World's First Traitor System (404)

Chapter 404 - No Mortal Toy

Wu Gang and the Bixi stared at each other across the vast expanse of land. Was this the quiet before the storm? The calm before the battle?

Fan Li was on high alert, cautiously watching the Bixi.

This behemoth's attack method was simply too unusual. The stone tablet on its back was actually a long-range weapon.

To be struck by a stone tablet the size of a mountain, even if he was the Buddha himself, Fan Li didn’t fancy his chances of surviving.

Suddenly, the Bixi moved.

It turned around, its back to Wu Gang, and began to crawl away.

“What's happening?”

“Did you scare it off?”

Fan Li asked Wu Gang. But before she answered, he already suspected his assumption was wrong.

"No," Wu Gang shook her head, as expected. "I didn't want to fight it, and it seems... it didn't want to fight either?"

Fan Li was confused.

What was going on?

But then he remembered, in the direction the Bixi was heading, stood the third largest city of Great Chu.

Even if the people had been evacuated, such a magnificent city shouldn't be destroyed.

“Wu Gang, let's stop it!” Fan Li ordered.

"...Yes!"

Though she agreed, there was clear hesitation in Wu Gang's voice. She flew forward, and quickly intercepted the Bixi.

This time, Wu Gang flew low. When she hovered in front of the Bixi, they were only a few hundred feet apart.

Gulp!

Fan Li nervously swallowed.

At such close range, if the Bixi attacked, he would undoubtedly be caught in the crossfire If that mountain-sized stone tablet were to strike, even a glancing blow would crush him to dust.

However, no conflict occurred.

The Bixi slowly raised its head, gazing at Wu Gang for a moment. It turned to look back in the direction it had come from.

In its mechanical eyes, Fan Li noticed a hint of confusion. It then looked left and right, and chose to continue crawling in the left direction.

"No! That’s the direction of Peng City!" Fan Li was so anxious, he blurted out, "Wu Gang, force it to the right! To the right! The right leads to Great Ci!"

Wu Gang was also taken aback.

She had been ready for a fierce battle, she hadn't expected the Bixi to turn again, avoiding conflict.

But Fan Li had given an order. Wu Gang frowned slightly before immediately following the Bixi.

This time, she even silently prayed.

"Please, go right!"

"Please, do me this favor, go right, I don't want to fight you!"

Once again, Wu Gang blocked the Bixi's path.

They were even closer than before!

"Roar..."

The low growl from the Bixi was powerful enough to ruffle Fan Li's hair.

Were they going to fight at last?

Fan Li started to feel regret. If a fight was unavoidable, it would have been better to stay in Peng City, prepared. However, a clash still didn't happen.

The Bixi turned again.

It slowly changed direction, heading towards Great Ci, its massive body moving steadily towards the distant horizon.

…

Great Chu, Rivers and Mountains Pavilion.

A military report arrived from Great Ming.

Li Yu of the Southern Tang had made his move again, each stroke of his brush created a monstrous beast. Like the Bixi, the target was no longer the capital but the cities across the land.

Strangely, the powerful ink beast made it easier to draw.

Fan Li studied the drawing in his hand, lost in thought.

"What is this?" Fan Zhengming asked. "It looks like a dog, but not quite. Its mouth has tiger teeth. Second Brother, do you recognize it?"

Fan Li nodded, then shook his head. The original owner, Fan Li, wouldn't recognize it, but he, by chance, did.

Or rather, he remembered the description of a certain monster, which was very similar to the creature in the painting.

“In ancient times, there were four fiends: Hundun, Qiongqi, Taowu, and Taotie.”

“Among them, Hundun had the shape of a dog, covered in red fur, with a single horn on its head and tiger teeth.”

“This… is most likely Hundun.”

Fan Li still couldn’t be certain.

After all, it was the mythology of another world. To use it to deduce the nature of a beast in this world was like using an ancient sword to govern a modern court. But another thought entered his mind, filling him with worry.

“Shi Jingtang and Li Yu.”

“A Bixi and a Hundun?”

“Why don't any of these things seem to belong in the mortal realm?”

Since confirming the identity of the Bixi, Fan Li had even asked Wang Ban about it.

However, the Guigu lineage, which was passed down from the Qin Dynasty, had no record of the dragon’s nine sons, nor of the four fiends.

Recalling that Shi Jingtang and Li Yu came from the immortal realm, Fan Li started to suspect that the Bixi had never existed in the mortal realm.

The military report mentioned that Hundun had destroyed ten cities in Great Ming, killing over a million people.

Besides civilians, the Great Ming army had also suffered heavy casualties. Among them, more than twenty generals had perished, and even five Grand Generals!

Despite such heavy losses, they had still failed to stop Hundun’s advance.

The terrifying image of the red-furred dog demon had become so infamous in Great Ming that it was enough to stop children from crying at night.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, like the Bixi, there was only one Hundun.

"Hmm?"

Fan Li’s expression suddenly changed.

His clone and Wu Gang had been secretly following the Bixi, making sure it didn't change course.

Thankfully, the Bixi had been heading towards Great Ci and hadn't turned back. But just as it reached the border between Great Chu and Great Ci, it stopped. And it was Empress Yao Guang herself who had stopped it!

"Beast!"

"Do you think Great Ci is a place you can simply waltz into?"

Empress Yao Guang stood atop her golden chariot, radiating imperial authority. Beside her chariot, Jin De held a book, and Miaoyin held a zither, exuding elegance and dignity.

Behind them stood the newly appointed officials and soldiers of Great Ci, all women.

Their gazes, fixed on Empress Yao Guang’s back, were filled with adoration, as if the Empress was incredibly radiant, far exceeding any man.

The women wanted to kneel before Yao Guang!

Even though since arriving in Great Ci, they had already performed countless kowtows. But it wasn’t enough. The people of Great Ci had absolute faith in their invincible Empress!

They were Yao Guang’s most loyal supporters, the most devout citizens of the Great Ci Dynasty, willing to live and die with their kingdom!

“Your Majesty, allow this general to fight.”

“Your Majesty, I too wish to fight.”

A female general and a female official stepped forward from the crowd. Both were Unity Realm cultivators, among the strongest in Great Ci, second only to the Sage Rulers.

Empress Yao Guang turned and smiled at them.

“I understand your loyalty. But this battle, I will fight personally.”

“I want all the citizens of Great Ci to see that by cultivating the Holy Yin Scripture I have imparted, you can defy everything in the mortal realm, whether those arrogant men, or those monsters they control!”

Yao Guang’s voice echoed across the plains.

The excited  people of Great Ci knelt as one.

“Long live the Empress!”

As they cheered, Empress Yao Guang rose into the air with a laugh. With her mortal body, she flew towards the mountain-like Bixi.

Fan Li’s hand suddenly hurt!

Wu Gang, at some point, had grabbed his hand tightly, looking worried…