53: Yizhou City

Half an hour later.

Li Changfeng and Nan Qingyue had arrived before Yizhou City.

Zhang Qing and Nie Mingjue had disappeared; there was no telling where they had gone.

Situ Jiu was injured again; regardless of anything else, Situ Jiu had to be treated first!

Before the gates of Yizhou City.

Two soldiers stood guard over the city.

Their eyes were spirited, and they held sharp weapons in their hands!

The commoners entering the city were all lined up in a single row.

"Hurry up! No entry if you don't line up!" a soldier shouted, brandishing a long saber.

"Yizhou City actually has garrison troops?" Li Changfeng was somewhat curious.

"Master, let's go. Horses aren't allowed inside Yizhou City. We should dismount first, otherwise we won't be able to get in," Nan Qingyue kindly reminded him.

Upon hearing this.

Li Changfeng nodded slightly.

"This really is quite a hassle!" Li Changfeng was reluctant, but he had no other choice.

He leaped down from the horse's back.

Then, he carried Situ Jiu on his back and headed straight for Yizhou City.

"Why is the inspection so strict in Yizhou City?" Nan Qingyue noted the unusual behavior of the soldiers in front of the city.

"Could something have happened?"

These words naturally did not escape Li Changfeng's ears.

Hearing this, he turned back to look at Nan Qingyue with a very doting expression.

Li Changfeng said with a smile, "I'll go find someone to ask."

Then, Li Changfeng let go of Nan Qingyue's hand and walked straight toward the front of the city.

"Old Gentleman, has something happened in Yizhou City?"

"Why are the people entering and leaving being inspected so strictly?" Li Changfeng asked.

"Looking at you, you must be an outsider, right?" The Old Gentleman stroked his snow-white beard.

He sized up Li Changfeng. "You lot should just stay out. Yizhou City is not peaceful right now."

"Did something happen to Yizhou City?" Li Changfeng's brow furrowed.

It was currently an era of peace.

How could Yizhou City not be peaceful?

"A few months ago, Mu Qiu from Pingliang Mulan Prefecture arrived in Yizhou City and began conscripting soldiers everywhere."

"All the young men in the city were seized and taken into the military camps to become soldiers."

"For a time, the people's grievances were many!"

"The world is at peace now; why would Mulan Manor need to replenish its troops like this?"

"The truth of the matter only came to light half a month ago," the Old Gentleman sighed.

His weathered face was covered in wrinkles, and his hair had long since turned white as snow.

It bore the traces of time.

"Could it be that Mulan Manor intends to launch a mutiny?" Li Changfeng paused for a moment.

"Exactly! That is indeed the case!"

"Yizhou City is a border city of the Immortal Country, separated from the Imperial Capital by only a single mountain range."

"In recent years, because the Empress of the Immortal Country has been in power..."

"...many princes and ministers have opposed a woman's rule. Gender discrimination is extremely heavy and internal politics are in chaos. Many warmongers want to break free from the Empress's control, with Mulan Manor leading the charge to advocate for a mutiny," the old man said softly.

"If a mutiny breaks out, the Immortal Country will surely fall into great chaos, pushing the common people into dire straits. If that's the case, I'm afraid the Imperial Family certainly won't allow Mulan Manor to act so recklessly," Li Changfeng thought to himself.

"Precisely!" The old man sighed.

Years ago, the younger brother of the Immortal Country's Imperial Family Patriarch, King Zhao, for the sake of the Immortal Country's peace...

...made a deal with the Imperial Capital.

In a state of helplessness, he sent the Crown Prince to the Imperial Capital to serve as a hostage.

This was done to maintain peace between the two countries.

It was also for this reason that the Empress strongly opposed those princes and ministers who wanted to launch a mutiny.

If they went to war with the Imperial Capital...

...the group that was sent to the Imperial Capital with the Crown Prince back then...

...would surely face certain death!

Mulan Manor had obtained important official positions through military merit and held military power in its hands.

Relying on their hundred thousand elite soldiers, they were extremely overbearing in the Imperial Capital.

Even the Empress could do nothing about it, so she could only let them come to Yizhou City to recruit soldiers and buy horses.

These developments in the Immortal Country naturally did not escape the Empress's eyes and ears.

Moreover, just recently, some spies from the Imperial Capital quietly slipped into Yizhou City to investigate the matter.

Just half a month ago, the Imperial Venerable of the Imperial Capital suddenly arrived in the Immortal Country with his people.

He only left slowly after staying for a full three days; it's unknown what was said.

Later, there was a great change in the palace. Mulan Manor rebelled against the Immortal Country and established itself as an independent kingdom in Yizhou City, changing its title to Marquis of Guannei and declaring itself the Immortal Governor to the outside world.

As a result, Yizhou City was swept into the flames of war, which is why the inspection of people entering and leaving is so strict now.

"It's a long story!" The Old Gentleman's face was full of sorrow as he let out a very regretful sigh.

"Old Gentleman, from what I know, the royal family of the Immortal Country should be the Patriarch of the Yelu Clan. Why is it that the Empress is ruling the Immortal Country now?" Li Changfeng was still somewhat confused.

How could this Immortal Country be so unique?

The ruler of every empire should logically be the Patriarch of the Imperial Family.

Yet this Empress of the Immortal Country was neither a member of the Yelu Imperial Family...

...nor the wife of the Patriarch.

Her ruling the court was truly incomprehensible.

"One must not ask too much about this matter. Trouble comes from the mouth. In the Immortal Country, the Yelu Clan is a scar; you must not mention them casually, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."

The Old Gentleman waved his hand and continued, "If King Qi were still around, what would Mulan Manor even amount to!"

Back then, just as King Qi was about to conquer Mulan Manor...

...an irresistible power suddenly descended.

Those were people who did not belong to this continent.

It was because of their appearance that the Immortal Country became what it is today.

"I see!" Li Changfeng fell deep into thought.

Carefully retracing the events that had occurred.

A sudden intuition made his heart tremble involuntarily.

Vaguely, it seemed as if someone were manipulating everything in this world!

Behind some of the great nations, there must be some unknown powers.

And they were exceptionally powerful.

What kind of people would have enough energy to control a country?

Thinking about it carefully, he only felt a chill down his spine!

At this moment, Li Changfeng's face was extremely pale. He raised his hand and rubbed his head hard, showing a pained expression.

He gasped for breath, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

The splitting pain made him unable to speak.

"Young man, what's wrong?" the Old Gentleman asked with concern.

He gently raised his hand and patted Li Changfeng's shoulder.

But suddenly, a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

Immediately, a surge of evil energy emanated from where the old man touched Li Changfeng's shoulder.

In just a moment, it quietly vanished, followed by a purple ladybug-like thing crawling out from the old man's palm.

That little thing emitted a dark purple evil aura all over its tiny body.

If one didn't look closely, it was impossible to notice.

And at this time, Li Changfeng's attention was diverted by the unbearable headache.

The dark purple little thing slowly scurried into Li Changfeng's body. His powerful soul-sensing ability actually failed to detect any abnormality at all.

"Little fellow, farewell. I'll take my leave first," the old man sneered and immediately left.

It took a long time before Li Changfeng regained his senses, his brow tightly furrowed!

"Master, what's wrong? Shall we go?" Nan Qingyue said softly.

Li Changfeng took a breath before responding, "Mm, okay. Let's go!"