Chapter 908

First Volume, Chapter 908: Snow Upon Ice

As Qin Feng and Lü Li remained locked in stalemate, Chen Si stood at the city gate of Wang Du, gazing at the pitch-black Official Road beyond, his anxiety deepening.

According to the timeline, Qin Feng should have already arrived in Wang Du—why, with night fully fallen, was there still no sign of him?

Could it be that Qin Feng had changed his mind and no longer wished to meet His Majesty?

Or was Qin Feng planning to make trouble in Changshui County?

A string of questions and fears surged through Chen Si's mind.

At present, the Great Di empire teetered on the brink: a once-in-a-century Snow Disaster, the grim situation in Zhuozhou, and the accumulated grievances of the people—all made it imperative that Qin Feng's side produce no further chaos, or else Heaven itself would destroy Great Di!

Chen Si's patience had worn thin; he summoned a messenger and barked: "Where is Qin Feng?"

Faced with Chen Si's interrogation, the messenger stammered, hesitating, unable to speak.

Seeing this, Chen Si felt a dread rising—he fixed the man with a piercing glare and growled: "Speak at once! What happened?! If you've jeopardized the state, even exterminating your Nine Clans counts as mercy!"

At these words, the messenger's legs buckled; he collapsed to the ground, trembling as he stammered out his reply.

"R-Reporting to Grand General… Qin Feng arrived in Qingshan County already this noon."

Upon hearing this, Chen Si's right eye twitched—Qingshan County was barely a step from Wang Du; even with snow blocking the roads, he should have reached the capital in under an hour. For him to still be absent now meant something had gone terribly wrong!

Though not a civil official, Chen Si's political instincts instantly conjured a possibility.

A powerful minister in court did not want Qin Feng to meet His Majesty.

And who else but Lü Li and his Hawk Faction could it be?

Though the Hawk Faction had disbanded, its remnants still held pivotal positions in court—if they truly intended to ambush Qin Feng en route, they could suppress the news. But no matter how tightly they sealed it, they could not evade the Night Owls' eyes—unless… the Night Owls themselves were involved.

Ruined! Ruined! Ruined!

Chen Si's chest tightened—Lü Li, the bastard, even if he bore a blood feud with Qin Feng, had no right to ignore Great Di's dire plight. Whether or not he succeeded in killing Qin Feng, the loss to Great Di would be incalculable.

At this thought, Chen Si glared at the messenger, each word carved like stone: "Did Lü Zhu Guo ambush Qin Feng on the road?!"

Hearing this, the messenger turned deathly pale, silent, only nodding frantically.

Enraged, Chen Si waved his hand: "Seize this dog! Drag him out and behead him! Report to His Majesty: exterminate this slave's Three Clans!"

"To know of such a grave matter and conceal it—deserves death a thousand times over!"

Chen Si ignored the messenger's desperate pleas, turned, and swept his gaze over the officers and civil officials present, roaring: "Amid national crisis, if any of you let personal grudges ruin the state, I will cut off your heads and exterminate your clans without waiting for His Majesty's decree!"

At Chen Si's roar, all present held their breath, not daring to breathe.

Chen Si had no time to waste on these scoundrels—he bellowed at the few trembling messengers: "What are you waiting for? Go to the Ministry of War at once! Mobilize the army to rescue Qin Feng! If Lü Li interferes, seize him and await His Majesty's judgment!"

"Also! The fact that Lü Li's ambush was so tightly sealed means the Night Owls aided him covertly. Didn't we hear Qin Feng purged the Brocade Uniform Guard? It's time to Zheng Shu the Night Owls—tell Li Yu: amid national crisis, the Night Owls should be His Majesty's eyes and ears, not the claws of traitors—this crime is unforgivable!"

The messengers scattered.

Chen Si's heart still throbbed in his throat; the tension had given him a pounding headache.

If anyone bore a blood feud, none in all of Northern Di surpassed Chen Si!

His two clan brothers were killed by Qin Feng; the Snow Wolf Brigade was annihilated by Qin Feng; even Chen Si's own arm was crippled by Qin Feng's Tianji Camp Guards.

Every one of these wounds was etched into his memory—but before the fate of the nation, Chen Si buried his hatred deep, never daring to place personal vengeance above the empire's survival.

Yet despite all his calculations, he never anticipated Lü Li's audacity—to strike at Qin Feng at this very deadline, when His Majesty was summoning him.

If he kills Qin Feng, Beixi County will rally every force and launch a One-Strike Victory to seize Zhuozhou, then spread war across all of Northern Di—the empire's fall will come in an instant.

If he fails and Qin Feng survives, this will become Qin Feng's ultimate leverage.

"Damn! Absolutely damn!"

"Lü Li, Lü Li—you were once a mighty hero. Why ruin your final years?"

"I understand the pain of burying one's child—but a gentleman seeks revenge after ten years. Why strike now, when you're burying yourself too?"

Chen Si shook his head repeatedly. To salvage what he could, he mounted his horse and led his personal guards straight toward Qingshan County.

Chen Si and his thousand personal troops galloped hard, reaching Qingshan County's border in half a Envoy.

Because Lü Li had deployed numerous scouts and messengers to seal the news, Chen Si was intercepted immediately upon arrival.

Three scouts and five Qingshan County Yamen soldiers emerged from the shadows, blocking Chen Si's path and demanding: "Where are you from? Which ZhuZhen do you serve?"

Chen Si gave no reply—he dismounted, drew his Zhan Dao, and beheaded the scout blocking his way in one stroke.

The others froze in shock—before they could react, Chen Si's roar shattered the air.

"Daring dogs! To commit evil beneath Tianzi Jiaoxia—you seek death!"

"Kill them all!"

At his command, ten plus personal guards surged forward, hacking the scouts and Yamen soldiers to pieces.

Chen Si remounted, teeth clenched: "Anyone who blocks the way—behead them!"

"Have the advance troops located Qin Feng's position?!"

Half an Incense Stick later, the advance messenger galloped back and shouted: "Grand General! Qin Feng is under siege near Wanggang Village, thirty li away—he's barely holding on!"

Chen Si's face darkened; he raised his Zhan Dao: "All troops! March to Wanggang Village—rescue Qin Feng!"

Even as Chen Si raced toward them, Qin Feng had been driven to the brink.

Though Qin Feng had earlier exploited tactical advantage, the sheer disparity in numbers between enemy and ally was overwhelming.