Essence 〖The Chronicle of Heroes of Groups Two and Three · The Legend of the Young Ranger Ji〗 - Paying Homage to the Lord of Tancheng (Part 1)

_____#LittleIntel# The "Biography of Ranger Xiao Ji" will pause after this part, with two more story segments remaining. The follow-up will be biographies of other forum characters also in Tan City. Who specifically will follow will be added in the “Little Intel” section at the end of the paused part of "Biography of Ranger Xiao Ji." \_____ Before the story begins, here's a teaser to whet your friend's appetite: "Xiao Ji watched the change in the black horse's expression next to the tomato as it stared fixedly at me with interest, and smiled opportunely, speaking: 'Lord of the City, you are very fond of horse racing, and naturally skilled in evaluating horses. So what do you think of this horse I have brought?......'" (Hehe~ How does that feel? If you want to know the truth, you need to read carefully! Here comes the main text—) \— — — — —\_____ "Senior Xiao Ji? Although we have already discussed the plan, isn't it inappropriate to bring a black horse in now?" Tomato lowered his head and quietly asked Xiao Ji, who was walking ahead with his back to him. \_____ "Heh. No matter, from my point of view, the black horse is an important 'bargaining chip'... What I told you before is fine, but you should also understand the need to adapt on the fly..." Xiao Ji tilted his conical hat, revealing only his smile without his eyes. \_____ "But isn't this disrespectful to Lord of the City? When discussing important matters, one should show sincerity. Bringing a horse in might be..." Tomato seemed uneasy. \_____ "You'll see when we get there. Just watch for yourself..." Xiao Ji no longer looked back, only raising his conical hat. \_____ The soldiers leading the way at the front then turned around, stepped aside, and extended a hand forward, saying, "Envoy, we've reached the training ground." Tomato lifted his gaze, eyes widening instantly. It wasn't just because of the suddenly vast ground in front or the already tall tower now feeling its true height, but because he saw rows of warhorses running swiftly side by side in the sandy training ground, with groups of soldiers waving flags and shouting nearby. The whole scene was like... horse racing? "Envoy, the Lord of the City is over there at the stands. Shall I report your visit?" As the soldier prepared to leave, Xiao Ji reached out and stopped him. "Absolutely not. If you go to report, my plan will be ruined by your hands! Look—the Lord of the City is so focused now. If you suddenly disturb him, wouldn't that be a spoil?"Not only might you be punished, but you could also ruin the city lord's mood, making him unwilling to see me, or even directly drive me away!” The soldier froze, his expression embarrassed and at a loss for what to do. “You better step back and let me handle the announcement and the matter myself. You just go back to guard the gate and stay out of this; if any problems arise, they won't concern you.” Xiao Ji smiled at the soldier. “Thank you for your guidance, Excellency! I am truly grateful!” The soldier nodded repeatedly and left. “Alright, Tomato. It's just the two of us now, with no unnecessary interference, we can start executing the plan.” Xiao Ji looked at Tomato seriously. “Our lives depend on this plan, so we cannot fail!” Tomato clenched his fists and said, “I may not be very capable, but when I can do something, I am determined to do my best! Besides, Senior Xiao Ji has helped me so much; no matter what, I have to do my best to repay him!” Seeing the serious expression on Tomato's face, Xiao Ji suddenly smiled again: “Hehe. You don't need to get so tense just because I said something. You have to learn to stay calm; it's not only a way to adjust or disguise your emotions, but also essential to becoming an outstanding person. I said we might fail, but I never said we can't walk away unscathed… By the way, let me ask you this: which one do you think is the city lord among the people on the stands?” Tomato looked at Xiao Ji with some surprise for a while, then turned to the stands: The soldiers on the stands seemed undisciplined, each behaving as they pleased, some huddled in groups cheering with arms around each other, some alone making various gestures and expressions. Yet, among them, one person sat upright on a chair with carved patterns, wearing a fur-trimmed cloak. However, their attention was all focused on the thrilling action in the sand. “Do you really need me to point it out? Isn't it obviously the one wearing the large cloak?” “Hmm, normally that would be the case, but ordinary thinking is wrong in this situation. That cloaked person, in my view, is not the city lord.” Xiao Ji's startling words made Tomato frown: “Senior Xiao Ji, how could you think that? That central, large seat and the cloak that is clearly different from the others aren't privileges only the city lord has? You can determine the city lord must be him!” To confirm his judgment, Tomato even pointed at the person sitting there. “Are you really sure, Tomato?”I can tell you're using your own subjective feelings to judge. Will reality really be what you imagine? Observation requires seeing the depths, because the key lies in the details. If you don't consider everything, it's not just about mistakening the wrong person; if you don't realize you've been tricked into 'revealing your trump card,' it's a total loss...... Isn't this the mistake that outstanding future people shouldn't make? "Xiao Ji kept watching Tomato, and kept insisting on this question, as if he was determined to test or test Tomato something. However, even though Tomato didn't seem to understand at all, Xiao Ji didn't intend to reveal the 'answer.' Tomato's gaze swept through the crowd, pondering to find the real city lord, when suddenly he spoke: "It's that soldier, right?" Although he hid among the crowd, he was very 'obvious.' He was clearly the biggest 'beneficiary' of horse racing—not only holding multiple receipts with one hand, but always surrounded by many people. He was the one who started them, and he was also a dealer. This situation was nothing unusual in a horse racing environment, but among the soldiers, it was somewhat abnormal. No soldier had such leverage to act as the