Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 498 Heading to death, for the sake of Shenzhou [2 updates]

Chapter 498: 498 Heading to death, for the sake of Shenzhou [2 updates]

Ye Wanlan had never imagined that Shen Mingshu would seek out the Master of Highest Heaven Tower at this critical juncture.

Unlike Han Yunsheng, who was a Daoist practitioner that left the mountains to serve in the Imperial Court, Shen Mingshu was purely a commoner, with no connections to the martial arts world.

There were years when Jianghu was in turmoil, which cost the lives of several court officials.

Had Han Yunsheng not arrived in time, Shen Mingshu would have nearly lost her life as well.

It could be said that Shen Mingshu had neither fondness nor closeness towards the people of Jianghu.

Yet, at the critical moment, she didn’t hesitate to ask the Master of Highest Heaven Tower for help.

The headquarters of the Highest Heaven Tower was tens of thousands of miles away from Fengyuan City, and it was impossible for Shen Mingshu to reach there quickly by herself on horseback.

Shen Mingshu’s first stop could only be a branch of the Highest Heaven Tower.

She rode out of the city and saw the people of Fengyuan City being helped into underground shelters by the Imperial Palace guards.

The scene reminded her of the hardships she experienced in her youth.

Shen Mingshu took a deep breath and quickened her pace.

Evidently, the people of Jianghu had also received the message and were arranging for civilians to take refuge.

When she saw the tall man at the front, Shen Mingshu stopped her horse and called out, "Third Lord."

The Master of Highest Heaven Tower had two protectors to his left and right, as well as nine lords.

Each of these nine lords was in charge of a region, and the Third Lord was responsible for the northeastern territory where Fengyuan City was located.

The tall man’s expression first turned stern, then he was greatly surprised upon turning to see who it was, "Minister Shen?!"

Since his station was the closest to Fengyuan City, any dealings between the Highest Heaven Tower and the Imperial Court were his responsibility.

He had met Shen Mingshu a few times and naturally recognized her.

But in his mind, at such a life-and-death moment, Shen Mingshu should be taking refuge with the people of Fengyuan City, not appearing here.

This place was closer to the border, and if the enemy forces were to push through, it would be the first to fall.

And according to the intelligence he received, the enemy was getting closer!

"Third Lord, there is not much time left, and you already know what you should," Shen Mingshu got off her horse, "I’m here to find out where the Tower Master is."

"Minister Shen, the Tower Master has already met up with the Saintess and Sect Hierarch," the Third Lord also dismounted, "but where the three of them have gone, I’m not sure. Please, Minister Shen, leave with the civilians and take refuge!"

Shen Mingshu knew that the Saintess in the mouth of the Third Lord was Yue Zheng, and the Sect Hierarch was Xing Yun, both of whom were among the strongest Daoist practitioners in Shenzhou.

Since the Master of Highest Heaven Tower had sought out Yue Zheng and Xing Yun, it proved that he truly had a way to save Shenzhou.

The breath that Shen Mingshu had been holding was finally released.

Ye Wanlan listened intently, her gaze firming slightly.

Indeed, she had always known that the Master of Highest Heaven Tower would never betray Shenzhou.

The sudden end to the battle of the ten thousand armies was probably because the Master of Highest Heaven Tower had worked with Yue Zheng and Xing Yun to employ some heaven-defying Art and Method.

And the more powerful and rule-breaking the Art and Method was, the greater the backlash the practitioners would suffer.

"Minister Shen, you must leave quickly," urged the Third Lord, becoming more anxious, "I’ve received word that the Divine Strategy Army has been decimated, disciples from Penglai and Beiming have descended from the mountains, and we don’t have additional forces coming to intercept. They will reach Fengyuan by today!"

Fengyuan City, in the northeastern territory of Shenzhou, was now at risk, with the Northwest, Eastern Wilderness, and Southern Frontier already breached.

In past years, Ning Zhaozong had moved the Capital to Fengyuan precisely because as the Emperor, he had to guard the national borders.

If the state were to perish, then the Sovereign could not live alone.

Shen Mingshu was a commoner without any Inner Strength, and although she had consumed numerous Heaven and Earth Treasures, it did not change the fact of her low martial prowess.

"No," Shen Mingshu shook her head, "Anyone can leave, but I cannot."

