She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 200: A Competent Male Actor, Gets into Character Quickly

Chapter 200: Chapter 200: A Competent Male Actor, Gets into Character Quickly

This softness will prove to be alive.

Listening to these words, Yan Wanqing couldn’t help but feel her eyes moisten slightly.

"I have always had a question weighing on my heart that I wanted to ask General Yan," the City Lord said, looking at Yan Wanqing.

Yan Wanqing looked at him and instead of immediately answering, she asked, "What’s your name?"

The City Lord was taken aback; clearly, he had not expected Yan Wanqing to ask this. Recovering quickly, he said, "Ji Yuntai."

"Ji Yuntai, that’s a nice name."

"As long as General Yan likes it," Ji Yuntai said with a smile and a slight arching of his brows.

Yan Wanqing then said, "What was your question?"

"The Capital City is thousands of miles away from Xiliang. What made General Yan take the initiative to ask His Majesty for orders to journey here and suppress the Japanese Pirates?" Ji Yuntai asked. In truth, he had been guarding Xiliang City for many years. With him present, the city wouldn’t fall—this wasn’t a boast; he truly had that capability.

Yan Wanqing knew what Ji Yuntai meant. After a moment of thought, she said, "Probably to retrace the lands where my fathers and brothers had fought, to reclaim with my heart the territories they had paved with their flesh and blood."

"General Yan is truly a heroine among women," Ji Yuntai said, not stinting in his praise as he gave a thumbs up.

Yan Wanqing snorted dismissively, "Enough, tell me about the Holy Maiden and the Divine Sect."

Ji Yuntai got down to business with a serious expression, "The Divine Sect is actually called the Radiant Church. It is an organization stemming from one of the ancient Imperial Families in decline, which every ten years elects a Holy Maiden and a Saint Heir among the common folk to attract more disciples. They advocate for upheaval, war, and rebirth from destruction."

"The reason I suddenly mentioned the Radiant Church is that I recently discovered traces of their meddling in the unrest caused by the Japanese Pirates. As for why they showed up in Happiness Village last night, they were after a Holy Maiden named Gesang. I wanted to see what this Gesang, who suddenly appeared in Happiness Village, was all about," Ji Yuntai explained.

Yan Wanqing, having listened to the detailed account of events and their background, could not help but ask, "How do you know Gesang appeared suddenly? The villagers’ interactions with her seem like they’ve known her for many years."

Ji Yuntai sighed helplessly, "This is where the Radiant Church excels. They’re very good at brainwashing the common people. Happiness Village was built by me; I’m very clear about how many people there are."

"You built Happiness Village?" Yan Wanqing said in surprise.

Ji Yuntai had a look of indignation as if he felt underestimated, "General Yan shouldn’t judge a person by a narrow view. The fact that I’ve been able to protect Xiliang City for so many years and maintained peace and prosperity for its people proves I’m an extremely qualified City Lord."

"I’ve never seen anyone boast about themselves quite like this," Yan Wanqing helplessly commented on Ji Yuntai’s thick skin.

Had he been defending the city with his cheek all these years?

"General Yan won’t be in Xiliang City for just a day or two; time will prove just how exemplary I am," Ji Yuntai declared.

Yan Wanqing cut Ji Yuntai off abruptly.

"I’ve heard from the villagers of Happiness Village that for generations, the Holy Maidens have had to marry the City Lord of Xiliang City. Do you know about this?" she asked.

Ji Yuntai frowned, "It’s unheard of."

"But the villagers truly believe it," Yan Wanqing recalled the expression Zhuo Ma wore when she mentioned this matter, indicating it was accepted as a tradition in her understanding.

This indeed showed how effectively the Radiant Church could brainwash people, as Ji Yuntai had said.

"Then their next target will be you," Yan Wanqing asserted. "After all, marrying the Holy Maiden to the City Lord of Xiliang City and then using your status to draw the entire population of Xiliang City into the ranks of the disciples would make things much easier."

