Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Realization

With this thought, her usual playfulness faded, replaced by a serene composure. She looked into his eyes and smiled slightly: "I'm flattered by your proposal, but we are destined to be impossible. I've lied to you about many things that I can't explain. All I can say is I'm sorry. I won't appear before you again. If we ever meet again, please act as if you never knew me. From now on, we are strangers. Goodbye, Prime Minister!"

As Leng Jiu disappeared into the distance, Gong Yiwei stood there motionless, his world seeming to fade away with her departure, standing still as if turned to stone.

Light rain began to fall, sending pedestrians hurrying home, leaving Gong Yiwei standing alone like a lonely moonlit figure. When his servant arrived with the carriage, he found Gong Yiwei frozen in place and hurriedly helped him into the vehicle to return home.

Leng Jiu looked up at the rainy sky and scoffed lightly. It seemed even the heavens disapproved of her breaking someone's heart. Without an umbrella, she walked in the rain, ending up completely drenched by the time she reached her destination.

"Miss! Why didn't you use an umbrella?" Mo Yi Na exclaimed in surprise, hardly recognizing the soaking wet Leng Jiu.

Leng Jiu flicked her hair back: "I haven't walked in the rain for a long time and wanted to experience it again."

Mo Yi Na was speechless: "Come inside and change. As much as you enjoy the rain, getting sick isn’t good!"

Mo Yi Na led Leng Jiu to her room. Passing the courtyard, Leng Jiu caught sight of Mo Zhai practicing martial arts in the rain, his appealing honey-colored skin and perfectly toned muscles on display. She couldn’t help but whistle appreciatively: "Didn’t expect him to be so well-built!"

Mo Yi Na was at a loss for words at Leng Jiu's boldness. Usually, the girls in Central Plains were shy and reserved, but her words were even more open than those of the girls from the grasslands: "My brother is the bravest warrior of our tribe, naturally strong and fit. Not only that, he's also the most handsome man in our tribe. Many girls wish for him to visit their tents!"

Leng Jiu looked skeptical: "Bravest warrior, I believe, but the most handsome man?"

Mo Yi Na nudged Leng Jiu with a mysterious smile: “Go change your clothes first, and you'll see soon enough!”

Leng Jiu was pushed into the room by Mo Yi Na and soon emerged in a plain white dress, her hair redone without any hairpins, just secured with two ribbons. When she stepped out, Mo Yi Na's eyes widened in astonishment: “So this is what you truly look like!”

Leng Jiu was unfazed: “Is the difference that big?”

Mo Yi Na nodded vigorously: “It’s like night and day!”

Leng Jiu was speechless. It was just a change of clothes, could it really be that dramatic?

Mo Yi Na looked past Leng Jiu and waved to someone behind her: “Brother, over here!”

Turning around, Leng Jiu's eyes lifted in surprise. Mo Zhai had changed into different attire, standing tall and broad-shouldered with a slim waist. His hair was casually loose, exuding a unique aura of the grasslands. What caught Leng Jiu's attention wasn’t his aura, but his face – similar to the one she had seen a few days ago, but more profound, with the distinct features of his grassland heritage, exuding his unique charm and handsomeness. Especially striking were his distinctive purple eyes, truly making him a rare sight of male beauty.

Mo Yi Na leaned in, patting Leng Jiu's shoulder with pride: “What do you think? My brother is handsome, isn’t he?”

Leng Jiu nodded honestly: “Indeed, a rarely seen handsome man.”

Mo Zhai paused in his steps, looking expressionlessly at Leng Jiu due to her comment. Mo Yi Na, expecting to see Leng Jiu awestruck or dazed, was disappointed by her lukewarm response.

Leng Jiu glanced over at the siblings: “I can't come here every day. I'm free today, so I have something to discuss with you.”

Leading them into the room, Leng Jiu gestured for them to sit and then asked Mo Zhai: “Have you recovered your martial arts skills?”

Mo Zhai nodded: “Around seventy percent.”

Leng Jiu took out a stack of papers: “Take a look at this.”

Mo Zhai examined them carefully, first with confusion, then with surprise.

Leng Jiu explained calmly: “I need to establish a force, but my identity doesn’t allow me to stay here long-term. Hence, I need you to handle this. The training methods outlined here won’t make them martial arts experts overnight, but if anyone can endure these two months of training, they’ll be even more useful than martial arts experts.”

“So, from now on, you must start gathering suitable people. The best candidates are beggars, refugees, and those ostracized by their families, desperate for a way out. Regardless of gender, anyone with determination willing to sign a life-and-death contract can be recruited. I'll try to come and train them personally as much as I can. After two months, you’ll see the results.”

Mo Zhai put away the papers and nodded solemnly: “Alright, I’ll start looking for people in the next few days!”

Mo Yi Na added: “I'll help my brother with it!”

“Don’t think you have nothing to do,” Leng Jiu said coolly, glancing at her. “Can you dance or play instruments?”

Eager to contribute, Mo Yi Na quickly responded: “I can play the matouqin and guzheng. Dancing is my forte!”

“Good! Soon, a large gambling den will open in the capital. I want you to enter it as a grassland songstress.”

“A songstress?” Mo Yi Na was momentarily taken aback.

Mo Zhai’s expression darkened slightly, but he refrained from asserting himself and simply asked, “Why?”

Leng Jiu tapped her finger lightly on the table: “The rise of a force relies not just on its strength, but also on a reliable information network. Brothels are the best places for gathering intelligence. This place is still under construction. Once completed, they will recruit talents from various places. It’s a blank canvas waiting to be colored, and this is the best opportunity to infiltrate. I trust only you two sisters right now. Mo Yi Na must enter there first, and once your training is done, I’ll personally select suitable people to support Mo Yi Na. Step by step, we’ll perfect this information channel.”

Mo Yi Na looked conflicted: “But that place…”

Leng Jiu smiled: “Aren’t the daughters of the grasslands known for their openness? I’m asking you to perform, not to sell yourself. What are you afraid of? Besides, you should know that an information network is the most crucial part of a force, determining its strength. It even directly affects how soon you can return to the grasslands for revenge. Are you sure you won’t go?”

Hearing this, Mo Yi Na looked at Mo Zhai and finally nodded decisively: “I’ll go!”

Mo Zhai, with his deep purple eyes, looked at Leng Jiu: “How can you be so sure they will recruit Yi Na?”