Chapter 128

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Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

Inside the bedchamber of the Shen Wei General's Mansion, the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

Apart from Xing Xiao and Huan Long, all the women around Xuan Ge had gathered, sitting in a circle on the soft couches and chairs in the hall.

Only that Grand Dahlia, who grew entirely to Xuan Ge's liking and had always loved to make a scene and stir up trouble, was missing.

No one brought up the Grand Dahlia on their own initiative; every person present was transparent in their thoughts.

With the Grand Dahlia's restless disposition, she had never been able to endure loneliness.

The Grand Dahlia naturally knew she could not help at all, so she simply left Shen Wu directly to go find so-called "excitement" for Xuan Ge.

The hall fell silent for a moment, yet the women's thoughts differed, their eyes concealing varied emotions:

Some secretly envied the Grand Dahlia's thrill-seeking personality, which let her follow her heart without any scruples and always easily hook Xuan Ge's attention;

Others carried a trace of hard-to-detect jealousy, jealous that she could always have a flash of inspiration and seduce Xuan Ge.

Even if she caused trouble, she could be gently tolerated by Xuan Ge.

Liu Ying sat next to Kafka, her gaze somewhat constrained; she subconsciously lowered her head, not daring to look at the surrounding people's gazes.

She had come on her own initiative following Kafka, both wanting to understand more about Xuan Ge's situation and wanting to try stepping into Xuan Ge's line of sight.

But facing Ling Sha's composure, Yao Guang's flamboyance, and Jing Liu's cold clarity, she still couldn't help feeling somewhat nervous.

Kafka perceived her constraint, lightly patted the back of her hand, and said softly:

"Liu Ying, no need to be afraid; you are no worse than them."

She hadn't expected Liu Ying would take the initiative to ask to come; since she had come, it was just right to let her learn to adapt to this kind of "struggle."

So she wouldn't always keep a naive, sweet-and-innocent appearance; if she truly stayed by Xuan Ge's side in the future, she would inevitably suffer losses.

【22】 So she wouldn't always keep a naive, sweet-and-innocent appearance; if she truly stayed by Xuan Ge's side in the future, she would inevitably suffer losses.

Not far away, Yao Guang inadvertently glanced at Liu Ying's white hair, her gaze revealing a hint of scrutiny.

When she saw that faint blue-green gradient at the ends of her hair, she slowly withdrew her gaze, her expression returning to calm.

She knew clearly in her heart that that child had pure white hair, completely different from the blue-green at Liu Ying's hair ends; obviously it was not Liu Ying's.

Moreover, the special-effect medicines Liu Ying took daily were all refined from Xuan Ge's blood.

If Liu Ying had Xuan Ge's child in the future, the probability of inheriting Xuan Ge's black hair was extremely high; there was fundamentally no need to worry.

After a long silence, Yao Guang finally could not hold back and took the lead in breaking the hall's stillness.

"Ling Sha, you summoned all of us here not to keep you company in silence. If there is something, you might as well speak directly."

She vaguely guessed Ling Sha's intent; it was nothing more than related to the coming war.

Ling Sha slowly raised her head, her gaze slowly sweeping over every person present, finally landing on Yao Guang and Jing Liu, and said solemnly:

"Next, the Shen Wu Xian Zhou will dispatch troops to aid other Xian Zhou, resisting the Amphoreus allied forces' attack.

Yao Guang, as the Xunlie Heavenly General, you should go."

Yao Guang bit her lower lip, her face showing a trace of unwillingness, yet in the end she did not rebut.

With war at hand, she had no reason not to leave Shen Wu.

But thinking of having to leave Xuan Ge, the unwillingness in her heart grew even more intense, yet she could only press it down in her heart.

The war is paramount; she could not delay the overall situation because of her own selfish desires.

Ling Sha looked at the unwillingness and compliance in Yao Guang's eyes and secretly nodded, not taking out the command token the General had entrusted to her.

