The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

"At the same time, we've cleverly withdrawn most of the elite forces that were originally guarding the lower levels, creating the illusion of a weak defense... Ah Lin, think about it, isn't this like scattering fragrant bait into a fishpond?"

Lin's little face showed a thoughtful expression, and her deer ears twitched slightly: "Ah... is this setting a trap for those bad guys? To make them think their chance has come and jump in on it?"

“Clever,” Russell nodded approvingly. “General Jingyuan and the judges of the Ten Kings’ Court have, within the bounds of the rules, prepared a perfect stage for some restless guests. And left us here…”

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping over the porters who were still struggling to carry boxes down to the lower levels. "They're probably the final cleaners on stage."

He looked down at Lin, a serious look in his eyes: "Lin, here comes the perfect teaching material. I'll teach you how to fight."

Lin's eyes lit up instantly, filled with excitement and eagerness. He straightened his little body and said, "Yes, Father! I'm ready!"

He tried to keep his voice calm, but his slightly trembling antlers and clenched fists betrayed his excitement.

Just then, a heavy thud came from the bottom floor as the last few boxes hit the ground.

The infiltrators disguised as employees of the Tianbo Bureau and soldiers of the Yunqi Army exchanged knowing glances with each other, seeing that the wreckage of the mecha had been properly placed and that there were few prison guards around.

They began to feign exhaustion and rest, or tidy up their tools, and quietly slipped away from the group of porters. Their figures, like fish swimming in ink, quickly disappeared into the shadows of the abandoned racks, huge pipes, and energy suppressors piled up near the entrance to the lower level.

Their breathing became shallow and long, their muscles tense, awaiting the agreed-upon signal—the penetrating sound of Lord Modu's whistle.

Russell took it all in, and the curve of his lips grew even colder.

He pulled Lin further into the shadows, as if they were becoming one with the darkness. He continued talking to Lin.

"And their goal was simple: to go to the bottom of the prison and release their imprisoned Hu Lei."

"I bet he felt like killing himself when he saw his people doing something so foolish."

"Who is Hu Lei?"

“Hurray…” Russell’s tone carried a hint of indifferent expectation, “A leader of the Bu Li Zhan clan who has been imprisoned for hundreds of years, yet remains infamous.”

"He may not have seen what I look like now, but his people must have cursed the name Huai Xiu countless times. His great achievements were an important reason why my spear was the first one pointed at Bu Liren back then."

He played a crucial role in saving the people from the "calamity of decay".

Lin felt the cold yet vast aura emanating from her father and instinctively moved closer, her small hands tightly gripping the hem of his robe, both seeking a sense of security and offering silent support.

He looked up at his father with a determined gaze: "Father, I will stay close to you, I will... protect myself, and I will help you!"

Russell looked at the child's innocent yet earnest face, and the frost in his eyes seemed to melt a little.

He gently patted Lin's hand: "Okay. Look at them, and look at me. The battle is about to begin."

The shadows at the entrance to the bottom level of the prison were like solidified ink, deathly silent, with only the occasional dripping of condensate from the pipes above making a monotonous "drip...drip..." sound.

Water droplets pounded on the cold ground, like some kind of ominous countdown.

Time passed second by second in the oppressive silence, the air taut like a fully drawn bowstring.

Russell's gaze pierced the darkness, locking onto the lurking shadows below, waiting for his prey to step into the final trap.

Lin held his breath, his heart pounding powerfully in his chest, his deer ears picking up the slightest sound, his little hands clenched tightly, ready to face the first real battle of his life.

Meanwhile, the Bu Li people were cautiously observing their surroundings, preparing to welcome the return of the War Chief. Anything that stood in their way would be torn to shreds by their claws.

However, on the other side was the most severe father in Fengrao's life.

Will it win?

.........

Image: "A wealthy cat going to school", Location: "Images/1758390022-100445955-113874954.jpg"

This is the first chapter today, there's one more chapter to go.

Golden Branches Endure the Ages: Chapter 167 Next Stop, the Pill Refining Bureau

When the group on the Starry Sky Train arrived at the core area of ​​the Jianmu eruption, the scene before them stunned them all.

The imagined ruins, broken walls, and traces of rampant energy... all vanished without a trace.

Aside from the large cracks and upturned bricks on the ground indicating that this place had suffered from the impact of rampant growth, the entire area was surprisingly...clean?

It could even be described as a bizarre restoration.

The main structure of the Gongzaosi building, which should have been torn apart by the roots of the Jianmu tree and destroyed by the energy torrent, now stands safely, as if it had never experienced a disaster.

All kinds of forging tools, precision instruments, and semi-finished mechanical creations are placed in their original positions as if they have been wiped and arranged by the most meticulous craftsmen.

The air was filled with a faint, fresh scent, like the mixture of earth and new leaves after rain.

"What...what's going on?" March 7th's eyes widened, her pink hair swaying as she turned her head. "Did we wander onto the wrong set? Where's Jianmu? Where's Zai?"

