449 Supreme Cloud, Where Are You? (1/2)
The emperor and Old Marshal Qiu had asked each other this question multiple times daily.
The question was always the same; was Supreme Wind, who had been making unprecedented appearances, actually Supreme Cloud? The old marshal and His Majesty had long known about it because the original Supreme Wind could never have conjured up all the phenomena that had been taking place up until this point.
Only Supreme Cloud, the think tank of the Nine Supremes, had the foresight and astuteness to achieve it. However, he had not shown his true identity, hiding behind that of Supreme Wind; there would definitely be a reason behind it and the whole Yutang would help him hide the fact as well.
Still, the whole wide world probably knew by now that the Supreme Wind was actually Supreme Cloud. There might no longer be a need to conceal the truth.
Previously, Yutang's higher authorities had received news that the Empire of Ziyou had schemed to trap Supreme Cloud. The emperor almost fell sick when he knew about it. Luckily, news came again that Supreme Cloud had wreaked havoc in Zilong City, fought the entire army, broken the siege, and escaped unscathed; he had even directed the Lunar River's waters to the gates of Zilong City, threatening to drown the empire and everyone in it. It was a majestic display of domination!
Furthermore, after the battle, they had welcomed home General Shangguan Wudi's remains of Shangguan Family of Generals. The Shangguan hero could finally return home!
The news acted like a pacifier to the anxious Emperor of Yutang. He was all smiles and grins then, recovering from all manner of ailments at once.
What was more, the Empire of Ziyou had withdrawn its army due to this matter and resigned from the four-nation collaboration, taking a massive amount of pressure off Yutang's frontline.
Upon confirming the situation, Yutang had commanded the deployment of half of the western troops to assist in the eastern defense immediately, for them to intimidate Dongxuan and tackle Han Sanhe.
A few days later, they heard that Lord Supreme Cloud had appeared to help the southern line. His power in the southern battlefield had defeated Dayuan's troops and secured the southern defense in entirety. The whole of Yutang was in a celebratory mood, the people thrilled beyond belief.
The Nine Supremes were the Nine Supremes!
Even when there was only one of them, a sole Supreme left, they were still Yutang's guardian angels.
As long as they had the Nine Supremes, Yutang was safe!
After Supreme Cloud had concluded his part in the southern warfare, he had indicated clearly to the southern marshal that he would immediately make his way to the east to assist them and even asked that Yutang's emperor and the imperial court be at ease. With Supreme Cloud's assistance, the east border would be safe, even if they could not mount a counterattack.
Who would have known the dire events that would take place next?
After that, there was no longer any news about Supreme Cloud!
It was as if Supreme Cloud had disappeared into thin air. True to his name, he had turned into the clouds halfway through his journey, without any sign of where he had gone to.
Twenty days had passed since his last communication. Even the troops deployed from the east to the west would reach the Fortress of Resilience in a few more days.
For Lord Supreme Cloud, who had moved first and was incredibly fast, to fail to reach the east border without any news was a bizarrely terrible omen.
The east border was still in mayhem, facing the prospect of devastation and destruction, but Supreme Cloud's whereabouts were still unknown.
”What has happened? How can there be no news at all? The spiritual restraint in Zilong City couldn't even do a thing to Supreme Cloud, what else in this world can lay him low?”
Qiu Jianhan was pacing back and forth anxiously in the foyer of Board of Military. On the other side, the emperor was also doing the same, like an agitated lion.
”What could possibly have happened?” His Majesty was frowning worriedly.
There were already people who muttered darkly about Supreme Cloud these days, saying if Supreme Cloud had not stubbornly departed to Ziyou in the first place, this would not have happened. It was obviously a trap, yet he jumped in voluntarily; he was clearly disregarding the country's security and it was an utterly disappointing realization to the common man.
Both Old Marshal Qiu and the emperor were enraged by such defamatory statements.
”Must one be indifferent when their family and old friends are captured, just for the nation affairs? Could they be as stone-hearted as that?”
”Furthermore, it was during the period of the letter of the credence of peace – all the countries had promised to stay peaceful before the new year and the agreement has been announced to the entire Tianxuan Continent. Who would have thought that the four nations would violate it simultaneously?!”
”It was in the midst of winter when snow caps the mountains and seals the roads. This has always been the time for armies to rest and rejuvenate, but who would have thought that the war would come at this time?”
In spite of this, the emperor could only heave a long sigh. No one, not him, not even Qiu Jianhan, Leng Daoyin and the rest could ever have imagined that the letter of credence of peace could be breached!
It was the letter of credence of peace witnessed by the heavens and connected to the continent's fate! Did the emperors not value their lives?
The sound of heavy panting came about as a soft carrier was brought over. Old Grand Commandant Fang Qingtian lifted his upper half from the carrier anxiously and asked, ”Is… is there news about Supreme Cloud?”
There was only heated anticipation in his eyes.
The Old Grand Commandant, who was at the last leg of his life, was still not at ease, asking people to carry him over directly.
Qiu Jianhan shook his head soundlessly.
Disappointment and desolation flashed across the Old Grand Commandant's eyes as he murmured, ”Although no news is good news, I still want to know Supreme Cloud's whereabouts… As long as this old man knows the news of Lord Supreme Cloud! Even if it's not about him rushing to the battlefield, I can rest in peace, even if I were to die now…”
…
His Majesty's gaze was cold and hard.
”Old Qiu, we have lost all contact with Supreme Cloud on his way towards Dongxuan from the south… It's miles and miles of mountains there… There could be one who can harm Supreme Cloud there and trap him.”
A hint of a murderous aura flashed across Qiu Jianhan's eyes.
”Only the Four Seasons Tower could have done this! It must be them!”
”Only the Four Seasons Tower can send terrifying experts and possibly trap the current Supreme Cloud!”
”We can confirm that Supreme Cloud must have wandered into harm's way. He must be contending against the Four Seasons Tower's experts now. I just wonder if Supreme Cloud is merely restrained or is his life being threatened!”
Worry clouded Qiu Jianhan's eyes; he did not want to voice out that last line, but Supreme Cloud, where are you?
”Important military news!”
Leng Daoyin hurried in with obvious urgency.