Chapter 87: Huo Lao

Provincial Government army General Deng Guangxu?

Wu Chengliang stared at the golden star insignia on the newcomer's shoulder badge, his pupils slightly constricted.

He recognized this one-star General of the Jiangnan Provincial Government army.

It was rumored that he was a capable officer personally promoted by Huo Junshan, and he did not expect Huo Junshan to have him come in person.

Wu Chengliang sneered, "General Deng, I, the commander, obey the Jiangnan Wang's decree; Mr. Jiang must first accompany me back to the Prince's Residence to meet the Prince."

"As for Huo Lao's side, it won't be late to go after we have met the Prince."

His gaze was full of arrogance.

In Jiangnan Territory, the Jiangnan Wang is supreme!

Even Huo Lao must weigh the consequences of defying the Prince.

Deng Guangxu, however, was not at all intimidated by his aura; he remained neither servile nor arrogant.

"Apologies, Commander Wu, I have received a military order from Commander Huo, mandating that Mr. Jiang be safely escorted to Huo Lao's residence. If Mr. Jiang voluntarily goes to the Prince's Residence first, I will naturally not object."

"But if anyone forces him, don't blame me for being impolite."

His voice was not loud, yet each word landed with weight.

The Provincial Government army soldiers behind him fixed their gazes rigidly on the Prince's Residence Guard.

Clearly, they had already prepared to act.

"Impolite?"

Wu Chengliang seemed to hear a colossal joke, lunged forward, and his Grandmaster aura suddenly surged.

"Deng Guangxu, you, a mere one-star General, dare to challenge the Jiangnan Prince's Residence? Aren't you afraid of implicating the entire Provincial Government army and being held accountable by the Prince?"

Deng Guangxu's face remained expressionless, but he slowly raised his right hand and made a gesture.

In the next second, a whooshing sound rang out.

Over a dozen standard rifles were raised simultaneously, their dark barrels precisely aimed at Wu Chengliang and the Prince's Residence Guard behind him.

At that moment, the air inside Jishi Hall instantly solidified to the extreme.

Wu Chengliang's complexion finally changed.

Although his subordinate Guard were all martial artists, facing over a dozen loaded rifles gave them no advantage.

If they truly engaged, it seemed that, aside from him, the remaining Guard would all die.

"You dare to fire?"

Wu Chengliang clenched his teeth, his voice full of ferocity.

"We are the Prince's Residence Guard; if you hurt us, the Prince will surely have your body torn into ten thousand pieces!"

"A soldier's duty is to obey orders."

Deng Guangxu responded with a blank expression.

"My duty is to protect Mr. Jiang; anyone who dares threaten Mr. Jiang's safety, regardless of whose person they are, I have the right to fire."

Saying that, he suddenly stepped forward.

A Grandmaster aura, more refined and domineering than Wu Chengliang's, suddenly spread out!

If Wu Chengliang's aura was a raging storm, then Deng Guangxu's was a drawn sword—sharp, fierce, and piercing straight to the heart.

Wu Chengliang felt as if a massive stone pressed on his chest, and his breath suddenly became rapid.

He stared at Deng Guangxu in shock, his gaze full of disbelief.

"You… you are also a Grandmaster?"

He had always thought Deng Guangxu was just an ordinary officer who climbed to the General rank through Huo Lao's connections.

He did not expect the other side to conceal such profound strength!

Deng Guangxu did not answer his question; he simply turned his gaze to Jiang Feng and showed a grateful smile.

"Mr. Jiang, Commander Huo has prepared tea in his residence, specifically waiting to thank you for your lifesaving favor. May I ask if you are now convenient to set out?"

All gazes instantly focused on Jiang Feng.

Wu Chengliang also stared at him intently, his gaze full of threat.

Jiang Feng gave Wu Chengliang a faint glance and clasped his fists in salute to Deng Guangxu.

"Thank you, General Deng, for coming specially. Since Huo Lao invited, I will naturally go."

He paused, his gaze returning to Wu Chengliang's iron‑blue face, and said with a half‑smile.