She knew clearly in her heart that although Yao Guang had unwillingness, she ultimately understood reason and would not truly refuse.

If Yao Guang insisted on resisting, she could only take out the token, invoke the Shen Wei General's Order, and force Yao Guang to leave — she had this authority and this confidence.

Afterward, Ling Sha's gaze turned to Jing Liu, her tone still serious, speaking word by word:

"The General has already made arrangements; Sword Chief Jing Liu will follow Bai Qi to command the army, lead the main force, go to Fang Hu Xian Zhou, and annihilate the Amphoreus enemy forces there."

"Ling Sha, you do not yet have the qualification to mobilize me."

Jing Liu's brows instantly furrowed, her tone carrying a few degrees of cold resistance, interrupting Ling Sha's words.

She was the Shen Wu Sword Chief, her status equal to the Chief Strategist Chang Ping; she had no authority to mobilize her at will, much less arrange her battlefield deployment.

Ling Sha had anticipated this early on, knowing Jing Liu would not submit, and immediately fished out from her chest a command token engraved with cloud-patterned spear tips and lightning-patterned lines.

Ling Sha interrupted Jing Liu's rebuttal: "Although I have no authority to mobilize the Sword Chief, I hold the Shen Wei General's Order.

By the Shen Wei General's Order. Jing Liu, you will, in the capacity of Shen Wei Sword Chief, follow Bai Qi to command the army, go to Fang Hu Xian Zhou, annihilate the Amphoreus enemy forces, and there must be no mistake!"

"You...!" Jing Liu stared dead at the Shen Wei General's Order in Ling Sha's hand; the words that had reached her mouth instantly stuck in her throat.

The Chief Strategist has no military power but can request authority; and this Shen Wei General's Order represents Xuan Ge's will, represents Xuan Ge giving Ling Sha full authority to mobilize.

She could not defy it, and was unable to defy it.

After a moment of silence, Jing Liu still pressed down the resistance in her heart and asked in puzzlement:

"Such a major matter concerning Shen Wu's safety — why was it not announced at the military council? Why must you tell me here, in private, in Xuan Ge's bedchamber?"

She truly could not understand; Xuan Ge had always valued military affairs; such a major deployment ought to be announced at a formal military council, not on an occasion like this in the rear palace, conveyed by Ling Sha on his behalf.

"Hehe~" Ling Sha let out a light laugh, a trace of mischief flashing in her eyes, her tone carrying a few degrees of teasing:

"Jing Liu, you guess — why would Xuan Ge not say it on a formal occasion?"

Seeing Jing Liu still wearing a puzzled expression, Ling Sha slowly withdrew her smile and said in a flat tone:

"Jing Liu, what do you say? These past few nights, you and Yao Guang haven't exactly been sparing the General, have you?

The General just woke from a coma and needs rest and recuperation, yet you two tangled with him night after night, exhausting his mind and spirit.

If he announced it at the military council, the other generals would inevitably notice something amiss and accuse you of not knowing priorities."

"That's not a reason!"

Hearing this explanation, Jing Liu's inner resistance grew even stronger.

Xuan Ge's stamina could drive Kafka and the Great Lily to the point of exhaustion, even burning themselves out, while he himself acted as if nothing had happened, handling political affairs and deploying military matters just the same.

Yao Guang and I merely tossed about for a while at night; this absolutely isn't the reason for him not announcing it at the military council!

Seeing Jing Liu's agitated appearance, Ling Sha shook her head helplessly, her tone easing a few degrees, and explained patiently:

"Jing Liu, are you a pure martial general? Have you forgotten the Yin Yue Rebellion? Your crimes have not yet been washed clean."

These words, like a basin of cold water, instantly extinguished Jing Liu's agitation; her whole body stiffened, she slowly lowered her head, and fell into silence.

Yes, she had actually nearly forgotten the Yin Yue Rebellion.

