The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

After Chapter 171 concluded, another wave of trouble arose.

Lord He stood there blankly beside the high official, his face ashen. If he hadn't been gripping his waist knife tightly with both hands and trembling legs, he would have collapsed into a limp mess long ago.

The chilling killing intent and unparalleled ferocity emanating from Shi Wengong's terrifying shot that nearly pierced his throat, seemed to still linger in the air around him, sending shivers down his spine and making his limbs feel as weak as freshly cooked noodles.

He, a veteran who had fought his way up in the northern border army and spent half his life licking blood from the blade, was now like a timid child entering battle for the first time, his soul still lingering in his chest, unable to return to its place for a long time.

"Brother He?" The official's voice rang out at just the right moment, carrying a hint of gentle concern, as he reached out and gently squeezed Lord He's stiff, iron-like arm.

"Ah?!" Lord He was jolted as if stung by a scorpion's tail. He slowly turned his stiff neck and saw that it was Ximen Qing's smiling, fair face. Only then did the huge stone hanging in his heart fall back into his stomach with a "thud".

He exhaled a long, foul breath, the smell of blood still lingering in his face. The fine beads of cold sweat on his forehead glistened in the setting sun.

The official smiled warmly: "Brother, all the young men under your command are eagerly awaiting your orders."

Lord He then seemed to awaken from a dream, fully regaining his senses. Looking around, he saw the forest path lined with kneeling surrendered soldiers, and the sense of emptiness he felt after surviving the ordeal was instantly replaced by a solid feeling of having the power of life and death in his hands.

He straightened his back abruptly, cleared his throat, and his voice suddenly rose, carrying a deliberate air of authority as he shouted sternly, "Men! Confiscate these bastards' swords, spears, and armor! Gather the horses! Tie them up tightly and keep them under strict guard! Anyone who dares to kick or cause trouble—kill them on the spot, chop off their heads and use them as footballs!"

"Understood!" Lord He's personal guards and the soldiers around him, whose morale was high, roared in unison, their voices shaking the woods! Like hungry wolves that had seen blood, they pounced on the group of surrendered soldiers who were kneeling and trembling.

In an instant, the sounds of weapons being confiscated, armor being torn apart and removed, rough shouts of "tie it tighter!" and the suppressed groans and pleas of the surrendered soldiers mingled together.

This hellish arena, which was just moments ago a scene of carnage and wailing ghosts, has now become a place for holding prisoners and displaying power.

Wu Song's towering figure resembled a ferocious god who had just crawled out of a blood-soaked hell.

The last rays of the setting sun painted his gnarled muscles, like the roots of an old tree, outlining his sharply defined features. The dark red bloodstains on his body, not yet completely dry, exuded a strong, metallic stench.

His left hand was like holding a plucked dead dog, his five iron fingers digging deep into the skin of Shi Wengong's collar, dragging this once mighty and peerless general like a dead dog through the dust!

Shi Wengong's head drooped limply, and the blackish-red blood flowing from his mouth and nose left two sticky trails in the dust. His arms hung limply at his sides, swaying strangely as he was dragged, clearly indicating that he had been unconscious for some time.

"Master!" Wu Song's voice was low and hoarse, like thunder muffled in a broken jar. He walked a few steps to Ximen Qing and stopped in front of him, then casually threw the heavy body to the ground like a tattered sack!
"Thump!" A muffled sound rang out, kicking up a cloud of dust mixed with grass clippings. "The man is captured," he said, his eyes sweeping over the muddy puddle on the ground. "Should we chop him up and feed him to the dogs, or keep him alive to breathe?"

As Wu Song spoke, a few drops of warm, viscous liquid trickled down his thick, muscular arms, which were as strong as if cast in iron, with a "plop...plop..."

The blood dripping onto the gravel at his feet—that crimson blood—was from several wounds on his shoulders and arms, inflicted by Shi Wengong's fierce spear thrusts or by the shockwaves from parrying. Now, the skin was torn open, the flesh exposed, and mixed with the filthy black blood splattered by the enemy, making it look particularly ferocious and terrifying.

