Chapter 413: It is my fault

The next moment.

An invisible ripple swept past.

The man clutching the jade seal, who had been sprinting, suddenly felt his hand empty and his body grow cold, instantly freed of all bonds.

Whoosh—

The silk pouch in his hand flew out first, landing on the ground.

Immediately after, from his bosom and sleeves…

Countless small items burst out—darts, medicine bottles, scattered silver—scattering across the ground like heavenly maidens scattering flowers.

The fastenings and buttons of his garments, from outer robe to inner lining, all burst open at once.

His clothing peeled off like a shed snake skin, sliding smoothly off his body to fall to the ground.

He was completely naked.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded.

Lu Qi shielded Xiao Ran, arriving just in time.

Xiao Ran blurted, "What kind of sorcery is this?"

Chu Yuan quickly covered Tuan Tuan's eyes, turned her around, and buried her face in his chest.

The man froze in place, face full of bewilderment, utterly unable to comprehend what had happened; he glanced down at himself and swiftly raised his hand to cover his lower parts.

Xiao Ningxun stepped forward and steadily picked up the silk pouch holding the jade seal.

The man came to his senses, let out a loud 'Ah—', grabbed the clothes on the ground to shield his vitals, and fled toward the rebels in an extremely awkward, comical posture.

His pale back stood out starkly amid the smoke and dust.

Tuan Tuan, held tightly by Chu Yuan and unable to turn her head, shouted, "Third Brother! Did you get what you were chasing?"

Xiao Ningxun laughed through tears: "Got it! Stay with the National Preceptor! Don't move!"

"Save the emperor!" he shouted, waving his hand.

Several people rushed into the grand tent and, together with Xiao Ningchen, fought the remaining assassins.

At the same moment, a shout of killing erupted behind the rebel forces like mountains collapsing and earth splitting.

Kill—

Xiao Yuanhang led the main force to plunge fiercely into the rebels' rear!

He fixed his gaze on the commander's banner bearing the character 'Lu'.

"Zhang Wu'an! Guard me as I seize the banner!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Wu'an understood instantly, took a squad of elites, flanked Xiao Yuanhang left and right, and marched straight to slay the commander's banner.

"General! Enemy troops behind us!"

Lu Yi turned his head and saw Xiao Yuanhang charging straight at him.

He broke through layer after layer of interception, his speed incredible.

He turned his horse, about to flee, when a loud shout came from behind: "Traitor!"

Xiao Yuanhang had already reached beneath his commander's flag.

Lu Yi raised his sword to block, but saw only a point of cold light rapidly expanding before his eyes.

Clang—crack!

The long saber was actually snapped in two by a single strike of the long spear!

The spear tip advanced unhindered, instantly piercing his chest mirror and exiting his back.

Lu Yi stared in shock at the spear shaft protruding from his chest, opened his mouth, and blood gushed out.

Xiao Yuanhang twisted his wrist, pulled out the spear, and with an upward thrust severed Lu Yi's huge head from his neck.

He shifted the spear to his left hand, reached out with his right, grabbed the bloody head, and planted it on the spear tip, holding it high.

"The commander is dead! Spare those who surrender!"

Zhang Wu'an swung his blade at the soldier holding the banner; the soldier loosened his grip and the banner fell.

He led the charging troops in shouting loudly: "The commander is dead! Spare those who surrender!"

More and more rebels heard, looked up, and gazed at the head impaled on the raised spear tip.

"General Lu is dead?"

"What about the banner? Who is that?"

"It's Prince Ning! War God Xiao Yuanhang!"

Several deputy generals shouted: "Don't panic! Keep the formation!"

"Kill! Enemy troops are coming up!"

But the commander, having been beheaded and his banner seized amid the ten-thousand-strong army, caused the entire force to lose morale instantly.

No one knew who first shouted, dropped his weapons and turned to flee; soon a second, a third… the 120,000-strong army began to collapse and flee like an avalanche.

Defeat came like a collapsing mountain.

In the imperial tent, those dozen or so, seeing they could not slay the Emperor while the enemy reinforcements grew ever more numerous—all skilled fighters—did not linger, but retreated swiftly.

Xiao Ningxun presented the intact silk pouch with both hands to Xiao Jieyun.

Report—

An officer burst in, shouting: "Your Majesty! Prince Ning slew Lu Yi on the battlefield, and the rebel army collapsed and fled!"

Xiao Jieyun held the jade seal, his fingertips trembling slightly, and strode out of the grand tent.

He lifted his gaze to the enemy troops scattering in all directions ahead and exhaled deeply.

"Imperial Uncle!" Tuan Tuan rushed over.

Xiao Jieyun leaned forward, one hand scooping her into his arms, thrusting the jade seal into her bosom: "Hold on tight."

Tuan Tuan obediently nodded, and her two little arms clung tightly.

The Emperor nodded toward Chu Yuan: "National Preceptor, you have worked hard."

Chu Yuan performed a salute: "Boundless Immortal Sovereign! His Majesty is safe, a blessing for all living beings!"

Tuan Tuan grinned: "Imperial Uncle, I have another teacher now!"

"The National Preceptor is now my Master!"

Xiao Jieyun was slightly startled, looked at Chu Yuan: "Congratulations, National Preceptor, the mantle is passed on."

Chu Yuan smiled: "Having taken this disciple, I have not been at a loss."

"Oh?" Xiao Jieyun raised an eyebrow: "Seems this matter is not simple!"

"When we return to Jingcheng, I will hold a grand disciple‑recruiting ceremony for the National Preceptor, so that all under heaven know that our fierce nation's Immortal Envoy has added another eminent master."

Roughly an hour later, Xiao Yuanhang rode his horse to the tent entrance.

He dismounted, hurried into the tent, and knelt on the ground: "I arrived late to attend Your Majesty, please forgive my offense!"

"Rise, sit."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Tuan Tuan rushed to her father's side, looked up at the blood on him: "Father! Are you hurt? Let me treat you!"

Xiao Yuanhang: "..."

He sighed, lifted his daughter: "No, this time Father hasn't been injured anywhere! Rest assured, no need for treatment!"

"Oh!" Tuan Tuan unfolded her little sleeves, wiped the blood from Father's face, cradled his big face and said, "Now it looks good!"

Xiao Yuanhang sat down, holding his daughter.

Xiao Jieyun looked at him: "I have just heard them speak of the border war."

"You led the army through hard fighting, ultimately achieving a great victory; well done."

He paused, surveyed the people in the tent: "I understand, you returned in great triumph yet bear the stigma of 'defeated army's fleeing general', how unjust."

Xiao Ran sneered: "Father Emperor! Once that notice is posted, all the common folk avoid us like snakes and scorpions."

"The food we brought out has been consumed, and everyone has endured hunger for many days."

Xiao Jieyun looked at him: "Do you now know what hunger feels like?"

Xiao Ran honestly nodded: "I understand."

"Good, there is progress." Xiao Jieyun's expression darkened: "This matter is my fault."