Chapter 171: Trap
The scene in the small courtyard was still the same as before. There was not much change. Li Yuanqing was still sitting alone under the tree, as if he was thinking about something.
After Qiu Muyun got his work from the Treasure Pavilion, he often did not return for a long time. Weapon refinement needs a lot of attention. There would often be some things that needed them to be busy for ten days to half a month. He had not reached that level yet, but he often did not return for three to five days.
After Hu Jiujiu arrived, she carefully sat beside Li Yuanqing and quietly waited for him to recover from his thoughts. She did not disturb Li Yuanqing. The two of them sat opposite each other in silence.
After a while, Li Yuanqing finally came back to his senses and looked up at Hu Jiujiu.
Hu Jiujiu bowed slightly. “Master.”
Li Yuanqing stared at Hu Jiujiu’s face. He looked at it for a long time and suddenly said, “Do you want to go?”
“Master, Little Jiu doesn’t know either. Please make a decision.”
Hu Jiujiu was not too interested at first, but she did not know why she was so interested in this matter, so she did not say her thoughts too early.
Li Yuanqing nodded and said, “The news that Hai Changping said this time is quite attractive. It doesn’t matter if you make a trip.”
Li Yuanqing was not worried about Hu Jiujiu’s safety. The main reason was that Hu Jiujiu was very powerful now. It was very difficult for anyone to trap her in the Wasteland. This way, there would basically be no trouble.
Hai Changping either wanted to please them or had other plans. However, no matter what plan he had, it did not seem to be enough to stump them.
Hu Jiujiu felt quite strange when she heard Li Yuanqing’s words.
“So, Master, you’re asking Little Jiu to go.”
“You must make a trip this time. Let the Man-eating Vine follow you. You can ensure your safety when the two of you go together.”
“No need. I can go myself. Little Man should stay here and help Master control Ping City.”
“Alright, they won’t do anything to you in Sea City anyway. It’s fine. Just be careful.”
Hu Jiujiu looked at Li Yuanqing worriedly and said, “But Master, I heard from Ye Qiluo that Hai Changping has been plotting something recently. They want to take advantage of my absence to attack Ping City. Wouldn’t you be under a lot of pressure? It’s better if I don’t go.”
“It’s precisely because he has such thoughts that you have to pretend to have fallen into their trap and give them a beating so that their memories will be stronger.” Li Yuanqing was very surprised. He did not know why these demons keep trying even though they keep failing. They always looked like they could not recognize reality.
“Then Master, you knew all along?”
“I can’t say that I knew about it long ago. It’s just that it’s difficult not to make some guesses when Hai Changping suddenly suggested such an idea. The demons have simple thoughts, so this is all they can think of.”
These demons thought that Ping City only had her current peace because Hu Jiujiu was guarding Ping City. However, their thoughts could only be said to be too stupid.
Hu Jiujiu replied carefully, “Then I will be going there. However, Master, you must be careful.”
“Why? Do you not have any confidence in my strength now?”
“I wouldn’t dare, but…”
“Alright, go back and prepare well. This might be a very good opportunity. If you can obtain news of the Heavenly Fox Clan, it might be an opportunity for you.”
“Thank you, Master. Little Jiu will leave first.”
Hu Jiujiu turned around and her body swayed slightly before turning into nothingness.
Li Yuanqing looked at the place where Hu Jiujiu had disappeared and smiled silently. Initially, he was still thinking that the demons in the city had suffered heavy losses recently and that he would not be able to plunder much more. It was a very good thing for him since there were demon forces outside adding in.
The Man-eating Vine had just advanced not long ago. If she could obtain another opportunity and advance, her future path would be even smoother.
No matter how one looked at it, this matter was beneficial and harmless. It could only be said that these demons were too young. They were still thinking of such a rotten idea at a time like this.
Li Yuanqing did not mind teaching these demons a lesson and making them completely obedient.
After Hu Jiujiu returned, she called the envoy from Sea City over and she agreed to this matter just like that. The envoy of Sea City left in satisfaction. If this matter were to spread, it would cause an uproar among the entire human race in Ping City.
They had persuaded her for so long, but they did not expect the City Lord to not listen at all. Now, she even took the initiative to go over with someone. It was already so clear that this was clearly a trap set by Hai Changping. But why did Hu Jiujiu insist on attending this ambush?
Many humans were very angry, and many of them had strange thoughts.
“In my opinion, Hu Jiujiu is clearly the root of the demon race. We can’t change it no matter what.”
These humans gathered together to discuss.
“You can’t say that. Hu Jiujiu has given us so many benefits. In the past, humans were the most lowly race here.”
“So what? I think there’s a conspiracy going on.”
Many of them were humans who had just come from outside. They were worried.
Many people were thinking that with so many people gathered in Ping City and such a thing happening, couldn’t Hu Jiujiu have colluded with the demons outside to put on such a show? However, their performance was too good, causing all the humans to lower their guard.
Almost all the humans in the wasteland had rushed here. If they were wiped out in Ping City, most of the humans in the Wasteland would be wiped out just like that. This was a loss that they could not bear at all.
This was also why they were so worried now. The main reason was that this loss was too great. If it was really such a scheme, they would have to think about escaping quickly.
“Think about it carefully. This matter happened too quickly. A demon city lord appeared out of nowhere and treated the human race so well. What does she want to do after tricking everyone here? She’s just trying to trap us.”
“It’s useless for you to keep saying that. Think of a way to leave. What do you guys plan to do?”
“What do you mean by what to do? Let me see if I should go back to wherever I came from. We’ve obtained enough things here now. It doesn’t matter even if we hide in the Wasteland for decades. Anyway, this place is too dangerous. I can’t stay here anymore.”
