"Second Brother, why didn’t you say anything before heading out for so many days?"
Greeting Murong Yunji and the others at the city gate, Murong Yuntian complained all the way, very much like a talkative head of the family.
Weichi Feihong curiously examined the guide; he was the spitting image of a refined elder, and with his constant chattering, he bore no resemblance to his formidable na...
But no matter how you looked at him, he didn’t seem like the creepy and sinister figure described by the younger mbers of the Murong Family. How did they co to that conclusion?
In fact, it wasn’t just Weichi Feihong who was puzzled. The people of the Murong Family were also confounded. What happened to the eldest brother? How had his deanor changed so completely in just a few days? This cultured and easy-going manner, together with the incessant talking – he seed like a completely different person from the gloomy one a few months ago. If it was just a change in attitude, that would be one thing, but such a rapid transformation in temperant was too drastic, wasn’t it?
They had described the eldest brother as gloomy, and it wasn’t just his personality. It was his entire presence that gave off a nefarious vibe upon first glance. Now, after a few days, his whole deanor was sunny and cultured, making it seem as though their perceptions over the past few months had all been an illusion.
"Yunji, you cold-hearted girl, how many years has it been since you last ca back after getting married?"
"It’s been so years..." Murong Yunji replied with a smile, "Big Brother, don’t be too hard on . My husband died early, and as a widow, keeping the big house in order wasn’t easy. Moreover, considering my status, coming back might cause quite a stir..."
"That’s true..." Murong Yuntian paused for a mont and then nodded in agreent.
Before her marriage, Murong Yunji was a notorious military leader in Northern Wolf Country, with the title of Wind King earned through her exploits on the grasslands!
On the eve of Murong Yunji’s marriage, Northern Wolf Country was undergoing imperial succession, and there was even a saying amongst the people that whoever secured Murong Yunji’s support would unquestionably beco the next Emperor.
At that ti, the Murong Family was under intense pressure. Murong Yunji’s influence in the military was overwhelming, and more importantly, the Murongs were a deeply-rooted Priestly family. Among the three High Priests, the old Family Head of the Murong Family staunchly held the position of the first, and with Murong Yunji’s rise in the military, to be honest... If the Murong Family had decided to rebel back then, the Royal Family would have had virtually no power to resist.
Even though the old Family Head of the Murong Family swore an oath on the Northern Wasteland grounds to never interfere with imperial power, in Northern Wasteland, there were too many power officials who treated such oaths like hot air.
It can be said that when the Shen Family ca along, they saved the Imperial Family’s life and prevented another dynastic change in Northern Wolf Country.
A few years after Murong Yunji got married, the old Family Head passed away, and Murong Yuntian took over as Family Head. Although still one of the three High Priests, the current influence of the Murong Family is almost incomparable to what it once was.
Following the old Family Head’s death, if Murong Yunji were to return, it would provoke considerable suspicion...
That was also the reason why Murong Yunji hadn’t returned to the Northern Wasteland for decades. She never thought there would be a day when she would co back. Now she wondered, if she hadn’t encountered Chen Qing, what would have beco of her?
Even without the descent of ancient tis, she feared she wouldn’t et a good end with the Shen Family, would she?
Northern Wolf City was vast, arguably the largest city in the Northern Wasteland, situated on the Ice Plains, leaning against the largest mountain range, a colossal city built upon peaks. Its location was the foundation of Northern Wolf Country; throughout thousands of years, as dynasties rose and fell in the Central Plains and nations in the Northern Wasteland were annihilated, only Northern Wolf Country remained stable. Even if the regi changed, it was rely the turn of different Emperors. Today one prominent family would rise and seize the throne, and tomorrow another would shuffle the deck. But for thousands of years... no foreign enemy has ever breached Northern Wolf City!
This grand mountain city and the largest prairie below it were the fundantal reason for the enduring strength of Northern Wolf Country.
Northern Wolf Country was always a trade hub in the Northern Wasteland, bustling with activity. But now, it was eerily quiet. Even though the Northern Wasteland was cold in winter, and most people preferred to stay indoors, these streets... were too deserted.
Murong Yunji furrowed her brow as she looked at the streets. The mountain city streets wound back and forth, magnificently designed. When peddlers were plentiful, calls of salesn echoed from top to bottom. But now – nothing at all. The huge mountain city in broad daylight looked like a ghost city.
