Yun Shu was still busy preparing for her appearance.
Because the range of the Dream-Entering Bell—the hand accessory of the Floating Dream Set—could only cover the northern region at most, she and the system had to find another way to expand the range of dream-entry.
Fortunately, although outfits could not be layered, their skills could complement each other. This was an inspiration she had gotten from linking the Dream-Entering Bell with the Domain of Retribution earlier.
Using the skill of the Poet Immortal's Brush—the hand accessory of the Cranes by the Inkstone Set—to make poetry reality could indeed expand the range and effects of the Dream-Entering Bell. The only downside was that even children just a few years old would be forced into the dream.
This definitely would not do. What she was about to do next was highly unsuitable for the physical and mental development of young children.
But if she had the system filter the targets, the thirteen prefectures of the world were simply too vast. Even if the system worked itself to death, it wouldn't be able to filter everyone in such a short time.
At this thought...
Yun Shu began flipping through the System Space wardrobe again, wondering which outfit would be suitable. Suddenly, she caught sight of a peach-red outfit, and her eyes lit up. “Perhaps I can try this Moon-Guided Red Thread Set. If I remember correctly, its skill doesn't just show romantic entanglements; it reveals all karmic ties. Even a chance meeting is considered a tie, isn't it?”
This way, through the bandits of Black Wind Stronghold, she could quickly identify those who sold and bought Five Minerals Powder, giving them a nightmare they would never forget for the rest of their lives.
Just as she was about to use the skill of the Moon-Guided Red Thread Set, the little fox suddenly ran over in a panic.
“Host, this is bad! Shen Yu and the others have had their covers blown! The bandits discovered they're undercover agents!”
“Go help them,” Yun Shu said decisively. “I can handle things on this end by myself. Go quickly.”
Those bandits had long since lost their humanity. She could not gamble on whether Shen Yu and Qiao Yue could hold out until the Zhenbei Army breached the stronghold.
The little fox didn't have time to ask Yun Shu how it was supposed to help. It vanished in a flash, sprinting toward the bandits' lair.
By the time it arrived, the atmosphere was already highly tense.
Zhang Xun stared at Shen Yu's handsome face, his pupils shrinking as shock filled his eyes.
To think it was actually him?!
Once the initial shock passed...
Remembering that this was Black Wind Stronghold, he calmed down. No matter who it was, anyone who trespassed into Black Wind Stronghold had to die!
“I was wondering why you looked so familiar. So it's the Second Young Master of the Marquis of Ningyuan's household. What's this? A noble young master like you has actually fallen so low as to cook for bandits?”
Since things had reached this point, Shen Yu did not deny it anymore. He slowly straightened his previously hunched back, wiped the water from his face, and wore a faint, half-smile.
“Zhang Xun, you have a good memory.”
“If I didn't have a good memory, how could I have survived to this day?” Zhang Xun took two steps back and shouted to Wang Meng, “Big Brother, this man is no refugee! They are believers of the Divine Lady!”
A year ago, when the imperial court received word that the Marquis of Ningyuan's two sons had pledged themselves to an unknown Divine Lady, the Marquis was so enraged that he publicly threatened to expel the two rebellious sons from the family. The matter had caused quite a stir in the capital.
“Third Brother, don't let them leave here alive!” Wang Meng grabbed his large saber from the side and slashed down at Shen Yu with enough force to split him in two.
Beside them, the little fox was anxious. In the past, Yun Shu would tell it what to do, but this time, it had to make its own decision.
It wanted to reveal itself and scare off the bandits.
However, its script dictated that it did not like Shen Yu and the others. If it suddenly appeared, it wouldn't know how to explain its presence.
If it blew its cover, it would only end up causing trouble for Yun Shu.
Thus, in its desperation, it could only rush forward and bite down hard on the hand Wang Meng was using to hold the saber.
“Ahhh—”
Wang Meng could not see the invisible little fox. He only felt a sudden, piercing pain shoot through his arm.
Clutching his arm, his face contorted in agony. He could barely hold onto his saber, let alone swing it to kill anyone.
Wei Laosan hurriedly stepped forward to support Wang Meng.
“Big Brother, what's wrong?”
“Maybe my old ailment is acting up again.” Wang Meng shook his numb, aching hand. “Go, slaughter them!”
“Yes.”
Wei Laosan brandished his saber and walked toward Shen Yu and Qiao Yue, the tip of his blade dragging a line on the ground.
The little fox wanted to repeat the trick, but Shen Yu had already drawn the soft sword from his waist. The blade vibrated as it met Wei Laosan's descending saber with a sharp metallic clang.
“You've got some skills!” Wei Laosan sneered. “Brothers, get them! Hack this pretty boy to pieces and feed him to the dogs!”
The bandits raised their blades and swarmed forward.
At the same time, a cold light flashed from Qiao Yue's sleeve, and an extremely sharp short blade was now gripped in her hand.
She moved incredibly fast, darting out from behind Shen Yu. Her blade precisely slashed the wrists of two lunging bandits, causing blood to spray instantly as they shrieked in pain.
For a moment, the scene was in utter chaos.
The bandits threw themselves forward one after another.
No matter how agile Qiao Yue's movements were, how exquisite Shen Yu's swordplay was, or how the little fox secretly threw rocks and bit people, they still could not withstand the relentless onslaught from all directions.
A blade grazed Shen Yu's left shoulder, and blood slowly soaked through half of his shirt. To block a sneak attack from behind him, Qiao Yue took a slash to her abdomen as well.
Standing at the back, Zhang Xun watched this struggle of trapped beasts, a smug smirk playing on his lips. “Second Young Master Shen, you were so glorious at the palace banquet back then. Did you ever think you would see this day?”
He had always remembered how he had tried to flatter Shen Yu in every possible way at that banquet, only for Shen Yu to look down on him.
Old and new grudges surged in his heart, making him change his mind. Killing Shen Yu just like this would be too easy on him.
“Shen Yu,” he said, looking at the surrounded pair. “Why don't you kneel and beg me, and I might leave you with intact corpses?”
Seeing that Zhang Xun actually wanted to humiliate Shen Yu, Qiao Yue was so furious she wanted to charge forward and stab him to death, but Shen Yu stopped her.
Shen Yu subtly shook his head at her.
Then, he raised his hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
“Zhang Xun, I am the legitimate son of the Marquis of Ningyuan. You are of merchant stock, a piece of trash who only entered the court by stealing another's academic achievements and playing sycophant. Are you even worthy of my knees?”
His eyes were filled with the pride of a noble heir.
Zhang Xun's face turned dark as night. “Since you refuse the easy way, you'll take the hard way. Today, I will make sure you wish you were dead!”
Before his voice could even fade...
The stronghold gates were smashed open with a resounding boom.
Bright red banners fluttered in the twilight as dozens of well-trained Zhenbei Army soldiers poured into the stronghold.
The leading general roared.
“The Zhenbei Army is here! Bandits, surrender now!”
Hearing this, Shen Yu felt immensely relieved.
The reinforcements had finally arrived.
Seeing that things were going south, Zhang Xun's eyes turned red as he bellowed, “Quickly, light the gunpowder! Blow all these dog soldiers to pieces!”
Several bandits immediately rushed toward the large jars filled with gunpowder in the corner and tossed their fire starters inside.
“Fuck your ancestors, you have no honor!” The little fox smacked Zhang Xun hard across the face with its paw and screamed to the heavens, “Host, help! This bastard is going to blow everyone up!”
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