Chapter 59: Prepare to Kill Back
The night at Rock Fort finally fell silent. The ghostly howls and deafening explosions of Fuying's defeated army during the day still seemed to linger faintly in the air, but now they were drowned out by the bright moonlight and the chilling night wind unique to the frontier.
Torches were lit on the city walls and security was tight, while most areas in the city fell into a rare post-war tranquility.
Inside a small, exquisite courtyard nestled in the heart of Rock Fort, the most heavily guarded, the lights were off. This was the temporary boudoir of Princess Fuxing, Dongfang Yuning.
The maid on guard in the outer room breathed evenly, clearly asleep. In the inner room, lying on the soft bed, Dongfang Yuning showed no sign of sleep.
Like a vigilant kitten, she quietly crawled out of the quilt and stepped barefoot on the cold floor. The moonlight shone through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on her body.
She tiptoed to the door, listened for a moment, and confirmed that there was only the sound of the wind and the regular footsteps of patrolling soldiers in the distance. Then she breathed a long, silent sigh of relief.
[System! 118! Are you there? Emergency call!]
Dongfang Yuning's inner voice exploded silently in the silent room with a thief's excitement and impatience.
System 118:
[Ding—Host, 118 is online. I've detected a spike in the host's heart rate and adrenaline secretion, indicating a state of high arousal. Are you planning a night raid on Fuying's camp, or are you planning to steal the hot pot base from the kitchen?]
Friendly reminder: The latter approach carries lower risk, and this system can provide the optimal infiltration route.] The electronic voice analyzed seriously.
[What are you stealing hot pot base for?! Look at what you've accomplished!]
The villain in Dongfang Yuning's heart stood with his hands on his hips.
[Am I the type to miss a midnight snack? Well... I do, but today I have something more important to worry about! Remember that super jackpot I won on my first scratch-off lottery ticket? That Spirit Spring Space!]
Hurry! While it's late at night and no one's around, hurry up! Give me some slack! I want to go in and take a look! What does my grand prize look like?]
Her excitement almost burst out of her heart.
System 118:
[Understood! Activating 'Space Exploration' mode! Environmental scanning in progress... Confirming safety factor: High (physical level). Activating space link! Host, please concentrate and silently recite 'Enter Lingquan Space'!]
Dongfang Yuning immediately closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and silently chanted:
[Enter Lingquan Space! Open Sesame!]
Instantly, an indescribable coolness enveloped her. It wasn't a physical movement, but more like her consciousness being instantly ripped away and thrown into a whole new world!
When she opened her eyes, the scene before her made her hold her breath instantly!
There were no rugged stone walls of Rock Fortress, no dusty air from the frontier. Instead, there was a space shrouded in a faint white mist. The air was incredibly fresh, and every breath seemed to cleanse the lungs, bringing with it a refreshing herbal fragrance and an indescribable pure energy.
A soft light came from nowhere, not dazzling but enough to illuminate everything.
Under her feet lay a soft, smooth surface, like fine white jade. Not far ahead, a small, delicate spring gurgled with clear, translucent water, forming a small, jade-like puddle.
Above the spring, wisps of milky white mist visible to the naked eye rose and swirled, exuding an extremely rich vitality! This was the spiritual spring!
Next to the spring are several neatly divided fields with soil of a strange dark golden color. They are looming in the mist, exuding a fertile and mysterious atmosphere.
[Wow—tah—!!!]
Dongfang Yuning's inner voice was amplified tenfold as if by a loudspeaker, filled with incomparable wonder and ecstasy.
[This is the Spiritual Spring Space?! It's...so magical! This spring water! Just one sniff feels like I can live five hundred years longer! This land! Just looking at it makes me want to plant something! System! System! Tell me, am I dreaming?!]
System 118:
[Host, please control your decibels... Oh, I forgot you're now a conscious being. This system confirms that you have successfully entered the Lingquan space. This place actually exists and is the legitimate proceeds of your first-prize scratch-off lottery prize.]
Please start your exploration. PS: This system provides background music for the space - Clouds and Water Zen Heart (the melodious sound of the guqin resounds in Dongfang Yuning's consciousness).
[The music is great! The atmosphere is fantastic!]
Dongfang Yuning was as excited as a child entering an amusement park for the first time. He ran to the spiritual spring, squatted down, and carefully stretched out his fingers to touch the clear spring water.
Sizzle——!
An indescribable feeling of coolness and refreshment instantly spread from my fingertips to my entire body, and every cell in my body was cheering with joy! The fatigue and mental tension of the past few days melted away like light snow in the sun!
