Chapter 163: Ye Xin's Counterattack

Opposite them, Ning Gaowu and the other two showed little change in their expressions. Han Sanmei merely smiled faintly. Evidently, all three of them knew who Tie Shudeng was referring to. Shen Wangji and Wang Fang, however, appeared somewhat surprised. Anyone appearing on this occasion was a powerhouse possessing Upper Pillar-State combat strength, and they could not fathom who else in the Great Wei Kingdom was qualified to take the stage.

"Elder Zong, please come over," Tie Shudeng said, turning around.

An old man walked slowly out from behind the screen. His figure was somewhat withered and lean, yet his eyes were piercingly bright, and he took large strides. Following closely behind him were four men, all dressed in black with expressions as stern as water.

"Little Xin, Lord Shen, Lord Wang, you may not know him personally, but surely you have heard of the Undying Army?" Tie Shudeng smiled.

"The Undying Army? You are Hong Wugou... No! You are Zong Bielie?!" Wang Fang cried out in shock, and Shen Wangji also wore an expression of horror.

Decades ago, the Great Chen Kingdom's Undying Army was the strongest military force in the world. Of course, at that time, neither the Heavenly Wolf Legion nor the Demonic Army had been born. The Undying Army had been founded single-handedly by Hong Wugou, but later, having backed the wrong side in the succession struggle, Hong Wugou was forced to resign to take the blame, thus fading from the public eye. The Undying Army was subsequently taken over by Hong Wugou's deputy, Zong Bielie.

Suffering this blow, the combat strength of the Undying Army was severely weakened. Many of Hong Wugou's loyal subordinates felt deep resentment and successively left the force. Furthermore, the Undying Army seemed to carry a curse: whoever served as its commander-in-chief would meet a grim fate. A few years ago, Zong Bielie had a bitter falling-out with the ruler of the Great Chen Kingdom. The entire Zong clan suddenly fled the Great Chen Kingdom and entered the Great Wei Kingdom. Zong Bielie attempted to take the Undying Army with him as well, but encountered pursuit and interception by the Great Chen Kingdom. Zong Bielie went missing, and the Undying Army was completely shattered.

Who would have thought that Zong Bielie, missing for several years, would actually appear here? Moreover, judging by Tie Shudeng's expression, a deep trust seemed to have already been forged between them.

"It is indeed this old man. I did not expect Lord Wang to have heard of my meager reputation," Zong Bielie said with a smile, looking at Wang Fang.

"Elder Zong is a senior, I hardly dare accept the title of 'Lord' from you!" Wang Fang hastily stood up.

Ning Gaowu and the others opposite, as well as Ye Xin, Han Sanmei, and Shen Wangji on this side, also stood up. In terms of seniority, Zong Bielie was an elder well past eighty. Currently, the head of the Zong family, Zhong Zhentang, was still of the generation of Zong Bielie's nephews and grandsons, so showing respect was naturally required.

Zong Bielie appeared very graceful, greeting them one by one.

"I have long heard that the House of Ye produces no cowardly sons. Meeting the Young Marshal today is an absolute honor."

"Lord Wang enjoys the fame of divine discernment. With a population of over a million in Jiuding City, achieving a state where things dropped on the road are not picked up and doors are left unlocked at night can truly be considered a miracle."

"Lord Shen, when I was in the Great Chen Kingdom, I heard a saying: 'To forge a strong army, one must look to Guanhai; to govern the state, one need only seek Wangji.' Meeting Lord Shen today fulfills a long-held wish of mine."

The phrase "To forge a strong army, one must look to Guanhai" referred to Ye Xin's father, Ye Guanhai. "To govern the state, one need only seek Wangji" spoke of Shen Wangji. Shen Wangji had served in the Grand Secretariat for over a dozen years without a single misstep, allowing Tie Xinsheng to free himself from extraordinarily cumbersome state affairs.

