"My Lord, two of our men were captured 15 minutes ago," Zhao Po reported to Shuo Ling.

Shuo Ling nodded, looked back, and said to Hou Shi, "Master, please wait a minute. I'll be right back."

"It's all right," Shi Hou waved his hand and answered with a smile.

Shuo Ling nodded. Right when he was about to leave, Su Tong walked to him and said, "My Lord, please let me go with you."

"No need!" Shuo Ling turned back and cast a glance at Su Tong, after which, he ran on the road leading to Xiling to chase after those who were captured!

In the meantime, Shangguan San tore a piece off from his clothes and wrapped his bleeding arm with it. Then, he tied a knot with the help of his mouth.

Sun Shang asked Shangguan San, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, not a big deal. The days we've been on ambush here finally paid off. We've successfully intercepted grains that are supposed to be sent to their border military camps before going back to Xiling. It's said those border soldiers ran out of their food a long time ago, so they're doomed to lose this time!" Shangguan San laughed while speaking.

Hearing it, Sun Shang nodded and said, "Thankfully, we didn't disgrace His Excellency this time."

"How should we deal with those two? Set them free?" Shangguan San pointed at the two men they captured and asked.

After thinking for a while, Sun Shang continued, "Yes. They're just ordinary people. If we don't let them go, the man who fought with you just now will definitely get back at us and catch up with us. We shouldn't ask for trouble, right?"

"That makes sense. Well, set them free. After all, when the war starts, we will conquer Dongling sooner or later," Shangguan San lifted the corner of his mouth and said.

Sun Shang looked back and suggested, "We've been far away now. How about letting them walk back by themselves?"

While speaking, Sun Shang pulled the rein so his horse stopped. Then, he shouted, "Set them two free."

"Yes!" Someone answered. After dragging down the two captured men from the carriage, he started to untie them.

Right at this time, a neigh came from behind them.

The sound drew the attention of Sun Shang and Shangguan San. Both of them somehow became flustered. They knew the man coming up because His Excellency once had a meeting with him. He was the awe-inspiring Marquis Shuo. They had seen him in the distance when he was in Xiling before.

Shuo Ling who looked terrifying walked to Sun Shang and his fellows.

Seeing that, Sun Shang started to panic but then he shouted, "Hurry. Tie those two men up and bring them over."

These words helped the man standing nearby to come to his senses, so he was going to do what Sun Shang ordered.

But at this time, Shuo Ling flew up, gently stepped on the horseback on tiptoe, and then flew to the man who was about to tie the two captives up.

The man lost consciousness just after a gust of wind brushed against his ear.

Later, Shuo Ling made a turn and flew back to sit on the horse.

The man fell to the ground before everyone realized what happened.

Seeing that, the two villagers captured from Jiandu couldn't help but huddle together and cast their eyes on the collapsed man.

Putting on a murderous look, Shuo Ling turned to Sun Shang and said, "Tell your Emperor, if he wants to conquer other countries and becomes the sole emperor, he has to ask for my permission first."

"My... My Lord, what are you doing? Why did you suddenly...," Sun Shang braced himself to pose a question although his heart was in his mouth now.

However, Shuo Ling interrupted, "Send back what you looted, or..."

Shuo Ling took a glance at the sword in his hand while speaking.

Seeing that, Sun Shang was so terrified that he stammered, "Didn't you hear that? Hurry up. Go with His Lord to send grains back!"

Just when he finished, his men turned the carriages round in haste and started backtracking.

Looking back to have a glance at Sun Shang and Shangguan San, Shuo Ling held the rein to turn the horse and followed the carriages.

Sun Shang and Shangguan San didn't feel relieved until Shuo Ling rode away. After all, they could be slain in a minute as long as Shuo Ling wanted to. Just now, they hadn't even seen clearly what Shuo Ling did but that man already bit the dust.

Shangguan San asked, "Why is he here? I didn't hear anything about his arrival at all."

"I'm afraid our men are not capable of finding out his whereabouts if he wants to cover up his track," Sun Shang explained.

Then Shangguan San asked again, "But why didn't he kill us just now?"

"Maybe he wants us to go back to report this so as to demoralize our soldiers!" Sun Shang inferred.

Shangguan San nodded and asked when looking at where their men rode away, "Should we wait here for them?"

"No. I'm afraid that they won't come back anymore because Shuo Ling won't spare them," Sun Shang sighed.

Then he patted the horse on its back and set off to Xiling.

"Look. They're back," a villager who escorted the carriage pointed at somewhere and shouted.

Su Tong and Zhao Po turned their heads and saw Shuo Ling riding slowly in front to lead people who looted their goods.

They two were so shocked.

They couldn't help but think that Shuo Ling really got something. He should be able to ask those people to send their carriages back in person.

When they approached, villagers who escorted looted carriages before walked to take over those carriages.