Walter adjusted his glasses, his sharp gaze sweeping across the surroundings behind the lenses: "The residual energy is extremely weak, the spatial structure is stable... It doesn't seem like it dissipated naturally, but rather like it was forcibly smoothed out by some powerful force. To achieve this level of..."

“Mr. Russell,” Xing replied.

Just as everyone was filled with doubt and surprise, a howl filled with immense joy and disbelief resounded throughout the overly peaceful space:

"my darling--!!"

Gongshu Master charged toward the Creation Furnace, a symbol of the Gongzao Division's legacy, like a cannonball.

He opened his arms and, in an almost embracing manner, threw himself against the cold furnace wall.

His calloused hands trembled as he eagerly stroked every inch of the furnace's metal surface, from the intricate array of runes on the top to the heavy base at the feet, his movements as gentle as if he were touching a rare treasure.

"Oh my! My old buddy! My manhood!"

Master Gongshu's voice was choked with sobs, mixed with the overwhelming joy of finding something he had lost: "I was so scared! I thought... I thought your old bones were going to be burst by that damned Jianmu!"

"Let me see... You didn't bump yourself here, did you? You didn't hurt yourself here, did you? Thank goodness... Thank God, if you were really broken, how would I live the rest of my life!"

"Oh, thank goodness! Thank goodness!" he muttered repeatedly, even rubbing his forehead against the furnace wall, completely disregarding his appearance.

This overly "sentimental" scene elicited a variety of reactions from the young people on the train.

March 7th nudged Xing beside her with her elbow, leaned close to her ear, and whispered with a mischievous grin, "Hey, Xing, look! Doesn't Master Gongshu look just like you, clinging to the trash can? Touching it here and there, rubbing it against it, it's exactly the same!"

Xing immediately reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, hands on hips, amber eyes wide with shock, her voice rising several decibels: "Hey! March 7th! Don't slander me out of thin air!"

"When did I start hugging and touching the trash can like crazy?"

"Oh, just kidding, don't be angry!" March 7th waved his hand with a grin, trying to soothe his obviously agitated companion.

However, Xing's next words instantly froze the smile on her face.

“Hmph, I’m going to tell Train Conductor Pam that you spied on my privacy! Especially those… uh… moments when you expressed appreciation for certain containers!” Xing said with a serious expression and a resolute tone.

March 7's smile froze. She jumped back a step as if something terrible had touched her, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"Wait! No... Ah Xing! You...you really touched the trash can?! I was just saying it casually, just joking to lighten the mood! And you...you actually did something like that?!" Her voice was filled with the shock of a world collapsing.

Xing blinked at March 7's "worldview shattered" expression, a sly glint in her amber eyes, and her tone suddenly became innocent: "Uh... actually, I was just joking with you, do you believe me?"

March 7th crossed her arms, tilted her pink head to one side, and looked Xing up and down with a "Do you think I'm stupid?" look, then snorted through her nose.

"Heh, do you think I believe that? Ah Xing, I never knew you had such a... unique hobby. Looks like I'll have to stay away from you from now on, lest you suddenly make a move on me one day!"

"Hey! March 7th!" Xing tried to explain, but March 7th had already hidden behind Walter with a look of disgust, only sticking out half of her head and making a face at her.

After repeatedly confirming that the Creation Furnace and other important facilities were miraculously intact, Master Gongshu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He composed himself, feeling a profound sense of relief and satisfaction, and walked out of the Engineering Department with the rest of the train crew.

Facing the numerous apprentices and craftsmen from the Bureau of Works who had rushed to the scene, as well as some of the Cloud Cavalry, Master Gongshu, beaming with pride, announced in a booming voice: "Gentlemen! The disaster of the Jianmu tree has been quelled by Mr. Russell and the heroes of the train crew!"

"The Construction Division... is safe! Our foundation is completely unharmed!"

Immediately afterwards, Master Gongshu and a group of apprentice craftsmen surrounded the train crew, their gratitude overflowing.

"Thanks to everyone's timely help!" An elderly craftsman grasped Walter's hand tightly.

"Yes, yes, if it weren't for you resolving the Jianmu disaster, the consequences would have been unimaginable!" The young apprentices thanked San Yueqi and Xing in unison.

"Miss Xing is truly intelligent and brave!" someone praised.

"Miss March 7th's archery skills are amazing!" another person added.

Faced with such straightforward and enthusiastic praise, both March 7th and Xing were somewhat overwhelmed.

March 7th blushed slightly and waved her hands sheepishly, "Oh, actually we didn't do anything, it was mainly Mr. Russell who took care of it..."

Xing tried her best to maintain a poker face, but the slightly upturned corners of her mouth and her somewhat stiff posture still betrayed her unease.

This catastrophe that swept through the construction company began abruptly in an almost absurd way, and ended quietly in a stunning "recovery" manner.

Apart from the need to replace the floor tiles and some minor structural maintenance, the core assets and heritage of the company were almost undamaged.

However, the crisis on the Luofu Immortal Ship was far from over. Even before the cheers from the Construction Department had completely subsided, the next eye of the storm was already clear—the chaotic Pill Refining Department.

