"Chop the green peppers, mix them with meat, make them into meatballs. The flavor of the meat overwhelms the flavor of the peppers, and even a picky child can eat them."
Jiaoqiu's words hung in the air...
-----------------------------------------
These rambling, green pepper-obsessed words already made Mok Tok extremely impatient.
He looked toward Jiaoqiu and said: "I really want to boil your tongue to mush! Hmph, don't think I don't know what you're up to. You want to stall for time, waiting for reinforcements."
After speaking, Mok Tok turned his head and looked at Hoolay.
"My lord, he says Jingliu has returned to the Xianzhou, but according to our latest intel, Jingliu has already committed a grave crime and was sent to another Xianzhou ship!"
"He's just using this trick to stir up your desire for revenge, trying to delay our departure."
Hoolay did not respond to Mok Tok.
Instead, he fell into brief silence.
The atmosphere instantly became heavy.
The spectators, seeing such a complex situation, also grew tense.
Just then, Hoolay finally spoke.
"Pitiful Foxian, for thousands of years, it was we who allowed you to survive, it was we who gave you civilization. Yet for the freedom promised by the Xianzhou people, you still chose betrayal in the end!"
"But it doesn't matter. As long as you catch the scent of the master (Borisin), you will obediently return to your original path."
Hoolay's words,
They neither responded to Mok Tok nor to Jiaoqiu.
For a moment, even the audience could not quite grasp the situation.
But Jiaoqiu narrowed his eyes and suddenly said: "Hoolay, have you ever thought about why, after a full seven hundred years, those people only now remembered to come rescue you?"
"..." Hoolay stayed silent.
Jiaoqiu continued: "The era of Borisin's arrogance has long since ended. Before giving you the hope of returning home, did they tell you these pitiful facts, Lord Hoolay?"
"Now they are shattered into sand by Yaoqing's 'Vanquishing General,' by a single Foxian, trembling in the cosmos."
"Desperately reaching out for any straw they can grasp, that straw being you."
At this moment, since their escape from the Shackling Prison, a great many hours had already passed.
The spectators did not know what exactly had happened during that span of time.
But Jiaoqiu's demeanor, and the attitude from those around him, were clearly different from when he had first been captured in the prison.
As if he were now… fearless.
"Yaoqing's general? A Foxian?"
Hoolay crossed his arms, looking down at Jiaoqiu, and said slowly: "Interesting. Mok Tok, is everything he said true?"
"..."
Mok Tok froze, then quickly replied: "N-No mistake, my lord, that was a battle slave who escaped from the pack. She stole our power, and using her knowledge of the Borisin, relied on the subordinates' weakness…"
Before Mok Tok could finish, Hoolay cut him off harshly.
"She defeated you, didn't she?"
"Mok Tok, aren't you supposed to be a commander with experience and cunning?"
"Since the pack has fractured, then who told you I was still alive and sent you to rescue me?"
Under Hoolay's questioning, Mok Tok revealed the existence of the so-called prophet "Mangas".
During the explanation, the audience, catching on, realized the flaw.
...
: Hoolay really has had absolutely no knowledge of the outside world for seven hundred years.
: In other words, all of his information is stuck seven centuries in the past.
: I didn't expect Hoolay to actually refute Mok Tok, nor show any negativity about the Borisin's downfall.
: Hiss… this man feels like he has a firm, independent value system.
: It's not quite the plot direction we imagined.
: And Mok Tok, this kid doesn't seem too honest. I thought he'd tell Hoolay all this intel on the way here, but he only explained after Jiaoqiu brought it up and Hoolay questioned him.
...
As the audience discussed,
Mok Tok's account of Mangas drew to an end.
"My lord, the prophet's prediction was correct! You are still alive, and according to her plan, we will soon bring you back to the clan!"
Mok Tok's tone grew more and more excited.
Jiaoqiu, who had been silent all this time, sneered suddenly and cut in: "You're all being deceived by that so-called prophet. She just sent you here to die!"
Once word of the Shackling Prison spreads, the Cloud Knights will lock down all ports.
