Tang Feng had initially assumed it was his own men arriving. After all, he had given orders for them to pick him up at the appointed time.

But instead...

The Elders' Court, the Forbidden Guards? This... As far as he knew, this small unit was solely responsible for the security of the Elders' Court and had almost no precedent of being dispatched for missions. Could people from the Elders' Court be here?

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the vast hall turned incredibly strange.

A moment later, Tang Yuan looked at Tang Feng in confusion.

Tang Feng gave a stiff shake of his head. Despite his status as an Eighth Rank Military General, he still had no authority to interact with the Forbidden Guards. The heavyweights from the Elders' Court were even less likely to come for him. It was something even a fool could figure out.

Then, Tang Yuan and Tang Feng abruptly turned their heads, their searing gazes fixed on Chen Yang. In the next second, their breathing grew heavy.

If that was true...

All at once, Tang Yuan's face turned deathly pale.

Jiang Ying, who had just climbed up from a pool of her own blood, sensed the tension in the room and forcefully swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue. She then shifted her feet, hiding behind Tang Feng.

"Grandfather, Big Brother, this..." Tang Lan's voice trembled, her palms dripping with cold sweat as she was overcome with panic.

"Who was it just now who said to kneel and kowtow in apology?"

A sudden voice caused the temperature in the hall to plummet. Moreover, the pointed accusation in those words was unmistakable.

Tang Feng's heart leaped, and his breathing quickened. Tang Yuan, gripping the hem of his clothes, stared intently at the main entrance.

Under everyone's watchful gaze, a young man in a military uniform strode in, his right hand resting on the pistol holster strapped to his thigh. The black uniform, emblazoned with a bright red character for "Forbidden" on the armband, was dazzling and piercing under the lights.

Eighth Rank Military General, Qiu Yu.

Although he was the same rank as Tang Feng, their differing affiliations created a world of difference between them. It was much like how a Sixth Grade Martial General from the Hanyun Valley Martial Guard could once rival a Seventh or even an Eighth Grade from other divisions. Quality like that was a precious commodity.

Tang Feng's throat tightened. This… this really is the Elders' Court's Forbidden Guards!

Just as he was about to step forward and offer a greeting, he saw something unbelievable.

Qiu Yu adjusted his cap, straightened his back, and strode up to Chen Yang. He performed a respectful Martial Guard salute, his tone filled with immense reverence. "Commander Qiu Yu of the Forbidden Guards, reporting to the Governor!"

"All members of the Forbidden Guard, reporting to the Governor!"

Outside the door, under the blanket of the cold moonlight, every member of the Forbidden Guards raised their right hand to their brow in a respectful salute. Their resonant voices were like a sharp Sky Halberd, tearing through the curtain of the night. The thunderous sound sent a thrill through the blood.

Chen Yang was momentarily stunned. The scene was truly nostalgic. Returning Qiu Yu's salute, Chen Yang shook his head with a smile. "I'm not anymore."

"In our hearts, you always will be," Qiu Yu said firmly, though his heart was filled with a complex mix of emotions. There were some things he shouldn't and couldn't say. But no matter what, the man before him was someone he would have to look up to and revere for the rest of his life.

"The G-Governor?!" As the words left Tang Feng's lips, an icy chill washed over him, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Even the typically composed and steady Tang Yuan shuddered, his eyes bulging wide.

As for Tang Lan, she trembled uncontrollably, her delicate face shifting through a torrent of expressions. Her breathing grew ragged, and she pressed her hands on the table as if it were the only thing keeping her upright. He… he actually has such a high status!

Looking over at Jiang Ying, if she hadn't been desperately clinging to Tang Feng, she would have already collapsed to the floor.

For a moment, the massive villa plunged into a strange, profound silence.

Who could have possibly imagined that this unremarkable-looking man was the just-announced retired Nine Gates Admiral, the Zhennan Prince? Most critically, even though he had already retired, the Elders' Court had still dispatched the Forbidden Guards to back him up.

This, this… Across the entire Martial Department, could you find even one other person with such clout?

GULP.

The once arrogant and haughty Tang Feng swallowed hard, feeling his throat tighten. He lowered his head slightly, not daring to show another shred of insolence.

Tang Yuan stared at Chen Yang with a complex gaze, utterly incredulous. No wonder he had always felt this young man was extraordinary, a man of great potential. As it turned out, he had reached the summit long ago. It was laughable how smug he had been when comparing Tang Feng to him, even mocking the man for being too stiff-backed and not knowing when to bow his head.

The dignified Zhennan Prince—to whom should he ever need to bow?

The thought was utterly ridiculous now. At the same time, a wave of extreme shame washed over him. He felt like a petty man puffed up with success, showing off his meager skills before a true master.

"O-Officer Qiu," Tang Feng finally managed to speak after taking a deep breath. He then turned to Chen Yang and bowed deeply. "This subordinate greets the Governor."

Damn it! Inwardly, Tang Feng wanted to strangle himself. Was it really worth all this, just for a woman? Because of this, his hatred for Jiang Ying, who stood beside him, grew even more intense.

"Hmph!" Qiu Yu snorted coldly. "If I heard correctly, you were the one just clamoring for the Governor to kneel and kowtow in apology?"

Tang Feng was speechless.

"Then I have to ask, who exactly is worthy of a kowtow from the Governor?"

Tang Feng's mouth was dry, and cold sweat dripped down his back as he scrambled to explain, "S-Sir, please, let me explain!"

"Or perhaps you were suggesting the Governor should kneel and apologize to you?" Qiu Yu continued, ignoring him.

A shiver ran through Tang Feng's entire body. He waved his hands frantically, shaking his head like a rattle drum. "No, that's not it at all!"

"Hmph." Qiu Yu snorted again, his razor-sharp gaze suddenly locking onto Jiang Ying. "You must be Jiang Ying. I already know what happened. You deserve to die!"

"And you…" Qiu Yu looked at Tang Feng. "You knew this wretched woman was in the wrong, yet you still took her side. Are you even worthy of the uniform you're wearing?"

SHIING!

As his words fell, Qiu Yu drew a dagger and dashed forward. "A vicious woman like you cannot be allowed to live!"

THUMP...

With a final surge of extreme unwillingness, the woman who had used her body to get by in high society collapsed to the ground, all life extinguished. She had thought that Tang Feng, a man from the upper echelons of the Martial Department, would be her new backer. But instead...

"As for you," Qiu Yu said, sheathing his dagger and pointing at Tang Feng, "I will report the facts to the Patrol and Arrest Team. Whether you are dismissed or retained, whether you live or die, you'll have to pray for yourself."

THUD!

Tang Feng collapsed to the ground, utterly soul-shattered.

"My apologies for the disturbance I've caused tonight," Chen Yang said, nodding slightly to Tang Yuan before turning to leave.

Watching his departing figure, Tang Yuan opened his mouth several times, but ultimately, not a single word came out. He naturally wanted to plead for Tang Feng, but...

「Half a day had passed since Qiu Dalong's challenge.」

That very night, the one who had single-handedly torn through the entire Heavenly God List accepted the challenge.

His response was a single word:

Battle!

He also added a line:

The spring scenery at Chilian Peak is magnificent; why wait until March twenty-eighth? In three days, I will fight you

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