Chapter 1487 - 547: The Grand Show Begins
With extremely complex emotions, City Lord Ma led three thousand elite soldiers into the territory of Ah County.
Just three miles outside Ah County, he encountered Elder Jing, one of the nine great elders of the Jiu Provinces Alliance.
The Jiu Provinces Alliance has nine great elders, each named after a different Ancient Nine Provinces.
The so-called Elder Jing does not have the surname Jing; rather, it refers to him being the elder of Ancient Jing State.
Ancient Jing State is also one of the Jiu Provinces closest to the Central Plains, and Ah County is within its sphere of influence.
As the housekeeper elder of Ancient Jing State, upon hearing that Ah County had fallen, Elder Jing couldn’t help but be alarmed. He brought two thousand elite troops to offer support.
Upon meeting City Lord Ma, Elder Jing merely nodded with a bitter smile; neither of them felt like exchanging pleasantries at this moment.
They each thought, knowing well in their hearts, that even if they hurried day and night to reach Ah County, it was already too late for everything.
All they could do was mend the fold, trying to minimize losses before the demon world razed the city.
Without further words, they led five thousand troops towards Ah County.
But when they reached the gates of Ah County, they were both taken aback!
This shock wasn’t one of fear, but of delight.
This was too unusual, wasn’t it?
Both Elder Jing and City Lord Ma believed they would see a scene of troops on the walls and corpses strewn everywhere.
Yet what awaited them was... at the gate of Ah County, bustling traffic, just as it was in the past.
Such a lively scene usually only occurred during harvest seasons.
They were transporting grain from the fields in carts, moving in and out, each person’s face filled with a peaceful expression, with no sign of having been attacked.
Elder Jing and City Lord Ma felt suspicious.
Could it be that the Jiu Provinces Alliance’s information was wrong, and the demon clan’s surprise attack was purely fabricated?
The two rode non-stop into the city, heading straight for the county government of Ah County.
As they approached the county government, they saw white lanterns hanging and mournful music playing at the gate.
Further inside, they saw more than a dozen thin coffins placed in the county government.
Ye Lingyue was there, wearing mourning clothes with members of the Huangquan Team, burning paper money.
"Ye Lingyue, what! What are you doing?"
City Lord Ma was stunned, momentarily forgetting the grudges he held against Ye Lingyue.
"City Lord Ma, you have come. I have urgent matters to report. The night before last, a group of demon soldiers descended from the sky, launching a surprise attack on Ah County. Fortunately, we discovered them in time. Master Chen, the Tian Jun team members, and we all bravely fought the enemy, killing those demon soldiers. Unfortunately, Master Chen, the Tian Jun brothers, and Lord County Magistrate died in the night attack."
Ye Lingyue wiped the corner of her eye with a sleeve, squeezing out a few precious crocodile tears, looking heartbroken.
Was the demon clan’s night attack thwarted?
Upon hearing this news, City Lord Ma and Elder Jing both breathed a sigh of relief.
But immediately after, both their eyelids twitched, especially City Lord Ma as he realized.
"Master Chen is dead?"
This is very, very wrong.
City Lord Ma was well aware of Master Chen’s purpose in coming to Ah County.
Earlier, they received information that Ye Lingyue was corresponding with the demon clan.
Additionally, Captain Tian Jun secretly reported that Ye Lingyue killed the county magistrate and opened the grain warehouse without authorization.
Master Chen, upon learning of these two pieces of information, was overjoyed and rushed over without even reporting to the Jiu Provinces Alliance, intending to execute Ye Lingyue on the spot.
"Ye Lingyue, you are clearly lying. What capability does Master Chen not have? If even he was killed by the demon clan, how is it that you and your team members are unharmed?"
City Lord Ma gnashed his teeth in anger, completely unexpected that Master Chen would fall victim to Ye Lingyue.
"City Lord Ma, what do you mean by this? Are you suspecting me? The heavens have eyes; a few of us are certainly no match for the demon clan. Fortunately, I can speak some Bird Clan languages and went to request help from the Phoenix Tribe of Jiunie Mountain in a crisis. If you don’t believe me, ask any county resident; they all witnessed the night attack."
Ye Lingyue had prepared well and responded fluently.
"Jiunie Mountain indeed is home to the Phoenix Clan, but they have not concerned themselves with world affairs for many years. Unexpectedly, someone managed to enlist their help."
Elder Jing, listening on the side, was secretly amazed and held Ye Lingyue in a higher regard.
Previously, he thought anyone sent to such a place as Ah County must be insignificant, but unexpectedly, she understood the Spirit Language of the Bird Clan.
Seeing Elder Jing believe Ye Lingyue, City Lord Ma refused to let go.
"Elder Jing. Don’t listen to this woman’s nonsense. Even if she enlisted the Phoenix Clan warriors, it explains nothing. I suspect she’s involved in Master Chen and the others’ deaths. Previously someone secretly reported that despite the county magistrate’s obstruction, she opened the grain warehouse without authorization, leaving it emptied. Master Chen, knowing this, came privately to investigate; we planned to report it to both you and the Jiu Provinces Alliance after setting it clear."
City Lord Ma said, paying attention to Ye Lingyue’s expression.
Sure enough, her face slightly changed.
City Lord Ma saw this and was secretly pleased. Ye Lingyue, even if you can collude with the Phoenix Clan, I don’t believe you can manage everything perfectly, or restore all the disaster relief grain.
"Is this true? If it is, severe punishment is necessary. Take me to the grain warehouse immediately."
Upon hearing this, Elder Jing charged in anger towards the North Warehouse.
The doors of the grain warehouse in the North Warehouse opened.
Elder Jing took a look inside, and his expression changed again.
"Elder Jing, didn’t I tell you? Ye Lingyue opened the warehouse without authorization, disregarding the supply needs of thousands of representative teams. This person harbors malicious intent and deserves severe punishment. I say we should revoke her and her team’s qualifications to participate in the Jiu Provinces Hunting."
City Lord Ma fueled the fire from the side.
Seeing Elder Jing unmoving, City Lord Ma suspiciously took a look at the warehouse.
With just a glance, City Lord Ma’s jaw nearly dropped.
What did he see!
The entire grain warehouse was filled to the brim with grain.
The quality and quantity of the grain were impeccable.
Not only this warehouse, but all the warehouses in the North Warehouse were packed with supplies.
"Elder Jing, this is the entire grain tax submitted by the eighteen villages of Ah County, both last year and this year. This year, it has increased by twenty percent compared to previous years."
Ye Lingyue, having prepared everything in advance, wasn’t afraid of City Lord Ma’s troublemaking, swiftly handed over a few account books.
"City Lord Ma, do you have anything to say now?"
Elder Jing, with a long face, didn’t bother to pay City Lord Ma any more heed.