Chapter 595 The Hunting Moment! (First Update)

If Grand Tutor Zhuang had momentarily thought he was seeing things, then the moment he uttered the words, "Are you getting cocky, or am I, Xiao Ji, too weak to lift my sword?", Grand Tutor Zhuang instantly confirmed that the person who had come was indeed Marquis Xuanping!

Therefore, his earlier guess was correct. Whether it was Xiao Heng's attempt to lure the snake out of its hole or the sudden appearance of Empress Dowager Zhuang, their fundamental purpose was to delay time and wait for the appearance of Marquis Xuanping!

But isn't that strange?

A few days ago, he received a memorial from the southern islands, saying that a group of pirates had escaped by ship and that Marquis Xuanping had gone to pursue them in victory!

Could it be that—

Those so-called reports of pursuing the victory were all fake. Marquis Xuanping was simply trying to cover up the truth; he was actually already on his way back to the capital!

Grand Tutor Zhuang gritted his teeth, looked at Marquis Xuanping, then at Xiao Heng, his anger rising. Father and son were two of a kind, their scheming was even more cunning than the old foxes in the court!

Marquis Xuanping glanced at the whip marks on Xiao Heng's face, his dangerous gaze falling on the hand of Grand Tutor Zhuang tightening the reins: "Which hand injured my son?"

This was the second time that Marquis Xuanping had personally acknowledged that Xiao Heng was his son.

He no longer pretended at all in front of Grand Tutor Zhuang, which was not a good sign. Xiao Heng's identity was still a secret, but there are some people in the world who can keep secrets forever.

Grand Tutor Zhuang's eyelids suddenly twitched. He had never been so afraid of Marquis Xuanping. After all, in terms of official rank and status, he was no less than Marquis Xuanping, and even had more seniority to rely on.

But right now... he was terrified!

He subconsciously glanced at General Nangong beside him.

“No need to look, he can’t escape!” After saying this, General Nangong frowned. Before he could react, Marquis Xuanping had already plunged the hilt of his broadsword into the ground.

His horse then leaped forward, startling Zhuang Taifu's horse, which bucked wildly on the spot and let out a series of neighs.

Grand Tutor Zhuang struggled to steady himself, but Marquis Xuanping's hand reached out to him without warning, grabbing his collar and ruthlessly pulling him off his horse.

"Marquis Xuanping—"

Grand Tutor Zhuang shouted angrily!

"You son of a bitch!"

Marquis Xuanping rudely threw the man to the ground.

He was a military general, and his noble and elegant demeanor in public was merely a facade; deep down, he was both savage and wild.

Ordinary people wouldn't resort to violence against an old and weak civil official like Grand Tutor Zhuang; they would at least enforce the law in a civilized manner. But is Marquis Xuanping an ordinary person?

He's not even human!

Marquis Xuanping bullied the frail old man without any psychological pressure. He not only threw the man to the ground, but also tightened the reins and let the horse's hooves kick over Grand Tutor Zhuang's right and left hands in succession.

Two crisp cracking sounds rang out in the air, followed by Grand Tutor Zhuang's agonizing wail.

After Marquis Xuanping finished riding, he turned his horse around and looked at him innocently: "I asked you which hand it was, but you wouldn't tell me, so I had no choice but to cripple both of them."

Grand Tutor Zhuang was utterly dumbfounded.

How could there be such shameless and arrogant people in the world!

He got the benefits but still acted innocent; that perfectly describes him!

Grand Tutor Zhuang spent most of his life navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom. Thanks to selling a good sister to the palace, he has enjoyed smooth sailing all these years. Even when someone tries to trip him up, they mostly do so in a roundabout and subtle way.

Who would believe that someone could cripple someone's hand in public?

Grand Tutor Zhuang had never suffered physical pain before, and he was in so much pain that he almost fainted.

He looked at Empress Dowager Zhuang, who was sitting quietly in a carriage not far away, watching this scene. Empress Dowager Zhuang's eyes were very calm.

She let go of the brother who had consumed her flesh and blood her whole life.

"Zhuang Jinse...you are so cruel..." Grand Tutor Zhuang coughed up blood and gasped for breath.

Is she the ruthless one?

There are people in this world who are used to eating the flesh and blood of others, and once others stop feeding them, they become unforgivably heartless and ungrateful.

But when they were devouring human flesh, they never thought that they should never have started eating in the first place!

Forget it, what's the point of talking about morality, justice, or kindness with this kind of person?

He is selfish to the core and incapable of thinking about others; otherwise, he wouldn't have done so many heinous things.

Empress Dowager Zhuang did not plead for him, and she didn't even look at Grand Tutor Zhuang anymore: "Aheng, come to your aunt."

She was referring to her great-aunt.

It's not me.

At this moment, Grand Tutor Zhuang truly realized that Empress Dowager Zhuang was not just being stubborn with him; she had genuinely given up on the Zhuang family. She had found a new family, one with whom she could trust and rely on despite not being related by blood.

Wasn't this how Empress Dowager Zhuang treated the Zhuang family in the past?

Unfortunately, apart from Zhuang Yuheng, no one saw her efforts. They just thought that she was a daughter of the Zhuang family and deserved to devote her whole life to the Zhuang family.

