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All the people present nodded

White Bird continued with her explanation "There’s another thing everyone has to note: We are the defenders, so our most important duty is to defend the city center No matter what, we eer belong to us I believe everyone understands the severity of this emstone to the death"

(Author’s note: All player-owned cities will have a central tower Within it is the city’s gemstone Usually, the central tower cannot be entered, but during a siege, players can shatter the geeinal ruler will lose his/her control over the city)

"Defend the gemstone to the death!" everybody roared

Finally, White Bird couldn’t resist raising a question which Zui had forbidden her fro?"

Everybody looked at the members of Odd Squad, who turned to look at Wicked in unison Wicked merely said, "I don’t know"

White Bird’s voice was filled with suppressed frustration as she said, "It’s one thing if the liege lord doesn’t show his face for an entire e to the city? Isn’t that too on gave White Bird a firon "Let’s hope so"

Let’s hope so… Although Lolidragon’s gaze did not waver, her back ith sweat May the heavens protect Prince froain!

"There must be around a thousand players in this crowd" Even the cal pale at the sight of the alare force formed up neatly in ranks and dressed and arliine and nearly ten scaling ladders… If the shock was any bigger, she would probably have just juhtaway

Their faces were all pale, but Nan Gong Zui said coolly, "We have to hang in there I don’t wish to disappoint Prince"

Wicked raised his eyebrows "I will never let disappointment show in his eyes"

"A disappointed look does not suit Prince," Gui said coldly

Nan Gong Zui walked to a place where everyone could see hi of cold steel cal the Zui roared eht to the death!"

"TO THE DEATH!" the warriors roared, echoing his words

Nan Gong Zui stared at Fan, as also staring at him from far away, and muttered, "Come on then, Fan Let’s finish this"

"Archers, nock your bows and wait behind the arrowslit for the signal Get ready for the first volley of arrows," ordered Legolas, as the commander of the archers

"Warriors,your bows first! Once soins to scale the walls, pour the hot oil on thees well," ordered Wicked swiftly and coes, put up the barrier!" Yu Lian and the other es immediately took their positions well behind the city walls, coh to envelop the entire Infinite City

The battle was about to begin at anyyou down froh Fan was still sently, those ere familiar with him could tell that there was an icy look and a deep thirst for vengeance blazing in his eyes

"All men, prepare to attack Infinite City will be ours!" Fan ordered as his forces advanced upon Infinite City, like a celestial general leading his immortal soldiers into battle

"Quick, hurry! Pour the hot oil to stop the up," Wicked bellowed frantically as he es to help destroy the scaling ladders"

Yu Lian hurriedly replied, "Right Phoenix, stay here and take co the barrier Tea, follow " To think that Fan actually had sotraps; those traps were placed for nothing, Nan Gong Zui thought, swearing silently to himself as he looked at the densely-packed horde of ene the city walls He could only forcibly suppress the rising panic in his chest and ask everyone else, in a steady tone, to re that he could take down a few more eneaze into the distance as though he could see Fan’s face – impassive but for the trace of a smile that seemed to say that the city was already his

"Zui, they’re about to breach the city gates," Ugly Wolf said, struggling not to panic

"What?!" Nan Gong Zui exclaiet rid of the eneates?"

"They did Maybe it’s because the eneates were destroyed so quickly either; perhaps Gui and Fairsky estily Wolf frowned "In any case, we should redirect soates now"

"The defenders are already having a hard ti the walls There’s no e can redirect anybody to guarding the gates," Nan Gong Zui replied, panicking inwardly Or should they get those defending the central tower to defend the gates instead? But no, the central toas simply too important There was no way they could decrease the nu it… but it would also be a disaster if the city gates were breached

Ugly Wolf watched with erew more and more troubled After all, he too, couldn’t think of a solution, which hy he ca that a miracle would appear, that he could think of a solution "Zui… is there a way?"

