Zheng Lun Shows His Might

But when the figure drew near, they breathed a sigh of relief. It was Huang Yuanji.

Yet Huang Yuanji was in a miserable state, covered head to toe in blood and stripped of helmet and armor.

"Yuanji, how are you?"

Huang Yuanji shook his pale face. "I'm fine. It's just that General Jin Kui... he was trying to save me when that old bastard Su Hu ran him through with a spear!"

Huang Yuanji ground his teeth as he stared behind them.

Chong Houhu remained silent, his face dark. This time, the fault was his. If he had not stubbornly acted on his own and trusted himself too much, this would never have happened.

Chong Yingbiao saw that something was wrong with his father and immediately said, "Father, victory and defeat are common matters in war. Do not worry yourself too much. Once we regroup and rally our forces, we will kill our way back! We will surely tear that father and son, who defy Heaven's laws, into ten thousand pieces!"

"Go!"

As they fled northwest, more and more scattered soldiers gathered around them, until they numbered over two thousand in all.

Chong Houhu urged his horse forward. Ahead lay a mountain hollow, with Huang Yuanji leading the way. Just then, a cannon blast rang out, followed by killing cries that shook the heavens.

Several commanders turned even paler in fright. Immediately afterward, countless ambushing troops emerged from all directions.

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

The leader was none other than Su Quanzhong. No one knew where Su Quanzhong had sprung from.

Chong Yingbiao and the others hurriedly shielded Chong Houhu as they fought their way through. In the end, they paid the price in dead soldiers and fallen generals, but Chong Houhu still managed to escape.

However, Chong Yingbiao had taken a slash, and his arm was covered in blood.

At that moment, the sound of hoofbeats came from ahead once more. Chong Houhu thought to himself, My life ends here!

Who would have thought that the approaching general sounded somewhat uncertain? "Is that Elder Brother ahead?"

Elder Brother?

"Is that Heihu?"

Hearing that rough, bold voice, Chong Houhu was so moved that tears nearly spilled from his eyes. It was his own blood brother, Chong Heihu!

"Uncle!"

Chong Yingbiao was overcome with excitement as well.

Huang Yuanji let out a breath of relief. Just now, he had been prepared to sacrifice his life to accompany his lord. If the newcomers truly were enemies, then even if he died, he would ensure that Lord escaped first.

When Chong Heihu came forward and saw the miserable scene before him, he too cried out in alarm.

"Elder Brother! How did things come to such a wretched pass?"

"Alas, don't mention it! Who would have known..."

After Chong Houhu finished recounting what had happened, Chong Heihu gave a cold snort. "Elder Brother, do not be anxious. Tomorrow, we shall gather the army together and kill our way back!"

"Right!" Chong Houhu gritted his teeth in hatred.

As for Su Quanzhong, he returned to Ji Province with joy written across his face. After this great victory, his spirits soared with pride. He had never expected Great Shang's army to be so weak.

"Did you kill that Chong Houhu?"

Su Hu asked anxiously.

"I did not..."

"Why not?"

"The skies were dark and the earth dim. Your son feared there might be an ambush."

"Very well!"

Su Hu said nothing more.

Early the next morning, they suddenly heard earth-shaking battle cries and curses rising from below the city walls.

"Su Hu! You traitor, why don't you hurry down from the city and surrender!"

Su Hu rushed up onto the walls. One look made his face change in shock. At some unknown time, tens of thousands of troops had gathered below the city—several times more than the day before!

"Father, this..."

Su Quanzhong no longer dared speak of any great victory. There were simply too many enemy troops. With such numbers, even forcing an assault on the city would not be difficult.

"Who is cursing below?"

"I do not know. It is a burly man with a curly beard."

When Su Hu reached the walls, he saw that besides Chong Houhu, there was also a burly man with a curly beard. His features were rugged, and his voice was full and forceful as he hurled curses.

"Ah! It's actually him!"

"Father, who is he?"

"It is Chong Heihu, Chong Houhu's younger brother. Not only is this man highly skilled in martial arts, his command of troops is as divine as calculation."

Su Quanzhong's eyes shifted as a good idea suddenly came to him. "Father, why not ask those two immortal maidens for help? The two of them have now become sworn sisters with my younger sister!"

