This question indeed troubled Shen Boyu.

After thinking for a long time, he finally spoke, "It's hard to say. Because his state is unstable and uncontrollable."

"If he is himself, he can cut it off with a wave of his hand. But if he is possessed by that Evil God..."

"Then what?"

"Stay far away, lest he hammers you to death."

"..."

Shen Xinglan felt very wronged and frustrated.

He is a Great Grandmaster, at the pinnacle of martial arts...

It wasn't easy to become a Grandmaster, and he never thought of showing off or going on a killing spree. He just wanted to return all the humiliation he had suffered in the past.

He wanted Tang Fei to also taste that feeling of utter despair and collapse.

That's what he thought and how he acted.

He hadn't even sought out Tang Fei yet and only bumped into his younger brother...

Then got taught a lesson with a hammer.

Not only failed to kill that Little Fatty, but he was also 'polluted' by the Yin Evil Qi of the Skull Hammer, and it took yin-yang qi dozens of cycles to completely cleanse it.

The Evil Qi of the Evil God is even more wicked than other evil qis, hard to shake off like maggots that cling to the bone.

Seeing Shen Xinglan's low spirits, Shen Boyu consoled, "Don't belittle yourself too much. You are a Great Grandmaster, at the martial arts pinnacle under the Star Sky. Below one, above all... In this world, those qualified to be your opponents are few."

Shen Boyu felt that Shen Xinglan had been shattered by defeat.

His mindset had not yet completely changed, still immersed in the tragic moment when the Little Grandmaster was brutally abused by Tang Fei...

A Great Grandmaster should have the momentum of arrogance and unparalleled daring.

You're already a Grandmaster, yet you're still flinching... Isn't this a disgrace to the Grandmaster community?

Look at that old Xuanyuan Mingjing who has been reclusive on White Crane Mountain for decades, the Emperor of the Empire has to show disciple respect when seeing him.

And look at Zhong Daoling, who even gave up the throne for being a Grandmaster...

"Yes." Hearing the subtle rebuke in Shen Boyu's words, Shen Xinglan immediately sat upright, respectfully saluted, and said, "Second Grandpa, rest assured, I won't disappoint you."

"Hmm." Shen Boyu nodded and said wearily, "I say these things only to keep you vigilant, not to lose caution because of being at a high level."

"Looking throughout history, countless heroes have hit snags in gutters. It's not necessarily big figures that kill those big figures, but the cooks or maids beside them."

"However, a Grandmaster should have cloud-high arrogance... Those I want to kill may not be killable. But if I want to leave, no one can stop me."

"Second Grandpa, I understand. I will remember your teachings."

Shen Boyu looked at Shen Xinglan kindly, softly saying, "Go now, think carefully about who you are, what abilities you have, what you want to become in the future..."

"We all need dignity, but dignity is based on success."

Shen Xinglan nodded and said with a smile, "Second Grandpa, I understand. Please rest well, I will go back and deeply comprehend the secret skills you passed on to me."

As Shen Xinglan got up and left, Shen Boyu sighed deeply.

Looking out at the bamboo grove outside the window, a gust of wind came, and leaves fell in swirls.

His life was like these bamboo leaves, unable to withstand any more wind and rain.

However, the new shoots had not grown strong and upright.

He took a sip of tea from the desk, it was cold and bitter, hard to swallow.

------

Weng Tonghe says, whenever facing great matters, remain calm.

Whenever encountering bad matters, smash a cup.

A string of bad matters, then... smash a few more cups.

Shen Annan now fully understands the feeling of the Military Minister smashing cups.

He's not angry at his decisions but at the incompetence of his subordinates, the unfairness of fate...

'Luo City's defense system is lost.'

'Bi Qingqiu ran away.'

'City Defense General Jia Jun and the entire special task force were annihilated.'

------

Since he took over the defense of Luo City, one bad thing after another made Shen Annan, who boasted of his brilliant Qi cultivation skills, break his cultivation technique.

What is this doing?

What on earth is this doing?

Can people still live?

Shen Annan believed in his soldiers and also in the illusory fate.

The unlucky start made him worry about the final outcome of this epic battle.

"Worthless, truly a bunch of worthless people. Can't even handle such a small thing, what can they do?" In the conference hall, Shen Annan was furious.

Everyone kept their heads down, unwilling to meet Shen Annan's gaze.

The battle was fierce, Luo City was besieged on three sides by the bandits, under immense pressure, with the risk of falling at any time.

Everyone knew the Grand Commander was in a bad mood, very irritable these days, not to provoke lightly.

Zhong Mushan stood up to report, "Grand Commander, traces of a Great Grandmaster appeared on the scene."

At Shen Annan's request, Zhong Mushan personally went to the site for an investigation.

The terrifying pressure and powerful destruction weren't achievable by ordinary minor Grandmasters...

Because he himself was a Little Grandmaster.

"Great Grandmaster?" Shen Annan's expression froze, asking, "Was it Zhong Daoling or Xuanyuan Mingjing?"

In the Empire, there were only a few Great Grandmasters.

If a Grandmaster from the Shen Family took action, he should have informed him.