"…" Nan Gong Zui stared at the sky and could not suppress a sigh "If I had another month’s time or twice the funds, Infinite City’s forces and defense wouldn’t be in such a sorry state"

Ugly Wolf scratched the fur on his head upon hearing that "Hopefully that fellow Prince will hurry back in ti Zui smiled bitterly "Even if Prince returns, ill only have one more defender What difference would it ly Wolf replied as he scratched his face, "But… Prince hi Zui frowned uncoly Wolf smiled "Didn’t you come to Infinite City because of Prince’sZui sh, we can’t hope for a miracle this time"

Wicked approached them from one side, and he seemed oddly calm in thethe city wall, and the city gates are alest we retreat and defend the central tower"

Wicked and Ugly Wolf both looked at Nan Gong Zui questioningly

With a heavy heart, Nan Gong Zui commanded, "All troops, retreat to the central tower!"

Upon receiving the order, all the various teaan to make their way reluctantly to the central tower At this point, the benefit of training in sroups became clearly visible as team members smoothly assumed their respective roles in the teaes continued to attack the eneed to take down quite a number of enemy players Moreover, the teams could cover for one another and provide support for other tea a hard tiht and retreated to the plaza in front of the central tower, putting up a final stand against those enemy players who had co Zui had already lost count of the nuiven the coht in the skies were practically like fireworks, yet the number of enemy players didn’t seem to diminish at all A thousand ht, troubled

"You should just surrender, Nan Gong Zui If you do, Iyou a small position" The benevolent s Zui reatly outnumbered Infinite City’s, he was still the invader All those cauldrons of hot oil would definitely have cost hihteous Blades had all received extensive training in large-scale fighting, so the situation wasn’t necessarily in Fan’s favor With that thought, Nan Gong Zui’s spirits lifted

"So you choose the hard way," Fan said coldly "Kill hi Zui was suddenly sent sprawling to the ground His shoulder went numb for a moment, and then flared with pain He looked over his shoulder and saw that the one who’d pushed hi incredulously at a panicky Phoenix Nan Gong Zui sighed "Phoenix, you…"

"Phoenix, what are you doing?" White Bird de at her own sister in disbelief Phoenix actually tried to kill Nan Gong Zui? And she was clearly listening to Fan’s order; hadn’t she already transferred her affections to Prince?

"I…" Although she’d panicked when she saw that Nan Gong Zui was still alive, her spirits lifted after she took a look at Fan, and once again, she fired a bolt ofZui…

"Do you takewith a kick, and then calot to his feet without a word, his heart gripped in ice He’d always sincerely treated Phoenix as his godsister, forgiving herthat she would feel guilty, feel upset… yet the result was still like this

"Zui…" White Bird looked guiltily at the dispirited Nan Gong Zui, and then at her sister, whose face was alain Why did this sister of hers always have to choose to sacrifice everything else for her love? To even becoates, didn’t you?" Although it was phrased as a question, Gui’s tone was one of certainty He knew that there could not have been a ed them; otherwise, they would never have been breached so quickly

Upon hearing Gui’s question, as all those present turned to look in sudden realization and anguish at Phoenix, the latter buried her face even round

Everybody had worked hard, pouring in their efforts to defend the city, and yet there was a spy, and it was actually soht, the defenders of Infinite City grew disheartened Fan seized the opportunity and began the attack It seemed that the defense of Infinite City was in a critical situation, as cracks appeared in the defense surrounding the central tower Nan Gong Zui and his teauilt and uncertainty…

Uncharacteristically enough, Fan led the charge, and the defenders of Infinite City were actually so dispirited that the ene Zui, in the end, you’ve lost," Fan said lightly, a satisfied s Zui looked at Fan bleakly and said in a hoarse voice, "I can take whatever revenge you throay; just let Phoenix off!"

Fan broke into hter "Let Phoenix off? Hahaha, she doesn’t wantZui, I definitely will--"

"Wahhh! Whoever’s down there, make way!" A piteous cry from above could suddenly be heard Why did the voice sound rather familiar?

WHAM!

