Chapter 424: A Million Troops, Crisis of the Shirine Empire
Sean came to Sandals and smiled as he asked, “Aunt Sandals, I let them freely choose partners and fall in love. You shouldn’t mind, right?”
“No!” Sandals shook her head and said, “They have grown into adults now and have the right to decide their own happiness. They also have the ability to take responsibility for their choices!”
Yes, freedom is very important!
Sandals herself was blinded by hatred and restrained by shackles in the past. She was wholeheartedly focused on cultivation and only thought about killing King Ron, which delayed her own marriage. That’s why she is still alone to this day, and serves as a cautionary tale. Now that King Ron is dead, she naturally does not want the women in white in front of her to follow in her footsteps!
“Bastard!” Although Sandals did not object, Pupil Wolf was still very angry. Her ears twitched as she heard the whispers of the wolf cubs, and she could not help but coldly snort, “These ungrateful guys are really itching for a beating!”
“Deserves a beating!” In the past, when there were very few women in the army, Pupil Wolf’s existence was almost like a ray of red in the green forest. So those wolf cubs surrounded her like stars surrounding the moon!
But now things are different! With those beautiful women in white here, Pupil Wolf was directly ignored by those wolf cubs. This made her very sour and angry.
Seeing this, Sean rolled his eyes and gestured to Pupil Wolf, “If you are interested, you can also participate!”
“Not interested!” Pupil Wolf didn’t even think before decisively shaking her head. She sat back down on the cushion, pretending to cultivate!
Sean sighed inwardly! He was very clear about Pupil Wolf’s feelings for him, but there was nothing he could do. His heart only belonged to Cecilia. Neither Pupil Wolf nor Julia were in his considerations!
Sean didn’t want to delay the two of them!
But just as there was no room in Sean’s heart for another woman, it seemed there was also no room in Pupil Wolf’s heart for another man. Even knowing that it was impossible with Sean, Pupil Wolf was still willing to accompany Sean as a friend!
This put Sean in a very awkward and guilty position…
“Julia!” Since Pupil Wolf was stubborn by nature and would not be forced to do anything she didn’t want to, Sean naturally did not insist. His gaze moved away from Pupil Wolf and fell on Julia. He gestured, “If you…”
“I’m not interested either!” Before Sean could finish speaking, Julia imitated Pupil Wolf and shook her head without hesitation, “I know my own limits and don’t need you to worry, Mr. Mason!”
After speaking, she sat down shoulder to shoulder with Pupil Wolf on the cushions!
Damn! Sean was speechless! Women really are hard to please!
Sandals couldn’t help but chuckle softly, “Sean, let feelings happen naturally. There’s no need to force it.”
“Okay,” Sean nodded.
Spirit Wolf and Shadow Wolf, who had been standing next to Sean, exchanged a glance and whispered, “Boss, since this is about enhancing our skills and strengths through mutual assistance, can we…”
“What?” Sean frowned and retorted, “They don’t want to participate, but you want to?”
Spirit Wolf and Shadow Wolf lowered their heads to look at the unconscious Cecilia lying under the Sword of God, then glanced at Pupil Wolf and Julia. They said in a strange tone, “We don’t have the boss’s charm. We can’t eat from our own bowl while looking at others’ pots…”
Their expressions clearly meant: Boss, you’re a well-fed man who doesn’t know the hunger of others!
“Get lost!!!” Sean’s face turned dark. He kicked out with his right leg, and Spirit Wolf and Shadow Wolf grinned. In two blurs, they charged towards the women in white to find their own “cultivation guides.”Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
There was no other way. These wolf cubs were too unruly from living in the wild for so long!
“Youth is wonderful…” Watching dozens of vigorous young men and women frolicking together, with an atmosphere of excitement and joy, Sandals couldn’t help but feel sentimental, reminiscing about her own youth. After Liane Field left and Isabella died tragically, her life had become stagnant like a pool of dead water!
It was a pity! Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns!
In the three days that followed, Sandals personally helped Julia activate her bloodline. Julia had officially embarked on the path of cultivation. As for Pupil Wolf, reconstructing her damaged eye foundation would not be easy. According to Sandals, it would take at least ten days to a month before success or failure could be determined… The task was arduous and the road long…
With the arrival of Bloody Wolf Group members, the utopia was finally completely lively. With dozens of men and women living, cultivating, eating, and playing together, the carefree and joyful atmosphere truly reflected the name “World Beyond Peaches.” It was almost like a heavenly existence!
Seven days later, Spring brought news that Hall of Swords had completely taken control of South Province and North Province, eliminating opposing forces. The number of Complete Stage cultivators in Hall of Swords had also increased to fifty-one.
So Sean set the next target on Crane, the province where Hilshire City and Cecilia’s family were located, which bordered North Province.
