Hou Ye's palm heart is a black lotus

Chapter 798 Dead End (First Update)
The woods were littered with corpses, a scene of utter devastation.

"Take care of them first, search them for any letters or similar items, then figure out how to catch up with the remaining group."

Feng Cheng, who was leading his troops to the end of a fierce battle, endured the pain in his legs and, while giving orders, couldn't help but curse aloud.

"Those bastards are truly heartless! They actually sacrificed their comrade's life to save their own!"

No one expected that the Nanhu people would act so ruthlessly, sending some people to attract the enemy forces while the rest chose to escape by water.

Everyone knows that the only fate for those who are left behind is death!
Although everyone won the match, the atmosphere remained heavy.

"To cut off an arm to survive, they really have the heart to do it. But it's too late for us to chase after them now..."

"so what!?"

Feng Cheng narrowed his eyes. "I refuse to believe that someone like this can beat us. If I ever run into him again—"

"General!"

A shout rang out, and soldiers in charge of reconnaissance rushed over, their faces beaming with undisguised joy.

"General! Great news! Great news! Those Nanhu people who left by water were ambushed at Pingshui Bay and have all been killed in battle!"

"What!?"

Feng Cheng and the others were all taken aback.
"Are you telling the truth? How did you get this information?"

“It’s absolutely true! You ordered your men to take them upstream along the waterway. We originally thought we couldn’t catch up, and we were just hoping to find some clues they left behind. But as we walked, the river gradually turned red! Then, one after another, corpses floated down from above, and they were all wearing Nanhu armor!”

He became more and more excited as he spoke.
"When we arrived, we discovered that those who had fled along the waterway were ambushed from the mountains just as they were about to cross the bay! Their boats, linked together, were burned beyond recognition, and were also riddled with boulders and arrows. There were also logs blocking their way on the water, which ultimately trapped them there! Eight or nine out of ten of them died in battle, leaving only a few survivors who have been captured and brought back to await the general's judgment!"

Feng Cheng and the others were stunned by this unexpected good news.

The group looked at each other, their surprise mixed with confusion.

"An ambush? Whose trap did they fall for?" someone couldn't help but ask.

Feng Chengfu suddenly realized, "Wait! Ping Shui Bay... it's only separated from Xiacheng by a mountain range, could it be..."

He was somewhat incredulous.

"Could it be the work of the garrison of Xiacheng? But how could they have foreseen that the Southern Hu army would escape by water and lay an ambush on the mountain beforehand? When I arrived, there was nothing there—"

suddenly!

He was startled, and his eyes lit up!
Is it...

"Reporting to the general, when we arrived, the people on the mountain had already left. We didn't encounter them, so we can't be sure whether it was the garrison of Xiacheng who did it..."

"It's him! It must be him!"

Feng Cheng clenched his fist in excitement. The weight that had been pressing on his heart for days was lifted, and he instantly felt refreshed and extremely happy!
"I knew I wasn't mistaken! Hahaha!"

Everyone was baffled by his reaction.

"General, what do you mean by that?"

Feng Cheng did not answer immediately, but turned to look at the horrific battlefield.
"We shouldn't delay any longer. Let's go back to Duzhou and hold the line! News from here will soon reach the Southern Hu, and those people will probably go crazy again. Let's prepare in advance!"

Everyone fell silent, and without pressing further, responded in unison,

"Yes!"

……

Nanhu, the royal palace. Crash—bang!

The usually well-mannered, gentle and kind Tuoba Shan swept everything off the imperial desk!

All the palace servants knelt down in unison, trembling with fear.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

Tuoba Shan, however, could no longer care about anything else. His facial muscles twitched slightly with anger, making his originally handsome features appear distorted.

"Go! Summon Shui Xingqiu immediately!"

He wanted to ask him face-to-face what kind of terrible idea he had come up with!

"Yes Yes!"

The palace servants retreated tremblingly, their hearts filled with fear.

The king had always treated the head of the Shui family with great courtesy, but this was the first time he had addressed him by his name in such a stern tone!
I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's not good...

Indeed, the Shui family is the most prestigious family in the Southern Hu region, and Shui Xingqiu, as the head of the family, is extremely powerful and influential.

But he was still a subject after all.

Now that he has thoroughly angered the king, how should he... handle the situation?
……

At almost the same moment, Shui Xingqiu also received news that the front-line troops had been almost completely wiped out.

His once stunningly beautiful face finally showed a crack.

"How can this be!?"

He had already arranged everything!

First, spare no effort to encircle and annihilate Duzhou and kill Ye Yunfeng! Then, split the army into two groups and have the main force withdraw by water.

Although some soldiers will be lost, these sacrifices are nothing as long as Ye Yunfeng is killed.

The king will surely be satisfied.

But how could such a change have occurred?!

"Impossible...impossible!"

Shui Xingqiu couldn't understand it at all, and at the same time, an extremely absurd guess arose in his mind.

"Could it be that Ye Yunfeng is not dead?"

But how could that be?!
This was a deadly trap he had meticulously planned. Ye Yunfeng had clearly fallen into the trap and had no chance of survival!

Moreover, previous reports had stated unequivocally that everyone had seen Ye Yunfeng wounded by arrows, and that the arrows were coated with deadly poison! Once contaminated, death was certain!

How could he still be alive?!
"Homeowner!"

The butler rushed in, looking panicked.

"The King summons you to the palace immediately!"

Shui Xingqiu's heart sank suddenly.

It was as if an invisible giant net had already silently enveloped him.