Many humans wanted to retreat. They felt that there was no need for them to take the risk here, and it was indeed too dangerous. However, there were also some people who planned to guard this place.
This time, the host sat at the head of the table with a frown and quietly scanned everyone’s faces.
“Big Brother Zhao, think of a way too. Which side are you on? I don’t think there’s anything to think about. In any case, we can’t stay in Ping City anymore.”
The person called Big Brother Zhao slowly stood up and swept his gaze across everyone. He said firmly, “My opinion is very clear. Ping City was fought for with great difficulty by us humans. It’s impossible for us to give this place up to others. I won’t bring our brothers back to that d.a.m.n place.”
“That’s right. I won’t go back to that d.a.m.n place even if I die!”
“I’ll stay here and won’t go anywhere!”
“We can just die here. In any case, we’re strong enough now. We can definitely stop them.”
For a moment, the atmosphere of the entire meeting was suddenly tense. Most humans still wanted to defend this place.
They were strong enough and had sufficient resources. Moreover, Ping City was easy to defend and difficult to attack. As long as they defended firmly enough, it would not be easy for the demons outside to enter.
However, Hu Jiujiu’s choice had nothing to do with them. At most, they would kick Hu Jiujiu out and choose a human City Lord. That would be even more perfect.
The people who objected were also silent. They did not want to hold on here. They felt that their survival was the most important thing, so they felt that it was very ridiculous to do something useless here.
The person surnamed Zhao continued, “If any of you want to leave, I won’t stop you. You have the right to pursue your own safety. But if you want to stay, then fight with your lives. We will definitely be able to protect Ping City.”
“What about Hu Jiujiu?” Someone asked.
“That’s right. How should we deal with Hu Jiujiu? If she really hooked up with Hai Changping, I don’t think there’s a need for her to stay.”
They had all forgotten that just yesterday, they had regarded Hu Jiujiu as the savior of the human race. But today, Hu Jiujiu has suddenly become a tool to deceive the human race.
Zhao Zhiming looked at everyone firmly and said in a firm voice, “Our final goal is to defend Ping City. No matter who it is, as long as they can help us defend Ping City, they will be useful to us humans. However, if they obstruct us, we will kill them.”
Someone left quietly in the corner of the conference room.
Zhao Tai’an stood outside Li Yuanqing’s small courtyard with a stern expression. He vaguely knew about the unusual relationship between Li Yuanqing and Hu Jiujiu, but he had never asked about it. He was sure that Hu Jiujiu was sincerely helping the human race, but there were actually many militants who planned to attack Hu Jiujiu.
That made him anxious.
On one side was his fellow human beings, and on the other side was his old friend whom he had worked with for so long. This made Zhao Tai’an in a dilemma.
Just as he was conflicted, the door to the small courtyard suddenly opened and Li Yuanqing walked out.
“Big Brother Zhao, why are you here at this time? Why are you looking for me?”
Zhao Tai’an was stunned for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly felt two pairs of eyes behind him. He turned his head and glanced at the entrance of the alley. He did not know when these two people had followed him, but the two of them were staring at him coldly.
It turned out that Zhao Tai’an was discovered by someone when he left early just now. Zhao Zhiming had sent these two people to keep an eye on him.
“Actually, it’s nothing. It’s just business. I’ve been in some trouble recently, so I came to report to you.”
Li Yuanqing also noticed the two of them.
“Big Brother Zhao, come in and talk. Don’t stand outside.”
Zhao Tai’an knew that he had been targeted. How could he go in now? If he went in, wouldn’t he be attracting trouble to Li Yuanqing?
“Forget it, I don’t think there’s anything else. I should be fine after I go back and think about it. I’m always a little nervous.”
“Big Brother Zhao, are you really fine?”
“I’m fine. It’s just that recently, the city might not be very peaceful and affect business. You should be careful.”
“Thank you for your reminder, Brother Zhao.”
Before Zhao Tai’an left, he suddenly turned around and said casually, “By the way, tell your family to be careful. It’s best for girls not to go out too much at night.”
After saying that, Zhao Tai’an left with a smile. Li Yuanqing could clearly see the uneasiness in his eyes. Plus the two people who were following him.
After Zhao Tai’an left, the two of them quietly left.
It was not only the humans. Even many people from the gathering place of the demons had gathered. Their small organizations had already disappeared. However, this incident gathered them together again.
“I heard. None of the brothers outside have leaked the news.”
“Could it be as easy to go wrong as the previous few times? I feel that it’s a little unreliable.”
After the previous failures, the demons were much more obedient now.
“Don’t worry. The scale is much larger than before. As long as Hu Jiujiu leaves, no one will guard Ping City. We will definitely be able to take it down. At that time, it will return to its previous status.”
They spoke pa.s.sionately as they fantasized about their beautiful lives in the future. It seemed to them that as long as Hu Jiujiu left, everything would be fine and everything would end for the best.
“But is it really useful? Will the legendary Sword Immortal come out?”
There were also many demons who expressed their doubts.
The leader was naturally smug.
“Don’t worry. I think this Sword Immortal is most likely having an affair with Hu Jiujiu, this little vixen. Hu Jiujiu went all the way to Sea City. The Sword Immortal will definitely be worried and will personally guard her.”
“I think so too.”
“In that case, aren’t the chances of success very high this time?”
“Of course!” They licked their scarlet mouths.
“When Hu Jiujiu heard the news of the Heavenly Fox Clan, she couldn’t sit still anymore. After she leaves, it will be time for us brothers to take action. At that time, we will definitely take Ping City down again!”
“If we take back Ping City, these humans will work for us again. I can’t stand such a life anymore!”