Hee Chunhua looked down and discovered another set of runes lighting up beneath the Celestial Thunder Array.
Unlike the Celestial Thunder Array, every one of its lines was a vivid, blood-red.
Most importantly, this Array wasn’t particularly profound, but it was ancient enough that many of its characters were archaic symbols long fallen out of use.
Situ Han noticed that as the Hee Prefect stared at the newly appeared Talisman Array on the ground, his eyes were wide, but his pupils had shrunk to pinpricks—a clear sign of extre shock.
He grew tense as well. "Wh-what’s happening?"
"This is a Blood Sacrifice Array! Sunx Fuping is going to use us as offerings!" Hee Chunhua hissed through clenched teeth.
###
Unbeknownst to anyone, just as Sunx Fuping produced the Ivory Carving, a Demon Bird swooped down from the sky and landed before Hee Lingchuan, the cloud of dust it kicked up startling the two n.
Fuzzy Peach once again reached for his saber, and Zeng Feixiong imdiately shielded Hee Lingchuan. Fortunately, the Black Flood Dragon’s voice rang out, "They are preparing the Divine Descent Technique! Your companions outside are about to be slaughtered as offerings. Aren’t you going to help stop them?"
Hee Lingchuan and Zeng Feixiong were horrified. "What did you say?"
Fuzzy Peach also cried out in alarm, "Y-You’re spouting nonsense!"
"The Thunder Summoning Array outside has a Sacrificial Array nested beneath it. Once those two succeed in their prayer, the Array will drain the lives and Essence Blood of your companions as the price for the Divine Descent! The agony is far beyond what any human can endure."
"Nonsense!" Sunx Fuping’s voice suddenly rang in Hee Lingchuan’s ear. The two turned to look, only to see him still with his eyes tightly shut, lips moving as he chanted a Mantra. It was unclear what thod he was using to transmit his voice to them; his skills were truly diverse. "The Thunder Summoning Array is only used to summon Celestial Thunder and protect the Black Water City Army! Without it, your father would have long been devoured by Resentful Souls! This Artifact Spirit is trying to sow chaos in your mind—do not fall for its tricks!"
But the Black Flood Dragon retorted, "You’re hiding here, which proves you’re not on their side. They wouldn’t hesitate for a second to sacrifice others! Think carefully—why is it that while everyone else is outside intercepting Heroic Spirits, only you were able to get in?"
It added ominously, "If I’m not mistaken, those two originally intended to sacrifice you. That would have been the most convenient way for them."
A chill ran through Hee Lingchuan’s heart.
’He knew those two had been plotting against him and his father, and against the Black Water City Army; he just didn’t know what thods they would use. If what the Black Flood Dragon said was true, then by not going to the South City Wall just now, he had truly dodged a bullet.’
’But even if he had escaped disaster, Sunx Fuping, who had been plotting for so long, wouldn’t just give up. He might very well use Hee Chunhua and the Black Water City Army as replacents.’
’Putting the pieces together, the Black Flood Dragon’s explanation actually made a lot of sense.’
Fuzzy Peach was completely bewildered. "Eldest Young Master, this... this..."
Who was telling the truth? Who were they supposed to believe?
Perhaps seeing his hesitation, Sunx Fuping shouted urgently, "Hee Lingchuan, don’t fall for its ploy! If we can’t subdue the Black Flood Dragon, you and I will both die here, and Hee Chunhua and the Black Water City Army will be buried along with you!"
He imdiately added, "Zeng Feixiong, stop him! If the Hee Family commits treason, you will all be implicated and executed!"
Da Yuan law stipulated the execution of a traitor’s "nine relations," a category which included their Subordinates and Followers. If the Hee Family were to rebel, Zeng Feixiong would indeed face certain death.
Such a threat would work on anyone. Zeng Feixiong was about to urge the Eldest Young Master to make a calm choice, as Hee Lingchuan’s reputation for being impulsive and reckless was deeply ingrained. But after hearing Sunx Fuping’s words, he retracted the hand he was extending to stop him. "Eldest Young Master, I’ll follow your lead!"
