Wake Up

Therefore, while the surrounding countries are not afraid of it, they will not easily engage in conflict with it.

Therefore, Li Zhouxuan was furious when he heard about this, because he knew that this must be the result of the Huanyou court's permission.

It is impossible for the sects of Huanyou Nation to do something that would harm the harmony between the two countries without the permission of the imperial court.

Moreover, after hearing Mo Yuanjiao's description of the uniforms worn by those captive cultivators, he even knew that these cultivators were from one of the four major sects of their Huanyou Nation called the Golden Crow Sect.

There was no other way; whenever his spies in Huanyou Nation were idle during periods of peace, they would send back a lot of strange tales and all sorts of miscellaneous news.

For example, the sect uniforms they saw locally.

At the same time, Li Zhouxuan also thought that since Huanyou Nation dared to do this suddenly, it must mean that there were benefits worth risking offending their own country to obtain.

Moreover, it is highly likely that they have gained additional leverage, believing they can afford the consequences of offending the Pusi Kingdom.

Thinking of this, Li Zhouxuan said to Mo Yuanjiao:

"The important task of rescuing those mountain people is entrusted to your esteemed clan. I have heard that our ancestor is currently staying in Xiushui Village. If needed, your clan is free to seek his help. As long as it is for the sake of the people, our Li Clan Ancestor will certainly not stand idly by."

He then fell silent, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

After listening to the live broadcast, Lin Xiao continued to focus on his journey.

The border between the Pusi Kingdom and Huanyou Nation is quite long, but most of it is mountainous and treacherous terrain, making it very difficult to cross. Therefore, the two countries only set up border posts and stationed troops at the points where passage is possible.

The route these mountain people were taken by kidnappers led them through undefended, uninhabited areas left unguarded by either country.

Upon arriving at the border area between the two countries, Lin Xiao led the way and crossed it directly.

Not long after they entered the territory of Huanyou Nation, Li Zhanying arrived.

Thus, the task of transporting Han Weishu was handed over from Liu Yunan to Li Zhanying.

With Han Weishu as their guide, the group sped off straight ahead.

Meanwhile, inside the Huanyou Nation.

A guard was reporting to the king.

"Your Majesty, the mining of the ore indicated by the Grand Preceptor has begun."

The king of Huanyou Nation was fair-skinned and plump, with a mustache, and sat lazily at the head of the table.

Upon hearing this, he lazily opened his eyes, his gaze unfocused, and chuckled softly, saying:

"I didn't expect the Golden Crow Sect to act so quickly."

Then he asked:

"Has the Pusi Kingdom been alerted?"

The kneeling guard immediately replied:

"No intelligence has been received regarding the discovery of the Pusi Kingdom yet."

"Hmm, very good. Keep an eye on things, and report back immediately if there's any sign of trouble."

The King of Huanyou Nation nodded in satisfaction, then, as if he had thought of something, chuckled and said:

"After a while, as long as we collect enough Execution Stone as required by the Imperial Preceptor, it won't matter if they discover us. At that time, if they don't cause me trouble, I'll make trouble for them instead."

The guard below him flattered him, saying:

"Now that we have the Grand Preceptor's assistance, dealing with the Pusi Kingdom will be as easy as dealing with ants. Your Majesty, I congratulate you in advance! May your dynasty last for ten thousand generations, and may all nations pay tribute to you!"

The King of Huanyou Nation, pleased by the flattery, glanced at the guards below him with a smile.

"Well said, here's a reward!"

The eunuch standing nearby readily agreed with a smile.

--

Tong Jialiang has felt a sense of unreality ever since he was brought here a few days ago.

He had no idea that there were flying ships in the world.

I didn't know that those who look like ordinary people weren't human.

Little did they know that digging for stones could be deadly.

Watching another familiar mountain dweller being taken away, bleeding from all seven orifices and lifeless, not far away, he felt himself caught in a very strange feeling.

Is this a dream?

Otherwise, how could such terrifying things exist in this world?

Watching the people who had been brought here with him die one by one from their seven orifices after entering this bottomless mine, their bodies turning gray and their facial features twisted, they looked like evil ghosts.

They looked at the menacing-looking people outside who were monitoring them.

Those who supervised them did not enter the mine, but the whips in their hands seemed to have eyes and could extend and retract freely, always landing precisely on everyone they wanted to warn.

"Do you still want to get out? Dig faster!"

"Smack!"

"Are you slacking off?! Get your digging started now!"

"Smack!" "Smack!"

"See those dead people? If you don't want to die like them, dig them up quickly!"

"Dig! Dig faster!"

Even though they weren't actually in the cave, their urging and shouting could be heard everywhere.

In waves, mixed with the heavy cracking of whips, the sound echoed like a demonic chant incessantly in the deep, bottomless mine.

Initially, these regulators said they would release them once they had extracted enough of what they needed.

So the people in the mine were initially very hardworking.

They had no power to resist these powerful people.

But they wanted to go out and get home quickly, so they had no choice but to do as they were told.

But what about it?

But before they could dig enough to take away, some people collapsed.

One after another.

Every person who fell died in the exact same way.

Is this hell?

This must be hell.

This stone must be a stone from hell.

Those regulators are like vengeful ghosts, ready to claim lives.

But why did he end up in hell when he hadn't done anything wrong?

Tong Jialiang was in a daze.

The entire scene before my eyes gradually became blurred.

Is he still dreaming, not yet awake, and all that has happened these past few days is actually an illusion?

As he numbly dug at the bright red and terrifying stone with his tools, he silently bit his tongue hard.

Wake up, wake up, wake up...

Over and over again.

His mouth was already filled with the metallic taste of blood.

He was already numb with pain, but no matter how hard he tried or how much it hurt, he still didn't wake up.

It seems there's no way to escape this terrible nightmare, no matter what.

what to do?

He didn't know.

Lost in his hallucination, Tong Jialiang didn't notice that the urging voice that had been filling the surroundings, like that of a demon, suddenly disappeared.

The constant cracking of the whip has ceased, I don't know when.

"A-Liang!"

He seemed to hear a familiar voice calling him. Tong Jialiang stiffly turned his head, his numb and empty eyes taking a while to focus. He saw the figure against the light above and felt that it was somewhat familiar.

Looking at the scene below, Han Weishu felt a jolt in her heart.

A-Liang, who had always been docile and obedient, was now standing in the dim cave, his body covered in gray and black. He was holding the stone wall with one hand and holding a pickaxe with the other. He looked at his own face, where blood was silently flowing from his eyes, nose, and mouth, making it a blurry mess.

Mixed with the blood was his bewildered tears.