“General, you have misunderstood us. Great Yu is the land of our ancestors. Although Li Zhen is indeed extraordinarily capable, we still wish to return to Great Yu!
We pledged allegiance to Great Yu, not Xuan Yue! Once we return, Your Inferior General will certainly submit an accusation against him!”
The leading commander, Liu Zhou, said indignantly.
Even now, recalling that Xuan Yue had left on his own still filled him with lingering anger.
Chun Xu looked at the ten commanders present and nodded slightly. “The fact that you can think this way is comforting to me. However, judging by the current situation, lasting ten days is probably unlikely!
I have already decided that when the time truly comes, their camp will be lax. At that time, your own cavalry units will fight their way back!”
Hearing Chun Xu’s words, everyone quickly understood.
“What about you, general?”
Chun Xu rose, clasped his hands behind his back, and sighed.
“A true man living in this world should keep his word. Li Zhen has indeed treated us according to the agreement, without the slightest mistreatment! Everything he promised me has been done! But what I promised him cannot be fulfilled!
Therefore, after you leave, I will take my own life to honor my agreement with Li Zhen!”
Even as he spoke, Chun Xu still felt terrible inside.
After interacting with Li Zhen over the past two days, the impression he gave Chun Xu was worlds apart from what he had heard before.
Regarding military affairs and the way he treated his soldiers, Chun Xu believed that Li Zhen was at least fair and impartial, without the slightest stinginess.
That alone was more than enough!
What a pity!
They were people of Great Yu and could not serve two masters!
“General, if you leave, we leave together. Otherwise, we will all stay together...”
Before Liu Zhou could finish speaking, Chun Xu interrupted him with a wave of his hand.
“Your family members are all in Great Yu. Say no more. Exchanging my life for your journey home is already a worthwhile bargain. Over the next few days, study the Wolf Cavalry’s methods of marching well!
Take these methods back to Great Yu!”
Everyone looked grim. For Chun Xu, this decision was undoubtedly extremely difficult; reputation was extraordinarily important in ancient times.
With Chun Xu acting this way, his reputation would be ruined no matter what.
Moreover, if he remained here, would Li Zhen simply kill him? Of course not!
He would certainly suffer physical torment!
“For the sake of Great Yu, I can only do this! Gentlemen, I hope you can lead Great Yu’s cavalry to an even more glorious future!”
Determination showed in Chun Xu’s eyes.
“Understood!”
All the commanders present knelt on the ground.
Over the following days, the Black Cavalry devoted themselves wholeheartedly to learning from the Wolf Cavalry in the camp, while the Wolf Cavalry held nothing back.
Although they did not teach them directly, watching alone allowed them to grasp most of it.
The camp grounds were insufficient, so the training was moved outside.
The two sides formed their battle lines and learned from each other.
What frustrated them, however, was that despite trying every possible method, they could not pry even a single word about the cavalry cultivation technique from the Wolf Cavalry.
In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.
Early that morning, Li Zhen walked out of the military camp.
As soon as he stepped outside, he heard Shuoyan Hexu’s anxious voice.
“Great King, this is bad! The Black Cavalry has escaped! Your Inferior General deserves death for failing to keep watch over them. They...” Shuoyan Hexu wore a look of shame.
He had thought that after spending so many days together, the other side intended to join them.
Thus, he had relaxed his vigilance.
But this morning, he discovered that all the guards stationed at the camp had been killed, and only their deputy general, Chun Xu, remained in the Black Cavalry’s camp.
A cold glint flashed between Li Zhen’s brows when he heard this.
“Great King, I...”
“This has nothing to do with you. This King was the one who told you not to keep watch over them. Bring Chun Xu to me.
Order ten thousand wolf cavalry to arm themselves and stand by!”
After saying this, a cold smile appeared on Li Zhen’s face.
Return? Could they still make it back?
Xuan Yue was even less willing than he was to let them return!
At first, he had intended to subdue them for his own use, but now it seemed unnecessary!
