The camp. Xiao Yuan sat at the table, lifted her tea to moisten her throat, and said, "That's the full account of events." In the spacious commander's chamber, Xiahou Aotian, Tianxie of the Flame, the King with the Mage's Eye, Zhao Chenguang, Ling Jun, and Fu Qingyang sat together, all exchanging glances, each seeing a weight of seriousness in the others' eyes. On the very first day in the realm, they had been betrayed by three teammates, nearly dying in their palace quarters. Then came a betrayal from the head of the guards, threatening their lives once again. After enduring through the night, they finally reached daylight—only to find tonight, the Zheng family led a night assault, forcing them out of the palace and sealing their cultivation levels. Their companions were either women of lesser rank, or fire specialists, or both—women who were also fire specialists. Even Ling Jun, the most laid-back and optimistic among them, couldn't help but remark, "No wonder he's the fallen king—this has been far more intense than anything we've experienced." If it were his own story, he'd likely not survive the first episode. Xiahou Aotian turned to the "Master of the Mystic Eyes cracked a smile," "The trickster demon isn't even a fire master—our minds aren't lacking. On the contrary, we're all tactical strategists and grand planners. Retreating to the capital will mean losing our military posts, facing charges, and possibly being imprisoned. Everyone will be in trouble," said Tian Xia Gui, composed and steady. "Fire masters can also rely on wisdom and intelligence," added Ling Jun, beaming with satisfaction. "Excellent—excellent! Indeed, all of us here are clearly sharp-minded, even our only particularly intelligent fire master is among us." "While the capital's battlefield strength may not match that of the field, in terms of difficulty, it seems to surpass it. The battlefield's challenge lies in the strength of its forces, whereas the capital demands more strategic thinking." H Zhao, surveying the group with a quiet tone, added, "The Prime One is truly pitiful..." Xiao Yuan frowned, her brows furrowed, and gave Zhao a cold, pointed look—clearly implying she lacked intelligence. Just as she thought this, she heard Xia Hou Ao Tian, with a subtly understated remark, say, "Xiao Yuan, Zhao is implying you lack intelligence." "Linjun twirled the teacup, teasingly remarked, 'Zhao Chenghuang and Sun Miao Miao have been childhood friends—surely they'll be leaning toward Sun Miao Miao. Hmm, Guan Ya hasn't been found yet. If she stays by Yuan Shi's side, the situation would be much better.' Linjun also made his stance clear. Hearing this, Fu Qingyang promptly interjected, 'Let's get to the point.' If Linjun continued, he—being Guan Ya's cousin—wouldn't be able to avoid taking a side either. He couldn't let Yuan Shi's fickleness cause the team to drift apart or develop friction. He glanced at the mature woman who had been quietly close to Yuan Shi, and said calmly, 'The way the Demon Eye joins us is simple: he must publicly swear allegiance to me before a sufficient number of defenders. Once that happens, the main mission changes. The key is witness—someone with strong credibility. Just convey this idea to Yuan Shi, and he'll know how to proceed.' Xiao Yuan pondered for a few seconds, then gave a slight nod, feeling a great weight lift from her heart. After escaping the imperial palace, she immediately rushed to Linxia City, hoping to switch sides early and lend her support to Yuan Shi. The capital wasn't like a battlefield—no matter how many plots and schemes were woven in, they ultimately still revolved around the realities of combat. The challenges faced in the capital were far more numerous. Not only were there intricate interpersonal relationships, but also multiple interwoven storylines, as well as separated personnel (Sun Miao-miao, Guan Ya), and teammates belonging to different factions. These matters couldn't all be handled by Yuan Shi alone. At this point, Ling Jun said: "The structure of the 'Fallen Kingdom' quest is now clear—the capital and Linxia City advance in parallel. Should either side fail, the entire group will be wiped out. As my most proud student, Yuan Shi is capable of managing the capital's affairs. However, on the battlefield side, I'm not entirely confident in Fu Qingyang and the two 'duds'—the Magician's Eye. Xiao Yuan, as a Wugui master, could you provide us with some venomous insects and parasites? Preferably ones that reproduce quickly and have strong potency." Xiao Yuan replied calmly: "Insects with strong potency "Then for the faster-reproducing common soldiers, even moderate toxicity should suffice," Ling Jun said. "I'll send it to you tomorrow morning." Xiao Yuan finished, her expression now serious. "Are the enemy forces on the battlefield particularly strong?" Ling Jun shrugged. "We have forty thousand troops, with the commander being a nine-tiered ancient war god." Zhao Chenghuang corrected: "Currently, we have no more than thirty-five thousand troops." At that moment, Tian Xia Gui said: "The current priority at the capital is to survive for three