[Ahhh! This feeling! It's so good! Ten thousand times better than soaking in a hot spring! System, is this water drinkable? Will drinking it instantly lead to immortality?]
She stared at the spring with shining eyes, wishing she could bury her face in it.
System 118: [Spiritual Spring Water is rich in high concentrations of active life energy and is drinkable. It has the benefits of strengthening the body, cleansing the essence and marrow, accelerating wound healing, and promoting plant growth. Ascension to immortality?
Host, you've read too many immortality novels. The current database shows that the most likely cause is... diarrhea (if your constitution is too weak). It's recommended to drink a small amount for the first time.
[Diarrhea? Pah! This princess is in great health!]
Dongfang Yuning was so heroic that he didn't care about anything else. He just scooped up a handful of spring water with both hands and drank it down in one gulp!
boom--!
An indescribable feeling of freshness instantly washed over her body! Like a refreshing rain showering upon parched land, every pore felt dilated! She felt warm all over, filled with endless energy, and her mind was clearer and brighter than ever before! The energy she'd expended throwing "round balls" during the day was instantly replenished, even overflowing!
[Oh my god! This isn't water! This is liquid elixir! This is amazing! 118, I love this big prize!]
Dongfang Yuning was so excited that she turned around in a circle, with her skirt (the illusion of her consciousness) flying in the air.
After admiring the spiritual spring, her gaze drifted to the dark golden spiritual fields. She walked over, squatted, and curiously scooped up a handful of soil. It felt soft and smooth, as if imbued with boundless vitality, more miraculous than any fertile soil she had ever encountered.
【118～】
Dongfang Yuning's voice is filled with strong expectations.
[This piece of land... can anything grown in it survive? Can anything grown in it thrive? Is this the legendary Xirang (fertile soil)?]
System 118:
[Theoretically, yes. The soil of the spiritual field contains the original vitality, ignoring the external restrictions of season, climate, soil acidity and alkalinity, and is compatible with most known plants. And...]
The system paused for a moment, then dropped a bombshell.
[Its growth rules are completely different from those of plants outside! The growth cycle here will be greatly shortened!]
The electronic sound carried a hint of pride.
【Shorten?!】
Dongfang Yuning's eyes suddenly lit up like searchlights.
[How much shorter?! One day equals a year? Or...?]
Her breathing became rapid, as if she saw countless rare medicinal herbs waving to her.
System 118: [The specific reduction depends on the plant's grade, the spiritual energy required, and the amount of spiritual spring water the host provides. Ordinary crops may only mature in a few days. Low-level spiritual medicines can be harvested in a month or so. As for high-level natural treasures... they still take years, but compared to the growth cycles of hundreds or thousands of years in the outside world, this is already incredibly fast!]
The data stream flashed through Dongfang Yuning's consciousness.
[It’s coming! It’s coming! This time it’s really coming!]
Dongfang Yuning's mind was calculating.
[Shorten the cycle! Ignore the environment! This is simply a cheat farming tool! System! Quick! Tell the truth! Do you have seeds to exchange?! I want to plant! Plant now!]
She rubbed her hands impatiently (consciousness form).
System 118: [Ding——'Scratch-off Mall' seed section has been opened for the host. There are many types, covering——
Rare Herbs Area: Ginseng, Ganoderma Lucidum, Snow Lotus, Polygonum Multiflorum, Ambergris, Phoenix Flower... (Note: Rare and in short supply!)
Miraculous Fruit and Vegetable Area: Jade Crystal Grapes for clearing the mind and improving eyesight, Dragon Blood Fruit for strengthening bones and muscles, Anti-aging Flowers for beauty and nourishment, Spiritual Rice containing trace amounts of spiritual energy... (Note: Excellent taste, outstanding benefits!)
Basic Food Zone: High-yield, drought-resistant super wheat, miraculous rice that allows three harvests a year, and extremely filling golden potatoes... (Note: Resolving famine is a great deed!)
Exotic Flowers and Plants Area: Lily of the Valley that sings in the moonlight, pansies that repel insects, and dreamy orchids with their own fragrance... (Note: Decorate your space and brighten your mood!) Host, what would you like to redeem?]
System 118 is like the most professional shopping guide.
Dongfang Yuning said without hesitation:
[Precious medicinal herbs! I need precious medicinal herbs! I can find ways to get grains, fruits, and vegetables outside, but it's incredibly difficult to get the seeds of these precious gems! With them, I can refine even more powerful medicines! Save lives! Strengthen the army! Sell them for (crossed out)... enrich the national treasury! Huge profits!]
