She had always remembered what Liangshan and Guo Xin had said on the Eastern District Battlefield.
"This isn’t a good place to talk." Liangshan glanced around.
"Then... forget it. Let’s talk inside." Fang Tangtang’s first instinct was to tell Liangshan to go home and sleep it off, but after a moment’s thought, she stepped aside to let him in.
"Alright!" It stung a little to see how reluctant Fang Tangtang was, but he had already accepted this mission. There was no way he could give up halfway.
Even if he had to wear them down, he was going to get Gao Neng to show himself.
The two of them walked toward Gao Neng’s residence together.
A short while later, they were in the living room.
"So, what was the meeting about?" Fang Tangtang asked again.
"The meeting was about the Supreme Council’s strategic conclusions. If I’m going to tell anyone, it should be Speaker Gao." Liangshan sat down and poured himself a glass of water.
"Hm?!" Fang Tangtang blinked.
’Wait, wasn’t he just about to tell me?’
’Why would he clam up now that we’re in the living room?’
While Fang Tangtang’s military talents were average, her social skills were actually quite impressive. It didn’t take her long to figure it out.
’Liangshan is doing this on purpose!’
’His goal was to weasel his way inside.’
’And then refuse to leave!’
Another glance at Liangshan’s actions instantly confirmed her suspicions.
"So, Councillor Liang, are you planning to just plant yourself here and not leave?" Fang Tangtang, not one to be overly polite with him, immediately called out his ploy.
"More or less. I’ll wait here all day until Gao Neng comes out." Liangshan was perfectly calm, with no intention of bickering with Fang Tangtang.
"You old fox, are you playing games with me?" Fang Tangtang was getting angry.
"The details of the Supreme Council meeting are for councillors only. You may be a Major General in the Military Department, but you aren’t a member of the council." A faint smile touched Liangshan’s lips.
"Fine. Then you can just wait. I’ll have you know, Gao Neng hasn’t come out of his room in two days. If you want to wait, be my guest!" Fang Tangtang sat down, fuming.
"He’s really attempting a breakthrough?" Liangshan asked again when he heard this.
"Of course," Fang Tangtang said, looking proud.
"Tier Nine Late Stage... If he breaks through again..."
"Then he’ll become one of the Strongest, of course!"
"..." Liangshan fell silent.
’It hasn’t even been a few days since he reached Tier Nine, and now he’s already trying to become one of the Strongest? Gao Neng... Is he even human?’
’That’s not right!’
’He really isn’t human, is he!’
’The bloodline of the Dragon Race...’
’Is it really that powerful?!’
A sliver of fear inexplicably rose in Liangshan’s heart. If the Dragon Race’s cultivation speed was truly this terrifying, who in all of humanity could possibly stop Gao Neng in the future?
Liangshan immediately shook his head, dismissing the thought.
’Whether in the future or the present...’
’It seems no one can stop Gao Neng’s advance anymore.’
Pushing the thoughts from his mind, Liangshan fell silent and closed his eyes to rest.
"Why so quiet all of a sudden?" Fang Tangtang asked after a moment.
"What do you want me to say? I’m waiting for Gao Neng. Bring him out, and I’ll talk." Liangshan cracked his eyes open to glance at Fang Tangtang.
"He’s in the middle of a breakthrough, I already told you. I’m the only one who can go into his room right now. Talk or don’t... If you’re not going to say anything, you can just wait. You might be here until tomorrow, or the day after... It could even be ten days. Believe it," Fang Tangtang threatened.
"Heh..." Liangshan chuckled.
’This kind of trick?’
’I knew these tricks when I was eighteen!’
’Does she really think I’d fall for it?’
’I’ll just freaking wait here. I’m not making a move until I see the prize. What can she do to me?’
When it came to patience, Liangshan considered himself second to none.
Besides, given the circumstances, the Military Department would need at least some time to prepare for an offensive. The real attack wouldn’t happen until tomorrow at the earliest.
So, he had plenty of time.
Liangshan prepared to wait Fang Tangtang out.
Fang Tangtang, for her part, kept issuing "threats," but after half an hour, she finally ran out of things to say, because Liangshan was practically "asleep."
He was completely ignoring her.
Talk about infuriating.
Fang Tangtang was furious, so she also fell silent.
The stalemate lasted for three hours.
Fang Tangtang couldn’t sit still any longer.
She got up and left.
Liangshan, however, continued to sit and wait quietly.
