The Elven Empress understood the current plight of the Lucky Forest. "The Lucky Forest is practically their last refuge. We stepped in because the resources here—herbs, ores, everything—surpass those outside. To be honest, after White Great Shaman disappeared, I was terrified. How could I protect these creatures from the darkness? But you are here."
She genuinely thanked Zhu Yanyi. Zhu Yanyi’s arrival meant these people could learn self-defense skills.
Zhu Yanyi understood the Empress’s worry. She also understood why Yan Aohan had told her not to join the defense directly. The people here were pure-hearted but proud. If she fought for them, they might feel grateful, but they would also resent her.
"Your Majesty, the Sage Academy is a school for healers," Zhu Yanyi said with a smile. "No matter the illness, our job is to find the right cure. In our eyes, the Lucky Forest is currently sick."
Because it was sick, healers like them were needed to treat it.
The Empress understood. She laughed. "Yanyi, you are right. The Lucky Forest is sick because its creatures are too pure. Their purity lacks self-protection. You came and helped them correct this mistake, helping them become strong. You are the best healers."
Only those who truly cared would put in such effort.
Zhu Yanyi did not refuse the praise, but added, "Your Majesty, don’t say that. Just think of us as lazy students.
Look, if we help now, it works well. But what if similar trouble happens again? Will we come every time?
Students of the Sage Academy hate trouble, especially repeated trouble. We prefer to cut the grass and dig up the roots—solving problems at the source.
For the Lucky Forest, the source is self-reliance. If you can be strong yourselves, why should we solve your problems? It is better if you do it yourselves."
The Empress found this amusing and laughed. "Regardless, I must say, Yanyi, you are excellent healers."
"I admit that," Zhu Yanyi nodded seriously.
The Empress smiled. "Yanyi, what is your advice for the current situation?"
"Current situation?" Zhu Yanyi looked curious. "Has something happened?"
The Empress nodded slightly. "Secret reports say forces from the Dark Forest and Happy Garden have set out. Based on travel time, they will reach the edge of the Lucky Forest in about half a month."
"Half a month," Zhu Yanyi mused. "Given the current state of the Lucky Forest, major changes in half a month are impossible. There will be some progress, but this will largely be a battle of wits." She tapped her temple.
"A battle of wits? How?" the Empress asked.
Zhu Yanyi smiled. "We need time. Normally, it takes half a year for significant results. Now we only have half a month. So we must use wits to trick them away.
By the time they realize they were fooled and attack again, months will have passed. By then, the creatures of the Lucky Forest will be ready to show their strength. So, this is essentially a war of wits first, then combat."
Zhu Yanyi looked seriously at the Empress. She hid nothing; the Empress needed to know soon.
The Empress pondered. "Tell me, how do we use wits? How do we delay them?"
Zhu Yanyi smiled. "The Empty City Strategy."
Seeing the Empress’s confusion, Zhu Yanyi explained, "Your Majesty may not know, but I come from the Mortal Realm. There, a story is told.
Long ago, a strategist called the Sleeping Dragon was very smart. But even smart people face crisis without troops. He was just a scholar with no fighting power.
She faced such a crisis. Her reinforcements were delayed. So she devised a plan. She opened the city gates and sat on the tower, burning incense and playing the zither.
When the enemy arrived, they were fooled. They thought the Sleeping Dragon was setting a trap to catch them in a pot. So they retreated. By the time they realized it was an Empty City Strategy, his reinforcements had arrived."
Zhu Yanyi smiled. "Our reinforcements are all the creatures of the Lucky Forest. Once they stand on their own, they are the best support. Until they grow, we must intimidate the enemy."
"How to intimidate?" the Empress asked.
"Recently, I gained a spirit pet." Zhu Yanyi waved her hand. A flame-colored fox emerged from her spirit space, rubbing against her affectionately. "This is my spirit pet, Flame."
"A Red Fox of the Heavenly Fox Clan. This is a Fox King seed," the Empress said, surprised.
"It is a gift from the current Heavenly Fox Clan leader," Zhu Yanyi said, holding Flame. "So do not worry. The Heavenly Fox Clan will not mind."
A gift from the Clan Leader meant it was discarded. The Empress knew the rules. Looking at Flame, she felt relieved. "It is lucky to follow you."
"It is my luck to have it," Zhu Yanyi stroked Flame’s fur. "Let’s not discuss Flame now. Let’s talk about the Empty City Strategy."
"How does Flame relate to the Empty City Strategy?" the Empress asked.
"Flame has the ability to create illusions. I can set up illusion arrays too, but Flame creates character illusions." Zhu Yanyi said to Flame, "Flame, come. Create a virtual image of White Great Shaman."