The original intention of creating Magic Armor was to provide ordinary humans with the means to combat magic instructors. No matter how powerful the magic instructor is, there is always a limit to the amount of magic power. Although spells can cause devastating damage to opponents' flesh and blood, what difference does it make when the opponents are equipped with heavy armor and equipped with large-caliber firearms? Training a magic instructor requires a long time, while manufacturing a piece of Magic Armor only requires an industrial production line. Even if the exchange ratio between Magic Armor and magic instructors is as high as 100:1, the final victory is still for Magic Armor.
But what if magic instructors could also be mass-produced?
Will the world be changed?
The Federation fleet surrounded Qingyang, with hundreds of warships arranged in a neat barrage formation, attacking the last stronghold of the Jade Jing army, the Yujing Mountain Fortress, from all directions. The fleet, firing at full force, resembled a flaming and smoky mountain, with projectiles of various calibers flying towards the foot of the mountain, and massive explosions billowing smoke and rising in the air, with the rumbling sound audible dozens of kilometers away.
The Yujing Mountain Fortress is a semi-underground defensive structure, with the main fortress on the mountaintop made of sturdy reinforced concrete and equipped with 410mm heavy fortress cannons in each corner. These fortress cannons are installed in fully enclosed rotating turrets, controlled by the shooting command post on top of the command tower, and have powerful firepower. On the slopes leading to the fortress, various bunkers and crisscrossing trenches form a tight defensive line, with machine guns and mortars constituting firepower traps ready to devour the attackers' lives. However, under the continuous bombardment of the Federation army for half a month, all of this gradually turned into ashes.
Ding Yi landed on the second flight deck, the runway covered with potholes, and the chaotic hangar filled with damaged Magic Armor. Today, he shot down two enemy aircraft, raising his personal record to 17 units. There is no doubt that according to Federation standards, he is already an ace pilot, and these achievements were obtained while flying a low-performance mass-produced Magic Armor.
Jumping off the cockpit, Ding Yi quickly grabbed the water bottle to moisten his parched throat. His hair was messy and greasy, and his face was covered with stubble. The recent days of fighting had left him no time to take care of his appearance. The Federation Magic Armor unit also suffered considerable losses in the continuous battles. Although most of the losses were caused by ground artillery, drivers like Ding Yi did indeed deal blows to the enemy.
However, the current situation was not optimistic. The number of Magic Armor capable of taking off for aerial combat in the Yu Jing army had been reduced to only ten units. Fortunately, after several days of fierce fighting, many drivers in the Federation Magic Armor unit showed symptoms of magical power depletion. Due to the limitation of total magic power, drivers were unable to continuously operate the Spirit Seed Furnace for a long time. The aftermath of magical power depletion was also terrifying, so the Federation Magic Armor unit rarely made large-scale deployments in the later stages of the campaign, with various warships and landing infantry becoming the main protagonists on the battlefield instead.
The attack on the fortress became more and more fierce every day!
The continuous bombardment destroyed a large number of defensive structures. The Federation infantry gradually advanced from the foot of the mountain to the middle of the mountain. The soldiers of the Yu Jing army fought with all their strength, but as ammunition became scarce, they gradually became powerless to stop the steady advance of the Federation army. General Abrams, with his steady and firm tactics, was gradually collapsing Yang Jiye's defensive positions, step by step.
The main body of the Yujing Mountain Fortress gradually collapsed under the intense bombardment, and cracks covered the concrete outer walls.
"Gate 13 has been breached!" came the voice of the front line commander through the headset. "All standby infantry units, head to Gate 66 and prepare to counterattack!"
The soldiers, who were sitting dejectedly and resting against the wall, immediately sprung into action. Although exhausted, they had not lost their fighting spirit. The morale of the defending soldiers remained relatively high, thanks to the leadership of Yang Jiye. The Qingyang Army was an elite force, but limited to this alone, without support from the navy, this force could only be exhausted.
