Chapter 826

First Volume, Chapter 826: Love Me, Love My Dog

"The negotiation agreement between the two nations, though more harmful than beneficial to your country, is still tolerable—it is the price of defeat, and not just for your nation, but for any nation in such a position."

"As for the chaos in Sangzhou, it is an inevitable step for the late emperor's princess to return to the imperial family."

"If I were to directly escort the late emperor's princess back to Beijing, she might not even see tomorrow's sun—the ruling powers have countless ways to make her vanish without a trace."

"Right now, the greatest threat to your nation is not external, but internal!"

"Financial emptiness will further undermine people's livelihood and military strength, and these two factors will endanger the ruling authority—this is a vicious cycle. If the financial crisis is not resolved, your nation will surely collapse!"

Wu Lao's gaze turned cold and sharp: "Talk is cheap!"

"Is your great Di's finances so strained because of your scheming?"

Qin Feng argued firmly: "I'll say it again: those who kill shall be killed in return! Your nation started this war, so you must bear its consequences. My great Liang has exhausted manpower and resources to finally defeat the Northern Di—if we do not punish you severely, aren't we encouraging others to follow suit? In the future, countless others will imitate you!"

"As long as your nation fulfills the agreement, my great Liang will naturally not show leniency."

"Once your nation stabilizes its external and internal troubles, recovers its strength, and restores its national power, it is merely a matter of time."

"If Wu Lao insists on killing me and resorts to the foolish tactic of 'long pain is better than short pain,' then I can assure you, within half a year, your great Di will perish!"

Upon hearing this, both Wei Xiao and Ning Hu tensed up inside.

Qin Feng's audacity was too great—he knew Wu Lao longed to peel his skin and extract his tendons, yet he repeatedly provoked him.

If Wu Lao flew into a rage, no one knew whether the Northern Di would fall, but Qin Feng would surely die tonight.

Fortunately, Wu Lao was no foolish or rigid man; since he appeared here tonight, he clearly understood the Northern Di's dire situation.

Yet seeing Qin Feng's aggressive stance, Wu Lao's anger flared: "You? You think you can destroy my great Di?!"

Qin Feng clenched his teeth, neither humble nor arrogant: "I am nothing! But behind me stand the Northern Border Generals, the Tianji Camp Guards, the Brocade Uniform Guards, the Black Riders, and the support of your late emperor's princess!"

"Wu Lao, your martial skill is formidable—but how many men can you kill? Or, if war reignites again, you, the so-called mountain-recluse master, would you truly dare step onto the battlefield?"

"I am not boasting—if you show even a hint of weakness and are surrounded by my Tianji Camp Guards, just twenty men can capture you!"

A top-tier expert like Wu Lao, in a one-on-one duel, is unquestionably peerless; those in Heaven who could defeat him are few and far between.

But a duel and a group battle are entirely different matters—especially when facing well-trained elite troops.

The martial world is still just the martial world—it pales in comparison to the battlefield.

Seeing Wu Lao fall silent, Qin Feng pressed on: "When the time comes, my army will advance and join forces with the Wild Emperor Party in a bandit collaboration—I have one hundred percent confidence we will seize Zhuozhou within a month!"

"The people of Sangzhou live in prosperity; Zhuozhou will inevitably be affected, its resistance weak—we won't need to expend much energy to consolidate Zhuozhou; we can simply press forward!"

"With my army's strength, annihilating the Northern Di in one stroke is like a dream for fools—but severing your nation's territory and forcing a north-south division is not impossible."

"At that point, the people of Heaven will suffer, your nation will descend into civil chaos—and we won't even need to keep advancing; your nation will collapse on its own!"

Qin Feng's projection was the ideal scenario; though reality often differs greatly from ideals, Qin Feng had already made complete preparations—he issued a death order forbidding any soldier from trampling Sangzhou; anyone who laid hands on Sangzhou's civilians, regardless of rank, would be executed on the spot.

Under this iron command, not a single hair of the people was harmed.

Sangzhou was Qin Feng's trump card in conquering the Northern Di!

If war reignites and pressure is strong enough, many regions across the Northern Di's territories will emulate Sangzhou.

"Wu Lao, I have always revered mountain-recluse masters—after all, reaching the pinnacle of martial skill alone is enough to command the admiration and even fear of all under Heaven."

"But you are not a soldier, nor a court official—you understand nothing of military campaigns or state politics."

"You appeared here tonight to take my life, motivated by patriotism, but your vision is short-sighted—you are not saving your nation, you are ruining it!"

Wu Lao's expression flickered uncertainly—he truly could not see so deeply, and judging from Qin Feng's words, he could tell Qin Feng was not bluffing; the cost of killing Qin Feng was indeed immense.

Yet Wu Lao did not wish to back down. He coldly said: "If we spare you, my great Di will suffer endless calamities!"

Qin Feng asked sternly: "Wu Lao! Do you care for the current imperial family—or for the entire nation?"

Wu Lao didn't hesitate: "Of course the latter!"

Qin Feng nodded: "I have already consummated my marriage with the late emperor's princess, Jing Qianying—or Jing Yushu. When I return her to the imperial family, how could I possibly cut the grass and eliminate the roots of your nation?"

"At that point, I will be your nation's son-in-law."

Upon hearing this, the sharp killing intent in Wu Lao's eyes noticeably dimmed: "Is this true? Have you truly consummated your marriage with the late emperor's princess?"

Qin Feng's voice rang clear: "Absolutely true!"

Wu Lao slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath: "Then I will give you a chance."

"When the late emperor's princess returns to the imperial family, you must marry her immediately—or I will kill you!"

Qin Feng quietly exhaled, his voice low: "Are you questioning my feelings for Jing Qianying?"

Wu Lao said nothing. He stared at Qin Feng for a moment, then withdrew his gaze—and with it, the Iron Needle hidden in his sleeve.

Just as Wu Lao turned to leave, Qin Feng's voice sounded again.

"Wu Lao, you killed my subordinates. I will avenge this grudge, one day."

"When I return the late emperor's princess to the imperial family, even if you don't come to me, I will come to you!"

Wu Lao did not turn back. He snorted coldly: "I await you!"

With those words, Wu Lao vanished without a trace.

Qin Feng's tense body finally relaxed.

Lying beside him, Ning Hu's expression was complex beyond words—this old bastard was deadly dangerous, Qin Feng had barely escaped with his life, yet he still dared to threaten him…

Though he couldn't understand it, Ning Hu was deeply moved.

After all…

Anyone in this world who harmed anyone close to Qin Feng would surely face retribution.

To stand beside such a man was Ning Hu's fortune.

At that moment, Ning Hu suddenly remembered something and cried out: "Brother Qin, the dark weapon was poisoned—the old bastard didn't leave an antidote!"

Qin Feng's heart sank as well—this was no joke.