Even without cheats, we must survive the apocalypse

Hearing this, Lu Mu was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud: "Isn't that what a guard is?"

Huang Yanyao pursed her lips, ate a few more pieces, pushed the plate aside, propped herself up and leaned back in the chair, her eyes fixed on the scenery outside the window, her brows not relaxed much.

"But you won't be my bodyguard forever."

"You know, if you don't even get the courtesy of a guest of honor by my side, and I still order you around like a servant... many people will be unhappy."

She didn't deny that it felt good.

Lu Mu is a good man. I didn’t understand him before, and Huang Yanyao still doesn’t understand him now. She just feels that this Shura Saint is someone she can confide in, but that’s all.

Because he is not an ordinary fish in a pond, he is very special. Huang Wumeng said that the young master of the Lu family has a destiny determined by heaven. She has seen such a person before, but in all her years, she has only seen one such person. Such people are not easily entangled and detained by emotions.

Maybe now, but not in the future.

People mature gradually, and so does the heart of a monk.

"Why do you have to talk about such a serious matter?"

Lu Mu smiled bitterly.

Huang Yanyao tilted her head, "Well... because you are quite useful. At least during this time, I couldn't have done everything I did without you, so it's a pity that you will leave."

She blinked and suddenly smiled slightly.

Lu Mu stared at her exquisite little face, "What if I stay with you forever?"

"Then I don't want you to keep it."

Huang Yanyao shrugged, "I will be a burden to you, at least for now."

After hearing her words, Lu Mu couldn't help but smile, "You are quite honest."

……

After noon that day, the convoy had already entered the center of Huang Yanyao's territory. Tianque City was now in sight. This trip back and forth took three or four days, and the harvest was actually not small. At least for Huang Yanyao, a small victory is also a victory.

Under the city, the leading soldier in front of the convoy shook his halberd and shouted loudly: "His Highness the Ninth Prince is here, open the city gates immediately!"

After receiving the order, the soldiers under the city did not dare to delay. The heavy city gate slowly opened. Lu Mu could sense that there seemed to be a barrier covering Tianque City at this time.

This is the city defense formation.

"interesting……"

Through the window, Lu Mu could even smell the solemn and stern atmosphere emanating from the city.

"What's going on? Tianque City is closed?"

Huang Yanyao naturally heard the soldier's shout. She frowned, walked out of the carriage, and looked at the barrier covering Tianque City. Her face immediately darkened.

In fact, it is a bit strange, because Tianque City never closes the gates on weekdays. The business here is good and a lot of money can be made. Even during the days when the maid was assassinated, she never ordered the city to be closed.

"What is Li Heng doing? I told him before I left that Tianque City must not be closed. Also, this city defense formation will cost tens of thousands of spirit stones even if it is open for an hour!"

"He's squandering my family fortune."

She slapped her forehead in annoyance.

Chapter 72: Feng Ling's Injury

Huang Yanyao actually doesn't trust Li Heng very much.

Because Huang Wumeng has said more than once that "people in the clan cannot be trusted unless they are relatives." Although she didn't know what grudges this ancestor had in the past with the aristocratic families in the imperial dynasty, those were the words of the elders, and she listened to them.

However, Li Heng was the only strategist under her, and Huang Yanyao actually valued him to some extent. He might not be trustworthy, but her abilities could be put to good use. If he really had ulterior motives, she could deal with him later.

But now such behavior is obviously abnormal.

When a city closes its gates and opens a protective barrier, it means that no one can come in from the outside and no one can leave from the inside. This usually happens and it can only mean something extremely serious has happened... The most serious situation is when the enemy army is besieging the city and is about to attack, and it's time for a do-or-die battle.

In any case, as long as the protective barrier is opened, something big is bound to happen.

Otherwise, if Li Heng just opened it for fun, Huang Yanyao would have to punish him for his negligence.

Of course, there are many military camps outside Tianque City, and all the generals and soldiers are on high alert. The atmosphere is obviously different from the past and it shouldn't be like this.

"problem occurs."

Lu Mu looked inside the open city gate and saw a team of soldiers rushing towards them at full speed. The scene was full of murderous intent, and he guessed something in his mind.

"I didn't expect that after only three days away, I would come back to find that the weather at home had changed."

Huang Yanyao clicked her tongue. Logically, she was filled with good news. She had taken in the Quetzalcoatl tribe and killed Hong Jing. At least these were gains. But sometimes there is gain and loss. Huang Yanyao vaguely felt that she might have lost something.

In the distance, the army had already reached the city gate. Huang Yanyao recognized the leader. It was Mo Cheng, Xin Jian's deputy general. He was a man who was not easily shocked by fame or disgrace and devoted himself to training his soldiers. But now he looked anxious. He did not dismount when he arrived. He just bowed to Huang Yanyao who was standing on the carriage and said, "This humble general greets His Highness the Ninth Prince!"

