[Hetu][Heavenly Demon][Episode 5 Chapter 1]

Chapter One: Shameless Machiavellianism
"Fine, I don't care." Yang Cun looked at her expressionlessly, suppressing the overwhelming pressure, and

coldly , "Suzhou is a vital economic center in Jiangnan. Besides my thousand soldiers, there are many garrison troops in the town. I

believe you have the strength to kill me, but this is definitely not something that can be done in a short time. Yang Cun is not talented, but I am fully

confident that I will see the sun rise. As for the power of this Vajra Seal, are you sure that this fly-like fire is truly

the radiance of the sun and moon?"
"You…" The demoness froze instantly. Yang Cun's words undoubtedly hit her weak spot. The most important thing right now

was to seize Rong Wang's supplies, not this fighting spirit. The original plan was flawless, but who knew that this unexpected obstacle

would appear ? Once the soldiers in the city attack, not only would seizing the supplies be difficult, but even

escaping unscathed would be a major problem.
At this moment, the anger from their unexpected encounter had subsided considerably. The enchantress pondered for a moment, then glanced back.

The situation was indeed dire. The stronger fighters were entangled with Yang Tongbao, and given the Prince Rong's

noble , his guards were naturally no ordinary men. Although the ordinary demonic sect disciples outnumbered them,

they were not gaining the upper hand in the fight, and could even be said to be being pushed

back by the prince's powerful subordinates.
The Prince Rong, a cunning fellow, seeing the stalemate on Yang Cun's side, immediately shouted

that the Duke was leading his army to attack. His men, encouraged, naturally saw their morale soar. The merchants

, though cowardly, were also shrewd and immediately joined in the shouting. The

group had somehow managed to coax and trick their soldiers into fighting desperately, effectively reversing their initial passive situation.
"Let's retreat!" The enchantress gritted her teeth, glared at Yang Cun, and then, suppressing her anger,

shouted unwillingly. Her figure flashed, and she swiftly returned to the dock.
Hearing her shout, all the experts who had been entangled with Yang Tongbao also retreated slowly, fighting as they went.

Their was too clear; they had no time to deal with Yang Cun, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Seeing that they had all

retreated, Yang Cun breathed a sigh of relief, patting his chest and saying, "Thank goodness, I've escaped with my life again."
"My lord, this is... the Vajra Seal?" Yang Tongbao was panting and disheveled. Although he wasn't

seriously injured, it was clear that the entanglement with these people had made him very uncomfortable. Coming to his senses, he noticed the Vajra

Seal floating above Yang Cun's crown and was immediately stunned.
"Don't ask me, I don't know either," Yang Cun said, also full of doubt. Just

as , Yang Cun, who had closed his eyes, resigned himself to being reborn, was suddenly struck by a sudden

realization in his despair. The previously dormant Vajra Seal became restless, even allowing him to borrow its power.
Since leaving the world of the Vajra Seal, he had been unable to contact either the seal itself or the forest guardian,

as if the seal had lost all its spirituality, unable to sense even the slightest disturbance. Yang Cun didn't know what had happened inside

, but he had a vague feeling! "The power that just lent me wasn't the Vajra Seal,

but the Forest Guardian whose fate had been unknown until now.
The Vajra Seal's light gradually dimmed, slowly disappearing into the air. Yang Cun could clearly

feel it re-entering his body and hiding. A Five Elements artifact, it didn't seem to belong to him; it

was at most a kind of temporary abode. Yet, he could clearly feel it quietly dormant within him, maintaining that

subtle restlessness. This feeling was incredibly subtle and wondrous.
The sudden appearance of the Forest Guardian's voice in his mind left Yang Cun completely bewildered, unable to understand

how he had lent him the power of the Vajra Seal.
"Ah, no! The scoundrel is attacking the Prince!" Yang Tongbao, astonished to see all the Vajra Seals

return to Yang Cun's body, looked towards the Prince and immediately shouted.
"He's not your son, why are you so concerned?" Yang Cun's motto was always "better to die than suffer yourself

." He'd barely managed to frighten the murderous demoness; he had no time to

care about the Prince. " Just some stinking man with no family or friends. If he were a princess, that would be more like it. Heroic rescue

is a bit cliché, but I can't stoop so low as to risk my life to save a man. That's just too

damn pointless .
" "Prince Rong and my lord have always been on good terms. This scoundrel has been so disrespectful to the young master; how can Tongbao ignore it?"

Yang Tongbao's eyes were red with rage. For the first time, he disobeyed Yang Cun's orders. Without another word, he drew his sword and

charged forward, shouting.
"Damn it, you idiot!" Yang Cun couldn't help but curse. Why risk your life now? Going back

to wash up and sleep would be better. If you really wanted to, you could have just reported it to the authorities—that would be a great act of merit.

