Chapter 1147: Winds and Cries of Alarm

Treasure Lizards, as the name suggests, are difficult to find.

"What's it good for?" "Does century-old dried tangerine peel work too?"

Dong Rui chuckled, "You'll find out later."

He then pointed at the bear's corpse and said, "You won't need this, so give it to me."

Since he wanted to scavenge, He Lingchuan had no objection, but secretly pondered the heart-scale he had just acquired. Did the Dragon Plate World lead him to see the White Bear King's whereabouts just so he could go raid a bear's cave in reality? So what was special about this heart-scale? An ordinary treasure shouldn't be worth the Grand Vase expending so much effort, right?

Stepping out of the cave, the zircon in the groove was gone, probably taken by the Essence of Gold as a snack. As for this Essence of Gold, the Godbone Necklace wasn't interested in it, because the tungsten gold used to refine the Floating Life was a type of mutated Essence of Gold, which it had probably consumed before. Besides, White Fur Mountain itself had a mineral vein, and this Essence of Gold came and went without a trace, so He Lingchuan couldn't be bothered to pursue it.

The two of them thoroughly scoured the cave and returned laden with spoils.

A few days later, just as He Lingchuan and Dong Rui returned to the Pure Joy Sect's territory, Jin Bai came to them, his face grim.

"The Emperor has issued an edict for us to take action. Mr. He, will you participate?"

He Lingchuan was a Cloud-Turning Envoy, not a native of the Mu Kingdom. Having spent these past few days with He Lingchuan, Jin Bai knew he was the lord of Yangshan Island and was not obligated to obey Mu Kingdom's commands. Therefore, he merely asked, not forcing He Lingchuan to join him in the mission.

He Lingchuan observed his demeanor and tone, thinking, "It's here." The Mu Emperor had finally made his decision: This matter would not end peacefully. The wrath of the Son of Heaven meant rivers of blood. With the Mu Emperor's decision, the Bo Kingdom was surely doomed.

He frankly said, "I'm sorry, I can only wish you success." The karma of overthrowing a kingdom, killing its ruler, and treating human lives as expendable was something he, as a wandering golden wanderer, did not wish to get involved with for now. For now.

Jin Bai was a bit disappointed: "Very well then, we'll take Mr. He's good wishes." Mr. He was opinionated and decisive; after spending several days with him, Jin Bai had unconsciously begun to trust his judgment. If He Lingchuan were willing to participate, this operation might be easier.

Dong Rui was curious: "Where are the people coming from?"

Jin Bai didn't hide it from them: "Several nearby Daoist sects, such as the Taihang Sect, are willing to answer the Emperor's call. We've gathered about eighteen hundred people."

He Lingchuan's eyebrow twitched slightly. Wasn't the Taihang Sect Fang Canran's sect? That's right, the Mu Kingdom couldn't directly intervene, but the Daoist sects under Mount Ling could. Mount Ling had previously established a presence in the Flashing Gold Plains, and although Fang Canran said it wasn't very successful, it seemed there was still some foundation left.

"We also found a group of pirates in the southeastern seas and told them they'd get a lot of money if they came ashore for a raid. They happily agreed," Jin Bai said. "There are about three hundred pirates."

Needless to say, these were cannon fodder.

Dong Rui couldn't help but laugh. Using pirates to attack a capital city was too absurd. But this was the Bo Kingdom; if it had been effective at policing pirates normally, would they still be so rampant? So, past cause, present effect.

"Oh, and the day before yesterday, a group of Bo Kingdom rebels also came to pledge allegiance. Their leader's surname is You, there are about eight hundred of them, and their equipment is quite good."

"Rebels?" He Lingchuan was greatly surprised. "They could actually find their way here?" With Nangong Yan's death, the rebels within the Bo Kingdom naturally rejoiced, eager for the Bo King's downfall. But which faction could actually find Jin Bai directly?

Dong Rui also said, "Such well-informed news? Very promising." These rebels had allied themselves with the Mu Kingdom; once the Bo Kingdom was defeated, they would likely benefit greatly.

"They have people in the palace and knew that the tribute sent by the Pure Joy Sect to our country was intercepted midway. They figured our country wouldn't let it go, so they actively came to offer their help," Jin Bai said. "They are very familiar with the Bo Kingdom, so we accepted them." Their biggest problem, revolting in a foreign land, was insufficient manpower. The rebels also numbered eight hundred, all natives of the Bo Kingdom. Jin Bai had no reason to refuse help that was offered directly to them. Once an external enemy colludes with internal traitors, the probability of a successful uprising greatly increases.

"Over two thousand now, we can launch a surprise attack," Dong Rui eagerly interjected. "The premise is 'speed.' With this number, we can only rely on a swift, unexpected move. It's best to get as much detailed information as possible on Xun City and the royal palace. I recall the palace city gates were quite thick." He had been inside the Bo Kingdom's royal palace and thought the gates were very sturdy, probably having been reinforced over successive dynasties.

He Lingchuan glanced at him, thinking, *What are you showing off? You're not even participating, why are you giving such random advice?*

Dong Rui rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. After listening to He Lingchuan deduce military intelligence so often, he had also picked up a few tricks.

"Previously, the Bo King relied most on Nangong Yan and his Feathered Guards. This elite force, controlled by evil spirits, knew neither fatigue nor fear, and moved in well-coordinated formations, causing others to flee at the mere sight," Jin Bai continued. "Although it wasn't primal energy but evil spirits that drove this army to victory, it was still a devastating force here. Now that Nangong Yan is dead, the Bo King has lost his reliance, and the Bo Kingdom's local military and government are in disarray. I hear various factions have begun to vie for power, heh, completely unaware of their impending doom. This is our good opportunity."

