Yusu and the others arrived in Huangshi City. This city was established with the help of Fengcheng, so it was clear that there was something waiting for them in Huangshi City.
"How much does Adap know about Huangshi City?" Yusu asked Jian Yunchuan.
Jian Yunchuan replied, "More than twenty years ago, the chief shaman of Huangshi City was a reasonable person. But I don't know what happened in the last twenty years."
After all, twenty years had passed, and no one knew if there had been a change in the chief shaman of Huangshi City.
Even if there hadn't been a change, Huangshi City naturally stood on Fengcheng's side, so they might not betray Fengcheng for Yucheng.
So, Huangshi City was indeed a troublesome situation.
With Yusu and their abilities, dealing with a city would be too easy.
Even if they didn't want to confront it head-on, finding an alternative route wouldn't be a problem.
But since Yusu had decided to compete with Fengcheng and extend their road to the north, they couldn't give up halfway; they had to capture Huangshi City as well.
...
"Caw—"
The cry of an eagle sounded, and a nimble eagle flew across the sky.
Before long, Yusu, through the eyes of the eagle, learned about the situation in Huangshi City.
In reality, Huangshi City was just a larger tribe. They had built stone walls around it and had imposing city gates, but inside, it wasn't much different from villages like Sanhe Village and Daji Village.
The people of Huangshi City were unaware that the Yucheng army had arrived. The city lord called a group of people together to discuss the task given to them by Fengcheng.
"Fengcheng's avian master has sent a second letter; he wants us to keep the Yucheng army here." The city lord of Huangshi City spoke with a heavy tone. "What are your thoughts?"
His tone was delicate, as if he had some reservations about Fengcheng's task.
The group of people sitting in a circle all turned to look at Huangshi City's chief shaman.
The chief shaman of Huangshi City was very old, his eyes almost blind, but he looked into the void and spoke, "I have foreseen the rise of Yucheng and the decline of Fengcheng. The rumored Yucheng High Priest descends upon us, with vines as his throne and glaciers as his protectors. No one can resist the direction of his sword."
The words of the chief shaman of Huangshi City left the city lord and others in silence.
The chief shaman's prediction came after Fengcheng's avian master gave them their task. No one doubted that the chief shaman would speak falsehoods; they believed in the Earth God. Every chief shaman was the messenger of the Earth God, and they believed that the chief shaman's visions were what the Earth God wanted to tell them.
"The same fate awaits us if we oppose Yucheng as we did with Fengcheng."
It was precisely this statement that left the city lord of Huangshi City in a state of indecision.
Huangshi City was established with the help of Fengcheng; without Fengcheng, there would be no Huangshi City. They couldn't go against the orders of Fengcheng's chief shaman.
But they also had to heed the warning from the Earth God. They had been able to survive on this land thanks to the Earth God's guidance.
Therefore, it had become a matter of choice.
Should they betray Fengcheng or go against the warning of the Earth God?
"Why doesn't Fengcheng deal with Yucheng themselves and leave us with such a difficult problem?"
"Yes, ever since Fengcheng changed their chief shaman, our lives have been getting worse. They demand offerings from us every year, and each time the demands are higher than before."
"They treat us as laborers."
"Even though Huangshi City was established with the help of Fengcheng, the resources and slaves we've offered over the past few decades could have built another Huangshi City."
Facing the warning from the voice of the Earth, no one wasn't scared. The resentment towards Fengcheng was strong among them, and they were even less willing to sacrifice themselves for Fengcheng.
Some people didn't speak but seemed to share the same thoughts.
The city lord of Huangshi City said, "But if we don't do as Fengcheng says, we'll face the arrival of Fengcheng's army, and we won't be able to resist them either."
This remark silenced everyone, and they all wore worried expressions.
At this moment, the chief shaman of Huangshi City spoke, "There is a way."
...
Outside the city.
Seeing the eagle return, Yumeng and the others looked at Yusu in anticipation.
However, Yusu's face wore a strange expression as he fell into deep thought, puzzling everyone.
"Yusu, did the eagle see something? Is Huangshi City setting a trap for us?" Yumeng asked.
Yusu shook his head. "No, there are no traps."
Ah? Although this was unexpected, wouldn't it be good if there were no traps?
At this moment, Luyan spoke, "No traps, that's why it's strange."
Yusu agreed, "Indeed, I wonder what Huangshi City is up to."
Yumeng thought it was simple, "No matter what they're planning, we'll find out when we face them."
Although Huangshi City didn't set any traps, when Yusu and his team approached, the city gates suddenly opened wide, and a group of people rushed out, blocking their path.
"Who are you people? Why are you trespassing on the territory of Huangshi City?" The leader seemed to be the city lord of Huangshi City, and he shouted at Yusu and the others.
"It is impossible to pass through our territory of Huangshi City to Fengcheng, unless you can defeat us!" After saying that, the Lord of Huangshi City led his men to charge.
Yusu felt that there was something strange about this, but couldn't immediately figure out what it was. Yumeng couldn't sit still any longer: "Yusu, I'll go and meet him with my men."
