Chapter 170: Cooking Up a Special Meal for Him

The National Preceptor's indifferent attitude infuriated the Samurai.

"Bang!"

The Samurai slapped the table and stood up, his face full of rage.

"Zhou Yanli, I respect you as the Daliang State Preceptor and came to visit, yet you are so arrogant; do not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit..."

Swish!

A soft sound!

The Samurai's throat was pierced by a silver blade, buried up to the hilt.

He stared at the National Preceptor in shock, his throat suddenly spurting a large amount of fresh blood, and then he collapsed to the ground.

Zhou Yanli gave a light hum.

"Is my name something you are worthy of calling?"

His fair face was stained with a trace of blood, possessing an indescribable, bewitching beauty.

Screams erupted throughout the hall.

"Mu... murder!"

There were six or seven other Fusang People at the table; seeing this, they drew their samurai swords one after another, wanting to rush forward.

But suddenly, they clutched their stomachs, their expressions pained.

"National Preceptor... you actually... poisoned the food..."

"We have no grievances with you, why kill us? You are so cruel..."

The corners of Zhou Yanli's beautiful lips curved slightly, his smile moving.

"Human blood is too dirty; it will soil my floor."

"Indeed, we have no grievances, but I am in a bad mood, so you all must die!"

The two beauties were scared pale, trembling as they tried to slip away.

But suddenly, a blur passed before their eyes.

Zhou Yanli flashed over and blocked their path.

"Don't, don't kill us." The two women looked at the man before them, shaking with fear.

Zhou Yanli leaned over slightly, his slender, jade-white fingers gently brushing across one woman's cheek, his eyes carrying a hint of confusion.

"So this... is beauty?"

The woman hurriedly forced a charming smile at him.

"Please, I can do anything..."

This time, she spoke in the Daliang language.

Before she could finish speaking.

Crack!

Zhou Yanli cleanly and decisively snapped her neck.

"Ah!" The other woman let out a terrified scream.

Zhou Yanli smiled slightly, his appearance devastatingly beautiful.

"Next time you speak ill of others, remember to find a place where no one is around."

The woman trembled, "You understand the Fusang language? I, I am sorry."

"No need to apologize, you just need to die."

Crack!

A crisp sound of a neck bone breaking.

She also collapsed.

The door opened, and a burly general walked in; seeing the dead bodies all over the floor, he was instantly stunned.

"National Preceptor Zhou, this..."

Zhou Yanli spoke indifferently.

"Oh, it is General Yuan; they were an eyesore, so I killed them all."

"Oh..." Yuan Canghai came back to his senses and nodded, "A bunch of Fusang People; if they are dead, they are dead. As long as the National Preceptor is happy, that is all that matters."

After speaking, he instructed his subordinates.

"Throw these dead bodies into the National Preceptor's Scorpion Pool."

Yuan Canghai walked to Zhou Yanli's side, a fawning smile on his face.

"National Preceptor, you said the other day that I could become emperor; do I really have that ability?"

"You do not."

Yuan Canghai's expression stiffened, "Then you..."

"But I can help you ascend the throne," Zhou Yanli said. "Daliang has no crown prince, Xiao Rui is also dead, and the emperor is aged; whoever holds the military power can seize the throne."

"But I am not the only one in Daliang who holds military power."

"Meng Ming is not a threat, and Yang Tianhu of Donghai Prefecture is only skilled in naval warfare and has fewer troops than you; your only opponent is Xiao Moting of Beijiang." Zhou Yanli narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly as he said this, "I truly could not have imagined that Xiao Moting was originally a man who should have died, yet not only did he not die, he instead became a force to be reckoned with."

Yuan Canghai hurriedly said, "Isn't it that wardrobe of Xiao Moting's that you wanted? They have already transported it over."

"The wardrobe is secondary; what is important is that there is a woman by his side who has been helping him." Zhou Yanli frowned slightly, pondering for a moment, "Yet I have sent hundreds of spies, but I cannot find the whereabouts or background of this woman. Where exactly is this woman hiding?"

