I am invincible, that's why I lie down. You're using your entire clan to rebel?

Xu Longxiang's expression changed instantly.

He stared at Fan Li.

"Have you confirmed this person's identity?"

Inside Zhenyue Hall.

The lamplight flickered gently.

Fan Li remained silent for a moment.

In the end, he shook his head.

"Unable to confirm at the moment."

"Our people only saw his silhouette."

"No one ever really got close to him."

"As for that female swordsman, she has never appeared in Northern Mang."

Xu Longxiang frowned.

"Then what makes you suspect you're one of Qin Mu's men?"

Fan Li did not answer immediately.

Instead, they walked up to the map.

The fingertips landed on the border between Northern Mang and Great Qin.

"Because of time."

"Just after the situation in Liyang was completely settled, something unusual happened in Beimang."

"and……"

Fan Li raised his head.

"According to our information, the relationship between several tribes in Northern Mang is currently undergoing changes."

"Tribes that were originally hostile to each other suddenly began to take sides again."

"Huyan Lie's power also grew rapidly in a short period of time."

"This change is happening too fast."

"It's so fast that it seems impossible for the Northern Barbarians to accomplish this on their own."

Xu Longxiang looked at the map.

He didn't speak.

Fan Li continued:

"If there's someone pushing behind the scenes, then there aren't many people who can do this."

"Looking at the world."

"Only Qin Mu is the most likely candidate."

Zhenyue Hall fell silent again.

Xu Longxiang's gaze fell on the two characters "Beimang".

A long time passed.

He then slowly opened his mouth.

"Something that cannot be determined at the moment."

"Don't be so arbitrary."

Fan Li was slightly taken aback.

Then he lowered his head.

"Yes."

Xu Longxiang withdrew his gaze.

The voice remained calm.

"There's no evidence, it's just speculation."

"Qin Mu is in danger."

"But we can't blame everything on him just because we're afraid of him."

"otherwise……"

He paused.

"On the contrary, it is easy to confuse one's own judgment."

Fan Li remained silent for a moment.

Finally, he nodded.

"Your Highness is right."

But after saying that.

But he did not leave immediately.

Instead, they stood still.

It seems there's something else they want to say.

Xu Longxiang noticed his unusual behavior.

"Is there anything else?"

Fan Li hesitated for a moment.

"Your Highness."

"What if the events in Northern Mang are really related to Qin Mu?"

Xu Longxiang's eyes darkened slightly.

Fan Li continued:

"If he really had already made arrangements for Northern Mang in advance."

"It has even steered the situation in Northern Mang in the direction he desires."

"So now we..."

"We may have already been a step too late."

Xu Longxiang did not answer.

Because he knew.

Fan Li is right.

The most terrifying thing about Qin Mu.

It was never his ability.

It was his strategy, not his plan.

Many times.

When everyone realized that Qin Mu had made his move.

The matter is actually half over.

Just like leaving the sun.

Just like the Luna Cult.

Just like the Qin Dynasty today.

Qin Mu never reveals his true intentions in advance.

He will only take it one step at a time.

He pushes everyone toward the outcome he desires.

By the time everyone came to their senses...

He had completely taken control of the chessboard.

Xu Longxiang slowly closed his eyes.

In my mind.

The image of that man involuntarily came to mind.

Qin Mu.

This is something he is unwilling to admit.

Yet, we have to acknowledge that they are our adversaries.

"Go contact my sister."

After a while.

Xu Longxiang opened his eyes.

"or……"

He paused for a moment.

Contact Jiang Qingxue.

Fan Li's body stiffened slightly.

"Ask them."

"What has Qin Mu been up to lately?"

This time.

Fan Li did not agree immediately.

A hint of hesitation was clearly visible on his face.

"Your Highness."

"Um?"

"Are you sure you want to use these two trump cards at this crucial moment?"

Xu Longxiang frowned.

Fan Li lowered his voice.

"After all, Miss is now someone close to the Empress of Qin."

"Jiang Qingxue is the same."

"They are still willing to help us."

"But once the news gets out..."

He didn't continue.

But the meaning is already very clear.

These two people.

Now they all have the most direct relationship with Qin Mu.

Once exposed.

The consequences are extremely serious.

Xu Longxiang's expression gradually darkened.

"I know."

Fan Li looked at him.

"Your Highness."

"Once these two cards are used..."

"It will be much harder to hide it then."

"Especially Jiang Qingxue."

"Her current status..."

"I know!"

Xu Longxiang suddenly interrupted him.

The voice was a few decibels louder than before.

Inside Zhenyue Hall.

Silence fell instantly.

Fan Li lowered his head.

"Your subordinate misspoke."

Xu Longxiang remained silent.

Much later.

He then slowly said:

You're right.

"It is indeed very dangerous."

