Gu Ya’s heart was a stampede of a thousand alpacas.
The self-deprecating joke from before had come true!
As Gu Ya settled into the pilot’s seat and gripped the control sticks, he immediately sensed the unusual nature of the new mecha, Khorne. The feel was undeniably correct!
When he used the Star Blueprint to examine Khorne’s entire structure, his mind experienced an instant surge of euphoria.
This… millions of parts throughout its body, the vast majority were future technology!!
Yes, it absolutely was! Gu Ya exclaimed inwardly.
As he focused his gaze, he noticed Qiao Weiwei looking at him with a blushing face.
“Here, you try it!” Gu Ya stood up and gently pushed Qiao Weiwei into the pilot’s seat.
Qiao Weiwei looked at Gu Ya with the worried gaze one would give a lunatic, and timidly grasped the control sticks.
Although Qiao Weiwei was only 16, she was a naturally gifted long-range artillery mecha pilot, possessing an innate affinity for such heavy firepower output mechas.
The first time she held the control stick and attempted to move it, she suddenly let go in shock, leaning back slightly.
“Wh-what is this mecha… the operating experience is like nothing I’ve ever felt,” Qiao Weiwei whispered in amazement.
Gu Ya looked at her excitedly and said, “Is it spicy enough?”
He didn’t know why that word came to mind, but it perfectly captured the feeling the mecha gave him: “spicy”!
“Can you give it to me?” Qiao Weiwei asked, overjoyed.
Gu Ya’s face instantly darkened. How could this young girl be so forward? Her usual arrogance was replaced by an unbearable desire.
“Get out! This is mine!”
“I’ll make you pastries, different flavors every day! Will you give it to me then?” Qiao Weiwei pleaded, her eyes shining, holding up her two small fists.
Gu Ya grumbled and chased Qiao Weiwei out of the pilot’s seat, then settled back in himself.
The operating feel and the mechanical transmission sent a thrill through him! It was more agile and controllable than the Yin Yin, and coupled with its immense firepower, it made Gu Ya’s heart surge with excitement. He wished he could find ten thousand enemy soldiers to test it on right now!
No wonder Qiao Weiwei wanted this mecha. As a natural long-range artillery mecha pilot, she must have been even more excited than Gu Ya at the sight of such an excellent mecha!
“Please, Gu… Captain! Let me pilot it, I can definitely use it better than you!”
They were like two children who had just received the latest game console, eagerly vying to experience the thrill of the new machine!
“I’ll give you my master’s Unfettered Red!” Qiao Weiwei proposed an even more outrageous condition!
Good heavens, seeing something she loved, she would even give up her master’s treasure! This girl was really something!
But how could Gu Ya satisfy her demands! Compared to mechas and pastries, Khorne was Gu Ya’s most cherished new toy!
Amidst Qiao Weiwei’s pleas and curses, Gu Ya drove her out of the cockpit.
Unwilling to give up, Qiao Weiwei returned to the Unfettered Red and sent a message, speaking with a sly, wicked tone: “Captain Gu Ya, you have a weakness in my hands now. If you don’t let me pilot Khorne, I’ll tell the higher-ups about your ability to conjure mechas out of thin air. They’ll take you for research and dissect you!”
“Go ahead! The higher-ups of Xianxia already know I have void technology. I dare say, thousands of people are watching me right now.” Gu Ya didn’t give her a chance, laughing. With Dou Mei around, no one could touch him.
“Hmph! I’m angry! I must have Khorne!”
“Then let’s settle this with strength! When you become a War God of Xianxia, perhaps I’ll consider lending it to you for a spin. Hahaha!”
Ending their “commercial banter,” Gu Ya recalled his ancient mecha and heavy transport mecha. He piloted Khorne, leading the Unfettered Red, and continued flying towards Xianxia City.
…
One of the two things Mu Ye·Xingchen worried about had already materialized, and the other had finally arrived.
Of the hundreds of Grand Marshals, generals from various countries, and military officers of all ranks surrounding him, more than half had been bought over, co-opted, intimidated, or threatened by Lai Jiong·Fa Nan and brought into his camp.
