Many children, many blessings; a stunningly beautiful wife is given to you right from the start.

Blackwind City, fifty miles away.

Banners blotted out the sun, and armor stretched to the sky.

Fifty-three thousand soldiers of Tiebiguan Pass formed an endless torrent of steel, their chilling aura almost scattering the clouds on the horizon.

Wu Zhong rode a magnificent horse, his back ramrod straight, and he regained that sense of control over life and death.

He looked around at his mighty army, and the long-lost sense of pride he felt finally returned.

The fear, lingering dread, and humiliation experienced in the mansion last night were completely washed away by the overwhelming military might before them.

He came back to life.

He was still the commander of the Iron Wall Pass, who commanded 50,000 troops and whose word could decide the life and death of thousands!

Wu Zhong's gaze inadvertently drifted to his side.

There, Elder Zhao was riding a drab gray donkey, slowly swaying through the procession, his eyes closed, like a schoolteacher on a country outing.

Wu Zhong curled his lip, feeling somewhat disdainful.

A mere bastard from the Lin family, a dilapidated city that should have collapsed long ago, and you actually want me, the general, to mobilize 50,000 troops and carry out a massacre?

It's like using a 30-meter-long cleaver to peel an apple—what a waste of time.

However, the moment Wu Zhong thought of the name "Lin Mo," his pride was instantly replaced by overwhelming hatred.

His right-hand men, his trusted team built up over many years, were all wiped out overnight by that kid's schemes and tricks!

This is an utter disgrace!

Wu Zhong has already made up his mind.

Once Black Wind City is breached and that little bastard named Lin Mo is captured, he will absolutely not let him die easily.

He wanted to have the boy stripped naked and nailed to the city wall in front of the whole city.

Then, in front of him, he would give his supposedly most beautiful women to the most uncouth soldiers to play with!

Finally, pour boiling molten iron over his head so that he can personally experience the feeling of his flesh being peeled away inch by inch!

He wanted to make that kid wail in endless pain and despair for three days and three nights!

Can't live, can't die!

Only in this way can he vent his hatred!

Just as Wu Zhong was immersed in his bloody fantasy of torturing Lin Mo, Elder Zhao, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

"General Wu."

Elder Zhao's hoarse voice rang out, carrying a strange sense of irritation.

I feel a little uneasy.

Wu Zhong snapped out of his reverie, a hint of impatience flashing across his face, but he still bowed respectfully.

"What are your instructions, Elder Zhao?"

"Have the strikers slow down and scout the area carefully."

Elder Zhao's words were brief.

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhong almost burst out laughing on the spot.

Distracted? Exploring the way?

"Is Elder Zhao... overthinking things?"

Wu Zhong pointed with his riding whip at the endless official road ahead.

"In broad daylight, on a flat plain, there isn't even a tree to hide under. What kind of ambush could there be?"

"That brat Lin Mo probably can't even muster a thousand soldiers. I bet he's already so scared he wet himself and dug a hole in the city to bury himself, waiting for us to come..."

Wu Zhong was speaking when he suddenly felt a chill down his back.

He turned his head and met Elder Zhao's unwavering eyes, but felt a strange sense of dread in his heart.

"Yes, Elder Zhao."

Wu Zhong dared not say another word. Holding his breath, he suddenly waved his hand and roared at the messenger in front:

"Pass down the order! Have the vanguard scouts increase their vigilance and advance ten miles to scout ahead!"

"Report any suspicious activity immediately!"

"yes!"

The messenger received the order and rode off at full speed.

Soon, a dozen of the most elite scouts broke away from the main force and rushed towards the official road ahead like arrows released from a bow.

The army's marching speed was thus slowed down slightly.

Wu Zhong looked displeased and turned to say a few more words to Elder Zhao, only to find that the other man had closed his eyes again, looking like a dead man who had given up on the world.

That old man, he's such a show-off!

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

"Report—!"

A scout galloped back, reined in his horse in front of Wu Zhong, and dismounted swiftly and decisively.

"General! The official road is flat for ten miles ahead, and there are no dense forests on either side to hide troops. The journey has been smooth, and we have not encountered any unusual circumstances!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhong immediately wore a smug look on his face, as if to say, "See? I was right."

He glanced sideways at Elder Zhao, who was still resting with his eyes closed, and deliberately raised his voice.

"Elder! You're safe and sound!"

"I knew it! What guts would a bunch of rats hiding in the city have to come out and court death?"

He proudly brandished his riding whip, sending it tumbling through the air in a loud crack.

"All troops, listen to my command! Advance at full speed!"

"Before dark, I'm going to the top of Blackwind City's city walls to drink and have some women!"

"Awooo—!"

The soldiers let out an excited howl, and the entire army's marching speed suddenly increased.

The heavy footsteps and hoofbeats merged into a thunderous roar, kicking up clouds of dust.

Elder Zhao slowly opened his eyes.

He didn't say anything more, but just silently looked at the seemingly smooth official road ahead.

For some reason, the ominous premonition did not dissipate with the scout's report; instead, it grew stronger.

It's not like there's a dilapidated, abandoned city ahead.

Instead, it is a giant beast's mouth that has quietly opened, waiting for its prey to come to it.

The vanguard of the army quickly stepped onto the "safe" area that had just been scouted.

On the ground, the hoofprints of the scouts' horses, which had been galloping back and forth, were still clearly visible.

everything is normal.

The soldiers stood tall and proud, their faces filled with the excitement of about to break through the enemy city and plunder at will.

A swordsman and shieldman walking at the edge of the column instinctively took a step to the side because a warhorse was too close to him, wanting to get away from the beast.

His step landed precisely between two hoofprints.

Beneath my feet was a patch of loose soil that looked no different from the rest of the place, except that its color was slightly fresher.

"Click..."

A faint sound, almost drowned out by the noise of the marching army, came from beneath his feet.

What was that sound?

The soldier paused for a moment, then instinctively looked down to check.

But he no longer had the chance.

A blinding white light suddenly exploded from beneath his feet. Before he could even feel the pain, the entire world vanished completely before his eyes.

boom!!!

A deafening roar erupted, and a massive cloud of fire burst forth from the ground!

Then came the second, third, and fourth sounds...!

Centered on the first explosion point, a series of explosions occurred one after another, and the flames spread out, instantly engulfing an area of ​​dozens of feet in radius!