Chapter 2474: Chapter 2474
After over a year of preparation, Ye Liuyun’s soldiers had significantly improved in strength, equipment, and resources, filling him with greater confidence in resisting the alien invaders.
The Sacred Dynasty hadn’t been idle either. They had deployed numerous defensive formations on the satellite islands.
Feiyan and her team had also made some upgrades. However, due to limitations in their crafting materials, no matter how much they improved, they couldn’t produce more than a handful of warships with defenses comparable to the Falcon-class. While their attack power and speed had seen some enhancements, they still paled in comparison to the Falcon. As for the large warships, they hadn’t made any modifications at all.
In contrast, Ye Liuyun’s forces had even upgraded their large warships, incorporating the core energies of small islands as power sources. This boosted their offensive capabilities, defenses, and speed significantly.
Around this time, Mo Sha, Mo Shaowen, and others sent word that the aliens were preparing to launch a new offensive. Without delay, Ye Liuyun returned to the Sacred Land and headed straight for the satellite islands.
The identity badge he had previously obtained, along with the Black Killers’ insignia, had long been destroyed by him. The communication talismans he left for the royal family, the Black Killers, and You Ming were all provided by him—none contained tracking functions, so he had no fear of being discovered.
Yet, to his surprise, shortly after his return, he received a message from You Ming.
Before, when Ye Liuyun was away from the Sacred Land, any attempts to contact him had failed. But You Ming had made it a habit to reach out daily, just to confirm his whereabouts. Now that her message had finally gone through, she immediately knew he was back.
Over the past six months, the Black Killers had subjected her to intensive training, assigning her special mentors to teach her how to deceive Ye Liuyun. They had even drilled her on the subtlest details—her gaze, her tone of voice—leaving nothing to chance.
Though she still harbored lingering feelings for Ye Liuyun, the Black Killers’ relentless indoctrination about the necessity of eliminating him had worn her down. She played her part in their scheme flawlessly and promptly reported his return to Xiao Qiwu.
"Good. Lure him into headquarters as planned, and your mission will be complete!" Xiao Qiwu had waited a full year for Ye Liuyun’s return. Now that the moment had finally arrived, he couldn’t contain his excitement.
Following her training, Youming reached out to Ye Liuyun for help, claiming that Black Kill’s surveillance over her had loosened and pleading for his rescue.
Had Ye Liuyun not received Mo Sha’s warning earlier, he might have believed her. But he played along, feigning helplessness. "All my identification tokens are destroyed," he replied. "I can’t return to Black Kill, let alone save you. Try contacting Kuang Sha, Tian Yan, or Yi Dao instead."
His words were deliberate—a subtle nudge, hoping Youming would investigate the trio and realize they were already dead. Perhaps then, the truth would dawn on her.
The idea of seeking help from Kuang Sha and the others did cross Youming’s mind. But when she proposed it to Xiao Qiwu, he flatly refused. Suspicion flared within her. She attempted to reach the three herself, only to find all contact severed.
Confronting Xiao Qiwu, she demanded answers. Reluctantly, he admitted, "I killed them."
"Why? What did they have to do with anything?" Guilt and regret twisted inside her—she blamed herself for their deaths. At the same time, doubts about Xiao Qiwu’s true motives resurfaced.
To him, the matter wasn’t worth explaining. His only concern was ensuring Youming didn’t soften toward Ye Liuyun. "Three deaths mean nothing," he snapped. "Ye Liuyun has slaughtered hundreds of thousands! That demon doesn’t deserve your mercy!"
Furious, Youming shot back without thinking, "At least he kills openly, unlike your underhanded ways!" The moment the words left her mouth, the realization struck—Xiao Qiwu’s actions reeked of ulterior motives.
His face darkened with rage. "You insolent brat! Is that how you speak to your elder? Have you grown so bold that you’d betray your own kin?" His voice dripped with venom. "We’re assassins—don’t pretend you’ve never spilled blood. Or have you forgotten? You’re the one who gave me their details!"
Youming watched as Xiao Qiwu berated her, but instead of feeling fear, she suddenly became certain—Xiao Qiwu had been using her all along.
*How could I have been so foolish to trust them?* she thought bitterly. *Royalty would never care about something as trivial as feelings!*
Noticing her distraction, Xiao Qiwu stopped his scolding. After all, he still needed Youming’s help to lure Ye Liuyun out—without her, he had no way of drawing the man into his trap.
"Forget it," he said dismissively. "Go back and find a way to contact Ye Liuyun."
Youming turned and left the grand hall without another word. Once she returned, she immediately reached out to Ye Liuyun, breaking down in tears as she confessed how she had unwittingly caused the deaths of Kuangsha and the others.
To her surprise, Ye Liuyun seemed almost relieved. At least she had realized her mistake—better late than never.
He then shared his own perspective on the situation.
"Xiao Qiwu’s plan is simple: seize my resources, overthrow the royal family, crown himself king, and then turn his forces against the alien invaders. From his standpoint, it’s a logical strategy. The problem is, he refuses to consider cooperation. Maybe he’ll change his mind after suffering a few defeats—but right now, neither the Black Killers nor the royals truly grasp the threat the aliens pose. They don’t see them as the real enemy."
He sighed. "No amount of persuasion from me will convince them. They need to witness the aliens’ power for themselves. I’ve tried proposing alliances. I’ve tried threats. Now, all we can do is wait and hope they come to their senses."
"But what if they never do?" Youming asked.
"Most people don’t learn until they’ve paid the price for their mistakes," Ye Liuyun replied with a shrug. "But honestly? It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t *need* their cooperation anymore."
"I heard the Sacred Dynasty might be open to an alliance with you," Youming offered hesitantly.
Ye Liuyun chuckled. "The Black Killers *also* claimed they wanted an alliance. But look at their actions—does that seem like the behavior of allies?"
Youming had to admit he had a point. With a heavy sigh, she murmured, "They say the aliens are preparing another attack. Their forces will arrive in just a few months. I don’t know if our people can hold them off. If they fail... it’ll be the common folk who suffer the most."
Ye Liuyun’s expression darkened. "How can they hope to win when they can’t even unite against a common enemy? Against small alien forces, maybe. But if the invaders come in full strength? I doubt they’ll last long."
A flicker of fear crossed Youming’s face. "If the aliens break through and reach the Sacred Lands... will you step in to help?"
"That depends on their attitude," he said coolly. "If they still refuse an alliance, how can I join the fight? Should I waste my own resources and soldiers battling the aliens while watching my back for their betrayal? Do I look that stupid to you?"
His voice turned grim. "I’ve made it clear to Xiao Qiwu and the royals—my actions will be determined by their choices. Right now, the aliens aren’t invading *my* world. They’re invading *theirs*."
