Jiao Yu's Compromise, Wu Santong's Overt Scheme

"Embroidery, what do you mean by this?!"

Jiao Yu's tone carried a trace of gravity.

Changing commanders on the eve of battle was a grave battlefield taboo. She refused to believe Embroidery did not understand such a simple principle.

"Exactly what you think it means, Jiao Yu. From this moment on, you must follow my orders!"

Embroidery did not dare meet her eyes, but there was not the slightest hint of compromise in her voice.

Jiao Yu looked at Embroidery, then at the urgent command token in her hand.

A faint sense of foreboding rose within her.

Could it be that Wei Xuanfeng's prediction had really come true...

"Embroidery, it isn't that I'm greedy for authority. I simply don't understand—what is there to fight over? Since you want to command, then you do it." Jiao Yu frowned. "Xuanfeng, listen carefully. Hundred Household Commander Embroidery's words are my words. You must obey them!"

Seeing her yield, Embroidery secretly let out a breath of relief.

"Jiao Yu, I know you resent this. Another day, I'll definitely buy you a drink..." As she spoke, Embroidery took a jade box from her robes and held it out before Jiao Yu. "Now, immediately take Wei Xuanfeng, Fox Murong, and Wen Shihan with you and escort this item to the Northern Pacification Bureau. You must personally place it in Boss Wu's hands!"

"What? No! Absolutely not!"

Jiao Yu refused at once.

What kind of joke was this? The four of them could be said to be the strongest fighting force among this group!

If they left, then with only two Martial Master realm fighters who were practically crippled, plus a group of blade soldiers merely at the fifth or sixth layer of the Martial Warrior realm—

They would have no hope of resisting the packs of wolf demons outside.

Forget holding out until they returned with reinforcements—even whether they could last until dawn was unknown!

"Jiao Yu, the urgent command token is right here. You must obey my command!" Embroidery's tone was forceful.

"And if I refuse?"

"By the Demon Suppression Directorate's laws, an urgent command token may command all demon slayers below the rank of Hundred Household Commander! Those who obey outwardly but defy inwardly may be executed! Those who delay the battle may be executed! Those who refuse to cooperate may be executed!" Embroidery said coldly. "Jiao Yu, I'll ask you this: do you recognize this token or not?"

Jiao Yu found it absurd beyond measure.

Not long ago, she had used those very words to threaten Gongsun Su and the others. Now, they had come full circle and landed on her head.

"Lady Hundred Household Commander, surely you also understand the principle that generals in the field need not obey every order from afar." Wei Xuanfeng saw through everything, and a plan instantly formed in his mind. "With just a token—and you as you are now... you can't execute anyone!"

He said it loudly.

The moment Fox Murong and Wen Shihan heard him, they set aside what they were doing and moved to Wei Xuanfeng's side, one to his left and one to his right.

What a clever boy!

Embroidery glanced at him, then said, "Jiao Yu, is what this child says also what you mean?"

"Xuanfeng, step back."

"Boss..."

"Step back!"

"Yes!"

Jiao Yu stared at Embroidery for a long while before she slowly spoke.

"Embroidery, do you know what will happen to you once the four of us leave?! Not only will you and Seven Killings die, the people of Chen Family Village will die too!" Jiao Yu's tone softened. "From the day you and I put on these uniforms, we swore to use the blades in our hands to protect the people behind us. But what are you doing now?!"

"I haven't forgotten! I am protecting the people, but the people I need to protect are not only those of Chen Family Village—they are the people of all Kang City!" Embroidery heavily placed the box in Jiao Yu's hands, her face solemn. "Do you know why Seven Killings and I faked our deaths? Do you know what this is?!

"This is the Earth Immortal Spring Lotus!

"For this supreme poison, Seven Killings and I have already been crippled!

"But neither of us regrets it, because this thing can refine at least ten Qi-Gathering Pills!

"Do you know what that means? It means Kang City will gain at least five Martial Grandmaster realm experts in the future!

"Five!

"You might even be one of them!

"With you here, Kang City can rest easy for the next hundred years, while its people live and work in peace!

"The price is merely Seven Killings and me, and... and the villagers of Chen Family Village.

"Jiao Yu, my good sister, isn't this bargain worth it?!"

"No... that isn't how you calculate it!" Jiao Yu waved her hand. Her already handsome face had turned deathly pale. "Embroidery, listen to me. I'm strong—I'm stronger than both you and Seven Killings! These three children of mine are strong too! We can..."

"Jiao Yu, don't be foolish!" Embroidery cut her off. "Why did Boss Wu send you here? Is there really no one left in the Northern Pacification Bureau?! These three children are the work of your heart and soul. Can you bear to let them all die here?!"

