Chapter 652: Heaven Devourer Emerges (14/20, Autumn Subscription)

The nature of the matter has changed—from external fighting to internal scandal.

Matters within the Qing Si are none of outsiders' business to decide.

But Yang Diandian merely gave a cold laugh.

"Don't act like I'm asking for your approval—get this straight, I'm merely informing you. In three days, 【Lan Shan】 will descend herself!"

With that, Yang Diandian flung her teacup to the ground, shattering it, snorted coldly, and stood to leave.

Dou Hongyi remained unmoved; only after Yang Diandian departed did she turn to the Dayang Fu contingent.

"Do you truly not know where Ye Niu Niu went? Don't wait until you bring them back for interrogation before they confess—that would be a messy sight."

The Dayang Fu contingent's expressions shifted slightly.

But before the young mistress or others could speak, a sudden clapping sound echoed at the gate.

A slender, lightly frivolous man with perpetually squinting eyes stepped into Dayang Fu.

"Dou Hongyi, it's still daytime—your Qing Si speaks so bluntly; isn't that inappropriate?"

Dou Hongyi frowned at the newcomer.

"Tai Yuema, what are you doing here?"

"Heh."

Tai Yuema plopped himself onto the table, legs swinging, and grinned: "Of course I'm here to protect someone—I'm protecting Dayang Fu."

"Are you protecting them? Or is it the Eagle Merchant Caravan behind you that's protecting them?"

Tai Yuema only smiled, saying nothing.

"... Fine, assume you're protecting them. To what extent?"

"Before the 【Wu Jue】, no merchant caravan under the Tian Shang Alliance may suffer any losses—or engage in private brawls."

The latter half was directed at the young mistress; though his eyes remained half-closed, they sent a terrifying aura of killing intent her way.

"Then I'll grant you this favor."

Dou Hongyi gave Tai Yuema a long, deep look, then turned and left.

The other Qingyi and Baiyi who had come with her were bewildered but obediently followed Dou Hongyi away.

Once they were gone, the young mistress hurried forward to thank him: "Thank you, Lord Tai, for your aid!"

"Since you've invoked the Tian Shang Alliance's protection, someone must stand for you. But..."

Tai Yuema slowly opened his squinting eyes a sliver and smiled at the young mistress: "... But our Regimental Commander is very interested in your new arrival, Ye Baiyi. Tell me everything about him—I must report back."

"... Yes!"

After a hesitation, the young mistress replied.

Yet she felt puzzled—why would the Seventh-Ranked Eagle Merchant Caravan of the Tian Shang Alliance suddenly take interest in Lord Ye?

As the young mistress selectively reported information about Fang Yue to Tai Yuema.

Dou Hongyi, who had just stepped out of Dayang Fu's gate, suddenly halted, turned back, and stared at the compound, lost in thought.

"After returning, investigate Ye Niu Niu's background—and uncover every dirty secret about the two dead Qingyi. Prepare for both possibilities."

"Yes!"

As the true leader of the Qing Si's branch in Chunuan City, Dou Hongyi was not unaware.

Some things simply require going with the flow, turning a blind eye.

And just then, Dou Hongyi suddenly felt the sunlight was odd—somehow dimmer.

She looked up at the sky, and her pupils shrank instantly, as if witnessing something inconceivable; her face froze in shock, disbelief trembling in her voice:

"Heaven... Devourer?"

Chaos. Total chaos.

Everyone in Chunuan City saw the celestial phenomenon; all stared wide-eyed, trembling in terror.

"How could this be... The last 【Heaven Devourer】 was recorded two eons ago!"

"When the 【Heaven Devourer】 appears, the world descends into chaos! Is a new cataclysm imminent?"

"Don't speak nonsense! Don't speak nonsense—spreading such words will get you beheaded!"

Not just Chunuan City—now, across Qing Guo and neighboring nations, every person in this realm saw the anomaly in the sky. Panic spread; unrest swelled.

In Jingcheng, it was especially severe!

The Four Ministers all submitted memorials describing the phenomenon; the city's populace buzzed with rumors.

The monstrous omen, last seen two eons ago, had reappeared!

Imperial Palace.

"It's the 【Heaven Devourer】... Is the calamity truly coming?"

A slender youth gazed at the celestial anomaly through the window, his brow furrowed.

Beside him lay a soft bed, upon which a young girl rested silently.

The girl had a delicate face, as if long in slumber; suddenly, as if sensing something, her body emitted a faint crowing sound.

Extremely faint, nearly inaudible, and fleeting.

After the crowing, her brow twitched slightly—and slowly, the girl opened her eyes.

"... Seventh... Prince?"

The youth's face lit up with joy: "Sisi! After so many days in coma, you've finally awakened!"

"I... where am I... Nightfall? Right, Nightfall—he..."

Zhaoyang Official Road.

Very strange.

Fang Yue found it very strange.

This world… has solar eclipses too??

Riding the Liehong Horse at full gallop along the Official Road, Fang Yue could not help looking up at the sun in the sky.

The scorching sun hanging high in the sky had a very small, very inconspicuous patch of black shadow at its lower-right corner, blocking part of its light.

At first, Fang Yue thought it was some kind of strange weather, and his mind flashed to things like Night Rain, Three Scorching Suns — he was so startled that he quickly ducked into a forest beside the road.

But after watching for a while, Fang Yue discovered that the "solar eclipse" seemed to have no effect at all.

Fang Yue was puzzled, but unfortunately there was no one reliable beside him like Lord Han who could clear up his doubts.

Still wondering, Fang Yue urged his horse onward; once he confirmed there was really no danger, he stopped thinking about it.

In reality, however, when Fang Yue was about halfway through his journey, someone came looking for him.

Fang Yue planned to wait until evening, pitch his tent somewhere safe, then log off and ask what the matter was.

The whole way, he ran into no danger.

Fang Yue was still a little worried about the young lady and the others' safety.

Still, Yang Hongxia and her people were, after all, members of the Heavenly Merchant Alliance, and the matter had been done on his own side; even if the two great Government forces wanted to make trouble for her, they would have to consider the Heavenly Merchant Alliance's influence.

"Yang Hongxia is not a reckless, empty-headed person — she must have had some confidence before daring to say the Heavenly Merchant Alliance could protect Dayang Fu. If that's the case, the only thing I can do is trust her to handle it herself."

Fang Yue had his own things to do here; otherwise, even if he was just lying low, he would have changed his appearance and stayed hidden in Chunuan City to guard from the shadows, rather than leaving outright.

"Dongliu Mountain — I hope I can find some news of An Dong'er there, or at least a lead."

He glanced at the system notification.

"System Notification: Congratulations to player Yese Liming on killing Xian Qingyi. Reward: Control +0, Disarm +30, Lifespan +3 months, 【Strange Realm】 progress +0.2%."

"System Notification: Congratulations to player Yese Liming on killing Earth Blue Guard. Reward: Control +0, Disarm +25, Lifespan +3 months, 【Strange Realm】 progress +0.2%."

"System Notification: Congratulations to player Yese Liming — Control… has been converted into 【Realm Breakthrough Progress】."

(End of chapter)