Chapter 71 – Zou Tingwei in Danger

“Fall back, archers!”

The archers who had timed their encirclement of the camp notched their arrows at the command. A faint flash of divine light gleamed in the White Tiger’s eyes, and the arrows flew instead toward Zero-Two and the others.

Zero-Two felt a chill run down her spine and turned around — the arrows were already nearly upon her. Suddenly, several dark shadows descended, sword light erupting in all directions as the arrows were struck down one after another.

More dark shadows appeared behind the archers and knocked them out one by one.

These figures were all dressed in black robes and wore masks, wielding longswords, their auras cold and murderous — like asuras risen from the land of the dead.

Zero-Two could not immediately tell friend from foe, until she saw that familiar figure thrust a sword through the White Tiger’s chest. The dark iron blade tore through the White Tiger’s flesh like ripping silk, slashing from the chest up to the throat, sending blood spraying outward.

The White Tiger let out a mournful cry, then turned and snatched He Yuntian up in its jaws before fleeing in a blood escape.

“Your Highness,” Zero-Two recovered her senses from the sudden clash and asked, “shall we capture him and bring him back?”

“Forget it. We won’t find him quickly,” Zhan Changfeng said with mild displeasure. Though this person had not yet posed any real obstacle to her, he had interfered with her plans time and again — he was a troublesome figure.

“Go and handle the Dabi Army matter first. We’ll deal with the rest later.”

“Understood.” Zero-Two glanced at the black-robed masked figures and went to clean up the aftermath.

Zhan Changfeng sat cross-legged on the Gilded Folding Chair, which was far too large for her frame, her longsword resting across her knees.

Aside from the black-robed masked figures, the only other presence on the command platform was Yue Kun, bound and kneeling below.

Zhan Changfeng’s primary forces came from the imperial secret guards and intelligence network left to her by the old Emperor — along with underground enterprises.

But she was a person who, whether one called it deep suspicion or supreme self-reliance, could not fully trust the forces the old Emperor had given her. She had inevitably cultivated her own death-loyal soldiers in secret.

These black-robed masked figures were the force she kept outside — the Xuanwu Guards.

If the old Emperor had not deposed her, all would have been well. But if the old Emperor had truly tried to install Li Chonghua in her presence, she would have launched a coup to purge the Imperial City even without Li Mao.

But in this world, hypotheticals were worthless.

In the end, the old Emperor had not betrayed her — so she would still sincerely call him Grandfather.

The first line of defense of the Jialang Gongsun Clan is about to crumble. You will be pleased.

A cup of wine was spilled upon the ground. Today was the old Emperor’s birthday.

The sky was vast and the earth stretched far. Behind the command platform lay endless rows of military tents; before it stretched the wide training grounds. The banners of the Dabi Army were coming down, while the axes and halberds and blood-red swords of the Yin Dynasty slowly rose.

The two Eagles circling overhead let out long, piercing cries, and the drifting clouds scattered.

Zhan Changfeng lightly flicked the blade of her sword, producing a resonant twang like a plucked string. “What did the Gongsun Clan promise you? Or rather—”

She tilted her head and smiled. “Nothing at all.”

Yue Kun gritted his teeth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

In his heart he had a vague guess — the Gongsun she mentioned was likely the great family standing behind Li Mao.

“You do know,” Zhan Changfeng said idly, drowsy under the afternoon August sun. “I once heard a story. A farmer wanted a donkey to pull a cart but didn’t want to feed it, so he hung a carrot on a stick in front of it.”

Zhan Changfeng paused, momentarily thrown by the long-unused royal ‘I’, then continued, “Some say the donkey is foolish — but I believe that striving to reach a carrot you can never quite grasp is still better than starving to death where you stand.”

I… Yue Kun’s heart gave a jolt. That’s right — she was Crown Prince Changsheng. Born from the very first breath of life as the heir to the Son of Heaven, the Crown Prince Changsheng destined to ascend.

The honors heaped upon her were known to all the world, and yet as she grew year by year, the glory had faded into mere backdrop.

Rational. Cold. Clever to the point of seeming inhuman — that was the final impression she had left on the hundred officials.

Even the lords and ministers who harbored treachery in their hearts had been forced to admit back then: if she came of age, she would surely become a powerful and flawless ruler — and their own catastrophe.

