Chapter 1553: Rest

But it did not matter. The situation before them was obvious: faced with Shang Shuqing, this army of a hundred thousand Crow Generals had already submitted.

Everyone looked around at the countless figures wreathed in black mist bowing from every direction. It was truly a spectacle.

"Long Bao?" Shang Shuqing looked at the kneeling Crow General commander in surprise. "Are you Uncle Long?"

The commander raised his head. Red light flickered in his eyes, as though he did not quite understand.

Niu Youdao immediately asked, "What is it?"

Shang Shuqing turned back. "Master Dao, he said his name is Long Bao."

Niu Youdao asked, "Is there a problem?"

Shang Shuqing said, "I've heard of him. Uncle Meng's former deputy general was named Long Bao. He was the first commander of the Yingyang and Wulie Guards. During a surprise attack by the State of Zhao, he led an isolated force to hold the rear and cover Father's withdrawal. He died in battle."

"When Uncle Meng heard the news, he flew into a rage. He rushed from the capital to the front, personally led the army into Zhao, refused to accept surrender, slaughtered two hundred thousand Zhao soldiers who had surrendered, and forced Zhao's Grand Commander-in-Chief Pang Hai to take his own life. It was all to avenge Long Bao!"

So that was all. Niu Youdao nodded. "Have them rise."

Shang Shuqing was not entirely unfamiliar with military matters and knew how to respond. She raised both hands slightly. "Officers and soldiers, please rise."

Long Bao gave a muffled reply of thanks and stood. The vast, dark mass of Crow Generals around him rose as well, then stood solemnly with their weapons in hand.

Just like that, the crisis seemed to have been resolved. Yun Ji clicked her tongue in wonder. This trip had truly broadened her horizons.

There was no reason to remain here, nor was it wise to linger. Their objective had been achieved. Niu Youdao immediately led everyone away.

At Shang Shuqing's command, the hundred thousand Crow Generals followed.

They transformed back into crows. Their armor and weapons disappeared into their bodies, and an immense black flock flew behind the group.

What Yun Ji found contemptible was that on the return journey, Niu Youdao suddenly stopped acting like a hands-off master. Now that Shang Shuqing had become beautiful, he no longer troubled Yun Ji to carry her. He personally wrapped one arm around Shang Shuqing's waist and flew her out.

Shang Shuqing's face stayed red the entire way. Her maidenly thoughts had somehow made her forget the most important matter of all: she had not even thought to check whether her face had truly returned to normal.

The group burst through the waterfall and landed by the shore, returning toward the place from which they had set out. Behind them, a vast tide of crows flew through the waterfall. For a time, eerie red eyes filled the underground river cavern in every direction.

Once they reached their starting point, Yun Ji opened the hollow in the wall, took Yin'er out, and woke her.

Yin'er came to chewing the food still in her mouth. She gave Niu Youdao a somewhat resentful look, swallowed, then ran to Shang Shuqing, tugged at her sleeve, and called, "Qingqing."

That made Niu Youdao and the others exchange startled looks.

Shang Shuqing's appearance had changed so completely that she was practically another person. Yet this glutton had not even needed to identify her. She had simply known with absolute certainty that this was Shang Shuqing.

Niu Youdao could not help wondering whether this glutton, who cared for almost nothing in the world besides food, somehow possessed the truest eye of all—one capable of seeing through outward appearances to the essence beneath.

Unfortunately, trying to have a proper conversation with Yin'er and get an explanation would probably be difficult. She lacked an ordinary person's ability to express herself clearly. They could only set the question aside. There were more urgent matters to handle.

Yun Ji opened the way, carving a passage straight through the mountain.

Once everyone emerged, Niu Youdao had Shang Shuqing hold the Crow Generals back inside so they would not show themselves yet. Then he told Yun Ji, "Go back to the villa first. Have Yuan Cong and the others search the surrounding area thoroughly and seal it off. Make sure no outsider can see anything."

