Chapter 67: Undercurrents
“You’re sure you remember correctly?” Shangguan Xiu asked in shock.
Shangguan Li nodded with absolute certainty. “I couldn’t have remembered wrong. That time, Long Chen shot an arrow straight through Second General’s shoulder. The seven of us wanted to gang up on Long Chen to avenge him, but the result…”
Of course, the result was that they were beaten so badly they ended up eating dirt. They were too embarrassed to talk about it, so Shangguan Xiu never knew what really happened.
“At the time, he commented on the martial skills of the seven of us. When he talked about Tiger’s signature move, he said exactly those words.”
Shangguan Xiu frowned. “He merely said that when facing a true expert, you’ll become a target. Long Cheng’en is an expert, but that…”
Shangguan Xiu trusted Shangguan Wei’s judgment more. Perhaps Long Cheng’en had nothing to do with the Long family at all.
“Tonight, during the fierce fighting at the west gate, I ran into Wu Jian, the valiant cavalry captain of the Long family’s army. Even without his beard, his face was unmistakable.”
Wu Jian had lost his manhood, making his features even softer, but his bone structure remained the same.
“We’ve known about this for a long time,” Shangguan Xiu interjected, thinking there was nothing new in this information.
Seeing Shangguan Xiu’s reaction, Shangguan Li had nothing more to say. After all, his retreat tonight could already be considered desertion.
“Perhaps I’m overthinking things,” he said, bowing his head.
Shangguan Xiu cast a helpless glance at Shangguan Li, signaling for him to leave.
...
Inside Linjiang City.
Long Chen stepped out of his bath and returned to his room with Zhang Qian.
Lying in bed, Zhang Qian—dressed in a pale violet nightgown—lay beside him.
Long Chen stared quietly at the ceiling, pondering why only Shangguan Wei had made a move tonight. Why hadn’t the other expert, who was lurking in Caishi City, acted as well?
Logically, if that person had joined forces with Shangguan Wei tonight, Linjiang City would have fallen.
Was there another scheme at play?
“What are you thinking about? You’re awfully quiet tonight,” Zhang Qian asked, stretching lazily. Even lying flat, her curves were prominent.
“I’m still awake. Once I fall asleep, I’ll start sleepwalking,” Long Chen replied, rolling onto his side and draping his arm over her—soft and gentle.
Zhang Qian scoffed. “Sleep? Who undoes their sash while asleep?”
No matter how tightly Zhang Qian tied her sash before bed, she always woke up with it undone.
“If I can’t do it while I’m sleeping, I can do it while sleepwalking. I’m quite skilled at undressing people in my dreams,” Long Chen said, habitually tracing two circles—soft and supple.
“Go to sleep! We’ve been fighting all day. I’m exhausted,” Zhang Qian blew out the candle in one breath, turned her back to Long Chen, and curled up.
Long Chen wrapped his arm around Zhang Qian’s waist, pulled her closer, his hand resting perfectly on her hips, her curves fitting seamlessly into the hollow of his body—the perfect sleeping position.
Meanwhile, outside the hot springs, Di Luoxi emerged, with Xuan Yi and Qingyue standing over her. Li Xiannan entered from outside.
“Your Highness, when the old traitor Shangguan launched his surprise attack, the north wall was also assaulted by the Southern Liang Navy.”
“We suffered heavy losses in tonight’s battle. I’d like to transfer the garrison from Diaoyu City to Linjiang City under cover of night. As long as Linjiang stands, Diaoyu City is secure and doesn’t require many troops.”
Although the Tianwei Legion was left wailing in defeat tonight, the Eastern Zhou side suffered greatly too—especially the west gate defenders.
The Tianwei Legion had 400,000 soldiers, while Linjiang City only had 200,000. With equal losses, the impact was vastly different.
If the Tianwei Legion lost 200,000, they still had another 200,000.
But for Eastern Zhou? Even losing 100,000 would be unbearable.
That’s why Li Xiannan urgently needed reinforcements; transferring troops from Diaoyu City was the best option.
“Very well. Cross the river tonight, but don’t let anyone notice.”