Your supposed 'escape from prison' is nothing but stepping into another cage called 'Luofu.'
Whether it's confidence or foolishness, Mok Tok's squad has no idea of this fact.
But Hoolay is different. He caught the deeper meaning in Jiaoqiu's words.
Yet Mok Tok, this fool, barked like a dog with its tail stepped on: "Lord Hoolay! Don't listen to him, kill him! I swear, within the promised time, we will surely escape!"
Perhaps Mok Tok himself didn't realize it. His tone carried the air of command.
As if, in his subconscious, the one he obeyed wasn't Hoolay sitting before him, but the prophet who ordered him to rescue Hoolay.
And if any obstacle arose during that mission, he would immediately lose control.
As a subordinate, Mok Tok acted more like a servant of the prophet.
He didn't ask whether killing was acceptable, he directly ordered Hoolay to kill Jiaoqiu.
In this subtle tension, Hoolay's heavy voice slowly sounded.
"Escape?"
"Return to a ruined clan? Be manipulated by a laughable false prophet?"
"Become her puppet?"
"Fool!"
"Her plan is riddled with holes. The path she prepared for you only leads to 'flight' and 'death'!"
Hoolay's voice thundered.
Mok Tok recoiled in fright, taking two steps back.
"Listen well. A wolf will never allow itself to become prey. From now on, you will follow my orders."
Hoolay's tone was not up for negotiation.
He forced Mok Tok to choose sides.
The prophet? Or the war chief?
At this moment, Hoolay revealed his ruthless decisiveness.
The audience gasped in shock.
From Hoolay's perspective, seven centuries of imprisonment had left him out of touch with the world.
Mok Tok's behavior only made him more suspicious.
As a war chief, there was no way he would be swayed by such a flawed, manipulated situation.
So, lacking information, he hadn't interfered in the earlier argument, instead letting Mok Tok and Jiaoqiu quarrel.
By doing so, he narrowed down reliable information, asked key questions, and got the intel he wanted, namely, the current state of the Borisin.
From that intel, he judged the most critical point: that so-called prophet was nothing but a schemer, utterly malicious.
She sought to use him, and even the entire Borisin Tribe.
The reason was simple.
If this prophet really wants to make the Borisin great again, the very first thing she should do is guide the tribes into internal war, and let a new war chief emerge.
Not send people to rescue him!
Such an act is simply destroying the proud legacy that the Borisin rely on for survival!
...
: Suddenly, I somewhat understand, why Hoolay was imprisoned and still greatly feared.
: This kind of mind, this kind of cunning, really makes one's heart turn cold.
: To be able to instantly judge that the prophet isn't anything good.
: Hoolay really is formidable, lying down.
: No wonder he is called the war chief.
: Suddenly I feel, this villain actually seems a bit interesting.
: From Hoolay's perspective, this situation is very unfavorable, the information gap is far too large, the Borisin are being forced into a corner.
: On the other hand, the three generals see the situation clearly.
: Done for, doesn't that mean Jiaoqiu is in danger?!
...
For Hoolay, this sinister situation is not without a way to break it.
What he wants is accurate, actionable information to base his judgment on.
He can only get it through Jiaoqiu.
And as it happens, Jiaoqiu really does know quite a lot!
What kind of methods will Hoolay choose, will he forcefully pressure the Foxian?
The worried audience watched the plot nervously.
Sure enough.
After Hoolay established his dominant position, especially concerning the situation at Cloudford Port.
He wasn't even afraid that Jiaoqiu might run away.
Instead, he just let the other leave.
Such powerful confidence, yet who knows where it came from.
After leaving the small courtyard, Jiaoqiu did not immediately call for help, but instead paid attention to what was behind him.
Those well-disguised Borisin were scattered everywhere, pretending to be travelers on the road.
But without a doubt, those eyes were secretly fixed on him.
Thinking of this, Jiaoqiu stood still, closed his eyes slightly, and began careful reasoning in his mind.
Although he called himself a healer, he was also a descendant of the Foxians.
A moment later, Jiaoqiu opened his eyes and walked to the roadside.