After the pleasantries, everyone retook their seats. Both Shen Wangji and Wang Fang appeared very excited. The Great Wei Kingdom had only one Ye Xin, and its combat strength was still too thin to easily cope with the joint invasion of the Great Zhao Kingdom and the Great Yu Kingdom next year. Now, with the addition of Zong Bielie, the Great Wei Kingdom could entirely wage a two-front war!

The atmosphere at the banquet grew increasingly lively. Tie Shudeng suddenly raised a hand to signal everyone to lower their voices, and then looked at Ye Xin. "Little Xin, I want to discuss something with you."

"Third Brother, just say whatever is on your mind," Ye Xin said, letting out a slight burp.

"You won't turn nineteen for another few months, and you are far too young. All the Grand Lords are of your uncles' and grandfathers' generations, so being ranked alongside them is somewhat improper. Furthermore, the Grand Commandant is a crucial post and should be held by a venerable and respected elder to manifest the majesty of the Great Wei Kingdom. Elder Zong has just returned from the Great Chen Kingdom, and he tells me that people there heard you became Grand Commandant and mocked us, saying there is no one left in the court and a child of privilege is running amok. Hearing that made me very uncomfortable," Tie Shudeng said slowly. "Little Xin, don't misunderstand. I don't doubt your ability, but you... are truly too young; it harms the nation's prestige!"

"Third Brother means..." Ye Xin asked calmly.

"You should step down from the post of Grand Commandant first. The Heavenly Wolf Legion remains yours; as long as I am the ruler, the Heavenly Wolf Legion will always belong to the Ye family! I guarantee it! Once you have weathered a few more years, it won't be too late to hand the Grand Commandant's seal back to you," Tie Shudeng said. "Elder Zong and I have discussed this. Elder Zong will manage the Grand Commandant's Mansion in your stead. Elder Zong is getting on in years and his energy is waning; after seven or eight years at most, you can take it back. How about that?"

The expressions of Shen Wangji and Wang Fang changed drastically. What did Tie Shudeng mean? Zong Bielie had just come to seek refuge in the Great Wei Kingdom, and the burgeoning signs of prosperity had only just begun to emerge—were they going to ignite internal strife once again?!

"Your Majesty! This proposal is improper!" Han Sanmei leaped to his feet, his face turning ashen. Tie Shudeng's decision was far too sudden, and there had been no warning whatsoever beforehand. "Although Grand Commandant Ye is young, he has managed the military affairs in an orderly and meticulous manner these past few days since taking charge of the Grand Commandant's Mansion. Everyone has witnessed it with their own eyes!"

"Indeed!" Shen Wangji chimed in. "Your Majesty, is age truly more important than ability?"

"I implore Your Majesty to withdraw this proposal!" Wang Fang also stood up to support Ye Xin.

This had nothing to do with personal affection; they stood up to support Ye Xin entirely from the perspective of the Great Wei Kingdom. The Great Wei Kingdom could no longer endure turmoil, and Ye Xin's temperament was inherently arrogant. For Wen Rong, he had dared to fly into a rage and slaughter for a beauty. Now that his position had been stripped away, who knew what kind of disaster might brew?!

To put it bluntly, it was a question of whether the country or the sovereign was more important. At times, one could only choose one; perfection was impossible.

Han Sanmei, Wang Fang, and Shen Wangji believed the country was more important, and thus hoped Tie Shudeng would cast aside old grievances.

"What are you all so anxious about?" Tie Shudeng smiled. "Little Xin hasn't spoken yet. Little Xin, what is your opinion?"

"Let's go with Third Brother's decision," Ye Xin said calmly.

"Good! You are truly my good brother! I toast to you!" Tie Shudeng raised his cup and drained it in one gulp. Ye Xin, however, did not respond; he merely stared at the wine in his cup with an amused gaze.

"Elder Zong, the post of Grand Commandant is entrusted to you. I hope you will not fail my heavy responsibility!" Tie Shudeng looked at Zong Bielie.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This old man will do his utmost to assist Your Majesty in achieving great hegemony!" Zong Bielie said in an unwavering, decisive tone.

