Chapter 2021

One hour later, someone came to the inn to take him to the rear peak manor of Ci Hua County.

This manor was surrounded by gloomy shadows, black qi swirling around it; from afar it looked like the netherworld, in stark contrast to the brightness of the human world.

Fan Shuang shivered as soon as he stepped inside.

Fortunately, when he entered a small garden, a familiar voice greeted him:

"Brother Fan, long time no see."

Fan Shuang trembled, turned his head, and saw—was it not He Lingchuan?

Still the same familiar face, still the same familiar smile.

Half a year of heart-pounding turmoil—things changed, but people remained.

The worry in Fan Shuang's heart finally eased; he let out a long breath: "Brother He, you scared me to death!"

He Lingchuan asked knowingly: "What frightens you?"

"You really are the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses?"

"What do you think?" He Lingchuan lifted his chin toward the man behind him; the black-armored warrior who had brought him in bowed and withdrew.

If he were not the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses, Fan Shuang could not possibly be standing here.

Fan Shuang knew he had asked a foolish question, and couldn't help but sigh: "When fallen flowers meet again, you are like the bright moon, I like dust. Alas, life is truly full of twists and turns."

"The fall of Yao State, I often miss my old comrades. Brother Fan, you possess great fortune, which is why we can meet."

Bai Tan seized Shui Shui City that night and began a large-scale slaughter of nobles and officials, exterminating the Yao royal faction root and branch, seizing power, seizing wealth, seizing lives!

That Fan Shuang could escape disaster was truly due to his hard fate.

"A fortunate fluke." Fan Shuang gave a bitter smile, then began to recount his experiences over the past half year in detail.

The two sat in the garden, and He Lingchuan personally poured him tea.

After drinking two pots of tea in succession, Fan Shuang finally finished recounting his ordeal. When he reached the emotional part, his eye sockets reddened slightly.

"I've made a fool of myself." He lowered his head to compose himself, then added, "Truly ashamed, to have taken up so much of your time."

He Lingchuan spoke softly: "Meeting an old friend in a foreign land—how could I be stingy with this bit of time? Hmm, Tu Shan Fang fought bravely, sacrificed himself to save others, worthy of being remembered as a heroic martyr, entered into the Dragon God Hall. Rest assured, his pension will be properly arranged, to be delivered by a designated person to his widow."

In fact, Dong Rui had already told him about Tu Shan Fang's deeds and had prepared several treasures to give to Tu Shan Fang's family as a token of thanks. But Fan Shuang naturally did not know.

How perceptive He Lingchuan was—he instantly saw that Fan Shuang wanted to secure full pension for Tu Shan Fang. And given Tu Shan Fang's courage and valor, as long as he did not die, he would surely become a great general in the future.

What a pity.

But war has always been cruel; even heaven-sent talents may fall in a single battle and never live to see growth.

Fan Shuang hesitated: "Why must Guo Bai Yu attack Mian City?"

"Guo Bai Yu holds the city with elite troops and ample supplies, so he is not the first target in the initial flash-gold war. But he knows: one may dodge the first strike, but not the fifteenth; the Black Armor Army will eventually not let him go." Being surrounded by the Dragon God's territory, any side would easily fall into panic and fright, "He refuses to sit and wait for death, so he turned to the embrace of the Heaven God. The Heaven God gathered surrounding resources and troops for him—namely, other forces not yet surrendered to me—so Guo Bai Yu's followers could muster over twenty thousand."

The Dragon God's strength inevitably stimulates those stubborn refuseniks who refuse to surrender to band together for warmth.

Mian City's suffering is not unique; this is the current state of the entire Flash Gold Plain.

"Guo Bai Yu not only needs to strengthen himself before launching a counterattack against the Black Armor Army, but also needs to prove his strength to the newly allied forces to maintain his leadership, hence he attacks cities and plunders everywhere. His assault on Mian City is exactly what the Demon God hopes I will send masters to rescue, so they can ambush my elite forces." He Lingchuan dipped his finger in tea and drew a simple map on the stone table: "Actually, my general Tao Ran originally had another plan—to lure him into attacking Ci Hua County to ease pressure on Mian City. After all, Ci Hua County is nearest to the Huan City he seized, with advantages in resources and geography. Unfortunately, Guo Bai Yu saw through it and did not take the bait."

The Flash Gold War has already entered the difficult stage of attacking tough targets; this also means that easy targets were already cleared in the first round of battle. Guo Bai Yu is not a target that can be easily taken down, especially after receiving aid from the Heaven God.

Actually, He Lingchuan was somewhat surprised—he did not expect Mian City to hold out this long.

How easily he took allied forces and Bijia there, the fighting here in Mian City is correspondingly painful.

"The soldiers and civilians of Mian City, with their fearless courage, have bought me and the Black Armor Army the most precious time." He Lingchuan spoke solemnly: "Now that the allied forces and Bijia have all been subdued by me, this is a major shock to other Flash Gold forces. But may the tragedy of Mian City not occur again."

The Dragon God's victory and Mian City's perseverance both carry major strategic significance. Other Flash Gold forces should also restrain themselves somewhat.

He Lingchuan knew what this city was like even before entering it; on this journey he has seen too many towns and countryside ravaged by war.

And all these causes and effects ultimately relate to him.

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This is the burden he must bear as the initiator and supreme commander of the war.

Fan Shuang hesitated, then said: "Brother He, I have one thing I don't understand; I hope you can instruct me."

"Please speak."

"The Dragon God's great army sweeps across Flash Gold, and everywhere legends of you are sung. But Brother He, have you ever considered, what if you fail……" Fan Shuang whispered, "I know, your goal is not only Bai Tan, but also the Heaven God."

How could the Heaven God be an easy target to defeat?

The entire Flash Gold realm spreads legends of the Dragon God's reincarnation, destined to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Flash Gold people against the Heaven Demon, so he naturally knows that He Lingchuan's goal points directly to the Heaven God; and since he comes from an official family of Yao State, he understands all too well the might of the Heaven Demon. Even Yao State, once a hegemon of Flash Gold, Miao Zhantian could destroy it with a flick of his finger.

Can the so-called "reincarnated Dragon God" truly contend with the Heaven God?

Can the so-called Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses truly establish a unified great state unseen in a thousand years?

He Lingchuan laughed and patted his shoulder: "Funny to say, Brother Fan is still the first person to raise this question with me."

As for his enemies, needless to say, his followers have never once asked this—whether due to firm belief, or fear, or both.

Fan Shuang felt uneasy: "I have offended you."

In his eyes, He Lingchuan already bore the halo of the Great Emperor of the Nine Abysses; even now, smiling, that latent dignity made him feel suddenly breathless.

Though once old friends, facing such a person, Fan Shuang knows the days of shoulder-to-shoulder camaraderie are gone forever.

"No, this question is very important, indeed worth asking." He Lingchuan stood up, took two steps, hands behind his back, "In your view, Brother Fan, what are my chances of victory?"

"This……" Fan Shuang blushed, "Ah, Brother He, don't keep me in suspense—you know I simply cannot answer."

He Lingchuan gave a faint smirk. Not only Fan Shuang cannot answer—looking across the Flash Gold Plain, no one holds the answer.