Chapter 489
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Chapter 489: The Black List
Dealing with a single foe is manageable, but when facing a group, strategy becomes inevitable.
Bai Wei frowned slightly.
His original plan accounted for two opponents. If others joined, he would rely on their hesitation to find opportunities. By slowly wearing down his foes and striking one down as a warning, he could force the rest to retreat.
But to his surprise, the spider demon’s popularity was abysmally low—it couldn’t even rally support. It charged forward alone. Before Bai Wei could fully use it as a whetstone, the spider faltered, showing signs of weakness. Seeing this, the other monsters hesitated and fell back one by one.
The more concerning issue was their targets: Bai Ze and Bi Fang in the rear compartment.
This was the downside of traveling conspicuously. High-profile, fast-moving carriages attract attention, making them easy prey for hunters.
Zhu Rong burned brighter, faint golden light flickering deep within Bai Wei’s crimson eyes.
Outnumbered four to one, hesitation wasn’t an option. The only solution was a decisive, overwhelming strike.
With the preliminary Golden Power’s blessing, one strike could potentially decimate the demon quartet.
Yet the true danger lay in revealing too much. If Bai Wei’s bottom line was exposed prematurely, others would target him with precision.
A wise man conceals his strength… but not forever. Plans often crumble in the face of unforeseen changes.
Inside the Carriage
“I’ve really walked into a thieves’ den,” Nalan Qingshu remarked, peering through the beaded curtain.
“Monsters everywhere—how lively,” she said with a wry tone.
Chao Lu sighed beside her.
“Four ancient-level monsters blocking the way. Hujia Grave indeed lives up to its reputation.”
“Ordinary merchants wouldn’t attract this kind of trouble,” Nalan Qingshu scoffed, clearly irritated.
“We chose speed over discretion,” Chao Lu replied softly. “This comes with the territory.”
Nalan Qingshu’s tone sharpened. “Speeding us to ruin, more like. I warned against this recklessness.”
Little Green, stretching lazily, chimed in, “Enough bickering. We’re not dead yet. Let’s focus on the present. Survival won’t come easy.”
Princess Bai Ze chuckled at this. “Already considering surrender?”
“I’m a princess of a fallen kingdom,” Nalan Qingshu retorted, bitterness lacing her voice. “There’s nothing left to hold onto. He’s the one rushing blindly forward…”
She paused, her eyes narrowing.
“Why not let him save you? I’ll stay and bargain for survival.”
Chao Lu’s voice was calm, almost serene.
“Turning back offers no hope. Moving forward is the only chance I have.”
Nalan Qingshu sighed deeply.
“If I hadn’t brought you, none of this would’ve happened.”
“If you hadn’t brought me, you’d already be dead,” Chao Lu replied coolly.
The tension was palpable, broken only by Yubing, the snake girl, nervously biting her tail. She stuttered, “Sh-should I do a trick? A tail-biting snake act?”
Chao Lu gently touched Yubing’s hand, soothing her.
“No need for that, little one. I’m not arguing—there’s no point stooping to her level.”
The remark made Nalan Qingshu bristle with anger.
“Stooping? You think I’m immature? I don’t understand where your confidence comes from!”
Their disagreements had started small but deepened over time.
At its core was a fundamental clash of priorities. Nalan Qingshu wanted Chao Lu to take Yubing and hide underground. She saw herself as expendable, willing to sacrifice everything for the restoration of their kingdom.
Chao Lu, however, disagreed. Her stance was clear—Bai Wei was not a tool to be used or discarded for political expediency.
This was more than a difference in strategy; it was a clash of values.
Little Green couldn’t understand Chao Lu’s unwavering trust in Bai Wei. Was it blind confidence or something deeper?
Chao Lu didn’t explain. Some emotions weren’t meant to be dissected or rationalized.
If you can’t cherish the person by your side, how can you claim to love your country?
Outside Hujia Grave
Ten miles away, a figure strode through the snow.
Dressed in ethnic garb, the woman’s attire blended elegance and practicality. A white inner lining peeked out beneath her Hu-style tunic, cinched with a Xianbei belt. Her long black hair flowed freely down her back.
She walked barefoot, yet left no footprints.
With each step, her presence seemed to shift the world around her.
Her first step left a shallow imprint in the snow.
Her second step, ten paces away, doubled the depth and size of the footprint.
By the third step, snow within ten meters collapsed, compressed into frozen discs by an unseen force.
The atmosphere shifted as she quickened her pace. A dark glow enveloped her form, slicing through the icy air like an arrow.
Her destination: Hujia Grave.
