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, he’s 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.
"Let’s just wait here peacefully! Princess Shiqin just said she will stay here as well. As soon as there’s news, she’ll notify us right away. Lord Hong will definitely return safely."
Su Xing’er could only nod upon hearing Ji Hong’s comfort.
Besides waiting, she truly couldn’t do anything else. However, Ji Hong’s 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 wouldn’t be allowed to stay easily. But since Master Hong Yu’s death wasn’t confirmed, along with connections from Cai Shiqin, the five of them weren’t 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 didn’t receive any news of Master Hong Yu.
Such endless waiting certainly drove Su Xing’er and the siblings deeper into despair, to the point they entertained thoughts of dying. If not for Ji Hong’s 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 didn’t see the corpse himself, it’s estimated..."
Facing Su Xing’er’s desperate look, Cai Shiqin couldn’t bring herself to say the ominous words.
Even Ji Hong, who had been patiently comforting the siblings, couldn’t 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 didn’t see Lord Hong’s corpse with his own eyes, right?"
Cai Shiqin nodded, initially wanting to say more. But seeing hope rise anew in Su Xing’er’s eyes, she immediately fell silent.
"Lord will be fine, absolutely fine!"
After a moment of doubt, Ji Hong’s expression rapidly turned resolute, then he turned to Su Xing’er 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 Xing’er that Xia Hong had been active in Cai Qiu for over a year. If he managed to escape from Blood Miasma Plain alive, he’d undoubtedly head to Chen Cang.
Of course, Ji Hong couldn’t say these things in front of Cai Shiqin, so he could only use a determined tone to invite Su Xing’er to Chen Cang.
Su Xing’er still appeared flustered but, seeing the certainty in Ji Hong’s eyes, after pondering for a bit, she nodded.
Zhenyuan Camp already confirmed that their master wouldn’t 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 Xing’er decided to leave, Cai Shiqin was naturally full of reluctance. Despite only being close for a year, she had genuinely considered Su Xing’er a sister, their bond forged through life-and-death trials in the Trial Zone last year.
But despite the reluctance, she understood that Su Xing’er couldn’t remain, given her attachment to her master and Ji Hong’s confidence.
Thus, Cai Shiqin reluctantly prepared to send her off tearfully.
On the night of April 5th, Su Xing’er 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 Xing’er and the siblings, along with Ji Hong, have all left the camp. Ji Hong’s 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 Yu’s 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 subordinate’s opinion, it’s likely that Hong Yu brought over that Thousand Face..."