days. We've already passed one day, and the next two days will be fraught with danger. Among your sages, only Red Chicken Brother and the Master of Zhishi Palace remain, and they've already been dispersed. You're critically lacking in sage-level combat strength." He opened his inventory, pulling out a stone sculpture of a malevolent ghost, a stone tablet inscribed with 'Frugality,' another with 'Mutual Love,' and a three-inch-high metallic artifact. The metallic object rests on a square bronze base, upon which a yellow-bronze crescent moon is set, with a series of yellow-bronze spheres suspended between the crescents. Without needing any introduction from Tian Xiu Gui, Xiao Yuan, Xia Hou Ao Tian, and Zhao Chenghuang immediately recognized it as the consumable item obtained after completing the "Mo Sect Mechanized City" quest. These four items are "Ming Gui," "Jian Ai," "Jie Yong," and "Liu Xu Yi." Tian Xiu Gui said, "Items of saintly quality require a cost that even extraordinary travelers cannot bear; however, consumables do not entail such a cost. I currently have only four left—Zhao Chenghuang, Xia Hou Ao Tian, how many do you still have?" In fact, he still has one more, named "Jie Zang," which can transform corpses into shadow spirits for combat, making it particularly useful on the battlefield, so he has not passed it on to Xiao Yuan. Xia Hou Ao Tian and Zhao Chenghuang exchanged glances, saying, "We've already used them up." "The whole world has come to admire the fire," Tian Xia chuckled, smiling faintly but with a hint of dryness, "You truly are born into a noble family—lavishness and waste are etched into your very bones." Unlike him, who was always thrifty, making do with every item, every consumable, saving wherever possible, "We've already done enough," Xiao Yuan said, contentedly folding up the supplies. Zhang Yuanqing said, "My already frail health has been further worsened." Last night, he had barely slept—constantly woken either by being kicked or pressed down. It seemed the young girl was fighting someone in her dreams. "Master, shall I let you rest a bit more?" "No, today is crucial. I can't afford to waste time sleeping. Even if I die suddenly, I'll have to get up and do my duties." Zhang Yuanqing grasped the delicate feet of Jiang Jingwei and threw them firmly. "Go!" Half an hour later, in their changed attire, Zhang Yuanqing, the Queen, and Jiang Jingwei bid farewell to their uncles and aunts and walked along the bustling streets of the Southern Dynasty's capital. The streets were crowded with people, markets brimming with fine goods, and homes adorned with rich fabrics—everything vibrant and prosperous. Yet in reality, a significant portion of merchants and workers from outside the capital had already fled, under the pressure of the approaching army of forty thousand. The Southern Dynasty had long been economically thriving, and at its peak, the capital was famed for: willow-lined bridges, wind-blown curtains, and homes stretching in a graceful array—ten thousand Today there are three tasks to attend to: first, to see the doctor; second, to inquire about the emperor's image among the common people; and third, to scout for opportunities to connect with the Yang family. Thus, the three departed from the southern city and arrived at the main road leading into the inner city, where they were immediately struck by the splendid scene. Along a broad avenue, approximately fifty meters wide, shops, wine houses, and inns lined both sides, adorned with banners and pavilions. Jiang Jingwei was eager and constantly glanced around, occasionally drawn to the carriage and at other times to the food stalls along the roadside, completely forgetting that she was in a game world. At that moment, a city patrol column approached from ahead, with carriages and pedestrians stepping aside. The leading general, his gaze sharp, scanned the crowd continuously. Zhang Yuanqing pulled Jiang Jingwei aside and whispered, "Bow your head!" After the patrol column passed, Zhang Yuanqing and Queen exchanged a glance. "This is the third such group," he said. "Zheng Wenhan has been looking for me." Along the way, they noticed that the patrol teams were particularly focused on inns and taverns, clearly indicating a deliberate effort to locate them. The Queen whispered, "Shall we consider moving to a different location? That place isn't far from the river." Zhang Yuanqing shook his head, "No need. From the perspective of the pursuing forces, we will inevitably move away from the southern city and won't remain nearby. Of course, they will also search for residents near the outlets of the underground river. As long as we emerge during the day and return after sunset, we can avoid their patrols." Since the northern and southern dynasties were at war and the capital was under curfew, Zheng Wenhan's search for the emperor had to remain secret, so he only operated during daylight hours. Most importantly, out of the six battalions of the city's garrison, only two were under Zheng's control; if Zheng conducted large-scale nighttime searches, other forces would surely notice. Fifteen minutes later, they