[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take":3,"chapter-if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-5":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","If You Will Not Reject Me, I Wish to Bow and Take You as My Adoptive Father",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2276732,4454,"Chapter 5: Chapter Five: The Dao Is One Chi, the Demon Is One Zhang (Requesting Collection)","if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>General Guan’s bright, piercing eyes emitted three zhang of golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vision changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if a super telescope had been installed inside his eyes, its lens freely extending and retracting while maintaining perfect stability, with an extraordinarily wide field of view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every tree on the dunes, every blade of weeds, every tent and wooden hut wreathed in smoke, the charred corpses of barbarians in the flames, the mangled, still moaning barbarians on the ground, the flies swirling around the barbarian corpses...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All were crystal clear, as if he had walked right up to them and pressed his eyes against the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought, General Guan’s vision instantly crossed the dunes, revealing more black-armored cavalry outside still slashing at any barbarian who dared not kneel obediently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the dunes, scattered iron-armored knights rode slowly in circles, their horses also clad in iron armor, but they did not enter the dunes—only patrolling the perimeter, hunting down barbarians fleeing from the dunes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Farther out, light cavalry in light armor and unarmored horses could be seen, tasked with sweeping barbarians scattered across other hills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even farther away, riders clad only in leather armor could be spotted—they too belonged to the cavalry unit, responsible for outer perimeter vigilance and patrols to prevent enemy ambushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it!” General Guan suddenly grimaced and muttered a curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Song Changqing, is the Shadow God Map of the Sand Barbarian Yu still on you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant never dares forget your orders; after entering the dunes, I’ve held the Shadow God Map and searched nonstop for Sand Barbarian Yu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pig-eyed knight pulled a finger-thick scroll from his belt and bowed his head as he offered it forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guan unrolled the scroll—a small ink-on-paper portrait, roughly the size of a smartphone screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A simple sketch drawn with fine brushstrokes, depicting a human figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Xiao Yu were here and saw this painting, she would be chilled to the bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the figure in the painting was unmistakably her—not lifelike, but at least six or seven percent similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After staring intently at the Shadow God Map for a while, General Guan activated his Immortal Eye once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a full half-hour, the three-zhang-long golden light had shrunk to only two zhang, its glow significantly dimmed, and only then did General Guan, looking exhausted, close his eyes and end the “Immortal Vision” mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord?” The bearded old Zhu edged closer cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guan gently pressed his eye sockets as he said coolly: “Zhu Tong, take your squad to the southeast, head straight for Liusha River—about twenty-five li... bring back Ge Qing’s corpse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bearded Zhu Tong’s massive frame trembled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Changqing shot up his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the black-armored cavalry around stared in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“C...corpse?” Zhu Tong’s voice stuttered, disbelief etched on his face. “My lord, you mean Brother Qing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guan replied coldly: “Go and find out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Qing! My Brother Qing~~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Tong let out a wail, tears the size of beans instantly spilling from his eyes, carving rivers down his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leapt onto his horse, weeping loudly as he whipped his steed furiously, charging off like a storm in the direction General Guan had indicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another dozen or so black-armored cavalrymen, faces grim, swiftly mounted their warhorses and followed “Brother Zhu” out of the dunes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the remaining black-armored cavalry stepped a square-faced giant, exclaiming excitedly: “My lord, Brother Ge was a ‘Human Immortal’ who had cultivated True Wu Gang Qi—impervious to blades and spears, immune to fire and water—who could kill him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, Human Immortal? He barely brushed the edge of one. He’s still ten thousand li away from becoming an Immortal,” General Guan sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was Zhu Tong before or the square-faced giant now, whenever they mentioned Ge Qing, they always called him “Big Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing of his death, every black-armored cavalryman’s face darkened with grief and fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Ge Qing’s prestige and popularity within the Iron Cavalry were immense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guan’s cold mockery instantly plunged the scene into heavy, suffocating silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guan himself sensed it, yet he didn’t care—he merely sneered and added coolly: “You have no discernment. You throw around the word ‘Immortal’ so carelessly—you might offend a true Immortal one day without even realizing it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Qing’s “Mystic Turtle True Gang Qi” has only reached the third level. The “Mystic Turtle True Gang Qi” has four stages, twelve heavens total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after passing the first stage and reaching the fourth level can one barely establish the foundation of a Human Immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And how far is it from the fourth level to the twelfth level’s full perfection?