Chapter 1966

Speaking of which, this method—He Xiong actually used it in Yao State as well, merely borrowing the false title of "Assistant" to let the Yao King drain all of Yao State's wealth into Tianshui New City, thereby igniting the conflict between the Yao King and the Heavenly Gods!

Yuan Xuan couldn't help but whisper: "Palace Master, the Heavenly Gods..."

Qingyang raised her hand to cut him off: "It's come to this—this play, the Heavenly Gods must also perform it with me."

Yuan Xuan understood: by doing this, she was staking her fortune and life, while also cutting off her own retreat. Her actions had already damaged the Heavenly Gods' reputation, and the Heavenly Gods would never tolerate Qingyang's failure.

"He Xiong is too terrifying." Qingyang took a deep breath: "Even Bai Ziqi couldn't kill him—so I must come myself."

She had once feared He Lingchuan more than Bai Ziqi, which is why she avoided his challenge letter. Who would have thought that Bai Ziqi + Miao Zhantian would both fail?

This heavy responsibility ultimately fell upon her shoulders.

Given time, the "Nine Abysses Great Emperor" will surely become a great menace. She would rather set a trap with her own body, gamble this once, and not leave He Xiong this malignant tumor for the Emperor to deal with!

"Bring paper and brush—I must send a message to the Beruli King."

￥￥￥￥￥

Zhongnan Force, Shining Gold Plains, Mian City.

In three days, it will be the Autumn Lantern Festival. This is a celebration of harvest and a prayer for smooth sailing in the coming year; the Zhongnan Force of Shining Gold has the custom of hanging lanterns.

Mian City is famous for its handmade flower lanterns; from one and a half months before the festival, it enters the peak season for selling lanterns. The shops display a dazzling array of lanterns, and the streets and alleys glow with five-colored lights at night.

But this year's Autumn Lantern Festival, amidst the bustle, carries an unusual air. The streets are crowded with people, yet aside from children, most passersby rush to and fro, few truly stopping to buy lanterns.

"What a loss, what a huge loss!" Several lantern vendors gathered together, muttering: "This year we made thirty more lanterns than last year, yet only sold five!"

"You just sit at home making lanterns all day, never lifting your head to see what's happening outside!"

"What happened?"

They were standing right by the notice board; the lantern light on their stall illuminated the characters on the board, one sentence standing out most prominently:

"Those who help themselves are helped by Heaven; those who save themselves are saved by Heaven."

At that moment, someone ran past them, clattering and splashing, nearly spraying them with mud.

"No eyes?"

"Rushing off to attend a funeral?"

Ignoring how the stall owners behind him shouted, he bolted like a gust of wind into the corner of the street, into the Lao Family Guesthouse, and rushed straight into the main hall to the shopkeeper:

"It's terrible! It's terrible! Luoyang Pool..."

The shopkeeper grabbed his arm: "Lower your voice, don't frighten my guests!"

His hall isn't small, but it's nearly mealtime and only two tables of guests are present.

Business has been slack lately, hard to make a living. The bustling scenes outside on the street are all false prosperity.

"Uncle, at a time like this, why are you still open for business! Yun Dong City Lord's Luoyang Pool has been taken by Guo Bai Yu—we must flee quickly!"

The shopkeeper started: "Luoyang Pool taken? Who told you that?"

"My cousin—he just escaped from Luoyang Pool!"

Cousin? That's somewhat credible—"What happened?"

"Guo Bai Yu broke through the gates of Luoyang Pool the night before last, and his army surged in! My cousin and his group had long heard that after Guo Bai Yu captured Huan City, he let his subordinates run rampant through the city for a whole day, looting money and women, and killing many! This is the very lesson from before—what was it called again? They were terrified, and fortunately the western city wall was under repair, the ladders hadn't been removed, so they climbed down and escaped!"

With a "clang," both turned their heads, seeing a diner's chopsticks fall to the ground.

The man's face turned pale, and he didn't even bother to pick up his chopsticks: "What did you say? Huan City was taken by Guo Bai Yu?"

"Ah, yes—it's almost a month ago now."

The messenger corrected the shopkeeper: "It was twenty-five days ago."

"How could that be?" The diner wore an expression of utter disbelief: "Wasn't it said that Huan City had already been taken by the Black Armor Army? I also heard that the newly appointed city guard, Lu Shuhen, was sent by the Dragon God—very, very formidable."

"Guo Bai Yu is even more formidable. After the Black Armor Army withdrew, Lu Shuhen took over Huan City in less than ten days, and Guo Bai Yu led his army in a midnight sneak attack—that vast, dark horde terrified people to death!"

The diner gaped, struggling for a while to digest the news: "Then... then what happened to the newly appointed city guard, Lu Shuhen?"

"His head was chopped off, hung outside the city gate as a public display, with a strip of cloth beside it reading: 'Feigning divine power, lacking ability—Nine Abysses Gate, I come to kick!' The shopkeeper sighed: 'This Guo fellow has gall—daring to directly challenge the Nine Abysses Great Emperor.'"

The messenger snorted: "Earlier, the Black Armor Army flattened this region's six prefectures, seven counties, and eighteen townships, yet dared not touch Guo Bai Yu's Changpei City the whole way through—you tell me, could his courage not be great? He has his backing."

The shopkeeper shook his head: "The Nine Abysses Great Emperor can kill even the Heavenly Gods—defeating a warlord chief is nothing. You wait and see; karmic retribution will come swiftly!"

"I fear Guo Bai Yu's karmic retribution hasn't arrived yet, and our shop will be gone first!" The messenger shook his head: "How many days have passed? Guo Bai Yu runs rampant in Huan City every day, eating well and living lavishly—why haven't we seen the Nine Abysses Great Emperor or the Black Armor Army give him a retaliatory strike? Isn't it said the Dragon God reincarnated to punish evil and remove wickedness? Alas, even the city guard the Dragon God himself appointed had his head chopped off by them!"

The shopkeeper shushed him twice: "Don't speak ill of the Dragon God—be careful you don't walk into bad luck later!"

"Isn't it bad enough already? You say where is the Dragon God, where is he? On the contrary, the murderous star is right nearby—Uncle, you might as well close the shop and flee with us!"

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper shook his head repeatedly:

"Luoyang Pool is far from here—besides, Guo Bai Yu just took such a fine place; how could he turn around and attack Mian City?"

The diner, not understanding, asked: "I'm from out of town—is Luoyang Pool a good place?"

"Past Luoyang Pool lies the Yun Dong domain." The shopkeeper said: "Over the past ten or more years, the Yun Dong City Lord's subordinate five prefectures and thirteen townships have lived far better than elsewhere."

The messenger also said: "At least they can eat their fill—during famine years, people from here have secretly slipped over there. Oh, recently the Black Armor Army was mighty in appearance, but they didn't attack Yun Dong City's territory either."

The diner wondered: "Why did the Guo fellow go to attack Luoyang Pool?"

The messenger chuckled: "To seize grain, to feed the army—what else could it be? Luoyang Pool is rich in fish and rice; Guo Bai Yu taking this place equals the output of three or four Mian Cities."

The shopkeeper immediately said: "Yes, that's why I say Guo Bai Yu won't come for now. Luoyang Pool is richer than here—Guo Bai Yu's army can eat their fill. Even if he still wanted to take a city, stepping back a hundred paces, the options are vast—so many towns, counties, and settlements nearby—why would he pick Mian City?"

To eat their fill. Even if he still wanted to take a city, stepping back a hundred paces, the options are vast—so many towns, counties, and settlements nearby—why would he pick Mian City?