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Xu Ziling frowned slightly, seemingly feeling that Kou Zhong's words were too direct and provocative. He gently tugged at Kou Zhong's sleeve and said to Song Shidao in a gentle tone, "Chief Steward Song, Young Master Zhong is straightforward and outspoken, and he means no harm. It's just that we can't bear to see the people of Liaodong suffer so much, and the war drag on, causing unnecessary casualties on both sides. Perhaps... there is still room for maneuver?"

Behind Song Shidao, the deputy general, military advisor, and others already wore angry expressions. How could such insolence be tolerated in the commander's tent? If Song Shidao hadn't yet expressed his opinion, they would have already reprimanded him or even taken action to arrest him.

Song Shidao gave Kou Zhong a deep look. As the son of Grandmaster Song Que, his own martial arts had reached a first-rate level, and his spiritual senses were sharp. Now, sensing him at close range, he couldn't help but be secretly astonished. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, though seemingly young, possessed an inner energy of such purity and power, and such vitality that it was something he had never seen before! Even more strangely, their auras, one masculine and the other feminine, seemed completely different, yet they subtly complemented and circulated, containing some kind of profound principle of heaven and earth. This was something that ordinary martial arts masters could not possess! No wonder they had made a name for themselves in Goguryeo and were even taken in by Fu Cailin (he guessed so).

“Young Master Kou is too kind.” Song Shidao’s expression remained unchanged, his hand already subtly resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist. “As the commander of the army, Shidao should naturally advance and retreat with his soldiers. As for Liaodong City… our Huachao’s elite troops are well-equipped with siege weapons, and it is only a matter of time before we conquer it. If the three of you have nothing else to say, please return. Battlefields are dangerous, not the place of the martial world.”

This is how you see your guests off.

However, a glint flashed in Kou Zhong's eyes, and he exchanged a glance with Xu Ziling. The two had shared life and death for many years, their understanding unparalleled. A hint of helplessness flickered in Xu Ziling's eyes, but he nodded slightly.

They had prepared for the worst before embarking on this journey. Fu Junzhuo had saved their lives and taught them skills, and their mentor (Fu Cailin) ​​had given them instructions before their departure. Seeing no hope for peace talks, they had no choice but to take the risk!

“Since that’s the case…” Kou Zhong drawled out his words, then suddenly grinned and moved without warning!
This movement was like a hibernating dragon being startled awake, or a fierce tiger being unleashed!
With a single step, his figure seemed to transform into seven or eight afterimages, blurring the lines between reality and illusion, instantly filling the limited space within the tent! Even more terrifying was the sudden eruption of his aggressive, masculine true energy, like an invisible volcanic eruption—scorching, explosive, and filled with an indomitable will! He pushed the power of the Yang chapter of the "Longevity Manual" to its limit, subtly causing a sweltering flow of heat within the tent, making the approaching generals feel their blood churning and their vision blurred!

"Protect the Chief Steward!"

The guards inside the tent, though startled, remained calm. They roared in unison, drew their swords, and charged at Kou Zhong's afterimage. However, Kou Zhong's movements, derived from the essence of the "Bird Crossing Technique" and his own insights, were unpredictable and elusive. He moved nimbly and darted within the limited space, like a fish swimming in water, dodging the combined sword strikes at the last possible moment. With only his palms, fingers, fists, and kicks, he forced several of the charging generals to retreat repeatedly. One of his palms struck a lieutenant's shield, shattering the ironwood shield into pieces, sending the lieutenant spitting blood and falling to the ground!

Almost at the same instant Kou Zhong made his move, Xu Ziling also moved. His movements were completely different, as graceful as a gentle breeze and flowing clouds, silent and stealthy. In a flash, he had already cut between Song Shidao and Fu Junzhuo, seemingly unintentionally, yet precisely cutting off Song Shidao's possible retreat and reinforcements. His palms were held in front of his chest, and a pure, gentle, continuous, yet profoundly deep Yin-type true energy spread out, forming an invisible barrier. This deflected and neutralized all the energy and hidden weapons attacking Song Shidao from the side and rear!
Even more mysteriously, Xu Ziling's aura subtly resonated with Kou Zhong's explosive yang energy. One yin and one yang, one contracting and one releasing, actually formed a subtle yet stable "aura field" within the small tent, greatly interfering with and suppressing the flow and coordination of the other generals' true energy!

