Chapter 130: The Empress Dowager's Love Takes a Turn—Mocking the Empress to Her Face Is Asking for Trouble (3)
She was the commander of the Third Vanguard Army, directly under the War God's command!
At this moment, however, this strikingly beautiful guild leader furrowed her brows, her usual composure completely absent.
A grave and conflicted expression flickered across her face.
Not only had their plan completely collapsed, but it had also given the Empress the perfect excuse to begin purging threats.
She had failed the War God's expectations.
The most crucial problem was that several of the guild's members had been captured and labeled as rebels.
With that, the safe haven they had meticulously built over the years was no longer secure.
Should they abandon everything and flee?
She knew full well that the Empress was determined to eradicate all threats this time—there would be no second chances.
If they had failed to strike while she was unprepared, what hope did they have now that she was on guard?
Retreating seemed like the logical choice, a way to avoid disaster.
Yet, the thought of abandoning everything left her deeply unwilling.
This base was the culmination of years of effort, countless connections, and endless maneuvering.
How could she so easily throw it all away?
Conflicting thoughts clashed within her mind, making even this usually decisive leader hesitate.
Just then, the door to her chamber creaked open.
"Guild Leader Jiang, the Heavenly Dao Sect is withdrawing. Let's hope we have another opportunity to work together in the future."
Fifth Elder entered, her tone calm and unwavering.
"You're just going to leave? Don't you feel even the slightest bit dissatisfied?"
Jiang Yue glared at the composed, elegant woman before her, irritation flashing in her eyes.
They had failed because the sect had refused to act at the crucial moment. And now they were simply walking away?
"I admit that I was present during the operation," Fifth Elder replied coolly, "but so what?"
"Our plans and every step of our strategy had already been exposed. Whether I acted or not made no difference."
Jiang Yue's expression hardened.
Had their organization been infiltrated?
Their mission had failed. Not only that, but the Empress had responded swiftly, as if she had anticipated their every move.
Was there truly a traitor among them?
Surely no one could predict the future so accurately…
"I can't be certain," Fifth Elder admitted, "but the possibility is high. That's why we must withdraw. Cooperation is no longer an option."
All she wanted now was to leave this dangerous place as quickly as possible.
With the Empress's unmatched strength, there was no force in the empire that could challenge her.
Without any exploitable weaknesses, they had no chance of success.
This battle was unwinnable. Better to retreat while they still could.
Jiang Yue's eyes flickered with hesitation.
Fifth Elder turned to leave.
But at that moment, the door creaked open once more.
The sound of slow, deliberate applause accompanied a new arrival.
"Impressive. You actually managed to guess the hidden truth. You're not simple, I'll give you that."
A young man clad in azure robes stepped into the room, a leisurely smile playing on his lips.
Both women stiffened, their bodies tensing instantly.
How could they not recognize this person?
The Empress's favored minister, Su Qing!
"How did you find this place?" Fifth Elder demanded, her voice sharp with disbelief.
Her eyes darted around warily, searching for signs of an ambush.
Had she known things would unfold like this, she never would have come here in person.
Now it seemed she had walked straight into a trap.
"Fifth Elder, there's no need to keep pretending," Su Qing said, his tone playful.
"After all, you were the one who led me here. Did you forget already?"
He even playfully winked at her as he spoke.
"Nonsense! When did I bring you here?!"
Fifth Elder shot back instantly, completely denying his words.
Jiang Yue's gaze flickered with doubt.
But there was no time to dwell on suspicions.
The most pressing matter was escaping from this place.
If Su Qing had made it here undetected, their base was already lost.
Despite her fury, she knew when to make the hard choice.
"There's no point in thinking about escape," Su Qing said casually, reading her thoughts with ease.
"I'm already here. Doesn't that mean I've already won?"
Jiang Yue strained her ears, listening carefully.
Silence.
The town, usually filled with the noise of bustling merchants, was deathly still.
Or rather, it was eerily lifeless.
There was only one explanation for such an atmosphere—
Their forces had already been neutralized.
Her heart sank.
The only option left was capturing the boy before her.
Steeling herself, Jiang Yue prepared to strike.
But the moment she tried to summon her strength, her legs gave out beneath her.
She barely managed to steady herself, eyes widening in shock.
Her body felt utterly powerless. She couldn't muster even a fraction of her usual strength.
"Oh, I almost forgot to mention," Su Qing said with an amused smile, "I had some of my men coat this room with Dispersing Powder."
"This way, you won't be tempted to resist. I'd hate for you to end up getting hurt."
A chill ran down Jiang Yue's spine.
She had underestimated this boy.
He was just like the Empress—meticulously thorough, ensuring every escape route was blocked before making his move.
There was no hope left.
From behind Su Qing, Shenyue emerged silently, a length of rope in hand.
At this point, carrying rope alongside her recording stone was second nature.
She considered adding knockout drugs to her kit in the future—one never knew when it might come in handy.
Why did she feel like she was on a pirate ship that she could never disembark?
Under the effects of the Dispersing Powder, the two women were quickly restrained.
With no strength left to fight back, they were captured without incident.
Feeling satisfied with his haul, Su Qing turned back toward the capital, his mood considerably uplifted.
He really did get things done efficiently, didn't he?
—