A certain-death trap.
Even the immortals couldn't save her.
Pu Mingzhu clearly agreed. A trace of resentment crept into her voice. "Qin Yanying really is a reckless woman. She had to cause this mess right before the Ten Thousand Races Imperial Examination, and she even rescued everyone, throwing the Imperial Princess's plans into disarray!"
Li Xingluo let out a soft sigh. "She has her own principles. There's no point saying more. Hurry and go!"
In truth, Pu Mingzhu was right.
If this had happened after the Ten Thousand Races Imperial Examination, once negotiations between the various parties had concluded, things wouldn't have been so troublesome.
Or, if they had deliberately held back and allowed some of the pregnant women and children to be injured or killed, there would still have been room to turn the case around.
But Li Xingluo also knew that the shadow that had haunted Qin Yanying all her life was her dead brother, Qin Yanting, and the children in that city whom she had failed to save in time.
To stand by and do nothing would have been no different from betraying her past.
Still, what she was doing was far too reckless, with no thought for the consequences.
Li Xingluo couldn't protect her.
Or rather, she could—but the price would be too high, almost impossible to bear.
"Alas!"
Pu Mingzhu sighed and hurried toward the gate.
Protecting the victims' families simply meant shielding them from threats and preserving the possibility that they might testify for Qin Yanying.
But how could they avoid threats and temptations altogether?
Besides, even if they dared to testify, what could they change?
The only one to blame was Qin Yanying for being too stupid!
She could have been a key piece in the Imperial Princess's plans, yet she had blown her cover so easily.
Shaking her head, Pu Mingzhu stepped out of the residence.
Unexpectedly, the moment she left, she heard a voice brimming with wild delight.
"I did it! I did it! Hahaha!"
The puppet came toward her and enthusiastically grabbed her wrist. "Nanny Pu, I did it!"
Pu Mingzhu looked puzzled. "Daoist Kongxu, what did you do?"
"Of course, I succeeded with the new military weapon! Come, come, I'll demonstrate it for you and the Imperial Princess."
"..."
"Imperial Princess! Imperial Princess!"
The puppet's voice rang with excitement. Still holding Pu Mingzhu's hand, he strode into the main hall.
Li Xingluo put on a smile as well. "I could hear your laughter from far away, sir. Has something good happened?"
"Of course! The weapon... it's ready!"
"Which weapon?"
Li Xingluo's interest was piqued. During their long conversation the other day, the puppet master had proposed many ideas for new weapons, and she had been deeply intrigued.
Although those weapons could only be used by ordinary troops and could threaten experts at around the sixth rank at most, most soldiers on the battlefield were below the sixth rank. If the new weapons could truly be mass-produced and threaten large numbers of enemy troops, they would bring a qualitative leap in combat capability.
Unfortunately, the ideas were so novel that even Li Xingluo had thought them difficult to realize.
She hadn't expected that in less than half a month, Daoist Kongxu would already have made a breakthrough.
As she watched, the puppet pulled a small square box from his robes and set it on the ground.
Several miniature repeating crossbows were fitted beneath the box, and unfinished arrays had been carved into it. Those were clearly intended for attacking.
The top, however, was rather strange. Three blades were mounted at each of its four corners, and she had no idea what they were for.
Li Xingluo looked puzzled. "Sir, what does this do?"
The puppet smiled. "Why don't you guess first, Imperial Princess?"
Li Xingluo studied the little box for a moment, then hazarded a guess. "A combat flying boat?"
During their conversation that day, the thing she had cared about most was the combat flying boat. She knew full well that the Demon Officials had performed so well on the battlefield partly because certain races could seize control of the skies.
If combat flying boats could be developed, human armies could do the same.
She grew excited at the thought.
The puppet smiled and sighed. "The Imperial Princess is indeed exceptionally clever!"
Li Xingluo brightened slightly, but then asked, puzzled, "But I don't see any wind-riding array on this flying boat. How can it..."
The puppet waved a hand. "Wind-riding arrays cost too much, and they interfere with the spirit-power circuits, weakening the attack arrays. What use would they be?"
"Then how does it fly?"
"Please watch, Imperial Princess!"
"Whirrrrr..."
Before his words had even faded, the blades on all four sides of the little box began spinning rapidly. They lifted the box into the air, and at the puppet's gesture, it darted freely through the air.
Li Xingluo: "!!!"
She immediately asked, "Sir, excluding the crossbows, arrays, and spirit cores, how much does this combat flying boat cost?"
