Chapter 352

·

·

·

Main Character:

Shen Yao

Fox demons, snake immortals, mountain spirits, stone monsters, ghost ships, Wangsheng Village, Blood Jade Lake...

Behind one bizarre, tumultuous incident after another lies the Human Race's precarious survival space.

Don't be fooled by how Shen Yao rarely leaves the Small Courtyard on ordinary days — she has a System that loves to chatter, and there's no helping it.

Nothing that happens Outside escapes the System's perception; when it gets bored, it wants to tell Shen Yao a thing or two, and over time, relying on this information, Shen Yao gradually figured out the situation Outside.

Chaos!

The moment of life and death for the Human Race hasn't arrived yet, but beset by internal troubles and external threats, a precarious country like Wei State certainly won't exist for much longer.

Perhaps the great clans of Luojing have already seen their predicament clearly; they no longer act as crazily as they did a few years ago.

Although they're reluctant to sever a limb to save the body, learning from the Liu Clan to abandon everything and start over, they've still secretly left a Retreat Route, burying hope for their families to rise again someday.

"Mistress, the people who went into the city haven't returned yet. Should this servant arrange more manpower?"

Qing Shui came in from Outside with a hurried expression, her worry plain to see.

Shen Yao shook her head. "No need. They're probably tied up by something in the city." Madam Liu and the others had gone to the city for the Flower God Festival, agreeing to return that day, but several days had passed without them coming back.

"And the Young Master's side—" Qing Shui hesitated. Sending people into the city daily was Liu Jingyan's Command.

"Help me to the Study." After a moment's thought, Shen Yao stood up, instructed those around her to watch the two children, and headed to the Study with her pregnant belly.

Liu Jingyan was looking at the blueprints in his hands. Hearing a knock at the door, he called out for the person to Enter.

"A Yan"

"Yao Yao"

Liu Jingyan hurried to Shen Yao's side, disapprovingly helping her sit steadily.

"Why didn't you have someone fetch me back?" Yet here you are, coming over yourself with your belly.

Shen Yao touched her belly with an ingratiating smile. "No harm done. The doctor said the baby is perfectly fine."

Liu Jingyan:...

Liu Jingyan sat beside Shen Yao. "Worried about the situation in the city?"

Liu Xiuwen took Liu Jingsheng and Madam Liu into the city, and there's been no definite news for days.

Not only is Shen Yao uneasy — Liu Jingyan is equally anxious and apprehensive.

"Grandfather said the Flower God Festival issue is serious; it's trouble left over from years ago.

This trip to the city serves two purposes: one, to soothe the Government Office and the Yingchuan Clans; two, to thoroughly resolve the Yingchuan crisis."

Before leaving, Liu Xiuwen made clear they would be delayed for a while. Estate matters are temporarily entirely in Liu Jingyan's hands to Decide.

Shen Yao pinched her wrist. "Grandfather and Eldest Brother are cultivators by origin — self-preservation is more than enough. But Mother..." Madam Liu is just an ordinary inner-courtyard woman; she truly worries something will happen to her cheap mother-in-law.

Never mind that Father Liu isn't young; without Liu Jingsheng competing for the post, he still holds office Outside. But the moment Madam Liu kicks the bucket, many families will set their sights on Father Liu.

Shen Yao doesn't want a stepmother. Madam Liu had better live a long, long life.

"Mother has means of self-preservation too." He and Liu Jingsheng won't watch their birth mother die.

Without explaining the details to Shen Yao, Liu Jingyan stood up and brought over the blueprint he'd been half-reading. "This is the Estate renovation layout map."

Shen Yao:... Huh?

Shen Yao blinked, not understanding why Liu Jingyan wanted her to look at this.

Liu Jingyan:...

Liu Jingyan rubbed his brow with a bitter smile. "Just in case. Hengzhou recently had a Ghost Calamity break out, and the Culprit hasn't been caught yet.

The pear trees in Li Garden Town all withered overnight, and the cause is still unknown.

