“Yang Sheng, what exactly is going on here?”

Inside the tent, Feng Jiu’er asked in a voice so soft it was barely audible.

“Exactly.” Qiao Mu also lowered her voice as much as possible. “Jiu’er said she trusts you — she didn’t say she could trust everyone else.”

“What if you all appear to submit on the surface while attacking our brothers from behind? Wouldn’t we just be inviting wolves into the house?”

“Jiu’er, Qiao Mu — you can set your minds at ease about that.” Yang Sheng glanced left and right at the women before him and said quietly, “We’ve already agreed on this. Jiu’er is a divine physician, and you certainly have no shortage of medicines on hand.”

“Every brother who surrenders is willing to take Jiu’er’s medicine. If we aren’t honest with you, you won’t give us the antidote, and we’ll have nowhere to go but death.”

“My goodness! Are your brothers really all so capable of bending and stretching?” Qiao Mu furrowed her brow. “That’s not medicine — that’s poison!”

“Yes. It’s poison.” Yang Sheng closed his eyes, drew a long breath, then slowly opened them again.

“Even if Jiu’er doesn’t feed us any poison, after three months, these guards will still be unable to escape death — myself included.”

“What do you mean?” Feng Jiu’er’s crescent brows creased. “Are you saying all of you have already taken poison?”

Yang Sheng met her gaze and gave a slight nod.

“Lei Shenbao commits every manner of evil, yet he still commands a hundred thousand loyal guards. Don’t you find that strange?”

“What kind of person — to keep his own brothers in line — would actually use poison all along?” Qiao Mu was so furious she nearly seized Yang Sheng’s arm.

Her gaze shifted, and she caught the slightly pained look in Yang Sheng’s eyes, then glanced down at her own hand.

“I’m sorry!” Qiao Mu, belated in her realization, released Yang Sheng.

“We talked through the whole night last night. Rather than spend our lives under Lei Shenbao’s control, we’d rather accomplish something worthwhile before we die.” Yang Sheng curved his lips slightly upward.

It was the first time he had ever smiled so falsely in front of Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu. That smile was full of helplessness.

“After all, this isn’t something that only concerns our own generation — it’s like my own family. After my father, there was me. If I have a son after me, that son will likely not escape this same fate.”

“Everyone knows full well that Lei Shenbao will make no compromise for us seven thousand men. There is no need for you to wait any longer.”

“Push in and attack. If you succeed, you can also restore a clean sky to the people of Li City.”

Yang Sheng let out a soft sigh and lifted his gaze to Feng Jiu’er. With a thud, he dropped to his knees.

“Jiu’er, please give us the medicine. It’s all right.”

“This is a form of protection for your own brothers — it is different from Lei Shenbao’s methods. You have absolutely no reason to blame yourself.”

“Jiu’er.” Qiao Mu pressed her lips together and looked at Feng Jiu’er.

“Very well.” Feng Jiu’er finally gave a nod. “I will have the medicine prepared today.”

Feng Jiu’er seized Yang Sheng’s arm, and Qiao Mu took hold of his other arm.

Yang Sheng, who had just been pulled into the tent by two beautiful women, was pulled back out again.

The three leaders who had watched them go in and come back out were all left stunned, unable to find words.

Feng Jiu’er looked at them and said softly, “Yang Sheng has told me your intentions.”

“Since you truly mean to submit, the sincerity that should be shown must be shown.”

“Yang Sheng has fulfilled his task. He is now one of Dragon Shadow’s own, and he is entitled to be exempted from the medicine you spoke of.”

“As for you — and the brothers under your command — you may only act as you yourselves described, for now.”

“I hope that one day you will all become true members of Dragon Shadow — genuine Dragon Shadow people.”

“As long as you are members of Dragon Shadow, I will not stand by idly while the poison in your bodies runs its course.”

“However, when Lei Shenbao administered the poison, I may not yet have been born, so I cannot make you any promise at this time.”

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips lightly together and waved her hand. “Go over there for now. In a short while, I will have the brothers bring food to you.”

“Go back and make it clear to your brothers: if they surrender, they must take the medicine I prescribe.”

“My medicine requires an antidote within five days — not as long as three months.”

“There is one more thing: once battle begins, I will likely assign you all to the front line.”

“Go back and think it over carefully. If you’re willing to stake it all, Dragon Shadow’s gates will open to everyone. If you’re not willing, then wait for Lei Shenbao to come and rescue you.”

Feng Jiu’er glanced at Xing Zizhou, then waved her hand once more. “Take them back.”

“As for food supplies — provide as much as you can. I’ll send word to Zhao Yusheng right now and have him bring grain over.”

“Understood.” Xing Zizhou gave a nod and looked at Yang Sheng. “Let’s go.”

“Right.” Yang Sheng nodded, then turned and led his three brothers away.

Di Wuya and Feng Jiang did not give Lei Shenbao much time to catch his breath. Very soon, they launched the assault on the city.

In the space of just one day and one night, the great army entered the city and continued to press the attack deeper inside.

At the same time, the Yue Family Army, which had broken through Li City’s southern gate, and the Longwu Army, which had breached the eastern gate, were both steadily closing in on the center of Li City.

Lei Shenbao’s guards were pressed back further and further. The survivors among them finally retreated westward, to a township near the Song River.

Dragon Shadow, the Yue Family Army, and the Longwu Army were divided across three positions, surrounding the largest stronghold in Li City — the Lei Family Township.

From the day fighting broke out to this very day, exactly twelve days had passed.

The Lei Family Township was not only the largest and most prosperous place in Li City — it was also an exceptionally strong defensive position.

It was ringed by mountains on three sides, and by a river on the fourth.

The mountains on those three sides could be described, without exaggeration, as layer upon layer of deep, verdant ranges — not at all easy to cross.

This was the ancestral homeland of Lei Shenbao. He had moved away from it at some unknown point in the past.

The rider atop a horse looked out at the unbroken mountain ranges ahead and could not, for a moment, figure out how the enemy had managed to get inside.

In the end, the horse’s head was turned, and the great column of troops headed back.

Wherever the war had swept through, it left ruin and devastation behind. Every civilian who could escape had surely not stayed behind.

The army made camp in the villages nearest the mountain forests.

They rested and recuperated their strength, adjusted their plans, and prepared for the final assault.

As night fell, the lookouts on the high platform spotted an approaching column.

The news quickly reached Feng Jiu’er’s ears.

She listened to Yu Jingfeng’s report, rose from her seat, and stretched lazily.

“A’Jiu.” Feng Jiu’er tilted her head and looked at the man seated at her side, his back still perfectly straight.

“It’s probably Sister Hua who has arrived. I’ll go out and take a look.”

“Yu Jingfeng, go with her.” Di Wuya raised his eyes and glanced at Feng Jiu’er.

“No need.” Feng Jiu’er twisted her waist again.

Sitting there honestly was no better than going out for a walk. After sitting for two full hours, she was sure to end up with an aching back and sore waist.

“Having Jian Yi along is more than enough.” Feng Jiu’er turned back and gave Di Wuya a faint smile, then took her leave.

The slighted Yu Jingfeng looked at his master and blinked.

“Should I… still follow?”

“Follow.” Di Wuya cast him a sidelong glance. “If she’s lost, who takes responsibility?”

“I — I can’t take responsibility for that.” Yu Jingfeng shook his head vigorously.

He gave a light cough, asked no more questions, and turned and ran.

Lose Miss Jiu’er? How would he ever take responsibility for that? Give him ten lives, and he still wouldn’t be able to take responsibility for it!