Chapter 171: Defeat

The Climax!

Happy times are always short-lived. By the evening of the next day, Wang Sheng's group could no longer smile.

The full-day income report from Mulan Qingqing's side came out and reached them. In just one day, they had obtained about fifteen thousand Soul Crystals.

Mai Zhanchang rushed to Shi Chun's cave and, after delivering the bad news, secretly observed Shi Chun's reaction.

Upon hearing the news, Shi Chun's expression became unusually grave, and he said nothing. After Mai Zhanchang left, Wu Jinliang and Chu Jingang from the adjacent cave gathered around. Shi Chun finally smiled and said to them, "Here's where it gets interesting." Wu Jinliang asked, "What do you mean?" Shi Chun replied, "You don't actually think they collected over fifteen thousand today, do you?" Chu Jingang was curious, "You mean the number is fake?" It was easy for him to think that way; after all, he was fabricating numbers daily.

It wasn't long after dusk in the capital when everyone saw an extremely brutal battle in the mirrored image. Mulan's nearly eighty fighters were engaged in a bloody, desperate fight against about seven hundred people from Yanzhou.

Mulan said wistfully, "I don't know. Since we have to face it eventually, let them..."

They could no longer sit and wait, so the second "military maxim" appeared again.

If it weren't to gain credibility and because he genuinely had reliable personnel available, he would not have let outsiders like Chu Jingang participate in the deception.

Luo Zhi was a bit confused after hearing this. "No, Brother Wang, why are we faking it like this? Why are they faking it too? What exactly are both sides playing at?"

"Alright!" Mulan suddenly shouted, instantly silencing the scene. Only his voice remained: "Since you all insist on this, I won't stop you; I can't stop you. But I still stick to my own opinion. You are free to do as you please!"

"Haha," Wu Jinliang chuckled, patting his shoulder. "Brother Chu, don't rush. It's still the same saying: if you say it, it loses its meaning. If the secret gets out, who will we blame? Just wait and see the excitement unfold. You just need to believe one thing: we cannot betray Mount Youxia. We definitely want to handle things properly."

The seven observers from Bilan Sect secretly sighed, remarking that Brother Wang was truly sharp.

Precisely because these seven people seemed to have everything under discreet but tight control, he felt increasingly confident.

A glance at their departure time revealed they intended to launch an attack before the Yanzhou forces could make any movements at dawn.

If they continued fighting, they estimated they would lose half their numbers. Fortunately, the other side collapsed first. The sound was like weeping blood.

Mulan raised a hand to stop him from speaking further, saying coldly, "I'll give you a reply within one hour!"

If he weren't afraid of his ultimate goal being exposed and ruining his plans, and if he didn't need to leave room for maneuver in case his false identity was revealed, he wouldn't have needed to go through all this. He could have directly blackmailed Xuanzhou Qingqing into giving him all of Shi Chun's Soul Crystals.

Xiang Lan'er's reply was just three words: "Understood."

Without waiting for dawn, in the middle of the night, two to three thousand men had assembled. Although the Boss didn't participate, the forces still used his usual tactics and then launched their raid.

Everyone quietly dispersed.

The next day, the battle results of Xuanzhou Qingqing's forces were as expected by their side: the Soul Crystal harvest was indeed over ten thousand again. Mulan smiled faintly, "I thought they would speak with strength, forcing us to submit. I didn't expect them to play nice either. Of course, this is all my guess. If they want to surpass us, they must still exceed ten thousand tomorrow. If they do again tomorrow, then it's almost certainly a fake." Again, pleas and entreaties rose from the crowd, looking as if they were about to kneel before Mulan. The leader was overjoyed and bowed with cupped hands, "Thank you, Boss!" Mulan said, "I told you, I won't agree and I won't participate. Do as you please."

They couldn't be stopped. They were too strong. Even a dozen or so men couldn't hold them back. Charging in meant falling, meant certain death. Once morale collapsed, they fled.

About two thousand four hundred men, from a force of nearly eight thousand, leaving behind over a thousand bloody corpses, fled in panic.

Luo Zhi said, "Brother Wang, you worry too much. People on the same boat wouldn't wish for it to sink, would they? Don't worry, my fellow disciples and I won't leak a single word."

The situation was wrong; it was too tragic. Shi Chun's domain lord, Chi Rang, became enraged, slapping his armrest and shouting, "Where is Mulan? Where has Mulan gone? Why don't I see him come out to defend against the enemy?"

Facing the excited emotions of those eager to volunteer for battle, Luo Zhi stated loudly, "I've said it many times already. Our scouts have done their utmost, but they haven't found a more suitable target to attack. Clashing head-on with the main forces of each province would be too costly! I still maintain this: to preserve everyone's lives as much as possible, it's not going to work, it's simply not going to work!"

The seven Bilan Sect members watching from outside the cave sighed and shook their heads again.

Exceeding ten thousand a day is very difficult. The ten thousand or so Soul Crystals in Jizhou's hands were painstakingly collected by countless people risking their lives in the Moon Sea, and who knows how many people they killed to gather them in their hands. The seventy-odd men, both shocked and enraged, eventually ceased their pursuit. There was no other way; too many people had scattered. No matter how skilled they were in combat, they couldn't pursue everyone. In the end, they could only watch as those people escaped. They themselves were covered in blood, almost all injured, and panting heavily.

"Alas," Chu Jingang sighed. If he hadn't believed that point, he wouldn't have participated in this dubious venture with no confidence.

Although the 'show of strength' was successful, the Boss's contributions were immense for everyone to achieve today's results, and that was hard to dispute.