The Crow Generals were not supposed to be exposed yet. Yun Ji understood and departed immediately. She quickly reached the villa and mobilized Yuan Cong and the others.

They spread into the surrounding mountains and forests, searching the area rapidly.

Only after it was confirmed clear did Niu Youdao lead the others swiftly toward the villa.

The mass of Crow Generals behind them could not truly be hidden by the night. The great tide of sinister yin qi and the countless pairs of red eyes were simply too conspicuous. All they could do was make the flock fly as close to the ground as possible.

Ao Feng, standing guard in a nearby stretch of forest, froze. He stretched his neck and stared at the things streaming past ahead. His eyes gradually widened.

"C-Crow Generals?"

He was stunned.

Others might never have seen them, but he had seen Crow Generals in the Wuliang Garden.

There had only been three there.

What the hell was this?

Huge flocks kept pouring out of the mountains and flying past in formation for what felt like forever. He could not even begin to count them.

The sight left him dumbfounded. For a moment, he wondered if he was dreaming.

Inside the villa, the five hundred chests had already been arranged with their lids open. At Niu Youdao's signal, Shang Shuqing issued the command.

The hundred thousand Crow Generals immediately flew into the chests, roughly two hundred to each. Five hundred chests were exactly enough.

Afterward, the Yin-Suppressing Talismans prepared in advance were brought out. Each was activated with spiritual power and affixed to the inside of a chest lid before the chest was quickly sealed.

Yin-Suppressing Talismans were inexpensive. Many ordinary wealthy households used them to keep sinister yin influences from entering their homes. Niu Youdao was now using them to suppress the yin aura leaking from the Crow Generals in the chests, so no one would notice anything unusual during transport.

Yuan Cong and the others returned from the mountains and naturally helped with the work. Even those who had never seen Crow Generals before could tell by now that something extraordinary was inside.

Once all five hundred chests had been sealed, several of them gathered around.

Yuan Cong could not help asking, "Are those the legendary Crow Generals?"

Niu Youdao nodded. "That's right."

Yuan Cong was deeply shaken. "Where did you get so many Crow Generals?"

Niu Youdao pointed around the villa. "The former master of this place created them. You've probably heard some of the rumors that surfaced afterward. Prince Ning most likely built this villa here precisely because it made the operation easier to conceal."

Zhuge Chi was astonished. "So the story about Prince Ning refining a hundred thousand Crow Generals was true?"

Niu Youdao nodded slightly.

Most of them had heard at least something about the matter.

Ao Feng alone knew nothing. He had spent most of those years confined in the Wuliang Garden. How could he have known about such things? He immediately began asking the others what had happened.

Yuan Cong turned back to Niu Youdao. "You plan to use these against Wu Chang?"

Niu Youdao said, "I've entered the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm. I personally witnessed Wu Chang and the others fighting there. They were surrounded by a Rakshasa Tide. That gave me the idea."

"These hundred thousand Crow Generals may not be able to stop Wu Chang, but they can certainly slow his escape. Add all of us delaying and intercepting him, and we can keep him trapped long enough to create an opening for Yuan Gang to strike."

Yuan Cong nodded thoughtfully.

Niu Youdao continued, "So nothing can happen to these Crow Generals, and they cannot be exposed. Everyone must keep their guard at the highest level."

Yuan Cong said, "Don't worry. We'll watch them."

Before long, however, everyone's attention was drawn back to Shang Shuqing.

Where had this stunning beauty, fair enough to shame the moon and flowers, suddenly come from?

They looked at her clothes, then at the way she spoke with Yin'er. Her voice and certain gestures had not changed. Zhuge Chi finally asked, "Is she the Commandery Princess?"

Niu Youdao nodded and gave a perfunctory explanation. "Prince Ning left an antidote where he refined the Crow Generals. Her true appearance has been restored."

