[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done":3,"chapter-national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-chapter-57":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","National Guardian's Gone and We're Done",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1743967,2228,"Chapter 57: Exposed: Members of the Time Girl Group Made a Deal with the Evil Spirits in the Demon Cave","national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>Chu He could smell the stench of Evil Spirits hanging heavy in the air,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xuanyuan Sword in his hand emitted a low, urgent hum, as if it couldn’t wait to obliterate the approaching Dark Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised the sword high, its tip aimed directly at the Evil Spirit Ship drawing near on the distant horizon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Black Pearl drew closer to the coast, the Evil Spirits aboard grew restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They swayed on the deck, in the cabins, and even on the tattered sails, straining to break free and surge toward the shore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chilling aura emanating from the Black Pearl grew ever thicker, like a frigid current from the abyss, corroding everything around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when this chilling aura reached Chu He,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it was blocked by an invisible barrier and couldn’t get close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu He understood the danger of the Evil Spirit Ship. If it reached the coast, the Evil Spirits aboard would swarm out, and the entire situation would become uncontrollable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of contemplation, he brandished the Xuanyuan Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no flashy moves, he unleashed a single horizontal slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ray of golden light shot from the sword’s tip, like a fine golden thread rippling through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden thread extended rapidly, flying forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with a flick of his wrist, Chu He struck again with the Xuanyuan Sword. This time, he created a vertical ray of golden light that intersected with the first, forming a golden Cross in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cross was exceptionally dazzling in the night sky, but it wasn’t the ferocious attack one might expect. Instead, it possessed a certain elegant beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the golden Cross flew toward the approaching Black Pearl, it passed silently through the ship’s hull, making no sound and causing no signs of the vessel shaking or breaking apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, viewers in the livestream chat erupted with questions:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That... that’s it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of attack was that? I’ve never seen Chu He do anything like it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just wait. Chu He must have a plan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You all have that much faith in him? Don’t forget, he was driven out of the Great Jing Empire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To the person above me, you must not have seen the recent news. You’re behind the times!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the livestream, layers of scrolling comments cascaded down the screen like snowflakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The IP addresses and accounts from all over the world were a sight to behold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Inside the Royal Palace of the Great Jing Empire.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Queen Ji Shengyue sat ramrod straight in her lavishly decorated office, her eyes glued to a screen broadcasting the tense standoff between Chu He and the Black Pearl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue’s heart pounded with anxiety as she wondered whether Chu He could stop the Evil Spirit Ship, a vessel that had brought nothing but terror and destruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether as the supreme ruler of the Great Jing Empire or out of personal resentment for how Chu He’s defection had dragged her through the mud,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue had only one thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She desperately wanted to see Chu He fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to see him become a failure, scorned and cursed by the entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to see the Great Xia Empire fall into chaos because of him—to see it wiped from the face of the earth!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Ji Shengyue was well aware of the public opinion within the Great Jing Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sharp criticisms and comparisons stung her like needles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People had started comparing her to Lu Yinxing, the highly praised leader of the Great Xia Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They said that ever since Ji Shengyue took power, the Great Jing Empire had been on a downward spiral, that the prosperity built during years of peace was slipping through her fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even dared to state outright that if Ji Shengyue didn’t step down, the Great Jing Empire would inevitably be destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These comments only intensified Ji Shengyue’s jealousy and hatred toward Lu Yinxing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She yearned to prove herself, to surpass the leader who was basking in limitless glory in the Great Xia Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In some ways, without even realizing it, Ji Shengyue was becoming astonishingly similar to Xiao Cangqing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the livestream, the golden Cross that Chu He had created passed effortlessly through the massive Black Pearl but failed to cause any real damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt a strange sense of satisfaction and glee. Her judgment had been validated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I was right about him all along. Chu He is nothing but a clout-chaser.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’That so-called number one expert on Blue Star is just an empty title.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Still,’ Ji Shengyue thought, ’Chu He must have already planned his escape route.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’But that doesn’t matter. Whether Chu He runs away today or not, the Great Xia Empire is doomed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought filled Ji Shengyue with a strange excitement and satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, I have two urgent matters to report.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a secretary burst in from outside the office, not even taking the time to knock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue was so lost in her fantasy of seeing Chu He utterly disgraced and the Great Xia Empire thrown into chaos that she paid the secretary’s impolite entrance no mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue eagerly awaited the moment...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...the moment when the people of the Great Jing Empire would be forced to change their tune and praise her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...praise her for being far more capable than that pretty vase from the Great Xia Empire!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it good news or bad news?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue tilted her head, her tone light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, it’s one piece of good news and one of bad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secretary answered cautiously after a brief hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph. Then start with the good news.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue gave a dismissive wave, her eyes still locked on the livestream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On it, the standoff between Chu He and the Black Pearl was in full swing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The good news is that we’ve apprehended the culprit who spread that audio recording online.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secretary elaborated, \"Our investigation confirmed that the person is an employee from Dalang City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By coincidence, his company was a place the ’Rotten Man’ frequented, which is how he was able to make several important recordings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thorough review has confirmed the recordings were not tampered with or faked in any way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How is confirming the recording is real good news?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue just frowned. The \"good news\" brought her little comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She waved a hand, signaling the secretary to continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for the bad news...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secretary’s tone turned grave. \"A reporter who was once assigned to the Demon Cave has come forward. He doesn’t just have an audio recording; he has video footage as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is revealing to the entire Great Jing Empire that members of the Time Girl Group made some kind of deal with the Evil Spirits in the Demon Cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news has already caused a massive uproar on all major platforms. It’s the number two trending topic, second only to the live broadcast of the Evil Spirit Ship incident.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue shot upright, the look of easy amusement vanishing from her face in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For her, this news was a bolt from the blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Making a deal with Evil Spirits? That’s absurd!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue slammed her fist on the desk, her voice full of disbelief and fury. \"How is that possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twelve members of the Time Girl Group—both the deceased and those still active—were all elites I handpicked myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their strength may not compare to Xiao Cangqing’s, but their loyalty and conviction were beyond question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such an accusation is utterly preposterous!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secretary nodded helplessly. \"Your Majesty, I’m afraid it’s true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The evidence the reporter has has caused a nationwide sensation. The story is now the number two trending topic on all major platforms, second only to the live broadcast of the Evil Spirit Ship incident.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue took a deep breath, about to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the scene on the livestream changed dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previously calm image of the standoff between the Black Pearl and Chu He...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...was suddenly flooded with a tidal wave of question marks and exclamation points from the viewers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shengyue stared at the screen, her eyes wide with disbelief. \"That... that’s absolutely impossible!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1374,"2026-06-06T16:46:32.086Z",1,"novelbin.me","df7c1def7a135e1657e644f51d7b980c13dbf22a49522fbb7e5dec5cc32c31a6","national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-chapter-245","national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-chapter-56",274,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnational-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-cover.jpg"]