Three Kingdoms Mythology World.

Logically, the person most anxious about Li Ru's disappearance should have been his lord, Dong Zhuo. However, instead of being worried, Dong Zhuo remained composed and strategized at the meeting, even changing Li Ru's plan, which seemed very strange.

The group realized that Li Ru's disappearance was not so simple.

Could it be that Li Ru hasn't simply disappeared, but is instead hiding in the shadows plotting something big?!
The same figure involuntarily appeared in their minds: Situ Wang Yun!

Despite appearing to be subservient to his lord Dong Zhuo, Situ Wang Yun actually harbored deep-seated conflicts with Li Ru. While Wang Yun didn't directly oppose Dong Zhuo, he targeted Li Ru.

Li Ru also frequently spoke ill of Wang Yun, suspecting that he was involved in the previous incidents involving the Yuan family and Zhang Wen, and was one of the masterminds behind it all. However, Dong Zhuo didn't take it seriously and instead enjoyed watching the two bicker.

Of the group, Duan Wei's expression was the most unpleasant, constantly changing.

After discussing for a while, the group dispersed.

Then, news of Li Ru's disappearance spread quickly.

When Duan Wei personally reported Li Ru's disappearance to his lord Dong Zhuo, he found that Dong Zhuo suddenly jumped up from his seat with a solemn expression.

"My lord, did Wen You hide without informing you?" Duan Wei asked pointedly. He hadn't expected that even his lord, Dong Zhuo, was unaware of Li Ru's disappearance.

Could it be that Li Ru has been hiding this from everyone?!

Dong Zhuo paced back and forth a couple of times with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed tightly. He truly had no idea Li Ru would disappear... If he had any plans, he would definitely have communicated with him beforehand.

Now that we've come to this point, there's no point in hiding anymore...

After pondering for a moment, Dong Zhuo sighed softly, "Wen You has always been methodical in his work. If he wanted to operate in the shadows, he would have given me prior notice. There must be something fishy about this."

Upon hearing this, Duan Wei's expression darkened slightly: "Could it be that someone else murdered the strategist?!"

Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo's expression changed drastically. Li Ru's recent condition was extremely abnormal; he was practically weak. If someone were to take advantage of this weakness, they could very well assassinate him!

Thinking of this, Dong Zhuo immediately sent someone to check the soul guide of the Resurrection Tower.

The investigation results were quickly reported. Li Ru's soul guide remained unchanged.

In other words, Li Ru is currently fine.

"Wenyou, where did he go? He was supposed to be traveling with the lord from Mei County to Chang'an! He was supposed to bathe in the purple aura of heaven and earth to recover his strength!" Duan Wei said with a solemn expression.

Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo frowned slightly. Indeed, according to the original plan, Li Ru was supposed to accompany them to Chang'an, but now he had suddenly disappeared... What's going on!

However, after pondering for a moment, Dong Zhuo's brow relaxed; he seemed to have remembered where Li Ru had gone...

"Alright, let's not delve too deeply into Wen You's matter for now," Dong Zhuo said, waving his hand.

Duan Wei, who had been observing, understood that Dong Zhuo initially didn't know where Li Ru had gone, but later he figured it out.

"My lord, let's divide up the defenses..." Duan Wei wanted to say something, but hesitated.

"You mean why the plan was changed and why everyone was assigned to different locations?" Dong Zhuo knew what Duan Wei wanted to ask and asked directly.

"Diao Chan said that I, the Prime Minister, am destined to be a solitary and powerful general, and you are also celestial generals. When the time comes, you will receive the mandate of heaven and the grace of heaven. However, your two destinies will clash, hence this arrangement," Dong Zhuo explained slowly.

“I have a premonition about my fate, hence this arrangement.”

"What?!?!" Duan Wei was utterly shocked upon hearing this.

It turns out that Dong Zhuo's change of plans wasn't his idea, nor Li Ru's, but rather the result of a woman's influence!
Absurd, utterly absurd!!

The matter of abdication concerns one's life and fortune; it cannot be treated lightly. Instead of keeping all the valiant generals by one's side for defense, why are they instead being sent to guard the four corners of the land, leaving only Chang'an to defend? What kind of logic is this!

In fact, when Dong Zhuo made this arrangement, the generals of the Xiliang faction had many objections, but they did not object out of consideration for their lord Dong Zhuo.

They can't say they want to personally participate in and witness the great moment, but they don't want to guard the four directions... Guarding the four directions is also to ensure safety and prevent them from being wiped out all at once, so there is some truth to that.

If they heard Dong Zhuo's explanation, I wonder what they would think...

Duan Wei really wanted to rebuke Diao Chan for interfering, but the thought that this was Wang Yun's plan made him somewhat wary. That Wang Yun, he really knows how to arrange Diao Chan!
If Diaochan becomes his mistress, he'd better be careful...

Thinking of this, Duan Wei didn't refute anything, but flattered, "My lord is wise!"

