Chapter 130: A Handsome Man Trap?

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However, one hundred thousand elite soldiers were just a thought for now. Even among the eighteen largest forces in the Free Alliance, there were very few that possessed one hundred thousand elite soldiers.

But a road is walked step by step. Lei Qing did not lose heart, nor did he regret taking this difficult path. He cultivated until midnight, and after waking up, he started doing various chores again, full of vigor.

Having just taken over Yehe Town, he still needed to develop it. Naturally, there were many things to do. Although it was not necessary to do everything personally, he had to start things off and then slowly hand them over to his subordinates, right?

Several days later, intelligence from the Iron Cavalry Regiment was sent directly via Raven. Lei Qing invited Mr. Hao over to discuss it. Mr. Hao was already in his forties or fifties. One could not say he knew everything about the past and present, but he certainly knew much more than Lei Qing, and his strategies were excellent.

Lei Qing had somewhat gotten used to discussing everything with Mr. Hao. With Lei Qing’s reliance on him, Mr. Hao gradually integrated into the Black Flag Regiment and became a figure like a half-advisor.

After the two of them finished reading the intelligence together, each pondered for a moment. Mr. Hao spoke first: “I have heard some things about the Zhen Family Ranch before, but I did not know the details. I didn’t expect that Madame Zhen, being a woman, would be so formidable.”

After reading about the deeds of Madame Zhen, the person in charge of the Zhen Family Ranch, Lei Qing also broke out in a cold sweat. He thought to himself that once a woman became vicious, it was truly terrifying.

It turned out that Madame Zhen’s original name was Dongfang Si, and she was the biological younger sister of Dongfang Cangqiong, the current Villa Master of the Divine Sword Villa. When she married Zhen Wanjie back then, Zhen Wanjie was the second in line to inherit. This man was honest by nature and did not like to fight.

But after Madame Zhen married him, not only did Zhen Wanjie’s concubines and lovers start to die mysteriously one by one, but within three years, Zhen Wanjie’s Big Brother and father also died of sudden illness one after another.

At that time, it caused a huge uproar. Most people thought that Zhen Wanjie had killed his brother and father in order to covet control of the Zhen Family Ranch, because he was the direct beneficiary. However, those deeds were done too secretly, leaving no clues, so the matter was left unsettled.

Who would have guessed that the matter was not over yet. Zhen Wanjie had been the family head for less than a year when he also died mysteriously of a sudden illness. He only left behind a three or four-year-old son and a half-year-old daughter.

All fingers began to point at Madame Zhen, but she was truly skilled. Without relying on her maiden family’s advantage at all, she used her own methods to win people over and strike at others, becoming the ultimate winner. She secured the position of head of the Zhen Family Ranch for her three or four-year-old son.

Many people in the Zhen Family also began to lay low. After all, the final family head was still a member of the Zhen Family. Even if Madame Zhen managed it temporarily, so be it. She had no intention of remarrying, so she counted as a member of the Zhen Family. To say that she killed so many people, one really could not find a shred of evidence. Even famous doctors said they died of sudden illness.

In this way, the actual controller of the Zhen Family in the last twenty years was Madame Zhen. And she gained a nickname, the Poisonous Widow.

Because of this, Lei Qing was covered in cold sweat after reading her file. This woman was too poisonous. If she arranged this series of poison plots, then one could only say this woman was the King of Poisons. If it wasn’t her secret methods, then one could only say this woman was a jinx.

But no matter what, she was a terrifying and formidable woman. Yet this woman’s methods were truly not bad. In the last twenty years, under her control, the status and influence of the Zhen Family Ranch had risen step by step, climbing from the second to last among the eighteen forces to eleventh place.

Moreover, this woman always handled matters fairly and never gave her maiden family, the Divine Sword Villa, any special treatment. Instead, she made things difficult for them everywhere, as if she was wholeheartedly working for the Zhen Family, living as a person of the Zhen Family and dying as a ghost of the Zhen Family. This also caused her status and prestige among the Zhen Family clansmen to increase day by day. Her status was now deeply rooted, and no one could shake her.

But the intelligence also said that although this woman was cruel and ruthless, she was extremely fond of men. She especially liked young men who were handsome, with bright eyes and bushy eyebrows, and outstanding martial arts skills. She was also very reasonable and affectionate toward these male lovers. Not only was she generous, but she truly treated them as her own people. One of her lovers was accidentally killed by someone from a medium-sized force. She personally led an army to uproot that entire force to avenge him.

Seeing this part of the intelligence, Lei Qing was dumbfounded. It was even marked uniquely in red text, with a sentence attached: “My nephew is quite good-looking, and seems to like flirtatious widows. You can try the handsome man trap. Just please Madame Zhen, and all problems will be easily solved.”

Looking at the handwriting and tone, it was clearly written by Mad Blade Xiahou Huan personally. Lei Qing slapped the intelligence on the table, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: “My Uncle Xiahou, I’m afraid he is thinking about getting a discount when buying war horses in the future.”

