Chapter 39: Just a Little Pure-Hearted

"Do you think I am the kind of person who would take advantage of someone in a vulnerable position?" Su Mu glanced at Jiang Hongluan and said calmly.

"That is not what I meant..." Jiang Hongluan’s breathing quickened as she explained anxiously.

Su Mu shook his head, patted Jiang Hongluan on the shoulder, and his expression turned quite serious. "Rest assured! A month from now, all of us will still be alive! And this Qinghe Town will not fall!"

Jiang Hongluan took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling. Looking at the Su Mu before her, she could feel the unique charm radiating from him at this very moment. It was stunning.

Jiang Hongluan nodded vigorously. "Captain! I believe in you! But... my previous proposal remains valid at any time~"

She winked at Su Mu, looking quite playful. Especially paired with her proud, curvaceous figure, it was incredibly alluring.

Su Mu’s mouth twitched, and he turned around directly. "Stop it! We have serious business to attend to tomorrow! Even though these horses have been brought back, selecting the site for the stables is crucial. Otherwise, all our efforts will have been in vain, just working for someone else's benefit. Enough! You should all get some rest early."

Having said that, Su Mu walked away quickly. Watching him flee in such a flustered state, Jiang Hongluan covered her mouth and giggled. She had always thought Su Mu had no weaknesses. Now it seemed... he did. Was his weakness simply his innocence? "Captain, oh Captain, you truly are becoming more and more interesting."

...

The next day, in a valley twenty miles behind Qinghe Town, Song Hui and Su Mu sat in a carriage, looking at the scenery around them. Song Hui smiled lightly.

"This Hidden Soldier Valley is surrounded by mountains on three sides, all sheer cliffs and precipices; it is basically impossible to infiltrate. The only path is the main road ahead. If we set up the stables here, it would be almost impossible for other forces to cause trouble."

Su Mu raised an eyebrow, carefully examining the surroundings. As Song Hui had said, this Hidden Soldier Valley was indeed a good place for training troops. After the recent events, Su Mu understood one thing: relying solely on the assets of the Tiger Might Battalion to survive in the coming chaotic times was practically impossible. The Tiger-Wolf Cavalry of the barbarian army alone had already pushed them to their limits. If other barbarian armies were to join, even if all the soldiers of Qinghe Town fought until the last drop of blood, the end would be the fall of the town and their own demise.

Of course, the most critical factor was that the threats from the Jiang family and the Su family were like two blades hanging over his head. Any slight slip in handling them would lead to death. Therefore, he needed to secretly cultivate his own army. If the situation became truly dire, at least he would have something to rely on.

"Sister Hui, this Hidden Soldier Valley is indeed a good place. However, its natural defenses are not enough. I have a blueprint here, and I hope you can construct the defensive fortifications for the stables according to this design," Su Mu said with a serious expression.

Upon hearing this, Song Hui curiously looked at the blueprint in Su Mu’s hand. But a second later, she was slightly stunned. The blueprint Su Mu provided was incredibly detailed. From the construction of the walls to the intended use of every single room inside, everything was clearly marked.

Song Hui opened her mouth, let out a long sigh, and looked at Su Mu with a helpless smile. "Tell me, kid, aren't you overestimating me? If we follow this blueprint you marked, it would take at least thirty thousand taels of gold just to complete the construction, wouldn't it? Furthermore, a month is clearly not enough; it would take at least two months."

Song Hui thought carefully for a moment before explaining solemnly. Because the stones required for many of the buildings in the blueprint would need significant manpower and resources. Unless the Tianxiang Pavilion ceased operations, even she would be stretched too thin to manage it.

"Two months is fine; slow work yields fine results. By comparison, I am not in a hurry at all, as long as it gets built. This way, we will at least have a place to stay later on," Su Mu said nonchalantly.

He had already made a rough analysis of the barbarians' specific movements for a month from now. Relying solely on themselves to quell the conflict was extremely difficult. However, delaying them for a while was not impossible. After all, the Tiger-Wolf Cavalry, no matter how fierce, relied primarily on cavalry. Cavalry could exert their greatest strength during open-field battles, but when it came to sieging towns and capturing strongholds, their effectiveness was only average.

Conversely, the soldiers in Qinghe Town were guarding the walls day and night. For the sake of survival, they would surely give their all this time. Therefore, with these factors balancing out, holding the line for a month was not difficult. The extra month was a wait they could afford. As long as they armed the Hidden Soldier Valley according to his blueprint, they would have nothing to fear, even if the Tiger-Wolf Cavalry came.

Song Hui’s eyes flickered as she folded the blueprint and tucked it into her bosom. "Honestly, I don’t understand why a person like you has only just emerged. It seems those people from the past really had no eye for talent. Tell me, is there any woman who catches your heart? Would you like me to introduce a few to you?" Song Hui couldn't help but tease.

Su Mu’s forehead darkened. What kind of wind was blowing? They weren't worrying about the barbarian invasion, but instead were busy arranging his personal life. It was unbelievable! Su Mu let out a breath and gave an awkward smile. "Sister Hui, please stop teasing me. Actually, by comparison, aren't you the one who should be looking for someone new?"

When Song Hui heard this, the smile on her face vanished instantly. After a moment of silence, she said, "We are different."

Song Hui stepped out of the carriage, looked at the surrounding scenery, and a flash of melancholy crossed her eyes. "Ever since he saved me back then, I decided that for the rest of my life, my heart would only ever hold him. It was like that before, and it is still like that now! The only thing that has sustained me until today is that I must avenge him!" A trace of ferocity flashed in Song Hui’s eyes.

Su Mu was speechless.

"I understand!" Su Mu said. "Sister Hui, the same goes for me: if there is anything you need in the future, just say the word. Whether it is the Jiang family or any other force, we will fight them to the bitter end!"

Song Hui turned back, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and chuckled. "As expected of the eldest young master of the Su family! You speak with such boldness. If those old fogies in the Su family knew of your capabilities, they would certainly regret it until their guts turned green."

Su Mu shook his head, his expression exceptionally calm. "My surname is Su—the Su of Su Mu."