Yunda had to admit one thing.

When Shen Tang spoke those words with Ji Moqiu's face, he wavered for a moment, but only for a moment. To admit that Shen Tang's words were correct was tantamount to admitting that his two hundred-plus years of life had been meaningless, and that everything he had persisted in was meaningless.

The pointlessness was more unacceptable to him than the mistake itself.

Yunda murmured, "I'm willing to be a guide, I'm willing to be a guide..."

Those emotionless eyes came alive.

He laughed heartily: "What a fine travel permit!"

Seeing Yun Da's unusual behavior, Shen Tang and the other two adopted a fighting stance, fearing that Yun Da might launch a sneak attack at the slightest provocation.

But Yun Da did not rush to make a move, nor did he take the three people's appearance to heart. He simply said in a regretful tone, "If the King of Shen had appeared earlier, a hundred years earlier, and coexisted with the former king in the same era, I can't imagine how wonderful that would have been."

Back then, the Wu Kingdom swept across most of the continent with overwhelming force. Wherever its iron hooves trod, all submitted. No ruler of that era could compare to the former king. Everything went too smoothly, so smoothly that this young nation lost its composure, forgetting that besides the open smoke of war, there were also unseen conspiracies and intrigues in the shadows, allowing treacherous people to take advantage of the situation.

A thousand-mile dike can be breached by an ant hole.

The downfall of the Wu Kingdom was also inseparable from the actions of tiny ants.

If there had been a formidable rival like Shen Tang back then, and the Wu Kingdom's ruler and his ministers had united under external pressure, perhaps the subsequent series of troubles would not have occurred, the story of that era would have been more exciting, and the First Emperor would not have lamented the loneliness of being invincible in the world.

Shen Tang: "..."

Why does Yunda's praise sound like an insult?

"If I had awakened more than a hundred years ago, you would either be one of my generals or my prisoner. And your former lord..."

Ji Moqiu interrupted, "Your subject."

Just two words were enough to provoke Yunda's glare.

"How dare you!"

Ji Moqiu didn't think he had said anything wrong: "Your ancestor was once a candidate for High Priest within the tribe. The High Priest's sole purpose in life is to serve the gods. If the Queen of Shen Kingdom were to awaken a hundred years earlier, not only would your ancestor have to serve her at her beck and call, but the entire Gongxi tribe would also become the sharpest blade in her hand. Not to mention this continent, even the Council of Gods—"

Ji Moqiu said coldly, "He should be ground to dust!"

What dares to use the name of a deity?

They even claim to be descendants of gods?

For that reason alone, he deserves to die without a burial place!

Ji Moqiu rarely revealed such a chilling murderous intent.

At this moment, he looks exactly like Gong Xi Chou himself!

Yunda: "..."

Despite being very unwilling to accept that the former ancestor had been changed from subject to object, he had to admit the truth of Ji Moqiu's words. If Shen Tang had woken up more than a hundred years ago, he would have been in the old territory of the Gongxi clan. This reclusive clan was at its peak, with many powerful members, even his former ancestor wouldn't have been able to rank among them.

Would the gods try to sow discord?

As soon as the idea took hold, dozens of Gongxi warriors, led by several high priests from Jimo, kicked over the stronghold of the Pantheon and uprooted all the branches on which they depended for survival.

Yunda briefly imagined the scene—let alone unifying the continent, the Kang Kingdom's army could probably start plowing the land from the far north all the way to the far south, planting crops wherever they fought.

If any piece of land doesn't belong to the Chen family, it's because the people below have neglected their duties!

Unfortunately, Shen Tang awoke after the Wu Kingdom's Gu calamity.

When only one or two kittens remained of the Gongxi clan.

She herself was exiled and suffered hardship along the way.

Comparing the two, the difference is truly enormous.

Yun Da said, "Thinking about it this way, it's not a pity."

Shen Tang: "..."

How much does this old man despise himself?