"but……"

Xu Longxiang raised his head.

His gaze sharpened.

"You said it yourself."

"Qin Mu is an extremely ambitious man."

"If he has indeed already begun to plan against Northern Mang."

"Then we must know in advance."

"otherwise……"

He looked at the map on the table.

"When he actually makes his move."

"We simply didn't have time to react."

Fan Li remained silent.

Xu Longxiang continued:

"And now we've almost reached the decisive moment."

"I have some trump cards up my sleeve."

"There's no need to keep hiding it any longer."

"As long as we can get information about Qin Mu's true intentions."

Even if it's just taking a risk.

"It's worth it."

Fan Li looked at Xu Longxiang.

Finally, he nodded slowly.

"it is good."

"I'll arrange it."

Done.

Fan Li turned and left.

The footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

The gates of Zhenyue Hall were closed again.

Xu Longxiang sat there alone.

A huge hall.

All that remained was the sound of burning charcoal.

Crackling sound.

Crackling sound.

Sparks occasionally leaped from the furnace.

It went out very quickly.

Xu Longxiang did not move.

He just stared at the map in front of him.

But what he was thinking...

But it's no longer on the map at all.

Because of what Fan Li just said.

It reminded him of two people.

His sister.

Xu Fenghua.

as well as……

Jiang Qingxue.

Two women who were once closest to him.

now.

She has already married Qin Mu.

This fact.

It's always been like a thorn in my side.

It was deeply etched in Xu Longxiang's heart.

He can accept the loss of power in the North.

They could accept that 300,000 iron cavalry would no longer belong to them.

They could even accept that they would ultimately lose to Qin Mu.

This is the only thing.

He could never truly let go of it.

Xu Longxiang slowly lowered his head.

He gave a wry smile.

"elder sister……"

These two words.

When he said it.

It carried a hint of complexity that was hard to conceal.

He still remembers.

Xu Fenghua as a child.

She always stood by his side.

No matter what trouble he caused.

His sister would always shield him from it.

When his father punished him.

It was his sister who pleaded on his behalf.

When he first went to the battlefield.

His sister personally escorted him to the city gate.

Xu Longxiang always felt that at that time.

In this world.

The person who will never leave you.

That's my older sister.

But now.

My older sister is already married.

And the person she married.

It just so happens to be Qin Mu.

The person he hated the most.

Xu Longxiang slowly closed his eyes.

The image of Xu Fenghua standing next to Qin Mu flashed into my mind.

That scene.

He didn't even want to think about it.

But the more I try not to think about it, the more I want to think about it.

The clearer it is, the better.

he knows.

My sister is doing well.

At least based on the messages that have come back.

Qin Mu did not mistreat her.

You could even say that...

Qin Mu valued her highly.

but……

Therefore.

Xu Longxiang felt even more uncomfortable.

If Qin Mu was only using his sister.

Then he can hate even more thoroughly.

But that's not the case.

Qin Mu seems to have truly regarded his sister as his woman.

And the older sister...

It seems that she has already accepted this identity.

This left Xu Longxiang unsure of who he should hate.

Do you hate Qin Mu?

natural.

That man took Li Yang away.

Oppression of the northern border.

He has gradually driven himself to his current predicament.

It even forced him to start preparing for the final battle.

But what if my sister was only forced to marry Qin Mu?

Xu Longxiang still couldn't believe it.

Because he understands his sister.

She is not a woman who will easily give in to fate.

He is not someone who would compromise his principles because of power or influence.

and so……

She truly chose Qin Mu.

Thinking about this...

Xu Longxiang's hand slowly clenched.

Why...?

He murmured softly.

No one answered him.

"Why him of all people?"

This is something Xu Longxiang has never been able to understand.

The world is so big.

There are so many men.

Why Qin Mu of all people?

Why did it have to be the person he least wanted to accept?

Even Jiang Qingxue...

Xu Longxiang's eyes darkened even more.

Jiang Qingxue.

The woman who once accompanied him.

Between them.

Although they didn't actually make it to the end.

For a very long time.

Xu Longxiang thought so.

She will at least stand by my side.

However, in the end...

She also chose Qin Mu.

Thinking about this...

Xu Longxiang suddenly found it somewhat ridiculous.

What exactly did I lose to Qin Mu?

Identity?

Qin Mu was the Emperor of the Great Qin Dynasty.

strength?

Qin Mu is unfathomable.

power?

The Qin Dynasty has now annexed Liyang.

It even began to influence the Northern Barbarians.

These ones.

He admitted it all.

But what about feelings?

Have I lost even in matters of the heart?

Xu Longxiang was unwilling to admit it.

Yet we have to admit it.

At least for now.

I have already lost.

We lost completely.

He slowly picked up the wine glass on the table.

