Gu Sui’s hand gripping the teacup tightened: “That day outside the capital, I was closest to Mu Jingyao. I’ve chased her all this way and still haven’t caught up. If I go back and someone else is sent, Mu Jingyao will likely be long gone without a trace.”

“But you also understand, if there’s no trace of Mu Jingyao in Liangzhou City, then it can only be Chaoyang City. The Lord doesn’t want you to enter such a dangerous place.”

Of course Gu Sui knew, but firstly he didn’t want to return to the capital where Mu Jiulu’s presence was everywhere, and secondly he wanted to personally find Mu Jingyao for revenge. So even knowing it was dangerous, he still wouldn’t turn back.

“Don’t worry, I can feel it. My martial arts are still recovering, now at about 70-80%. I can still protect myself.”

The reason Gu Sui had the confidence to chase to the border and say “a general in the field may sometimes disobey orders” was because of the abundant internal energy in his dantian.

Yun Mu: “Young master, have you remembered some things from before? I noticed that on the battlefield, you become cold and indifferent like you used to be.”

Gu Sui was slightly startled, he hadn’t realized this: “Really?”

Yun Mu nodded and said with a smile.

“Yes, Sui Yu and I were worried you might become like before again. But when not killing enemies, you still joke with Zheng Wan and the others. This kind of young master is better, more like a living person.”

Gu Sui lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow on his eyes.

“Then what was I like before?”

Yun Mu’s heart skipped a beat: “Young master, I misspoke. Please don’t mind it. The young master from before was also very good, it’s just that now is even better.”

Gu Sui smiled, reassuring the uneasy Yun Mu: “Don’t worry, I’m not blaming you.”

Boom–

Just as Yun Mu breathed a sigh of relief, a violent rumbling came from not far away, even causing the ground to tremble slightly, kicking up clouds of dust.

Yun Mu quickly steadied himself, drawing his sword to guard in front of Gu Sui. Gu Sui’s eyes sharpened.

“Go see what happened.”

“Yes.”

A quarter hour later.

“Young master, it’s Chaoyang City.”

Gu Sui frowned: “What happened to Chaoyang City? Did the Western Regions break through?”

Yun Mu shook his head: “No, the Western Regions and Dong State are still in a stalemate at the border. They were also surprised by this tremor. The conflict should be internal to Chaoyang City.

As for the specific situation, Zheng Wan has personally infiltrated Chaoyang City to investigate. The earliest we’ll have news is tomorrow.”

Gu Sui rested his chin on one hand, his expression somewhat grave.

“Do you think it could be caused by Mu Jingyao?”

Such a big disturbance, how many more tricks does Mu Jingyao have up her sleeve?

“Chaoyang City is a mix of all sorts, with all kinds of vicious people. Conflicts happen every day. Young master, you needn’t worry too much.”

Yun Mu tried to persuade him, but Gu Sui was still uneasy.

“What kind of conflict would be big enough to be felt all the way in Liangzhou? Pass down the order to prepare for battle.”

The Gu family troops were always in a state of readiness for war. Gu Sui was still waiting for a report when Zheng Wan, who had infiltrated Chaoyang City, returned at dusk the next day.

“Young General! There’s been a coup in Chaoyang City!”

Gu Sui’s peach blossom eyes narrowed. Before he could speak, someone had already incredulously refuted.

“Chaoyang City has always been lawless, with various forces mixed together. They don’t even have a recognized government. How can there be a coup?”

Zheng Wan took a deep breath: “There wasn’t before, but now there is.”

Gu Sui: “What do you mean?”

“There’s a Qianjin Tower on South Street in Chaoyang City. It’s a gambling house that established a foothold in Chaoyang City six years ago. Although in the remote southern part of the city, few in the city dare to provoke them.

Yesterday, the people of Qianjin Tower sent out banquet invitations to everyone in the city. After people arrived, they took down their own sign and put up a new one that said ‘City Lord’s Mansion’.”

Those present all exclaimed in surprise: “City Lord?”

Zheng Wan nodded: “Yes, the people behind Qianjin Tower have stepped forward, declaring that from now on Chaoyang City has a City Lord, and Qianjin Tower is the future City Lord’s Mansion. Naturally some people objected, but…”

“But what? Hurry up and say it!”

Zheng Wan seemed to recall something terrifying and hesitated to speak. Gu Sui’s heart sank.

Zheng Wan was the most outstanding vice general in the Gu family troops. Anything that could make her hesitate must be troublesome.

“In front of the City Lord’s Mansion, anyone who stood out to oppose, their residences and shops in the city were immediately blown up into ruins.”

“Hiss”

Everyone drew in a sharp breath, listening as Zheng Wan continued.

“At first some people still didn’t believe it and stood out one after another, but they were all blown up in succession.

On the prosperous West Street, at least dozens of forces that used to run rampant in Chaoyang City were wiped out overnight.”

“Do you know what this means?”

Zheng Wan asked the silent soldiers in the hall. Gu Sui’s hand on the table clenched into a fist. After a long silence, he spoke, breaking the oppressive quiet in the hall.

“It means that every stronghold in Chaoyang City has explosives planted by the City Lord’s Mansion.”

This Qianjin Tower used firepower to suppress and occupied Chaoyang City within two days, leaving the three armies unable to respond.

Not counting Gu Sui’s memories, Gu Sui had been here for over half a year and knew well that this was currently an era where cold weapons dominated. The application of gunpowder was extremely limited, and it hadn’t even appeared on the battlefield yet.

However now, such powerful explosives had appeared in Chaoyang City. For warriors wielding swords and sabers, this was directly a dimensional strike.

Even an army of tens of thousands, if the opponent’s firepower was strong enough, would be no different from ants.

What’s more terrifying is that in these six years, no one knew how much explosive Qianjin Tower had actually stored.

Gu Sui’s heart sank to the bottom.

No one here understood more clearly than him just how great the destructive power of such weapons was. At this point, he couldn’t possibly lead the Gu family troops to their deaths.

But he was unwilling to give up on capturing Mu Jingyao alive!

Gu Sui waved his hand to dismiss the people in the hall, asked for paper and pen to write and draw, furrowing his brow as he pondered countermeasures.

He knew the ratio for gunpowder, but he didn’t understand the specific refined production process. This wasn’t his area of expertise!

He could make simple gunpowder if he gathered the raw materials, but its power would likely be no match for what Qianjin Tower had researched for years.

Gu Sui felt extremely frustrated for a moment.

“Young master.”

Early the next morning, Sui Yu knocked and entered. Gu Sui, who hadn’t slept all night, had bloodshot eyes and disheveled hair.

Sui Yu was somewhat worried: “Young master, are you alright?”

Gu Sui’s voice was a bit hollow: “I’m fine, what is it?”

Sui Yu handed over the letter in his hand: “Young master, an invitation from the City Lord’s Mansion in Chaoyang City. It was delivered to the government office this morning.”

Gu Sui sat up straight at once, rubbing his sore eyes.

“An invitation from the City Lord’s Mansion, what are they planning?”

Gu Sui opened the letter and read it carefully, his lips pressed tightly together.

“This newly appointed City Lord is inviting me over for a chat?”

“Young master, you mustn’t go! Chaoyang City was already very dangerous, now it’s even more unpredictable. You can’t go.”

Gu Sui handed the invitation to him: “But she says she has Mu Jingyao’s whereabouts and is willing to give it to me as a gift, to establish good relations.”

Sui Yu frowned deeply: “On what grounds is she doing this? Young master, there must be a trap!”

Gu Sui also lowered his eyes and pondered: “Indeed, on what grounds? Why does she so want to invite me over? What is she after?”