Three months ago, at the very start of the war, all of them had sworn eternal loyalty to Mu Ye·Xingchen under the flag of the Great Black Star Empire.
As a result, a single disastrous defeat at Yonggu’s Gale caused some of them to defect to Lai Jiong·Fa Nan.
The majority of these were insatiably greedy opportunists, with a very small number being direct subordinates personally promoted by Mu Ye·Xingchen.
It was not difficult to guess that Lai Jiong·Fa Nan had been secretly employing his political maneuvering, using coercion and enticement to make them betray Mu Ye·Xingchen.
If this campaign to subjugate Xianxia failed, Mu Ye·Xingchen would be utterly disgraced, becoming a Black Star commander spat upon by everyone, and his only fate would be death.
If you ask how Mu Ye·Xingchen knew these things, it was because he had a team of elite dark blades, personally selected, who were responsible for gathering intelligence on his subordinates.
These dark blades were embedded in every stratum and position of the Xingchen Army, investigating not only what their subordinates were doing but also what their families and relatives were up to.
Mu Ye·Xingchen had begun assembling and operating these intelligence networks ten years ago, when he became a Black Star Commander.
At that time, he was only 25 years old.
A man who had endured countless hardships and climbed his way up from the bottom, once hailed as the youngest and most beloved commander of the Black Star Empire, had long seen through human nature.
He had survived so many betrayals and schemes over the years. This time, Mu Ye·Xingchen was confident he would endure and achieve victory.
He still had trump cards he hadn't revealed.
Mu Ye·Xingchen leaned back in his chair, supporting his face with one hand, and said calmly with lowered eyebrows, “General Hong Lian is currently attacking the Xianxia Zhi Ding war zone. Her personally led army is rushing towards Xianxia City at full speed. All you need to do is implement the tactics according to plan.”
“If they choose to reinforce Xianxia City, it will inevitably lead to insufficient troops in other war zones. Even if Xianxia City is held, the other war zones will fall under our cavalry.”
“Once the other war zones are defeated, Xianxia will simply be a piece of fat meat to be carved up. Then, we will steadily advance, bit by bit, and eventually, Xianxia will become a part of the Great Black Star Empire.”
“If they don’t reinforce Xianxia City, Xianxia City will ultimately be destroyed. The entire Xianxia will become leaderless. Then, we can divide and conquer, gradually eliminating them, and still annex Xianxia.”
“This is my strategy. One cannot have both fish and bear’s paws. The difficult choice now falls to Xianxia to consider.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a Grand Marshal asked, “What about Yonggu’s Gale?”
Mu Ye·Xingchen turned his gaze to him and said calmly, “Don’t worry, the Yonggu’s Gale war zone is currently very empty. I will provide you with troops. As long as you follow my tactics and attack Yonggu’s Gale again, you will still win.”
“Hu Yang·Chi Long, you are a newly promoted Grand Marshal. I hope you do not follow the same path as Long Ka·Wan You.”
The meeting concluded.
Mu Ye·Xingchen returned to his rest chamber. In the darkened room, a woman in black clothing was already waiting. She kept her face hidden in the shadows and said in a low voice, “Commander, Hu Yang·Chi Long’s information has been completely verified. You can trust him.”
“Hmph…” Xingchen responded softly. After all, he was someone temporarily promoted to replace Long Ka·Wan You. He had only paid a little attention to him before, but now that he was officially deploying him, he needed to investigate his background more thoroughly.
After all, even Long Ka·Wan You, who had followed him for many years, had betrayed him at the last moment.
If it hadn’t been for the greedy and debauched Long Ka·Wan You’s defection, which resulted in the crushing defeat of a hundred thousand troops, Xianxia should have been annihilated by now.
“There is another matter you need to be aware of,” the woman said softly and seriously. “The true identity of that female clerk named Fang Yue·Dai Lian has been confirmed.”
“Send it over,” Mu Ye·Xingchen said in a low voice.
After the woman left through another door in the dark room, Mu Ye·Xingchen opened the file that had just been sent.
He lowered his gaze lazily and read through Fang Yue·Dai Lian’s information, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his thigh.
After a long pause, he slowly said, “Fu Ya·Fang…”