What good is rushing in? I won't even mention the needless suicide attempts; you're just dragging me down with you!
"The scoundrel…" Yang Tongbao's eyes were bloodshot. Just as he was about to draw his sword and fight, Yang Cun

grabbed and, before the demonic sect members could react, dragged him into the bushes. Yang Tongbao blushed and whimpered

, but fearing he might injure Yang Cun with his knife, he dared not move too violently.
Meanwhile, the prince's side had already been routed, their guards suffering heavy casualties. The demonic sect's forces were already

numerous, and now these experts, led by the demoness, had returned to fight. How could their guards possibly resist?

In no time the battlefield was littered with corpses. The prince, protected by a dozen or so wounded guards,

was putting up a desperate, half-dead resistance.
The demonic sect had already surrounded them; the surviving guards were all injured and couldn't hold out for long.

A few loyal ones were still fighting, but their fighting spirit was weak. The demoness, at the Fifth Dan Realm, pressed forward relentlessly. With each

step she took, a flick of her sleeve would instantly kill anyone who dared to resist. This incomparably alluring

beauty had become a deadly witch, a sight that sent chills down one's spine.
"This woman is quite ruthless," Yang Cun muttered, clicking his tongue as he secretly watched. Seeing

the little demoness's swift and decisive actions, killing without batting an eye, and recalling the

hatred in her eyes when he had shot her in the face in the Vajra Seal World, he couldn't help but feel a lingering fear. Fortunately, she had important business to attend to; if he had

run into her while strolling the streets, his fate would likely have been even worse than these people.
"Protect the young master!" Faced with the relentless pressure from the demonic sect, even though they were already at their last gasp, the surviving guards...

They weren't particularly skilled, but they all knew they couldn't surrender easily. As the demoness approached, several more

men, disregarding their injuries, roared and charged at her with their weapons!
"Overestimating yourselves!" The demoness's expression was icy, responding to the group attack with a contemptuous smile.

The other demonic sect remained unmoved, their expressions seemingly tinged with mockery.
The demoness's expression hardened. Facing the sharpness of several large swords without fear, she slowly raised her hands,

gracefully waving them in the air.

Instantly, icy true energy coiled around her arms. In the instant , her figure vanished from their sight. In a flash, the icy true energy

danced like fluttering butterflies, performing a death dance before them.
In an instant, the roaring men froze, stiff as

if they had lost all sensation, their limbs exhibiting an eerie rigidity. Their anger, their expressions,

their very lives seemed to freeze in an instant. Several men were lifeless, like

puppets stripped of their souls.
"Lay down your weapons, and I'll spare your lives!" The enchantress, eyes closed,

walked gently past them, while the burly men remained stiff and motionless. In

the instant , their tall bodies fell silently, so eerily that no one knew how they died.
"You...you enchantress..." The Prince of Rong's face turned green with rage, yet also pale with fear. As

a young master from a powerful royal family, even though the situation was now completely clear, he still resentfully shouted, "You

dare to gather a crowd to plunder the imperial court's supplies and even kill so many soldiers! Are you trying to rebel?"
"Imperial court supplies?" The enchantress smiled contemptuously and sneered, "If they are imperial court supplies, then why

are there no official documents from the Ministry of Revenue, and why are there no officials from the Ministry of Revenue here? As for the soldiers you mentioned, are you even

considered ? Your Highness, you are far too naive! Raising a private army is a grave crime; even your

father wouldn't dare admit it in the imperial court!"
This girl seemed to have connections; she didn't appear to be trying to silence him. Yang Cun pulled the furious Yang Tongbao

aside —it was exhausting! But this guy did have

a cute side; although he wanted to fight, he didn't dare to resist him, just like a pitiful little resentful woman. It was

truly pathetic that he was so conflicted.
"Is that so? How do you know I don't have official documents from the Ministry of Revenue?" The heir sneered, but couldn't hide a hint of

panic on his face.
"My lord, why don't we save the heir?" Yang Tongbao struggled for a while, and only

when he calmed down a little did Yang Cun remove his hand from his mouth. Yang Tongbao finally let out a breath, glaring fiercely at

the Demonic Sect's men, looking ready to pounce. What a fine young man who hates evil! Yang Cun glared

at him fiercely, feeling a bit wryly amused.
"Save them? There are so many of them, you'll just be throwing your life away!" Yang Cun cautiously looked at him, then

chuckled coldly from the bushes, "Isn't killing each other tiring? Now is the time to watch the show.

