PFC Chapter 375 Xu Longxiang is going to the Moon Goddess Cult in person!?
Chapter 375 Xu Longxiang is going to the Moon Goddess Cult in person!?
The moon goddess turned around and sped back the way she came.
Her figure moved even faster than when she arrived, so fast that she was left as a blurry white afterimage, like an arrow released from a bow, tearing through the air with a sharp whistling sound!
There were no more tear stains on her face; the tear stains had dried in the wind, leaving only two faint white marks.
There were no more tears in her eyes; the wind had scattered them, leaving only two cold, burning flames.
She can't let anyone know!
Anyone!
The Moon Goddess Cult's headquarters, a secret chamber.
The two women in white were still kneeling on the ground, not getting up.
They have been kneeling ever since they returned, their knees are numb and their legs have lost all feeling.
They dared not get up, nor dared they leave; they could only kneel and wait.
The door was violently kicked open!
The Moon Goddess stood at the door, her white clothes torn, her long hair disheveled, and her body covered in mud and blood.
She wasn't wearing a mask, and her stunningly beautiful face was now distorted beyond recognition, her eyes were bloodshot, and her pupils burned with a frenzied fire.
The two women in white looked up and saw the cult leader's appearance, and they trembled with fear.
They opened their mouths, wanting to say something, wanting to ask the leader what was wrong, wanting to ask what to do about the barracks.
They didn't have a chance to say it.
The Moon Goddess raised her right hand, joined her five fingers together, and slashed at the void!
A silvery-white light shot out from her fingertips, as fast as lightning!
The heads of the two women in white flew off at the same time, the cuts on their necks as clean as mirrors, blood gushing from their cavities and splattering onto the ceiling!
The two heads landed on the ground, rolled twice, and came to a stop.
His eyes were still open, his mouth was still agape, and the fear he felt upon seeing the cult leader remained on his face.
The moon goddess stood before the two headless corpses, her chest heaving violently as she gasped for breath.
She looked down at the two corpses, at the still-bleeding cuts on their necks, and at the two pools of dark red blood spreading on the ground.
She slowly knelt down, reached out her hand, and closed one of the people's eyes.
My fingers slid over the cold eyelid, and the eye finally closed, no longer looking at her.
She closed another person's bottle, her movements slow and gentle, as if caressing a fragile piece of porcelain.
She stood up, turned around, and faced away from the two corpses.
"I'm sorry. But no one can know about this."
Her voice was very soft, as soft as a withered leaf falling from a branch, swirling twice in the air, landing on the ground, and then making no sound.
She stepped out of the secret room without looking back.
The door behind him slowly closed, shutting out the two corpses, the two pools of blood, and the two eyes that could never close again.
She walked down the corridor, her steps unsteady, as if she were stepping on cotton.
She didn't even glance at the white-robed followers kneeling on either side of her, and walked straight to her bedroom.
Her back was very straight, like a sword that had been repeatedly tempered, but the blade was full of cracks and would shatter at the slightest touch.
The door to the bedchamber closed behind her.
She walked to the bronze mirror, sat down, and looked at her pale face, covered in mud, reflected in the mirror.
Her eyes were red, her lips were dry, and there were still wet tears clinging to her eyelashes.
Her lips twitched slightly, as if trying to form a smile, but the smile vanished before it could take shape.
She raised her hand and looked at her hands, which were covered in mud and blood.
My nails are broken, my fingertips are worn raw, and the silver lines on my palms have completely disappeared.
She clenched her fist, then relaxed it, then clenched it again, then relaxed it again.
My hands are shaking, from my fingertips to my wrists, and from my wrists to my arms.
"An army of one hundred thousand... ten elders..." she murmured, her voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible, "I spent decades... decades..."
Her tears welled up again.
This time, she couldn't hold back, nor did she intend to.
She knelt before the bronze mirror, burying her face in her arms, her shoulders trembling violently as she let out suppressed, broken sobs.
"Master... what should I do... what should I do...?"
No one answered her.
Only the pale, tear-streaked face in the bronze mirror looked exactly like her.
.........
Inside Zhenyue Hall, the candles burned all night long.
The long table was covered with maps and documents, and the ink-stained letters were piled up like a small mountain.
