Chapter 3085: Making the Most of One's Own Life

The ruler had not yet spoken, but Yuqing coldly laughed: "What a beautiful thought—what if the War Alliance loses? If he wins, he won't spare us any broth; if he loses, we might have to die with him. Your Majesty, responding to all changes with constancy is the best strategy."

The two of them were again exchanging sharp words, as they had argued seven or eight times over the past few days with nothing new. King Bi, annoyed, suddenly pointed to the sky: "Wait, it looks like a few meteors are heading this way?"

The two ministers stopped arguing and looked up together.

Indeed, amidst the sky full of fire rain, a few meteors seemed to be coming toward our country's direction.

The fire meteors grew larger and clearer in their vision, and also more oppressive.

"Ah!" King Bi's face turned pale with shock: "How, how should we deal with this?"

Are the meteors coming here a sign that the heavenly demons are also coming here?

Do they not even spare our tiny country?

What should Bi Country do?

Amid everyone's anxiety, those meteors whistled past, and then—

They left Bi Country's airspace.

Everyone let out a long sigh of relief.

It turned out, it turned out they were not landing in our country.

"Did the heavenly demons descend upon Tuhun Country?" Xia Liejie's face remained grim: "Tuhun is the remnant of Balin Country, and they have always worshipped the heavenly demons."

Not long ago, Bi Country had just gained a new neighbor.

Their small eastern country was suddenly defeated by an army that appeared out of nowhere, and overnight the regime changed, reestablishing the state as Tuhun.

Later, Bi Country learned that this army was a remnant of the Balin forces.

Balin was destroyed by the combined forces of Shen and Cangyan, their territory seized by Shen. Several Balin units were driven westward for hundreds of miles, then fled here, seized the new territory, and settled down.

Bi Country disliked this lawless new neighbor, and border disputes arose between them.

King Bi had once offered terms to the War Alliance: if they sent troops to destroy Tuhun and show sincerity, Bi Country would join the War Alliance. But the War Alliance never agreed, as they were preoccupied before the heavenly demons' descent and had no spare forces to help Bi Country fight.

Moreover, such territorial disputes are common worldwide, not unique to Bi Country.

But King Bi never imagined that tonight's meteors would actually descend upon Tuhun Country's territory.

What do they intend to do?

Yuqing pondered: "The Balin people originally worshipped heavenly gods; it's not strange that the heavenly demons chose to descend there."

Xia Liejie sneered: "You said before, the world is so vast, how could the heavenly demons choose our speck of land? Now they've truly come! Do you still think they have no designs on our country?"

King Bi's mind was in turmoil:

"Then what do you think we should do now?"

"No matter what we do now, it's probably too late." Xia Liejie thought this in his heart, but said aloud: "Immediately report to the War Alliance, saying a large batch of heavenly demons have descended upon Tuhun Country, and ask them to send troops to suppress; our country will now sound the alarm, mobilize the army, and prepare for battle."

King Bi nodded, unusually decisive: "Good, let's do that."

Xia Liejie wanted to say more, but King Bi snapped resentfully: "Since heavenly gods are bound to descend, why did Cangyan and Lingshan stir up so much trouble before? Just peacefully enjoy the irrigation of Emperor's Fluids, live in peace and contentment, avoid irreparable enmity with the heavenly gods, and not drag the entire human world into it!"

Bi Country had originally enjoyed peaceful times, enjoying worldly peace. If not for the War Alliance's Shen Country destroying Balin, the Balin army would not have migrated west to establish Tuhun Country, and constantly bully Bi Country?

If not for the War Alliance led by Cangyan insisting on fighting the heavenly gods to the death, why would the heavenly gods unleash their wrath upon the entire human world?

The more you rage, the harsher the punishment you'll receive in the end—and you'll drag others down with you.

Seeing Bi Country unable even to seek refuge in a corner, King Bi felt a surge of frustration with no outlet.

Xia Liejie originally had many more words to persuade, but hearing this, his zeal faded, and he fell silent, saying nothing more.

By dawn, Xia Liejie used the excuse of going home to get medicine, and finally managed to leave the palace.

He rushed back to his residence, and his first words were to his wife:

"Have you packed everything up?"

Two days ago, he had instructed his wife and children to pack the household belongings, but to do so silently, without letting outsiders know.

"Everything is packed, even the horses have been fed enough fodder. But a few properties and some land deeds still haven't been processed..." The disposal of real estate is slow, and moreover cannot be made public.

Xia Liejie interrupted her: "Never mind! Harness the horses, load the cart—we're leaving now."

He could not save Bi Country, he could only save the Xia family.

He is a petty man, he admits it himself.

His wife whispered: "The old lady is very unhappy. Today is the birthday of the Lingxu Holy Venerable, she has been observing the Pure Heart Fast since dawn, and must continue until sunset."

That would be too late—we can't afford the delay. Xia Liejie hurried to his mother's residence, and as he pushed the door open, he smelled sandalwood incense. There is a small shrine in this courtyard, where the old lady usually pays respects to the deities.

She is a devotee of the Lingxu Holy Venerable, extremely pious, and at this moment she is kneeling before the divine image, eyes closed, palms together, murmuring prayers.

"Mother..."

As Xia Liejie began to speak, the old lady interrupted him: "If you want to leave, then leave—I will not go, I will stay!"

"Mother, the heavenly... gods have already descended upon Tuhun Country, less than two hundred li from here. Bi Country faces imminent disaster—if we don't leave now, it will be too late."

"Our country hasn't joined the War Alliance, and the Holy Venerable is compassionate and kind—how could she bring disaster upon our country?" She kowtowed again: "I want to stay here to await the descent of the divine sovereign, and then apologize to Him on your behalf!"

Xia Liejie clearly understood his mother's nature and had already prepared a countermeasure, so he said:

"Very well, since mother has made up her mind, I will not persuade her further."

His bluntness surprised the old lady somewhat.

Is that it—no more persuasion?

Xia Liejie picked up the water jar on the table, poured a cup of clear water, his eyes red, and said: "We are leaving now—I will pour one last cup of water for mother. Son feels guilty before you!"

The old lady was not thirsty and did not want to drink, but seeing his sincere emotion and hearing him say "the last cup of water," her heart softened, she took it and drank, then spoke earnestly to advise him:

"Seven years ago, your young son suffered from blood consumption illness, medicine and immortals were powerless. I knelt here every day praying for divine grace, and the Holy Venerable showed great mercy, saving his life. Look, the Holy Venerable cannot bear to let a seven-year-old child die—how could she bring disaster upon innocent Bi Country? Your journey of abandoning home and country is utterly unnecessary!"

Xia Liejie said nothing.

The old lady was about to continue, but suddenly felt dizzy and blurred vision, and before she could even let out a sigh, she fell asleep.

Half an incense stick later, the Xia family slipped out through the back gate, boarded an ordinary carriage, and quietly departed from Ducheng, heading southeast.