I’m starting to fucking understand Wang Ming

"Xu Shang must have gone to keep that woman company. To him, her matters are more important than the heavens. He is willing to do absolutely anything for her."

"He would cast aside any matter of great importance for her."

Yun Wanyi's voice rang out.

Unlike before, when mentioning Xu Shang would trigger some emotional fluctuation in her, she now spoke his name with utter indifference, as if referring to a familiar stranger.

A single wedding night had completely eradicated the ten years of childhood affection she once shared with Xu Shang.

"Huai'an City has already been breached, and he's still messing around with his mistress?"

Zhang Shi once again found himself unable to understand the mindset of these people from Yunjing.

However, he was damn well starting to understand Wang Ming.

"Let's go get him!"

With a wave of his hand, the soldiers rose in a formidable mass and, led by their inside contacts, headed straight for the martial arts arena.

Meanwhile, inside the martial arts arena, Xu Shang's former subordinates were growing numb.

They had waited from the afternoon until dusk, and from dusk until the sky turned completely pitch black.

Their respect and approval for Xu Shang were steadily wearing away.

Moreover, the faint sounds echoing through the city suggested that something major was happening, which only deepened their anxiety.

They had sent several waves of people to look for Xu Shang, but all were blocked at the door. No one had any idea what Xu Shang and that woman were actually doing inside.

Just as they were plunging into despair, Xu Shang finally returned.

Standing before the martial arts arena once more, Xu Shang announced loudly, "Brothers, a major matter delayed me for a long time, but I have already resolved it. Now, without further ado, we should..."

"Take action!"

"Report!"

Before he could finish his sentence, a personal guard sprinted over, his face pale with terror. "M-My Lord! Ren Tianye's forces seem to have already entered the city!"

"What?" Xu Shang's expression changed drastically. "How is that possible? My Huai'an City is an impenetrable fortress. Even if Ren Tianye attacked with an army of two hundred thousand, he couldn't possibly take it without months of siege. How is this possible?"

"It seems to be Xu Sha. He opened the city gates and has taken control of the Yun and Xu clansmen. He is rapidly taking over all of Huai'an City."

Xu Shang's body swayed.

That piece of trash, Xu Sha, actually dared to invite the wolf into the house?

"Xu Sha also seems to have been appointed as the acting city lord of Huai'an, and is now in charge of the city's security."

Boom!

It felt as though a clap of thunder had exploded inside Xu Shang's head.

Xu Sha had stolen his Yun Wanyi.

And now, he had also stolen his position as the City Lord of Huai'an?!

Then what did he, Xu Shang, have left?

His eyes nearly split open in fury!

For a moment, blood rushed to Xu Shang's head, but he quickly forced himself to calm down. He knew the situation had reached a point of extreme urgency.

If Ren Tianye's army completely occupied Huai'an City, there would no longer be any place for him in the entire city!

Not only that, but that bastard Xu Sha would definitely hunt him down.

By then, with Xu Sha wielding immense power and commanding abundant troops, how could he possibly escape, especially since he had no wings and had to bring Ah Yao along?

In a flash of lightning, Xu Shang made his decision.

Right now, there was only one option: to fight!

He would use his superior knowledge of Huai'an to launch a blitzkrieg attack, catching Ren Tianye's invading army off guard. As long as he defeated Ren Tianye's forces, he could completely win back those who had already surrendered to him!

Having made this decision in a matter of seconds, Xu Shang did not hesitate. He turned around and shouted to the crowd, "Brothers, the thieves have entered the city!"

"Yunjing and the Tongxin Alliance have already warned you about Ren Tianye over the past few days. You all surely know that he established the Demon Suppression Bureau, severing all emotions and desires. He forbids any romantic or familial love in the mortal realm, an act of sheer inhumanity."

"If such a person is allowed into our Huai'an City, you all know exactly what will happen."

"Right now, our only choice is to fight to the death and never retreat!"

"We must drive that scoundrel Ren Tianye out of Huai'an City."

"Brothers, do you dare to join me?"

Xu Shang's speech was impassioned, and many voices echoed in agreement from below, though the momentum was not particularly strong.

On the one hand, Xu Shang had abandoned them here, causing them to harbor doubts about him. On the other hand, the crowd had also heard bits and pieces about Ren Tianye and did not completely believe Xu Shang's words.

However, even if they didn't fully believe him, they had no other choice.

Xu Shang was still their absolute superior, and under his rousing shouts, the crowd could only follow him into battle.

Soon, thousands of men and horses charged out of the martial arts arena. Under Xu Shang's arrangement, they moved in a highly organized and incredibly swift manner.

"Report! Troops spotted ahead!"

Xu Shang's spirits lifted, and he immediately shouted, "Brothers, charge with me! Let them experience our blitzkrieg tactics!"

Xu Shang evidently had some real skill in training his army. The men immediately swarmed forward, and it wasn't long before they spotted the enemy troops in the alleyways and launched a fierce assault.

As the battle cries shook the heavens and the earth, Xu Shang's eyes lit up.

Because he could see that the soldiers before him couldn't stop him at all.

Although this was partly because the enemy's numbers were small, a great victory in the first battle would absolutely boost morale.

He was just about to issue the order to continue the fierce assault.

Suddenly, a personal guard ran over with a terrified face: "M-My Lord, this is bad! Ambushers have appeared in our rear! They are incredibly fast and charging fiercely!"

"What?"

Before Xu Shang could recover from his shock, another personal guard ran over.

"M-My Lord, this is bad! Ambushers have appeared on our left flank! They seem to have flanked us, and they are too fierce!"

"There are more on the left?"

"Report, report..." Yet another guard rushed over in a panic. "M-My Lord, ambushers have appeared on our right flank! They seem to have flanked us as well."

Immediately after, countless soldiers ran toward Xu Shang.

"Report, report! My Lord, a unit of troops appeared out of nowhere. Their charge is exceptionally brutal, and they have already broken into our ranks."

"Report, My Lord! A unit of troops descended like divine soldiers from the heavens! They appeared so suddenly that we can't hold them off at all."

"Report, My Lord! We have been routed! Many of our brothers have already surrendered."

...

The successive reports rang in Xu Shang's ears.

Making his head buzz.

However, he finally understood.

The enemy never intended to clash with him head-on. Instead, they had used extreme speed and small units to divide and surround his forces.

But... this was Huai'an City! This was the place he knew best, yet he was actually getting completely encircled here?

His face turned deathly pale.

Xu Shang already knew that there was no way to salvage the situation.

He let out a bitter laugh and, taking advantage of the chaos, turned and fled.

Right now, his only option was to run. But he couldn't run alone; he had to take Ah Yao with him.

Relying on his agility and the help of his personal guards, Xu Shang reached Ah Yao's residence in a very short time, only to find the front doors tightly shut.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Without hesitation, Xu Shang pounded forcefully on the door.

"Ah Yao, Ah Yao, hurry! We need to leave! The city is in chaos! If we don't leave now, we'll be surrounded!"

Xu Shang's pounding echoed thunderously, but for a long time, there was no sound from inside. Just as he expended a great deal of effort and finally kicked the door open, a washbasin came flying from inside with a whoosh.

"What did you come back for?"

"Have you not been pining for Yun Wanyi this entire time? Are you not desperate to go to her? Go then! Hurry up and go! I knew it. All your promises of loving me, of loving only me for the rest of your life, they were all lies!"

"All of it was a lie!"

...