Chapter 795: Oh No!

In the Yin‑Yang Hall, after Tengyuan Liangxin finished transmitting Yuan Guangyi's words, he hurried away.

Liu Guiyan looked at Anbei Taicheng: "Lord Tengyuan's words just now, the Master also heard them."

"Since the General has issued a strict order, may I ask when the Master intends to begin?"

Anbei Taicheng gave her a glance: "Tonight."

Liu Guiyan waited a moment, saw that Anbei Taicheng showed no intention to invite her, and rose to leave.

"Madam Cheng, please stay," Anbei Taicheng called out to her.

Liu Guiyan turned back: "What? Has the Master changed his mind? Wants to join forces with me?"

Anbei Taicheng smiled: "Now that everyone is at the city gate, why should I ally with you?"

"If I could, by my own strength, keep Prince Ning's father and daughter alive, the General would naturally regard me differently."

He kept a calm expression: "I only have one matter to ask of you."

"What matter?"

"The war god of the fiery nation, famed across the seas, surnamed Xiao and named Yuanhang, I wonder what that Immortal Envoy's given name is; Madam Cheng, do you know?"

Liu Guiyan thought for a moment: "I once heard my husband say that Princess Jiayou is named Xiao Ningzhao."

Anbei Taicheng nodded: "Thank you, Madam Cheng."

Liu Guiyan, without any hesitation, glanced at his right ear, a smile flickering at her lips: "Then I won't disturb the Master's spellcasting."

Having said that, she turned and walked out.

Anbei Taicheng's complexion instantly darkened; this Zhongyuan old woman dared such rudeness!

"Fine, after tonight passes, once I succeed in one move, I can sweep you out the door."

"And I'll let you be reckless this time."

Anbei Taicheng walked slowly up to the top floor of the Yin‑Yang Hall: "Yin‑Yang assistants, prepare the Quiet Chamber; I will cast a spell to subdue the enemy."

"Yes!" two Yin‑Yang assistants replied, entering the Quiet Chamber.

After a short while, the two emerged: "Master, please come in; we stand guard outside the door for you."

Anbei Taicheng said seriously: "Remember, unless I step out myself, even if the General himself arrives, you must ask him to wait."

"Yes."

Anbei Taicheng entered the Quiet Chamber, sat cross‑legged, with an ink‑jade scepter laid horizontally before him, and a candle lit on each side.

He slowly closed his eyes, and intricate incantations flowed from his mouth.

On the ink‑jade scepter, a layer of dark crimson light gradually began to emanate.

The light was initially faint, then grew increasingly intense.

It resembled a red‑hot iron block plunged into ink, swirling and interweaving upon the scepter.

Anbei Taicheng placed his right index finger in his mouth, bit down hard, and a few drops of deep red blood beads spurted from the fingertip.

He extended the finger, gently pressing it against the edge of the ink‑jade scepter.

The blood beads slid down the scepter's surface; wherever they passed, dark‑red veins, like living blood vessels, spread rapidly across the scepter.

Moments later, the light suddenly contracted, turning into an extremely fine thread of light that rose from the scepter, passed through the window lattice, and flew toward the Main Camp outside the city.

At the same moment, a family, having just finished dinner, gathered in Xiao Yuanhang's sleeping tent.

Tuan Tuan sat in her father's arms, while Xiao Feifei lay at her feet, its fluffy big tail swaying left and right.

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ningchen sat on either side, smiling brightly at their sister.

"Xiao Feifei, come, spin a circle!"

Tuan Tuan extended a little finger and drew a circle in the air.

Xiao Feifei immediately stood up, its two little front paws curled to its chest, spun a full circle on the spot, and when it landed let out a chirp toward Tuan Tuan, as if boasting.

Xiao Ningxun laughed: "This little thing seems increasingly human‑like, understanding everything we say."

"Is that so?" Xiao Ningchen raised an eyebrow, leaned forward, "Xiao Feifei, come, spin a circle."

He mimicked his sister, also drawing a circle in the air with his finger.

Xiao Feifei tilted its head, glanced at him, twitched its ears, leisurely turned its head the other way, wagged its tail, turned around, and presented its rear squarely at him.

The crowd burst into laughter, even Xiao Yuanhang laughed so hard his mouth couldn't close.

Tuan Tuan giggled, darting straight into her father's embrace.

Xiao Ningchen hummed: "Well, you little Xiao Feifei, watch out—one day I might turn you into a shawl!"

"Second brother is so naughty!" Tuan Tuan leaned forward, scooped up Xiao Feifei, and cradled it in her arms.

She gently petted Xiao Feifei's head, saying tenderly: "Don't be scared, second brother is just teasing; I won't let him turn you into a shawl."

Xiao Feifei poked its head out of Tuan Tuan's arms and chirped twice at Xiao Ningchen.

