The northern part of the Independent State was nearly devoid of human life.

Standing at a spot was a youth in a snow-white s.h.i.+rt whose long, ink-like hair casually draped to his waist. He resembled a celestial being that belonged in a painting.

"Young Master, there's news from the southern battlefield."

A teenager strode toward the youth.

"Mm." There wasn't a ripple in the youth's eyes and there was an almost imperceptible smile hanging from his lips.

"The Ji family achieved an overwhelming victory… on the southern battlefield…" The teenager's face was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with astonishment as he looked at the youth.

He utterly couldn't imagine how this youth in front of him could command an army and concoct all kinds of brilliant strategies, playing and spinning both of the Ji family's strong enemy factions in circles. The final stroke of dissension he sowed was practically perfect.

If it weren't for this youth, the Ji family's battles would've probably lasted at least two more years.

This youth was the eldest son of the Independent State's Ji family—his name was Ji Xiuran.

When the teenager was Ji Xiuran's age, he was still wet behind the ears and ignorant about the world's affairs.

However, Ji Xiuran was exceptional. He possessed an extremely high intellect and profound shrewdness. His martial technique and strategic capabilities had achieved the pinnacle of perfection already.

The youth in front of the teenager…

Was close to being a G.o.d…

"Young Master, how should we take care of the Zhou family's eldest son?"

The youth turned around and surveyed the giant box sitting in the back of the car for a moment.

"Kill him," Ji Xiuran ordered aloofly.

The teenager was startled.

The Ji family had two mortal enemies: The Zhou family and the Tong family.

Right now, the contents of the box was the eldest son of the Zhou family, whom Ji Xiuran had just captured.

Although the Ji family had won on the southern battlefields, if they killed the Zhou family's eldest son right now, the Ji family would probably receive ferocious retaliation from the Zhou family. At that point, the Tong family would reap the spoils without doing anything and the gains wouldn't make up for the Ji family's losses.

"Young Master, are we really killing him?" the teenager asked hesitantly.

Ji Xiuran was expressionless. "I hired the Tong family's mercenaries with Ah-Ming's ident.i.ty to help me escort this item. The route heads northwest. The Tong family mercenaries won't suspect anything."

"What do you mean, Young Master?" The teenager was confused.

"Having been defeated this time, the Zhou family will naturally send a large number of scouts into the northwest front. If the Zhou family discovers their dead eldest son amongst the Tong family's mercenary team, what would happen?" the youth replied calmly.

The teenager s.h.i.+vered immediately.

The Zhou family and the Tong family… would fight until one perished…

Even if the Tong family wanted to explain, with a seed of doubt planted by Ji Xiuran, the Zhou family wouldn't believe the Tong family; they would only believe that it was the Tong family who killed their eldest son.

Moreover, the Ji family had supposedly been preoccupied on the southern battlefield and didn't have the time to attack the Zhou family's eldest son.

"Ah-Ming."

Ji Xiuran turned to a middle-aged man.

"Stay here and hand this box to the Tong mercenaries and follow behind. Remember, you need to intentionally be detected by the Zhou family's scouts. When the time is right, you can leave," Ji Xiuran said.

"Understood…" The middle-aged man agreed.

The teenager finally understood his young master's purpose.

This Ah-Ming was a steward of the Tong family who was bribed by Ji Xiuran. Earlier, the teenager was still wondering why Ji Xiuran bribed someone from the Tong family.

Ah-Ming didn't have any status in the Tong family and was merely an ordinary steward. In the teenager's eyes, there was no need to bribe someone like him.

…

The teenager handled the still-unconscious eldest son of the Zhou family inside the box with ease before leaving Ah-Ming and the box behind. He then followed Ji Xiuran and left.

"Young Master, that's brilliant!" Halfway there, the teenager gave Ji Xiuran a thumbs up. "Ah-Ming is a junior steward in the Tong family and isn't connected to the mercenary business in any way. If he's discovered by the Zhou family's spies… the Tong family won't be able to explain themselves!"