Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

"Perhaps they're trying to tear open a path."

Qin Jiang speculated.

Hu Lie said thoughtfully, "To be surrounded, this is indeed what should be done, but this route is definitely not the best strategy. If they want to break through, they should take the small barren hill to the south, where there are few troops, and the terrain is flat, easy to attack but hard to defend."

The small barren hill was a flaw that Hu Lie intentionally left for Xu Zhongping.

He was worried that Xu Zhongping would not take the bait so easily, so he chose to sacrifice some of his troops.

However, Xu Zhongping took the bait faster than he imagined, and he forgot to withdraw the troops from the small barren hill.

"What on earth is Xu Zhongping up to?"

He couldn't fathom the other party's mind.

Nor could the other party guess his.

Yet he inexplicably had an illusion that Xu Zhongping didn't even bother guessing how he was planning.

He would plan his plans, and Xu Zhongping would fight his fight.

"No matter, if they want to court death, let them. This path is the hardest to break through, not only are there marshlands, but also Thunder Fire Formations, and rigged suspension bridges..."

"Report—"

Before Hu Lie could finish his sentence, a scout hurriedly ran over, knelt on one knee, and reported, "Reporting to the Great General, the Black Armor Army has already crossed the marshlands!"

Hu Lie clenched his large fist.

Qin Jiang asked incredulously, "How long has it been, and they've already crossed the marshlands? Casualties?"

The scout said with difficulty, "No casualties."

Qin Jiang gasped, "How could this be..."

That marshland was a forbidden zone on the entire barren hill; the whole army crossing? Utter annihilation would be more likely!

Could the Black Armor Army fly?!

The Black Armor Army's extensive combat experience was vividly displayed at this moment.

Qin Jiang's back suddenly turned cold.

When the last of the Black Armor Army crossed the marshland, Yun Chaomu clapped lightly, "Just a marshland, and it attempts to stop this Capital Commandant? With me here, not even a mouse would get stuck in the marsh."

Huo Ting said with a serious expression, "Don't let your guard down, I smell a whiff of sulfur."

"Someone's using Thunder Fire?"

Yun Chaomu chuckled and said to Song Yingzhong, "Old Song, it's your turn."

Song Yingzhong said calmly, "I'm just a blacksmith, you overestimate me."

As soon as he finished speaking, he dashed forward, leaped up, and rushed into the canyon.

Thunder fire roared, a thousand miles of scorched earth.

"It's a good formation, but unfortunately, it's what the Grand Marshal is tired of playing with!"

With endless rumbling, smoke filled the sky, mountains and rivers shook.

Yun Chaomu leisurely shook his folding fan, a touch of wanton smile on his handsome face.

"Old Song, the treasure sword has not aged!"

Huo Ting frowned, "Where did the fan come from?"

Yun Chaomu put away the folding fan, "The Rooster Guard sent it."

Huo Ting said coldly, "Couldn't you learn from anyone else and chose to imitate that chicken?"

Yun Chaomu chuckled and said, "You wouldn't understand. Besides, with your looks, even if you wanted to imitate, you couldn't."

Suddenly, an iron rod flew toward him swiftly.

Yun Chaomu raised his fan to block it.

Boom!

The iron rod exploded.

Yun Chaomu's folding fan turned into a broom.

Expressionless, he opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of black smoke.

Song Yingzhong, covered in soot, emerged from the thick smoke, already dark-skinned, now almost merged into the night.

Yun Chaomu asked discontentedly, "Old Song, can't you be a bit more accurate next time?"

Song Yingzhong glanced at Yun Chaomu, "I hit you? It wasn't intentional! But you're quite bad, aren't you?"

Yun Chaomu was furious!

"Great General, the Thunder Fire Formation is cleared, con—"

Song Yingzhong's eyes went black, and he fainted.

Yun Chaomu was startled, "Old Song!"

Huo Ting squatted down, felt his breath, and beckoned to the dark.

A medical officer, always on standby, came forward with a medical kit, took Song Yingzhong's pulse, and checked his injuries.

"Reporting to the Great General, Commandant En-san was hit with a sedative."

Yun Chaomu said suspiciously, "Where did the sedative come from?"

"Thunder Fire Formation."

Huo Ting replied.

Xu Zhongping looked towards the smoke-filled canyon, something flashed in his eyes.

Yun Chaomu followed the Great General's gaze, pinched his chin, "This canyon is not small, the amount of sedative needed is considerable. Where did Hu Lie get so much sedative? There hasn't been a large purchase of sedative in the Imperial City."

Xu Zhongping said with intense gaze, "The only one who can secretly come up with a large amount of sedative is the Medicine King Valley."

Yun Chaomu's eyes widened, "Hu Lie colluded with the Medicine King Valley? What on earth is going on with Medicine King Valley? Sometimes colluding with the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, sometimes with Hu Lie—"

Huo Ting looked at Yun Chaomu.

Yun Chaomu asked, "Why are you looking at me?"

Huo Ting said bluntly, "Mao Tu has been with you all along, did she ever mention any plans of the Medicine King Valley?"

Yun Chaomu honestly replied, "She only said she wanted to obtain the Black Armor Army, but she didn't say she would use such means, using a sedative, somehow it feels like it's not that simple."