Chapter 332: Don't Let Me Find You!

"What kind of mess is this..."

Shi Anqi hissed through his teeth in pain, muttering to himself:

"I knew His Majesty was still secretly angry, and that sending me to the Eastern Wasteland wouldn't lead to anything good. Sure enough, that's how it is."

"First, I have to deal with a bunch of shady envoys from the Kings of the Eastern Wasteland and drive them out of this dump of a city."

That's right.

As one of the people Li Long trusted most, Shi Anqi was very "lucky" to have taken on this mission, arriving in Wanshou City as the highest-ranking official for the Beigan Dynasty in the Eastern Wasteland.

Being the highest-ranking official is not some cushy job where one can just sit back and enjoy the benefits.

Especially for an official sent by his superior to some hardship region, it was clearly a demand for him to produce results.

Li Long hadn't stated this explicitly, but Shi Anqi knew it in his heart.

He had previously acted out of compassion while handling the Song Family affair, committing the crime of deceiving the Emperor.

That he was still alive was already an act of grace from His Majesty, mindful of their many years of history. Shi Anqi had no longer dared to hope for more, yet he never expected Li Long to hand him such a difficult task this time.

This was a test, and even more so, a sign of trust!

Whether he could make up for his past mistakes and return to being Li Long's most trusted brother and subordinate depended on this one gamble!

Shi Anqi had arrived full of ambition, determined to hold this final opportunity firmly in his grasp; he had to deliver the best possible results.

Originally, Shi Anqi knew he would encounter resistance, but he didn't think it would be that difficult.

He was, after all, a high-ranking official of Beigan, and he had a group of subordinates with him—how hard could it be to manage a small city?

The people of the Eastern Wasteland would certainly try to obstruct him; that was beyond doubt, but it didn't count as much of a problem.

As for the residents of Wanshou City, that was even simpler.

They were just a bunch of barbarian commoners.

If they were obedient, let them stay; if they weren't, kill them.

If anyone wouldn't let him live comfortably, he wouldn't let them live at all!

But not long after he arrived at the location, his mindset began to change.

"Damn it, I've been played."

Once he had truly arrived, Shi Anqi discovered that things were not as he had imagined!

Those envoys of the Kings, who were supposed to put up a desperate fight and use all sorts of methods to disgust him, had actually retreated quite obediently...

Huh?

No! Why aren't you playing by the rules!?

You're acting so amiable, how am I supposed to find a pretext to make a move?

If you don't give me an excuse to strike, I have no way to establish my authority here in the Eastern Wasteland!

Shi Anqi felt a sense of frustration, like having prepared so much for an exam only to find none of it was needed.

It was like punching cotton; he nearly gave himself internal injuries from the suppression.

Although he felt stifled and resentful, one cannot strike a smiling face, so Shi Anqi could only watch as the envoys left Wanshou City one by one.

He had originally wanted to nitpick and find some trouble to use as a pretext, and in the end, he actually found one!

Among the retreating group of the Jiang Family, Shi Anqi spotted a frail pair of grandparents and grandchild who seemed completely out of place.

Kidnapping!

This was definitely kidnapping!

This was human trafficking of my Wanshou City's population!

It was a kidnapping of my Beigan's people!

It was a grave provocation against our Supreme and wise Majesty!

Arrest them, they must be arrested!

Shi Anqi's eyes lit up, and he immediately ordered his men to detain them.

However, after he had detained them, he could only stifle his frustration, hold his nose, and swallow his words, waving his hand to tell them to get out of Wanshou City quickly.

It wasn't that he, the Great General Shi, had turned cowardly.

Nor was it that he feared the Jiang Family's influence in the Eastern Wasteland.

It was because that blind little boy had handed him something—a Jade Pendant.

"Why is it you..."

"Brother Ren."

Shi Anqi had never dreamed that he would see Ren Yidao's Token in the Eastern Wasteland.

"How did you end up running all the way here to take on an apprentice?"

He couldn't figure it out.

He really couldn't figure it out.

And so, he stopped thinking about it.

"Forget it, let it be, I won't worry about it."

Shi Anqi had one merit: he never got stuck on a dead end.

If he couldn't figure out a problem, he wouldn't think about it; what was there to agonize over?

Don't overthink things; it only makes one unhappy.

This wasn't giving up, but a philosophy of life, especially the foundation for standing firm in the Imperial Court.

Of course, since he had seen the Token, he couldn't just do nothing.

In a private capacity, Shi Anqi gave the child named Zhang Mang some necessary cultivation resources, as well as his own personal insights on cultivation and an introduction to the Beigan Dynasty.

"I am on very good terms with your master. Since I have met you here, there is no reason not to give you a greeting gift."

"Cultivate well! In the future, you will certainly be able to become a great help to your master!"

Although he could not see anything extraordinary about this little blind person, Shi Anqi still offered some earnest encouragement.