"Zhongming, you must guard Mei County well on this mission!" Dong Zhuo said earnestly.

"Rest assured, my lord, if any villains come to our door, this humble general will not back down an inch. If they want to destroy the Divine Tower, they will have to step over me first," Duan Wei said firmly.

"Alright, you may leave now." Dong Zhuo waved his hand, then turned and went to the back hall.

"...Li Ru has disappeared. Dong Zhuo didn't know at first, but after some thought, he began to suspect..."

"No way... Li Ru's disappearance has been brought forward?!"

Inside the Situ residence, Lin Mu murmured softly after receiving the latest report.

Li Ru had actually disappeared before Dong Zhuo was killed. However, it certainly wasn't as early as this time. He went to Chang'an with Dong Zhuo and disappeared after being bathed in the divine grace of the purple aura of heaven and earth.

Lin Mu suspected that he had received a blessing from Heaven and Earth and then went into hiding to recover.

But now, it's happened ahead of schedule... but there's still no purple aura appearing...

Lin Mu had a deep-seated feeling that Li Ru's disappearance this time was truly unrelated to the cause and effect of this incident!

So the question is, where did Li Ru go?

This is a question that many people in my past life also wanted to know.

He went back to his hometown, Zuo Fengyi Heyang City? Possibly. No one knows exactly where his family mansion is located... not even Dong Zhuo. It's perfect for hiding.

However, Lin Mu felt that he hadn't gone back to his hometown, but was hiding in some very special place...

"He's hiding, nobody can find him. Oh well, let's just leave him be."

“In his previous life, he seemed to have been seriously injured as well. I wonder if it was due to the backlash of karma. This time, he was also seriously injured, and even more severely than before. It is reasonable for him to hide and recover in advance.”

"If we follow his plan step by step, there shouldn't be any major changes, and there shouldn't be any problems."

“We, the feudal lords, are actually happy to see him successfully usurp the Han throne!” Lin Mu muttered to himself.

Lin Mu gently put down the letter, walked to the window, looked at the star-studded night sky, and sighed softly.

He hoped that Dong Zhuo would successfully usurp the Han throne, but he would not get involved to help Dong Zhuo, nor would he use the resources of the Great Wilderness territory to sabotage the "Chain Scheme".

Given the system's inherent nature, the situation in the Origin Realm, and the overwhelming causal forces of heaven and earth, he was somewhat constrained and dared not interfere.

Now that he has his sights set on Diao Chan, Dong Zhuo can just continue playing by the script. But if there are any unexpected changes, like the Oath of the Peach Garden, he would be happy to see them.

"Li Wenyou, I really hope you're not hiding away to heal your wounds, but instead stepping out at a crucial moment to turn the tide!" Lin Mu sighed softly.

Thinking of this, Lin Mu picked up the letter again and glanced at the last message.

The list of people who accompanied Dong Zhuo on his journey from Mei County was clearly written on it.

"The entire Dong family followed them; no wonder they were slaughtered so quickly..."

"Strange, very strange. Why aren't any of the great generals like Fan Chou, Guo Si, Li Jue, Niu Fu, and Zhang Ji by my side? Are they afraid they'll share the debt of gratitude we owe them?"

"Fan Chou went to garrison Hangu Pass...is it because he's afraid I'll break our verbal agreement? Heh..."

"Commander-in-Chief Niu Fu, with Dong Yue as his deputy, will lead the army to garrison Shanxian City in Hongnong Prefecture..."

"Why was it arranged like this all of a sudden?!"

Lin Mu vaguely sensed that Dong Zhuo's arrangement wasn't unfounded... Was it really Diao Chan's influence? Not necessarily...

"Zhang Ji was stationed in Huayin City, Hongnong Commandery... Duan Wei was in Mei County; it seems they were all on the same line, both along the Yellow River!!!"

"Guo Si and Li Jue, they're the same way!!"

After some investigation, Lin Mu finally discovered the clue!
"Something's bound to happen on the Yellow River then!!"

"That Dong Zhuo is too cunning... He only made this arrangement at the last moment. Is it because he was afraid we would discover the anomaly beforehand, and therefore targeted us?"

"Damn it, Zhou Tai and his men are on the Yellow River... No, we have to evacuate all the naval forces from the Yellow River!!!" Lin Mu sensed the danger in his mind.

Mei County is a city built on the riverbank. Although it is not on the main channel of the Yellow River, it is connected to it.

Therefore, Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin had already led their naval forces to hide on the Yellow River.

Now that we've suddenly realized this change, we have to retreat... Otherwise, if Dong Zhuo usurps the Han throne and the Water Dragon ascends to heaven, the navy in the Great Wilderness territory will suffer heavy losses!
Lin Mu felt there was an 80% chance this would happen!

Moreover, Dong Zhuo must know more... otherwise, would he really have weakened his security to such an extent?! (End of Chapter)