She wore a sour expression: "Lord Che specifically issued the challenge to ask me to 'return to my position,' but whether I 'return to my position' or not, Lord Che is just wasting his time. In that case, why be so stubborn? Wouldn't it be better to just retire peacefully?"

Those over two hundred years old shouldn't get involved.

They can just wait peacefully for Yun Ce and the others to take care of them in their old age and enjoy family life. This is what many old men dream of.

He had it all in his hands but didn't cherish it, and ended up ruining his reputation in his later years.

Yun Da was not fooled by her. Just because he was easy to fool did not mean that anyone could fool him: "King Shen, have you forgotten? These two people beside you are from the Gongxi tribe! Even if it wasn't for the righteousness you pursued all your lives, but just for the suffering of being trapped for a hundred years, I would never let you live! The debts owed by our predecessors must be repaid with our lives. Isn't that a matter of course? Blame Ji Moxing!"

Drawing a circle around oneself and imprisoning a beast for a hundred years—doesn't that count?

"That's the logic."

Shen Tang nodded thoughtfully, then changed the subject.

"Lord Che has suffered immense injustice over the past century and certainly deserves compensation. However, repaying with one's life is still too much. According to the laws of Kang, debts are settled upon death; even the debts of one's own parents cannot be repaid by their children. Moreover, High Priest Jimo Xing and Gongxi Chou are merely of the same clan, not related by blood. How about this, Lord Che? What do you want? As long as you are willing to speak and promise not to harm them, as long as it is within my power and ability, and does not violate morality or harm the world, I will certainly grant your request. What do you say, Lord Che?"

Kangguo had a set of compensation standards for wrongful convictions.

Yunda spent a long time in jail, but it's not that he can't afford to pay compensation.

They probably don't care about money, power, or status.

If it's about military fortune, I might consider agreeing.

Of course, if the amount is too large, she will draw up a written agreement for installment payments.

Yunda felt as if he had heard a huge joke.

"I want nothing but their lives!"

Upon hearing this number, Shen Tang raised an eyebrow.

Only two lives instead of three?

She was clearly excluded.

What can be done?

Shen Tang could only shake his head regretfully: "That's a real pity. Gong Xi Chou is my close friend, and the High Priest of Ji Mo is not only his own brother, but also my savior. I would rather risk my life than do something ungrateful or repay kindness with enmity!"

Tsk, this negotiation has fallen apart.

She thought there was room for negotiation.

At worst, they could persuade Yun Da to return Yun Ce and the other two.

She raised her hand and conjured a weapon.

He said coldly, "No need for further words, let's fight if we want to!"

Not long after she finished speaking, a faint ripple of energy emanated from a certain direction, followed by a slight tremor in the sand and gravel on the ground.

The sky at the edge of the horizon was tinged with an eerie red hue.

Shen Tang suddenly turned to look at Yun Da, her eyes filled with disbelief, which quickly turned into mockery: "Heh, Marquis Che is indeed loyal to Bei Mo. He lured the three of us out with a challenge, and then had Bei Mo launch a sneak attack."

There's nothing inherently wrong with this tactic, but its shamelessness rivals that of the White-Clad Crossing the River. If it were just an ordinary martial artist, it would be one thing, but for someone at the 20th rank of the Chehou realm to do this is tantamount to having the word "despicable" etched on their face.

No martial artist with even a modicum of self-respect would do such a thing.

Yunda also noticed the commotion over there.

He offered a rare explanation: "I don't know."

It was probably Tude or someone else who acted on their own initiative...

He also looked down on this kind of behavior.

A dark glint flashed in Shen Tang's eyes.

She never believed that Beimo would uphold martial virtue.

No sooner had they received the challenge than they ordered the entire camp to be on high alert, preparing for any potential ambushes. Given the Northern Desert's nature, how could they possibly let the opportunity of Shen Tang and his two top fighters being absent slip by? Tudege would most likely seize this chance to launch a pincer attack. At that point, Shen Tang and his two companions would be tied down by Yun Da, struggling even to protect themselves, let alone be able to escape and provide reinforcements.