The lower level of the base had been breached, and the defending soldiers set up barriers layer by layer in the corridors. After paying a great price, the Federation army finally reached the first supply warehouse, only to be met by mass-produced Magic Armor holding shields. In the instant the gate was blasted open, Ding Yi pulled the trigger, and the water-cooled heavy machine gun temporarily mounted on his arm spat out tongues of fire. The scorching gunfire dispersed the smoke and scattered the Federation infantry preparing to charge. Even with a heavy bulletproof shield, Ding Yi could still feel the heat of the gunfire.The flying fire line in the alley hit the shield and armor of the Magic Armor, making a clinking sound. However, the infantry's weapons couldn't penetrate the outer shell of the Magic Armor at all. Ding Yi held the heavy machine gun and swept the Federation soldiers invading the alley, while the foot soldiers of Yu Jing followed closely behind the mighty steel giant, continuously shooting. A wounded Federation soldier lay in the middle of the alley. He weakly raised one hand, only to have his upper body crushed by the Magic Armor, blood splattering everywhere. But Ding Yi paid no attention whatsoever.
This invincible power was in his hands, and the desire to kill burned in his heart.
It turns out that I am not so powerless.
Beliefs gradually accumulated and were distorted by war.
The siege of Qingyang entered its thirty-third day. Yang Jiye sat in the command room chair, holding his forehead with his hand. There was no sign of support from the local fleet, and the defending troops of Qingyang were almost exhausted.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister..." he slowly spoke, "Is this what you meant?"
As a minister, one must never be too arrogant.
Yang Jiye certainly understood this truth. The defending troops of Qingyang were basically set up by him alone, and even earned the nickname "Yang's Army". No one, except Yang Jiye, could fully control this army, and he was stationed in Qingyang, the gateway to Yu Jing. The current emperor was too young and, although he demonstrated extraordinary political acumen, he was still suppressed by the old courtiers. With the help of this war, it was possible for the emperor to clean up himself and the Qingyang army.
As the governor, he should live or die with Qingyang.
If he died in this battle, it would also be a major danger eliminated for the current prime minister.
Although Yang Jiye never thought of rebelling against Yu Jing, the fact that he had his own strong military force couldn't be ignored, and it was indeed difficult to get off the tiger. In the end, he would also drag down the Qingyang army that he had built with his own hands, which was really sad.
Fighting to the end was his only way out.
But he didn't want his subordinates to die with him.
"General," a staff officer came and saluted him, "Our army has regained control of Gate No. 13 and eliminated all the enemy troops that invaded the fortress."
"Good," Yang Jiye looked up and smiled, "Spread the order, consolidate the position, and let the participating forces take turns to rest."
"Yes!" The staff officer saluted and left.
He sighed in relief. This small victory was enough to boost morale, but it could only delay the time of defeat a little bit. The Federation artillery was slowly eating away at the fortress. Even the strongest castle would be breached one day. Is this the feeling of running out of luck? He glanced at the pistol in the drawer, closed his eyes, maybe raising the gun to his own head and pulling the trigger would end everything, but now was not the time.
On the forty-first day of the siege of Qingyang, the Federation army occupied all the areas except for the Yujing Mountain Fortress.
The Federation heavy artillery platoon started construction work at the foot of Yujing Mountain. Outside the range of the fortress's firepower, the engineers demolished the burned buildings, dug up the ground, and poured solid concrete gun emplacements. At the same time, a special transport ship unloaded its cargo at Qingyang Port. They were large-caliber cannons and powerful concrete explosive shells. The 800mm howitzers used by the Federation army for siege warfare were assembled and joined the operation to bombard the Yujing Mountain Fortress.
The arrival of the 800mm howitzer completely overturned the battlefield situation.
This howitzer fired concrete explosive shells weighing six tons. These large-caliber shells were launched in a high ballistic trajectory and landed almost vertically on the fortress, instantly destroying the central observation tower and completely disabling the fortress's firepower command system. In the next four days, the Federation artillerymen systematically launched shells at the Yujing Mountain Fortress, causing extensive damage to the ground part of the fortress. One side of the walls completely collapsed, the ramparts of the bastions crumbled, and it even triggered a severe mountain landslide, destroying the trenches and bunkers set up on the slope.
