Even without cheats, we must survive the apocalypse

"Welcome Your Highness the Ninth Prince to my humble abode!"

The middle-aged man cupped his fists and bowed to Huang Yanyao, "I am the steward of Yusha City, Yuya."

"You're too polite, Manager Yuya." Huang Yanyao nodded slightly in return.

"We will treat His Majesty the Ninth Prince's subjects well, please follow me."

Yu Ya stretched out his hand and gestured, and Huang Yanyao and Lu Mu followed him inside.

Chapter 38: Bustling

Lu Mu and Huang Yanyao walked behind Yu Ya, and the three of them walked on the wide corridor.

The corridor is lined with exquisite and elegant glazed decorations. As night falls, the glazed candlesticks on the wall are lit with sand-yellow candles, illuminating every detail of the corridor.

The feathered serpent tribe is very proud of their demon bloodline. The dome of the corridor is also engraved with a huge picture of a demon snake and a falcon using beautiful crystal stones. The demon snake's body extends to the far end of the corridor, with sand-colored scales and six pairs of thin wings on its back, just like a flying bird in heaven.

This is the true form of the Xuanfeng Feathered Serpent clan, which has the blood of Gu Yue Yulong and is considered a sub-clan. This clan has been completely destroyed in the Xuantian catastrophe, and now this tribe containing its rare blood is the only one.

Tragic things happen all the time.

Yu Ya led the two of them to a gilded carved door, and the guard pushed the door open. The lights were on inside, and shouting mixed with the sound of clinking glasses could be heard.

There was singing and dancing, and the drinking was boisterous. It was a lively scene. Huang Yanyao raised her eyebrows and a slight curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall was festive. The tables were filled with fruits and cakes. There were quite a few people. At first glance, most of them had some demon characteristics, such as eyes and skin. I guess they were all from the half-demon tribe in the Wuyan Desert.

Yu Ya brought the two of them to an empty table closest to the main seat in the banquet hall. The dishes on the table were rich and exquisite, and wine and tea were ready, waiting for the guests to take their seats.

Huang Yanyao and Lu Mu took their seats. The middle-aged man sitting in the main seat stood up early and came to her and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Your Highness the Ninth Prince."

"No need to be polite, you are the leader of the Quetzalcoatl tribe, Yushan?"

Huang Yanyao returned the greeting.

"That's right!" Yushan stood up respectfully, "Thank you very much, Your Highness, for giving me this light wine."

"You're welcome. I'm new here, and I'm flattered that Chief Yushan is personally entertaining me."

Huang Yanyao took a sip of wine, her tone as soft as jade.

"Your Highness, you are too polite." Yu Shan said humbly, then turned to Lu Mu and bowed, "Who is this?"

Yushan is a shrewd man like an old fox. Lu Mu covered his face and obviously had no news about his arrival. Huang Yanyao only added him before leaving, so of course she would not inform the Quetzalcoatl tribe. This made Yushan have a lot of speculations in his mind.

He followed Huang Yanyao step by step, like the most trusted loyal minister, but Huang Yanyao never treated him lightly, as if he had the qualifications to be on equal terms...

The identity is mysterious and extraordinary.

She glanced at Lu Mu from the side, and the meaning in her eyes was worth pondering.

Lu Mu raised the wine cup in his hand calmly: "Gu Qingyang, born in the Northern Frontier, is the personal guard of His Majesty the Ninth Prince. I hope I have not disturbed the great event of Chief Yushan's wedding."

"It doesn't matter. After all, His Highness the Ninth Prince is an honored guest. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to have no guests at this wedding?"

Yushan frowned for a moment and then immediately relaxed his brows, perhaps because he was thinking about the name "Gu Qingyang", wondering who this person with a strong background might be.

Because Yu Ya had just whispered to him, explaining what he saw by chance when he was welcoming the emperor at the gate of the City Lord's Mansion...and the steward Yu Ya actually thought more deeply, because he clearly saw that Lu Mu and Huang Yanyao got out of the same carriage.

This is even more unusual.

Perhaps there is some closer relationship between these two people, and if you think about it in this way, Yushan would naturally think that this young man wearing a mask must be of great importance.

"Please enjoy the food and wine first. I hope my old bones haven't disturbed your mood."

With a lot of things in mind, Yushan bowed and returned to the main seat.

Lu Mu put down the wine cup in his hand, a smile appeared on his lips, and he caught a glimpse of Huang Yanyao looking at him with interest. There was an indescribable laziness hanging on every inch of her exquisite face, which made people unable to take their eyes away.

