Chapter 87: 087: This Isn

"Is that a spacecraft?"

Lying on the bed, Wang Wu looked at the image before him and turned his head to ask the Zi Yuan beside him.

"Yeah." Zi Yuan leaned closer to Wang Wu, watching the spacecraft on the screen.

Although it mostly appears in human form now, the demonic aura it radiates still affects the three female demons to varying degrees, making them reluctant to share a room.

Of course, after a few days of interaction, their tolerance has improved a lot. Mainly, it's because they could no longer endure; a strong desire forced them to overcome the fear.

Wang Wu was also a bit worried that the demonic aura might corrupt the female demons, but there is a medical room here, and the three demons go for examinations daily; the results have been fine.

As for why a medical room from another world can detect whether otherworldly female demons have been tainted by otherworldly demonic aura, Wang Wu doesn't know, but it works, it's useful, and that's enough.

Zi Yuan isn't a demon, though she's no longer human either. She still exercises restraint, usually only once a day; today and the previous time were a full thirty hours apart, already about two days.

"It looks a bit weird."

Wang Wu enlarged the image on the screen and examined the warship in the sky closely.

Unlike the flying vessels in his imagination that resembled ancient ships, and unlike the heavily sci‑fi styled warships from the movies back home.

It looks like a hairpin—the kind Wang Wu wears on his head—narrow at the base, wider at the tip, covered with intricate patterns.

Because the camera can't fly very high, Wang Wu can only see its side and bottom.

At its bottom he sees a circular ring; Wang Wu wonders it might be the ship's lift platform or something.

Its whole body is silver‑white, and the hull's patterns shimmer with blue light.

"That should be Tian Heng," Zi Yuan said, "it's the witch's warship; I've been on it before."

"Do witches also have warships?" Wang Wu asked curiously.

"Witches certainly do," Zi Yuan turned her body, pressing herself against Wang Wu, "Didn't I tell you, Wu Lang?"

"Oh right…" Wang Wu recalled that Zi Yuan had indeed mentioned it to him.

In the Great Shang Dynasty, the conflict between royal authority and divine authority grew more severe over time; after all, the Heavenly Court was originally discovered by witches and communicated through them.

In the early Great Shang, the Shang royal lineage was essentially the witches' servants, or rather both the witches and the Shang lineage were loyal slaves of the Heavenly Court, though the witches held a clearly higher rank.

But as civilization advanced and the nation grew stronger, the Shang lineage that managed the country and army on behalf of the witches also naturally expanded.

Moreover, the Shang lineage later forged ties with the Star People, also members of the Heavenly Court, even intermarrying, which further boosted their strength. Consequently, the secular power of this massive divine‑authority empire gradually fell firmly into the hands of the Shang Royal Family.

The spacecraft are Star People technology, shared with the Shang Royal Family, who even helped build dozens of spacecraft for them; this is the Shang Royal Family's trump card.

Spacecraft built by the Star People naturally surpass the locally produced copies of the Great Shang in every performance metric—faster speed, stronger defense, and more powerful firepower.

Nevertheless, throughout the dynasty's lifespan, divine authority nominally remained above royal authority. Everyone is a servant of the Heavenly Court's gods; those overseeing rites and communicating with deities naturally rank higher than those handling military and civil affairs.

The witches naturally also received technology gifted by the Star People; the royal family was clearly displeased, but could do nothing about it.

There's no choice; they could flip the table, but doing so would essentially mean betrayal. The Star People would certainly not tolerate such behavior.

The struggle between royal authority and divine authority ran through the entire lifecycle of the dynasty, and it was the fundamental cause of the Great Shang Dynasty's downfall.

The Great Sacrifice, wars, rebellions, and then the demonic disaster.

The royal family eventually defeated the Great Witch, eradicating divine authority thereafter. Yet the clash between divine and royal powers drained so much primal Qi that subordinate vassal states seized the opportunity, the front lines retreated step by step, countless cities fell and were razed by war.

Thus, in desperation, the final Great Sacrifice commenced. However, the gods were evidently unsatisfied, and punishment descended.

Rebellion and the demonic disaster, a double blow, caused the once‑mighty Yin‑Shang Dynasty to collapse.

Wang Wu naturally didn't hear the final period of the Shang Dynasty's history from Zi Yuan; after all, she's an eighteen‑year‑old girl who has been lying in a coffin for several hundred years—how could she know events that happened centuries later?

Wang Wu learned these matters from Zhao Xingyue, and although he would fall asleep after a short while each time, he still managed to absorb some information.

"What exactly is that thing coming for?" Wang Wu wondered. If it were to level the entire Wang Gu Lin, clearly one spacecraft wouldn't be enough.

Tong Tian City, a crucial city of the Great Shang Dynasty, still maintains its internal defensive array to this day.