The reason was simple: Cecilia had previously gone with Phyllis to the capital to find Sean, but Marcia, Matthew, Gemma, Cornelia and other relatives were still in Hilshire. With the impending chaos in the world, Sean naturally wanted to bring Crane under Hall of Swords as well, to ensure absolute safety for those loved ones.
Also, some Bloody Wolf Group members were in Hilshire protecting them. Now that Bloody Wolf Group had regrouped at Hill of Swords, none could be missing. After Hall of Swords gained control of Crane, the rest of Bloody Wolf Group could be recalled.
The Campbell family presided over the provincial city of Crane. With the help of Zackary and the old monk, Spring personally led people there and swiftly took control of the entire province of Crane almost effortlessly.
Ten days later, the Bloody Wolf Group members who had stayed in Hilshire all returned and gathered together.
After taking control of three provinces, Sean did not let Hall of Swords continue expanding within Shirine Empire!
Firstly, the bigger the tree, the more wind it attracts. If Hall of Swords gained too much prominence, it could easily arouse wariness and even suppression from Hall of Jade prematurely, when Hall of Swords was still far from a match for Hall of Jade.
Secondly, human hearts were unpredictable. Hall of Swords was formed by an alliance of major families across the three provinces. Swallowing too much at one go would need to be slowly digested.
So after the meteoric rise of Hall of Swords and its effortless control over the three provinces, during the time when major families in other provinces were shivering in fear and trepidation, it suddenly entered a long period of calm!
Meanwhile, in Hill of Swords:
Everything was proceeding smoothly according to Sean’s plans.
Cultivation, cultivation, cultivation.
Sitting cross-legged under the Sword of God, bathed in the divine light, looking at Cecilia lying peacefully beside him as if asleep, Sean had only one thought in his mind – to quickly increase his own strength, defeat Aunt Sandals as soon as possible, leave Hill of Swords, and seize the Phoenix Gallbladder from Hall of Jade!
Time flowed by swiftly…
Twenty-six days later, Sandals succeeded! When Pupil Wolf opened her eyes again, she could see this beautiful world once more. She saw her Bloody Wolf Group comrades, the beautiful women in white, and most importantly, Sean’s handsome and heroic face that she would not admit her feelings for but thought about all the time!
She could see again! A teardrop rolled uncontrollably from the corner of Pupil Wolf’s eyes!
On July 28th, two months later, Phyllis’ 5th birthday, Pupil Wolf finally saw the world again after regaining her eyesight that night. It was also on this night that after Phyllis’ birthday banquet, Sean challenged Aunt Sandals for the first time!
The result… was defeat.
This outcome was within Sean’s expectations. But he could clearly feel that compared to when he first entered Hill of Swords, the gap between him and Sandals was shrinking rapidly!
Three months later, Sean challenged Sandals for the second time, and was defeated again!
Four months later, the two fought to a draw, evenly matched!
Then at noon on the 18th day of the fourth month, Spring suddenly returned to Hill of Swords with Tim Lewis. Tim Lewis looked anxious and said solemnly as soon as he saw Sean, “Mr. Mason, something big has happened!”
“What’s the situation?” Sean’s heart stirred, having already guessed some of it.
Sure enough, Tim Lewis said, “News came from the capital that North Kingdom has mobilized its entire national strength, assembled a million troops led by twenty Complete Stage generals. After over a month of fierce battles, they have broken through all of Shirine Empire’s defenses in the north and are marching southwards with their troops aimed at the imperial city. They will reach the gates within five days!”
“By then, not only will the imperial city of Shirine Empire be in imminent peril, the entire Shirine Empire will likely face an apocalyptic disaster!!!”
Just as Sean speculated, with King Roscoe newly ascending the throne, military loyalty was unstable. Facing the tiger-wolf teacher of North Kingdom, the generals of Shirine Empire were already at a disadvantage. The northern battlefield simply could not withstand the onslaught of North Kingdom’s forces!
After making preparations for about three months and fighting for over a month, North Kingdom claimed to have assembled a million troops with great momentum, clearly intent on using the deaths of the North Kingdom envoys as an excuse to launch an earth-shattering, decisive war of annihilation against Shirine Empire!
If this battle is lost, there will be untold suffering and common people will bear the brunt. Shirine Empire will cease to exist in this world!!!
Hearing this, the Bloody Wolf Group members standing behind Sean gnashed their teeth in anger, furious. Although they had already left the north and escaped the control of the Shirine Empire royalty, after all, they had desperately defended the northern battlefield for five years!
They were still citizens of Shirine Empire!
And their relatives and friends were all within Shirine Empire’s borders. If Shirine Empire was defeated, how would their loved ones fare?
However, even amidst the raging fury and killing intent, they still held themselves back, not calling for battle. Instead, they all looked to Sean, waiting for his command!!!