"What's wrong? Why do you look at me like that?"

And Lu Mu did not intend to hide his wanton gaze. After all, she could use him as a pillow on her lap openly. If he still acted like a distant gentleman, he would be too cowardly.

Huang Yanyao also noticed his burning gaze, but did not avoid it. Instead, her smile became more intense and her red lips slightly parted.

"Gu Qingyang?"

"pseudonym."

"What's your real name?" Huang Yanyao joked with him with interest.

"You are asking this question knowing the answer."

"Pfft!"

Her eyes curved into crescent shapes as she looked up at him with a teasing smile on her face. No one knew what made her so happy. Lu Mu didn't think the name was funny. After all, it was the name of the "protagonist". Gu Yunxi felt uncomfortable when he heard it. Unfortunately, the masculine name "Gu Qingyang" was not suitable for the current "protagonist".

Because she is not masculine and even her figure looks thin.

"Is this a funny name?"

"Hmm... I thought you were the kind of person who cared a lot about names."

The food and wine in front of her did not arouse Huang Yanyao's appetite, but Lu Mu made her more interested.

In her eyes, Lu Mu was the kind of proud and arrogant genius with great talent. Such people usually did one thing, which was to hide their real names and use a pseudonym to interact with others.

Revealing one's real name represents the power of the clan and personal pride. Huang Yanyao has met many people like this, and those who are not as talented or have less family background than Lu Mu extremely despise using false names, thinking that it will ruin their reputation.

"I do care. If someone calls me by my real name, I will be unhappy."

“But you used a fake name.”

"That doesn't matter. After all, I named it myself."

"you sure?"

Huang Yanyao raised her eyebrows and looked at him, her eyes dark and difficult to understand.

"If I tell you my real name, it will be troublesome for you, so it's better to use a fake name, which can save both you and me some trouble."

Lu Mu uttered the words and drank the wine in the glass. He drank three or two glasses and stopped. There was nothing good to make good wine in this desert. It tasted like honey, but in terms of mellowness, it was not as good as the fine wines he had drunk before.

Huang Yanyao quietly looked at the calmness and confidence on his face, and after a long time she lowered her head and smiled.

"Thank you."

This thank you sounded soft and gentle, as if a stream of autumn spring flowed into his heart. Lu Mu was slightly stunned and said nothing.

The noise in the banquet hall was getting louder and louder, but the table where Lu Mu and Huang Yanyao were sitting was shrouded in silence. Huang Yanyao observed the words and expressions of everyone present, and Huang Wumeng analyzed them one by one in her mind, and was able to see a lot of interesting things. No one could match Huang Wumeng in terms of insight into people's hearts.

Lu Mu simply thought it was noisy.

But being with her, noisy things don’t matter at all.

It was not until Huang Yanyao's jade fingers gently stroked the back of his hand under the table that the silence between them was wiped out.

Chapter 39: Hong Jing

Huang Yanyao exuded a cold murderous aura.

Lu Mu glanced at her, but Huang Yanyao was looking at the table opposite, her eyes narrowed, and the smile on her lips seemed cold and distant.

I followed her gaze.

The dishes on that table were equally exquisite, but what caught Huang Yanyao's attention was not those dishes but the young man who was sitting at the table with a bored look on his face because he had nothing to do.

He was dressed in a purple robe, over which was a layer of black and gold brocade, and with a emerald green brocade belt with auspicious cloud patterns inlaid with silver around his waist. His clothes were quite luxurious, and he had the bearing of a superior. However, although his face was handsome, his eyes revealed a bit of discomfort. The festive atmosphere in the banquet hall became more and more awkward around him.

The position where he sits is also interesting.

Below the main seat, the first persons on the left and right, are Huang Yanyao and Lu Mu on the left, and him on the right. I think his status is not low either, at least that old fox Yushan thinks that the two parties are qualified to sit on an equal footing.

Moreover, he has no characteristics of a demon race...which means he is from outside the Wuyan Desert.

Next to him was a calm-faced man also wearing a mask, his identity a mystery.

"Who is that?"

Lu Mu withdrew his gaze and asked Huang Yanyao in a low voice.

"King Nanling's only son, Hong Jing."

She hooked her fingertips and spoke coldly.

"...I can understand that. After all, the Wuyan Desert not only borders your territory, but also King Nanling's. In terms of deterrence and influence, I'm afraid he is more powerful than you."

