Chapter 543: Fatigued from the Endless Running

As days turned into weeks, both of them found themselves growing increasingly restless. While they held the positions of king and queen in this world, it was clear to everyone that this realm was not real.

"A'Zu, what exactly is going on?" Pei Mianman finally couldn't hold back and rushed to question Zu'an, pulling him away from Xiao Tuo's tender company.

Intimidated by Pei Mianman's formidable presence, Xiao Tuo dared not utter a word.

Zu'an, a little embarrassed, said while dressing, "I'm completely at a loss right now. No wonder none of the previous couples managed to pass this trial. I used to think they were simply too foolish, but now I see I underestimated the world's talented individuals."

He recalled his earlier deductions: identifying Xiao Tuo as a spy, uncovering the mastermind, High Priest Lian, and the absolute trust he shared with Pei Mianman despite their separation. These achievements had made him quite pleased with himself. Only now did he realize that if many remarkably talented individuals had undertaken this trial, their intelligence might well have allowed them to accomplish the same.

"What do we do now?" Pei Mianman asked, her voice laced with anxiety.

Zu'an said gravely, "I've been thinking these past few days, and I believe there's something crucial we've missed. We need to meticulously observe and consider every detail around us to find a way to break free from this situation."

This open-world format was incredibly frustrating. It didn't even provide a clear objective; everything had to be guessed and explored independently. The worst part was the complete lack of feedback on whether their actions were correct.

Pei Mianman bit her lip, her voice filled with apprehension. "But won't our physical bodies outside be in danger? It's already been several months since we began this trial, and who knows what could have happened..."

An ordinary person would have perished long ago after months without food or water. Even for cultivators, whose bodies are far more resilient, such an extended period would push them to their absolute limits.

Zu'an replied in a low voice, "You shouldn't need to worry about that. If my assumption is correct, the passage of time within this trial is different from the outside world. A few months here would likely equate to only a brief moment externally. Otherwise, this trial would be a guaranteed death sentence, rendering it meaningless."

In ancient myths, a day in heaven often corresponded to a year on Earth, so it was perfectly normal for time to flow at different rates in different realms.

Pei Mianman's mind was slightly eased. "But we can't just remain trapped like this indefinitely," she said.

Zu'an furrowed his brow. "But I've re-examined everything that happened over the past while, and I haven't found anything we overlooked..."

Suddenly, an idea sparked within him, and he eagerly turned to Pei Mianman. "Tell me again about your war with the Qiang Fang," he urged. "Don't leave out a single minor detail."

Since this was a joint trial for both men and women, he reasoned that her experience shouldn't have been so straightforward.

"Haven't I already told you the whole story?" Pei Mianman mumbled, yet she continued, "The Qiang people were incredibly fierce, each a valiant warrior. However, they were clearly less advanced than us. We had chariots and could form united battle formations, whereas they relied more on individual combat... Still, their courage was formidable. In one battle, we were surrounded, and thankfully, neighboring tribes came to our aid, allowing us to finally defeat the Qiang Fang."

"Tribes?" Zu'an's mind stirred. "Do you know what tribes they were?"

Pei Mianman furrowed her delicate brows. "I believe they called themselves the Zhou people. They lived in the west and were often oppressed by the Qiang Fang, which is why they came to help us this time."

"The Zhou people?" Zu'an suddenly shot to his feet. "Of course, that's it! Historically, the Shang Dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou. This trial must be connected to the Zhou."

"But those Zhou tribes are still very primitive," Pei Mianman pointed out, "far inferior to us here in Shang."

"They can't compare now, but what about a few centuries from now?" Zu'an's mind raced. "Could the purpose of this secret realm be to be proactive, to eliminate the Zhou threat in its infancy?"

The more he considered it, the more convinced he became. He quickly summoned Fu Shuo to the palace and laid out his thoughts.

"What? Your Majesty intends to destroy the Zhou tribes?" Fu Shuo exclaimed, startled. He quickly added, "This is absolutely unthinkable! Not only is the Zhou territory insignificant to us, but they also just assisted us against the Qiang Fang. If we were to attack them now, it would be an act of treachery. How would the other states of the world perceive us? Everyone would live in fear, and by then, it would be too late for regrets."

Even Pei Mianman, standing nearby, shared his sentiment, as they had only recently fought alongside the Zhou tribes.

Zu'an knew Fu Shuo's analysis was perfectly sound, but he couldn't explain the true reasons behind his decision. He simply stated with a stern expression, "My mind is made up. This matter is not open for further discussion. Prepare for the expedition at once."

