âWhat happened? Why are you panicking?â Chi Cangmei asked irritably.
The guard gulped and explained in a trembling voice, âThereâs a message from the front lineâ¦the operationâ¦the operationâ¦â
âWhat happened to the operation?â someone asked anxiously.
The guard had to take several deep breaths before he could finish his sentence, âThere have been twists and turns in the operation.â
Twists and turns?
Many people were surprised, but they couldnât understand why some twists and turns were worth such a big fuss.
Chi Cangmei breathed a sigh of relief.
She had mobilized all the forces to the periphery of Yellow Dragon City and had put all her stakes into the operation so she couldnât let it fail.
âCalm down first and then tell the whole story.â Chi Cangmei urged.
The guard nodded. âNot long ago, the commander-in-chief of the operation received news that the target had left Yellow Dragon City in disguise...â
He repeated the message he received.
Many people couldnât help but praise Xiaomu when they heard that he was the one who had discovered Lin Xunâs whereabouts. But when they heard their target single-handedly slaughtered many people on their side, their expressions dramatically changed. Some couldnât help but cry out.
Then, when they heard that Lin Xun destroyed everyone in his way, almost broke out of the encirclement, and then dove into a river when chased by the five Violet Hero Battleships, the faces of everyone, including Chi Cangmeiâs, turned overcast.
Even the atmosphere in the room became heavy and depressing. Many people couldnât breathe in the stifling air. Only the hoarse and low voice of the guard continued to ring out.
âThey thought that the target would be severely wounded if he didnât die, so people were sent into the water to investigate. Who would have thought that the fifty dispatched cultivators were all slaughtered underwater?!â
Bang!
The cup in Chi Cangmeiâs hand crumbled to powder and slipped through her fingers.
But she seemed unaware of it.
Her eyes were narrowed, her beautiful face was livid, and her brows were knitted in a furious frown.
Over two thousand elite, well-armed cultivators and five Violet Hero Battleships...failed to kill the target!
What a bunch of trash!!
The room was deathly silent and everyone was still; no one dared to look at Chi Cangmei directly.
They all knew that Chi Cangmei was about to go berserk. In that state, she would kill without a single word!
In truth, Chi Cangmei was indeed almost about to lose control of herself. Murderous rage swirled inside of her. Ever since Xu Qianjing left, I have never received good news from the front line. Particularly in this operation. A tremendous number of people have been dispatched in addition to a large number of forces that could crush Spirit Sea cultivators, but they still couldnât do anything to the target! If this matter spreads out, how would the great influential figures in the family look at me? How would the world view my Chi Family?
So humiliating!
Chi Cangmei hated the fact that she couldnât rush to the frontline of the battlefield.
However, she soon calmed down. Anger was nothing but an expression of incompetence, and her priority should be to find out the truth behind several things.
âApart from this, is there any other news?â Chi Cangmei said indifferently, trying her best to control her emotions.
âYes, the target is suspected to be at the Earth Dipper Stage now and his strength has doubled compared to before.â
The guard was very nervous as he was worried that Chi Cangmei would kill him in anger. He responded extremely cautiously, âAlso, it is said that our operation is not going too well because the enemy is too strong. Itâs not that we arenât doing enough. We have done everything we can and still haven't succeeded.â
PA!
A teacup smashed on the guardâs face. He quivered and his face violently twitched as blood trickled down his face.
It wasnât Chi Cangmei venting her anger. Instead, the descendant of a powerful clan couldnât control his anger anymore. He roared, âWhat do you mean the enemy is too strong?! What bullshit reason is that?â
âEnough.â The roaring man froze after one word from Chi Cangmei and didnât dare to utter another.
âIs that really the message from the frontline?â Chi Cangmei asked.
The guard frantically vowed that everything he said was true.
âThe commander-in-chief of the front line is Du Xingchuan. I know what kind of person he is. It has to be true since itâs from him.â Chi Cangmei rubbed her forehead, looking exhausted. âTell Du Xingchuan to continue the operation. Make sure he sends a wind shadow hawk with his next message.â
If she saw the details of the operation, she might understand how strong the target was!
The guard bowed respectfully and left in a hurry.
The room fell silent again.
Chi Cangmei pursed her lips and fell into contemplation. Her beautiful face clouded over.
The descendants of the wealthy families who were acting as her assistants looked at each other in dismay. They felt like they were sitting on thorns and couldnât stand the suffocating atmosphere anymore.
