Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 226 - 179: Breaching the City

Chapter 226: Chapter 179: Breaching the City

Lou Ji’s voice carried a profound meaning:

"So, is that why you confirmed earlier whether someone was guarding you?"

"Pretty much," Xu Yuan said with a nod and a smile.

In a gentle and delicate voice, Lou Ji murmured:

"I came out because I care for you, but if it were your mother’s brother with that kind of personality, no matter how you shouted, he wouldn’t come out. If I had hidden and not come out, would you still have done the same?"

Xu Yuan pondered for a moment before nodding:

"I would."

"Are you not afraid?" Lou Ji asked with a frown.

Xu Yuan smiled and looking at the two men outside, he said:

"There’s no creature in this world that is absolutely rational. People always make irrational choices when their emotions are stirred. But for those two old men out there, the probability is rather low."

Lou Ji sat up straighter, with her jade-like legs lifted, she changed the angle at which she was crossing them and rested her chin on her hand, her eyes squinting:

"Then... Changtian, how long are you preparing to wait now?"

Xu Yuan slowly stood up and walked to the window.

The formation isolated the inside space from the outside world, somewhat like the one-way glass of a previous life.

He overlooked the imposing and spectacular waterfall below.

The Myriad Manifestation Sect had chosen an excellent location.

On one side, the sect gate followed a great river, while on the other, it was built along a precipitous cliff with a waterfall.

Fording the river for a direct attack would easily be swept by the swift currents to the waterfalls’ cliff, and those not willing to cross the river would have to fight their way inward along the perimeter of Wanxiang City.

After a moment of thought, Xu Yuan said softly:

"About an hour, I guess."

"That long?"

"Is it?" Xu Yuan countered.

Lou Ji stood up slowly, and with the clattering of her high-heeled lotus boots, she walked up behind Xu Yuan, her voice gently reminding:

"By now, they must have figured out that there are people hiding in the forests to the east of Wanxiang City~"

Xu Yuan furrowed his brows briefly, then laughed and said:

"What you mean is... they might use this time to send orders to Wanxiang City to prepare?"

Lou Ji returned with a smile:

"It’s not a ’might,’ it’s for sure.

"Even though these cities named after sects are canonized by The Imperial Court, they are basically the private land of the sects. If they make full preparations, the Black Scale Army will likely suffer significant losses if they force an attack on Wanxiang City. This could affect the Prime Minister’s evaluation of you, Changtian..."

With that, Lou Ji stopped herself there.

Xu Yuan did not respond to the point, but instead asked:

"Sister, my father probably just sent you to protect me. Is this considered extraneous aid from an examiner?"

With a smile in her eyes, Lou Ji curved her lips upwards, hooked her arm through his, and leaned her head against his shoulder:

"But who asked your sister to be so fond of you?"

Feeling the softness of her arm, Xu Yuan chuckled and said in a low voice:

"It’s all right. I’ve seen the records of Yuan Hao’s previous military allocations—the preparation of supplies, the personnel dispatch arrangements, the readiness of transportation, the collection of intelligence. After my father issued his orders, even the Prime Minister’s Mansion was in chaos for a whole day. Though the situation is different, the Myriad Manifestation Sect has many procedures to go through before orders can be given due to internal power checks and balances."

As he said this, Xu Yuan glanced towards the east:"War preparations are not something that can be accomplished with just a word, and Yuan Hao will also need time to bring his troops here."

"...."

Lou Ji seemed very happy with this response and raised her hand to touch his head:

"Not bad, not bad. It turns out you’ve thought this through, Changtian~"

While the two of them were conversing,

Footsteps came from the outside of the room. Xu Xinyao pushed the door and entered while softly saying:

"Third Brother, the celestial brew you wanted... Eh? Sister Lou Ji?"

The sunlight streamed in through the window, and upon seeing the bare jade back and the faint outline of the buttocks under the Xianyi dress, Xu Xinyao immediately recognized the woman standing beside Xu Yuan.

Lou Ji gave a glance with a rather cold gaze but still maintained a smile and said:

"Xinyao is here~"

Xu Yuan noticed the indifference in Lou Ji’s eyes and gently shook his head.

Standing at the door, Xu Xinyao hesitated slightly. As she walked in, she softly asked:

"Sister Lou Ji, how come you’re here?"

"......"

Lou Ji did not answer, but patting Xu Yuan on the back, she said:

"Sister is going to rest. You do well, I’m watching."

With that, the graceful figure of Lou Ji disappeared from view.