Yue Kun recalled that at that time he had not yet contemplated rebellion. When he first heard the news of the palace coup and the Crown Prince’s flight into hiding, he had been so anxious he could only sigh, “It’s over.”

“Ha ha ha—” Yue Kun laughed bitterly. “People climb to higher ground; water flows to lower. It is the natural order of things.”

Zhan Changfeng said, “I like what you just said.”

“Bring them up.”

Yue Kun’s eyes slowly widened. Those people shuffling forward in chains and shackles, clad in white prisoner’s robes marked with the character for ‘prisoner,’ were his direct bloodline — his closest kin and most trusted confidants.

“Whether we count it as your defeat in battle or your treason, I’m quite inclined to execute your nine clans. What do you think?”

Yue Kun seethed in furious silence.

Zhan Changfeng said, “The sun is just right. Take him down and carry out the executions together.”

One hundred and twenty people knelt across the ground. The executioners had already raised their blades, and wailing cries filled the air.

Yue Lanshan had hoped He Yuntian would come out to play the hero and save her, just as he had taught those street ruffians a lesson on her behalf back on Main Street. She had hoped her valiant father would protect her — but He Yuntian did not appear, and her father was just as wretched as she was, awaiting death.

“Father, I don’t want to die!” Yue Lanshan was in despair. Though her body still lived, her heart had already dried up like a dead well.

The old patriarch of the Yue Family wept aloud. “The Yue Family is completely finished — over two thousand lives!”

Yue Kun jolted suddenly. That’s right — she had said nine clans. These two hundred people were merely going first.

Yue Kun finally collapsed to the ground, limp. The Yue Family’s century-old foundation was turning to ash and smoke in his hands.

“A Kun — Second Brother, Third Brother!” Yue Lie’s voice rang out from the distance.

Yue Kun, Yue Song, and the old patriarch of the Yue Family looked up in surprise and joy, just as a group of riders charged into the training grounds on horseback. Their hearts immediately sank — there were only a few dozen of them.

But looking more carefully, every single one of those few dozen people was in the Prenatal realm!

There was hope!

Zou Tingwei, riding beside Yue Lie, swept his sharp gaze across the surroundings and inwardly groaned — they were a step too late. This was clearly a scene of settled dust.

Fortunately, he had come prepared. “According to reports, cultivators of the cultivation world have been interfering in the affairs of the mortal realm. The Bureau of Patrol has been ordered to arrest all such persons and bring them in. Those who resist will be executed on the spot!”

“Move in!”

Bureau of Patrol cultivators, wielding spiritual weapons and magical instruments, charged toward the command platform. Dazzling arrays of spells and techniques were already primed and ready.

Zhan Changfeng also said, “Move in.”

The command flag swept down. Iron chains flew up from beneath the ground, tangling around the horses’ legs. A thousand shield soldiers charged out from both flanks and formed battle lines, a thousand archers following close behind.

Could a single Prenatal realm cultivator stand against an entire army?

Could several dozen Prenatal realm cultivators stand against an army composed of Postnatal realm soldiers?

A rain of fire arrived before any spell could reach the Bureau of Patrol, and the bursting arrowheads were burning with suffocating smoke!

Zou Tingwei was greatly alarmed — these people had been prepared all along!

But Zou Tingwei did not panic; instead he laughed. Where would the mortal world ever gather so many Postnatal and Prenatal realm cultivators? When he reported this back to the Bureau, there would be grounds to mobilize a large force. They need only detain these Prenatal and Postnatal cultivators for a period of time — even if their innocence was eventually proven, that window would be enough for the Gongsun Clan’s people to rapidly seize control of Huangzhou.

Having gone this far for the Gongsun Clan, he had already done more than enough.

Zou Tingwei transmitted his voice to several trusted subordinates: “Get Yue Kun out. Huangzhou still needs him.”

One cultivator flung out a handkerchief that instantly expanded to the size of a folding screen, blocking the fire rain and choking smoke. Another cultivator seized the cover to swing a great blade and carve an opening in the defensive line, attempting to rescue Yue Kun.

It would not be so easy to succeed. Iron Shield shouldered a man-height shield and leapt ferociously into the fray — clang! Shield met great blade, and the ground beneath their feet cracked open!

“Hey! What blind fool comes here to start a rebellion!”

“You dare strike someone from the Bureau of Patrol!”

“What’s that? Never heard of it.”

(End of Chapter)