Fu Shuo was about to plead further when an urgent dispatch arrived: "Your Majesty, the ruler of the Zhi State has sent an envoy requesting aid. The Tu Fang are invading, and their forces are unstoppable. We humbly request Your Majesty to dispatch troops in support."

"Zhi State? Tu Fang?" Zu'an was momentarily stunned. How had two more factions suddenly emerged?

Fu Shuo quickly explained, "The Zhi State is a small neighboring state to our north, which has always maintained friendly relations with the Great Shang and acknowledges us as their suzerain. They serve as our northern shield. The Tu Fang, on the other hand, are a powerful barbarian tribe from the north. They must have learned of our conflict with the Qiang Fang and are attempting to invade the south, hoping to exploit our weakened state."

Zu'an then recalled seeing reports about the Tu Fang in the official documents he had reviewed recently. The Tu Fang were primarily located in what is now Shanxi and Hebei, serving as a powerful adversary to the north of the Shang Dynasty.

He hadn't paid them much mind before, considering them irrelevant to his trial.

Even now, he still didn't see it as a major concern and decided to simply send a small contingent to assist and handle the situation. His primary focus remained on the Zhou people in the west.

Fu Shuo and the other ministers collectively protested, "Absolutely not, Your Majesty! The Zhou people are already remote and weak; they don't even share a border with our Great Shang. Attacking them would be utterly pointless and would only cost us the hearts and minds of the realm. The Tu Fang, however, are incredibly powerful, no less formidable than the Qiang Fang. Should they breach our northern defenses and push south, our Great Shang could face the threat of utter destruction!"

Zu'an froze. *That* serious?

At that moment, several more waves of envoys arrived consecutively, all special emissaries from the ruler of the Zhi State. Each was more frantic than the last, making it clear that the northern war had reached a critical point.

Pei Mianman then pulled Zu'an aside. "A'Zu," she whispered, "if the Shang Kingdom is destroyed, our trial will likely fail, won't it?"

"Of course," Zu'an conceded, understanding her point. This trial was, after all, established by the Shang. If his actions led to the Shang Kingdom's fall at the hands of the Tu Fang, then all their efforts—Zhou people or not—would certainly have been in vain.

With no other choice, he decided to address the Tu Fang situation first, planning to deal with the Zhou people only after he was free to do so.

The ministers were all greatly relieved and praised his wise decision.

Zu'an saw no need for further discussion with them. He immediately summoned all the ministers to deliberate on the military expedition. While other aspects were manageable, the crucial point was selecting a commanding general.

Unanimously, the ministers nominated the Queen to lead the forces. Her authority within the military was unmatched, and her victory against the Qiang Fang had proven her capabilities. Throughout the court and the populace, she was seen as the only suitable candidate.

Zu'an immediately felt a sense of dismay. He naturally didn't want to be separated from Pei Mianman, and she felt the same way.

However, after careful deliberation, both realized this might be another crucial test. Consequently, Pei Mianman voluntarily offered to lead the campaign.

As for Zu'an, he had to remain in Yin Du to maintain control. Firstly, he had only recently dealt with the High Priest, and many of the High Priest's former supporters had gone into hiding; his departure could easily lead to unrest. Secondly, beyond generals and soldiers, logistics were the most critical element in warfare; indeed, the outcome of a conflict often hinged on its supply chain.

Only with Zu'an efficiently managing logistics in Yin Du could Pei Mianman confidently lead the forces on the front lines.

Zu'an felt a peculiar sensation. The saying went that men handled external affairs while women managed internal ones, but in their case, the roles were entirely reversed. Nevertheless, he did not object. After all, the success of the trial was at stake, and he wasn't about to let matters of male pride jeopardize the greater objective.

Benefiting from their experience with the Qiang Fang, both Pei Mianman and Zu'an handled their respective duties with ease. Approximately three months later, Pei Mianman returned to the capital victorious.

Zu'an believed he could finally turn his attention to the Zhou people, but soon after, the ruler of the ancient Tang State arrived, seeking aid against the Gongkou Fang who were invading from north of the Yellow River.

Just as they had managed to resolve the Gongkou Fang situation, an even more formidable enemy, the Gui Fang, invaded from the Mongolian Plateau. Zu'an and Pei Mianman were overwhelmed with worries day after day, leaving them no time whatsoever to deal with the Zhou people in the west.