Taking advantage of this, the Federation army launched an attack and quickly ascended to the mountaintop.
The whistling cold wind mixed with snowflakes brushed past the defensive positions on the top of Yujing Mountain. Da da da, the heavy machine guns sprayed a hot rain of bullets, Ding Yi shot at the enemies climbing up the slope with his red eyes. Beside him, soldiers with bandages on their heads and uniforms covered in smoke and dust desperately fired their rifles. A large amount of yellow bullet casings piled up in the snow under the feet of the Magic Armor. Ding Yi had unknowingly turned into a mobile machine gun nest. The military flag of Yu Jing fluttered in the smoky battlefield, inspiring the morale of the remaining soldiers."Darn it!" Ding Yi glanced at his dwindling bullet supply. "We're running out of ammunition!"
"Hold on, hold on!" the sergeant shouted, firing his handgun at the Federation soldier who was crawling through the barbed wire. But his head was soon hit by a bullet and he fell down.
The Federation troops infiltrated the trenches, and both sides engaged in hand-to-hand combat.
Amidst the swirling snow, Ding Yi retreated while shooting, when suddenly a grenade exploded at his feet. The powerful shockwave pushed his Magic Armor to its limits, causing it to lose balance and fall to the ground. Is this the end? Gripping the controls, Ding Yi stepped on the pedal and maneuvered the mecha to stand up. Looking around, he saw soldiers from both sides entangled in fierce fights, using bayonets, shovels, fists, and even teeth. The scene was extremely brutal.
Meanwhile, on the Sea of Emptiness below the mountain, the Federation's gray fleet formed a neat battle line, like an impenetrable wall. In the distance, a giant ship the size of a small Floating Island appeared in the misty clouds. It was the Federation's mobile supply base, the Hundred Eyes Titan. Soldiers and ammunition were continuously transported from it to Qingyang Island.
At that moment, Ding Yi realized that the Qingyang Army had already lost, and Yujing had lost this battle.
The swarming Federation troops overwhelmed the surface positions of the Yujing Mountain Fortress. Ding Yi and the last two Magic Armors guarded the crumbling flag, continuously firing at the approaching enemies. The infantry under their feet had already suffered heavy casualties, and they were the only remaining units still fighting on the ground.
Just then, a beam of light tore through the gloomy sky.
Without warning, a dazzling beam of light descended from the sky, piercing through the snowy clouds like a sunbeam, sweeping across the aft deck of the Hundred Eyes Titan. The million-ton behemoth shook, its steel structure twisting and deforming in the intense heat, evaporating in some parts. After a few seconds, the light dissipated, and the aft deck of the Hundred Eyes Titan was completely engulfed in flames. Explosions followed, and smoke filled the air. In just a few seconds, the Federation's massively built giant ship was severely damaged. The beam of light from above tore through the clouds, leaving behind a blue cavity in the sky.
Both the surviving Qingyang Army and the attacking Federation troops stopped fighting. Everyone looked up at the blue sky above the cavity, where satellite weapons with four pairs of illuminated wings shone brightly. And outside the Federation's perimeter, the Explorer sailed with the wind. Uther Noynehm stood on the prominent earthen platform protruding from the bridge, gazing at the smoke-filled Hundred Eyes Titan.
"Sorry," she pondered, "Yujing cannot be destroyed, at least not now."
The cold wind mixed with snowflakes blew through her long hair, and the light brown strands floated in the air, exceptionally beautiful. In her hand, Orlbede, now only with a head, squinted his ghostly eyes.
"Do you really think the Federation will withdraw now?" he said. "Wouldn't it be better to sink that super-sized supply ship with the satellite weapons?"
"If it were Fox Mason or Bull Harrot, they would definitely continue the attack," Uther said slowly. "But if it's Rock Abramms, he will definitely retreat."
"Haha," Orlbede laughed coldly, "let's wait and see."
The Explorer changed course and sailed north, quickly leaving the combat zone before the Federation patrol ships discovered it.