"No need to be polite. Why is Tianque City so heavily guarded?"

She raised her eyes and stared at Mo Cheng sharply.

Mo Cheng sighed with a complicated expression, and then said, "Your Highness, please follow me back to the palace. The ministers have been waiting for a long time. I thought you would arrive tomorrow, but since you are back, it's good."

Huang Yanyao frowned and felt more uncomfortable.

"Lead the way."

Having said that, there was nothing more to ask. Mo Cheng might know something, but he knew that speaking it out would inevitably arouse her anger. No one wanted to bear the anger of his master. Moreover, he was not a close minister or an important official after all, so it was not appropriate for him to make everything clear.

Led by Mo Cheng, the convoy marched through the streets and alleys and headed straight towards the Tongshi Palace.

Along the way, Lu Mu looked at the situation in the city. Tianque City was originally a prosperous place, but now there were few pedestrians on the streets, the markets were deserted, and the military was patrolling everywhere, looking like they were going to war.

Of course Huang Yanyao was watching as well, but the more she watched, the more unhappy she became, because those bustling places in the city that made a fortune every day had already closed their doors to visitors. She was afraid that she would not be able to earn a penny of that money, and now she had to lose it. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She propped up her jade cheeks and pouted her thin lips high.

But no matter how angry she was, she still wanted to know why Li Heng imposed martial law throughout the city.

Lu Mu turned his head and happened to see her like this. She might not be anxious at the moment, but Huang Yanyao's jade hands, which had nowhere to put, seemed to expose her entanglement.

The Tongshi Palace was right in front of her. Without waiting for the carriage to stop, she lifted the door curtain and jumped down, walking hurriedly onto the corridor. She was familiar with this road, and after turning a few corners, she pushed open the door of the conference room.

There were only three people inside.

Li Heng, Xin Jian, and Gu Yunxi.

It was just that the three of them seemed to have just been through an argument, and their expressions were not very good. The atmosphere in the hall was tense and depressing.

In fact, these three people were not good people. Li Heng came from a big family, was proud in his heart, and was also a strategist, so he looked down on warriors like Xin Jian and Gu Yunxi. Until now, he had not changed his opinion of Gu Yunxi and just thought that she was here to eat for free.

Xin Jian didn't have much of a favorable impression of Li Heng's political tactics, and the same could be seen from Gu Yunxi's attitude.

Gu Yunxi had never liked these two people, because her purpose was the simplest. She was not after fame or wealth, but only came to help her sister Yanyao. With this idea in mind, she felt that these two guys could always hinder each other for their own little rights, and in the end, they would have to force Huang Yanyao to step in and suppress them, which was so useless.

As soon as she entered, she attracted their attention. The three of them were slightly surprised, but when Huang Yanyao entered the room, they restrained their gazes and regained their composure.

"Yan Yao!"

Gu Yunxi was closer to the door, and she immediately hugged Huang Yanyao, buried her head in the hair on Huang Yanyao's neck, and sniffed deeply, as if replenishing energy.

She liked the smell of Huang Yanyao, which was a light, powdery scent that smelled very nice.

Huang Yanyao only felt that Gu Yunxi's warm breath brushed across her collarbone, making her feel a little itchy.

"What's wrong with Sister Yunxi? She looks like she can't live without me."

She smiled, stretched out her white hand, rubbed Gu Yunxi's head, and spoke in a gentle tone.

Huang Yanyao is a little younger, but in terms of figure, Gu Yunxi really does not have the advantage that can be called an "older sister". But Gu Yunxi is not like this on a daily basis. Even when she left for a month or so in order to seek a breakthrough in her cultivation, the two were not this excited when they met again.

"Your Highness has returned safely. I am so happy. The General Gu has been away for several days and only returned yesterday morning."

Li Heng began to explain, his voice sounding more tired than usual.

"Well, you are thoughtful..."

Huang Yanyao responded and glanced at Li Heng and Xin Jian. Although there was worry on their faces, they tried their best to be patient. Huang Yanyao sighed secretly. She had a lot of contact with these two people. She knew that they were not loyal and courageous, but after all, they served the same master. If she really encountered a problem, they would definitely do their best to solve it for her. They were very reliable in doing things.

But now both of them are in a very low mood, which shows that they are in serious trouble.

She let go of Gu Yunxi, and looked at the worry gradually disappearing from Gu Yunxi's face, and her heart sank even more.

Huang Yanyao walked to the main seat, pushed aside her shawl, and sat down slowly.

"Li Heng, I clearly remember that before I left, I had clearly told you that the people's livelihood in Tianque City must be taken very seriously. But when I came back, the city gates were closed, the battle formation was in place, and there were few people in the city..."

