When Wang Yun appeared silently in the shopkeeper's room like a ghost, the shopkeeper was terrified.

"Wang...Master Wang!"

The shopkeeper's voice trembled, and his gaze involuntarily drifted to the cold-faced, unfathomable man behind Wang Yun.

The guards were unlike any he had ever seen before, but their imposing presence clearly indicated they were top-tier experts.

Wang Yun's face was as heavy as a mountain, his brows furrowed with unyielding worry and fear—a demeanor forced forth by the Gu worms.

"The situation has changed, and all temporarily stored items need to be moved immediately."

"Okay, okay...please follow me."

The shopkeeper dared not ask any more questions and quickly led the way.

When they returned to the carriage, and the heavy bundle stuffed with thick stacks of huge sums of silver notes was presented to Qin Zhaoyue, her eyes almost curved into crescent moons, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

Isn't this getting better, family members?

At a cursory glance, it seems to be worth tens of millions of taels.

And this is just one family's collection!

We've struck it rich! We've really struck it rich this time!

A leisurely and comfortable retirement life seemed to be beckoning her from just a short distance away.

Qin Zhaoyue suppressed the cheer that almost escaped her lips, tried hard to keep her expression steady, and waved her hand with feigned composure:

"Let's move on to the next one!"

After some effort, Qin Zhaoyue finally managed to seize all the enormous wealth that the four great families had reserved for their comeback.

Logically, they should immediately rush to the front line where the two sides meet and completely dismantle the rebels with overwhelming force. This delay actually harbors hidden risks.

If anyone in the state government notices anything unusual about the Second Prince, or if someone discovers that a noble family's residence has been massacred and the four new heads of the family are missing, the situation will inevitably change drastically.

It's easy to imagine that her second brother, who was left alone in the state office, was probably in a bad situation.

However, as long as the other party still harbors a sliver of hope that they have any value, they will not be killed immediately; at the very least, they will be kept as a bargaining chip or hostage.

Hmm... that's probably the case, right?

Qin Zhaoyue thought about it casually, then quickly put it out of her mind.

Who cares?

The two carriages, one after the other, drove away from the Baiyue Protectorate without making a sound.

The holy maiden of southern Xinjiang, Ayaduo, drove the lead carriage, inside which sat the four aristocratic heirs with blank expressions.

Her fiery red dress remained striking even as the night faded, serving as the best pass for her journey, allowing her to travel unimpeded.

Because they needed time to make the four family heads appear more "lively" and natural, they did not use their cultivation to travel, so their speed was not fast.

Qin Zhaoyue finally gently placed the Empress, whom she had been carrying, into the softly cushioned carriage.

The weight wasn't a burden for her, but the excessively thin bones pressing against her back were ultimately uncomfortable.

The effects of the Xuanji Guardian's secret medicine that he had swallowed were still ongoing, since he hadn't consumed too much true energy beforehand.

He checked his mother's pulse; though it was still as weak as a candle flickering in the wind, it remained steady.

The intense stimulation from acquiring that huge sum of silver notes still made her heart flutter slightly, and even her heavy drowsiness was somewhat suppressed by this excitement.

She was absolutely thrilled, hehehe... She was silently overjoyed.

They changed horses twice along the way, with the saintess personally directing the process, and everything went smoothly.

As dawn broke and the sky turned a pale white, tinged with a faint golden-red, they finally arrived at Furong County.

This place is the northernmost gateway to the Suzaku South Road, and also the location of the rebel army's main camp, which is only a stone's throw away from the front line.

From a distance, the three camps spread out according to the terrain, clearly distinct.

Eight thousand of them were the strongest and bravest warriors selected from various tribes in the southern border region;

In addition, there were 10,000 private soldiers recruited by the four major families at great expense;

Finally, there was the White Tiger Legion, which had been stationed in the southern border for many years, numbering about 15,000.

Furong County, originally known for its year-round blooming flowers, has now become a major logistics hub for the army.

Although it was nearly dawn, the curfew had not yet been lifted.

Armored soldiers still patrolled the streets, creating a tense and grim atmosphere.

However, Ayado's carriage was a silent token; the guards immediately let her pass without any questioning.

Qin Zhaoyue and her party were able to check into a rather spacious inn in the city for a short rest.

Ayado did not linger. After settling the carriage, she left directly, her figure quickly disappearing in the direction leading to the military camp.

She didn't need to worry too much about the private soldiers recruited by the four great families; they were all people who were paid to fight and risk their lives. Whether to fight or make peace was just a matter of the master's word.

But the eight thousand warriors of the southern tribes were quite different.

Although she is a holy maiden who inherited the art of witchcraft and possesses extraordinary strength, she is not the highest decision-maker of the tribe and cannot act arbitrarily.

Soon, Ayado stepped into the core area of ​​the Southern Xinjiang military camp and immediately ordered people to invite the leaders of the five major tribes.

The central command tent was filled with a peculiar smell, a mixture of leather, sweat, and some kind of herb.

The tallow torches burning in the center cast the shadows of the five leaders onto the tent wall, making them appear even more majestic and fierce.

They had tattoos on their foreheads or copper earrings, their bare arms were muscular and scarred, and their eyes were sharp as eagles.

He exudes a wild and fierce aura, honed by living in the mountains and fighting with wild beasts.

"Holy Maiden, what has happened?"

The leader, a man with dark skin and a booming voice, asked in a deep voice.

His name was Yan Meng, and he was the leader of the largest tribe, the Black Stone Tribe.

According to the original plan, today should have been a big day for establishing the nation, rewarding meritorious service, and dividing power.

The fact that the Holy Maiden appeared at the front-line military camp with a solemn expression suggests that something significant must have happened.

Ayado did not answer immediately, but instead a dark green mist swirled around her, silently sealing off the entire tent.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!