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Meng family army of northwestern Great Qin has three hundred thousand men practicing the “Mystic Turtle True Gang Qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Emperor Hui founded the Meng family army, eight thousand six hundred and fifty years have passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a standing force of three hundred thousand, sustained for over eight millennia, only a mere five thousand have become Human Immortals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gap between early third level and Human Immortal? Saying it’s ten thousand li is being generous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The square-faced giant bristled: “Even third level—Brother Ge was gifted, blessed by heaven, and cultivated Gang Qi! I heard that among the thousands of Fire Crow soldiers under the Flame Sun Marquis, only a few hundred have cultivated Gang Qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he really wanted to shout: Five thousand Human Immortals? How can you say that with a straight face?! That’s Human Immortals—five thousand of them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You yourself haven’t even touched the butt of a Human Immortal—you’re just showing off with your Immortal Eye!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Brother Ge had your family background and resources, he’d have reached the twelfth level’s full perfection long ago!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, he didn’t suffer from “brain fever”—he only seethed inwardly, never voicing it aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what if he cultivated Gang Qi? Ge Qing is dead!” General Guan’s voice was icy, a faint but unmistakable sneer curling at his lips. “Stabbed to death by lowly Sand Barbarians—in the throat, face-to-face, not an ambush, no trickery. And Ge Qing wasn’t alone—his entire ten-man squad was wiped out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The square-faced giant’s face flushed crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhang~~” Before he could shout again, the pig-eyed knight Song Changqing stepped forward, gripping his shoulder and pressing down hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The square-faced Zhang San froze for a moment, took several deep breaths, and forced himself to calm down: arguing with “General Duck” would only bring more humiliation upon himself and Brother Ge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, “General Duck” was the nickname outsiders secretly gave “Five Willow Beautiful Beard” General Guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ducks squawk randomly, and their cries are especially grating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like today—General Duck often speaks cruel, heartless words, saying them openly to those beneath him; even to those far above him, he sneers behind their backs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, who in the entire dune could have directly killed Brother Ge? And he wasn’t alone—his entire ten-man cavalry squad was annihilated... We took the entire dune, and only eight of our brothers died to Sand Barbarian poison arrows.” Song Changqing spoke gravely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s dead. That’s fact. Besides Sand Barbarians, there’s no one else here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guan paused, then continued slowly: “This thousand-li raid on the Sand Barbarian homeland brought only three hundred of our brothers, but the barbarians are weak—we don’t lack manpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hundred and fifty iron-armored cavalry split into three squads, repeatedly sweeping the dune encampment from three directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unstoppable, invincible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another hundred iron cavalry, in ten-man squads, swept the perimeter, hunting down fleeing barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final fifty black-robed guards stood watch in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Qing’s ten-man squad was patrolling the southeast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now their corpses form a continuous arc stretching over twenty li—from the dunes all the way to the Liusha River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, during our assault on the dune encampment, a powerful Sand Barbarian concealed his presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t care about the old and young in the camp—he slipped out quietly, only to run straight into Ge Qing’s squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Qing was careless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ten-man squad must have scattered, giving the Sand Barbarian strength the chance to pick them off one by one...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, General Guan hesitated. “To kill Ge Qing—whose body was protected by Gang Qi—with a direct strike, and slaughter the others as easily as slaughtering pigs and dogs? He wouldn’t need to pick them off one by one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One black-armored cavalryman said: “That barbarian dog might be strong enough to face a ten-man squad, but he couldn’t possibly fight all of us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once caught by a cavalry squad, he’d inevitably alert us on the dunes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially with you here—he’d be dead no matter how strong he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew this, so he abandoned his people and fled at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guan nodded slightly, deeply agreeing in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, have you found the Sand Barbarian strongman? He couldn’t have escaped a thousand li in just one or two hours,” Song Changqing said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guan scanned the black-armored cavalry and said: “Ge Qing’s squad was killed—this broke a gaping hole in our second encirclement. Hundreds of Sand Barbarians have fled through the southeast gap and are now scattering in small groups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outermost fifty black-robed light cavalry are still there, but they’re only on vigil—they’ll slash at barbarians they happen upon, but they can’t possibly stop hundreds or thousands of fleeing barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I can see every Sand Barbarian within a thousand li, without acting, how do I know which are strong or weak?