Zhang Chongyi stood up, directly cursing:
“Sun Gan, I never expected you to be such a despicable villain!”

Sun Gan snorted coldly:
“Zhang Chongyi, you piece of trash, what. Keep barking, and I shall now impersonate Old Monster in the Stone and strike you down. Within the Red Flower Camp, who can stop me?”

“You!!!” Zhang Chongyi choked with rage.

Sun Gan then looked at Mu Lan:
“Little girl, consider it carefully. I am in no hurry, hehehe.”

Having spoken, his figure slowly vanished.

Mu Lan clenched her fists tightly, veins bulging on her hands, her entire body trembling with anger.
Born into the household of the Grand General, she possessed the inherent pride of a noble family. To be thus pressured, for her, was simply an utter humiliation!

“To dream of using me as a stepping stone to seize the Grand General’s Seal? What a beautiful dream!?”

“I would rather die than yield.” A resolute light flickered in Mu Lan’s eyes.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chongyi immediately became anxious.
He had willingly joined the army to repay a debt of gratitude, even offering nearly all his worldly possessions. He certainly hadn’t come to witness the downfall of the Grand General’s household with his own eyes.
This, for him, was perhaps too cruel.
He absolutely did not wish to see Mu Lan perish.
Therefore, Zhang Chongyi immediately earnestly advised:
“Esteemed niece, do not act impulsively.”

“If you die, wouldn’t Old General Mu hear the dreadful news and fall gravely ill?”

“At the Golden Core realm, you have already mastered a divine ability. With such talent, wouldn’t it be a great pity to perish prematurely?”

“Those enemies of the Grand General’s household, seeing you fall so easily in your prime, would simply die of laughter.”

Having spent this time together, Zhang Chongyi had come to know Mu Lan quite well. Therefore, these words of persuasion reached deep into Mu Lan’s heart.
She paused for a long while, her expression gradually softening, her clenched fists slowly relaxing.
The female general took a deep breath, her voice indifferent:
“Uncle Zhang, your previous suggestion was correct.”

“I must seek someone for dual cultivation to resolve the hidden danger within me!”

“That Ning Zhuo is not bad. I wonder if he has considered it?”

“I shall trouble you to make a trip for me.”

Zhang Chongyi nodded repeatedly:
“Good, stabilize your injuries, and I shall immediately go seek his assistance.”

Upon hearing this, the corner of Mu Lan’s eye twitched slightly, a suffocating feeling in her heart. Since when did she, the dignified daughter of the Grand General,
a descendant of generals, even seek assistance for dual cultivation?
Simply outrageous!

Zhang Chongyi also knew that there was no time to lose and hastened the pace of healing as much as possible.
A moment later, he quietly left the Red Flower Camp and came near the Three Generals’ Camp, sending out a flying letter.
Ning Zhuo secretly welcomed Zhang Chongyi into his tent.
“I implore Young Master Ning Zhuo to save our General this once!” Zhang Chongyi bowed deeply to Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo was surprised and quickly helped Zhang Chongyi up:
“Why such formality, Lord Zhang? Your assistance in treating my illness has benefited this junior greatly. As long as this junior can be of assistance, I shall absolutely not refuse. Please speak frankly, Lord!”

Zhang Chongyi then explained the meaning of dual cultivation.
Ning Zhuo’s brows furrowed, and he sighed deeply:
“Regarding this matter, I am afraid I am unable to help.”

“I have already sent a letter to my family regarding this matter.”

“It turns out that my ancestor has already arranged a marriage for me, with the daughter of the royal family of the Southern Bean Kingdom.”

“My Ning family has already established roots in the Southern Bean Kingdom. In the future, through my marriage alliance with the Zhu family of the Southern Bean Kingdom’s royal house, I will surely be able to lead the Ning family to a higher level.”

“It is this junior’s misfortune; I am not worthy of General Mu Lan and have missed a good缘份 (yuánfèn – fortunate relationship/predestined connection). I deeply regret it!”

Zhang Chongyi was stunned for a moment, his face full of disappointment.
But after some thought, he still questioned不死心 (bù sǐ xīn – refusing to give up hope):
“Young Master Ning Zhuo, dual cultivation and marriage are sometimes not related. We only seek dual cultivation.”