This demoness clearly wants to capture us alive, but she can't see our whereabouts right now, and she has to worry about

when will come to our rescue. She actually has time to chat with him at a time like this? I don't believe she has that kind of leisure."
"My lord, then we..." Yang Tongbao was also anxious. Seeing these demonic sect members so arrogant and domineering,

even daring to openly kidnap the prince's heir, how could he not be angry? This guy's brain is so simple-minded;

he'd probably believe a thousand-year-old prostitute pretending to be a virgin. Sigh, he's a perfect sucker.
"Let's wait and see!" Yang Cun remained cautiously hidden, his mind racing while

intently observing the situation at the dock.
Seeing Yang Cun's calm demeanor, Yang Tongbao could only nod helplessly in his haste. He naively

assumed Yang Cun's eyes were darting around, indicating he was plotting something, thinking: "The Duke is indeed from the Yang family; if martial

arts fail, perhaps he'll resort to strategy?" A hint of admiration flickered in his eyes. If he knew Yang Cun's mind

was only how to escape, and that his occasional distractions were merely admiring the little vixen's hot figure, this straightforward fellow

would likely commit suicide cleanly and decisively, giving Yang Cun no chance of rescue.
"Fine, I won't say another word!" The vixen paused, glanced back, and found Yang Cun was long

gone . She couldn't help but worry about the city's soldiers; she had no time to think further.
With a wave of her hand, a group of burly men immediately surrounded them, tying up the merchants who had already wet themselves in fear.

These guys were cowards; seeing corpses everywhere, it was impossible not to be afraid. They had already started

crying and begging for mercy. Although Prince Rong held a high position and great power, his life was now in the hands of these

bandits, who were a hundred times more terrifying than him. Those knives were truly deadly.
Several wounded guards who had resisted also succumbed to the onslaught of these skilled fighters and fell one after another. Now, the only one

standing alive was Prince Rong's heir. Seeing this scene, his already pale face turned deathly

pale. Although he tried to appear calm, he was still young, his eyes filled with panic and confusion, and the trembling between his brows

was filled with fear. The enchantress before him was no longer a beauty in his eyes, but a ruthless

demon .
"Your Highness, please come with us." The enchantress slowly stepped forward, appearing polite, seemingly

unwilling to resort to violence, but her tone left no room for negotiation.
"Bandits and traitors! How can I submit to your inhumanity!" The heir's face was ashen;

after a long silence, he finally roared in defiance. He seemed to realize the demoness intended to capture him alive, and though he

mustered his courage and shouted righteously, his voice lacked conviction.
"Fine, men, tie him up too!" The demoness sneered, waving her hand. Her skilled men

immediately swarmed forward. This time, they not only bound the prince like a dumpling, but also gagged him with stinky burlap,

clearly showing their contempt with a "you won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences" attitude.
"Hey, this court is really getting worse and worse!" Yang Cun murmured, watching with a sigh. "The Demonic

Sect is just a cult or something, nothing more than a bunch of troublemakers in the court's eyes. Look at them!

First they coveted the Imperial Preceptor's relics, then they threatened to kill me, the Duke, and now they're even talking about tying up the Prince Rong's son."

" Just tie them up like that? Not even a shred of respect? They're supposed to be royalty, right? This guy's even the Emperor's

grandson ! I'm not saying this, but it's utterly shameful!"
"Your Majesty, I must petition you to execute these traitors!" Yang Tongbao was both ashamed and angry, his gums practically bleeding from biting them

.
"But what exactly are those supplies?" Yang Cun muttered, puzzled, his mind still preoccupied with those

shiploads of goods.
As for the Prince Rong's heir, there was no need to worry. They were strangers, not related. Whether your father and Yang Shu were on good

terms was their business. If these guys tied you up, who knows if you'd even survive

? If you died, I'd just feign madness and lament the loss of a virtuous man. If you were lucky enough to survive, I'd say you went back to the city to fetch reinforcements, and

the rebels had already escaped by the time the army arrived. In any case, it's better to sacrifice a friend than myself. Don't expect me to be

so stubborn as to risk my life for the so-called face of the court.
"Those guys did a pretty professional job tying him up..." Yang Cun chuckled shamelessly. Watching the handsome

prince bound like a dumpling, he felt a strange sense of triumphant satisfaction, a kind of resentment towards the rich.
"..." Yang Tongbao was utterly speechless. For a dignified military officer of the royal palace to lie in the grass with the Duke of Jingguo watching the

Prince of Rong's son being bound was shameful and utterly disgraceful.
A group of burly men busied themselves binding the prince and the merchants onto the boat, some busy killing the survivors or carrying away their companions

' corpses, but they didn't even glance at the dead guards or the ordinary people implicated. Even worse

, after such blatant murder, they didn't clean up the scene, leaving a river of blood and corpses scattered everywhere.

