I like the people of your Unity Alliance the most

The strength of the two soldiers was immense; how could Ke Xunfang, a delicate and weak woman, possibly resist?

Indeed, the moment the two soldiers struck, Ke Xunfang curled up like a defeated shrimp, clutching the spots where she’d been hit, her face twisted in pain.

The physical agony was nothing compared to the anguish in her heart.

Yet Ke Xunfang refused to give in.

Even as the two soldiers restrained her, she kept pointing at Gao Ning and cursing: “Gao Ning, I was such a fool to trust you. Give me back my husband, give me back my man…”

“Today, you must divorce Liu Xu, and then I’ll marry him!”

Hearing this, Gao Ning was momentarily speechless.

“Wait, you were the one who proposed divorcing Liu Xu; he didn’t agree, and you resorted to underhanded tactics… I didn’t teach you that, did I?”

“That was your own choice. Now you’re blaming me?”

“Besides…”

Gao Ning’s tone turned grim: “Ah Fang, Fanshan Fort is already under the control of the Lord Duke, managed by General Zhang Shi. You know full well how the Lord Duke feels about the members of the Heartfell Alliance.”

“And you still dare to make such a demand?”

“Just flee for your life!”

Ke Xunfang somehow mustered a burst of strength, broke free from the soldiers’ grasp, and charged wildly at Gao Ning again.

The two soldiers panicked and lunged at her from both sides.

“Crack!” “Crack!” came two sharp sounds.

This time, Ke Xunfang stopped snarling at Gao Ning.

Gao Ning let out another sigh, stepped forward, and crouched down to meet Ke Xunfang’s eyes, speaking softly: “Ah Fang, when my husband and I surrendered to General Zhang Shi, I begged him for a favor on your behalf.”

“It was for you.”

“You’re a member of the Heartfell Alliance. According to the Lord Duke’s orders, all enchanting demons of the alliance are to be crushed without mercy. But…”

“General Zhang Shi showed mercy because of my husband’s contributions, and I pleaded earnestly with Miss Lu Shuang. So they agreed to let you off.”

“As long as you immediately leave the Heartfell Alliance, sever all ties with those enchanting demons from now on, live an honest life, and sincerely seek your true love.”

“The Demon Suppression Bureau… will pretend it never saw you.”

“This is the last thing my husband and I can do for you. I hope you’ll treasure it…”

Gao Ning’s words were earnest and heartfelt.

It was clear that both she and Liu Xu had no desire to utterly destroy Ke Xunfang, who had once been close to them.

But Ke Xunfang showed not a shred of gratitude. Not only did she refuse, she screamed even louder.

“A Ning, you and I were best friends for life. You stole my husband, and now you want me to leave my beloved Heartfell Alliance?”

“I—I—I’ll never forgive you!”

Gao Ning remained crouched for a long moment before slowly rising to her feet.

She let out a heavy sigh.

Then she turned and walked away.

Behind her, Ke Xunfang’s torrent of curses echoed—loud enough to shake the mountainside and the entire Fanshan Fort.

But then… it suddenly stopped.

Not because the soldiers silenced her, but because Ke Xunfang halted on her own.

Her eyes had fixed on a figure.

A person clad in the Demon Suppression Bureau uniform, with a Blade of Severing Emotions at their waist.

Bold and brisk, sharp and decisive.

“I knew it. My achievements this time shouldn’t just be about helping capture Fanshan Fort. Look, a turn at the corner brings me… you!”

Lu Shuang’s voice carried a hint of amusement: “Members of the Heartfell Alliance are so hard to find. I’d love to rack up more merits, but it’s not easy. And here I am, running into one!”

“Not bad!”

“Really not bad!”

“Weren’t you just shouting that you’re a member of the Heartfell Alliance, right?”

“I heard you loud and clear, didn’t I?”

The Demon Suppression Bureau wielded heavy authority over the enchanting demons of the Heartfell Alliance. Ke Xunfang’s face went pale as she instinctively rattled off three denials.

