Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 572 The Powdered Marquis
All that could be seen was below the city gate tower.

On a relatively elevated street that was not yet completely submerged, a dense, dark mass of people, like an ant colony, were slowly and laboriously moving in one direction.

Cries, groans, and complaints of pushing and shoving mingled in the damp, cold air.

At the center of the crowd were several well-dressed young men and women who stood out from their surroundings.

They were clearly among the most outstanding members of the martial arts families in Dongzhou.

The men were tall and upright, some adorned with jade and swords, exuding an air of grandeur; the women, dressed in fine silks and satins, their hairpins swaying, strived to maintain the dignity and pride of noble families even amidst the mud.

They stood beside several makeshift porridge carts, directing their servants to scoop spoonfuls of thin but piping hot rice porridge onto countless withered, trembling hands that reached out to them.

This scene carries a sense of condescending charity, yet in this desperate situation, it becomes the only straw that the drowning person can grasp.

On top of the city tower.

Silver Wing Marquis Shi Danqin's gaze, like that of a cold eagle, pierced through the continuous rain and the noisy crowd, indifferently sweeping over this "charitable act" led by the scions of aristocratic families.

His attendant, an old servant who had served him for many years, keenly noticed the direction of his master's gaze, immediately bowed, and explained in a deliberately respectful voice:
"Master, those are the young masters and ladies from several major martial arts families in Dongzhou, including the Wu family, the Liu family, and the Zhou family... They are all here."

"Now that the city is in chaos, they have spontaneously organized themselves to do their part in disaster relief."

Shi Danqin let out a soft, ambiguous hum, as if she had heard it, yet also as if she hadn't.

His gaze, as if drawn by an invisible magnet, passed over the richly dressed young men and ignored the meticulously dressed young ladies from noble families, finally fixing on one person.

The rain was heavy and the sky and earth were gloomy.

The ground was muddy and filthy, and the air was filled with the stench of decay and despair.

However, among that group of glamorous young people, there was one person who seemed to be surrounded by an invisible halo, keeping all the darkness and filth at bay.

She was a woman dressed in an elegant light white dress.

The skirt was not made of expensive silk and its style was extremely simple, but because it was worn by her, it had an ethereal and otherworldly quality.

Rainwater dampened her temples, and a few strands of black hair clung to her fair, jade-like cheeks. Far from looking disheveled, they added a touch of breathtakingly fragile beauty.

Her face was exquisite, like the most perfect masterpiece of heaven. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her eyes like autumn waters rippling across the surface, and her nose and lips were perfectly proportioned.

Especially when she slightly turned her head and gave a faint smile to the old woman beside her who was trembling as she took the bowl of porridge...

That smile was like a ray of sunlight suddenly piercing through thick leaden clouds, carrying warmth enough to dispel all gloom, instantly illuminating the entire lifeless street, and also crashing into the depths of Shi Danqin's turbid and desolate heart!

is her!

Zhou Bai Ning, the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world of Dongzhou and the pearl of the Zhou family!

Shi Danqin felt as if her heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, then began to pound violently against her aging chest, bringing waves of throbbing.

The last glimpse of her breathtaking beauty left an indelible mark on his heart, causing him to toss and turn, unable to control his emotions.

However, due to the urgency of official business at the time, Shi Danqin could only arrange for her subordinates to inquire about Zhou Baining's whereabouts before she hurriedly left.

Unexpectedly, in this devastated city, I was able to see this stunningly beautiful woman again.

His attendant, who had followed him for many years and was well-versed in reading people's expressions, immediately bowed and probed:
"Master, that is Miss Zhou Baining from the Zhou family."

"Should I...go and invite her up for a chat?"

Shi Danqin did not answer immediately.

He slowly raised his withered, sickly-looking, bluish-gray hand, his voice slightly hoarse from suppressed excitement:
"First, bring me... a lead-powder bronze mirror!"

He paused, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and added:
"Also, bring the Zhou family's files and documents immediately!"