They did not appreciate his kindness!
Just as expected, they were cut from the same cloth as their emperor.
Shuoyan Hexu immediately accepted the order and left.
Not long afterward.
Chun Xu was brought in. He had tried to kill himself, but Shuoyan Hexu had “happened” to stop him.
Thud!
Chun Xu was dragged inside and forced face-down onto the ground.
“Chun Xu, Chun Xu, This King treated you well and treated your soldiers well. Is this how you repay This King?” Li Zhen stared at Chun Xu and asked coldly.
He had long since guessed that the other side would not surrender to him peacefully. After all, if they truly intended to do so, they would not have waited ten days!
“I know I am guilty. The guilt is mine alone. If you want to kill someone, then kill me!” Chun Xu kept his head lowered and said in a deep voice.
“Sigh! How pitiful. Do you think Great Yu still remembers you? I forgot to tell you one piece of news: Xuan Yue has already dealt with all of your family members.”
As Li Zhen spoke, Chun Xu abruptly raised his head. “Impossible! You must be lying to me! How could Xuan Yue possibly have such courage?”
Li Zhen rose and laughed loudly. “Do you know why I took you to train in the wilderness on the third day? It was all for the people Xuan Yue sent to watch you!
The family members of Ten Thousand Black Cavalry were all arrested and executed by order of Shao Xuji three days ago!” Li Zhen walked to Chun Xu’s side and gently patted his cheek.
“From the moment you came here, you were never going back. Xuan Yue had already thought of how to kill you when he left!”
As he spoke, Li Zhen suddenly struck, his finger wrapped in True Qi as it pressed against Chun Xu’s dantian!
With a boom, it seemed as though something inside Chun Xu’s body shattered!
Li Zhen dusted off his sleeve and stood up.
“This King will not let you die. I will make you regret deceiving me. Tie him up. When I return, I will take my time playing with him!”
Li Zhen waved his hand casually.
Just now, he had already crippled all of Chun Xu’s martial cultivation.
“Li Zhen! You are a devil! You are a devil—”
Chun Xu raised his head, his eyes bloodshot. Li Zhen had known about it all along yet had not told them. Was he not simply waiting to see what they would do next?
Li Zhen shook his head slightly and sighed softly. “Your words really hurt This King!
You were the ones who wanted to spar with the Wolf Cavalry, and you were also the ones who wanted to learn the Wolf Cavalry’s formations. Did I deceive you from beginning to end?
Did I kill your family members? The world has truly gone mad. I fed and housed you well, while Xuan Yue killed your entire families!
You don’t hate Xuan Yue, but you hate me? You really are worse than beasts!”
Li Zhen’s words left Chun Xu speechless.
“You are not the executioner, but you are the one wielding the knife! Li Zhen, your heart is truly cruel...”
Chun Xu was dragged away with tears covering his face. It was all his fault; he had brought disaster upon these people!
The entire families of ten thousand men...
By now, he believed Li Zhen’s words.
When the people of Great Yu saw them growing so close to the Wolf Cavalry, Xuan Yue would certainly assume that they had Submitted Allegiance to Li Zhen.
Given Shao Xuji’s hatred for Li Zhen, he would certainly unleash thunderous measures against these people. Confiscation of estates was inevitable!
“I have brought disaster upon you—”
Chun Xu cried out hoarsely, his expression hideously contorted.
Hearing the other man’s anguished voice, Li Zhen extended his right hand toward the weapon rack. True Qi immediately gathered in his palm, and a tremendously powerful suction force erupted. The Overlord Spear instantly shot into his hand.
Shuoyan Hexu had long since been waiting at the entrance, holding the grand banner.
He could hardly wait to chop that group of scum to pieces. He had even followed Li Zhen’s orders and taught them; what a pack of ungrateful wolves!
“Follow This King to watch a good show!”
A cold smile hung on Li Zhen’s face.
A spectacular show beyond compare.
✦✦✦