"....."

Standing there with a jade liquor jug, Xu Xinyao seemed somewhat at a loss.

After a while, she slowly approached Xu Yuan and said in a low voice:

"Third Brother, does Sister Lou Ji not like me very much?"

Xu Yuan smiled, swept her stray lock of hair behind her ear, and said softly:

"That’s just her personality and besides, you don’t need to win everyone’s affection. Come on, keep your brother company for a drink."

Lou Ji did not like Xu Xinyao, and this was no secret.

As the leader of the Black Scale Guards, Lou Ji had seen too much filth, so she looked down on Xu Xinyao’s naive and innocent thoughts.

...

...

...

While Xu Yuan and Xu Xinyao were sitting in a luxurious private room, drinking and chatting about amusing incidents, two old men stood foolishly before Xuanying Attic.

They certainly realized that the people inside Xuanying Attic were from the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

But showing themselves this late and not responding meant that the newcomers intended to intimidate them.

Thus, the Great Elder’s expression appeared somewhat gloomy.

Of course, that was just the surface.

If the people inside the attic wanted to intimidate them, then they would take it.

Losing some face was nothing; who hadn’t lost face in their long lives?

Before they had come here, they had already entrusted Xia Wenlin, the Fifth Elder, to take command in case of an emergency and oversee everything.

Xia Wenlin, in turn, had instructed them that the longer they could stall, the better it would be for them, and the less they would have to concede at the negotiation table.

After all, if the Prime Minister’s Mansion really intended to fight at all costs, why bother sending someone to negotiate?

In the void of silence, Fifth Elder Xia Wenlin was organizing a steady stream of disciples, who were entering Wanxiang City through a secret passage to prepare defenses.

However, to avoid startling the enemy, the Myriad Manifestation Sect did not immediately activate the Protective City Formation.

In the empty sky,

two old men with faces like still water remained outwardly silent but were intermittently communicating through transmitted messages, discussing various matters.

The Great Elder asked casually,

"If we get past this, what does the Sect Master plan to do?"

The Sect Master’s expression did not change as he replied,

"The Sect’s internal problems are too extensive and require restructuring. If Wenlin had not already made plans before coming to the council hall, we would likely still be as headless as flies."

The Great Elder immediately understood his meaning, and his voice was low, like deep waters,

"Sect Master, seizing power won’t be easy. The major families within the Sect won’t give up their power easily."

The Sect Master of the Myriad Manifestation Sect spoke sternly,

"Chu Yan, Xu Yinhè wouldn’t act without certainty. If we are not careful now, we could face the destruction of our Sect."

The Great Elder replied calmly,

"Sect Master, I have no issue with the restructuring, but the question is how to implement it?"

The Myriad Manifestation Sect Master sighed,

"There has been no message from The Imperial Court. The ones who have come must be Xu Yinhè’s private soldiers. If he dares to do this, he must have some critical information."

At that,

the Myriad Manifestation Sect Master sighed lowly, "The Sect will most likely bleed for this. I will take responsibility and resign from the position of Sect Master, but Wenlin is a talent with great potential. He sees much further than you or I."

"Are you preparing to groom him?"

"Who else do you think I would groom?" retorted the Sect Master of the Myriad Manifestation Sect as he glanced at the Great Elder.

"He Jigu is not bad," the Great Elder calmly uttered a name.

The voice of the Sect Master carried a trace of anger,

"At a time like this, you’re still thinking of internal strife. Don’t think I don’t know that He Jigu is your man!"

The Great Elder remained unmoved,

"You overstate, Sect Master. I am merely recommending talent as I see it."

"...."

The Myriad Manifestation Sect Master fell silent.

Difficult, very difficult.

The seeds of internal conflict were deep-rooted within the Myriad Manifestation Sect, and even with the possibility of the Sect’s destruction looming, it was still the same below.

Without another word, time ticked away, second by second.

After who knows how long,

the two old men in the void suddenly looked at each other, seeing both astonishment and trembling in the other’s eyes. They turned their gazes unanimously towards East City of Wanxiang City.

There, a hammer phantom suddenly took form.

And it was inside the city.

Under their shocked gazes, the hammer struck the towering city wall.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

Boom—

Among the horrified cries of the city’s civilians, the city wall, which had not activated its protective formation to avoid provoking an attack, split open with a two-zhang long massive crack.

After that,

an excited voice echoed throughout the entire Wanxiang City:

"Those who dare resist will be shown no mercy and killed!"