People from Central Starskiff Haven, Cloud Knights, members of the Sky-Faring Commission, he stopped them all to ask questions.
During this time, he made no out-of-line moves, such as asking them to send a message, or telling them where Hoolay was.
He simply followed Hoolay's request, and gathered the intelligence he needed.
Then obediently returned to the courtyard.
"Very good, you did not take any excessive actions."
"This proves you truly are a 'kind-hearted' healer."
Hoolay was very satisfied with Jiaoqiu's behavior.
But many in the audience were puzzled.
...
: Why didn't Jiaoqiu call for help!
: How could he just obediently help Hoolay gather intelligence, when just now beside the Cloud Knights, if he had passed the message, they might have captured them all!
: If Jiaoqiu really did that, then it would be game over!
: Those disguised Borisin hidden among the crowd, do you think they're just decorations?!
: Even though Hoolay and his group are currently restrained, Central Starskiff Haven is full of passersby! If forced, what if they start slaughtering nearby people?!
: Those people's lives are lives too!
: Jiaoqiu is really smart, he realized this, and that's why he didn't dare call for help! Otherwise, it would've turned into a massacre!
: But… doesn't that make it even more hopeless?!
: How can Jiaoqiu possibly break out of this!
...
The explanations in the live comments were not far off from what Jiaoqiu was thinking.
Now, the Borisin are in the shadows.
If he were to send word to the Cloud Knights or others now, there's no guarantee those people wouldn't just be taken away by the Borisin.
Because the enemy also has disguises!
And they had, through some means, acquired disguises with rather high-ranking identities.
Imagine telling a Cloud Knight about Borisin infiltrators, no sooner said, than two disguised Cloud Knights appear, with some excuse to lure him to the courtyard and kill him.
That would be effortless.
Not only that, Jiaoqiu also had his own considerations.
Sometimes, actions are more effective than words in deceiving your enemy.
In the courtyard.
After Jiaoqiu informed Hoolay that Cloudford Port had not been sealed, the pressure around Hoolay became heavier.
"M-my lord."
"Isn't this the perfect time for us to leave? Otherwise, they will soon realize our presence."
Mok Tok rejoiced greatly.
Hoolay was already thoroughly disappointed in this fool.
"Since Cloudford Port is not sealed, yet we have received no reply from our hidden comrades there…"
"Do you know why that is?" Hoolay asked in return.
"Uh… th-this…" Mok Tok stammered, searching for an excuse.
But soon, he realized.
Other than the Luofu authorities not wanting to spark panic by sealing the port, the greatest possibility, was that those people had already been captured in one fell swoop!
And this meant that the generals were not ignorant of the Borisin's plan and disguises.
They might even have been prepared for it from the very beginning!
Thinking back from when they first entered the Luofu, all the way until now, Mok Tok suddenly felt a chill cover his whole body.
Every step they seemed to succeed.
But in reality, their choices never increased.
Either wreak havoc in Luofu and be captured. Or flee aboard a star skiff.
And now, their choices had dwindled to only one.
This was a silent encirclement and slaughter. Every Borisin involved, Mok Tok included, had become pieces in Jing Yuan's hand.
From start to finish, all arranged perfectly. There were even deeper things Mok Tok could not comprehend.
But the audience, with an overarching perspective, could already see it clearly.
...
: Damn… this really is a no-way-out slaughter. Seen this way, all these people have become Jing Yuan's knives, helping him cut away the cancers of the Preceptors and the Alchemy Commission.
: Looking back at all the previous plots and actions, it was all within the generals' calculations.
: Even if there were some twists in the middle, overall, it followed their plan completely.
: It seemed like the Borisin were succeeding step by step, but in truth, they never had any path of survival.
: Now it's just a matter of seeing how Hoolay responds.
: Ahhh, the only accident was Jiaoqiu being captured.
: Now the generals are encircling the Borisin, while Jiaoqiu is caught within the Borisin's trap. What now!
...
What lay before Hoolay seemed like a dead end.
What lay before Jiaoqiu seemed like a dead end too.
The three Arbiter-Generals, though they had yet to even face the Borisin directly, had already revealed a terrifying oppressive force.