Guangyang Prefecture

On the day of Cold Dew, at nightfall, in Guangyang Prefecture.

Affected by the southward-moving cold air, the Guangyang Prefecture City, built along the river, appeared somewhat desolate.

The light snowfall caused disruptions, and the thick ice on the canal nearly shut down shipping. However, the disruption of river transport led to an increase in the number of animal-drawn carts traveling along the official road.

The more than ten official roads that converged here all formed long queues outside the city.

The political landscape of Guangyang Prefecture was turbulent, and even those with a keen sense of opportunity could easily spot the business opportunities there simply by relying on the official gazettes from the imperial court.

If even the lowest-level vendors are in this situation, one can only imagine how those with inside information are treated.

Speculators, swordsmen, soldiers, sect disciples, and all sorts of other travelers came and went in an endless stream.

Looking around,

Beneath a sky shrouded in a light, misty snowfall, countless beast-drawn chariots traversed the vast land, while in the sky, a hundred birds flocked towards the colossal city.

Adorned with the city lights, it presents a bustling night scene of the ancient city.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a Lion-Eagle Beast, taking advantage of the darkness, stealthily entered the city among the flying beasts, attracting no attention from anyone.

at the same time,

Inside an elegant pavilion built by the water, a handsome young man with thin lips and almond-shaped eyes leaned against the railing, gazing at the bustling street in the distance. He held a folding fan in his hand and chuckled softly as he murmured:

"This vital transportation route to the Three Northern Prefectures hasn't been this bustling in nearly twenty years. But too much bustle isn't good either; even the Drunken Immortal Pavilion has raised its prices."

Behind the handsome young man stood a woman dressed in a fitted outfit.

She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, her black hair like clouds, her skin snow-white and lips red, only a deep scar on her swan-like white neck slightly marred her beauty.

The two were Luo Qingfeng, who had fled here, and the handsome young man from the Myriad Medicine Sect.

Luo Qingfeng stared at the man's retreating figure:

"When can your Myriad Medicine Sect introduce me to an elder of the Sect Alliance?"

The handsome young man smiled, turning his head, his smile soft and feminine.

"Miss Qing Feng, don't worry. You disobeyed orders on the battlefield during the decisive battle against the Barbarian Tribe, and you are a sinner."

"Now that all sides have gathered in Guangyang Prefecture, it's already a great risk for me to hide you, let alone the elders of the Sect Alliance. Each of them is likely being watched."

Luo Qingfeng narrowed his eyes, his voice carrying a hint of sternness:

"Fu Qingye, this is my ninth day in Guangyang Prefecture."

Fu Qingye stroked his chin, snapped his folding fan into his palm, and smiled unhurriedly:

"As I've already said, if you have anything important to say, you can tell me, and I'll relay it to the Elders of the Sect Alliance."

As he spoke,

As the snow breeze gently caressed him, Fu Qingye slowly walked into the pavilion. Passing the leaning doorway, he paused briefly, glanced at her, and smiled:

"I am truly curious about what exactly happened when you fought that Barbarian Tribe at the foot of Ancient Mystery Mountain."

Luo Qingfeng smiled slightly:

"It seems your Myriad Medicine Sect isn't planning on asking for payment?"

The Myriad Medicine Sect) runs a battlefield medical services business, and the Northern Border has been plagued by constant warfare for decades, making them long-time customers.

Regular customers receive discounts, and payments are typically made cash on delivery, with settlements every three years.

As he finished speaking,

Outside, the snow continued to fall, and the streets were bustling, but the atmosphere inside the attic suddenly froze.

They gazed at each other for a moment.

A strange light suddenly flickered in Fu Qingye's peach blossom eyes, then he grinned, his eyes narrowed, his red lips and white teeth gleaming with a dangerous light.

"Miss Luo, no one has dared to renege on our Myriad Medicine Sect's debts until now. Does your Northern Border sect want to be the first?"

"."

The two were very close, and in the cold wind blowing in from the window, Luo Qingfeng could even smell the scent of rouge or medicine on Fu Qingye.

However, she did not back down; her clear, cold voice emphasized each word.

"Since you don't want us to renege on our debt, then please arrange my meeting with the elders of the Sect Alliance as soon as possible."

"Well"

Fu Qingye withdrew his Cultivation Method, chuckled, and shook his head. "Everything needs a reason, right? Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to go to Elder Wan's place. If you don't tell me the reason, I can't possibly go to them."

"."

Luo Qingfeng sensed the firmness in the other person's words. After a few moments of silence, she uttered a sentence in a low voice:

"The imperial court officially issued Barbarian-Slaying Edict, but in reality, the Beifeng Army had already incorporated a large number of the Barbarian Tribe wolf riders."

"Oh?" Fu Qingye narrowed his peach blossom eyes.

Luo Qingfeng's tone was solemn:

"Our Northern Border Army has never taken Barbarian Tribe prisoners, and we keep that information secret. You should know very well what that means."

"Representative, the war must continue; does the imperial court need to rely on the Barbarian Tribe?"

Fu Qingye said with a hint of amusement, "Miss Luo, is that what you mean?"

