The Outcome Was Decided, and the Army Welcomed Back Its True Commander!

Tension gripped every heart.

Though it was midday, the air felt oppressively still.

Only the thunder of hooves broke through it, like a storm suddenly pouring from the heavens onto the long street. Every strike shook the soul and set hearts pounding.

"Closer and closer!"

The thought circled in everyone's mind.

At last, the long, suffocating wait came to an abrupt end.

They looked again!

Xie Linghao and his companions' eyes narrowed. Around the street corner, a river of iron slowly came into view.

The riders sat tall upon their horses, their armor black as night. Their stern faces carried a chill that made the onlookers shudder.

Zhang Lin, a man famed for his ruthlessness under the second prince, had shed plenty of blood himself. Yet before this flood of iron cavalry, even he felt an indescribable fear.

He swallowed. This was no ordinary army, but true veterans who had fought through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Above the troops, a blood-red "mist" of killing intent seemed to gather.

It hungered for prey!

As the army drew nearer, its commander's banner flew high, bearing a great "Lu."

Zhang Lin could no longer contain his shock. "The Lu Family Army... has entered the city!"

Deng Ping scanned the leading officers. Several familiar faces came into view—Feng Haiping and Dou Gu had led the army here in person.

In an instant!

The pressure crashed over them like mountains toppling and seas overturning. All around, the soldiers of the Five Northern Army Commands gripped their weapons, eyes fixed on the approaching force, fear rising in their hearts.

An unnameable tension filled the air!

From behind the screen, three women stepped out of its concealment and slowly approached the threshold of the Imperial City Bureau.

Tao Jiamin gazed at the staggering sight