The gaze of the wealthy Ximen Qing first fell on the few patches of rolled-up flesh on the man, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly:
"Wu Ding! These wounds that reach the bone need to be bandaged immediately! This victory was all thanks to your courage! Go and rest for a while!"

"A few bits of flesh torn off, not enough to kill anyone!" Wu Song's brows didn't twitch, as if the gushing blood wasn't his own body. He casually wiped his arm, the movement as rough as wiping filth from a knife blade, instantly leaving a large patch of glaring dark red.

Wu Song glanced down at the several raw, bleeding wounds on his arm, his brows furrowing, and asked in a deep voice, "Do you have any strong liquor?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it startled everyone awake!
The guards, who had been terrified by Shi Wengong's ferocity and Wu Song's bravery and whose legs were still weak, suddenly jolted as if they had been stung by a scorpion's tail!
Among this group, there are quite a few alcoholics.

Several quick-witted individuals immediately rushed forward, scrambling to reach into their waistbands and satchels.

One by one, men presented gleaming leather wine flasks to Wu Song with fawning hands, their voices trembling with obsequiousness: "Headmaster! Headmaster! I have some top-quality 'Toupingxiang' here! This is the real first batch of strong liquor, enough to make even a cow lie down for three days after drinking it! Guaranteed to be flavorful!"

Without a word, Wu Song reached out and scooped up the heavy wine sack as if it were a chick.

He pulled out the stopper, and a strong, almost pungent smell of alcohol, a mixture of burnt sorghum and a fiery aroma, rushed out, causing the guards nearby to instinctively shrink back.

He tilted his head back and gulped down several large mouthfuls of wine, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.
"Ha—! That's great!" Wu Song wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth and let out a hearty roar, his face flushed red from the strong liquor!

Then, to everyone's utter astonishment, he raised the remaining half-full bag of strong liquor high and poured it over the several gruesome, bleeding wounds on his arm, the muscles bulging and the liquor still seeping out. With a "splash—!", he poured it all over his head!

The moment the scalding, pungent liquor touched the rolled-up flesh and exposed tender red skin, it was like a red-hot branding iron being pressed onto it!

Everyone seemed to hear a soft "sizzle," as if boiling oil had been poured on! The muscles on Wu Song's arm, as tough as iron, instantly twitched uncontrollably, violently, as if they were alive!

Tendons bulged out, and blood vessels under the skin were bulging and protruding, as if countless small snakes were wriggling and struggling under the skin!
The wound instantly turned a ghastly white, which was then covered by a pink foam made of blood and alcohol, a sight that made one's scalp tingle and teeth ache!
The onlookers, including Lord He's personal guards, Ximen Qing's bodyguards, and even Lord He himself, all gasped involuntarily, their hissing sounds echoing throughout the room!

Many people felt their arms twitch violently along with the wound, as if the strong liquor had not been poured on Wu Song, but into their own wounds!
But Wu Song only gritted his teeth the moment the excruciating pain struck, his jaw muscles bulging like iron lumps, and the veins on his forehead throbbing twice—that was all!

He then let out another low roar, like a tiger's howl: "That was exhilarating! Truly exhilarating!"

His expression showed no sign of pain, but rather an indescribable sense of pleasure and satisfaction, as if the excruciating pain had only added a bit more vitality to his iron-clad body!

After roaring, he didn't even glance at the wound on his arm that was still oozing the smell of alcohol and blood. He picked up the wine flask that was almost empty, walked a few steps to a half-person-high blue stone, and sat down on it with an air of grandeur, as if rooted to the ground like an iron tower.

He grabbed the wine flask, tilted his head back, and took another gulp, letting the strong liquor flow down his tangled neck, mixing with blood and soaking his tattered clothes. The afterglow of the setting sun fell on him, outlining a silhouette of a blood-soaked, hearty drinker, almost like a demon god.

"What a tough guy!" the official thought to himself, then frowned at the stunned crowd and said, "Laibao! Dai'an! Use that ox tendon rope soaked in tung oil, and tie it with three iron chains. Tie this guy up like a dumpling!"

