39: Power in vain breeds internal strife

After the thousand people from the Forbidden City returned, they waited for a day, but Huang Chen and the others had yet to come back.

Shu Xi brought up the Friends List again. The avatars of Huang Chen and the others were still colored, but the messages sent out were like stones dropped into the sea.

She sighed softly. Bai Zhaoning had not left them much Currency, and supplying the expenses for these thousand people put immense pressure on her.

Just then, a beautiful woman pushed the door open and entered. The newcomer was Lin Han, Bai Zhaoning's Assistant and one of Huang Chen's Harem.

Lin Han was Bai Zhaoning's Assistant. Bai Zhaoning had entrusted some Currency to her as operational funds for daily use.

Since Huang Chen hadn't returned yesterday, she immediately sought out Shu Xi to discuss countermeasures.

After all, Shu Xi was among the first group to follow Huang Chen.

"Shu Xi, is there still no news from Husband?"

Shu Xi shook her head. "Maybe the place where the Leader and the others are located has blocked communications."

Lin Han's expression held a hint of seriousness: "The money we have now is only enough for two days of expenses. We must figure out a solution."

"I know." Shu Xi frowned.

She was not Huang Chen's Bonded Goddess, and her strength was only about that of an ordinary Level 30 player; at most, her equipment was slightly better than others.

The cost of lodging in the Inn and expenses for a thousand people added up to several Gold Coins a day. She was now a clever woman without rice to cook.

"Why don't we first talk to the Harem Group? After all, they are all the Leader's women..." Shu Xi suggested.

"No!" Lin Han rejected the idea. "Even if we weren't already, the news of the Leader's disappearance would instantly cause internal chaos among us."

"Sigh..." Shu Xi sighed, her eyes filled with confusion.

"We can only find a way to mobilize everyone to Earn Money." Lin Han suggested.

It wasn't that Shu Xi hadn't considered this,

but since everyone was Level 30 now, Grinding Monsters was pointless.

She lacked Huang Chen's kind of deterrent power, and was afraid she couldn't command those Consorts.

Seemingly sensing Shu Xi's concerns, Lin Han said resolutely, "You were among the first batch to follow Husband, so your words still carry weight.

I was thinking, we can use Husband's name and claim it's to resist the Monster Siege, asking everyone to help level up the people in the Novice Village.

This way, we can recoup Gold Coins and at least support ourselves for a few more days.

Moreover, just in case... in case Husband can't return before the Monster Siege, it would be better if the strength of our Novice Village is improved to cope."

Shu Xi pondered. She had to admit that Lin Han's suggestion was highly feasible; the only problem was how to make the Harem obey her.

Seeing Shu Xi still indecisive, Lin Han said fiercely, "We don't have time to hesitate anymore.

You just need to be a little more forceful, just like Chun Yan. As long as they don't have evidence, they will definitely be deterred and do as we say.

I believe Husband will definitely agree with our approach when he returns."

In fact, if she were in Shu Xi's position, she would have done this already, but like the other ninety-plus people, she had only joined a few days ago.

Although she held the title of Harem, it was in name only. If she were to step up and do this, her credibility would not be high.

Shu Xi looked up at Lin Han,

The other party's eyes were full of determination, and she nodded firmly at Shu Xi.

Suddenly, Shu Xi's expression hardened, and she said, "We will do as you say. First, gather the Harem Group."

"Mhm!"

After ending the conversation, both of their expressions were unusually serious.

Doing this was not without risk. If they succeeded, it would be fine, but if they messed up, it would be a major crime of falsely relaying an imperial decree.

Soon, Huang Chen's 98 Harem members plus Shu Xi and the two others gathered in the Inn's First-floor Lobby.

Outside the lobby stood 100 newly recruited Guards, preventing anyone from approaching.

"Hello everyone, the Leader is currently raiding a Dungeon and cannot spare the time. I'm here to convey the arrangements for the next few days on his behalf..." Seeing that everyone had arrived, Shu Xi stood on the bar counter and spoke loudly.