“Also, tonight’s battle was too bizarre. There must be a traitor among us. Change the city’s defenses immediately—the deployment map must be known only to a select few. No one else can be privy to it.”
After Long Chen pointed it out, Di Luoxi also sensed something was wrong.
Li Xiannan nodded. “I found it strange too. Why concentrate forces on the west gate? Some of our men said Shangguan Liang made straight for our ambush, as if he knew our defenses.”
Di Luoxi’s expression turned icy. “Investigate this thoroughly. Find out who leaked the information.”
Li Xiannan immediately set to work, secretly adjusting the city’s defenses and dispatching men to quietly move the garrison from Diaoyu City on the north shore into Linjiang.
...
Daughter City.
An urgent military report, delivered over eight hundred miles, was placed on the Empress’s desk.
Tearing open the report, the Empress’s face lit with delight. “In the first duel, Long Chen killed Shangguan Mu on the spot and gravely wounded Shangguan Xiu.”
News of Di Luoxi’s victory had arrived, and the Empress was exceedingly pleased.
Yingfeng was astonished. “Long Chen killed Shangguan Mu?”
Though Long Chen’s cultivation had soared so rapidly this past year as to defy belief, among their group, he was still relatively weak—only a bit stronger than Qingyue.
Yet in the end, it was Long Chen who won the duel.
“Your Majesty, could Long Chen have been pretending? Perhaps he always retained his cultivation, just hiding it?” Yingfeng began to doubt Long Chen’s true circumstances. Perhaps he had never lost his martial skills at all.
The Empress shook her head. “Impossible. I examined him myself at the time—he indeed had to start over.”
“Genius remains genius. The year he attained the Martial Emperor realm, he could already duel me for a dozen rounds.”
“Now, even after starting over, he is still a genius. Truly enviable.”
In the great battle at Linjiang years ago, Long Ye and his five sons had besieged the Empress. Long Chen, then only a novice at the Martial Emperor stage, could contend with the Empress—whose cultivation was at the Imperial Sovereign level—for over a dozen exchanges alone, already displaying astonishing talent.
The Empress had been deeply shocked, predicting Long Chen would surpass even Long Ye, and had intended to kill him. Long Ye, seeing her intent, had desperately held her back.
In hindsight, had she killed Long Chen then, none of this would be happening now.
“Your Majesty, you possess Imperial Sovereign cultivation, the greatest in the world. How could Long Chen possibly compare?” Yingfeng’s words were flattery, but also true.
Imperial Sovereign cultivation—unmatched in the world!
The Empress smiled, neither admitting nor denying the praise. “Send a reply to Linjiang, commending Long Chen’s achievement.”
Yingfeng immediately drafted the imperial decree to be sent to Linjiang.
...
Jinling City.
Emperor Li Chengdao of Southern Liang held the military dispatch brought by Yu Fuguo, his expression grim.
“What’s wrong? Did Shangguan Wei not fight well?” the Consort asked softly.
Li Chengdao threw the report onto the table, letting out a cold laugh. “A seasoned general, one of the Five Tiger Generals, and yet he can’t defeat a eunuch? Useless!”
The Consort picked up the dispatch, her face paling as she read. “Shangguan Mu was killed by Long Cheng’en? Shangguan Xiu gravely wounded and crippled? How could this be?”
Among the Five Tiger Generals of Southern Liang, Long Ye was first, Shangguan Wei second.
Yet such a formidable general was slain so miserably by a mere eunuch!
“Could Shangguan Wei have done it on purpose?” the Consort wondered aloud, but immediately dismissed the thought. Who would willingly send their own son to die? With one dead and one crippled, the future of the Shangguan family was ruined.
Li Chengdao sneered, “Two precious sons—one dead, one gravely wounded. It’s about time he showed his mettle.”
The Consort asked in confusion, “Your Majesty means… Shangguan Wei can still win?”
Both his sons had fallen, clearly overpowered, yet Li Chengdao’s words suggested Shangguan Wei could yet prevail.
Li Chengdao laughed coldly. “Do you think Shangguan Wei’s reputation is undeserved? If, after losing two sons, he still can’t retake Linjiang, what face would he have left to show the people of Southern Liang?”
“Besides, didn’t he invite someone to help him?”