Chapter 2113: Big Brother's Island

However, the subsequent urgent dispatches were simply unbelievable:

The Dragon God Army did not stop after pursuing the Ya Army all the way to the southern border of Bailie. Instead, they boldly chased the Ya Army across the border, entering Ya Nation territory!

This was like stepping on a tiger's tail. Ya Nation was furious and dispatched troops to meet the invaders.

However, the military reports that followed frequently showed the Dragon God Army winning every engagement.

The Ya Royal Court was perplexed; they were fighting on their own territory, yet they were being defeated so miserably!

According to military analysis, the Dragon God Army was advancing too quickly, and Ya Nation's response was, after all, hastily arranged. They could only temporarily mobilize a few tribes from the northern border, whose numbers and combat power were slightly insufficient.

The latest intelligence report received today stated:

The Dragon God Army had surprisingly captured Zhikuang City, a major stronghold in northern Ya Nation.

"Preposterous!" the King of Ya exclaimed, pounding the table once more. "Three tribes and six armies couldn't stop this defeated foe!"

"The incident began suddenly, and the opponent deliberately launched an offensive, assembling seventy thousand troops to invade the border," General Wulu explained objectively. "A few tribes and their armies combined do not match that scale, and they had to rush to intercept them one after another, unable to form a united front."

Ge Yan also added, "The northern region is vast and sparsely populated. The Dragon God Army could cross several mountains without encountering anyone. How could their advance not be swift?"

Once past the hilly region below Zhikuang City, the Dragon God Army opened the gateway for further advance south, entering the plains.

Ge Yan turned to the sand table. "Judging by their direction of advance, they must be heading towards the Holy Land."

This was the most pressing issue at hand, and everyone's expressions turned grim.

"How dare foreign invaders desecrate our tribe's Holy Land!" The King of Ya immediately called upon his generals, and their responses echoed like thunder.

"Didn't you say the initial battles went poorly due to insufficient manpower?" The Dragon God Army's advance was fierce, and tribal armies from western, southern, and even central-western Ya Nation couldn't arrive quickly enough. The King of Ya could only deploy existing forces. "I will also send out the Royal Army guarding the capital! This time, you must stop them; we absolutely cannot allow those shorties from Shanjin to set foot even a single step into Baiqiuyuan!"

Due to prolonged hunger and poverty, the people of Shanjin were generally thinner and smaller than the people of Ya.

From Zhikuang City to the Holy Land, the path was entirely open plains. Ya Nation's generals had ample time and space to intercept the enemy, and their troop reserves were abundant.

This time, victory was imperative!

***

The sea and sky merged into one, and the spring light was just right.

The breeze sweeping across the deck today was unusually gentle, unlike the gales of the past few days. He Yue walked onto the deck and stretched. The boundless azure sea before him was beautiful, but after nearly two months of sailing, he had grown tired of the sight.

He asked the boat captain, "How much further?"

No sooner had he spoken than he saw several seagulls circling in the air, one even landing on their ship's deck to rest.

The appearance of birds indicated that land or islands were not far off.

The boat captain pointed northeast. "We've just passed Wangzhu Island, that small island with a red spire. In about thirty minutes, we'll reach the Yangshan Archipelago."

He Yue breathed a sigh of relief. Finally!

His current mission to the Yangshan Archipelago was at the command of the King of Shen.

Simply put, he had insisted to his father on taking on this assignment; he had to go in person.

After several months of wandering, he was finally nearing his destination!

Throughout this sea journey, their ship had stopped at many places for supplies, and he had also explored the local areas, experiencing various foreign customs. He wondered if his elder brother had also traveled the world so freely in his youth. He Yue felt a touch of envy.

He should have started traveling long ago.

Just then, three or four figures emerged from the water ahead, peering towards them. He Yue initially thought they were local fishermen, but their appearance was very strange, and as they dove, their bodies flipped, a long snake-like tail splashing a lot of water.

A guard behind him gasped, "Merfolk!"

"Those aren't merfolk; they're the far more terrifying Yin Hui!" the captain said. "Years ago, the Yangshan Archipelago was shrouded in poisonous fog on overcast days and at night, making it impossible for living creatures to pass through. Only these things could roam. If a ship accidentally ventured into the depths of the archipelago, its crew would be dragged underwater and eaten!" Despite his words, there was no fear on the captain's face. "Later, the malevolent aura around the outer islands of the Yangshan Archipelago disappeared, and the islands changed owners. The new owner could even control these Yin Hui, preventing them from harming people. However, I hear the deeper parts of the archipelago are still forbidden zones; anyone who dares to enter will be eaten by these Yin Hui."

As He Yue watched these strange creatures on the sea, he felt his elder brother's image in his mind becoming increasingly unfamiliar.

How many astonishing feats had his elder brother accomplished on this side of the world? So much so that He Yue actually found himself thinking that taming these terrifying and bizarre creatures didn't seem like such an extraordinary achievement for his brother.

Further ahead, the number of ships in the channel grew, and the vast sea was filled with fluttering sails.

Strange roars echoed from the sea, and their ship slowed down considerably. He Yue was puzzled. "Why aren't we moving forward?"

"We have to queue to enter the port," the captain said, pointing at the water. "The Yin Hui are here to maintain order. If anyone dares to move ahead, they'll be punished."

Indeed, the Yin Hui ahead were waving small yellow flags in the water, signaling every large ship to slow down, stay in the channel, and not overtake others.

Only smaller boats could weave through the gaps.

He Yue cupped his hand over his eyes, shielding them from the sun, and saw the outline of an island appear ahead. "Are there few ports?"

"There are plenty; the Yangshan Archipelago has opened six or seven major ports," the captain explained. "But there are simply too many ships on the Golden Shipping Lane."

Further on, the sea was no longer boundless, and islands dotted the waters on both sides of the ship like stars.

Seabirds gathered on white sandy shores, and gentle breezes rustled through green trees; such beautiful scenery was truly refreshing.

After queuing for four hours, He Yue was fortunate: their ship was assigned to dock at Suoding Island, the largest commercial island in Yangshan.

The orderly docks, efficient transport, beautiful houses, streets with unique island flair, and enthusiastic vendors — every aspect was far superior to Baisha Bay.

The boat captain and the steward immediately went ashore to clear customs; otherwise, they would find it impossible to move around the island later. The Yangshan Archipelago had few rules, but every single one had to be strictly observed.

Next, he went to the Administrative Office on Suoding Island to submit his credentials and inquire about the island lord's whereabouts. The last news he received before departing from Baisha Bay was that his elder brother seemed busy attacking the remaining resistance forces in Shanjin Plains. He wondered if that conflict was over by now, but his brother might not necessarily be on the archipelago.

The main island had several administrative bodies: one for fishery administration, one for transport, one for security, and one specifically for general political affairs.

"The island lord?" the administrator at the Administrative Office replied casually, his pen flying across the paper as he hastily wrote a document. "The island lord is right here on the island."

He Yue was overjoyed. "I am an envoy from Shen Nation, here at the island lord's invitation!"

With that, he produced his sealed credentials.

"Shen Nation?" The administrator took the documents and glanced at them, recognizing it as a country west of Beijia, indeed from a great distance. "Your surname?"

"He."

A guard nearby started, "He shares a..."

Before the guard could finish the word "surname," He Yue abruptly cut him off. "Do not be rude!"

His guiding principle for this diplomatic mission was to remain discreet.