“It wasn’t me!”

“I didn’t!”

“I’m not in the Heartfell Alliance!”

Lu Shuang wasn’t convinced. She laughed, “Oh, I heard it all. Isn’t it a bit late to deny it now?”

She turned to the two soldiers.

They, already driven to distraction by the racket, saw her as their savior and didn’t hesitate to report.

“It was her, it was her, it was her!”

“She was shouting for ages, swearing she was a Heartfell Alliance member.”

Lu Shuang said, “To boldly proclaim your alliance affiliation in front of General Zhang Shi’s camp—though I don’t get it, I’m deeply impressed.”

“I’ll have to treat you as one of the hardest cases.”

“Gentlemen soldiers, a small favor, please.”

“Take this member of the Heartfell Alliance to the Demon Suppression Bureau and hand her over to Lord Su Jin.”

“Lord Su Jin loves dealing with Heartfell Alliance folks!”

“Yes!” the two soldiers answered in unison. Without giving Ke Xunfang a chance to speak again, they rendered her unconscious with a precise strike and dragged her away.

Lu Shuang signed the warrant, her mood greatly lifted.

She looked up and spotted Gao Ning returning. With a gentle smile, she went to meet her.

Gao Ning quickly bowed in greeting.

In her heart, she knew Ke Xunfang was finished.

But under these circumstances, she had done all she could; there was no other way.

So she forced a cheerful smile and drew close to Lu Shuang.

She had gotten to know Lu Shuang a couple of days earlier.

In fact, one could say that the current happy resolution was all because Lu Shuang had come to Fanshan Fort first, convinced her to surrender decisively, which then led her to whisper in her husband Liu Xu’s ear.

Thus, Gao Ning was naturally gracious toward her.

“Alright, alright, no need for formalities.” Lu Shuang smiled, linking her arm with Gao Ning’s. “Come on, let’s head to the camp. General Zhang Shi has set up a feast to welcome you and your husband.”

“Yes, of course!”

The two walked off together and soon entered the camp.

The camp was usually Spartan, but today it brimmed with festivity. Joy was written on every face, especially among General Zhang Shi’s personal guards.

These were hardened men who had followed him through the grasslands, adept at his swift and fierce tactics.

They always risked their lives, unafraid of death, seeking only glory!

But lately, with General Zhang Shi’s evolving strategies, they had tasted new benefits.

—Achieving merits without much effort felt amazing!

Sure, charging into battle with blades showed true grit.

But if every fort could be taken as easily as this—like picking something out of a pocket—why risk one’s life?

Their smiles stretched from ear to ear.

Zhang Shi himself couldn’t stop grinning!

What a thrill!

An incredible thrill!

He declared Fanshan Fort the easiest stronghold he had ever conquered on his journey.

He had just set out from Luofeng Slope, and before his army even reached Fanshan Fort, Liu Xu and Gao Ning had come in person to welcome him and surrender!

It was so easy, it felt like a dream!

If all of Yun Jing fell this smoothly… after conquering the grasslands, he would have to take Yun Jing too!

A plan gradually crystallized in his mind.

“Sit, sit, sit…”

At this point, Zhang Shi first invited everyone to sit down and raised his wine cup, saying: "This first toast is to the couple Liu Xu and Gao Ning. You have genuinely pledged your allegiance to the Lord Duke and contributed to pacifying the realm—this shows your sincere intent. To do so while still in the Capital is no easy feat, and I am truly pleased."

"Come, I raise my cup to you both!"

Liu Xu and Gao Ning quickly returned the gesture, careful not to overstep.

Zhang Shi then turned to toast Lu Shuang.

The tasks Lu Shuang handled were always carried out in secret, yet time and again they proved remarkably effective, saving him immense effort.

After several rounds of wine and dishes, the mood in the camp grew warm. Sensing that the time was right, Zhang Shi stood up and said: "Next, I will announce a… rule!"

……