Chen Hong’s target was Tang Xiaohua alone — and she was confident of victory.

Lei Shenbao was different. He wanted to meet the woman he desired, and he was now willing to negotiate a truce.

As long as Jiu’er was happy, as long as Jiu’er was willing to stay by his side — from this point on, he would eat nothing but sweet potatoes if that is what it took, and still count himself fortunate.

Lei Shenbao had been poisoned by Feng Jiu’er — so thoroughly that even Feng Jiu’er herself had not anticipated the effect.

Yet a man like Lei Shenbao — precisely because he could not have her — only found his condition growing worse and worse.

Perhaps, once he had gotten what he wanted, everything would change entirely.

“Master Lei, do not say I failed to warn you — even with Mao Zhongcai of Pingyuan City and the First Prince lending their aid, do not let yourself get carried away.”

“At a time like this, you are still preoccupied with a woman?” Chen Hong cast a glance at Lei Shenbao, then looked away.

“Had I known it would come to this, I never would have agreed to cooperate with you!”

“My Jiu’er is no real threat.” At the mention of Feng Jiu’er, Lei Shenbao’s expression softened. “Jiu’er loves money, and I am richer than kingdoms. She is a clever woman — she will come to understand, sooner or later.”

“This defeat was nothing more than underestimating the enemy. It doesn’t matter.”

“What actually matters now is that unnamed army attacking from the east — and your Yue Jianfei.”

“Has there still been no way to trace the origins of the eastern army?” The more Chen Hong looked at the man before her, the less she could stand the sight of him.

Li City and Yue City shared a border, and were the most prosperous among the cities in the surrounding area.

The man she had set her sights on had not disappointed her — the development of Yue City within just over a decade stood as the finest proof of that.

It was a pity. Why did he have to choose Tang Xiaohua?

Chen Hong had suffered no small number of setbacks, and she would certainly not rush headlong back into Yue City.

She had disappeared from sight for many years — not because she had given up, but because she was searching for a better opportunity, one that would let her strike a decisive blow.

Yet the more she observed, the more she found herself realizing she had chosen the wrong partner.

Lei Shenbao shook his head. “Still nothing to go on for now.”

“However, it is very likely they came from another country. Word is that not long ago, a number of ships docked on the shores near Heidi.”

“To think that Yue Jianfei has such capabilities — colluding with foreign factions. No wonder Jiu’er chose to cooperate with him.”

Lei Shenbao drew a deep breath and struck the table hard with his fist.

“If that army had made port on my territory at the time, I certainly would not have ended up in this position.”

“According to the brothers who managed to escape back, that army is exceptional in every regard — an absolutely outstanding force.”

“What a waste — that it all fell into Yue Jianfei’s hands!”

“I still stand by what I have said — Jianfei is not the kind of man who craves power or status. It is possible he is simply being used.” Chen Hong refilled her own cup of tea.

“Yue Jianfei neither craves wealth nor power?” Lei Shenbao fixed his eyes on Chen Hong, his brow furrowing.

“Have you lost all reason because of a pretty face?”

Chen Hong cast him a dismissive glance and could not be bothered to argue.

The one who had lost all reason over a pretty face — was that her, or was that him?

Lei Shenbao took a light sip of tea, then looked at Chen Hong again.

“Little Hong, you’d better find a way to get rid of the current Yue Furen as soon as possible!”

“Once you become Yue Furen, perhaps Yue City and Li City could be like Yi City and Yi City to the west — become sibling cities.”

“Weren’t they not long ago fighting each other to the death? And now look at them — they’ve made peace, and are even planning to merge into one city.”

“Those two cities are developing quite splendidly now. Even Feng Qiongcang would find it no easy matter to interfere.”

Something seemed to cross his mind, and the corners of Lei Shenbao’s mouth curled into a smile again.

Whenever Lei Shenbao wore a smile these days, it meant he was thinking of Long Jiu’er.

“To think Feng Qiongcang sent his own son to remain at my side — he truly does value me.”

“Fortunately, Jiu’er helped me root out the spy. It seems she still cares about me quite a bit.”

With a sharp crack, Chen Hong slammed her cup to the floor and rose to her feet.

“It must be Tang Xiaohua who saw through my plan — that is why they have been so slow to come in.”

“I am going to rework my formation. Will you join me?” Chen Hong fixed those penetrating eyes of hers on Lei Shenbao, her expression one of utter disappointment.

“If it were not for you being forever worried about harming your beloved, I would never have used such a simple formation. How laughable!”

“What is most laughable of all is that Long Jiu’er clearly has no interest in you whatsoever — even Lei Ming can see that she has some arrangement with Bao Lei — and yet here you sit, lost in your foolish delusions!”

Chen Hong exhaled sharply, and only then did the tension in her breath begin to ease.

“Lei Shenbao, Long Jiu’er is very fond of money — is that right?”

“Yes.” Lei Shenbao gave a faint nod, set his cup down gently, and stood.

“Then this battle — you must win it!” Chen Hong said in a firm, measured tone.

“If you lose, you will have nothing left at all, and she will not so much as spare you a glance!”

“Reflect on yourself!” Chen Hong swept her sleeve sharply, turned, and walked out.

“To think I was so blind — that I chose you as my partner!”

Lei Shenbao composed himself and stepped down from the main seat.

“Very well — I will follow your arrangements entirely. In this battle, we cannot afford even the slightest misstep.”

Without money, Jiu’er would certainly want nothing to do with him.

That very night, deep in the darkness, the three forces outside the mountains began to move simultaneously.

Before dawn on the fifth day, the three forces merged into one great army, concentrated at Point Two as Feng Jiu’er had designated.

As the morning light broke, before those inside the mountain had time to react, Long Yi stood at the very front of the formation, raised the battle standard, and led the army forward in attack.

The guards who had been lying in ambush in the mountain pass for five days and five nights never imagined the enemy would advance the moment daylight broke.

So many days had passed without a single sign — they had begun to assume those outside had given up entirely.

By the time they registered what was happening and prepared to launch an attack against the army moving through the pass, it was already too late.

Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu led one group of fighters while Yue Jianfei and Tang Xiaohua led another. Both groups had ascended the mountains through the night.

Just as the guards lying in ambush on the mountain heights were setting out the boulders and readying their arrows, those hidden at their backs made the first move.

A sweeping volley of arrows flew out, and the guards fell one by one to the ground.

These past few days, Feng Jiu’er and her people had not been idle.

The soldiers guarding this contingent of troops on the mountain had either been persuaded to switch sides, or were killed.

Without those preparations, how could the guards have had no idea that enemies were concealed at their very backs?

In this way, advancing the main army into the mountains became considerably easier.

Lei Shenbao and Chen Hong were not opposed to them coming in — they were in fact far more pleased to see them enter, knowing full well that the path ahead would be anything but easy.

Feng Jiu’er and Tang Xiaohua had weighed the advantages and disadvantages carefully before deliberately dragging out the time.

News of the army’s entry into the mountains was spreading swiftly back to camp.

Meanwhile, Feng Jiu’er and Tang Xiaohua, along with a number of their brothers, had taken a side path from a different direction, following on the heels of the fleeing scouts.

Lei Shenbao and Chen Hong traveled for several hours and arrived at the plum blossom grove before the Hour of Si.

Just as Chen Hong had finished dismantling the Barrier Formation, two guards came rushing over in a frantic state.

“Terrible news, sir — terrible news!”