In a corner of the ruined Qingyang Port, the cold wind swept through the desolate dock, carrying snowflakes. A black-haired man wearing an Empire Army coat stood atop a collapsed crane, and the ruby pendant on his chest shimmered with a blood-like glow.
"The Hand of God, huh?" he pressed his forehead with his hand. "I didn't expect to see it launch in my lifetime. What was the power just now? 15%? Or just 5%? But it doesn't matter, the control system is functioning normally, and everything looks good. 'That person' is using what I left behind quite well, maintaining a low profile with tremendous power. Impressive, quite impressive! Hahaha!" He took out a blue soul crystal from his pocket, the core of an advanced magical life form, a precious crystallization called the Philosopher's Stone. The crystal sparkled with a faint blue light, and the snowflakes that fell on it showed no sign of melting. "Lucita," he looked thoughtfully at the soul crystal, "perhaps you always thought I was a mistake, that I doomed the entire magical kingdom... But I still love you, my disciple."Once he finished speaking, he kissed the glowing soul crystal. Footsteps approached from behind, and a silver-haired female swordsman appeared in the wind and snow, holding a blood-stained mechanical sword.
"Master," she said, "as you commanded, we have killed all the humans who approached this place."
"Good work, my Sword King." The black-haired male turned around, the sleeves and hem of his coat fluttering in the wind and snow. The gleaming red light emitted from his eyes hidden behind glasses.
Reluctantly, Fiona bowed her head, resistance flickering in her red eyes. But as long as the metal collar around her neck was still there, she could not defy this person.
More importantly, this person was once a prominent minister under the king she served and also their creator.
Six hours later, the Federation army began its retreat. Tens of thousands of Federation soldiers orderly boarded ships at the port of Qingyang, while the exhausted defenders of Qingyang had no strength left to counterattack, only able to watch the invaders withdraw. Considering that the capital, Yujing, had likely regained control of the magical satellite weapons left by the ancestors, General Abrams, despite immense pressure, gave the order to retreat. This seasoned general, known for his calmness, would never let his soldiers die in vain, and thus he was deeply loved by the lower-ranking officers and soldiers. However, this retreat order completely ended his military career. After returning home, Abrams was ordered to retire and left the army with a sense of disappointment.
The Qingyang campaign, which lasted forty-seven days, concluded with the near total annihilation of the defending forces and the voluntary retreat of the Federation army.
As the first merchant ship to sail into Qingyang Port, the Explorer brought the survivors much-needed medicine and food. Standing on the bridge, Uther frowned as he looked at the less than a hundred survivors. Yang Jiye had called the Explorer through radio contact, and he was probably confident that his request would receive a response, right? The three thousand defenders were now reduced to just a hundred, and the prosperous Qingyang had been destroyed by artillery fire. Some ruins were still burning, and black smoke filled the air, emitting an indescribable sense of death.
"Master," Qin Feng looked worriedly at the soldiers on the pier, "I want to go find my younger brother, Huaiyu. I don't know if he's okay, he might..."
"He's still alive, he must be." Uther closed his eyes. "That kid, Ding Yi, won't die so easily. Those who have faith can always survive till the end."
As they spoke, a Magic Armor landed on the pier, and Ding Yi opened his helmet, looking towards Uther and Qin Feng on the Explorer. At that moment, tears welled up in Qin Feng's eyes.
But the next person to board the Explorer surprised Uther.
Yang Jiye, dressed in civilian clothes, walked up the icy gangway with a military policeman. Uther was taken aback, but she quickly composed herself and went to greet him as the captain.
In the captain's room, the two exchanged a few pleasantries, and then Qin Feng brought steaming tea. Dressed as a maid, she bowed deeply and then left the room.
"Isn't she Miss Qin from the Qin family?" Yang Jiye exclaimed, surprised. "How did she become your maid?"
"It's a long story," Uther smiled bitterly. "There are many reasons behind it."
"If it's inconvenient, I won't ask," Yang Jiye straightened his back. "Captain Nornhein, thank you for responding to my request again. I hope the Explorer can take me to the main island of Yujing."
