My heavens, what incredible fortune he possessed, to have once been brothers with the Divine Martial General.
This trip to the southwest was worth losing his life for.
Xiao Shan's expression was stern: "Changyun Mountain has long since issued a ban. Why have you come up the mountain again!?"
The brothers beside Nan Pei, frightened, knelt down, pulling Nan Pei down with them.
"We, we wanted to pick some tea..." Nan Pei said shamefacedly in a low voice, about to kneel.
"Enough, hurry down the mountain!"
"Yes, yes, General."
The two nodded vigorously, not daring to delay. They grabbed their tea baskets, ignoring the spilled tea leaves, and scurried past Xiao Shan with their heads bowed.
After running a distance, Nan Pei couldn't help but look back. He saw the white wolf leap into the jungle, and the Divine Martial General's hand was reaching towards Xiao Niangzi's face.
Pah, pah, pah, what Xiao Niangzi? The wife of the Divine Martial General, wasn't that the legendary Divine Maiden?
Nan Pei suppressed his excitement. This was something he could brag about for the rest of his life.
"She got away again," Ling Yao pouted, displeased.
Xiao Shan comforted her, "She'll die by your hand sooner or later."
After examining her forehead, he then examined her hand. "Your body is quite well now, completely unaffected."
Ling Yao began to examine Xiao Shan carefully.
Everyone said that the Great Yao Divine Monarch from five hundred years ago was as handsome as an immortal, but why did Xiao Shan turn out like this?
He wasn't ugly, but he was far from the appearance of an immortal.
That demoness said he was the Great Yao Divine Monarch, and the white wolf also called him Divine Monarch. Xiao Shan must be the Divine Monarch.
The Great Yao Divine Monarch was also the Regent, a member of the Great Jing imperial family.
Huh? Then wasn't she married to her own ancestor?
Xiao Shan didn't notice Ling Yao's change in expression. He lowered his head and saw the shoes she was wearing. These shoes didn't even cover her toes, leaving them exposed like glutinous rice balls.
Little thing, wasn't she afraid of being bitten by mosquitoes and insects?
Ling Yao was wrapped in a red robe, so he couldn't see inside. He didn't know that she was wearing even cooler clothes underneath: a crop top, half-length lantern pants, with her calves and arms all exposed.
His armor felt stiff, so he took it off, carried it in his hand, and crouched down. "Come up."
The mountain was full of stones. How could she wear shoes like these?
"I dare not."
"What do you dare not do?"
"You are my ancestor."
"It's more like you are my ancestor. Hurry up."
"Then thank you, ancestor." Ling Yao climbed up with a smile.
You said riding Little Yu was so comfortable, yet you had to drive it away and do the hard work yourself.
Xiao Shan didn't understand what she was saying and assumed she was talking nonsense.
Xiao Shan carried her around the mountain.
"Why are you going this way? Isn't this a detour? Aren't you tired!"
"The Divine Maiden displayed her divine might and defeated the terrifying Puppet Army. The soldiers welcoming you are over there. Do you want to go there?"
"Ah, then forget it." Ling Yao, lying on his back, played with a strand of hair that emerged from under his helmet and hat, and then remembered the matter of the Great Yao Divine Monarch.
"A Shan, when you were born, were there any anomalies in your village? Or auspicious clouds?"
"Anomalies? No, I'm not a fairy. How could I have auspicious clouds like you? There were disasters, though. A great drought one year, does that count? The fields yielded nothing, and many villagers went out to flee famine."
"Oh, and a chicken died at home. My mother said it was scared to death by my crying. It was just right to stew it for my mother to eat."
Ling Yao: "......"
"Why are you asking this?"
"Because that demoness said you are the Great Yao Divine Monarch, and Little Yu also said you are the Divine Monarch."
Xiao Shan paused his steps. "Really?"
"Yes, really." Ling Yao nodded affirmatively.
"I am the Divine Monarch, otherwise, how could I have raised you to be better and better? Didn't you say the Great Yao Divine Monarch is your guardian Divine Monarch? What? Have you not acknowledged me yet?"
His tone was clearly proud and a little smug.
Ling Yao quickly nodded, "I dare not, I dare not. You are my ancestor."
"Hmph, you're good at sweet-talking."
Xiao Shan slapped her on the backside.
Bad guy, thinking he could do whatever he wanted in the mountains.
Xiao Shan sent her back to the General's mansion and then returned to the battlefield to clean up the aftermath.
Ling Yao felt uneasy, not having completely eliminated the Qirong demoness. She wondered how to lure her out again, but the woman was seriously injured and wouldn't act rashly for now.
This was difficult.
Xiao Shan would definitely not agree to her infiltrating Qirong, and she was not very familiar with Qirong. Who knew if they had other dark sorceries.
She couldn't take the risk.
Meanwhile, Saibopo, who had escaped, rushed back to the palace and summoned several male consorts to his sleeping quarters.
The male consorts had different appearances, all with a black lotus tattooed on their foreheads. Some were slender and delicate, some were like gentle breezes and clear moons, and some were strong and robust.
However, at this moment, all of them wore expressions of panic.
The Queen had been summoning consorts too frequently lately, and those who went never returned.
Where did they go?
Weren't they going to serve the Queen?
The brothers who had previously vied for favor no longer had any desire to compete. A dark cloud hung over everyone's hearts.
In the sleeping quarters, a male consort stepped forward, suppressing his fear.
"Your Majesty, this servant will help you undress~"
As the grey robe fell, it revealed a face covered in broken skin and flesh, with cracked skin.
"Ah—"
After the screams, several male consorts fled in all directions, only to be sucked back by an invisible force.
Soon, the sound of loud chewing could be heard from the hall.
Mortal flesh and blood healed too slowly. If only they could capture Xiao Shan...
...
After several battles with the Puppet Army, apart from the heavy losses in the first engagement, the subsequent battles were all about maneuvering and evading. This was the first time they had achieved a great victory against Qirong and returned triumphantly.
The bodies on the battlefield were mostly Qirong soldiers. After clearing the Great Jing soldiers, an order was given, and they were set ablaze.
Not many puppet figures escaped, and the Qirong Queen, having suffered severe injuries, could no longer control them. They all ended up in the bellies of wolves.
The Great Jing soldiers cheered and celebrated. The people of Lizhou sent rice and grain, showing harmony between the army and the civilians.
Xiao Shan ordered rewards for the army and held the first celebration banquet since arriving in the southwest.
And the greatest contributor, the Divine Maiden, was naturally to attend.
"Jingle, jingle..."
A clear and pleasant bell sound echoed through the bustling streets.
Ling Yao and Qu Linglong turned their heads and saw a familiar and exquisite, spacious carriage.
The pearl curtain was lifted, revealing a face that was beautiful regardless of gender.
"Princess."
Prince Xie Bo's face broke into a wide smile. His colorful attire, paired with dazzling jewels, was as ostentatious as ever.
He had come to deliver supplies for the soldiers. Although Nanjiang was small, it was united. This was the second time they had collected supplies to send support.
Knowing that a victory had been won, this time he brought ten carts of goods, including cattle, sheep, pork, rice, and grain.
"Oh, what a coincidence, I was just getting tired from walking."
Ling Yao pulled Qu Linglong into the carriage, introducing as she went, "This carriage is very comfortable. Prince Xie Bo had it specially built and travels in it wherever he goes."
Xie Bo's foxy eyes lit up with a smile. "Indeed, Princess, you speak the truth."
He wouldn't let anyone else ride in it.