Xu Longxiang sat behind his desk, his finger slowly tracing across the map, from the northern border to the Central Plains, and from the Central Plains to the southwest.
His gaze fell upon the mountains marked "Moon Goddess Cult," like a drowning man grasping at a piece of driftwood, his knuckles turning white.
The Moon Goddess Cult was his last hope.
Li Yang is gone, allies are gone, my sister is trapped in the deep palace, my childhood sweetheart has become someone else's concubine, and my beloved has married my enemy.
He had nothing left but the 300,000 iron cavalry of the North and the Moon God Cult as his lifeline.
He couldn't let go, no matter what.
Once you let go, it's an abyss!
The matter of mobilizing provisions and troops is not difficult to resolve.
My sister has been running her business for many years in that prosperous Jiangnan region, with weaving workshops, trading companies, money shops, and grain stores. Her secret businesses are spread across three prefectures and six counties.
Although my sister is currently trapped in the palace, the foundations from back then still stand, and the people in charge are still from the North.
With just a secret letter, a batch of provisions and soldiers could be transferred from Jiangnan to the southwest by waterway, without any need for long-distance transshipment from the north.
It saves time and effort, and is less likely to be detected by the imperial court.
The real problem is Han Zhong.
Xu Longxiang's finger stopped at the southwestern border on the map, next to the small dot marked "Linyuan City" with the words "Han Zhong" written on it.
His brows were furrowed tightly, forming a deep "川" (river) shape between them.
Fifty thousand elite troops will arrive in three days.
He was originally confident in dealing with Han Zhong.
The Han family and the Xu family of the Northern Border are old friends. Han Zhong's father, Han Lie, once fought alongside the old King of Zhenbei and drank blood wine together outside Yanmen Pass.
Han Zhong had also served in the Northern Army for three years when he was young, and they were very close friends, calling each other brothers.
He thought that as long as he asked, Han Zhong would definitely give him face.
But things are different now.
Qin Mu's reputation is too great!
Swallowing Li Yang, marrying the Empress, and eliminating the overlord of the Eastern Continent without bloodshed—each and every one of these feats is a legendary achievement.
Those censors in the imperial court who once cursed him as a tyrant now have their eyes light up when they mention his name.
Needless to say, among the common people, storytellers in teahouses and restaurants tell his stories, and when people mention the words "Your Majesty," the smile lines on their faces deepen.
His brilliance was so dazzling that it swallowed up everyone else's shadows.
Including Xu Longxiang.
Under such circumstances, would Han Zhong still be willing to risk the crime of deceiving the emperor and show mercy to the Moon Goddess Cult out of old friendship?
Xu Longxiang didn't know.
He tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table, his gaze lingering on the deep night outside the window for a long time.
The night wind blew in through the cracks in the window, making the candlelight flicker and almost go out.
He stood up, walked around the long table, and went to the window.
He pushed open the window, and the northern wind rushed in, biting cold, making the stray hairs at his temples fly backward.
"Fan Li," he called out.
Fan Li strode in from the side hall. His dark blue scholar's robe gleamed dimly in the candlelight, and a few drops of ink stained the hem, indicating that he had been working on it for a long time.
"What are your orders, Your Highness?"
"Where is Han Zhong's army?"
Fan Li walked to the map and pointed to the southern part of the Central Plains.
"Your Highness, according to the latest intelligence, Han Zhong's army has passed Jiangling and is advancing westward along the Yangtze River. At the current pace, they should reach the southwestern border in about two days."
Xu Longxiang's gaze fell on the winding line, and he remained silent for a moment.
He tapped his fingers lightly on the window frame twice, his mind racing with calculations.
The distance from Jiangling to the southwestern border by water is about 800 li. Han Zhong has an army of 50,000, so the marching speed cannot be too fast.
If I travel light and travel day and night, I should be able to stop him before he arrives.
"Is Your Highness going in person?" Fan Li's voice carried a hint of worry.
Xu Longxiang turned around and stood with his hands behind his back.
The candlelight shone from behind him, casting his long, dark shadow on the wall.
"Only by going in person can I demonstrate the sincerity of the Northern Frontier. Han Zhong is not a fool; he won't even meet with a messenger sent to deliver a message."
Fan Li remained silent for a moment.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again.