Even Sunx Fuping, an expert manipulator of people, was stunned. He couldn’t understand how his threat had backfired so spectacularly.
In truth, the word "die" had actually reminded Zeng Feixiong that he had led his troops into the Panlong Desert fully prepared to die, so long as the Hee Family promised to care for his elderly father in his final years. What did it matter if those two were National Master Captains? The most important thing was to carry out the Hee Prefect’s mission.
Hee Lingchuan had no ti to worry about Zeng Feixiong’s thoughts. He had to make a decision—now. Imdiately.
In a fleeting mont, countless thoughts raced through Hee Lingchuan’s mind. Then, he suddenly looked up at the Demon Bird beside him and asked, "If I help you, can you guarantee our safe exit from the Panlong Desert?"
The Demon Bird nodded imdiately, without the slightest hesitation.
The n were overjoyed. This was what they had been hoping for! The Eldest Young Master was thinking clearly.
All the strange phenona in the Panlong Desert were caused by the Grand Square Pot. If it wanted to spare them, it would be the easiest thing in the world.
With no other choice but to trust it, Hee Lingchuan no longer hesitated. "Take us to the city wall!"
Several more Demon Birds imdiately descended, grabbed the n by their shoulders, and flew upward with powerful beats of their wings.
They had only ascended a hundred feet when a cold light flashed from behind. The Demon Bird carrying Fuzzy Peach was suddenly sheared of its right side. With a loud SQUAWK, it plumted.
It was Nian Songyu, who, despite being occupied, had thrown his Long Saber to stop them from reaching the wall. He had been aiming for Hee Lingchuan, but the Demon Bird carrying Fuzzy Peach had unexpectedly lunged in front to block the attack.
Fortunately, another Demon Bird swooped in just in ti to catch Fuzzy Peach in mid-air.
The n landed on the city wall. Hee Lingchuan pointed at the war machines. "Load the arrows, ready the projectiles!"
Zeng Feixiong led his n and complied without a word. Fuzzy Peach, however, was a little uncertain. "Are you really going to help the Black Flood Dragon?"
Hee Lingchuan swiftly shoved two Nail Bombs into a cannon barrel and shot him a sidelong glance. "What? I guess that attack from Nian Songyu wasn’t close enough for you?"
Nian Songyu’s attack had sliced the Demon Bird in half, and Fuzzy Peach had nearly been killed on the spot. After hearing Hee Lingchuan’s jab, Fuzzy Peach gave up his hesitation and quickly mounted a four-foot-plus Fine Iron Arrow onto a Strong Crossbow.
The war machines on the wall had already fired one volley automatically, under the Black Flood Dragon’s control, of course. But its command over this place was clearly not absolute. It couldn’t manage more delicate tasks, such as automatically loading projectiles and arrows.
It still required manual labor.
Yet all the Demon Apes had been wiped out, and it would take so ti for them to resurrect.
If it weren’t for the lack of available hands, why would it have sought out these little fleas, who were uninvited guests themselves?
’Hee Lingchuan’s first thought had been to draw his own bow and put a few arrows in Sunx Fuping. But he held no official rank or title and had no fortune of destiny to protect him. How could the power of his arrows compare to that of specialized war machines?’
’Now that he had made his decision, he had to see it through to the end—and do it right.’
Nian Songyu was enraged, his face flushing as red as the frenzied Giant behind him. "Hee Lingchuan, you dare defect in the middle of a battle! I will personally tear you to pieces and scatter your ashes to the wind!"
"You should have a better attitude when you’re asking for a favor. But with an attitude like yours... tsk!" Hee Lingchuan heaved the last boulder into its launch trough, then turned to the Demon Bird. "Do it!"
Flas suddenly erupted on the boulders and arrowheads. With a series of thunderous BOOMS, a dozen war machines opened fire simultaneously. The loudest, of course, were the Nail Bombs, the concussions leaving their ears ringing.
’To be honest, firing a cannon was never this simple. To this day, Hee Lingchuan still didn’t understand the firing chanism for Panlong City’s war machines—was it a fuse or a flintlock? But none of that mattered. The Black Flood Dragon, in control of Panlong City, took care of the rest.’
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