"I don't care to step into the limelight; working behind the scenes suits me better," Fang Canran said, shaking his head. "Besides, I still have a track record back in Lingxu City. If someone digs that up one day, it would be troublesome."
He Lingchuan chuckled. "Likewise. The Heavenly Palace would love nothing more than to flay me alive and pull my bones apart. How could I openly take an official post in Mou Kingdom?"
Even Zhu Erniang knew better than to seek a position in Mou Kingdom lest she be sold out. How could he not understand that?
"Is that so?" Fang Canran said casually. "From where I'm standing, you're just unwilling to submit to anyone else."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he paused, startled by his own thought.
*Why does that sound so spot-on?*
He Lingchuan sighed. "When one dwells far across the rivers and lakes, one has to carve out one's own livelihood."
"Well, suit yourself," Fang Canran laughed. "You're truly free and unrestrained this way."
Free and unrestrained? He Lingchuan smiled silently.
Through an eyeball spider, Dong Rui was asking him, "Hey, do you think they'll actually make a move or not?"
He gave a soft grunt of assent.
If it were only the Bailong people scheming to revolt on their own, they might still beat a retreat. But now the Beijia people had also gotten involved. Having discovered Zhu Erniang's whereabouts, Yu Zecheng would definitely pressure the Bailong to pick a fight and start a war so he could adapt his moves to the situation!
This was also consistent with Beijia's usual style of doing things.
As the two men stood on the viewing platform looking into the distance, thick clouds rolled across the sky, while ferocious winds and fierce waves churned upon the sea.
Throughout the archipelago, only the human settlements remained safe and sound, standing undisturbed outside the circle of the winds.
No matter how fierce this hurricane was, it would rage for two days at most before passing. But He Lingchuan knew that the storm meant for him was only just beginning to brew.
...
The wind steadily intensified.
The Bailong people lying flat in the grassy hillside had to shield their faces with their hands to keep the whipping blades of grass from slapping their cheeks.
The gale drove torrential rain straight into their faces. Not only was it impossible to keep their eyes open, but even breathing became difficult.
The anxiety in Moqi Feng's heart surged like a bursting flood.
Wiping away the rain that ran into his eyes, he stared at the swaying lanterns along Qingyun Road and finally made up his mind. Tugging Moqi Song to one side, he leaned in:
"Uncle, the Beijia people can't be trusted."
The howling wind shrieked. Had they not used their true energy, they wouldn't have heard each other even inches apart.
"I know," Moqi Song replied calmly. "We're just using each other."
Before the Emperor's Flowing Dew, if the Beijia people didn't move, the Bailong wouldn't strike either.
"No!" Moqi Feng said resolutely. "The operation is canceled. We're calling it off tonight!"
"What did you say?!" Moqi Song was shocked. "If we miss tonight, where will we ever find a better chance?!"
"Then so be it," Moqi Feng had thought it through. "Suoding Island is too strange right now. Look at the windbreak barriers across the island, look at the sudden visit from Mou Kingdom's National Preceptor, and then there's the Burrow Spider Queen abruptly appearing at the docks. Uncle, do you truly think Island Master He is unprepared?"
Moqi Song narrowed his eyes. "You mean he found out about our plan?"
"Perhaps." Moqi Feng looked toward the brightly lit Qingyun Road again. "We know this plan, Bailie knows, and the Beijia people know. How can it count as a top secret? If Island Master He knows, luring us to strike would be a brilliant move!
"Once fighting breaks out, we'll be charging ahead on the front line, but the Beijia people might not follow up!" Moqi Feng pleaded earnestly. "Their target, the Burrow Spider Queen, has appeared at the docks. I'm willing to bet Beijia's main force has already shifted there. We won't get any support here!
"If the battle goes poorly for us, Beijia might even just stand by and watch. Why else would they refuse to show their hand to us no matter what?" He jerked his chin toward Wang Xiang. "They have room to back out. We don't!"