Moreover, due to the outbreak of the demonic disaster, the entire city escaped the war's reach, fell into complete silence, and turned into a demon realm.

That means all the city's facilities remain intact and can be used directly. This is why Zi Yuan previously urged Wang Wu to make a trip to Tong Tian City.

Tong Tian City holds plenty of valuable items; relying on its extraordinarily mysterious cave‑spirit treasures, Wu Lang can definitely obtain many good things from within.

Unlike the Great Shang, which far surpassed its predecessors, the Zhou Dynasty, when compared in national strength to the millennia‑unified Great Shang, is certainly weaker.

In terms of technological development, although today's Zhou Dynasty may indeed be more advanced in some aspects, the Shang's artifacts are not entirely outdated; many of them remain highly cutting‑edge even today.

Especially those Star People spiritual artifacts.

About ten or so minutes later, the warship arrived over He Dong Xian. It gradually descended, hovering roughly five thousand meters above the ground.

That altitude is exactly the height the camera can look down from, allowing Wang Wu to see the vessel's deck.

Just a protruding hemispherical dome, nothing more.

The entire surface of the warship shows no exposed weapon systems, except for a huge opening on its front.

That thing is clearly some kind of cannon; Wang Wu, familiar with countless fantasy works, recognized the structure as definitely a massive cannon of some sort.

"Is that a cannon?"

So, turning the camera to the warship's front and pointing at the split fissure at its tip, Wang Wu asked.

"Cannon?" Zi Yuan was a bit puzzled, then she realized, her eyes flickered, and she climbed onto Wang Wu.

"It can fire a powerful attack," Wang Wu adjusted his posture, "So it shoots from inside, then attacks others?"

Zi Yuan nodded, "Yes."

"How powerful is a single shot?"

"It… it… um… it… roughly… that… city…" Zi Yuan replied; although clever, she isn't yet fluent in the language and sometimes stutters.

"I also feel like going to He Dong Xian to take a look."

About two hours later, lying flat on the bed, Wang Wu looked at the cityscape below the camera and said.

It was bustling; although soldiers lined the city walls, wandering troops could be seen everywhere in the city.

Especially in certain locations.

The world's armies clearly have far fewer regulations than those back home; back‑home forces are already quite unique compared to other Earth nations.

The troops here are a typical ancient army, or rather a typical modern foreign army from the old home.

Soldiers, you know, have heavy training pressure, and when they go to war they even have to tie their heads to their waist belts. When they finally leave the barracks for a garrison, they must relax when there's nothing to do.

"Wu Lang is planning to go into a human city again?" Beside him, Shu Niang's head appeared, excitement on her face. "Then, should we also go together? As we said last time, we'll be Wu Lang's demon slaves and call you master."

"You don't have to call me master," Wang Wu said with a smile. "I consider you my household's nurtured ones, raised together since childhood, so you can call me whatever you usually do now."

"No way." At that moment, Zhu San Niang's voice also rang out; she pulled Shu Niang back and said sternly, "Given the current situation in He Dong Xian, it seems a large army is pressing the borders."

"If Wu Lang goes alone, he can instantly retreat if something happens. But if we go together, encountering danger would be the smallest issue; the worry is that we might slip up and reveal Wu Lang's identity!"

After speaking, she also crawled to Wu Lang's side: "Wu Lang, this time you should still go alone. I'm afraid that if we accompany you, we'll cause you trouble."

"Indeed, Wu Lang." Wu Er Niang and Zi Yuan also said at this moment.

"Wu Lang, it's better for you to go alone, but be sure to stay safe..." Wu Er Niang said, looking at Wang Wu.

"Well..." Wang Wu nodded; what they said was indeed reasonable.

"Fine."

He got up from the bed, checked the ring compartment to confirm its capacity, dressed, briefly said goodbye to the four women, and Wang Wu vanished from the spherical fortress.

At the instant Wang Wu disappeared, the three female demons immediately fled away from Zi Yuan's side.

Seeing the panicked expressions on the demons' faces, Zi Yuan couldn't help shaking his head and sighing.

She harbored no hostility toward the demons and would try to communicate with them.

But it's impossible; she is a demon, and you obviously can't expect a demon, after seeing another demon, to treat the other with composure.

Being able to lie on the same bed with the other is already among the boldest of the demon species. Demons' fear of demons is innate, a terror etched in their genes.

It is now the heavy snowfall season, and daylight lasts less than two hours.

Earlier, when the warship was seen in the sky, the sun had not yet risen; now, when going out, the sun is already close to setting.

On the Guan Dao, forty kilometers from He Dong Xian, Wang Wu manifested, activated the Extreme Sky Leap Technique, and surged toward He Dong Xian at a speed of 1,100 km/h.

"Who are you!!"

