C6 Chapter 6

Thinking it through, she took a deep breath and said, “I know a place. We can dig a passage out of here.”

“...” If a passage like that existed, they would’ve found it already, wouldn’t they? A flicker of disappointment crossed General Lang’s eyes, but he didn’t let it show. He only asked, “Where?”

“Please, General—come with me.” Tang Yao didn’t dare joke around anymore.

She led General Lang to a small hill near the camp. “There’s a passage here. It can take us straight out past the mountains—at the very least, beyond the formation. If we’re lucky, we can even use it to catch the enemy off guard and hit them hard.”

At that, Deputy Zhang at General Lang’s side finally couldn’t hold back. “General, these days we’ve been trapped here, I’ve led men to check every inch around us. There isn’t a single opening. Behind this hill is a bamboo barricade setup, and there are plenty of venomous snakes waiting there.”

General Lang didn’t speak. He just looked at Tang Yao. But Tang Yao, as if she hadn’t heard the deputy at all, said, “This is the only way out.”

Deputy Zhang snorted. “General, this girl’s probably scared you’ll kill her, so she’s spinning some huge lie! There’s no need to waste any more time on her!”

Tang Yao’s gaze finally settled on the deputy, a faint, knowing half-smile on her face.

“By your logic,” she said, “we’re as good as dead, aren’t we?”

“As cruel as it is, that’s the truth, but—”

“Then let’s make a bet,” Tang Yao cut in.

“...” Deputy Zhang froze for a moment and looked to General Lang, but General Lang gave him no signal. No signal meant it was his call.

So he said to Tang Yao with open contempt, “I don’t have time to play games with you. I’ve got plenty of other things to do!”

A provocative curve touched Tang Yao’s lips. “You’re afraid to bet with me?”

Deputy Zhang was the type who couldn’t stand being baited. “Fine. A bet it is. Let’s see what you think you can pull off!”

“You just said this route doesn’t go anywhere. I say it does. So we’ll let the result decide. If it doesn’t lead out, you win. I’ll have wasted your time—death would be the only fitting punishment—so I’ll forfeit my life to you.”

“If it goes through, I win. Then, General, you have to promise to let me leave the army—and you also have to punish two people for me.”

In truth, this bet was made with General Lang through Deputy Zhang.

Tang Yao’s goal was crystal clear: win her freedom and get revenge for the original owner of this body.

General Lang paused briefly. “Fine.”

Deputy Zhang clenched his jaw. “I’ll send someone to scout the route right now. If what they bring back matches what I just said, then this road is blocked!”

“No need to make it that complicated. General Lang, have ten soldiers come here, right at this spot...”

She climbed to the top of the small hill and drew a circle on the ground, marking off an area.

“Have them dig straight down from here.”

Deputy Zhang: “You little brat—what the hell are you doing?!”

General Lang seemed to find his deputy too loud. He flicked his hand. “Do as she says!”

Before long, ten soldiers arrived.

At Tang Yao’s command, they started digging.

The ground wasn’t loose, and the ten soldiers quickly worked up a sweat. But even after digging deep, there was still nothing unusual—like they’d never hit the bottom.

Deputy Zhang’s face was full of smug satisfaction and mockery. Now he wasn’t in any hurry. If he could watch a good show before dying, it would still be worth it.