42: Chapter 42 Pillow Talk and Deadly Poisoned Tea

"Lin Xiao, you've been at the base for a while now, haven't you? How does it feel? Are you getting used to it?"

"It's very good."

Seeing that Zhang Cheng hadn't drunk the tea, Lin Xiao felt anxious inside, but she dared not show it on her face.

She walked around the desk, mustered her courage to go behind Zhang Cheng, stretched out her hands, and gently pressed them onto Zhang Cheng's temples, massaging with moderate pressure.

"It is... very hopeful here. It's completely different from Wa State, with its lifeless atmosphere and the sounds of gunfire everywhere. Especially you, Chairman, you are like... the backbone of everyone, the sun of this land."

Her voice held a bewitching softness, her body leaned slightly forward, her warm breath sprayed against Zhang Cheng's ear, and the softness of her chest brushed against Zhang Cheng's shoulder, whether intentionally or not.

Zhang Cheng closed his eyes, appearing to enjoy it, and let out a long sigh, his tone revealing a fragility never seen before:

"Backbone? The sun? Heh, who knows how many more days this sun of mine can shine? That Bao Youxiang in the south is an old tiger who eats people without spitting out the bones. With tens of thousands of guns in his hands, he's staring right at my throat."

Lin Xiao's heart stirred; she knew the opportunity had arrived.

Without stopping her hand movements, she asked softly, "Is Commander-in-Chief Bao... really that formidable? I heard that our army is also very strong; didn't we win against that Brigadier General Yang last time?"

"That was just good luck! Yang Maoliang underestimated the enemy!"

Zhang Cheng suddenly opened his eyes, his tone carrying a hint of "anxiety" and the impulse to "spill secrets," as if he had let down all his defenses in front of his lover.

"But Bao Youxiang is different; he is a true warlord! He occupies such a huge territory in North Wa, especially that Mengmao County!"

Zhang Cheng yanked the map on the desk over, pointed at the red circle on it, and gritted his teeth:

"Mengmao! The terrain is perilous, stuck in our vital point. As long as he stations a division there, I won't be able to sleep soundly! I've been worrying lately about how to bite off this hard nut; I'm so worried my hair is almost turning white."

Lin Xiao's heart rate accelerated instantly!

Mengmao! That was a strategic stronghold of North Wa and the southern gateway to Pangkham! If Zhang Cheng intended to move against Mengmao, it would be the signal for all-out war!

She suppressed her inner ecstasy and asked tentatively, "Then... Chairman, what do you intend to do? Are you... going to concentrate your forces to attack?"

Zhang Cheng grabbed the hand massaging his temples, gave a forceful tug, pulled her to his front, and made her sit on his lap.

The two looked into each other's eyes, the distance mere inches away. Zhang Cheng's gaze was filled with "fanaticism" and "trust."

"Lin Xiao, you are very smart, and you understand me."

Zhang Cheng's voice was low and hoarse, carrying the ruthlessness of a gambler, "This matter is top secret. Except for Old K, I am telling only you. I have already decided; in three days, I will secretly transfer the main forces of the First Brigade and the Second Brigade toward Mengmao! I want to concentrate all heavy firepower and deliver a 'Black Tiger Steals the Heart' strike to Bao Youxiang! As soon as we take Mengmao, Pangkham will be within our grasp!"

"Ah? The entire main force?"

Lin Xiao covered her mouth in feigned surprise, her eyes wide, "Then... wouldn't our base camp be empty? What if..."

"Hmph, wealth is sought in danger!"

Zhang Cheng's eyes flashed with a crazy light, "As long as the action is fast enough, Bao Youxiang won't be able to react! Besides, I want him to think I dare not move, catching him off guard! Once Mengmao is taken, I will have won half the game!"

"Ah? Master? You are just too amazing, Xiaoxiao is truly happy for you! Especially the things you've led everyone to do, eliminating evil, establishing order... I, I really admire you."

"Admire?"

Zhang Cheng chewed on the word, then suddenly reached out and pinched her chin. The force was neither light nor heavy, but enough to make her lift her head and be forced to meet his gaze.

His fingertips were warm, and the sensation of him pinching her chin was clear and full of a sense of control.

"Just admire?"

Zhang Cheng's voice dropped low and hoarse, carrying a bewitching magnetism, "Nothing... else?"

His face leaned in closer, his warm breath almost spraying onto her lips.

Lin Xiao could smell the faint scent of tobacco on him and a masculine, powerful aura.

"I... I..."

She opened her mouth, her voice dry, her eyes darting away, her cheeks burning as if on fire; that shy and flustered appearance was enough to melt any heart of iron.

Zhang Cheng watched the genuine panic in her eyes, and the sneer in his heart deepened.

He released her chin, and just as Lin Xiao thought the pressure was about to disappear and secretly breathed a sigh of relief—

His arm wrapped around her waist, and with a slight tug, he brought her stumbling forward, almost crashing completely into his embrace.

"Ah!"

Lin Xiao let out a short cry of surprise, her hands subconsciously pressing against his hard chest; through the thin shirt, she could feel the well-defined muscles and scorching body temperature underneath.

Her face was completely buried in his shoulder and neck, and the aggressive masculine scent instantly enveloped her.

"Don't move."

Zhang Cheng's voice sounded above her head, his arm circling her slender waist like an iron hoop, while his other hand stroked the back of her head, pressing her more tightly against himself.

"Mas... Master..."

Her voice was muffled against his chest, carrying a helpless whimper.

"Shh."

Zhang Cheng's chin rested against the top of her head, his voice revealing a rare, almost exhausted hoarseness, "Let me hold you for a while."

"Don't leave tonight. Stay with me; my mind is in turmoil."

Lin Xiao leaned into his embrace, her face wearing a look of shyness and submission, like a docile kitten. But beneath her lowered eyelids, a cold, triumphant sneer flashed.

That night, the lights in the office went out.

But in the darkness, an encrypted emergency intelligence, through the miniature transmitter hidden in Lin Xiao's hairpin, utilized a specific long-wave frequency band to silently fly toward the north—the true capital of Wa State, Pangkham.

"The prey has taken the bait. Zhang Cheng will assemble his main force in three days to launch a strong attack on Mengmao. The base camp is empty. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Looking at the "sleeping" woman in his arms, Zhang Cheng opened his eyes in the darkness. Where was there any trace of confusion in those eyes? There was only coldness and mockery, deeper than the night.

"Old K."

He called out in his mind to the communication channel bound to the system.

"Present, Master."

Old K's voice was always so calm.

"The fake intelligence has been fed to her; this woman believed it. Notify the First and Second Brigades to start moving toward Mengmao with great fanfare starting tomorrow; make the momentum as big as possible! The convoy must be long, the dust must be thick; I want the whole world to know that we are going to attack Mengmao!"

The corners of Zhang Cheng's mouth curled into a cruel arc.

"But—after arriving at the designated assembly point, give me total radio silence for all personnel! Utilizing the cover of night, turn northeast! Target—Pangkham!"

"I want to put on a grand performance of 'openly repairing the plank road, secretly crossing the Chencang' for Bao Youxiang! He wants my life, so I will take his lair!"