Clang!
The wine jar in Li Lingsu’s hand smashed on the ground. His eyes glazed over as he stared blankly at al-Asura, stammering,
“A… a-what?”
Al-Asura’s expression did not change as he repeated,
“Al-Asura!”
The Holy Son stuttered,
“Wh- what Asura?”
Al-Asura answered patiently,
“Al-Asura!”
The Holy Son swallowed.
“A-what-sura?”
Al-Asura pointed at his brow with his fingertip, suddenly exerted force, and golden lacquer rapidly flowed over his entire body, turning him into a dark golden statue.
At the same time, with a “hiss” sound, a blazing halo ignited behind his head. The intense heat drove away the cold, making it feel as though the area had entered the height of summer.
Clang…
Chu Yuanzhen, Li Miaozhen, and Master Hengyuan all dropped their jars at the same time.
Their expressions were identical to the Holy Son’s just now, their eyes blank as they stared in daze at the golden-bodied al-Asura.
What the—number eight was al-Asura?! al-Asura, the Vajra of both the second and third rank from the Buddhist sect, who practised both Chan and martial arts?! Chu Yuanzhen’s mind buzzed as he recalled how many times he had tried to test al-Asura before, even showing off a bit. The face of a scholar truly stung with embarrassment.
A-al-Asura? The son of the King of Asuras, a key member of a dysfunctional family. I… Li Lingsu and I openly mocked him right to his face, and not just once… The famous Lady Flying Swallow only felt her own reputation lay in absolute ruin at that moment.
She felt so ashamed and awkward she could die.
Thud!
Li Lingsu’s knees went weak and he collapsed to the floor.
“What’s wrong?” al-Asura asked considerately.
“N-nothing… Number eight, you’re really hiding your strength…”
At this moment, Li Lingsu finally felt he glimpsed the true meaning of supreme detachment from emotion: if only I could be heartless and detached, I could handle this calmly.
With a hint of amusement in his gaze, al-Asura looked one by one at Holy Son Li Lingsu, Holy Maiden Li Miaozhen, and Chu Yuanzhen, and smiled,
“My family shame has made you all laugh.”
The scene fell into a deadly silence.
Li Miaozhen’s face turned bright red. She awkwardly turned her head, pretending to look at the scenery.
Chu Yuanzhen lowered his head, his feet unconsciously digging at the ground.
Li Lingsu’s mouth twitched as he forced himself to put on an awkward but polite smile.
Too embarrassing, just too embarrassing… All three of them raged inwardly, while their spirits were rolling on the floor.
Luckily, this poor monk didn’t say anything out of turn… Master Hengyuan looked at them sympathetically.
Daoist Jinlian continued to drink his wine, face unchanged, completely unconcerned.
Hahaha, I’ve been waiting for this day for so long… Xu Qi’an nearly covered his mouth with his hand, forcibly composing himself with Transforming Force ability to suppress his cracked smile and jutting Adam’s apple.
Seeing the group rendered speechless and falling into indescribable awkwardness, al-Asura felt deeply satisfied.
In the frozen atmosphere, Daoist Jinlian coughed lightly,
“Actually, in the plan to besiege Heilian this time, al-Asura is the main force. Let’s review the plan once more.”
Phew… Li Miaozhen and the others breathed a collective sigh of relief, and Chu Yuanzhen immediately said,
“The Earth Sect has moved their main base to Qingzhou. Trying to kill Heilian in enemy territory will be rather difficult.”
To ease the earlier awkwardness, Li Miaozhen spoke up,
“It all depends on whether Xu Ningyan can hold off Xu Pingfeng and Agaruka Bodhisattva.”
Xu Qi’an took a sip of wine and replied with certainty,
“I have a way to hold off Xu Pingfeng and Agaruka, but you lot must seize the time and guarantee Heilian is taken out within a quarter of an hour.”
Take down a second-rank powerhouse within fifteen minutes? That’s too much… Such thoughts flashed across Li Miaozhen and the others’ minds, when al-Asura said,
“No problem.”
No problem… Chu Yuanzhen and the rest didn’t even know what to say.
The overall plan had already been discussed in detail via the Earth Book fragments. This was just a brief recap, and the Heaven and Earth Society quickly dispersed.
Other than Xu Qi’an, the others were going to secretly infiltrate Qingzhou tonight. For safety, and to avoid being discovered by Xu Pingfeng, Yang Qianhuan specially brought an aura-concealing spell, while Xu Qi’an added a layer of insurance, Shifting Constellations.
In the night sky, Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Li Lingsu flew on their swords, purposely lagging behind al-Asura and Daoist Jinlian.
Li Lingsu transmitted,
“I suddenly remembered something…”
Chu Yuanzhen replied by transmission,
“If number eight is al-Asura, the Demon-sealing nail in Xu Ningyan can be removed. They must have been already. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so confident.”
Li Miaozhen clenched her teeth and concluded,
“That Xu fellow is playing us.”
So we’ve been the fools all along.
Chu Yuanzhen transmitted gloomily,
“Daoist Jinlian as well…”
This isn’t over. We have to get our own back… The three of them silently swore in their hearts.
…
Xunzhou was the largest city on the border of Yongzhou. To the south of the city ran a canal, connecting northwards to the capital and southwards to Yuuzhou.
This made Xunzhou an important hub for commerce and transport in Yongzhou, as well as a vital area contested by both armies.
After retreating to defend Yongzhou, Yang Gong took over the city and several surrounding districts, forming a mutually supporting defensive line.