This lawless behavior made one wonder if they were the real government troops; their arrogance was outrageous.
Yang Cun and Yang Tongbao remained hidden in the grass, Yang Tongbao practically bursting with rage. The dignified military commander of

the Yang had to watch these bandits run rampant, forced to cower in this dark place for survival. For him, the humiliation

was worse than death. Even if he were to rush out and fight the bandits to the death, even if it meant mutual destruction,

it would be better than this cowardly hiding.
"Tongbao, are your men trustworthy?" Yang Cun muttered to himself. By this time, the bandits had almost

finished their work and were probably about to have time to destroy the evidence.
"My lord, are you going to hunt down the bandits?" Yang Tongbao asked, his spirits immediately lifting.
"Tell me first whether these soldiers are trustworthy or not," Yang Cun said with a sinister smile.
"Believe it." The naive Yang Tongbao, unaware of the cunning glint in Yang Cun's smile, immediately patted his chest

and confidently declared, "The brothers who came with me this time are all direct descendants of the Yang family for centuries. It's no exaggeration to say

that while they might not obey the Ministry of War's orders, the Yang family only needs to raise their arms, and they will absolutely go through fire and water for us!

These thousand-plus brothers are the most elite of the elite, our own Yang family army."
"Good, let's play something exciting!" Yang Cun's eyes lit up, and he sneered.
At this moment, the bandits were already

busy a sudden rumble of thunder broke the silence after the killing.

Yang Tongbao was immediately jolted, exclaiming in surprise, "My lord, this… this noise is the sound of a large army galloping at full speed.

It must be the army, or perhaps our own men."
"These bastards are really slow!" Yang Cun smiled reassuringly, breathed a sigh of relief, and stood up.

"That's it! Those bastards!" Yang Tongbao was overjoyed, believing his chance for revenge had arrived. He excitedly

brushed the grass clippings off his clothes, his hand gripping his knife almost impatiently.
Dust billowed along the official road; the commotion had already alerted the Demonic Sect. Over a thousand soldiers

rushed towards the dock, all with grim expressions and weapons in hand. Such disciplined yet suppressed

killing intent was far beyond what a cowardly local army could possess. Upon closer inspection, leading the charge was none other than the veteran general

Wang Dong. He already had a heavy broadsword on his shoulder, his aged face filled with worry, his

eyes bloodshot and frighteningly grim.
"Old man, we're here!" Yang Tongbao exclaimed with delight, jumping out immediately. Yang Cun also quickly emerged from the bushes

where he had been hiding , finally breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing Wang Dong and the others.
"Young Master, are you alright?" Wang Dong asked excitedly. After halting the army, he quickly dismounted and

was startled to see Yang Cun covered in dirt and grass. He rushed forward to check on him carefully, only breathing a sigh of relief after confirming that Yang Cun was

unharmed .
"I'm fine. Where did you get these horses?" Yang Cun was quite puzzled. Where did all these thousand-plus horses come from?

Sometimes Yang Cun really admired his own composure. When the demoness from the Demonic Sect let him go, according to his

theory of saving his own life to make a fortune, he should have already tucked his tail between his legs and fled to get a good night's sleep. But thinking about it,

the commotion here was so big, and so many laborers and merchants had fled. After they returned to the city, this matter would definitely spread

like wildfire, and they would probably inform the town government.
At the moment, neither he nor Yang Tongbao were around. With such a big incident at the canal dock, they would probably be terrified, and it

would only be a matter of time before a large army came. Therefore, Yang Cun chose not to run for the time being. Rather than revealing his whereabouts and fleeing, it was better to hide and wait

for reinforcements. This was the safest way.
"We stole them from the horse administration..." Wang Dong said, his face flushed and somewhat embarrassed.
When the news broke, the Yang family's soldiers were terrified, but the town was quite a distance from the dock, and

walking there would be too slow. Desperate, they went to the town's horse administration to borrow horses, but they

refused. Without an order from the Ministry of War or a high-ranking official, warhorses couldn't be moved freely. Wang Dong was so desperate he even

knelt down, but they still wouldn't lend them. Finally, Wang Dong, in a fit of rage, tied up those fat, brainless bastards, stole

their horses, and rode off.
"Let's not talk about this now, or it'll give Yang Shu a headache later," Yang Cun chuckled, immediately mounting his horse and stretching his

limbs. "Brothers, let's get some work done first."
"Brothers, let's go kill these bastards!" Yang Tongbao, who had been itching to

kill immediately grabbed a horse, shouldered his broadsword, and spurred his horse towards the dock.
"Charge!" Yang Cun's eyes turned cold, and he spurred his horse to follow.
"Brothers, charge!" Wang Dong watched as the two charged ahead,

then quickly mounted his horse as well. His aged body suddenly burst forth with unprecedented power, as if he had returned to the battlefield where he had fiercely fought the enemy, exuding a heroic spirit.

