Chapter 23: A Stealthy Move in the Shadows
Ronald chuckled softly."General Fan, human nature is treacherous. No race is perfect. There will always be outcasts, and the Elves are no exception. There are just as many who can be bought by a glint of gold. If they set their sights on us, it won't be easy to deal with."Hearing this, the group immediately understood, nodding in agreement."Master is wise!"Ronald took the compliment in stride, his mood lifted."Liu Long, there's no time to waste. Go and deliver the order.""Yes, Master!"Fan Qingyue, curious, asked, "Master, if we're not going to Chaos Corner, then where are we heading?"Ronald didn't respond immediately, only gazing out at the scenery on both banks with a faint smile.Seeing this, Fan Qingyue's cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head, glancing shyly at A Qiang and Cuihua, who remained unfazed. She sighed in relief.
Ten days later, news of the battle at Dongshan City had spread through the territories of neighboring races. The sudden appearance of a deadly new weapon from the Yunqin Empire had unsettled everyone. Various factions sent scouts to Dongshan City to investigate.
In the royal gardens of the Day and Moon Kingdom...An elderly man, nearing his sixties, sat leisurely in the palace garden, sipping fragrant tea.Soon, Li Haotian, dressed in royal robes, hurried over. He sat down, not waiting for the elder to rise, and asked urgently, "Prime Minister, what's the news? Is Mia still hiding in her room?"The elder, Wang Fucheng, sighed with a bitter smile. "Your Majesty, my daughter has locked herself away ever since that day. She's claimed to be unwell and refuses to see anyone except the servant bringing her food. I am helpless in this matter."Li Haotian sighed deeply."If only I hadn't dragged my sister to meet that scoundrel. If I had, she wouldn't have been like this."Wang Fucheng, the kingdom's Prime Minister, was well aware of what had happened ten days ago."I didn't expect that man to be so ruthless. Not even ten thousand elite soldiers could stop him. I've heard that he's headed downstream. Your Majesty, do you have any updates on his whereabouts?"Li Haotian shook his head. "He's too crafty. Every wave of scouts I sent out has been dealt with. Prime Minister, do you have any suggestions?"Wang Fucheng hesitated before speaking."Your Majesty, the Yun Cang River originates from the Lost Mountains in the far north. It flows southeast into the sea, cutting through most of Yunzhou. If this man is indeed heading downstream, the most likely destination would be the Chaos Corner.""Chaos Corner?""What do you mean?"Wang Fucheng lightly tapped the teacup, drawing a water ring on the table."Your Majesty, look here. After the river passes the narrow gorge, the water becomes calm. It flows through the lands of the Elves, the Elephant Clan, and the Wolf Tribes before reaching the Lost Mountains again. Further south, the waters turn turbulent, making it impossible for ships to pass. The southern region is controlled by the Sky Fox Clan, a low-tier race where humans can barely survive. Even if this man manages to get past their territory, he will soon reach the vast ocean with nowhere to stand. Therefore, I believe he's heading toward Chaos Corner—where the Elves, the Elephant Clan, and the Wolf Tribes meet, and the Lost Mountains are close by. This area is constantly ravaged by monster tides and is a lawless land. Because it's near the Lost Mountains, it's rich in resources, with numerous small tribes constantly warring. It's the perfect place for them to hide."Li Haotian smiled upon hearing this."The Prime Minister is indeed the backbone of the nation. Ronald won't be able to escape this time!"Wang Fucheng, however, shook his head."Your Majesty, Chaos Corner is a long and treacherous journey, and with the Elves involved, it won't be easy to deal with him."Li Haotian's lips curled up as he repeated Mia's words from that day.Wang Fucheng stroked his beard, pondering for a moment before speaking."Mia's plan to pit the tiger against the wolf is the best option. I have a good relationship with an Elven noble, and when spring comes next year, I will journey to the Elven lands."