"Sure," Uther said. "I'm going there too, but by the way... shouldn't the general stay in Qingyang at this time? The reconstruction of the streets needs your guidance."
"I must ask for forgiveness from His Majesty," Yang Jiye said earnestly.
"Ask for forgiveness even after winning?" Uther asked puzzled. "The Qingyang defenders fought for forty-seven days without any reinforcements, eventually forcing the Federation army to retreat. That is a tremendous accomplishment."
"Captain Nornhein, are you mocking me?" Yang Jiye smiled bitterly. "The once prosperous Qingyang has turned into ruins. As the responsible territorial governor, shouldn't I ask for forgiveness?"
"You have a point," Uther pointed out. "But precisely because of your responsibility..." She suddenly realized something and couldn't continue her sentence.
"It's good that you understand," Yang Jiye said. "I must ask for forgiveness from His Majesty."
This is politics, Uther sighed inwardly.
In reality, the Yujing Navy had been gathering its forces near Qingyang all along, and the Explorer had encountered them several times, but the fleet never launched a rescue operation, as if waiting for the defenders to be completely wiped out.The Explorer set sail again, braving the snow and wind, heading towards the main island of Yu Jing.
After four days of sailing, Yu Jing appeared at the edge of the sky. The cloudy sky suddenly cleared, and under the winter sunshine, the golden glazed tiles sparkled. It was the imperial palace located at the highest point of Yu Jing, where the emperor resided. The red walls and golden tiles added an extra touch of luxury. At the foot of the palace was the well-planned city of Yu Jing. The wide streets, three horizontal and four vertical, formed the basic framework of the city, with the city planning looking as square as tofu. The central avenue, fifty meters wide, led directly to the main gate of the palace and was paved entirely with smooth white marble, an impressive engineering feat.
Just walking on this road gave a feeling of being insignificant. Yang Jiye didn't bring a vehicle, so Uther brought out the magic-powered car hidden in the cargo hold and drove Yang Jiye towards the palace. To avoid any mishaps due to unfamiliarity with the place, she also brought Qin Feng along. The magic-powered car drove along the clean central street, and Uther looked up at the blue sky, with the white palace floating beneath the sky above Yu Jing. It was an insurmountable height for humans, and no one could ascend the palace. Just like its name, Penglai - a fairyland outside the world.
At the entrance of the palace, the imperial guards dressed in golden armor blocked the magic-powered car and ordered everyone to get off. After Yang Jiye stated their purpose, a eunuch in a purple robe and an effeminate voice took the three of them to a lounge inside the palace. Yang Jiye didn't let his deputy follow, as that officer went directly to the general headquarters of the Yu Jing Military upon disembarking. Qin Feng, dressed as a maid, was probably mistaken for an attendant. And Uther was also invited in, which puzzled her. She had planned to take Yang Jiye to explore Yu Jing City after dropping him off, as it was rare to come to the East, and she couldn't return empty-handed, especially as a half merchant. Besides, she was contemplating a trade list.
In business, simply put, it was transporting something from one place to another for sale, the basic run of the mill trading. Mastering the market conditions and pursuing maximum profit, on the other hand, was a more advanced form of trading. The Explorer was fast, and with Uther as an infinite magic power generator, it didn't need to replenish Magic Element like conventional routes between islands. Whether it was express delivery or smuggling, it was a breeze.
The Explorer could directly cross the Sea of Emptiness, breaking through any naval blockade by any country.
"That guy just now, what was up with him?" Uther tasted the fragrant tea. "Why did he speak like that?"
Upon hearing her question, Yang Jiye, who had been serious, couldn't help but laugh, and Qin Feng covered her mouth as she laughed. Uther frowned, wondering why her question was so funny.
"That was a eunuch." Yang Jiye restrained his laughter. "There are many of them in the palace."
"Eunuch?" Uther was taken aback.
"Respected Lord," Qin Feng patiently explained, "eunuchs are castrated attendants. They used to be males, but in order to work in the palace, their genitals were removed."
