Stranger Danger

“Do you know what counts as a greater matter to a country, Joyless?” Feng Qingyou turned to look at Ye Qing.

“‘The great matters of the state lie in sacrifice and military affairs’,” Ye Qing quoted from Zuo Tradition.

“That’s right.”

Feng Qingyou said indifferently, “Only a war can show off Chu’s strength, and only a sacrifice can rescue Chu’s reputation.”

“From Chu’s perspective, Yan to the north, Wei to the west, and Qi to the east are all vicious tigers. None of them are good targets to start a war against. On the other hand, Nanjiang to the south is a pushover in their current state. Assuming Chu wants to start something, if Nanjiang is their best—maybe their only—option.”

“Besides that, the Nanjiang Royal Court is like the maggot in one’s bones even in their declined state. Time and again, they have proven to be a great source of disturbance to Chu. Chu had long since wanted to remove this thorn in their side. In fact, this plot to utterly annihilate the Nanjiang Royal Court and pacify their southern borders had been in the brewing for decades.”

“Guo Ximian’s trampling of Nanjiang over a decade ago is in fact, just a test. It is to trick the Nanjiang Royal Court into lowering their guard thinking that the Nanjiang Pacification Army has suffered such tremendous losses but they would not start a new war in the short term. Unfortunately, the Nanjiang Royal Court underestimated Chu’s ambition and ruthlessness. It might look like Chu has been resting and recuperating for the past decade, but they were really raising an army and brewing plots in secret.”

“Even if you hadn’t killed Chu Wangsun and Fang Muyun and inadvertently accelerated their plan, they would have attacked the Nanjiang Royal Court in a year or two.”

Feng Qingyou added after a pause, “What you did provided Chu an opportunity to launch their campaign ahead of time. For one, Chu was desperate for something to rescue their damaged reputation. Two, everyone’s eyes are centered on you and the Four Seas after your killing of Chu Wangsun and Fang Muyun, and no one was paying attention to Nanjiang, which made it easier for Chu to operate under cover as well.”

“Knowing these facts, it is not difficult to put two and two together and predict what kind of actions Chu would take.”

“Hahaha… is that so?”

Ye Qing laughed politely but did not believe a word that came out of Feng Qingyou’s mouth as a matter of course. She made it sound oh-so-easy, but no ordinary person could have deduced a nation’s plot and movement just by observing all this disjointed information that seemed to have no connection with each other whatsoever? At the very least, she must be extremely familiar with the behavior and conduct of the higher-ups of Chu. Otherwise, she could not have outthought Yan, Qi and Wei, three enemy nations who wanted to take advantage of Chu more than anyone else.

It was fine listening to Feng Qingyou’s argument that anyone could arrive at the same conclusion given the same facts, but anyone who actually believed it would be a bonafide idiot.

“Do you disagree?” Feng Qingyou countered.

Ye Qing glossed over her retort and said, “You knew that Chu would attack Nanjiang, but you still chose to come here. This means you’re plotting something bigger than just gathering the Sky Mending Spring for me, am I right?”

From his perspective, it was obvious. She knew that Chu was going to attack in Nanjiang, but she still persuaded him to come here. She had to be plotting something.

“You know me well, Joyless,” admitted Feng Qingyou with a chuckle.

“So, for what have you come to Nanjiang?” Ye Qing asked curiously.

“To help a friend retrieve what is hers,” replied Feng Qingyou. Her voice was gentle, warm, and mellow like the blossoming flowers under a spring rain, but Ye Qing detected an undertone of cold apathy beneath it.

“Who is this friend?” Ye Qing asked.

“You just met her,” Feng Qingyou answered.

“Miss Fei Xue?!” Ye Qing exclaimed in surprise.

“Mm.” Feng Qingyou nodded but did not give Ye Qing a chance to ask further questions. “As for what is this thing I’m retrieving for her, you will find out in a moment.”

“Right now, the first priority is to find the Sky Mending Spring for you and treat your wounds.”

Since Feng Qingyou was unwilling to speak at this moment, Ye Qing didn’t prod. He asked, “You know where the Sky Mending Spring is, Qingyou?”

“I do.” Feng Qingyou nodded again. “The Sky Mending Spring is the Nanjiang Royal Court’s sacred object. You can find it in their Sky Mending Palace.”