The attendant's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood his master's intention. Not daring to be negligent, he immediately bowed and withdrew.

Not long after.

An exquisite copper enamel powder box, a polished copper mirror with a diamond pattern, and a thick stack of documents bound with brocade ribbons were presented to Shi Danqin.

The wind on the city wall carried the damp chill of rain.

Shi Danqin waved away the attendant holding the umbrella and sat alone in the rosewood chair.

He opened the powder box with trembling hands; inside was fine, snow-white lead powder.

In the upper class of the Great Qian Dynasty, especially among the noble sons who pursued elegance and considered fair skin as beauty, applying powder was not uncommon, and there was even a reputation for "powder-powdered gentlemen".

But for a marquis like Shi Danqin, who had spent half his life on the battlefield and made his name through martial arts, this was an unprecedented event!
The bronze mirror reflected a withered, wrinkled, and strangely gray-blue old face.

That was clear evidence of the insidious poison eroding his body day and night.

This face looks terrible, how can I show it to anyone?
He stretched out his slightly trembling fingers, carefully dipped them into the snow-white lead powder, and applied it evenly, bit by bit, to his withered and sunken cheeks, forehead, and nose.

His movements were clumsy and awkward, carrying an almost tragic sense of absurdity that was completely out of place with his status, position, and past experiences.

The surrounding attendants and guards all kept their eyes down, trying their best to hide the turmoil in their hearts.

They had followed this Silver Wing Marquis for decades, witnessing him remain unfazed amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and seeing him command the court with his power and influence.

But when have I ever seen him...applying powder in front of a mirror?!

This is even more breathtaking than seeing the sun rise in the west!

An indescribable sense of unease permeated the cold city tower.

The lead powder covered most of the sickly blue color, but it couldn't smooth out the deep wrinkles. Instead, when soaked by the rain, it revealed a stiff, mask-like paleness.

Shi Danqin looked at herself in the bronze mirror from left to right, and then carefully smoothed her messy gray hair.

In the end, he seemed satisfied.

He put down the bronze mirror, took a deep breath of the rain-scented air, and his voice regained its usual authority:
"Go and invite Miss Zhou up for a chat."

The attendant obeyed the order and hurriedly descended the city wall.

Below the city walls, beside the soup kitchen.

Zhou Baining was carefully handing a bowl of hot porridge to a thin, bony child, who showed a grateful smile on his dirty little face.

Several young men surrounded her like stars around the moon, showering her with attention and making no attempt to hide their admiration and affection.

They were all outstanding young talents in the Dongzhou martial arts world, from prominent families, and held themselves in high esteem. Their pursuit of Zhou Baining had always been bold and direct.

"My master invites Miss Zhou to the city tower for a chat."

The attendant walked through the crowd to Zhou Baining and respectfully but authoritatively conveyed the Silver Wing Marquis's orders.

The young men's faces instantly darkened.

"master?"

One of the young men, surnamed Chen, dressed in a royal blue brocade robe, frowned deeply, his tone clearly showing displeasure:
"Ms. Zhou is currently busy with disaster relief and may find it difficult to get away."

"That sir, how dare you disturb us—"

He didn't finish his words.

The attendant didn't even lift his eyelids, but emphasized his words, clearly uttering three words:

"Silver Wing Marquis".

These three words were like three massive boulders, crashing heavily into the hearts of the young men.

Just moments ago, Young Master Chen was trying to maintain his "protector of the flower" stance, but his face turned deathly pale in an instant. He swallowed back the words he was about to say, and cold sweat even broke out on his forehead.

The others felt as if they had been choked; their earlier resentment and unwillingness were instantly replaced by immense fear.

Marquis Shi Danqin, the Silver Wing!

That was not just a prestigious title, but a terrifying existence with immense power in the five southeastern states, capable of wiping out a martial arts family with a single word!
Their family may have a high status in the martial arts world of Dongzhou, but in front of such a behemoth, they are as insignificant as ants!