The Dan Ding Si of today is no longer the tranquil place it once was, filled with the aroma of medicinal herbs and the tranquility of healing the sick.

The medicine cabinet overturned, and precious prescriptions and medical books were scattered all over the ground like waste paper. Countless jade bottles and porcelain jars containing pills were overturned, and colorful pills rolled everywhere, crushed by hurried footsteps, leaving mottled and eerie marks on the ground.

The air was filled with a strong, pungent mixture of medicinal smells, mixed with a subtle, unsettling, sweet, and slightly fishy odor.

Dan Shu, the seemingly gentle but deeply twisted leader of the Dan Ding Division, stood alone in the center of a chaotic alchemy room.

Her slender fingers tightly gripped a crumpled secret report. The report clearly stated that the source of the Vicious Demonic Yin Body had been identified, and the Cloud Cavalry had already distributed pills to various streets and alleys in preparation for any eventuality.

Her knuckles turned white from the force. The Cloud Cavalry continued to reinforce, surrounding the Dan Ding Division like an iron barrel, and the silent pressure weighed on her heart like a boulder.

She realized that her plan to frame Yunqi and create panic using potent demonic elixirs had been completely exposed.

Jing Yuan, that seemingly lazy but actually insightful general, has probably already locked onto her.

"We can't wait any longer..." Dan Shu whispered, her voice cold and resolute. Her carefully woven web of pretense was being rapidly torn apart, and the idea of ​​sitting back and waiting for the right moment was now a pipe dream.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Cloud Cavalry had not yet completely taken over the internal affairs of the Pill Cauldron Division, and that there were still some gaps, a glint of madness flashed in her eyes.

She quickly summoned several of her most fervent and trusted physicians, who had already been thoroughly brainwashed by the secret teachings of the Medicine King.

He shoved several bottles of dark-colored, ominous-smelling potions into their hands. "Go," he said.

Her voice carried a martyr's fervor, "Sprinkle this nectar of compassion into the streets and alleys of Luofu, into the water sources, into the food... Let this stubborn immortal ship bathe in the glory of the Medicine King! Let all the lost sheep join this great evolution!"

She wants to drag the entire Luofu into a chaotic abyss, but will things really go as smoothly as she imagines?

Meanwhile, inside the Shence Mansion, Jing Yuan stood in front of a huge star map sand table, his finger unconsciously tapping on the model of Luofu.

The afterglow of his game of chess with Russell still seemed to linger in his mind. The gains and losses on the chessboard were now reflected in the precarious situation in Luofu, appearing exceptionally clear.

“The price…” Jing Yuan murmured to himself. He had once believed that necessary sacrifices were inevitable for the ultimate victory.

But Russell's seemingly arbitrary but actually precise control of the overall situation and minimizing of losses brought him new insights.

“If you could have won, but you increase casualties in pursuit of greater gains… that is not a true victory.” His gaze sharpened. “A true victory is winning the game while minimizing the loss of pieces on the board. Ideally… zero.”

The situation at the Dan Ding Si (丹鼎司) was a hundred times more complex than that at the Gong Zao Si (工造司). It contained not only die-hard followers of the Medicine King's secret teachings, but also a large number of ordinary physicians and alchemists who were either unaware of the truth or had been coerced.

If the hardline Yunqi Army were to directly storm in and suppress the enemy, it would inevitably provoke a desperate resistance from the die-hard elements within the army. Those innocent comrades would most likely become tragic hostages immediately, and the casualties would be unpredictable.

The price is too high.

Jing Yuan's gaze drifted out the window, as if he could pierce through space and see the Dan Ding Si shrouded in dark clouds.

Mr. Russell is currently presiding over the Evil Prison, dealing with another threat from Bu Liren and the Great Lord Huanlong of Extinction.

He had already troubled this messenger many times; to transfer him from the crucial prison again would not be the proper way to treat a guest.

Therefore, the Starry Sky Train crew, who had just finished receiving thanks while "idling" at the Industrial Construction Division and were full of energy, naturally became the most ideal choice.

“Qingzu,” Jingyuan called to his chief strategist, his voice regaining its usual composure, yet carrying an undeniable decisiveness.

"Prepare a detailed map and personnel roster of the Dan Ding Division. Also, in my name, I invite the train crew... to come to Shence Prefecture for another cup of tea. We have new troubles and need the help of the pioneers."

“Yes,” Qingzhu replied.

A precise purge of the internal cancers within Dan Ding Si is about to begin, carried out by the train crew.

...............

Image: "Blueberry Cake", Location: "Images/1758393964-100445955-113875218.jpg"

Chapter 2, 3k words. Goodnight everyone. Please vote to help me climb the rankings.

Golden Branches Through the Ages: Chapter 168 The Chaos of the Pill Refining Bureau

The three members of the train crew had just caught their breath from the aftermath of the crisis at the Industrial Construction Bureau when the familiar summons from the Shence Mansion arrived again.

The last time they went, General Jingyuan assigned them the task of resolving the timber disaster at the Construction Bureau. What will their task be this time? Perhaps another major problem has arisen that requires their intervention.