Zhong Heng strongly opposed the Dragon King's decision. "It isn't worth the risk, Dragon King. Even if Golden Peng Fortress cuts down all its assassins, as long as Unrivaled King remains inside, it will still be a wolf's den and tiger's lair. The best way to deal with it is to flatten it beneath an army and burn it to the ground. There's no need to test its depths. Dragon King, think this over."
Gu Shenwei insisted on his decision and made thorough preparations: Zhong Heng commanded Shule [***] in the west, Dugu Xian took control of twenty thousand Central Plains troops in the east, and Wu Zongheng remained stationed at the Dragon Army camp. Everyone entered a state of readiness for battle.
The nearby Golden Peng Army was alarmed. It shut the camp gates and even recalled its scouts.
Gu Shenwei invited Central Plains Deputy Envoy Sun Chengqi to accompany him to Golden Peng Fortress, bringing along more than ten martial artists from the Central Plains, including Luo Qikang. Only four of his own subordinates followed him: Shangguan Fei, Shangguan Hong, Chu Nanping, and Tu Gou.
One morning in the first lunar month, the Dragon King and the Central Plains men entered Jade City through the east gate and headed to Golden Peng Fortress as guests.
The procession was not as grand as the time the Central Plains envoys had marched through the city. There were only a little over a hundred guards, yet they drew an even larger crowd.
Along the way, the people maintained a solemn silence and bowed to the Dragon King in greeting, as if he had already become the master of Jade City.
After passing through the North City gate and climbing the winding mountain road, the surroundings immediately grew deserted. Most of the