The Third Lord became even more urgent, "Minister Shen, you..."

"The affairs of the nation, how could I flee in the face of battle," said Shen Mingshu calmly, "Although I lack martial power, I can still help."

With that said, the Third Lord knew further persuasion was futile.

He stepped back and bowed respectfully to Shen Mingshu, "The Tower Master often says Minister Shen is righteous and would die for a just cause. Today, I’m fortunate to meet Minister Shen and would die without regrets."

Shen Mingshu was surprised, "Your Tower Master..."

"The Tower Master greatly admires Princess Yongning," the Third Lord nodded, "You are the Princess’s mentor, and naturally, she carries your influence. Please rest assured, Minister Shen, as long as the Tower Master lives, he will always protect Shenzhou."

Shen Mingshu’s spirit was deeply shaken, she murmured softly, "Ah Lan..."

Among the civil and military officials, her relationship with Princess Yongning was the closest.

She still remembered the first year she became the Prime Minister, when six-year-old Xiang Lan asked her if a woman could become an Empress.

She said that it was certainly possible, with a female chancellor; there could be an Empress, provided one had enough strength.

Princess Yongning had always been a person of boundless ambition, and she had passed on all her knowledge to her.

Unfortunately, the student she valued and loved most had still left.

Shen Mingshu’s hands clenched tightly as she turned and went to help the people of Beilin City evacuate.

Beilin City was the second city in the northeast and closest to the battlefield, the urgency was extreme.

Every person saved was a victory.

Shen Mingshu dared not stop.

Ye Wanlan followed silently at her side, quietly watching her.

Time passed, unmeasured—

"They’re here!" A small girl ran in, breathless and panicked, "Those people are here!"

This sentence petrified those who had not yet entered the refuge.

"Old sir, do not be afraid," Shen Mingshu patted the old man’s shoulder lightly, "I am still here; I will stop them. You must hurry."

These words left everyone in shock.

Shen Mingshu had no martial prowess; how could she stop a hundred thousand enemy soldiers?

"Minister Shen must not!"

"You mustn’t, Prime Minister!"

Yet, Shen Mingshu did not look back; she mounted her horse again and left through the city gates.

Ye Wanlan also witnessed a scene she would never forget in this lifetime—

Outside Beilin City, a hundred thousand enemy troops stretched out immensely.

And in front of the city gates, there was only Shen Mingshu on horseback.

No one took a woman as feeble as her seriously; the enemy soldiers were full of contempt.

Did Shenzhou really have no one left to send but a woman to lead the charge?

Could there be another warrior woman in Shenzhou as fierce and skilled in battle as King Qin Hua Yingyue?

"Halt—"

However, it was then that the enemy commander spoke up.

At the commander’s order, the soldiers also halted, all somewhat puzzled.

The enemy commander dismounted, moving with a speed no human could possess, and in an instant, he was before Shen Mingshu, seizing her throat.

Shen Mingshu groaned but made no other sound of agony.

The enemy commander narrowed his eyes and threw Shen Mingshu to the ground, ordering two soldiers to bind her and put her in shackles.

The shackles had nine layers, heavy beyond measure, yet Shen Mingshu’s knees only slightly bent; she did not kneel.

The enemy commander laughed loudly, "I hear this is the only female chancellor in thousands of years in Shenzhou, defeating a host of men. Quite formidable," the general mocked, "I thought she would be some remarkable person, but now, she’s nothing more than a—"

He deliberately elongated his tone: "Common, prisoner!"

The scornful laughter echoed from behind, and Shen Mingshu did not utter a word from beginning to end.

"Minister Shen, are you not afraid of death?" The enemy commander’s knife was already pressing against her face, his expression sinister, "You, a mere woman, and powerless at that, on what grounds do you not submit?"

He had invaded from the Northeast and was aware of the news from the Northwest, the Southern Frontier, and the Eastern Wilderness.

This invasion, though not particularly challenging, had indeed made them quite angry.

Because not a single person had willingly surrendered!

"Even if I die, my spirit will live on," Shen Mingshu’s spine remained straight, her tone calm, "As for you—"

She let out a cold laugh: "You will never possess Shenzhou!"

As long as a single person of Shenzhou remained, the invaders’ schemes would never succeed.

Her death was for Shenzhou.