The setting sun cast its crimson glow upon the blue-stone slabs in front of the Li Mansion, creating a scene of bloody hues.
On the ground, blood had dried into a dark shade, and a faint scent of blood lingered in the air.
It was a grim reminder of the fierce battle that had just taken place...
On the rooftops of the houses lining the street!
Suddenly, dozens of figures in red and black attire appeared!
They wore white bone demon masks, their movements agile!
They leaped from rooftop to rooftop, like ghosts in the night.
The leader, clad in pure white attire!
A sunshade of bamboo sticks adorned her head, with heavy gauze hanging down, obscuring most of her face!
Her figure was light, like a fairy, and she leaped down, landing gracefully beside Kou Zhong!
This was Fu Jun Ao.
She knelt on one knee, her voice respectful:
"Greetings, Young Marshal!"
The dozens of Unreliable Men behind her followed suit!
They all knelt on one knee, their voices echoing loudly:
"Greetings, Young Marshal!"
Kou Zhong looked at Fu Jun Ao, warmth in his eyes, and smiled:
"Jun Ao is back, how did things go?"
Fu Jun Ao rose, her expression solemn as she replied:
"Reporting to the Young Marshal, this morning, Chen Lao Mou led two thousand of the Young Marshal's Army and successfully took over Ryukyu!"
"The Dongming Sect's Dongming Madame, Shan Mei Fang, has surrendered, and only a few dozen of the Young Marshal's Army were injured."
Kou Zhong nodded slowly, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He said in a clear voice:
"Well done! Go back and have Bu Tian Zhi prepare rewards for the brothers."
His gaze turned towards the new recruits bearing scars, they were still young!
But having been tempered by the battle, each one appeared more resolute!
Kou Zhong spoke again:
"Ling Shao! Once we return, prepare wound medicines and Golden Marrow Pills for the new brothers!"
"Make sure the compensation for the fallen brothers is in place!"
Xu Zi Ling immediately responded in agreement!
The remaining new recruits of the Young Marshal's Army shouted in unison:
"Thank you, Young Marshal!"
Their eyes shone with fervent passion, seeing Kou Zhong as a god of war!
The scene of Kou Zhong instantly killing a Grandmaster unfolded before their eyes!
How could they not be filled with admiration for Kou Zhong!
At this moment, Shan Xiu, the tall and thin Dongming Sect protector beside Li Xiu Ning, exclaimed in surprise:
"What did you do to the Dongming Sect?"
Shan Wan Jing, regaining her composure, rushed to Kou Zhong's side and asked anxiously:
"My mother, my mother..."
"Slap!"
Fu Jun Ao slapped Shan Wan Jing across the face, silencing her instantly.
Before Kou Zhong could speak, Fu Jun Ao sternly questioned:
"Are you now a member of the Dongming Sect, or of my Young Marshal's Army?"
Shan Wan Jing felt the burning pain on her cheek!
She glanced at Shan Xiu, then at Kou Zhong, finally closing her eyes and resolutely declaring:
"I am now a member of the Young Marshal's Army!"
Only then did Fu Jun Ao nod in satisfaction, explaining:
"Your mother did not engage us in a bloody battle, but wisely chose to surrender!"
"There was a group of people, led by Shang Ming, who stubbornly resisted and were executed on the spot."
Upon hearing this, Shan Wan Jing breathed a sigh of relief!
However, when she heard the news of her fiancé's death, she actually started to laugh foolishly.
Kou Zhong ignored the foolish girl and turned to Li Xiu Ning, whose face was pale.
He asked with a hint of amusement in his voice:
"Those cavalrymen behind Li Miss, were they there to welcome our arrival?"
Li Xiu Ning's face stiffened, but she didn't know how to respond.
Chai Shao beside her shrank even further behind Li Xiu Ning.
He was afraid of being noticed by Kou Zhong...
Seeing Li Xiu Ning remain silent, Kou Zhong didn't get angry.
Instead, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back and said calmly:
"Li Miss, you have plotted against us in countless ways, wanting to make us into the blades in your Li Clan's hands!"
"But you didn't expect our strength to be so formidable, not only did we crush the Iron Cavalry Society, but we also took over Ryukyu!"
With that, Kou Zhong suddenly chuckled:
"However, the two hundred elite Xuanjia Jingqi sent by your Li Clan cannot return empty-handed..."
"Why don't we have a battle?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Unreliable Men and the Young Marshal's Army echoed his sentiment!
The sounds of weapons being drawn echoed again!
A chilling aura of slaughter swept towards Li Xiu Ning and her company!
Even the seasoned Xuanjia Jingqi couldn't help but tremble in their hearts!
Li Xiu Ning feigned composure, offering a forced smile and replying:
"Young Marshal, we have no intention of being your enemies..."
"We intended to support the Young Marshal, but we underestimated your strength!"
Under the slightly crimson dusk.
Kou Zhong's eyes, like a bottomless lake, gazed at Li Xiu Ning with amusement.
