National Guardian's Gone and We're Done-Chapter 79: It’s No Different From Bargaining With a Tiger for Its Skin, Don’t You Really Know?
After Robert, the envoy from the Lighthouse Empire, and his entourage departed, a silence fell over the office.
Ji Shengyue was slumped in her luxurious chair,
her gaze wandering listlessly across the gilded decor. But the glittering gold offered no comfort.
Her heart was heavier than ever before, for the one she hated was not Chu He, who was thousands of miles away,
but Xiao Cangqing—the man in whom she had placed such high hopes, who had now become her bitter enemy!
The name Xiao Cangqing was once a source of pride for Ji Shengyue.
He was the general she had personally groomed, lavishing him with endless trust and a disproportionate amount of resources.
She had even disregarded all opposition to bestow upon him the title of National Guardian War God.
But now, Xiao Cangqing had become her greatest enemy, a traitor who caused her immense heartache.
All his past loyalty and oaths seemed so pale and meaningless in the face of his betrayal.
Bitterness flooded Ji Shengyue’s heart.
She knew just how many people in the Great Jing Empire were whispering behind her back, how many wished she would be thrown off the throne sooner rather than later.
Every day, citizens took to the streets of the Royal City, shouting her name and demanding she abdicate.
Their voices were like sharp blades.
Just then, the office door was flung open with a loud BANG.
Ji Shengyue didn’t need to look up to know it was her mother.
"Do you have any idea what you’re doing?"
The middle-aged woman’s face was a mask of fury and disappointment.
She slammed her hands down on the desk, the sound deafening.
Ji Shengyue looked up, calmly meeting the gaze of her mother who had just stormed in.
"Of course I know what I’m doing," Ji Shengyue said calmly. "If I don’t do this, the future of the Great Jing Empire will be ruined at the hands of Xiao Cangqing."
"Ruined at his hands? Let me tell you, it will be ruined at *your* hands!"
Her mother roared, "Do you have any idea what that contract you signed means?
Do you realize this will make the Great Jing Empire a vassal of the Lighthouse Empire?
Do you understand that your actions will plunge the entire Great Jing Empire into an irredeemable abyss?"
Ji Shengyue listened quietly to her mother’s accusations, her resolve unwavering.
She knew what she was doing and what her choice entailed. "I’m well aware of the Lighthouse Empire’s ambitions and what they want," she said.
"But right now, my priority is to stabilize the situation at home.
Mother, you want me to go beg Chu He for help? Do you think he would even listen?
Chu He and Lu Yinxing of the Great Xia Empire are thick as thieves now.
What would it accomplish other than my own humiliation?
Besides, his birth parents were found in the Great Xia Empire. All these factors combined mean it’s impossible to win him back.
Once the domestic situation has stabilized, I will naturally deal with the trouble from the Lighthouse Empire.
Right now, Xiao Cangqing is the most unstable and dangerous factor in the entire Great Jing Empire."
Her mother stared fixedly at Ji Shengyue.
After a long moment, she opened her mouth but said nothing.
Her profound disappointment and helplessness struck Ji Shengyue’s heart like a heavy hammer, blow by blow.
"Mother, you should know that what the Great Jing Empire needs right now is decisive action, not endless worry and interference."
Ji Shengyue lightly pressed a bell on her desk. The crisp ring echoed through the spacious office.
Several well-trained security guards entered swiftly and stood respectfully beside them.
"Please escort the Queen Mother back."
There was not a trace of emotion in Ji Shengyue’s voice, as if she were merely carrying out an official duty.
"The Great Jing Empire is finished. You are a sinner whom the people and ancestors of Great Jing will never forgive."
Her mother looked at Ji Shengyue, her once loving eyes now filled with disappointment and finality.
She shook her head gently and, without waiting for the guards to act, turned and slowly left the office herself.
Her figure gradually vanished at the end of the hallway, leaving behind a heavy silence.
"Mother, you’re too pessimistic."
Ji Shengyue said, gazing in the direction her mother had gone.
...
「Green Forest City.」
This was the front line of the conflict with the Great Jing Empire’s Martial Artist forces.
