Without Chu Qing, Are We Helpless?

The Others would not descend.

Across the vast state city, all the Others had either willingly or unwillingly entered Stone Ridge Mountain and begun fighting.

Moreover:

Their conflict had spread to Loulan Main City.

Of the vast Loulan Main City, aside from the few necessary Others left behind to hold the fort, all the rest had entered Stone Ridge Mountain as well.

Ask the Others for help? What a joke.

There was no one to be found.

King Shiyu had been living quite comfortably these past days.

Although the Princess Consort had yet to return, although he had been forced to kneel before Chu Qing some time ago, although he still had to swallow his pride and send Chu Qing gifts.

Still, Shi State City had remained calm and peaceful during this period.

The vast state city had absorbed over a million refugees without a single disturbance.

This had allowed him to show off magnificently in the Imperial Capital.

Furthermore, because of Chu Qing, the reforms had succeeded.

The Reformists had become somewhat more supportive of Shi State.

As King Shiyu, he had also received many rewards.

Though he looked down on those trifling rewards, they were still an honor.

He could bring them out later to intimidate people.

That night, he had invited several heads of aristocratic families to listen to music and drink wine. Life was sweet indeed.

Then:

Just as he began enjoying himself, a burly soldier rushed in and reported urgently, "Report!"

"Something terrible has happened!"

"This is bad!"

"The situation is dire!"

King Shiyu slammed the table and said impatiently, "What happened?"

"My King, an anomaly has appeared outside the city!"

"That anomaly is... the Red Copper Golden Toad Master Qing threw into the moat!"

"That iron lump has come alive."

"It is terrifying!"

King