nashuaworldcup Chapter 369 The Moon Goddess is an unfathomable woman!
Chapter 369 The Moon Goddess is an unfathomable woman!
Mo Ya's brow twitched slightly. "What sincerity?"
The Moon Goddess raised her right hand, her fingertips gently tracing a line in the air. A silvery-white arc of light flashed by, like a plucked crescent moon, slowly rotating in the void.
"My conditions are simple. The North must provide the Moon Goddess Cult with money, food, and weapons right now. I don't want empty promises, I want real money."
Mo Ya's eyes suddenly turned cold.
This woman is simply taking advantage of the situation.
The North was isolated and surrounded by enemies, and she seized on this opportunity to make exorbitant demands, trying to squeeze more blood out of the North, like a shark that has smelled blood, circling the wound and waiting for its prey to fall on its own.
His fingers slowly tightened inside his sleeve, his nails digging into his palms, sending a sharp pain through him.
He regretted his decision to make the deal with this woman. She was too greedy and shrewd, stepping on the North's weaknesses with every move, leaving him with nowhere to retreat.
But His Highness's order was right before their eyes—"No matter the cost."
Mo Ya sighed inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Can."
His voice was calm and steady, as if he were talking about something very ordinary.
He decided to agree first, and as for how much to give, the North would decide that later.
Give her some money to keep her calm, then stall for time until the imperial army is at the gates. Then she will have no room to bargain.
By then, it's uncertain who will be asking whom for help.
The moon goddess narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of a smile flashing within them.
The smile was faint, as faint as frost on a blade, yet chilling to the bone, sending a chill down one's spine.
She leaned back in her chair and tapped her fingers lightly twice on the armrest.
"Alright, in that case, I agree to the alliance with the North."
Mo Ya bowed slightly. "It's a pleasure doing business with you."
The Moon Goddess's fingers paused for a moment. "However, the most troublesome matter right now is the Qin army of 50,000. I wonder how to deal with the situation in the north?"
Mo Ya sighed inwardly.
He said last time that Han Zhong had a past relationship with the Northern Border, but that was just a temporary measure to make the Moon Goddess believe in the Northern Border's power and give her the impression that "the Northern Border can get things done."
Now that Qin Mu is at the height of his power and his reputation has been reversed, Han Zhong has no idea whether he will still listen to the Northern Border. It's like standing on the edge of a cliff looking down into an abyss, with pursuers behind him.
But his face remained expressionless; instead, he smiled.
"Don't worry, my lord has already begun preparations. However, those are 50,000 elite troops after all, and the Northern Border hasn't completely broken ties with Great Qin, so they still need to maintain appearances. They'll definitely capture some Moon Goddess Cult members as well, just to give them an answer."
The Moon Goddess nodded, her smile deepening.
"Of course I understand. Don't worry, I've got everything ready on my end."
Mo Ya breathed a sigh of relief.
If that's the case, then things will be much easier.
He bowed respectfully. "Very well, then I will go and inform the Prince now."
The Moon Goddess gave a soft "Mmm." "Go."
Mo Ya turned around and strode out of the main hall.
His pace quickened considerably compared to when he arrived, as if something was chasing him from behind. His footsteps clattered rapidly on the stone slabs, echoing through the empty corridor.
The white jade door slowly closed behind him, blocking out the candlelight in the hall and that cold gaze, with a dull thud.
The moon goddess leaned back in her chair, gazing at the tightly closed door. The smile in her eyes faded little by little, like the tide receding to reveal the gray, cold rocks beneath.
She tapped her fingers twice more on the armrest, then stopped. The entire hall fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the occasional whistling of the wind coming from outside the skylight.
"The North." She murmured the two words, a meaningful smile slowly curving her lips.
There was no smile in that curve, only coldness, like the winter wind blowing in through the crack in the door, cutting into the skin.
.......
The black crow's silhouette disappeared at the end of the winding mountain road, like a drop of ink falling into deep water, silent and unnoticed.
Qin Mu stood on the mountain wall outside the cave, his hands behind his back. The morning breeze blew from behind him, lifting the moon-white sleeves of his robes.
He gazed at the narrow mountain path, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, like a hunter watching his prey walk step by step into a trap he had already laid.
"Do you think Han Zhong will betray me?" His voice was very soft, half of it was carried away by the mountain wind, and the other half drifted into the ears of the three women behind him.
Zhao Qingxue stood beside him, the Frost Moon Sword hanging at her waist, the gem on the scabbard gleaming pale blue in the morning light.
She smiled gently, a faint smile carrying a composure born from having seen the world.
"I don't think so. The northern border is now isolated and surrounded by enemies. If Han Zhong isn't a fool, he shouldn't side with Xu Longxiang at this time."
Qin Mu nodded, his gaze still fixed on the vast, distant mountains.
"I hope so. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind killing him."
He spoke softly, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary, but beneath that nonchalant tone lay a chilling edge.
Yunluan stood half a step behind him, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her gaze as sharp as an eagle's.
She suddenly spoke, her voice clear, cold, and steady. "Your Majesty, I believe the Moon Goddess Cult definitely has other forces hidden in the shadows."
Qin Mu turned his head to look at her, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. "What makes you say that?"
Yunluan bowed slightly and clasped her hands in greeting.
She spoke slowly, each word seeming to have been carefully considered before uttering.