《Don't ask about things you shouldn't ask about; Daoist Ren must have his own considerations. jpg》

As for the things introduced by Beigan, they were all prepared in advance and were originally intended to be handed over to these residents of Wanshou City at an appropriate time.

At this moment, these people already belonged to Beigan and were the subjects of Li Long.

These materials would subtly make them slowly become Beigan-ized, deepen their sense of identity, and eventually become qualified subjects of Beigan.

This was a policy that Shi Anqi had intended to implement after driving away those envoys of the Kings.

As it turned out, plans could not keep up with changes.

"As a result, before these people were all driven away, I don't know where some East Sea Dragon King popped out from?"

An Asking Dao Great Demon of the East Sea emerged, leading tens of millions of Sea Beasts, and brazenly assaulted the coastline.

Shi Anqi was speechless.

What kind of situation is this!

I just arrived in the Eastern Wasteland, and I am made to encounter the East Sea Dragon King going crazy?

Are you targeting me?

You're deliberately looking for trouble, right!

However, this was Shi Anqi gilding his own lily.

Ao Zhun was not specifically targeting Wanshou City, but was launching an assault on the entire long coastline of the Eastern Wasteland.

Ao Zhun, whose time limit was approaching, was hating everyone equally.

Everyone!!!

"This Great Demon is clamoring for the Human Race to hand over Hu Wanwan of the Eastern Wasteland..."

Shi Anqi only felt it was absurd.

You created such a massive formation just to find one person?

Are you sick!?

"Where the hell would I know some Hu Wanwan!!?"

"Find whoever you want! Don't come and bother me!!!"

"However, this guy named Hu Wanwan is quite a fierce person! To actually be able to anger an Asking Dao Great Demon, he is truly a hero among men!"

Although he was a person of the Eastern Wasteland, Shi Anqi still secretly admired him and felt a sense of yearning.

"To be able to force an Asking Dao old dragon to this extent, what kind of major event did he actually do?"

Although he did not know exactly what happened, looking at Ao Zhun's state, it must have been a very astonishing major event.

As a cultivator, to have such glorious deeds in one's life is enough to be remembered by future generations!

"If this hero were a person of my Beigan, how good that would be!"

"What a pity, what a pity!"

Shi Anqi observed in secret for several days and discovered that the old dragon had only been wandering back and forth along the coastline, with no intention of coming ashore at all.

It was true that Ao Zhun had gone mad.

But he was not stupid.

He was still very clear in his heart about where his advantages lay, what he could do, and what he could not do.

In the sea, he was the master of the East Sea, and no one could defeat him.

On land, he would be a fish waiting to be slaughtered!

Although Asking Dao is strong, it is not yet invincible in the world.

The Human Race had so many Asking Dao powerhouses back in the day; it was impossible for them all to have died out by now.

Ao Zhun's goal was very clear: to force this guy to have a home he could not return to and people he could not love!

To be betrayed by his kin and abandoned by his friends!

Based on Ao Zhun's understanding of the Human Race, this despicable race would definitely do such a thing.

Even if some people disagreed, others would do it in secret for the sake of self-preservation.

"Hand over Hu Wanwan!"

"Otherwise, you won't be able to go out to sea for a single day!"

"If not handed over in one day, ten miles will be flooded."

"If not handed over in three days, one hundred miles will be flooded."

"If not handed over in half a month..."

"Three thousand miles will be flooded!"

……

"Hand over Hu Wanwan?"

"The Kings sent a letter... asking us to consider the Eastern Wasteland?"

Hu Family Supreme Elder Hu Yiyi's face twitched, and he struck his cane heavily against the ground.

"Where am I supposed to hand him over from!!?"

If he could hand him over, he would truly want to.

However, he could not.

First of all, if he really handed him over so easily, would his Hu Family still be able to survive?

Hand over a Hu Wanwan today, a Hu Qianqian tomorrow, and a Hu Baibai the day after?

Today you cede five cities, tomorrow you cede ten cities!

Once this breach is opened, then everything will be finished.

Weakness, in this vast jungle of the Eastern Wasteland, is synonymous with death.

All the Kings who smell the scent of blood will swarm over and devour his Hu Family entirely.

Therefore, it absolutely cannot be handed over.

At the very least, it cannot be handed over just because they demand a person; one must resist with a tough attitude.

Secondly...

"Where am I supposed to find someone? Where is Hu Wanwan!!?"

Hu Wanwan has gone missing!

The Soul Lamp is neither extinguished nor fully lit, and after being intentionally concealed by someone, its precise location cannot be determined.

Life or death is unknown.

Hu Yiyi is clear about what Hu Wanwan went to do on this trip.

But the current result leaves him somewhat unable to understand.

"Jiang Mingzhi, Gongsun Changshou, and Chu Hairen returned heavily injured, while Hu Wanwan and Ren Yidao are missing..."

