The North Sea Emperor looked in despair at the Prophet Tower before him. At that moment, he desperately wanted an answer from Nalan Hongchuo: how much chance did he still have of winning?
Back then, she had even urged him to withdraw his troops immediately and have Xiao Lin return to the border to take up defensive positions. He had refused to listen, stubbornly determined to gamble on the North Sea Kingdom's future.
But now it seemed the Prophet had been right. He should never have clung to the hope of getting lucky. Now, he only wanted to ask her again what he could do to salvage the situation.
Yet as he watched five Transcendent Masters continually clearing away the ice forming on the Prophet Tower, a sense of helplessness welled up in him. All he could do now was wait-wait for those Grand Lords to deliver supplies to Xiao Lin, wait for Xiao Lin to retake Wumeng City. Then he would still have hope of winning this war.
When he reached the top of the tower, Nalan Hongchuo was still in that same frail, sickly state. She did not respond even after he called several times. In the end, the North Sea Emperor left in disappointment, leaving behind a palace maid with orders to report to him immediately once Nalan Hongchuo woke.
He then asked Eunuch Hai behind him, "Have you found out what Ouyang Long and Violet have been busy with lately?"
Bowing and taking small, shuffling steps, Eunuch Hai replied, "Your Majesty, this servant sent everyone available to try to infiltrate the Ouyang Lineage and the Luo Lineage, but they all failed. The Transcendent Masters around them keep a tight guard. Anyone entering their lineage compounds must undergo repeated screening."
Before he could finish, the North Sea