The Yan Emperor looked at the empty secret chamber and the glaring bloodstain on the ground.

I felt a chill run from the soles of my feet straight up to the top of my head.

The color drained from his face, his lips trembled, and his mind was in turmoil.

"Just who exactly is this mountain god of Liang Kingdom?"

"How could they possibly force the all-powerful Imperial Advisor into such a predicament?"

The thought of the Imperial Preceptor's terrified eyes and his solemn dying words sent shivers down the Emperor's spine.

This Liang Kingdom, this desolate mountain god, seems to be hiding an unimaginable and terrifying power!

Indeed, we must not offend them!

The plan to annex Liang must be shelved!

At that moment, there was a gentle knock on the door of the secret room.

“Your Majesty.” A deep, hoarse voice sounded from outside the door, with a metallic scraping sound.

The Yan Emperor trembled violently and turned his head instantly.

"Who?" he demanded sharply, his voice trembling slightly.

He was terrified by the fate of the Imperial Advisor and feared that the Mountain Goddess would come at him at any moment!

"It's me, Shadow One."

The one who arrived was the Shadow Guard Commander.

Emperor Yan took a few deep breaths, barely suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and said in a hoarse voice, "Come in."

A man dressed in black, close-fitting clothes and wearing a bronze ghost mask silently slipped into the secret room and knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty, the pawns in the Liang Kingdom's capital have been deployed as planned. Should we send more people to Qingzhou to investigate the movements in the desolate mountains?" Yingyi's voice was completely calm.

"Qingzhou? Barren mountains?" The Yan Emperor sprang up from his seat like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointed at Ying Yi, and shouted hoarsely, "Are you crazy? Do you want me to end up like the Grand Preceptor? Do you want the Yan Kingdom to be doomed forever?"

Yingyi paused slightly, seemingly puzzled, but still respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and ask that you calm your anger."

"Calm down? How can I calm down!" The Yan Emperor's chest heaved violently as he pointed to the still-dry bloodstain in the secret chamber.

"Did you see that? The Imperial Advisor was severely injured by that mountain god from afar! Even his clone was destroyed!"

Yingyi was wearing a mask, so his expression couldn't be seen, but his slightly lowered head revealed that he was deeply shaken.

"Issue my decree!" The Yan Emperor gasped for breath, leaning on the table to steady himself.

"All spies infiltrating Liang Kingdom, withdraw immediately! Leave no one alive! Especially those from the Qingzhou direction, come back to me right now!"

"As you command!" Ying Yi replied in a deep voice without the slightest hesitation.

He paused, then asked, "Then, what about the previous order that encouraged our people to go to the Liang Kingdom's remote mountain factories to work in order to gather intelligence..."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yan's temples throbbed with veins, and a look of pain and inner turmoil flashed across his face.

He originally intended to use this opportunity to investigate the true nature of the desolate mountains, alleviate the pressure of domestic refugees, and disrupt the operation of Liang Kingdom's factories...

now……

"Continue the operation." Emperor Yan gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse. "But, issue the order! No one is allowed to spy on the desolate mountains in any form! And no one is allowed to disrespect the mountain god!"

"Those people, let them go if they want, let them stay if they want. The court will no longer force them to bring back any news."

Emperor Yan seemed to have all his strength drained away, slumping back into his seat and waving his hand weakly: "Just consider it giving them a way out. Remember, under no circumstances should you provoke that mountain god again!"

"Yes!" Ying Yi accepted the order, and with a flash, disappeared into the secret chamber.

The Yan Emperor sat alone in the empty secret chamber.

He stared at the pool of blood, his eyes filled with unprecedented fear.

Similarly, he was also very confused.

In the past, it was always the Grand Tutor who guided him and offered advice to the State of Yan.

Now that the Grand Preceptor has gone into seclusion, what will become of the future of the Yan Kingdom?

No one could know that he only wished to stay on the throne a little longer.

Now, he no longer has those ambitions; he only hopes to live a peaceful life.

…

Meanwhile, in the State of Yan.

Chizhou borders Yunzhou.

The blazing sun beat down on the earth.

Within Chizhou, the land was also scorched and barren for miles, but the situation was somewhat better than that of Yunzhou.

Even though they managed to escape the plague and the flood, they couldn't escape the high temperatures that followed.

These past few days, the weather has become increasingly hot, and the crops in the fields have long since dried up like charcoal, turning to ashes at the slightest touch.

The cracked earth opened up jagged gashes, as if it were howling in agony.

Groups of emaciated people stared blankly at their barren fields, their eyes filled with despair.

"Heavens! This is not giving us a way to survive..." An old farmer knelt on the cracked ridge of the earth, his turbid tears rolling down his face, only to be instantly absorbed by the dry soil.

"Yunzhou is suffering from a plague, and our Chizhou is suffering from a drought..."

"How are we supposed to live like this?!"

"We're out of food at home. If we don't think of a way soon, we're all going to starve to death..."

A suffocating, deathly silence filled the crowd.

Just then, a slightly naive voice suddenly rang out.

“Who said Yunzhou is miserable? Let me tell you, my uncle works in some factory at the foot of the barren mountains in Yunzhou, and he’s doing very well!” said Li Sanleng from the village.

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look.

A gaunt man sneered, "Li Sanleng, are you out of your mind? Yunzhou was hit by a plague recently, so many people died, who doesn't know that? How can your uncle be doing well?"

“Exactly! Maybe they’ve been fooled, or they’re just spouting nonsense to amuse us!” another woman chimed in, her tone skeptical.

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