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The atmosphere in the Government Office hall instantly became icy cold!

It was as if the air had frozen at that moment, turning the complexions of everyone inside, including those without transcendental abilities like the Provincial Governor, ashen; they felt as though even breathing became incredibly difficult!

Clearly, when a top Magician and one of the strongest Warriors of Great Jin confronted each other, the pressure was unbearable even without them showing a trace of their power, especially for ordinary people.

Seeing several civil officials in the hall struggling to breathe, Zhou Hanyang had no choice but to toughen up and stand between the two men...

"Educational Governor, please calm down..."

Zhou Hanyang had a very high opinion of Mu Hongqing, especially after a year of interactions, he deeply realized that this was an incredibly capable man. Not only was he a top Magician, but also exceptional in scholarship, administration, and strategic planning.

Since the retreat, almost all planning was undertaken by him; he picked the westernmost Xishui County, which allowed them to catch a breath and stabilize their footing.

He was also the one who decisively ordered his people to retreat, saving the spark of resistance from being reduced to puppets under the Princess Royale’s command, unlike the Golden Dragon Guards.

And over the past year in Xishui County, it was still him who organized the soldiers to help in the countryside, clearing out the living dead, barely restoring agriculture in the surrounding areas, giving the soldiers at least a glimpse of hope for survival.

If Duke of Qin had not come, it could be said that Mu Hongqing’s prestige was even higher than his in the team by now, truly the mainstay.

As the Duke of Qin’s deputy, Zhou Hanyang naturally understood the grudges between Lumings and Mu Hongqing very clearly; their relationship had never been great, and now the Duke’s words were like a fuse that could provoke the man to turn his face at any moment.

Mu Hongqing looked at Zhou Hanyang, who was trying to advise him, expressionless. His eyes swept past and continued to gaze at the Duke of Qin’s position: "Say that again?"

The Duke of Qin looked calmly at Mu Hongqing and said lightly, "I do not mean to provoke you, I am simply stating a fact."

This made even Zhou Hanyang frown; what is the Duke doing? Even if it’s a fact, is that how you should say it?

In this year, he had seldom seen Mu Hongqing reveal any personal emotions, the only few times being when his beloved student Chen Ying came up in conversations, which showed that this man, over forty and still a bachelor, truly saw his disciple as his own daughter.

The Duke of Qin was stepping on his sore spot!

"Is that so?"

As expected, although Mu Hongqing’s expression did not change, the aura around him grew even colder.

Looking indifferently at his father, who no longer shared the same surname, he asked without emotion, "It seems that Lord Duke has spent quite some time under Chen Qing’s power, even managing to get such information. "

Lumings gave a light smile: "I was injured and had to stay there a while longer."

"How leisurely of you, Lord Duke," mocked Mu Hongqing, looking at the Duke. "Only, I wonder if those Black Dragon Guards who were being hunted down by the Princess Royale had the same luxury while you were away?"

"Academic Comissioner!" Zhou Hanyang shouted sternly: "Please watch your words!"

"What’s there to watch?" Mu Hongqing looked coldly at both men: "The fact that the Princess Royale could directly take over Nan Ming Prefecture from the borders of Jiangnan indicates that the thirty thousand Black Dragon Guards led by Lord Duke are gone. Even if there was a betrayal by the Princess Royale, she couldn’t have pushed you, with an army, to such a state. Unless I’m mistaken, our Lord Duke must have been lured away by a scheme beforehand, right? "

Duke of Qin: "...."

"A commander who is incompetent brings disaster upon his entire army; living a wretched survival and still thinking of using the Imperial Army to make a comeback?" Mu Hongqing said with a smile, "I’m curious, Lord Duke, where have you been hiding and recuperating all year? You look quite well. From what I heard through my disciple’s messages, Chen Qing provided rice and rations for the refugees returning to Lyuzhou. You managed to survive up to now by receiving relief food, didn’t you? "

"Academic Comissioner..." Zhou Hanyang was sweating profusely, sensing the imminent fallout.

But he couldn’t help feeling astonished; only he had been privately informed by the Duke himself about the disastrous defeat, and he had not revealed one word to Mu Hongqing.

It was unlikely that the Duke would have happily shared that affair with this illegitimate child, meaning that Mu Hongqing had merely inferred how the Duke’s initial defeat unfolded by observing Lumings’ current circumstances!

He had to admit, the Duke’s illegitimate child was truly formidable...

"Yes..." The Duke of Qin said calmly: "During the year I was injured, I couldn’t do anything and could only mingle with refugees under Chen Qing’s power."

"Hmm, still so shameless!"

"Mu Hongqing!" Zhou Hanyang roared in anger. No matter what, he couldn’t allow Mu Hongqing to insult the Duke right to his face.

"Let it be shameless then..." Lumings stood up: "When I needed to use you to gather intelligence through your own disciple, I stopped caring about face long ago. So the question is... do you do it... or not?"

Mu Hongqing sneered: "Why should I?"

"You are an Imperial Official!" Lumings’ voice turned icy: "If you refuse, it means you have betrayed the Imperial Court!"

