Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

After Hu Lie was defeated at the palace gate, he led his rebel army out through the West City Gate and headed west.

Xu Zhongping led the Black Armor Army in pursuit, and they clashed several times along the way.

Hu Lie was not eager to fight, preferring to sacrifice troops and escape rather than engage in a decisive battle against the Black Armor Army.

"Great General, something's not right."

Song Yingzhong tightened the reins and halted his horse.

Both sides had just been through a skirmish, and now, as they passed by a stream, Xu Zhongping allowed the troops to rest for a moment, drink some water, and have a bite to eat.

Yun Chaomu asked, "Old Song, do you feel Hu Lie is fleeing too quickly?"

Song Yingzhong replied, "Their forces are twice ours, and their combat strength isn't too weak. With Hu Lie's nature, he shouldn't have retreated so easily."

Yun Chaomu nodded, "Indeed, not a bit of bloodlust; is this really Hu Lie? Could it be an impostor?"

Huo Ting spoke calmly, "Do you think everyone is like Luo Shan and Lu Yuan?"

Still, he also felt Hu Lie's response was suspicious, as if he was deliberately luring them into a trap.

Huo Ting suggested, "Great General, should I lead a squad to track Hu Lie and see what his real intentions are?"

Xu Zhongping, emanating a bandit-like arrogance, said fiercely, "He has poison in his gourd, and I must take it down today!"

The three of them fell silent, no longer advising him.

Military orders are as firm as a mountain.

Even if the Great General leads everyone to their deaths, they will not retreat.

Meanwhile, ahead of them, Hu Lie noticed the Black Armor Army pursuing again and was somewhat puzzled.

Is the Black Armor Army reckless or stupid?

The original plan was more seamless; the defeat outside the palace gate caught him off guard, prompting him to lure them too hastily.

He thought the Black Armor Army wouldn't fall for it so easily; yet they pursued him?

"Great General, could it be a trap?"

The one speaking was Hu Lie's subordinate deputy general, named Qin Jiang.

The Four Great Guardians were either dead or captured; he replaced them, becoming Hu Lie's right-hand man.

Hu Lie's first instinct was that it was a trap.

But upon reflection, he felt it unlikely.

The entire force of ten thousand of the Black Armor Army was present; what trick could they pull?

Could the Black Armor Army have anticipated everything, set up an ambush in advance, and be aiming to encircle his army?

Perhaps the Black Armor Army is not as formidable as rumored, and everything is merely Great Zhou's boastfulness. The weak forces of Great Zhou and Beiliang make the Black Armor Army seem invincible.

His large army isn't that easy to defeat!

Thinking this way, Hu Lie decided to take a gamble: "Press on!"

Qin Jiang bowed, "Yes!"

Hu Lie's army fled into the barren hills to the west.

This barren mountain is called Yama Mountain, towering high with steep peaks, a true desolate mountain wilderness.

If it were months ago, Hu Lie would indeed not dare to rush in recklessly.

But now, his allies had already scouted the path for him.

Hu Lie followed the clues along the way, heading straight to the gorge's heart.

An hour later, Xu Zhongping arrived in pursuit.

As twilight fell and evening breezes blew, a profound silence permeated the place.

"Lost track?"

Yun Chaomu pinched his chin suspiciously.

Xu Zhongping coldly surveyed the surrounding terrain.

"No, we're surrounded."

Yun Chaomu was taken aback.

Moments later, four scouts who had gone ahead to gather information returned to report.

Consistent with Xu Zhongping's judgment, Hu Lie's army was ambushed on the surrounding mountain ridges, encircling them.

"How did he disperse them everywhere?"

Yun Chaomu muttered.

Huo Ting said, "It was premeditated ambush."

Song Yingzhong nodded, "Hu Lie has been luring us all along; it seems he plans to wipe us out here. His forces are likely much more than we anticipated."

He looked towards Xu Zhongping, "Great General, what should we do next?"

Xu Zhongping casually uttered a single word, "Kill."

Yun Chaomu's blood boiled instantly: "Alright, since the battle at Yumen Pass, it's been years since I've stretched my skills; it's time to show these bastards the might of the Black Armor Army—When Black Armor appears, who can rival?"

He lowered the visor on his helmet.

Huo Ting and Song Yingzhong also dropped their visors, revealing only their knife-sharp eyes.

All of the Black Armor Army raised their arms in unison, the sound of armor clashing echoed through the air.

In an instant, the tranquil forest was filled with the aura of warfare.

"Great General! They're attacking!"

Qin Jiang reported.

"How many are there?"

Hu Lie asked.

Qin Jiang replied, "... all of them."

Hu Lie was shocked, "What?"

He paused and furrowed his brow, "Don't they know they are surrounded? Can't they even detect this little trap?"