"Blame me!"

South of Huzhou, within a small county government, Monkey Wine and sweet potato are not very good at interpersonal relationships, but they could sense Bald Zhang's doubts; he did not want to go into battle.

Now is the time to race against the clock, any delay could bring countless variables outside, so sweet potato was a bit angry and said, "This baldy doesn't know what's good for him!"

"Let me find someone to inquire where his wife and children live, and persuade him properly..."

"..."

Monkey Wine gently stopped sweet potato, advising, "A person can't place his hopes on things he hasn't seen; he doesn't believe just the two of us can solve his current predicament, so his suspicion is understandable."

"This can only be blamed on us for failing to make him believe, we can't blame him; the fact that he hasn't thrown us out shows his temper isn't too bad."

"..."

Sweet potato was a bit surprised to see how patient Monkey Wine was, saying, "You're quite a good person..."

Recalling the gathering earlier, everyone refused to team up with him, thinking he was unpopular. But now, he seemed gentle and courteous, though somewhat distant, appearing not very good at communication.

Sweet potato, wanting to help this seemingly honest young brother, planned to advise him that such a personality wouldn't fare well in this world. He smiled and said, "If others don't trust you, what do you plan to do?"

Monkey Wine quietly replied, "Directly making him deploy troops would easily cause misunderstandings, so we must choose a way that won't cause misunderstandings to persuade him."

Sweet potato was instantly curious, wanting to see what misunderstand-free method he would use, following Monkey Wine who had figured it out, they returned to the military tent.

Then they saw Monkey Wine survey the people in the tent, and asked Bald Zhang, "Snake, scorpion, centipede, toad, gecko..." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Which one do you like best?"

The sudden question confused Bald Zhang, who was worried and unwilling to abandon the place because his reputation would be ruined, as well as his future under Ming King, but deeply aware of the terror of King of Chaos, he couldn't care about other things.

Regarding these two who claimed they were here to help but neither suggested strategies nor had troops, these "Jianghu Strange People," he indeed felt some disdain, yet dared not offend them.

Faced with this unexpected question, he merely froze for a moment, instinctively replied, "Toad?"

Toad is something that can be roasted to eat; back when Zhang was poor, he ate it quite often.

Upon receiving the answer, Monkey Wine nodded, "No problem!"

With a light wave in the air using the flute in hand, there was suddenly a loud croak from a withered bag outside on the ox cart.

"Croak!"

The sound was so abrupt, Bald Zhang and his guards failed to react immediately.

Soon, their expressions changed, pupils briefly turned yellow-brown like a toad's, lumps appeared on the forehead, but then quickly subsided, looking no different than before.

But their faces showed an expression of sudden realization, coupled with some self-reproach, apologetically slapping themselves and saying to Monkey Wine, "Mister risked his life to save me, yet we hesitated, it was truly unworthy!"

"Though my subordinates suffered heavy casualties, they can still wield their blades; whether up the mountain of blades or down the sea of flames, just give the command, mister!"

"Anyone who frowns is no hero!"

"..."

Monkey Wine nodded, saying, "There's no need to go up the mountain of blades or down the sea of flames. Pack your bags, head south with me, and don't waste time!"

"Earlier, I promised to visit Zhu Family within three months, and now it's almost late!"

Bald Zhang felt extremely guilty, repeatedly saying, "The older one is in the jianghu, the smaller the courage, it's my cowardice because of King of Chaos that nearly delayed your important matter, sir!"

"Quick!"

With that, he ordered his men to pack up immediately and headed out of the city.

Not only him, but even within the tent, his subordinates, personal guards, and two disciples were anxious; ashamed of their hesitation, they even wished to first receive a hundred lashes.

Only sweet potato, who earlier thought Monkey Wine was too pedantic, showed a changed expression.

He quietly checked his eyes in the water tank first before patting his chest, feeling a bit scared and saying, "So your precise approach is just this?"

When told to do something, it's done. With Bald Zhang's troops dead or fled, only around 800 remained, his last asset.

With these 800 men, there's hope to rally ten thousand or even several tens of thousands troops.

If these 800 were lost, it would be complete annihilation. Originally Zhang found it difficult to make a decision, but now, with a wave of his hand, organized the remaining troops and joined forces with sweet potato's 500 Cloth Army, marching under the flag out of the county government.

Marching spiritedly towards the once dreaded tens of thousands mountains that he feared returning to.

Initially meticulous and cautious, now recklessly abandoning caution, traveling day and night, quickly penetrating the tens of thousands of mountains.

Such blatant entry startled every blade of grass and tree, soon, the sound of willow whistles unexpectedly rang around.

Starting with one, then echoing everywhere, as if surrounded by the sound of willow whistles.

"Bad, it's... it's the Bamboo Formation Army..."