Chapter 855: Chapter 513: Expedition (Part 2)
Nie Yurong said coldly, "The magic I cultivate ensures my invisibility in daylight, can you do that?"
The young man named Sikong drooped his eyes and complained, "I know, I know, that monk from the Divine Dragon Temple was right. Why didn’t I notice before how nagging you are? What happened to the female assassin skilled in assassination? You’re like an old mother. If you’re like this, the sister you’re looking for must be even more nagging. If we find her, won’t it be like having two old mothers around, driving me crazy?"
Nie Yurong kept a straight face, suddenly flicked her right hand, and a blue paper crane shot out like a dart, hitting the young man’s forehead. He yelped and rolled off the rooftop like a ball. In a critical moment, Sikong grabbed the eaves with one hand and climbed back up, "I never said that, never said!"
Within the secret intelligence organization "Embroidered Robe Envoy," cultivated by the Mu Prince Manor, only a very few knew that Nie Yurong, the esteemed "Embroidered Robe Envoy," had a sister lost in childhood, but she had no news of her, likely having died in a bandit raid years ago.
Nie Yurong said coolly, "Above intercepted a Shadow Guard and obtained information that Zhao Douan has been appointed as the ’Chaos Suppression Grand Commander’ and is leading troops south to Linfeng. He will most likely come to the Western Front battle zone."
As she spoke, the young Sikong spread his palm, and the blue paper crane that hit his forehead unfolded by itself, floating in front of him. With nearly sketch-like strokes, the ink on the paper quickly outlined the portrait of a handsome man with a smiling face.
"Is this the Empress’s consort? Hah, he does have that pretty face look," Sikong spat.
Nie Yurong, with her hands behind her back, stood at the pinnacle of the rooftop, the scorching sun above her. Her voice was cold as ice, "Send the order. Once he enters the Western Front battle zone, I want to monitor his movements immediately."
Sikong was stunned for a moment, then nodded, grinning coldly:
What Yama Zhao? Once Sister Rong targets him, he’s dead for sure.
Don’t you know the top-ranked "Shadowless" Nie Yurong on the Embroidered Robe Envoy’s assassin kill list?
...
...
The Capital, Heavenly Master Mansion.
"Dong——"
"Dong——"
The bell rang throughout the city, signifying the executions at Cai Market had concluded.
Today, Cai Market was overcrowded, with people there to witness the execution of Li Yanfu and Prince Heng.
The entire country of Yu was in turmoil, and Heavenly Master Mansion had become the last peaceful place.
"Master, you called for us?"
Deep within a small courtyard, Yu Xiu, Gongshu Tianyuan, and Jin Jian entered, pushing the door open, and saluted Zhang Yan Yi, who stood under a large banyan tree with his hands behind his back.
The robe of the Old Heavenly Master softly draped on the ground, his hair styled in a dao bun was pinned with a twig:
"Zhao Douan is about to set out. Yu Xiu, Jin Jian, you two should accompany him for a while."
What?
The three disciples were stunned simultaneously. The female Daoist furrowed her brows, "Master orders us to protect him? But involving ourselves in the royal family’s internal strife, is this..."
Yu Xiu did not oppose this arrangement, as it was a good opportunity to observe the "Child of Heaven and Earth."
But she thought, it was justifiable to save Zhao Douan last time, but protecting him now as he sets out breaks the tradition established by the Heavenly Masters over the generations.
Zhang Yan Yi turned around, his long and narrow eyes filled with wisdom, "You don’t need to protect him, nor interfere in the royal family’s internal strife. But if some people try to break the rules, you should go and stop them."
What does that mean... Jin Jian blinked blankly with her big eyes, not understanding.
Yu Xiu paused, "Master means, are we to deal with the White Clothes Sect? The Magic God Sect? Or does Master think the Divine Dragon Temple will still interfere?"
The White Clothes Sect was a group of evil mages, the Heavenly Master Mansion already had the task of hunting and exterminating evil spirits.
As for the Divine Dragon Temple... Although Xuan Yin had fled and the main altar had been destroyed, a large number of Divine Dragon Temple "remnants" were still present in various parts of Yu Country.
Zhang Yan Yi chuckled, "Xuan Yin, that bald donkey, is constrained by the Heavenly Agreement and dares not act recklessly, but if his pupils and disciples make some small moves, it tarnishes the reputation of the entire cultivation community, doesn’t it?"
Yu Xiu understood, cupped her fists, "Disciple shall obey the decree."
After speaking, she saw the clueless Jin Jian standing still beside her, and nudged her lightly with her skirt. The dazed young priestess then mimicked, "Disciple... shall obey the decree."
