Chapter 162: Strive and Seize

Outside Long Yan's Study.

The attendant said Long Yan wanted to talk alone with Su Mo.

Fei Yan nodded, and Xuan Qing stood outside waiting.

Su Mo didn't know that at dawn Jiang Wu suddenly launched troops to attack.

After getting up, Fei Yan also didn't have time to tell her about this; after thinking a bit more about their hesitation at the dinner table, everything became clear.

Jiang Wu used a scheme to abduct the Military Advisor's Wife Master; in the morning, the Military Advisor and Lord Lan Ling went to counterattack, but fell into Jiang Wu's treacherous plot.

The Military Advisor, to help Lan Ling escape trouble, is now trapped in the enemy camp. The two little dragon cubs that quietly followed are also trapped inside.

Despite all precautions, Jiang Wu still found a loophole.

Originally the Dragon Clan's situation was passive; now it's even more passive.

Su Mo's hand hidden in her sleeve tightened slightly, forcing herself to stay calm.

The Military Advisor and the dragon cubs' significance to Long Yan is known by the Dragon Clan people, and Su Mo also knows.

Long Yan's parents passed early; he was raised by the Military Advisor from childhood, who guided and supported him to his current position; to him, the Military Advisor is both a strict teacher and a kind father.

The two dragon cubs have been cared for by Long Yan since birth; he never regarded them as attendants.

Su Mo didn't know how to comfort him for a moment; at such times any words feel pale and powerless; only rescuing the Military Advisor couple and the two dragon cubs is most urgent.

Su Mo faintly sensed an unusual aura floating in the air.

She frowned, suddenly approached Long Yan and grabbed his wrist: "Did you take the Blazing Fire Pill?!"

This pill can temporarily boost power, but at the cost of consuming one's own essence and blood; basically it's a crooked way to increase power.

A slight mistake could endanger life.

Long Yan's pupils contracted; he knew he couldn't hide it from her, nor did he want to.

Su Mo panickedly searched her pouch and pulled out several pills: "Quick, take them! Press down..."

Before she could finish, the person before her suddenly hugged her.

Unlike previous embraces, the force was strong as if wanting to knead her into his body.

"Long Yan..." Su Mo called out anxiously.

His low, restrained voice sounded beside her ear: "I know what you want to say, but could you... listen to me first?"

"The Military Advisor has always been strict with me since childhood, but his concern never lessened. Nan Nan and Dong Dong, though my attendants, are more like children I raised from youth. If I can't even protect them, what use is this power?"

Su Mo's eyes felt sore, her heart trembled. In an instant, myriad thoughts flooded her mind.

She should advise him to cherish his life, to be cautious, but her lips trembled and she couldn't speak. In life there are always bonds... that make one want to stake everything regardless of consequences.

Su Mo took a deep breath to suppress the welling moisture, then reached out to embrace the person before her.

Her voice was soft yet unusually firm: "Okay, I'll accompany you."

Long Yan's chest heaved violently; he slightly drew in his arms, pulling her deeper into his embrace.

"It seems whenever I meet you, it's always my most embarrassing moment. Our encounters never seem to be good times... but I..." still can't help liking you.

She is like a light, always breaking through clouds in his darkest, most helpless moments. No matter if he's covered in blood or in a sorry state, she always calmly shines into his heart.

The Military Advisor once joked with him: "Miss Su is like a prairie-starting spark; whenever you look at her, it's like someone long dwelling in the abyss suddenly seeing light."

"You liking her is inevitable; no one can reject the existence of light. Such fire, such light, even if burned, no one would let go; if you like her, go strive and seize."

Yes, he cannot escape her emotional bonds in this lifetime. No other person will witness his embarrassment and help him out of trouble with such selflessness.

Some people are like a curse etched into bone and blood; once met, you cannot escape.

It's a lifetime fortune.

But such fortune he never dared hope to grasp; fearing that reaching out would shatter this dream at his fingertips. She is his light; light can penetrate any gap to fall in; he only needs to be the pursuer of light, no need for her to stay for him.

Afterwards Su Mo left Long Yan's Study.

Fei Yan and Xuan Qing accompanied Long Yan in the study researching the current layout; when they came out of the study, they learned Su Mo had gone to the city wall.

Xiao Jiu's somewhat discouraged voice sounded in her mind: "Host, don't be too sad; the Dragon Clan's Military Advisor is also a Level 8 Beastman, he will surely protect the two dragon cubs."

Su Mo frowned: "But the Military Advisor is also old, and Jiang Wu has many tactics; he may not be able to cope."

Xiao Jiu heard her tone's worry, comforted: "Cheer up~ you now have a Totem; dealing with Jiang Wu might not be impossible~"

She remained silent for a moment; given the situation, no one could escape unscathed.

