Free Web NovelChapter 780: Chapter 215: Retreat and First Victory! (Third Update)
The Ancient Insect Abyss, severing the Earth Cracks of the Divine and Demon Clans.
The world beneath the Earth Crack has been mysterious and undisturbed for hundreds of thousands of years.
In a small village within the Insect Abyss, inside a simple room, on a wooden bed, lay a tall man, seemingly having slept for a long time, with no response at all.
Beside him, a girl of the Insect Clan rested her cheek on her hand, gazing affectionately at his appearance, unable to tire of it.
"Unbelievable, after being cleaned, you’re so handsome. I’ve never seen anyone more handsome than you in my whole life." She murmured softly, her cheeks blushing with shyness.
Then, she frowned slightly, worry evident in her mischievous youthful eyes, "Grandfather said you would awaken when it’s time, but when exactly is that time?"
’Si Mo, I can’t kill you, but I can make you lose what matters most!’
’I’ll ask you once more, will you marry me? If you do, I won’t kill you!’
’Si Mo, you haven’t recovered from your old wounds, you’re no match for me! Give up!’
’Si Mo, I’ve done so much for you, why can’t you see my true heart?’
’Si Mo, if I can’t have you, I sure won’t let anyone else have you!’
’Li Yuan, our relationship is merely cooperative, always has been. You want your information, I just want mine. That’s all there is between us. This time, you deceived me to come out; henceforth, we’ll only be enemies. If I don’t die today, I will take your life someday!’
’Fine! Since you’re so heartless, I’ll make you lose what matters most and let you suffer! Regret it—!’
"How dare you—!"
"Ah!" The girl beside the wooden bed was startled by the man suddenly sitting up, nearly falling to the ground.
Once she recovered, she looked to the man sitting on the bed in surprise, excitedly rubbing her bruised backside as she stood up, "You’re finally awake? Do you feel any discomfort?"
The man on the bed slowly turned his head, those amber eyes glanced at the girl standing beside the bed.
The girl felt her heart skip a beat under his gaze, inexplicably flustered.
Though his eyes were calm, she felt an irresistible pressure falling upon her, its aura tearing into her skin painfully.
"Was it you who saved me?" he finally spoke.
The voice was pleasing to the ear, intoxicating, like aged wine. The girl’s eyes were like flowing water upon hearing, rippling with captivating charm, as if completely entranced by the voice.
Suddenly, she noticed the man’s displeased frown, jolting her awake, and she nodded, "Yes, it was me and my companions who saved you from the depths of the Great Marsh."
"Hmm." Si Mo indifferently withdrew his gaze, not a trace of gratitude in his eyes.
"Who are you, and why were you in the Great Marsh?" The fear in the girl’s heart lessened slightly, and she cautiously leaned closer to the bed, asking.
However, a single icy stare from Si Mo, sharp as a knife, rooted her to the spot, afraid to get any closer.
"I... I’ll go fetch you some water and let Grandfather have a look at you." Flustered, the girl hurried out of the room, unsure why she felt this way. After all, this was her home!
After she left, Si Mo bitterly and disdainfully spat out, "Women, a nuisance."
Afterwards, he frowned.
The memory in his mind froze at the scene of waking up.
Li Yuan, someone from the Divine Clan. All along, she had secretly been selling him the information he needed. This time, she dared to deceive him! Si Mo’s eyes flashed with a piercing icy light.
Li Yuan’s life, he must claim it, reducing her to dust!
But...
Si Mo’s frown deepened. What did Li Yuan take from him?
’No! Not take! She doesn’t have the ability. It’s just a seal!’ Si Mo’s eyes hardened as he realized.
Si Mo’s mouth curled into a cold smile, ’A mere seal, and you think it can trouble me?’ He closed his eyes, channeling Spiritual Power, seemingly wanting to break through Li Yuan’s seal.
However, moments later, he suddenly opened his eyes, a storm brewing in the depths of those amber eyes, a fierce light emerging. "What a vicious woman!"