passed by a medical clinic named "Shengshou Hall." Zhang Yuanqing led the two women inside, where a senior physician in a light-colored robe, with white hair and wearing a headscarf, was on duty. Few patients were present in the hall. Two apprentices selected herbs at the counter, chatting softly. The senior physician glanced at Zhang Yuanqing and said, "Sit down." Zhang Yuanqing settled into the chair and smiled, "How did you know I was here for a consultation?" "Someone whose body has already begun to fade—well, that's obvious at a glance." The senior physician, his expression serious, extended his hand to take Zhang's pulse. Zhang Yuanqing reached out. The physician gently took his pulse, focusing intently for a moment, and then his already serious demeanor deepened further. "Doctor, is my condition treatable?" Zhang Yuanqing asked cautiously. "Clearly, clearly..." the senior physician sighed. Zhang Yuanqing felt a surge of hope. He hadn't expected a regular physician—no matter how renowned the clinic might be in the bustling city—to cure his illness. Yet, the doctor's tone suggested a promising development. The senior physician silently unfolded the paper, picked up his brush, and began writing. Zhang Yuanqing thought he was being given a prescription, but instead received an address. Staring at the address on the paper, he asked, "This is...?" The elderly physician frowned seriously. "The address of the coffin shop in the northern part of the city, young man. You're not just half buried—you're completely buried." So that's what "to be buried" means? Zhang Yuanqing grumbled and walked off. The three left the medical pavilion. The autumn sunlight was bright and warm. The queen said, "I just learned from a medical apprentice at the pavilion the address of 'Xian Yao Fang.' Today they're offering free consultations, and the people of the city have all come to take advantage of it." Jiang Jingwei was surprised. "With so many people in the capital, can the doctors of Xian Yao Fang keep up?" The queen replied, "Under normal circumstances, they certainly can't. But the apprentice mentioned that the Grand Physician has taken on many disciples, each of whom is highly skilled. During the free clinics, these disciples will be on duty." Jiang Jingwei brightened up. "Then, Yuan Shi, let's go see a doctor. We've "So either you completely forgot what we discussed yesterday, or you didn't listen at all," Zhang Yuanqing gave Jiang Jingwei a sharp slap, sighing, "You guess why the Immortal Medicine Workshop is offering free consultations today? They're making such a clear move—only a fool would go." The Xian Yao Pavilion is a three-story building facing the street, bright and elegant, bustling inside with crowds and lined out with long queues outside. Several apprentices in black and white uniforms maintain order. Jiang Jingwei gasped, pointing at the pavilion's signboard, "Is that little Yuan...?" Before she could finish, the Queen covered her mouth. Zhang Yuanqing whispered, "Let's go." Jiang Jingwei obediently followed her teammates, and after walking about a hundred meters, she said, "The Taiji fish motif on the signboard matches exactly with Yuan's badge." The badge on Yuan also features the Taiji fish in black and white. The Queen turned her head, gazing at the handsome face in the sunlight, "Lady Ya was assigned to the palace by the Imperial Advisor." Damn it. You assign one, I assign another—does the imperial harem count as a public space? Zhang Yuanqing mentally complained, maintaining composure on the surface, "I'm not at all surprised." After casually intercepting a passerby to learn the address of Yang's estate, the three arrived at the estate just a few dozen meters away within forty minutes, catching a glimpse of its grand façade. Zhang Yuanqing glanced casually along the entire street and then said evenly, "Let's go. There are spies all along this street." The "Tai Kang Street," where Yang's estate stood, was a hub for officials and the elite—akin to a modern upscale residential area—where foot traffic was sparse. Ordinary citizens rarely ventured this far, yet there were several mobile vendors setting up stalls at street corners and several laborers lounging under the pavilions. Jiang Jingwei and Queen nodded slightly, feigning to be mere pedestrians, and then turned to walk on. A spacious and luxurious carriage turned into the street, passing by the three. The wheels rolled smoothly, and then the carriage came to a halt at the entrance of Yang's estate. The coachman stepped down and brought over small stools to welcome the distinguished guests inside. The curtain was drawn aside, and a beautiful woman, dressed in silk and brocade, with her black hair high up and adorned with gold hairpins and jade pendants, stepped down from the carriage on a small stool. She glanced over the street and said to the driver, "There are many eyes stationed outside Yang's mansion. Have the head steward send people to arrest them and inquire about the situation." The imperial court master, serving as the driver, bowed respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty, the Queen."