Someone couldnât help muttering. âWhat twist and turn nonsense. Itâs a major setback...â
Chi Cangmeiâs razor-sharp eyes shifted to him and made his entire body stiffen. He mumbled awkwardly, âIâm just whining.â
Chi Cangmei said coldly, âWhining? I donât think you have much ability, but you are indeed good at whining.â
All the assistantsâ faces turned glum.
âDonât forget what I said earlier. If the operation fails, I will never forgive you all!â
Chi Cangmei got up and left the room. All the assistants stared at her in a dumbfounded manner as she left.
â¦â¦
The Castle of Darkness.
âLittle Sister Xia Zhi, what did I do wrong to make you want to kill me?â a voice sounded in the darkness.
But upon a closer look, a teenager was standing in the darkness. He was dressed in a robe whiter than snow and had pearly white teeth and red lips. His eyes were as bright as the stars, and he had a violet lotus birthmark between his brows.
Although he was young, he radiated wisps of sacred violet light around his body. He looked extraordinary, like a sacred child.
The youngster was of course Chi Cangfeng, who possessed the golden sea violet lotus bloodline.
Different from his usual flawless appearance, he had a ghastly blood-colored finger mark on his throat.
As he stood opposite a closed door, his eyes flashed with a hint of anger.
When he visited Xia Zhi in the past, even if she ignored him, at least she didnât try to kill him.
However, this time, before he said a word, Xia Zhi grabbed him by his throat. She would have twisted his neck if the Queen of Dark Night hadnât acted in time!
Chi Cangfeng was certain that Xia Zhi wanted to kill him. Besides being shocked, he couldnât help but feel angry. He couldnât accept it.
The Queen of Dark Night had locked Xia Zhi in a forbidden room, but Chi Cangfeng still couldnât leave the matter at that. He didnât want revenge. Instead, he wanted to know the reason!
âI not only want to kill you, but also want to kill your older sister,â an indifferent and ethereal voice rang behind the closed door.
âYou...you want to kill my sister?â Chi Cangfeng was completely bewildered. It was only after a while that he asked irritably, âXia Zhi, why? There has to be a reason. Can you tell me?â
No one responded.
An angry voice continued to echo in the darkness, âOkay, if you donât tell me, then Iâll investigate it myself. When I find out the reason, Iâll solve it all myself!â
After a long while, Chi Cangfeng gritted his teeth, turned around, and strode away.
There wasnât the slightest sound from behind the closed door.
A kind-looking old man was sitting in an empty room in the castle, gently stroking a black, three-inch pendant that looked like an ancient sword.
The old manâs expression held a mixture of concentration, seriousness and solemnity.
That pendant was a treasure that has been with him for most of his life. It had fought the world with him and defeated many experts in the world!
âThe kid of the Chi Family has left,â a charming and ethereal voice sounded in his ear.
The old man was taken aback at first but he then smiled slightly. âMiss, are you worried that he will bring trouble to Lin Xun?â
âIâm not just worried. I know itâs bound to happen.â
âYes, I understand what you mean. I will head to the Stargazing Platform and ask who bears the consequences if someone breaks the rules,â the old man said softly.
âSorry to trouble you.â
âItâs no trouble. Considering the time, if Lin Xun is still alive, he will soon arrive in the Forbidden City. Iâll just take this opportunity to go out and find out.â
âWhen you come back, go and check on Xia Zhi. I sensed that she already knows a lot of things. Otherwise, she wouldnât want to kill Chi Cangfeng today.â
A complicated expression surfaced in the old manâs wrinkly eyes. âOnly matters concerning Lin Xun can cause her to react like this...â
As the old man spoke, he put away the sword-shaped pendant, got up and left the room.
â¦â¦
On the banks of the river.
The bamboo hat man looked glum and didnât utter a word.
He was the man Chi Cangmei called Du Xingchuan, the commander-in-chief of the operation.
He had received an order from Chi Cangmei to continue the operation.
Seven days had passed since he received the order, but they still saw no sign of their target!
However, Du Xingchuan was certain that their target hadnât left the river!
The entire river was under their control, so they would immediately notice any signs of the target. It was impossible for their target to escape again.
âWe canât hold on much longer...â
Du Xingchuan sighed inwardly. During those seven days, they had consumed a huge amount of supplies, and the remaining supplies were unlikely to last them long.
However, he was most troubled that their target hadnât shown up in seven days. This made many people on his side become restless and lose their fighting spirit.
Their situation would only get worse if it continued!
What to do? Du Xingchuan was at a loss on what to do.