Chapter 253: Past Events and the Reason Why

"My elder sister? What happened to my elder sister?" Liu Xia was very puzzled.

"I won't beat around the bush with you. I knew about you helping your elder sister elope last year, and the reason I never exposed it was because I didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble. It was indeed my plan today to have Xiaobai take your elder sister away, not to fulfill her wishes, but to prevent the Demon Race from using your Liu family to stir up trouble," Lingxiang said, her face rarely serious.

Hearing this, Liu Xia was even more confused: "What kind of trouble could my family stir up?"

"Naturally, the Imperial Court."

The Imperial Court? What about the Imperial Court?

Liu Xia was even more at a loss. His father now only held the nominal title of Inspector; how could he pose any threat to the Imperial Court?

Xinyi did not quite understand the meaning behind Lingxiang's words either, and only looked at her in confusion. Seeing the two of them with faces full of doubt, Lingxiang could not help but shake her head and sigh.

"Admittedly, Liu Cishi is now only a nominal official, but he was, after all, a general who achieved glorious military exploits. That battle to defend the city in his prime has long been known to everyone on the streets, and even in teahouses and taverns, storytellers often use it as a subject."

When Lingxiang was young, she often snuck down the mountain with Maidong and spent the whole day huddled in a teahouse in Guyang City listening to storytellers. She remembered that for a time, the storyteller often spoke of the Border General Liu Xian, and that vivid, colorful narration made both of them feel very stirred.

"Although the various tribes in Manzhou are now fragmented, they are ultimately of the same lineage, and each tribe has long been eyeing our Tianchao covetously, with the borders often being unstable. If the tribes were to join forces to invade, would there be anyone in the court capable of leading troops to resist? Wouldn't it still be Liu Cishi? Why do you think the Emperor of Tianchao placed him in Cangzhou?"

"But even so, why did the Emperor only give my father the nominal title of Inspector?" Liu Xia still could not figure it out.

But Xinyi understood a little: "I suppose this is the way of a ruler. If the Inspector were always kept in a key position and repeatedly achieved great merit, he would inevitably become more powerful than his master. Now, by giving him a leisure post and placing him in Cangzhou City near the border, if Manzhou attacks, he can take up arms with just one order."

"Exactly," Lingxiang nodded, "I imagine this secret order must be in the hands of some official in Cangzhou, waiting only for the enemy to invade, and in less than a moment, a decree can be issued directly to Liu Cishi."

"The heart of an emperor is truly the hardest to fathom!" Xinyi sighed.

"Even so, what does that have to do with the Demon Race? And what does it have to do with my eldest sister?"

"Previously, Senior Brother Chiyanzi and Xiaobai had scouted Manzhou. According to them, there are Demon Race members lingering in Manzhou now, and some even hold high positions in the tribes." Lingxiang said, then asked the two: "Do you still remember Changpu of the Kunwu Sect?"

The two suddenly realized upon hearing this.

Guihua is skilled in the Soul-Seizing Technique, and Changpu of the Kunwu Sect was under her manipulation. If the Demon Race incited the various tribes of Manzhou to join forces in an invasion, and she then acted from within, the border would be something the Barbarian Clan tribes could easily obtain.

Even if the Emperor did not intend to re-employ Liu Cishi, the second brother of the Liu family, Liu Shang, still held a key position in the military department!

Thinking of this, Liu Xia could not help but break out in a cold sweat.

It was fortunate that Miss Lingxiang was so meticulous, otherwise, it would have led to a great disaster!

At this moment, Lingxiang said again: "Since the words are out, there is no need to hide anything. Your eldest sister previously entrusted Xiaobai to find someone; I imagine that person is the one we encountered beside Bai Wuchang, is that not so?" As Lingxiang spoke, she took a turmeric-colored pouch from her waist.

Looking at the character "Sang" on the pouch, Liu Xia was first stunned, then frowned after a moment and spoke slowly.

Just as Lingxiang said, that person was a childhood sweetheart of the eldest daughter of the Liu family. His name was Sangmu, and he was originally the child of a subordinate general when Liu Cishi was a Border General.

At that time, a Khan of a Manzhou tribe found a Shaman from somewhere and used unknown means to plant spies in the city. Taking advantage of the weak defenses of the household, they broke in and abducted Liu Xia and his mother. It was also at that time that General Sang's wife lost her life protecting the eldest daughter and third son of the Liu family.

During the Great Battle of Guqiu, that Shaman used Strange Arts to firmly trap the border city, cutting it off from the outside world for several days. General Sang was ordered to leave the city to break the spell, but lost his life in that fog. Since Sangmu was the only child of the Sang family, Liu Cishi decided to raise him in his home, teaching him Martial Arts and Military Strategy as if he were his own son.

In fact, the Inspector's wife, grateful for the Sang family's kindness in protecting her children and seeing that Sangmu and her daughter were in love, had intended to betroth the eldest daughter of the Liu family to him.

But Sangmu refused.

It was not that he was unwilling, but he felt that he was now merely the orphaned son of a fallen general, and his status was too low to be worthy of Liu Lan, so he requested to go to the border military camp for training, saying only that he would return to marry Liu Lan in glory after he had earned military merit.

After Liu Cishi learned of this, he praised him greatly and agreed to Sangmu's request. But unexpectedly, that year happened to coincide with the invasion of the Manzhou tribes, and after a great battle, there was no more news of Sangmu.

Hearing this, Lingxiang could not help but sigh: How many beautiful romances throughout history have been defeated by the word "wait."

In fact, women have no extravagant demands for marriage; they do not covet wealth and status, only peace and joy. Even if they live in poverty for a lifetime, a cup of tea and a bowl of rice are enough, as long as they can stay together for a lifetime, that is sufficient.

But how many men in this world understand this...

"So, you are certain that person is Sangmu?" Lingxiang asked, changing the subject.

Liu Xia nodded: "At that time, my eldest sister made a pouch for each of us brothers, all embroidered with our respective names, except for Big Brother Sang, whose pouch was embroidered with his surname. When he left, he and my sister exchanged pouches as tokens."

"That explains it then." Xinyi looked at Lingxiang, and the latter also nodded.

"The Demon Race controls the Barbarian Clan tribes, so I imagine that battle was also their doing, but..." Lingxiang frowned and pinched her chin, but did not finish her sentence.

"But what?" Xinyi and Liu Xia were both confused.

Lingxiang shook her head: "I can't quite figure it out. The Demon Realm is located outside Fengdu and above the Yellow Springs, and for thousands of years, it has always had its place. But why would the Demon Race cause chaos in the Human Realm all these years, and why do they always invade the territory of Tianchao? And in the face of such actions by the Demon Race, why does the Divine Realm remain indifferent?"

What exactly is the Demon Lord plotting? Could it be that he wants to conquer the Human Realm?

That would truly be overestimating his own capabilities.

Although Spirit Roots are scarce nowadays, there are many who have reached great success. If the Demon Race really had this intention, these powerful beings would likely not agree to it.

The Demon Lord should not be so brainless, especially with that cunning strategist Bai Wuchang by his side.

Then what is the purpose of the Demon Race? Could it be just for the Huitian Pill?

Forget it, forget it. Since I can't figure it out anyway, I should focus on the matter at hand!

Lingxiang shook her head, then said to the two: "Although we have tricked Guihua away for now, if she realizes it, she will definitely come back for revenge. We must prepare early."

"But if she really comes back, just the few of us might not be her match," Xinyi said with a frown.

Hearing this, Lingxiang smiled:

"This mountain dweller has her own clever plan!"