Women disguised as men went to the battlefield and the emperor bowed down in submission.

"Xiuyi, put me down," Lin Ruoshui said.

Xiu Yi put her down, and Lin Ruoshui asked, "Did you bring a tinderbox?"

Xiuyi took out a tinderbox from her bosom and handed it to Lin Ruoshui, who said, "This should be the place."

After saying that, Lin Ruoshui threw the tinder into a small hole. With a "bang", the flames shot up high.

Xiu Yi was astonished, while Lin Ruoshui was overjoyed.

"It's natural gas! It really is natural gas! Xiuyi, that's amazing! There must be oil down there, we're rich now, Xiuyi!" Lin Ruoshui jumped up and down, holding Xiuyi's hand, as if she had found a treasure.

Once Lin Ruoshui calmed down, Xiu Yi asked, "Is this the natural gas you mentioned?"

Lin Ruoshui said happily, "Natural gas is a gas, and natural gas and oil are known as non-renewable resources."

They took millions of years to form, approximately 20 billion years ago, when algae and other organisms on Earth died and settled underground with rivers, forming peat.

Peat is transformed into coal after being subjected to high temperature and pressure for a long time, and natural gas is a byproduct produced in coal seams.

Petroleum, on the other hand, is formed when organisms die and are deposited in an oxygen-free environment. Under high temperature and pressure, it is transformed into a substance called keratin, which gradually becomes petroleum over millions of years.

Some oil and natural gas seep to the surface, but most of them are trapped in faults within the Earth's crust and accumulate to form reservoirs.

By drilling a well and pumping out water, we can obtain natural gas. Oil extraction is more laborious, but we can manage both.

Lin Ruoshui spoke at length, and Xiu Yi understood even less this time.

Looking at Xiu Yi's confused eyes, Lin Ruoshui said, "This natural gas can be used for power generation, heating, cooking, and so on. For example, if we go to a cave and there is no firewood, we can use natural gas to start a fire and cook. You can think of it as firewood or lamp oil."

Xiu Yi understood. He nodded and said, "This kind of resource is very precious, isn't it?"

“Yes, you can understand it that way!” Lin Ruoshui looked at Xiuyi with bright eyes.

Lin Ruoshui found a large rock in the distance, and she easily lifted it up, directly blocking the fire-breathing hole.

Lin Ruoshui patted the dirt off her hands and said, "Let's go, Xiuyi, let's get someone to fence this place off. This is a treasure trove!"

Xiu Yi took out a handkerchief from her bosom, took Lin Ruoshui's hand, and carefully wiped it as she walked.

Back in the camp, Lin Ruoshui instructed Yingyi to begin the work of extracting natural gas and oil.

Yingyi still didn't understand, but she would do exactly what Lin Ruoshui said.

Lin Ruoshui broke down the work into smaller tasks, clearly writing down the specific tasks, objectives, and desired outcomes for each team on paper.

After assigning the tasks, she began to draw detailed blueprints, depicting the size and style of the natural gas tanks, as well as the tools used for extracting natural gas and oil.

Xiu Yi sat in the tent, silently watching Lin Ruoshui busy herself. He felt that having something to do would keep her from thinking about Xuan Yuan Yu, which was good.

It was past Hai Shi (9-11 PM), almost Zi Shi (11 PM-1 AM), and Lin Ruoshui was still excitedly drawing blueprints.

Xiu Yi stood up and placed one hand on the drawing. Lin Ruoshui looked up, and Xiu Yi said, "It's already very late, almost midnight."

Lin Ruoshui seemed to have just remembered, and she said, "I almost forgot, I still need to cultivate."

Xiu Yi picked up Lin Ruoshui and said, "Let's go."

Xiu Yi leaped up and carried Lin Ruoshui into the mountains, placing her in the tent.

Lin Ruoshui said, "When did you set up the tent? It's so warm inside."

“It was all prepared this morning. It’s getting late, let’s hurry up and start cultivating,” Xiu Yi said.

Lin Ruoshui took off her outer robe and said, "Okay!"

Xiu Yi and Lin Ruoshui sat cross-legged. Lin Ruoshui felt that today's cultivation was different from the past. In less than an hour, she broke through to the eighth level. Lin Ruoshui looked at Xiu Yi in disbelief.

Xiu Yi smiled and said, "I slowed down before, so it's normal to break through to the eighth level so quickly today."

"I only have two more levels left to complete my cultivation, and I won't have to do it every day anymore..." Lin Ruoshui almost blurted out what was on her mind.

Xiuyi affectionately patted her head and then pressed her forehead against hers.

Xiuyi said, "It will be soon, in just a few days, everything will be alright."

Lin Ruoshui nodded and said, "Yes, definitely."

After saying that, Lin Ruoshui fell into a deep sleep. In her dream, the incomparably handsome Xuanyuan Yu appeared before her eyes. Lin Ruoshui reached out and stroked his face, saying, "Your Highness, I miss you so much. I hope you won't blame me, and I hope you can forgive me. Tonight, I only want to see Xiuyi."

As soon as Lin Ruoshui finished speaking, she suddenly woke up.

Lin Ruoshui looked at the alluring Xiu Yi in front of her and said, "Xiu Yi, I think the person tonight can be you."

A ripple of emotion stirred in Xiu Yi's eyes. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, so he said, "Say it again."

Lin Ruoshui knelt up, cupped Xiu Yi's face in her hands, and said, "I think the person tonight can be you."

Xiu Yi's beautiful smile bloomed in Lin Ruoshui's palm. The person he had cherished so much had finally responded to him and finally accepted him.

