Those Who Bully My Lord—Die!!

Zhuge Yan threw back his head in laughter and walked away.

Zhou Xuan and Zhuge Tong hurried over to Zhuge Ming.

Zhou Xuan took both children's hands, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"This really is the only way to keep Ming from going to the battlefield...

"Tong'er, you're still young. Let Mother bear this suffering for you.

"Try to find a man you like and marry him.

"At least then, you might be a little happier in marriage..."

"But Mother..."

Zhuge Tong wanted to say more, but Zhou Xuan stopped her.

Zhou Xuan turned to Zhuge Ming.

"Your father is already dead. I don't want to see my son die on the battlefield too...

"As long as you can both live well, it doesn't matter how much hardship or exhaustion I, your mother, must endure..."

Seeing his mother and sister's reddened eyes, Zhuge Ming felt terrible.

He clasped his mother's rough hand in return and said gently, "Don't worry, Mother, Sister. Believe me, our hard days... are already over.

"As for that Zhuge Yan... he won't live past today!"

"Huh?"

Zhou Xuan and Zhuge Tong looked at the boy's resolute expression, their hearts full of confusion.

Yet Zhuge Ming offered no further explanation. He merely flashed a bright smile.

"I'm hungry~ Mother, Sister, is the food ready?"

Zhou Xuan and Zhuge Tong exchanged a glance.

They did not know why the child had changed the subject.

But since he did not wish to say more, they would not press him.

Zhuge Tong reached out and pinched Zhuge Ming's cheek, forcing a bitter smile.

"You little rascal, you've had intelligence and composure beyond ordinary people ever since you were young.

"Since you've said so, your sister can feel a little more at ease.

"The food is ready. It's your favorite carrot fried rice. Go wash your hands and wait."

"Okay~"

Zhuge Ming answered, then skipped off like a child to wash his hands.

Though he was an adult inside, he often tried his best to act like a child so his family would not worry.

But no one noticed that at this moment, his gaze was terrifyingly calm.

As he washed his hands, he began planning his next move...

After a fairly warm lunch, Zhou Xuan and Zhuge Tong went to work in the fields.

To provide the frontline soldiers with a steady supply of provisions, the villagers had to spend most of every day doing farmwork.

Those who knew how to weave or forge iron could do other kinds of work.

But because every household had to turn in grain once every six months, even though Zhou Xuan and Zhuge Tong, two frail women, could weave, they still had to work in the fields to meet their grain quota.

As for Zhuge Ming, he was only six years old and could only do light, auxiliary work.

Spoiled by his mother and sister, he had barely ever worked in the fields.

Even now that he had awakened his martial soul, his mother and sister still did not want him to work in the fields.

After all, he would have to begin training in the military camp tomorrow. This was his last carefree day...

In the past, Zhuge Ming might have felt guilty.

But now, he truly had something more important to do than farming!

Watching the mother and daughter leave, Zhuge Ming looked around this small yet warm home.

His mother and sister had already left, yet his soul power level still had not risen.

It seemed his guess had been correct. He had to seize ownership of this house from his mother, Zhou Xuan, before his soul power level could increase.

But of course he would not do that, because there was a far more convenient method!

Before that, however, there was one matter he needed to handle first...

At that thought, Zhuge Ming's gaze instantly turned cold.

Meanwhile.

After leaving Zhuge Ming's home, Zhuge Yan headed straight back to his own.

As the village's only level-nine soul warrior, although he had yet to become a soul master, he had no longer needed to be conscripted to the front lines ever since awakening his martial soul at the age of six.

He did not even need to farm. Every day, many women brought him food.

They all hoped he would marry them, allowing their families to receive more privileges and live relatively comfortable lives...

When Zhuge Yan arrived at his door, he saw several food baskets already waiting beside it.

He casually lifted the towels covering the baskets. Seeing the corn bread, thin porridge, and pickled vegetables inside, his face immediately darkened. He kicked a basket away.

Food that the other villagers considered immensely precious scattered everywhere...

"What kind of pig slop is this? I'm sick of eating this crap! Don't you know to bring me some meat?!"

Zhuge Yan shouted at the top of his lungs.

However, most of those who had brought him food had already gone to work in the fields.

Only children under six and elderly women too old to work stood in their doorways, staring eagerly at the food scattered across the ground as they swallowed unconsciously.

Once Zhuge Yan entered his house with a cold face, the children rushed forward like wild dogs that had starved for days, frantically fighting over the food covered in dirt!

Some children even started brawling over it.

The children who managed to snatch some food would immediately bring it to the elderly members of their families.

Yet the elders would always kindly stroke their heads, tear off only a tiny bit of food for themselves, and return most of it to the children...

After returning home, Zhuge Yan lay directly on his bed and fell into a deep sleep.

That morning, while the mother of Zhuge Zhen, who had awakened a turtle martial soul, was not home, he had secretly gone over and had his way with Zhuge Zhen's sister. He was exhausted now.

Yet not long after he lay down, a burly figure silently appeared beside his bed.

Zhuge Yan, who had not yet fallen asleep, suddenly felt his vision darken.

It seemed something was blocking the light.

He instinctively opened his eyes, only to discover a strange man standing beside the bed!

The man's massive frame blocked the light, preventing him from seeing his features clearly.

Still, a chilling sense of terror surged uncontrollably through his heart!

Zhuge Yan tried to rise, only to discover in horror that he could not move his body!

Not a sound could leave his throat either!

It was as though an invisible giant hand had seized his body and clutched his throat, making even breathing difficult!

He immediately realized that the man before him was a terrifying existence capable of killing him in an instant!

Could someone capable of this be a Great Soul Master?

No, perhaps a Soul Elder—or even a Soul Ancestor!

Why would a powerhouse of that level suddenly appear in his home? Why would he attack him?!

He did not remember ever offending such a powerful expert?!

This has to be a dream! A terrible nightmare!

Yet the overwhelmingly real sensation of suffocation forced him to believe—it was reality!

For the first time, he felt death so close!

He felt that his sphincter could no longer restrain the urge to relieve itself. He could lose control of his bowels and bladder at any moment!

He could not speak.

All he could do was redden his eyes and use a pleading gaze to convey his desperate desire to live to the man before him!

Yet the man slowly raised a hand, his voice cold as ice.

"Those who bully my lord..."

"Die!!"