Your Highness is right; sending anyone in this situation wouldn't be effective. Han Zhong has a past relationship with Your Highness, and he's only doing this out of respect for you. If it were anyone else, Han Zhong wouldn't even open the door.
Moreover, there was another thought in his mind that he hadn't voiced.
Your Highness probably wants to meet the Moon Goddess in person.
Having served His Highness for so many years, he understands His Highness's thoughts all too well.
The fact that the Moon Goddess Cult could operate in the southwestern border region for decades without being wiped out, and could amass tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of troops, shows that the Moon Goddess's methods were by no means simple.
How could Your Highness not be interested in such a person?
"That's fine then." Fan Li nodded, his voice becoming steady. "Your Highness can go and meet the Moon Goddess in person to see what her background is. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle."
A glint of shrewdness flashed in Xu Longxiang's eyes. "That's exactly what I was thinking!"
He turned and walked back behind the long table, picked up the rolled-up secret letter from the table, and stuffed it into his sleeve.
He then picked up the short knife and tucked it into his waistband, put on a dark black cloak, and tied the belt.
The movements were crisp and clean, without a single unnecessary movement.
"Alright, then I'll accompany Your Highness." Fan Li clasped his hands and bowed.
Xu Longxiang nodded and strode towards the palace gate.
A jet-black cloak billowed behind him like a flag fluttering in the wind.
Fan Li followed behind him, his dark blue scholar's robe fluttering gently in the candlelight, his steps steady and firm.
The palace doors slowly closed behind the two of them with a soft "bang," shutting out the dim candlelight inside.
The sound of their footsteps echoed in the quiet night along the corridor, one after another, steady and powerful.
The night wind blew in through the pillars, causing the lanterns under the eaves to sway violently, their light flickering.
Xu Longxiang walked ahead, his pace quick and hurried, as if something was chasing him from behind, or as if something was waiting for him ahead.
Fan Li followed behind him, his gaze fixed on the prince's straight back, and he sighed softly in his heart.
He knew what His Highness was anxious about, and he also knew what His Highness was afraid of.
His Highness has clung too tightly to the Moon Goddess Cult, so tightly that his fingernails have dug into his flesh, drawing blood, yet he is unwilling to let go.
The two walked out of the gate of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion and mounted their horses.
The horses' hooves clattered on the bluestone slabs, making a crisp "tap-tap" sound that was particularly clear in the quiet night.
Two fine horses galloped south along the official road and soon disappeared into the vast night.
The lanterns of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion still swayed in the wind, the candlelight flickering like eyes that could not be opened.
.......
at the same time,
It was late at night, and the private rooms on the third floor of "Zui Xian Lou," the most luxurious restaurant in Lin Yuan City, were brightly lit with candles.
Qin Mu sat in the main seat by the window, his moon-white robe gleaming warmly in the candlelight. He held a wine cup in one hand and rested the other on his knee, his posture as languid as a satiated cat.
Zhao Qingxue sat beside him, the Frost Moon Sword leaning against the chair, her bright red dress shining brightly in the candlelight.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, whether from the wine or the candlelight, it was hard to tell. Her deep purple phoenix eyes had lost some of their usual coldness and gained a soft, drunken look.
Jiang Zhaoyue sat opposite him, her pure white dress making her appear as gentle and refined as jade.
She held the wine cup in both hands, taking small sips. The wine moistened her lips, glistening in the candlelight. A faint smile played on her lips, like a flower blooming in the spring breeze.
Yun Luan sat to Qin Mu's right, her dark blue outfit still exuding a cold and aloof air, but a rare hint of relaxation appeared in her otherwise stern eyes.
She had an excellent alcohol tolerance, drinking bowl after bowl without much change in her face, except for a slight flush at the tips of her ears.
The wine is excellent, a thirty-year-old Zhuyeqing (Bamboo Leaf Green) liquor. The amber-colored liquid swirls gently in the celadon cup, releasing a rich and lingering aroma.
Qin Mu downed the wine in his cup in one gulp. The wine slid down his throat, and the warmth spread from his chest to his limbs, making him feel warm all over.
He put down his wine cup, his gaze falling on Jiang Zhaoyue across from him, and a slow smile appeared on his lips.
"My beloved concubine, I would like to see you perform a sword dance."