The sheer force of the attack ignited a surge of fervor among the young soldiers behind her. The
sheer scale of the advance of over a thousand cavalrymen was unimaginable. Leading the charge were Yang Cun and Yang Tongbao, both roaring as they charged forward. The Demonic Sect's forces hadn't yet regrouped. The demoness, standing at the front, was enraged upon seeing Yang Cun's sudden appearance, gritting her teeth and sneering, "Shameless scoundrel! He hasn't left!" 　　"Holy Maiden, you retreat first, we'll cover your retreat!" The experts who had been following her exchanged glances, then looked at the supplies on the ship and the captured men, their faces resolute. 　　"Gentlemen, I'll trouble you." The demoness understood that her own forces were no match for the thousand-plus soldiers. Their objective was the supplies; if these experts covered their retreat, they would surely die. Transporting such heavy loads by water was the only option. 　　"Dream on, you scoundrel! Slash me!" Yang Tongbao had already charged in on his horse. The pent-up anger was too much to bear. Now, he took the lead, roared, and leaped into the air, swinging his powerful blade down towards the demoness's head. 　　"Shameless scoundrel!" The demoness's face flushed red with rage. While cursing, her eyes darted towards the smug Yang Cun. 　　"Take care of them!" Yang Cun was originally second in the pack, just behind the simple-minded Yang Tongbao. However, just as they were about to clash, his horse's speed noticeably slowed down. Groups of soldiers, their morale boosted , surged forward like a tidal wave, making Yang Cun appear somewhat lagging behind. "What's 　　so precious about my life? You think I'm really going to charge in?! If you hit me then, I won't be able to take it!" Yang Cun shouted and fought as he retreated further and further back. With a sly smile, she thought: "You little vixen , you're too naive! Do you really think I'm some reckless fool? With so many soldiers here, nobody's going to fight . This old man only charged forward to show off, honestly! 　　" "Holy Maiden, you all go first!" Just as Yang Tongbao swung his sword, several experts beside the vixen blocked him. Seeing the overwhelming force of the army, the others, though instinctively hesitant, steeled their resolve, picked up their weapons, and charged forward. 　　Even with their weapons, how could martial artists possibly be a match for regular cavalry? A simple charge to send screams filling the air as the demonic disciples fell one after another under the blades and hooves. Such a fierce attack was pure brute force; the soldiers wielded their swords without hesitation, their murderous aura chilling , leaving these江湖草寇 (jianghu bandits) with almost no chance to fight back. 　　"Don't be afraid, they can't break through!" At this moment, a clever member of the Demonic Sect immediately shouted. Behind them was a vast canal, preventing the horses from charging too fiercely. Despite the imposing charge, the casualties that heavy; the worst part was the chaos and disarray within their own ranks. 　　"Don't panic!" The demoness looked back and saw that the supplies and personnel hadn't been moved yet. Helpless, she gritted her teeth , her expression turning cold, and stepped forward with her five cores around her. 　　As they expected, behind them was a wide canal, and no matter how fierce the horses' charge, they couldn't charge into the river without . In just a moment of close combat, most of the cavalry halted. The unfamiliar horses were reluctant to charge, so many soldiers dismounted, brandishing their swords and shouting as they charged forward. 　　"Kill!" Wang Dong, his eyes bloodshot, abandoned his horse, grabbed his broadsword, and charged into the fray. 　　The battle escalated rapidly from the very first exchange. Aside from their direct descendants, the Yang family's army consisted mostly of seasoned veterans like Wang Dong, whose ruthlessness far surpassed that of ordinary martial artists. While the demonic sect's forces were tenacious, they were almost completely routed in this initial encounter, with swords flashing and screams echoing. The numerical advantage was obvious, and the battle quickly became one-sided. 　　"Alright, let's go!" The demoness, now surrounded by powerful internal energy, had killed several nearby soldiers, her superior skills deterring many from approaching. Seeing that everything was ready, she quickly jumped onto the small boat. The demonic sect disciples on board immediately released the mooring ropes, pushing the boat away from the shore. 　　"Demoness, where are you going…?" Seeing her attempt to escape, Yang Tongbao's eyes turned red. After cutting down a group of bandits around him , he roared and charged forward. More than twenty fierce guards quickly followed. Having suffered such humiliation, he wouldn't let this opportunity for revenge pass so easily. 　　"This shameless bastard should have been killed long ago!" The demoness on the boat glared fiercely at Yang Cun, her face pale with hatred as she watched the second disciple of the Demonic Sect fall. 　　"Kill him!" Yang Tongbao wouldn't let her escape like this. After shaking off a few bandits, he was about to give chase when Yang Cun suddenly stood in front of him, clutching his head in terror, saying, "Hurry up and deal with him! There's a huge group of people behind me!" 　　"Ah..." Yang Tongbao looked and saw that the disciples covering the rear had indeed rushed up. At this moment, he had no time to think about why Yang Cun, who possessed the Three Pills, was in such a sorry state. Yang Tongbao watched the small boat gradually disappear into the distance, then immediately roared , grabbed his knife, turned around, and led his guards back to kill the bandits chasing Yang Cun. 　　Seeing Yang Tongbao lured away, Yang Cun grinned lewdly. Turning to look at the alluring, sexy figure on the small boat, he winked at her flirtatiously and blew her a kiss. 　　The small boat slowly moved away from the dock. The demoness stood at the bow, her face filled with sorrow. She watched as more and more disciples of the Demonic Sect fell under the butcher's blade, the Yang family's soldiers engulfing them like a tidal wave. Corpses lay strewn on the ground, bleeding to death under their blades. The demoness gritted her teeth in anger, yet was helpless. The image of that shameless face flashed through her mind, and her face turned deathly pale. 　　Now, seeing Yang Cun's flirtatious behavior, she felt a pang of unease. Even a fool could see that this shameless man was helping her escape, so why was he helping her? The demoness felt her mind in turmoil, but remembering the humiliation she had suffered, she glared fiercely at Yang Cun. 　　"Don't thank me, I can't stand those affectionate looks." Watching the survivors slowly disappear into the distance, Yang Cun couldn't help but smile sinisterly. This vixen… well, consider it a debt I owe her. Just 　　as dawn broke, a fierce battle… or rather, a one-sided massacre, came to an end. Only forty or fifty disciples of the Demonic Sect remained. Although a few were highly skilled, they were no match for such overwhelming numbers. By the time the last head fell, the Demonic Sect disciples had…