Her abacus jingled, and she seemed to see countless gold ingots and military medals flying towards her.
【A wise choice! 】
System 118 expressed appreciation,
[Host, please select the specific medicinal seeds and quantity. Friendly reminder: The initial spiritual farm area is limited, please plan it appropriately. Recommended beginner package: 10 Centennial Ginseng Seeds, 5 Ambergris Seeds, 5 Snow Ganoderma Spores. Confirm the redemption?]
[Confirm! Confirm! Hurry!]
Dongfang Yuning couldn't wait. In an instant, a small packet of seeds of various shapes, emitting a faint fluorescent light, appeared in her hands (within her consciousness space).
【marvelous! 】
She cheered, and like a child who had obtained a favorite toy, she immediately began to work clumsily but enthusiastically on one of the spiritual fields - using her mind to control the seeds to be evenly scattered into the warm soil, and then she ran to the spiritual spring happily, used her mind to guide a thin stream of water, and carefully watered the place where the seeds had just been sown.
[Grow up quickly, my little darlings! From now on, my alchemy career will depend on you!]
She squatted by the field, her chin in her hand, and gazed eagerly at the spiritual field that had just been watered. In the next second, she would see the sprouts breaking through the soil. The background music of Yunshui Zen seemed to make her heart more cheerful.
However, what Dongfang Yuning didn't know was...
When her consciousness was immersed in the Lingquan space and her inner voice was "talking to herself" passionately like a live broadcast, what she thought was "the dead of night and no one around" was a complete illusion!
In the next room, Prince Yong, who was studying the border defense map under the lamp, Nangong Ye raised his head as soon as Dongfang Yuning's voice sounded.
He put down his pen, walked to the wall adjacent to Dongfang Yuning's room, and stood quietly. The moonlight filtered through the window, outlining his tall figure and unparalleled handsome profile.
When I heard [Lingquan Space]
【Anything can survive】
Shorten cycle time
【Precious medicinal materials】
When he heard these words, a storm surged in his eyes, which were as deep as a cold pond!
After the shock, there was endless tenderness, pride, and understanding. He raised the corners of his lips slightly and whispered silently:
[Ning'er...how many surprises do you have in store that I don't know about? No matter what you want to do, whether it's growing magical herbs or refining elixirs, saving lives or strengthening the army...I will be with you, protecting you, and clearing all obstacles for you.]
His gaze seemed to be able to penetrate the wall and fell on the consciousness that was grinning foolishly at Lingtian, full of doting and determination to protect.
The general Dongfang Liezheng in the opposite wing was tired after a day of snoring as soon as he touched the pillow. He was awakened by his sister's penetrating voice.
I was suddenly woken up by the exclamations of “Wow—a ...
He sat up suddenly, looking helpless. This little sister's inner voice...
Then, Dongfang Yuning's subsequent thoughts about spiritual springs, spiritual fields, shortening cycles, and exchanging medicinal seeds came into his mind as clearly as a magic sound filling his ears.
Dongfang Liezheng's expression changed from bewilderment to shock, from shock to ecstasy, and then from ecstasy to madness! He turned around twice on the ground excitedly, wanting to rush out and ask his sister, but then he remembered to keep the warning of exterminating the entire clan a secret!
I could only cover my mouth tightly, suppressing the scream that was about to burst through my throat, and my mind was frantically scrolling through the screen:
[Sister! My dear sister! Ancestor! You, you, you... your cheat is too big! Spiritual Spring Space?! Planting magical herbs?! Shortening the cycle?! My old swan!]
Big brother, I'm still worried about food supplies at the border, and you've already started cultivating fairyland agriculture over here?! Sister! Take me with you, big brother! Please lead me!
I'll work like a slave for you, even help you hoe the fields and water the crops! From now on, I'll be there wherever you point me! Our family will rely on you to farm and become wealthy... no, we'll even reach the immortal realm!]
He was so excited that he banged his head against the wall lightly, trying to calm down.
The elite secret guards on the rooftops, outside the windows, and in the shadows, who were responsible for protecting the princess's safety, were now as pale as clay sculptures or wooden carvings. However, their inner shock and excitement were no less than that of the two big men in the house.
Rooftop Dark Guard Armor: [!!! Spiritual Spring! Space! Shortened cycle! The princess... The princess is indeed a fairy who came down to earth to save our Dayan Kingdom! No! A goddess!]
In his excitement, he almost slipped off the roof, but he quickly steadied himself and silently worshiped the moon.