dealer...... And it was clear that many soldiers were constantly watching him. But I just couldn't understand why Senior Xiao Ji was so sure the person sitting in the stands was not the City Lord Cun. ""You found it quickly! Progress! Now I can confidently meet the City Lord and entrust any dangerous life I might face later to you...... Back to discovering clues, I just habitually and unconsciously watched too much. However, since he came on purpose, he couldn't be negligent in his observations and actions. That fake 'cover' clearly lacks the character of a city lord, and such a comfortable chair seems uncomfortable to sit on. How could this not arouse suspicion? But there are two layers to this suspicion. The other is: this kind of 'substitute' is clearly meant to make you suspicious. So what kind of scheme is the city lord plotting? "Tomato turned to look at Xiao Ji with concern and said, "Then I understand, Senior Xiao Ji. If we come looking for him like this, we'll fall into the trap he sets!" "
_____ "No, it's still unclear who holds the final advantage...... Whether it was a trap or not, once I faced him now, I'd know......" His steps moved slowly through the sand, making a loud scraping sound.Xiao Ji emerged from the dust kicked up by the horses, approaching the Grand Keeper who was counting the notes. The Grand Keeper noticed him too, his wary eyes continuously scanning him; under the straw hat, Xiao Ji's gaze was deep, neither showing weakness nor revealing any flaws, because he knew this was a game of strategy and no mistakes could be made... However, before this, Tomato saw only Xiao Ji's smiling expression. //_____ "Who are you?" The Grand Keeper, surrounded by soldiers, was the first to speak, though his tone was full of contempt. Xiao Ji did not respond immediately, instead continuing to approach the Grand Keeper in an orderly manner. Naturally, this quickly drew the soldiers around the Grand Keeper who had also noticed him: "How did someone like you get in? What did you do to the guards? Get out! Don't you know this isn't a place for commoners like you!" The oppressive threat seemed to have no effect on Xiao Ji. Facing the human wall standing before him, Xiao Ji calmly said, "I'm here to see the Grand Keeper." Through the gaps in the crowd, the Grand Keeper glanced at him sideways, raising an eyebrow slightly, remaining silent. "What are you?! Do you deserve to meet the Grand Keeper? Give up right now, the Grand Keeper has no time to waste on you! Never will!" "Sometimes you are truly pitiful... Rarely will you get good assignments, yet you still insist on playing the fool, suffering misfortune first for others, but whether you do well or poorly, it makes no difference; you won't be noticed, not even thanked. But if you make a mistake, you are at someone else's mercy, unable to argue, because the power over life and death lies in their hands... Now, you intend to drive away someone wanting to meet the Grand Keeper. Do you think that is right or wrong? Truthfully, I have come this time to change your fate..." The Grand Keeper, listening to Xiao Ji's seemingly irrelevant words, slightly lowered his head and smiled. The soldiers surrounding Xiao Ji stopped closing in on him, but remained silent. Xiao Ji looked around, cupped his fists and bowed, saying, "Thank you, please make way for me to meet the Grand Keeper." But unexpectedly, the soldiers around him still did not move in response to his bow. Xiao Ji's downcast face did not lift... "Let him meet the Grand Keeper. It might be better to hear what he has to say.""A voice rang out at this tense standoff, but it sounded like a delayed 'fuse.' The voice came from among the soldiers, and soon a previously tight encirclement opened a gap, leading directly to the 'City Lord' sitting on the platform. And the one who made that voice was the City Lord among the crowd. 'Ha ha!' Xiao Ji looked up and suddenly laughed, then bowed slightly to the stand-in on the platform, straightened up, but spoke to those around him, 'The City Lord doesn't want to appear in person because he's too busy, right? No, it should be that he doubts me, so he found a stand-in to face the danger for himself. The City Lord doesn't want to see me at all, so why am I staying here like a fool? It's really ridiculous! Even though I'm an envoy sent by someone, I haven't said it... And what would saying it change?' Hearing this, the City Lord, who had been showing a faintly proud expression, changed his face immediately. He squinted at the person sarcastically ridiculing on his own, seemingly pondering something. 'Who exactly are you?' Some of the more sensitive soldiers noticed that this guy in front of them had seen through the City Lord's tricks and shouted loudly. They began to gradually tighten their encirclement step by step. 'Capture him!' 'Enough, all of you step back! This has nothing to do with you anymore. Stop the jousting, and go guard the gates outside. He came to see me, and now I want to hear what he has to say in person!' To the soldiers, who had been on high alert, it was unexpected: the City Lord, disguised as a soldier, walked out from the crowd and gave a dispersal order. Xiao Ji looked at the finally emerged City Lord and raised a smile. Still following the plan... 'But... City Lord... his origin is unknown...' The soldiers murmured in continuous but disorganized voices. 'Shut up! There is no 'but!' Are you doubting my decision? Or do you really not trust me at all? Do you think there's something I don't know? But mark my words! I am not a coward! Handling matters like this is my responsibility alone!' The City Lord suddenly shouted sternly at the soldiers. This rapid shift in emotion seemed to be triggered by seeing Xiao Ji's smiling expression. The soldiers, intimidated by the City Lord's response, seemed unable to reply and silently abandoned encircling Xiao Ji, withdrawing from the training ground. The City Lord did not glance at the soldiers at all; his gaze focused solely on Xiao Ji, yet there was something fervent in his eyes."Xiao Ji turned his head to look at the soldiers, scratched the back of his head, and said, “Well, actually, there's no need to call the soldiers away… As the lord of the city, facing a strange guy alone without many soldiers around, aren't you feeling a bit insecure?”