"King Nanling sent his son here, which is considered to be giving enough face to the Feathered Serpent Tribe."

Lu Mu looked at Yu Shan, who was holding a glass and smiling at the host. The four characters "having the best of both worlds" were written all over his not-so-haggard face.

Yu Shan undoubtedly knew about the conflict between King Nan Ling and Huang Yanyao. There had been a lot of fighting between the two sides in the past few months. Although not much blood was shed, how could someone as shrewd as him not know that the most famous king of a different surname in southern Xinjiang had fallen out with the newly arrived Ninth Princess?

It is the wedding day, but the situation outside the Wuyan Desert is not peaceful. Yushan wants his tribe not to be affected, so he has to think carefully about what is the best way to do it.

But he finally decided to invite people from both parties.

"There are dozens of tribes in the Wuyan Desert. The Quetzalcoatl tribe has the most influence and resources. They control a large number of mineral veins in the southwest of the desert. If we want to sell these things at a good price, or to sell them safely outside the desert... we have to think a lot more about the offerings."

"King Nanling is his old customer. Although the tribes in the Wuyan Desert are unwilling to be his vassal, they are still very generous in seeking peace."

Huang Yanyao looked at Yushan, who was chatting happily with the guests, with a smile.

This was the first time she had seen the leader of the clan whose hair was covered with fine snake scales, but Huang Yanyao had long experienced his tactful means of seeking peace.

"how about you?"

"On my first day in office in Southern Xinjiang, the Feathered Serpent Tribe also paid tribute to me, and the amount was not small."

"Haha, it seems he doesn't look down on you."

Lu Mu couldn't help but laugh.

"The Feathered Serpent Tribe's mineral deposits never go to the west or north. The tribes over there have been enemies with them for a long time. The fastest way out of the desert is to go to me and to King Nanling. So... even though I couldn't show any ability to gain a foothold, he still offered it to me."

Huang Yanyao could still remember that when she first took office, the treasuries of Lingyun and Youfeng cities were emptied by the previous governor. After killing those two people, the money could not be recovered. She almost became desperate because of this. Then, a convoy of thirteen vehicles loaded with spirit stone minerals from the Feathered Serpent Tribe arrived in Lingyun City.

Then the originally dry treasury suddenly became full.

This is certainly a timely help, no matter what the purpose of the Quetzalcoatl tribe is.

It's a favor after all.

"It seems that King Nanling has no intention of getting involved in the Wuyan Desert...right now."

Lu Mu's eyes never left Hong Jing opposite him, and the mysterious man beside him.

The Prince of Nanling seemed to have no interest in this festive banquet. He did not say a word. When someone came to him to show respect, he did not respond and was very impatient.

Maybe his heart wasn't in it.

I'm afraid this prince didn't come here voluntarily.

He behaved so arrogantly and dissatisfied at the banquet, and some people must be unhappy about it, but they just didn't want to say it out loud. However, this would cause these people's attitude towards Hong Jing to become worse, which would also indirectly affect King Nanling.

Hong Zhan sent out this arrogant prince, probably not expecting him to accomplish anything, and maybe just let him relax for a while.

"If I had a plan to sever the fate of the empire, I wouldn't even look at this Wuyan Desert again."

Huang Yanyao picked up the teacup, took a sip, and spoke slowly.

Lu Mu looked up at her and asked, "What are you going to do?"

"Planning?" Huang Yanyao smiled faintly and put the teacup down heavily. "Since old fellow Hong Zhan is now too weak to split his forces, I have to fight for this Wuyan Desert."

The Wuyan Desert is very large, even larger than her current territory. Although there are dozens of half-demon tribes here that have deep hatred among each other, if she can gather them together and use them for her benefit, this power should not be underestimated.

It's not like King Nan Ling hasn't tried before, but his methods are usually simple and crude, and it's not easy to beat the people here into submission.

These tribes with demon blood are probably no less ferocious than the real demons.

Yushan's face is now full of rosy glow and he is very friendly to others. If he gets angry, I don't know whether he will be a fox or a tiger.

Huang Yanyao didn't want to use brute force, but she knew that it would be impossible to get this piece of fat meat without using some intelligence.

At this time, Hong Jing stood up.

He smoothed the hem of his robe, holding a cup, and walked straight towards Huang Yanyao and Lu Mu. With a gentle smile on his face, he came in front of Huang Yanyao and asked, "Excuse me, is this Her Highness Huang Yanyao?"

Huang Yanyao raised her eyebrows and looked at him, with a smile on her lips, "It's me."