Chapter 54: A Sudden Interruption

Cao Mang’s marksmanship was exceptionally accurate; each pull of the trigger claimed the life of another masked assailant. Even those who tried to ambush him from the shadows were sensed in advance, cut down without hesitation. Witnessing this, the morale of the Ye family soared, and they began a fierce counterattack. Yet, they were puzzled—why was Cao Mang helping them?

Soon, they saw a scene that both angered and horrified them—Cao Mang...

Because the New Year celebrations had not yet ended, families of stature observed the custom of wearing new clothes; thus, the two appeared so dignified and resplendent. At this moment, Gong Buzan was truly intrigued. He stroked his beard and chuckled quietly to himself.

His Yu Ji, however, stood her ground with her bow drawn, refusing to retreat as Misty Smoke had anticipated.

Early the next morning, Guo Jia ordered several burly men to carry him up a nearby mountain. He did not return to the camp until noon, after which he shut himself in his tent, said to be engaged in calculations, according to the soldiers.

Yue Zhan glanced around; lush trees surrounded them, and the chorus of insects filled the air—truly a secluded paradise.

“Never mind, Yu Cen, it’s not your fault—it’s just that I’m not in the right state. If anyone should be replaced, it’s me!” Lu Qianxun did not argue, only shot a cold glare at Chen Shu.

He threw back his head and laughed, “Who knows when I’ll return again?” His voice was raised intentionally, yet his tone held a trace of reluctance, so different from the carefree farewell just moments before.

Tens of thousands of Eastern Wu soldiers, clad in armor, stood in strict formation beneath the great battle flag bearing the character “Zhou.” At the command of their general, they would pounce upon their prey like tigers, leaving nothing behind.

Lu Qianxun’s cheeks flushed, but she followed Ye Feng and the others onto the stage. The equipment this time was still the VIVI phone. In addition, each contestant received a noise-canceling headset, with a microphone attached to the left side for communication.

Two shifts of constables convened court right there in the courtyard. Zhang Chong sat in the judge’s chair, while two officers twisted Xuan Yi’s arms behind his back and forced him to the ground. Before him stood Zhao Wanxi’s father.

A hint of joy had already appeared on Luo Mengli’s face. After so many twists and turns, she never expected to be connected with Great Qian once more.

Had it been Ouyang Yuanshui... He had read the reports from his subordinates. Ouyang Yuanshui could be blunt with Xi Fuwei, but every time, Xi Fuwei responded even more sharply, not giving an inch.

“You could offer me three hundred billion and I still couldn’t save you. It’s not about the money—I simply don’t have the ability,” Wang Xudong said, sitting in his chair and puffing on a cigarette.

Yue Chu was taken aback; she never expected Madam Wang to apologize, much less that such a harsh woman would return ten taels of silver at once.

When He Xianrou arrived in the morning, the pride in her eyes was still evident, as if she knew nothing about being a trending topic.

Thus, Qian Yuan was determined to accomplish something big—seize Yushui County along with it, and while crippling the state of Yun, expand the fiefdom’s eastern border all the way to the sea.

Including the capital city of Kongsang, Kongsang County administered five prefectures. To the north lay Kongsang and Hengduan, and to the south, from west to east, were Bing Mountain, Chaisang, and Xionger prefectures.

President Guo was somewhat nervous, but he exhaled deeply, swiped his phone to answer the call, and switched to speakerphone.

Xi Fuwei had no objections; she was simply waiting for Shen Qielan to formally submit the petition to Emperor Yongle. More precisely, she awaited the Wen family’s fate, figuring it was a good time to settle her marriage.

In the grand scheme, killing the enemy was only secondary—Xue Rengui’s ultimate goal was to weaken the First Division’s frontal defense, thereby creating favorable conditions for reinforcements to reach Nanyu County.

“My thanks, Master.” Green Plum’s thoughts drifted once more. The grilled meat at Grand Prime Minister’s Temple was sold only once every half month, yet it was wildly popular among the people of the capital, with lines stretching from the southern to the northern gates.