Tudego doesn't need to win this battle either.

If he could simply turn the Kang Kingdom's camp upside down and set it on fire, he could deal a major blow to the morale of the Kang Kingdom's troops. With morale low, the longer the Kang Kingdom's army was delayed, the more disunited they would become.

In this situation, they might not even be able to outlast the Northern Desert, which is facing a food shortage, so a voluntary withdrawal is highly probable. What if Yunda also achieves some success, bringing back Gongxi Chou's head, or someone else's?

Ha! The Northern Desert can completely reverse its disadvantage and turn the tide. While controlling Shexing Pass, it can also further threaten Kunzhou!

It's like the First Emperor touching an electrical wire – he's won so many times he's numb.

The only flaw was that she was playing the abacus too loudly; the beads even hit her face, making it hard for Shen Tang to ignore. Yun Da also noticed Shen Tang's reaction, which was overly calm: "Judging from King Shen's reaction, you don't seem surprised at all, and you seem quite confident?"

Shen Tang smiled brightly and said, "If the opponent is a gentleman, then use the standards of a gentleman; if the opponent is a villain, then follow the ways of a villain. Doesn't Lord Che know whether Bei Mo is a gentleman or a villain?"

When fighting against the Northern Desert, one cannot have too high a moral standard; those with high moral standards find it hard to imagine how low the other side's bottom line can be.

Tudege has a very good plan.

Next time, I can apply to be an accountant in the King of Hell's realm.

Yunda: "..."

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Tudege is likely to be in trouble.

only--

Yunda glanced at the sun.

"Does Your Majesty consider me a gentleman or a villain?"

Shen Tang had a bad feeling: "None of them..."

Yunda is a madman!

Then the madman showed her some skills.

It turned into a flurry of snowflakes in front of her.

Shen Tang suddenly opened his eyes wide and cursed, "Fuck!"

The challenger who came to the meeting was not actually Yunda!

She was so angry that she threw the weapon on the ground.

Transforming into a telegraph machine, it kept beeping: "Yunda, you old bastard! I curse your ancestors for eighteen generations, I %￥#*&..."

There are no limits in the Northern Desert, and there are even fewer of those old men like Yunda!

She made a decisive decision: "Go back!"

The Northern Desert troops aided by rank 20 Marquises are entirely different from those without! Yun Da's assistance in the Northern Desert's surprise attack on the Kang Kingdom's camp, even with prior preparations, resulted in losses that Shen Tang could not accept. Ji Moqiu raised his hand and pressed on Shen Tang's shoulder, saying, "King Shen, there's no rush!"

Bei Mo's attempt to lure Shen Tang away with Yun Da's help was futile.

With him there, this distance is nothing more than a blink of an eye.

He raised his hand and summoned his wooden staff: "Let's go!"

Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.

Shortly after Shen Tang and his companions set off for their appointment, the Northern Desert mobilized two armies to launch a combined attack on the Kang Kingdom's camp. One army was naturally the elite force of Shexing Pass, led by Tudege, who deployed 60% of his elite troops, leaving the remaining 40% to guard the pass. The other army consisted of those who had previously failed in their raid on Zhuyue Pass, commanded by Tudege's trusted confidants.

According to the initial plan, the time difference should have been used to allow Tudege to capture Shexing Pass, while his confidants would capture Zhuyue Pass. Once both sides had secured their positions, they would jointly contain Yaori Pass, preventing Shen Tang from attending to both ends and keeping Kangguo's elite troops tied down there. Then, the two sides would coordinate from the left and right to launch a full-scale attack on the entire territory of Kunzhou.

They ruthlessly tore a piece of flesh from Kunzhou!

They joined forces to encircle and nibble away at the Kangguo troops in the northern desert.

Once digestion is almost complete, Kangguo will be within easy reach.