The area had been completely slaughtered, with mutilated corpses lying scattered haphazardly on the ground.
"Done!" Yang Tongbao finally breathed a sigh of relief, carrying his blood-soaked broadsword as he inspected the scene.

His entire body was covered in the blood and body parts of others, and his excited expression, combined with his grotesque demeanor, gave him a somewhat grotesque

air.
"No one's alive." Wang Dong sat exhausted on a pile of corpses, panting heavily. His massive broadsword, capable of splitting mountains and rocks, was now

covered in scratches, a testament to the intensity of the battle.
"Old man, your skills are truly impressive!" Yang Tongbao stepped forward, offering a heartfelt compliment.
"Don't mention it, I'm old and my bones are stiff!" Wang Dong rubbed his back in discomfort,

but .
Although the number of casualties among his guards at the Prince's Mansion was small after a night of fighting, the situation was far from optimistic. On the contrary,

Wang Dong and his group of veterans, apart from some minor injuries, were all

in high spirits. These elderly men, despite being exhausted, were otherwise unharmed, and their fighting prowess made even the young men known as the generals of the Prince's Mansion look ashamed.
Although they were both from the Yang family, the Yang family of the Duke of Jingguo in Jiangnan and the Yang family of the Prince of Zhen in the capital were of the same lineage