Tie Shudeng laughed heartily, his bearing filled with the heroic spirit of looking down upon the world. Because he was still young, he believed he had ample time to unfold his ambitions and sufficient capability to do so!

Following that, Tie Shudeng looked at Han Sanmei and the others. "My Lords, please sit down. Little Xin and I grew up together since we were children; he can understand my hidden difficulties."

Han Sanmei slumped back onto his rush mat, looking somewhat hollow and dejected. Ever since the Great Zhao Kingdom invaded the borders, the series of heaven-shaking changes had made him profoundly realize that Ye Xin possessed unfathomable, ghostly abilities! Especially after learning that Ye Xin was the long-missing Heavenly Sin Killing God, he valued Ye Xin even more. Leading merely three thousand men of the Cannon Fodder Camp to withstand the pressure of the entire Great Zhao Kingdom's mobilized might and stubbornly fighting for over a year—that was simply not something human manpower could achieve!

Let alone him, Han Sanmei, even Ye Guanhai could not have done it!

Why on earth was Tie Shudeng pressing Ye Xin so hard?!

Even more terrifying was that Ye Xin's expression was far too natural, as if he had anticipated everything long ago. If so, what would Ye Xin's counterattack be? Where on earth did Tie Shudeng get his confidence?!

A trace of despair had already sprouted in Han Sanmei's eyes. He instinctively forefelt that his decades of hard work were turning to ashes right before his eyes.

Equally despairing was Wang Meng. He had sat waiting at the foot of South Mountain for a very, very long time, but Ye Xin never appeared. He knew that nothing could be saved now.

Wang Meng slowly stood up. Should he return to Jiuding City, or head to the southern front? For the first time, he realized that making a choice could actually be so difficult!

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves came from afar. Wang Meng was momentarily stunned. Having spent time in the military after all, he immediately recognized that those were not ordinary horses, but warhorses. Moreover, the number was not one or two; an entire army was charging toward this direction.

What was going on? Wang Meng immediately leaped onto his warhorse and squinted into the distance.

The first to break into his field of vision were a dozen Boundary Heavenly Wolves running abreast. In the center was Qiu Jiecha; Wang Meng recognized him.

The veteran generals of the Heavenly Wolf Legion glanced at Wang Meng from afar, paid him no mind, and continued galloping toward Jiuding City.

The next moment, a military banner appeared in Wang Meng's sight. Beneath the banner was a one-eyed general clad in heavy armor, holding a heavy battle spear in his hand. The warhorse beneath him paused slightly, and then he raised his eyes to look at Jiuding City in the distance, a ferocious smile spreading across his face.

One-Eyed Deng? Deng Zhiguo?! He was originally the commander of the southern front; why had he returned? And moreover, why had he returned with an army?!

However, the most despairing ones were not Han Sanmei and Wang Meng, but the members of the Zong clan!

Zong Yunxiu was throwing a violent tantrum in her boudoir. Ever since Zong Yunjin was slain by Ye Xin during the grand competition at the Longteng Martial Arts Academy, her temper had become exceptionally volatile, leading her to beat and abuse the servants at the slightest provocation. Suffering at her feet at that very moment was none other than Zong Ying, who had once almost been married off to the Ye family.

"Wretch! You can't even handle such a trivial matter!" Zong Yunxiu cursed as she kicked and stomped on Zong Ying.

Zong Ying lay on the ground, covering her head with both hands. However, she was merely an ordinary person incapable of cultivation, while Zong Yunxiu was already a congenital martial artist. The force of those blows was more than she could bear; nearly every kick made her feel as though she were about to die.

The commotion suddenly echoing from outside the door made Zong Yunxiu pause. Furiously, she shouted, "What is going on outside?!"

One of Zong Yunxiu's trusted maidservants hurriedly pushed the door open, drawing breath to hurl curses, when a flash of sword light flew straight toward her. The maidservant's head suddenly detached from her neck and soared high into the air.