Chapter 2072: Not Fighting Yet Subduing the Enemy

Lu Qinglin couldn't help but ask, "What about He Xiao?"

"How should I know?" Fu Shanlie scratched the back of his head, indifferent. "He can go wherever he pleases. The Yangshan Archipelago has changed hands; it no longer belongs to the He clan. Even if he returns to Yangshan now, he'll have to pay me a toll!"

Qi Chuanqing said sternly, "King Chiyan, you are recklessly starting a war! This is a serious matter; please think it over carefully."

Fu Shanlie folded his arms and looked at him. "After all that talk, who exactly are you?"

Lu Qinglin replied, "This is Provisional Palace Scholar Qi Chuanqing from the Cabinet of Guidance!"

"Oh, a provisional."

Fu Shanyue, standing in the back row of the crowd, silently touched his nose. How did the old man manage to humiliate someone so thoroughly with just a plain tone and three simple words? He could never learn that skill.

Qi Chuanqing, displaying excellent composure, kept his expression unchanged, though the muscles in his jaw silently tightened.

"In short, the Yangshan Archipelago now belongs to the Fushan clan. If you want to blame someone, blame yourselves for arriving too late." As soon as Fu Shanlie said this, Lu Qinglin knew he had seen through his intentions:

To reclaim the Yangshan Archipelago.

Lu Qinglin's justification was that He Xiao had used deceptive tactics years ago to trick Baile into signing an unequal agreement, thus rendering the document null and void, and the Lu family intended to reclaim their property.

What King Chiyan had done was essentially no different from his own goal: sending troops to seize the Yangshan Archipelago by force.

However, while Lu Qinglin still needed to find a reason, King Chiyan was cruder and less civilized; he couldn't even be bothered to invent an excuse, simply planting his flag and declaring himself the island king.

"Now, you have two choices. First, we can fight directly; just send your forces. As long as you defeat the fleet behind me, you can reclaim the Yangshan Archipelago." Fu Shanlie raised two fingers. "Second, you can obediently report back to your emperor. Whatever path Emperor Mou wishes to take, Beijia will certainly oblige!"

Lu Qinglin immediately looked at Qi Chuanqing.

This was no longer a private feud between the Lu family of Baile and He Xiao; it was a conflict between the two great powers of the age! What standing or authority did he have to overstep his bounds?

Qi Chuanqing clearly lacked that authority as well.

Lu Qinglin whispered to Qi Chuanqing, "Lord Qi, King Chiyan possesses the dual abilities of water and earth evasion."

That old fiend was as formidable in water as he was on land.

Combat in water was entirely different from on land. Putting aside the other powerful figures and demons on the opposing fleet, Fu Shanlie and King Yinhui were both naturally skilled at controlling water.

Across the way, Fu Shanlie looked up, sniffed the wind a few times, and suddenly laughed, "Lu Dongxian, you old scoundrel, did you think I wouldn't notice you hiding in the crowd?"

No sooner had he spoken than a man behind Qi Chuanqing threw off his cloak. His hair and beard were completely white, and a gruesome scar ran across his face from his left eye to his right cheek.

His intact eye glared at Fu Shanlie. "Old zombie, your face is covered in the aura of death; your glory won't last much longer!"

"I'm already dead, so why would I fear your curses?" Fu Shanlie looked at his left hand, admiring his sharp, nail-like claws. "After all these years, you still appreciate the 'look' I gave you."

Lu Dongxian's single eye narrowed, and a murderous aura burst forth.

Qi Chuanqing quickly turned sideways and bowed slightly. "Lord Lu, don't fall for their provocation."

At that moment, the Chiyan army on the ship parted, and several individuals walked behind Fu Shanlie. Lu Qinglin recognized two familiar faces, both trusted lieutenants of King Chiyan. Besides them, powerful demons like mighty tigers and gigantic wild boars also stood menacingly.

Qi Chuanqing loudly declared, "King Chiyan, in a fit of pique, intends to plunge the relationship between Beijia and Mou Nation into irreversible ruin! Chiyan may not be able to bear the consequences of such an action!"

Fu Shanlie chuckled, "Then you needn't trouble yourself."

To start a war now would be to rashly initiate hostilities behind Mou Nation's back. Qi Chuanqing could not bear that responsibility, so he cupped his hands in a respectful salute and said, "We shall meet again!"

He then turned and instructed Lu Qinglin, "Turn around and return to port."

If only the Chiyan army had been on the island, Lu Qinglin could have launched an attack under the pretext of "unawareness." However, with King Chiyan present, the situation immediately escalated. If Lu Qinglin attacked him, the current naval skirmish would instantly turn into a national war!

Undeniably, this situation was beyond the scope of what Lu Qinglin and Qi Chuanqing could handle. This battle could not be fought; they had to report to Emperor Mou immediately.

The fleet turned around and soon disappeared into the haze.

The grand formation at the ship's bow also dispersed. King Siwen grunted twice, "Break it up, break it up, back to the island for dinner!"

Fu Shanyue shaded his eyes with his hand, reluctantly watching the enemy ships disappear, then angrily pounded the deck repeatedly:

"You old geezer, you stole my show, you stole my thunder!"

He and He Lingchuan had secretly prepared for so long; all the glory on display should have been his!

The lines he had prepared beforehand were awesome, far more impressive than the old man's!

Who knew the old man would come with the army and instantly seize control of the confrontation?

What's more, that old geezer had secretly hidden among the troops without telling him beforehand, only popping out to steal the show right before the battle! The moment Fu Shanyue saw him, his feet slipped in shock, and he nearly fell flat on his back.

Taozi, that traitor, was still laughing heartlessly beside him.

Not a single line of his carefully prepared speech had been uttered; it was over, just like that!

Fu Shanlie reined in his powerful demeanor; though his back remained straight, the majestic demonic king who founded a nation instantly reverted to the appearance of an old man in his sixties.

He coughed a few times, cleared his throat, and then said, "Can you control them? You've never even fought a real battle!"

Fu Shanyue pursed his lips, his weakness exposed.

He was highly cultivated, but indeed, he had never been on a real battlefield, only led troops in drills a few times.

But for today's battle, he had been planning for a long time, and He Lingchuan had given him many strategies.

How could Fu Shanlie not know what his son was thinking? "That He fellow, daring to entrust Yangshan to your defense—he must be incredibly bold!"

Why are young people nowadays bolder than the last?

His son was already audacious, but He Xiao was even more incredibly reckless and lawless!

What's even more astonishing is that these two—one dared to give, and the other dared to take!

Such a vast Yangshan Archipelago, with its excellent strategic location—how could Mou Nation easily give it up?

"Turn around and return to the island." With Fu Shanlie's command, the fleet slowly turned and sailed back to the Yangshan Archipelago. "Mou Nation won't dare send troops again for a while."

Both Fu Shanlie and his son knew very well that although the army behind Lu Qinglin wore Baile armor, they were actually Mou Nation's troops!

Don't think that just by changing their uniforms, they wouldn't be recognized.

Fu Shanyue chuckled, "After this loss, Mou Nation will be absolutely furious."

"That old fox, Emperor Mou, is as cunning as ever," Fu Shanlie instructed him. "Since He Xiao has already ceded this archipelago, once we return to the island, have someone replace all the Yangshan flags with Chiyan ones, and officially announce the change of ownership to the outside world. Mou Nation won't give up easily; they'll definitely send people to investigate the island."

Fu Shanyue grunted his agreement, then added, "Hey, old man, was it really necessary for you to come all the way here?"