Towering drifts of snow gradually dressed all of Qingzhou City in silver and white.
Yet Flowing Sand's forces had not retreated a single step. They still stood like javelins.
Heaven and earth lay silent, yet even a hundred meters away, they could hear the earthshaking cries of slaughter.
The woman holding the umbrella had elegant, flowing hair. She could not help raising it a little higher.
So that more people could shelter beneath it.
Her name was Luo Qingwan, and she was originally a woman from Jiangnan.
But like so many who had joined Flowing Sand, she had her own reasons, which had ultimately brought them together.
"Are we still not attacking the city?"
Luo Qingwan looked toward the city gates and asked the acting Juzi, Mu Lingfeng, her voice full of worry.
The fighting inside was so fierce that anyone leaving the city would have to carve a bloody path out.
I wonder how Little Juzi is doing...
Worry creased Luo Qingwan's brow. They had finally found the former Juzi's orphaned son after so much difficulty. They should have taken him back and kept him safe.
But a wall stood between them, keeping them apart.
To leave, they would have to break through the gates.
"Wait a little longer..."
Mu Lingfeng's expression was grave.
"What else are we waiting for? Every second we delay the attack puts Little Juzi in greater danger!"
"Exactly! Didn't we come here for Little Juzi? Why are we still hesitating?"
"Juzi Mu!!"
More and more people shouted, worry written on every face.
Whether they had splintered off or were old followers who had stayed with Ning Yuanzhou all along.
At this moment, they had only one goal in their hearts: attack the city as soon as possible and rescue Little Juzi.
"Don't panic!"
Yet Mu Lingfeng continued, "I know you're worried. I'm just as worried. But didn't you hear the report Jiuyou sent back?"
"Little Juzi has given us plenty of surprises. He not only excels in both civil and military strategy, but he's also powerful!"
"Before his identity as the former Juzi's orphaned son was revealed, he enlisted and served in the army, risking his head and spilling his blood for the Great Li Dynasty. Yet when he returned from the campaign, his beloved was forced into a diplomatic marriage and sent to an enemy dynasty!"
"Could anything better align with heaven's will and the people's hearts?"
Mu Lingfeng's hoarse voice echoed through the wind and snow, lingering long afterward. "We've found the former Juzi's orphaned son, yes. But do you want the child we bring back to be a sheltered rich boy under our protection, ignorant of the dangers of the human world in a dynasty's dying days?
"Or do you want him to inherit the former Juzi's talents and abilities, to become someone truly worthy of inheriting the title of 'Juzi'?"
"..."
After hearing Mu Lingfeng's words, the Flowing Sand members led by Luo Qingwan all fell silent.
Of course they wanted the latter.
But their first priority had to be ensuring Little Juzi stayed alive.
"Wait a little longer..."
While Mu Lingfeng waited on his side, Zhuge Jingcheng waited atop the city wall as well.
Flowing Sand worried about Little Juzi's safety, while Zhuge Jingcheng worried that Flowing Sand would lose patience and launch an assault.
The two sides were now locked in a silent contest, waiting to see who would run out of patience first.
The slaughter inside the city continued.
Blood stained the ground red, and Yin Jiuyou, Qi Shanhe, and the others had all suffered injuries of varying severity.
"Haha! They're almost finished!"
"I told you, it still comes down to us!"
"Finish them off in one push!"
Roar after roar rang out, and madness rose in everyone's eyes.
Life and death were decreed by fate; wealth and honor lay with heaven.
"Kill!!"
Still more people charged forward.
"Slash!"
Ning Que slashed with his blade, and sweeping sword qi cleaved them in half on the spot.
"Excellent skills, sir!"
But in the next instant, a soft, effeminate voice rang out of thin air.
The voice arrived before its speaker appeared, echoing around the desolate city gates.
Everyone's expression grew solemn.
Ning Que looked up toward a corner, where a dark figure stood. A mighty wind rose, tossing his long hair into the air.
This man's aura was stronger than that of Tong Chengkun from the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, or even the Yin Lotus Cult's Holy Maiden and Holy Mother!
Yin Jiuyou tried to step forward, but Ning Que stopped him.
"I'll handle this."
Ning Que looked at the man. "Are you here for the bounty too?"
Unexpectedly, the man shook his head. "No. I'm merely a martial artist."
"I heard there was fighting here and came to take a look."
Without giving his name, he simply charged in silence, sword in hand.
Ning Que flicked his wrist, bringing Dawn Breeze, Waning Moon crashing against the man's sword.
"Clang!"
A clear metallic tremor rang out.
The powerful impact sent the man flying backward more than ten meters.
He looked at Ning Que with a peculiar glint in his eyes. "Excellent skills, sir. I've traveled all beneath heaven, yet I've never seen someone your age attain such strength..."
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You have triggered a new background condition. You may perform your next Background Editing!]
As the man finished speaking, a trace of surprise flashed across Ning Que's face.
Not because of the man's strength, but because of the system notification that had sounded in his mind.
What the hell?
Triggered a new background condition?
Could this man be a background character for the second Background Editing?
He isn't here to kill me for the bounty?
"You flatter me, sir. I'm merely a rebel."
Surprised or not, he could not let his air of superiority slip.
Ning Que calmly returned the man's words to him, unchanged.
He asked inwardly, System, what does triggering a new background condition mean?
[Ding! Conditions for triggering new Background Editing are random. They may involve a person or an item. When such people or events appear, the probability of performing the next Background Editing increases.]
"So that's how it works..."
Hearing this, Ning Que understood. It was a random event that could increase the probability of his next Background Editing.
Ning Que grew curious. Just where had this mysterious man come from?
The man continued, "Whatever your identity in the mortal world, would you be interested in coming with me? I'll take you into a whole new world..."
A whole new world?
Ning Que froze for a moment, then broke into a grin.
Could this man be an immortal who randomly searches for geniuses with exceptional aptitude and monstrous talent, like in those cultivation novels?
"No, thank you. I still have things of my own to do..."
When Ning Que refused, the man did not insist. He merely smiled regretfully. "Everyone has their own aspirations. A worthy man should roam the four corners of the world... What a pity. The girl I met in the imperial palace three years ago wouldn't come with me either... She missed an opportunity as vast as the heavens..."
The man left, shaking his head.
Hearing those words, Ning Que froze.
Three years ago?
The imperial palace?
A girl?
Could he be talking about the reigning Empress?
Still, Ning Que breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the man had not come to take his life.
Otherwise, things really would have been tricky.
Meanwhile, Zhuge Jingcheng was still anxiously awaiting Black Qilin's arrival.
But in the next instant, a thud rang out!
A blood-soaked figure rushed in.
After only a few steps, he collapsed, clutching his severed arm.
Zhuge Jingcheng looked—and saw that it was Black Qilin!
Terror instantly filled his eyes.
At the same time, another urgent report arrived.
"Report! Provincial Governor! Disaster! Flowing Sand is preparing to attack the city!"
"Boom..."
Before you continue