Lu Dingtian and the other three exchanged uncertain glances while Mo Jing continued...
"Given the Young Master’s disposition, an assassination attempt isn’t out of the question. I’m also worried that a crushing defeat would break his spirit."
"If the Young Master suffers a crushing defeat, there will be grave consequences."
"He would become the laughingstock of the entire Cyan Sword Great Empire. Our whole family would be unable to hold our heads high. It would inevitably provoke the Madam’s fury, and many would lose their lives as a result."
"That is why I must go back."
Mo Jing’s words left Lu Dingtian and the other three somewhat speechless.
’Can’t you just contact other powerful Cyan Sword Generals to help your good-for-nothing master?’ they wanted to ask.
Of course, they would never dare to use a word like "good-for-nothing" out loud.
As if sensing their thoughts, Mo Jing added coldly, "The other generals don’t know the Young Master well enough. They couldn’t prevent his spirit from being broken. Besides, I fear it’s already too late..."
"That little bastard, Lu Chao, will likely contact that... Fan Changcun from the Azure Flame Sect and have him launch an attack."
The Great Wu Empire is quite far from Cyan Sword Mountain. By the time Lu Chao arrives, a new general could indeed be appointed. But the Dragon Flame Kingdom is close to Cyan Sword Mountain, and most of the Hundred Countries’ Armies this time are from the Six Great Flame Countries.
The Dragon Flame Kingdom’s own forces, meanwhile, are still stationed back in Dragon Flame.
If Fan Changcun receives Lu Chao’s message and immediately leads his troops to attack Cyan Sword Mountain, there won’t be enough time to make other arrangements.
Nan Zhuiming couldn’t help but wince internally. ’It should be so simple for the Cyan Sword Great Empire to invade the Azure Flame Domain. Instead, they have to pave the way and burnish the reputation of that good-for-nothing master, turning everything into a complete mess.’
But then again, he had the same thought as before: ’If Yan Mu weren’t such an idiot, what role would there be for them to play?’
They never would have had this fortunate encounter with Mo Jing.
"Lord Mo Jing, I fear this is Lu Chao’s treacherous scheme. He’s trying to lure you away so he can turn back and attack me."
Lu Dingtian suddenly blurted out, feeling this was a very real possibility.
Mo Jing shot Lu Dingtian an indifferent glance and said coldly, "I suppose you’re not entirely useless; you have a bit of a mind for scheming... That is indeed a possibility, but I must return. Anything concerning the Young Master is the highest priority."
After a brief pause, Mo Jing added, "Don’t worry. I’ll make arrangements before I leave. Lu Chao has his schemes, but do you think I don’t have my own?"
When Mo Jing stated he was definitely going back, Lu Dingtian naturally grew anxious—and afraid.
"For the next two days, I will remain here and focus on recuperating..."
"During this time, I will raise you and Nan Zhuiming to the Creation Realm."
Hearing this, Lu Dingtian and Nan Zhuiming were overcome with ecstasy, while Zheng Liling and Zeng Quan looked at Mo Jing with hopeful expressions.
"As for you two, I will of course help raise you to the Creation Realm as well, but it will take longer." Mo Jing did not disappoint Zheng Liling and his companion. Because their current cultivation levels were lower, they would require more time.
Then, Mo Jing slowly rose to his feet...
He looked at Lu Dingtian again and commanded, "After you reach the Creation Realm, you must conquer the entire Great Wu Empire for me. I will still need your cooperation to secure a spectacular victory for the Young Master."
"Nan Zhuiming, once you reach the Creation Realm, your task is to assassinate the Dragon Flame King. Simultaneously, send word to the Nanye Dynasty to dispatch troops to attack the Dragon Flame Kingdom and tie down their forces!"
"With the Dragon Flame King dead and the Nanye Dynasty invading the Dragon Flame Kingdom, that little bastard Lu Chao will be too preoccupied to concern himself with the Great Wu Empire."
"Then, he won’t be able to circle back and launch a surprise attack on the Great Wu Empire."
As Mo Jing laid out his plan, the four men finally understood...