As the two men attacked, a flicker of struggle crossed Fu Junzhuo's eyes, but she ultimately gritted her teeth, drew her longsword, and with a flash of light, transformed it into a cold, protective barrier on Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's flanks, blocking the influx of more guards from the direction of the tent entrance. Although her swordsmanship hadn't reached Fu Cailin's level, she had still inherited his true skills, her swordsmanship exquisite, and her defense impenetrable.

In the blink of an eye, the tent was in complete chaos!
Song Shidao was both shocked and furious. He hadn't expected that these three would actually dare to attempt to abduct someone from the commander's tent amidst the army of 100,000! Seeing Kou Zhong instantly disrupt the guards with his fierce true energy and rush straight at him, Song Shidao remained calm despite his shock. His sword, "Canglang," was drawn from its sheath with a dragon's roar!
Although Song Shidao had not mastered the full "Heavenly Blade" of the Song family, he had received his father's true teachings and his swordsmanship had grasped some of the essence of the Heavenly Blade. His first move was a calm and powerful killing move that combined offense and defense. The sword light was like a bolt of lightning, slicing straight at Kou Zhong's wrist. At the same time, he retreated quickly, trying to create distance between himself and Xu Ziling.

However, Kou Zhong's combat talent was nothing short of monstrous, his senses incredibly sharp when facing an enemy. As if anticipating Song Shidao's reaction, his forward momentum abruptly shifted, twisting at an unbelievable angle to dodge the sword's edge. His left hand, fingers like hooks, unleashed a scorching wind, aiming directly for Song Shidao's right shoulder acupoint, while his right hand, fingers like knives, silently slashed towards Song Shidao's left ribs! The ferocity and cunning of his attack, combined with his domineering true energy, left Song Shidao feeling utterly helpless!

"Good skill!"

Song Shidao secretly praised him, but it also aroused his pride. He turned his sword around and used the Song family sword technique’s exquisite defensive style, “Iron Wall of a Thousand Layers”. The sword light was layered and overlapping, protecting his body.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" A series of rapid clashes rang out as Kou Zhong's fingers and palms collided with Song Shidao's longsword more than ten times in an instant! Song Shidao felt that his opponent's fingers and palms were harder than refined iron, and contained a strange, spiraling force. Each collision made his wrist ache and numb, and he could not fully unleash his sword energy! What alarmed him even more was that his opponent's true energy was of extremely high quality, and it could even faintly rival his own pure internal energy, which he had cultivated for many years!
"We can't linger in this fight!" Song Shidao's mind raced. He knew that a one-on-one duel would be difficult to determine in a short time, and the army outside the tent would arrive upon hearing the alarm, at which point the three of them would have no chance of escape. He was about to call for more experts to surround them.

Just then, Xu Ziling, who had been seemingly standing still in defense but whose aura had been locked onto Song Shidao, saw Kou Zhong entangle Song Shidao. He moved forward like a ghost, his right index and middle fingers joined together, and gently touched Song Shidao's Dazhui acupoint on the back of his head. This finger strike was made with extremely refined force, and it also contained the unique penetrating properties of the Yin-Yang True Qi of the Longevity Manual.

Caught between attacks from both sides, Song Shidao felt the pressure increase dramatically. Kou Zhong's frontal assault was like a raging wildfire, while Xu Ziling's sneak attack from the side was like a chilling frost. The combined attack of yin and yang was far more powerful than ever! He managed to parry Kou Zhong's heavy blow with his sword and turned to block Xu Ziling's finger strike, but Kou Zhong seized the opportunity to kick him in the back of the knee!
"boom!"

Although Song Shidao avoided vital points, he was still struck on the side of his knee, and a sharp pain shot through him, causing him to sway. Although he managed to deflect most of Xu Ziling's finger strike with his sword, a wisp of yin energy still penetrated his body, causing a slight numbness on one side.

In a battle between masters, every second counts! This moment of numbness is an excellent opportunity for an opponent like Kou Zhong!
"Excuse me, Chief Steward Song!"

