Chapter 73: He Is No Longer the National Advisor

In fact, the number of drugs in this world that can quickly restore health is so few you could count them on one hand. The few Gu worms were too emaciated, which was why Sun Fuping, despite being riddled with wounds from the crossbow artillery, couldn't use them for quick recovery. He ultimately relied on a divine power.

Now, he intended to turn He Lingchuan into his personal blood bank, while also making him suffer the torment of his heart and mind being devoured.

He Lingchuan, still oblivious to the foreign object invading his body and covered in scratches, watched as a demonic bird descended from the sky, landing right beside him. The bird tilted its head, observing him as if in thought.

He Lingchuan, too distraught to care, yelled, "Kill him! If you help me, you're helping yourself!"

The demonic bird heard him but didn't turn its head. Instead, with a rustle, it released several bats. Its body was made of a swarm of bats, making this an effortless act. The bats swarmed onto He Lingchuan's wounds, quickly biting and drawing blood.

A numb, itchy sensation spread, yet there was no pain. The young man exclaimed, "Hey, what are you doing?!"

The demonic bird, of course, did not respond. It merely spread its wings, poised for flight.

He Lingchuan had no time for anything else. He drew his saber, aiming at the netting, and began cutting. Though the Entangling Silk Rope appeared delicate and soft, it was actually crafted from blood silkworm silk combined with a three-hundred-year-old iron vine core. It was several times harder than steel wire, impervious to water, fire, blades, or axes.

After two unsuccessful attempts, He Lingchuan remembered his newly acquired treasure saber. If not now, when would he use it? As it turned out, new was indeed better. With the treasure saber unsheathed, cutting the Entangling Silk Rope was as effortless as slicing through a fishing net.

In a few swift motions, he broke free from the Entangling Silk Rope – no, not a fishing net – and leaped onto the demonic bird's back, exclaiming, "Give me a ride!"

The demonic bird dipped under his weight, instinctively wanting to shake him off. Yet, for some reason, it changed its mind, flapped its wings, and began to run for takeoff. Its immense size prevented a direct vertical ascent; it needed to leap to gain momentum for flight.

Sun Fuping immediately grew agitated. In a hurried motion, he tapped his staff, and the beast's head on it spewed several fireballs. These shot like a barrage of cannon fire at the demonic bird beneath He Lingchuan. While not as powerful as siege cannons, they were certainly capable of shattering the bird's wings or blasting He Lingchuan half to death. Provided, of course, they hit their target.

Other demonic birds, already circling nearby, immediately swooped down, using their bodies to shield He Lingchuan from the attack. Not one of those dozen or so fireballs struck him.

As his opponent's temporary mount ascended, Sun Fuping, his face ashen, was about to press his attack when, unexpectedly, over a dozen people rushed up behind him. Their leader roared, "Stop!"

It was He Chunhua, leading his contingent, who had arrived. The usually gentle Prefect's face was contorted with rage. "Sun Fuping," he bellowed, "we risked our lives for you, yet you turn us into sacrifices! How can such a treacherous and malicious individual be fit to be the Imperial Preceptor?!"

In that brief moment of distraction, the demonic bird soared several yards into the air. Sun Fuping sighed inwardly, recognizing that the prime opportunity to detain He Lingchuan was gone. Even if he possessed other methods of pursuit, the demonic birds protecting the young man were not to be underestimated.

As He Lingchuan ascended with his mount, his heart still pounded from his narrow escape. Seeing his father arrive on the battlefield, he was overcome with joy. "Dad," he called out, "he's not the Imperial Preceptor!"

He Chunhua froze, momentarily forgetting his anger. "What?" he asked.

"Go down!" He Lingchuan wanted to rejoin his father, but the demonic bird completely ignored him, continuing to ascend.

"He never used the Imperial Seal!" As the distance widened, He Lingchuan had to shout at the top of his lungs, "He can't control the flow of luck! Kill him quickly!"

This revelation was startling. He Chunhua had met Sun Fuping in the capital before and confirmed he was indeed the genuine article. However, upon reflection, it was true that since Sun Fuping had arrived in Blackwater City, he had never used his own Imperial Seal for spellcasting, always borrowing either Nian Songyu's or He Chunhua's. When questioned about it previously, Sun Fuping had explained that he feared the aura on the Kite Coins would attract attacks from the Three-Corpse Worms and vengeful spirits. Looking back now, it was indeed a clear loophole.

He Chunhua made an instant decision. Pointing at Sun Fuping, he commanded, "Attack! Kill this imposter!"

Sun Fuping's beard quivered with rage. "He Chunhua, you are committing treason!" he roared. "Anyone who dares take another step will have their entire clan butchered later!" In his distraction, a demonic bird's sharp beak pecked him, and blood gushed out.

He Chunhua scoffed, "You think you'll fare well if you don't kill him? Remember the blood sacrifice formation, remember your comrades and kin he sacrificed!"

The horrific images of their companions dying in the blood sacrifice formation were still fresh in their minds. As they recalled this, their resolve hardened, and they prepared to fight fiercely. In truth, He Chunhua's thoughts mirrored his son's. The He family, father and son, had already mortally offended Sun Fuping. Imposter or not, they had to kill him first. Otherwise, if Sun Fuping escaped, the He family would face utter annihilation! If both Sun and Nian died, it would simplify matters for Prefect He.

Just then, several more of He Chunhua's subordinates arrived. After entering the Pool Well, they had been dispersed throughout different parts of the illusion. These particular individuals had been assigned to Panlong City and, hearing the sounds of conflict, hurried to join the fight.

Twenty breaths later, the thunder of hooves echoed. The Great Wind Army had also arrived, nearly two hundred soldiers with impassive faces. The Blackwater City soldiers felt a flicker of apprehension upon seeing them, but the heroic spirits, fixed on Sun Fuping, paid no attention to anyone else. Their commander led the charge.

He Lingchuan had already ascended to a high vantage point. From his perspective, Sun Fuping was completely encircled, three layers deep, on the verge of being swallowed by the vortex of demonic birds, the Great Wind Army, and the Blackwater City Army. Anyone with eyes could see that Sun Fuping was at the end of his rope.

He Chunhua stated grimly, "These are vengeful spirits. If the Imperial Preceptor were to use the Imperial Seal, he would surely be able to turn this danger into safety!"

Yet, even as He Lingchuan's mount flew far away, no light from the Imperial Seal emanated from below. So, that old scoundrel truly wasn't the Imperial Preceptor after all?

As he was musing, he suddenly cried out with a sharp hiss of pain. He turned his head to see the bats clinging to him had gnawed open his wounds and were pulling out black maggots. The bats then presented these writhing creatures directly before his eyes, oblivious to their struggles.

"Were those from my body?" He Lingchuan wondered, realizing with a jolt how narrowly he'd escaped a hidden attack. He'd almost become a sacrifice himself; the old man Sun was truly malevolent. He tried to use his small knife to stab the worms, but the bats nudged his hand away.

"I can't kill them? Are they useful?" It was no illusion; these bats were clearly intelligent! He had no choice but to find a sealable small bottle and collect the Gu worms.

The demonic bird was incredibly fast, arriving at the southern battlefield in an instant. It then descended, placing him at a prime viewing spot atop the city gate.

Situ Han approached. "Young Master," he said, "the Prefect went down into the city to find you!"

"I know, they're cornering Old Man Sun," He Lingchuan retorted crossly. "Why didn't you go with them?"

"Someone needed to stay here and watch over things, didn't they?" Situ Han gave a dry laugh. "The Imperial Preceptor ambushed us outside, and we lost over eighty men! We're short-handed now."