"Yes, sir!" Lai Bao and Dai An dared not hesitate for a moment and hurriedly responded. They quickly pulled out three thick, oil-soaked cowhide ropes twisted like braids from their satchels and dragged out heavy, rattling iron chains. They pounced on Shi Wengong, who was lying on the ground like a lump of mud, like wolves and tigers.

Lord He finally shifted his gaze from Wu Song, still feeling lingering fear at the sight of Shi Wengong in person.

His eyes darted furtively over Shi Wengong, who was bound tightly on the ground. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

"I've spent half my life fighting against the Liao and Western Xia bastards on the northern border, crawling through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. I've cut down more fierce soldiers than I've slaughtered sheep! The so-called fierce generals I've seen are as numerous as carp crossing a river..."

"But a fellow like Shi Wengong, so domineering and ferocious on horseback, is truly a living Yama descended to earth. I've never heard of such a thing before!"

His eyes were filled with the disorientation of surviving a disaster and a deep-seated fear, as if he were still chewing on a nightmare he hadn't yet woken from. "That horsemanship, the rider harnessed the horse's strength, and the horse obeyed his will, it was practically supernatural! That spear, like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair, every move was deadly! Not to mention the overwhelming murderous aura he exuded in battle... he was simply not a mortal! He, alone on horseback, almost... almost pierced through the entire formation I had painstakingly set up!"

He turned sharply to Ximen Qing, his face showing a complex expression of lingering fear and gratitude:
"If it weren't for the divine might of this Wu Ding from my good brother's household, I, your old brother, would probably have perished here in this desolate wilderness today, becoming a wandering ghost!"

His brows furrowed, utterly perplexed: "How could such a... how could such a near-demonic killing god be relegated to the sidelines of a mere militia in Bianliang, the capital of the Eastern Capital?"

Having said that, he couldn't help but steal a glance at the blood-soaked, silent, and fierce-looking Wu Song on the boulder, swallowed hard, and lowered his voice:
“Good brother… the martial arts master of your household is so skilled… so fierce and domineering! I’ve been wandering around Qinghe County for so many years, how come I’ve never heard of such an earth-shattering hero?”

As soon as he said it, he realized he had made a fool of himself and blushed slightly. He gave Ximen Qing an awkward smile and said, "Ahem... I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Brother Ximen. Ever since I left that life of licking blood off the blade, my courage... has become as weak as a deflated pig's bladder, much more timid."

Upon hearing this, the wealthy Ximen Qing immediately broke into a warm smile and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Brother, please don't belittle yourself like that!"

His voice was clear and resonant, carrying a comforting strength: "Just now, brother, you remained calm in the face of danger. Your skill in commanding the encirclement and surrounding the enemy was truly the work of a seasoned general. I was deeply impressed watching from the sidelines! As for being timid?"

He changed the subject, his smile revealing a worldly wisdom, "What is there for a true man to fear in this world? It's just that he has something on his mind, thinking of his virtuous sister-in-law and young children and nephews, and he can't bear to leave them behind! That's what a true man and a true sense of responsibility are!"

Ximen Qing's words were like scalding honey poured over Lord He's remaining shame and unease.

Lord He felt the tightness in his chest suddenly dissipate, as if he had eaten a ginseng fruit. Every pore on his body felt comfortable, even more so than drinking three bowls of scalding hot liquor! He even lived a few years longer!

He straightened his back unconsciously, and the ashen complexion on his face faded considerably, restoring some of his former dignity.

"Brother, you flatter me!" He bowed respectfully to Ximen Qing, his voice becoming louder: "If we're talking about a true man, a true hero, then I, your elder brother, truly admire you from the bottom of my heart! This insight, this magnanimity, this composure in the face of danger—in Qinghe County, who else could compare to you!"

Lord He pointed into the distance and saw that most of the warhorses that should have been the strong and powerful steeds under Shi Wengong's command were now foaming at the mouth, with sticky saliva dripping down their lips, and their limbs were limp as mud.

Even worse, some would lie directly on the ground, their limbs twitching and their bellies heaving violently. No matter how much they were whipped or harshly scolded, they could only kick their hooves a few times in vain before they were too weak to stand up again.

