Stranger Danger

Ye Qing set down his wine jar with a confused expression, “The sun? Why is there a sun in this god forsaken place?”

The Nanjiang Royal Court had shifted to a place called Vile Water.

“Beware the Poor Mountain and Vile Water, for even gods and ghosts stay far away from them.” This warning directly referred to the two most dangerous places of Nanjiang, the Poor Mountain and the Vile Water.

Poor Mountain was a barren, lifeless mountain where only the Vile Wind blew all year long. Any life touched by the Vile Wind would wither away and die, which was why the mountain came to be known as the Poor Mountain.

Vile Water referred to the dark rain and gray fog that constantly plagued a certain location in the One Hundred Thousand Mountains of Nanjiang. The rain water was called the Vile Water, capable or corroding flesh and disintegrating bones upon contact. The gray fog was called the Vile Fog as it bred a kind of insect called the Vile Worm that was capable of devouring some flesh and blood beings. Together, they were known as the Vile Water.

Poor Mountain and Vile Water were extremely dangerous locations for both humans and Strangers. Practically no life could survive in these two places. No one—no human, no animal, not even a Stranger—was willing to get close to them.

Besides that, Poor Mountain and Vile Water were chaotic and concealed from the rivers of fate. It was almost as if they had been abandoned by the Heavenly Way.

This was why the Nanjiang Royal Court had chosen the Vile Water as their temporary resting location. Its lifelessness and invisibility from the rivers of fate protected them from being tracked down by Chu.

They arrived here about two hours ago. Feng Qingyou had been kidnapped by Meng Feixue immediately after to discuss how to deal with Chu’s impending and inevitable wrath.

Sure, they had achieved a total victory so far. Not only had they retaken the Nanjiang Royal Court, they had annihilated Barbarian Slayer, Wildland Suppression and King Slayer and even inflicted serious damage to Wei Nanhua. However, they were not yet at a point where they could rest easy. In fact, now was the most dangerous moment of their entire operation.

After all, not only had Feng Qingyou and Meng Feixue ruined Chu’s decades-long plan to conquer Nanjiang once and for all, they had embarrassed them horribly as well.

The only way might rescue their reputation and resume their grand plan was to annihilate Meng Feixue and her group. Not only that, they had to do it in a fashion where their dominance was utterly indisputable.

In other words, Chu would be coming after them with everything they got.

Only by surviving Chu’s thunderous wrath long enough for Yan, Wei and Qi to finally react and suppress Chu could they finally let out a sigh of relief.

Until then, they must be on maximum alert at all times. It was no exaggeration to say that now was the most dangerous and critical moment of their operation.

But why did Ye Qing have the leisure to drink wine and lounge around during such a critical moment?

Because he had nothing to do. Duh.

Yes, everyone was acting extraordinarily serious and busy right now. The higher-ups were attending meetings, the guards were settling the civilians, the patrols were patrolling the city and more. However, none of this changed the fact that he was the one and only person who had nothing to do. So, he could only drink wine.

Did Meng Feixue not invite him to join in on their planning? In fact, she did. He had played a pivotal role in Meng Feixue’s retaking of the Nanjiang Royal Court, and his strength was nothing to scoff at. Whatever Meng Feixue thought about him as a person, she would not slight him or neglect him as a matter of course.

Ye Qing was the one who turned down her invitation. He was well aware of his capabilities and did not think he could offer Meng Feixue anything of note. So, he excused himself claiming that he was recovering from his injuries and hid here, lazing about and drinking wine.

He was still drinking wine when suddenly, a “sun” had suddenly appeared in the sky of the One Hundred Thousand Mountains of Nanjiang. The next moment, he saw the Vile Rain and Vile Fog that permeated Vile Water all year long evaporating under the “sun’s” awesome power.

It was at this moment Feng Qingyou appeared beside him with a grave expression, “That’s not the sun. That’s the Heavens’ Eye!”