The enthusiasm and admiration that had just surrounded Zhou Baining vanished like a flame extinguished by ice water, leaving only a deathly silence and barely concealed fear.

They didn't even dare to look Zhou Baining in the eye anymore, lowering their heads and involuntarily taking a half-step back.

Zhou Baining's heart sank in that instant.

Looking at her suitors who were usually so confident but were now silent as cicadas in fear, a bitter feeling spread through her heart.

She understood that she had no right to refuse.

The Silverwing Marquis's "invitation" was an order that could not be disobeyed.

She gently put down the porridge spoon in her hand, shook her head slightly to signal the worried servant beside her, then took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure, and said to the attendant:
"Please lead the way."

Under the gaze of countless eyes, some sympathetic, some fearful, and some indifferent, Zhou Baining, like a white lotus caught in a storm, stepped onto the slippery stone steps leading to the city tower.

On the city wall, the wind and rain seemed to intensify.

The cold rain slanted down, carrying a biting chill.

Zhou Baining stepped onto the city wall and immediately saw Shi Danqin sitting upright in a rosewood chair.

She suppressed her nervousness and, following the custom, gracefully bowed, her voice clear yet carrying a barely perceptible tension:

"This humble woman, Zhou Baining, greets Your Excellency."

Shi Danqin's gaze never left her from the moment she stepped into the city gate.

That gaze was no longer the intoxicated look of someone observing from afar below the city walls, but rather carried an almost tangible, naked scrutiny and greed, as if admiring a priceless treasure within easy reach.

As a marquis, he had naturally seen countless beautiful women and had been with numerous stunning beauties.

But Zhou Baining's every inch, from head to toe, perfectly matched Shi Danqin's aesthetic standards.

The thick layer of lead powder on his face appeared particularly pale and stiff in the gloomy, rainy light, yet a smile, which he thought was gentle, tugged at the corner of his mouth as he pointed to an empty chair right next to him:
"No need to be polite."

"sit."

That chair was too close to his seat!
They were so close they were practically touching; you could feel the warmth emanating from him, a mixture of medicinal scents and the smell of aging, just by sitting down.

Alarm bells rang in Zhou Baining's heart.

This was by no means normal hospitality; the disrespect and the implication of danger it carried sent chills down her spine.

She lowered her head slightly, her voice still respectful, yet carrying an unmistakable sense of distance:

"The Marquis's noble stature and majestic presence are as imposing as a mountain."

"I am but a commoner, of lowly status. How dare I presume to sit alongside you, my lord?"

"This humble woman will answer while standing."

As she spoke, she stood respectfully to the side with her head bowed.

"Keep your head up."

Shi Danqin's voice was not loud, but it carried an air of authority that had long held a superior position and was beyond question, instantly suppressing Zhou Baining's polite refusal.

Zhou Baining's long eyelashes trembled, but she could not resist and could only slowly raise her head.

That stunningly beautiful face was laid bare before Shi Danqin's greedy gaze.

Her eyebrows were like crescent moons, her eyes like cold stars, her nose was delicate and straight, her lips were like cherry blossoms, and her skin was still radiant and glowing even in the dim light of a rainy day, as if it had its own soft glow.

The visual impact of being up close is far more stunning than viewing from afar!

Shi Danqin felt a surge of heat rush to her head, her withered heart pounding wildly in her chest, and her breathing became rapid.

He couldn't help but take a deep breath, as if trying to absorb the breathtaking beauty before him into his very being.

"Everyone says you are the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world of Dongzhou... and you truly live up to the reputation!"

"Truly... it lives up to its reputation!"

Shi Danqin's voice was slightly hoarse from excitement, and her eyes were so intense they could almost melt anyone.

An intense possessiveness, like a poisonous vine, instantly ensnared all his reason.

Although he knew he was old enough to be Zhou Baining's grandfather.

But he didn't mind.

Age gaps and societal views become insignificant in the face of this breathtaking beauty!

