You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 451: Sudden Betrayal (2 in 1 order)

But at this time, some members of the Liuli Group were shaken. Years of wandering and the disaster in Chang'an City put them on the brink of collapse.

The vast desert was silent and boundless. Under a blazing sun, several Dragonborn held a private meeting beneath a hidden rock face behind a sand dune. Their faces were grim, filled with worry.

One of them was Shi Wu, a core member of the Liuli clan. He took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice, "My fellow citizens, you all have witnessed our current plight. Since we were driven from our homeland so many years ago, none of us, from the elders down to the infants, have ever enjoyed a life of ease."

As Shi Wu spoke, he began to sob, his eyes slightly red. The tribesmen were silent and solemn.

"We first spent over a decade in the village, then wandered the mountains for several more. Just when we thought we finally had a home to settle down, Chang'an City turned out to be so vulnerable!"

Shi Wu pounded the ground, filled with grief and indignation. "We suffered heavy losses. Even a master like Cangli couldn't escape their clutches!"

The tribesmen exchanged anxious glances with each other, all of them feeling uneasy about the difficult and bumpy road ahead.

Shi Wu seemed to see through their thoughts, and he continued in a heavy voice, "I know you are all exhausted, and your faith in finding Xuantian Dragon Territory has begun to waver. Fellow countrymen, do we really have to continue wandering like this?"

A young Dragonborn suddenly stood up and loudly retorted, "So are we just going to give up? Not seek the legendary destination, but wander around from now on?"

Just as Shi Wu and the others were secretly plotting to break away from Zhong Wuye's camp, a gust of wind whistled in, carrying fine sand. Zhong Wuye, sword in hand, looked down coldly at the group of dragonborn with an imposing aura.

"You cowards are still colluding in secret! This is absolutely ridiculous!"

Zhong Wuye gritted his teeth and pointed his sword at Shi Wu and others.

Shi Wu was so frightened that he fell to the ground, speechless.

The other Dragonborn were speechless and trembling. A young man, still standing tall and proud, retorted, "Miss Zhong, we're just chatting so that our people can live a stable life! Why are you so angry?"

Zhong Wuye's eyes grew darker, and his clan leader's aura was terrifying: "You dare to defy my will? Are you ready for this?"

She raised her hands, and the power of the Nine Heavens suddenly overwhelmed her, pinning all the Dragonborn to the ground. Their gods surrendered, begging for Zhong Wuye's forgiveness. Only the young man remained stubborn, his expression steadfast.

"Even so, it's better than wandering in the desert forever!"

The young man struggled to stand up. "All we want is a safe place!"

"shut up!"

Zhong Wuye roared angrily, and the air explosion caused by his sword swing was like a violent storm, which pressed the young man heavily to the ground.

The young man's eyes were wide open, blood was flowing out of his mouth, and he was almost fainting.

Zhong Wuye glared at him, his sword pointed at the sky: "Listen, I've said it countless times! Only when we find Xuantian Dragon Territory can we say we've found our home! Don't you just believe me?"

"Does Xuantian Dragon Territory... really exist?"

The young man muttered a few words and stopped talking.

The riot was briefly suppressed by Zhong Wuye.

……

Afterwards, Shi Wu and others gathered together again to discuss the matter secretly.
He waved his hand slowly and said firmly:
"Of course, I have absolute confidence in Miss Zhong's abilities, but everyone has seen our current situation, and her mental state has been deteriorating recently. I'm just worried that if we continue to drift with the tide, we will ultimately be destroyed!"

At this point, Shi Wu's eyes were firm and stubborn: "We should now strive for a stable place to settle down, even if it's only temporarily. As for now, I think the Northern Zhou Dynasty is a good choice."

As soon as the words fell, the tribesmen were in an uproar. Some agreed, some opposed, and each had their own thoughts.

"I heard that the Northern Zhou Dynasty was a benevolent country, where the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. It should be a place of refuge."

"But didn't Princess Tana say that the seal on her body was sealed there? I'm afraid if I go there, I'll get involved in the conflict!"

"It's just a small country, what's the big deal? Why should we Dragonborn be afraid of this?"

The sound of arguing was endless.

Shi Wu had no choice but to shout again: "Everyone, be quiet! I said this is just a temporary solution, not a long-term plan. When the time is right, we will naturally continue to search for the Long family tomb!"

A voice interrupted the chaos: "But Miss Zhong will definitely not agree."

At this point, everyone showed fear of Zhong Wuye.

Shi Wu took a deep breath and said slowly:
“That’s why I have to make such a difficult choice.

Everyone, I believe you all know that we are all ancient relics. Although we have inherited the power of dragons, we also have human shortcomings and we age and weaken over time.

Even Miss Zhong couldn't sustain such intense wandering for long.

If anything were to happen to her, our tribe's cause would be ruined. Therefore, until she finds her way again, we must first provide a temporary home for our people!"

