"Brothel?
What kind of situation is this, and you're still thinking about visiting a brothel?"
Da Huang's words left Yao Niming and the others utterly exasperated.
Was this really the time to be talking about brothels?
"What’s with those expressions on your faces?"
"Think about it carefully—doesn’t what I say make sense?"
"Can the few of you defeat the Blood Slaughter Emperor?"
"Of course not."
"Exactly. If Chen Chang'an doesn’t make it back in time, won’t you all die?"
"Yes, we’ll definitely die."
"Then what are you hesitating for?"
"If you’re going to die anyway, shouldn’t you enjoy yourselves first?"
"Or would you rather wait until after you’re dead to start enjoying?"
"Just think about it—doesn’t that make sense?"
Da Huang’s words plunged Yao Niming and the others into deep contemplation.
Indeed, if Chen Chang'an didn’t return, they would have no hope of standing against the Blood Slaughter Emperor.
By then, not only would they perish, but Alchemy Emperor City might be left with no survivors.
"That’s reasonable, absolutely reasonable."
"Medicine Destiny, leave Alchemy Emperor City."
"Take my legacy with you, find a place to live, and pass on my teachings as best you can."
"But… Master, I won’t go. If you stay, I stay too."
"Foolish! Do you really want to die here with me?"
"Yes. Even if I die, I want to die by your side."
"You…"
Yao Niming looked at Medicine Destiny helplessly, his eyes filled with both emotion and resignation.
Given his current physical condition, there was little he could do to force Medicine Destiny away.
"What should I do before I die?"
"Is there anything I’ve wanted to do but haven’t yet?"
"Find someone to fight?"
"But there’s no one left in Alchemy Emperor City worth fighting…"
Kuang Zhongtang frowned, lost in thought. For him, combat was likely his greatest passion.
"How about we fight?"
"I’d like to see how strong an Emperor like you really is," Kuang Zhongtang asked Lie Zhankuang.
"No, no. That’s boring."
"Don’t bother me yet—I still haven’t figured out what I want to do."
"Ah, if only that ugly bastard Long Wuqi were here. I’d give him a proper tongue-lashing."
Meanwhile, Da Huang stood there, dumbfounded.
What are you all talking about?
Do you not understand the point of what I just said?
The brothel!
My goal was the brothel!
"Are none of you… considering the brothel?" Da Huang asked, frustrated.
"Brothel? No, no. We’re about to die—what’s the point of going to a brothel?"
"Exactly, Elder Da Huang. There’s not much time left, and there are other things to do."
"Elder Da Huang, we appreciate the thought, but we really won’t be going."
Appreciate the thought?
Appreciate nothing!
I wanted you to take me there! Are none of you even a little bit clever?
"You people… you people!"
"Just wait to die then!"
"If I ever care about you again, I’ll be damned!"
Gnashing his teeth, Da Huang spat out these harsh words before stomping off to sulk in a corner.
"What’s wrong with Elder Da Huang?"
"No idea. Is he angry?"
"Probably upset that we didn’t take him up on his kind offer."
"Should we try to cheer him up?"
"How?"
"Buy him a bone?"
Huh?
Buy him a bone?
As soon as Lie Zhankuang said it, even he realized something was off.
The looks Yao Niming and the others gave him confirmed it—this was definitely not the right approach.
"Maybe we should just take him to the brothel."
"Fine. You handle it, then."
"What? None of you are coming?"
"No, no."
With that, Yao Niming and the others walked away, leaving Lie Zhankuang standing alone.
Sighing, Lie Zhankuang went to find Da Huang. Soon, the man and the dog happily trotted out of Alchemy Emperor Manor, tails wagging.
The atmosphere in Alchemy Emperor City was grim, its people uneasy.
Though this was their home, the looming threat of the Blood Slaughter Emperor weighed heavily on their hearts.
"Do you think the Alchemy Emperor can really stand against the Blood Slaughter Emperor?"
"He should be able to, right? He is the Alchemy Emperor, and he’s had some help arrive recently."