Kou Zhong laughed loudly, his figure following closely like a shadow. His left hand flashed and seized Song Shidao's right wrist pulse point, which had weakened slightly due to numbness. A surge of scorching true energy rushed in, instantly sealing several vital acupoints! His right hand then struck several points on Song Shidao's waist. Song Shidao felt his true energy stagnate, his limbs go weak, and he was completely unable to move!
"How dare you, thief!"

"Put down the Grand Steward!"

The generals inside the tent, their eyes bloodshot, attacked with all their might. Fu Junzhuo's sword flashed as she desperately defended herself. Xu Ziling, however, circled his palms, using gentle energy to deflect the weapons of several generals, while simultaneously shouting, "Young Master Zhong, run!"

Without hesitation, Kou Zhong hoisted Song Shidao onto his shoulder and laughed loudly, "Gentlemen, I'm lending you our commander! Don't worry, Chief Eunuch Song is very precious, we will treat him well! If you want him, let your emperor think carefully about whether you still want to fight this war!" With that, he crashed through the leather tent like a cannonball and soared into the sky!

Xu Ziling and Fu Junzhuo followed closely behind. All three possessed top-tier lightness skills, especially Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, who benefited from the "Longevity Technique." They leaped and bounded as if riding the wind, and in a few bounds, they had already darted out of the central army camp, speeding towards the southeastern mountains and forests! Although there were patrolling soldiers trying to intercept them along the way, how could they stop these three fierce tigers? They were either blasted away by Kou Zhong's powerful palm strikes or pushed aside by Xu Ziling's gentle energy. Fu Junzhuo's sword flashed, deflecting arrows.

By the time the camp's alarm bells rang and experts and cavalry from all sides gathered to give chase, the three figures had already disappeared into the vast mountains, leaving no trace.

The commander-in-chief was openly abducted from his central command tent!
This news stunned the 100,000-strong Chinese army! Despite the best efforts of the deputy generals and military advisors to suppress the news and block its spread, how could the disappearance of their commander be concealed for long? Rumors quickly spread throughout the camp, and morale plummeted. An emergency meeting was held among the senior officers, filled with heated debate. Some advocated an immediate assault on Liaodong City to stabilize morale with military achievements; others suggested dividing the troops to search the mountains and rescue the Grand Commander; still others were deeply worried, fearing it was a Goguryeo ploy and an ambush.

With the loss of Commander-in-Chief Song Shidao, the previously methodical and step-by-step eastern expedition strategy was thrown into chaos. The planned general offensive was forced to be canceled, and the various armies were at a loss. Shan Meixian, on the naval side, was also shocked upon learning the news. She immediately tightened her defenses, strengthened her vigilance, and urgently reported to the capital.

The Goguryeo garrison inside Liaodong City, already demoralized and resigned to their fate, suddenly heard a commotion in the Chinese army camp. Their offensive halted, and spies discovered that their commander had been kidnapped by a mysterious expert—a stroke of incredible luck! The garrison commander reinforced the city's defenses while simultaneously sending the news to Pyongyang. Upon receiving the report, Yeon Gaesomun, though unaware of the culprit, recognized this as a golden opportunity. He immediately proclaimed, "Heaven blesses Goguryeo! The Chinese commander has been captured!" and dispatched small detachments to harass the city and probe the Chinese army's strength.

The Chinese army, leaderless, was prone to mishandling the situation and managed to regain some morale from the Goguryeo army, leading to a stalemate. The news was sent to Luoyang, the capital, at top speed.

Inside Zetian Gate, Yi Huawei received an urgent report from the front lines. Upon seeing the words, "Song Shidao was abducted from the central command tent by Fu Cailin's disciple and two mysterious young masters. The army has halted, and the Liaodong war is at a stalemate," a hint of surprise flashed across his deep eyes.

“Fu Junzhuo… Kou Zhong… Xu Ziling…”

Yi Huawei softly murmured these names, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the imperial desk.

"It seems that even though these two little guys missed the opportunity in Yangzhou, they still made it this far and pulled this stunt on me."

"Issue the order to closely monitor all unusual movements in and around Goguryeo. Order Shan Meixian to temporarily assume the position of commander-in-chief of the Eastern Expeditionary Army, hold the existing positions, and not move without my decree. Also, summon Lady Zhu Yuyan of Yin State to the palace immediately."

...............

Late May, Pyongyang, Goguryeo.