But just as he was ten kilometers from He Dong Xian, a thunderous shout from the sky rang out, causing Wang Wu to pause.

In an instant, Wang Wu also noticed that the weapon systems on the city walls and dozens of spiritual senses had locked onto him tightly.

Besides that, at five thousand meters above He Dong Xian, although that space vessel hadn't even turned, he still sensed an extremely dangerous aura from the warship.

Wang Wu had prepared to return to the city instantly, but after a short while, the space vessel stopped targeting him, leaving only the wall's weapon systems and those dozens of spiritual senses.

"I've come to He Dong Xian several times before, under the name Wang Wu," Wang Wu said, standing still. "I wonder if Colonel Si Tu is still in the city?"

"What is your relationship with Colonel Si Tu?" A few seconds later, the voice sounded again, its tone carrying a hint of doubt and a touch of hostility.

Even when the angry shout halted him, Wang Wu didn't sense any hostility in the tone, only vigilance and caution.

But now, there is caution, vigilance has lessened, yet there is still a bit more hostility, why?

"I once drank with her in Tianqi Tower of He Xi Xian, so we are acquaintances," Wang Wu knew this might be inappropriate, but he said it anyway.

"Hmph."

About five or six seconds later, Wang Wu heard a cold snort, followed by the other continuing, "After entering the city you must undergo inspection; He Dong Xian is currently under martial law, I hope you understand."

"I will cooperate," Wang Wu said with a smile, then reactivated the Extreme Sky Leap Technique and darted toward the city.

Soon after, he arrived at the county gate; the great door opened slowly, and a dozen soldiers clad in Demon-Subduing Army armor stood there.

"Take them down for me!"

When he saw the Demon-Subduing Army, Wang Wu thought the story would unfold like this. Until he spotted a familiar face among them.

"Young Hero Wang."

A female member of the Demon-Subduing Army stepped forward, smiled, and bowed to Wang Wu.

"Um..." Wang Wu entered the gate passage, bowed to the approaching female Demon-Subduing soldier and said, "Although I have a fairly vivid memory of your lovely appearance, I have never learned your name, may I..."

"Just call me Luo Yun, Young Hero," the woman, Si Tu Jin, smiled lightly and nodded.

She was clearly worldly, not the type to blush at Wang Wu's looks and a simple compliment, her heart blooming.

"Heh."

At that moment, another faint cold snort sounded, and Wang Wu heard it. Looking toward its source, a high-quality human male, not much less impressive than himself, stood there.

He had sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, a lofty bearing. Earlier, when I was outside, it was the other who had called out to me.

"Although Young Hero Wang is an acquaintance of Colonel Si Tu, given the special circumstances, you still need to undergo some checks; I hope you will be tolerant," Luo Yun said with a smile after a brief greeting.

"No problem," Wang Wu nodded, his attitude very cooperative.

"I wonder what checks are required?" he asked.

"Your surname and given name, where you come from, why you are in He Dong Xian. Since you, Sir Wang Wu, are from a departed sect and not a citizen of Great Zhou, naturally the inspections required will be more extensive."

"Whether you practice demonic cultivation, whether you are a demon, whether you are demonicized."

At that moment, the man with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes also stepped forward, bowed to Wang Wu, and said.

After speaking, he made a hand seal, and a jade slip appeared in his hand.

Then the jade slip was handed to Wang Wu.

"Please."

Wang Wu glanced at the object presented before him, then at Luo Yun beside him, and asked, "What is this...?"

"What, Young Hero Wang, you don't even recognize this?" the man's voice rang out. Wang Wu's gaze returned to him, and he replied, "I don't know. You don't tell me, how could I know?"

"Snort..."

Laughter echoed from behind; clearly this batch of Demon-Subduing Army members were not ordinary. From Wang Wu's recent eavesdropping, he found that the city's Demon-Subduing Army could be roughly divided into two types:

One type is serious and unsmiling, diligent in their duties. The other type is more relaxed and casual, appearing more approachable.

Of course, the former also has moments of relaxation, but mainly when there are no tasks and they are with their own 'kind.'

At a time like this, they are unlikely to smile.

"Sir, you only need to take the jade tablet and infuse your true Qi into it." Luoyun, seeing the man's complexion turn sour and the atmosphere grow tense, hurriedly spoke to defuse the situation:

"After that, you only need to answer a few more questions, and the inspection will be concluded."

"Thank you." Wang Wu said, extending his hand to take the jade tablet. But as soon as his hand reached out, the other hand slipped away, leaving Wang Wu grasping at nothing.

"See, it's not that I'm uncooperative, okay?" Wang Wu looked at Luoyun beside him, "He just didn't give it to me, deliberately making things difficult."

"Colonel Zhao?" Luoyun frowned slightly, looking at the Zhao‑surname colonel.