It's said that beauties are paired with heroes, but nobody says that beauties should be paired with young men.

He felt he had rediscovered the impulsiveness of his youth.

"I have just arrived in Dongzhou and am unfamiliar with the place and its people. I need a beautiful woman by my side to guide me through the scenery and relieve my worries."

Shi Danqin leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Zhou Baining's eyes, no longer concealing his intentions, and directly stated his purpose:
"I wonder if Miss Zhou...would you be willing?"

These words were so blunt and so abrupt.

So disgusting!
Zhou Baining felt a chill instantly spread from the soles of her feet throughout her body. Her fair cheeks flushed with shame and indignation, like a blush rising from white jade.

This high-ranking marquis actually harbored such despicable thoughts about her!
"Please forgive me, Your Excellency!"

Zhou Baining's voice trembled noticeably, but she tried her best to remain calm:

“I am but a plain and unrefined woman, and I have parents at home to take care of. I dare not take on this important task, and I am not fortunate enough to be by your side, my lord.”

"I implore you, Lord Marquis..."

Shi Danqin abruptly waved her hand, rudely interrupting her refusal.

"Humph!"

The "gentleness" on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a defiant anger and an overbearing determination:
"Do you perhaps think that I am the kind of philanderer who only seeks momentary pleasure and cannot give you a proper title?"

His voice turned cold, carrying a condescending arrogance:

"My wife has long since passed away, and the position of Marquis's wife has remained vacant until now!"

He stared at Zhou Baining's face, which had turned deathly pale, and, word by word, threw out what he considered the heaviest bargaining chip:

"If you follow me..."

"From this day forward, you will be the rightful mistress of the Silverwing Marquis's mansion! The noble Marquis's wife! You will enjoy endless wealth and honor, and be revered by all!"

"how?"

Marquise!

These four words exploded in Zhou Bai Ning's ears like a thunderclap.

This is a privilege that many women dream of but can never attain in their entire lives.
It's a cloud that even if the Zhou family struggles for another hundred years, they may never be able to reach!
However, the astonishment in Zhou Baining's eyes was fleeting, quickly replaced by a deeper coldness and resistance. She didn't want this shackle, bought with humiliation and her youth.

She refused to serve an old man old enough to be her grandfather, and one who used such despicable methods!

Wealth and glory?

Revered by all?

She doesn't care!
"Your Excellency's kindness is too great for me. I am deeply humbled and unworthy to accept it."

Zhou Baining raised her head, her gaze clear and firm, looking directly into Shi Danqin's eyes, clouded by desire, her voice clear and powerful:
"In my heart, the Marquis is a highly respected and accomplished elder, just like my grandfather."

"I have only respect and affection for you, my lord, and I have no other thoughts whatsoever."

"I am aware of my humble status and uncouth nature, and I am truly unworthy of the Marquis's favor. Please forgive me!"

Refuse!

Clear, powerful, and with an unwavering resolve!
The atmosphere on the city wall instantly plummeted to freezing point.

The sound of rain seemed particularly harsh.

The lead powder on Shi Danqin's face seemed to have developed fine cracks due to the stiffness of her muscles.

He stared at Zhou Baining, then suddenly chuckled softly, his laughter hoarse and cold, like the cry of an owl.

"Unwilling? Heh... Fine, very well. I never force anyone to do anything against their will, so why should I ask for forgiveness?"

He spoke slowly and deliberately, as if the coercion he had just endured had never happened.

However, his next move plunged Zhou Baining's heart into despair!
Shi Danqin casually picked up the thick stack of files on the table and threw it heavily onto the cold, wet stone bricks in front of Zhou Baining's feet, as if it were a piece of trash!
"only……"

Shi Danqin's voice suddenly turned as sharp as a blade tempered with ice, each word carrying a chilling killing intent:
"Your Zhou family is the one who truly needs to beg the court and the law for forgiveness!"

Zhou Baining trembled, a sense of foreboding gripping her.