He Lingchuan then cautiously asked, "So, what about the strange discrepancies in this stolen tribute case?"

Jin Bai's expression darkened slightly: "We are only following orders."

He Lingchuan understood. Jin Bai must have reported everything truthfully from beginning to end. With the Mu Emperor's capabilities, how could he not see the inconsistencies in the case, or that someone was framing the Bo King? But the Mu Emperor had no interest whatsoever in the petty squabbles of a small, insignificant country. No interest in understanding, no interest in solving mysteries. A monarch of a great nation cared only about the Spirit Lamp. And he only wanted the Spirit Lamp.

As the Mu Emperor's most loyal guard, Jin Bai could only obey the Emperor's will and drop the matter. The swift attack on the Bo Kingdom was about to begin, and Jin Bai had no time or opportunity to search for the mastermind behind it. This meant the case was closed.

He Lingchuan nodded: "I understand."

On their way back to their guest rooms, they also saw the so-called Bo Kingdom rebels, moving in groups in and out of the Pure Joy Sect's main gate. Then there were various people from the sect, cultivators coming and going, some greeting and chatting with each other, apparently familiar with one another. Where countries in the Flashing Gold Plains were weak, Daoist sects could become stronger. The ebb and flow of power were subtle. New faces were everywhere, and a tense atmosphere permeated both inside and outside the sect.

Back at their lodging, Dong Rui immediately said, "These rebels' weapons and armor are indeed good, even better than the official ones."

He Lingchuan casually set up a barrier: "They didn't just come to pledge allegiance on a whim."

"Huh?" Dong Rui, prompted by his words, thought for a moment and then let out a long "Oh." "They've been colluding with the Pure Joy Sect for a long time?"

"What's so surprising about them having dealings with the Pure Joy Sect?" He Lingchuan retorted, annoyed. "It's likely this group has been secretly in cahoots with the Mu Kingdom for a long time. Otherwise, how could they show up to offer assistance just as the Mu Emperor decided to invade Bo? Things don't happen that coincidentally." "Furthermore, if they were truly rebels of unknown origin, would Jin Bai dare to recruit and use them?" Military operations were no joke. This was an attack on a nation's sovereign, and this battle had to be won, no more disgrace for the Mu Kingdom.

"At a time like this, those who get the news and rush to align themselves are all well-connected," He Lingchuan said. "Once the Bo Kingdom falls, they'll reap immense benefits."

Jin Bai and the other leaders held military consultations within the Pure Joy Sect. He Lingchuan and Dong Rui felt it was inconvenient, so they decided to return to the Bo Kingdom, only to find the border already closed. This small obstacle didn't deter them. Dong Rui released his Snail Toad, and they easily passed through the ground. It had rained recently, so the ground was very wet. If anything unfavorable happened, they could escape by tunneling underground.

The Bo Kingdom guarded the southwestern gateway to the Flashing Gold Plains. He Lingchuan had only just entered the plains, with vast territories still awaiting his exploration. The road to Xun City became even more difficult. Villages in the wilderness were sparse, and the desolate outskirts were overgrown with weeds. Dong Rui went to relieve himself in the wild and, before even squatting down, kicked out two skulls from the bushes.

He Lingchuan had only traveled seventy to eighty li when they encountered three groups of bandits and four pickpockets—a frequency far higher than on the Red Cliff Road or the Long River Trade Route. They also rescued two civilians from the bandits' knives. This was probably because Nangong Yan's sudden death outside the pass had created widespread panic, and local government offices and military had even less inclination to maintain order.

However, towns were instead filled with a strange atmosphere. Coming and going officials and soldiers appeared tense, while civilians seemed somewhat relaxed. As He Lingchuan passed by the river, a gust of wind carried the cheerful voices of two women washing clothes.

"...Good riddance."

"Yes, he truly was a born devil. My uncle was killed by his men. Oh, who would've thought he'd meet the same fate! Sliced in half at the waist, oh my, oh my, I don't know which hero did it, but it's truly gratifying. My husband even wants to set up a memorial tablet for him!"

As He Lingchuan approached, the women fell silent, simply bowing their heads to wash clothes, but their expressions remained lively. This atmosphere grew more relaxed the closer they got to Xun City. In the towns and taverns, people smiled. Although they dared not openly discuss Nangong Yan's death, their expressions were noticeably more content.

However, upon arriving at Xun City, He Lingchuan found that the city gates and checkpoints were even stricter. A wanted poster, complete with a portrait, was also displayed on the city gate. Upon seeing the familiar red mark, Dong Rui thought He Lingchuan and he were wanted again, after all, Nangong Yan had died by their hands. But he looked closely and saw that the portrait was actually of a woman!

"Huh?" He was greatly surprised. "Isn't that... isn't that... How did she become a wanted criminal?"

The announcement stated that this woman had murdered a royal relative and fled to avoid punishment. Witnesses providing clues would receive fifty taels of gold; those who personally apprehended and reported her to officials would receive five hundred taels of gold. This reward amount was unusual, so a large crowd of onlookers buzzed with discussion in front of the notice. The female fugitive in the portrait was stunningly beautiful; the artwork was good, but it couldn't capture even one percent of her true beauty.

Because the fugitive was none other than Consort Mei!

He Lingchuan also scratched his head. When he and Dong Rui had entered the palace as Mu envoys, Consort Mei had been by the Bo King's side, appearing to be much favored. Only a few days had passed, and how had a dignified royal consort become a fugitive?