This was Mo Jing’s counter-scheme. Lu Chao was luring him away from the Great Wu Empire, so he would ensure Lu Chao was unable to return to deal with Lu Dingtian.
"Lu Dingtian will conquer the Great Wu Empire, I’ll return to Cyan Sword Mountain and eliminate Fan Changcun, and Nan Zhuiming will assassinate the Dragon Flame King... As for you, Zheng Liling and Zeng Quan, you will return to the Dragon Flame Kingdom and stir up trouble."
With the plan thus set, Mo Jing began the process of raising the four men’s cultivation realms.
「Two days later...」
Mo Jing prepared to leave. He looked at the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf, which had lost one of its wings, a hateful expression on his face.
"Lu Dingtian, I’m leaving the Little Sword-Winged Ice Wolf with you."
"Although its wing is injured and it can no longer fly, it can still crush any expert in the entire Azure Flame Domain."
"As for the issue with you and your son’s Heavenly Destiny Bone, once you’ve completed all your tasks and arrived in the Cyan Sword Great Empire, it can be resolved with ease. We won’t give Lu Chao another opportunity to make the Violent Bone respond to him."
After giving his final instructions, Mo Jing mounted a Flying Bird Demon Beast belonging to the Great Wu Empire and departed.
As he flew, he gazed from afar at the Hundred Countries’ encampment in the Yanwu Battlefield where Lu Chao was stationed. He muttered with hatred, "If I weren’t so injured right now, I would charge straight into your army and drag you back to Cyan Sword for torture."
With that said, Mo Jing continued on his way...
His injuries were far from healed. If he tried to capture Lu Chao now, he would likely be killed.
And of course, Mo Jing realized this was precisely why Lu Chao had fought so desperately to severely wound him two days ago.
...
Back at the encampment of the Hundred Countries’ Armies, everyone was resting and reorganizing. Lu Chao, however, stood quietly gazing at the sky...
Just then, Yin Ye suddenly arrived and said, "Lu Chao, there are rumors that the Nanye Dynasty is about to dispatch troops to attack the Dragon Flame Kingdom. It’s obvious Mo Jing is trying to force you to return to Dragon Flame, leaving you no time to deal with the Great Wu Empire."
A cold glint flashed in Lu Chao’s eyes as he turned to look at Yin Ye... Dongfang Ren and the others had come along with him. In truth, all the masters were constantly guarding Lu Chao, fearing an assassination attempt from Mo Jing.
"News like this proves that Mo Jing is definitely returning to Cyan Sword Mountain."
Lu Chao spoke softly, then added, "And as long as Mo Jing returns, the Great Wu Empire won’t be in immediate danger."
After a moment of contemplation, Lu Chao’s voice suddenly grew solemn...
"Marquis Yin, you will lead our troops to reinforce the Great Wu Empire and deal with Lu Dingtian."
"The Dragon Flame Academy is to return to the Dragon Flame Kingdom immediately to respond to the war with the Nanye Dynasty... Also, send a message to Dragon Flame Master Wang. The army marching on Cyan Sword Mountain only needs to make a show of it. They should be prepared to turn back and fight the Nanye Dynasty at any moment."
Even Yin Ye was surprised by these arrangements.
He asked quickly, "Lu Chao, shouldn’t I be the one to return to the Dragon Flame Kingdom while you go to fight Lu Dingtian?"
After all, Lu Dingtian was Lu Chao’s arch-nemesis.
Furthermore, Yin Ye himself was more familiar with the military structure of the Dragon Flame Kingdom. Weren’t these orders backward?
At this, Lu Chao’s eyes took on a profound depth...
"My personal vendetta must be put aside for now."
"Fighting the Great Wu Empire or the Nanye Dynasty—neither is the most important thing. What matters is how we can protect the Azure Flame Domain."
"Even if we defeat Yan Mu, the Cyan Sword Great Empire is still an enemy we cannot hope to face."
"To break this stalemate, just as Yan Mu said, we must contact the Green Bone Palace... But we have no way of contacting them. Our only chance remains the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land. We must decipher all of its secrets immediately."
"Therefore, I must return to the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land at once."