The Sheep sought refuge with Pri Minister Xun, but hadn’t gotten involved in the Chu Family case, nor had he managed to commit any heinous deeds for Pri Minister Xun. He received a hundred strikes of the paddle and was released from prison.
As for the Pig, he was granted special pardon and temporarily regained his freedom.
The Sheep said, "As mbers of the Twelve Guards, it’s only right that we co to congratulate you on your wedding."
Ji Li turned his face away and sneered, "I don’t care about that."
After a brief pause, he glared at the three and demanded, "So, where are the wedding gifts?"
Chen Long tossed him an embroidered box.
Ji Li opened it and his eyes widened instantly, "A Feng Shui Compass? This looks even more extraordinary than my old one... Could it actually be the legendary Heavenly Gang Compass? Where did you get this?"
Chen Long replied, "Stole it from the Thousand chanism Pavilion."
Ji Li’s expression flipped in an instant: "Good brother!"
With the Feng Shui Compass, his luck was turning back! Muahaha!
"And what about you two?"
His face darkened as he turned to Sheep and Pig, staring at them with a serious deanor.
The Sheep shook his head, "I followed the Pri Minister, but didn’t have the chance to make a fortune before trouble befell him. Still, I can afford a small token of congratulations."
While saying this, he tossed Ji Li five copper coins.
Ji Li remarked, "Are you trying to fob off like a beggar?"
The Sheep replied, "I do have gold."
Chen Long and Pig instantly lunged forward, using all four hands to pin down Sheep, preventing him from pulling out the gold.
Last ca Pig.
Pig scratched his head and said, "About wedding money, you won’t be able to accept mine. I’m not skilled like Chen Long at snatching treasures from the Thousand chanism Pavilion, so all I can give is a handmade wooden carving."
He pulled out a carving ticulously wrapped in silk from his wide sleeves.
Layer by layer, he unwrapped the silk, revealing a carving that stunned everyone—it was none other than a lifelike depiction of Chu Grand Marshal, standing atop a mountain peak, wearing a bamboo hat and wielding a sword.
As they looked at the vivid carving, everyone’s minds involuntarily drifted back to their shared mories.
Those were days of being forced to fight for their lives, yet also the most passionate monts of their existence.
"Old Pig, Old Sheep, co back." Ji Li suddenly spoke.
The two froze.
Chen Long also turned to Ji Li.
Ji Li said, "Don’t you think that the Grand Marshal’s death was also just another move in his greater strategy?"
Pig asked, "What do you an?"
Ji Li analyzed, "The Black Armor Army vanished overnight—have you ever considered where they went? Outsiders might not know, but we do—all too clearly. Black Armor Army is Black Armor Army, and Twelve Guards are Twelve Guards; there’s no hierarchy between them. We don’t have the authority to command the Black Armor Army. Thus, the Army must have received orders directly from the Grand Marshal."
The Sheep asked, "What does that have to do with us?"
Ji Li weighed the wooden carving in his hand and said, "Don’t you want to know what kind of arrangents the Grand Marshal made? Perhaps, even the fracture within the Twelve Guards was all part of his plan. Only on the day the Twelve Guards reunite will we be qualified to et him—or rather—et the new master he’s chosen for the Twelve Guards."
Upon hearing this, all three fell silent.
The Sheep chuckled, "I’m not usually one to worry about other people’s business; I live for my own carefree life. I’m not nearly as devoted as you lot, but your words have piqued my curiosity. I really do want to know what kind of grand sche the Grand Marshal set in motion. I’m in."
Ji Li turned to Pig again, "And you?"
Pig sighed, "I’m different from you all; I’m not just lacking in loyalty; I’m a traitor through and through. My very presence would only bring sha to the Twelve Guards. Chu Grand Marshal would never rest easy in the afterlife with around. He surely wouldn’t want back."
Ji Li shrugged, "Confessing to us won’t cut it—you need to confess to the Grand Marshal, confess to the new master he’s chosen for the Twelve Guards, and let them judge your fate."
Pig asked dubiously, "Do you really think there’ll be a new master for the Twelve Guards?"
Ji Li replied, "Whether there is or isn’t—you’ll know once you try."
Pig hesitated, then shook his head again, "I’m afraid that before we gather the Twelve Guards, Si Snake will kill ."
Ji Li said to him, "You don’t need to worry about that. I’m only asking—are you willing to join the ga?"
Pig looked at the three of them, as though making so sort of decision. "You probably don’t know—after I betrayed the Chu Family, I’ve been repenting every night. I constantly think about ending myself, but sohow I feel like I’m not even entitled to do that."
"My life isn’t my own; it belongs to the Grand Marshal. Only he has the right to take it away. If Ji Li’s analysis is correct and he chose a new master for the Twelve Guards, then I’ll let them decide my sentence—no matter how they want to die, I’ll be at peace."
"So, if none of you object, I’m willing to co back."
-
Grand and imposing, the wedding procession arrived at Feng Shui Alley amidst drumming and cheering.
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