Chapter 1472: Chapter 465: Bad News, Confidence and Invitation, Shocking Speculation and Chu Tianxu_4
The humble origin has its advantages. Ji Hong followed Xia Hong from the Mud Slope era all the way here. Scenes like the current one, filled with mourning, heâs seen before. For instance, early years before the Mirror Immortal merged, when the Beast Tide attacked the camp; or during the Longyou battles, the wars that occurred in places like Hanqiong, Beehive, etc.
"Letâs just wait here peacefully! Princess Shiqin just said she will stay here as well. As soon as thereâs news, sheâll notify us right away. Lord Hong will definitely return safely."
Su Xingâer could only nod upon hearing Ji Hongâs comfort.
Besides waiting, she truly couldnât do anything else. However, Ji Hongâs confident tone made her feel much better.
So, the four siblings and Ji Hong stayed at Zhenyuan Camp. In a heavily guarded military camp, ordinary people naturally wouldnât be allowed to stay easily. But since Master Hong Yuâs death wasnât confirmed, along with connections from Cai Shiqin, the five of them werenât met with much difficulty.
Unfortunately, this stay lasted for more than three months.
From December 27th of Caiqiu Calendar 297, they stayed until late March of the next year, yet the five still didnât receive any news of Master Hong Yu.
Such endless waiting certainly drove Su Xingâer and the siblings deeper into despair, to the point they entertained thoughts of dying. If not for Ji Hongâs patient persuasion, they would have stormed into Blood Miasma Plain by now, either to find their master or to accompany him in burial.
Until the dawn of April 5th, Cai Shiqin finally brought new news.
However, this news was no less than a thunderbolt for the five of them.
"The two Lords Governor have already rescued Admiral Fan and others. Their group of 51 went in, only 21 survived, and 29 have died. According to Admiral Fan, Lord Hong Yu was swapped by the Deceitful Monster upon entering the plain last year, though he didnât see the corpse himself, itâs estimated..."
Facing Su Xingâerâs desperate look, Cai Shiqin couldnât bring herself to say the ominous words.
Even Ji Hong, who had been patiently comforting the siblings, couldnât stay calm upon hearing the news.
Ji Hong suddenly stood up from his chair, looking at Cai Shiqin, his eyes full of suspicion and shock, repeatedly pondering the words she had just said, muttering uninterruptedly, "Impossible, impossible..."
He repeated it over ten times before suddenly raising his head and asking, "Admiral Fan said he didnât see Lord Hongâs corpse with his own eyes, right?"
Cai Shiqin nodded, initially wanting to say more. But seeing hope rise anew in Su Xingâerâs eyes, she immediately fell silent.
"Lord will be fine, absolutely fine!"
After a moment of doubt, Ji Hongâs expression rapidly turned resolute, then he turned to Su Xingâer and said, "If you trust my words, you can come to Chen Cang with me and continue waiting for the Lord!"
The lord came over surely to scout the Feudal Town situation. Ji Hong had learned from Su Xingâer that Xia Hong had been active in Cai Qiu for over a year. If he managed to escape from Blood Miasma Plain alive, heâd undoubtedly head to Chen Cang.
Of course, Ji Hong couldnât say these things in front of Cai Shiqin, so he could only use a determined tone to invite Su Xingâer to Chen Cang.
Su Xingâer still appeared flustered but, seeing the certainty in Ji Hongâs eyes, after pondering for a bit, she nodded.
Zhenyuan Camp already confirmed that their master wouldnât return. Staying in Cai Qiu served them no purpose. Ji Hong clearly had deep ties with the master, so following him to Chen Cang might offer hope.
Seeing that Su Xingâer decided to leave, Cai Shiqin was naturally full of reluctance. Despite only being close for a year, she had genuinely considered Su Xingâer a sister, their bond forged through life-and-death trials in the Trial Zone last year.
But despite the reluctance, she understood that Su Xingâer couldnât remain, given her attachment to her master and Ji Hongâs confidence.
Thus, Cai Shiqin reluctantly prepared to send her off tearfully.
On the night of April 5th, Su Xingâer packed her belongings, bid farewell to her close friend Cai Shiqin, and followed Ji Hong out of Zhenyuan Camp, heading towards Chen Cang Yanling County.
Unbeknownst to them, just as the five left, someone received a message at the main tent of Zhenyuan Camp.
"Greetings to the Lord Governor, greetings to Admiral. Su Xingâer and the siblings, along with Ji Hong, have all left the camp. Ji Hongâs attitude was exceptionally resolute, not believing that Hong Yu has perished in Blood Miasma Plain. Judging from their intentions, they should be heading to Chen Cang Yanling County to continue waiting for Hong Yuâs news."
In the main tent, sat a middle-aged man in a yellow brocade robe, robust and broad-faced, surrounded by a faint yellow light. Before him was a massive dark ruler, one and a half meters long and half a meter wide, with a thickness of twenty centimeters, attached to a silver handle, clearly a weapon.
On the lower left stood another middle-aged man, arms and chest all wrapped in white cloth. He was none other than Fan Qinghu, the Silver Scale Army admiral of Caiqiu who had previously entered Blood Miasma Plain with Xia Hong.
"Alright, you may withdraw first!"
Fan Qinghu waved away the reporting soldier below, his tone somewhat weak. Watching the soldier leave, he respectfully turned to the higher seat, bowing, "My Lord, Hong Yu must be dead. In hindsight, before we entered Blood Miasma Plain last year, that Thousand Face had its eyes on us. Such a situation had never occurred before. According to subordinateâs opinion, itâs likely that Hong Yu brought over that Thousand Face..."