Chapter 223

Tukesulu grabbed Li Bolun by the collar, his eyes brimming with amusement. A sinister smile curled on his lips as he said to Li Bolun: "Don't rush—my lord hasn't arrived yet. You can't die just yet. You're our great contributor; without you, how could we have taken Zhangwu County so easily?"

He turned his head and ordered the soldiers behind him: "Take Li Bolun away and keep a close watch on him. If anything happens to him, you'll all be skinned alive by my lord."

As he spoke, his hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, the blade glinting with cold light. Though his tone was casual, it carried an undeniable authority. Behind him marched a group of soldiers clad in black, their expressions icy, blades in hand. They were Tukesulu's trusted subordinates, his most capable enforcers.

The soldiers immediately responded: "Yes!"

They stepped forward and took Li Bolun from Tukesulu's grasp. Their movements were cautious, afraid of provoking Tukesulu. They knew his temper and methods—things they dared not challenge.

To prevent Li Bolun from attempting suicide, they stuffed a cloth into his mouth. Bound tightly, he could not move. He could only watch helplessly as Tukesulu and his men flaunted their dominance on his own territory.

Night had fallen. Jiang Mingyu led sixty thousand elite troops into Zhangwu County's gate. He dismounted and was about to question Tukesulu when he heard an unusual string note. His heart jolted—he spun around. Above the night, a pavilion glimmered with countless flashes of cold light: bows, all aimed at him and his men.

"Jiang! Die!" came a brazen voice from the pavilion.

The grating sound of a bowstring being drawn rang out—a feathered arrow shot toward Jiang Mingyu.

Zhang Jiaqi saw the danger and acted instantly, yanking Jiang Mingyu down the steps into a spin. A whisper of wind passed his ear—a black arrow had just missed him. Had Zhang Jiaqi not reacted so swiftly, Jiang Mingyu's inspection would have ended in death.

Zhang Jiaqi pulled hard, dragging Jiang Mingyu behind her. Her figure darted like a swallow, twisting midair to evade the lethal arrow. She felt the wind howling past her ear, her heartbeat racing. She silently prayed: My lord, please don't be hurt!

Jiang Mingyu stumbled sideways from Zhang Jiaqi's pull. As he steadied himself, a sharp *whoosh* passed his ear. He instinctively touched his ear—uninjured. He exhaled in relief, then turned to look at Zhang Jiaqi. Her beautiful face was etched with worry and concern. His heart warmed; he thanked her: "Damn it, that's not even honorable! Jiaqi, thanks to you, my life's still mine!"

As Jiang Mingyu and Zhang Jiaqi spoke, a scream pierced the air. They turned—his personal guard lay in a pool of blood.

He was one of Jiang Mingyu's elite bodyguards, meant to protect his lord. Yet the arrow had pierced straight through his left eye socket, spraying his brains across the ground. He never got to speak a word before collapsing.

The thud of the corpse sent a chill through Jiang Mingyu—he had nearly died. Since raising his army, he'd faced such tension only once before—at Lingna. Now, he roared.

"Dog Dan! Surround these bastards! Tukesulu! Bring me the coward who shot that arrow!"

He didn't need to order it—Li Goudan had already exploded with rage.

He was one of Jiang Mingyu's most loyal and fierce generals, having shared hardship and victory with him for years. Seeing his lord nearly assassinated, he was beyond fury.

"What are you waiting for? Didn't you hear the lord? Surround these fucking bastards!" He roared, swinging his great blade.

Behind him marched thousands of elite soldiers—veterans hardened by countless battles. At Li Goudan's command, they instantly formed ranks and charged the pavilion.

To dare touch Jiang Mingyu was a death sentence. In the blink of an eye, Jiang Mingyu's sixty thousand men encircled Li Bolun's thirty thousand, leaving no escape.

The assassins had thought their ambush would kill Jiang Mingyu in one strike—now they were trapped. Seeing Jiang Mingyu's icy gaze, their hearts panicked. The shooter knew: today, he wouldn't escape.

Tukesulu flashed forward and hurled the enemy archer at Jiang Mingyu's feet.

"Big brother, this bastard nearly killed you—he's the one who shot the arrow."

He pointed to the bow in the enemy's hand—Jiang Mingyu needed no further explanation.

With one word from Jiang Mingyu, he'd tear the enemy to pieces. Jiang Mingyu stared coldly at the man on the ground, his voice sharp as steel:

"You wanted to kill me, didn't you?"

But the enemy showed no fear—he lifted his chin and answered: "Yes. I wanted to kill you, you treacherous, deceitful worm. You tricked and captured my lord—you deserve to die a thousand deaths."

"And all of you are guilty. Especially that traitorous Meng Fu Jun—you're all my lord's enemies."

"Today I can't kill you, but I won't let you live in peace. Even after death, I'll become a vengeful ghost to haunt you." He glared fiercely at Zhang Jiaqi and spat: "And you, you bitch—if not for you, that Jiang bastard would've been dead on his horse already."

"You won't escape divine retribution—you'll die a cursed death…" His voice rose to a shriek.

Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly. "Well, you've got guts and spirit. You're a man."

"Bring him. Skin him alive. Let's see if he can still become a ghost." Before the words faded, soldiers rushed forward, pinned the enemy down, and sliced him into pieces as he screamed.

Blood stained the horizon; flames lit the scattered limbs.

Li Bolun, bound to a post, mouth stuffed with cloth, watched it all.

He was filled with regret. If only he hadn't believed Su Zi's plan to ambush Jiang Mingyu—if he'd faced him head-on, he wouldn't be here now.

Worse still, the brother who died for him—he couldn't even remember his name.

He wanted Jiang Mingyu torn apart limb by limb. If there was even a sliver of hope today, he swore eternal vengeance.

Li Bolun's screams reached Jiang Mingyu's ears. He turned, sneering: "Li Bolun, you're furious, aren't you? Want to eat me alive? Too bad—you brought this on yourself."

He looked into Li Bolun's terrified eyes and added calmly: "Since you're like this, I won't waste words. I never planned to spare you." Li Bolun's muffled screams filled his mouth—cursing Jiang Mingyu.

Jiang Mingyu ignored him and turned to the thirty thousand trapped in the city: "Look at your lord—he's finished. What do you plan to do?" At Jiang Mingyu's cold expression and the gore beneath their feet, the thirty thousand shuddered.

The scene had been too horrific. They couldn't imagine how much pain they'd suffer if it were them.

*Clang. One civilian soldier dropped his weapon. Then another. Then another. Soon, all thirty thousand knelt before Jiang Mingyu.

"Please spare us! We surrender! That arrow had nothing to do with us!"

But Jiang Mingyu had already decided: these men would die.

He could be merciful to civilians—but to enemies, he showed no mercy. "Dog Dan, execute them all—along with Li Bolun. Let this be my revenge."

Zhangwu County was already taken; Li Bolun was worthless now. In moments of flashing blades and splashing blood, the thirty thousand who had surrendered in the city died in their own blood.