Rui Xiang’s words instantly froze the atmosphere in the assembly hall. Many generals stared at him with fierce, murderous gazes. Most of these men had loyally followed Luo Bingfeng for years, and although serving Luo Bingfeng was equivalent to serving Zhang Buzhou, since Zhang Buzhou had appointed Wolf King, his popularity had waned. The clear demarcation between Luo Bingfeng and Wolf King had earned Luo Bingfeng the loyalty of many human generals.
Rumors had long circulated in the military that Zhang Buzhou had encountered an accident in his cultivation, and hence, even after years of seclusion, he had made no progress. Meanwhile, Luo Bingfeng’s strength had already caught up to Zhang Buzhou.
A cold light flashed in Du Yuan’s eyes as he slowly said, “Everyone knows that Tianwang is our common ruler; this is a fact that needs no further explanation.”
“Is that so? Perhaps not everyone agrees,” Rui Xiang retorted with a sardonic grin.
Ignoring Rui Xiang’s sarcasm, Du Yuan continued, “Though we are neutral, we cannot stand against the full might of the Evernight and the Empire. With Tianwang in seclusion, his strength has actually diminished, and we cannot afford any unnecessary losses. Rui, why do you insist on this battle? Can you explain your reasons clearly?”
Rui Xiang sneered, “What, are you scared of a little brat blocking the door?”
Du Yuan replied coldly, “This is not about fear, but about understanding the purpose of the fight! I fear some are using Tianwang’s name for personal gain. When Tianwang emerges from seclusion, everything will be revealed, but what if some people flee before that happens?”
Rui Xiang’s face turned livid. With a huff, he stood up and said, “If that’s how Du Commander sees it, then it’s clear we have different paths. Farewell, old man!”
With that, Rui Xiang swept out of the hall, ignoring the fiery, angry glares of the city guards’ faction.
The generals were furious, but they knew they couldn’t force Rui Xiang to reveal his reasons. After all, he was still nominally the head steward of the Tianwang Mansion, effectively acting as Tianwang’s avatar.
As Rui Xiang left, his followers also departed, leaving only the city lord’s supporters in the assembly hall.
One of the generals asked, “Commander, what should we do now?”
“First, send someone to investigate the backgrounds of those young people, as detailed as possible. Perhaps from this, we can deduce why Rui Xiang suddenly attacked. Especially Qian Ye and the captured young man, I want to know everything about them.” After a moment of contemplation, Du Yuan added, “As for Qian Ye, regardless of his background, since he dared to challenge us, he must be eliminated. If necessary, I will take action myself.”
The generals were invigorated by this, feeling a sense of release from the pent-up anger in their chests.
Zhu Meng, however, cautioned, “Commander, Qian Ye may not be easy to deal with. Rui Xiang, that cunning old fox, has been avoiding battle after his clash with Qian Ye; there must be a reason. Before that, Commander should be cautious.”
His words sparked dissent among a few generals, who accused Zhu Meng of cowardice. These men, under Du Yufeng, had seen their status decline after Du Yufeng’s death and harbored resentment towards Zhu Meng.
Du Yuan raised his hand to silence them. “Vice Commanders, I entrust the task of hunting Qian Ye to you, with General Zhu assisting. If you need my help, call me.”
The two vice commanders and Zhu Meng rose to accept their orders, and the military meeting concluded.
Exiting the assembly hall, Zhu Meng felt a heavy heart. Despite all the discussions, there was no resolution, and his three hundred brothers still did not know why they had died.
After walking a short distance, he saw a man hurrying towards him. Recognizing him, Zhu Meng rushed forward and called, “Luo Steward!”
The man, Luo Yun, stopped when he saw Zhu Meng. “General Zhu, how did the discussion go?”
Zhu Meng grimaced, “How could there be a result? Chief Steward Rui refuses to explain why he captured that young man. By the way, Luo Steward, did the City Lord give any instructions?”
Luo Yun sighed, “The City Lord wanted to inquire, but was dissuaded by that person. I am powerless to intervene.”
Zhu Meng lowered his voice, “Could it be that woman and Chief Steward Rui are in cahoots? To sideline the City Lord through inside help?”
Luo Yun was startled, “Don’t speak nonsense! Such things cannot be casually speculated. Besides, the City Lord has shown great kindness to us, and we follow his orders. Furthermore, that person’s divination skills are unfathomable, and her pure Dawnforce is unparalleled, possibly even surpassing the City Lord. Do you think she won’t sense such talk?”