And Xiao Cangqing, the former National Guardian War God of the Great Jing Empire, now held command here, the new master of this land.
Xiao Cangqing stood by the window, his sharp gaze sweeping over the city’s skyscrapers.
He had not grown complacent from his recent victories; on the contrary, he was more composed and calm than ever.
’The real battle has only just begun,’
’I need to proceed cautiously and consolidate my footing in this newly captured city first.’
Just then, his phone rang, interrupting his thoughts.
He quickly answered. The voice of the Guan Sect from the New World Organization came through the receiver.
Xiao Cangqing’s expression immediately turned serious.
The call was brief, but it conveyed a crucial piece of information.
After the call ended, Xiao Cangqing’s brows were tightly knitted.
He turned to Gao Yimin, who was standing beside him. Noticing the change in his expression, she asked with concern, "Did something happen?"
"It seems our successive operations have put a great deal of pressure on Her Majesty the Queen."
Xiao Cangqing said in a low voice, "The Queen has decided to burn her bridges to deal with us.
The Great Jing Empire has signed an alliance treaty with the Lighthouse Empire.
Simply put, any trouble the Great Jing Empire faces from now on will also be the Lighthouse Empire’s trouble.
The Lighthouse Empire will establish a Martial Artist Base in the Great Jing Empire and dispatch powerful Martial Artists to preside over it, all to protect Great Jing’s peace.
"This isn’t exactly a secret, so there’s no harm in telling you.
We need to reassess our next course of action to ensure we can handle this new development."
"Doesn’t that mean we now have to face not only the Great Jing Empire’s resistance but also the threat of the Lighthouse Empire?"
The color drained from both Gao Yimin and Dai Ju’s faces, and worry clouded their expressions.
They had, of course, heard about the Lighthouse Empire’s recent activities.
The shocking news all pointed to the Lighthouse Empire’s currently unrivaled position.
Their astounding number of Emperor Realm experts, in particular, was enough to make the entire Blue Star tremble.
Seeing their nervous expressions, Xiao Cangqing smiled faintly. "Don’t worry. The New World Organization has already indicated they will send people to assist us during this period.
We can pause the next phase of our annexation plan for now and see just how the Lighthouse Empire intends to help the Great Jing Empire.
And don’t forget, the Lighthouse Empire isn’t the only power on Blue Star. The other empires are also competing in the shadows.
Especially our neighbor, the Great Xia Empire, where Chu He is.
I suspect the Lighthouse Empire’s choice to establish a Martial Artist Base in the Great Jing Empire is likely aimed at the Great Xia Empire."
In truth, these words weren’t entirely Xiao Cangqing’s own speculation. They were more the well-considered conclusions of the New World Organization’s strategists.
But right now, he needed to say this to soothe Gao Yimin and Dai Ju’s anxiety.
Hearing Xiao Cangqing’s analysis, the two women’s expressions finally eased.
Facing a behemoth like the Lighthouse Empire, their own strength was far from enough.
But with the support of the New World Organization, they felt a renewed sense of confidence.
"I need to leave for a while."
Xiao Cangqing took a deep drag from his cigarette and slowly exhaled the smoke. "You two hold the fort here. My phone will be on 24/7, so contact me immediately if anything happens."
Gao Yimin couldn’t help but ask, "Where are you going?"
Xiao Cangqing answered simply, "To find the Fishing Elder."
He didn’t explain further. Some things didn’t need to be understood by everyone.
He waved a hand, turned toward the window, and leaped from the high-rise building.
With his current level of strength, a fall from even a hundred meters couldn’t harm him in the slightest.
Xiao Cangqing’s figure traced a graceful arc through the air before he landed steadily on the ground and vanished from their sight.
...
「Great Xia Empire. The sun was bright, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.」
Such fine weather seemed to be setting the stage for something to come.
Chu He sat by his window, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside.
He had heard the news about Ji Shengyue signing an unequal treaty with the Lighthouse Empire.
He couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh. ’Ji Shengyue, oh, Ji Shengyue, why would you make such a foolish decision?
Working with the Lighthouse Empire is like asking a tiger for its skin. Don’t you really know that?’