This situation is exactly like that of Shi Wengong's magnificent black horse, which ultimately collapsed! It could not have been caused by ordinary exhaustion or wounds from knives and arrows!

Lord He, a seasoned veteran who has spent half his life in the military, is so shrewd that he can't possibly miss the trickery involved.

He bowed in admiration: "Brother Ximen! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Your actions were truly meticulously planned and flawless! These beasts must also be your doing, brother? This move of cutting off their supply lines and severing their claws is simply a stroke of genius, absolutely brilliant!"

He paused, glancing at Wu Song who was still drinking, and added with a touch of pride, "To be honest, if it weren't for the extraordinary bravery of your son, even without this warhorse, I don't think I would be afraid of Shi Wengong's footwork!"

He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said with unspoken intimacy, "I already witnessed your skills in the Zhang family affair, and now, seeing what's happening today, I'm truly... utterly impressed!"

The official laughed, "Brother, you flatter me. It's just a trivial skill, nothing compared to your strategic deployment." Lord He waved his hand repeatedly, his gaze burning as he swept over the dejected prisoners, bound together in strings of cowhide ropes: "My good brother is truly my benefactor!"

Lord He couldn't help but clap his hands and burst into laughter. The last trace of lingering fear on his face was completely overwhelmed by the flush on his cheeks, and his voice suddenly rose, regaining its usual rough and powerful tone:

"Caught red-handed! The evidence is irrefutable! This isn't just some ordinary case of taking down a few petty thieves and bandits!"

He rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness, as if he could already see the Privy Council's commendation document and the promotion and rewards that would follow:
"My dear brother! The great achievement you've bestowed upon me is no less than a military exploit! In the local area, this is a rare and outstanding accomplishment! Hahahaha!"

Lord He couldn't help but burst into laughter, patting Ximen Qing on the shoulder, "Brother Ximen, I knew it was time for me to make it big again!"

The official's smile remained unchanged as he cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother, I have another request."

Lord He was immersed in his dream of promotion and wealth when he heard this. His radiant smile froze instantly, his brows furrowed into a knot, as if he had suffered a great injustice, and his voice rose several decibels: "Oh, my good brother!"

He slapped the official's arm hard, his face a mixture of displeasure and affection: "What kind of formalities are you spouting! Are you looking down on your brother? You and I are brothers, as close as if we shared the same parents! And you dare to use the word 'beg'? Isn't that like slapping your brother in the face with a shoe?"

He pounded his chest loudly, "Speak freely!"

The official laughed and said, "Since you are so kind, brother, I will shamelessly ask for your help."

He paused, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable air: "I want this Shi Wengong... and that scoundrel over there," he raised his chin slightly, pointing to the bald-headed man, who was bound like a maggot, lying face down on the ground, covered in mud, "I have other uses for him, and I hope you will grant my request, elder brother."

Following Ximen Qing's gaze, Lord He looked at Shi Wengong's body, which was bound by layers of iron chains but still exuded a beastly, silent aura. His earlier ecstasy cooled down a bit, replaced by a sense of solemnity and worry.

He leaned closer to the official, his voice extremely low: "Brother...are you... going to subdue this Shi Wengong?"

Seeing that Ximen Qing remained noncommittal, he frowned even more deeply. "Brother must give you a heads-up! This kind of... this kind of peerless ferocious god who can kill his way in and out of thousands of troops seven times, whose skills are almost demonic! How could he so easily bow down and acknowledge a master?"

A deep sense of apprehension flashed in his eyes. "Even if he outwardly submits to you, who knows what he's really thinking? He might just stab you in the back the next day, or disappear without a trace in the middle of the night. If that happens, it will backfire and bring endless trouble!"

He spoke earnestly, as if advising his own brother not to play with fire.

Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, he smiled broadly, his smile revealing a confident assurance: "Brother's concerns are absolutely correct."

He nodded slightly. "So... I was just about to ask you for your help, brother." As he spoke, he turned to the side very naturally, brought his lips close to Lord He's ear, and whispered a few words quickly in a very low voice that only the two of them could hear.

Lord He nodded repeatedly, patting his chest: "Don't worry! Leave it to me! I'll make sure it's handled perfectly!"