“Young General, this plan might be worth a try.” Mr. Hao coughed twice and said with a dry laugh: “The Young General is indeed imposing, handsome, and has an extraordinary bearing. According to the intelligence, the success rate is not low.”

“Mr. Hao, I trust you so much, and even you are making fun of me?” Lei Qing glared angrily and said: “That is the Poisonous Widow. You are urging me like this, aren’t you afraid she will swallow me whole, bones and all?”

“Young General, you are overthinking it. The intelligence states that Madame Zhen treats her lovers very well, complying with almost everything, and would certainly not do anything poisonous.” Mr. Hao coughed a few more times and said: “Besides, if a great man wants to achieve great things, he must walk paths others dare not walk and endure things others cannot endure. For the Young General’s grand cause, why not make a small sacrifice? After success, not only will the problem be easily solved, but you will also get the full support of the Zhen Family Ranch in the future, saving the Young General many years of struggle. Furthermore, we also need to consider whether Madame Zhen has seen the Young General somewhere? Is she making things difficult on purpose to force the Young General to deliver himself to her?”

Lei Qing’s expression changed unpredictably. He slammed the table hard and said: “Nonsense, Mr. Hao, I trust you so much. You are actually instigating me to do such a thing? Fine, I, Lei Qing, do like women, and before, uh, I did like widows. But firstly, that is all in the past. Secondly, I, Lei Qing, am a dignified seven-foot-tall man. I want to achieve great things and build a career. I rely on fighting with my sword and spear, and on my brothers working together. In short, I cannot do something like climbing up by fawning over a certain woman. Even if I succeed, so what? It would only bring shame to my ancestors.”

Mr. Hao stroked his beard and laughed heartily: “Lord, do not be angry. Hao was just testing you. Hearing the Lord speak so frankly, Hao indeed has not misjudged you.”

Lei Qing was stunned and said with some surprise: “What did you call me, Mr. Hao?”

“I naturally called you Lord.” Mr. Hao stroked his beard, looking like an immortal, and said: “I just wonder if the Lord is willing to take me in.”

In the Pan-Continent, calling someone Lord was a very serious matter. It represented a promise to follow someone to the death regardless of cost or consequence, willing to give everything to assist that person in achieving great things.

Lei Qing was overjoyed and hurriedly grabbed Mr. Hao’s arm: “Mr. Hao, are you really willing to acknowledge me as your Lord?”

“Before that, Hao still has a few words to say.” Mr. Hao smiled faintly: “Actually, Hao is a guest official of the Li Family, entrusted by the Li Family head to investigate the Young General’s background.”

Lei Qing had received many shocks today, and hearing this, he was surprised again. He did not expect that the person he trusted was actually a spy sent by the Li Clan. Immediately, his face darkened: “Mr. Hao, please speak plainly. Have you already given my intelligence to the Li Clan?”

“Young General, please rest assured. President Li sent me here merely as a casual move.” Mr. Hao sighed and said: “The task he gave me was just to investigate the Young General’s conduct and character, with no other requirements. Clearly, the Young General’s small undertaking is not in President Li’s eyes. The strategies I offered to the Young General before were also without malice, sincerely planning for the Young General.”

“Phew~” Lei Qing let out a heavy breath of relief, looking at Mr. Hao with burning eyes and said: “Then, why did Mr. Hao suddenly change his mind and decide to sincerely join my command? Could it be that Mr. Hao knows physiognomy and saw that I am a hidden dragon? That one day I will surely soar in the nine heavens?”

“Uh, physiognomy, I have indeed studied it, but the more I studied, the less I believed in it.” Mr. Hao chuckled and said: “The reason for following the Lord is, firstly, sensing that the Lord has great ambition in his chest, neither eager for quick success nor unscrupulous, yet not pedantic or foolish. He is a true hero with great wisdom. Most importantly, if Hao follows the Lord, he can fully display what he has learned. But in the Li Family, full of talents, I could only serve as an insignificant advisor. Hao is also a man; he wants to build a career and bring glory to his ancestors. Even more, he wants to display his talents so the whole world knows.”

Lei Qing widened his eyes, listening to his sincere words. Although he believed him in his heart, he felt quite disappointed: “So I, Lei Qing, am not some chosen one? I thought Mr. Hao was intimidated by the dragon aura on me and willingly submitted. Mr. Hao, do you really understand physiognomy? From a physiognomy perspective, how is my fate?”

“The Lord really knows how to joke. Important matters come first. Since the Lord does not want to take the route of Madame Zhen, then there are only two paths ahead.” Perhaps because he had told the truth to Lei Qing and removed a heavy stone from his chest, Mr. Hao relaxed and showed his humorous side: “Either go seduce Zhen Huan’er. Or go seduce Zhen Jimu. These two are the people Madame Zhen loves and cares for the most. Lord, choose one to use the handsome man trap on.”

Lei Qing’s eyes were about to pop out: “Zhen Jimu? Isn’t that Madame Zhen and Zhen Wanjie’s son?”

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