Chapter 79: Quietly Watching You Drink Chicken Soup

Beyond Beiluo City, on a boundless plain, a carriage stood silently. The horse's nostrils exhaled warm breath as it chewed on the lush grass. Moonlight poured down heavily from the heavens, cloaking the plain in a silver shroud, rendering the landscape chillingly beautiful. The carriage curtain was drawn back. An elderly man, bent with age, descended, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the faintly visible Beiluo metropolis shrouded in night. The coachman was Mo Shougui, missing an arm, his face pale as death, trailing behind Mo Beike."Shougui, what hour is it now?""In just the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, the Chou hour will begin."Mo Shougui's voice was hoarse. He stared at Beiluo City with eyes glinting coldly. After all, his lost arm was severed by Ning Zhao, the maid of Young Master Lu, and thus this grudge naturally fell upon the Lu heir."Chou hour, huh…" Mo Beike drew a deep breath, his eye bags trembling. According to their plan, once Beiluo City was secured, the Yin-Yang sect's disciples, led by Wei Luan, would send a signal. Yet... from the beginning of the Zi hour until now, the city remained ominously still, unnervingly silent—like a coiled serpent lurking in darkness, exuding an icy chill."Failed…" Mo Beike sighed deeply, the cold midnight wind fluttering his whiskers."Shougui, urge the horses. Head straight to Beijun."Mo Beike slipped back into the carriage."Understood."Gripping the whip with his single arm, Mo Shougui cracked it sharply; the carriage swiftly turned and galloped away. The wind tousled his long hair, and as he glanced back at Beiluo City, a venomous hatred flickered in his eyes like that of a poisonous serpent.

...At the edge of Wolong Ridge, a campfire blazed, illuminating the dense forest's depths. On a bed of dry grass lay a graceful figure, reclining sideways. Xiang Shaoyun sat beside the fire, inhaling spiritual energy, his dark aura swirling ceaselessly."The Reversal Immortal Technique is but demonic cultivation…""One thought toward the immortal, one toward the demon?" Xiang murmured.This time, he had nearly perished, but by selling his soul to darkness, transforming into a demon, he carved a path to survival. Turning, he saw Luo Mingsang sleeping peacefully on the straw bed; the murderous aura on Xiang Shaoyun's face had vanished entirely, replaced only by tenderness. Gazing upon her tranquil visage, the serenity of time enveloped him, and he felt no regrets.He harbored no ambitions of kingship or conquest; his rebellion was only so she could become the most honored woman in the world, to possess all.Yet, Xiang Shaoyun's true passion lay in the pursuit of martial excellence, the pinnacle of personal power.They say even the toughest men conceal tenderness; Xiang Shaoyun was no exception. His softest place was Luo Mingsang—his childhood playmate.However, as he glanced back at the flickering fire, his gaze sharpened, bristling with earth-shattering wrath."Mo Beike…""A pity you failed to kill me. Since you did not, this world shall never fall to your Mo family!"His low voice tore through the night.As Xiang fixed his eyes on the fire, the woman lying on the grass fluttered her long lashes, watching the battle-scarred figure seated by the flames. Her starry eyes shimmered with tenderness that soon gave way to struggle, pain, and sorrow. Closing her eyes, she murmured in anguish,"Shaoyun, Mingsang is not worth this… not worth it."

