Chapter 904 - 339: Crimes Beyond Words! (First Update)
Outside of Starfall City, the old monsters at the Transcendence Tribulation Stage, drawn by the Spirit Roots and Divine Status, resembled an insurmountable barrier, obstructing the post road at the city gates.
In secret, they convened, surrounding Starfall City and cutting off all entrances and exits, aiming to trap Mu Qingge inside and force her to compromise.
In the City Lord Mansion, Mo Yang walked swiftly with a grave expression, saluting Mu Qingge seated on the City Lord’s Throne. "Young Master, those people are surrounding the outskirts of Starfall City, connecting their aura to isolate Starfall City from the outside."
Mu Qingge barely nodded, flipping through documents with a calm and indifferent tone: "Let them be."
"But Young Master, this isn’t a solution," Mo Yang said with a frown.
Mu Qingge’s gaze lifted from the document, her clear eyes landing on Mo Yang, inexplicably soothing his agitation. "Can’t Starfall City be self-sufficient?"
Mu Qingge asked a question.
Mo Yang pressed his lips, shaking his head: "No, Starfall City can be self-sufficient."
Thus, Mu Qingge withdrew her gaze, casually saying, "Then what are you worried about? With them watching over us, Starfall City has gained so many free watchdogs; it’s a good thing."
"They’re not trying to help us, but aiming for you, Young Master," Mo Yang said angrily. "Damn it, who leaked the news that you possess five Spirit Roots, attracting these greedy people?"
Mu Qingge raised her hand, touching the Lotus Seal on her brow, smiling lightly yet still calm, "This matter would be known sooner or later; it has just come earlier now."
Mu Qingge’s composure gradually calmed Mo Yang’s mood.
Finally, Mu Qingge finished the document in her hand and asked him, "How’s the army’s preparations for the war?"
When this topic was brought up, Mo Yang also restrained his complaints. Nodding, he said, "Over the years, Starfall City has become their home. You’ve treated them exceedingly well, Young Master. Now, with the Divine Hall causing trouble, they all understand the situation and have expressed willingness to fight alongside you."
"Great. Make a list of those who perform well, and reward them accordingly," Mu Qingge nodded.
"Yes," Mo Yang noted down Mu Qingge’s orders.
He paused, seeking Mu Qingge’s advice, "Earlier, Gu Ya and Gu Ye took three hundred Dragon Tooth Guards back to Linchuan. With the battle imminent, should we call them back?"
"No need," Mu Qingge rejected his suggestion. Seeing Mo Yang’s puzzled look, she explained, "I don’t want my grandfather and the others to worry about this. Keeping them in Linchuan to protect in secret allows me to focus on dealing with the Divine Hall."
Mo Yang’s eyes flashed, becoming sharply alert. He said solemnly, "Young Master fears the Divine Hall might target the Mu Mansion again?"
Mu Qingge did not hide, nodding, "When a rabbit is pushed, it bites. Let alone the Divine Hall?" Her words carried a hint of irony, but to Mo Yang, they made perfect sense.
Five hundred Dragon Tooth Guards, if gathered, their power would increase several times; they were a formidable trump card in Mu Qingge’s hand.
Yet, for her family, Mu Qingge would rather weaken her own strength.
"And Gu Ya and Gu Ye..." Mo Yang asked tentatively. He always felt that if these two stayed by Mu Qingge’s side, she’d be much safer.
After all, outside were many old monsters eyeing her.
However, Mu Qingge still shook her head, "I’d feel more at ease with them in Linchuan. Besides, if they find out, it can’t be kept from Ah Mo. He already has many matters to handle; I don’t want to trouble him with this small issue."
Small issue?
Being enemies with the Divine Hall, starting a war with them, and being coveted by the old monsters from the Middle Ancient Realm — is this a small issue?
Mo Yang sighed inwardly, lowering his gaze. He understood Mu Qingge, knew her. Her heart cared too much, thus she shouldered everything.
Mo Yang withdrew.
After he left, from behind Mu Qingge, a small, wholly jade-white and stunningly beautiful snake emerged from the City Lord’s Throne. The snake descended the chair, transforming into an alluring, charming beauty.
Bai Xi squeezed next to Mu Qingge, sitting beside her, her supple arms naturally entwining Mu Qingge’s arm, affectionately nuzzling her head against Mu Qingge’s shoulder.
"Qingge, I don’t understand why those old folks are besieging but not attacking," Bai Xi’s doll-like voice was adorable, yet knowing her temperament, Mu Qingge wouldn’t smile.
Mu Qingge smiled lightly and replied, "Because none of them want to be the first to charge."
"I don’t understand," Bai Xi shook her head honestly, frowning.
Mu Qingge chuckled and explained, "They appear united, surrounding Starfall City, but are actually restraining each other. After all, there’s only one Mu Qingge, with just five Spirit Roots. How can so many of them divide them? Each worries someone else might seize the opportunity first. Thus, they’re holding each other back; if anyone dares to attack, they’ll be attacked together."
