“Which of the eighteen Arhats was killed?”
Meng Qingzhou was stunned when he heard the news, unable to recover his senses for a long time.
The eighteen Arhats were all in the Morning Glow Realm.
Even if surrounded by a million troops, an Arhat could leave whenever they wanted. Moreover, according to Meng Qingzhou’s speculation…
Jiang Canghai’s assault on the Western Buddhist Kingdom was supposed to be a delay tactic, buying time until the Empress could split her forces and successfully annihilate the Northern Sejong Alliance before shifting the main battlefield to the Western Buddhist Kingdom.
But now, Jiang Canghai had killed an Arhat, which meant an unending feud with the Western Buddhist Kingdom.
Su Qingqiu shook her head and said, “I don’t know. It’s said that the Prime Minister hid the Map of Mountains and Rivers in an alternate space and disguised himself as a merchant with a few followers. On the way, they encountered an Arhat blocking their path…”
“Then a great battle erupted, shaking the heavens and earth. Shortly after, the Western Buddhist Kingdom was enraged and issued a proclamation of war, stating that an Arhat had fallen and was killed by Great Jin, summoning all Zen followers within the Buddhist Kingdom to jointly attack the Great Jin army.”
Meng Qingzhou frowned, feeling increasingly puzzled. What was this top strategist of Great Jin thinking?
Turning a delaying war into a full-scale conflict, how could the Prime Minister sustain this?
“Are there any rumors about how many Arhats or Bodhisattvas the Western Buddhist Kingdom has dispatched?” Meng Qingzhou asked.
Su Qingqiu raised one finger and said, “One Arhat.”
One!?
Meng Qingzhou was first taken aback, then suddenly understood.
“No wonder he’s the top strategist of Great Jin. A risky move, but effective. The Prime Minister has figured out the Buddhist Kingdom’s nature.” Meng Qingzhou chuckled.
Wu Die peeled an orange and brought it to Meng Qingzhou’s mouth. “Master, ah… open your mouth.”
“Hey, why do you always tease Master when Her Majesty isn’t around!?” Su Qingqiu angrily kicked at Wu Die, who easily dodged and scolded her telepathically.
Wu Die blinked and replied telepathically, “Little Qingqiu, I’ve already broken through to the late stage of the Mountain Moving Realm. Be careful, or I’ll spank you.”
Meng Qingzhou ate the orange, shaking his head leisurely, and said to himself:
“The Western Buddhist Kingdom hides its head and shows its tail, good at defense but not at offense. The Ten Thousand Mile Buddhist Kingdom hasn’t raised an army for years. They don’t understand military tactics or strategies like ‘the best victory is to defeat the enemy’s plans’ or psychological warfare.”
“Seeing the Prime Minister’s tough stance, they thought Great Jin was desperate and ready for a life-and-death struggle, so they got scared.”
Su Qingqiu’s eyes lit up and she hurriedly asked, “So, does that mean the Buddhist Kingdom is no longer a threat?”
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingzhou’s voice deepened, and he said calmly:
“Not at all.”
“On the contrary, the Prime Minister has cornered himself. You must know, Zen emphasizes both the benevolent Bodhisattva and the wrathful Vajra.”
“Zen is cautious and conservative, but once the Empress initiates an offensive and clashes with the Northern Sejong Alliance, the Western Buddhist Kingdom will definitely react. At that time… the seventeen remaining Arhats will come out in full force, the four Bodhisattvas will seal the four directions, and the Prime Minister’s chances of survival will be slim…”
Su Qingqiu was stunned, her emotions fluctuating wildly, unsure of what to say.
“Why did the Prime Minister do this? He could have fought a war of attrition and delayed things slowly,” Su Qingqiu asked.
Meng Qingzhou took a sip of tea and said wistfully, “I don’t know either.”
Thinking of his interactions with Jiang Canghai, he felt a bit reluctant to part with the old man.
A patriot sacrificing himself for his country, admirable and lamentable.
“Qingzhou.” Dongfang Liuli, carrying a basket of vegetables, wore a green blouse and a plain white pleated skirt, exuding a unique charm. Her voice was weak, not feigned.