"Yes, now our allied forces of the Three Northern Prefectures are reduced to less than one-tenth, and heavy snow has blocked the mountains and roads, making it impossible for us to support each other."

Luo Qingfeng spoke softly, but unconsciously clenched her fists. "And the imperial army's structure remains intact. If this were the case..."

"Be careful what you say."

Fu Qingye interrupted Luo Qingfeng, a hint of seriousness in his eyes. "Does anyone else know about this?"

"And Jian Cheng."

Luo Qingfeng gently shook her head, turned her gaze through the window to the north, and a sigh flashed in her beautiful eyes, "However, in order to help me stop the pursuers, he used several thousand remaining soldiers to block the three Black Scale Iron Cavalry. He has probably already died in battle."

A look of understanding flashed in Fu Qingye's eyes, and he said in a low voice:

"So, what you call disobedience is actually knowing things you shouldn't know?"

Luo Qingfeng bowed to Fu Qingye.

"If it weren't for Young Master Fu's intervention, Qing Feng would probably have been hunted down to death by the powerful soldiers accompanying the army. All the information I have given you has been shared. I hope you will contact the Sect Alliance as soon as possible, as there may be a major upheaval in the Northern Border."

"."

Upon hearing this, Fu Qingye did not speak immediately, his mind racing as he analyzed the pros and cons.

If Luo Qingfeng's words are true, then this matter is truly earth-shattering.

The problem is that he doesn't know if the sect leader and the others have received this message, let alone the attitude of the entire Sect Alliance towards the Northern Border sects.

He holds a high position within the Myriad Medicine Sect) as he is responsible for managing all business in the Northern Border.

However, this high rank does not refer to the high rank of the core decision-making circle, but rather to his status as a groomed successor. There are six more people like him in the Myriad Medicine Sect.

In other words, he can be abandoned.

If this is reported, will he be on a brighter, more promising path, or on a path to his death?

As he was thinking, Fu Qingye suddenly realized something, and sweat began to break out on his back.

Such a major event will inevitably be reported within the Sect Alliance.

He was well aware of the methods of those freaks who gathered intelligence, and he also knew how those old foxes controlled the world situation.

The Northern Border Sect lost 300,000 elite troops, and the Barbarian Tribe army of hundreds of thousands was slaughtered. These two events alone are enough to make some predictions, not to mention that the real high-ranking officials must know some information that Fu Qingye does not.

In other words, the top brass of the Sect Alliance is most likely aware of this, or at least anticipated it.

In this situation, one of his key personnel on the front lines in the Northern Border received no news.

"."

Fu Qingye's gaze towards Luo Qingfeng gradually changed, becoming as if he were looking at a plague god.

Damn it, that scar.

They thought they could reap the benefits, but what they picked was a bomb!

Fu Qingye knew very well what the consequences would be of learning important information that didn't match his identity.

If this gets out, he'll die too.

We have to pretend we don't know.

Having made up his mind, Fu Qingye smiled gently, helped Luo Qingfeng up, and whispered:

"Miss Luo, there's no need for such formality. Your father and my master are old friends. If the imperial court dares to act in this way, then they are making enemies of all the sects in the world. I, Fu, will go and pay my respects to Elder Wan tomorrow."

Luo Qingfeng smiled brightly upon hearing this:

"Then Qing Feng thanks Brother Fu."

For a moment, the atmosphere in the attic room softened.

Fu Qingye suppressed the murderous intent in his heart, released the woman's delicate arms, and walked to the low sandalwood table in the room to sit down on the futon.

"By the way, Miss Luo, I remember that Brother Jian Cheng seems to have grown up with you?"

"."

Luo Qingfeng suddenly fell silent, her eyes lowered, and she did not respond.

Amidst the chaos of battle, the shouts of killing were deafening. The image of him, his face covered in blood, smiling as he let her go first, seemed etched into his very bones.

At the coming-of-age ceremony,

That guy told her...

He was willing to do anything for her.

Including death.

Little did I expect that my words would come true.

Seeing the expression on her face, Fu Qingye sighed softly, silently took out a pot of wine and two copper cups, poured himself a cup, and drank it gently.

"Miss Luo, please don't be too sad. Your survival is probably what Brother Jian Cheng would have wanted to see."

"And only by surviving will we have a chance to take revenge."

Luo Qingfeng walked to the other side of the low sandalwood table, knelt down, pursed her lips, and forced a smile:

"When the sect is in peril, how can we tolerate personal feelings?"

A hint of pity flashed in Fu Qingye blossom eyes. He subtly refilled the bronze wine cup in front of her and sighed softly:

"It seems the rumors that His Majesty is nearing his end are true, otherwise the court wouldn't be in such a hurry."

Luo Qingfeng glanced at the wine glass, picked it up with her slender fingers, and brought it to her lips.

Fu Qingye didn't look, but instead poured himself a drink with a solemn expression, waiting for the other party to drink the poisoned wine.

Just as Luo Qingfeng's red lips lightly touched the rim of the cup, a clear, melodious voice suddenly rang out on the terrace outside the room:

"Qingye, come out."