"As for the Prince's Residence, I think we'll skip it. I seem to have no fate with the Jiangnan Prince's Residence, so I won't deliberately pay a visit."

"Jiang Feng!"

Wu Chengliang shouted angrily, the blue veins on his temple pulsing.

Yet looking at the over ten rifles aimed at him, he ultimately did not dare to act.

He clenched his teeth, his gaze full of resentment.

"You will regret this! The Jiangnan Prince's Residence will not let this go so easily!"

"Then I shall watch and wait."

Jiang Feng paid no heed to his threat.

Wu Chengliang glared fiercely at Jiang Feng, then cast a resentful glance at Deng Guangxu, and finally could only grit his teeth and say, "We're leaving!"

Over a dozen Prince's Residence Guard immediately sheathed their swords, reluctantly turning with Wu Chengliang.

At the doorway, Wu Chengliang halted his steps and left a harsh remark.

"Deng Guangxu, Jiang Feng, remember this: today's humiliation will surely be repaid by the Jiangnan Prince's Residence."

Deng Guangxu, expressionless, watched them disappear into the alley until the footsteps completely faded, then raised his hand to signal the soldiers to lower their rifles.

Hua Lao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, "General Deng, it truly was thanks to your timely arrival; otherwise we would have been in trouble today!"

"No need for courtesy; protecting Mr. Jiang is my duty."

Deng Guangxu turned his body, and when he looked at Jiang Feng, genuine gratitude instantly appeared on his face.

"Mr. Jiang, you saved Commander Huo; you are a benefactor of the entire Jiangnan Province Government army!"

Huo Lao is not only the helm of a family of military merit, but also the spiritual pillar of the Jiangnan Province Government army.

Back then, had Huo Lao not risked his life to rescue on the battlefield, the Jiangnan Province Government army would not know how many brothers would have been sacrificed.

Jiang Feng's ability to pull Huo Lao back from the Gate of Ghosts, in Deng Guangxu's eyes, is a heavenly debt of gratitude.

Jiang Feng displayed a kind smile.

"General Deng, no need for extra courtesy; I merely did what a healer should do."

"You are too humble!"

Deng Guangxu straightened up, his tone filled with excitement.

"Being clinically dead for an hour and still being revived is nothing short of a medical miracle! After Commander Huo awoke, he specifically instructed us that you must not suffer any grievance."

He paused, his complexion grew a few shades more solemn, and he lowered his voice.

"But Mr. Jiang, the Jiangnan Wang's power is overwhelming; having declined his invitation today, he certainly will not let it go peacefully."

"I am merely a first‑star General; I can protect you for a time, but not for a lifetime. Commander Huo asked me to invite you over also to discuss the subsequent response strategies with you."

Su Xueyan also hurried forward, tugging at Jiang Feng's sleeve.

"Jiang Feng, General Deng is right. The Jiangnan Wang's faction is too powerful; we cannot be careless. Since Huo Lao is willing to help you maneuver, you should still go."

Hua Lao and Sun Boyong also urged.

"Indeed, Jiang Feng, throughout Jiangnan, perhaps only Huo Lao can give the Jiangnan Wang something to worry about."

Jiang Feng fell silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the worried faces of the crowd.

He knew that everyone was concerned for him.

"Very well."

Jiang Feng nodded and looked at Deng Guangxu.

"Then I shall trouble General Deng to lead the way."

"Mr. Jiang, you're too polite!"

Deng Guangxu immediately laughed, turning sideways to make a beckoning gesture.

"The carriage is just outside; we'll leave now, lest the long night bring many dreams."

Afterwards, Jiang Feng followed Deng Guangxu's military carriage, heading toward the Provincial Capital once more.

……

Just as Jiang Feng was about to reach the Provincial Capital, Wu Chengliang had already returned to the Prince's Residence, reporting everything that had occurred in Jiangcheng to the Jiangnan Wang.

The Jiangnan Wang, furious, smashed everything on the table that could be smashed.

His eyes turned blood‑red, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "What a Huo Junshan! What a Jiang Feng!"

"Aren't you coming to see me? Then I'll pay a visit to the Huo Family!"

"I actually want to see what kind of Jiang Feng he is!"