Uther suddenly felt a shudder. "They were...castrated? That's too cruel!"
"Respected Lord, as you know, the royal family must safeguard the chastity of the concubines in the harem," Qin Feng said. "All the concubines in the harem belong to the emperor, so there cannot be any other men around them."
"That makes sense," Uther smiled bitterly. "In comparison, the court of the Empire is much more chaotic."
"That's true," Yang Jiye nodded. "I heard that the nobles in the Empire live a decadent life, often indulging themselves without restraint, not even knowing who the father of their children is. But in Yu Jing, we don't have this situation because we don't have nobles. Other than the imperial family, everyone else is common people, even generals like me are just commoners. In short, Yu Jing doesn't have hereditary titles like the Empire. If I die, the title would be taken back."
"I see," Uther blushed. "Sorry for asking such a silly question."
That expression was just too adorable! Yang Jiye and Qin Feng had to resist the urge to go up and pat her head.
At that moment, a eunuch walked in. His clothes were much more extravagant than the previous one, and he wore a square hat on his head, with fat cheeks hanging on both sides of his face.
"Announce--" the chief eunuch shouted, "Yang Jiye and his entourage are here to see you."Yang Jiye stood up with a serious expression, but Qin Feng and Uther sat still. The chief eunuch glanced at the two of them and said impatiently, "Hurry up, His Majesty is waiting."
"Shall we go too?" Uther was surprised.
The chief eunuch immediately gave them a reproachful look. Uther had no choice but to reluctantly follow Yang Jiye to meet the Emperor of Yu Jing.
The group followed the eunuch through the corridor adorned with carved beams and painted pillars. The imperial guards in golden armor stared coldly at the three visitors. They held spears in their hands, and Uther could feel the faint magical energy fluctuations on their armor and spears. It seemed that they were all equipped with enchanted items. Moreover, all the imperial soldiers had undergone strict training. They stood firmly like Mount Tai, motionless, their bodies taut and ready for battle.
The golden glazed tiles sparkled in the sunlight. The wooden beams were painted with exquisite patterns, and the courtyard was meticulously arranged. It was truly a picturesque sight at every step. Uther couldn't help but be amazed. This was the Emperor's residence? It was so luxurious that it was breathtakingly extravagant. Passing through a side door next to the main hall, they entered the administrative area. Women began to appear along the corridor. They were dressed in colorful lightweight court robes and had the same hairstyle, but the most noticeable feature was their ample bosoms. Regardless of their age, these women had magnificent breasts.
Does the Emperor really like this? Uther couldn't help but secretly smile. She really wanted to see what this uniquely tasteful Emperor looked like. If he was an old, obese man drooling with lasciviousness, she would have to make a quick exit. She glanced at Qin Feng behind her, who seemed unperturbed.
After walking for almost half an hour through the maze-like corridor, Uther couldn't help but wonder how big this palace was. Just as her feet began to ache, the chief eunuch finally led the group to their destination. It was a grand palace, with immaculate golden glazed tiles shining in the sunlight. Passing through the wooden doors, warm air greeted them, and in front of them stood the magnificent main hall. At the end of the red carpet, the throne was placed on a high platform, and the curtains hanging down obscured the person sitting on the throne, leaving only a blurry figure.
Yang Jiye knelt down on one knee below the platform and said, "Minister Yang Jiye, here to plead guilty."
The Emperor behind the curtains remained silent. Uther watched as Qin Feng also knelt down, leaving only herself standing among the three newcomers. The chief eunuch gave her a reproachful look and whispered, "Kneel down when you see His Majesty."
Uther reluctantly followed Qin Feng's lead and kneeled down.
Almost five minutes passed, and the Emperor remained silent.
The broad range of perception revealed that there was indeed a person sitting behind the curtain, but it seemed that this person had no signs of life. In order to find out what was going on, Uther carefully weaved a set of spells. A gust of wind blew the curtain, causing it to sway lightly. To everyone's surprise, a puppet appeared on the throne.
