Chapter 180: The Grand Design Is Set—Its True Commander Returns!

The hearts of all were stained with tension.

Though it was high noon, the air was oppressively heavy.

Only the sound of hooves thundered like rolling lightning, suddenly pouring down the long street like a storm from the heavens—each strike shook the soul and sent chills through the heart.

"It's getting closer!"

This thought circled in everyone's minds.

At last, the long, suffocating wait came to an abrupt end.

Look again!

Xie Linghao's group narrowed their eyes; around the street corner, a river of iron slowly revealed its true form.

Riders sat atop towering steeds, clad in armor black as night, faces cold and stern, radiating an aura that chilled the bone.

Zhang Lin, this fierce warrior under the Second Prince's command, whose blade had drawn much blood, now felt an indescribable dread rising within him as he faced this tide of iron cavalry.

He swallowed hard, knowing this was no ordinary army—it was true "veterans" who had walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Above the troops, a mist of blood-red killing intent quietly coalesced.

Ready to devour men whole!

As the army drew nearer, the commander's banner flew high, emblazoned with a single large character: "Lu."

Zhang Lin could no longer suppress his shock—he cried out: "The Lu family army… has entered the city!"

Deng Ping's gaze swept across the leading officers; several familiar faces appeared—Feng Haiping, Dou Gu—both had come in person to lead the troops.

In an instant!

A crushing pressure surged like a tidal wave; the soldiers of the Northern Army's Five Corps all gripped their weapons tightly, eyes locked on the advancing host, their hearts trembling with dread.

The air around them brimmed with an indescribable tension!

Behind the screen, three women stepped quietly from behind the curtain, advancing slowly to the threshold of the Imperial City Office.

Tao Jiamin's eyes fell upon the breathtaking scene before her, and she exclaimed:

"Is this the famed Lu family army?"

Her eyes shimmered with unmistakable awe and reverence.

Behind them, the ranks stretched endlessly; estimating, there were at least ten thousand men—such an overwhelming pressure.

How could any enemy possibly retain the will to stand against such a magnificent host?

Dai Zhong's face broke into a smile once more.

On the other side!

The two senior eunuchs, Jiao and He, stepped out of the Imperial City Office just as the flood of iron armor surged toward them.

They were instantly thrown into panic, unable to calm themselves; they exchanged a glance and needed no words—they understood the situation at once.

"The Lu family army has entered the city—this is no trivial matter. We must report it to the Master immediately," Jiao the Eunuch said gravely, lowering his voice.

"Right now, the priority is driving back the enemy and defending the nation. Personal grudges must be set aside for now."

With that said!

They dared not delay a moment, turning swiftly and hurrying toward the palace, hearts filled with unease and dread.

Especially Jiao—he had arrived at the Imperial City Office just hours ago, confident and certain; now, in half a day, the Eastern Depot was destroyed, imperial authority endangered, everything had changed!

Dai Zhong silently watched the retreating backs of Jiao and He, showing no sign of obstruction.

From the moment the Lu family army marched south, the outcome had already been sealed.

He murmured softly: "Beneath the brilliance of a peerless blade, all schemes and struggles are but mere embellishments—unable to alter the grand design."

Now, the grand design is settled.

Before the Imperial City Office, the Lu family army stood in formation like a forest of steel—no whisper, no murmur, discipline so strict it choked the air.

Deng Ping, commander of the Northern Army's Five Corps and leader of the Black Armor Division, now gripped his sword hilt tightly just to feel any sense of security, his eyes fixed on the formidable force before him.

The surrounding soldiers felt it too—they clenched their weapons, knuckles white with strain, faces taut with tension.

All could feel the immense pressure emanating from the Lu family army; even the atmosphere itself grew heavy.

Inside the Imperial City Office, no one dared breathe—even the Dali Temple guards with drawn blades were tense.

At this moment!

Every armored warrior dismounted in perfect unison, their movements synchronized, revealing the combat discipline forged through years of training.

The clanking of armor rang out, deafening!

Yet not a single command echoed from the Lu family army!

Every warrior's gaze converged into a blade of light too fierce to meet—piercing the soul, daring no one to show the slightest disrespect.

Feng Haiping and the others dismounted and walked forward slowly.

This scene added even greater solemnity and gravity to the already tense air.

The entire Lu family army turned their eyes toward the Imperial City—more precisely, toward one man on the steps.

Zhang Lin and Xie Linghao stood aside; though they tried to remain composed, their eyes betrayed a trace of tension.

Before these "beasts" of the Lu army, who could easily tear apart all resistance, even they had to acknowledge the fragility of life.

Not to be afraid? Impossible!

You gazed calmly at the Lu family army—these were all familiar faces.

It was as if it were fifteen years ago, just as when you reviewed the troops.

Yet these men had aged, their faces weathered by time.

You stepped out from beneath the eaves of the Imperial City Office; perhaps the sun was too harsh—you pulled your straw hat back onto your head.

Lu Yu followed closely behind.

The three women on the threshold watched this scene.

Xie Lingxuan's eyes locked onto you—everyone saw you slowly walking toward the "unmatched" Lu family army.

In her eyes, you wore only a simple cloth robe—no armor, no official garb—and you had once again donned the straw hat from the ruined temple.

Zou Shuning's breath quickened involuntarily; she bit her lip, her gaze filled with both worry and hope.

Tao Jiamin stared without blinking, her eyes growing brighter.

Deng Ping's eyes narrowed slightly; his grip on the sword hilt tightened further, his mind churning with thoughts no one could guess.

Xie Linghao and Zhang Lin stood aside, deeply awed by the scene before them—they held their breath, not daring to stir, only watching the blazing eyes of the Lu family army.

All eyes followed you as you took step after step toward the Lu family army.

At that moment, Feng Haiping slowly knelt, his voice trembling with emotion:

"Feng Haiping, pays homage to the Shaobao."

"Dou Gu, pays homage to the Shaobao."

"Jia Fu, pays homage to the Shaobao."

All bowed low to the ground.

A roar echoed through the heavens!

"Pays homage to the Shaobao!"

"Pays homage to the Shaobao!"

Lu Yu smiled faintly—it was as if fifteen years had vanished.

Before the Imperial City Office, ten thousand men knelt before the Shaobao—not one stood.

Xie Linghao and Zhang Lin, witnessing this scene, trembled in their eyes.

Deng Ping slowly released his grip on the sword hilt.

Xie Lingxuan gripped the doorframe, her beautiful eyes slowly going still.

Zou Shuning gazed at the sea of Lu family soldiers kneeling at your feet.

And you made no move—as if this were always meant to be. She thought to herself:

"This invincible Lu family army has once again welcomed its true commander!"

(End of Chapter)