“... Let me get this straight. Your plan is for me to commit suicide?”

For a moment, Ye Qing thought he had misheard Feng Qingyou. Then, his mouth widened into an O-shape. Chu had just conquered the Nanjiang Royal Court, and her plan was for him to retrieve the Sky Mending Spring from the Sky Mending Palace? What difference was this from drinking poison?

“Don’t worry. You’ll live. In fact, now is the best time to retrieve the Sky Mending Spring.”

Feng Qingyou smiled. “As I said, the Sky Mending Spring is the Nanjiang Royal Court’s sacred object. For countless generations, only the royal family is allowed to use it. It is heavily guarded as a matter of course. If the Nanjiang Royal Court is still prsent, it would have been exceedingly difficult for you to retrieve it.”

“But now? The Nanjiang Royal Court had just been wiped out, and most of Nanjiang is in chaos. Although Chu currently has the upper hand, the matter is far from over. They still have to wipe out the remnants of the Nanjiang Royal Court, pacify the Nanjiang tribes and people and more. It’s all going to take a tremendous amount of manpower and resources.”

“Although the Nanjiang Royal Court is being held by the Chu army as a matter of course, the garrison must not be too big. Therefore, now is the best time to infiltrate the Nanjiang Royal Court and retrieve the Sky Mending Spring.”

“Huh. You’re right!”

Ye Qing’s eyes lit up. Now was the best time to commit some thievery. If they waited until Chu had truly pacified Nanjiang, then it would be much harder to retrieve the Sky Mending Spring.

“When are we going?”

Feng Qingyou replied, “Tomorrow. Today is a day of preparation.”

“Got it.”

After Ye Qing left, Fei Xue walked through a different door and asked worriedly, “Are you really going to infiltrate the Nanjiang Royal Court alone, Qingyou? Don’t you think it’s a little too dangerous? No, no, it’s better if you don’t go.”

“Who said I’m alone? I have Joyless, don’t I?” Feng Qingyou smiled.

“Him?” Fei Xue frowned and said with a cool expression, “He’s just a Trueman, and he’s injured too. How can he possibly be of help?”

“You shouldn’t underestimate Joyless. He may be injured, but a weakling he is not.” Feng Qingyou defended Ye Qing smilingly. “Would you believe me if I say you may not be his match even in his current state?”

Fei Xue’s eyebrows lifted higher. She did not say anything.

“You don’t believe me?” n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Feng Qingyou explained, “Do you know why he left just now? It’s because he knew you were here, and he knew you had something to discuss with me.”

Fei Xue remained silent for a moment before saying, “I’m still worried. Why don’t I come with you?”

“Thank you, but no.” Feng Qingyou rejected her offer. “If you come with me, then who will oversee the operations? This place cannot function without you.”

“Besides, since when have I, Feng Qingyou, needed another person’s protection?”

“But…”

Fei Xue was still hesitating when Feng Qingyou said, “Hesitation isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but excess hesitation can only be detrimental. This is especially true for those seeking to achieve great things. You must always have the courage and the determination to make a decision when it is time no matter when and where.”

“I understand.” Fei Xue nodded.

“I hope you really do.”

Feng Qingyou gave her a pat on the shoulder and said, “Proceed as planned after I’m gone.”

“Understood.”

Fei Xue nodded with cool eyes.

……

The One Hundred Thousand Mountains of Nanjiang was as treacherous as it was vast. Countless Strangers, Anomalies, and other dangers resided in this place. The threat level only grew the deeper one ventured into its jungles. It was why people advised against entering its mountains at all.

And yet, there existed a capital city deep within these mountains. It was none other than the renowned Nanjiang Royal Court.

Strangely, the Nanjiang Royal Court was built on a lake, not the land. The lake was named Moon God Lake. Most of the tribes of Nanjiang worshiped the Moon God, and the lake was named after it. It was clear how important it was to Nanjiang.

The Nanjiang Royal Court was located at the center of the Moon God Lake. No, this didn’t mean that the capital city was built on an island at the center of the lake. It was literally built on top of the lake water. From a distance, it almost looked like the Nanjiang Royal Court was a leaf floating on the Moon God Lake.