Capture Zhou Xiong

After everything, Pei Wugou indeed looked different from before. It was no exaggeration to say he was so radiant he could be used as a mirror.

The carriage driver glanced over and silently lamented: With such a focus on appearance, how much better it would be to be a noble son. Choosing to become a general—that was just absurd!

But as usual, he dared not say anything more.

Once Pei Wugou climbed back into the carriage, the driver took him to Pukou City.

At the city gate, the soldiers on duty spotted Pei Wugou’s waist token. They exchanged glances, unsure why he had come, but they knew he was a formidable figure not to be offended. So they obediently let him pass.

Still, they sent someone to report his arrival.

Thus, by the time Pei Wugou reached the city lord’s mansion, a crowd had already knelt before him in a sea of submissive figures.

The city lord of Pukou, along with officials of all ranks, knelt to pay respects to the general who had suddenly descended upon them.

Seeing this, Pei Wugou didn’t even step down from the carriage. He said coolly, “The garrison commander of Pukou, Zhou Xiong—where is he?”

“Tell him to come see me.”

For a long moment, there was no response, until the city lord answered quietly, “That Zhou Xiong is in his mansion. He… I’m afraid he can’t come to see you anytime soon.”

The city lord meant to say that Zhou Xiong was trapped in his manor by the entire city, but Pei Wugou, having only heard half the sentence, clearly misunderstood.

His voice turned icy. “Hmph, Zhou Xiong. How insolent!”

“He dares to put on airs with me?”

“Fine. I’ll make sure he learns what it means to disrespect me.”

Pei Wugou ordered the driver to turn the carriage around. Guided by the city lord’s men, they went straight to Zhou Xiong’s residence. It didn’t take long to arrive.

Only then did Pei Wugou step down from the carriage.

The onlookers saw his face for the first time. Every one of them wore an expression of astonishment.

—Such a clean and refined general!

Having clearly endured this kind of attention many times, Pei Wugou paid it no mind and strode confidently inside.

Inside the hall, Zhou Xiong had been listening to Nanny Sun’s persuasion for hours. His mind teetered between collapse and composure, unable to make a decision.

Then, suddenly, the shouts of soldiers rang out.

“Marquis Jingyi, Pei Wugou, has arrived!”

The voice boomed through the hall, and Zhou Xiong’s face showed a flicker of shock.

That shock then transformed into ecstasy.

“Hahaha, Nanny Sun, you were wrong!”

“You were wrong.”

“Yunjing hasn’t abandoned Pukou City.”

“See? They’ve sent someone!”

“Now that Yunjing has sent someone, Pukou won’t fall.”

“Ren Tianye? Hmph!”

“Does he even deserve my surrender?”

Nanny Sun instantly realized that all her painstaking advice throughout the day had been in vain. She shook her head in defeat.

Very well. Since you refuse the path of survival, just wait until the soldiers and citizens of Pukou City tear you apart alive!

When that day comes, don’t blame me for disregarding the bond I shared with your master!

Unaware of her thoughts, Zhou Xiong dashed out eagerly. Catching a glimpse of the arriving figure, he dropped to one knee and raised his hands in salute: “Pukou City’s garrison commander, Zhou Xiong, pays respects to Marquis Jingyi…”

Before he finished, Pei Wugou’s cold voice cut through. “Guards, arrest Zhou Xiong.”

Zhou Xiong’s words died in his throat.

“What?” he asked, incredulous.

“Arrest me?”

“Why?”

“I’ve guarded Pukou City for so long. Even if I have no extraordinary merit, I have ordinary toil. What right do you have to arrest me?”

Pei Wugou’s tone was glacial. “Toil?”

“Hmph!”

“A defeated general like you—how dare you speak of toil?”

“The Yunjing court trusted you to hold Pukou City. And what did you do? You allowed their food supplies to be cut off, and let the enemy take two key strongholds outside the city.”

“And in such a short time!”

“Tell me… What exactly are you good for?”

“Worthless!”

“And you still have the nerve to talk about merit and toil?”

With a few words, Pei Wugou erased Zhou Xiong’s past efforts and even pinned a heavy accusation on him.

Then he gave the order again.

“Arrest him. Send him to Yunjing for punishment!”

This was a direct order.

But the soldiers in the courtyard didn’t move.

Not a single one obeyed Pei Wugou.

Though the soldiers held a grudge against Zhou Xiong—mainly because he stubbornly refused to surrender to the Lord Duke, while they wanted a future and tomorrow—they still felt more personally connected to him. After all, if not for the matter of Ren Tianye, Zhou Xiong would be considered a decent commander who treated his men well and had the ability to inspire respect.

When it came to choosing between Zhou Xiong and Pei Wugou, the soldiers naturally sided with Zhou Xiong.

This defiance irritated Pei Wugou. He said coldly, “Fine. So Zhou Xiong has turned Yunjing’s army into his personal troops.”

“If I had brought the main Yunjing force with me, I’d have all of you dealt with today.”

These words rekindled a glimmer of hope in Zhou Xiong’s hopelessly despairing heart.

What?

He came to Pukou alone, without backup?

The Yunjing army hasn’t arrived yet?

Damn!

If you’ve come alone, what right do you have to declare my crimes?!

Do you really think I’ve spent all these years in Pukou doing nothing?

Zhou Xiong had always been a ruthless man.

In that instant, he made up his mind.

First, take control of Pei Wugou.

If it meant offending Yunjing, so be it.

At worst, he would flee to another land. With the court and Yunjing at war, surely there would be others rising up. Then he could lead his men and carve out his own enterprise.

With that, Zhou Xiong suddenly leaped to his feet.

“Fine, fine, fine! I’ve served Yunjing with all my heart, and this is how they repay me?”

“Then there’s no point staying loyal to Yunjing anymore!”

“You, Pei Wugou, die!”

With a furious roar, Zhou Xiong struck with both palms.

He unleashed a dual strike aimed at Pei Wugou’s head.

He intended to subdue Pei Wugou in a single move.

But Pei Wugou just smiled faintly, unconcerned. He even had the leisure to reprimand him. “So this is the true face of your ambition? Yunjing was indeed mistaken about you.”

Even as he spoke, his hands moved.

He blocked the attack with only one hand.

One hand, and he effortlessly caught Zhou Xiong’s double strike.

Then his other hand shot out like lightning.

As it reached Zhou Xiong, the hand closed into a fist.

He drove it into Zhou Xiong’s chest.

Thud!

A dull sound rang out, and Zhou Xiong was sent flying backward.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

He had put his full strength into that attack.

And yet, it had been easily blocked—and countered, striking him straight in the chest.

What’s more, the force behind that blow…

It was immense.

It felt like being hit by a boulder.

His internal organs churned violently, and he could no longer stand.

“A true waste.”

Pei Wugou glanced at him contemptuously, his eyes full of disdain. Then he turned to the soldiers in the courtyard. “Take Zhou Xiong to the prison. Await orders.”

“Then summon all senior officers of the army. I have a military decree to announce.”