* Secret Guard B (Female) outside the window: [Oh my god! The princess is growing magical herbs in there! The kind that can save lives and strengthen the army! It can shorten the cycle! This... this is a miracle! I, Dayan, am blessed! Prince Yong is blessed!] She gripped her sword tightly, her eyes gleaming with fanaticism.
Dark Guard C in the shadows: [Did you hear that? Shorten the cycle! Ignore the environment! If we planted food in this spiritual field... would the border be short of food? Impossible! We could even feed the entire nation! Princess... You're truly a blessing to Dayan! No! You're a national treasure!]
He tried hard to control his breathing, fearing to disturb the princess who was working hard in the room (in her consciousness). All the secret guards had the same thought in their hearts: to protect the princess to the death!
Keep this secret, even though everyone seems to know it! Protect Dayan's future! Reveal the princess's true feelings? Kill her entire clan? No, now they wish they could sew their ears shut, carve everything they heard into their bones, and take it to their graves!
The entire courtyard seemed silent on the surface, but in reality, there was an undercurrent. Everyone's heart was in turmoil because of Dongfang Yuning's initial exploration of the "secret" space.
Nangong Ye's doting protection, Dongfang Liezheng's frantic request to be led, the secret guards' fanatical worship... all interwoven into a silent but passionate melody.
Dongfang Yuning was completely oblivious to this. She looked with satisfaction at the spiritual field she had cultivated and planted with precious medicinal seeds. She then scooped up the spiritual spring water and drank a few sips. She felt relaxed and refreshed, and she was so full of energy that she could have destroyed ten more Fuying camps!
[Done! Calling it a day! 118, how long have you been in this space? Is it almost dawn outside?]
She stretched (in consciousness form).
System 118: [Time flows differently within this space than outside. While the host has been inside for approximately one hour (two hours), only a quarter of an hour (fifteen minutes) has passed outside. The host can rest assured.]
[Time difference? Such a nice thing! So thoughtful!]
Dongfang Yuning surprise
"Wouldn't that mean I could work overtime here from now on... Ugh, study and farm? Perfect! Huge harvest today, so satisfying! Let's go!"
She thought about it and her consciousness returned to her body instantly.
In the boudoir, Dongfang Yuning lying on the bed slowly opened her eyes. In the darkness, a big, satisfied smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.
She turned over, hugged the quilt, and soon fell into a sweet dream. Her dream was filled with lush spiritual fields and mountains of precious medicinal herbs...
The next morning, Rock Castle.
Dongfang Yuning woke refreshed, feeling light and alert, her senses sharp. Even the birdsong outside the window was melodious. Humming a little tune, she prepared to go to breakfast, while pondering how to tell her older brothers, Aye and Eldest, that she'd stumbled upon some rare medicinal herb seeds and wanted to try growing them (with a plausible source, of course).
As soon as she walked into the front hall, she saw Nangong Ye and Dongfang Liezheng already there. Nangong Ye still looked cold and noble, but the look he gave her was so gentle that it could drip water.
Dongfang Liezheng had a pair of faint dark circles under his eyes, and the look in his eyes when he looked at her was extremely complicated - full of awe, fanaticism, desire, and a hint of resentment?
"Ning'er, did you have a good rest last night?"
Nangong Ye naturally took her hand and asked in a gentle voice, gently stroking her delicate wrist with his fingertips, as if feeling the changes brought about by the spiritual spring.
"Great! I feel like I could kill a cow!"
Dongfang Yuning answered with full energy, then looked at his elder brother,
"Brother, you don't look well? Didn't you sleep well?"
Dongfang Liezheng's mouth twitched, and he thought:
[Can I sleep well?! My mind is full of magical herbs! Shorten the cycle! Lead the way!]
But he said dryly:
"Ah? Oh! It's okay! Last night... we were a little late studying tactics! Sister, you're in such good spirits!"
He couldn't help but glance at her, as if he wanted to see if she had any fairy spirit.
At this moment, a guard hurriedly ran in holding a wax-sealed letter and knelt on one knee:
"Report! Prince! General! Princess! From the capital, urgent, eight hundred miles! In the handwriting of His Majesty!"
Dongfang Yuning's eyes lit up:
[A letter from my brother-in-law? He's definitely praising me for my amazing frying yesterday! Maybe there's even a reward!]
She thought happily.
Nangong Ye took the letter and opened the wax seal. Dongfang Liezheng also came over. The content of the letter was exactly the same letter of peace that Emperor Nangong Yu had racked his brains to write last night, full of empty promises.
