Chapter 1910: Blood Flows Like Rivers

Although the hoofbeats sounded like thunder, the capital had just undergone a national upheaval a few days ago, and even if the citizens were awake, they dared not light their lamps, all huddling in their homes, not daring to breathe loudly.

The black-armored troops charged to the palace gates, and only then did the forest guards defending the royal city rush out, some with their belts not even fastened. The two commanders leading the troops shouted: "Which rebel army dares to come here to seek death?"

The streets of the capital were narrow; even the main street could barely accommodate six horses riding abreast. The opposing enemy forces not only did not slow down, but instead whipped their horses into a gallop, kicking up dust and mud that flew across the street.

On the narrow road, they met: men like tigers, horses like dragons, voices like thunder:

"The Black Armored Army, Weng Su/Weng Xing, by the command of the Dragon God, to slay the tyrant, eradicate evil, and quell the people's wrath! Those who block us shall die!"

He exerted his full strength, his voice like a great bell, exploding across half the capital's sky, with lingering echoes.

Black, Black Armored Army? Impossible? The two commanders stared in disbelief, and indeed saw the approaching troops clad in gleaming black armor, radiating killing intent, their military bearing strict and their momentum fierce—utterly unlike the idle, loafing soldiers behind them.

The two men half-believing, half-doubting, had no choice but to go forward to meet them.

In just one encounter, Weng Xing raised his spear and struck one of them, sending both man and horse flying backward.

The immense force caused the enemy's mount to slip beneath its feet.

Weng Xing used the momentum to rebound, the spear tip sweeping the commander's occiput, sending him flying sideways, directly crashing into a roadside shop.

With a crack, who knows how many things were shattered.

After just one exchange, this man never reappeared.

How fierce! The other commander's courage failed; seeing the black-armored troops charging at him, he instinctively blocked two strikes.

But once weakness is shown in a skirmish, strength vanishes instantly, and his weapon nearly flew from his grasp. Recalling that all legends of the Black Armored Army spoke of undefeated feats, seeing that great spear come at him again, he lacked the courage to meet it head-on, so he spurred his horse and turned into an alley.

The troops followed their commander; his turn caused the rear forest guards to follow him inward, inadvertently causing Weng Xing, who had reversed his charge, to stare in surprise.

What's the meaning of this—just running away like that?

Fake, right? Is this the combat level of the palace guards? They still fall far short of the gatekeepers of Xiaotao Mountain Villa that he killed in Yaoguo.

At least those men were tough; he felt some resistance when killing them.

Weng Su firmly remembered the battle objective: "Enter the palace, quickly!"

Behind him, they encountered two more batches of intercepting troops.

Also unknown whether it was the Black Armored Army's fearsome reputation or the Qiguo troops' pitiful combat strength, they again beheaded two commanders, and the remaining troops almost collapsed at the first strike.

The Black Armored Army grew more spirited with each fight, while the opposing side grew increasingly disheveled.

Charging into the palace city this way, their momentum was like splitting bamboo.

Inside the palace, the new ruler of Qiguo was sleeping soundly when he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

His conscience troubled him, he instantly became alert, sat up, and asked: "What's happening outside?"

Palace attendants rushed in, shouting: "Your Majesty, the Black, Black Armored Army has stormed into the city!"

"What?" The Qiong King startled, angrily rebuked: "Black Armored Army? Nonsense!"

His realm had been so peaceful—where could the Black Armored Army have come from?

Outside the royal city, there were so many towns, districts, and villages—surely no one would have failed to notice the Black Armored Army entering?

"Black armor, black masks, and still holding high a black dragon banner!" the attendant cried urgently, "Last autumn, the Black Armored Army had already killed the magistrate of Rangxian..."

The Black Armored Army had killed people in Qiguo last year as well, similarly descending like divine soldiers, appearing and departing without trace, causing nationwide shock.

But the problem was, although the Black Armored Army roamed the plains everywhere, killing countless people, the Qiong King had never heard of them openly invading any nation's capital!

The Qiong King slapped him across the face: "Who asked you about last year? Where are they now?"