It was late spring, and willow catkins were flying along the banks of the Daedong River. Although the palace was no longer as extravagant as it had been in its heyday, it still maintained the dignity and order of a king. However, a sense of oppressive tension permeated the air, and the palace walls were guarded several times more heavily than usual.

Fu Junzhuo, along with Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, and Song Shidao whose acupoints were sealed, had quietly infiltrated Pyongyang several days ago. They did not make a big fuss, but instead contacted Fu Cailin's connections in the capital and hid Song Shidao in a secret hideout.

When King Gojang of Goguryeo and his powerful minister Yeon Gaesomun learned that the disciple of the "Master of Go" had actually kidnapped the commander of the Chinese army, they were initially overjoyed, thinking it was a stroke of good fortune. However, after carefully inquiring about the process and seeing Song Shidao in person, their joy turned into surprise and apprehension.

While capturing the enemy commander-in-chief is undoubtedly a remarkable achievement, it also signifies a complete break with the Chinese dynasty, leaving no room for maneuver. Furthermore, although the Chinese army's offensive has been temporarily halted due to the commander's capture, its foundation remains intact. How will that powerful, iron-fisted emperor react?
A side hall of the Geunjeongjeon Hall in the Pyongyang Royal Palace.

Gojang, his face sallow and with heavy eye bags, sat with difficulty in the main seat. Yeon Gaesomun, dressed in military attire, stood to his side with his hand on his sword, his eyes sharp as an eagle. Several other high-ranking officials and generals of Goguryeo were also present in the hall, creating a somber atmosphere.

Fu Junzhuo, Kou Zhong, and Xu Ziling stood solemnly in the hall. Song Shidao, "accompanied" by two Goguryeo warriors, stood a little further away. Although he was a prisoner, he had a composed demeanor and calm eyes as he surveyed the people in the hall.

"Lady Fu, and the two young heroes Kou and Xu, your heroic deeds have rendered great service to the country! I, the King, will surely reward you handsomely!"

Gao Zang forced a smile and spoke first, though his voice was somewhat hoarse.

Yeon Gaesomun interjected, his tone scrutinizing: "The three of you were able to bring Song Shidao out of the army of 100,000, your martial arts skills and courage are truly admirable. However... I wonder where you three studied under? And what is your relationship with Master Yi Jian?"

Fu Junzhuo bowed slightly: "Reporting to the General, Junzhuo is the third disciple of my master Cailin. Junior Brother Kou, Junior Brother Xu... are disciples who have been accepted by my master in recent years, and their lineage has a different origin."

She did not fully reveal Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's background, only vaguely mentioning them as disciples.

Kou Zhong grinned and said casually, "King of Goguryeo, General, we've brought the man. Whether to fight or make peace, to kill or release him, is up to you. But let's make it clear beforehand that we're only responsible for bringing him, not for guarding him, and we won't interfere with how you use him. If the Emperor of Huachao gets angry and sends troops to attack, don't blame us."

His words were straightforward, but they also absolved him of a lot of responsibility.

Xu Ziling frowned slightly, feeling that Kou Zhong's words were too blunt, but he did not refute them. Their main purpose in coming here was to repay Fu Junzhuo's kindness and fulfill their master's (Fu Cailin's) instructions. As for how Goguryeo would use Song Shidao, and what kind of storm it would cause afterward, it was beyond their control, and they did not want to get too involved.

A glint flashed in Yeon Gaesomun's eyes, and he was about to ask another question. Suddenly, a series of hurried and flustered footsteps came from outside the hall, and a eunuch scrambled in, his face ashen, his voice trembling uncontrollably:

"Report, Your Majesty! General! Oh no! Something terrible has happened! A group of women have come from outside the palace! They've broken in!"

"What woman? Where are the Imperial Guards?"

Yeon Gaesomun suddenly turned around and demanded an answer in a stern voice.

"The Imperial Guards couldn't stop them! They...they know sorcery! They are ghostly and ruthless. General Jin and dozens of guards guarding the palace gates were all killed in one fell swoop!" The eunuch was almost crying.

The expressions of everyone in the hall changed drastically.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged a glance, both seeing the solemnity and vigilance in each other's eyes. Their spiritual senses far surpassed those of ordinary people; they could vaguely sense a vast, chilling, yet alluring and destructive aura, like an invisible tide, rapidly spreading from the direction of the palace gates! (End of Chapter)