For now, he did not want too many people to know that Shang Shuqing was the key to commanding the hundred thousand Crow Generals.

At a moment this critical, extra caution could do no harm.

Everyone clicked their tongues in wonder. None had imagined that such an ugly woman could turn into someone so beautiful. Today they finally understood what it meant for two appearances to be as far apart as Heaven and Earth.

Only now, listening to everyone's remarks, did Shang Shuqing truly react.

Only now did she realize her face had indeed changed.

Joy immediately rose in her, but so did awkwardness. She did not know what to do with everyone staring at her this way. She was not accustomed to being looked at like this and kept stealing glances at Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao called Yun Ji aside. "Take the Commandery Princess to a room and let her rest."

Yun Ji looked puzzled. "Didn't you say we'd set out overnight the moment this was done?"

Niu Youdao said, "The Commandery Princess has suffered damage to her essence, qi, spirit, and blood vitality. A long, rough journey may be too much for her. Let her rest tonight. We'll leave tomorrow morning."

"Tonight, you personally stay in her room and watch over her. Nothing can happen to her. You know that."

Yun Ji could not help looking at Shang Shuqing.

The problem did not seem particularly serious.

Then she looked Niu Youdao up and down.

This did not resemble his usual style at all. At a moment this critical, he was suddenly worried about Shang Shuqing's depleted essence and spirit? What did a little weakness matter?

Yun Ji did not believe Niu Youdao had failed to consider this when making his earlier plans. With his habit of calculating everything in advance, that was impossible.

She suspected he had some other intention, but still nodded. "Fine. Understood."

Then Niu Youdao added, "She only just recovered her appearance. Her emotions may be too unsettled for her to sleep properly. Do something so she can rest peacefully."

Yun Ji gave a small acknowledgment and went over to Shang Shuqing, calling her away to rest.

Shang Shuqing held Yin'er's hand as she left, looking back every few steps.

Each time she turned, she saw Niu Youdao standing there with both hands resting on the sword planted before him, silently gazing up at the stars.

No one knew how long he stood there.

Eventually Niu Youdao lifted his sword, turned, and walked to the door of Shang Shuqing's room.

He pushed the door open a crack.

Inside, Yun Ji, who was seated cross-legged in meditation, instantly turned her head.

Seeing it was him, she stood and came out. "What is it?"

Niu Youdao lifted his chin toward the room. "She's sleeping soundly?"

Yun Ji said, "I sealed her sleep acupoint."

Niu Youdao gave a small grunt, then glanced outside. "I still don't feel entirely at ease about the situation out here. Go keep watch in secret. I'll stay here."

Yun Ji stared. "You're a grown man entering a woman's room while she's asleep. Isn't that a little inappropriate?"

Niu Youdao scoffed. "You're afraid I'll do something improper to her?"

Yun Ji looked him up and down. "Hard to say. She gets beautiful and suddenly the way you look at her changes. Someone has to guard against it."

Of course, she was only talking.

She had known Niu Youdao far too long to believe he would actually do something disgraceful under circumstances like these, with so many people nearby.

In the end, she left the doorway.

Niu Youdao entered and closed the door behind him.

In a dim corner outside, Yuan Gang stood behind the branches and leaves of a flower bed, watching.

He watched Niu Youdao enter Shang Shuqing's room.

Inside, before the couch, Niu Youdao stood quietly and stared at Shang Shuqing's sweet sleeping face.

There was also an inconvenient presence beside her.

Yin'er slept half-embracing Shang Shuqing.

Niu Youdao reached out and tapped one of Yin'er's acupoints, making certain she would not wake easily.

He moved her aside.

Then his hand hovered over Shang Shuqing's collar.

Several times his fingers moved toward it.

Several times they drew back.

At last they descended.

His fingertips touched the pale skin of Shang Shuqing's neck.

He caught her collar and slowly pulled her clothing open.

More and more of the snow-white skin over her chest came into view.

[End of Chapter 1553]