The two captives were riding a carriage, too.

Having seen how skilled Shuo Ling was, Xiling people just stood in a row now.

Zhao Po walked to Shuo Ling and asked with his hands cupped, "My Lord, how should we deal with..."

"Kill them all," Shuo Ling glimpsed at them and said.

Su Tong quickly responded, "Yes, My Lord."

Actually, he could have slain the man who fought with him before. But it was a pity that his helpers arrived later. He could tell that, other than the leading two men, others all knew little about martial arts.

If no villagers had been captured, he would have killed them long ago and wouldn't have been threatened.

Su Tong walked to those Xiling people and pulled his sword out.

Seeing that, Xiling people ran away.

Zhao Po also stepped forward to join Su Tong.

Soon, all Xiling people were killed.

Then, Zhao Po and Su Tong went back to report to Shuo Ling, "My Lord, all killed!"

"Alright. Let's press on," Shuo Ling answered and led the horse forward.

Taking a look at those lying Xiling people, Hou Shi followed Shuo Ling and left.

Soon, Su Tong and Zhao Po mounted their horses, too. A long line headed to military camps.

Meanwhile, Zheng Qiu had arrived at military camps and already met Xiao Mu and other people.

"Zheng Qiu, why are you here?" Xiao Mu looked at Zheng Qiu and asked.

Zheng Qiu smiled at him and explained, "In Jiandu, I had told Minister Xu about the trouble you encountered. He worried that soldiers would suffer from hunger so after the negotiation with villagers, he decided to send more potatoes to you. We were afraid that a large escort team would draw others' attention in border areas. Therefore, we set off in two groups at different times."

"Minister Xu really cares much about border soldiers. Please express our thanks to him," General Li said to Zheng Qiu.

Zheng Qiu waved his hand and answered, "General Li, you're too welcome. Without you and border soldiers who defend our country, we wouldn't live a peaceful life. We just did what we should and can do."

"Anyway, please express our gratitude to all kind-hearted villagers in Jiandu," General Li continued.

Zheng Qiu smiled and nodded.

Then General Li added, "You must have suffered a lot through the whole journey. Please have a chat with Mr. Xiao first and I will ask people to prepare some food for you."

"Well, thank you very much," Zheng Qiu cupped his hands and thanked General Li.

Then General Li left.

"Have you met any trouble along the way?" Xiao Mu asked Zheng Qiu.

Zheng Qiu shook his head and replied, "Everything went well."

After a long talk, Zheng Qiu noticed that Su Tong and Zhao Po hadn't arrived yet. He became flurried.

Then, he stood up and said to Xiao Mu, "Brother Xiao, I'd like to go out to check whether the other team has met any trouble. It's been a long time and they should have arrived."

"Let me go with you?" Xiao Mu stood up and offered.

After Zheng Qiu nodded, they two walked out of the tent and went outside the camp.

Right when they stepped out of the camp, they saw a marching line. Zheng Qiu gave a sigh of relief.

Walking closer, Xiao Mu saw Shuo Ling was also in the line and couldn't help frowning, "Why is Marquis also here?"

"Maybe they came across each other nearby," Zheng Qiu speculated.

At this time, Xiao Mu walked forward and said with his hands cupped, "My Lord, welcome."

"My Lord," Zheng Qiu also greeted him with his hands cupped.

Shuo Ling nodded and got down from the horse. Xiao Mu quickly walked to him and held the rein.

Then, they walked in the camp.

Su Tong and Zhao Po also got down from their horses.

Zheng Qiu approached them two and whispered, "Did you meet any trouble on the way? Why did it take so long for you to arrive here? I was even going to find you."

"We truly met some trouble on our way but His Lord helped us solve all problems," Zhao Po explained.

Zheng Qiu frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's a long story. I can't make it short so let's go into the camp first and talk about it later, okay?" Zhao Po looked at Zheng Qiu and said.

After Zheng Qiu nodded, they headed to the camp.

When all goods on carriages were unloaded, Commander Guo took these people to rest in a makeshift tent.

Xiao Mu led Shuo Ling and Hou Shi, the king of witchcraft, to where General Li stood.

At this moment, General Li didn't look gloomy like before.

What he worried the most was that soldiers would be short of food. But unexpectedly, the new prefect in Jiandu was so righteous that he was willing to send food here, even though Jiandu had been plagued by the flood this year. It really was a timely help for them.

If they could meet each other later, he would definitely express their thanks to him on behalf of thousands of soldiers.

Now His Majesty also asked Shuo Ling to offer them help. He thought they were bound to defeat Xiling.

Thinking of this, General Li focused on reading the map of border areas. He was finding suitable places around the camp to set traps.

Right at this time, Commander Guo walked in.

"What's the matter?" General Li asked without looking up but just fixed his eyes on the map.