"This... that may work!"

Su Hu thought it made sense.

"Immortal Elders!"

"Greetings, Lord."

Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen exchanged a glance, uncertain why Su Hu had come.

"Immortal Elders, enemy troops are at the city walls and Ji Province is in peril. I beg you to lend us your aid..."

Zhu Wushuang thought, Help you? Drive back Great Shang? Then how are we supposed to enter the imperial harem?

But those words could not be spoken aloud. She said, "Lord, it is not that we refuse to help you. It is only that we already performed a rite yesterday. The two of us possess meager magical power and cannot perform it again. However, I can recommend someone from your Ji Province army. Perhaps he may be able to help you, Lord."

"Oh? Recommend someone?"

Su Hu was taken aback. You even know whether my army has capable people?

"Indeed. His name is Zheng Lun, and he is a grain transport officer."

"A grain transport officer?"

Just a lowly official, not even worthy of being called a deputy general. What ability could he possibly have?

Yet Su Hu could not say much more. "Many thanks to the two Immortal Elders!"

Out of trust in immortals, Su Hu still summoned Zheng Lun. The moment he saw him, delight rose in Su Hu's heart. He had never expected a mere grain transport officer to possess such imposing bearing.

With his dignified, gallant air, he looked like a fierce general. It was truly hard to imagine that such a man was merely a grain transport officer!

"Zheng Lun, enemy troops are at the city walls. As a man of Ji Province, are you willing to go forth and fight?"

Zheng Lun smiled. "Why not? Rest assured, Lord!"

Having said that, he was about to make preparations when fighting suddenly broke out beneath the city walls. Unable to stomach the foul insults from outside, Su Quanzhong had actually summoned troops and ridden out of the city.

He had thought that, no matter how formidable Chong Heihu was, he could not be overwhelmingly strong. Who would have imagined that Chong Heihu was not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also versed in magic? In the midst of battle, he found an opening to take out a large red gourd. His lips moved in incantation, and a cloud of black smoke immediately billowed forth. Then an Iron Beak Divine Eagle flew out of the smoke.

The enormous Iron Beak Divine Eagle spread its wings, blotting out the sky and covering the earth. In one strike, it knocked Su Quanzhong from his horse, while the horse beneath him was swallowed in a single bite by the Iron Beak Divine Eagle!

"Quanzhong!" Su Hu cried out in alarm, but it was already too late to save him.

Chong Heihu gave an order. "Bind him!"

Su Quanzhong was immediately trussed up like a dumpling!

Zheng Lun frowned. "Rest assured, Lord. I'll go down at once!"

Zheng Lun hurriedly summoned soldiers and horses, then headed out onto the battlefield.

Chong Heihu burst into laughter. "Su Hu, why have you not yet left the city to surrender? Could it be that you no longer want your son?"

At that moment, the city gates flew open, and a troop of men charged out from within. "Chong Heihu, don't be so arrogant! I am here!"

Zheng Lun rode a Water Eye Golden Eye Beast, while Chong Heihu rode a Fire Eye Golden Eye Beast.

"Who are you?"

"I am Zheng Lun, grain transport officer of Ji Province!"

Chong Heihu froze. He had not expected Ji Province to possess such a fine general as well. Zheng Lun stood over a zhang tall, with a dignified and gallant bearing. He was truly no ordinary man.

"Good! Let this Lord see what a mere grain transport officer like you can do."

With that, the two beasts faced one another and the two men began to fight. Once they had exchanged blows, Chong Heihu secretly marveled. He truly was a tiger of a general.

After several dozen rounds without a victor, Chong Heihu thought to himself, Why not use the divine eagle to take him down?

With that thought, he reached for the red gourd.

Zheng Lun knew it was magic. He hastily snorted, and a thunderous muffled sound burst from his nostrils. A streak of white light shot like lightning at Chong Heihu's face.

Chong Heihu's vision blurred and his ears rang. The next instant, he fainted and fell from his horse.

He was immediately seized by the Crow Army behind Zheng Lun.

It turned out that Zheng Lun had learned the Two Qi Within the Apertures from Du'e Zhenren of Kunlun Mountain, capable of drawing out people's souls and spirits.