A trace of panic flashed in Li Xiu Ning's eyes, her pupils constricting slightly.
She seemed to be trying her best to calm herself down...
Kou Zhong said in a deep voice:
"Today, the Iron Cavalry Society was destroyed, and the Li Clan's Xuanjia Jingqi did not lose a single soldier..."
"Taking advantage of the Shuanglong Bang's losses of over a hundred men, you eliminated three hundred cavalrymen!"
"The Iron Cavalry Society's Qing Jiao, Ren Shao Ming, and his two Grandmaster protectors were killed here!"
Li Xiu Ning's eyes trembled, and her face instantly turned pale!
She understood Kou Zhong's intentions – he was trying to elevate them, the Li Clan!
A chill ran down her spine, but she couldn't retaliate...
The Shuanglong Bang was targeted because the taller the tree, the stronger the wind that blows it down!
The Yuwen Clan was the same, and their Li Clan would be no different...
Kou Zhong's face returned to its usual calm, he said no more and turned to leave.
His figure was upright, he said without turning back:
"Li Miss, don't refuse my kindness..."
Xu Zi Ling and Fu Jun Ao didn't cast another glance at Li Xiu Ning, they turned and followed behind Kou Zhong.
Shan Wan Jing, however, looked at Shan Xiu and Li Xiu Ning with a mix of emotions in her eyes.
She gritted her teeth, without greeting them, and turned to follow behind...
Their backs, silhouetted against the dusk, appeared particularly tall and cold!
It seemed as if an invisible power of dominance and terror resided behind them!
Li Xiu Ning and her company couldn't help but tremble in their hearts.
Hong Fu Nu watched Kou Zhong's group disappear around the corner of the street.
Only then did she seem to relax, sweating profusely as she asked Li Xiu Ning:
"Miss, they..."
Li Xiu Ning regained her senses, her expression dull as she lowered her head and said nothing.
This was the first time she had felt such a sense of defeat!
The intelligence she always prided herself on had been defeated by Kou Zhong's absolute strength...
Chai Shao, on the other hand, cleared his throat beside her, trying to cover up his previous cowardice!
He turned to Li Xiu Ning and said: "Ning Sister, since the Shuanglong Bang has bestowed this merit upon us, we will accept it all!"
With that, Chai Shao instructed the Xuanjia Jingqi behind him to start clearing the battlefield!
They collected the corpses of the Iron Cavalry Society left by the Shuanglong Bang.
Li Xiu Ning watched Chai Shao in the field, acting as if he had won a victory!
But she couldn't help but compare him with Kou Zhong...
Chai Shao now seemed like a clown...
...
That night, the Shuanglong Bang was ablaze with lights, laughter and joy filled the entire gang's base!
Kou Zhong and Xu Zi Ling sat in a room, the map before them illuminated by candlelight, clear and distinct.
Kou Zhong pointed at the Jiangdu Canal on the map, moving his finger upward, and said to Xu Zi Ling:
"Ling Shao, we will mobilize the warships in a few days, sail along the canal..."
"It's time for us to leave Jiangdu!"
"There is no suitable place for development in this Jiangdu anymore."
Xu Zi Ling nodded solemnly.
Fu Jun Ao, with a weary expression, walked in from outside and reported to Kou Zhong:
"Zhong Shao, the Unreliable Men and the Cavalry Camp have wiped out the Iron Cavalry Society, and the seized goods are plentiful!"
"Among them are gold and silver treasures, weapons, and armor, all being transported back continuously."
"There are also over five thousand horses, mostly pack horses and a few warhorses!"
Kou Zhong heard this and couldn't help but smile with satisfaction!
The gold and silver treasures weren't much, but over five thousand horses were a considerable gain!
Since ancient times, both warhorses and pack horses were crucial military resources!
Horses played a vital role in transporting troops and supplies!
Fu Jun Ao continued:
"The story of the Li Clan eliminating three hundred cavalrymen that you mentioned earlier, Zhong Shao, has spread!"
Kou Zhong smiled enigmatically, then relaxed his expression.
Seeing Fu Jun Ao's tired look, he softly said:
"Jun Ao, take care of yourself, don't overwork yourself!"
As he spoke, a porcelain bottle appeared in his hand, which he handed to Fu Jun Ao:
"Take these Golden Marrow Pills, you know their effects."
Fu Jun Ao took the bottle with a smile.
Xu Zi Ling, seeing the interaction between the two, felt a sense of confusion.
When did Zhong Shao and Fu Miss become so close, it felt different from before...
Kou Zhong naturally noticed Xu Zi Ling's unusual gaze, he coughed lightly and handed him another bottle:
"You won't be left out, Ling Shao!"
"Now that we have so many horses, you can reach the ferry faster and sail upriver!"
Xu Zi Ling happily took the bottle, then straightened his posture and said:
"I will not disappoint the Young Marshal!"
With that, he left the room immediately, acting swiftly according to Kou Zhong's instructions...