344: The military order was issued with lightning speed; bloodshed erupted within Ravenburg.

Zhou Qingfeng stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "If, my Lord, you feel I am meddling, then I can stop. However, Ning Cha was brought in by me, and I must be responsible for taking her out unscathed."

Cai Guozhong heard this and pondered for a moment. His anger gradually subsided, and reason regained its hold. This Mr. Jiang came from the Sword Tower; his identity was mysterious, and it was clear his status was not low. He could definitely speak with authority in the Sword Tower.

If he offended this person, his future days would only be more difficult. After all, his ability to dominate a region and reign as a hegemon relied entirely on the backing of the Sword Tower.

If someone in the Sword Tower were to undermine him, he would certainly be made to suffer for it.

"Out of respect for Mr. Jiang, peace talks are possible, but an Alliance is not."

"As long as their rebel army stops raiding my logistics supplies."

After a pause, Cai Guozhong gave his assurance: "I can guarantee that I will no longer send troops to encircle and suppress the rebel army; this is my bottom line."

Zhou Qingfeng heard this and gave a hum of acknowledgment: "That is good. I can vouch for this, and Miss Ning Cha can also make a promise here. She can guarantee that they will no longer raid the Hell Legion's logistics supplies. Right, Miss Ning Cha?"

Ning Cha said, "I can."

Cai Guozhong nodded slightly. The rebel army's raiding of logistics supplies had always been a thorn in his side. Resolving this hidden danger through peace talks was not a bad idea.

At the very least, he wouldn't have to worry about his rear supplies being harassed or raided while the Hell Legion fought on the front lines. In some respects, this truly relieved a great deal of pressure.

But an Alliance was definitely out of the question. If he formed an Alliance with the rebel army, who would listen to whom?

The rebel army leaders, Ning Cha and Fan Li, naturally held the moral high ground and legitimacy.

Once the rebel army and the Hell Legion formed an offensive and defensive Alliance.

Then Cai Guozhong, as the commander of the Hell Legion, would likely not be able to hold onto his position.

At that point, it would be uncertain who the low- and mid-level soldiers would actually listen to.

To put it bluntly, Cai Guozhong was also afraid of being replaced once his core interests were touched.

He would not care whether the core interests of the Sword Tower would be damaged as a result.

Cai Guozhong: "Mr. Jiang, I consider the first matter accomplished."

Zhou Qingfeng: "Then can you tell me the whereabouts of that man with the blade?"

Cai Guozhong: "No. We agreed that I would tell you after three matters were completed, so it will be after three matters are completed. For now, please go and handle the second matter, Mr. Jiang."

Zhou Qingfeng smiled slightly: "I forgot to tell you, my Lord, I handled the second matter while I was at it."

Cai Guozhong was stunned. Even with all his experience, he was shocked: "So fast?"

Zhou Qingfeng smiled faintly, a green gleam flashing in his palm as he took the three stolen intelligence documents from his Holy Ring and handed them over: "The matter regarding the cultists' gathering to plot a conspiracy has been completely clarified."

Cai Guozhong took the three intelligence documents with skepticism and examined them one by one: the Cult Leader's decree, the roster, and the uprising covenant.

The more he read, the uglier his expression became, and the more terrified he felt.

Until finally, he angrily slammed the uprising covenant onto the table beside him. Cai Guozhong said furiously: "Unreasonable! You, Zhegudi, you really have hidden yourself well. I never realized that you were secretly a hall master of a cult, daring to conspire with others to seize power."

Zhou Qingfeng said: "My Lord, you should take precautions early. Once Zhegudi realizes the intelligence has been stolen, he might become desperate and launch the uprising early tonight."

Cai Guozhong sneered: "Does he really think I'm made of clay? Does he really think he, Zhegudi, can kill me and take my place!?"

Cai Guozhong was able to securely hold his position as legion commander because he had a core group of old subordinates.

This core group of old subordinates were the old brothers who had followed him in defending the city at the border.

Now, they were basically all arranged by him to serve as mid- and high-level officers in various legions.