"They just smashed through the palace gate..."

The Qiong King exclaimed in alarm: "Where are my palace troops? The forest guards? Did you just let them march in like this? How many rebels are there?"

"Judging by the torchlight on their armor, at least two thousand strong."

"Two thousand people just broke through my city gate?" The Qiong King raged, "Where are my several generals? Why didn't they enter the palace to serve the king?"

Time was pressing; he changed clothes while running outward, accidentally tripping on the threshold and falling flat.

Inside the palace, chaos reigned everywhere—horse hooves kicking and trampling, the clashing of weapons barely sounding a few times, while near and far people shouted: "Black Armored Army punishes evil—those who kneel shall not be killed!"

Palace attendants reported: "Your Majesty, the rear gate is also blocked!"

The Black Armored Army divided their forces, the majority entering the palace city, while dozens guarded the rear gate.

What to do? What to do? The Qiong King's eyes darted wildly.

On this side, Boshi Li led the charge into the palace city, encountering only weak resistance. After casually cutting down dozens of guards, the remaining troops, seeing them, naturally knelt down, lying motionless on the ground.

Kneel and not be killed, right?

No mistake, no omission, no single one missed—look!

Indeed, horse hooves stepped right past them—except for mud splashed on their faces, not a single hair was harmed.

Qiguo's palace city was not large; the Black Armored Army split into three routes, and after just a few rounds, they had traversed it entirely. Along the way, resistance dwindled, and those kneeling grew more numerous, including many palace guards who dropped their weapons and crawled on the ground.

As for the new ruler, they originally felt no loyalty toward him, so there was no point in dying for him.

After a quarter of an hour, Boshi Li met up with the Weng brothers, the three staring at each other: "Where is the Qiong King?"

Nowhere to be seen—did he flee the palace?

"Impossible, there are guards at every exit. Keep searching!"

Everyone then split up again to search.

In the second round of searching, Boshi Li offered a reward of fifty taels of silver for information, but still got no results. Until he rode his horse and leapt over a small lake, where by the lakeside knelt over a dozen people, all in neat rows, heads bowed low.

In the firelight, Boshi Li happened to glance over—just a glance.

He unintentionally saw that a palace attendant's collar revealed a strip of plain white fabric.

The inner linings of Qiguo palace attendants were usually made of hemp yellow or hemp white, often with black specks; such finely dyed plain white—who could wear such a thing?

He personally dismounted, grabbed the attendant's collar, and ripped it open!

Hehe, found him.

Less than a month later, Qiguo welcomed two great upheavals.

Twenty-five days ago, on that night, the new ruler seized power, ascended the throne, and killed his brother.

That night, the Black Armor Army took control of Ducheng and had the city's residents "invited" to the vegetable market square, where Scholar Li publicly read out the charges against Prince Qiao, with executioners standing by.

Prince Qiao had been so frightened his face had lost all color, but upon hearing that his crimes were unforgivable, he somehow found strength and shouted at Scholar Li: "Are you the Black Armor Army? Where is the Nine Abysses Great Emperor? Call him out so I can see him!"

Scholar Li laughed: "What kind of trash are you, to dare expect the Dragon God to act personally? We came to slaughter you—it's an honor for you! The Dragon God, his venerable self, still has more important calamities to eliminate."

On the Flashing Gold Plains, Black Armor Army patrols are commonly seen, eliminating violence and preserving peace, but aside from He Lingchuan's unit, no other units bear the Flood Chief insignia.

Prince Qiao shouted: "Utter nonsense! You're just counterfeit scum who crawled out of some backwater alley, deceiving the common folk..."

The old man Weng Xing raised his blade and brought it down, cutting off his shout mid-sentence.

Dragging him here was for public execution, not to let him defend himself.

Thousands watched in silence, not a single person speaking.

Afterwards, the Black Armor Army brought out dozens more, all corrupt officials from the court, similarly had their charges read, and then revealed the slaughtering blades.

Amidst the cracking sounds, heads rolled and blood flowed like rivers.