Chapter 74: War on Star Luo 3

Chapter 74: War on Star Luo 3

Word count = 1288 on 9/2//2023

The next day the army began to head out again to the surrounding territories but as some time had passed Jia Beng had an entourage with him that he had left behind to investigate the city. Since they were not captured, they went out and reported the invasion to the surrounding cities and villages.

Some of the villages had evacuated with the exception of a few lower class people who vehemently did not leave their homes. These people encountered Xue Tie and his army. But contrary to what was suspected to happen, didn't. There was no raiding for supplies, destruction of property or death. They were instead shown the benefits the people of his empire received and offered a choice to head out ahead of time through undercover merchants.

Only a small handful of these people accepted this idea and the excuse of it is that their home was burned down but they were allowed to escape for sport.

With the barebones excuses out of the way, the few citizens who wanted got pulled over by his speech. they began to head out to the neighboring cities that the villagers were escorted to. The merchants in disguise were able to pass through by showcasing some of their exotic goods and bribing a few other guards to allow them to stay the night.

And thus we have arrived at the next day again and he has begun besieging the cities officially. With the guards and the army members stationed in the city being fully focused on Xue Tie and ensuring he himself doesnt get close for any reason. They don't notice the undercover merchants afterall, no news of the insider mercenaries and merchants was known by the soldiers that had originally escorted Jia Beng. Which comes in handy now where the merchants drop off a few alchemical solutions that are…lets say, explosive. Like the battle of Helm's Deep, The gate was blown open into a giant rift that easily allowed Xue Tie and his soldiers in.

He quickly commands any scouts from escaping the city and informing the others about his tactics. He then begins to subjugate the soldiers who offer some resistance but with a lack of a titled douluo commander this time around. They offer little struggle against Xue Tie's aura. Especially with the hidden help of his new ancestral escorts. Especially, whenever some hooligan gets rowdy when no one is looking.

His days continue like this, taking down villages that had mostly been abandoned. Encouraging people to try to get their families back if they were left behind and then using merchants to infiltrate the cities. The plan didn't always work as they became more suspicious of the convenience of the situation, so at most they were kept in an isolated ward for refugees.

This has served as a stopgap to some of his plans but it only slowed it down. Unless they had multiple titled douluos arranged to stop Xue Tie then they would fall like all the others. It was just a matter of time before they were taken down.

The final result being 18 villages and 9 cities taken away from Star Luo over the course of 2 weeks. This allows Empyrean to fully encapsulate the entire West region for itself now. Star Luo's response was quite flavorful as they established a reclamation army to combat Xue Tie and his people. Or at least it would be a worthy fighting force if a random city wide fire didn't start abnormally close to the Star Luo palace.

Strangely enough, Star Luo claimed it was Xue Tie's fault even though he was just leading his army. He did nothing. Just because it was his people that did it, didn't mean that Xue Tie was involved. Which is true. He had no hand in the planning for the fire. He anticipated quite the heavy reaction from Star Luo and asked his people to simply create a large distraction. Creating a wildfire so close to the imperial palace just fills the situation but the risks were surely heavier, yet this just makes Xue Tie proud of his people.

He plans to reward them later if any survive, but his own focus is on the approaching army. The reports say that they hold 3 titled douluos. A member of the Hell Civet clan named Zhu Zhiyun, a member of the white tiger clan, more specifically the nephew of the current Star Luo emperor named Dai ZiBai. The distant uncle to Dai Mubai who has early on given up on the succession of the throne and swearing allegiance to the current Dai emperor, and then the last is the son of one of the empires Dukes. This person is Huang Zhizhi. The Star Zone Douluo

"Hmm. If I was interested in more than one person then this would have been as good a chance as any to tame a kitty. Unfortunately, I don't actually care but if they are willing to submit to me regardless then I shall be the benevolent one and show them mercy." Xue Tie says to himself as his army is destined to meet the enemy tomorrow. He plans to station his people on a nearby hill to get the high ground in this encounter.

He has his people make camp and begin setting up simple fortifications and other protective measures while his scouts head out to survey how many enemies they are actually fighting and for any tricks they might have. Xue Tie naturally doubts that they planned for just 3 titled douluos to face him if they heard about his raid of Spirit hall.

The most likely scenario is that they have more titled douluos hidden away or have some sort of artifact amongst other things that has a special ability that they believe is a counter to Xue Tie. Xue Tie simply shakes his head as he drinks his hibiscus tea with a few teaspoons of sugar in it to make it sweeter. (ignore the fact hibiscus is a red type of tea. I do actually enjoy it like this)

Elsewhere

In a secluded location, a hooded figure dressed in a silver robe is kneeling before a fat statue.

"Are the preparations complete?" A voice calls out originating from the statue as a gray glow covers it.

"Yes my lord, The sin of the insult and the crime of killing our young ones shall be purged." The cloaked figure states.

"Good, be sure to work alongside the 'other' folk, SHE doesnt like that HIS descendants have risen again and even more so that her newest favorite student is that brats lover. She cant stop complaining how SHE feels violated everytime they do it. Be sure to give him my compliments for causing her so much agony before you kill him"

"Your will be done my lord" The statue stops glowing and the figure rises. As he walks out of the room with the statue, he encounters 4 other figures wearing similar cloaks

"Head out. To Star Luo"

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I almost thought I wouldnt be able to get this chapter out because my family was melting my brain and making me sleepy.

On the other hand, I did finish chapter 1 of the new bleach story. But it will be around when I gather up 10 or so chapters that i'll start publishing them. Even if it's just a weekly submission. I don't really wanna fall behind since this story is still my priority

also I realizes that I forgot to change the title so we had a few chapter 71s which I now fixed. but I don't think anyone really noticed