He drank it all in one gulp.

The strong liquor burned down my throat.

But it did not calm his mind.

Instead, it made me even more irritable.

"Qin Mu..."

Xu Longxiang softly uttered the name.

His eyes revealed an extremely complex range of emotions.

hatred.

unwilling.

fear.

There was even a hint of admiration that he himself was unwilling to admit.

This man.

That's incredibly powerful.

So powerful that it made him, the once arrogant prince of the North, pale in comparison.

We have to seriously consider this.

If they eventually face off against Qin Mu.

Do I really have a chance of winning?

Answer.

It's very likely that it doesn't exist.

But the more this is the case, the more likely it is to happen.

Xu Longxiang could not retreat.

Because he had no way out.

Three hundred thousand iron cavalry in the North.

The foundation built by the Xu family over generations.

And those soldiers who had followed him for many years.

They were all already tied to his body.

He can lose himself.

But you can't let everyone lose with you.

"Now that we've come this far..."

Xu Longxiang slowly stood up.

The hesitation in his eyes gradually disappeared.

Instead.

It is a cold, unwavering resolve.

"Then we have no choice but to keep going."

He looked at the map again.

The finger landed on the location of the Qin Dynasty.

Then it slowly moved northward.

finally.

Stopped in Beimang.

"If you have indeed already intervened in Northern Mang..."

"I'd like to see that."

"How far are you planning to take this game?"

……

at the same time.

Outside Zhenyue Hall.

Fan Li walked alone in the long corridor.

He wasn't walking fast.

His expression, however, was very solemn.

Because he knew.

This decision today.

What does it mean?

Contact Xu Fenghua.

Contact Jiang Qingxue.

These two people.

These are the two most important lines they planted around Qin Mu.

It's also the last trump card.

Unless absolutely necessary.

It should never be used lightly.

Because once used.

This means that the North has reached a truly critical moment.

Fan Li looked up.

I glanced at the pitch-black sky.

"hope……"

"We were right."

He said in a low voice.

Then.

He recruited a trusted confidant.

He whispered a few instructions in the other person's ear.

The confidant's expression gradually turned serious.

He then clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Understood."

"Go."

The trusted confidant left quickly.

Fan Li stood still.

His gaze was directed northward.

That direction.

It was the Northern Wilderness.

he does not know.

What exactly happened there?

I have no idea.

Did Qin Mu actually make a move?

But he had a vague feeling.

This time.

They may have really underestimated Qin Mu.

Because it started a long time ago.

Qin Mu was no longer the absurd emperor who only hid in the palace.

He is taking it one step at a time.

To the whole world.

Turn it into your own chessboard.

And the North.

It's very likely that this is the game of chess.

The last opponent he truly deserved to take seriously.

……

Inside Zhenyue Hall.

The lights burned all night.

Xu Longxiang did not speak again.

He just stood there, looking at the map of Kyushu on the wall.

From the Central Plains of Qin, to the Eastern Continent of Liyang, and then to the Northern Wilderness.

Those routes marked with cinnabar were all roads he had painstakingly planned over the years.

But now.

At the end of those routes, the same name seemed to appear.

Qin Mu.

Xu Longxiang suddenly found it somewhat laughable.

He once thought he was fighting against a ridiculous emperor.

A foolish emperor who indulged in wine and women and neglected state affairs.

That's why he dared to make plans.

They dared to unite with Liyang.

They dared to contact the Moon Goddess Cult.

They even dared to secretly reach out to the Northern Barbarians.

Because in his understanding...

Although the Qin Dynasty was powerful, its emperor was incompetent.

Just a slight push.

This vast empire will collapse like a dilapidated building.

But now.

He only realized it then.

All of my plans seem to be based on a flawed premise.

Qin Mu was by no means a foolish ruler.

From beginning to end.

The man was watching them.

Watching everyone gradually walk into the chess game he had set up.

"Fan Li".

Xu Longxiang suddenly spoke.

His voice was a little hoarse.

"you say……"

"Would things be different if I hadn't chosen to be his enemy?"

Fan Li was slightly taken aback.

He hadn't expected Xu Longxiang to ask that question.

Because in his mind...

Xu Longxiang has always been that proud prince of the North.

That man who commanded 300,000 iron cavalry and dared to contend with the world.

But at this moment.

What does this mean?

This means that the belief that had always supported him had cracked for the first time.

Fan Li remained silent for a moment.

Said:

"Your Highness."

There is no answer to this question.

Xu Longxiang turned around.

Look at him.

Fan Li continued:

"Back then, Empress Zhao Qingxue of Liyang held power."

"The situation at the time certainly gave the North an opportunity."

"If the Qin emperor is really just an ordinary incompetent ruler, then we made the right choice."

"The mistake is..."

He paused.

"We underestimated him."