Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 1020 - 635: Formation Arises

Chapter 1020: Chapter 635: Formation Arises

The next morning, at the East Xuan Gate outside Zhenxi Prefecture City.

Since the establishment of the Southern Desert Metropolitan Mansion, the central focus of defense shifted westwards. Zhenxi Prefecture City naturally transitioned from being a frontline stronghold to becoming a transportation hub.

At the break of dawn, various carts loaded with goods had already formed a long queue, waiting to enter the city.

Armored soldiers, fully armed, filed out in orderly rows, maintaining the scene’s order.

Merchants dressed in varied attire bustled back and forth between their shops, assigning tasks to prepare for entry into the city.

Compared to the merchants, the knife-bearing convoy guards appeared far less busy. Entering Zhenxi Prefecture City’s perimeter meant their duties were absolved. In groups of three or more, they congregated casually, chatting and joking around.

"Damn, what rotten luck! Finally made a run to the Western Frontier, and now we run into martial law."

"What’s so unlucky about it? Martial law means we’ll probably be stuck in the city for two or three days. That’s perfect for the brothers to have a little fun. Haven’t touched so much as a bone in over a month!"

"Idiot! Think for a moment why we’d even need martial law, huh? Must be trouble brewing in the west! With the shopkeeper’s greedy nature, he’s clearly gambling on fortune amidst danger. If this goes south, don’t be surprised if we’re caught in the crossfire."

"Ah...?"

"....."

"....."

Listening to the idle chatter of the common martial apprentices nearby, Sizi Jing glanced at the ponytailed woman dressed casually beside him. Suddenly, he chuckled aloud and spoke:

"Seems like the situation here is even more complicated than we imagined. Are you absolutely certain you won’t return to the capital?"

Xu Mengxi turned her head abruptly upon hearing this, her willow-like brows furrowed:

"It’s precisely because I know about this matter that I came here. Qin Weishu baited with his life, and now, with conflict erupting anew, his intentions must be significant."

Sizi Jing responded lazily, his tone tinged with mockery:

"You really aren’t afraid of death, are you..."

As he spoke,

"Rumble—!"

A series of deafening explosions suddenly echoed across the skies. Numerous gates of varying sizes on the eastern side of the city were slowly lifted open, and the stagnant overnight convoy queue began to move forward.

Walking alongside the carts, Sizi Jing eyed the scene with an enigmatic smile:

"Although Brother Huang warned me before he died to look after you, you must know that such a promise was merely to provide basic care, nothing more."

"I have never placed my hopes on you, Mr. Sizi."

Xu Mengxi gripped her waist knife, her voice calm and detached: "If you can hold yourself back from attacking me, I’m already deeply grateful."

"Ah, Governor Xu, those words are unfair. Our combined operation was explicitly sanctioned by His Majesty. Given your unwavering loyalty to His Majesty, surely you wouldn’t question his orders?"

Sizi Jing shrugged, his voice laced with jest: "We should count ourselves as comrades now."

At these words, Xu Mengxi reflexively tightened her grip on the waist knife, her gaze turning toward him with an intensity as if intending to devour him whole.

Among the party of five from the Secret Investigation Department, three—including Brother Huang—had sacrificed their lives, and the sole survivor had suffered severe injuries.

On the Black Scale Guards’ side, however, there were virtually no losses.

As though reading her thoughts, Sizi Jing smiled gently and remarked:

"I deeply regret the deaths of your colleagues in the Secret Investigation Department. But surely, you would agree that this debt ought to be settled with the Qin Family, rather than with my Prime Minister’s Mansion, wouldn’t you?"

His tone grew colder:

"Moreover, you wouldn’t assume that the Black Scale Guards came out of this unscathed, would you?"

"......"

Xu Mengxi released her grip on the knife and murmured an apology:

"I’m sorry."

"No need."

Sizi Jing waved his hand dismissively, speaking in a low voice:

"Putting that aside, Governor Xu, have you reconsidered what I mentioned along the way?"

"What matter?"

