Chapter 111: The Plan
When they arrived at the Duke of the Nation’s residence, the eldest brother was already waiting at the gate.
He wore the same flowing white robe, looking every bit the dashing young gentleman as when they first met—like he had never left this place at all.
It was as if he had long been part of the very sky and earth themselves.
Ji Huo only glanced at him briefly, but it felt like encountering the legendary Sword Saint himself.
“Second brother, you’re here,” Ji Junhong said softly with a smile in his eyes, his voice gentle.
Perhaps after wandering through the city filled with lifeless figures, seeing his lively eldest brother felt somewhat unfamiliar.
It had to be said, the eldest brother was always prone to coughing fits, his frail body toppled by the gentlest breeze, and a single punch could leave him crying for days.
Although matchmakers abounded in the capital, few dared to approach the eldest brother—mainly for fear he might suddenly perish one day.
Unexpectedly, the one everyone thought would die suddenly turned out to be the most resilient in the entire city.
“Hello, eldest brother,” Ji Huo smiled, then gestured awkwardly toward the young woman beside him. “This is...”
Ji Junhong smiled warmly. “Miss Xia, right? Father has been talking my ear off about you all afternoon.”
Ji Huo: (꒪⌓꒪)
Xia Ningshang: (⊙ˍ⊙)
Ji Junhong led them into the courtyard, continuing,
“The tale of you two in the Nine-Bend Gorge—one wielding a sword, the other brewing tea, holding off the heroes of the Central Plains—has long spread through the martial world. By chance, I’ve heard of it.”
Ji Huo: “...”
Xia Ningshang: “...”
Ji Junhong went on, “And the story of how second brother was gravely wounded by the State Master of Liang, left unconscious, and how Miss Xia carried him while fighting their way through the Tianjue Mountains, surviving together—this too is a celebrated tale in the martial world. I’ve also heard of it.”
Ji Huo: “...”
Xia Ningshang: “...”
“Oh, by the way,” Ji Junhong said with a smile, “this afternoon father shared your deeds in the Flying Bear Army with me. On a whim, I told him all these rumors circulating in the martial world. He was quite pleased and has since eagerly gone off to sneak a drink.”
Ji Huo: “...”
Xia Ningshang: “...”
Once the three reached Ji Junhong’s small courtyard, Ji Huo finally couldn’t hold back. “Eldest brother, Miss Xia and I share nothing but pure friendship.”
“Yes, yes!” Xia Ningshang quickly added, “We’re simply like-minded comrades!”
Ji Junhong smiled, rare and genuine these days,
“No need to say more; I understand completely.”
“...”
“...”
They all sat down, their expressions growing serious.
Ji Junhong glanced at Xia Ningshang, then looked at Ji Huo and, seeing no reaction, realized that she was determined to stand with them through thick and thin. He nodded more approvingly, his gaze toward her softening considerably.
“Then let us get to the matter at hand,” Ji Junhong began. “That great demon has absorbed the dragon’s energy; it won’t be long before it completely devours the fortune of the Great Zhou and ascends to the supreme realm.”
“For now, the only solution is to kill that demon.”
“But everyone in the capital has been bewitched by it. If we make a move, the people of the capital will become the demon’s pawns—including father and the State Master.”
“So...”
Ji Junhong said, “Second brother, I need you to slip out of the city tonight and lead the Flying Bear Army to attack the city, drawing father and the thirty thousand defenders away. You will face not just thirty thousand soldiers, but countless bewitched undead within the capital.”
Ji Huo paused, asking, “Tonight? Is it really that urgent?”
Ji Junhong sighed, “After your great victory, the demon will surely summon you to the Golden Throne Hall by tomorrow’s court session. The State Master is waiting there to trap you.”
Ji Huo nodded. “Very well, I will attack the city tonight.”
“Before your assault, there is one more to deal with—the State Master, Li Xiu!” Ji Junhong’s expression darkened as he spoke earnestly,
“A master sorcerer on the battlefield, given time to cast spells, can wreak far more havoc than imagined.”
Ji Junhong lowered his gaze slightly; Ji Huo likewise remained silent.
They both knew that once the city was under siege, the demon would compel all bewitched to defend it, and not even the State Master could escape that fate.
Although they knew the State Master was already dead, the two brothers had often interacted with him, making it difficult to strike him down.
Ji Junhong took a deep breath and smiled, “I will take care of the State Master...”
“I’ll do it,” Xia Ningshang suddenly said.
Ji Junhong was taken aback, looking at her with furrowed brows, “Miss Xia, the State Master is a master-level sorcerer—are you sure?”
“I’m confident,” Xia Ningshang replied calmly.
Ji Junhong looked to Ji Huo, who gave Xia Ningshang a long, thoughtful glance, recalling how she had recognized the location of the State Master’s residence that very afternoon...
Ji Huo nodded. “Be careful.”
“Mm,” Xia Ningshang answered softly.
A faint smile tugged at Ji Junhong’s lips, unable to suppress his delight even in speech. “Then the State Master is entrusted to Miss Xia.”
He paused, then continued, “Here’s the plan: Miss Xia will first go to kill the State Master. Meanwhile, Ji Huo will lead the Flying Bear Army to assault the city. Once father and the defending soldiers are drawn out, I will move in to the palace to kill the demon.”
The plan was straightforward and ruthless, so much so that Ji Huo found it somewhat unconvincing.