"My hand slipped earlier; I hope you can forgive me," Colonel Zhao said, extending his hand. Wang Wu took the jade tablet, and this time it rang solidly in his grip.

He examined the jade tablet curiously for a while, seeing nothing. So Wang Wu prepared to infuse his true Qi, but before he could gather his energy, the tablet vanished from his hand again.

"Hm?"

Wang Wu was startled, because a person had suddenly appeared before him, and it was a familiar face—Si Tu Jin.

"Long time no see, Brother Wang," Si Tu Jin twirled the jade tablet taken from Wang Wu's hand, smiling as he greeted Wang Wu.

With a toss, the jade tablet returned to Colonel Zhao's hand.

"It's only been a little over ten days; General Si Tu, you really make me feel honored," Wang Wu replied with a smile.

"Care for a drink?" Si Tu Jin walked beside Wang Wu, patting his shoulder as he asked.

"But this inspection…"

"No problem, I, Si Tu Jin, will vouch for you," Si Tu Jin cut off Wang Wu, then grabbed his hand and led him out of the crowd. "Come, let's go have a drink."

Wang Wu didn't refuse, allowing Si Tu Jin to pull him along; the two passed through the Demon‑Subduing Army gathered at the city gate and soon vanished into the bustling crowd inside the city.

Watching Si Tu Jin and Wang Wu disappear, Zhao lowered his head with a gloomy expression after a half‑minute stare.

"Let's go."

He uttered the words and led a unit of the Demon‑Subduing Army away. Meanwhile, Luoyun, Si Tu Jin's attendant, after watching Colonel Zhao's retreat for a moment, a dim glint flashed in his eyes, and he led his men toward the other side.

He Dong County, Fangyi Hall.

Though the name sounds like that place, it actually isn't.

It's a very famous restaurant in He Dong County; when I first came here, Li Yuan often treated me to meals at this place.

"The braised beef here is quite good," Wang Wu said, seated by a window on the second floor, sipping tea brought by a maid.

"Seems Brother Wang is also a connoisseur of food?" Si Tu Jin laughed.

"Not really," Wang Wu set down his tea cup, "I've just been here a few times when I was in He Dong County."

After speaking, he picked up a piece of dessert and shoved it into his mouth.

Another dessert—doesn't this woman fear diabetes?

While eating, she glanced out the window, scanning the crowd below, and immediately spotted a familiar face.

Wang Lan, the third miss of the Wang Clan.

A man was by her side, and the two seemed fairly close. Yet Wang Wu always felt something was missing from the woman, even though she always wore a faint smile when looking at him.

After joking with the man beside her, Wang Lan's peripheral glance swept this way; she froze for a moment, then turned her gaze toward Wang Wu.

Wang Wu smiled at her and waved.

When she saw Wang Wu, Wang Lan's expression briefly stiffened, but instantly returned to normal. She gave a slight nod toward Wang Wu, showing a polite, friendly smile.

Then she turned back, resuming conversation with the man beside her.

"Ha ha."

Wang Wu burst into laughter, his mind's little theater rapidly scripting the scene. He reached for the plate again, but felt nothing.

He looked back and saw the dessert on the plate had already been eaten.

"Uh, sorry, Brother Wang," Si Tu Jin wiped his mouth, "I saw you hadn't eaten for a while, so I ate it all."

"No problem." Wang Wu continued looking down, lifting his tea cup to his lips.

"Is that person below one of your acquaintances?" At that moment, Si Tu Jin also sat by the window, looking down. Though he hadn't glanced below before, now his gaze instantly locked onto Wang Wu's observation target.

"Yes." Wang Wu nodded, glancing at him and noticing that she was also watching Wang Lan and the man beside her.

"I wonder why those two made Brother Wang laugh?" Si Tu Jin asked, a bit puzzled after watching for a while.

So Wang Wu recounted the story between Wang Lan and that Lu‑surname cultivator to him, and also briefly mentioned the task he received from the Wang Clan.

"I'm just curious—Miss Wang doesn't seem to like that man much. Why did she choose him over the Lu cultivator?"

"The man down there doesn't seem particularly extraordinary; he's just a bit more handsome than that Lu cultivator."

After finishing Wang Lan's story, Wang Wu was still a bit puzzled, watching the two walk into a shop.

"Family background, huh." After hearing Wang Wu's account, Si Tu Jin took a sip of tea and said.

"Family background?" Wang Wu turned his head toward him.

"Yes." Si Tu Jin nodded, "That Lu cultivator, like you, comes from a great clan. Though Wang Lan clearly leans toward you, both the Lu cultivator and you are clearly out of her family's reach."

"As for him, that's just right. Love and marriage often aren't entirely up to one's wishes, Brother Wang."

(End of Chapter)