He discovered that Li Yuan’s sealing technique actually carried the aura of a curse.
Without knowing the curse’s content, he couldn’t break it.
"What could the curse be?" Si Mo frowned in deep thought. His memories held no clue of the curse placed by Li Yuan.
"Damn it! What exactly did she seal off of mine?" Si Mo clutched his chest. An unprecedented sense of loss welled up within his heart.
His memories were intact, yet he always felt something was missing. His heart also felt an inexplicable emptiness, as if a piece was missing, causing him sudden heartache.
"What is it that matters most... what is it?" Si Mo pondered, but the answer eluded him.
Suddenly, the girl who left returned, escorting an old man into the room.
"You’re awake?" The old man entered with a kindly smile directed at Si Mo.
Si Mo concealed his emotions, looking at him calmly.
After a while, he spoke, "Thank you for saving me, I will certainly repay the favor in the future." He had been away for too long and needed to return to the Taixuan Ancient Palace quickly to prevent his subordinates from developing other ideas.
Si Mo stood up from the bed, his tall stature making the room feel cramped.
"You’re leaving?" the girl asked anxiously.
Si Mo turned to look at her, a void of emotion in those amber eyes, as if she did not exist in his view.
"You’ve just awakened, and your body hasn’t fully recovered. Perhaps you should rest here for a few days before deciding," the old man spoke under the girl’s secret urging.
Si Mo looked at him, those impeccably perfect features utterly calm. He said, "It’s inconvenient for me to stay too long in the Insect Clan’s territory."
"Just a few days won’t hurt. You haven’t fully regained your strength; if you encounter danger and trouble after leaving, wouldn’t it be more complications?" the old man continued to persuade.
Si Mo frowned.
Indeed, his current Demon Spiritual Power was shattered, in need of careful healing and recovery.
If he recklessly rushed back to the Taixuan Ancient Palace without considering his condition, encountering rebellion would only embolden them given his current state.
’So be it, stay a few more days, nurse the body back to health, then return to the Taixuan Ancient Palace. Meanwhile, see who can’t sit still in my absence.’ A cold light flashed in Si Mo’s eyes, his mind set.
"Then I’ll impose," Si Mo said to the old man.
The old man nodded with a slight smile, secretly assessing Si Mo, quite satisfied.
At this moment, the girl spoke, "What’s your name?"
However, Si Mo’s eyes, cold and fierce, made her shiver, and she dared not say another word.
"This man... so terrifying!" she thought timidly to herself.
...
By the Menglan River, atop the Demon Clan’s city walls, Mu Qingge stood tall and firm.
The sniper rifle in her hand fired continuously.
The small alien races attacking the city walls kept disappearing, and the alien army across the river plunged into chaos.
The battle on the city walls had become Mu Qingge’s solo show.
Countless soldiers of the Demon Clan stared at her in awe, stunned by her actions.
Amazing!
Absolutely amazing!
Mu Qingge’s image instantly shone brightly in the hearts of the Demon Clan soldiers. In all the years of battling the alien races, they had never experienced such a delightful victory.
Look at their Princess, with just an unknown weapon in hand, she could wipe out these damned alien races in waves!
The aliens by the Menglan River were dumbfounded by the sudden slaughter and finally retreated.
The aliens who escaped with their lives from Mu Qingge quickly returned to their headquarters. Meanwhile, on the city wall, four Demon Guards who were using Wind Control had exhausted their Spiritual Power and fell from the sky.
Gu Ya and Gu Ye immediately ordered people to support them, catching them and sending them back to the camp to recuperate.
A thick black fog once again shrouded the figures of the alien races.
Mu Qingge frowned slightly, raised her sniper rifle, and put it away.
Watching the remaining alien races frantically escape to the other side of the river, she calmly turned around to face the crowd of stunned Demon Clan soldiers behind her.
"Who said the Princess was here to cause trouble?" Ling Jiu murmured.
Qing Ze glanced at him, adding, "I believe it was you who said it."