"Rest assured, National Preceptor, I am also sending people to investigate," Yuan Canghai said. "Once her whereabouts are found, I will immediately send troops to execute her; even if it means slaughtering the city, she must be made to pay with her life!"

Zhou Yanli turned around.

"General Yuan, I have been observing the stars these past few nights; the Seven Kill Star and the Greedy Wolf have already aligned."

"This means that Xiao Moting is not far from rebelling. His first stop will be Yannan. Make preparations early, and when the time comes, use the pretext of suppressing rebels to lead your troops to crusade against Beijiang."

"Kill Xiao Moting, and you will be the master of the world."

The Northern Frontier Army has already entered the territory of Yannan.

The sun is scorching.

The surrounding farmland has long been parched, the crops withered and yellow, and the earth cracked.

Last time Xiao Moting returned to the capital in private, he also passed through Yannan.

But last time, there were still many starving people on the road, yet this time, as everyone traveled along, they hadn't seen many living souls.

Several villages by the roadside were already empty and desolate, exceptionally bleak.

Instead, there were many corpses lying in the fields and grasslands.

The corpses had been baked into mummies by the scorching sun, and crows stood upon them, occasionally letting out two shrill caws.

An atmosphere of desolation and death permeated everywhere.

Everyone felt heavy-hearted and deeply pained at the sight.

Yannan is suffering from a great drought, with starving people everywhere; the people have long been unable to make a living.

Xiao Moting sat on his horse; the wind blowing against him was very hot, his battle robe was already soaked with sweat, and his handsome face was flushed red from the sun.

"Prince, would you like to take a rest?" Qin Zhan asked.

"No need," Xiao Moting said, "We must reach Shiya City as soon as possible."

Someone came forward to report.

"Prince, we received a message via carrier pigeon from the main camp; Wu Er has already set out with the wardrobe."

Xiao Moting said in a deep voice, "Understood."

Wu Er is delivering a fake wardrobe, and there is no telling how long it can delay them.

It is said that the National Preceptor is well-versed in Ziwei astrology and the I Ching of the zodiac, capable of divination and calculation, and it is rumored that he also has the ability to foresee the future.

There is no telling how long a fake wardrobe can delay them.

That is why he has been rushing the journey, wanting to reach Shiya City sooner.

Just at this moment, a feeling suddenly emerged in Xiao Moting's mind.

Bai Wei is about to send something over!

His heart stirred, and he shouted in a low voice.

"Halt the troops for a rest, rest where you are!"

The long, dragon-like army stopped immediately.

The soldiers were also tired; they sat or stood, some drinking from their canteens, others eating.

Indeed!

The next moment, Xiao Moting received the items sent by Bai Wei.

Fifty huge plastic bags.

And a note written by Bai Wei.

"Xiao Moting, you must be tired after riding a horse for so long."

"I'm sending you some snacks; they are all Yanjing street food. I've tasted them, and they are all things I think are delicious."

"If you need anything else on your way to fight in Shiya City, just tell me."

Xiao Moting clutched the note, his sweat-dampened handsome face flushing with a hint of red.

His heart felt sweet.

Bai Wei sent him snacks specifically; is she cooking a special meal just for him?

At this time, Xiao Dabao emerged from nowhere, hovering incessantly.

"Hey, I'm so thirsty and hungry, I really want to eat some snacks."

"Eat, eat, eat! You've grown as fat as a ball, and you still want to eat!" Qin Zhan kicked him, "The snacks were sent by the Goddess to the Prince; have some shame!"

Xiao Moting pondered for a moment, then looked up and gave an order.

"Distribute the snacks."

Although the soldiers had brought enough water and rations, the weather was too hot, and no one had much of an appetite.

Besides, Bai Wei had sent him fifty large bags of snacks, and he couldn't finish them all by himself.

"Alright, alright, alright!" Xiao Dabao was so happy his fat face bloomed like a flower, and he hurriedly went up to grab a few items.

He picked up a plastic bowl, nimbly opened the lid, and was just about to eat when he suddenly let out a loud howl.

"It stinks!"