...Drunken Dragon City. Thick fog blurred the landscape; the entire city, like Beiluo, lay in deathlike silence as its inhabitants slept. Outside a humble farmhouse, Jiang Li, clad in silver armor with his mouth and nose covered by white cloth, grasped his helmet with one hand. His deep gaze rested on the cottage, where a girl lay asleep, lulled by the Yin-Yang fireflies. The girl's sleep was sweet, as if dreaming some blissful dream; dimples bloomed like peach blossoms, her cheeks faintly flushed.Jiang Li's expression was unreadable. He donned his helmet and turned away.After a few steps, he formed a ring with his thumb and forefinger at his lips, releasing a whistle that pierced the night. A white horse galloped swiftly through the darkness, its mane streaming like silk. Jiang Li mounted, a spear strapped to the saddle and a rusty sword hanging at his waist.With a kick, the spear was in hand, a streak of white light racing down Drunken Dragon City's main street. Figures with covered faces followed, bursting into the night's shadow.On the street, Yin-Yang practitioners emerged like phantoms. Mechanical beasts roared, venomous insects swarmed... Blood and chaos engulfed the city.Jiang Li's eyes blazed; the thunderous hooves pounded like a storm. Clad in silver armor, spear in hand, he led his men like a sharpened blade piercing the darkness summoned by the Yin-Yang sect.This was a night soaked in blood. Compared to Beiluo's swift conquest, Drunken Dragon City's battle was brutally raw. The terror of the Yin-Yang sect was fully unleashed, aided by mechanical beasts and Mo family rangers—three dreadful forces tearing apart the Zhou Dynasty's defenses.As the first dawn light burst over the horizon, casting warmth upon the earth, the clang of armor arose along the blood-soaked street. Jiang Li emerged from the carnage, discarding his spear and placing a hand on the hilt of his rusty sword, exhaling heavily. Behind him lay shattered mechanical beasts and piles of Yin-Yang sect corpses... and some of his own men's bodies.His face was numb; he had long grown accustomed to death. The morning glow made him squint.A bloodied woman trailed behind him."Handle the bodies...""Once everyone awakens, secure the city."Jiang Li commanded."Understood."The woman, weary, obeyed. Seeing Jiang Li's rusty sword still sheathed, a fervent gleam lit her eyes—this crisis was no threat worthy of drawing his blade. Watching Jiang Li depart, leaving a trail of bloody footprints, her fervor faded, replaced by complex emotions. She knew where he was headed but chose not to follow and disturb him.

Inside the farmhouse, Jiang Li removed his helmet and the bloodstained cloth covering his mouth. His hair was disheveled. Approaching the nearly extinguished candle, he gazed upon the peacefully sleeping girl. He reached out, hand trembling, but hesitated, fearing blood might soil her face, and withdrew. Sitting on the doorstep, sword at his side, his posture rigid, he watched the broken clouds and dawn's light unfold—waiting quietly for the girl to awaken.

Inside, the girl stirred lazily. Her eyes caught the imposing figure on the doorstep, and she gasped, sitting upright suddenly. The chick nestled in her blouse was tossed out, landing beside the bloodied man. Jiang Li glanced at the chick, then at the girl on the bed, raising an eyebrow."This is… the chicken for today's soup?"Bai Qingniao's cheeks flushed crimson."Uncle Jiang, when did you arrive?"Startled, she quickly scooped the chick into her blouse and hurried toward the kitchen."The soup will be ready soon, just wait, Uncle Jiang..."After a while, Jiang Li placed his bloodstained helmet on the ground and devoured the amber chicken soup and fragrant meat. Bai Qingniao rested her chin on her hand, watching him with crescent-shaped eyes.Though initially frightened by his bloodied appearance, she had grown accustomed to it, no longer fearing the sight of blood. She simply enjoyed quietly watching him eat—what he had done, what he had killed, what that meant to her was of no consequence.When the pot was empty, Jiang Li wiped the grease from his lips and rose."I'm leaving."He never lingered after eating."That chicken… fatten it up."At the door, he paused and said this, glancing at the chick peeking from Bai Qingniao's blouse with a slight smirk.He was by no means jealous of the chick—he simply thought that chicken might make a delicious soup.

...In the imperial capital of the Great Zhou, dawn's warm rays bathed the land. Outside the city, six swift steeds thundered, their hooves cracking like raindrops as they charged into the city without slowing. These horses came from the capital's six great gates, bearing urgent messages.In the imperial palace's main hall, Yu Wenxiu read six dispatches, then abruptly flung them aside in fury, slapping the dragon throne with a resounding crack that echoed throughout the chamber.Ministers exchanged uneasy glances, while some officials who had received the intelligence bowed their heads in silence.An elderly eunuch retrieved the dispatches."Read!" Yu Wenxiu commanded coldly.The eunuch dared not disobey, his shrill voice relaying the grim news.Instantly, the officials were aghast!The six great gates of the imperial capital were under attack. Beiluo, Drunken Dragon, Wangtian, and Pingnan cities barely held their ground. The lords of Yuanchi and Tong'an were slain; chaos raged within, unsettling the populace.Yu Wenxiu stared at the stunned ministers with profound disappointment, then swept his sleeve and left the court, heading to the study.

...While the imperial capital reeled from the assault on its gates, dawn broke over Beiluo, illuminating the Lu residence with gentle, misty light. Lu Fan sat in his wheelchair, sipping plain porridge. Before him, Ni Yu, her hair tied in a bun, wept silently, clutching her chest and gazing pleadingly at Lu Fan.