The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 1289 684: The Dice That Reverses Fate

She paused here, her eyes sadly widening, and her mournful gaze fell on the urn on her lap, and she said softly:

"Later, even Senior Brother fell victim to Xuan Yin's ruthless hand. At that moment, the Heavenly Master Mansion was already dead, and these remaining priests only clung to the last shred of hope, but now..."

Gongshu Tianyuan, Li Wushang Dao, and Jin Jian all bowed their heads in silence, staring unmovingly at the porridge bowls in their hands.

As if awaiting a judgment.

Yu Xiu spoke softly:

"We've fled again and again on this path, and I'm almost too weary to flee anymore. You all go, take the last legacy of the Heavenly Master Mansion, go anywhere, like the Eastern Sea Thousand Islands."

With her lips trembling, Jin Jian, the young girl behind the glasses, with tears sparkling:

"Senior Sister... we'll go together."

She put down the porridge bowl and picked up her magic wand, taking a deep breath:

"I can lead you away, we will leave together."

A faint smile appeared at Yu Xiu's lips:

"You can't take that many people away, someone must stay behind."

"Senior Sister..." Li Wushang Dao's tears fell drip after drip into the steaming porridge, at this moment, she was nothing like the seductive "Eastern Sea Witch" she once was.

With a fierce flick of his neck, Gongshu Tianyuan gulped down the porridge, wiping his mouth with his sleeve, madness and resolve in his eyes:

"I'll stay too!"

He laughed:

"When I made the Heavenly Element Cannon, I also crafted a self-destruct array on a whim, today it can be used to give Da Jing that bald donkey a little surprise."

Then, he said forlornly, "What a pity Brother Zhao can't see it."

Zhao Douan...

The thought of that name cast silence over the four by the fire.

Over the past year, they had not once stopped hoping for the return of their master, and throughout Yu Country, there was not one moment of cessation in hoping for the return of the man of miracles.

But only those privy to the truth vaguely guessed:

It's likely, their master along with Zhao Douan's group had already perished in the northern forbidden zone where none dared tread.

At this moment, suddenly, a priest ran over from afar, panic-stricken and shouting:

"It's bad, the Buddhism... the Western Regions Buddhism has come again!"

Suddenly, panic enveloped the entire camp, some grabbed their longsword but couldn't move their legs, some wished to flee but subconsciously looked towards Yu Xiu and others, while some wounded simply closed their eyes, seemingly embracing death's approach.

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiu almost instinctively, from beneath her robes came a buzzing sound.

Thirteen scarred flying swords trembled at the touch of mana and flew out, orbiting around her in circles.

Four priests hurriedly stood up, moved to the nervous gap in the city wall beside them.

Looking west from here, the view stretched along Luoxia Slope, one could see a swarm of cavalry emerging from the distant forest.

On those warhorses were Martial Monks from the Western Regions, and leading them was a figure floating in the air, clad in a fiery red robe, exposing half an arm muscular and defined.

Da Jing Master!

The Da Jing Master who assassinated Zhao Douan before defecting to the Western Regions!

"They're here." Yu Xiu said in a weathered tone, with a self-mocking smile:

"Looks like they won't even allow us the time for a final meal."

Then, she no longer looked at the enemies closing in nor called upon the defeated troops in the town, but turned her gaze to Jin Jian, then Li Wushang Dao, her tone urgent:

"In my capacity as acting Heavenly Master, I decree, you all must leave immediately, preserve the lineage of the Heavenly Master Mansion, seek continuity, no delays!"

Emotions stirred among them!

But they did not retreat a step!

At this moment, abruptly from the tent beside them, Han Zhao emerged, supporting his fragile, bandaged body.

This irreverent "gambler" had a face pale as paper, his breath insubstantial, yet even in such a dire situation, he managed a last smile:

"Second Senior Sister, it's not the final moment of despair yet."

Immediately, Han Zhao met the gaze of his fellow disciples, tremblingly pulled out a sixteen-sided die from the inside pocket of his robe, muttering:

"All year, you've prevented me from using this, fearing my bad luck, bringing misfortune, but I've always been unconvinced.

I, Han Zhao, as the Great Yu's gambling saint, though I have failed occasionally, just as there is no eternal winner in a casino, there should not be an eternal loser, who says my luck should always be bad?