"The Moon Goddess dares to make exorbitant demands on the Northern Territory, asking for money, provisions, and weapons, which clearly indicates she has considerable confidence. However, what I saw at the Moon Goddess Cult's main camp was only a few thousand people at most, and most of the believers in the branch altars in various places were ordinary civilians, unfit to be soldiers. The fact that she dares to ask for so much food and weapons, and has stockpiled so much food and weapons at the main camp, shows that her ambitions are definitely not limited to just a few thousand followers."
She paused, then looked up, her gaze resolute.
"I believe that she has secretly cultivated at least a much larger army somewhere, with a number of at least 50,000, or even more."
Qin Mu smiled and nodded, his appreciation undisguised. "Your analysis is spot on."
Zhao Qingxue stood aside, listening to Yun Luan's words, her gaze involuntarily falling on the taciturn and aloof girl.
She had always been very interested in the quiet woman who was always by Qin Mu's side, like a shadow.
Now, listening to her explain her insights in a clear and logical manner, I can't help but look at her with new respect.
This woman was not just a guard who could draw his sword; she was more clear-headed than many of the court officials.
Jiang Zhaoyue also glanced at Yun Luan, a hint of shame flashing in her eyes.
Yunluan is so intelligent that she saw through the Moon Goddess Cult's secret plot at a glance, while she is still here in a daze, not even fully understanding what happened.
She felt utterly useless, unable to help Qin Mu, and her heart felt heavy, as if something was blocking it.
She bit her lip and clenched the hem of her clothes.
She needs to work harder; she can't always stand behind him like a flower that needs someone to water it.
A resolute glint flashed in her eyes, like a flame that flickered in the wind but didn't go out; instead, it burned even brighter.
Qin Mu withdrew his gaze and looked back at the winding mountain road.
As the morning light grew brighter, it bathed the mountains in a pale golden glow.
"Let's go, let's find out where the Moon Goddess Cult's hidden forces are."
His voice was soft, with a hint of nonchalant amusement, as if searching for a secret army of 50,000 men was nothing more than looking for a lost cat in his own backyard.
Yunluan lowered her head. "Yes."
Qin Mu took a step and walked down the stone steps along the mountain wall.
The moon-white robe fluttered gently in the morning breeze, its hem sweeping across the moss on the stone steps, stirring up tiny dewdrops.
The three women followed behind him.
As the morning light grew brighter, the thin mist in the mountains was dispersed by the sunlight, revealing the layered mountain ridges in the distance.
Qin Mu walked down the mountainside and onto the narrow dirt road, his pace neither hurried nor slow.
Zhao Qingxue followed beside him, her gaze sweeping over the dense woods on both sides.
"If the Moon Goddess Cult truly has tens of thousands of troops hidden away, they couldn't be in a place too far away. They need to consider the transportation of supplies and their coordination with the main altar."
Yunluan nodded. "Your Majesty is right. I believe the troop hiding place should be within a hundred miles of the main camp, in a remote and difficult-to-discover location deep in the mountains."
Qin Mu didn't say anything, but continued walking along the mountain path.
His gaze occasionally swept across the mountains on both sides, and sometimes looked towards the distant canyon, as if searching for something.
Jiang Zhaoyue walked at the very back, the shame in her heart not yet completely gone.
She looked at Qin Mu's back, then at Zhao Qingxue and Yun Luan, and bit her lip.
She can't continue like this, unable to help in any way.
She began to carefully observe the surrounding terrain—which valleys could hide people, which dense forests could be used for camping, and which cliffs could be used for sentry posts.
After walking for a while, Qin Mu suddenly stopped.
He stood on a mountain ridge, with a wide valley in front of him, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with only a narrow pass for entry and exit.
"How's this place?" he asked, his tone like he was testing a student.
Yunluan took a half step forward, her gaze sweeping across the valley. "Easy to defend and difficult to attack, the pass is easily held by one man, and the valley can hide ten thousand people. If we set up camp here, it will be very difficult for outsiders to find us."
Zhao Qingxue glanced at it as well. "Where's the water source? Tens of thousands of troops can't be without water."
Qin Mu smiled and pointed towards the depths of the valley.
There is a stream that meanders out of the mountain ravine, shimmering with a silvery-white light in the morning sun.
"The Moon Goddess Cult has chosen its base for so many years, they wouldn't have ignored water sources. If they really have troops hidden there, it must be in a place with mountains and water."
He continued walking, and the three women followed.
The mountain road became narrower and narrower, and the trees on both sides became denser and denser, their branches and leaves almost blocking out the sky.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting dappled patterns of light on the ground.
After walking for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the sound of water came from ahead, growing louder and louder.
After turning a corner, a river valley appeared before us, with steep banks and a rushing river at the bottom, its waters roaring.
Qin Mu stood by the river, gazing at the denser and deeper forest on the opposite bank.
His gaze fell on a mountain wall with marks of chiseling and carving, which did not appear to be naturally formed.
"Yunluan, look over there." He pointed.
Yunluan followed his finger and frowned slightly. "It looks like it was carved by hand, and it's quite old."
Zhao Qingxue frowned as well. "Could that be the entrance?"
Qin Mu smiled but did not answer.
He raised his hand and gently made a gesture in the air. An invisible force parted the river, revealing a wet stone path leading to the other side.
"Let's go take a look." He stepped onto the stone path, his moon-white robe slightly damp in the mist of the river.
The three women followed behind, their footsteps echoing between the two banks, mostly swallowed by the sound of the water.