Damn it, if I’d known, I wouldn’t have stood up as I pleased So when they tell you to "sit on an airplane", you should really sit and not "stand on an airplane"; the sa carpets! I want to cry; my entire body feels like it’s about to break… I looked up into the sky at the crowd sitting on the flying carpet Kenshin and Sunshine were idly sipping their tea, while Jing and Yun were staring dumbly at me, who had fallen off the plane… I mean, the carpet

Oh, by the way, I shouldcarpet is obviously a treasure belonging to Sunshine It’s all thanks to that carpet that I could come back so quickly to Infinite City

My entire body ached as I stood up slowly, only to see everyone froood thing the ground was soft; I almost fell to my death"

Everyone stared at aze to my feet After a moment of confusion, I too, looked down at my feet… Oh, so I crushed a human cushion to death Doesn’t this human cushion look rather familiar? I yanked the cushion dude’s head backward by the hair in order to see his face Fan? I thought, scratching my head So it’s hi this sort of person to death isn’t worth agonizing over

"Prince!" Fan snarled, glaring at ain!" I interjected quickly "I’ else?

"Don’t glare at s hell for you Maybe it’s our fate?" I cocked , Is it justFan? Maybe it’s because he’s called "rice", so he’s destined to be cooked byin Infinite City anyway? Sight-seeing? The city’s open to the public already?" I asked uncertainly

"…" Everyone continued to stare at on rolled her eyes and bellowed irritably, "He cae lord has finally found his way ho useful – shouted idly

"Ohhh!" My eyes narrowed He dares to attack our city? What nerve! I i that he was about to reach into his pouch for a health potion, I raised my eyebrows and then stomped on the back of his hand with one foot

"You cowardly bastard; fight ot the balls!" Fan yelled desperately, seeing that he ave him a bloodthirsty smile and then said nonchalantly, "One-on-one? Sure, just wait till I’ve cleaned up your friends"

I looked at Fan’s forces and then suddenly ree had told on wanted ot back… Sigh! I’m not too keen on the idea, but since when have I been able to disobey Lolidragon? I’ned to ue over the blade lightly, without forgetting to sreat!"

I watched the ene that soulped… Hey, you, over there, is there need to wet your pants? A? I’m only twenty and in the pri…

"Prince, the at the defenders of Infinite City – isn’t too good You should do soon toldmy moment of narcissis major must have happened

"What happened?"

"Phoenix didn’t really fall in love with you, only pretended to do so Her aied the city gates and nearly killed Nan Gong Zui," Lolidragon said heavily "Prince, if you can, try andhiht really transfer her affections to you"

I broke out in cold sweat Phoenix… your luck with the opposite sex is about as "good" as mine; you have to fall for either a dastardly playboy or me, a transvestite? Still, as I said, there was sion’s orders

I looked at Nan Gong Zui As expected, he looked as though he had lost all will to live, which seriously pissed me off I stomped on both of Fan’s hands a couple of ti a drink fro Zui and, ignoring the astonished looks on everyone’s faces, I gave hiround hard as a result and stared at me blankly

I raised an eyebrow "I’ll settle the business with your sister later, so just kill these guys and vent your hatred together with ot to his feet with a forced s, What can Prince do when it’s a s? However, he wasFan’s soldiers "Right"

"Hey, up there, are you guys done with your tea? Co’s about to start!" I said casually

The flying carpet drifted down slowly Sunshine, Jing, and Yun retreated to the rear while Kenshin, Zui, Broken Sword, Wicked, and I, being warriors, stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the front With a smile, I said, "Game, start!"

[½ Prince Voluinating from ancient China Basically, you roll three dice and then bet on the total outcome There are a number of bets you can place, but the two reater than ten and less than eighteen) and "sreater than three and less than eleven) See Wikipedia for more information

Fox spirit: While fox spirits do appear in a nuies, the fox spirits of Chinese y are rather unique For one, they often adopt human appearances – to be precise, they often appear as beautiful young wo ood looks to seduce or bewitch hu factor to the iy) are often evil and unscrupulous See Wikipedia for more information

Sit on an airplane: Just to clarify, this is the Chinese way of saying "take an airplane" We’re not referring to the act of sitting on airplane, but the act of taking the airplane as a mode of transportation

He’s called "rice": No, Fan’s name doesn’t mean "rice", it’s just that "rice" is also pronounced as "fan"