She hurriedly bent down, disregarding her manners, picked up the scattered file, and began to quickly flip through it with trembling fingers.

The more I looked, the paler her face became.

The case file lists all the murder cases involving the Zhou family.

Strictly speaking, these cases are indeed murder cases.

Those who died were all killed by the Zhou family.

But in the martial arts world, this would be no big deal.

Some of these were duels between the Zhou family and martial artists who came to challenge them. As the saying goes, swords have no eyes, and sometimes the Zhou family would accidentally kill their opponents during the duel.

However, both parties signed a waiver of liability, proving that the fight was voluntary and that they would bear full responsibility for any injuries or fatalities.

In addition, the Zhou family's enemies came seeking revenge, but were killed by the Zhou family in return.

However, if the Zhou family does not fight back, they will surely be killed by their enemies.

Others were acts of chivalry by the Zhou family, who killed villains to protect the people.

Whether it's a life-or-death contract, a martial arts contest, revenge, or punishing evil through vigilante justice, as long as it conforms to the rules of the martial arts world, it will not be condemned or held accountable by the martial arts community.

However, the imperial laws did not recognize these rules.

Doing so is illegal and criminal.

However, in actual practice, it is a different story.

The Six Doors are specifically responsible for handling martial arts affairs, so any murder cases involving the martial arts world are generally resolved by the Six Doors.

In handling these matters, the Six Doors often do not act according to the law, but rather according to the rules of the martial arts world.

The government needs the martial arts community to help maintain local order, and the martial arts community also needs some form of tacit approval from the government to survive and develop.

This has become a well-known unspoken rule.

As long as things don't escalate too much and there's no open confrontation with the imperial court, everyone can live in peace.

Therefore, although the Zhou family's actions were illegal, they were not considered improper.

Furthermore, the Zhou family has always maintained close ties with the government and the Six Doors (a government agency), and no one has ever used these murder cases to make a fuss before.

But now, these old cases, these grudges that had long been settled under the rules of the martial arts world, have been dredged up by the Silver Wing Marquis in front of him with the coldest legal provisions.

It became a butcher's knife hanging over the Zhou family's heads, ready to fall at any moment!

"Master Hou!"

Zhou Baining suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with grief, indignation, and disbelief, her voice becoming sharp with emotion:
“My Zhou family is a martial arts family! Every single one of these cases is in accordance with the code of the martial arts world, and all of them are on file with the Six Doors of Dongzhou, and have never been investigated!”

"This is the rule of the martial world, and the imperial court also follows it—"

Before Zhou Baining could finish speaking, Shi Danqin slammed her hand on the table, making a loud "bang" that shook the teacups.

"enough!"

He suddenly stood up, his tall body swaying slightly from excitement and the deadly poison. The thick layer of lead powder on his face could not conceal his ashen complexion and violent expression.

He looked down at Zhou Baining as if she were an ant, his voice like thunder, making the entire city tower vibrate.
"Standard practices in the martial arts world? What utter nonsense about such practices!"

He roared fiercely, his spittle almost splashing onto Zhou Baining's face:
"Let me tell you! This is Dongzhou City! It is the territory of the Great Qian Dynasty! Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king! On the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king!"

"Here, there are only the laws of the Great Qian Dynasty! Only the imperial laws! There are no such bullshit martial arts rules!"

He was panting heavily, and his excitement triggered a violent cough that made him bend over. His attendants rushed forward to help him, but he rudely pushed them away.

He pointed at Zhou Baining, his finger trembling with anger:
"The Six Doors? Hmph! That good-for-nothing Luo Luan and his bunch of good-for-nothings are all dead! Utterly dead!"

"Until the newly appointed commander of the Six Doors arrives at his post, the order of the martial arts world in Dongzhou will be maintained by me! My word is law!"

He took a sudden step forward, and a huge shadow completely enveloped Zhou Baining.

The oppressive feeling, a mixture of lead powder, medicinal smells, and the stench of decay, almost suffocated Zhou Baining.

