Chapter 1623: Evacuation

This demon puppet was rather peculiar; just eating divine blood wasn't enough for it to recover quickly from its injuries. He Lingchuan pondered: "How long will it take to return to its original state?"

"Even if soaked in the medicinal mud specially made by Ling Guang and me, it will take at least ten days to half a month; during this period, it will fall into hibernation and must not be disturbed."

"In other words, it won't make it in time for the operation in a few days?"

Dong Rui was extremely unwilling, but had to admit: "It won't make it. Even if we don't treat it now, the distance it can travel in its severely injured state is very limited; even if the ground is moist, it won't be able to run fast."

He Lingchuan pondered for a few breaths, then said: "Since that's the case, you should evacuate Heavenly Water City first."

What? Dong Rui's eyes widened suddenly: "What do you mean!"

He Lingchuan had planned this big operation for so long, and he wouldn't let him participate? "You and the Snail Toad are both severely injured and unable to travel well." He Lingchuan said with a serious face, "The day the Imperial Flowing Nectar arrives, the weaker side will definitely be targeted! I won't be able to spare the attention to take care of you."

The Snail Toad was temporarily on strike, so they had lost their most convenient tool for travel. Dong Rui was now injured, and his mobility was not what it used to be.

Dong Rui said irritably: "Who are you calling the weak one?"

"Certainly not you. You defeated Cao Wendao single-handedly; who would dare call you weak?" Cao Wendao had killed Situ He's people with ease, and He Lingchuan could feel that Qing Yang was not in a superior-subordinate relationship with him, at least she treated him with courtesy. Otherwise, how could Cao Wendao be so lax?

How arrogant was Qing Yang? She must respect Cao Wendao's ability, not his foul temper. Dong Rui could make such an opponent die with hatred; who would dare call him a weakling? So He Lingchuan changed his wording to protect his fragile self-esteem: "But once that day comes, what is our priority?"

"To retreat safely."

"Exactly." He Lingchuan patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly, "With you here, I can't run fast."

"..."

It was just a joke. He Lingchuan said sternly: "After seeing the battle scene tonight, Qing Yang has likely already suspected you. After all, ordinary cultivators have no experience against demon puppet masters; those who can kill Cao Wendao and so many demon puppets in his hands in a short time are likely peers. Given her personality, she will focus on you later. Zhao Song's nine hundred men are there to protect me and won't be responsible for your safety. By the way, don't forget that Bai Ziqi will be back soon; he might just use you as a breakthrough point."

Dong Rui was injured and likely targeted by Qing Yang and Bai Ziqi.

Then there was little point in him staying, and the danger would only increase.

The greatest advantage of a demon puppet master must be hiding in the shadows, not being stared at intensely through a magnifying glass.

So his wisest course of action was to choose the best strategy.

He Lingchuan continued to persuade: "If I have to be distracted by taking care of your safety, the plan will be hard to execute."

Dong Rui was already wavering, but still worried: "Can you handle it alone?"

"I still have the Yangshan Guard, and the gold-medal hitter, the Matron; how could I be alone?" He Lingchuan gave him a reassurance. "Besides, if I can't beat them, can't I run? Don't forget, we originally planned to set the final fire and then grease the soles of our feet."

"Also, after tonight's battle, Yang Chi has been escorted into the palace; the follow-up will definitely be very interesting." He threw the last slice of pomelo into his mouth. "In the next few days, Qing Yang will respect me from a distance."

Actually, Qing Yang hadn't been looking for trouble with him recently; she was busy planning big things and didn't want to cause more waves before the event.

But He Lingchuan didn't agree, which was why he took the initiative to find Cao Wendao's trouble at this juncture.

Dong Rui finally nodded reluctantly: "Fine, I'll go."

He and He Lingchuan were both people who acted as soon as they thought of something, with first-class execution.

Since staying was useless, he wouldn't drag his feet.

"Think on the bright side, we've already asked for the location of Red Hut. All the treasures Cao Wendao accumulated for years, all the insights he gathered for years, might be hidden in Red Hut." He Lingchuan added some charcoal to the fire basin. "Yang Chi being escorted into the palace will also confess the location of Red Hut. If you go late, it might be looted by the King of Yao's men first."

Wouldn't that be a waste of heaven's gifts? Thinking that Red Hut was not far from the border of the Yao Nation, Dong Rui slapped the armrest: "I'll leave before dawn!"

Speaking of which, he poured out quite a few things from his storage ring: "These are the spoils of war searched from Cao Wendao."

He and He Lingchuan were in the same team, so the spoils had to be taken out for distribution.

Five protective magic artifacts, which could still be used after repairs.

Then there was a pile of miscellaneous, chicken-and-dog odds and ends that He Lingchuan couldn't understand. Dong Rui explained that these were treasures only demon puppet masters could use.

He pointed to something that looked like a pine cone and said: "This is a divine artifact that can let demon puppets go inside to hibernate, and I can carry it around."

"So it's just for carrying living things around?" That was indeed an incredible function. Ordinary storage magic artifacts couldn't carry living things, and while medieval supreme treasures like the Soul-Absorbing Mirror could hold living things, they had to remain stationary and couldn't move because they were opening their own small world in real-time, connected to the Great Thousandfold World.

The only magic treasure in He Lingchuan's possession capable of transporting living creatures was the "Pili Cave Heaven" he had confiscated from Cen Boqing, but it could only transport one living creature at a time and had weight and time limitations.

