Volume 1, Chapter 25: The Bloody Battle of Freshwater City

Dark clouds pressed down upon the city, accompanied by howling winds, the thunder of war drums, and the blare of horns. The atmosphere was charged with a formidable momentum, filled with the neighing of horses and the shouts of men. Tens of thousands of Southern Barbarian troops stood at the gates, poised and ready, waiting for the command to launch their assault. Lu Yunduan led the three thousand soldiers of the Ding Battalion to Freshwater City. Watching the massive army from the ramparts, the city guards were drenched in cold sweat. "This battle looks grim," one whispered. "I still have family waiting for me at home..."

Ying Sheng was feeling curious; to keep Xing Zeyuan talking, she needed to find topics that would engage him. After much thought, she decided this one would do just fine.

"Eternal Supreme!" Yuchen froze when he heard the term, as if he had heard it somewhere before. "I feel like I've heard of the Eternal Supreme somewhere," Yuchen murmured, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

"If you won't hand it over willingly, I have plenty of ways to force your hand," Lin Feng said, his expression calm and his tone mild, yet a cold sneer played upon his lips.

"Alright, thank you. You all stay here and don't look anyone in the eye. I'm going over now," Mo Ran said as she put on her sunglasses.

When Leng Xuanye emerged from the bathroom, he was mostly sober. Just as he was about to lie down on the bed, a sudden barking sound startled him. "Yumo!" He shuddered, and without a second thought, he ran outside.

Over the past few days, Luohua, grateful that Si Ya had not only saved her brother but also helped them reconcile, decided to reveal to him the method for unleashing the Blood Sword's true power.

Wu Tian fought with composure, though his sword felt clumsy in his hand, preventing him from fully exerting his martial prowess.

Chi Xu and Xing Zeyuan stared at each other, neither willing to look away. The former’s eyes were bloodshot but steady. Xing Zeyuan felt he was telling the truth, yet something still felt off.

As a martial artist, Xu Hong preferred comfortable attire for daily life unless a formal occasion demanded otherwise—how embarrassing would it be if his clothes restricted his movement in a fight? He never expected to be mocked for this today.

The secret Lu Xia held!? Zuo Junlin was startled. Having recovered his memories, he knew the identity of Xiang Liu and understood his goals, yet he still remained ignorant of Lu Xia's true secret and how it might conflict with Xiang Liu's plans.

Perhaps triggered by Huo Xiaoran’s reminder, both Ye Lin and Huo Guling’s expressions shifted simultaneously. After a brief exchange of glances, they seemed to reach an unspoken understanding and nodded in unison.

After hearing it one more time, Chu Liangrao had nearly memorized the lyrics, so she simply began to sing it herself.

A-Bai seemed to understand, letting out a low growl at Chu Qianlan. Its retracted claws instantly unsheathed, sharp and hardened like steel, capable of tearing anything in the world to shreds—a terrifying sight.

By the time they opened the door, the floor was already soaked. She remembered that day; she had no money, and after Huo Xiaojin emptied his pockets, they were still a few coins short of the room rate. It was only because the old man had taken pity on their bedraggled state that he agreed to let them have the room.

It was only their first day in the capital, and they couldn't even make it through the gates of the Huo residence—wouldn't that make them a laughingstock?

Dong Zhuo and Li Ru both wore expressions of disbelief. Liu Tianhao hadn't blinked an eye when he was swindling them earlier, but now he was being so sincere—what on earth was he playing at?

This was a serious matter, so Chu Liangrao bypassed Chunyu’s question and began discussing with Mother Du what they should bring.

Tang Pinmao’s body fell like an autumn leaf, dropping without a struggle until he was instantly swallowed by the surging waves.

"Heh heh, and why wouldn't it be possible?" Chu Haoxuan chuckled triumphantly. He seemed to be in a good mood, and for some reason, Ye Li’s spirits lifted as well.

Empress Fang accepted it with a smile. At a glance, the gold and silver embroidery looked truly festive, and the pattern held a auspicious meaning. It was commendable that someone of her rank would put so much thought into it.