He hadn't received any news on his end, so his first reaction was Zhong Daoling or Xuanyuan Mingjing...

What he didn't know was that although Shen Xinglan had taken action, he was also injured.

He got hammered away by Little Fatty.

Such an embarrassing incident, of course, wouldn't be specially reported to Shen Annan.

He was very proud.

Even though nominally he still had to call Shen Annan 'uncle.'

"Not clear." Zhong Mushan shook his head and said, "When we got there, there were only corpses on the ground, and we never saw the true form of the Great Grandmaster."

Of course, he didn't want to see it either.

Because he was well aware that the cultivation power of the Little Grandmaster and the Great Grandmaster were worlds apart.

If it wasn't a Great Grandmaster on our side and held malicious intent towards us, seeing it would mean never returning.

"Deploy the Star Map and see what actually happened there."

Shen Annan spoke up.

Although the local Sky Net System might not be able to monitor the movements of the Great Grandmaster, the Star Chain hovering above could.

As long as the real-time Star Map is deployed, everything that happened locally would be clear.

Using national instruments is quite a difficult thing for others, but for the Shen family, who secretly hold half of this country, it's a very simple task.

Oh, controlling half of this country.

"Yes." Lieutenant Li Hu agreed.

Shen Annan didn't want to waste time on this issue after all, given that they still had innumerable more serious issues to deal with.

Bi Qingqiu leaked information and defected, who will the Lord of Luo City find to succeed?

Bi Qingqiu had held the position of the Lord of Luo City for nearly ten years, and before that had served in major roles and as an administrative head, how many loyalists and cronies does he have up and down?

With Bi Qingqiu gone, did they collude with him secretly?

Do we need a bloody cleansing? To clarify who is Bi Qingqiu's loyalist? Who had too many ties with him...

It must be done.

Bi Qingqiu's position was simply too important.

Secure the internal before dealing with the external.

To Shen Annan, the current state of Luo City inside and out was like a sieve, and he didn't know how many holes needed filling up top.

If these traitors aren't removed, he wouldn't be able to sleep with both eyes closed at night.

Better to err on the side of caution, letting no one escape.

As for the City Defense General Jia Jun, dying was insignificant.

His military power had already been retracted, and now all battle and defense of Luo City were led by the Undying Army, supplemented by the previous Luo City garrison.

Now the four gates were guarded by senior generals from the Undying Army, veterans who had seen blood and wouldn't easily be knocked over by the Flame-Bathed Legion.

"Everyone, let's discuss the losses in each part." Shen Annan looked around and spoke, "Can we hold up? Do we need support?"

------

"Come, Little Fatty, have an apple."

"Thank you, Sister Phoenix."

"Come, Little Fatty, have a banana."

"Thank you, Sister Xin Huai."

"Come, have another piece of cantaloupe..."

------

Little Fatty felt that he was better and wanted to be discharged.

But his brother felt he wasn't well and wanted him to continue staying.

Little Fatty couldn't go against big brother's wishes, so he could only continue lying in the hospital room.

Fortunately, Sister Phoenix and Sister Xin Huai would come and accompany him for a while every day, talk to him, and bring some fresh fruits and snacks.

Little Fatty didn't like to talk, but he liked eating fruits and snacks.

He didn't know why, but whenever Sister Phoenix and Sister Xin Huai came to see him together, he would feel extremely nervous.

He didn't know what he was nervous about, as clearly he liked Sister Phoenix and Sister Xin Huai.

Little Fatty was puzzled, so he decided not to understand.

Whatever they asked, he would answer.

Whatever they offered, he would eat.

All for treating everyone equally without offending anyone.

Of course, he couldn't show particular fondness.

He felt a bit bad for his brother; such a complex issue... It's harder than training.

He found breaking rocks every day less tiring than this.

Seeing Little Fatty finish a plate of fruits, Phoenix raised her wrist to check the time and spoke, "I need to return to Brocade City, I have lots of official business to attend to."

Sheng Xinhua stretched lazily, showing off her alluring figure, and spoke, "I'll go back with you."

"No need." Phoenix looked at Sheng Xinhua with a smile and said, "You're going back for no reason? Better stay here and accompany Little Fatty."

"Oh dear, is the princess complaining that I'm not helpful? Can't help it, since I majored in ancient Chinese literature?"

"Unlike the princess, gifted and knowledgeable, from a profoundly educated family, able to solve any complex political issues with ease."

"Sheng Xinhua..."

"The princess is angry." Sheng Xinhua stepped up and held Phoenix's hand with a charming smile, saying, "I can't do anything else, but I'm capable."

"..."

"Alright, alright, no more anger, no more anger. Let's go, I'll give you a shoulder rub and massage...making sure you feel comfortable."

Their voices grew distant.

Little Fatty hid under the covers, shivering.

"Too scary."

"Really too scary..."

"Scarier than Shen Xinglan..."

------

Tang Fei pushed the door open and walked into the hospital room, seeing Little Fatty's pale face and exclaimed, "Little Fatty, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

"Brother... I'm scared..." Little Fatty said with a sorrowful face.

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