CHAPTER 420: CHAPTER 202: THREE GUNSHOTS

Uprising.

This wasn’t the first time Li Xian had heard this word.

But he had never imagined this word would be used against him.

Perhaps, in essence, the so-called "uprising" is merely a prettified form of betrayal.

But who can say with certainty that all betrayals in this world are wrong?

After talking with He Shuo, Li Xian kept pondering this question over and over.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t give himself a definitive answer.

So, he could only try to convince himself to wait a little longer, to observe a little more, and to give things a bit more time.

What if the situation changes?

What if it isn’t necessary to go down that path?

The hope was faint, but not entirely hopeless, right?

After leaving He Shuo’s temporary residence, Li Xian returned to his own place.

He was worried that the Supreme Army sent by the Holy Hall to "oversee" the battle might question his whereabouts, but in reality, no one cared about his movements.

Their sole task seemed to be ensuring that the Church Protection Army in Han Shui City would follow the plan and head out to fight the monsters.

As for what he, the bishop, was supposed to do, it held no significance for them.

It’s sad.

Li Xian vaguely realized that he had already become a discarded piece.

Just as He Shuo had said, even if he executed the Holy Hall’s orders meticulously, as long as he lost his only source of power—the Church Protection Army in Han Shui City—eventually, he would be expelled from the core of the Mechanical God Sect’s power.

The only difference was between "being treated with dignity" and "being treated without dignity."

Thinking about this, Li Xian couldn’t help but sigh.

He pushed open his door, reaching to find the switch for the lights.

After pulling it, he found the light did not come on.

Only then did he recall that he, the newly appointed Speaker of Han Shui City and the bishop of the Mechanical God Sect, could not even keep a battery.

All generators and batteries had been requisitioned by the Supreme Army, with most sent to Jinling to fulfill the Saint’s "great plan of power restoration."

The few left behind were taken by the Supreme Army for their own use.

Now, accustomed to using electric lights, he could only light candles like other commoners.

----But what’s more absurd is that he never even stocked candles at home.

Not needing them anyway, who would keep such a thing?

Bumbling forward, he tried to find his bed to simply sleep and wait for daylight.

But it was then that a mocking voice suddenly came from the darkness.

"Falling from the top of power doesn’t feel good, does it?"

"Who?"

Li Xian cautiously reached for the gun at his waist, and the man in the dark spoke again:

"Don’t be tense, it’s me."

"Zhou Yan."

"Zhou Yan?"

Li Xian instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why did you come back? Weren’t you leading people north?"

"It’s unnecessary now."

Zhou Yan casually lit the candle in his hand, illuminating Li Xian as he sat at the table Li Xian had unsuccessfully groped for, then said:

"The entire northwest has been completely swallowed by the Beast Tide; a large number of monsters are gathering."

"A few days ago, we could still organize hunting squads to seize the chance to surround and kill a few isolated monsters, but now it is entirely impossible."

"The number of monsters is too large, and their distribution is too dense."

"Even if our actions manage to kill one or two, we’re utterly blocked from retreat by monsters arriving soon after."

"So, we’re not planning to take risks anymore."

"The Holy Father has issued new orders. All Holy Blood members are to abandon all previously assigned tasks and move toward Jinling New City."

"If they encounter cities willing to follow in migration, assist the local populace in moving."

"If unwilling, or if there’s no time, after leaving a reasonable number of personnel for defense, they can choose to... set aside."

"So, I’m here to say my final farewell to you."

"We’re heading to Jinling New City."

"After the Beast Tide, we might not have the chance to meet again."

"Though our positions differ, I must tell you, you are indeed a person to be respected."

"....Understood."

Li Xian nodded slowly.

After a few silent seconds, he spoke:

"Leaving a reasonable number of personnel for defense actually means it’s unnecessary to leave personnel for defense."

"So Han Shui City, in reality, has already been abandoned, right?"

"Correct."

Zhou Yan answered without hesitation, and upon receiving the answer, Li Xian seemed to make a certain resolution and suddenly said:

"You don’t have to leave."

"Why?"

Zhou Yan asked doubtfully:

"Surely you don’t believe you can rely on your power alone to fend off the Beast Tide?"

"It’s not a few, not even a dozen monsters; according to our reconnaissance in the northwest, the Beast Tide currently numbers more than 400."

"And these four hundred monsters are ultimately headed to Jinling New City."

"They might not pass directly through Han Shui City, but based on surrounding terrain and monster activity trajectories, at least some of them will pass through Han Shui City in a ’dispersed’ manner."

"Even if it’s just..."

"No."

Li Xian interrupted Zhou Yan and then said:

"I don’t mean to drag you along with me to hold Han Shui City."

"I mean we can have the Huaxia Army help us hold Han Shui City."

"...Good idea, but unrealistic."

Zhou Yan shook his head.