In the prefectural constabulary of Xunzhou…
Inside the hall, Yang Gong sat on a large chair, gazing at the assembled officials. He said,
“Tell Administrator Yao, once matters in Xunzhou are settled, I will head for Yongzhou city myself.”
The official, visibly relieved, rose and bowed:
“Very well, this subordinate will take his leave.”
A short while later, Li Mubai came in stroking his goatee, smiling:
“That old codger Yao Hong is an expert at playing to the wind.”
Yang Gong sipped his tea:
“Anyone who can reach the post of Provincial Administrator is nobody’s fool. The overall situation in the capital is already decided. The Eldest Princess, no, Her Majesty, and Silver Gong Xu are both pro-war. Now, whoever advocates for peace will lose their official hat.
“It was Yao Hong who submitted the Yunzhou rebels’ peace proposal. He’s just afraid Her Majesty and Silver Gong Xu will settle accounts with him.”
In fact, during the turmoil in the capital as the imperial power shifted, there was also a struggle for influence in Yongzhou.
It was essentially a power struggle between Yang Gong, the previous Administrator of Qingzhou, and Yao Hong of Yongzhou.
Yang Gong was staunchly pro-war, while Yao Hong was exactly the opposite, pro-peace.
This strategic rift made Yang Gong uneasy about leaving the rear to Yao Hong, who knew when he might cut off supplies or reinforcements? As a scholar, he knew such cases were common in the history books.
At the height of their struggle, Yao Hong struck at the root by thrusting the Yunzhou peace negotiations straight up to the capital.
After that, Emperor Yongxing and the ministers agreed on peace talks. Yang Gong, infuriated, returned to Xunzhou and began work on the city’s defences, preparing for when the Yunzhou rebels inevitably broke the treaty.
Unexpectedly, Princess Huaiqing and Xu Qi’an staged a coup, dethroning Emperor Yongxing.
When news reached Yongzhou, Yao Hong immediately softened, sending someone to invite Yang Gong to Yongzhou to take command of the situation.
“How is Cijiu’s injury?” Yang Gong asked.
“He’s recovering well. There won’t be any lasting problems,” replied Li Mubai.
Yang Gong was reassured.
After being struck by a fourth-rank expert, to have survived not only meant Xu Cijiu was lucky, but also that he had a good elder brother.
Xu Cijiu wore a soft armour that made him impervious to blades and spears, a protective artefact crafted by the Sitianjian. It was this item that stopped the blow from the fourth-rank martial artist.
Otherwise, as a mere seventh-rank Benevolent, he probably would not have even had a chance to be rescued.
With Xu Cijiu’s rank and status, he would not ordinarily possess such an item.
There was only one possibility: it had been a gift from Xu Qi’an.
At that moment, an aide hurried in, his tone urgent:
“Duke Yang, the scouts report that the Yunzhou rebels are gathering at the border and heading for Xunzhou.”
Both Yang Gong and Li Mubai’s faces changed slightly.
“Send the Flying Beast Corps from the heart Gu tribe to scout again… Order preparations for city defence… Have three thousand cavalry from the assault camp leave the city and hide, waiting for orders…”
Not long after, the drums on Xunzhou’s walls began to thunder. Defenders quickly assembled on the ramparts, and militia hauled defensive equipment into place.
In the military camp, hearing the drums, Xu Xinnian stepped outside, looking towards the city walls.
His face was still slightly pale, like someone recovering from serious illness.
This only made Second Young Master Xu, already renowned for his delicate features and good looks, appear even more frail and charming, enough to melt any woman’s heart.
In the neighbouring room, Miao Youfang and Mosang put aside their Go game and came out too.
Mosang cursed in the Southern Marches tongue, then switched to Central Plains dialect:
“Damn it, the Yunzhou army is attacking again?”
Xu Erlang frowned deeply. The Yunzhou rebels had limited numbers, to digest all of Qingzhou and stabilise their hold would not happen overnight.
An unstable rear would only cause trouble in battle.
By rights, they should not be attacking Yongzhou so soon.
The three men left the barracks and climbed up onto the city walls with the other soldiers, ready for battle.
The sun rose ever higher, climbing from the east until it stood overhead. At last, the defenders scanning the distance saw, at the edge of the horizon, an enormous, dark army appear.
Spears and halberds packed like a forest, banners billowing.
“They’re really coming to fight us to the death!” Miao Youfang’s face changed.
Square formations, neat and orderly, rolled forward with unstoppable momentum. There were at least fifty thousand troops.
The main force of the Yunzhou army had arrived.
This was unmistakably a full-force assault to take Xunzhou in one blow.
On the city walls, the defenders began to stir.
One after another, the soldiers tightened their grip on their weapons, swallowing nervously, ready for the worst.
The artillerymen looked tense, stiff as statues.
One could hardly blame them for their fear. Unlike the ordinary citizens of the capital and other regions, these troops who had retreated from Qingzhou to Yongzhou understood just how terrifying the Yunzhou army was.
The might of their elite rebel troops was secondary, what was truly frightening were the beyond-mortal powerhouses among them.
The peerless martial artist who smashed down the walls of Dongling, and the terrifying expert who killed the Jianzheng… To these soldiers, those beings were like immortals, utterly beyond anything they could stand against.
On their side, there was not a single beyond-mortal expert in Xunzhou.
The Yunzhou army halted just beyond the range of the city’s cannons.
Then a single rider broke from the ranks and galloped towards the gate.
“Ji Xuan…”
Miao Youfang, watching the rider draw ever closer, gritted his teeth.
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