These were his direct troops, commanded as easily as moving one's own arm, and all were stationed within Crow Castle.

Under emergency mobilization, he could immediately mobilize four thousand-man legions.

One shasha-grade thousand-man horse archer legion, one shasha-grade thousand-man light cavalry legion, plus two Disaster Grade thousand-man foot archer legions.

After speaking, Cai Guozhong walked out of the front courtyard reception hall, came to the courtyard corridor, and called out: "Someone, come here."

Dozens of secret guards instantly stood around the roof.

Dozens of Shisha Realm personal guards wearing heavy armor quickly assembled.

Cai Guozhong's eyes were cold, and Killing Intent flowed wantonly: "Pass on my military order: Zhegudi is plotting a mutiny, the evidence is conclusive, and his crime is punishable by death. Whoever takes his head will be promoted three ranks and rewarded with one million coins."

"His subordinates were deceived by him; as long as they are willing to disarm and lay down their weapons, I, this Lord, will only execute the ringleader and will not investigate the followers."

"Additionally, conduct a comprehensive search and kill operation against Vision Cultists within Crow Castle. The Vision Cult bewitches the common people and has committed countless evils. Immediately arrest and imprison them one by one according to the list in the roster."

Crow Castle was his, Cai Guozhong's, territory. Once Cai Guozhong got serious, no one could withstand his fury.

Without knowing, perhaps Zhegudi could have struck first and tried to kill Cai Guozhong, which would have given him a hope of taking his place.

But now that Cai Guozhong was aware, Zhegudi was forced to give up and flee overnight with his troops and the Vision Cultists toward Sancha Pass.

This night was destined to be filled with blood and slaughter. Cai Guozhong urgently mobilized his various generals to lead their legions out to encircle and suppress the rebels and hunt down the Vision Cultists.

All over the streets and alleys of Crow Castle, soldiers were going door-to-door arresting people and throwing them into prison. Anyone found with a Vision Cult emblem in their home was treated as a cultist.

The Baron's residence remained calm, seemingly unaffected by the rebel uprising.

In the dining hall, servants continuously served delicious dishes. Cai Guozhong sat at the table, eating his midnight snack heartily. Zhou Qingfeng and his group were also invited to sit and enjoy the midnight snack.

"You have a good appetite, my Lord." Zhou Qingfeng held his chopsticks to pick up food, appearing to eat, but actually not eating: "You can still eat in such a situation."

Cai Guozhong ate and drank heartily, swallowed, and said: "I have a nasty habit: when I'm under a lot of pressure, I like to eat. Binge eating is the only way for me to relieve stress; otherwise, I get so irritable I want to kill someone. You'll get used to it."

"I understand." Zhou Qingfeng nodded slightly. Watching Cai Guozhong eat made him hungry too, so a green gleam flashed in his palm, and he produced a cup of Lychee Black Tea. Drinking it, he said: "My Lord, I've also completed the second matter, haven't I?"

Cai Guozhong gnawed on a large pig's trotter, hearing the implication. However, he had his own unspeakable difficulties and really couldn't just talk about it, so he played dumb, pretending not to hear it, nodding repeatedly in praise: "Mm, mm... Mr. Jiang is truly a master of Divine Ability; I am truly enlightened. To help me solve two thorns in my side in a single day, you are worthy of coming from the Sword Tower. Impressive."

Zhou Qingfeng, seeing this, decided to be direct and smiled: "My Lord, if it weren't for me, you would likely have been killed by Zhegudi by now. In any case, I have saved your life; can you please reveal a little information about the man with the blade?"

Cai Guozhong licked his greasy lips, bared his teeth, seemingly hesitating. He picked up the wine cup on the table and downed it in one gulp, made up his mind, and asked seriously: "Are you really his brother?"

Zhou Qingfeng heard this and nodded with a serious expression: "Brothers who would die for each other."

Cai Guozhong confirmed again: "You won't harm him?"

Zhou Qingfeng replied firmly: "Mm, absolutely not."

Cai Guozhong said: "Alright, it's a long story. Let me think about where to start telling you."