"Then why are they doing this? Isn’t it a waste of time?" Bai Xi still didn’t understand.
Human thought processes are sometimes truly beyond a snake’s comprehension, even one that has lived for countless ages!
"They’re waiting," Mu Qingge responded.
"Waiting? Waiting for what?" Bai Xi was puzzled.
"Waiting for me to become restless and walk out of Starfall City on my own," Mu Qingge laughed.
Bai Xi stared at her for a while, then helplessly shook her head, "I can’t understand, can’t figure out, can’t see clearly."
Her eager look for knowledge made Mu Qingge patiently explain, "They believe that by collectively applying pressure, they’ll make me live in constant fear and anxiety. Eventually, unable to bear it, I’ll want to quietly flee Starfall City. At that point, no matter which direction I choose to escape, the people guarding that direction will seize the initiative. They’re competing with me in patience."
"Then why didn’t they just storm in and attack Luoxing City to capture you?" Bai Xi asked, puzzled.
Mu Qingge chuckled, "As I mentioned before, there are too many monks and too little porridge. Even if they break into Luoxing City, storm the City Lord Mansion, and capture me, how would they distribute the spoils? Besides, if they push me too far, I might drag them down with me, then what? They are here for the Spirit Root and the Divine Status, not to throw away their lives."
Mu Qingge explained a lot, and Bai Xi only half understood.
Eventually, she gave up, shaking her head, "The human heart is truly too difficult to comprehend!"
"Indeed! That’s why they say the human heart is unpredictable," Mu Qingge sighed.
"Young Master!"
You He and Hua Yue hurried in from the outside. Each of them held several scrolls in their hands, their expressions... somewhat excited.
Mu Qingge raised her eyebrows.
Bai Xi looked at the two women and murmured, "What has gotten them so excited?"
This time, Mu Qingge didn’t answer her but instead looked at You He and Hua Yue and asked, "Did you get it?"
Hua Yue and You He exchanged a glance, and both had a burning light in their eyes.
Hua Yue said, "We got it, and we have many unexpected gains as well."
After saying that, the two of them placed the scrolls they were holding in front of Mu Qingge on the desk.
There were as many as thirty or forty scrolls. They filled the entire desk in front of Mu Qingge.
"Young Master, please have a look," You He stepped back and said to Mu Qingge.
Mu Qingge nodded gently, picked up a scroll at random, opened it, and quickly scanned the content. Bai Xi curiously leaned over and looked as well.
Gradually, her eyes widened, and her small mouth opened in shock.
However, Mu Qingge remained calm, finishing one scroll before moving to the next.
"Among them, Young Master Han has contributed a lot," You He said timely.
Mu Qingge looked up at her and then looked back down, casually saying, "So, part of this information came from the Wanxiang Building?"
"Yes, Young Master," You He nodded.
After asking this question, Mu Qingge did not continue to inquire but focused on reading the scrolls.
When Mu Qingge finished the last scroll and placed it on the desk, Bai Xi exclaimed in shock, "These things are simply... too outrageous!"
"Young Master, what should we do next?" Hua Yue asked.
Mu Qingge pursed her lips and slightly narrowed her eyes.
She had only returned to Luoxing City five days ago, yet the Divine Hall’s slander against her was still spreading across the Five Continents. It was said that many self-organized protest groups were on their way to Luoxing City.
Protest?
Ha, protest against her!
A cold light flashed in Mu Qingge’s eyes. She instructed You He and Hua Yue, "Organize and transcribe what you’ve collected, and hang it outside the city gates of Luoxing City. Meanwhile, have the Dragon Tooth Guards ride their Flying Spirit Beasts to the State Mansions of the Five Continents, and send Yin Chen with those heading to the Central Continent." She intended to distribute flyers!
...
One day later, several groups converged from different directions, heading toward Luoxing City.
The majestic outline of Luoxing City loomed before them, immediately stirring their excitement.
"This City Lord Mu, I once thought she was a good person! I never expected her to collude with Demon Cultivators and plot against us! Bah, I really misjudged her!"
"I used to admire her! Now I just feel like I’ve swallowed a fly, utterly disgusted!"
"This time, we must expose her true face, let the world know what kind of person she truly is!"
"Hmph! To think I secretly admired her, considering her a goddess in my heart! But she turned out to be a treacherous villain, a hypocrite!"
"..."
Every day, similar discussions, filled with shared hatred and resentment, took place among these groups.
They fueled their spirits with such conversations and finally arrived outside Luoxing City.
Just as they arrived, two large scrolls of cloth unfurled from the city walls of Luoxing City, densely packed with text.
"What does it say up there?"
For a moment, the content attracted the attention of the protest groups and those old monsters besieging Luoxing City.