"What happened that made you make this decision?"

Although she was a little angry when she first entered the city, she suppressed it now and asked calmly. Her every move showed a calmness and composure that showed no change in the face of a catastrophe.

This attitude made Li Heng and Xin Jian, who were originally in a state of confusion, slightly stunned, because they felt that even if Huang Yanyao did not angrily question them, she was probably dissatisfied with their decision to close the city and start the battle formation. After a while, they heard Li Heng slowly say: "On the night of two days after you set out, two maids in the Tongshi Palace disappeared for no reason."

"General Xin and I felt that the situation was not good, so we immediately sent out troops to search the entire city, but we found nothing. However, the eunuch Feng Ling learned from somewhere that the two maids were actually kidnapped. The traitor asked the eunuch to meet her outside the city early the next morning. She went as scheduled, and then..."

Li Heng's face was uncertain, as if he was considering whether to continue speaking, but Huang Yanyao's eyes were already as cold as ice. She stared at Li Heng coldly and shouted, "Why are you hesitating? Speak!"

"When we found out about this, we went to look for her, but she had already fallen in a pool of blood, seriously injured. I'm afraid she won't wake up so easily..."

"After the ancient inspector came back, the three of us discussed it carefully and decided to open the battle formation and close the city."

"I have also sent a team of soldiers to Yusha City. The eunuch was attacked, and we are afraid that something unexpected will happen to you..."

Xin Jian stood silently beside Li Heng, holding back the rage that was about to fall from Huang Yanyao.

"..."

Huang Yanyao didn't say anything, and her expression didn't change, but her hands were clenched tightly, the veins on the back of her hands were bulging, and her whole body was stretched straight.

The expensive mahogany chair could no longer withstand the gravity, and the handles broke into pieces, with debris flying everywhere. She was probably unaware of the tiny splinters that pierced her soft palms.

She was silent for a long time, and suddenly laughed, with a sarcastic laugh.

Li Heng and Xin Jian were both stunned.

"So, I really did lose something."

Her laughter gradually subsided, and she looked at her palm and pulled out the tiny piece of wood chip. There was no fear on her face, only endless chillness overflowing from her gaze.

Last time, it was the maid beside her, this time, it was the most important female official beside her.

Feng Ling's official title is "Grand Internal Official". She is the most important minister who is in charge of her daily life and can contact her at will. Her importance is even greater than that of Li Heng and Xin Jian. Moreover, she has been staying by her side since she returned to her clan and is the most loyal person.

Huang Wumeng rarely makes good judgments about others, but even she has some praise for Feng Ling.

But now...

"Your Highness." Li Heng looked solemn and called her respectfully.

Huang Yanyao shook her head. She looked up at Li Heng and said calmly, "How is the injury of the eunuch?"

Her tone already contained murderous intent.

Li Heng paused, "The internal organs are injured, and the Dantian is damaged. The injury is serious. Although it won't cause death or complete loss of cultivation, I'm afraid it will take a long time to recuperate."

Huang Yanyao narrowed her eyes, "Who did it? Maybe you have some idea in your mind, right?"

"We have some guesses, but we dare not make any rash judgments."

"Let me guess, do you think it's an evil cultivator?"

"…Your Highness is very perceptive, and that is indeed the case."

Li Heng and Xin Jian looked at each other and responded in unison.

They actually had a conclusion in their hearts, but due to insufficient evidence, they dared not speak out. After all, it was the evil cultivator who killed her maid last time, and this time, he attacked the maid as well, and even a close minister like Feng Ling fell into the trap.

Logically speaking, if the purpose was to damage Huang Yanyao's power, then both Li Heng and Xin Jian would be better targets. A strategist or a commander, no matter if either one was seriously injured, would be more cost-effective than a female official who was in charge of the prince's daily life. However, the other party did not do so, as if they just wanted to vent their anger on these women.

By the way, provoke, provoke severely.

It seems like revenge with a personal grudge.

Chapter 73: Need to establish authority

Ever since the maid was killed last time, the defense in the palace has been extremely strict. Now Xin Jian even sits in the palace himself. If any evildoers come to attack, he will mobilize the army to meet and kill the enemy.

The other party is quite powerful; at least not everyone can enter the Palace of General Affairs.

And that man not only got in, but also kidnapped two maids and left... Xin Jian was now facing Huang Yanyao's gaze with gritted teeth, because there were frequent incidents in the Tongshi Palace and he was undoubtedly responsible. Even if Huang Yanyao punished him with the crime of not investigating the case, it was reasonable.

Fortunately, Li Heng did not seize on this point and severely reported him in front of Huang Yanyao. Although the strategist disliked him, at least he knew what was important.