Swearing Sisterhood with Da Ji

Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen entered the Inner Hall and met Su Da Ji. Zhu Wushuang nodded. "Sure enough, she can't compare to our natural beauty. No wonder the Sect Master sent us to accompany her. She's so thin and withered—how could she possibly win Zhou Wang's favor?"

Xiang Wuchen nodded. "Well said."

"Father, what brings you here?"

"Da Ji, the two immortals wish to see you! I'll be taking my leave first."

With Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen remaining in the room with Su Da Ji, three women made quite a show as they began chatting away.

Su Hu and Su Quanzhong returned to the front hall, delight showing in both their eyes. After all, they had won their very first battle—a tremendous stroke of fortune.

"Quanzhong, summon all the generals and strategists."

"Yes!"

Before long, Ji Province's generals and advisers filled the great hall.

Su Hu said, "Though the first battle cannot truly be called a victory or defeat, the situation is far from good. Great Shang will surely summon elite troops and fierce generals. A great calamity is about to descend upon Ji Province!"

General Zhao Bing, one of his subordinates, pondered for a moment before stepping forward. "Lord, while the first battle went well enough, it has enraged Great Shang. Moreover, Lord wrote a poem of rebellion only days ago—such a crime is unforgivable. And today's enemy was Chong Houhu, one of the Four Great Lords. Even if we can narrowly defeat him once or twice, we cannot win outright. When dozens of lords arrive in the future, Ji Province will be in peril! Though Ji Province bears the name of a provincial seat, it is no more than a pellet-sized patch of land. Before a great army, it will turn to ash in an instant. Better to do it once and for all—under cover of the murky night, let us charge out and kill our way through! Then we can seek refuge with a wise lord."

Su Hu considered it. "An excellent suggestion."

That very night, Su Quanzhong led three thousand soldiers in preparation for a surprise attack. Just then, three figures emerged from the Inner Hall, chatting and laughing. They were Su Da Ji, Zhu Wushuang, and Xiang Wuchen.

"Immortals, what is this...?"

Da Ji said, "Father, these two elder sisters are reclusive masters. We spoke most congenially, and just now we swore sisterhood as sisters of different surnames. We shall share blessings and bear hardships together."

"Ah... this..."

Su Hu was dumbfounded. What was this? They had just sworn sisterhood? Did immortals these days really play this wildly?

Yet he said, "Wonderful, wonderful..."

"Lord, have you discussed any good strategy yet?"

Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen were, after all, Third Generation Disciples of the Jie Sect. Ordinarily, they had been utterly unremarkable within the Jie Sect, and they had not even been mentioned in the original Investiture of the Gods World. Yet both were genuine Celestial Immortals who had cultivated step by step.

It was not convenient for them to directly interfere in mortal affairs, but offering a little assistance was no problem.

"Two immortal ladies, regarding this matter..."

He explained the situation. Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen exchanged a glance. "Oh? Such a thing has happened?"

They pondered briefly. "Lord, there may well be extraordinary people and master strategists in Great Shang's camp. How could they fail to anticipate a nighttime raid?"

"This..."

Su Hu froze. He had never considered that question.

"Quanzhong, come back first... Do not act rashly!"

But Xiang Wuchen stopped Su Hu. "Do not panic. Let me perform a little magic."

When Su Quanzhong heard that Mei Wu had been thrown flat by the two immortal ladies, he naturally believed that without Mei Wu, no one could be his match. He was utterly fearless. Besides, the two immortal ladies had sworn sisterhood with his younger sister and were helping them out, so there was surely nothing to worry about.

In Great Shang's camp.

Chong Houhu was still drinking and making merry. He felt that taking down tiny Ji Province was nothing worth mentioning.

Chong Yingbiao advised, "Father, it would be better to exercise caution. We have come from afar, and the night can blind the eyes. If they launch a surprise raid on our camp, it will be disastrous!"

