Chapter 562

To be honest, Chen Wuji was genuinely moved by Lu Ping'an's candid and generous speech.

This guy really knows how to speak.

But his patience is really running thin; he truly has no interest in continuing to listen to this bastard's nonsense.

"General Chen, there's no need for pleasantries between us—what is there that we can't say?" Lu Ping'an smiled a bit falsely, his body instinctively showing some wariness, but his words remained eloquent.

"It's not that easy to say." Chen Wuji showed a troubled expression, first downed the wine in his cup, then leaned toward Lu Ping'an and whispered, "Actually, I know you intend to risk your life to assassinate me today; I've been guarding against you for ages. You think your plan is meticulous? But if I tell you, you have my people around you!"

The smile on Lu Ping'an's face vanished instantly; he stared hard at Chen Wuji for a few breaths, then suddenly laughed and said, "General Chen, are you just messing with me? How could I possibly be hostile toward you? If I truly wanted to harm you, why would I send people to discuss an alliance? This is impossible; there must be some misunderstanding."

Chen Wuji clicked his tongue lightly, "Still pretending here? Go ahead and keep pretending, I don't mind—anyway, I've already decided to take your life. I originally wanted to finish you on the battlefield, but I never expected you to have the gall to come personally into my Daying."

"Strategist Lu, you really surprise and delight me—this is the first time I've seen someone so eagerly seek their own death!"

Lu Ping'an suddenly sprang up; a dagger had appeared in his left hand at some point, and he swung it to stab at Chen Wuji's neck.

Chen Wuji quickly stepped back, dodging Lu Ping'an's extremely tricky knife strike.

"Strategist Lu remains as sly as ever—using a knife with his left hand, I really didn't expect that!" Chen Wuji clicked his tongue in admiration; that instant he truly almost fell for the trick.

He had always been watching Lu Ping'an's right hand, since ninety-nine percent of people hold a knife in their right hand.

It's not just Chen Wuji; watching the right hand is a habit for many people.

But who would have thought, Lu Ping'an is one of the rare few who are left-handed.

Perhaps he was born a lefty, or perhaps he did it deliberately.

"Attack!" Lu Ping'an bellowed, kicked over the table, and lunged at Chen Wuji.

He actually wanted to engage Chen Wuji in a general-versus-general, soldier-versus-soldier showdown.

At that very moment, the rear of the Big Tent was slit open by a knife, and immediately a group of armored elite warriors surged in, like a black torrent rushing toward Lu Ping'an.

Lu Ping'an:???

"Go easy on him, I want this old coot's life left intact!" Chen Wuji shouted, raising his wine cup; without his warning, these men would surely hack Lu Ping'an into mincemeat.

Even though Chen Wuji's personal guards aren't elite, the sheer number of them could beat Lu Ping'an to a pulp his own mother wouldn't recognize, chopping him up in minutes.

Hearing Chen Wuji's shout, the soldiers quickly switched to the backs of their knives and rained blows down on Lu Ping'an's head and face.

At the moment Lu Ping'an made his move, the guards stationed at the entrance also sprang into action instantly.

Moreover, they split into two groups: one wanted to charge into the tent to help Lu Ping'an kill Chen Wuji, while the other dealt with Chen Wuji's personal guards.

Their plan was actually sound, but they ran into Chen Wuji's personal guards; both groups were completely blocked, not a single person managed to break into the tent.

Inside and outside instantly became chaotic and busy, but only Chen Wuji remained calm and composed, suddenly like an outsider to the fray.

Beside him stood Chen Li and three other Chen Clan Personal Guard, blocking his rear and flanks completely.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the fighting was declared over.

Outside, those who deserved to die were dead, and those who should surrender had surrendered.

Inside, there was even less suspense.

Lu Ping'an was almost beaten to a dead dog.

"Commander, this guy passed out!" a guard reported.

"Wake him up!" Chen Wuji said.

The guard raised his broadsword, and the tip struck Lu Ping'an's philtrum.

"Mmm… ah… hiss…"

Lu Ping'an twitched awake as if struck by Ghoul Composite Syndrome, he lifted his hand to touch his groin, but the touch made him cry out even more horribly, howling like a wretched creature, almost curling up like a shrimp.

As a high-ranking Strategist, appearing like this somewhat damages his image.

But it's also partly the guard's fault for being a bit too harsh—the blade's thrust gave Lu Ping'an a lip-splitting cut, just shy of turning his mouth into a genuine cleft lip.

"Strategist Lu, you're a high-ranking official—show some restraint, don't wail so miserably; it's just a beating, nothing unusual for us soldiers in war." Chen Wuji advised.

Lu Ping'an covered his mouth with both hands, bawling incoherently, unable to utter a full word.

"Although I can't understand what you're saying, it sounds like you're cursing me!" Chen Wuji frowned, "I advise you not to act like this—a Prisoner of the Steps should have the proper demeanor; improve your attitude and we can still talk, but if you keep this up, I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to execute your nine clans."

Lu Ping'an wailed again incoherently, but this time his gaze softened, his attitude less fierce, making him look much more pleasing all of a sudden.

"Quickly bandage Strategist Lu—look what we've done to him, he's hardly human!" Chen Wuji ordered, "No, first beat him up—this bastard just cursed me, I almost forgot—beat him then bandage!"

Lu Ping'an:???

Are you even human?!

The guards standing like two iron walls on the side surged forward all at once.

There were too many people, and Lu Ping'an alone couldn't handle them; those behind couldn't get close, so they could only kick at his feet from below, making the scene quite a spectacle for a while.

"Alright, that's enough—don't beat him to death!" Chen Wuji called out, holding his wine cup and laughing.

He had originally wanted to find a cup of tea to sober up, but he'd drunk a bit too much tonight.

But there was no tea on the table, as if none had been prepared, so he had to drink some more wine instead.

Watching such a lively show, without a drink to accompany it, it always feels like something's missing.

"Commander, this guy passed out again!" a guard shouted.

"Wake him up, but don't cut his nose—making him unable to speak; change the spot, use a bit more skill." Chen Wuji ordered.

"Yes!"

That guard, having received the order, brandished his knife over Lu Ping'an's body, finally yanked off his shoe and stabbed at the sole of his foot.

That stab worked better than a poke to the philtrum—Lu Ping'an's eyes flew open instantly, and he even shot forward half a meter, his speed comparable to a highly compressed steel spring.

"Quickly bandage Strategist Lu—I can see he's barely holding on!" Chen Wuji glanced twice, then waved his hand and shouted, "Strategist Lu, you must hold on; if you don't, I'll have your limbs chopped off and put to other uses!"