Yao Yao, staying at the Estate seems safe, but no one can Guarantee there won't be an Accident."

This blueprint records the Secret Passage leading Outside. Liu Jingyan hopes Shen Yao will memorize it, so if they ever need to Escape, she won't be at a loss.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao nodded cutely and obediently, having the System scan and store it.

"A Yan, no need to worry. With Grandfather here, our whole family will be safe and sound."

Liu Xiuwen is their talisman. As long as he's around for a day, they're safe for a day.

Hearing this, Liu Jingyan clenched Shen Yao's hands. He said nothing, just pulled her into his embrace.

His expression wasn't as Optimistic as Shen Yao's. Years on the Battlefield had still ravaged Liu Xiuwen's body.

Liu Xiuwen is indeed a Seventh Rank Cultivator, but his declining Qi and Blood is also a fatal matter.

One can only hope that before Grandfather falls, the Liu Family produces another top-tier expert; otherwise, the clan's decline is an inevitable trajectory.

"Madam, the Servant reports that the Eldest Young Master and the Old Master will stay at the Government Office tonight."

Inside the Ancestral Home in Yingchuan City, Madam Liu stood at the Doorway, constantly looking Out at the situation.

The maid's words clearly displeased Madam Liu, causing her brows to furrow tightly and her breathing to grow rapid.

"The Government Office is the least safe place. They're both staying there — what if something happens?"

No one dared answer Madam Liu's reproach; the maids were frightened into kneeling all over the floor.

"Never mind, never mind. All of you get up." Madam Liu bypassed them and went to the Bedchamber to sulk alone.

Had she known today would come, she never should have returned in the first place. Thinking of the Flower God Festival Ancestral Sacrifice that went wrong halfway through, Madam Liu bit her lip, her eyes full of Fear and lingering dread.

To this day, she still cannot forget that sudden scene.

The sky-covering, earth-enveloping Blood Mist surged toward her, ravaging her wits, swallowing her spirit.

Had Liu Jingsheng not acted fast enough, rescuing her back to the ancestral home amidst the chaos, Madam Liu would likely have lost both life and limb.

Terrifying, truly terrifying.

Luojing had not seen such a scene in many years, yet upon arriving in Yingchuan they occurred frequently.

Perhaps she should find a temple to properly worship, to dispel the bad luck.

Madam Liu's mind wandered far and wide, and by the time evening dining came she could not muster any spirit.

She simply drank half a bowl of soup, ate two mouthfuls of dishes, waved her hand to clear the table, and returned to her bed to rest.

Now she could neither go out nor see anyone; it seemed all she could do was wait.

In a daze, Madam Liu dreamed once more of the scene on the day of the Flower God Festival.

Panicked crowds were everywhere around her; normally noble and reserved great families became no different from those commoners.

Shrill screams pierced the ears, and also left Madam Liu in a trance; she seemed to have forgotten something...

Shen Yao could only learn scraps about matters inside the city from the System's mouth.

Compared to Liu Jingyan's side, who could only do their utmost to guard the household, Shen Yao was not exactly blind to the situation.

"But what use is that? When will they be able to return from the city?"

Liu Xiuwen was absent, and Shen Yao's sense of security was lacking; although Liu Jingyan was very good, his martial prowess stood there — Third Stage was simply too low.

The System signaled the Host to stay calm: "In another ten days or half a month they'll be able to return.

Wow, the strange phenomenon hidden in the Flower God Festival is so strong; the one before us only counts as an avatar."

Shen Yao touched her belly, feeling the child's liveliness and restlessness, and sighed wearily.

"Too many offerings; if allowed to develop further, the strange phenomenon will become king and hegemon in the Human Race's territory," after all it is a naturally top-grade tonic, and strange phenomena have no soft-hearted bad habit.

"I truly never expected the imperial clan would dare to seek a tiger's skin from a tiger — what audacity."

That former emperor of Wei State boasted of his own achievements utterly shamelessly.