"It would have been easier before, but now that’s uncertain," Ji Yuntai shook his head. "Your arrival, General Yan, has completely disrupted the Radiant Church’s plans."

Indeed, the military’s encampment and heightened vigilance made it difficult for the disciples to infiltrate.

But Yan Wanqing felt it was only a matter of time.

"Currently, only Gesang is known to be the Holy Maiden of the Radiant Church; the identities of the other disciples remain unknown. They are in the shadows, and we are in the light, which makes this situation quite thorny," Ji Yuntai said with a sigh.

Yan Wanqing pondered for a moment before her gaze settled on Ji Yuntai, "Do you know that Gesang is also in Xiliang City tonight?"

Ji Yuntai furrowed his eyebrows and hugged himself, "What are you trying to do, Marshal Yan? I don’t sell myself."

"This matter won’t wait for you. Since the Radiant Church wants you to get in touch with the Holy Maiden, then you must actively respond to them; otherwise, how are we to draw the snake out of its hole?" Yan Wanqing disregarded Ji Yuntai’s objections and turned the wheelchair in another direction, pushing it downwards.

Following the route she remembered, she pushed towards the alley they had just passed, searching for Gesang and Yizhi as she went.

Handsome men and beautiful women tend to be easier to find.

It wasn’t long before Yan Wanqing spotted the two of them by the riverside.

Ji Yuntai looked at Gesang with a gloomy expression, "Isn’t this woman supposed to marry the City Lord? How come she’s still with another man, releasing Blessing Lanterns?"

"You got into your role pretty quickly," Yan Wanqing gave a thumbs up. She said, "I’ll make a personal sacrifice by drawing away the man by her side for you. You need to take the initiative and get the Holy Maiden to notice you."

With that, Yan Wanqing pushed Ji Yuntai into a very conspicuous spot in the middle of the road.

Then, she leapt onto a tall tree and hid in the shadows.

Gesang held a Blessing Lantern in his hand, slowly releasing it towards the sky in an earnest demeanor, unaware of what wishes he had written on the lantern.

Yan Wanqing leaned against the treetop, watching Yizhi standing expressionlessly at the side.

She plucked a leaf from the tree.

Yan Wanqing channeled her energy to float the leaf before Yizhi’s face, quickly catching his attention.

By now, Gesang had gone to a jewelry vendor’s stall, and Yizhi stood with his back to her on the street.

Yan Wanqing lightly descended from the tree and stood before Yizhi while Ji Yuntai’s wheelchair approached Gesang’s side.

Without a word, Yan Wanqing grabbed Yizhi and they both soared up to the treetops together.

Ji Yuntai’s wheelchair bumped into Gesang, leading to their official meeting.

"What are you trying to do?" Yizhi asked, frowning.

Yan Wanqing covered his lips with her hand, "Watch the show."

In front of the stall.

Gesang let out a startled cry as she was bumped into. Ji Yuntai quickly apologized and offered to pay for whatever jewelry Gesang chose.

The vendor praised the City Lord as generous after hearing this.

A flicker of surprise crossed Gesang’s eyes, "You are the City Lord of Xiliang?"

Ji Yuntai nodded, "I was at fault for bumping into the lady just now and startling you."

Gesang waved her hands dismissively, "It’s nothing." While her gaze subconsciously searched the crowd for Yizhi, once confident she couldn’t find him, Gesang turned to Ji Yuntai with a beaming smile.

"Are you here alone to browse the market? Where are your subordinates?"

Ji Yuntai shook his head, "I don’t like too many people following me, so most of the time I’m alone."

Gesang nodded, "I see."

By then, the vendor had packaged the jewelry. Ji Yuntai took out his purse to pay.

With the jewelry box in hand, Gesang looked at Ji Yuntai and said, "You gave me jewelry, so I’ll accompany you to browse the market, since I’m also alone."