"No matter. You... you think your father doesn't know? I already ordered scouts to lie in ambush all around. If there is any unusual movement... then... we'll know. Besides, tonight is the full moon on the fifteenth. What are you afraid of?"

Chong Houhu had drunk quite a bit. He felt that taking tiny Ji Province was an easy assignment. Ji Province was only a pellet-sized patch of land—could it be difficult to capture?

When he returned to court, the Great King would surely reward him handsomely.

Seeing that he could not persuade him, Chong Yingbiao stomped his feet anxiously, but there was nothing he could do.

He went outside and found it truly bright. Looking up, he saw the dazzling moon. Though it was night, one could still see far into the distance. On second thought, perhaps he had simply been overthinking things?

With that thought, Chong Yingbiao returned to his tent.

At midnight, the three thousand troops in Ji Province City had assembled. Su Quanzhong urged his horse forward when dark clouds suddenly covered the sky, completely blotting out the full moon.

Not only that, a great fog descended, shrouding Great Shang's camp. The soldiers paid it no mind. The heavens were ever changing, and such things were normal. Besides, with fog this thick, even if the enemy came to raid them, they might not be able to find the right location, would they?

Little did they know that the three thousand soldiers had already arrived!

A tiny leaf was pasted between Su Quanzhong's brows. Not only him—every one of his three thousand men had one as well.

What Chong Houhu's camp saw was billowing fog, but in Su Quanzhong and his men's eyes, it was entirely different. Outside was bright as day!

As Chong Houhu slept soundly, he suddenly heard earth-shaking cries of battle outside!

He jolted awake from his dreams!

"Men! What has happened?!"

A guard hurried inside!

"Reporting to Lord! Troops from Ji Province City have come charging in! We do not know how many there are—their battle cries shake the heavens! Lord, rise quickly and flee!"

Chong Houhu broke out in a cold sweat. They actually came... but where were the scouts he had deployed?

Why had not a single one responded?

But this was no time to dwell on that. He hurriedly led his men out, with Chong Yingbiao guarding Chong Houhu from outside.

"Father! Hurry, follow me!"

Chong Yingbiao was a fierce general as well. He cut down several Jizhou soldiers blocking the way, then mounted his horse and charged outward.

Just then, Zhao Bing spotted Chong Houhu. He shouted, "Lord! Young Master! Chong Houhu is here!"

Hearing the shout, Su Hu and Su Quanzhong immediately headed toward Zhao Bing.

Zhao Bing cleared the way ahead, cutting down an unknown number of Great Shang soldiers.

Before long, the three caught up with Chong Houhu and his son.

"Chong Houhu! Where do you think you're running?!"

Su Hu shouted and thrust his spear straight at Chong Houhu's back.

Chong Yingbiao had no time to stop him. His eyes nearly split with rage. "No!"

At that moment, a Long Blade swept in from the side. Bang!

Su Hu's spear was jolted upward. One man clad in silver armor and another in golden armor came from either side. Seeing them, Chong Houhu and Chong Yingbiao breathed a sigh of relief—it was none other than their generals, Jin Kui and Huang Yuanji.

But several Jizhou generals had caught up as well...

After all, they could see clearly even at night. In contrast, the men of Great Shang could only watch dense fog roll toward them.

Jin Kui and Huang Yuanji shouted, "Lord, Young Master, go! We'll hold the rear!"

Chong Houhu gritted his teeth. "Go!"

Chong Yingbiao shielded Chong Houhu as they hurriedly withdrew.

Once outside the encirclement, Chong Houhu was so furious he began howling, "That Jizhou rebel brat is truly detestable!"

Who told you not to listen to me? I warned you long ago to stay alert, but you wouldn't... What's the use of howling now? Chong Yingbiao thought.

Of course, he only grumbled about it in his heart.

Then hoofbeats sounded from behind them. Father and son were secretly alarmed. Could they have caught up?!

The two hurriedly formed up, ready to meet the enemy.