"Ha..." Mu Hongqing laughed in disdain: "So, Lord Duke, you come to me with such shamelessness, is it for the sake of the Imperial Court?"

"Of course!"

"Bullshit!" Mu Hongqing’s eyes turned icy in an instant. "You’re definitely not doing this for the Imperial Court. Lumings, others may not know you, but I do. You’re an incredibly selfish man.

You’ve been hiding for so long, yet when your eldest legitimate son’s life and death are unknown in the West Sea, you didn’t care to check on him.

Instead, you’re hasty to seize the Jiangnan Gateway, definitely harboring other motives! "

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Zhou Hanyang quickly interjected. "Duke of Qin, of course, is thinking of recovering Jiangnan from the rebels for the Imperial Court. What other motives could he have? He didn’t go to help Lu Hong in the West Sea simply because he was trapped in the fog and couldn’t find a way out. "

"But now he could..." Mu Hongqing spoke indifferently. "If the Princess Royale can withdraw from Jiangnan and head to the West Sea, it means the fog outside can no longer trap people. He didn’t go because he dares not to. After all, given the current situation, it’s likely that Lu Hong in the West Sea is nearly dead.

Going there would be futile. On the contrary, here, if the Imperial Army comes to the rescue, and with the inner and outer response to take down Nanming Prefecture, and Weichi Peng being a junior, it is highly possible for you to snatch the temporary military power, at the very least, it would enable you to gain a foothold in Jiangnan. .."

"So, I’m quite curious, Duke of Qin, since you’ve even considered such shameless plans as usurping a junior’s military authority, what are you really... plotting?"

Zhou Hanyang was stunned, and although he did not turn around, a flash of alarm appeared in his eyes...

Having dealt with Mu Hongqing for a year, he believed Mu Hongqing was not one to make baseless accusations, and although his words were unpleasant, his analysis was quite rational.

After regaining his mobility, Duke of Qin, Lu Mings, did not immediately go to the West Sea to try and rescue the descendants of the Lu Family. Instead, he used his bloodline sense with Mu Hongqing to locate them, wanting to seize the opportunity to take over Nanming Prefecture!

And just as Mu Hongqing said, if they really could take down Nanming Prefecture in cooperation with the Imperial Court, would he hand over the military power to Weichi Peng?

Given Duke of Qin’s status and reputation, without a special directive from the Imperial Court, Weichi Peng might really yield...

So, does the Lord really have his own schemes?

What schemes... to the extent that he would neglect even the legitimate troops of the West Sea?

"Get out..." Lumings sighed wearily.

Everyone was taken aback, and several civil officials, as if pardoned, quickly stood up to bow and hastily left as if fleeing.

The deputy commanders also made their hasty retreats, only Zhou Hanyang looked at Mu Hongqing worriedly, giving him a look that advised caution, and eventually, he too left the hall.

Mu Hongqing looked coldly at the door and then at Lumings’ position, bursting into a sneer.

He hadn’t noticed initially why Lumings would sit in that position first thing in the morning. It turned out he wanted to block the entrance...

But he might as well think highly of himself, for at such a close distance and under the hand of a warrior of his level, unless Liu Yu was resurrected, who could escape from him?

After everyone had left, Lumings coughed softly, got up to close the main door, turned back to look at the cold-faced Mu Hongqing: "I admit, losing you was a huge loss for the Lu Family. If you had followed me, I guess I would not have been outmaneuvered by Siao Mingyue!"

"Duke of Qin certainly thinks highly of me..." Mu Hongqing responded coldly.

"Kicking you out of the Lu Family was to protect you, otherwise, you wouldn’t have survived..."

"Oh really? Then Duke of Qin is indeed benevolent..." Mu Hongqing mocked. "Can’t even protect your own wife and children, how do you have the face to dally with others?"

"Your mother is not dead!"

Mu Hongqing: "!!!"

"The Dragon Palace has an immortal elixir, which I’ve known of for many years..." Lumings spoke softly: "Therefore, to make amends for past regrets, I must seize this ancient artifact at all costs!"

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"Lord Chen Ying, the talisman stones you requested have been fully prepared. Is there anything else you need?" a tall, imposing vice-commander asked respectfully with a salute.

"Thank you for your efforts." Chen Ying nodded.

"This time, I brought students from the Heaven and Earth Character Courtyards to test the formation studies taught by the Lord. This is also the first achievement of Yin Yang Academy of Lyuzhou’s Heaven and Earth Institutes.

These talisman stones are very important; please take extra care of them. "

"You’re too polite, my Lord. Since it is Lord Chen’s mission, we will naturally exert our full effort. Rest assured, not even a mosquito could get close to those talisman stones."

Chen Ying nodded upon hearing this, about to give some instructions on storing the talisman stones, when her expression suddenly changed.

"My lord?"

"Uh... it’s nothing, let’s continue..."

It took about half an hour for her to ensure everything was in order. She then stepped out of the military tent and onto the open ground outside, looking towards the distant West.

"Master..."

Chen Ying, touching the jade pendant on her waist, had a very complicated expression on her face!