He spoke each word slowly and deliberately, as if delivering a verdict, each word carrying the stench of blood:

"Who dares to disagree!"

"Who dares to cause trouble!"

"Who has broken the law!"

"I, the Marquis—will deal with whoever it is!"

Shi Danqin suddenly waved her hand, her voice as cold as ice:
"Somebody come!"

The trusted aide who had been standing behind him immediately stepped forward, took out a blank document book and a wolf-hair brush dipped in thick ink from his bosom, and stood at attention, like an executioner awaiting orders.

Without even glancing at Zhou Baining, whose face was deathly pale, Shi Danqin clearly pronounced her verdict against the cold rain:
"The Zhou family, a renowned martial arts clan in Dongzhou, has been powerful and influential for generations. They have no regard for the law and have treated human life with conclusive evidence of their crimes!"

"Order the Dongzhou Prefecture government and the patrol offices of all prefectures and counties to immediately dispatch troops to arrest the entire Zhou family, regardless of whether they are masters or servants! They shall be thoroughly interrogated!"

"Anyone who dares to resist arrest..."

He paused slightly, a cruel smile curving his lips:

"Kill without mercy!"

The overwhelming murderous aura showed that Silverwing Marquis was no joke.

The attendants responded with thunderous applause:

"Yes! Mr. Hou!"

The attendant's pen flew across the paper, and the cold, hard words quickly took shape on the official document.

The scratching sound of the pen tip gliding across the paper was like a death knell.

Documents!

Once the seal of the Silver Wing Marquis is affixed and the proclamation is sent to all directions, the entire government of Dongzhou will pounce on the Zhou family like wolves and tigers!

No matter how powerful the Zhou family is, can they withstand the garrison of a city? Can they withstand the army of an entire prefecture?
What awaits them is a bottomless prison, severe torture, and the destruction of their families!
And all of this stemmed from the fact that she, Zhou Baining, rejected the advances of a powerful and influential elder...
As Shi Danqin looked at Zhou Baining's face, which had instantly lost all color, at her swaying body, and at the dramatic change in her eyes from grief and indignation to despair, a morbid sense of satisfaction welled up in her heart.

He likes this feeling!
I love this feeling of being in control of everything, of having the power of life and death!
He was a powerful man throughout his life, and he never failed to get what he wanted!
Power, status, martial arts skills... and now, the most beautiful flower in Dongzhou!
Hard doesn't work?

Then use something even harder!

Use the lives of her entire clan to crush her pitiful pride and persistence!
The attendant holding the pen, while rapidly scribbling the document that would condemn the Zhou family to hell, raised his eyelids and, in a strange tone that mixed pity and urging, "kindly" reminded the stunned Zhou Bai Ning:

"Miss Zhou, what are you standing there for? The Marquis's document is almost finished!"

"Once the ink dries, the seal is applied, and it's sent out by fast horse, that would be a catastrophe, beyond even the gods' help!"

He deliberately slowed down his writing speed, the pen tip intentionally dragging out a scratching noise on the paper:
"The only one who can save your entire Zhou family now is the Marquis himself! You should... quickly beg the Marquis!"

Every word was like a red-hot branding iron, searing into Zhou Baining's heart!
family!

Parents! Siblings! Uncles and elders who watched her grow up!
The Zhou family's centuries-old legacy and hundreds of lives lost!

All of this weight pressed down heavily on her thin shoulders.

Her personal will, her dignity, her yearning for freedom... all seemed so pale, laughable, and so... insignificant in the face of this catastrophic disaster!
She had many suitors.

But she also knew very well that those suitors were not willing to go against the Silverwing Marquis for her sake, and even if some were willing, they did not have the strength to do so.

She, Zhou Baining, was ultimately... just a drifting duckweed in this storm, unable to control her own destiny.

"Hehe...hehe..."

A chilling, mocking laugh escaped from Zhou Baining's pale lips.

