Chapter 120: Zhang Liang’s Strategy and the Bridge Ladder |
"This... where is this place? I'm not dead."
Ye Yunzhou opened his eyes, curiously looking around.
At this moment, his mind gradually became clear.
Ye Yunzhou recalled the images right before he lost his memory.
That figure...
Who was it that saved me at the last moment?
Ye Yunzhou instinctively used his divine sense to scan the surroundings.
Soon, he found two items placed beside him.
One was his Communication Mirror.
It was him who saved me!!
Ye Yunzhou suddenly understood.
I just told him I was going to die here, and I ended up being saved.
Ye Yunzhou smiled.
Looking at his own body, the poison had already been purged.
The other party even treated his injuries and wrapped them in bandages.
The dressing was perfect, and he could smell the scent of medicine.
Ye Yunzhou hurriedly opened the Communication Mirror.
There was no reply from the other side.
This made Ye Yunzhou even more certain—it was him!
It was him who saved me.
No matter when, he always responded to every question.
But this time, he hadn’t replied.
No doubt, it was because he saved me.
Only then did Ye Yunzhou remember the Twin Recording Stone beside the Communication Mirror.
He activated the Recording Stone.
Moments later, Ye Yunzhou couldn't help but reveal a shocked expression.
"..........."
Daxia Imperial Palace.
At this moment, Shushan's Yu Yangzi, Xuantian Sword Sect, and key figures from Great Sui were all present.
The footage shown in the Recording Stone was of those assassins disguised as people from Great Sui, ambushing and waiting for Zhao Lu.
Another Recording Stone showed two sword cultivators lying in ambush.
And another showed an old man in a green robe waiting.
The old emperor sitting in the main seat felt like he was on the verge of a breakdown.
Live... live-streaming an assassination!?
I remember when I was planning this operation, I don’t recall this part being included?
The Recording Stones were brought back by Ye Yunzhou and Zhao Lu.
Zhao Lu said, "Father Emperor, it now seems that someone with ulterior motives is trying to incite a war between Great Sui and Daxia by using the canceled engagement. This person is extremely sinister!"
Yu Yangzi nodded: "Once war breaks out, the people will suffer. Such a vicious scheme.
Don’t let this old man find out who it is, or I’ll yank his intestines out through his a** and shove them back in!"
Yu Yangzi was notoriously foul-mouthed in Shushan.
The old emperor on the main seat felt a vague ache in his rear.
"This... how did you discover this?"
Zhao Lu quickly recited her prepared lines: "Your daughter sensed something was off in advance and made special preparations."
Sensed something in advance!?
Is this still my carefree daughter who could eat eight bowls of rice in one meal?
"Outrageous!!"
The old emperor slammed the table and stood up.
"To actually use this kind of tactic to start a war between two nations—someone come! Investigate this thoroughly for me! Find out who's behind this!"
Li Xuanxiao silently watched the emperor's performance from below.
He was calculating in his heart how to trap the other side.
Brother, you’re carrying the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.
If you don’t die, I really can’t sleep well at night.
Thus, the Demon Elimination Tournament had to restart with matches and challenges.
Li Xuanxiao feared the old emperor had more tricks up his sleeve, so he remained on high alert, not daring to relax for even a second.
He was afraid the old emperor would suddenly lash out and trap them all into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.
After all, this time he wasn’t fully prepared—he was forced into defense, responding in a rush, clearly at a disadvantage.
"..........."
Daxia, the capital city.
In the bustling downtown.
An elderly man with white hair and beard was drinking tea.
Shushan’s honored elder Pingyangzi, a great cultivator at the Tribulation Stage.
Not long ago, he had just received orders from the Sect Leader.
To infiltrate the capital of Daxia and wait for further instructions.
The specific mission wasn’t explained in detail.
Pingyangzi’s expression suddenly tensed slightly, his gaze falling on someone in the teahouse across the street.
Shushan elder Chongxu, a great cultivator at the Tribulation Stage.
The two elders exchanged glances and, with tacit understanding, stroked their beards.
Looks like this matter is very serious.
They’d mobilized two Tribulation Stage powerhouses.
Among the crowd, a man with a conical hat and a full beard walked past.
Another honored elder from Shushan, also at the Tribulation Stage.
In an inn, an old man was reading a scroll with his head down.
A Shushan elder, peak Tribulation Stage.
Four Tribulation Stage powerhouses.
In addition, there were eight Body Fusion Stage cultivators and twelve Spirit Transformation Stage ones stationed all around the capital.
As long as the Sect Leader Sword Command flared up.
They could arrive in an instant.
They had received different orders.
The Body Fusion Stage cultivators were to form formations on the perimeter.
The Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators were in charge of evacuation and protecting civilians to avoid collateral damage during the battles.
As for the Tribulation Stage powerhouses, they just needed to charge in.
"..........."
Li Xuanxiao clutched his little heart.
Why... did he still feel vaguely uneasy?
He couldn’t help but click his tongue.
Logically speaking, things should be perfectly resolved by now.
"Should I call in more people?"
"No, too many people would be hard to control."
Li Xuanxiao immediately dismissed his own idea.
But his hands very honestly copied his master Daoist Lingxu’s handwriting and wrote a secret letter.
He stamped it with his master’s personal seal and tied in a strand of his master’s hair.
The secret message was sent back to Shushan via flying sword, in the form of the Sect Leader’s secret code.
".........."
Imperial Palace, side courtyard.
"How did it go?" Liu Qiushui asked calmly.
The old emperor sighed, "I underestimated my daughter."
"Oh? Your daughter is just a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, and she ruined your plan?"
The old emperor rubbed his temples, "I still haven’t figured out exactly what happened. I keep feeling like there’s an invisible hand manipulating things behind the scenes."
"Only the two of us knew your plan. Is there a third person? Your son Zhao Qi?"
The old emperor shook his head, "It couldn’t be him. Besides, he only knew part of the plan. I truly can’t figure out where it went wrong."
"I’ve already sent people to carry out your plan on your behalf. As agreed, since your plan failed, now it’s time to implement mine."
Liu Qiushui didn’t care at all about the emperor’s failure.
The old emperor was silent for a moment, "You want to create chaos in the capital and seize Daxia’s Dragon Vein. The one most affected will be me, the ruler of this country!"
"If the Dragon Vein is lost, many will die, unrest will erupt across the land. Isn’t that exactly what you want? It’s a very fair deal!
Right now, war can’t be started. The court is full of Confucian scholars who’ve read all the classics. If your policies go wrong, they’ll immediately jump up to criticize you.
Even though you're the emperor, you're still constrained on all sides.
The Five Great Immortal Sects, the scholars in court...
Other than cooperating with me, it seems you have no better choice."
Liu Qiushui paused for a moment and continued, "Once it’s done, I’ll give you half of the Dragon Vein!"
The old emperor’s eyes darkened. After a long silence, he finally spat out one word.
"Deal!!"