Flower God Festival? Merely a scheme disguised as fooling the commoners to seek benefits for themselves.

Now Wei State totters in wind and rain; its fortune cannot suppress these strange phenomena, and the entire Wei State's commoners are being backlashed by them.

Why has Liu Xiuwen remained at the government office? Isn't it because the government office holds the imperial clan's seal script, and is that strange phenomenon's dwelling place?

Heh!

It is also laughable to say: the imperial court's own Exorcism Office exorcises strange phenomena everywhere, yet they do not know the greatest strange phenomenon resides in the imperial clan.

"If the guts weren't big, how could Wei State have come to be? You probably don't know the borders have already been breached by the Demon Race," the System inadvertently revealed another major piece of news, "The Demon Race are not much easier to deal with than strange phenomena; the Human Race's tribulations have only just begun."

Shen Yao:...

Due to being startled by the System, the already not-very-honest child became even more lively.

Shen Yao gritted her teeth and endured again and again, then simply took one Natural Childbirth Pill and gave birth to the child.

Since he was so impatient to see the outside world, Shen Yao would grant him that favor.

The clueless child:...

Even more clueless child's father:...

Liu Jingyan held the freshly-out-of-the-oven little steamed bun in his arms, a face full of bewilderment.

"Wasn't it said Madam's body was well?" How could it be premature birth.

After Liu Jingyan handed out reward money, he again wore a cold stern face and warned all the servants in the courtyard; recently he had paid much attention to the estate, worried about the city, and neglected Shen Yao considerably, causing Shen Yao to be somewhat bewildered during childbirth.

Were it not for the swaddling clothes in his arms being overly heavy, Liu Jingyan might well have suspected he was in a dream.

Taking advantage of Shen Yao falling asleep from exhaustion, he took a look; Liu Jingyan rarely failed to return to the study for official business, instead sitting in the main hall tending to the child while waiting for Shen Yao to wake.

Shen Yao opened her eyes two hours later, shook her head, and rose with Qing Shui's help.

An extra small wooden bed had appeared beside her; on the bed lay the freshly delivered child.

No different from an ordinary child: red little face, hair sparse and thin.

Qing Shui brought soup and fed Shen Yao, then smilingly summoned Liu Jingyan so the couple could converse.

Shen Yao giving birth counted as a joyous event; the only trouble was that Liu Xiuwen and the others had not returned, so the upcoming Washing Third Ceremony could not be held with great fanfare.

Shen Yao understood this completely; the entire estate, not counting those branch-family concubine-born sons, had only the two of them in the direct line — why bother with a Washing Third? Better to put their thoughts on the Full Moon Banquet later.

The couple reached an understanding, and followed Liu Jingyan to leave, conveniently bringing Liu Mingxuan and Liu Mingfei along.

The two children had already begun practicing body-tempering techniques and medicinal baths; now Liu Xiuwen was absent, but the plan to cultivate them could not be abandoned halfway.

Even though Liu Jingyan bore heavy responsibilities, he would not forget his own children's martial training matters.

The only thing that made Liu Jingyan regretful was that their Liu Clan rose through cultivators, and their understanding of martial artists was not extensive; even though the two children possessed exceptional innate talent, they could not walk the path of dual martial-and-cultivation practice, and could only first practice the Liu Family's core technique to lay a solid foundation.

Perhaps it truly was bloodline affection; Liu Jingyan did not envy the two children's cultivation method — on the contrary, he increasingly understood his mother's emphasis on Eldest Young Master back then and her neglect of himself.

He silently warned himself not to repeat past mistakes; once the medicinal bath was fully absorbed, Liu Jingyan picked up Liu Mingxuan and Liu Mingfei and went to the training room, intending to take advantage of the lingering medicinal effects to cultivate more, quickly tempering the two children's bodies well so they could get on track as soon as possible.

Inside the city government office

Liu Xiuwen felt a stirring in his heart, rose, and lifted his head to gaze toward the direction outside the city.