Zhu Meng snorted, “So what if she does? I’m not afraid of death. And I’ve always been loyal to the City Lord; what can she do to me?”
Luo Yun sighed, “General Zhu, this is different from military affairs. Even I can’t speak to the City Lord unless summoned. Your loyalty must be known to the City Lord to be effective.”
Zhu Meng felt increasingly frustrated, stamping his foot heavily.
Luo Yun said, “I have other duties to attend to. Farewell.”
As Luo Yun walked away, Zhu Meng, watching, asked, “Luo Steward, are you going to…?”
“Indeed, I’m heading to Nanqing.”
Zhu Meng, at a loss for words, stepped aside. Watching Luo Yun’s receding figure, he scratched his head, feeling helpless and frustrated.
As night fell, dark clouds loomed over the city, and the wind howled ominously. Inside Tiding City, however, lamps blazed, and preparations were underway. City guard troops moved back and forth, deploying to the outskirts.
Seeing generals rarely seen in public donning their armor, the citizens knew the upper echelons were truly angry.
The large contingent of city guards, advancing methodically, occupied key vantage points, showcasing the commander’s genuine talent.
The city guard’s actions resembled casting a vast net, gradually constricting Qian Ye’s movement. Once Qian Ye acted, he would be exposed, and the hidden strongmen in the army would pounce like beasts, tearing him apart.
By dawn, the city guard had completed their deployment, occupying crucial positions along the trade route to the southwest. Even a formidable Qian Ye could hardly threaten the caravans under these circumstances.
On a hilltop overlooking the road, several officers gathered around the sturdy man. This deputy commander, in charge of the operation, narrowed his hawk-like eyes, scanning the undulating landscape.
“Still no news?” he asked.
“No. Our men are in position, searching the surrounding areas, but so far, no trace of him or his campsite has been found.”
The deputy commander frowned, “What about the killers, mercenaries, and hunters?”
“The killers have been deployed and should be in position. The hired mercenaries have also reached their designated areas and begun their search. The hunters are operating independently, and I don’t know their exact locations. However, I believe the hunters might be the first to find something.”
The deputy commander’s expression softened slightly, “True, they are the scavengers of the wild, the most troublesome. To handle Qian Ye, we need them. Wait, I think we’ll have news soon.”
No sooner had he spoken than a bright blue light leaped into the sky, dazzling and sharp!
The blue light spanned nearly a kilometer, piercing a city guard outpost and landing on a hilltop. Seeing where the light fell, the deputy commander exclaimed, “Not good, Old Meng!”
He leaped into the air, quickly reaching the hilltop, followed by several officers.
At the temporary camp, a burly man lay on the ground, eyes wide open, still refusing to close. Dressed in a common soldier’s uniform, he lay at his post, a massive, gaping wound in his chest, telling the story of that deadly shot.
The deputy commander’s eyes blazed with fury. “How did he discover Old Meng’s identity!?”
The surviving soldiers, trembling, could not answer. A nearby officer said, “Perhaps Old Meng was just unlucky.”
The deputy commander nodded slowly, sighing. Old Meng was usually cautious and skilled in disguise and concealing his aura. He was a key hidden agent in this mission, with even his appearance altered. Only a few high-ranking officers knew his true location. The deputy commander had placed him in an outer position to use his abilities to ambush Qian Ye and deliver a decisive blow during his escape. He hadn’t expected such a crucial asset to be eliminated before the battle even began.
Looking toward the source of the blue light, the deputy commander knew Qian Ye was long gone.
His expression stern, he turned and said, “Let the caravans depart. He’s fired one shot; it will be a while before he fires another.”
A general hesitated, “Isn’t that too risky? What if Qian Ye strikes again…?”
“Then we’ll catch and kill him! If he doesn’t, transporting the caravans under his nose is like slapping him in the face, each caravan a slap.” The deputy commander spoke firmly.
“Commander is wise!”
Moments later, hundreds of cargo trucks rumbled out of Tiding City, heading south. This combined convoy bore various emblems, mostly cargo trucks, with armed escort vehicles being a minority.
Not far from the road, a pile of rocks shifted, revealing a pair of eyes.
Qian Ye had not disguised himself much, only wearing a cloak that matched the rocky environment. His aura was entirely contained, and while an ordinary person might notice, a strong individual relying on perception would overlook him, assuming he was just another rock.
On the hilltop, a hunter lay in wait, constantly scanning the surroundings, clutching a signal gun, ready to fire at any sign.
The hunter, only thirty meters from Qian Ye, had not detected his presence.
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