Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen entered the Inner Hall and met Su Da Ji. Zhu Wushuang nodded. "Just as I thought. She's nowhere near as naturally beautiful as we are. No wonder the sect leader asked us to accompany her. So thin and withered—how could she win Zhou Wang's favor?"
Xiang Wuchen nodded. "You have a point."
"Father, what brings you here?"
"Da Ji, these two immortals wish to meet you! I'll leave you to talk."
Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen stayed behind. Three women could make a whole play between them, and soon they were chatting away.
Su Hu and Su Quanzhong returned to the front hall, delight in their eyes. They had won their first battle, after all, and that was cause for celebration.
"Quanzhong, summon the generals and advisers."
"Yes!"
Before long, the hall was filled with Ji Province's generals and advisers.
Su Hu said, "The first battle may not have settled victory or defeat, but our position is far from good. Great Shang will surely send elite troops and capable commanders. A grave calamity is bearing down on Ji Province!"
One of his generals, Zhao Bing, considered this for a moment before stepping forward. "Marquis, we did well in the first battle, but we've angered Great Shang. You also wrote that rebellious poem the other day, a crime that won't be pardoned. What's more, the man who came today was Chong Houhu, one of the Four Great Vassals. Even if we scrape out a victory over him, we won't defeat him outright. When dozens of other vassals arrive, Ji Province will be in peril! Though Ji Province bears the name of a prefecture, it's no more than a tiny patch of land. Before a great army, it could be reduced to ashes in an instant. We might as well go all the way: break out under cover of darkness, then pledge ourselves to a worthy ruler."
Su Hu thought it over. "An excellent suggestion."
That night, Su Quanzhong assembled three thousand soldiers for a surprise attack. Just then, three figures emerged from the Inner Hall, laughing and talking. They were Su Da Ji, Zhu Wushuang, and Xiang Wuchen.
"Immortals, what are you..."
Da Ji said, "Father, my two elder sisters are extraordinary women. We got along so well that we've just become sworn sisters. We'll share blessings and hardships alike."
"Ah... What?"
Su Hu froze. What on earth? They had become sworn sisters just like that? Was this how immortals did things now?
Still, he said, "Wonderful, wonderful..."
"Marquis, have you come up with a plan?"
Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen were Third Generation Disciples of the Interception Sect. They had never stood out much within the sect; the original Investiture of the Gods World had not even mentioned them. Even so, both were genuine Heavenly Immortals who had cultivated their way up step by step.
They could not easily intervene directly in mortal affairs, but lending a little assistance was no problem.
"Immortals, the situation is..."
He explained the plan. Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen exchanged a glance. "Oh? Is that so?"
They considered it for a moment. "Marquis, Great Shang's camp may have extraordinary people and clever strategists. How could they fail to anticipate a night raid?"
"Ah..."
Su Hu stopped short. That had not occurred to him.
"Quanzhong, come back for now... Don't act rashly!"
Xiang Wuchen stopped Su Hu. "Don't panic. Let me work a little magic."
Su Quanzhong had heard that the two female immortals had knocked Mei Wu flat. With Mei Wu out of the way, he believed no one could match him and felt no fear. Besides, the immortals had become sworn sisters with his younger sister and were helping them. Surely everything would be fine.
In Great Shang's camp.
Chong Houhu was still drinking and making merry. Taking tiny Ji Province seemed like nothing to him.
Chong Yingbiao urged him, "Father, we should be careful. We've come into unfamiliar territory, and darkness hides what's ahead. If they raid our camp, we'll be in trouble!"
"It's fine. Do you... do you think your father hasn't thought of that? I posted scouts on every side long ago. If anything happens... we'll know. Besides, the moon is full tonight. What are you afraid of?"
Chong Houhu had drunk quite a bit. He considered the campaign against little Ji Province an easy assignment. It was a speck of land—how hard could it be to take?
When he returned to court, the Great King would surely reward him.
Unable to persuade him, Chong Yingbiao stamped his feet in frustration, but there was nothing he could do.
He went outside and found it was indeed bright. The moon shone overhead, and despite the hour, he could see far into the distance. Perhaps he really was worrying too much.
With that thought, Chong Yingbiao returned to his tent.
At midnight, three thousand soldiers mustered in Ji Province City. Su Quanzhong urged his horse forward. Just then, dark clouds spread across the sky, blotting out the once-full moon.
Worse still, a thick fog descended over Great Shang's camp. The soldiers paid it little mind. The weather could change in an instant; there was nothing strange about that. And with fog this dense, would raiders even be able to find the camp?
Little did they know that the three thousand soldiers had already arrived!
A tiny leaf was stuck to Su Quanzhong's brow. Every one of the three thousand under his command wore one too.
To those in Chong Houhu's camp, dense fog rolled in on every side. But to Su Quanzhong and his men, it was as bright as day!
Chong Houhu was sleeping soundly when battle cries suddenly shook the heavens outside!
He jolted awake!
"Guards! What's happening?!"
A guard hurried in!
"Marquis! Troops from Ji Province City have attacked! We don't know how many there are. Their battle cries are shaking the heavens. Please, get up and escape!"
Cold sweat broke out all over Chong Houhu. They really came? But where are the scouts I posted?
Why hasn't a single one reported back?
There was no time to dwell on it. He gathered his men and rushed out, with Chong Yingbiao protecting him.
"Father! Follow me, quickly!"
Chong Yingbiao was a fierce warrior himself. He cut down several Ji Province soldiers blocking their path and charged onward on horseback.
Just then, Zhao Bing spotted Chong Houhu. He roared, "Marquis! Young master! Chong Houhu is over here!"
Hearing the call, Su Hu and Su Quanzhong immediately headed toward Zhao Bing.
Zhao Bing cleared the way ahead, cutting down one Great Shang soldier after another.
Soon, the three caught up with Chong Houhu and his son.
"Chong Houhu! Where do you think you're going?"
With a roar, Su Hu thrust his spear at Chong Houhu's back.
Chong Yingbiao had no time to stop it. His eyes nearly split with fury. "No!"
At that moment, a long blade swept in from the side. Clang!
Su Hu's spear was knocked upward. Two men approached from either side, one in silver armor and the other in gold. At the sight of them, Chong Houhu and Chong Yingbiao breathed a sigh of relief. They were their generals, Jin Kui and Huang Yuanji.
But several of Ji Province's generals had arrived as well...
They could see perfectly well at night. The men of Great Shang's camp, by contrast, could see only billowing fog.
Jin Kui and Huang Yuanji shouted, "Marquis, young master, go! We'll hold them off!"
Chong Houhu gritted his teeth. "Go!"
Chong Yingbiao protected Chong Houhu as they hurried away.
Once they broke through the encirclement, Chong Houhu howled with anger. "That rebel of Ji Province is truly hateful!"
And whose fault is it for not listening to me? Chong Yingbiao thought. I told you to be on your guard, and you ignored me. What good will all that howling do now?
Of course, he kept those complaints to himself.
Then came the sound of hoofbeats behind them. Father and son were both alarmed. Had their pursuers caught up?
They hurriedly formed up to face the enemy.