Li Lu knew the answer to Cheng Zongyang's question quite well.
After all, if not for the warning from Zhao the Seventh—arranged by Cheng Zongyang himself—he never would have escaped that deathtrap.
So, he knew exactly how many factions were involved back then. He answered without hesitation, "Six."
Cheng Zongyang fell into thought once more.
He remained lost in thought until Li Xian returned with Ma Yue, pulling him from his reverie.
"Greetings, my lord," Ma Yue said happily, clasping his fist in salute upon seeing Cheng Zongyang.
"You've done well," Cheng Zongyang said with a slight smile. "You're back early. Did everything go smoothly?"
Ma Yue knew what Cheng Zongyang was asking. He clasped his fist and said, "My lord, it's because things went so smoothly that I'm back early. That, and we ran into the Foreign Race taking over Shangyong County Town on the way."
Cheng Zongyang nodded. "Tell me in detail what you saw."
"Yes, my lord." Ma Yue clasped his fist.