"Eh? What about me?" Gongshu Tianyuan, nearby, was anxious, and the short, plump priest blinked his small eyes quickly, "Master, I trust Second Senior Sister, but Junior Sister sleeps all day long and has poor vision. Isn’t it dangerous to take her to the battlefield? Let me accompany Second Senior Sister instead."
Jin Jian was displeased, adjusted her glasses on her nose, and put her hands on her hips, "Who are you saying is unfit?"
Gongshu Tianyuan didn’t back down, "You’re unfit. This time the army is dispatched, the court’s firearms will come into play, do you understand firearms?"
Jin Jian was stumped, her momentum weakened, "I... don’t understand."
Gongshu Tianyuan smiled slightly, "Most battles take place in daylight, you sleep during the day. When actual combat happens, others would have to take care of you, do you think that’s right?"
Jin Jian felt as if an arrow pierced her knee, retreated a few steps, and whispered, "No... it shouldn’t."
Gongshu Tianyuan, with hands on hips, laughed heartily and delivered the final blow, "There are many men in the army, and since Senior Sister is a woman, it’s inconvenient for her in many ways. Many things should be done by a man. If you follow Senior Sister, what can you do? Can you change your gender?"
Jin Jian felt as if struck by thunder, suddenly feeling very small and completely outmatched, while Gongshu Tianyuan’s figure seemed infinitely tall, greater than Luo Mountain.
In comparison, she felt incredibly insignificant, with not a shred of hope for victory.
The Old Heavenly Master watched the two bicker quietly, and with a sigh said, "I have made my decision, Yu Xiu and Jin Jian will both go, you stay behind."
Gongshu Tianyuan’s aura collapsed instantly, all his pride vanished.
He suddenly saw Jin Jian growing rapidly, blocking out the sky, making him feel like looking up at a tall mountain: Damn, there is backing, she has backing!
Zhang Yan Yi sighed tiredly and threw a roll of plans from his sleeve to him, "Zhao Douan sent this. The Divine Mechanism Camp summarized the pros and cons of firearms during the Qingzhou campaign and came up with new ideas for improvement, which are for you to refine."
Zhao brother’s new design? Gongshu Tianyuan treasured the plans, looking seriously, "Senior Sister and Junior Sister joining hands is indeed the perfect match."
"Get out!"
"Alright."
...
...
Somewhere in Yu Country, within an inn.
Sitting by the window, covered in a cloak, Xu Jianwen quietly examined a classified report.
After a long time, the Second Prince threw the report out of the window, where it was shredded in mid-air by an invisible Qi mechanism.
"What a Third Sister... and Zhao Douan..."
Xu Jianwen muttered softly, his tone unclear whether it was admiration or disappointment.
"Your Highness..."
In the room, Qi Yuchun and Ren Kun, two senior members of the Kuangfu Society, exchanged looks, "Now that the Empress has stabilized the situation and the Qingzhou Army has suffered a great defeat, should we..."
"Keep hiding and wait for the opportunity," Xu Jianwen replied without hesitation.
Former commander of the imperial guard, Qi Yuchun, said "These days, Yun Xi, Lin Yuebai, and Wu Ling, the traitors, are still attacking everywhere, destroying our branches across the country. If this continues, I’m afraid the society will fall apart..."
Xu Jianwen smiled, indifferent, "They are merely disposable pawns. If they want them, give them. Didn’t Zhuang Xiaocheng see it clearly in the past? Why don’t you understand yet?"
The two were stunned, thinking if the society is destroyed, leaving only a few people, how can they help His Highness regain power?
Or does His Highness have another plan?
Suddenly, Xu Jianwen asked, "What about that guy Gu Huo? Hasn’t he appeared lately?"
The Earth God Mage, Ren Kun, said, "He heard about the Empress’s battle at Baihua Village, then said he had something to do and rushed off in a hurry."
Rushed off? What for? Xu Jianwen frowned, then waved his hand, "Ignore him."
...
...
This late summer, the execution at Cai Market marked the beginning of the court’s counteroffensive.
Three days after Li Yanfu’s death, the Divine Mechanism Camp and the Five Army Camp set off grandly towards Linfeng.
Another day, on Linfeng Road, within the territory of Taicang Prefecture.
On a certain official road, inside a swaying carriage, Zhao Douan exhaled deeply, waking from meditation, his eyes flickering with a trace of electricity.
As if waking from a nightmare, he instinctively raised his hand to touch his chest. Inside his open robes, he wore a dark red half-body armor.
The armor seemed to harbor raging fire, with a black human face imprint on the front like a specter.
"The Zoroastrianism... to meet even in dreams, is that acceptable..."