Chapter 669

Chapter 669: Unfamiliar Territory

Shan Shan returned home in tears.

By morning, his eyes were red and swollen, resembling a pair of large walnuts, leaving only thin slits for vision.

“Young Master! What happened to your eyes?!”

“Quickly, quickly, call a physician! The young master’s eyes are swollen and can’t open!” The wet nurse, flustered and worried, carried him to seek Lu Chao Chao.

Even Lu Chao Chao was shocked upon seeing his state.

What surprised her the most was Shan Shan’s expression—void of emotions, as if he had suffered a tremendous blow…

The physician examined him leisurely before saying, “The young master doesn’t have an eye infection. He merely cried himself swollen.”

“Just apply a warm towel or a heated egg to soothe it.”

“There’s no serious issue.”

Lu Chao Chao lay beside Shan Shan, coaxing, “Shan Shan, are you feeling unwell? Tell me, and I will make things right for you!” Considering the treasure trove at stake, Lu Chao Chao was willing to comfort him.

Shan Shan lifted his eyelids and glanced at his sister.

Then, he smacked his lips, his mouth trembled, and tears welled up again.

Lu Chao Chao was puzzled—what was wrong with him?

“Last night, the collapse of Ming Xin Hall caused an uproar in the palace for half the night.”

“How is Xuan Ji Chuan?” Lu Chao Chao suddenly asked. Since he was the Heart Demon, he was essentially a part of Xuan Yu.

“Rest assured. The Eastern Ling ancestor in the underworld must have hit his head by now. The Eastern Ling King managed to escape disaster.”

Lu Chao Chao nodded in relief.

“It’s strange today—why are there so many dead locusts on the ground?”

“Last night, they kept crashing into the windows, making it hard for us maids to sleep. Some of us got up to collect them…” Yu Shu was astonished at the sight of the lifeless locusts scattered across the ground.

“Let me see.”

Lu Chao Chao stepped forward swiftly, crouching down to inspect them. The locusts were unusually large, about the size of Shan Shan’s palm. Originally green, they now had a yellowish hue, covering the ground.

She picked one up and squeezed it.

“Huh, their insides have been completely drained, leaving only an empty shell.” With a slight pinch, they crumbled into dust.

Xie Yu Zhou spoke loudly.

Lu Chao Chao stood up. “Quickly, send someone outside the city to check whether all the locusts have met the same fate.”

Recalling the events in the Eastern Ling Palace last night, she added, “Let’s go to the palace and investigate.”

Since A-Wu’s belly was now high and round, making movement difficult, Zhu Mo stayed behind at the posthouse to keep her company.

Windchaser and Xie Yu Zhou accompanied Lu Chao Chao into the palace.

Xuan Ji Chuan had been expecting Lu Chao Chao’s arrival and was already waiting at Ming Xin Hall. As soon as she arrived, he naturally took her hand and said, “When I sleep, I don’t like too many attendants. Only a few people fell into the collapse and got injured.”

“There’s something strange underground.”

“Beneath the ruins lies a massive formation! Do you want to take a look?”

Overnight, a passage had been dug, and ladders were set up to reach the depths below.

“I’ll hold your hand. Be careful.” Xuan Ji Chuan guided her gently as they descended.

The underground space was dim, with torches already lit by the investigating personnel.

But what was most shocking was that right beneath the emperor’s sleeping quarters were signs of human habitation—a significant number of people had once lived here…

The faces of the Eastern Ling officials darkened.

“Investigate! Find out everything! The emperor’s sleeping palace, the dragon vein of Eastern Ling, has been secretly occupied without anyone’s knowledge!”

A large group of officials knelt before the emperor in terror.

Lu Chao Chao examined the damaged formation and grew increasingly unsettled.

This was the core of the Seven Sins’ extermination array!

Judging by the traces, and considering the collapse of Ming Xin Hall last night, the formation must have been destroyed.

Who had broken it?

A vague image of Shan Shan’s tearful face from this morning surfaced in her mind. Last night, he must have reunited with his subordinates…

Lu Chao Chao’s brows slightly furrowed, her small face tense.