Streams of water were pouring down Moqi Song's forehead like little brooks. He wiped them away with a hand. "You're worried our surprise raid on He Lingchuan will fail? Our scouts went back and forth twice earlier and confirmed that his few hundred men are all near the docks. How many people does he actually have by his side? Don't be frightened by the escort around Mou Kingdom's National Preceptor. Once the Emperor's Flowing Dew descends, once the docks blow up, they will only guard the Hot Springs Retreat and protect an important figure like the National Preceptor. That is their primary duty. How could they possibly rush out to fight on He Xiao's behalf?"
No matter what he said, Moqi Feng had set his mind like iron this time. "No, Uncle! I'm out!"
The situation was wrong, and the plan was compromised. Persisting in seizing the island tonight was by no means a wise choice.
*Sigh, I should have objected earlier, should have pulled out earlier.*
"Deserting on the verge of battle—is that what I taught you growing up?" Veins bulged on Moqi Song's temples in fury. "If we can't seize the Yangshan Archipelago, where will we ever gain a foothold in the future?"
"The risk on this gamble is too high—it's not worth it!" Moqi Feng argued back. "This is all the men we have left. If we step into a trap and are wiped out completely, what will become of our families back on shore?
"Don't count on the Beijia people either!" he said in rapid succession. "It was precisely by colluding with Beijia that Ya Kingdom drove us out!"
The Bailong tribe was close to Mou Kingdom, whereas Ya Kingdom was close to Beijia.
"I am taking a boat back to Blade Harbor right now. Uncle, I ask you only this—" Moqi Feng said, word by word, "Are you coming or not?"
Moqi Song gritted his teeth savagely. "A heaven-sent opportunity cannot be squandered! You won't do it? Fine, I will!"
Seeing his uncle's eyes nearly spitting fire, Moqi Feng's heart turned cold instead. He turned to the clansmen and called, "Fall back, everyone follow me!"
The Bailong clansmen were stunned, never expecting their two leaders to suddenly turn against each other at such a critical moment. Someone stepped forward to mediate, but Moqi Song glared with wide eyes. "Get lost!"
Wang Xiang also frowned repeatedly. They were right on the verge of the critical moment—what kind of foolish stunt were the Bailong pulling now?
"Please, neither of you lose your heads..."
The uncle and nephew completely ignored him. Moqi Song turned to the clansmen as well, waving a broad hand. "Whoever is willing to follow me, stay!"
Taking advantage of the wind blowing in the right direction, he shouted it repeatedly.
Moqi Feng clenched his fists and slowly approached from behind, intending to knock him unconscious with a chop of his hand.
His uncle was possessed by madness, clinging to a hopeless fantasy and completely impervious to reason.
He could not watch him jump into a pit. As long as he got his uncle off Suoding Island, this whole miserable mess tonight would be over.
In any case, their operation hadn't truly begun yet.
To his surprise, Moqi Song was remarkably alert. The moment he saw him draw near, he backed away several steps and snapped angrily, "Stay away from me!"
Having lost his chance to strike, Moqi Feng could only give up.
When uncle and nephew split ranks right before battle, the Bailong clansmen were dazed at first, but soon someone stood up and walked directly behind Moqi Feng.
More and more people crossed over.
The clansmen who remained showed growing hesitation on their faces.
In the end, only a little over a hundred men remained behind Moqi Song; all the rest had chosen to follow Moqi Feng.
Moqi Feng's face was as dark as water. "Uncle, think twice! With only this handful of men, the chances of success are far too low!"
"Think twice?" Moqi Song sneered. "Think three or four or five times and it's still the same! Someone has to do something for our tribe! I ask you one last time: are you really quitting?"
Moqi Feng shook his head.
He couldn't dissuade his uncle, but he had to protect the rest of the tribe. "Take care, Uncle. May you succeed!"
With contempt on his face, Moqi Song spat onto the ground.
Chapter 982