After a few steps, Dongfang Liuli twisted her ankle and stumbled forward, almost falling face-first, but managed to ‘barely’ steady herself.
Meng Qingzhou turned his head at the sound and immediately sensed something was wrong. He quickly stepped forward, took the basket from her hand, and asked with concern:
“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
Her voice lacked strength, and her footsteps were unsteady, clearly showing signs of illness.
“Cough, cough…”
“Sorry, Qingzhou, I’ve been hiding this from you all along. Actually, I…” Dongfang Liuli covered her mouth, weakly coughed a few times, and opened her hand, revealing a smear of bright red blood.
Meng Qingzhou touched her palm, felt the wetness, and brought it to his nose. His expression changed instantly.
Blood!?
“Don’t move.” Meng Qingzhou placed three fingers on Dongfang Liuli’s wrist to check her pulse, his frown deepening.
Her pulse was weak, her life force dwindling.
Heart blood exhaustion leading to a feeble pulse—this was a sign of impending death!?
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner!?” Meng Qingzhou’s heart was anxious, but his words were gentle.
“Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, even the King of Hell can’t take you.”
Meng Qingzhou immediately took out bottles of precious pills from his storage ring, all of them Celestial Grade.
Dongfang Liuli weakly smiled and said, “I didn’t know you were the Space-Time Sword Saint earlier.”
“My fault, but don’t worry, your husband can do anything.” Meng Qingzhou held her hands, trying to appear steady, and said:
“Tell me about your illness so I can prescribe the right medicine.”
Dongfang Liuli shook her head and said, “Don’t bother, it’s an incurable disease, beyond the help of medicine.”
“Unless…”
Meng Qingzhou perked up and asked, “Unless what?”
“Unless there’s an Emperor Grade healing pill.” Dongfang Liuli, as if giving her last wishes, gently caressed Meng Qingzhou’s hair, slowly tracing his face with her fingertips.
Emperor Grade healing pill…
Meng Qingzhou was stunned. He didn’t have one, nor could he refine pills.
“Don’t worry, there will be a way.” Meng Qingzhou took a deep breath. The sudden bad news left his mind in chaos, but he had to stay calm. He recalled the novel’s plot, searching for any Emperor Grade alchemists or relics with Emperor Grade healing pills…
Dongfang Liuli smiled indifferently:
“It’s okay, Qingzhou. I still have a month left, enough to accompany you to see the world, to travel the mortal realm as a pair of immortal lovers.”
Meng Qingzhou clenched his fists.
A month!?
Time was too short! Those Emperor Grade alchemists or relics with Emperor Grade healing pills were either too time-consuming or too far away. It was impossible to make it in time!
“Let me think, there must be a way.” Meng Qingzhou rubbed his temples, trying his best to recall.
Dongfang Liuli blinked at Su Qingqiu, signaling her. Su Qingqiu awkwardly scratched her head and, pretending to be casual, said:
“I remember the Empress has an Emperor Grade healing pill. If Her Majesty is willing to bestow it, there might be a chance.”
Meng Qingzhou was puzzled, “Really? I don’t remember that.”
The novel’s plot didn’t mention the Empress possessing such a treasure.
“Master, you must have remembered wrong.” Su Qingqiu said seriously.
“Is that so…” Meng Qingzhou was skeptical.
Something felt off.
But Dongfang Liuli’s pulse was indeed very weak, reminding him of the time a few days ago when he fought the Yin-Yang Elder and suddenly sensed Dongfang Liuli’s life force waning, almost on the brink of death.
Could it be that the illness started worsening back then?
“Why don’t you ask the Empress for the Emperor Grade pill?” Su Qingqiu suggested, her tone slightly stiff.
Dongfang Liuli quickly scolded, “Qingqiu! Don’t talk nonsense!”
“Qingzhou is no longer an official of Great Jin and has long severed ties with the Empress…”
Suddenly.
Meng Qingzhou interrupted, resolutely saying, “No! I’ll go!”
“For you, I’ll brave any danger, let alone the Empress, who is not a primordial beast… well, maybe a flood beast at most.”
The situation was urgent, and with the illness being real, Meng Qingzhou had no time to think.
Without hesitation, he stood up and immediately prepared to head to the Imperial Capital of Great Jin.
………………….
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