"Could Jiang Wu have no weakness? What is her true form?"

When previously seen, she hadn't noticed, because the earlier text didn't write these.

Xiao Jiu remained silent for a while before speaking: "Qing Luan."

"What?!" Su Mo silently exclaimed.

Legend says this bird can undergo nirvana rebirth; if its evolution is strong enough, its soul can never be extinguished.

"You... sure I can beat her like this?"

Xiao Jiu: "Um... give it a try~ anyway now it's either you die or she perishes~ just go for it!"

"... But this is hell-level difficulty!"

Xiao Jiu frowned: "Not necessarily~ you are a one-in-a-million talent, don't boost others' morale, destroy your own prestige!"

Su Mo frowned: "You System Administration Bureau are really damn, this is clearly letting me go give away heads!"

Xiao Jiu: "Host don't panic, you still have a chance! Try upgrading quickly!"

Su Mo had a flash of inspiration and began a routine: "You still have the nerve to say, can't the Golden Finger just give happily?! At this point, still want me to upgrade? You might as well wait until I'm killed by her, then upgrade!"

"You definitely have a shortcut for upgrading, quick, give me an idea!"

Xiao Jiu: "... again you make me dig a pit~ I have no way, you must figure out how to upgrade yourself!"

Su Mo raised her brows fearlessly: "If you don't give me an upgrade, let's die together; on the Yellow Springs road you'll accompany me, I won't be lonely."

"......" Xiao Jiu's teeth chattered with anger: "Your opportunistic approach is really not advisable~"

Su Mo hums, "I don't care; so many lives in the Beast World are now in your hands, deal with it."

"Hmph!" Xiao Jiu huffs, "Don't moralistically blackmail me; I'm just a system without morals!"

Su Mo heard footsteps behind her, turned, and saw Fei Yan and Xuan Qing walking toward her.

Xuan Qing furrowed his brows, "The plague at Jiang Wu's side has already begun to erupt; many herbs on the mountain have been harvested. Before a large‑scale outbreak, she will definitely dispatch troops. Be extra careful these two days."

Su Mo frowned silently; she knew this battle had to be fought.

Moreover, we cannot lose.

At this moment, inside Jiang Wu's tent.

She was holding a Long Whip, her expression grim as she stared at the Dragon Clan Military Advisor before her.

"Military Advisor, you are truly loyal to Minor General; are you unwilling to reveal Minor General's weak point even under such torture?"

Jiang Wu finished speaking and cracked another lash.

The Military Advisor winced in pain but remained silent.

Jiang Wu sneered and delivered several more lashes: "I just love torturing a hard‑bone like you!"

A Ci said coldly from beside, "If you reveal the Dragon Clan's Secret Escape Tunnel, we will let you and your wife depart together."

"Pah!" the Military Advisor spat a mouthful of blood at him.

Infuriated, A Ci snatched the Long Whip from Jiang Wu's hand and brutally lashed him.

Until the person was beaten until flesh and skin were torn, then they sent him to the Prison.

Two Dragon Cubs looked at the blood‑splattered Military Advisor, crawled over and wept, "Grandpa Military Advisor, does it hurt?"

The Military Advisor shook his head reassuringly, "It doesn't hurt, don't worry."

Old Military Lady sighed, came over to wipe the blood from his face, her eyes reddening as she sighed, "Didn't I already say, if this day ever comes, don't worry about me. I'm not afraid of death, why am I so foolish?"

The Military Advisor raised his hand and brushed away her tears, "We've been married for years, and after all this time, how could I abandon you? How could I bear to leave you alone here?"

"But you just came like this, what about Long Yan? What about all the clan affairs? You've been cautious all your life, why are you so reckless and willful now that you're older?!"

"Minor General has grown up, can take care of himself and handle those matters. I've spent my life laboring for clan affairs, I ought to do something for you. My whole life I've done what I should, but I also want to do what I wish. I never expected to reach this age…" He paused, "making you feel that I've married the wrong person all my life."

"But I also don't want to see you die for me!"

"Stop talking nonsense, that kid Long Yan will come to rescue us."

The two Dragon Cubs beside them suddenly brightened, "Yes, Minor General will definitely come back to save us!"

The couple exchanged a glance, a hint of worry flashing in their eyes.

They were both old Beastmen; up close they could smell Jiang Wu's aura and already knew she was no ordinary Beastman, she was very hard to deal with.

Moreover, she commands many soldiers, so the Dragon Clan's chance of winning this battle is not high.

…

After night fell, Long Yan proceeded according to the original plan and launched the first official attack on Jiang Wu.