The puppet folded his arms and leaned back with an air of nonchalance. "Not much! Ten taels of silver. If we refine the manufacturing process, it could cost even less."
Li Xingluo: "!?!?!?"
Her heart pounded violently. At such a low cost, if they could bring down the price of the spirit cores and arrays, these could even be treated as expendable battlefield supplies.
What would that amount to?
It would be like using money to acquire a force of fearless, absolutely loyal, low-rank monsters capable of flight.
Once the manufacturing process matured, this would be a top-tier strategic resource.
It could even become... political leverage!
This leverage might carry even more weight than Qin Yanying.
Suppressing her excitement, Li Xingluo asked, "Sir, you haven't told anyone else about this, have you?"
"No!"
The puppet seemed not to realize what she was truly asking about, and went on excitedly at length. "And I have a few ideas that could bring down the cost of the spirit cores and arrays. What's more..."
As Li Xingluo listened, thrilled, the puppet's voice suddenly cut off.
Li Xingluo's heart lurched. "Sir?!"
The puppet didn't respond.
Li Xingluo called out several more times, but the puppet still didn't react.
She began to panic. Had something happened to Daoist Kongxu's real body?
At a moment like this...
"Sir!"
"I'm here!"
"..."
Li Xingluo let out a long breath. "Sir, you gave me a fright. What happened just now?"
The puppet's spirits seemed to have suddenly fallen. He beckoned, and the little box settled quietly into his palm.
Seeing his mood, Li Xingluo couldn't help asking, "Sir, what is it...?"
The puppet said in a low voice, "Just now, I was on Xuanwu Street and saw something rather unpleasant. Has the Imperial Princess heard about it?"
As he spoke, his gaze settled on Li Xingluo's face.
There seemed to be a hint of scrutiny in it.
Li Xingluo: "..."
In that instant, countless thoughts ran through her mind.
The puppet had come to call on her for a long conversation that day.
Although he hadn't shown much political ambition, his aversion to the Demon Race had been unmistakable. That was why, from the very first day, she had opened up access to a considerable portion of her precious resources.
Conversely, their shared stance toward the Demon Race was likely why "Daoist Kongxu" had pledged his loyalty to her.
And now...
Almost the moment the Qin Family clashed with the Demon Officials, Daoist Kongxu had made a breakthrough with his combat flying boat.
Li Xingluo couldn't believe this was mere coincidence.
This was a test—or perhaps...
He wanted to confirm whether she was someone worth following.
Her excitement gradually subsided. After thinking it over carefully, she finally said in a solemn voice, "I've heard about the Qin Family's situation. It's quite troublesome, but there may still be room to turn things around. General Qin has the people's welfare at heart. You and I should do everything we can to help her. Do you agree, sir?"
"The Imperial Princess is noble and righteous!"
The puppet cupped his hands. "Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. Unfortunately, I'm just a nobody, with no understanding of politics. Aside from tinkering with things, I have no other skills. If the Imperial Princess needs me to do anything, just say the word. I'll do everything in my power."
Li Xingluo smiled and nodded. "Of course!"
"There's still much to improve on the flying boat. I'll take my leave for now!"
"Take care, Daoist!"
As she watched the puppet leave, Pu Mingzhu's expression turned grave. "Was Daoist Kongxu forcing your hand?"
Li Xingluo smiled faintly. "He has every right to. With a talent like his, if he agreed with everything without question, I'd be even less willing to use him! Today, he was willing to stand up for the Qin Family, which only makes me think more highly of him. Those Demon Officials aren't the sort you can drive away with a show of weakness!"
Pu Mingzhu sighed softly. "Then does the Imperial Princess have a plan?"
"No!"
"Then..."
"Father has always doted on me. I'll go to the palace later and sound him out."
Li Xingluo smiled mildly. "If all else fails, I'll present the flying boat to him. At least then, Qin Yanying can have a more comfortable time in prison."
Pu Mingzhu was startled. "Imperial Princess! The flying boat is no ordinary thing. If you present it..."
This kind of strategic resource was valuable as leverage while kept in their hands. If she showed it to the Emperor, it would surely be claimed by the state. It could certainly win them some short-term benefits, but trading it merely for Qin Yanying's comfort in prison would be a terrible waste.
"With a master like him, the flying boat is just a little extra."
Li Xingluo beamed, then turned to Pu Mingzhu. "Nanny, once you've finished your task, look into whether any genius puppet artificers were close to the Qin Family."
"Yes!"
Pu Mingzhu nodded solemnly.
Before you continue