When I saw those words in the letter: "My sister's divine power has shaken the world, I wish I could go to the city tower in person to beat the drum to cheer for my sister, temporarily collect the interest (island, money, land), and when the artifact matures, its power will shake the world. The borders of Fuying will be my playground, and I can destroy it however I want..."
The smile on Dongfang Yuning's face froze instantly.
[Temporarily collecting interest? Playground? Waiting for the artifact to mature?]
Her inner voice was like a lit barrel of explosives, exploding with a loud bang!
[Nangong Yu! My dear brother-in-law! What do you mean?!]
Her heart was roaring,
[I just shouted in front of the three armies on the city wall, "Fuying is on the line!" I shouted until my voice was hoarse! I just blew the shit out of them and was thinking of making another push and pushing through!
And you told me to stop?! And the playground?! Are you just trying to appease me?! Are you trying to appease a three-year-old?!]
Her anger was visibly rising, her face flushed red, and her fists clenched.
"We had such a great time bombing yesterday, and the soldiers' morale was so high! You're stopping now? Isn't that a slap in my face?! Isn't that chilling the hearts of the soldiers?! Brother-in-law! Have you been corrupted by Fu Ying's sugarcoated bullets?! Or do you think my bombing is too expensive?!"
[Host! Calm down! Blood pressure! Watch your blood pressure!]
System 118 emergency alert.
【Calm down! 】
The villain in Dongfang Yuning's heart has already overturned the table.
[How can I tolerate this?! This is absolutely intolerable! I'm so pissed! I want to go back to Beijing! I want to confront my brother-in-law face to face! What exactly does he mean? How dare he stop me from stepping on Fuying?!]
She suddenly raised her head, her eyes burning with anger, snatched the letter from Nangong Ye's hand, and said to Dongfang Liezheng with gritted teeth:
"Brother! Give me some soldiers! Prepare the fastest horses! I want to return to the capital right now!"
She waved the letter, her voice filled with anger and grievance:
"I'm going to ask our wise and mighty Emperor! What exactly does this letter mean? Does he think I, Dongfang Yuning, don't keep my word?! Or does he think I can't blow it up anymore?! Brother-in-law! Just wait! I'm not done with you!"
After saying that, she rushed out angrily, as if she was going to fly back to the capital immediately and pull Nangong Yu down from the dragon throne to have a debate with him!
Dongfang Liezheng:
【!!! Sister! Calm down! That's the Emperor! Your brother-in-law! He's her own!】
He shuddered with fear and quickly looked at Nangong Ye.
Nangong Ye looked at his furious little fiancée, his eyes showing no surprise, but instead a hint of smile and indulgence. He reached out and firmly grasped the raging Dongfang Yuning, his voice low and soothing:
"Ning'er, don't worry."
He gently took back the letter, folded it, and spoke in a calm tone, yet with undeniable authority:
"Return to Beijing, yes. Ask, yes."
He paused, his eyes swept across the letter, then looked at Dongfang Yuning's eyes burning with fire, the corners of his lips slightly raised,
"However, before asking, we must first collect the full interest... Also, the defense of Rock Castle and the deployment of the new artifacts must be properly arranged."
He took Dongfang Yuning's hand, and gently touched the back of her hand with his fingertips in a soothing manner. His eyes were filled with the understanding of seeing everything and the calmness of "I'll take care of everything".
"Pack up, we'll set off this afternoon. I'll accompany you back to the capital to settle accounts with my brother the Emperor."
He spoke the last two words very softly, but with a strange, reassuring power.
Dongfang Yuning's anger was slightly suppressed by this calm attitude. She looked into Nangong Ye's deep eyes, then looked at the letter that made her angry, and snorted heavily:
[Hmph! Let's settle the score! We must settle the score! Brother-in-law, you old fool, you're done! Your private vault is finished! My mental damage compensation must be paid with your treasures!]
The villain in her heart has already started to get ready, planning how to blackmail her brother-in-law.
Dongfang Liezheng looked at his sister who was comforted in an instant, then looked at Nangong Ye who had an expression of "if the sky falls, the prince will hold it up", and silently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead:
[Sister, you're not going to His Majesty to settle accounts... You're clearly using a nuclear weapon (Prince Yong) to collect protection money (interest and mental damages)! Brother-in-law... Good luck to you!]
He could already foresee the exciting drama of "sister-in-law beating brother-in-law" that was about to take place in the capital.
The air around them still lingered with the aftershocks of Dongfang Yuning's exasperated voice, as well as the secret guards' silent admiration and anticipation for the princess's heroic feat of returning to the capital to collect debts, which they tried hard to suppress.
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