Chapter 321
After Man Shen Shi and his group took Luo Shu and left, Yong Shensi half-closed his eyes and asked calmly,
“What do you all think of the matter with Hei Yao City?”
Bao Tan glanced at Bao Zao, the Shen Shi, and his elder brother Bao Xi, his eyes darting before he stepped forward and said,
“Hei Yao has considerable strength, and they also have a grudge with the Red Jackals. We could take advantage of that.”
Yong Shensi gave a light "mm" in response.
Seeing his expression remain unchanged, Bao Tan understood and continued,
“Hei Yao is using Qing Chi City to trade with the upper city—this clearly shows they’re considering submitting to the Shrine. If that’s the case, we should strike first and draw them in. Whether we absorb them directly or turn them into a vassal of the Ling Bao Clan, they will become a great asset to us.”
Bao Zao, the divine envoy, stepped forward and bowed:
“According to the message from Ji City, it’s true that Cang Shensi led a force of ten thousand away from the upper city last year and has yet to return. If Hei Yao killed Cang Shensi...”
He furrowed his brows,
“Lord Shensi, the incident with the Wangu Grand Witch only happened recently. Many people in the Shrine still harbor resentment. I fear they might vent that anger on Hei Yao. If we get involved now, we might end up entangled in the mess as well.”
The fact that Hei Yao was able to defeat Cang Shensi was indeed surprising to them. After all, Cang Shensi’s forces were known for their battle prowess, and the Red Jackals boasted many elite warriors.
But even so, the wrath of the Central Shrine was not something any city could bear. If the Central Shrine decided to move against Hei Yao, there would only be one outcome for them—destruction.
Yong Shensi pointed at Bao Xi, who had remained silent the whole time,
“You speak.”
Bao Xi pondered briefly and then said,
“Hei Yao is different from Wangu. They joined forces with the Chi Hu Tribe to attack Wangu—that can be counted as a merit. As for their conflict with Cang Shensi, that was purely defensive. Besides, Hei Yao isn’t part of the Shrine’s cities. They don’t recognize the Shensi and don’t know our rules—those are all understandable reasons.”
He turned to the elder seated at the head:
“However...”
However, whether anyone would be willing to speak up for Hei Yao—and whether that person’s status could influence the political structure of the Central Shrine—were entirely different questions.
And for these conditions, no one fit better than the Ling Bao Clan.
The excuses Bao Xi had laid out were carefully chosen—each argument could go both ways, meaning the Ling Bao Clan could control the narrative. As long as Hei Yao's leadership wasn’t foolish, they would know what decision to make.
Yong Shensi looked up at the upright-standing Bao Xi. He hadn’t expected that this grandson of his—usually unremarkable—would actually have such a sharp mind. It was a pleasant surprise.
Bao Zao nodded in agreement:
“Master Xi makes a good point. But no matter what we do, we need a reason. If we approach Hei Yao without one, they may not trust our intentions.”
Bao Tan shot a glare at Bao Zao. This guy had stayed close to their grandfather all these years, and was as slick and slippery as an old mudfish. He agreed with Bao Tan’s view, and then with Bao Xi’s too—never offending anyone. It was infuriating.
But unfortunately for Bao Tan, Bao Zao was their grandfather’s most trusted personal Shen Shi. No matter how much he disliked him, Bao Tan could only swallow it.
“That’s easy enough!” Bao Tan raised his voice. He couldn’t let Bao Xi steal all the spotlight. “Isn’t Hei Yao looking for someone? I’ll send word now for our subordinate cities to help with the search. Then I’ll personally escort the missing clansmen back to Hei Yao—let’s see if they dare not receive us with respect!”
“Very well, let’s do that,” said Yong Shensi, satisfied. “Tan is already a second-tier warrior—he’s more suited to handling affairs outside. This mission is crucial. Zao, Xi, the two of you must assist Tan fully and help him depart as soon as possible.”“Yes!”
Elsewhere, Luo Shu and his parents took their leave from Man Shen Shi and returned to Madam Xia’s former residence in the Central Shrine.
Luo Shu had always known his mother held a noble status, but this was his first time entering the Beast God City. He hadn’t expected their family to own a house here—he was practically buzzing with excitement.
As soon as the three entered the gate, they saw goods piled in the courtyard. A slave stepped forward and said,
“City Lord, Madam, these supplies were sent by Xi Si Shi on his master’s behalf.”
Luo Shu clicked his tongue as he looked them over critically:
“This is all? If I were selling, I’d definitely get two—no, three times this amount...”
The Qing Chi City Lord darkened his face and gestured for the slave to shut the courtyard gate.
Oblivious, Luo Shu went on showing off,
“But that’s okay. I’ll just make a few more trips. Mother, once I get more goods, I’ll renovate this courtyard into something grand and beautiful—OW!”
A hard smack landed on the back of his head—an all-too-familiar feeling. Without even turning, Luo Shu bolted forward screaming,
“I’m being attacked! I’m being hit!”
The Qing Chi City Lord was fuming, chasing after him,
“You little bastard! You’ve got the nerve to run? Hold him down for me! I swear I’ll beat you senseless today!”
The slaves in the courtyard all lowered their heads and scattered. Not one dared step forward.
“Mother! Save me! Mooother!”
Madam Xia sat gracefully on a stool brought by a slave. Calmly adjusting her clothes, she smiled as Luo Shu ran toward her.
But when Luo Shu saw her expression, his heart dropped.
He immediately dropped to his knees and slid into a full kowtow in front of her.
Clinging to her knee, he weakly protested,
“Why are you hitting me...?”
