Chapter 664: Going Back

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“We know our mistakes. City Lord, please spare us. We beg you to spare us this time, City Lord.”

Weak pleas for mercy rang out incessantly, but the chilly expression on Su Ying’s face didn’t relent in the slightest.

“Previously, I gave you a chance to stay here obediently as a person. Since you guys are unwilling, then you can work obediently like a slave.”

Su Ying paused for a moment before continuing, “Remember the intense pain you felt just now. If anyone misbehaves again, the pain will follow you unto death. Take all of them in and settle them down anew.”

Although the pain was terrifying, the villagers were relieved to see that Su Ying was still willing to let them return to the Tiger Base. No matter what, at least they could stay alive now.

After that, when Su Ying relaxed her grip, wouldn’t they be able to return to their previous lives?

Su Ying looked at their relieved expressions and laughed scornfully. They had thought too kindly of her.

The black-robed men brought all the villagers into the Tiger Base. However, to their surprise, the black-robed men did not let them return to their previous lodging. Instead, they brought them to a big house that looked like a granary. After the black-robed men led them in, they closed the door and left.

The villagers exchanged looks with each other. They did not know what this meant.

“Didn’t… didn’t she say we can come back? Why did they lock us up again?” “Stop talking. That woman is probably still angry. After a few days, she will let us out when her anger has subsided. Didn’t the black-robed men say before that they still need us to plant crops on this area’s wasteland?”

A whole night of terror and the pain just now had exhausted them thoroughly. Although they could not return to their previous houses as they wished, at least they had a place to rest.

Gradually, the muttering became softer, and the exhausted villagers fell asleep.

To their surprise, the door was opened by the black-robed men before dawn the next day.

Get up, get up. Take your tools and line up to get ready to work.”

The villagers woke up from their sleep and looked at the black-robed men in confusion.

However, when they recalled yesterday’s fear, they still obediently picked up their tools and queued up.

After the black-robed men counted the number of people, they brought them to the wasteland and made them work.

The villagers were stunned. They had not eaten anything. They had not even drunk a drop of water since they woke up. Why were they here to work already? Although the black-robed men had their own requirements with regard to work in the past, they would never wake people up before dawn like they did now.

“Sir, can… can I have some water before I start working?”

“Cut the crap and get to work. If you can’t finish your work today, no one will have anything to eat.”

The villager was about to speak again when the black-robed man raised his whip. The villager became frightened and quickly begged for mercy.

“I’m not drinking. I’m not drinking anymore. Please spare my life, my Lord. Please spare my life.”

The black-robed man glanced at him icily before turning to leave.

Not far away, Su Ying icily watched the villagers who were bent over as they worked.

“Have you remembered what I told you?”

The Black Guardian nodded honestly. “I’ve remembered everything, City Lord.” “You’re partly responsible for this matter. If there’s a next time, you will return to the city to comb the fur of my little precious ones and catch their fleas.” The Black Guardian didn’t even dare to raise his head. “Yes, your subordinate will definitely not let City Lord worry again.”

The northern wilderness didn’t tolerate idle people. Since these people weren’t willing to live here as humans, Su Ying made them live a life of hard labor and meager meals. After all, they had chosen their own path.

After handing over this matter, Su Ying went back to Sky Alpha City.

As soon as she returned to the city, the Green Guardian came in with a message from the eagle.

Su Ying looked at the red paint on the letter and frowned deeply.

Xiao Jin had a habit. If the content of the letter was urgent, he would add a dab of red paint on it.

Su Ying quickly opened the letter and read through the contents rapidly. The content of the letter was very short and clear. Xiao Jin said that spies had recently discovered that the Jin State and the Nan State had been communicating secretly too often. The border soldiers had also caught some spies from the two kingdoms.

Based on the spies’ reports, he learned that the two kingdoms were very likely secretly discussing how to join forces to deal with the Chu State.

Right now, the two kingdoms were secretly amassing troops at the border, and there was a possibility that they could attack the Chu State at any time.

After Su Ying finished reading the letter, she threw it into the fire pit, and the flames instantly engulfed the thin letter.

The enmity between the Nan State and the Chu State had been going on for a long time. It was fine if the Nan State wanted to attack the Chu State, but why would the Jin State join in the fun?

However, when she thought about it, in bilateral relations between kingdoms, interests had always been the most important. Often, decisions made were based on interests first and foremost. If the Jin State felt that it was beneficial to join forces with the Nan State to attack the Chu State, it would not be strange for the Jin State to send troops.

If the three kingdoms really went to war, she did not know if there were any useful generals in the Chu State.

At night, Su Ying tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep.

She was thinking that if there was no useful general in the Imperial Court, wouldn’t Xiao Jin have to go into battle himself?

In that case, what about the Imperial Court? What about the children?

Just as the sky was about to brighten, Su Ying got up and summoned Chu Yun.

“Now, the matters here have gradually been organized into the schedule. Whether it is iron-smelting or mining, everything is being carried out in an orderly manner. Over the next two days, I will set off to go back to the Chu State. At that point, I will hand over all the matters here to you.”

Chu Yun looked at Su Ying’s grave expression. Something must have happened in the Chu State. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be in such a hurry to go back.

“City Lord, what happened?”

“There is a small matter, but it can be resolved. You don’t have to worry. Just take care of this place.”

“Yes, City Lord.”

Su Ying wasn’t completely at ease with the situation here, but if the three kingdoms really started fighting, she was worried that something would happen to the people she cared about, so she had to go back to watch over them personally.

Over the next two days, Su Ying walked all over the city, giving out instructions to ensure that nothing was left out.

The night she left, she only met up with Chu Yun. Chu Yun wanted to get people to escort her out, but she refused.

As for the group of people she brought back from the Chu State, she would temporarily leave them in Sky Alpha City. This time, she would be the only one returning. The main reason was that she didn’t want to waste time bringing other people with her.

As night fell, Su Ying quickly left Sky Alpha City.

After making sure that she was out of the patrol team’s sight, she quickly took

out her transportation tool from the interspatial store.

Fortunately, she had this thing. Otherwise, who knew how long she would have to suffer on the road?

Su Ying got on the air motorcycle. As she revved the engine to the max, “Vroom!” and she sped off into the forest.

In the Chu State, inside the Imperial study.

Xiao Jin was going through the pile of memorials in front of him without any emotion.

He put the memorial aside after reading and assessing it and picked up another one.

Zhang Shuming looked at the time. He stepped forward and said in a low voice,

“Your Majesty, it’s getting late. Why don’t you rest early?”

Xiao Jin didn’t even raise his head. “It has been a few days since I sent the letter to the Empress.. Has the Empress not replied yet?”