Chapter 422: Seven Dead
“I just returned and intended to check on you and your mother. After all, when you left before, I wasn’t able to send anyone to escort you, which left me worried. But when I arrived in Luo City, I heard about what was happening outside the city, so I rushed over with my men.”
“So you’re saying you came here to help us?”
Yu Luo’s voice remained cold as she questioned him. Yu Zhengqing took a deep breath, knowing that the resentment Yu Luo held toward him was not something that could be easily dissolved. But he could only try his best.
“Xiao Luo, it seems my worries were unnecessary. Since you are unharmed, I will visit another time. I still have things I need to explain to you regarding what happened last time, and I would also like to personally apologize to your mother.”
With that, Yu Zhengqing waved his hand, leading his people away.
Watching them leave, Yu Luo swallowed back the words she had been about to say.
She didn’t care for his apology. Her mother didn’t need it either. Wouldn’t it be better if they just remained strangers?
But why did he leave so quickly? Was he afraid of being rejected by her again?
“Xiao Luo!”
As Yu Zhengqing disappeared, Yu Luo was momentarily lost in thought. A familiar voice pulled her back, and she lifted her gaze toward the source.
The moment she saw who it was, her expression changed, surprise flashing in her eyes.
Ye Lü, Chi Jinchen, and a large crowd of their subordinates stood before her.
“Good heavens, did all of you come?!”
“Miss Yu, upon learning that you had left the city, our master immediately gathered thousands of men and rushed over. But upon arriving here, we realized that our worries were unnecessary. Miss Yu, you are truly formidable! There was nothing we could do to help at all.”
“So noisy.”
Xuan Qi was excitedly speaking, and though he was usually reserved, he seemed eager to make sure Ye Lü’s men didn’t take all the credit in front of Yu Luo.
But just as he had proudly spoken a whole string of words, his master coolly dismissed him with a look of disdain.
Xuan Qi quickly shut his mouth, feeling utterly speechless.
Yu Luo, however, gave Chi Jinchen a grateful smile and clasped her hands together in a respectful bow.
“I appreciate your concern.”
“Xiao Luo, there is no need for such formalities. Don’t listen to Xuan Qi’s nonsense. You did this for Luo City, and so did I.”
Xuan Qi: …
Chi Jinchen spoke calmly, his warm smile carrying a hint of amusement as he casually dismissed the notion that he had worried for her. The subordinates standing behind them couldn’t bear to watch anymore.
“Xiao Luo, did I arrive too late? It seems like I wasn’t able to help at all.”
Ye Lü’s voice interrupted the brief moment of tension between Yu Luo and Chi Jinchen, breaking the somewhat awkward atmosphere.
Seeing Ye Lü’s self-reproachful expression, Yu Luo suddenly felt that perhaps Chi Jinchen shouldn’t have stopped Xuan Qi from speaking earlier.
“You all came at the right time. Knowing that you were willing to come to my aid already means a lot to me. Fortunately, I was able to control these beasts before things became irreversible. Let’s all return to the city first.”
Yu Luo’s heart was already boiling with fury from what she had learned from the beasts. She had more pressing matters to attend to and didn’t want to drag others into this.
If she revealed that the beasts had been intentionally let into the city by Feng City’s people—who had spent ten days gradually weakening a section of the city wall—then Ye Lü and Chi Jinchen would undoubtedly insist on going to Feng City with her.
At that point, Feng City wouldn’t just see her and Luo City as enemies; they would also target Ye Lü and Chi Jinchen.
Even though Chi Jinchen’s identity was mysterious, the fact that he was raising a private army meant that he needed to avoid unnecessary conflicts. If she were to jeopardize his grand plans, she would be at fault.
As for Ye Lü, the situation was even more delicate. He was already a relatively powerless prince in Dongfeng. If he provoked Feng City, even his status as a royal might not protect him.
“Xiao Luo, aren’t you coming back?”
Ye Lü was puzzled. The crisis had been resolved, so wasn’t it time for everyone to return to the city together?
“I still have some matters to attend to. You should all head back first.”
She turned to Luo Yi.
“Find my father and take him back with you. I’m going to inspect the city wall.”
“Understood, Miss.”
“Xiao Luo, the city wall is sturdy. There’s no way these beasts broke through it on their own. If my guess is correct, someone deliberately weakened it to let them in.”
Chi Jinchen hadn’t left yet. His calm voice carried a hint of warning.
Yu Luo, of course, already knew this. Even if she hadn’t heard it directly from the beasts, she had already suspected Feng City. The only issue was the lack of concrete evidence.
Now that she had sent the beasts straight toward Feng City, she had no qualms about what was to come.
“Thank you for the warning, Master Chi. I already have an idea of who’s behind this. You should return first. If you stay, I won’t be able to enjoy the show.”
Chi Jinchen was a smart man. From Yu Luo’s words alone, he could guess why the flying beasts had all headed toward Feng City.
Considering Yu Luo’s ability to command tens of thousands of beasts, he had nothing to worry about.
“Very well. Be careful, and don’t be reckless. Know when to stop.”
Yu Luo smiled and nodded, giving him and Ye Lü a respectful salute.
Ye Lü, however, still hesitated. Chi Jinchen cast him a sidelong glance.
“Master Ye, it would be best if you don’t stay behind and ruin Xiao Luo’s plans.”
“You?!”
“Even I know my limits, Master Ye. You shouldn’t force Xiao Luo to say it outright.”
With that, Chi Jinchen gracefully stepped away, his figure disappearing into the distance as his subordinates followed closely behind.
Watching them leave, Ye Lü was furious.
“Xiao Luo, was he calling me thick-skinned?”
“Mm. Now go back. I really have urgent matters to handle.”
Seeing that Ye Lü was stubbornly pressing for an answer, Yu Luo decided to be blunt.
At her words, A Zan, who had been standing beside them, couldn’t help but burst into laughter. This only made Ye Lü glare at him in frustration.
“Xiao Luo, you’re really too straightforward. Fine, I’ll head back to the city and wait for you.”
Finally, everyone had left, and only Luo City’s soldiers remained.
“What are the casualties?”
“Miss, we lost seven brothers, and over a hundred were injured.”
Seven deaths. While it didn’t seem like a large number, Yu Luo still felt a pang of sorrow.
If these men had died fighting Feng City’s soldiers, it would have been understandable. But to be killed by beasts—it was an insult.
“Feng City, I won’t forget this debt.”
Taking a deep breath, Yu Luo turned to Zhang Hu.
“Take our fallen brothers back for a proper burial. If we can find their families, give each household a thousand taels of silver to ensure they are taken care of.”
(End of Chapter 422)
