Chapter 333 - - 331 Self-exposed Duge_1

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“I give you fifteen thousand soldiers. Do your utmost, how long can you hold?” Duge pondered for a moment before asking.

“Two months,” Gao Yanping said.

“One month,” Huangfu Xing said.

The two men provided different answers.

Gao Yanping was naturally the defender of Yutang Pass, skilled in defense, while Huangfu Xing was a chariot general, skilled in training and offense;

It was normal for the two men to have different answers…

Duge glanced at them, smiled, and said, “Half a month, you’ll hold Wolf Ping Pass for half a month. After half a month, I will come back to repel the enemy. Just set your minds at ease, Wei Tingjiang might be formidable, but he won’t win this war.”

“Understood.” The two men did not understand where Duge’s confidence came from, but they habitually accepted the order.

Duge then looked at Wu Chang, “Old Wu, you stay behind to assist them. The battlefield is the best place for you to demonstrate your valor. I hope that when I see you again in half a month, you will have become a qualified general.”

“Understood,” Wu Chang responded.

“If there’s any sign that other Heavenly Demons are joining the battlefield, report to me immediately,” Duge implored once more before he moved towards Luo Shuang and called out, “Let’s go, Princess. This isn’t our battlefield. We are responsible for building them a solid rear support.”

Wherever he went, Duge always took Luo Shuang with him. He did not feel at ease entrusting her safety to anyone else.

Unlike others, Luo Shuang was the one Duge was loyal to. Without her, despite Duge’s abilities, the forces he had built would still hold strong, but his attributes would surely drop significantly.

“Hmm.”

Luo Shuang nodded, followed behind Duge like his shadow. Given the current complex situation, the political acumen she had learned from Duge was no longer useful.

This time.

Wei Tingjiang launched a surprise attack on Wolf Ping Pass.

Luo Shuang had planned to preside over Linyang City herself, to take some of the burden off Duge.

But using learning as a pretext, Duge insisted on keeping her by his side, leaving Huangfu Yue to defend Linyang City, denying her any chance to prove herself.

Then at Wolf Ping Pass, Duge told her it was not her battlefield and took her away again.

If Luo Shuang still did not understand that Duge was keen on ensuring her safety, then she would truly be a fool.

Duge’s concern filled Luo Shuang with joy.

She would never know what the true purpose behind Duge’s protection of her was.

“Master, what is your attribute?” On the way back to Linyang City, Luo Shuang could not contain her curiosity and asked.

“Torment.”

Duge looked back at the several Innate Experts who were always following them and casually uttered a keyword.

The uproar among the top ten direct disciples was palpable; the way those former brothers looked at him had changed.

It didn’t make much sense to keep it a secret at this point. It might be better to concoct a keyword to ease the Princess’s mind and, at the same time, mislead the people from the Fourth Prince’s side.

“I knew it…” Luo Shuang murmured and stealthily glanced at the Hit King Whip hanging at Duge’s waist, her face inexplicably flushing red.

…

Back in Linyang City.

There was only one thing Duge did. Utilizing Dragon Teeth’s intelligence capabilities, he issued a public announcement: “I am Leng Shi, I am also Duge. Duge, who stands for the safeguarding of the world, those who hear this message, hasten to join me.”

…

That’s right.

Duge had revealed his own name directly.

Everyone used aliases on the Alien Battlefield.

People not from Qiyuan Star couldn’t possibly know this name of his.

Duge now couldn’t find a new strategy to break through the impasse.

Then, revealing oneself and searching for comrades is the best approach, more keywords, more paths to breaking the stalemate.

His current rank as first also provided sufficient appeal, this was the tactic they had formulated before entering the battlefield.

Moreover, Duge was also eager to see what choice Shi Pingchuan would make after learning of his identity.

…

“Duge?”

As Shi Pingchuan looked at the latest intelligence revealing information from Leng Shi, he wiped the fine beads of sweat from his forehead instinctively, his heart brimming with bitterness.

