The soldiers in the courtyard were all stunned.
That scene just now, swift as a startled hare and a swooping falcon, had left them gaping in amazement.
The one lying on the ground…
Was none other than Lord Zhou Xiong himself!
Lord Zhou Xiong's martial prowess was truly extraordinary!
Throughout the entire Pukou City army, if not the very best, he was absolutely among the top three.
Just the other day, when he fought beneath the city walls against that Wu Xingzhou, who served the Lord Duke, they clashed so fiercely that the sky turned dark and the earth dimmed, leaving countless soldiers awestruck!
A warrior so fierce, yet before this Marquis Jingyi, he couldn't even last a single exchange?
Taken down in an instant?
No kidding, this Marquis Jingyi, Pei Wugou—if you ignore his looks and attire—is actually pretty formidable!
And this show of bravery thoroughly intimidated the soldiers, who immediately began to carry out Pei Wugou's orders.
Some soldiers escorted Zhou Xiong to the prison.
The others found Nanny Sun nearby and, following her instructions, split into three groups to spread the news abroad.
As expected, the entire city of Pukou was shocked!
First came the confusion—how could Zhou Xiong have been thrown into prison?
Once they learned the full story, they were even more astonished.
“Wait, did Yun Jing really send someone? And a general who hasn't been to war or commanded troops in five years?”
“This Pei Wugou sure has impeccable timing. Pukou City is on the verge of falling, and now he shows up?”
“Almost everyone in Pukou has already sided with the Lord Duke. This Marquis Jingyi coming now… Isn't that like a meat bun thrown at a dog—never to return?”
“And the Marquis Jingyi came alone? Wouldn't it make sense to arrest him and deliver him to the Lord Duke as a gift?”
…
The most excited were the men in the military camp.
Many of them still had feelings for Zhou Xiong. When it came to surrendering to Ren Tianye, they hadn't wanted to kill Zhou Xiong, only to tie him up or force him to surrender.
But now…
Zhou Xiong was locked up, and the one who came was sent by Yun Jing!
“Isn’t this a gift of merit delivered to our doorstep?”
Someone shouted, and the entire camp erupted.
“Hell, now that you mention it, you’re right!”
“At first, capturing Lord Zhou Xiong alone was too small a credit. Now that a Marquis Jingyi has arrived, wouldn’t delivering his head to the Lord Duke earn us far greater merit?”
“The best part is, this Marquis Jingyi Pei Wugou came all by himself, without even a single attendant!”
“Haha, I’m claiming this credit!”
“Hey, wipe the drool off your chin. This credit belongs to all the soldiers and civilians of Pukou City. Don’t you try to hog it all!”
…
The soldiers were all utterly thrilled.
All the officers at every level immediately rushed to the Zhou residence in accordance with Pei Wugou’s “military orders.”
Also heading to the Zhou residence were Chen Liang, Song Shaoyi, and others, purely out of curiosity—or to gather intelligence.
They wanted to see for themselves exactly what kind of man this newly arrived Pei Wugou was.
How much did he differ from the intelligence they’d received?
Before long, everyone had assembled.
But they were blocked outside the Zhou residence gates.
“Where is that Marquis Jingyi? Why isn’t he coming out?”
“The brothers are all here, what’s he dawdling inside for?”
“Go and call him out already!”
…
The personal guards of the Zhou residence were naturally eager to do so, but…
Pei Wugou still hadn’t emerged.
“He’s tidying up inside, letting everyone wait a bit.”
With that said, the crowd figured they could spare a few moments.
But half an hour passed, and he still hadn’t come out.
“Why isn’t he out yet?”
A guard went in to ask, then came back to report, “Still tidying up!”
“Still tidying up? Come on—he’s a soldier, not an opera singer on stage. What the heck is he tidying up for so long?”
The crowd had grown extremely impatient.
They were about to force their way in when the Zhou residence gate creaked open.
Marquis Jingyi Pei Wugou strolled out leisurely.
To be fair, the first glimpse of him stunned everyone.