“Hmph. Stop talking nonsense.” The acting city lord stared at Xiao Ji and snorted, seemingly dissatisfied with Xiao Ji's performance. “Having them here would only get in the way. You came for me from the start! I don't need them, but you were planning to use them to restrain me… How could I let your plan succeed? And those little ‘tricks'—feints and diversions—only those who don't understand and act as mere foot soldiers would be confused by your strange behavior. What you say is the way you want to achieve your goals. By sneaking in inciting content and subtly ‘guiding them step by step,' then even they can be manipulated by you. You've used a lot of ‘decoys'! But, no matter how clever your ‘tricks' are, you didn't expect that I would see through them so clearly, did you! Now, it's just the two of us. So, tell me honestly why you went through all this trouble, and who exactly are you?”

(>3<; The main text of the post is finished~ sorry, to continue following the story, please wait for me to edit and split the remaining part.)

==◇==◆==◇==◆==
Small Theater
==△==▲==△==▲==
(Small theater version 2 of Tomato and Black Horse talking while Xiao Ji negotiates with the soldiers)

Tomato: Black Horse, what do you think they're clearly talking about?

Black Horse: Not sure, how about we simulate it?

Tomato: Okay. I'll be Senior Xiao Ji. ‘Hehe—quick, give me your money!'

Black Horse: ‘What?! In broad daylight, you dare ask for our money openly? Are you crazy?! Take your guns!'

Tomato: ‘You bunch of idiots! With counterfeit money everywhere these days, I'm asking for your money just to help you check if your wallets are filled with fake bills!'

Black Horse: ‘Ah? We've actually met a master! Could it be that our pockets are completely stuffed with counterfeit money?!'

Tomato: ‘You guys who only blindly stretch out your hands asking the public for money would never recognize the difference, nor would you know that the public has already learned to use counterfeit bills!'Let me show you what a fake is...'\(Xiao Ji turned around and waved at Tomato and Black Horse)\Tomato and Black Horse (looking at each other, both frustrated): We are really bored...\﹡(The End)﹡\Postscript:\Actually, the content I envisioned wasn't divided into upper and lower parts. But considering the length of the post and the fact that if the "Adventures of Ranger Xiao Ji" were to cover events like negotiating with the city lord within this post, it would only be about 6 or 7 chapters (or posts) by the time I planned to pause the serialization to move on to other stories. Also, there wasn't much content in the earlier posts. My focus was on the story in Tancheng, and the "Adventures of Ranger Xiao Ji" is the main narrative. Explaining the overall plot in so few chapters would seem insufficient... Of course, to prevent fans from falling into a long waiting period, I broke the content into parts, which better satisfies those who value Xiao Ji and want to read updates as they come. That's why there's talk of upper and lower parts.