Chapter 311: The Plan Is Too Complicated to Use

"How do we push this forward? I suggest we shout 'Aoo-aoo!' and charge in—anyone who blocks us gets cut down. Cut down everyone in our way, and we'll flatten everything."

"That's a bit too brutal. Why don't we let Luo Ge sneak into the Dagong Prefecture and just kill that Luo Bote guy?"

"That's too simple. Let's block the city gate, then have Sister Wan Niya shout at the gate: 'Let that heartless bastard out—I'm carrying his child.'"

"Wait, how are you so shameless like Lord Nai Ge? So shameless—I love it. But Wan Niya's a minotaur. Who'd believe that?"

Clearly, everyone remembered the time Nai Ge Li disguised himself as Nai Ai Li's child to force her out.

After some discussion, the entire plan took shape.

Mei Sha stared in disbelief: "That's it? That's it? We're attacking the capital of a duchy—and this plan is too simple!"

Li Sha shrugged: "Simple? It's already complicated. If it got any more complicated, we'd need Anthony. But whatever—since Lord Ang is here, a duchy? We could just push through it."

"Anthony?" Mei Sha's attention was caught by another name: "Archbishop Anthony of the Eastern Diocese?"

Li Sha realized she'd slipped up: "Oh no, oh no! Lord Nai Ge, I let it slip—I exposed Archbishop Anthony!"

Mei Sha wasn't Ang's subject; she had no forced soul bond and was technically an outsider. Anthony's identity was too sensitive—letting an outsider know this secret would be troublesome.

But was Li Sha really that careless?

Lu Se skillfully transformed his battle aura into a sword, demonstrating the power of a high-level Sword Saint, and growled, "Then let's eliminate all witnesses—I'll send this beautiful lady to the afterlife."

Nai Ge Li flew over and scolded: "Don't be so quick to kill. There's only one solution now—swear the Oath of Devotion, and pledge loyalty to Ang."

Mei Sha reluctantly swore the soul oath, becoming Ang's subject without fully understanding why, just to avoid being silenced.

Now that they were all one family, there was no need to hide it. Li Sha said: "Yes, that Anthony—he's also Lord Ang's subject. He's broken away from the Eastern Diocese and founded the Holy Church. Now he's the Acting Pope."

Mei Sha's head felt like it would explode. A tiny, remote duchy? How was it connected to the Acting Pope? Had the Church split? What in the world had happened in the two years since she died?

Under cover of night, everyone arrived before dawn at the gates of the duchy's capital.

Li Sha helped the little angel attach her true wings and instructed: "When the time comes, take your twelve low-rank angels and block the gate. Don't speak. Act cold and aloof. Wait for my signal, then blast that guy I point to. Understood?"

"Aoo!" the little angel replied.

Li Sha was one of the few who could command the little angel, because all her dresses had been prepared by Li Sha—had Ang arranged them, the little angel would probably run naked through the streets.

At dawn, when the gate opened, everyone leaving the city found it blocked by a row of Holy Angelic beings.

Leading them was a four-winged angel, behind whom stood a line of two-winged angels. To the four-winged angel's left stood a woman radiating holy light, gentle and beautiful; to her right stood a cloaked figure, entirely concealed.

They simply blocked the gate, allowing no one to pass, silent even when the guards on the walls asked questions—cold, proud, indifferent.

The city panicked. This display—even a remote duchy like this would tremble. Even the Holy Blade Army would be shaken. When Anthony returned years ago, his escort had only twelve low-rank angels—no four-winged high-rank angels at all.

Soon, Duke Robert arrived at the gate. As soon as he appeared, the cloaked figure gave a signal.

Li Sha stepped forward, channeling divine power to carry her voice clearly to every ear:

"Lady Li Sha August, fourth heir of the Rosha Duchy, was called by divine grace to become the Holy Maiden of the Church of Light. Her life was holy, her life was radiant. She sacrificed herself to spread the Light…"

After a long self-praise, Li Sha changed tone: "I am the Messenger of the Church of Light's Final Will. The Holy Maiden Li Sha left a final wish: when her family faces danger, may the gods grant protection and punish those who harm them. Today, the gods heard the plea of her descendants—so here we are."