Luo Qingfeng paused for a moment.

Fu Qingye.

They locked eyes for a moment,

Fu Qingye slowly stood up and smiled at Luo Qingfeng:

"My master is here. Shall we go out together to greet him?"

Luo Qingfeng's eyes flickered. She put down her wine glass, nodded, and also stood up.

"Qing Feng has indeed not seen Senior Liu for a long time."

After saying this, Fu Qingye put away the wine pot and cups, and with a heavy heart, he walked out of the pavilion with Luo Qingfeng.

Outside the attic, on the terrace, a young man with white hair and beard had appeared at some point.

Fu Qingye and Luo Qingfeng bowed simultaneously.

"Master (Senior Liu)."

Liu Guangbai, the third elder of the Myriad Medicine Sect, looked like a young man. He wore a crescent-white brocade robe, had a slender figure, and a beautiful face. He exuded an indescribable elegance and grace.

He used Cultivation Method and medicines to preserve his youthful appearance; though he was over a hundred years old, he showed no signs of aging.

He looked at Luo Qingfeng and smiled slightly:

"Feng girl, I have already overheard what you and Qingye discussed. Now that this is a major event for the sect, I will relay it to Elder Wan on your behalf."

Luo Qingfeng's breath hitched, and she was about to nod in greeting when the other party used their Source Qi to stop her.

Liu Guangbai smiled gently:

"No need for formalities. I have business with Kiyono. You may continue to rest here."

Luo Qingfeng lowered her head and nodded:

"Yes."

When she looked up again, the two men had vanished and returned to the house. She glanced at the table where she had just been about to drink, and sighed helplessly.

As the light snow fell, two figures soared through the air above the bustling city.

Looking at his master, who was known as the "Medicine King," Fu Qingye asked tentatively:

"Master, how long have you been here in Guangyang Prefecture?"

"Yesterday."

"Master, did you hear that just now?"

Liu Guangbai glanced back at him:

"You want to kill that girl?"

Fu Qingye's eyes flickered for a moment, knowing that denial was useless:

"Yes, the information she brought is too dangerous for my disciple."

"Well done. This kind of decisiveness is essential for achieving great things."

"But why, Master?"

"The situation has changed."

Liu Guangbai spoke slowly and softly, "I received intelligence that the imperial court deliberately kept her around to deliver messages."

"What?" Fu Qingye was taken aback.

A hint of amusement flashed across Liu Guangbai's eyes:

"Don't you realize she's just a third-rank Grandmaster of military formations? How could she possibly escape the pursuit of the Black Scale Army's elite warriors? Qingye, while your strength is not bad, if the Prime Minister's Mansion really wants to kill him, you'll probably be the one to go down with him too."

Speeding through the night, his long hair flowing, Fu Qingye frowned slightly.

"What does the court intend to do by keeping her alive to deliver the message?"

Liu Guangbai looked at the pitch-black night sky:

"The reason why Chancellor Xu released her to deliver the message at this time is to give the Northern Border Sects an opportunity to surrender."

"Are the Prime Minister and His Majesty preparing to reveal their true intentions directly?"

Fu Qingye's thoughts raced. After a moment's pause, he murmured, "The imperial court certainly wouldn't want a Northern Border that's been completely ravaged."

Looking at the bustling Guangyang Prefecture City, Liu Guangbai murmured:

"Now, the Imperial Yulin Army have been stationed in two towns in Guangyang Prefecture. A quarter of an hour ago, they officially cut off all official roads leading north. Heavy snow has blocked the roads in the Three Northern Prefectures, and the mountain gates cannot form any defensive perimeter. They have become fish on the chopping board."

Fu Qingye's breath hitched slightly. He understood the meaning behind his master's words, but there was still a hint of uncertainty:

"Master, Sect Alliance really going to abandon the Northern Border? If they do, the Northern Border, having lost all their elite forces, will most likely surrender directly."

"So how could we possibly give up?"

Liu Guangbai rolled his eyes and chuckled softly:

"If we give up directly, most of the sects in the Northern Border will indeed become spineless in isolation. So we have to give them hope. The Sect Alliance has already prepared some great gifts for the court in other prefectures."

"Since the imperial court wants the Three Northern Prefectures, we'll give them Three Northern Prefectures that have been completely destroyed!"

Fu Qingye remained silent for a few moments after hearing this, then exhaled:

"So you had a plan all along, Master. But I wonder why you summoned me here?"

A smile appeared on Liu Guangbai- haired, youthful face:

"I will introduce you to a distinguished person."

After saying that, he headed down to an elegant and refined courtyard.

As he landed, Fu Qingye glanced around but found no servants. Without asking any questions, he followed Liu Guangbai to a brightly lit room.

Liu Guangbai stopped in his tracks, hesitated slightly, then knelt down and bowed deeply.

"Your Highness, I, Liu, request an audience."

Fu Qingye immediately knelt down as well.

Silence followed.

"Squeak--"

The door opened.

A man with striking features, like a star, appeared at the doorway, a calm smile on his face, and greeted the other person.

"Mr. Liu, please come in."