Chapter 567: Protecting Our Home Is Our Responsibility

"City Lord, we've been deceived."

The guard only now realized that everything they had inquired about was false, and what they couldn't have imagined was that the Common People outside were also cooperating with Ying's act; they pretended to be poisoned even though they weren't, letting the enemies lower their guard, calling everyone inside, and then capturing them all at once.

What a brilliant scheme.

How could they not have thought of it? Danluo, angry, grabbed his long sword and slashed at Ying, a sight that made everyone break out in a cold sweat.

"Ying, be careful."

Ying, however, tilted his body slightly and seized Danluo's wrist, gripping it very tightly.

"It hurts…"

He snatched Danluo's sword, kicked him to the ground; Danluo, having been knocked down, tried to get up to confront him, and suddenly Ying, brandishing his long sword, thrust it violently toward his chest.

In an instant, the long sword pierced Danluo's heart, blood gushing out. At that moment, some blood splattered onto Ying's face; already handsome, this act gave him a cool, almost blood‑lustful beauty.

"Why?"

Danluo clenched his teeth, refusing to die, wanting to know why. Why did this happen? Ying sneered, "Why? Don't overestimate our desire to protect our home. Anyone who dares to destroy everyone's home is an enemy of the people."

"Home…"

Ying curled his lips, "Has anyone ever told you that he who wins the people's hearts gains the world?"

"The people's hearts…"

Danluo muttered to himself, what is the people's heart? The Dragon City he ruled was his alone; he didn't know what the people's heart meant, only that absolute obedience was required—those who disobeyed lightly would be expelled from Dragon City, and the severe would be punished with death.

Therefore, he didn't understand the people's heart.

"You should die."

Wham—, Ying drew his long sword in one swift motion; blood splattered onto him instantly. The sight terrified the Common People, who had never seen Ying kill anyone.

Ying, nonchalantly dropping his long sword, coldly stared at the frightened guard. The guard, seeing the City Lord dead, immediately knelt in terror, "No, don't kill me…"

Ying sneered, "Someone, come."

Youchao Xuan hurried forward, "City Lord."

"Youchao Xuan, decapitate Danluo and send his head to Yao; for now, let Yao take charge of Dragon City."

Giving Yao control of Dragon City was Ying delegating authority; Youchao Xuan felt it was somewhat improper, but dared not speak up.

Yes.

Thus, a dispute that seemed about to erupt was resolved by Ying and her group overnight. Moreover, after hearing Nan Qinghuan's words, they acted preemptively, sending Yao to occupy Dragon City and killing Danluo. In this way, they could both intimidate other Tribes across Jiuzhou and expand their own influence.

Their dream is to unify Jiuzhou, thereby finally ending this endless war.

So that the Common People can live prosperous lives.

Soon, the guard was also killed; rebels rarely leave survivors. After they were all slain, the Common People finally relaxed.

For now they won't fear an attack from Dragon City, because their City Lord has already acted preemptively and succeeded.

Peaceful days returned, and daily life in the city resumed.

Now, Ying sent Yao to Dragon City as City Lord, and Rongdi felt great pressure; he must harvest the surrendered guard for training, and the safety of Kuaihuo City now rests on his shoulders.

Yao will also report back regularly, and of course, he returns more often to see his child, his little Wolf Girl.

After these changes, Nan Qinghuan now serves as a behind‑the‑scenes strategist; she doesn't take part in fighting, but she devises plans.

After this, Ying and Rongdi discussed and began their expansion plan, believing that once Jiuzhou is unified, their children will no longer suffer from war.

Thus, Ying, Rongdi, and Youchao Xuan set out on a southern campaign, aiming to subjugate any Tribes that refuse obedience and those small Tribes secretly trying to undermine Dragon City's rule.

In short, his plan to unify Jiuzhou began to be implemented this summer.

Now his forces are strong and numerous; if he doesn't campaign now, when else? The weather was fine that day.

The men went out to fight, while the women naturally stayed home to tend to children and chores.

Nan Qinghuan was no different.

In the flower‑adorned courtyard, Nan Qinghuan tended to children; Ying's Beibei could already walk, though wobbling adorably. Ying Mengmeng was a girl, weak like Nan Qinghuan, so she still couldn't walk.

"Qinghuan, look what I've brought for the child!" Li Xiang pushed open the gate, stepping in, holding a wooden hobby horse that was very cute and lifelike.

"Senior brother…"

Li Xiang has been busy teaching lately and hasn't had time to come; he missed the children, so he brought a toy to show them.

"This is Beibei, can she already walk?"

Li Xiang saw the tiny one tottering on the path, a small bundle of cuteness; he thought it unbelievable—Ying's genes are truly remarkably strong.

She's not even a year old yet and can already walk.

Nan Qinghuan smiled, nodding at Li Xiang, "Yes, this is Beibei, Beibei, call him Uncle."

She lifted Beibei for Li Xiang to hold; Li Xiang's eyes were full of gentle smiles. Seeing that Beibei looked almost identical to Ying, he twitched his brow, "This child will one day become a regional overlord."

"Overlord? Senior brother, how can you say that?"

Li Xiang chuckled, "I heard Ying has conquered two more places; now a large swath of Jiuzhou belongs to us."

"That fast?"

Hearing her senior brother's words, Nan Qinghuan looked astonished. She had only received news a few days earlier that they had taken a few small Tribes near Dragon City. How could it be so quick? Ying truly is a prodigy at war; she wondered if a mere hint from her made him this powerful.

Li Xiang, seeing her confusion, asked, "You don't know?"

Nan Qinghuan hugged Mengmeng, reaching to wipe the snot from her nose, "I'm not sure; the news just came yesterday that the nearby small Tribes of Dragon City were conquered, half of Jiuzhou is to be taken? That's way too fast!"

Li Xiang, hearing her, playfully teased the child, "The man you've trained is really great; now just wait for his good news—he said he'll carve out a piece of land to give you."

"Land?"