The plan was wonderful, but reality was cruel.

Tudege captured Shexing Pass, but Shen Tang cut off his food supply, causing him to develop blisters on his lips from anxiety. His trusted confidants failed to capture Zhuyue Pass along the way. Gong Cheng and the army coordinated to break through the border barrier, but the next second, the border barrier inexplicably rose again.

The defeated army of heroes was pieced together and reassembled on the spot.

On the city wall, Ning Yan stood with her hand on her sword, gazing at him.

Although he was looking up, Gong Cheng had the illusion of being looked down upon.

You have many more chances.

Gong Cheng's intuition told him that the border barrier was related to this person.

Tudege's confidant suddenly remembered something, slapped his thigh, and cursed angrily: "It's happening again—"

The exact same scene happened a few years ago.

At that time, Zheng Qiao and the allied forces of the Dragon Slayer Bureau were locked in a life-or-death struggle, while Kunzhou was controlled by the remnants of the Geng Kingdom's royal family and various warlords, making it a no-man's-land of chaos. The Northern Desert, having long coveted this land, would never miss such a golden opportunity.

The Northern Desert summoned its various tribes and assembled an elite force.

They launched a massive attack on the garrison guarding Yaori Pass.

In that battle, the Northern Desert lacked a powerful and courageous martial artist like Gong Cheng to assist them, yet they still managed to break through the Heroic Spirits' defenses and reach the border barrier. Zheng Qiao has done everything these past years except for human affairs; how much national fortune can the border barrier possibly offer?

The defenders were able to hold out entirely because the city's defenses were of high quality!

Despite fighting to the death, the border barrier was still breached.

Victory seemed within reach, and the iron hooves of the Northern Desert were poised to crush this obstructive pass, but at this critical juncture, a startling and supernatural event occurred! The border barrier rose once more!

This completely defies common sense.

That time, the Northern Desert troops were caught off guard.

The resurrected spirits of the defending heroes drove them back.

The Northern Desert forces were already unprepared, and coupled with internal discord, they had no choice but to give up and return home. They thought the Northwest Continent would remain in chaos for a while, allowing them to make a comeback once they were fully prepared. Little did they expect that they would eventually be met with the establishment of the Kang Kingdom.

The Northern Desert missed a golden opportunity.

The turning point in all of this was the reappearance of the border barrier!

And now it's happening again!

His trusted aide was so angry he was itching to bite.

Originally, he only planned to kill all the soldiers of Zhuyue Pass and turn them into a mound of corpses, but now he has changed his mind and wants to boil them all alive!

Unfortunately, Zhu Yueguan did not give him that opportunity.

Xun Zhen's in-game purchases have been credited to his account.

A scholar with a refined and eloquent mind managed to shake the power of the eighteen Grand Masters. Gong Cheng's side made no progress, and the Northern Desert troops couldn't conquer Zhuiyue Pass. Several attacks ended in failure, leaving behind a trail of corpses. The army had no choice but to sound the retreat and devise another plan.

No one expected that they would run into Kang Shi as soon as they turned around.

At that time, Kang Shi was leading troops to support Zhuyue Pass.

Upon seeing the unusual formation of the Northern Desert retreating troops, Ning Yan guessed that they might have been ambushed by reinforcements. She made a decisive decision to go out of the pass to meet them in the attack, encircling the Northern Desert from both the front and the rear.

Tudege's confidants barely managed to break through the encirclement.

They managed to gather the remaining forces, but suffered a 40% loss.

It took several days before communication with Shexingguan was restored.

He was determined to get revenge.

Fortunately, that day is not far off.

"My lads, let's seize the corpse of the King of Kang today!"

"Look what kind of woman she is!"

"Then use the heads of Kangguo's civil and military officials to build a Jingguan!"

＿|￣|●

Oh my god, it's already the 24th! I'm going out for the company's annual meeting on the 25th, and I don't even have any drafts saved up...