Xiao Yinghao's taunting voice burst from within the formation like a thunderclap.
Her sword intent shook the entire Blood River Repentance Formation in an instant.
The Qingman Heavenly Sa stared at the bronze cup filled with blood before him as it suddenly trembled violently, a sign that the Blood River Repentance Formation was unstable. His face changed drastically.
He turned to the soldier who had come to report and shouted sharply:
"How could Great Wei have reinforcements?! The secret report clearly stated no troops would be sent!"
His expression shifted suddenly.
"Tunnels? Could it be tunnels? Those Wei bastards must have dug underground passages beforehand, hiding their reinforcements within, waiting for us to take the bait!"
The soldier replied in fear:
"I don't know... the defense maps showed nothing, and below is the Fire Essence Ore Vein. If they dug tunnels there, it couldn't hide that many men. It would've triggered an explosion!"
The Qingman Heavenly Sa stamped his foot and cursed in fury:
"Damn! Damn it! Damn those Wei bastards!"
In an instant, the tide of the battle had completely reversed, a change beyond anything they could have foreseen.
What was worse, his original plan had been to use battlefield illusions to shatter Xiao Yinghao's fighting spirit.
Together with the Blood River Repentance Formation's heart demons, it was supposed to heavily wound her soul and will.
Now, however, it had instead ignited Xiao Yinghao's battle spirit, breaking her free from the heart demons!
At this rate, the Blood River Repentance Formation would no longer be able to trap her much longer...
The Qingman Heavenly Sa looked toward the distant sky, where a fiery dragon flickered faintly among the clouds. His expression was as dark as ink as he demanded:
"Who is that man?"
"Has anyone seen him before? Does anyone recognize him?"
The cultivators below hesitated, then all shook their heads.
The Qingman Heavenly Sa felt the situation grow more absurd by the moment.
Their plan had been flawless. If all went smoothly, this was to be their breakthrough in invading Great Wei.
And yet, because of some stranger none of them had ever seen before, all their arrangements had been rendered useless!
Even if he shoved his own head under the butt of the heavenly god, he could not imagine where this so-called 'Xiao Yinghao's consort' had come from.
Not to mention, a person of such identity, how could they have never heard of him?
Could he have fallen from the sky?
The Qingman Heavenly Sa's face stiffened as he paced back and forth before finally barking an order: "Tell Agaro to retreat first. Have the infiltrators seize an opportunity to approach the White Dragon Army formation master and behead him."
"This fiery dragon display is grand but hollow inside. It won't last long. If we can break the formation, there's still a chance to turn the tables!"
The soldier lowered his head, trembling.
"Prince Agaro... was caught in the Sishi River flood. He was gravely injured, fell unconscious, and was captured by the enemy."
"And Han River Gorge has been flooded. Our troops cannot cross for the time being..."
The Qingman Heavenly Sa cursed inwardly.
Shameful!
The warriors of Qingman would rather die than be captured alive, and Agaro, one of the princes of the Four Great Tribes, had been taken prisoner by the enemy.
Utter humiliation!
The Qingman Heavenly Sa took a deep breath, feeling an overwhelming sense of weakness and disbelief.
Everything had been going so well, so why did the sudden appearance of this man calling himself Xiao Yinghao's consort turn their certain victory into utter defeat?
And besides, for someone with such ability, would he truly lower himself to become a consort?
Had Great Wei's geniuses become so abundant that even this was possible...
His face shifted uncertainly as he finally said:
"Let Ligu take Agaro's place. Do as I instructed, and send word to the Golden Tent to inform the Great Khan."
The Qingman Heavenly Sa ground his teeth.
"This Gu Yuye cannot be trusted! He's a fraud!"
"To think he didn't even know something as crucial as Xiao Yinghao having a consort, it must have been deliberate! He wanted us to take the bait!"
They had thought Gu Yuye had abandoned dignity and honor to cooperate with them only for the seat in the Purple Extremity Hall.