“Could it be that in the marriage contract between the daughter of the Southern Bean Kingdom’s royal family and the Young Master, there is a stipulation to preserve the primal yang?”

Ning Zhuo hesitated for a moment before answering:
“That is not the case.”

“It is simply to preserve the primal yang, which is a sign of valuing the marriage alliance and respecting the Zhu family.”

“As far as I know, that esteemed lady of the Zhu family has also preserved her primal yin.”

“If I were to prematurely泄露 (xiè lòu – leak/reveal) my primal yang here, it would be unsightly.”

“It might even cause misunderstanding from the Zhu family and lead to the failure of this marriage alliance that concerns the entire family. If so, this junior’s sin would be great! Alas.”

Zhang Chongyi fell into a long silence.
Seeing this, Ning Zhuo then asked:
“Based on General Mu Lan’s strength, it is impossible for her to have been defeated by General Zhang.”

“This junior speculated at the time that perhaps General Mu Lan’s old injuries had flared up.”

“As this junior sees it, General Mu Lan is truly in danger this time.”

He also did not conceal anything from Zhang Chongyi, telling him about Shuang Jing’s two invitations to him, as well as the plot against Mu Lan that he learned during the second morning tea, and his immediate refusal to be recruited at that time.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chongyi cupped his hands towards Ning Zhuo:
“Indeed, I did not misjudge Young Master Ning. The Young Master possesses noble character,
is upright and selfless, his words and actions are consistent, and his conduct is open and aboveboard. If it were an ordinary person, they would likely have been swayed by power and temptation and fallen into it long ago. But the Young Master can always adhere to his principles and not be led astray. This is truly lofty virtue and the demeanor of a gentleman.”

Ning Zhuo smiled, quickly waving his hand:
“Senior flatters me. It is merely that I have always been taught thus by my elders at home. Senior Zhang, I also possess some ability in the path of Metal. Although I cannot agree to dual cultivation, I can still contribute a small effort here. Perhaps I can assist Senior in treating General Mu Lan.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chongyi’s eyes lit up, and the experience of him and Ning Zhuo cooperating to heal Sun Lingtong by more than half immediately surfaced in his mind.
He couldn’t help but become excited:
“Could it be that Young Master Ning Zhuo’s understanding in the realm of Metal can also rival your understanding in the path of Earth?”

Ning Zhuo smiled:
“They are quite similar.”

Zhang Chongyi exclaimed, looking at Ning Zhuo with renewed admiration:
“Young Master Ning Zhuo is truly a seed of cultivation, a heaven-sent genius.”

Ning Zhuo said:
“However, treating General Mu Lan’s injuries presents three difficulties.”

Zhang Chongyi:
“Oh? I would like to hear the details.”

Ning Zhuo raised his left index finger:
“First, the ‘Mysterious Metal Armor Breaking Art’ is the inherited cultivation technique of the Grand General’s household. If I am to assist General Mu Lan, I fear I must comprehend the entire text, which may violate the principles of inherited arts.”

Ning Zhuo raised his left middle finger:
“Second, General Mu Lan’s illness is different from our previous collaborations. It is a conflict between her cultivation technique and her female body, not an injury to fundamental principles. Therefore, this junior cannot estimate to what extent it can be cured.”

He then raised his left ring finger:
“Third——”

Ning Zhuo hesitated for a moment before saying:
“During the previous ambush battle, General Mu Lan abandoned Ma Feitui to our army. Although this junior can understand, the soldiers in our army are still resentful.” This time, General Zhang causing a disturbance in the Red Flower Camp is not only due to the conflict between soldiers, but also due to old grudges.”

“This junior’s assistance this time is only to give face to Lord Zhang. General Mu Lan possesses extraordinary strength, is deeply versed in military strategy,
and is an excellent general. But frankly speaking, she is not a good friend!”

“Therefore, although this junior is willing to help, I must also consider the feelings of the three Generals Liu, Guan, and Zhang, as well as the vast number of soldiers in my Three Generals’ Camp.”

“For this junior to act, General Mu Lan must personally come to invite and apologize for the matter of the previous ambush battle.”