Did Hu Wanwan have a change of heart at the end?

Why didn't Jiang Mingzhi die? Instead, he himself and that person from Beigan are missing?

There is also no news back from Hu Yongyong; did some change occur within Death Valley?

"Did the change occur with Jiang Mingzhi? Did Jiang Wanxiong make a move?"

Hu Yiyi does not believe that the kid from Beigan could play any decisive role, nor does he believe he could have any influence on his plan.

The one he worries about is not anyone else, but that old charlatan, the Jiang King!

"Tsk... If this matter were merely a failure, it would be fine, but if the objective is exposed, then my plan will have to be revised again."

When it comes down to it, why did Hu Wanwan want to kill Jiang Mingzhi?

Was it love turning into hatred?

No.

Was it because Hu Yiyi found that kid an eyesore?

Even less so.

Killing Jiang Mingzhi was merely one move in the entire plan; he is targeting the ruler of a nation, the Jiang King, and plotting for the territory of a nation!

Hu Yiyi does not believe that after the death of his most beloved heir, Jiang Wanxiong could still maintain his current Dao Heart!

If the Dao Heart is unstable, the effect of the Witch Sacrifice Art will certainly be greatly diminished.

But now, the plan seems to have run into a small problem.

If not for this business with Ao Zhun, Hu Yiyi could still take the opportunity to investigate, but now it is impossible.

Currently, countless eyes are fixed on the Hu Family; Hu Yiyi dares not act rashly at all.

"I can only shelve it for now and wait until the storm passes."

Furthermore, not handing over the person also involves a problem related to the Hu Family's bloodline.

The Hu Family is of mixed blood.

Hu Wanwan's bloodline awakening degree is very high; if the clues are discovered by others... that would also be the end.

So even if it must be handed over, it must wait until the Hu Family handles it personally, extracting the Demon Race bloodline, before it can be handed over.

Hu Yiyi let out a long sigh and then waved his hand to instruct the clansmen waiting behind him:

"Reply to all the Kings who sent letters."

"My Hu Family does not look for trouble, but we are absolutely not afraid of it; it is impossible to hand over the person!"

"If they want them handed over, let them hand them over themselves!"

The clansmen bowed their heads, silently withdrew after receiving the order, and left the room to Hu Yiyi alone.

And after the outsiders left, Hu Yiyi shook his head and whispered:

"But thinking so much has a premise, and that is... that the 'Hu Wanwan' in the mouth of that old dragon is truly the Hu Wanwan I know."

The corners of Hu Yiyi's mouth twitched, pulling into a bitter arc.

"Could it be him? Heh."

"How could it possibly be him!"

Doesn't he know what kind of character Hu Wanwan has?

At most, he has a bit of cunning and his ability is decent, but he can't be considered a true heaven-gifted talent or hero at all.

Hu Yiyi knows clearly in his heart that there must be someone deliberately framing him behind this!

It is just that even if Hu Yiyi wanted to explain now, it would be useless; they do not care about the truth.

If it is, then it is.

If it isn't, it still has to be!

Except for the Hu Family, no one cares about the truth.

"No matter who you are?"

Hu Yiyi gritted his teeth, his eyes turning into vertical pupils, and growled while clutching his cane:

"Don't ever let me find you!"

And while Hu Yiyi and countless others were searching, the real Hu Wanwan was still lying in the depths of Death Valley, with grass already growing on his grave mound.

As for the fake one, at this moment he was humming the Sixteen-Character Mantra with ease on the surface of the sea ten thousand miles away:

"When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue."

"This is Guerrilla Warfare~"

The old Dragon King wants to go to the Eastern Wasteland to find me, right?

Then go ahead.

I'm swapping bases with you!

Ren Yidao was leisurely fishing with a rod, not looking like the culprit at all.

After catching another large fish of an unknown species, Ren Yidao turned his head and looked resentfully at Cang Lan, who was sitting in the corner of the turtle shell far away from him, and shouted:

"I say, how much further do we have to go?"

"You aren't messing with me, are you?"

Several days had passed since they decided to go to Demon Emperor City, and Gui Yan had also traveled an unknown distance according to Cang Lan's instructions.

After forcibly commandeering several undersea teleportation arrays, Ren Yidao basically had no idea where they were anymore.

She wouldn't be thinking of selling me out, would she?

Huhu was alert.

And the eyes-closed Cang Lan seemed to perceive the emotion in Ren Yidao's eyes; her skin twitched, and she gritted her teeth, saying:

"Stop making noise."

"The entrance should be right around here."

The entrance?

Ren Yidao looked at the boundless sea surface and blinked his eyes.

Where does this look like it has an entrance?

"Where is the entrance? Your Demon Emperor City wouldn't be floating in Heaven, would it... eh?"

Just as Ren Yidao was teasing, he suddenly felt it go dark before his eyes and instinctively looked upward.

"Wait, what the f..."