"Why play dumb? Alright, I’ll ask again—Governor Xu, have you considered joining us?"

"....."

There was a brief silence. Xu Mengxi cast a sidelong glance at the effeminate man beside her and replied in a low voice:

"If Xu Yinhè’s subordinates were all as foolish as you, then the world probably wouldn’t have erupted into war."

"How cruel."

Meeting her gaze with a squint and a smile, Sizi Jing showed no trace of anger. Instead, he shifted his focus to the wealthily dressed convoy shopkeepers nearby:

"Raise a cup under the bright moon, kneel to pick up broken silver—this sums up most people’s lives. Governor Xu, as Chief of the Secret Investigation Bureau’s chosen disciple, you are fundamentally different from them. But even so, your steadfast commitment—shouldn’t it stem from a dream?"

"What does that have to do with you?"

"I simply believe your dream may share some similarities with the Prime Minister’s ideals."

"Oh, his ideals?"

At this, Xu Mengxi suddenly chuckled coldly, her almond-shaped eyes gleaming with ridicule:

"Persecuting the loyal, eliminating dissenters—those are his ideals? Stealing the throne through Your Majesty’s delegated authority—this is his ideal? Starting wars to plunge the realm’s populace into misery—this, too, is his ideal?!"

"...."

Sizi Jing’s gaze reflected a trace of contemplation as he earnestly replied:

"Those are simply the means, not the ultimate goal."

Xu Mengxi came to an abrupt halt, her side profile cold as snow:

"Then, Mr. Sizi, do you not think that a so-called ideal, achieved through such dirty means, might already have been tainted in the process?

"Draping the struggle for power in the guise of reviving Dayan’s glory? That’s not revival; it’s usurping the nation for selfish gain.

"Mr. Sizi,

"Paths diverge—there’s no basis for collaboration."

"....."

And with those words, silence returned.

The two walked side by side, passing through the gate’s arch. With their Imperial Court-issued identification documents, they completed their verification and entered Zhenxi Prefecture City.

Xu Mengxi walked ahead, while Sizi Jing trailed behind.

His eyes lingered on her swaying ponytail as pedestrians passed by in his peripheral vision. Gradually, the smile in his gaze turned dark.

By this point, he had already confirmed that Huang Shiwei had outright lied to him.

During his progress report, he’d asked Lou Ji about this woman’s relationship with the Third Young Master. The Chief’s reply was simple: to the Third Young Master, this woman was likely just an idle amusement.

Given she had no ties to the Third Young Master and had explicitly stated her resolve, Sizi Jing hesitated, considering whether to seize the opportunity and eliminate the resolutely righteous disciple of the Secret Investigation Bureau’s Chief.

It wasn’t due to her earlier criticisms.

He’d heard the same bookish nonsense many dozens of times before, entirely detached from practical reality.

Nor was it because Xu Mengxi obstructed the Prime Minister’s path.

Her relentless pursuit westward without external aid spoke to her capabilities, but she was, at best, of tactical value—hardly equipped to oppose the mighty force of the Mansion.

His desire to kill her stemmed only from her identity.

The living held little value, but the dead could be spun into leverage.

Xu Mengxi’s death in the tumultuous Western Frontier would do nothing to harm the Prime Minister’s Mansion. On the contrary, it could be pinned squarely on the Qin Family and used to forge an alliance with a high-ranking figure in the Secret Investigation Department.

Calculating the risks and benefits swiftly in his mind, Sizi Jing gradually approached the woman with the swaying ponytail from behind.

And at that moment,

"Buzz—!"

A resonating hum spread across the skies above Zhenxi Prefecture, followed by an oppressive aura emanating from a formation locking onto him.

Looking upward reflexively,

A semi-transparent barrier rapidly took shape over the Sky Dome.

The Protective City Formation was fully activated.

Before he could ponder further, Huang Shiwei’s voice quietly sounded in his ear:

"Mr. Sizi, the Third Young Master wishes to see you. Come to the Government Office for a discussion."