“The Heavens’ Eye? They’re planning to locate us using the Heavens’ Eye and kill us all?!” Ye Qing exclaimed in shock and gravity as well. As a former member of the Pacification Bureau, he was well aware of the Heavens’ Eye’s origin and capabilities.

To put it in otherworldly terms, the Heavens’ Eye was similar to an orbital laser. Nothing could hide from the Heavens’ Eye, and once it had locked down a target’s location, it could muster its vast power to destroy it.

Clearly, Chu was planning to locate the Nanjiang Royal Court using the Heavens’ Eye and destroy them with its immense power. If they had any doubt as to whether Chu was pissed off before, the national relic shining on top of their heads had cleared it all.

“The Heavens’ Eye? Have they gone mad?!” Beside Meng Feixue, her eyes were as wide as saucers as well. She had imagined all sorts of scenarios before this. She thought that the most likely possibility was Chu sending entire armies into Nanjiang or dispatching Sages to destroy them. However, she never once thought that Chu would go so far as to use the Heavens’ Eye.

The Heavens’ Eye was Chu’s national relic after all. To use it was akin to mobilizing the entire Chu. Even if Chu succeeded in wiping them out, they would have taken a serious blow themselves. It was a double-edged sword that hurt themselves first before it hurt the enemy.

“I underestimated Emperor Jing Run’s daring after all!” Feng Qingyou sighed with admiration. “Chu will surely suffer some negative effects from this attempt, but it is definitely the fastest way to resolve their current crisis.”

Cutting the Gordian knot wasn’t always the best solution to a problem, but it was usually the most effective one. After all, they could not help but lose time if they chose to mobilize the troops or dispatch the Sages, and there was no guarantee that the outcome would be favorable toward them. The longer they took to wipe them out, the worse the situation would become for Chu.

That was why Emperor Jing Run decided to activate the Heavens’ Eye and end this battle in one go. It was certainly the fastest and most effective solution to his problem.

Of course, to say the move was risky would be an understatement. It was a choice only someone with great audacity and decisiveness would choose. As expected of the ruler of an empire.

“Do you have a plan against the Heavens’ Eye, Qingyou?” Ye Qing asked urgently.

“No.” Feng Qingyou shook her head and answered succinctly. “This time, Emperor Jing Run truly managed to catch me by surprise.”

Ye Qing barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. You don’t have a solution, but you have the time to praise the enemy who’s about to annihilate us all? As expected of you!

“What should we do then, Qingyou?” Meng Feixue asked urgently as well.

“Escape!” Feng Qingyou answered succinctly.

“Escape?” Ye Qing lifted his eyebrows.

“That’s right. The Nanjiang Royal Court is just too huge. There is zero chance the city would be able to avoid the Heavens’ Eye’s detection. We do not have the power to block its bombardment either. To stay here is to commit suicide.”

Feng Qingyou added, “Only by leaving the Nanjiang Royal Court do we have a sliver of hope to survive.”

“No!” But Meng Feixue rejected the suggestion. “I won’t abandon the Nanjiang Royal Court. This city is the symbol of the Meng Clan, and it cannot be destroyed during my reign. Besides, my people are living in the Nanjiang Royal Court as well. I am their princess, I cannot possibly abandon them during their time of crisis!”

“I cannot leave. I will not leave. I may die today, but at least I will be dying together with my clansmen and my citizens.”

Meng Feixue cast Feng Qingyou an apologetic look. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Qingyou, but I guess I won’t be able to walk with you any further. I’m sorry.”

“I told you before that you and I never need to apologize to each other.” Feng Qingyou smiled. “Besides, your decision is the right one. A ruler who shirks away from their responsibility is no ruler. If you had chosen to abandon your people and escape on your own, then I would truly be disappointed with you.”

“Always remember this, Feixue. A ruler can be foolish or cruel, but they must never, ever be irresponsible.”

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