Chapter 460: Really Not Stopping? The Contest Begins

In the Northern Border Camp, candlelight flickered inside the main tent.

Ji Qingwu had just finished her evening meal, but she sat at the table with a vacant stare, looking as if she hadn’t tasted a single bite.

With just one person missing, she felt the entire tent was empty and desolate, as if it had lost all its former vitality.

Ji Qingwu walked to the sandalwood desk where Emperor Wu Su used to sit. ’Am I under some kind of Gu spell cast by the Emperor?’ she wondered. ’Why else would I be so distracted all the time?’

She couldn’t help but shrink her shoulders, feeling as if even the air inside the tent had grown colder.

Li Yuzong noticed her strange behavior and asked with a concerned smile, "Miss Ji, are you feeling cold? This old servant will fetch a cloak for you."

Ji Qingwu wasn’t cold. She just desperately missed the feeling of being held in a certain someone’s arms.

Her eyelids drooped as she propped her face up with her hand. "There’s no need, Eunuch Li. I’m not cold."

Seeing this, Li Yuzong suggested again, "Then how about this old servant accompanies you for a walk to aid your digestion?"

Ji Qingwu’s enthusiasm suddenly returned. "Alright!" she declared loudly. "Let’s go check the camp entrance!"

Eunuch Li sighed. "You’ve already been there four times this afternoon."

Ji Qingwu was a little surprised. "Have I really gone that many times?"

Ever since returning in the afternoon, she had found no pleasure in anything and kept unconsciously wandering to the main gate of the camp.

Li Yuzong said, "It’s not this old servant’s place to speak out of turn, but even if the Holy Emperor possesses peerless martial arts, he couldn’t possibly have left on his campaign just last night and returned victorious already. The round trip alone would take two days."

"I’m still going to have a look," Ji Qingwu said stubbornly. Now that the idea was in her head, she couldn’t sit still in the tent anyway.

Eunuch Li was helpless to stop her. The two of them left the military tent again. Just as they were about to head toward the main gate, the little wolf came running from a distance.

It pressed its body tightly against Ji Qingwu, rubbing against her incessantly as if trying to leave its scent on her.

Thinking it was cold, Ji Qingwu ruffled the fur on its head. "Didn’t I make a den for you? Why aren’t you staying in it?"

Eunuch Li put on a fierce look. "You wild wolf, all you do is cling to Miss Ji. When the Holy Emperor returns, I’ll be sure to report you."

The little wolf not only ignored him but also pressed even closer to Ji Qingwu.

The smile had barely left Ji Qingwu’s lips when she saw the soldiers who had remained in the camp falling into formation. Chi Rui strode quickly past them.

’Mobilizing the troops this late at night? Something is clearly wrong.’

Ji Qingwu called out to him, "Vice General Chi, what is it? What’s happened?"

Hearing her voice, Chi Rui’s brow furrowed even deeper. He clasped his hands in a salute. "This humble general greets Miss Ji. Beasts have appeared near the camp. I am going to assess the situation. Please stay in your tent, Miss Ji. Do not come out under any circumstances."

In the next instant, Ji Qingwu heard the roars of beasts, as well as the howls of a wolf pack surrounding the edge of the camp.

The two groups of animals were testing each other’s presence and measuring each other’s strength through their cries.

But soon, the wolves’ howls were suppressed.

The little wolf at Ji Qingwu’s side suddenly bared its fangs. The fur on its neck bristled like silver needles, and its eerie green eyes stared intently at the main gate. It had scented danger.

Ji Qingwu looked over, and Eunuch Li, beside her, took a sharp breath.

Eunuch Li’s voice was shrill. "Miss Ji, quickly, get back to your tent!"

Chi Rui’s expression also became tinged with panic. He said urgently, "I will lead my men over. We’ll light torches outside the tents to drive these beasts away. Please go back and take shelter."

Thousands of bestial eyes glinted in the darkness.

Ji Qingwu frowned and looked around. The Northern Border Camp must be completely surrounded by all sorts of beasts.

"Vice General Chi, these beasts are all under the influence of Gu," she said. "They won’t be afraid of torches or swords."

Chi Rui had actually considered this possibility, but he was holding onto the slim hope that they were just ordinary beasts.

Ji Qingwu’s mind was clear. She said calmly, "These beasts haven’t made a move yet because the one who cast the spell hasn’t given the command."

’If I’m not mistaken...’

’The caster must be on their way here now.’

Ji Qingwu said, "Vice General Chi, do not confront these beasts head-on. Don’t take a single step outside the camp. Keep all activity within the perimeter."

Chi Rui had no better plan. A direct fight against this horde of beasts was one they were sure to lose.

"Yes, ma’am," he replied.

The beasts merely surrounded the camp, making no further moves.

Ji Qingwu returned to her tent and began rummaging through the luggage she had brought with her. From inside, she pulled out a slightly withered medicinal herb.

Ji Qingwu let out a soft "Oops." ’I’ve neglected to care for it these past few days.’

"Eunuch Li, please get me some water."

Li Yuzong didn’t understand why Ji Qingwu was suddenly tending to plants, but he still brought a basin of water.

Ji Qingwu transplanted the herb, along with the dry soil at its base, into the basin and carefully sprinkled it with water.

After half an hour, the herb regained its vitality, its leaves beginning to stiffen.

Ji Qingwu let out a breath and patted her chest in relief.

Outside the tent, the wolves’ howls grew more mournful, and the low growls of tigers and leopards became increasingly ferocious.

Ji Qingwu’s back stiffened. The roars of the beasts were truly enough to instill a bone-deep terror.

Eunuch Li’s old legs gave way, and he nearly collapsed to his knees. Ji Qingwu caught him. "Eunuch Li, you rest for a moment. I’m going out to take a look."

Eunuch Li said, "How can you go alone? This old servant will accompany you."

But his legs were no match for Ji Qingwu’s speed, and she was far ahead in no time.

Ji Qingwu jogged to the camp entrance, where Chi Rui was in a standoff with someone. The beasts were already locked in a chaotic battle with the wolf pack.

The wolf pack was being attacked from both front and rear. Several had already fallen onto the blood-soaked sand. The Wolf King threw its head back and let out a long howl, calling its companions to attack with even greater ferocity.

"You’ve come!" a woman’s voice called out, cold and bewitching.

Ji Qingwu stared at the woman in the white veiled hat before her and said in a frigid tone, "Make them stop."

Gao Zhao Yue sneered. "Are you ordering me?"

Ji Qingwu’s voice grew heavier. "Stop!"

Gao Zhao Yue’s hand traced a strange arc in the air as she sized her up. "So you’re Emperor Beili’s woman of destiny? You do have a certain charm."

In the night, the young woman’s face was softer than the moon, her eyes brighter than the stars, and she carried an air of naive, innocent charm that spoke of a life untouched by hardship.

Gao Zhao Yue said mockingly, "But you’re still just a little girl who’s barely come of age. So young, yet so arrogant in my presence!"

Her fingertips moved faster, as if pulling invisible strings, commanding the beasts to continue their assault.

Ji Qingwu raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you won’t stop?"

This time, Gao Zhao Yue’s expression shifted slightly. She seemed to sense an unusual aura emanating from the young woman.

The Wolf King, besieged by three tigers and leopards, let out a piercing howl. Ji Qingwu looked at the restless little wolf beside her and said, "Go."

Gao Zhao Yue said, "One wolf or a whole pack, it makes no difference to me."

Ji Qingwu took a step forward. Her right hand, clutching something, suddenly swung toward Gao Zhao Yue’s fingertips.