Yusu nodded.
Yumeng and his men also rushed forward. Just as they clashed, Yumeng hadn't even used force yet, but he suddenly heard a person on the other side shout, "Ouch!" and fall to the ground, rolling while holding his arm.
Yumeng: ???
Yumeng raised his knife and looked around in confusion.
What's going on? He hadn't even touched anyone with his knife, yet he already defeated someone?
When did he become so powerful?
"Ah, my stomach was stabbed!"
"My hand is broken!"
Just as the two sides clashed, the warriors of Huangshi City either fell clutching their stomachs or holding their hands, leaving the warriors of Yucheng bewildered.
What is Huangshi City doing, trying to deceive them?
Yusu initially frowned as well, but as he watched, he gradually understood.
These people from Huangshi City were pretending to be defeated?
He had a thought and locked eyes with the Lord of Huangshi City.
The Lord of Huangshi City raised his iron spear and shouted, "We will not let you go to Fengcheng unless you can defeat us!"
Yusu, "..."
He now understood the meaning behind the words of the Lord of Huangshi City.
Defeat the people of Huangshi City and they can pass through their territory.
But the people of Huangshi City had no intention of really fighting. They were intentionally pretending to be injured and falling. It was clear that they were deliberately going easy.
Why?
As Yusu's mind raced, the Lord of Huangshi City had already charged towards him.
Luyan's eyes turned cold.
Yusu hurriedly said, "Don't kill him."
Luyan stepped forward and, as the Lord of Huangshi City shouted and charged with the iron spear raised, he knocked him unconscious with a palm strike.
Just then, the people from Huangshi City suddenly shouted, "The Lord is dead, we have been defeated, retreat, retreat quickly!"
Apart from the Huangshi City warriors pretending to roll on the ground, the remaining scattered people hastily crawled and ran back to Huangshi City.
Then Yusu and the others heard the sound of a horn being blown in Huangshi City.
"Beep--"
Someone shouted loudly from the city wall, "The Lord is dead, we have been defeated, quickly close the city gates!"
The same words were shouted three times in a row.
That guy's voice was loud and had an astonishing lung capacity.
It was hard not to hear.
Yusu and the others looked at the group of Huangshi City warriors pretending to be injured on the ground with a speechless expression.
Someone secretly looked at them, and when they saw them looking at him, he deliberately screamed in pain, clutching his stomach and rolling, splattering red dye. It looked like a pitiful scene, but when they saw the person struggling and rolling, they could tell that he still had a lot of strength left for acting.
Yumeng and the others were dumbfounded by this outrageous performance.
Yumeng: "Hey, what the hell are you guys playing at!"
The soldier from Huangshi City, who locked eyes with him, immediately screamed in pain: "Ouch, it hurts! Damn people from Yucheng, you actually stabbed me with a knife and killed our lord. Fengcheng will definitely take our side!"
Yu Meng: "Are you crazy? When the hell did I stab..."
"Yu Meng." Yu Su interrupted Yu Meng's words.
In the distance, some birds were peeking in their direction.
Yu Su smirked: "Since Huangshi City has already lost, let's not waste any more time here, let's continue on our way."
Yu Meng wanted to say something but was pulled back by Yu Shan. Yu Shan whispered, "Let's go."
Yu Meng rubbed his head, full of questions, and led the people back to the group. They then continued north, crossing the territory of Huangshi City.
After they left, the gate of Huangshi City opened again, and some elderly people and women rushed out, cursing Yucheng while carrying the injured soldiers back into the city.
The chief sorcerer of Huangshi City stood on the city wall, looking at the birds in the sky with a heavy heart, saying, "Please tell the emissary, we did our best, but now that our lord is dead, we can't stop the people from Yucheng anymore."
Those birds didn't seem to understand and flew away shortly after.
After the birds flew away, the chief sorcerer of Huangshi City's expression darkened, and he ordered the gate to be closed.
...
Meanwhile, in Yucheng's group, Yu Meng and the others still didn't understand what happened to Huangshi City.
"Huangshi City pretended to lose on purpose. Why did they do that?"
Jian Yunchuan said, "Didn't you notice? When you were fighting just now, there were a few birds watching from afar, most likely spies from Fengcheng. Huangshi City wasn't putting on a show for us, but for Fengcheng's spies."
Yu Meng and the others were even more perplexed. "But why?"
Yu Su said, "We don't know the details, but it's obvious that Huangshi City didn't intend to provoke us, which is why they staged this fake defeat."
Yu Meng asked, "Then why did Huangshi City's lord pretend to be dead?"
Jian Yunchuan said, "If the lord of Huangshi City is dead, Fengcheng will not only be dissatisfied, but also won't bother investigating their mistakes. They have managed to handle Fengcheng without offending us."
Yu Meng clicked his tongue, "Cunning."
Yu Su said, "The problem lies in why Huangshi City is willing to take the risk of being discovered and not offend us. Our reputation in Yucheng isn't that big, is it?"