“This formation was likely the source of the natural disasters and the cause of the people’s loss of rationality,” Xie Yu Zhou assessed. “But who possessed such great power to shatter it?”

As they spoke, a messenger rushed in.

“Your Majesty! The crazed monsters in the city have suddenly regained their senses!”

The Eastern Ling King abruptly lifted his head, grasped Lu Chao Chao’s hand, and swiftly ascended the stairs.

“Is this true?” The citizens of Eastern Ling had inexplicably lost their minds, attacking others like rabid beasts, oblivious to pain, death, or authority.

Moreover, the affliction was contagious—those bitten became infected.

There were many theories—some blamed locust consumption, others suspected demonic possession. Speculations abounded, but the truth remained elusive.

“That’s not all—both inside and outside the city, countless dead locusts have appeared. Not a single living one remains!” The messenger’s voice trembled. Could this mean the disaster had ended?

The Eastern Ling King dared not delay. He immediately led a grand procession out of the palace.

The moment the palace gates opened…

They saw unconscious citizens sprawled across the streets. Some stood dazedly in the roads, dried blood still on their lips.

“It hurts… Why am I standing here?”

“My leg is broken, yet I was crawling on the ground? Was I sleepwalking?” Many people woke as if from a nightmare, dazed and confused.

Some collapsed in agony—their severe wounds had finally become unbearable.

“They’ve truly recovered—pain and reason have returned.” Ministers rejoiced.

“Summon all physicians from the Imperial Medical Office to provide aid. Restore order as quickly as possible.” Xuan Ji Chuan allowed a rare smile—relieved, as both internal and external crises had weighed heavily on him.

Looking down the streets, locust carcasses were scattered everywhere.

“Not a single living locust in sight!” The crowd’s joy could hardly be contained.

“Send scouts to investigate the locust situation beyond the city. If they all perished due to the broken formation, then this should be a universal phenomenon.” Xuan Ji Chuan swiftly dispatched riders for confirmation.

The news came quickly.

All the locusts had died overnight.

When the confirmation reached them, the entire city erupted in cheers.

With Lu Chao Chao’s supply of spiritual rice and grains, the crisis subsided, and the people’s unease was soothed.

Upon returning, Lu Chao Chao found A-Wu sipping herbal medicine in small sips.

“This is a decoction made from celestial herbs—it strengthens the body. You should drink more…” Zhu Mo couldn’t hide his concern.

A-Wu’s body was frail, yet her abdomen was abnormally large, a sight that made one uneasy.

As her child grew, the fetal movements became increasingly frequent, while her own condition deteriorated. The once-luminous glow in her eyes had dimmed, overtaken by exhaustion and fear.

“A-Wu’s child has inherited ancestral power, containing formidable Ancestral Dragon energy. As the child develops, it requires more strength…” How could A-Wu endure this?

Zhu Mo lost sleep every night, too afraid to close his eyes, guarding A-Wu’s bedside.

Even A-Wu felt herself weakening. She wasn’t trying to deceive Zhu Mo—she truly couldn’t hold on.

She had to return to the Phoenix Clan soon. Only on Mount Fengwu could she safely give birth to this child.

“Where is Shan Shan?” Lu Chao Chao asked.

“As soon as you left, the young master slipped away. A-Man and Mai Feng followed him with guards…”

At that moment, Shan Shan…

The little boy trudged along, kicking pebbles gloomily.

An old woman sat by the street, twisting hemp rope. Shan Shan, his face full of despair, asked, “Grandma… do you know where I can find a cliff?”

The old woman raised an eyebrow. “Now that’s the right question.”

“I know these lands better than anyone… Are you looking for wild fruits?”

“Tomorrow, the city will start distributing relief grain. I saw the carts entering just now.”

Shan Shan’s words were muffled but clear: “The cliff… is it high?”

“Could… could someone fall to their death?”

The old woman’s smile faltered. “Are you trying to jump? A little one like you jumping off a cliff?!” Her voice shot up, eyes wide in shock.

She abruptly stood up, her once-kind demeanor turning stiff and wary. “Don’t ask me. I don’t know anything!”

“I just married into this place—I’m unfamiliar with the land.”

With that, she turned and slammed her door shut.