Here, Li Sha raised her finger toward the cloaked figure beside her.

The cloaked figure tore off her cloak, revealing Mei Sha's living face.

Robert's expression turned to horror: Impossible. He had killed her himself, confirmed she was dead, sealed her in a stone coffin. Even if she were alive, she'd have suffocated from lack of air. How…?

Resurrection. Rebirth. Divine grace. Thoughts flashed through Robert's mind.

"Mei Sha, the Duchess? But she's dead! Didn't Duke Robert say she was assassinated and her body stolen?"

Robert's guards, mages, and soldiers all turned to him at once, instinctively stepping back.

Li Sha pointed at Robert: "The gods say: those who oppress my subjects shall be reduced to ash."

"Aoo!" The little angel spread her wings, thrust her hands forward, and a beam of light struck Robert directly.

Poor Robert never spoke a word—he was obliterated into ash.

Li Sha stepped forward and shouted: "Are there any accomplices of Robert? If not, kneel now and welcome back your Duchess, Mei Sha August Li Sha!"

Li Sha deliberately shouted Mei Sha's full name, emphasizing the middle name "Li Sha"—to tell everyone she had powerful backing.

The entire gate and walls collapsed into a sea of kneeling figures.

Mei Sha stared, dumbfounded. Was it really that simple? Of course—their elaborate plan on the road was overkill. It was never needed.

Hidden behind, the "army" watched. Lu Se sighed in disappointment: "Too easy! Why didn't they fight? My sword can't even taste blood now."

Everyone was disappointed—except the little angel, who was perfectly satisfied. Mei Sha returned to the duchy's palace under the escort of twelve angels.

Two years had passed. Everything had changed. Everywhere she looked were unfamiliar faces. Mei Sha dared not enter the palace—how could she know if a fire might break out at night?

Glancing around, Mei Sha suddenly spotted a familiar figure—head bowed, avoiding her gaze, limping slowly into a narrow alley.

Mei Sha chased after him and shouted: "My most loyal guard, Kro, where are you going?"

Kro turned, smiling bitterly: "Forgive me, Duchess Mei Sha. Seeing you safe, I'm at peace. But I can no longer protect you."

Kro's face bore several scars, thick and grotesque like centipedes. His legs were uneven—one longer than the other. One arm was withered and curled against his chest. He gasped after speaking, clearly suffering severe lung damage.

Mei Sha exclaimed: "Robert did this, didn't he? It's my fault—I'm the one who ruined you. If only… if only…"

"No, I was too reckless. The day you died, I confronted him. He had me beaten. I shouldn't have acted so impulsively. I should have hidden, investigated, found a way to rescue you. Now I'm crippled. I can't protect you anymore. Forgive me." Kro regretted bitterly.

Li Sha's gaze flickered between the two, a knowing, maternal smile spreading across her face:

"Being crippled doesn't matter—this kind of injury is easy to heal. But Kro, tell me: what's your relationship with my niece?"

…

"From here to there—a sixty-kilometer square area—Mei Sha has given it to us for growing mushrooms. The terrain's perfect: mountains on three sides, a stream running through, water, trees, rocks, and enough humidity."

"Also, she gave us this Chain of Wailing. Kuba Da, the little angel flashed a holy light at the gate and got us 3, 00 square kilometers of land plus a soul artifact. We made out like bandits—better than robbing."

"Little Zombie, come here. Put it on. Ang, infuse the chain with soul energy. Little Zombie's copper skin has been stable a long time—she's about to break through. Use this to accelerate it."

"But Little Zombie's only been born for two years, and she's already reached copper skin. Compared to that, her growth rate beside you isn't slow at all."

"Wait—is this the Hymn of Undeath? This looks like the second segment after the Earth Holy Hammer." Nai Ge Li pointed at the runes on the chain's links, astonished.

Ang pulled out the Earth Holy Hammer and placed it side by side with the chain.

The Earth Holy Hammer protested: "What's this thing next to me? Is it the same rank? Don't drag down my status. Take it away, take it away!"

No one listened. Nai Ge Li studied the runes and said: "It does look like the second segment. Why don't we try singing it?"

PS: The Hymn of Undeath cannot be composed.