Mulan was silent for a moment before responding, "Are you all truly determined to do this?" Although they had encountered fierce battles these days, after fighting for so many days, they only managed to collect a few scattered Soul Crystals. Their brothers were kept in the dark about the truth, but didn't they themselves know? They had a slight grasp of the situation regarding all parties.

As these words came out, the scene instantly erupted in an uproar, and all eyes fixed on Mulan's face.

The leader said loudly, "Boss, nearly ten people have already died in battle! Out of three to four hundred men who came under your command, now only two hundred to four hundred remain. What are we all fighting so desperately for? Some sects brought four or five people, and now only two are left, some only one. Some are missing arms or legs. If we don't bring back some achievements, how can we face our sects? How can we face ourselves?"

On the viewing platform, Young Master Nan stared at the light screen, murmuring from his slumped position in the chair, "Oh, my ancestors, whose side are you on? Are you actually trying to sabotage things..."

"Boss!" In the cave, those who slowly stood up looked at each other, some with joy, others with awkwardness.

At the capital's training ground, as the grand assembly approached, more and more people came to watch the mirrored image, and the domain lords in the best viewing spots were no exception.

"Hmph." Mulan snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and turned to enter the cave. Amidst the renewed pleas and calls from the crowd... "Brother Chu," Mulan instructed earnestly, "just know this: the matter of Xuanzhou Qingqing and their side faking numbers must absolutely not be known by Tong Mingshan or even our own people. Once it spreads, our plan will be ruined."

After watching the forces disappear, the remaining members from Bilan Sect, Bailian Sect, Miaoxian Sect, Suzaku Sect, and Wancaotang all turned to look at Mulan.

The leader said, "We wouldn't dare trouble the Boss to go personally. It's just that our information is limited, and the Boss's use of spies is truly god-like. Surely, with a little strategic planning, the Boss can find the whereabouts of the Yanzhou forces we spoke of last time, Boss..." A group of people spontaneously cupped their hands and bowed, shouting in unison, "Thank you, Boss!"

As soon as that sentence was shouted, everyone immediately chimed in, their cries gradually becoming a chaotic but unified chorus: "Please grant our wish, Boss! Please grant our wish, Boss! Please grant our wish!"

They didn't know the truth about the Soul Crystal harvest. They knew that no matter how hard they fought, it would be useless, yet they couldn't reveal the truth without ruining everything.

...Chi Rang was speechless.

Xuanzhou Qingqing's forces were greatly invigorated, but Mulan's forces grew anxious. Their hard-won lead was at risk; if things continued like this, they would certainly be overtaken.

Both factions of Shi Chun's divided forces were receiving great attention from all sides, especially from the domain lords. It was clear that Shi Chun's forces were fiercely attacking and plundering forces from various provinces. Today it was these few provinces, tomorrow they worried it would be their turn.

Amidst the pleading cries, Luo Zhi's gaze swept back and forth across the faces of the crowd, then he suddenly said loudly, "Regardless of my purpose for working with you all, we are working together, and I truly cannot bear for you to pay too great a price. You cannot blindly believe due to previous victories. I know if I refuse, you will resent me, but I still have to say, I refuse!"

Wu Jinliang and Chu Jingang also thought the same. He understood that perhaps sacrificing these people would gain more trust from Xuanzhou Qingqing's side. "Please grant our wish, Boss!"

A large group of people once again blocked Luo Zhi's doorway. The seven Bilan Sect master-disciples observing felt awkward for Mulan.

Wei Mo's slightly gruff voice came through, "What are you shouting about? Mulan is from my Shengzhou!"

After Mulan turned and returned to the cave, he took out a mother-child talisman and contacted Xiang Lan'er: "Have your people leave before dawn."

"Chun Yan."

Shi Chun said, "You all know the news from Jizhou, where they attacked on the first day. That was the richest target they had been eyeing... Including the richest one, they only got about ten thousand on the first day. But what they gained on the third day was even more than the first day. Do you think that's normal?"

Of course, being too direct, Xuanzhou Qingqing might not be able to achieve it either; those resources don't belong to a single faction after all.

"Boss!"

The Boss was dependable. In less than half an hour, he provided the detailed location of Yanzhou's remaining elite forces.

They collapsed. Over a thousand men were actually defeated and fled by seventy-odd men.

At first, those seven hundred men were indeed thrown into chaos. Shi Chun's forces had a formidable reputation. But eventually, they realized it was nothing special. After gradually stabilizing their formation, the disparity in strength became evident.

Naturally, everyone still hoped that the Boss would continue to fight alongside them as before. However, due to differing philosophies, reaching the point of such a 'show of force' was not what anyone wanted to see.

"Boss," seeing that Luo Zhi remained unmoved, someone finally couldn't help but say something excessive, "Boss, is it because Xuanzhou Qingqing is your fiancée that you don't care whether we win or lose? Are you just trying to use us to prove that your abilities aren't inferior, and in the end, you intentionally want to 'go easy' and let her surpass you?"

The leader immediately stepped forward two paces, cupping his hands and bowing, "Thank you, Boss, for granting our wish. Win or lose, we must at least try. However, please, Boss, don't stand by idly; we hope you can provide some support."

The atmosphere on site was very excited; it seemed if Mulan didn't agree, the shouts would simply not stop.

Everyone felt lingering fear. It was their first time encountering such a group—inferior in strength, yet so fearless of death, and so formidable in combat. Their combined attacks were incredibly sharp, and many of their people fell because of them.

Chu Jingang asked, "Boss, there won't be any major problems, will there?"

A bloody fight, a counter-kill, flesh and blood flying, charging against the odds, directly striking at the enemy's leader.