, sharing an inseparable brotherly bond, and occasional comparisons were inevitable. "
Young Master, where are you?" Wang Dong, after resting for a while, realized that Yang Cun was nowhere to be seen in the crowd and immediately called out anxiously. 　　"Uncle Dong, I'm here!" Yang Cun was much more relaxed than them at the moment. As soon as the fighting started, he leaned against a big tree to rest, with a group of soldiers guarding him. He was safe and able to rest, which was quite pleasant. 　　"My lord, how should we handle this?" Yang Tongbao handed his broadsword to his subordinate. Although he felt a sense of satisfaction at venting his anger the matter was of great importance. Wang Dong had kidnapped the officials in charge of the horse administration, and the Prince Rong's heir had been abducted right under his nose. The situation had escalated considerably. Now, calming down, his mind was reeling. 　　"What do you mean, how should we handle this?" Yang Cun asked, puzzled. 　　"No, I'll go get ships right now and summon the local navy. We can't let them get away like this!" Yang Tongbao was still seething with anger. Thinking of the humiliation he had suffered, he still felt resentful in his rage. 　　"Come on, you'll be lucky to catch them." Yang Cun stretched, stopping him from his attempt to settle a personal score . 　　"It's alright. We've killed so many thieves, the court won't blame us!" Wang Dong, being a veteran, pondered for a moment before offering a reassuring smile. "This happened in Suzhou. We were merely stopping the thieves' violence. Saving the prince is indeed a great achievement. Even if we couldn't, the local officials would be the ones to suffer." 　　"Clean up the scene first, then send someone to report to the Suzhou government." Yang Cun thought for a moment, then smiled . "I'll handle the rest. I'll talk to your prince later; there won't be any major problems." 　　"Then, prince..." Yang Tongbao spoke evasively, his face filled with embarrassment and shame. Clearly, hiding in the bushes like that was not the act of a true man, and he now regretted it. 　　"Don't worry, I'll handle everything." Yang Cun was relaxed. After yawning, he looked at the soldiers who had finished their work, waved his hand, and said, "Alright, everyone go back to town now. You've been fighting all night, and I bet you can't sleep anyway. Book a few taverns and have a good drink to cleanse the brothers' palates." 　　"Thank you for your generosity, Your Excellency!" Yang Tongbao nodded, somewhat worried. 　　"Let's go!" Yang Cun was puzzled. When did he say he was going to treat everyone? Wasn't this money supposed to be reimbursed ? With his nominal title of Duke, would he be eaten out of house and home by these ox-like soldiers? Did they think he was that generous? 　　"Young Master..." Wang Dong was vaguely worried. Just as he was about to speak, Yang Cun shook his head and stopped him, saying, "Alright, Uncle Dong, there are some things that are inconvenient to tell you now. We'll talk about them when we get to Jiangnan. There are only a few days left on the journey, so there's no need to create any more trouble." 　　"Yes." Although Wang Dong was concerned, he always respected the principle that his lord had other matters to attend to. However, he wasn't blindly obedient. This young master wasn't a spoiled brat, nor did he possess the typical youthful arrogance. On the contrary, his deep cunning surprised even Wang Dong. His mature demeanor beyond his years left Wang Dong with no reason to doubt him. 　　After collecting their companions' corpses, they returned to the city. At the crack of dawn, all the town's doctors were awakened and dragged away by a group of rough soldiers to treat their fallen comrades. Meanwhile, several taverns in town were booked, and the soldiers, still covered in blood, began drinking heavily. It wasn't that they were particularly undisciplined; it was simply that after each massacre, they needed anesthesia and release. As long as they didn't disturb the peace, getting completely drunk wasn't out of the question. 　　By morning, the news of the Demonic Sect's massacre at the docks was already rampant. As the early risers ate breakfast and busied themselves with their livelihoods, the conversation revolved around this event. Overnight, all sorts of versions of the story had emerged. Faced with the people's bizarre imaginations, Yang Cun could only sigh in admiration and try his best to mitigate the impact of the incident. 　　Inside the town's government office, dozens of officials, including the local headman and other officials, knelt on the ground, trembling and pale, not daring to lift their heads. Yang Cun paced back and forth in the high hall, his face grim. He slammed his fist on the table and roared angrily, "Is this the situation here? These Jianghu bandits dared to brazenly kidnap the Prince Rong's ! They even dared to engage my Yang family army in direct combat! It's outrageous! Bandits run rampant, the country is no longer a country! How have you governed this region?! 　　" Yang Cun roared furiously, "Open your eyes and see!" He continued , "Is this still the territory of my Great Hua? These bandits have no regard for the law! They openly killed the guards of the Prince's mansion in broad daylight and kidnapped the heir! If it weren't for my troops arriving with my army, they could have easily disposed of the body! It's outrageous! Is this mountain town a den of iniquity? Your troops were nowhere to be seen It's outrageous! Has the military pay the court has been all used to feed pigs?" 　　The lower-ranking officials below were drenched in cold sweat, their faces pale, too ashamed . This once peaceful little town had witnessed such a horrific crime last night. When Yang Tongbao arrived the warrant from the Prince Zhen's Mansion, they were still somewhat incredulous. But now, with over a hundred corpses piled up outside the manor, the situation was far beyond their comprehension. 　　Among the corpses were not only thieves, but also guards from the Prince Rong's Mansion and soldiers from the Prince Zhen's Mansion. This was truly a serious matter.

