Chapter 818: The Plot Exposed, the Dagger is Drawn—Fumeng Lingchas Fury! (1/2)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

”I've gotten in touch, but I've discovered that the speed at which Hulayeg gathers horses is still a little too slow. I'm currently thinking of a method to help him sort out his relationships with the tribes of the steppe and also adjust how he usually gathers his warhorses. I hope that all this will greatly decrease the time between our transactions,” Xu Qiqin said with a smile.

Wang Chong and the other people in the room couldn't help but sigh in praise. With Xu Qiqin's arrival at the City of Steel, many things had changed. Construction within the city was left to the devices of the individual parties, and some of the land had already been sold off to the great clans. These clans were each occupied with their own construction projects, making the situation somewhat chaotic.

But when Xu Qiqin arrived, she had placed all the resources under central management and made the construction process faster and more orderly, allowing the great clans to build their stores at a much faster pace. She had only been in Wushang for around a month, but Xu Qiqin had already won the admiration and respect of the people.

She was even helping a Turkic horse merchant like Hulayeg sort out his relationships and increase the speed at which he gathered horses.

”Mm, I'll have to trouble you with that. No matter what, I hope to get those warhorses as quickly as possible,” Wang Chong said.

Another few days went by, and as Wang Chong was examining a map of the Western Regions, he was interrupted by rumbling hooves in the distance. Before Wang Chong could wonder what this was, a scout rushed in.

”Lord Marquis! It's bad! Fumeng Lingcha is coming!”

Buzz!

The scout's words immediately caused the mood in the room to change.

Everyone in the City of Steel knew about Fumeng Lingcha's relationship with Wushang. Even the lowest scout or craftsmen understood that the marquis and the Qixi Protector-General were at odds with each other, and they also knew that the assault of Dayan Mangban and the Tibetan White Braves on the City of Steel had only happened because Fumeng Lingcha had let them through.

These rumors and many more, including how Fumeng Lingcha had tried to get rid of the marquis in the Regional Commanders Incident, were the talk of the City of Steel. It was said that visitors did not come with good intentions and those with good intentions did not visit, and Fumeng Lingcha clearly did not harbor any good will in this appearance outside the City of Steel.

……

Rumble!

Standing atop the high city walls, Wang Chong looked down at the roiling dust and finally spotted Fumeng Lingcha. He was coming from the northwest, dressed for battle, but he had only brought ten-some guards with him.

He might not have had the thousands of soldiers of the Qixi Protectorate army around him, but his body was still seething with that tyrannical and chilling aura. No matter how much of a ruckus there was in the court or how society viewed this Qixi Protector-General, his status as Imperial Great General was enough to inspire awe and dread.

”Lord Marquis, Fumeng Lingcha probably doesn't mean well with this visit!”

Li Siye was standing behind Wang Chong, his brow furrowed in concern. Fumeng Lingcha stood accused of colluding with a prince and needed to head to the capital to meet the Sage Emperor, but at an urgent time like this, he had chosen instead to go to Wushang's City of Steel. Even a fool knew that he was not here to give gifts.

”Wang Chong!”

At this moment, a furious bellow came from the northwest. Fumeng Lingcha pulled on the reins of his horse, his intimidating eyes shining with cold light as they stared at the City of Steel.

”I know you're there! Get down here!”

This stentorian voice echoed through every corner of the City of Steel. All was still within the city, the laborers and soldiers turning to Wang Chong.

”Lord Marquis, you absolutely must not go! Now is not the time to meet Fumeng Lingcha.”

”That's right. Lord Marquis, you mustn't!”

”Fumeng Lingcha no longer cares about the consequences of his actions. He must head off to the capital soon, so Milord does not need to pay him any attention.”

Xu Keyi, Zhang Que, Cheng Sanyuan, Su Shixuan, and the other officers all urged Wang Chong to refuse. At this moment, everyone at Wang Chong's side, including Li Siye and Xu Qiqin, shared the same view.

”Wang Chong, you should avoid this encounter. Not seeing him would be much more preferable than seeing him at a time like this,” Xu Qiqin advised, her gorgeous eyes tinged with worry.

Wang Chong said nothing, his gaze fixed on the distant Fumeng Lingcha as he silently thought.

”Ha!”

While everyone else was overcome with worry, Wang Chong suddenly waved his hand and chuckled.

”There's no need to worry. Nothing will happen. Fumeng Lingcha would never dare to do anything to me.”

His subordinates were all dazed by these words, and Wang Chong gave no explanation, immediately beginning to descend the walls.

”Lord Marquis, wait a moment!”

The anxious subordinates quickly ran after him.