The old man was silent for a moment, then sighed helplessly. The other dragonborn discussed the matter and looked at each other in confusion.

For a moment, many voices echoed in the darkness:
"Brother Shi, what you said makes a lot of sense."

"How can we not go against Miss Zhong's wishes? The safety of our people is our top priority!"

"If you start a new business in secret, Miss Zhong won't be able to stop you even if she knows."

"Brother Shi is right. First, find a place to stay and recuperate. Then, surprise attack and make a stunning debut!"

……

After making up his mind, at dusk, Shi Wu took a few confidants and took advantage of the cover of night to sneak into the edge of the Northern Zhou border.

They wanted to see the commander, explain their purpose, and seek refuge. Unexpectedly, as they approached the checkpoint, they were stopped by soldiers. After Shi Wu briefly explained, the soldiers surrounded them, acting arrogantly and domineeringly.

Shi Wu was puzzled and a little nervous for a moment.

"You traitors, you still dare to beg for mercy! How ridiculous!" The leading officer said coldly, his eyes as sharp as a blade.

Shi Wu was so frightened that he fell to his knees, begging repeatedly: "Sir, please calm down! We are just looking for shelter!"

"Hmph, it's shameful for you to betray your own people. Now you want to rely on me and other Northern Zhou royal army? You are really overestimating your own abilities!" The officer sneered and looked down at Shi Wu and his companions.

Shi Wu was filled with anxiety and secretly regretted how hasty his decision to come here was.

He quickly signaled to the other tribesmen, hoping to take advantage of the chaos to escape. However, he was surprised to find that the soldiers with guns had already surrounded them, staring at them with a fierce smile.

"Sir, although we have made mistakes, we are also trying to survive!" Shi Wu tried to explain in vain, "If you can show mercy and take us in, we will do our best to serve the Northern Zhou!"

The officer sneered, looked Shi Wu up and down, and suddenly sneered: "You old man, there is no need to be so flattering! I think you should be more obedient."

As he spoke, he untied a shiny bronze mirror from his waist and waved it in front of Shi Wu. A faint puff of green smoke was seen flowing on the mirror. Shi Wu couldn't help but stare wide-eyed, a little dazed.

"This is the 'Dragon Suppression Mirror', designed to defeat you Dragonborns."

The officer said triumphantly, "You better tell me the hiding place of that evil woman Zhong Wuye, or I will use this sharp weapon!"

Shi Wu gasped for breath, his head swollen. In the jade mirror, a multicolored light flickered, like a thousand streams flowing. Shi Wu felt dizzy, and his thoughts became somewhat chaotic.

"Tell me quickly, where are you hiding?" the officer urged impatiently, the jade mirror getting closer and closer to Shi Wu's face.
"Okay, I'll say ..."

……

After learning the exact location of the camp, the Northern Zhou army quickly assembled a large number of elite troops. In the early morning, just as the stars and moon had set, and the darkness of the night had not yet completely dissipated, they set out with a hint of secrecy.

The Liuli Group's camp was located in an oasis, with winding streams running through it, shaded by green trees, and a pleasant scenery. But who would have thought that on such a peaceful and beautiful morning, the earth-shaking sound of horse hooves and shouts would suddenly be heard!
Hundreds of Northern Zhou soldiers, spears in hand, came charging in from all directions, their fangs bared and claws flailing with murderous intent. The Liuli people in the camp had no time to react before they were frantically attacked and surrounded.

Zhong Wuye was washing up in her tent when she heard the commotion and hurriedly threw on her clothes. She saw the flashing of swords, the smoke of gunpowder, and the screams of her murdered tribesmen everywhere. She was horrified and quickly drew her sword to confront the Northern Zhou army.

"What do you mean? How dare you come and invade our territory!" Zhong Wuye's eyes were wide open with anger, and his hands were tightly gripping the long sword.

But the Northern Zhou soldiers just grinned and said nothing, continuing to advance step by step, surrounding Zhong Wuye and his clansmen behind him. Zhong Wuye gritted his teeth, ready to fight to the death, when he suddenly saw Princess Tana being captured by several soldiers not far away and being dragged away.

"Tana!" Zhong Wuye exclaimed, rushing over. Seeing this, the soldiers shouted threats at Zhong Wuye, threw Tana into the cage, and quickly ran away.

Zhong Wuye didn't care about fighting with other soldiers, desperately chasing after the guys who were trying to capture Tana. At this time, there was a loud sound of horse hooves, and a high-ranking officer of the Northern Zhou Dynasty rode up on horseback, holding a scimitar and blocking Zhong Wuye.

"Were you sent by the Emperor of Northern Zhou?" Zhong Wuye asked the man anxiously.

The officer smiled coldly and said, "Those who are not of my race must have different hearts. What is there to explain to a witch like you? I must take the princess back with me."

