"Senior, we can't keep hiding here forever, can we?"
Within the Underworld, Shen Er was not the ruler of the Underworld in Liuzhou, so he naturally could not observe the situation in Liuzhou City through the Underworld Liuzhou. Although it was safe for the time being within the Underworld, the drawback was that he could not see what was happening outside.
If the two of them were to venture out now, they would likely be ambushed, but staying put would also be a death sentence.
"Your injury hasn't healed yet, so please rest well and don't worry. I have my own ways of dealing with this," Shen Er's voice was rather cold, but Chen Ying could still sense the concern in his tone.
"Thank you, senior. I'm fine. As long as I take some stress, give me some time, and I'll recover."
"Oh?" Shen Er raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Approximately when will you recover?"
"The spiritual energy in this Underworld is abundant, and you can also utilize the spiritual fields here. Based on the current concentration of spiritual energy, I estimate it will take about three days."
"Three days." Shen Er closed his eyes and calculated the time. The Dragon King's estimate for him was also around three days. This timeframe seemed a bit too short.
Can I come a day earlier?
"Ah, this..." Chen Ying hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded and said, "Okay!"
Shen Er glanced at her and immediately guessed that premature recovery would likely have significant side effects, but she only hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
Thinking of this, he asked, "Is it for Chen Qing or for something else?"
Chen Ying was taken aback, wondering why the other person was saying that, and the tone of the other person was a bit off. She remembered that Mr. Shen Er used to address Chen Qing as "Master".
"Of course it's for the Lord. The Lord has given me a second life, and no amount of repayment is too much."
"That's true." Shen Er nodded.
Seeing the other person's expression turn cold again, Chen Ying felt a pang of unease. Without warning, she blurted out, "But it wasn't all for him?"
"Oh?" Shen Er, who had turned away, paused slightly. "What else?"
"I've witnessed Jiangnan's current state from the beginning. Although I don't have the same ability as the Lord to create such a wonderful place, I believe I've still contributed to the Jiangnan Academy."
So, it's because you can't bear to part with all your hard work?
"Yes," Chen Ying looked at the other person seriously, " Mr. Shen Er, are you willing to give up your hard work?"
Shen Er turned around. "What do you think?"
"I don't know." Chen Ying shook her head. "I'm not you, but when I passed through Nanming Prefecture, I often saw people kneeling and praying at the City God. They were truly praying, without any requests. For most of the people there to have such respect for you, the senior must have put in a lot of effort, right?"
Shen Er's lips twitched slightly, it was hard to tell whether he was smiling or mocking, as he turned to look ahead. "You're right."
"How does the senior plan to break this deadlock?"
"We can't see what's happening outside, so we need a spy. The other side secretly replaced my Shen Family brothers, obviously wanting to control the formation and cover themselves without being exposed. So they won't make a big fuss. Under these circumstances, if there's an inconspicuous spy, it's actually quite easy for us to find out intelligence about what's happening outside."
"Does the senior have connections outside?"
"I am Underworld from Nanming Prefecture. How could I possibly have anyone in Liuzhou? Besides, ordinary people are not qualified to be spies."
"That"
"There's someone who's perfect; he's not only reliable, but he also has the ability to turn things around."
Chen Ying was stunned. There really are people like that?
That woman could instantly control everyone in the Shen Family, and her strength was so formidable. Among the remaining people in Liuzhou, who has the ability to turn the tide?
"Have you forgotten?" Shen Er turned around. "In Liuzhou, there is such a person, a dangerous individual whom even the emperor dares not easily release."
Chen Ying's pupils contracted, and she instantly realized who it was.
--
"I said, A Li, you can't drink anymore. If you keep going like this, I won't even be able to get money for seeds this year."
Inside the Great Azure Mountain, Wei Gongzhan looked at the woman who was staying at his house with a helpless expression.
Ever since Lord Ziyue went to Cloud City, A Li, who had never interacted with him before, suddenly came to visit. After getting to know each other for two days, she started shamelessly mooching drinks here.
She claimed to be taking care of her daughter, but in reality, she was drunk every day and had no idea where her daughter had gone.
Six months ago, various regions launched new varieties of fine wines. Coupled with the economic downturn in the Central Plains and a significant drop in foreign trade demand, the sales of my own Blood Ginseng Wine were far less than before, but they were still quite popular, especially in the Northern Wasteland, where sales have consistently been the highest among all famous wines.
As the inventor of Blood Ginseng Wine, although I did not receive patent fees, many people consider me the most authentic because I am the founder, and familiar wine merchants prioritize ordering wine from me.
But the hundred jars of Blood Ginseng Wine that I brewed at the beginning of the year were almost all drunk up by this shameless woman in just two months!
If this continues, I'm afraid I'll have to borrow some fermented rice from my neighbors this year.
"You man," A Li yawned as she got up, still slightly drunk, "How can I trust you with my daughter if you're so stingy?"
"My lord," Wei Gongzhan said speechlessly, " Xiaoli is only seven years old."
"So what if he's seven? You're not going to take responsibility for him now that he's seven?" A Li glared at her and said, "You always seemed so honest and unassuming, but you're actually such a heartless person?"
Wei Gongzhan: "."
"Alright, please make yourself at home, senior. I'll get you some snacks to go with your drinks later."
"That's right." A Li hiccuped. "I'm not bragging, but with my daughter's looks, if I told people, I don't know how many noble families would fight tooth and nail for her."
Wei Gongzhan rolled his eyes. Given Xiaoli's infamous reputation in Great Azure Mountain, what crazy family would dare to make a move on her?
Just as he was about to ask his neighbor for some money to buy some fermented rice wine and secretly store it with the Mountain God, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching outside.
A Li, who was originally tipsy, frowned and looked outside. Wei Gongzhan also looked outside, somewhat curious. When Lady A Li was here, even the closest neighbors of Great Azure Mountain didn't dare to approach. Who would dare to come to their door?
Thinking of this, Wei Gongzhan took the initiative to walk out of the house, only to be taken aback.
The person who came was a child who looked only five or six years old.
The child's face was flushed and he was panting heavily. He was clearly an ordinary child and not a demon in disguise, but he was definitely not a child from Great Azure Mountain. The people in Great Azure Mountain were all afraid of the Xiaoli, so how could they dare to let their child get close? Moreover, Wei Gongzhan knew all the children in Great Azure Mountain, and he was very certain that this one was not one of them.
I have a feeling that something has happened.
Sure enough, this bad premonition immediately came true.
"Lord Wei!" The child bowed directly, his voice was childish but serious, his tone and demeanor unlike that of a child.
" Liuzhou is in turmoil, facing imminent disaster. We implore you to come out of seclusion and help us!"
Wei Gongzhan was taken aback, then his face darkened. "Who are you?"
"I am but an ordinary citizen of Liuzhou, entrusted by the Lord of the Nanming Underworld to seek your help."
" Mr. Shen Er?" Wei Gongzhan's expression immediately became even more serious. " Mr. Shen Er sent you to find me? My brother... cough... where is the Underworld of Liuzhou?"
"Lord Wei has been taken hostage, and the entire Liuzhou, except for Mr. Shen Er, is under control."
"How could that be!" Wei Gongzhan stepped forward abruptly, his eyes sharpening. The child looked up at the menacing Wei Gongzhan, sighed, and shook his head. "Sir, it would be better if you didn't make things difficult for a messenger like me. It wasn't easy for a child of only a few years old to climb all the way here."
Wei Gongzhan: "."
"Actually, I didn't come here mainly to see you, sir. The trouble we've encountered in Liuzhou this time is bigger than we expected. I've come to ask A Li to come out of seclusion!"