Chapitre 244: Highway Robbery
In the distance, two figures plummeted from the sky towards Yunzhou City. Upon closer inspection, it was an old man carrying a young man, bathed in blood.
"They've arrived," Fan Li murmured atop the city walls. "Release the arrows."
A volley of spirit-infused arrows shot skyward, defying gravity and piercing the clouds.
The old man, blocked by the barrage of arrows, was forced to halt his descent. He carefully landed outside the city walls, carrying the young man on his back.
Seeing the banners atop the walls had changed, Hu Zongxian's heart sank. His greatest fear had been realized.
"Why… Why aren't we entering the city?" Crown Prince Wanli's voice, hoarse and weak, questioned. "Stay… Staying outside, who will protect me from the pursuing enemy?"
"Yunzhou City has been captured," Hu Zongxian said gravely.
"Impossible!"
Wanli, shocked and enraged, managed to speak a bit louder.
"I faced the entire enemy army alone! How could another enemy force capture my Yunzhou?!"
Hu Zongxian shook his head sadly.
"Your Highness, the letter you intercepted…"
"Silence!"
"Silence, silence, silence!"
"What do you mean, Hu Zongxian?! You were the one who failed to defend the city! How dare you blame me?! You lost Yunzhou City! It has nothing to do with me!"
Hu Zongxian fell silent. He was a servant of the Great Ming, a loyal subject of the Zhu family. He wouldn't dare to contradict his master.
Crown Prince Wanli, gravely injured, couldn't even lift his head. He hadn't seen who stood atop the city walls.
"Who… Who captured my Yunzhou?"
Hu Zongxian looked up at two familiar figures. A man and a woman. The man was handsome and elegant, like a jade carving. The woman was beautiful and aloof, resembling a snow lotus blooming high in the mountains.
It was them?
Hu Zongxian recognized the "merchant couple" who had claimed to be traveling north to purchase fur.
"Impressive…"
He murmured the words softly. He had guessed Fan Li's identity.
Watching from the sidelines as tigers fought?
Capturing Yunzhou City without losing a single soldier?
Duke Jin of the Great Chu was truly impressive.
It had been years since Hu Zongxian had encountered such a remarkable young man.
Fan Li had several opportunities to intervene in the battle. When Wanli was clashing with the allied forces, he could have joined the fray as a surprise force, hastening Wanli's defeat, even his death. But he hadn't done so.
When Hu Zongxian left the city to rescue Wanli, Fan Li could have set an ambush, wiping out his fifty thousand weary troops. But he hadn't done that either.
He had chosen the most cost-effective approach. Capturing the city without losing a single soldier.
Minimal cost, maximum gain.
For a thousand years, the Great Ming Dynasty had been strong, while the surrounding nations had been weak. Now, a weaker nation had captured a Great Ming city. This was a historic feat!
"Hu Zongxian! Tell me, who is that on the city walls?!" Wanli demanded.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Crown Prince Wanli? You seem to be in a sorry state."
Before Hu Zongxian could answer, Fan Li's familiar, slightly annoying voice drifted down from the walls.
Crown Prince Wanli froze. He went still, as rigid as a corpse.
Imperial dignity.
A Prince's pride.
Wanli refused to face Fan Li, the man he had once chased for hundreds of miles, in such a pathetic state.
He suddenly remembered something. "Hu Zongxian! Fan Li's cultivation is weak! He's no match for you! I command you to attack the city! Capture it! If you bring me Fan Li's head, I will pardon your defeat!"
"I apologize, Your Highness… but I cannot do that," Hu Zongxian said bitterly.
"Why?!" Wanli was enraged. "Are you afraid? Are you betraying the Great Ming? Hu Zongxian, our nation has treated you well! How dare you…"
"No, Your Highness. This subordinate was born a servant of the Great Ming, and I will die a servant of the Great Ming."
"But…"
Hu Zongxian swallowed hard, his gaze falling upon Sage Ruler Han Yue. He could sense the immense sword intent radiating from her.
"Fan Li is accompanied by… a Sage Ruler from the Brahma Sound Pure Land."
Crown Prince Wanli fell silent, as still as a corpse, his breathing almost imperceptible. His heart pounded with fear. He knew that after his relentless pursuit of Fan Li outside Mount Yunmeng, they were now blood enemies.
And with a Great Vehicle realm Sage Ruler from the Pure Land by his side, how could he possibly escape?
But…
Hadn't those women from the Pure Land once conspired with him to eliminate Fan Li?
Why were they now Fan Li's allies?
The Brahma Sound Pure Land, or rather, the Great Ci Dynasty?
They were the most untrustworthy allies in the world!
"Wanli!" Fan Li shouted. "I built this road and planted this tree. If you want to pass, you have to pay a toll!"
Sage Ruler Han Yue: "???"
Wanli: "???"
Even Hu Zongxian's weathered face contorted with confusion.
"Fan Li, what do you mean? Are you willing to let me go?"
Wanli carefully considered Fan Li's words. It seemed he was more interested in money than revenge.
If he paid a sufficient price, would Fan Li truly spare his life? A surge of hope filled him and he regained a sliver of strength.
He raised his head. "What do you want? Name your price! I'll agree to anything!"
He had finally said the magic words.
Fan Li smiled. "I want… Hu Zongxian!"
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone