Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1397 - 451: Blinded by Lust, Ignorant Arrogance, Chui Mountain Changes Hands, Cai Shiqi Breaks Down, Intimidation_2

This sudden inquiry quickly drew the attention of the woman in white, the elder in black, and the five armored commanders, all of whom turned to regard him with displeasure.

"Isn't he that Caiqiu fellow who constantly seeks out new consorts?"

Li Xuanling had not intended to visit this tavern, but her gaze briefly fell upon Cai Shiqing before she shifted it, addressing the five individuals with Yuan Cheng in a composed manner.

Yuan Cheng, Qiu Peng, Xu Ning, Liu Yuan, and Hou Quan had been lying in wait in Chui Mountain Town for over two months. Since information gathering was primarily Qiu Peng's duty, the other four immediately directed their focus toward him.

Qiu Peng, after a quick glance at Cai Shiqing, deduced that this fool must have crossed Li Xuanling. He hastily bowed and reported, "Reporting, Madam. This individual is named Cai Shiqing. He possesses a lecherous nature and has used coercion in numerous village-level camps across Jinshan, Wuchuan, and other towns to force families into submission for his carnal desires, resulting in over three hundred victims.

He is purportedly a relative of the Cai Family, though likely from a branch line. Since Cai Shiqi's arrival last August, Cai Shiqing has exercised a degree of restraint, and his standing within Caiqiu is considerably inferior to Cai Shiqi's..."

"You lowly cur, how dare you..."

His dignity shattered, Cai Shiqing's face flickered between green and white. Upon hearing Qiu Peng's final remark about his lesser status compared to Cai Shiqi, he could no longer contain the surge of rage within his heart. He abruptly drew his longsword, cutting off Qiu Peng's words.

*Swish...*

Alas, before he could even finish his outburst, a chopstick launched from Li Xuanling's hand pierced directly through his throat.

Cai Shiqing, utterly stunned, found his life force, bolstered by his Cold Resistance Level, preventing his immediate demise. He stared at Li Xuanling, the source of the chopstick, his face etched with disbelief. Raising a trembling hand, he pointed at her, stammering,

"You... you dare... you..."

You dare kill me?

In the heart of the Nine Towns Territory, someone dares to take my life?

How could this possibly happen...

Even as his life force completely ebbed away, confusion and bewilderment filled Cai Shiqing's eyes. He was a member of the Cai Family, with a promising future. How could he possibly perish in a place like the Nine Towns?

Standing nearby Li Xuanling, Cai Wan and his four companions were already petrified.

They had never anticipated Li Xuanling would act so decisively, ending Cai Shiqing's life without a moment's hesitation or inquiry.

"Murdering a Cai Family relative, how could you... how could you..."

Cai Wan, overwhelmed by the shocking scene, rushed to Cai Shiqing's side. Gazing at the lifeless body, he turned to Li Xuanling, his voice trembling as he repeatedly questioned her.

"The killing of a Cai Family member is a serious transgression in Caiqiu. Regardless of your origin, you are in grave peril. You are in grave peril..."

"Enough of your incessant chatter. These four are complicit in evil; they are no better. Old Xiang, dispatch them swiftly. Prepare the heads of all five, and let the Caiqiu Prince see them later!"

Li Xuanling, completely dismissing Cai Wan's drivel, issued a direct order to Xiang Fuhai.

At her command, Xiang Fuhai sprang into action. Facing four Cold Resistance Level experts barely exceeding 40 Zong, he eschewed his staff. With four rapid movements, he ended the fleeing Cai Wan and his companions with precise palm strikes before the attic window had even fully shattered.

Judging by the look Cai Shiqing had cast upon Li Xuanling the moment she appeared on the upper floor, she had already condemned all five of them.

This Cai Shiqing, harboring such lewd intentions towards a woman whose cultivation surpassed his own, had effectively validated the intelligence previously gathered by Han Feng, Li Hu, and Yang Zhong from Jinshan Town.

This individual was utterly consumed by lust. He brazenly exploited his status to select consorts in village-level camps everywhere. There were numerous such incidents even in Jinshan and Wuchuan Towns, where he preyed on men and women alike, relying on his lineage. During his visit to Muyin Town last July, he even attempted to forcibly take Murong Chui's granddaughter, Murong Yan, as a second wife. Murong Chui spent over a month negotiating, and Cai Shiqing only relented temporarily after Cai Shiqi's arrival.

Despite his temporary withdrawal, he left behind threatening words for Murong Chui, vowing his intent to marry Murong Yan. This forced Murong Chui to have no choice but to relocate his granddaughter and all the young women of the clan to Xia City for their safety.

For someone like him, encountering me, how could he possibly survive this encounter!

Upon witnessing Yuan Cheng's successful execution of Cai Shiqing and his retinue, Li Xuanling allowed a cunning smile to grace her features from beneath her veil. Suddenly sensing something amiss, she swiftly turned her gaze towards the military encampment situated beyond the window.

"Halt, halt on behalf of this Lord!"

Duan Hong's commanding voice echoed from the direction of the Lord's Hall, causing a flicker of icy hostility to flash in Li Xuanling's eyes.

"They are arriving. Old Xiang, accompany me outside. Liu Yuan and Hou Quan, you two will command the Cloud Jiao Long Wu armies and clear out the camp. Yuan Cheng, Xu Ning, and Qiu Peng, you shall lead the remaining eight thousand soldiers to encircle the entire Inner City, ensuring no one can flee."

"Your subordinates obey!"

Yuan Cheng and his associates, taken aback, hastily responded with bowed heads, only to realize that Li Xuanling and Xiang Fuhai had already vanished. Without a moment's delay, they leaped over the windowsill, scattering throughout the Inner City to commence the deployment of the army.

.........

When Duan Hong finally broke free from the side hall and ascended into the sky, the sight that greeted him within the military camp left him utterly dumbfounded!

The original prediction for this uprising was that Mu Qinghe could muster no more than three thousand men. With the Yellow Armor First and Second Armies, coupled with the clan's descendants and the direct bloodline of the Duan Family, totaling over three thousand individuals, failure seemed an impossibility. Subsequently, once the three thousand-strong Beishuo Army was dispatched from the Duan Clan Land, the coup meticulously planned by the Mu Family would be instantly thwarted.