She then explained the matters discussed with Lin Han, and the entire lobby immediately erupted into chattering discussion.

Just then, a woman with a hot figure questioned, "Shu Xi, you said the Leader instructed you?"

"Yes!"

"According to our Organizational Structure, shouldn't Captain Xie notify us of such orders?"

"Exactly, we are directly under the command of Captain Xie. Why are you relaying the message?"

"When will the Leader return?"

"Where did the Leader go?"

...All the women discussed animatedly.

"Silence!" Shu Xi shouted loudly, and the scene immediately quieted down.

"I will now arrange the work on behalf of the Leader."

"Squad Leaders, take your team members to assist 10 Novices with leveling up. Return before sunset today and hand over the Spoils of War."

"The three of us will command the Mobile Force. Contact me directly if there are any sudden situations."

"That is all. Dismissed."

After Shu Xi finished speaking, she walked back into the Inn without looking back, her palms now covered in sweat.

Lin Han had told her that she must be forceful, or she definitely wouldn't be able to suppress these people.

"Shu Xi..." The woman with the hot figure chased after her.

Before the woman could speak, Shu Xi said with a cold expression, "Execute the order, or wait for the Leader to return and get kicked out of the team!"

"This..." A flash of anger crossed the hot-figured woman's face, but deeper in her eyes was a look of inquiry.

Generally, people who lack confidence often need to use high-profile actions to mask their guilt.

So, is Huang Chen just temporarily unable to return,

or is he never coming back?

"Sister Chen Ling, Shu Xi is being too disrespectful to you." Another woman walked over, holding the hot-figured woman's hand, and said angrily while looking in the direction Shu Xi left, "She doesn't even look at her own standing. When Husband returns, we must report her."

"Hmph, treating chicken feathers as an imperial decree." Chen Ling snorted coldly, but a smile curled up at the corner of her mouth.

"Exactly, who gave her the right to talk to us like that?" The women in the lobby were indignant.

"Then, Sister Ling, what should we do now?" a girl asked.

Everyone looked at Chen Ling.

After that incident, Chen Ling seemed to have become the Vanguard against Shu Xi.

"What else can we do? Follow the order!" Chen Ling's expression was livid. After leaving that sentence, she walked straight outside.

The more she displayed powerless fury, the more she could incite dissatisfaction among the women toward Shu Xi.

And before confirming whether Huang Chen was alive or dead, she absolutely dared not Confront Shu Xi directly.

After all, Shu Xi could be considered Huang Chen's Personal Soldier; currently, she was much closer to him than these Harem members.

If it was fake, it would be fine, but if it was real, she would truly be doomed forever.

Just like that.

When the 80 announcements about bringing new players appeared in the Novice Village, the entire Novice Village boiled over once again.

Everyone rushed toward the recruitment locations while simultaneously posting words of thanks in the Chat Channel.

Furthermore, some attractive women who hadn't managed to join the Forbidden City started to have their hopes rekindled... As time passed, internal chaos slowly began to brew within the Forbidden City. Some Squad Leaders started forming cliques and even delayed the handover of Spoils of War.

Shu Xi and Lin Han were helpless against this situation. Fortunately, the still-lit avatars of Huang Chen and the others gave her the strength to persevere.

Throughout Huaxia's thousands of years of history, there has never been a shortage of Ambitious Individuals, both men and women.

Because Huang Chen hadn't added the Harem Group to his Friends List during this time, no one except Shu Xi and the two others could confirm whether Huang Chen was alive or dead.

Shu Xi's credibility had been steadily declining during this period,

and Huang Chen's prolonged absence became the fertile ground for these Ambitious Individuals to sprout.

Soon, four days passed, and only two days remained until the Monster Siege.

And the internal conflict within the Forbidden City officially erupted at this very moment.