"She is alone, which makes her actions very convenient. Additionally, she likely thinks we're weak and easy to manipulate."
Upon hearing the last sentence, the group's expressions fell.
We can acknowledge your strength, but we won't accept being underestimated by you.
Ultimately, strength and weakness are never definitive — it's a life-and-death struggle, not a ga of cards purely based on face value.
In past rides, we haven't lacked instances of the weak defeating the strong, especially with Brother Xiao Yuan leading the team. Brother Xiao Yuan has the ability to consolidate our strengths and achieve results several tiers higher.
Li Zhiyuan: "She should know that we will suspect the broken jade is in her possession, so according to the previously established plan, we need to start targeting her now.
I believe we can have a confrontation."
Everyone had been prepared to follow Brother Xiao Yuan's strategic layout, planning to take the strategy route. But unexpectedly, the usually cautious Brother Xiao Yuan, who disliked abrupt risks, proposed such a plan.
Yet, it was evident that everyone liked this proposal.
Each person's breath beca rapid.
Li Zhiyuan knew that his team never had to worry about morale issues.
But saying this wasn't just hot-blooded and impulsive.
"Three reasons.
First, if we don't target her, it will raise her suspicions because that doesn't fit the logic.
Second, us initiating an attack on her is normal; she wants to use us as cover, so in the initial confrontation, she might hold back slightly and at least won't aim to go for the kill imdiately.
Third…"
"Beep! Beep!"
The sound of a car horn interrupted Li Zhiyuan.
The group had already reached the end of the village road, and ahead was a highway where motorcycles and tricycles ca by to pick up passengers.
Everyone was waiting for the young man's "third," but Li Zhiyuan rely darkened his expression and didn't continue, instead turning to Tan Wenbin and saying:
"Brother Binbin, call the vehicle."
Tan Wenbin hailed two vehicles, negotiated the price, and everyone climbed in, heading to today's attraction.
As noon approached and the visit ended, they found a restaurant nearby and ordered smoked ribs.
Li Zhiyuan was the first to finish eating, put down his chopsticks, and sat quietly.
Because Run Sheng wanted to sit in a hidden spot, they chose a corner at the back of the restaurant, with Li Zhiyuan facing a hillside ahead.
In a daze, he seed to catch a glimpse of a figure fleetingly passing through the vegetation on that hillside.
It was her.
Li Zhiyuan believed he wasn't seeing things, because the Feng Shui air on the mountain ahead had slightly fluctuated — she was using secret technique to hide and track.
She was cautious yet arrogant; she indeed didn't need to know what they were discussing. She only needed to confirm their location.
Li Zhiyuan took out a can of Jianlibao from his backpack.
"Pop!"
The sound of opening it made his dining companions exchange glances.
Previously, Brother Xiao Yuan only drank this after feeling exhausted, but now, neither was there a fight nor had they just finished eating.
Li Zhiyuan drank from the can sip by sip.
The third point he hadn't voiced earlier was: [Even if we lost the fight, she'd leave us alive — at worst, we'd be temporarily coerced or sign a surrender agreent, cooperatively becoming her scapegoat. There's still room for maneuver.]
He concluded with: [Overall, this fight is very worthwhile.]
A confrontation with a fallback is indeed worthwhile.
This is what Li Zhiyuan's brain deduced in a normal scenario before.
He didn't voice it, not because admitting it was embarrassing — retreat and strategic withdrawal at the tactical level are sotis necessary. The goal is to exchange space for ti, creating a better strategic situation.
But the issue lies here — Li Zhiyuan suddenly realized that under this "normal rhythm," such deductions couldn't provide better results.
Under this deduction, not fighting ans lack of acquaintance, leading to three strands.
First strand: revealing to her that he also possesses a piece of broken jade. Doing so might eliminate her apprehensions but would also show he can continuously Seal the corpse energy of broken jade.
If he could indeed help her Seal that piece of broken jade, it would be a crucial bargaining chip for cooperation.
But the fact was he could only continuously Seal the piece he had, because a foundational Seal had been designed before he arrived in Lijiang, before broken jade manifested changes.
Thus, he would only beco her "sweet pastry," inciting further motivations for interference and manipulation.
Second strand: hiding his ownership of broken jade and actively cooperating with her, simultaneously acting as a scapegoat and hoping for her assistance to acquire broken jade, then procrastinating and waiting for the showdown.
She's likely to agree, as she wouldn't proactively assist him and could abandon him at any ti.
Moreover, the second strand is just a nominal cooperation; it sounds better but basically still bears the task of attracting firepower — becoming her scapegoat while wishing to garner favor, utterly pointless.
Third strand: pretending to be coercively made her scapegoat, then seeking opportunities for counterplots, perhaps by intentionally luring others, diverting disaster, so both sides beco each other's scapegoats.
However, this third strand has too high an operation difficulty, with disproportionate gains compared to losses — it's most likely just a resentful fantasy of a scapegoat.
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