Having received Lord He's promise, Ximen Qing nodded in satisfaction, turned to face his caravan's guards and crew, and spoke in a clear voice:
"Gentlemen! You've protected them all perfectly, I've seen it all!" He paused, then offered the most substantial reward: "After we get back, everyone's salary this month will be doubled!"

"Thank you for your kindness, sir!" "You are so kind, sir!" "I would gladly die for you, sir!" The shouts of gratitude rose and fell, and the gloom brought by the previous fierce battle seemed to have vanished in the face of this doubled salary.

Deep within the mansion, incense smoke curled and candlelight flickered in the main hall.

Dressed in simple white clothes, Yue Niang knelt on a prayer mat, her hands clasped together and pressed against her forehead, bowing deeply to the kind-faced Bodhisattva statue.

Beside her, Pan Jinlian, Xiangling, and Li Guijie also knelt according to the rules.

The three stunningly beautiful faces placed together truly overwhelmed the Buddhist atmosphere, making it all the more like the fragrance of rouge and women.

Li Guijie, always quick-witted and sharp-tongued, noticed the lingering worry on Yue Niang's face and hurriedly spoke up, her voice reassuring: "Auntie, don't worry! Who is our master? He's a celestial being descended to earth, blessed by the gods! This time, he'll surely be blessed with good fortune, turning misfortune into good luck, and not a single hair on his head will be harmed! You can rest assured!"

Upon hearing this, Pan Jinlian cursed inwardly that this hussy had stolen the initiative again, as she had just begun to offer her words of comfort!
She quickly lowered her waist even further, and said in a soft voice, "Auntie, last night, I came to this shrine alone to pray for the master, but I lost the Holy Grail three times in a row!"

She held up three slender fingers and gestured, "Every time I land, I'll be blessed with a holy face! The Bodhisattva has shown us clearly that this journey, sir, will surely be safe, auspicious, and successful! You really have no need to worry!"

Li Guijie subtly raised her exquisitely drawn willow-leaf eyebrows, her eyes darting across Jinlian's face, and suddenly exclaimed "Eh!" feigning surprise.
"Oh! Sister Jinlian, you came last night too? That's really strange! I knelt in this Buddhist hall for almost half an hour last night, reciting several scrolls of the Heart Sutra for the master, but I didn't even see a single hem of your clothes. Could it be... that the Bodhisattva manifested and only allowed you to see me?"

Her words were soft and gentle, yet they were like a fine needle, piercing straight into the loopholes in Jinlian's words.

Pan Jinlian's heart sank. She didn't know if Li Guijie had come or not, but she had indeed come to pray for good fortune for her father!
A surge of energy shot straight to the top of her head! You cunning Li Guijie!
This is a deliberate attempt to undermine me in front of the old lady, both to show off your "sincerity" and to make her question me, so that you can climb up by stepping on me!
She was just about to speak up and argue—

The Moon Goddess's slightly weary voice rang out, tinged with a barely perceptible irritation. She sighed softly, "I know your intentions. I also know that my husband is blessed with good fortune and should not be in any danger..."

She fiddled with the Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist, her fingertips turning slightly white. "But...but my heart feels like it's carrying an empty gourd, restless and unsettled. Ever since he left, my right eyelid has been twitching terribly. I've never seen him so serious since yesterday..."

"I asked around, and all the able-bodied men in the house have left."

Xiangling, kneeling at the very edge, timidly raised her small face. With the purest of heart, seeing Yueniang's distress, she mustered her courage and whispered:

"Madam... Master is the best man imaginable, the finest master in the world. He treats all his servants with kindness. I... I've never met anyone with a kinder heart than Master. Such a good person will surely be blessed by the Bodhisattva and live a peaceful and safe life!"

After she finished speaking, she quickly lowered her head, her forehead gently touching the cold brick floor.

Just as the Buddhist hall was filled with gloom and silence, with only the faint crackling of burning sandalwood incense, a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps approached from afar!

Xiaoyu, panting heavily, practically tumbled in, her face flushed red. Her shrill voice pierced the stagnant fragrance filling the room: "He's back! He's back! Master! Master is back! He's safe and sound! Completely unharmed! Not even a...not even the hem of his clothes is dirty!"