Ning Zhuo finally said:
“It is not that this junior is unreasonable, but rather that this junior is the Military Advisor and Libationer of the Three Generals’ Camp and gets along quite harmoniously with the three Lords Liu, Guan, and Zhang. I do not wish to cause the three generals any discomfort.”

Zhang Chongyi sighed deeply:
“So there are so many difficulties!”

Although he was a renowned physician, his strategic ability was shallow. Many times, he acted based on impulse and emotion.
Had it not been so, he would not have clashed with the monarch in the royal capital, incurring punishment and falling from the Nascent Soul realm to the Golden Core realm.
Had it not been so, upon hearing that Mu Lan and the Red Flower Camp were in distress, he would not have immediately decided to join the army and even offered nearly all his worldly possessions as military expenses.

Therefore, Ning Zhuo’s analysis opened Zhang Chongyi’s eyes and made him recognize the situation.
Zhang Chongyi cupped his hands towards Ning Zhuo:
“This matter must be reported back to General Mu Lan for her decision.”

Ning Zhuo smiled:
“I shall escort Lord Zhang.”

The two secretly left the camp again.

Meanwhile, Liu Er, far away in the main general’s tent, was pacing rapidly within the tent in excitement, unable to control himself.

“Dual cultivation?!!!”

“So that’s it, so that’s it!”

“So it turns out that Master gave me the Yin-Yang One Qi Pot for this matter.”

Liu Er is a half-human, half-demon with the bloodline of the Six-Eared Macaque demon race. Therefore, from a young age, he possessed a talent called Spiritual Sound Pulse Detection.
When this talent is activated, Liu Er’s hearing becomes exceptional, allowing him to hear sounds from afar, detect the intricacies of events, and discern the truth of matters.
While stationed in the military camp, he often activated this talent to listen in on the discussions among the soldiers, thus understanding their thoughts and feelings and addressing them accordingly.
This included Guan Hong and Zhang Hei.
Consequently, Liu Er’s understanding of the two of them was far more profound than they themselves estimated.
Guan Hong and Zhang Hei felt increasingly harmonious interacting with Liu Er, and this was partly the reason.

This time, Liu Er heard a rather crucial piece of information, the secret revealed during Zhang Chongyi and Ning Zhuo’s conversation!
Liu Er learned about the hidden danger of Mu Lan’s injuries and knew that she urgently needed dual cultivation.

“As the saying goes, Yin and Yang Qi. If my Yin-Yang One Qi Pot is lent to Mu Lan, she will be able to convert her own Yin Qi into Yang Qi, practice the Mysterious Metal Armor Breaking Art without hidden dangers, and it will be more compatible, and her cultivation speed will surely soar!”

“But—”

In Liu Er’s Upper Dantian Divine Sea, various thoughts surged one after another.
Mu Lan’s predicament also ignited his ambition within him like a blazing fire!

“That Sun Gan wants to dual cultivate and use this title to take charge of the Grand General’s Seal.”

“I must say, this is a potentially successful path.”

“The Grand General’s Seal—this is the authority that Old General Mu painstakingly fought for almost his entire life to obtain. If I can obtain it, how many years of detours will I avoid, how many years of struggle and effort will I save?”

Thinking of this, Liu Er couldn’t help but lick his dry lips.

“I also have primal yang!”

“Why can’t I dual cultivate with General Mu Lan?”

“Not only do I want to dual cultivate, but I can also plot to seize the Grand General’s Seal, can’t I?”

Liu Er pondered deeply.
Soon, he reluctantly shook his head slightly:
“It’s difficult.”

“I am a half-human, half-demon, my status is too low compared to Ning Zhuo.”

“Just now, hearing what Zhang Chongyi said, Sun Gan, the dignified commander of the Imperial Guards, is resorting to forceful coercion. My status is even lower than his.”

“What should I do?”

Liu Er paced for a moment, then clapped his head:
“Why not ask the Military Advisor directly! He has a marriage contract and cannot dual cultivate with Mu Lan!”

“Furthermore, the Military Advisor has a sharp mind, is on good terms with Zhang Chongyi, and can even be favored by Mu Lan.”

“With his assistance, the possibility of my success in this matter will surely greatly increase!”