun. Let's start with the Civilian vote to eliminate someone."
"Okay."
Suddenly, everyone took the initiative. After thinking for a moment, they decided to vote Lin'er out.
"Why are you executing the elder?" I asked in confusion.
Liu Shinian explained, "The elder is too smart. If we don't eliminate him, it won't be good."
Lin'er smiled slightly and said, "It's okay, I'll just watch how they play."
At this moment, the five Bandits revealed their identities and began to rob.
"Robbery!" Feng Xiaoyi shouted. Everyone froze. At this moment, the three Detectives also revealed their identities, "We are Detectives."
The three Detectives were Ye Changfeng, Mountain Lord of Wangyue Mountain Kudeng, and Shuifang.
Ye Changfeng and the other two stepped forward and apprehended the five, drawing a line on the ground to confine them. Then, Ye Changfeng pointed at Junziyi and said,
"Since you have no identity now, come and watch these five for us."
"Okay." Junziyi immediately stood up to guard them.
At this moment, General Baili Wenqing revealed his identity,
"I am the General. Now, how do you command them to arrest spies?"
"Yes." The three received the order and began to check everyone in the crowd. They looked so serious and meticulous, just like real detectives.
As the three checked Ying Lu, Ying Lu suddenly opened a hand with writing on it:
"Kill the General, and you shall be king."
Ye Changfeng stroked his chin with interest, then shook his head and walked to Baili Wenqing, grabbing him.
Baili Wenqing asked in confusion, "Are you rebelling?"
"You instigated us. Into prison!" Thus, Baili Wenqing was also locked up with the five Bandits.
At this moment, Ye Changfeng suddenly announced, "I want to be the General. Those who support the three of us, come to my side."
Then, several people gradually walked to their side.
Suddenly, someone punched Ku Deng, hitting him. He immediately fell to the ground, pretending to be attacked, "Assassin, oh, I'm dead."
"Hahaha!" His lolling tongue and his bewildered expression made me burst into laughter.
Ye Changfeng knelt beside Ku Deng in sorrow, crying out,
"Brother, who killed you? Tell me, tell me." His exaggerated weeping and trembling hands showed his deep sadness.
He turned back and roared, "Who killed my brother? I will find him now!"
Then, taking Shuifang with him, they began to check everyone one by one. He looked suspiciously at Mountain Lord Guihai, saying,
"You are very suspicious. Into prison!"
Then he was taken away by Shuifang and locked up.
He then looked at Mountain Lord Ye Emei of E'shou Mountain and said, "You are also very suspicious. Get locked up."
Ye Emei cried out in injustice, "Injustice! I didn't kill anyone."
"Lock him up."
Then he walked to Mountain Lord Xuexiangyun of Xuezhi Mountain, finding him suspicious as well, "You are also suspicious. Get locked up!"
He was also arrested and locked up. At this moment, Ye Changfeng looked at the fourth person, Mountain Lord Long Jiuyi of Jiulong Mountain, "You also..." Before he could finish,
Long Jiuyi shouted, "Heaven and earth are not benevolent, traitors are in power, innocents are killed indiscriminately, rebel!"
Then a group of people swarmed forward, pushing Ye Changfeng and Shuifang to the ground, feigning punches left and right.
At this moment, Hei Feng, who was watching from the side, felt it was time to act. He revealed his identity, "I am the General, so everyone stop."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone rushed forward, faked a stab at him, and revealed himself, "I am a Spy. I've been waiting for you."
This person was Mountain Lord Hua Baiye of Baihua Mountain. He unexpectedly revealed himself.
Then Xue Gucheng stepped forward and struck him with a palm, "Now you've killed Hei Feng, and I've killed you."
Now, there were only four Spies and this one General.
Just then, the five people in prison began to think. They pulled Baili Wenqing aside and showed him the Spy identity.
They then promised him that if he got out, they would support him as the sole Great General.
Baili Wenqing nodded in agreement, then tricked Junziyi into opening the door for them. After the few escaped from prison, they supported Baili Wenqing as their overlord.
At this moment, Liu Shinian joined in the fun and supported them along with the civilians.
Suddenly, Xue Ruyi revealed his identity, "I am a Spy. I'll kill Baili Wenqing with a knife!"
Liu Shinian, acting on instinct to save his master, immediately stabbed Xue Ruyi. At this moment, the crowd rioted, and the five Bandits were killed by civilians.
At this point, three Spies had been killed.
Suddenly, Yan Wushuang revealed her identity, "I am a Spy. Brother Xue, I'm sorry."
Before she could finish, Xue Gucheng stabbed her first.
"Ah, Brother Xue, you, you..." Yan Wushuang said in disbelief, pretending to be stabbed and questioning him.
Everyone gasped in surprise, "Wow," but then held their breath and watched intently.
"We have different paths; we cannot walk together. I'm sorry, Shuang'er."
"How ruthless!" everyone exclaimed again.
At this moment, Xue Gucheng walked into the crowd, checking everyone as he said, "Four Spies are dead. As long as we kill the last one, the world will be at peace."
Just then, he suddenly sensed something wrong with someone's eyes and grabbed him, then stabbed him.
The person, before dying, asked, "You, you, you, how did you know it was me?"
Xue Gucheng explained, "Because your eyes betrayed you."
"(⊙o⊙) Wow, so amazing!" everyone exclaimed in shock.
At this moment, Liu Shinian stood up and hugged him, "Good brother, you're too amazing, really great. However, you've been stabbed by me."
Xue Gucheng looked at him in confusion and asked, "You're a civilian, why did you stab me?"
Everyone was also confused. Lin'er and I were also seriously watching the drama unfold.
"Because I'm a Spy."
Everyone exclaimed, "Impossible!"
He explained.
"Among the five Bandits who were ruthlessly beaten to death by the crowd just now, one had a dual identity, and that identity was Spy.
Before he died, he entrusted me with the Spy identity. So, he died as a Bandit, and I exist as a Spy."
Everyone looked towards the five Bandits. Ji Xiaohai said sheepishly,
"It's true that before I died, I passed on the Spy identity to Liu Shinian."
With the confirmation, Liu Shinian laughed heartily, "So, the final victor is me, Liu Shinian."
Everyone exclaimed, "Awesome!"
Xue Gucheng said helplessly, "I calculated everything, but I never expected it to be you."
"Alas, who knew, right, good brother."
Xue Gucheng was indignant and wanted to devour him.