Stranger Danger

Chapter 1033: Heavens’ Eye Patrols The Sky

Ye Qing set down his wine jar with a confused expression, “The sun? Why is there a sun in this god forsaken place?”

The Nanjiang Royal Court had shifted to a place called Vile Water.

“Beware the Poor Mountain and Vile Water, for even gods and ghosts stay far away from them.” This warning directly referred to the two most dangerous places of Nanjiang, the Poor Mountain and the Vile Water.

Poor Mountain was a barren, lifeless mountain where only the Vile Wind blew all year long. Any life touched by the Vile Wind would wither away and die, which was why the mountain came to be known as the Poor Mountain.

Vile Water referred to the dark rain and gray fog that constantly plagued a certain location in the One Hundred Thousand Mountains of Nanjiang. The rain water was called the Vile Water, capable or corroding flesh and disintegrating bones upon contact. The gray fog was called the Vile Fog as it bred a kind of insect called the Vile Worm that was capable of devouring some flesh and blood beings. Together, they were known as the Vile Water.

Poor Mountain and Vile Water were extremely dangerous locations for both humans and Strangers. Practically no life could survive in these two places. No one—no human, no animal, not even a Stranger—was willing to get close to them.

Besides that, Poor Mountain and Vile Water were chaotic and concealed from the rivers of fate. It was almost as if they had been abandoned by the Heavenly Way.

This was why the Nanjiang Royal Court had chosen the Vile Water as their temporary resting location. Its lifelessness and invisibility from the rivers of fate protected them from being tracked down by Chu.

They arrived here about two hours ago. Feng Qingyou had been kidnapped by Meng Feixue immediately after to discuss how to deal with Chu’s impending and inevitable wrath.

Sure, they had achieved a total victory so far. Not only had they retaken the Nanjiang Royal Court, they had annihilated Barbarian Slayer, Wildland Suppression and King Slayer and even inflicted serious damage to Wei Nanhua. However, they were not yet at a point where they could rest easy. In fact, now was the most dangerous moment of their entire operation.

After all, not only had Feng Qingyou and Meng Feixue ruined Chu’s decades-long plan to conquer Nanjiang once and for all, they had embarrassed them horribly as well.

The only way might rescue their reputation and resume their grand plan was to annihilate Meng Feixue and her group. Not only that, they had to do it in a fashion where their dominance was utterly indisputable.

In other words, Chu would be coming after them with everything they got.

Only by surviving Chu’s thunderous wrath long enough for Yan, Wei and Qi to finally react and suppress Chu could they finally let out a sigh of relief.

Until then, they must be on maximum alert at all times. It was no exaggeration to say that now was the most dangerous and critical moment of their operation.

Of course, to say the move was risky would be an understatement. It was a choice only someone with great audacity and decisiveness would choose. As expected of the ruler of an empire.

“Do you have a plan against the Heavens’ Eye, Qingyou?” Ye Qing asked urgently.

“No.” Feng Qingyou shook her head and answered succinctly. “This time, Emperor Jing Run truly managed to catch me by surprise.”

Ye Qing barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. You don’t have a solution, but you have the time to praise the enemy who’s about to annihilate us all? As expected of you!

“What should we do then, Qingyou?” Meng Feixue asked urgently as well.

“Escape!” Feng Qingyou answered succinctly.

“Escape?” Ye Qing lifted his eyebrows.

“That’s right. The Nanjiang Royal Court is just too huge. There is zero chance the city would be able to avoid the Heavens’ Eye’s detection. We do not have the power to block its bombardment either. To stay here is to commit suicide.”

Feng Qingyou added, “Only by leaving the Nanjiang Royal Court do we have a sliver of hope to survive.”

“No!” But Meng Feixue rejected the suggestion. “I won’t abandon the Nanjiang Royal Court. This city is the symbol of the Meng Clan, and it cannot be destroyed during my reign. Besides, my people are living in the Nanjiang Royal Court as well. I am their princess, I cannot possibly abandon them during their time of crisis!”

“I cannot leave. I will not leave. I may die today, but at least I will be dying together with my clansmen and my citizens.”

Meng Feixue cast Feng Qingyou an apologetic look. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Qingyou, but I guess I won’t be able to walk with you any further. I’m sorry.”

“I told you before that you and I never need to apologize to each other.” Feng Qingyou smiled. “Besides, your decision is the right one. A ruler who shirks away from their responsibility is no ruler. If you had chosen to abandon your people and escape on your own, then I would truly be disappointed with you.”

“Always remember this, Feixue. A ruler can be foolish or cruel, but they must never, ever be irresponsible.”