Liu Jingsheng had been following beside Liu Xiuwen; seeing his grandfather's expression change, he hurriedly asked the reason.

Liu Xiuwen waved his hand: "Nothing. Is everything outside fully arranged?"

Their plan was to stage a "lure the guest into the jar," resolve the strange phenomenon behind the Flower God Festival at the government office, and incidentally use this matter to establish authority, in one stroke cementing the Liu Clan's absolute say in the Yingchuan region.

Liu Jingsheng nodded: "Already arranged. Just waiting for the strange phenomenon to enter; we'll make sure it has a way in but no way out."

Liu Jingsheng spoke these words with resonant force; his gaze calm yet concealing a raging fire.

"Good, rest first, nurture your spirit to the fullest." Once they act, it will be a matter of life and death.

Liu Xiuwen prided himself on having sufficient grasp, but still had to check, check, and check again.

The government office being destroyed doesn't matter; but if the two of them cannot leave Yingchuan safely, the Liu Clan will truly be in danger.

Liu Jingsheng turned and left, heading to the guest room prepared earlier to rest.

The original Government Office staff were all here, and even most of the Exorcism Office personnel were scattered around keeping watch.

They dared not disturb Liu Xiuwen, only daring to approach Liu Jingsheng and probe indirectly.

"Please rest assured, Prefect Zheng. Grandfather is there recuperating his spirit; as long as the strange phenomenon appears, it absolutely cannot escape."

Zheng Zhizhou was a middle-aged man with a fine mustache, slender and well-proportioned, extremely fitting the gentlemanly style.

A pity this person's character is too timid; only his appearance is worth looking at.

"With Young Master Liu's words, Sir Zheng can also count as giving the Yingchuan commoners an explanation," reaching up to wipe the sweat drops from his forehead, Zheng Zhizhou bowed and saluted, "The Liu Clan's noble righteousness, Sir Zheng thanks Young Master Liu ten thousand times on behalf of the Yingchuan commoners."

Liu Jingsheng's mouth corner held a smile, truly a dashing scion of a noble family; he and Zheng Zhizhou tacitly exchanged a few mutual refusals, then with tacit understanding dispersed.

Their current alliance is entirely because a powerful external enemy has invaded. Once the external enemy cannot be smoothly resolved, their alliance will also shatter.

"Return to the ancestral home, just say to take care of herself," Liu Jingsheng did not know when the strange phenomenon would appear, he could only instruct Madam Liu to be extra careful.

The attending little servant nodded in agreement, turned and hurriedly left the Government Office, rushing to the ancestral home to deliver the letter.

The sky unknowingly sank down, pitch-black and coldly dark, not a thread of light visible.

Liu Jingsheng rested no more than one hour, then returned to Liu Xiuwen's side to attend.

The grandfather and grandson fundamentally did not need to say much; quietly waiting sufficed.

At noon, wind rose

Inside Yingchuan city, on the empty streets shadowy figures appeared, and from unseen corners came rustling sounds.

Formless bodies appeared, occasional screams rose, then abruptly disappeared.

"It's here!"

Liu Xiuwen stood up, hand patting the room door once, the person directly flew into midair.

Liu Jingsheng saw this, directly shouted in a low voice "Activate the formation!"

Light flashed around the Government Office, bright and dazzling in the darkness.

Boom, rumble————

Blood mist pervaded the surroundings; Liu Xiuwen saw the pangran giant appearing before his eyes.

Four limbs on the ground, four claws facing skyward, the oval-shaped strange phenomenon opened its pair of gloomy blue giant eyes, locking dead onto Liu Xiuwen's position.

Thump thump thump——

Heart beating rapidly, like a heavy drum striking.

Liu Xiuwen hurriedly steadied his mind, expression serious as he formed hand seals.

"Roar!!!"

Powerful air waves shot out in all directions, silver blade techniques each one person in length unsheathed from thin air, like ten thousand arrows piercing the heart straight into the strange phenomenon's body.