He didn't know what to do. He wanted to run in the wilderness and shout in the mountains!

Lin Ruoshui said, "Xiuyi, for so long I have been running away from you. I have been accepting your love, but I have never given you anything in return."

“I don’t need your repayment!” Xiu Yi’s eyes darkened.

“No, it’s not about giving back, it’s about accepting. I accept you, and I ask that you accept me too,” Lin Ruoshui said.

After saying that, Xiu Yi was no longer gentle or cautious tonight.

His every smile, every gesture, revealed his extreme joy—an unexpected and overwhelming ecstasy.

His joy and ecstasy seemed to have him possessed tonight.

Under the guidance of the demon, Lin Ruoshui transformed into a monster.

The demon and the monster fought for three hundred rounds without a clear victor.

The next day, when the sun was high in the sky, Lin Ruoshui woke up in the warm tent, with Xiu Yi holding her in his arms. Lin Ruoshui said shyly, "Why are you still here?"

"Then you wish I weren't here?" Xiu Yi asked.

Lin Ruoshui hugged his neck and said, "I hope you'll always be here."

Xiuyi said, "Yes, I will. Get up and wash up; the meat porridge is still warm outside the tent."

Lin Ruoshui held him tightly and asked, "Xiuyi, I'm sorry to Xuanyuan Yu, and I'm sorry to you too."

Xiuyi said, "Life is unpredictable. If he knows how to love you, he won't blame you. What we want most is for you to live well."

If you choose to remain chaste for him, and ultimately die from ruptured veins, he will not rest in peace if he knows this in the afterlife.

Lin Ruoshui hugged Xiuyi tightly, grateful for his comforting words.

Xiu Yi continued to help Lin Ruoshui change clothes, wash up, and feed her as usual.

At noon, the two returned to the military camp together.

The next day, the army set off, heading straight for Wuling.

Thirty miles from Fengding Mountain, Lin Ruoshui ordered the camp to be set up.

Lin Ruoshui, Baili Heng, and their generals were discussing matters in their tent.

Meng Tuo said, "General, according to our scouts, Ouyang Huaide's two million men are already prepared to ambush us at Fengding Mountain. If we force our way through, we will surely suffer heavy casualties. Does the General have any countermeasures?"

Lin Ruoshui smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

She said, "I received the news three days ago; General Ningyuan's message came a little late."

Meng Tuo: "The military commander is indeed very powerful and influential. I wonder what your plans are?"

“Go and invite Ouyang Xuri,” Lin Ruoshui said.

Ouyang Xuri strolled leisurely into the tent, looked around, and asked, "What do you want with me?"

"I'll borrow one of your people for a bit," Lin Ruoshui said.

"Who is it?" Ouyang Xuri asked.

"I need to borrow someone you trust; I'm going to use a self-inflicted injury ruse," Lin Ruoshui said.

“Grand Minister Song Ning is my man, what are you going to do?” Ouyang Xuri asked.

Lin Ruoshui said, "Is it that handsome, dashing, elegant, and talented man?"

The more Lin Ruoshui spoke, the darker Ouyang Xuri's face became. He felt that this disgusting man had ill intentions.

Ouyang Xuri's face was ashen, and he grunted an "Mmm" through his nose.

Lin Ruoshui said, "Men, strip Song Ning naked and hang him up."

Ouyang Xuri glared at Lin Ruoshui.

Lin Ruoshui grinned lewdly and took out a small leather whip from her waist.

Ouyang Xuri said, "Mind your current status. In front of so many people, do you still intend to do something indecent to him?"

Lin Ruoshui lashed out with her whip, striking Ouyang Xuri's buttocks, and said, "Try it and see if it hurts."

With that jerk, Ouyang Xuri shuddered and immediately stiffened. Those in the tent could clearly see Ouyang Xuri's embarrassing state.

Ouyang Xuri hurriedly pulled out the tablecloth from the table, plopped down in the chair, and covered his legs with it.

Ouyang Xuri bit his lower lip and said, "You disgusting man, how dare you treat me like this?"

Lin Ruoshui said, "This is a specially made small leather whip; it won't hurt when it hits you."

Ouyang Xuri stiffened, thinking, "Does it matter if it hurts or not? You've beaten me up like this, and everyone in this room has seen it. How am I supposed to face anyone now?"

Lin Ruoshui looked at Ouyang Xuri, who was about the same height as her, sitting in the chair with a puzzled expression, and said, "Why is your face so dark and red? Are you running a fever?"

As she spoke, she reached out to touch Ouyang Xuri's forehead. Ouyang Xuri, startled by the delicate white hand reaching out, exclaimed, "What are you going to do?"

Lin Ruoshui was startled. She said, "What are you doing? Why are you being so paranoid? I'm just borrowing you, is it necessary to be so sensitive?"

"Sensitive? Me, sensitive? If I didn't stop you, I would have done you right here today." Ouyang Xuri stared fiercely at Lin Ruoshui's androgynous face.

Seeing Ouyang Xuri's ever-changing expression, Lin Ruoshui became serious and said, "Today I'm going to beat Song Ning half to death, and then give him a chance to escape with all our explosives."

"When I took him to Ouyang Huaide's place, that was the moment Ouyang Huaide was blown to bits."

Ouyang Xuri said, "Is this the self-inflicted injury scheme you mentioned?"

Lin Ruoshui said, "Yes, this little leather whip doesn't hurt when you hit someone, but it will leave marks. Let's apply some medicine to make his wounds look more serious."

Ouyang Xuri said, "I will talk to him."

Lin Ruoshui said, "Okay, then I'll start drawing now."

Ouyang Xuri said, "No, I'll do it!"