The skirmish ended quickly and cleanly.
The foolish bandits were driven off with ease, not a single crate lost, not a single logistics soldier injured. The convoy reorganized itself and continued north as if nothing more than a roadside nuisance had occurred.
For Hua Kui, however, this was her first time witnessing a real battle from such close range.
She had been startled, of course—but excitement quickly overwhelmed fear. The combat effectiveness of the Gao Family Village logistics troops had shattered every preconceived notion she'd held.
So this is what "logistics soldiers are still soldiers" really means.
The only regret was that she lacked a Divine Mirror at hand. The footage she'd just recorded couldn't be processed immediately, and she had no idea when—or how—she'd be able to bring it back to the people.
As she frowned in thought, pondering this problem, she noticed a convoy approaching from the opposite direction.
The leader waved cheerfully at Zhuge Wangchan.
"Well, well! Isn't that Little Zhuge? Heading north again?"
Zhuge Wangchan laughed and returned the greeting.
"Tie Niaofei! You're already on your way back?"
Both men were in charge of transport, but their responsibilities were worlds apart. Zhuge Wangchan moved supplies strictly within the system, while Tie Niaofei handled both transportation and border trade—his work broader, messier, and far more complicated.
Zhuge Wangchan's eyes fell on Tie Niaofei's vehicle, its cargo concealed beneath thick tarpaulin.
"You're coming back from the north," he said in surprise. "Shouldn't your truck be empty? Why are you hauling goods?"
Tie Niaofei chuckled.
"This isn't cargo—it's storage cards for cameras. Dao Xuan Tianzun ordered me to bring them back to Pingyang Prefecture. He'll retrieve them personally and take them back to the heavens."
Zhuge Wangchan blinked. He had no idea what a storage card was.
Hua Kui, on the other hand, understood instantly.
Her eyes lit up. She stepped forward and performed a graceful bow.
"Brother Tie Niaofei, greetings. The footage you recorded at the border—of the Gao Family Village Militia defeating the Manchu army and rescuing Daizhou—was truly magnificent. This little sister admires you greatly."
Tie Niaofei's chest puffed out at once, his grin stretching ear to ear.
"Oh—oh—you flatter me! I was just doing what Dao Xuan Tianzun told me to do. Honestly, I didn't even know what I was filming. I just pressed whatever button he pointed at."
Hua Kui continued, "You mentioned the storage cards in your truck—are they newly recorded news materials?"
He nodded enthusiastically.
"That's right! These are the videos I managed to capture of Gao Chuwu liberating Yanmen Pass. Dao Xuan Tianzun instructed me to deliver them back to Pingyang Prefecture. He'll take over from there."
Hua Kui seized the opportunity.
"I also recorded a segment just now—footage of the Gao Family Village logistics team repelling bandits. But I must continue traveling north. Would Brother Tie Niaofei be willing to help take my footage back with you?"
Tie Niaofei laughed.
"Of course! No problem at all—"
Then he added casually,
"—but we'll need a quote for that."
"…Huh?" Hua Kui froze. "There's a charge?"
She looked genuinely confused.
"Aren't we all serving Dao Xuan Tianzun? We charge for this?"
Tie Niaofei nodded with practiced seriousness.
"We belong to different departments. I'm Border Trade; you're News. Separate departments, separate accounts. If you use our department's resources, there has to be a quote. Otherwise, how do we keep the books clean? No muddled accounting."
"Ah…"
Hua Kui hesitated, visibly processing this new form of logic.
Zhuge Wangchan burst out laughing.
"Exactly! Even sworn brothers settle accounts clearly—let alone different departments. Madam, just pay him. Record it as a News Department expense and apply for reimbursement from the Village Committee later."
Hua Kui bowed slightly.
"Listening to you gentlemen has broadened my horizons. Your little sister truly admires your wisdom."
Her words were sweet as honey.
Tie Niaofei and Zhuge Wangchan both smiled until their cheeks hurt.
After a short round of quoting and bargaining, Hua Kui paid the fee, removed the storage card from her miniature camera, and placed it into Tie Niaofei's truck.
Tie Niaofei waved goodbye and headed south with several storage cards in tow.
Once he reached Pingyang Prefecture, Dao Xuan Tianzun's colossal hand would descend from the heavens to retrieve them.
As for Hua Kui—
She inserted a fresh, blank storage card into her camera and continued her journey north.
Her destination:
Xi'an Prefecture.
Since news of the Manchus breaching the pass had broken, the audience for the evening news broadcast had exploded.
It had always been crowded—but now it was suffocating.
Anyone who arrived even a moment late would be pushed an entire street away from the Divine Mirror.
Naturally, it was always the poor who were squeezed out.
High officials and nobles, on the other hand, always found a way into VIP seating.
At this moment, Zhu Cunji, heir to the Prince of Qin, sat comfortably in his private box. Beside him were Imperial Censor Wu Shen, the Prefect of Xi'an, and several other officials.
In the past, Zhu Cunji would never have shared his VIP box with such stiff civil officials. But since the Manchus breached the pass, his outlook had changed drastically.
Now, he invited them in every day—on his own initiative.
As evening approached, Zhu Cunji rubbed his hands impatiently.
"Hurry up! Start the broadcast already! It's past time—what's taking so long?"
Wu Shen glanced sideways.
"Your Highness, what has you so anxious?"
Zhu Cunji snorted.
"Do you even need to ask? I'm worried about the border! This entire realm belongs to the Zhu family. If someone forced their way into your ancestral home and fought your old father every day, wouldn't you be anxious?"
Wu Shen paused.
His expression darkened slightly.
…He had a point.
If someone invaded his ancestral home in Xinghua, Jiangsu, and attacked his father while he himself was stranded in Shaanxi—how could he not panic?
At that moment, Wang Tang appeared.
As usual, he strode up to the Divine Mirror and performed his signature move—the Iron Mountain Lean, slamming his shoulder into the side switch.
The Divine Mirror flickered to life.
With a casual tap—
Lines of text flashed rapidly across the screen:
Connecting to server…
Reading latest file list…
The newest video file appeared at the bottom.
Wang Tang tapped it and stepped aside.
Gao Yiye appeared onscreen.
"Special News—"
It was always Special News.
Because the northern border was what everyone cared about most.
"Gao Chuwu, Great General of the Gao Family Village Militia, has dealt a crushing blow to the Manchu forces at Yanmen Pass and successfully reclaimed control of this vital gateway. Please direct your attention to the visuals—"
The image shifted.
The majestic Yanmen Pass filled the screen.
Zhu Cunji blurted out,
"Wow! So this is what Yanmen Pass looks like!"
The common folk murmured,
"So that's Yanmen Pass…"
Wu Shen snorted softly.
"The Prince's heir makes the same remarks as villagers who've never seen the world."
His "mutter" was not quiet enough.
Zhu Cunji heard every word.
He turned, face full of indignation.
"I've never left Xi'an in my entire life! The farthest I've ever gone is Lintong Hot Springs! I sincerely apologize for my lack of worldly experience—satisfied?"
Wu Shen fell silent.
"…."
Zhu Cunji huffed.
"And whose fault is that, if not you stuffy civil officials? If you didn't report me every time I tried to leave my fief—
"—this Prince would be drinking on the Qinhuai River tomorrow, mark my words!"