Chapter 148: Thousand Magic Camp
“Princess Fei Huang, this servant of yours-”
Hearing the voice, Long Huang-er was like a spring as she jumped up from the chair, rushed over at a lightning speed, and grabbed the maid’s clothes as she urgently asked, “Did he return already?”
“Master Ye hasn’t returned yet. They said Master Ye might return after half a month, so princess…” The maid explained. She had already told Princess Fei Huang this explanation so many times, but Long Huang-er still had her go scout out information.
Long Huang-er disappointedly released her and depressedly waved a hand to permit her to leave. Sitting back on the chair, Long Huang-er picked up the unfinished white brocade embroidery to start to attentively and carefully embroider. She was now more familiar than she was ten days ago, and those delicate fingers had additional small red spots, but she never thought of giving up, because this was her first time using her hands to do something. She had already embroidered something on top… It appeared to be something that could be considered the shape of a man.
In Tian Long Main Hall, civil and military officials were divided on both sides. Long Yin swept his gaze from left to right, he said in a dignified face, “I just received the news this morning, that Gale Nation has a new emperor, Feng Lie, who ascended to the throne yesterday. This time he didn’t invite my Tian Long Nation to his coronation. Kui Shui Nation and Cang Lang Nation are to attend, and during the coronation day, he a.s.signed his eldest son, Feng Ling as the Crown Prince. He has also announced to have the Crown Prince Feng Ling to come to our Tian Long Nation as the amba.s.sador in a few days to pay a visit to the Emperor of Tian Long Nation. This matter, dearly beloved officials, do you have any suggestions?”
The main hall of Tian Long went very silent, and everyone exposed a face as if thinking very hard. It was Zhuge Wuyi who stepped out and said, “Your Majesty, did Feng Lie also a.s.sign other princes to pay a visit to the Emperors of Kui Shui Nation and the Cang Lan Nation?”
Long Yin replied, “None. Only to Tian Long Nation. This is the one thing that I am most worried about. Based on Feng Lie’s wild schemes against us Tian Long Nation during those days, I really don’t think that they would just merely pay a visit to to the Tian Long Nation. There must certainly be something fishy.”
“Your Majesty!” Lin Zhan stepped out and said, “The Gale Nation had a robust power during those days; with one nation, they could attack three nations. Now that have been dormant for twenty years to train their troops, Feng Lie must have such intentions as well. A huge war is inevitable. I believe, the war will come sooner or later. Why don’t we just capture the Crown Prince of the Gale Nation then make him our hostage to make the Gale Nation unable to fight against us for the fear of killing their own-”
“We absolutely can’t do that!” A loud roar came from Ye Nu, interrupting him, “For the Crown Prince of Gale Nation to personally come here, he must have enough courage. If Tian Long Nation were to detain him, where would our popularity and dignity go? Where is the national prestige of our Tian Long? Even if we can threaten the Gale Nation, how will the whole world look upon us Tian Long Nation? Besides, the G.o.d of War of the Gale Nation Feng Chaoyang was appointed to protect the royal family throughout his life. If the Crown Prince of the Gale Nation was captured, it will surely involve Feng Chaoyang. If the G.o.d of War comes out, even the magnificent army with thousands of men and horses will be hard pressed to stop him and our Tian Long will run into a great misfortune. We absolutely can’t do it!”
“Old General Ye is right.” Zhuge Wuyi agreed, “This statement is definitely not some frightening words to scare people off. The detention scheme is absolutely not feasible. If the Gale Nation was afraid that we might detain people, how come they will a.s.sign the Crown Prince to visit?”
Red and white flashed through Lin Zhan’s face. He clearly knew that his argument would lead to nothing, so he shamefully said, “Of course the two generals are right. I might have thought of this matter as a little bit too easy.”
Long Yin knitted his brows as he nodded and asked, “Old General Ye, based on your suggestion, how shall we proceed?”
Ye Nu cupped his fist and said, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince will come to visit most likely for three reasons. The first reason, will be to explore our nation’s prestige. The ‘know yourself and also know your enemy:’ implies that Feng Lie’s wild wolf ambition is undoubtedly visible, so without much time he will surely pursue our Tian Long Nation, leaving us no other options but to prevent it. The second reason is to establish his powers. The third reason… Our Tian Long Nation, Kui Shui Nation, and Cang Lan Nation have joined together all these years to control the Gale Nation, without one of them, all will be doomed to fail. They only planned to visit only our Tian Long Nation, the honorable Crown Prince no less. They are not without the intention to drive a wedge in between the three nations, causing Kui Shui and Cang Lan Nations to have suspicions against us.”
Long Yin continuously nodded his head, secretly sighing in his thoughts. Indeed Ye Nu’s capability in all fields were surely not the equal match of the trying too hard Lin Kuang and Lin Zhan. This was why he was always silently controlling the Ye Family, yet he was not able to aim against them out in the open. He did not even think to try to destroy the Ye Family because they were the main pillar of the Tian Long’s military powers. If not for Ye Family, even with the help of Kui Shui Nation and Cang Lan Nation on both sides, Tian Long Nation would have already been destroyed by the Gale Nation long time ago.
“Therefore, your humble servant believes that we should immediately send a letter to the Emperors of the Kui Shui and Cang Lan to inform them that the Gale Nation will soon make its move and explain to them the importance of our diplomatic relationships to subsequently prepare for the huge war. Besides, before the arrival of the Crown Prince of Gale Nation we could fake our appearance, showing him we have multiple times stronger national prestige to intimidate the Gale Nation so that they would not to act blindly without thinking. For others, it will be set up according to Your Majesty’s plans. I believe Your Majesty must already have a plan in mind. This will be the first time that a crown prince will come to visit Tian Long. Since he requested to come, then we should let him experience our Tian Long Nation’s influence, we should absolutely not show any weakness!”