It really was him!

Indeed!

Apart from Duge, who else could have snatched away his first place so dominantly when he had such a huge advantage?

Why?

Why could he always be so exceptional?

“Prime Minister, Duge is actually first, he has finally appeared.” His strategist said excitedly, “Duge is first, you are second, you are the Prime Minister, and he is the rebel leader, if you two join forces, Qiyuan Star will be invincible!”

“How can you be so sure that it’s Duge?” Shi Pingchuan frowned, “What if someone is using his name?”

“Even if they are using his name, they are still people from Qiyuan Star! It wouldn’t be wrong to join forces with him!” the strategist looked at the Prime Minister curiously and said, “Don’t tell me you are still planning to go it alone!”

“Yizhi, there are keywords like ‘charming’ on the Alien Battlefield, maybe Leng Shi has fished out Duge’s information!” said Shi Pingchuan, “We can’t just believe someone who claims to be Duge without any proof!”

“Skills are so hard to come by, who could have both awakened a skill and just so happened to ask the right question to extract information about Duge, and even highlighted his keyword from the first simulation in just a month? There can’t be so many coincidences!”

“Moreover, aside from Duge, who else could have ranked first in a month’s time? After all, we had already gained a tremendous advantage back then, and yet Boss Du remained unshaken,” the strategist said.

“Yes, you are right, it is almost certain that he is Duge.” Shi Pingchuan glanced at the strategist and said, “But do you think it will be more effective if we join forces now or if I stay in the position of the Prime Minister and support him in secret?”

“Naturally, it would be more beneficial for us if you stay as the Prime Minister,” the strategist smiled.

“He is first, I am second,” Shi Pingchuan said, “Now that Duge has exposed his identity, he might attract more people from Qiyuan Star, but at the same time, more enemies will target him.

So now, the most prudent tactic is to advance side by side, he does his part as a rebel, I do mine as the Prime Minister, and if anything unexpected happens to Duge, I will be the absolute backup…”

“Mm,” the strategist nodded, “You have thought this through. What about Duge?”

“You go in person, tell him our identities and plan,” Shi Pingchuan said after a moment of silence. “I will find a way to support him secretly and also have him provide us with the necessary coordination.

It’s best to take down the Alien Warriors from Fourth Prince’s side, and if possible, eliminate the State Preceptor as well. That way, Gu Shicun will have to rely on me, the Prime Minister.”

…

“Duge?”

In Prince Gu Shiming’s mansion, Pei Maer looked through the intelligence in his hands anxiously.

Is he going all in?

Isn’t he worried that by recruiting too many people from our planet, he’ll attract all the enemies to wipe him out in one fell swoop?

Who would dare to let him gather all the Alien Warriors around him as the top ranker…

That’s too insane!

“Mr. Pei, what is this Leng Shi planning to do?” Gu Shiming asked, “And who is this Duge? Is it the name of the Heavenly Demon?”

“Indeed, it is the name of the Heavenly Demon.” Pei Maer nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, “Prince, issue an announcement on my behalf as well! Say that Pei Maer is Duge, and also the self-sacrificing Luo Qing, inviting more people to join me…”

“Why say that you are Duge?” Gu Shiming asked.

“Saying I’m Duge is for the sake of the Prince’s reputation,” Pei Maer smiled, “Duge is revealing himself to attract supporters; if we go at it alone, it’s very likely we will be caught in his trap. Therefore, I must also seek some allies.

“But directly using my name to attract supporters could lead to the Emperor’s suspicion. Under Duge’s name, if the Emperor inquires, we can claim it was for the sake of eliminating evil.”

“So, you’re saying Luo Qing is your real name?” Gu Shiming asked.

“Right,” Pei Maer nodded without hesitation, then added, “Also, please, Prince, keep a close eye on the Prime Minister’s residence. With Leng Shi having revealed his identity, the Prime Minister, as the Heavenly Demon, cannot remain indifferent. Perhaps you can draw him to our side to become our ally…”

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