The most conspicuous feature was the lantern hanging outside every household.
"Brother, what are those things?" Murong Yunji asked curiously.
She turned her head only to find that Murong Yunliu and the others also wore faces of confusion. A chill went through her heart, for it seed that these black lanterns had only appeared in the past few days.
"Oh, that..." Murong Yuntian looked around and lowered his voice, "It was three days ago when the Beiyu Family invited so noble guest from the north, recomnded by them to et with the Royal Family. Perhaps they have convinced the Royal Family, and now, every military household has such lanterns hanging at the door..."
Murong Yunji: "...."
"There’s such a thing?" Murong Yunliu and the others were shocked. "Big brother, you just watched this happen?"
"What can I do if there’s no one to discuss this with?" Murong Yuntian gave everyone a look, "The Beiyu Family is now the foremost Priestly Family, with direct access to the Imperial Family. Who am I to stop them from recomnding soone to the Emperor? Ever since Yunji left, our family’s control over the military has weakened. After the announcent, I received no intelligence, and by the ti these lanterns were hung at every household, what could I possibly do?"
"That’s... this..." At those words, Murong Yunliu’s face beca complex, unsure of what to say.
The Murong Family had indeed declined, and it was unexpectedly severe; big brother had not had any intelligence beforehand... It was clear that those generals within the military, who once had connections with the Murong Family, no longer cared about it.
Weichi Feihong found it peculiar and curiously asked, "Are there multiple waves of these ssengers?"
"Yes..." Murong Yuntian explained, "From the north, the visiting ssengers indeed co in several waves, indicating how complex the internal forces are. Three waves have co to our Northern Wolf City. The first wave was the Black Lotus ssenger, who visited the longstanding priestly families led by our Murong Family, employing the Infinite Spiritual thod to form agreents with us. The tribes under our families’ all consu the Demon Flesh they provide and offer human sacrifices."
"Then, three days ago the second wave arrived, a ssenger carrying a black lantern, who arrived at night and called himself the Moon Dark ssenger. He received support from the Royal Family and the Beiyu Family, and today... the third wave has arrived."
"The third wave?" Weichi Feihong paused, was the grand spectacle today caused by a newcor?
"You’ll likely et them soon," Murong Yuntian spoke softly, "You’ve seen the commotion outside. The pile of Demon Flesh is much larger than the previous two waves, and the ssenger who brings the gifts you may have heard of, the Solaris ssenger!"
"Solaris?" Both Weichi and Murong Yunji hadn’t heard of it, but others from the Murong Family quickly caught on, "Is it the sa Solaris ssenger who continuously visited the Bei Qi Country and Snow Eagle Country?"
The Solaris ssenger’s reputation had reached the Northern Wasteland Families several months ago. He was the one who had visited Bei Qi and Snow Eagle, supposedly igniting rebellions in those countries. In just a few months, Bei Qi and Snow Eagle underwent regi changes, thoroughly reshuffled, and many prominent families vanished.
Yet no one outside could fathom the turmoil inside those nations.
All they knew was that afterward, only the Solaris ssenger continued to supply Demon Flesh to Bei Qi and Snow Eagle.
Now that this notorious figure had co to the Northern Wolf Country, what kind of upheaval would it cause?
"Has that ssenger co to visit our Murong family?" Murong Yunliu hastily asked, feeling anxious.
"Not yet..." said Murong Yuntian, "But I guess it will be soon. The Murong Family’s standing is not as strong as the other two families, and so the visitors will probably not start with us. We’d better hurry back; the news of Yunji’s return must not leak. At this ti, the last thing we want is to draw attention to ourselves."
"That’s true..."
Murong Yunji exchanged a glance with Weichi, a heavy feeling settling in their hearts.
The situation in the Northern Wasteland was more complicated than imagined. The three great ssengers likely represented three distinct forces within the Northern Wasteland. Once these ssengers entered a country, chaos was bound to ensue, potentially even leading to a change of dynasty. It seems the Northern Wolf Country might soon be plunged into internal strife.
Bringing so many people to blend in as peddlers, seeking to gather intelligence, may not have co at the best ti.
The critical issue was... there might very well be spies infiltrating their own ranks.
All of this... must be reported to our Lord Chen Qing as soon as possible...
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