The people Luo Cheng attacked caught Qin Mu's attention: a monk, a Taoist priest, and a nun. This combination seemed odd to him, and he couldn't help but take a second look.
Just then, the people behind the monks, nuns, and Taoist priests were also sizing him up: a woman with a veil; a smiling young monk; and a somewhat arrogant Taoist priest carrying a sword.
The veil obscured the woman's face, but her willow-leaf eyebrows and large eyes made one yearn to see what lay beneath. She nodded gracefully in response to Qin Mu's gaze.
The monk was much more direct, looking Qin Mu up and down with a smile and his eyes full of curiosity; as for the Taoist priest with the sword, he glanced at him, turned his head, and looked straight ahead with his head held high.
"I never expected to meet the renowned Duke Qin Qiong of Yi State today. I am truly honored." Hu Meiniang glanced around the hall, her smile fading, and said with some surprise and uncertainty.
"Does it mean I have to report to you wherever I go?" Qin Qiong said calmly.
"Hehe, how could I dare? It's just a bit of a surprise. It's been several years since the Duke of Yi has come to the North," Hu Meiniang said with a smile. Although she had regained her smile, Qin Mu could still see the unease in her eyes.
"Don't worry! I'm just here to wish Elder Qin a happy birthday. However, with a million werewolves invading the pass, His Majesty will be very unhappy if he finds out." Qin Qiong raised his eyelids and glanced at the three people behind her.
"Hmph! What can Li Shimin do if he's unhappy? Does he dare to send troops out of the pass?" Ashina and Tai'er said sarcastically.
Qin Qiong suddenly stood up, his eyes widened, and then he said in an icy tone, "Just because of what you said, the Golden Wolf Clan will lose at least ten thousand lives."
"Shouldn't it be called Wolf Head?" Qin Mu muttered to himself. He was really curious about the markings on the wolf's face, those markings that spread from the forehead to the neck, mainly black and red, with occasional white, and he didn't know if they were on the body.
Qin Mu's voice wasn't loud, but since no one else in the hall was speaking and everyone there was a master, his abrupt remark was clearly heard by everyone.
“Brother, you’re right, it’s a wolf’s head! How can you lump a human together with a beast?” Qin Yue couldn’t help but laugh.
Their words amused the others, who, though not out loud, all smiled, easing the tense atmosphere in the hall.
"You brat, you're asking for it!" Ashina and Tai'er stepped forward, glaring fiercely at Qin Mu.
"Bang! You dare touch my son? Try it!" Qin Qiong slammed his fist on the table and roared, a red light emanating from his body.
Although Qin Mu was standing behind Qin Qiong, he still felt somewhat suffocated and involuntarily took a step back.
Ashina and Tai'er's fierce eyes disappeared, replaced by solemn expressions. They raised their hands and assumed a defensive stance.
"Hmph! What arrogance! How dare you try to kill my human youth inside Juyong Pass!" Qin Yao also stood up, a yellowish-brown light emanating from his body, staring at the orcs with an unfriendly expression.
“Your Majesty, Duke of Yi, let’s talk this out. Prince Jinlang misspoke for a moment, please don’t take it to heart.” Hu Meiniang stood up, first glaring at Ashina and Tai’er, then turning around and saying apologetically.
Qin Qiong didn't want to be in a bad mood. After all, it was inappropriate to cause trouble on someone else's turf. Although he was angry just now, the orc softened his stance, so he dispelled his murderous aura and sat back down expressionlessly.
"If you want to talk, then speak properly. Remember, this is Juyong Pass, not your Golden Wolf Clan," Qin Yao warned, pointing downwards.
"What the King says is right! Let's talk calmly," Hu Meiniang said with a smile. It was clear she was very composed; no wonder the orcs led her.
"Speak, what do you want to do?" Qin Yao asked.
"A spot in the secret realm! As the King knows, in such a good year, our beast race has never given up. Instead of fighting to the death for it, why not join hands and explore together?" Hu Meiniang took off her black robe, put it behind her, turned around, and said with a smile.
Beastmen are beastmen; beneath her black robe were just a few pieces of animal hide covering her vital parts. Her magnificent breasts, half-hidden, trembled with her laughter. The patterns on her body did not appear ferocious but rather possessed an indescribable allure.
"A vixen!" Qin Mu couldn't help but think to himself. Even though he had seen more revealing women, he had never seen a woman like Hu Meiniang, whose every smile and frown was full of allure.
Qin Yue even turned his head away, then, feeling it was inappropriate, quickly turned back, but too embarrassed to look directly at the other side, he could only turn slightly to the side. However, what he saw was Qin Mu's ambiguous smile, and he couldn't help but smile awkwardly.
"impossible!"
“Your Highness, don’t be so quick to refuse. What you and we are looking for are different, so there’s no conflict. Besides, the secret realm isn’t a secret, and there’s no need for us to fight over it,” Hu Meiniang advised.
"Heh! The Qin family and your beast race have fought for a thousand years, even facing each other on the battlefield. So what? I, Qin, am not one to fear war," Qin Yao sneered.
“The secret realm is just outside the Great Wall. Although the terrain is treacherous, we can completely block it off, so that no one can get in. Even if the King escorts it with a large army, the losses must be considerable, right?” Hu Meiniang said confidently.
"I want to know, what are you looking for when you go in? Why have you stayed put for so many years, and now you want to go in?" Qin Yao asked after a moment of silence.
"There's nothing to hide. Back then, the million-strong army that Wei Liao led into the valley and set up the Heavenly Mystery Formation to suppress included not only many experts from the Golden Wolf Clan, but also members of the Heavenly Fox Clan."
"Now that the fox clan no longer has a celestial fox, and the wolf clan no longer has a howling moon wolf, after years of searching, they have not found a way to advance, so they want to enter the secret realm to try their luck," Hu Meiniang explained.
Although Qin Yao knew the orcs were not telling the truth, he was still very troubled. Just as Hu Meiniang had said, although the orcs could not enter the secret realm alone, they could block the outer perimeter.
In open field battles, although they are not afraid of the beastmen, the sacrifices will definitely be considerable. For the sake of the secret realm, this is not worthwhile, since the soldiers here are the foundation of the Qin family.
If it's about guarding the pass, any sacrifice is worthwhile, but dying in battle is a different matter. The key issue is that if the Qin family suffers too many casualties, he worries that the imperial court might take the opportunity to infiltrate and undermine the Qin family's foundation.
As the head of the family, he had to consider more, especially since it could potentially affect the family's succession.
Giving up would also be inappropriate. Not only have we invited so many talented young people, but we've also wasted time. You have to understand that this was arguably the most well-prepared event yet.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com