The chief eunuch was instantly shocked. "Your Majesty? Your Majesty has run away again!"
From the palace maids to the imperial guards, chaos erupted. The solemn and sacred atmosphere was suddenly shattered. Uther couldn't help but furrow her brows. What kind of play was this?
"I apologize!" The chief eunuch said helplessly. "General Yang, please wait in the side hall for a while."
Then, the group spent another half an hour walking back to where they originally came from. As soon as the chief eunuch left, Uther jumped up, finally releasing the accumulated anger.
"Is this a joke?" She clenched her fists, making a cracking sound. "Making us wait is one thing, but using a puppet? What is this?"
Yang Jiye smiled wryly, and Qin Feng sighed. It seemed that these two were accustomed to such things.
"Forget it!" Uther stood up. "I'm going out for some fresh air."
Ignoring the protests from the other two, she pushed the door open and went out.
Although it was winter, the courtyard was still lush. Uther squatted by the pond, observing the groups of koi leisurely swimming in the water. A group of imperial soldiers walked past her from behind, probably thinking that this little girl posed no threat, so they didn't bother checking her.
Bored, Uther picked up a small stone by the edge of the pond and threw it. The stone bounced a few times on the emerald green water and eventually sank in the middle of the pond, causing the leisurely swimming koi to swim away in alarm. Uther picked up another small stone and threw it even farther. She knew that causing ripples in the pond of the palace was highly disrespectful, but luckily there was no one around, so she managed to avoid trouble.Suddenly, a small stone flew over Uther's head, but the angle of entry was wrong, so it didn't bounce on the water's surface but sank directly into the water.
"How strange," a boy's voice sounded from behind. "Why didn't it bounce?"
Uther turned around and saw a boy of about 15 years old sitting behind him on the veranda, swinging his legs. The boy had a handsome face, with his dark hair tied back in a bun, and his jet-black eyes were extremely beautiful. Given time, he would surely grow up to be a handsome man.
"It's all about the angle," Uther picked up a stone and gestured. "You threw the stone at too great an angle."
With that, she threw the stone, and it bounced a few times on the water before sinking. The boy's eyes lit up, and there was even a hint of admiration in his gaze. Uther looked at him thoughtfully. Although the boy's clothes were magnificent, they were not uncommon in this vast palace. Perhaps he was the son of some high-ranking official. Uther sighed to herself, realizing she had unintentionally become a babysitter for the little boy. Suddenly, Uther noticed that the boy's gaze at her seemed to have changed. He approached Uther and lifted her chin with his finger, gazing into her eyes. The boy was about a head taller than Uther, so she ended up having to look up at his face. Under that gaze, full of fervent emotions, Uther felt uncomfortable and waved away the boy's hand.
"Huh?" The boy exclaimed in surprise.
"You little pervert! Don't lay hands on a woman you've just met, okay?" Uther said irritably. "A man should have gentlemanly manners, whether you're a spoiled young master or for any other reason. Be careful, or I might punch you if you touch my chin again."
The boy looked at Uther in shock, as if he had been greatly shaken.
"You dare..." his mouth opened and closed, and suddenly, he smiled. "But this feeling isn't bad! The Royal likes it very much! So, what's your name? Who's your father?"
"My name is Uther Noynheim," Uther placed her hand over her chest and politely introduced herself. "Unfortunately, I was born an orphan and have no idea who my father is."
"So, you're not from the palace?" the boy asked.
"With my appearance, it's obvious I'm not a Yu Jing person, right..."
The boy laughed, his smile radiant like the sun. "Come, Uther, we... no, let me show you something amazing!"
With that, he grabbed Uther's hand and pulled her to run along the veranda. Uther didn't resist, feeling somewhat happy as if she had been infected by the boy's enthusiasm. It had been a long time since she had felt happy conversing with someone. Talking to her slaves and subordinates was not pleasant because they treated her as a deity, especially after the great victory over the ghost ship. Talking to Captain Albeld was enjoyable, but unfortunately, he was no longer alive.
