CHAPTER 601: CHAPTER 601: A BEAUTIFUL COUNTERATTACK (PART 1)

For one hour, two hours, from deep night to daybreak, these two to three hours felt excruciatingly long for Ouyang Chenchen.

During this time, she dared not even blink, her gaze fixed on the still waters of Ruo Gully.

She was hoping to see Feng Bailing emerge, but time and again, she was disappointed.

Day was gradually breaking, and Ouyang Chenchen couldn’t wait any longer. Stamping her foot, she prepared to jump into Ruo Gully, consequences be damned.

"If I remember correctly, you can’t swim, can you?"

A hand pressed down on Ouyang Chenchen’s shoulder.

"Don’t hold me back, I need to save Bai Ling."

Ouyang Chenchen was now regretting her decision profoundly; she should not have let Bai Ling go down there alone.

Laughter burst from behind her. Ouyang Chenchen was startled and turned to see two people standing there—it was Feng Bailing and Zhang Dafa!

Zhang Dafa was injured, yet he appeared to be in good spirits.

Seeing Zhang Dafa and Feng Bailing, Ouyang Chenchen leapt with joy.

"Bai Ling, Brother Zhang, how did you... Wait, that’s not right, how did you...?"

Ouyang Chenchen wondered, looking at Feng Bailing and Zhang Dafa, not knowing from where they had appeared.

It turns out that after Feng Bailing had broken through the Five Elements Barrier, the secret passages of the Underground Maze were opened, allowing her and Zhang Dafa to make their way out and successfully escape Ruo Gully.

After hearing the whole account from Feng Bailing, Ouyang Chenchen couldn’t help but feel emotional.

"This Nan Huo you speak of, I’ve heard of him too; he was once the State Preceptor of Yong Country, but I heard he disappeared many years ago. He’s actually my teacher’s junior brother. It’s hard to believe that he died trapped beneath Ruo Gully."

"Humans’ greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant; had he not been fixated on the legacy of the late Senior Tian Jizi, he would not have met his end in a foreign land."

Feng Bailing shook her head with regret. When she came out, she had also brought Nan Huo’s remains with her. She planned to hand over the remains to Mr. Nan Chen for proper disposition, out of consideration for their being fellow disciples, Mr. Nan Chen would likely handle it appropriately.

Zhang Dafa was unharmed, and both Feng Bailing and Ouyang Chenchen were thrilled, talking and laughing together.

However, Zhang Dafa’s brows were furrowed with worry. Although they had escaped, thinking about the losses of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce filled him with guilt. Even though he had managed to get away, the Soldier Inn and Underworld Market were hot on his heels.

Even if he managed to flee Qinghai City, with the influence of the Underworld Market, his days ahead would likely be far from peaceful.

He was afraid his presence would bring trouble to Feng Bailing and the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. Feng Bailing saw his concerns.

"Brother Zhang, don’t worry. The Underworld Market has also gotten itself into big trouble this time. As for the Soldier Inn, I have a method to make Yue Shan pay a fitting price."

Feng Bailing whispered something into Zhang Dafa’s ear, leaving his face a picture of disbelief.

Feng Bailing patted his shoulder.

"Just do as I’ve said."

At dawn, within the Qinghai City Soldier Inn, the King of Soldiers Yue Shan was at his wits’ end.

Starting from last night, Xiao Junci, the Crown Prince couple of Great Chu, and Changsun Rou from the Underworld Market had arrived at the Soldier Inn. The group had been arguing non-stop all night, each insisting they were right: they discussed the merchandise, Monkey Wine, and the Heavenly Weapon they had ordered.

Both Beiqi and Great Chu firmly accused the Underworld Market of lacking business integrity, of deceiving them with counterfeit goods, and almost leading them to their deaths.

The leaders of both countries demanded that the Underworld Market return tenfold their losses and also demanded an apology. Xiao Junci and the Dongfang couple had brought Purple Ginseng and wine.

Upon inspection, Yue Shan found that both items were worthless.

"Miss Zhangsun, this is a difficult situation to resolve. Purple Ginseng and Monkey Wine were both purchased from you, and I heard there were quite a few witnesses at that time. Now that both items have turned out to be junk, both countries are very dissatisfied. Perhaps you might consider compensating them some amount to settle this matter?"

Yue Shan took Changsun Rou aside, speaking with a tone that sought to calm the situation.

Changsun Rou was mortified.

"Manager Yue, this isn’t about the silver. It’s that our Underworld Market has never sold counterfeit goods. If I compensate them, wouldn’t that imply that our Market is indeed at fault? Then other customers would also claim compensation, and our Market’s reputation would be completely ruined."

Changsun Rou had also checked the Purple Ginseng and Monkey Wine, and indeed there was a problem—the wine was as diluted as water, and the ginseng was like rotten wood, utterly ineffective as a medicine.

But given the size and wealth of the Underworld Market, Changsun Rou absolutely refused to admit any wrongdoing.

"If you don’t offer compensation, the two nations won’t let the matter rest. If this escalates, I won’t be able to cover for you."

Yue Shan was also displeased. Although he had received a Heavenly Weapon from Changsun Rou, to help deal with the affairs of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, that was only in relation to the Chamber’s matters. Now, with two nations in constant dispute and the Soldier Inn caught in between, it was endlessly annoying to Yue Shan.

He was too lazy to manage Changsun Rou’s affairs.

Changsun Rou, sensing Yue Shan’s attitude, inwardly cursed him as an old scoundrel taking advantage of the situation. She would have been generous in the past, but now with the disappearance of the Heavenly Iron and the inability to deliver the Heavenly Weapon, coupled with the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s situation, the Underworld Market’s business in Qinghe City had also taken a big hit.

She could no longer produce more silver. For the moment, all three parties were at a stalemate, and the atmosphere became even tenser.

Just then, several mercenaries from the Soldier Inn hurried in.

Their faces wore expressions of panic, and upon entering, they said,

"Report to Manager, something terrible has happened."

Yue Shan, already troubled, saw that these mercenaries were the ones tasked with guarding the city gates.

At this time, day had just broken, and it was time to open the gates.

Yue Shan, who hadn’t slept all night, was even more irritable, and said in displeasure,

"What nonsense are you spouting so early in the morning; are you seeing ghosts? Can’t you see I’m busy?"

"The carts are held, there are many Red Scorpions, the Red Scorpions are about to breach the city."

The mercenaries stuttered out their report.

Red Scorpions?

Upon hearing this, everyone including Changsun Rou, Xiao Junci, and the couple Dongfang Yu were shocked.

What was happening?

The Red Scorpion Empress was already exterminated, and the remaining Red Scorpions in the desert were mere remnants. How could they suddenly be sieging Qinghe City?

At daybreak, at the gates of Qinghe City.

Several mercenaries guarding the gates looked towards the entrance in horror, none daring to step out.

Outside Qinghe City, indeed, there was a large gathering of Red Scorpions.

These Red Scorpions were led by Xiao Hong herself, surrounding Qinghe City.

Not only that, but there was also a tall and burly man standing with the scorpions.

Seeing that the situation was amiss, the mercenaries at the gates had already shut them tightly, and the city’s citizens were all wearing faces of terror.

Watching the restless scorpions, eager to invade the city, and seeing the ugly and fierce Eating Immortals, the citizens were all clamoring, demanding the Soldier Inn to step in.

By the time Yue Shan and the others arrived at the city gates, they saw the scene unfolding before them.

Upon spotting the burly man, Yue Shan was taken aback.

Wasn’t that Zhang Dafa from the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce? He wasn’t dead!