The laughter wasn't loud, but it was filled with sorrow and resignation.

Two lines of clear tears, finally unable to be held back any longer, rolled down her beautiful cheeks like pearls from a broken string, mixed with the cold rain.

The glistening teardrop fell onto the cold stone bricks, shattering instantly and disappearing without a trace, just like her shattered pride and hope at that moment.

Under Shi Danqin's smug gaze, as if watching her prey finally surrender, under the watchful eyes of her attendants, and amidst the indifferent or sympathetic gazes of the surrounding guards...

Zhou Baining, the pearl that countless young talents in the martial arts world of Dongzhou dreamed of, slowly and with great difficulty, bent her proud knees that had never bowed to power.

"This humble woman... Zhou Baining..."

Her voice was hoarse, thick with sobs, each word seeming to be squeezed out with difficulty from the depths of her throat:
"I beg... Your Excellency..."

She bent down deeply, so deeply that her forehead almost touched the cold, dirty ground.

"……show mercy!"

"...Spare...my Zhou family!"

Above the city tower, only the mournful wind and rain, and the woman's suppressed, heartbreaking sobs, remained.

Shi Danqin sat back in the rosewood chair, a satisfied yet reserved smile finally appearing on her face, like a victor.

Even the thick layer of lead powder couldn't conceal the greedy, possessive desire in his eyes, like that of a glutton.

He cleared his throat, ready to speak and savor the moment of crushing beauty with power and ultimately seizing the fruits of victory.

However, just as his lips parted—

"Look! What's that?!"

"Look outside the city!"

"Good heavens! What a huge spectacle!"

……

A sudden, astonished gasp and commotion erupted, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, amidst the soldiers and officials on the city wall.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the scene outside the city, and they flocked to the crenellations, pointing and exclaiming, their faces filled with shock!

This sudden commotion abruptly interrupted Shi Danqin's words, as well as the carefully crafted atmosphere of complete control he had created!

Shi Danqin's brows furrowed suddenly, a feeling of displeasure at being disturbed welling up inside her.

He suddenly turned his head, following the gaze of the crowd, and looked towards the distant, storm-swept landscape outside the city.

At the boundary between the leaden sky and the muddy earth, a massive army, like a winding black dragon, broke through the rain and surged towards Dongzhou City!

Flags fluttered in the breeze, and vehicles rumbled through the procession.

It was clear that those heavy wagons were loaded with exactly what Dongzhou City desperately needed right now—mountains of grain!

"Is...is the requisitioned grain convoy and laborers here?"

One of the attendants exclaimed in surprise and instinctively reached out to signal someone to open the city gate to welcome them.

"wrong!"

Shi Danqin shouted a stern rebuke, her cloudy old eyes flashing with a sharp, hawk-like light.

He fought for half his life and his sense of danger far surpassed that of ordinary people.

That massive force was meticulously organized and well-trained; only those who have undergone military training possess such qualities!
especially……

He stared intently at the front of the group!

There, a dozen or so riders broke away from the main force and sped toward the city gate like arrows released from a bow.

These riders showed no intention of concealing their aura; on the contrary, they deliberately released their powerful presence without reservation.

A fierce, valiant, and even bloodthirsty aura, like an invisible wave, was already faintly approaching from afar.

There were only a dozen or so people, but they gave people a terrifying sense of oppression, like a thousand troops charging into battle!

These are definitely not laborers transporting grain!

They were no ordinary yamen runners or soldiers!
This is... a true master!

At this moment, one of the riders at the forefront suddenly raised a large flag!
The flag fluttered wildly in the wind and rain, struggling to unfurl!

The large characters of the banner were clearly reflected in Shi Danqin's pupils.

"Transformation, Dragon Gate?!"

Shi Danqin screamed in shock, her voice completely distorted by extreme shock and deep-seated hatred.

The lead powder on his face could not conceal the sudden surge of deathly gray in his complexion at this moment!
(End of this chapter)