Ye Tian had only traveled a small portion of the mountain path.
When he was suddenly intercepted by the North Star Squad emerging from the forest.
"Young Master, please proceed no further."
The lead squad captain, with a serious expression, extended his hand to stop them.
"What's going on?" Thirteen spurred his horse forward to inquire.
The squad captain respectfully answered, "The mountain forest has been infiltrated by the Black Eagle Legion. They outnumber us, and most of them are Spirit Masters."
Ye Tian nodded lightly at this news.
The Black Eagle Legion had obviously come for Zhu Zhuqing.
Although Zhu Zhuqing was young and couldn't see the situation clearly, she wasn't so foolish as to not even contact her own army.
Thirteen, sitting on his horse, turned his head with a bitter expression:
"Young Master, in my opinion, it would be best to leave for now."
Ye Tian's face wore an ambiguous smile. "Are you saying you can't protect me here?"
"...That's not what I meant..." Thirteen hastily explained. The North Star Squad wasn't incapable of handling a Spirit Master team.
Ye Tian waved his hand. "Don't worry. I won't do anything dangerous."
He looked up at the squad captain and gestured. "Brief me on the enemy situation."
"The Black Eagle Legion's numbers in the mountain forest are approximately 120 men."
The squad captain said respectfully.
"Their uniforms are standardized, their movements swift. They've occupied all the high ground in the mountain forest one by one."
"To avoid exposure, we haven't contested them."
Ye Tian walked to a large bluestone, patted it twice, and sat down.
His tone calm, he said, "I now order you, in my capacity as supreme commander, to mobilize all combat forces in the area and eliminate them. Leave none alive."
If they dared to conduct infiltration operations on his territory, they shouldn't blame him for being impolite.
Thirteen said with delighted surprise, "Young Master, we don't need to conserve our strength anymore?"
The North Star Squad had always operated stealthily precisely to hide their excellent weapons and equipment.
"The enemy is already at our doorstep—what's there to conserve?" Ye Tian said calmly, leisurely sipping his self-brought herbal tea.
"Yes!" The squad captain's face showed no smile, but his nearly jubilant tone had already said everything.
The North Star Squad, as the ace among aces, had been holding back for too long.
And today.
The blade would be unsheathed!
...
Peach Blossom Village.
The mountainside behind.
While the villagers were all busily searching for mountain ravines to shelter from wind and rain.
Zhu Zhuqing, following the group, unknowingly had another figure appear behind her.
"Crown Princess, I am Mo Ziqi. Come with me quickly." A gentle female voice came from behind Zhu Zhuqing.
It startled Zhu Zhuqing as well.
Zhu Zhuqing turned around to see a tall woman with brown hair who had taken her hand.
"Mo Ziqi? Are you the Deputy Commander of the Black Eagle Legion?"
This deputy commander was not only a confidant of His Majesty the Star Luo Emperor but also an elder of the Star Luo Council of Elders, with Titled Douluo cultivation.
"Correct." Mo Ziqi's voice was bland and brief.
Zhu Zhuqing understood that this Deputy Commander likely didn't have much goodwill toward her.
"I, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't leave yet." Zhu Zhuqing pulled her hand free from Mo Ziqi's grasp and said somewhat apologetically.
Zhu Zhuqing had indeed left intelligence information for the Black Eagle Legion, but what she wrote was that they shouldn't worry about her safety.
She hadn't expected the Black Eagle Legion to pursue so quickly.
At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing was extremely confused.
She didn't even know whether what she had done was right or wrong.
She hadn't just left information for the Black Eagle Legion.
She had also brought news of the Black Eagle Legion's arrival to Ye Tian.
For the Star Luo Empire, this was undoubtedly leaking confidential information to the enemy.
According to imperial law, her actions already constituted treason, punishable by execution.
But Zhu Zhuqing felt she had to do this.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't want to see people who had saved her life die because of her.
"I'm afraid you must leave." Mo Ziqi's expression didn't change. "Because of your status, I respectfully address you as Crown Princess."
"But that doesn't give you the capital to refuse me. I apologize, but my mission is to bring you back."
Zhu Zhuqing struggled forcefully against Mo Ziqi's hand, but how could she be a match for a Titled Douluo?
Moreover, the current Zhu Zhuqing was extremely weak. Never mind a Titled Douluo—even a Spirit Elder could probably easily restrain her.
"Is the southern expedition really because these unruly people are rebelling against their superiors?"
"The Star Luo army can only kill Star Luo's own people!"
While struggling, Zhu Zhuqing shouted, seemingly trying to persuade Mo Ziqi through emotion.
These days spent in the mountains.
Zhu Zhuqing had come into contact with many of the tragic corners of this world.
It turned out not everyone was born a Spirit Master, harboring dreams of conquering the continent and forging their own glory.
More people couldn't even eat their fill.
More people were bullied and oppressed.
Honestly, when she first woke up, Zhu Zhuqing hadn't wanted to care about any of this.
She felt that destiny was predetermined and no one could change it.
But after just two days in Peach Blossom Village.
Zhu Zhuqing's perception had changed.
Because she discovered that all this evil actually originated from the nobles!
And she was one of the nobles!
Moreover, she was a noble among nobles!
Closing her eyes.
Zhu Zhuqing could feel countless blood-soaked hands groping over her body.
This scene made Zhu Zhuqing shudder.
Mo Ziqi was stunned for a moment, not knowing why the Crown Princess before her would ask such a question, then answered coldly:
"Those who submit prosper, those who resist perish. All order has always been thus."
"I advise the Crown Princess not to ponder such abstruse ethical matters."
"You enjoy the power and glory that nobility brings. One of your ordinary garments could feed a common family for ten years."
"Now you say that you and everyone else are wrong. Don't you find that laughable?"
"When commoners no longer accept noble rule, then they become terrifying mobs."
"Such mobs are contagious and will overturn everything. Including you and your family."
"They will tear you into pieces, put them in their mouths and chew forcefully. Even then, they probably still won't be satisfied. This is the hatred accumulated generation after generation."
By this point, Mo Ziqi's voice had grown very soft.
"Now, Crown Princess, do you still think it's necessary to discuss who's right and who's wrong?"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened. She was completely stunned.
Mo Ziqi smiled lightly. "Don't think all nobles are ignorant."
"This hatred laid bare before us—hasn't anyone discovered it?"
Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth. So Mo Ziqi understood everything.
Mo Ziqi seemed to know what Zhu Zhuqing was thinking and continued with a light smile, "Not just me. Your father, your future father-in-law the Emperor, and most nobles—they all know."
"But why not change?" Mo Ziqi asked in return.
Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth again, speechless.
"It's not that they lack the ability to change, but rather that not changing yields greater benefits!"
(End of Chapter)