Ling Jiu’s mouth twitched, and he gave himself a hard slap. His enchantingly handsome face was full of shock and admiration, "I take back what I said earlier, the Princess is practically the savior sent by the Demon Ancestor!"
Qing Ze gave him a mocking look, took a deep breath to calm his shocked heart, and walked towards Mu Qingge.
He came before Mu Qingge, separated by Gu Ya and the other Demon Guards, tidied his attire, then suddenly knelt on one knee, and in Mu Qingge’s surprise, said loudly, "Qing Ze and the Demon Clan soldiers here thank the Princess for her life-saving grace!" If it weren’t for Mu Qingge’s divine might, who knows how many Demon Clan soldiers would have died in this battle.
Qing Ze’s words jolted Yuan Feng and the others back to their senses.
On the city walls, the Demon Clan soldiers all knelt, shouting in unison to Mu Qingge, "The Princess is mighty! The Princess is invincible!"
"The Princess is mighty!"
"The Princess is invincible!"
The voices, emanating from their hearts, were quite powerful. The sound was so loud it reached the other side of the Menglan River.
Among the alien army that had gradually calmed down, came a deep and hoarse voice, slowly saying, "The Princess? Interesting... interesting..."
...
By the Menglan River, Su Sheng and She Yin exchanged a silent glance amidst the chorus.
Evidently, the current situation was not what they had hoped to see. They had originally thought that Mu Qingge would make a fool of herself, fleeing the battle in disgrace, caring only for her own life and disregarding the safety of others.
Little did they expect, Mu Qingge would perform such a stunning feat.
She not only possessed military strategic capabilities but also an extremely formidable combat ability, especially her weapon, which was very peculiar but also very powerful.
The events by the Menglan River forced Su Sheng and She Yin to admit that they had underestimated Mu Qingge, and they had underestimated her as a Princess.
In their hearts, a sense of admiration had slowly begun to arise.
"Everyone rise, I am your Princess, and you are my people. It is my duty to protect you and be with you. This is my responsibility, no need to thank me," Mu Qingge said calmly. Pretty words, who can’t say them?
After all, she indeed contributed her efforts, and incidentally won a bit of loyalty... no, admiration, what’s the harm in that? If you have the ability, come and bite her!
Sure enough, after her words fell, many Demon Clan soldiers’ expressions appeared moved.
Qing Ze stood up and said to Mu Qingge, "Princess, although the aliens have temporarily retreated, their army is still stationed across the Menglan River. What shall we do next?"
After this battle, no one doubted Mu Qingge’s abilities anymore.
Yuan Feng cautiously spoke up, "Should we continue sending people to ascertain their true motive for this war?"
Mu Qingge gave a barely noticeable nod, "Investigating is necessary, but it’s not the most urgent matter."
Hmm?
What does that mean?
Mu Qingge’s words left a few key figures puzzled.
Mu Qingge calmly said, "No matter what their objective is, we have only one task, to keep them all out of the Menglan River area, right?"
"Indeed!"
"Yes indeed!"
"Absolutely!"
The Four Great Vassals, and Defender General Yuan Feng, all nodded.
Mu Qingge turned to face the Menglan River, placing her hands on the railing in front of her, she said, "So, the urgent task is to fully resist the alien attack. I guarantee, they will launch a massive assault next, intending to break through here in one fell swoop. We must prepare immediately. Yuan Feng..."
"Your subordinate is here!" Yuan Feng immediately stepped forward.
Without turning back, Mu Qingge continued, "Immediately send people to assess the damage from the battle, dispatch people to repair the city walls, and replenish military supplies. Injured soldiers should receive immediate treatment, and the number of soldiers who can still fight, and their types, must all be accounted for and sent to me. Constantly monitor the movements across the river."
"Understood!" Yuan Feng accepted the orders and left.
Mu Qingge turned around, her gaze falling on the Four Great Vassals, she addressed them, "You will accompany me to the strategy room."
The four nodded, no one raising any objection.
On the Demon Clan side, under Mu Qingge’s orders, the response was swift, orderly, and well-trained...
