Chapter 631: The One Who Must Die

All the soldiers rushed out from all directions at lightning speed, and in an instant they surrounded Wei Shen's troops.

Wei Shen led his men in a hasty counterattack.

Although the numbers on both sides were comparable, the fear of being ambushed made Wei Shen and his guards panic instantly, their fighting spirit gone.

"Charge out!"

"Can't! People are everywhere!"

Lao Han, perched in a tree, drew his bow and nocked an Arrow, and with a rapid whoosh— shot down several more.

"Ah—"

Shouts, cries, and wails blended together.

In less than half an hour, most of Wei Shen's men had fallen, and the rest were captured.

Lu Wu, as if maddened, slashed several people, but his own arm and thigh were badly wounded, and blood instantly soaked half his body.

Lao Han shouted, "Quick! Bring Lao Zhao back to the Main Camp!"

The soldiers admired him, "Lao Zhao! You've achieved a great feat today!"

A few soldiers quickly assembled a simple frame, placed Lu Wu on it, and rushed toward the Main Camp.

Lao Han leapt down from the treetop, brushed the dust off himself, walked to Wei Shen's side, and crouched down.

He grinned, "Yo! You sneaky one, are you here to peek or to steal?"

Wei Shen clenched his teeth, saying nothing.

Lao Han stood up, "They're all bound tightly; take them back to the Second Young Master for a proper interrogation!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers deftly tied the remaining few into a bundle and shuffled them down the mountain.

Shikigami is dying! Must withdraw quickly!

Lu Wu lay on the frame, fingers forming a seal, murmuring, and pulled his own spirit out of Lao Zhao's corpse.

Moments later, a wisp of spirit, even more ethereal than this morning's, trembled and drifted into the carriage.

Lu Wu collapsed in the carriage, exhausted, his chest rising and falling continuously.

He curled his legs, strained to regulate his breath, suppressing the chaotic jing blood pounding in his chest.

He could no longer expel it; the onmyoji's jing blood is the source of profound arts, and he had already expelled too much.

But in the end he couldn't hold it, and with a wa— he vomited several large gulps again.

This is the price of using a person as a Shikigami!

In the future, trying to make a person a Shikigami will be as hard as scaling the heavens.

Lu Wu stared blankly at the blood splattered everywhere in the carriage, his mind no longer concealed.

Two guards outside the tent heard the commotion, approached the carriage and called softly, "Mage? You're back?"

Lu Wu jolted awake, "Right, Wei Shen and the others!"

A bunch died, and a few were captured; what to do?

He pondered briefly, a cold smile curling his lips, "Quick! Depart at once!"

"General Wei has unfortunately died, and several were taken alive; we must rush back to Jingcheng!"

The two guards were shocked, "General Wei is dead?"

Lu Wu sneered, "What, you don't believe it? Then you can go see for yourselves!"

The two guards exchanged glances, realized, "Right! Some were captured alive!"

If we expose a foothold, returning would be walking into a trap.

The current plan leaves us no choice but to speed back to Jingcheng.

One guard flipped onto a horse, the other leapt onto the carriage, turning the carriage around.

"Gallop!" they shouted, racing toward Jingcheng.

In the Main Camp, Lao Zhao was on the brink of death.

Tuan Tuan hurriedly summoned Xue Tong, and after a night of treatment, managed to save his life.

Lao Zhao opened his eyes, and the soldiers gathered around.

"Lao Zhao! You made it!"

"The Prince has ordered: your enemy‑slaying merits are outstanding, your bravery is exceptional, and you are hereby promoted to Colonel!"

Xiao Er sat at the bedside, patted him, "Not bad, brother! Recover well!"

"When you're healed and still want to spar with me, just come find me!"

When can I spar with Xiao Er?

Did I earn merit? What merit did I earn?

Lao Zhao looked bewildered, "How can I... I can't remember anything."

Xue Tong lifted the Silver Needle, "No problem, you were severely wounded; those who have walked through the Gate of the Dead often come back like this."

"Once your injuries heal, you'll gradually be able to recall."

"Okay." Lao Zhao sighed, nodded, "Thanks to the Divine Doctor."

Tuan Tuan watched his face closely and said, "Uncle Zhao, the black layer on your face yesterday is gone now!"

She gave Lao Zhao a sweet smile, "Uncle Zhao, you're amazing!"

"Second brother was delighted to hear that, saying Father has another fierce general now!"

Lao Zhao was deeply moved, "Thank you, Princess (Commandery), for the praise!"

The Central Army's Grand Tent.

Xiao Ningchen, who hadn't slept all night, entered: "Father, the people captured by the Patrol Scout yesterday have already been recruited."

Xiao Yuanhang raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"

"There are fifty‑six of them in total, settled within the city."

"I'll immediately send people in disguise to investigate, and we've already captured two more."

"I've interrogated them separately; their statements match, so they should be credible."

"On this trip, we are to escort a mage here to perform a spell."

Xiao Ningxun frowned: "Casting? Could it be aimed at Tuan Tuan?"

Xiao Ningchen nodded: "Exactly."

Xiao Ningyuan sprang to his feet: "What about that mage?"

Xiao Ningchen shook his head: "They don't know."

"Whenever the mage casts, he's always alone in the carriage."

"Yesterday, the mage had them rendezvous outside the Main Camp, saying they could lure Tuan Tuan out of the Main Camp and bring him back to Jingcheng or …"

Xiao Yuanhang's expression darkened: "Or what?"

Xiao Ningchen gritted his teeth: "Kill on the spot."

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ningyuan's faces turned extremely grim.

Xiao Yuanhang's face was as still as water, and he rose slowly: "What about the carriage?"

Xiao Ningchen shook his head: "I've already sent people to look for it; there's no trace."

Xiao Ningxun forced down his anger: "Who sent them? Where does that mage come from?"

Xiao Ningchen's brows knit tightly: "They don't know either, only that the mage is not a Central Plains Person."

"The one who sent them is precisely our old rival."

The three brothers exchanged glances and said in unison: "Nether Summit."

"By the way," Xiao Ningchen suddenly recalled, "besides Tuan Tuan, they're also after a Gu Worm, and they intend to kill it."

"It's the one inside Cheng Jingzhong's mother's mind."

"It is said that Cheng Jing, ever since being used as a host by a Gu Worm, suffers constant headaches and can only stay afloat thanks to a secret medicine the mage gave him."

Xiao Ningxun understood: "They want to kill Xiao Feifei to save Cheng Jing!"

Xiao Ningyuan was startled: "But Xiao Feifei is no longer a worm now!"

Xiao Ningxun laughed: "So they'll never be able to find it, and Cheng Jing's head will just keep hurting forever."

"Exactly!" Xiao Ningyuan exclaimed, delighted, "That's what you call harming others only to harm oneself! Let Cheng Jing die of the pain!"

"But," Xiao Ningxun, puzzled, said, "saving Cheng Jing by killing Xiao Feifei is enough; why also go after Tuan Tuan?"

Xiao Yuanhang walked to the entrance of the big tent, lifted the curtain, and looked at the daughter outside happily chasing after Xiao Feifei: "No need to say more."

"If they even dare to harbor murderous intent toward Tuan Tuan, they are the ones who must die."

The three brothers nodded together: "Right! What does father want to do?"