Xiao Ningxun was about to speak when Xiao Feifei suddenly sat upright, tilted its head, and its ears stood straight up.

And Tuan Tuan also straightened up, tilting her head; the expression on her face mirrored Xiao Feifei's.

Xiao Ningxun laughed, shaking his head: "You two are becoming more alike."

Tuan Tuan's ears twitched slightly, and she tugged at her father's sleeve: "Daddy, someone's calling you."

Xiao Yuanhang tilted his ear to listen; outside the tent only the night wind rustling the battle flags and the faint murmurs of soldiers could be heard.

He shook his head: "I didn't hear anything."

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ningchen exchanged a glance, listened intently for a moment, and both shook their heads: "Nothing."

Tuan Tuan frowned, turned her face toward the outside of the tent, raised her voice and shouted: "Hey! Why are you calling me 'daddy'?"

In the Quiet Chamber, Anbei Taicheng suddenly snapped his eyes open, a flash of wild joy flashing in them.

On the ink‑jade scepter, that dark‑red thread of light quivered slightly, clearly echoing that youthful childlike voice.

He could hardly believe his ears; it was the Immortal Envoy himself who answered!

He originally intended to take Prince Ning down first, but didn't expect the Immortal Envoy's ears to be so sharp.

A cold smile flickered at the corner of Anbei Taixin's mouth.

Indeed, although Prince Ning boasts glorious battle achievements, he is ultimately just a mortal, a non‑cultivator; his slowness is understandable.

Immortal Envoy, since you were the first to answer, I will kill you first.

He placed his left middle finger in his mouth, bit it hard to break it, squeezed out a few dark‑red blood beads, trembled as he pressed them against the edge of the ink‑black jade tablet, and re‑imbued the calling name incantation.

He inhaled deeply, used spellcraft to summon that name, Xiao Ningzhao.

Inside the big tent, Tuan Tuan tilted her head again, a puzzled expression appearing on her small face.

Xiao Ningzhao? That name sounds so familiar!

It seems I heard it somewhere, yet I can't recall.

She thought for a while, is it Imperial Aunt? No, Imperial Aunt doesn't seem to be called that.

Who could that be? Never mind, it's not calling me anyway, never mind.

"Oh, I misheard, Father, no one called you." She indifferently nudged toward her father's chest and patted Xiao Feifei's head.

Xiao Feifei's ears drooped, she rested her chin on Tuan Tuan's back of the hand and squinted her eyes.

Sweat beads seeped from the corner of Anbei Taixin's forehead.

He repeatedly activated spellcraft, calling Xiao Ningzhao again and again, his lips moving faster, the sweat beads on his brow growing larger, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto the ink‑black jade tablet.

Yet that thread of light did not stir a hair, giving no response.

How could this be? Why does the Immortal Envoy give no reaction?

Could the name Liu Guiyan gave me be false?

No, impossible; she hopes the Immortal Envoy dies even sooner than I do, she would never deceive me.

Then why doesn't she answer? Can't she hear?

Anbei Taixin gasped heavily, the blood beads at his fingertips no longer flowed.

He gritted his teeth, placed his hand in his mouth again, brutally bit through a third fingertip, and pressed it anew onto the ink‑black jade tablet.

Very well, if the Immortal Envoy does not answer, I will kill Prince Ning first.

With Prince Ning dead, the great army becomes leaderless; even the Immortal Envoy, however powerful, cannot overturn the heavens.

He inhaled deeply, steadied himself, silently recited the incantation again, redirecting the calling name incantation toward the world‑shaking name, Xiao Yuanhang.

"Xiao Yuanhang— Xiao Yuanhang—"

Inside the big tent, Tuan Tuan scraped the ground and sat her small body upright, her eyebrows standing up.

Why is it happening again! Who's calling Father? Over and over, never ending?

"So annoying! What are they shouting?" she glared at the outside of the tent, shouting loudly: "Hey! Hey! Hey!"

"Enough already! Will you let me sleep with Father again!"

Xiao Yuanhang and his two sons exchanged glances, their faces full of bewilderment.

"Is Tuan Tuan sleepy?" Xiao Ningxun stood up: "Come on, second brother, we've been traveling all day; Tuan Tuan must be tired, let her rest early."

"Alright." Xiao Ningchen rose, "Father, you and Tuan Tuan rest a bit earlier."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded, affectionately bowed his head and kissed his daughter's crown: "Good girl, Daddy will carry you to bed to sleep."

Anbei Taixin's eyes widened sharply, he answered, finally someone responded.

Great!

But, the next moment.

That dark‑red light thread suddenly shattered amid the repeated responses, turning into countless tiny blood‑colored sparks, like embers whipped by a gale, all swirling toward him.

Bad!