Li Hongling made a noncommittal sound.
The two people before her were naturally the mysterious "Immortal Masters" the prison guards spoke of.
But only the middle-aged man Wei Su was considered one of their own.
Wei Su was the son of the Sect Leader of the Great Zhou's largest sect, the "Three Tribulations Sect," and brought disciples to assist the Zhou Army in conquering territories.
As for Shen Xingzhu, he was the Daoist from the Mystic God Daoist Sect, a direct disciple of the Earth Spirit Monarch "Qingpingzi."
The Mystic God Daoist Sect did not belong to any country. With seventy thousand disciples, they occupied a region named Fuli—essentially equal to a self-contained nation.
This sect prided itself on absolute neutrality, venerating the Venerable of Dao and Virtue. Its disciples frequently traveled across countries to seek mediation, aiming to cease the rampant war fires amid current chaos.
The Zhou Liang War had widespread implications.
It wasn't surprising for Shen Xingzhu to appear here.
However, for Li Hongling and the Three Tribulations Sect, it posed a significant obstruction.
"It's naturally fine to take a look; I hope Immortal Master Shen is merely observing."
"General Li seems distrustful of me."
"Ha... how could we possibly mistrust the illustrious Mystic God Daoist Sect?"
"Our Mystic God Daoist Sect doesn't engage in worldly disputes, as long as the military action is justified and doesn't harm the Celestial Dao, we won't intervene."
Shen Xingzhu's gaze behind the veil remained calm and serene.
Li Hongling squinted her eyes:
"Sure, if it weren't for Su Yu's repeated provocations, insulting our Great Zhou's ancestors, this war could have been avoided; it's truly regrettable."
She waved to her adjutant: "The Immortal Master spoke; how could one be negligent in hospitality?"
The adjutant quickly stepped forward: "Immortal Master Shen, please follow me to the interrogation room."
Once Shen Xingzhu left, Li Hongling impatiently said:
"Immortal Master Wei, didn't you once confidently assert you could deceive her to leave?"
"If any slip-up occurs during interrogation and she learns of that one's intentions, you know the power of that raving Mystic God Daoist Sect is not to be underestimated."
Wei Su shook his fan: "She refuses to leave, how could I possibly move this Buddha of the Grandmaster Realm?"
Li Hongling's crimson gaze was hostile.
He helplessly flipped his fan, and the ink began to reveal itself, forming the word "Eternal Life Lock."
"Rest assured, I've already made arrangements, and soon within this city, the concept of 'Eternal Life Lock' will be temporarily substituted, no one will be able to tell her."
Li Hongling's eyes gleamed:
"I've long heard of Immortal Master Wei's 'Sun and Moon Substitution' technique; it's truly wondrous?"
She asked solemnly:
"What did you replace it with?"
Wei Su smiled faintly:
"Secrets are not divulged to outsiders, please lean in, General."
.....
Fifty thousand people?
Did I save fifty thousand people with a single bun?
Why?
On what grounds?
Chen Kuang was awoken at midnight by this updated status bar, pondering all night, unable to fathom the reason.
In comparison, even the passive "Fasting" seemed secondary.
Inside the Imperial City, few from Liang Kingdom remained, and those fifty thousand people were undeniably the fifty thousand Zhou Army stationed here.
He merely divided a bun with Lady Liang; how did it indirectly save the lives of those fifty thousand Zhou soldiers?
Is there something wrong with Lady Liang?
Could it be, this is the true oversight...
Chen Kuang even began to suspect that Lady Liang was actually a Zhou Army spy, sent to interrogate him.
"No, if they suspected me, even the slightest possibility should have resulted in my immediate death."
Chen Kuang muttered internally.
He looked skeptically at Lady Liang in the corner, who slept soundly, clutching the Little Princess like a toy pillow.
At the break of dawn, the eerie starlight gradually faded.
As Chen Kuang focused intently on Lady Liang, he noticed something peculiar.
The fair-skinned woman seemed to glow...
Initially thinking it was just pale skin contrasted by night lights.
But now it was daylight, yet she was still shrouded in a faint, ethereal white aura, giving her an almost divine and untouchable presence.
What was this?
Chen Kuang squinted, using the passive "Clear Vision" to discern all illusions and disguises.
Meaning, this was Lady Liang's true state.
But he couldn't comprehend what the aura signified.
The prison guards delivering breakfast had changed to a new batch, their expressions tense, clearly indicating last night's battle was intense.
The Zhou Army hadn't gained an absolute advantage... which was favorable.
Chen Kuang felt his way to the cell's edge, while nearby, chain noises echoed as Huo Hengxuan was taken away for questioning.
Huo Hengxuan glanced at him briefly, then suddenly went berserk, clutching a nearby pillar, screaming hoarsely while struggling.
"I am the Grand General! My martial arts are unparalleled! You contemptible wretches, dare you face me in battle!"
The prison guards exerted great effort to subdue him, fumbling as they dragged him away.
"Blind man, hurry over here, quick, walk fast!"
"Today, higher-ups are benevolent, improving your meals!"
Chen Kuang lowered his eyes, noting the prison guard's bowl no longer contained buns but hot, oily rice soup!
His heart sank.
This was a last meal!
Yet surely incorrect, someone of his low status was slated in Zhou Army plans to serve as a slave to replenish the loss of troops.
Unless someone suddenly decided his fate.
Glancing quickly, only a few held rice soup, the rest still received cold buns.
Those few were all who had voiced vehement opinions due to the old ancestor, including the first-speaking Confucian Scholar, now all appeared pale.
Chen Kuang understood.
Someone was surveilling this cell block!
No one seemed present, implying a cultivator surveilled them, yet unable to acquire specifics, possibly silent surveillance akin to CCTV.
Since one held a bun and still uttered vehement words last night but expressed no extreme gestures, they were spared.
And Chen Kuang speculated, his involvement possibly due to the bun shared with Lady Liang...
However,
With Huo Hengxuan taken, it shouldn't be this round.
The next interrogation could be the deadline.
According to prior patterns, prison guards collected people in the morning, returning them by night.
He had only twelve hours left!
Initially hesitant, now there's no need; the decision was made for him.
Chen Kuang sighed, suddenly grabbing the nearby prison guard.
The young guard was startled upon being grabbed, ready to shout.
Yet the blind musician's low plea reached him: "Sir, am I destined to die? If I die, I don't mind, but I have an aging mother and young son, could you spare help?"
The guard impatiently replied: "Let go! What's your intent? I'm informing you, we have rules..."
"Could sir walk within the Imperial City?"
The blind musician swiftly and sincerely pleaded: "When I was a musician, Emperor Liang gifted me a pure gold cup, and I have savings of two hundred silver taels, hidden in my residence within the Imperial City. Please, sir, deliver a portion to my family."
The guard paused silently.
"Dong Da, what are you still doing?"
A colleague suddenly called out: "Finish up quickly, or risk being scolded by the Squad Leader!"
"Coming right away!"
The guard turned back, immediately shifting demeanor:
"Go on, I'm busy, no time for your trifling matters!"
"I also know other musicians hid things, especially Le Zheng, favored closely by Emperor Liang, possessing a glazed box a foot square…"
"Where is it?"