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, over a dozen iron-armored cavalrymen shouted in unison: “How many escaped? We’ll chase them down right now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guan sneered again: “My battle strategy never included chasing fleeing Sand Barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We only brought three hundred riders—within the dune encampment, we’re unstoppable, killing anyone, burning every hut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if we spread out across the desert, even thirty thousand light cavalry wouldn’t be enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he spoke, he sensed the discontent and fury among the iron-armored cavalry. Before they could speak, General Guan shifted tone: “Still, the Sand Barbarians dared to murder my Great Shu Prince’s Imperial Guard—this crime is unforgivable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if we carved them into a thousand pieces, it wouldn’t atone for their sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We absolutely cannot let this go unpunished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zhu Tong returns, you yourselves decide how to pursue the Sand Barbarians fleeing south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before you act, I’ll use my Immortal Eye to pinpoint the approximate locations of the strong Sand Barbarians.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Won’t you come with us?” The square-faced Zhang San blurted out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guan’s right hand trembled slightly—he nearly unleashed the “Snake Flame Whip” and struck him hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s just a squad leader, not ambushed, surrounded by a squad of elite iron-armored cavalry, outnumbering the enemy—yet he died on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does he have such a grievous injustice that a cavalry Commandant must personally avenge him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang San and the other iron-armored cavalrymen who deeply cherished “Brother Ge” all felt uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they had no rebuttal to General Guan’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only is death on the battlefield normal, but in today’s dune ambush, including Ge Qing, eighteen men died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Must we hunt down and carve into a thousand pieces the killer of every single one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, except for “Brother Ge,” the names of the other dead cavalrymen weren’t even mentioned—certainly not emphasized before General Guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Changqing broke the heavy silence: “My lord, have you found Sand Barbarian Yu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Every direction—above, below, within a thousand li—there is no trace of Sand Barbarian Yu,” General Guan said, his face dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Changqing had already guessed this answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had found Sha Manyu, Old Duck Guan would have already spurred his horse into a gallop or pointed him toward bringing the person back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he sat silently atop Chiyanju, his face dark with frustration and confusion—he had found nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Thousand-Mile Eye can see even those hiding in caves, ignoring walls and roofs...” Song Changqing still could not believe it. “Even if she died in the chaos, there should have been a corpse—she couldn’t just vanish without a trace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang San exclaimed, “Brother Changqing, you really understand the Immortal’s Eye—I just learned even secret chambers in caves can’t hide from the Thousand-Mile Eye’s gaze.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guan pressed his lips together, his gaze at Song Changqing filled with complexity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Changqing lowered his eyes and murmured, “Didn’t you just tell the barbarians that the Immortal’s Eye can peer into the Heavenly Court above and pierce through the Nine Netherworlds below? If it can see the Heavenly Court and inspect the Nine Netherworlds, what’s a mere cave or tiled roof?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I was clearly flattering you. Don’t you realize? If it could truly peer into the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor would’ve already struck Old Duck Guan dead with a bolt of divine lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang San muttered to himself, then said aloud, “If even the General’s Immortal Eye can’t find her, then Sha Manyu must either be one step ahead—using some unknown demonic art to flee a thousand li away—or else she’s had terrible luck and was eaten by some passing demon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t this near Liushahe? Everyone knows there are plenty of demons in Liushahe.\u003C\u002Fp>",2177,"2026-06-20T00:29:13.334Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8c4db68912a0f67a8d245baaa1a455b890c976dbffb4cf6a1f45708f3080f5a2","if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-6","if-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-chapter-4",840,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fif-you-will-not-reject-me-i-wish-to-bow-and-take-cover.jpg"]