Wen Fangda had lost too much blood. His face was pale, and he leaned weakly against Wen Fangwu.
Wen Fangwu spoke again. "We were acting under orders today. I hope you can understand our difficulties. Please show us mercy and let this matter go. The Imperial Guards and the Wen family will remember this favor!"
Qin Shuang finally spoke. "A favor? So many people have died. You still think this can end peacefully?"
"Those of us in this line of work have had our heads hanging from our belts for a long time. We're all worthless lives. Surviving is already a great blessing!" Wen Fangwu said lightly.
"What you said makes sense, and I can empathize. But there's one thing you got wrong." Qin Shuang spoke word by word, his tone growing increasingly stern. "My brothers' lives are not worthless!"
"Do you really intend to wipe us all out?" Wen Fangwu's expression suddenly changed.
"We're Imperial Guards. We represent the imperial court!" Wen Fanglu said incredulously from the side. "Killing Imperial Guards is tantamount to rebellion. Are you trying to revolt?"
"From the moment you chose to ambush our Dragon Guard, our relationship became one of life and death!" Qin Shuang's expression was cold, his gaze chilling. "Besides, don't think too highly of yourselves. Do you really think the Imperial Guards will openly turn against our Dragon Guard over a few dead men?"
"You..." Wen Fanglu was rendered speechless. He knew Qin Shuang was telling the truth. If they were still alive, the Imperial Guards' higher-ups would certainly fight the Dragon Guard fiercely to prevent their subordinates from losing heart. It might even reach the emperor's ears. But if the few of them died, it would merely add another grievance to the countless grudges between the two organizations. No one would bring this matter into the open.
Seeing that Qin Shuang was unmoved by reason or pleas, Wen Fangda knew there would be no result even if they continued negotiating. He struggled to straighten up. "We Imperial Guards are by no means afraid of death. Since you insist on wiping us out, then we'll fight to the bitter end! Even if we die, we'll make sure you pay the price!"
The remaining Imperial Guards were greatly encouraged by his words. Fighting spirit flared in their hearts, giving them the courage to stake everything on one final battle.
"The price? Fight to the bitter end? Why do you think I've been talking to you for so long?" Qin Shuang's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"Big Brother, all my inner force is gone. I can't gather any strength!"
"Mine too. My inner force suddenly disappeared!"
"What's going on..."
"Squad Leader, we..."
Wen Fangda realized what had happened and glared hatefully at Qin Shuang. "Despicable! You poisoned us!"
"Despicable? I only wanted to reduce our losses!" Qin Shuang did not care in the slightest despite being called despicable.
Shen Hu Chan stepped forward, about to kill Wen Fangda. Chen Buding and Feng Bu Ba had followed him for so many years, yet they had died under Wen Fangda's ambush this time.
Qin Shuang stopped Shen Hu Chan. "Brother Hu, he's a hundred-household officer, after all. Let me do it!"
Shen Hu Chan looked at Qin Shuang. When he saw Qin Shuang give him a slight nod, he felt grateful and stepped aside. Of course, he knew Qin Shuang was not trying to take the credit from him. Killing a hundred-household officer of the Imperial Guards would be a huge problem afterward, regardless of the reason. Qin Shuang's identity as a member of a hereditary Dragon Guard family meant he would receive more protection from the Dragon Guard's higher-ups than Shen Hu Chan, who had no backing.
Qin Shuang strode firmly before Wen Fangda and drew the Sorrow Dispeller. Just as he was about to strike, grief suddenly surged within him, and tears streamed down his face.
Qin Shuang felt his limbs go weak and collapsed onto the ground. He looked around in shock and gritted his teeth. "Who is it?"
Following Qin Shuang's furious shout, the Dragon Guard and Imperial Guards present all paled. One after another, they collapsed, tears flowing uncontrollably from their eyes. Their bodies went limp, leaving them unable to resist.
Two or three dozen people successively darted out from the darkness of the forest. Wearing felt caps and long robes, they were dressed like foreigners.
The leader was in his early forties, with a thick, curly beard and a vicious glint in his eyes. He was arrogant and overbearing, like a battlefield general, radiating an invisible might.
Five people among those behind him were particularly eye-catching.
The first had a head of yellow hair and an ugly face. His legs were crippled, and he leaned on a pair of crutches. The second was fat, with a broad face, large ears, thick arms, and a round waist. He held Crocodile Jaw Shears in one hand and a Crocodile Tail Whip in the other, looking like a Fierce God and Evil Spirit. The third had narrow eyes and an aquiline nose. Tall, thin, and wearing a lecherous, sinister expression, he held an Iron Claw Steel Staff. The fourth wore a gray Daoist robe, but had none of a cultivator's transcendent bearing. Instead, his face was gloomy, and the unusual weapon in his hand was a strange device called a Thunder God Shield, not a common weapon such as a horsetail whisk or sword.
The first four were men. The fifth was a beautiful woman in her forties. However, three blood-colored scars marred each of her cheeks, making her look like an evil ghost or demon.
The thick-bearded leader gave a strange, cackling laugh. "Hahaha! Who would have thought that the Dragon Guard and Imperial Guards of the mighty Great Shang Dynasty would be so utterly useless? I obtained everything without lifting a finger!"
"Tears falling like rain, unable to move, colorless and odorless—that's the Sorrowful Crisp Breeze of the Western Xia First-Rank Hall! You're Helian Tieshu?" Qin Shuang asked with a slight frown.
"Oh? I didn't expect someone so young to be this knowledgeable. That's right, I am Helian Tieshu!" Helian Tieshu said smugly.
"I heard Helian Tieshu accomplished nothing on the battlefield. Because he was a trusted aide of the Western Xia emperor, he was repeatedly promoted anyway. Unable to command respect in the army, he was transferred to lead the Western Xia First-Rank Hall. Now that I've seen you, I can say that meeting you is worse than hearing of you. You're merely a cowardly rat who relies on despicable tricks."
"Presumptuous! How dare you insult the general!" Before Helian Tieshu could speak, his adjutant Nurhachi leaped out and pointed at Qin Shuang, cursing him.
"What a sharp-tongued brat. You're about to die, yet you're still this arrogant." Helian Tieshu gestured to his men. "Everyone except Ni Pusa—leave no one alive. Kill them!"
"Wait! Wait a moment, General Helian. I'm willing to surrender!" Wen Fangda shouted.
Seeing that the speaker was Wen Fangda, who had lost an arm, Helian Tieshu dismissed him with contempt. "Hmph. What use would I have for a cripple like you?"
"I am Wen Fangda, head of the Wen family of the Shiliang Sect. I'm willing to lead the entire Wen family in surrender and offer our ancestral Five Elements Array. From now on, we will serve the Western Xia court, attending to your every need and obeying your commands," Wen Fangda said shamelessly.
As soon as Wen Fangda said this, not only did the Dragon Guard members despise him for fearing death, but the Imperial Guards also erupted in an uproar. No one had expected the dignified hundred-household officer of the Imperial Guards to choose surrender to a foreign race just to stay alive.
"Hahaha! There's a saying in the Central Plains: 'Those who understand the times are true heroes.' Our Western Xia First-Rank Hall is magnanimous as well. You can ask your men whether any of them are willing to submit to Western Xia. After I kill everyone else, I'll give you the antidote." Helian Tieshu laughed triumphantly.
"Hahaha!" Qin Shuang threw his head back and laughed as well.
"You're about to die, yet you're laughing?!" Helian Tieshu demanded.
Qin Shuang mocked him. "I'm happy for the Western Xia First-Rank Hall. It's gained such a fine general."
"You..." Helian Tieshu was momentarily speechless.
Before you continue