“Why?” The City Lord shouted, picking up a stick. “Didn’t I tell you to stay put when you got back? Huh? I even sent someone to tell you not to leave the city—did my words go in one ear and out the other?!”After discovering Luo Shu had left, the City Lord and Madam Xia had chased after him, hoping to bring him back.
But they were a step too late—Luo Shu had already been taken by the Ling Bao Clan. With no other choice, they continued their pursuit all the way to Beast God City.
Outsiders might respectfully call Luo Shu “Little City Lord,” but in Beast God City and in the eyes of the Shrine’s Shensi, that title meant less than an insect.
If they hadn’t arrived in time... they didn’t dare imagine what could’ve happened.
Luo Shu finally remembered—after returning to Qing Chi, he’d left the goods for his father and siblings, rested one night, and rushed out again. A slave had tried to stop him, but he’d been in such a hurry to sell in the upper city, he hadn’t even listened.
Swallowing nervously, he glanced up at them:
“You knew from the start that Yong Shensi was trying to capture me?”
Seeing his son's admiring gaze, the City Lord coughed lightly, hiding the fact that they’d only suspected it:
“Do you know the goods you brought to the upper city caused a massive stir? Even the attendants of Ke Shensi, Jian Shensi, and even Zhuai Shensi came to Qing Chi to investigate. I was busy entertaining them all because of you—and you had the audacity to sneak off during that time!”
Ke Shensi and Jian Shensi were both from Qi City. Like Madam Xia, they had been disciples of the former Great Shensi. Jian Shensi’s family had even helped establish Qing Chi a hundred years ago—they were the closest allies the city had.
So their servants visiting was not unusual.
What surprised Luo Shu was Zhuai Shensi’s involvement. He was the only current Shensi from his mother’s clan, now serving in the Central Shrine.
Ever since Madam Xia had married his father and given up competing for the Shensi position, her maternal family had cut ties. For nearly thirty years, this was the first
time they’d reached out.
“That’s a good thing though,” Luo Shu said. “It proves my business is valuable—so valuable even your family wants to reconnect.”
“I never told you much about them,” Madam Xia sighed, stroking his hair gently. “Back then, I chose to leave the Shrine because I discovered our clan was involved in matters far beyond what our small tribes could handle.”“Beyond what we could handle?” Luo Shu’s eyes widened. “Does this have anything to do with Cang Shensi’s mission to the plains under our name?”
Madam Xia’s expression became complicated. Her child was clever—but that cleverness frightened her.
“Yes. At that time, Cang—still a Shen Shi—came to Qing Chi with a divine order from... someone. He asked for our assistance. We couldn’t refuse. That was when I started distancing myself from my clan—letting them down on purpose, severing ties. Looking back, it was just a kind of desperate escape.”
“Whose order? Mother, what were they trying to do?”Madam Xia smiled softly and shook her head,
“These are secrets meant to be buried deep beneath the earth. My child, do not be curious. Do not seek the truth. The more you know, the more danger you’ll be in. I don’t want you caught in the Shrine’s power struggles.”
The City Lord tossed aside the stick and walked to her side. He had never thought her decision was an escape. On the contrary—it was her decisiveness that had protected their son and their city.
“But what does all this have to do with Hei Yao City?” Luo Shu asked, confused.
Madam Xia opened her arms, tilted her head, and took a deep breath.
“My child, before every storm, there’s always an unusual scent in the air.”
Clouds drifted overhead, casting shadows across the courtyard. In the middle of summer, a cool wind blew, rustling the trees.
“I smell it now. Ominous. Hei Yao will soon become the center of the storm.”
Luo Shu lowered his head, silent for a long while. Then he spoke.
“Mother, Father... the Beast man Continent has been in drought for too long. A few light snows won’t nourish our dry land. We need a heavy, drenching rain.”
He looked up solemnly at them.
“Is getting closer to the storm... really a mistake?”
The City Lord’s brows tightened,
“You are Qing Chi’s future leader. Every decision you make could bring massive change to this city.”
Luo Shu straightened his back and said suddenly:
“I told them that Cang Shensi might have escaped, but if they investigate, they’ll find out the truth—that he’s dead, and it was Hei Yao who killed him.”
The City Lord and Madam Xia locked eyes, both seeing shock in each other.
Cang Shensi was dead?!
That kind of news would throw Hei Yao directly into the center of conflict.
But both of them also understood—given Luo Shu’s attitude toward Hei Yao, he wouldn’t deliberately do anything to harm them.
Sure enough, Luo Shu clenched his fists:
“The Red Jackals won’t sit still. I already told Yong Shensi Hei Yao’s location. The Red Jackals and Ling Bao won’t stand by as another power rises.”
Their breaths froze. This small move of Luo Shu’s might trigger a war between the Red Jackals and Ling Bao ahead of schedule.
The City Lord’s voice was deep and heavy:
“Everything you’ve done today could push your city—and your people—into an abyss.”
Luo Shu had originally followed his instincts when he revealed that information to Yong Shensi.
But now, after this conversation with his parents, he was more certain than ever that his instincts were right.
His body trembled slightly:
“Father, if we’re already caught in the storm... then let’s charge straight into the eye. That’s the calmest place—and the place where we can be reborn.”
The City Lord stared at Luo Shu’s retreating back, every muscle tensed.
Madam Xia reached out her pale fingers and gently smoothed her husband’s frown.
“My lord...”
She smiled softly and shook her head.
“Our child sees more clearly than we do. His will is stronger than ours. He is no longer just a boy—he is a worthy leader, a true city lord.”
Her gentle voice drifted on the wind:
“This time... maybe we’ll have to rely on him.”
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