"Not any living thing, only demon puppets." Dong Rui shook his head. "I've tried it, trust me. This thing might be related to the gods."

There were also dozens of medicine bottles. Ling Guang picked one up at random, sniffed it twice, and shook his head repeatedly: "Not good stuff."

There were also four notebooks with sloppy handwriting. Dong Rui said these were Cao Wendao's notes.

This old demon puppet master, like him, liked to record inspirations, insights, problems, and data anytime, anywhere.

Then, there were banknotes with a face value of over 800,000 taels, as well as quite a bit of jewelry, gold, and a few pieces of profound crystals.

Black-eating-black, money comes fast.

Dong Rui pointed to this thick stack of treasure notes: "Among these, there might be the money used to buy your life."

"Then I'll smile and accept it." He Lingchuan only took away one banknote of the smallest denomination, which was 10,000 taels, and then pointed to the remaining things on the table and asked, "Matron, is there anything you want?"

The Eyeball Spider raised its front paws to wipe its forehead: "No! I can't use any of the things here."

Zhu Xiuer was hiding outside the villa.

It had also contributed to tonight's operation, so of course, it had a share of the spoils. But looking at these things on the table, there was nothing delicious or fun.

The younger sister always took the banknotes, but it didn't like them.

Forget it, forget it, it's cheaper for this kid Dong Rui.

He Lingchuan immediately said: "The remaining money will be treated as your research funding for the next two periods. I won't allocate extra funds."

Dong Rui was overjoyed. Every time He Lingchuan allocated funds, it was at most tens of thousands or over a hundred thousand, stingy as could be.

With these 800,000 in hand, he could spend freely for a long time! He immediately let the Ghost Ape pack up the things on the table and left immediately.

Dong Rui was a guest at the Yongquan Shanzhuang, living in seclusion, not showing his face at meals, appearing only at night, like an invisible person. The Yao Palace guards always forgot he existed and didn't pay much attention to him.

After all, to maintain such a large villa, who knew how many people came in and out every day.

Yao King's Palace.

The night rain was gurgling, followed by several flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder, shaking the entire palace.

Qiu Long secretly thought it was bad, bad, and hurriedly approached the Yao King's bed, wanting to see if his master had been shaken awake.

As soon as he approached, the Yao King's low voice came from behind the bed curtains: "What time is it?"

"My King, are you awake?"

"With thunder this loud, who wouldn't wake up?" After the first loud thunder, the Yao King had woken up.

He remembered that when he was young, he slept very soundly; no matter how loud the thunder was, it wouldn't wake him.

Alas, he was old after all.

"Recently, there has been constant winter thunder, which is against common sense." The winter in Heavenly Water City was usually very quiet; even snowflakes falling to the ground wouldn't make a sound, unlike this year, which was suddenly cold and suddenly hot, and as soon as it got hot, it rained. "Abnormal, truly abnormal."

Should he use his Yuan power to interfere? It seemed a bit like making a mountain out of a molehill.

Besides, the expansion of the new city had already used up quite a bit of Yuan power; if he used any more, the officials would start debating it.

Qiu Long knew what his master was thinking and changed the subject: "You'll have to change your boots when you go out tomorrow morning; ice has formed on the ground after the rain."

The Yao King shook his head: "I always feel that some abnormal things are brewing in this city."

Where could it come from? He had already sent people to keep a close watch on the Regent Qing Yang, and her movements showed no abnormalities.

"My King's connection with heaven and man has its own reasons for worry." Qiu Long said warmly, "But you must get a good rest tonight and nourish your Yuan energy; there is still a morning court in two hours."

The Yao King was about to speak when a tapping sound suddenly rang out on the door panels outside.

Had the sky fallen? What kind of urgent matter dared to disturb the King's sleep at this time?

Qiu Long hurriedly went out.

After half a cup of tea, he walked back hurriedly and whispered a few words into the Yao King's ear.

Thus, Zhao Song was able to meet the King.

Outside, thunder and rain were clashing; inside, the monarch and his subject were whispering.

By the time Zhao Song had presented everything that happened tonight at Yongquan Shanzhuang and Tao Creek, more than an hour had passed.

Because the Yao King asked questions frequently.

Qiu Long stood by the Yao King's side, and the more he heard, the more shocked he became.

An operation to assassinate He Xiao would actually involve so many secrets? Cao Wendao, Qing Yang, He Xiao, Princess Ya, Xue Zongwu...

Looking at the Yao King's face again, it was also becoming increasingly solemn, and in the end, it was so gloomy it could almost drip water.

After Zhao Song finished speaking, the hall was as quiet as a grave, with only the sound of thunder and rain outside resounding through heaven and earth.

After a long time, the Yao King said to Zhao Song: "You are very good, reporting has merit! Now return to Yongquan Shanzhuang first, and call He Xiao to me after dawn!"

"Yes!"

Zhao Song retreated respectfully.

Qiu Long went to close the door, but the Yao King waved his hand: "Leave it open."

Outside the door, there was miserable wind and cold rain, lightning and thunder, but the Yao King walked to the door and took a deep breath of the cold, biting air.

Only in this way could the boiling anger in his heart be slightly appeased.

Qiu Long hurriedly grabbed a cloak and draped it over his shoulders: "My King, be careful not to catch a cold!"

The Yao King said coldly: "Tell me, what exactly does Beijia want?" ===== CHAPTER 1624 =====