RUNA: Please read Chapter 150 again. I realized I first posted an incomplete chapter. Sorry and Thank you.
On the corridor, a beautiful unfamiliar person quietly observed everything, as if all were in perfect order.
He was the last master left in Liaozhou City—Su Liu, a seventh‑rank fire‑element expert, known to all as Deputy General Su.
"Where is the Madam?"
Su Liu grabbed a soldier to ask. Just now, when he was patrolling the city wall, from the tall wall he saw the townspeople blocking the General’s Mansion. He felt worried, and seeing the enemy had no movement for the time being, he brought people back to look at the situation.
After all, the townsfolk are many; if trouble breaks out, it will be a major headache.
But now it appears the madam is even more powerful than he thought, especially since on the ground there is snow dyed red by blood.
On his way, he was worried that the madam, being a woman, would be kind‑hearted and soft‑handed. If she did not have iron‑blooded killing methods, he feared she could not suppress these hungry and fierce people.
"The Madam is in the granary checking/counting the grain."
Murong Yun, seeing the armor more splendid than ordinary and the aura and spirit markedly different, knew at once this was the Deputy General Su Liu whom Wang Ru had mentioned before leaving.
Originally, she had planned to go later to discuss matters with him; now that he came himself, it was just as well.
"Are you Deputy General Su Liu?"
Murong Yun tentatively greeted the man still clad in armor, and sure enough, he responded.
Su Liu lifted off the fully enclosing iron‑masked helmet with one hand and turned his gaze toward Murong Yun.
This Deputy General Su Liu looked about thirty, his features sharp and steady, though wearied by many days of defending the city.
But as A'Xuan had just told her, since this man’s element was fire, his temper was fiercer than it appeared, making him not exactly the best choice for defending a city.
"Who are you?"
Su Liu watched her descend the steps, his eyes narrowing slightly, sensing that this woman looked familiar.
He had followed Hua Yan for many years, ever since his youth, when Hua Yan had singled him out from among thousands of soldiers. Thus, he knew every one of General Hua Yan’s kin in Liaozhou City.
This woman—why does she look so familiar?
Murong Yun had no idea the other had labeled her as overly familiar; she simply saw him as trustworthy, and since the defense of the city would require their unity, she wanted to build a better rapport.
But Su Liu’s piercing gaze, a soul‑searching demand for identity, made Murong Yun startle.
“My surname is Lei… my given name is Feng. Just now, Madam Hua entrusted the defense of the city to me.”
Murong Yun, regaining her composure, calmly tossed out the name without a blush or breath out of place. Yet Su Liu, sharp‑eyed, caught that fleeting hesitation and began to think more deeply.
He was immediately shaken by the weight of those words—what did it mean to entrust the defense of the city? Did Madam not believe he could hold Liaozhou?
To let a woman he had never even met meddle in such a grave matter—Su Liu thought on it, grew ever more displeased, and his face was filled with visible discontent.
Sure enough, just as Ah Xuan said, this man was hot‑tempered and unguarded—in other words, a straight shooter.
“The defense of the city is no trifling matter. Allow me to consult Madam once more; if that proves impossible, I alone can still lead the soldiers to hold the walls.”
Su Liu frowned, unwilling to speak further with Murong Yun, and turned away, intending to go to the granary to speak with Wang Ru about the matter.
But after only two steps, he saw a four‑legged beast being carried in from outside by several men—it was a donkey, freshly slaughtered and shorn of its hair.
Murong Yun reasoned that with four donkeys to feed and not enough fodder, it was better to slaughter them before they starved thin—at least the soldiers defending the city could have some meat broth.
Indeed, the cook sent to slaughter the donkey worked swiftly, and before long the beast was prepared.
Still, Su Liu merely wondered—how could they find a donkey in the city now, and such a fat one at that.
The pressing matter was to speak with Madam about this young woman—for at her age, she hardly seemed fit for defending a city.
Murong Yun was about to speak to stop him, when she saw thick black smoke rising above the distant city wall—strikingly visible against the snowy world.
In the distance, war drums began to thunder; at the same time, every soldier in the general’s residence instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.
“Damn it—the scoundrels from Pingyun have lost their patience. Enemy attack!”
“Find Madam at once. If necessary, escort her out of Liaozhou.”
Seeing the billowing smoke, Su Liu’s deputy tightened his expression, lips pressed into a line. He barked a few quick orders, then without another glance at Murong Yun, strode out.
“Is this… Pingyun launching their attack?”
Murong Yun’s heart chilled—indeed, those three spies had not stirred trouble idly. Had the civil unrest not just been suppressed, then with both internal strife and external assault, Liaozhou would surely have fallen!
And at this hour, with dusk falling, it was but half an hour before the soldiers’ mealtime—their hungriest moment. Truly, the enemy had chosen their timing well.
At the same time, she felt a trace of relief—had she not decided to come earlier, she might have missed the chance to alter the course of events.
“As I said before—prepare hot water and fire oil. When battle comes, I’ll treat you to meat!”
Murong Yun gathered her thoughts, then turned to issue instructions to the civilian leader she had earlier chosen.
Because the civilians were uneven in ability, Murong Yun thought it over and decided to assign them simpler tasks.
For now, until reinforcements arrive, Liaozhou can do nothing but defend.
Therefore, what they need most are methods of defense.
Fortunately, the civilians who chose to defend the city had some spirit in them. Though the promised meal had not yet been served, at this moment they could only grit their teeth and press on.
Though the actions were chaotic, none dared stir trouble blindly. Of course, if anyone did, Murong Yun would make them understand what treatment awaits a rebel.
Because the matter arose so suddenly, Murong Yun had no time for further arrangements. Borrowing a longsword from the guards in the residence, she hurried off toward the city gate.
Inside the hall, A'Xuan was still idly watching the snow fall. Even as the commotion outside grew, he only lifted his eyelids lazily to glance at Murong Yun departing.
The life‑saving debt owed to Madam Hua was repaid by recovering Hua Le—it was now balanced.
As for the young lady, he seemed to owe nothing—so now he only had to wait for the kitchen’s donkey meat to be ready, and eat.
A'Xuan shifted his posture again, propping his chin on his hand, watching the scene outside—panic‑stricken civilians and armored soldiers alike, all forced to follow Murong Yun’s orders.
Everyone was bustling about—only the rescued little girl, Cao Lingzhi, timidly cast him a glance.
“Why are you here, and not with little Hua Le?”
Cao Lingzhi shuffled a few more steps, lowered her head, and carefully sat to the side: “Madam and the young miss have private words to share…”
“I see. Then stay with me and wait for the donkey meat.”
Axuan pursed his lips, listlessly continuing to watch the snow. The little girl Cao Lingzhi said nothing, only gazing anxiously outside—until suddenly she sprang up, dashed out, and slipped into the crowd to begin hauling supplies.
By comparison, Axuan looked very much like someone shirking his duties…
On the other side, Murong Yun carried her sword, clutching all the seeds she had taken from her bundle before setting out. Channeling her spiritual energy, she rushed at full speed to the city gate.
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