This has blown up! And in the eyes of these low-ranking officials, a ninth-rank prefect was already considered a high-ranking official, while the one roaring at

them was none other than the Duke of Jingguo from the Yang family of Jiangnan! The psychological impact on them was unimaginable.
"Your subject Li Ying greets the Duke of Jingguo." At this moment, a commotion arose outside the door, and a man in ninth-rank official robes rushed in

, immediately kneeling down, too frightened to even lift his head.
"Prefect of Suzhou, how dare you come to see me!" Yang Cun, adding fuel to the fire, roared,

"Under your jurisdiction, bandits have run rampant! Last night, I led troops to rescue the Crown Prince,

but the horse administration officials obstructed us, causing the Crown Prince to fall into the hands of bandits, his fate unknown—utterly despicable! And your Suzhou

troops are nowhere to be seen; I'm starting to suspect you're colluding with bandits!"
"Your Excellency, this humble servant... truly knew nothing!" Prefect Li Ying knelt on the ground,

trembling uncontrollably, his words now stuttering. Such a major case had been discovered in his territory;

not only was his official hat for sure, but even his life was uncertain.
"How dare you! Wang Dong has identified himself as the Duke of Jingguo, and he even brought a warrant from the Prince of Zhen's Mansion and my seal, yet

they still refuse to mobilize their troops! If it's not that the horse administration officials are arrogant and disrespectful to the court, then they are colluding with bandits

to prevent the Duke of Jingguo from going to the rescue!" Yang Cun roared, glancing slightly at Wang Dong beside him.
Wang Dong nodded silently, outwardly feigning anger, but inwardly marveling at his young

master's cunning. Last night, neither Yang Cun nor Yang Tongbao were present; where would the warrant from the Prince of Zhen's Mansion and the Duke of Jingguo's seal come from?

This was a classic case of framing someone. But at this moment, the horse administration officials, with Yang Cun's tacit approval, had already been beaten to the brink of death by the resentful Yang family

soldiers ; who could possibly defend them? This young master's actions were truly impeccable.
"Tell me, is this still the land of Great Hua?" Yang Cun, emboldened by the affirmation, roared with unbridled rage,

feigning grief and indignation, "You govern this region with utter incompetence, allowing the Crown Prince to meet with such misfortune!

What else do you have to say? If you all knew nothing, how could the thieves have kidnapped the Crown Prince? And the horse administration officials

have obstructed my urgent rescue efforts—it's utterly despicable!"
"This...this humble subject..." Li Ying was so terrified he was about to wet himself, unable to utter a word. One accusation

after another was leveled against him, even uttering accusations of collusion between officials and bandits. Faced with this situation,

he was too frightened to even muster the courage to defend himself.
"Guards, seize him! Remove his official hat and robes!" Yang Cun didn't give him a chance to speak. With a wave of his hand,

his soldiers rushed forward, seized the once arrogant ninth-rank official, stripped him of his hat, and ripped off

his official robes. At this point, no one dared to question Yang Cun's actual power to remove officials

' hats; they only knew that his current status as a duke was a death sentence.
"Take them all away and escort them to the capital!" Yang Cun, still seething with anger, ordered the kneeling

crowd to be taken down.
Everyone was stripped of their official robes and thrown into prison. Yang Cun

, feigning rage, embellished the story in front of the people, bitterly denouncing their various misdeeds. After his

tirade , he feigned deep regret, uttering phrases like "I couldn't save the heir," and "I'm sorry to Prince Rong.

" His body language and impeccable acting moved the people to tears, and even Yang Cun,

wiping
away his own tears, questioned his own acting talent. The commotion lasted all morning, and he was nearly sick of his righteous pronouncements. When the farce ended

, Yang Cun was somewhat dazed; he had even begun to believe his own ramblings. Putting everything else aside, just

squeezing out those few tears was incredibly painful. If he hadn't secretly pinched himself a few times, he really wouldn't have been able to cry. "

Your Highness, look how good I've been to you. If you know this in the afterlife, please don't blame me. It wasn't that I didn't

fight back , it just wasn't worth it!
" Looking at the people he had managed to appease, Yang Cun couldn't help but sigh. Even if he didn't become

the Duke of Jingguo in this life, becoming a famous performing artist wouldn't have been difficult.
Dragging his weary body, he finally finished dealing with everything by noon. Back at the inn,

Wang Dong remained silent, head bowed, lost in thought. Despite being exhausted and yawning repeatedly, Yang Cun

still noticed his unusual behavior and immediately asked with a wry smile, "Uncle Dong, do you think what I did was

excessive ?"
"I...Young Master..." Wang Dong hesitated, his face full of pain, and said, "Today it was all my

fault fault. The court has its own laws to restrain me. Young Master, I...You have now been bestowed with the imperial robe by His Majesty

, a great favor indeed. You will surely rise to prominence in the future. I acted rashly for a moment. Alas, why must you, Master, commit such a sin of deceiving

His Majesty ?"

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