109. The Assault on Prince Liu

At the end of July, Cao Xin led ten thousand troops in an assault on Xiapi, while Liu Bei commanded ten thousand new recruits in its defense. Taking Xu Shu’s advice, Cao Xin surrounded the city without attacking it. Liu Bei held the city and refused to surrender, even at the cost of his life.

“All right. Another grueling battle lies ahead.”

Mounted on his horse, Cao Xin gazed toward Xiapi and sighed.

“General, do not worry. Liu Xuande has no reinforcements outside the city, and provisions within are scarce. He will not be able to hold out for long.”

Xu Shu spoke as he gently waved his folding fan.

I froze. Looking at the pendant in my hand, now completely dark red, I felt a chill run down my spine.

Although South Korea had been steadily deepening its cooperation with China, American troops were still stationed on Korean soil. There was no way South Korea could truly become China’s ally.

After putting both items away, the stone chamber was left completely empty, save for the luminous pearls, the enormous bronze tripod, and the skeleton.

With no other choice, Liu Xu grew even more frightened and retreated again. One foot landed on a stone, making his body stagger. The less confidence he had, the more trouble seemed to arise beneath his feet.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, the carriage was still tied to a tree as thick as a bowl. The difference was that an old man was now leaning against it and smoking. The moment he saw them approaching with Grandfather, he stormed over, lashing out with a barrage of scolding. In essence, he was demanding to know how they could leave the carriage there when wolves roamed Phoenix Mountain, and what would happen if the wolves tore open their bellies.

It was merely unexpected, however, and he paid it no mind. With a movement of his fingers, he drew upon all the frigid energy within the great formation, transforming it into ice spears a kilometer long and sending them hurtling toward the Black Dragon King at the center.

The man in black stopped and suddenly moved his hand. The next moment, I saw the driver go cross-eyed before swaying and collapsing, unconscious.

Fang Nan had never liked Yang Xiao. He suspected that Yang Xiao had been involved in Zhang Mingshuan’s affair the last time, and it was even possible that he had instructed it himself. But that was only speculation, and without evidence there was nothing she could do. Besides, they belonged to the same sect; bringing the matter into the open would only make things worse.

The metaphor was indeed a good one, and its implication was sound as well. But how many people could truly have thought of it? Standing before the great gate, Liu Fei wondered how he should enter—or rather, by what means he could pass through it.

The young man in white was somewhat awkward too, and did not dare approach Grandfather. The two of them warmed themselves stiffly for quite some time before finally recovering a little. By then, the sky outside had begun to brighten, and Godmother had already risen.

This time, Luo Dan hesitated. She thought for a long while. When Luo Zhan had been injured, she had been terrified and heartbroken, on the verge of tears. She felt pain when Song Xiuyan was hurt as well, but this time it was as though a great emptiness had opened inside her.

“Big Brother! I’m not sure either. Ever since that thing was refined, just now, I suddenly felt as if something were calling to me. Then this happened, and my eyes began to hurt terribly. It seems both of these things are trying to burrow into my eyeballs.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he shot upward, and a mass of dark clouds drifted over.

He stumbled toward them while doing his best to clear away the insects blocking his path.

During this period, he had been so busy that he could hardly catch his breath. No matter how much work he had, no matter how exhausted he was when he returned home and collapsed straight into bed—or fell asleep at the office—her image remained impossible to drive from his mind.

Few people would be bold enough to come to the Nine-Tailed Fox clan and seize someone, but Jinghong did not want to maliciously keep the Great Emperor Qinghua in suspense either.

After hearing me out, she said nothing. After all, Wu Yuan and I were no longer involved in any relationship, and whatever she did was none of my concern. Besides, the matter between Wang Ping, Li Yang, and me was our own business; there was no need to drag her into it.

Lin Wan’er looked at Ni Lehui. She had never seen Ni Lehui without makeup, only with her features transformed by heavy cosmetics. It was not that Ni Lehui’s bare face was unattractive—in fact, she was still strikingly beautiful. She simply lacked the breathtaking effect of her made-up appearance.