"I heard the Alchemy Emperor’s health has been failing for a long time. He can still refine pills, but he can’t fight."
"That can’t be true, can it? He’s an Emperor—how could his body be so weak?"
"I don’t know the details, but the helpers who came aren’t that strong. None of them are Emperors."
"It’s probably hopeless."
"If that’s the case, what do we do? The Blood Slaughter Emperor plans to slaughter the entire city."
"Didn’t you notice? Many have already left over the past few days."
"Should we leave too?"
"I’m still thinking. Let’s wait a couple more days."
Conversations like these could be heard all over Alchemy Emperor City. The people were torn between despair and a faint glimmer of hope.
Gu Xian'er and Gu Fengyao, taking a rare stroll through the city, overheard the murmurs and exchanged silent glances.
"Xian'er, do you think Brother Chang'an will make it back in time?" Gu Fengyao asked worriedly.
"The Young Master is incredibly fast. He’ll be here," Gu Xian'er replied with blind faith and admiration.
If Chen Chang'an dared to leave at such a time, he must have been absolutely certain he could return.
"Incredibly fast? How fast?" Gu Fengyao asked curiously.
"Unbelievably fast. Faster than you can imagine."
Gu Fengyao’s curiosity grew. She had seen the speed of an Emperor before.
Could Chen Chang'an really surpass that? Even an Emperor wouldn’t be able to make the round trip in such a short time—yet he could?
"If I get the chance, I’d love to see it for myself."
"A speed that surpasses even an Emperor’s, unbelievably fast… I can’t wait."
"Let’s go back. There’s nothing enjoyable about this atmosphere anyway."
"Alright."
Just as they turned to return to Alchemy Emperor Manor, a sudden commotion in the distance made them frown.
What was happening?
"It’s… it’s terrible!"
"The Blood Slaughter Emperor and his forces have been spotted just 300 kilometers away!"
"What? The Blood Slaughter Emperor is already here? But… he’s early!"
"I don’t know. I went out today to gather herbs for alchemy, and I saw him—leading his army straight toward Alchemy Emperor City."
"Quick… someone inform the Alchemy Emperor!"
The Blood Slaughter Emperor had arrived three days early.
The news sent waves of panic through the city.
Gu Xian'er and Gu Fengyao rushed back to Alchemy Emperor Manor at top speed to deliver the news to Yao Niming and the others.
"There’s no need to panic."
"Though the Blood Slaughter Emperor arrived early, he’s a man who follows his own rules."
"The date on the Blood Slaughter Notice hasn’t arrived yet—he won’t act prematurely."
"I suspect he’ll camp outside the city."
"So, we still have three days."
Yao Niming’s brow furrowed as he spoke.
Three days?
With only three days left, what else could be done?
All they could hope for was that Chen Chang'an would make it back to Alchemy Emperor City within those three days.
"Senior Da Huang, just three days. If Chen Chang'an doesn’t arrive, you’ll have to step in, alright?"
Hearing Lie Zhankuang’s words, Da Huang lifted his head and glanced at him, replying indifferently, "Hmm, you’re not bad. Don’t worry, I’ll collect your corpse when the time comes."
"Come on! After all those good times we had at the brothels, you can’t just turn your back on me now."
"How about this—I’ll take you there again for the next three days?"
"We’ll play day and night for three whole days!"
Three days and nights?
In the past, Da Huang might have been overjoyed. But now…
Alchemy Emperor City was in chaos, with people fleeing left and right. The brothels here were already few to begin with, and those that remained open were filled with nothing but the dregs of society.
With that kind of quality, did they really expect him to go back a second time?
Pah!
Da Huang curled his lip in disdain. Sure, he might be a dog—but even dogs had standards, didn’t they?
Wait, no… wasn’t he supposed to be a qilin?
Just as Lie Zhankuang was about to press further, trying to convince Da Huang to protect them, Medicine Destiny came running in from outside.
"Master! The Blood Slaughter Emperor has sent someone!"