My Misfortune Crushed Instances

Li Rui halted the team’s advance.

"Benefactor, what’s wrong?" Ju Ye asked, not understanding but impatient. He urgently wanted to locate the fake king.

Li Rui said, "There’s danger. We can’t keep moving forward."

"Why?" Ju Ye asked, "There are no enemies outside now. If we stay too long, we’re the ones in danger."

"I don’t know."

Li Rui responded straightforwardly, "Send a few scouts to investigate."

"Let us go."

Rossi and Vince volunteered.

Kawina chimed in, "They’re responsible for assassination and intelligence gathering for the family."

"Alright." Li Rui instructed them to scout ahead.

He looked at the silent plain, puzzled in his heart.

The area ahead was vast and empty. How could there be any danger?

He stared further across the plain at a mountain ridge. Once you passed through the valley there, you’d reach food and water. This was essentially the final stretch.

"Could it be an ambush behind the ridge?"

Li Rui considered the possibility, but it was still a considerable distance away. He shouldn’t be feeling threatened from here.

"Unless they’re... particularly strong."

If those stationed behind the ridge were exceedingly dangerous and were targeting him, it might be possible to sense the threat from such a distance. But then, how strong would they need to be?

The team camped in the woods for several hours, with Ju Ye pacing nervously. For a ghost, his emotions were rather rich, probably related to his origins.

Li Rui was patient. He knew what kind of colossal entity they might be up against.

After a while, Rossi and Vince returned, both looking as if they’d seen a ghost.

"Li, how did you know?!"

"It’s impassable. If we head east, we’re surrounded by troops from the Western Country and the Wind Slave Royal Court, countless in number."

Apparently, this army was what had Li Rui feeling uneasy. They were specifically there to block them.

Kawina’s admiration was uncontrollable: "Li, you will guide us out of this danger, right?"

Li Rui had no time for their various emotions. He pulled out a map: "Draw out the direction you scouted just now."

At this point, whether or not the two assassins doubted his abilities, they had to comply honestly. If someone hadn’t believed him and insisted on crossing the plain, they’d likely be buried by now.

After reviewing the directions Rossi and Vince had marked, Li Rui felt a headache coming on.

Since witnessing Chen Cheng’s ability, he had gained some insight into the Prophet’s mystical battle. This profession’s predictions were terrifying. The Western Kingdom must have detected something after the incident in Feihong Town and acted accordingly.

He held no illusion that those specifically dispatched to intercept him wouldn’t be confident in their ability to detain him.

A Priest like Farah Land, Li Rui could handle easily. But if two or three of similar strength appeared simultaneously, plus a large number of other Extraordinary individuals, even he couldn’t guarantee an escape—not with his current abilities.

However, Li Rui wasn’t panicked because he knew that while the Western Kingdom’s Prophet had predicted his moves, Chen Cheng would also be making corresponding predictions, and the bearded man would surely obtain intelligence from this side. They would find a way to create space for him.

Ju Ye pulled him aside and whispered, "Benefactor, we can charge in another direction to draw the enemy’s attention. You could take the opportunity to break through then."

Li Rui asked, "What about you?"

"Death is insignificant."

"Weren’t you reluctant to die before avenging your great enemy?"

"Well... you saved us, Benefactor. It’s different."

Li Rui said, "No rush. I’ll think of a... wait, did you just say, charge in another direction?"

...

"Sir. Bad news, our scouts discovered Dong Sanchuan’s squad during reconnaissance."

The atmosphere in the Western Kingdom’s base wasn’t relaxed either. The command requested them to remain stationed and explained the reasons to several key officials. They knew that west of the blockade line, an area occupied by them, a Foggy Evil Ghost was causing trouble.

And to the east of the blockade, there’s the main force sent by Dragon Country. If things go awry, this place could become the most intense battlefield since the Secret Realm war started.

Even during their standoff with the Polar Alliance, there hadn’t been major battles, just small skirmishes.

"Dragon Country’s leadership is formidable this time."

Hopkins was not only a high-risk, even stronger than Farah Land Extraordinary, but also a core staff member of the Western Kingdom leadership. By stationing himself here, it was clear they intended to fight back if attacked.

"Sir, what do we do now?"

"No need to worry."

Hopkins said, "Dong Sanchuan is a difficult opponent but his aggression is weak, or rather he excels defensively. Comparatively, have you sent people to search in the opposite direction? I’ve received orders to eliminate the Foggy Evil Ghost."

"Uh, in the process of picking people." The subordinates wore constipated expressions.

"Picking?! Get your act together. A search team must depart within three hours."

"Yes...."

Nobody wanted to take this task because those in command knew that the target was the Foggy Evil Ghost. Considering the possible strength, a deputy officer would at least lead the team.

The main issue was that the mysterious figure had an aura of terror.

It seemed like "Evil Ghost" wasn’t a nickname but his true identity.

Before entering the Secret Realm battlefield, the Western Anomaly Bureau disclosed some unpublicized files. Participants learned about the failed assassination months ago in the land of chaos, largely unreported.

No one wanted to die, but in the Secret Realm, dying might not affect reality. So dying wasn’t entirely unacceptable, but being shrouded in fog and dying in terror wasn’t what many wanted to experience.

But orders were orders, and eventually, an ill-fated deputy was selected, leading a team of more than ten people to search the back.

Soon after they departed, new information arrived.

Hopkins received even more unsettling news.

"The Black-clothed Death God is here as well. I urgently summoned you to discuss how to deal with this fellow."

"Sir, we need more, I mean higher-level combat power, top-tier Extraordinary individuals."

"Yes, Guan Gui can summon the dead. He alone is a whole army. If not careful, he’ll break through and the capture plan will fail."

Their comments inflamed Hopkins’s annoyance.

"Enough. Besides requesting reinforcements, any other ideas?"

"Uh....."

The group fell silent.

At that moment, footsteps echoed outside, and a face that was menacing despite its lack of expression appeared.

"What are you talking about? Tell me about the situation now."

This young man was rude and showed no respect for the seniors present, yet they didn’t mind and even seemed pleased.

"Simon, good you’re here. We’re about to face Dragon Country’s direct assault."

Everyone seemed to forget their previous hesitation.

Roger Simon didn’t offer pleasantries, "I’m here to deal with that little ghost or whatever."

Hopkins’s words held some sway, "Plans have changed, Simon. The Black-clothed Death God is across the River of Abundance. Besides you, no one can handle him."

"Him?"

Simon seemed intrigued and pleased by the compliment, "Alright then, but what about the Foggy Evil Ghost, who will take him out?"

"No hurry. What can he do alone?"

Hopkins said, "Once we push back Dragon Country from the front, that guy will be trapped with no way out."