Speaking of dealing with the Gale Nation, who had more credibility than Ye Nu? Since he had spoken, n.o.body dared to make any additional comments. Long Yin said, “Old General Ye is right, even though the Gale Nation is strong, our Tian Long Nation should not show any weakness to them. For the people of the Tian Long Nation, if we ought not to fight, then we shouldn’t. If we are to fight, our Tian Long nation isn’t afraid of anything! This matter, we shouldn’t announce it yet as of this moment. Old General Ye, General Zhuge, Feng Ling will certainly use this visit to scout our military power, you must make your preparations quickly; within these three days, we need to intimidate them!”
………………………………………………………………………………
“A long, long time ago, there was a very very beautiful fairy…”
“Don’t tell that story anymore.” Meng Zhi snorted with an expressionless face, but within her flat and cold voice, her tone had the implication of begging for his mercy.
Every time Ye Wuchen mentioned this story, Ning Xue and Tong Xin, who had already knew the reason, would look at Meng Zhi oddly. Ning Xue would even ask “Sister Meng, can you really eat that much?” So, every time he mentioned “Once upon a time there was a fairy…” She had the urge to go ahead and stab him with a sword.
She was not aware that the relationship between them had became closer and closer gradually because of it. After several days of being together, even though she remained habitually silent, she would already take the initiative to speak occasionally. The way she looked at Ning Xue and Tong Xin was like looking at her little sisters.
Ye Wuchen had no choice but to stop talking, using a voice that she alone could hear, he mumbled, “Indeed… I saved your life, and everyday you are eating my food, drinking my water, sleeping on my bed… Instead you don’t thank me, and even have a hard face as if I owe you something. Now you have also stopped me from telling a story. Hey, what bad luck.”
“You!” Meng Zhi glared at him, then gently snorted as she turned her face away. Almost exploding with anger, she gritted her teeth. To recall these past few days, she indeed enjoyed all his things without any qualm…
There was no fixed target pertaining to the direction where Ye Wuchen was heading to, they simply went to the South. Ordinarily, even in desolate places, they would occasionally meet some travellers, but walking through this s.p.a.cious and clean road for a long time, they had yet to see any shadows. Ye Wuchen’s mind was somehow puzzled, but all the way through, he kept on narrating those so-called strange stories. Fortunately, Ning Xue and Tong Xin were listening to him with keen interest.
Reaching the end of the road, there was a small forest not so densely packed, Ye Wuchen stopped his footsteps here.
“What’s going on, brother?” Ning Xue asked.
For more than ten days they had pa.s.sed through numerous wild forests, so they were already used to staying in all sorts of forests. Ye Wuchen was dazzled as he looked at the forest ahead for a while, he furrowed his brows as he said, “The arrangement of these trees are so strange.”
“Yi?” Ning Xue turned around to look. She earnestly looked for quite a while, unconvinced, “No, they don’t.”
Ye Wuchen let go of Ning Xue, placing her small hands in Tong Xin’s. Lowering his voice, he said, “Tong Xin, you might have also felt that there are two enchanted creatures, protect Xue-er.”
Tong Xin nodded her head. Her face did not look worried.
“Let’s go.” Ye Wuchen stood beside Meng Zhi, who shifted to his other side. Seeing him headed inside the forest without looking back, she followed behind without a choice.
If the Ye Family, Lin Family, and Hua Family were considered the three of the most powerful political families, then Dongfang, Ximen, Nangong, and Beiming were Tian Long’s most publicly known and strongest magical military aristocratic families. One should not look down on any of these families, who established themselves in Tian Long Nation for so many years with no one daring to provoke them; their hidden powers were deep and unmeasurable.
At this time, the Ximen aristocratic family was alarmed.
“Young master, there are four intruders inside the Thousand Magic Camp.” A man dressed as a house servant respectfully bowed down before the young man of twenty years old as he reported.
“Which road did they come in from?” the young man asked as he was fumbling with a stone as bright and clean as a mirror. The Thousand Magic Camp was established by the four strongest elders of the Ximen Family. One could get lost inside it if they entered without permission, never to find their way out, if they were not killed by the two well bred and powerful enchanted creatures; those who were able to accidentally and luckily escape were very few.
During ordinary days, if someone were to visit the Ximen residence, they would just need to shout in front of the Thousand Magic Camp and someone would automatically respond whether or not they were allowed. This was widely known by the people of the South. Ye Wuchen was evidently unaware of it, so he directly intruded inside.
“I don’t know, and the four of them are unfamiliar faces.”
The young man waved his hand, “Intruding without permission, whether they are enemies or friends, don’t mind them, just let them perish on their own.”
“Yes.”
The four of them walked around the forest for so long, Ye Wuchen’s brows got knitted together, as he felt even more strange. The trees were arranged very orderly, and this place was truly very quiet, aside from the sound of their footsteps, he could not hear any other sounds.
The trees before him were overlapping, the shadows of the trees were similarly overlapping. In deep contemplation, Ye Wuchen’s vision suddenly trembled and he halted his steps, lifting his head to look up at the sky.
The sun which had originally been in front, appeared to be at the rear, right now!
Following him at his right, Meng Zhi saw him stop, so she followed. Puzzled, she turned around, raising her brows, she gently said, “Where are they?”
In deep thought, Ye Wuchen was startled upon hearing her words. He immediately turned around, and his facial color abruptly changed—Ning Xue and Tong Xin, who had been walking to his left all along had expectedly disappeared.
Translated by:
Fatty_Uncle
Edited by:
seriouspotato patrick_father_of_dragons