"Amitabha! Bodhisattva, please protect me! Bodhisattva, please protect me!" Yue Niang's tense body suddenly relaxed, as if all her strength had been drained away, and then she was overwhelmed with joy!

With a sob in her voice, she was the first to kowtow heavily, her forehead touching the ground with a soft "thump," showing utmost piety.

Jinlian, Guijie, and Xiangling hurriedly followed suit, kowtowing to express their gratitude to the Bodhisattva.

Moon Lady stood up, supporting herself on her knees. Her knees were sore and numb from kneeling for so long, and she swayed slightly, but a relieved smile spread across her face. She quickly gave the orders:
"Quick! Quick! Go and call Xue'e! Tell her to bring up all the hot food that's been keeping warm on the stove! Master went out early this morning without eating or drinking anything, and after all this commotion, he must be starving! Also, bring up the braised bear paws!"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance towards the door, her steps unsteady yet eager to go out to greet them.

With a touch of arrogance, Master Ximen strode forward, his robes kicking up dust, as he stepped onto the gleaming bluestone steps of his own mansion.

Before his hands could even touch the heavy, black lacquered doors with their animal-head bronze rings, a dark shadow suddenly flashed from the side!
A figure resembling a mud monkey rolled over and knelt down firmly at Ximen Qing's feet with a "thump"!
The sound of his knee slamming against the cold, hard stone steps was enough to make one's teeth ache.

Looking up, what a filthy face! Snot and tears were smeared all over his face, mixed with sweat and cement, streaked here and there, making him look exactly like a smeared face just pulled out of the stove. It was none other than Little Dog, the servant who often followed Ying Bojue.

"D-Daddy! Oh no! Daddy, help me!" The little dog's voice cracked, and he cried out in a high-pitched and urgent voice, like a sick chicken whose neck had been stepped on. "My master... he was beaten... beaten until there wasn't a single piece of flesh left on his body!"

He pounded his chest and stamped his feet, spittle flying everywhere along with tears and snot. "Third Master Xie, Fifth Master Zhu, Sixth Master Sun, and the other masters... none of them are missing! They've all been... all taken down! Now they're all paralyzed at home, not even knowing how many bones they've broken! Uncle! You're our pillar of strength, you have to avenge us!"

The official raised an eyebrow.

He knew perfectly well what was going on—this was the second thing he had instructed Ying Bojue and his gang of rascals to do early that morning; the first was to test Li Guijie.

Unexpectedly, the caltrops he kicked hit something tough!

Ximen Qing nodded: "I understand. You go back first. Tell your master to take good care of his health. I'll go check on him after I've finished my meal."

After saying that, he went into the house.

The moment the official stepped into the warm and fragrant hall, before he could even brush off the chill clinging to his shoulders, Yue Niang, along with Jinlian, Guijie, and Xiangling, like four delicate flowers swaying in the spring breeze, came to greet him.

The worry and anxiety that had filled the Buddhist hall were gone from Yue Niang's face; only a gentle and peaceful demeanor remained, like the clear sky after the rain.

Her eyes, as clear as autumn water, quickly and carefully scanned Ximen Qing—seeing that her husband was indeed unharmed, even the hem of his robe was neatly trimmed, her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled back into her chest.

She moved gracefully, taking the outer cloak that Ximen Qing had casually taken off, and handed it to Jinlian, who was waiting anxiously behind her. Without asking what had happened, she spoke casually: "My lord, you went out on an empty stomach so early in the morning and have been up all day. You must be starving."

Her voice was as gentle as freshly steamed rice cake, and her eyes and brows conveyed just the right amount of concern. She turned to Sister Gui and instructed her:

"Go check on the stove, is Xue'e's pot of chicken soup and braised bear paw cooked enough? Master is back, let's start the feast!"

Jinlian, being so clever, had already brought over a scalding hot copper basin with a handkerchief soaked in snow-white scented soap. She gracefully approached and said in a sweet, melodious voice, "Master, please wash your hands and get rid of the dust and bad luck outside."

(End of this chapter)