Now, since we're deep in despair, prospect of the Heavenly Master Mansion's line breaking, no matter what prevents you, this one time, I am betting everything!"

Having said this, the rare magician in this world who specialized in "destiny," with his remaining strength, forcefully cast the fate die skyward!

Yu Xiu, Li Wushang Dao, Gongshu Tianyuan, Jin Jian... all four people's gazes were inevitably drawn to that die flipping continuously toward the sky.

The dice ascended to its highest point, paused momentarily, then flipped over and fell to the ground!

"Pop!" With a sound, the ancient dice deeply embedded itself into the soil.

The side facing up was conspicuously marked with a scarlet seal character:

"Fortune!"

The God of Destiny silently arrived.

"Hahaha..."

Han Zhao suddenly burst into hearty laughter, this gambler who had gambled all his life finally won against fate in the most crucial game.

At the same time, all the defeated soldiers and the deathly despondent priests on Luoxia Slope heard a deep explosion coming from the sky.

"What is that?!"

Someone exclaimed.

Everyone saw it, a thick white rainbow crossed over from the direction of the Capital in the skies above!

The white rainbow pierces the sun!

Zhao Douan flew swiftly in the sky, suddenly struck by a whim, slowed down, and his Divine Thought swept the earth.

His gaze fell on Luoxia Slope, he softly exclaimed, then waved his sleeve.

Silently and without notice, the Western Regions Martial Monks charging forward simultaneously experienced a surge of blood, bleeding from their seven orifices, exploding and dying.

The Da Jing Master, who had already stepped into the "Half-step Celestial" realm, instinctively unfolded a thick Golden Bell Shield to withstand the mighty force descending from the sky.

He struggled to raise his head, his eyes emitting Buddha Light, gazing at the white rainbow in the sky, then struck as if by lightning, endless terror and dread erupted in his heart:

"Zhao... Dou..."

Before he could utter the last "an", the Da Jing Master was struck as if an arrow struck his forehead, frozen mid-air, then the sound of bones exploding emanated from his body.

Thereafter, the entire person was silently consumed by a blazing white flame, turned to flying ashes, with his soul scattering!

Mountain winds swept through, disturbing the cooking smoke over Luoxia Slope.

Countless people, almost instinctively, knelt to the ground, a sense of awe when facing the Divine.

Zhao Douan appeared with a step next to the city wall, looking at a few old acquaintances standing dumbly like statues, his gaze swept over familiar faces, finally pausing at the empty sleeves of Yu Xiu, and he was slightly moved.

"Zhao... Zhao Douan... it's you!"

Yu Xiu looked stunned, next to her, thirteen flying swords fell to the ground.

"It's me, seems like I wasn't too late."

Zhao Douan said, then his gaze fell upon the urn hanging at her waist:

"This is..."

"Zhong Pan died at the hands of Xuan Yin." Yu Xiu said gloomily.

Zhao Douan was taken aback, recalling the "Little Heavenly Master" who rode a one-horned cart, bore a scarlet broad sword, ugly and ferocious yet truly kind-hearted.

He was silent for a moment, then said: "I'm sorry."

"Brother Zhao..." Gongshu Tianyuan finally came to his senses, the Little Fatty trembled, but his gaze was looking behind him, as if searching for something.

Jin Jian simply lunged forward, grabbing hold of him, looking up, his small black face filled with expectation:

"Where's my Master?"

Zhao Douan fell silent again.

Jin Jian gradually let his hand loosen powerlessly, stepped back two steps, tears flowed uncontrollably, Li Wushang Dao opened his arms, embracing her.

Even though they had long since learned that the Great Banyan Tree had completely withered, and their hearts had guessed, but when they truly knew the answer, they still couldn't calm down.

Zhao Douan pursed his lips, raised his hand, and from the empty sleeves of Yu Xiu, flesh and bones gradually grew, and soon, two new arms grew out.

Like a miracle.

"Your... your cultivation..." Yu Xiu was stunned, as if she guessed something.

Zhao Douan nodded, and said: "I need to go to Yumen Pass."

Pausing for a moment, he added: "I'll avenge Zhong Pan."

After speaking, he once again turned into a white rainbow, disappearing into the sky.

It was then, the thousands of soldiers and priests in the town finally looked up.

Suddenly, someone, excitedly shouted out that name:

"Commander Zhao... it's him, he's back!"

Then, the vast Luoxia Slope was engulfed by countless cheers.