With that one sentence, Jiao Yu froze where she stood.

That was right. Could she bear it?

Of course she could not!

She finally understood that she had fallen into Wu Santong's open scheme!

To prevent her from defying the urgent command token, Wu Santong had even used these three children as bargaining chips.

For the sake of the three of them, Jiao Yu knew that no matter how she looked at it, she had to follow Embroidery's arrangements.

Even...

Fearing that she would not be able to get past that hurdle in her heart, Wu Santong had specifically had Embroidery issue every command.

All the things that had seemed unreasonable now made sense...

"I... I..."

"Jiao Yu, what are you still waiting for? Are you preparing to defy orders?" Seeing Jiao Yu waver, Embroidery continued to press her. "Listen to my command now. Take the immortal spring and leave at once. There must be no mistake!"

Jiao Yu did not move, but Wei Xuanfeng, standing beside her, snatched up the jade box.

The jade box was heavy, and icy cold in his hands.

Not to mention the Earth Immortal Spring Lotus within—even the jade box itself could be considered a treasure.

"Xuanfeng, you..."

"Boss, military orders are as unshakable as mountains. Let's go!" Wei Xuanfeng grabbed Jiao Yu's hand and made to head down the mountain. "Before the wolf demons have gathered, the sooner we leave, the sooner we can get the warning out."

"That's right. The Wei kid's right. Beauty Jiao, if you move fast enough, we might not die after all!"

Seven Killings, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.

"Fine! Seven Killings, protect Embroidery for me!" Jiao Yu was not one to drag things out, and she immediately made her decision. "Embroidery, you'd better stay alive. We're not finished with today's matter!"

With that, the four figures flickered several times before vanishing into the night.

They moved so quickly that not only the villagers, but even most of the saber troopers failed to see them...

Watching their departing backs, Embroidery suddenly dropped to her knees.

"Jiao Yu, what I owe you in this life, I'll repay in the next by serving you like an ox or horse!"

With that, she fiercely kowtowed, and in the blink of an eye, her forehead was covered in blood.

"Enough... Don't harm the baby..."

Seeing this, Seven Killings immediately helped her up.

The baby...

At those words, a trace of maternal tenderness appeared on Embroidery's face.

"I've wronged Jiao Yu, and I've wronged those three children too..."

"But you haven't wronged our child. Besides... the order came from Boss Wu, didn't it?"

"..."

Half an hour later, within a mountain forest.

"Boss Jiao, I told you not to kill it. Look what happened—you kill one, and you provoke a whole pack!"

Hidden amid a thornbush, Fox Murong muttered softly.

"Little Murong, keep complaining and see if I don't throw you out there!" Jiao Yu shot her a glare.

Fox Murong shrank back in fright.

The space was cramped to begin with, and she was already nestled in Wei Xuanfeng's arms. When she shrank back...

The corners of Wei Xuanfeng's lips inexplicably curved upward...

The greatest difference between Fox Murong and other women was that she was naturally born with a body fragrance.

And the more she sweated, the sweeter it became...

As if sensing something amiss, Fox Murong's face suddenly flushed crimson. Fortunately, Jiao Yu's attention was fixed outside at the moment.

Only Wen Shihan gave the two of them an expressionless glance.

"Xuanfeng, you're quick-witted. Hurry and think of something."

Jiao Yu's tone was urgent.

She had not expected there to be so many demon beasts around Chen Family Village—so many that even she had to give them a wide berth...

"Think of what?" Wei Xuanfeng drawled.

"A way to fight our way out of this encirclement!" Jiao Yu said anxiously. "Embroidery and the others are still waiting for us. Every second we waste here puts them in another measure of danger!"

"No, Boss. Them..." Wei Xuanfeng smiled. "They aren't in any danger at all!"

"Xuanfeng, what... what do you mean..."

"Boss, you really are a beautiful fool! Do you think Commander Wu sacrificed Chen Family Village and Embroidery's group? No, the ones he sacrificed were us!"

"Th-That's impossible..."

"Impossible? Boss, how about a bet? If I win, I'll think of a way to help you kill your way out. If I lose, you kiss me once."

"You brat, now is not the time for you to fool around... Fine, a bet it is. Tell me—what are we betting on?"

Wei Xuanfeng smiled, then took out the jade box and opened its lid.

"They all say this Earth Immortal Spring Lotus is a thing of utmost poison. Let's gamble... whether I'll die after swallowing it!"

Before Jiao Yu and the others could react, Wei Xuanfeng directly stuffed the thing from the box into his mouth.

"Xuanfeng!"

"Old Wei!"

"Wei Xuanfeng!"