Xiao Heng turned and walked towards Empress Dowager Zhuang's carriage.

General Nangong's eyes darkened.

Marquis Xuanping drew his long sword and rode his horse to block him: "I'll deal with that old bastard later. Now it's time to settle the score between you and me."

Five years ago, he failed to protect his son, and this time he will not let those bastards succeed again.

General Nangong looked at Marquis Xuanping with a solemn expression.

He had heard of Marquis Xuanping's reputation: firstly, he was extremely shameless, and secondly, he was actually listed on the list of beauties of the six kingdoms!

I don't know how a grown man managed to squeeze up there!

His sister, Princess Nangong, was ranked after him!

I thought she was a delicate, sickly beauty, but who knew she was a martial arts master with a strong will and unyielding spirit!

General Nangong had already gathered enough information before coming to Zhao Kingdom. He squinted at Marquis Xuanping's waist and abdomen: "Xiao Ji, a first-rank martial marquis of Zhao Kingdom, I heard you have a back injury. You are no match for me. Are you sure you want to fight me one-on-one? Fine, I'll give you three moves."

Marquis Xuanping scoffed, "Who the hell wants to fight you one-on-one? Wouldn't it be better to gang up on it?"

"Chang Jing".

Marquis Xuanping lazily lifted his eyelids.

General Nangong saw a young man in black, accompanied by three masked warriors, leap from the ranks of the masked army, use his lightness skill to skim over the Dragon Shadow Guards on the open ground, and land menacingly beside Marquis Xuanping.

"Beat him up," said Marquis Xuanping.

General Nangong's eyes widened. How could this be so unethical? Shouldn't a duel between generals be decided in a one-on-one fight?

"Wait, you're wrong." Marquis Xuanping called out to Chang Jing, "It's to kill him!"

Chop off his son's fingers, haha!

General Nangong: "..."

Chang Jing drew his long sword.

It was a black iron sword with a bamboo leaf engraved on its blade.

General Nangong's expression changed drastically: "Dark Night Gate?"

Dark Night Sect, the most renowned assassin sect among the six kingdoms.

But isn't the Dark Night Gate located in the Upper Kingdom?

How could a master be here?

Is he still by the side of Marquis Xuanping?

Chang Jing followed him to the battlefield, and his martial arts skills improved considerably. His moves were filled with killing intent. He slashed his long sword at General Nangong, who hurriedly drew his sword to parry!

He managed to block it, but he was forced off his horse.

General Nangong was quite surprised.

Are all the experts in the Dark Night Sect this powerful?

You should know that he is a member of the Nangong family, and his martial arts skills are among the best in the six kingdoms.

Soon, he understood why the black-clad youth's martial arts skills were superior to those of ordinary Dark Night Sect masters.

He had seen that longsword before, because the tassel on the hilt was a gift from the King of Yan. He was there at the time, and the owner of the longsword was the current leader of the Dark Night Sect—Chang Kun!

Chang Kun... Chang Jing...

He looked at Chang Jing again and felt terrible.

This is the young master of the Dark Night Sect!

Marquis Xuanping, what price did you pay to invite the young master of the Dark Night Sect? My Nangong family will pay double!

General Nangong is now in a dilemma – if he doesn't use ruthlessness, he will die; but if he does use ruthlessness and kills the young master of the Dark Night Sect, and the Dark Night Sect comes to the Nangong family for revenge, he will still be dead!

General Nangong was not a scoundrel like Marquis Xuanping; he was a cultured soldier. Yet, tonight he mentally unleashed all the swear words he had ever used in his life.

Ignoring General Nangong's complex emotions, Marquis Xuanping rode his horse, wielding a long sword, and leisurely launched an attack on the Yan Kingdom's Dragon Shadow Guards and attendants.

His Ghost Mask Army numbered three thousand men. They might not be a match for the Yan Kingdom's Dragon Shadow Guards in a one-on-one fight, but when it came to coordinated combat, no one was stronger than them!

General Nangong's men were divided into two groups: one in the open area and the other in front of the canyon. Between the two groups were Empress Dowager Zhuang's carriage and her entourage.

Once Marquis Xuanping entered battle mode, he seemed like a completely different person. He rode a tall, fine horse and waved his command flag with a majestic expression.

The three thousand soldiers dismounted and split into three groups, each wielding shields and spears to surround two groups of Yan forces. The last group of soldiers protected Empress Dowager Zhuang's carriage with an impregnable fortress.

With the command flag raised, the Coiling Dragon Formation was activated, and the Flying Dragon Formation moved. It could be used for defense or offense, and every change in formation was flawless. On the other hand, the situation was not so optimistic for the Yan Kingdom.

Wave after wave of Dragon Shadow Guards fell, screams filled the air.

General Nangong watched helplessly as those formations he had never seen before mercilessly swallowed his army like the gaping maws of giant beasts. Meanwhile, he was entangled by the young master of the Dark Night Sect and three masked warriors, unable to even issue orders!

In that moment of distraction, Chang Jing thrust his sword at him, piercing his waist and abdomen, and then with a backhand swing, severed one of his arms!

(End of this chapter)