With that, he waved his hand, and the soldiers behind him dragged the cage over. Zhong Wuye only caught a glimpse of Tana's curled-up figure inside. His heart sank, and he quickly leaped forward to attack the officer, but he was repeatedly wounded, and was finally sent flying by a heavy blow, slamming heavily to the ground.

When Zhong Wuye managed to get up, she saw that the Northern Zhou army had already left the camp, dragging Tana's cage with them, and were gradually moving away. She gritted her teeth, endured the pain, and drew her sword to chase after them.

Along the way, Zhong Wuye carefully observed the movements of the Northern Zhou soldiers and gradually realized something was amiss. They were dragging the prisoner cage too roughly, even intentionally bumping into obstacles on the roadside, clearly showing no regard for the safety of the people inside.

Even more puzzling was the fact that the Northern Zhou army did not advance towards the border or the capital, but instead advanced in the opposite direction. If the Northern Zhou royal family had wanted to imprison Princess Tana, they should have brought her back to the capital, rather than acting so abnormally.

Isn't all this for the purpose of rescuing Princess Tana?
Zhong Wuye felt a heavy feeling in his heart, and suddenly remembered that Tana had hinted before that there was some kind of mysterious power sealed in his body, and the Northern Zhou royal family had been on high alert.

Could it be that this group of Northern Zhou soldiers were not simply following orders from their superiors, but had some other hidden agenda? A terrifying thought flashed through Zhong Wuye's mind—their purpose for this trip was actually to abduct Tana?!
Just as she was about to chase the Northern Zhou army, a familiar roar came from behind her, and the Blood Rose monsters appeared again! They bared their fangs and claws, grinned with bloody mouths, and blocked their way.

"Good boy, it seems that Blood Rose has been planning this for a long time!" Zhong Wuye clenched the sword in his hand and was about to attack violently, but her companions were not willing to be outdone. They drew their swords and prepared to fight.

At this moment, Qin Huan stepped forward and said earnestly, "Wait a minute, young lady! I know you're extremely anxious, but we're short-handed and may not be able to handle this. Why don't we just find another solution?"

Zhong Wuye couldn't help but gasp and glared at Qin Huan. Qin Huan, however, remained calm and said calmly, "Please listen to me. I've also been betrayed before. Back then, I was in the Golden Cicada Bandits. Although I had many excellent elders to teach me, there were still traitors among us. I was born in the slums of Taiping Province as a child. If I hadn't been taken in by Elder Sima Ru, I don't know what would have happened to me."

A hint of sadness flashed across Qin Huanlu's dark eyes. "So I completely understand why some of my companions might be feeling shaken. After all, we all come from the lower classes and have suffered indifference and discrimination in the past. Especially in this difficult situation, anyone would be afraid and shaken."

"But..." Zhong Wuye was about to scold, but Qin Huan shook his head slightly and interrupted her.

"But we can't give up just like that." Confidence returned to his face. "Look, even though those who defected did something wrong, they're still part of our tribe. They were bewitched, so we should forgive and understand them. Just like when I was betrayed in the past, I was eventually taken in by kindhearted people and given a new life."

Qin Huan spoke with deep earnestness, and whenever he hit the nail on the head, his words were particularly persuasive. Zhong Wuye felt the heat in her body gradually dissipate, but her worry about Tana lingered. She gritted her teeth and finally nodded.

Along the way, unused farmland and barren fields were everywhere. Occasionally, they passed a village, its houses dilapidated and the scene of decay and decay everywhere. Some villagers, driven to poverty, even slept on the streets. They were pale and thin, their clothes tattered and worn. Seeing Zhong Wuye and his companions passing by the village, these pitiful people simply avoided them, not daring to approach.

On several occasions, Zhong Wuye and his companions even witnessed horrifying scenes—Northern Zhou troops approached the border and forcibly dragged away young people. The captured villagers wailed incessantly, but no one dared to resist. Only the abandoned elderly and children knelt helplessly on the ground, weeping uncontrollably.

Whenever he saw such a scene, Qin Huan's brows would be tightly furrowed and his fists would be clenched involuntarily.

"It seems that the Northern Zhou Dynasty really treats the people like slaves, torturing them at will." Qin Huan muttered to himself, his eyes dark and gloomy. "We poor people are just objects of exploitation there."

"I grew up in the slums of Taiping Province. It was a living hell, devoid of dignity, filled with sin and despair. After my family was destroyed, I ended up on the streets, begging for food. Sometimes, we kids would fight over scraps from the garbage. Being bullied and insulted was a common occurrence."

Qin Huan's voice gradually became lower and lower, and he even choked up a little. Zhong Wuye had never seen this usually calm and composed hero lose his composure like this, and he couldn't help but feel pity for him.

"Survival is a nightmare, but we've all become accustomed to it." Qin Huan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. "Until one day, I met my savior and had a chance at rebirth. If it weren't for him, I'd probably be buried in that quagmire of sin by now."

In a village ravaged by famine and nightmares, Zhong Wuye once again met the mysterious girl Wu Ya.

(End of this chapter)