Pei Wugou wore a suit of gilded and jade-inlaid scale armor, with a beast-headed maw at the shoulders. His jet-black hair was combed immaculately smooth and kept in place by a gilded hair crown, making his already handsome face shine all the more brightly!
In contrast, these soldiers looked like a bunch of ragged country bumpkins.
However, this disparity in appearance didn’t make the soldiers feel any sense of inferiority.
After all, for a soldier, strength was what mattered; looks weren’t even a bonus!
Still, there was a brief moment of shock.
By then, Pei Wugou had already spoken: “Good, you’ve all come.”
“It’s good that you’re here.”
“Now, I will announce my military orders!”
“I command you to assemble everyone immediately. At dawn today, throw open the city gates and cut down Ren Tianye’s army. We’ll blunt his edge!”
At these words, everyone was stunned.
What the hell?
We’re opening the city gates?
Wait—don’t you know that Zhou Xiong kept the gates tightly shut to fend off the Lord Duke? Even though people cursed and challenged them under the walls every day, the gates were never opened.
Because as long as the gates stayed closed, the Lord Duke couldn’t easily break in. And now… open the gates?
Are you worried about how slowly the Lord Duke is getting in?
Brother, are you a plant too?
“First, let Ren Tianye feel my might. Shatter their morale…” Pei Wugou continued. “Soon, a great army from Yun Jing will arrive as reinforcements. When it does, I will personally lead it and decisively crush Ren Tianye.”
“Not only will this break the siege of Pukou City, but it will also relieve the crisis facing Yun Jing.”
“Once that’s done, I, your marquis, can depart in peace.”
“Everyone, is my plan clear?”
“Do you dare to follow me tomorrow to face Ren Tianye in battle?”
They all heard him clearly, but they were even more dumbfounded.
This marquis from Yun Jing actually had this in mind!
Tomorrow morning, he intended to ride out of the city himself to do battle with the Lord Duke!
Then, when the Yun Jing reinforcements arrived, they would rout the Lord Duke in a lightning strike!
No way!
Marquis, it’s fine if you’re this brave!
But take a look at the eyes of the brothers standing before you!
See those eyes of the brothers—they’re gleaming!
Gleaming with something frightening!
Earlier, when everyone heard that you captured Zhou Xiong in one move, they were a bit worried—fearing it wouldn’t be easy to assassinate you.
But if you plan to lead the brothers out of the city gate… well then, the brothers won’t be so polite!
Then all we have to do is shut the city gates…
What would you call that?
Catching a turtle in a jar?
No, that’s not right—we’re out of the jar!
So, it should be called… catching a turtle outside the jar, right?
“Why don’t you answer me?”
“Did you not hear my orders clearly?”
“Or do you intend to defy military orders?”
Pei Wugou was displeased and pressed the question.
What he got in return was an earth-shaking chorus of replies.
“Willing, Marquis, we are willing!”
“Marquis, I’ll be the first to ride out with you tomorrow!”
“No, I’ll be first!”
“Damn it, I’ll be the first!”
“Marquis, I don’t care about the others, but you must take me out of the city tomorrow! I swear to guard your side and brave fire and water for you!”
…
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
e vast world of cultivation, where he becomes the master of the Heavenly Ruins Sacred Hall, a dying old man with barely a tenth of his former cultivation remaining. He is immediately confronted with a deadly crisis: his subordinates have rebelled, and his protectors are forcing him to abdicate. At the critical moment, the system descends from the heavens: [Ding! The host has been detected facing a life-or-death crisis. The system is now officially activated!] [As a gift, you have received the Supreme Beginner’s Pack and awakened the ultimate cheat: ten thousand years of pure cultivation essence every second!] Yin Tianjue: “Wait… ten thousand years of cultivation every second? That’s six hundred thousand years a minute, and in one day… I can’t even calculate it. Either way, I’m already invincible!” You’re a peerless prodigy rarely seen in ten thousand years? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re an undying ancestor who has guarded a sacred land for countless ages? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re the strongest chosen one, blessed with heaven-defying destiny? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. From this day forth, I have only one thing to say: “I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. Now, how exactly are you supposed to deal with that?”