Soon, it was afternoon.
Then, evening arrived.
Word that Liangshan was still there, refusing to leave, reached Fang Tangtang while she was in the middle of a game.
"That old fox still hasn’t left? Is he really digging in his heels?" Fang Tangtang rolled over and leaped out of bed as a few ideas quickly flashed through her mind.
’If only Xiaomeng were here...’
’I could get Xiaomeng to disguise herself as Gao Neng.’
’That way, the old fox Liangshan would definitely spill the details of the meeting.’
’But Xiaomeng is in the Eastern District right now, so that’s out of the question.’
’Should I call Sister Ning’Er back?’
’But Sister Ning’Er is swamped with preparations for Gao Neng’s inauguration as Speaker and his wedding. It wouldn’t be right to call her back now, would it?’
’Most importantly, that old fox Liangshan said he would only reveal the council’s business to a councillor. I don’t even know if it would do any good for Sister Ning’Er to come back.’
’Wait!’
’What if I imitate Gao Neng’s voice and pose as him?’
’Brilliant idea!’
’I’ll find out what this is all about first, then decide whether to call Sister Ning’Er back.’
Once Fang Tangtang had the idea, she acted on it.
After making some careful preparations, she returned to the living room.
"Councillor Liang, Gao Neng says he’ll see you. However, he’s at a critical point in his breakthrough, so you can only speak to him from outside his room," Fang Tangtang said to Liangshan, who was still on the sofa with his eyes closed in meditation.
"Outside the room? Fine." Liangshan frowned but nodded in agreement.
"Then follow me." A smile played on Fang Tangtang’s lips. She then proceeded to lead Liangshan around and around... and around the villa.
They walked for nearly ten minutes.
Finally, they arrived at a darkened room.
Fang Tangtang then went inside, leaving the door cracked open just a sliver.
A moment later, Gao Neng’s voice came from inside.
"Councillor Liang, is there something important?"
"Yes, the non-human races in the West and South Districts have been making some unusual moves... It looks like they’re contracting their battle lines to form a unified defense. So, Speaker Wu and I discussed it, we came up with a few theories, and..." Hearing Gao Neng’s voice, Liangshan naturally began to relay the speech he had prepared.
"..."
"..."
"You’re planning to attack the Western District?!" "Gao Neng’s" voice sounded agitated.
"Yes, but for now, it’s just a decision. I wanted to know Speaker Gao’s opinion on the matter. If you think it’s too rash, I can stop them immediately!" Liangshan replied earnestly.
"Rash? What’s so rash about it? Since the West and South Districts have emptied out their cities, why should we only attack the Western District? We should attack both the West and South Districts at the same time! Take all the cities back. Wouldn’t that give us more resources?" "Gao Neng’s" voice was filled with dissatisfaction.
"Attack the West and South Districts at the same time?!" Liangshan’s expression changed. He then let out a sigh. "So it’s true... Have I been too conservative?"
This was the exact response Tang Xiaohao had brought up during the council meeting. His very words were that if Gao Neng had been present, he would have definitely advocated for attacking the West and South Districts simultaneously. That was Gao Neng’s style.
"Never mind. Since you’ve already made a decision, just proceed with it. You don’t need to follow my suggestion to the letter," "Gao Neng’s" voice came again.
"Is that right? Then should we..."
"Just attack the Western District first!"
"Understood. In that case... I’ll take my leave." Liangshan said nothing more and turned to depart.
"Wait!" "Gao Neng’s" voice immediately stopped him.
"Oh? Is there something else, Speaker Gao?" Liangshan stopped.
"Go wait in the living room for a bit. Don’t leave just yet. I need to think it over again." "Gao Neng’s" voice sounded somewhat hesitant.
"Think it over again?" Liangshan’s brow furrowed. ’In all my dealings with him, Gao Neng has always been decisive. This hesitation isn’t his style, is it?’
However, since Gao Neng had spoken, he did not refuse.
"Very well, I’ll wait in the living room a bit longer." With that, Liangshan went straight downstairs and sat back down on the living room sofa.
Just as Liangshan left, Fang Tangtang tiptoed cautiously out of the room.
’That was close... I almost caused a disaster... I’d better tell Gao Neng what the meeting was about and see what he has to say. It would be really bad if something went wrong! I, Death God Fang Tangtang, am a cautious person!’ Fang Tangtang stuck out her tongue, realizing this was a decision she couldn’t make on her own.