A red bird perched on a lush green tree. There was a veranda surrounding the tree, with a barrier set up to prevent the bird from escaping. Uther carefully observed the bird, its bright red feathers shining with magical radiance, dazzling to the eyes. It was a delicate magic puppet made in the shape of a bird, unable to escape the wide-range perception scan. However, the AI of the bird seemed to be autonomous, so the barrier was necessary to prevent it from escaping.
"Isn't my bird beautiful?" the boy boasted proudly. "But don't go inside the barrier. It can be vicious. There was a eunuch who accidentally got too close, and it pecked out one of his eyes."
"It's quite fierce, but..." Uther initiated a tactical connection and forcefully established data transmission with the bird. The red bird was immediately under her control. "Come here." Uther extended her fair arm into the barrier and, to the amazement of the boy, the red bird obediently landed on her arm. As Uther withdrew her arm, she effortlessly rewrote the formula of the barrier and brought the bird outside.
The red bird coquettishly showed off its beautiful feathers, hoping to win Uther's favor.
"Such a good bird," Uther stroked the bird's head and turned to the amazed boy. "Its name is Suzaku, a symbol of good fortune. I have deactivated its defensive program, so as long as you don't intentionally harm it, it will behave very obediently. Actually, half of its previous aggressive behavior was due to self-defense. For some reason, its AI seemed unable to recognize the people here as humans."So, "I see," the young boy crouched down beside the bird and said, "I command you to come onto my shoulder."
The Vermilion Bird glanced at the boy, disdainfully turned its head away, and looked at the embarrassed-faced boy. Uther bent over, laughing happily. Since he entered the body of this girl, he had never laughed so happily before. The boy in front of him was still very young, maybe he saw her as a younger brother? In fact, Uther's appearance was a little younger than this boy.
Just then, an anxious eunuch appeared near the bamboo grove. He was wearing luxurious clothing and was obviously a high-ranking eunuch.
"Hurry, run," the boy's face changed, "If we get caught, it's over."
Although Uther didn't understand what was going on, she decided to help the boy a little because they had been getting along so well. She gave a command to the Vermilion Bird, and the red bird immediately flew towards the chief eunuch and circled around him before taking his square hat away with its beak. The eunuch jumped around in a panic, trying to grab his hat back. Taking this opportunity, Uther and the boy slipped away through a small round door at the end of the corridor.
Entering the small round door, they discovered a closed courtyard, and the chief eunuch had already reclaimed his hat and was walking towards them. In a hurry, the boy clumsily climbed up the wall, and Uther realized that there was a trick to climbing over the wall. She strengthened her body and leaped onto the wall, then reached out to pull the boy who was hanging on the wall.
"Uther, you are so strong," the boy suddenly lost his balance.
"Don't wobble! It's dangerous!"
Uther quickly grabbed his hand, but as a result, they both lost their balance and fell from the wall. In order to protect the boy, Uther held onto him and twisted their bodies in mid-air, using her own body as a cushion. She was well aware that even if they suffered fractures or other injuries, she could heal them immediately. Luckily, they landed in a flower bed where colorful chrysanthemums were blooming. The soil beneath the flowers was very soft, so even though Uther was underneath, she was not injured. Uther lay among the fragrant flowers, her light brown hair scattered in the flower bush. Although she was still dressed as a boy, her slightly flushed cheeks revealed an indescribable sweetness and charm. However, their posture was quite romantic, with the boy lying on top of Uther, placing his hand on her slightly raised chest. Suddenly, a murderous intent erupted. Uther turned her head and saw Qin Feng, dressed in maid attire, and two chief eunuchs standing on the stone road outside the chrysanthemum flower bed. Black magic power was erupting from her.
"Wait!" the boy hurriedly explained, "It's not what you think!"
A crackling sound, Qin Feng's hairpin flew off, her black hair waved with the flow of magic power, revealing a sinister expression. She spoke slowly, her voice filled with killing intent, "Your Majesty, what do you plan to do to my master?"
Uther couldn't help but be stunned. Could this young boy be the Emperor of Yu Jing?