Back then, although she severed the Ying Long, she also fell into the Demon Yin Body because of it.

In her loss of control, she killed until the Ten Kings Office soldiers could not parry, and even abducted the accomplice Ying Xing, slaying quite a few comrades.

This sin has always weighed on her heart, never truly dissipating.

Seeing the silent Jing Liu, Ling Sha continued:

"The General sent you to Fang Hu Xian Zhou, rather than to Yao Qing or other Xian Zhou, so that Han Yuan Jun could back you up.

The General and Han Yuan Jun are friends across generations; Han Yuan Jun's prestige in the Xianzhou Alliance is extremely high.

You go to Fang Hu this time, establish military merit, plus Han Yuan Jun mediating in the middle — that is the best opportunity to wash away your sins from back then."

Hearing Ling Sha's explanation, a faint glimmer flashed in Jing Liu's crimson pupils; her heart held five mixed flavors — guilt, gratitude, and a trace of indescribable sour astringency.

She raised her head, voice soft, carrying a few parts spoiled complaint and being moved, and murmured: "Xuan Ge... you reverse disciple~"

Past scenes surged into her mind like a tide:

Still remember when Xuan Ge first stood before her, that lazy, casual, unruly bearing;

Still remember back when she taught Xuan Ge swordplay, he was trained half to death yet still refused to admit defeat, often talking back to her, even when punished to kneel he remained hard-mouthed;

Still remember when Xuan Ge first arrived at the battlefield, that unmatched confidence;

Still remember Xuan Ge's ambition revealed, secretly recruiting a private army, accumulating power step by step, only to protect everything he wanted to protect;

Still remember when he encountered Shuhu, fell into a death battle, even trapped in a desperate situation he still remained unruly and unyielding, fighting to the death without retreat;

And now, Xuan Ge is long since no longer that rash, impulsive youth....

On his face, no more excessive emotion can be seen, only heavy responsibility remaining.

That spoiled complaint is not true resentment, but concern and being moved hidden in the bottom of her heart.

This youth she once scolded as a reverse disciple has now grown into a Divine Might General who can stand on his own, who can shield her from wind and rain.

Jing Liu does not need to wash away sins, but Divine Martial Sword Chief Jing Liu needs to — this is the reason she cannot refuse.

Having placated Jing Liu, Ling Sha's gaze turned to Kafka and Liu Ying: "You Stellaron Hunters should leave as well."

Liu Ying raised her head, meeting Ling Sha's gaze; although her voice was still soft, glutinous, and endearing, she did not retreat in the slightest, her tone serious:

"I'm very strong; I can stay in Shen Wu, help the General."

She very much wanted to prove herself, not wanting to always be treated as someone who needs protection.

"I know you're very strong." Ling Sha lightly nodded, her tone easing a few degrees, yet her eyes hid a trace of hard-to-detect desolation.

"But once Black Tower Lady's super-pressure spatial device activates, its power is infinite; you might survive, but this is not your home ground, nor is it a place Stellaron Hunters should meddle in.

Moreover, this is the Shen Wu Corps' war; unrelated personnel must all leave....."

"And I, too, will leave....."

Liu Ying saw the desolation in Ling Sha's eyes, saw her forced resolve; her heart's persistence instantly loosened.

Since the General hopes she leaves, then obeying is fine.

Only in her heart, she still couldn't help worrying for Xuan Ge.

She didn't know how exactly Xuan Ge intended to fight this battle, didn't know if he could return safely, didn't know how much more price he would have to pay to win.

Kafka was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, tone calm: "We will leave on our own, won't cause trouble for the Shen Wu Corps.

But after all, Shen Wu Xian Zhou is the Stellaron Hunters' base; after we leave...."

Hearing this, Ling Sha lightly nodded.

She understood; the words Kafka didn't finish — the Stellaron Hunters would ultimately return, and Sizhen Ying Xing couldn't escape.

PS: Requesting book reviews.