They hadn't expected the man to be so loyal he appeared deceitful!
To go to such lengths, so devoted to Great Wei's court, plotting such an open scheme, it was truly hateful beyond words!
...
Huangtian City, Purple Extremity Hall.
Gu Yuye stepped into the grand hall, lifted his head, and looked up at the familiar staircase before him. His eyes narrowed slightly, and within his heart, there was only stillness.
Not long ago, it was here that he had reunited with his own son.
Before the civil and military officials, he had proven their blood relation and forced Emperor Yong'an to acknowledge him and decree an investigation into the truth of the past.
At that moment, though his expression had been one of excitement, his heart had been equally calm.
Because everything had gone exactly as he had planned.
A faint sense of satisfaction and arrogance stirred in Gu Yuye's chest.
Emperor Yong'an, Emperor Yong'an, after weighing and scheming for so many years, you were still outmaneuvered by me in this moment, forced to follow my design.
Could it be that behind those layers of curtains, upon that face that never seemed to change, there was at least a fleeting moment of loss of composure?
Though now, due to Gu Fangchen's unexpected interference, some flaws had appeared in his plans.
Yet his greatest reliance was still proceeding smoothly.
That was the surprise assault on Autumn Peace Road.
As long as the Qingman seized Autumn Peace Road and dealt a heavy blow to the White Dragon Army and Xiao Yinghao, everything would remain on track.
Once Autumn Peace Road fell and the Fire Essence Mines were lost, it would be a blow Great Wei could not afford.
Thus, Emperor Yong'an would never allow the Qingman army to continue advancing.
And since Xiao Yinghao was seriously wounded, even reinforcements from the White Dragon Army would be useless.
Only he could turn the tide!
He, the "Saint of War" Gu Yuye!
Among the entire court, only he possessed the ability to save the collapsing structure, to reclaim Autumn Peace Road.
By then, even if Emperor Yong'an learned of his schemes, so what?
What could he do?
Would he not still have to beg him to don his armor and lead the campaign?
"Clatter, clatter..."
Gu Yuye advanced, the scales beneath his robe and the sword at his waist striking together with a crisp sound.
For the first time in many years, he donned armor and carried a sword, stepping into the Purple Extremity Hall to exercise his prerogative.
After Emperor Yong'an summoned Gu Fangchen, Gu Yuye knew there was no longer any mask between them.
Since that was the case, there was no need to pretend.
The real contest was about to begin.
As Gu Yuye walked forward, from the shadows beside the hall, Xiao Qiu stepped quickly out and presented a memorial in haste.
Without needing to think, Gu Yuye knew it must be an urgent battle report from Autumn Peace Road.
Behind the curtain, Emperor Yong'an took the report and read it slowly without speaking.
Gu Yuye knelt on one knee, cupped his hands, and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, this minister has heard that the front at Autumn Peace Road is collapsing. Immediate reinforcement is essential! Please dispatch troops at once!"
Emperor Yong'an was silent for a long time before suddenly letting out a low laugh.
"Pa!"
He threw the report in his hand.
It flew over the curtain and landed heavily on the ground.
Gu Yuye's heart sank, though his face remained composed and unmoving.
Emperor Yong'an said calmly:
"Pick it up and see for yourself."
Gu Yuye stepped forward, picked up the report, and unfolded it. At first he maintained his expected composure, but as he turned the page, his face changed at once.
His pupils constricted. "How is this possible?!"
Autumn Peace Road had indeed been broken by the Qingman as planned, yet suddenly there appeared a "consort betrothed to Xiao Yinghao since childhood" who activated the White Dragon Army Formation and turned defeat into victory?
Gu Yuye's expression darkened as he stared at the words, quickly composing himself before cupping his hands and saying coldly:
"Your Majesty! This report is sheer nonsense! Since when has the Eldest Princess ever had a consort?"
Emperor Yong'an said with amusement:
"Oh? Was there truly none?"