Volume One, Chapter Nine: Lu Yunduan's Dominance Reverberates Across the Land
After a flurry of sword strikes, Liu Long had been reduced to a pile of flesh and blood, unrecognizable as a person—only his severed head remained.
White Tassel was drenched in Liu Long’s blood from head to toe. Like a madwoman, she stopped her actions and cried out to the sky.
“Father, mother, I have avenged you. Your Tassel has avenged you.”
It was as if all the years of pent-up hatred and rage had finally erupted, and in the next moment, she fainted.
Lu Yunduan reached out and caught her, wiping the tears from her eyelashes.
“Rest well. When you wake, everything will be alright.”
He carried her to the door and called out to those outside.
“Someone, come here.”
Soon, two men appeared before Lu Yunduan.
“My lord, what are your orders?”
“You two, escort Miss Bai safely back to the Joyful Inn.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Lu Yunduan handed White Tassel to them. They hoisted her onto their backs and climbed over the wall, leaving the city lord’s mansion behind.
White Tassel’s deep-seated blood feud had been avenged; now, the real business must be attended to.
“Luo Yi.”
Luo Yi hurried up to Lu Yunduan with utmost respect.
“My lord, what are your orders?”
“Let the city guards from outside in.”
Lu Yunduan swaggered confidently within the room, flanked on either side by the Sixteen Riders of Yan Yun and Luo Yi.
Outside, the city guards of the lord’s mansion had gathered fully and began to approach the room.
When they entered, Lu Yunduan’s fierce, demonic glare imposed an unprecedented sense of oppression upon them.
In his hand, he held Liu Long’s severed head and hurled it toward them.
The head rolled to a stop before their feet. Upon seeing Liu Long’s face, they retched.
Then, their eyes fell upon Liu Long’s mangled, minced corpse, terrifying them into keeping their distance.
[Fear Level +10]
[Fear Level +50]
[Fear Level +1]
...
“General Xing, maybe we should retreat.”
“General Xing, the city lord is dead. We should run.”
Among the guards, only one man showed no trace of fear on his face, which piqued Lu Yunduan’s interest.
“Silence! We are soldiers of Yongning City. How can we falter on the battlefield? All soldiers, with me, slay these traitors!”
Xing Daorong raised his pear-blossom axe high, rallying his troops.
But they remained lifeless and hesitant, unwilling to advance.
Lu Yunduan sneered coldly. “Your bearing is commendable, but your morale is weak.”
Xing, provoked, roared like a lion.
“Impudent—”
“You petty bandits dare to assassinate imperial officials! Know this: it is a capital offense.”
[Anger Level +200]
Lu Yunduan laughed heartily.
“Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. Do you know who I am?”
“I am Lu Yunduan, son of the Western Governor Lu Zhantian, current Governor of the West and a wanted rebel. I dare kill the imperial guards, eunuchs, and ministers alike in the capital—what fear should I have in killing a mere city lord?”
The name of the Western Governor Lu Yunduan stunned all present.
Even Xing Daorong was shaken; none had expected this.
After causing such a sensation in the capital, he did not return west but fled east.
Was he courting death? Or was he mad?
“Bold rebel, to appear in Yongning City is sheer madness. Watch me deal with you.”
This was a priceless opportunity, and Xing Daorong did not hesitate to swing his pear-blossom axe.
Lu Yunduan signaled Luo Yi and the others to stay put. Xing Daorong smiled slightly, thinking the general had frightened him into paralysis.
When the axe came down on Lu Yunduan’s head, he did not dodge but blocked it with his Fangtian halberd held in one hand.
During the standoff, Lu Yunduan mocked him.
“That’s all your strength? You must be dazed.”
“You little brat, still talking back? I’ll show you!”
Xing Daorong exerted all his might, pressing down on the pear-blossom axe.
Lu Yunduan’s disdainful gaze seemed to say one word: pathetic.
With a single wave, he sent Xing Daorong flying. Before he could recover, Lu Yunduan thrust the Fangtian halberd forward, piercing his heart. Xing Daorong died on the spot.
“Ah—”
General Xing was no more.
[Fear Level +2000]
[Congratulations, host. For the first time, the fear others hold for you has reached 2000 in one instance. Reward: 1,000 Western Liang Iron Cavalry.]
Western Liang Iron Cavalry?
Those were elite troops, each one worth ten ordinary soldiers.
When Dong Zhuo seized Luoyang, it was thanks to the Western Liang Iron Cavalry; Lü Bu’s power as a warlord was largely due to his six thousand Iron Cavalry; Ma Chao’s victory over Cao Cao, forcing him to surrender, also relied on these formidable troops.
[Reward has been granted. 1,000 Western Liang Iron Cavalry await outside the city.]
Lu Yunduan almost leapt with excitement. With these thousand cavalry, he could fully command Yongning City.
He looked upon the city guards outside with utter contempt.
“Now, do you still want to come here to die?”
Terrified, they discarded their helmets and weapons, kneeling on the ground.
“Sir, sir, spare our lives! We surrender! We will serve you faithfully and repay your mercy.”
As they spoke, their kowtows grew louder and more frantic.
[Fear Level +100]
[Fear Level +100]
[Fear Level +100]
...
Lu Yunduan was satisfied. Not only had he gained morale points, but Yongning City was now his.
“Since your attitude is so sincere, I will spare your lives this once.”
They kowtowed even more violently.
“Thank you, sir, for your mercy…”
[Gratitude Level +10]
[Gratitude Level +10]
[Gratitude Level +10]
...
“Don’t thank me yet. I’m only sparing you temporarily. If you want to live, you must do something for me.”
“What is it, sir? Just name it.”
They were scared once more. Being spared was like a death warrant hanging over their heads—they knew their lives were hanging by a thread.
“I want you to close the gates of Yongning City and sever all contact with the capital. Any letters from the capital must not be delivered to the Governor of East Province. Do you understand?”
The more they listened, the clearer it became—this was rebellion.
If the court sent the army to suppress them, it would be their death sentence.
“Sir… are you going to rebel?”
One reckless soldier dared to ask.
Lu Yunduan smiled resignedly, unwilling to waste words. He pulled the Fangtian halberd from Xing Daorong’s heart and fired it with deadly precision, striking the soldier down instantly.
“Ah—”
Blood splattered everywhere, staining the halberd crimson.
“Now, does anyone have any questions?”