The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Wen Fangda was bleeding profusely, his face pale, and he leaned weakly against Wen Fangwu.

It was Wen Fangwu who spoke next, "We were only following orders today. We hope you can understand our difficult situation. Please, be reasonable and show us some mercy. The Imperial Guards and the Wen family will be forever in your debt!"

Qin Shuang finally spoke, "Debt? With so many dead, can this really end well?"

"In our line of work, our heads have long been on the chopping block. We're all expendable, so being able to survive is a great fortune!" Wen Fangwu said dismissively.

"What you say makes sense, and I can empathize, but you're wrong about one thing." Qin Shuang spoke word by word, his tone growing increasingly serious, "My brother's life is not expendable!"

"Do you really intend to show no mercy?" Wen Fangwu's expression suddenly changed.

"We are Imperial Guards, representing the court!" Wen Fanglu exclaimed incredulously from the side, "Killing Imperial Guards is tantamount to treason. Are you rebelling?"

"From the moment you chose to ambush us Dragon Guards, our relationship became one of life and death!" Qin Shuang's face was cold, his gaze chilling. "And don't think too highly of yourselves. Do you really believe the Imperial Guards would turn their backs on us Dragon Guards for a few dead men?"

"You..." Wen Fanglu was immediately speechless, because he knew Qin Shuang was telling the truth. If they were still alive, the higher-ups of the Imperial Guards would have to fight fiercely with the Dragon Guards to avoid disheartening their subordinates, possibly even escalating to the Emperor's attention. But if these few were dead, it would merely be another mark added to the countless grievances between the two organizations, and no one would bring it out into the open.

Seeing that Qin Shuang was unyielding, Wen Fangda knew that further discussion would be fruitless. He struggled to stand, "We Imperial Guards are by no means cowards who fear death. Since you insist on killing us all, we'll fight to the bitter end. Even if we die, we will make you pay a price!"

The remaining Imperial Guards were greatly invigorated by his words, their fighting spirit ignited, and they found the courage to fight desperately.

"A price? Fight to the bitter end? Do you think I spoke so much with you for nothing?" Qin Shuang's lips curled into a disdainful smile.

"Big brother, I've lost all my internal energy, I can't gather any strength!"

"Me too, I suddenly have no internal energy!"

"What's happening..."

"Squad Leader, we..."

Wen Fangda realized what was happening and glared at Qin Shuang hatefully, "Despicable, you poisoned us!"

"Despicable? I just wanted to minimize our losses!" Despite being called despicable, Qin Shuang didn't care at all.

Shen Hu Chan stepped forward, about to kill Wen Fangda. After all, Chen Bu Ding and Feng Bu Ba had followed him for so many years, only to die in Wen Fangda's ambush.

Qin Shuang stopped Shen Hu Chan, "Brother Hu, he's a Centurion after all. Let me handle it!"

Shen Hu Chan looked at Qin Shuang, saw him nod slightly, and felt grateful. He stepped aside. Of course, he knew Qin Shuang wasn't trying to steal the credit. Killing an Imperial Guard Centurion, regardless of the reason, would always be a big trouble afterward. Qin Shuang's status as the heir of a hereditary family within the Dragon Guards would receive more protection from the higher-ups than himself, who had no background.

Qin Shuang walked steadily to Wen Fangda, drew his Sorrow Dispeller blade, and was about to strike when a wave of grief suddenly overwhelmed him, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

Qin Shuang felt his limbs go weak, and he fell to the ground. He looked around in shock, gritting his teeth, "Who is it?"

As Qin Shuang roared in anger, the Dragon Guards and Imperial Guards present all changed color. They fell to the ground one by one, tears flowing uncontrollably, their bodies weak, and their ability to resist lost.

Twenty to thirty figures emerged from the shadows of the forest, wearing felt caps and long robes, dressed as foreigners.

The leader was a man in his forties with a curly beard and fierce eyes, exuding an arrogant aura like a general on the battlefield, possessing an invisible might.

Among the men behind him, five were particularly striking.

The first man had yellow hair, an ugly face, and crippled legs, leaning on two crutches. The second was fat-headed and big-eared, with a broad chest and thick waist, wielding an alligator-jaw scissors in one hand and an alligator-tail whip in the other, looking ferocious. The third had narrow eyes and a hooked nose, tall and thin, with a lewd and sinister expression, holding an iron claw steel staff. The fourth wore a grey Taoist robe but lacked the transcendent aura of a cultivator, instead having a gloomy face. His weapon was not a common one like a whisk or a sword, but a peculiar weapon called a Thunder God's Shield.

The first four were men. The fifth was a beautiful woman in her late twenties, but with three bloody scars on each cheek, making her look like a demonic Asura.

The bearded man leading them let out a cackling laugh, "Haha, I never expected the esteemed Dragon Guards and Imperial Guards of the Great Shang Dynasty to be so easily defeated. I didn't have to work for it at all!"

"Tears flowing like rain, unable to move, colorless and odorless, it's the Sorrowful Crisp Breeze from the First Rank Hall of Western Xia! Are you Helian Tieshu?" Qin Shuang asked with a slight frown.

"Oh, I didn't expect you, so young, to be so knowledgeable. That's right, I am Helian Tieshu!" Helian Tieshu said proudly.

"I've heard that Helian Tieshu has achieved nothing in his campaigns and was repeatedly promoted only because he is a confidant of the Western Xia Emperor, making him unpopular in the army. Thus, he was transferred to command the First Rank Hall of Western Xia. Seeing you today, the rumors are true. You are nothing but a cowardly rat who relies on despicable means to achieve victory."

"How dare you! You have a lot of nerve, speaking so disrespectfully to the General!" Before Helian Tieshu could speak, his adjutant, Nurhachi, jumped out and cursed Qin Shuang.

"A sharp-tongued brat, you're still so arrogant even when death is upon you." Helian Tieshu signaled to his subordinates, "Leave no one alive except Ni Pusa. Kill them!"

"Wait, wait a moment, General Helian, I am willing to surrender." Wen Fangda cried out loudly.

Helian Tieshu saw that the speaker was Wen Fangda, who had lost an arm, and said dismissively, "Hmph, what use is a cripple like you to me?"

"I am Wen Fangda, the head of the Wen family of the Shiliang Sect. I am willing to lead my entire family to surrender and offer our ancestral Five Elements Array. From now on, I will serve the Western Xia court, at your beck and call, General." Wen Fangda said shamelessly.

As soon as Wen Fangda spoke, not only did the Dragon Guards scorn his cowardice, but even the Imperial Guards were in an uproar. They couldn't believe that a dignified Imperial Guard Centurion would choose to surrender to foreigners to save his own life.

"Haha, there's a saying in the Central Plains: 'He who understands the times is a wise man.' Our First Rank Hall of Western Xia has room for talent. You can ask your subordinates if any are willing to join our Western Xia. After I kill everyone else, I'll give you the antidote." Helian Tieshu laughed triumphantly.

"Haha!" Qin Shuang followed with a burst of laughter.

"Death is upon you, what are you laughing at!" Helian Tieshu questioned.

Qin Shuang sneered, "I'm happy for the First Rank Hall of Western Xia for gaining such a fine general."

"You..." Helian Tieshu was momentarily speechless.