My lord, spare his life!

Sun Ban knew he had lost.

She also witnessed the deaths of dozens of people who helped her break through the encirclement.

However, the one who died was someone she had never truly cared about, and she herself hadn't suffered much along the way, so the feeling of this failure wasn't very deep, as if there was a hazy white veil separating her from it. Until she saw her banner.

The once bright and majestic flag has fallen into the mud and been carelessly thrown into a pile of firewood—among which may still be the original flagpole of the banner—the bright red "Sun" on the flag is now stained with blood and mud, and the traces of red thread and gold thread are completely invisible.

This scene shocked Sun Ban's eyes and nerves.

It wasn't until the cage was opened that she came to her senses, her face pale, but what followed was extreme anger, flames licking at her chest.

In that instant, besides anger, there was also a trace of regret—why didn't he raise his sword and commit suicide on the front lines, instead being captured and imprisoned, and witnessing the humiliating scene of his banner being trampled on?

To add shame upon shame, to bring disgrace upon one's family and ruin upon one's household.

At this moment, someone recognized Sun Ban's voice; it was the Prefect of Hu County: "Zhao Ruo? It's Zhao Ruo's voice! Is it Zhao Ruo?"

Sun Ban entered the camp where she was being escorted.

Inside the tent was a familiar face, looking disheveled and haggard.

Although the other person wasn't bound, a black mark of confinement had appeared on their forehead. This mark was used by the military to imprison special prisoners, and for someone from a high-ranking family like Sun Ban, its humiliation was no less than tattooing or branding. Looking at the mark, Sun Ban's question caught in his throat, and he instead asked, "How did you get here?"

She wanted to know why they had failed to hold the camp.

The prefect of Hu County was unaware that there was a hidden reprimand in the conversation; he only thought that Sun Ban was showing consideration for their past relationship and was being considerate of his own situation. He first recalled the chaos in the camp last night, with the enemy general Zhang leading his troops in a crushing attack. He then recalled how, after the situation was completely out of control and beyond saving, he abandoned the guards and the camp, only to flee in panic with his personal guards, only to be captured alive on the way.

Overwhelmed with shame, she covered her face and wept.

"It is I who have failed Zhao Ruo's trust. I am incompetent and unable to defend the camp, giving Zhang the opportunity to take advantage of the situation. The blame lies with me!"

As he spoke, tears streamed down the face of the prefect of Hu County.

The apology may not have been sincere, but it was enough to shut Sun Ban up. Since the prefect of Hu County had said so, anything Sun Ban said or did to pursue the matter would be futile.

There were two other things that made the governor of Hu County feel very guilty.

Changsun Wang's ability to become an inside agent was ultimately orchestrated by him. His own schemes and actions—sending someone to borrow his head to force his widowed mother to her death—ultimately backfired, pushing Changsun Wang into Zhang Yang's camp. The governor of Hu County, like Sun Ban, was arrogant and disregarded the death of an ordinary woman, conceitedly believing that those below him should adhere to the rigid hierarchical system of ruler and subject.

How could Changsun Wang disobey his mother's dying wish?

How could the blame for killing one's mother be placed on them?

Her mother's will and dying words made it clear that she died for righteousness and loyalty, and the culprit was Zhang Boyuan! For an ordinary widow to die a worthy death is a beautiful story. What they couldn't understand was Changsun Wang's betrayal and assistance to Zhang Yang. Wasn't this unfilial and disloyal?

When the governor of Hu County discovered that Zhang Yang was attacking, he knew that things were not going well and that Sun Ban's side must have been ambushed as well.

When he saw that Sun Ban had also been captured alive, his anxiety died.

"What are you doing? Get up quickly, how can this be your fault?" Sun Ban tightened his cheeks and clenched his back teeth. What he said was completely different from what he was thinking. "It's all our fault for trusting a villain, it's all Zhang's fault for being cunning and treacherous. We can't blame anyone else."

These words did make the governor of Hu County feel a little better.

Then, the two fell silent.

They were like fish on a chopping block, prisoners with no idea what their fate would be, left to their own devices. The atmosphere inside the tent was suffocatingly heavy, but thankfully it didn't last long; several soldiers came in to take Sun Ban away.

The prefect of Hu County hurriedly stood up to stop him.

"What does Zhang the traitor intend to do to Zhaoruo?"

"The lord wants to see her, but it's nothing."

The prefect of Hu County trembled uncontrollably with his fingertips. He suppressed his fear and forced out the words through gritted teeth: "That traitor Zhang specifically asked to see Zhao Ruo, so why didn't he see me? Instead, he left me standing there! Since we're going, why not go together? If we're going to end up dead, we should die together! I will never let Zhao Ruo go into danger alone. You can kidnap me too!"

This request put the soldiers in a difficult position.

Sun Ban also looked at the governor of Hu County with surprise.

The two did have a good personal relationship and shared a bond as classmates, but more often than not, Hu County was dependent on Dou County, and the Hu County governor's family was dependent on the Sun family. Since they were at her beck and call, it was only natural for them to flatter and fawn over her. It was also natural for her to remain unscathed in the face of disaster. She never expected that he would actually have some genuine feelings for her.

Sun Ban shook his head and politely declined, saying, "There's no need to die together. You are not my retainer; why should you perish here?"

"Before seeing Zhang Boyuan, please allow me to freshen up a bit. My appearance is unsightly, and I should not be seen by others." Thinking of meeting Zhang Yang, Sun Ban felt a strange sense of peace. No longer needing to worry about life and death was a kind of liberation. She asked, "Is that alright?"

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment.

One of them went out to ask for instructions and came back after a while: "Alright, but we can't waste too much time, and we can't keep my lord waiting."

Sun Ban used the exquisite jade comb from his waist to tidy his hair, put his hair ornament back on, wiped the dirt off his face with a handkerchief, and straightened his clothes and sleeves. Only then did he calmly step out of the tent: "Lead the way."

Xiao Sui, waiting outside the tent, waved her sword fan and rolled her eyes. Even a proper scion of a prominent family like herself didn't put on airs like this. Did Sun Ban think he was so dashing and magnanimous right now? Knowing his future was uncertain, yet still maintaining his dignity and integrity, unafraid of power?

"Who are you?"

"Xiao family, Xiao Sui."

When she said that, Sun Ban remembered.

So, Sun Ban, in a sarcastic tone, slowly said, "Oh, I heard that a branch of the Xiao family was operating in the mountains, apparently dealing in human skin, and that they had close ties with those thieves from the Eastern Frontier. Rumors are always exaggerated, but there's always a reason behind them. Since you, Mr. Xiao, are from the Xiao family, you should be mindful of your reputation. How could you do such a heinous thing and bring shame upon your ancestors?"

Xiao Sui stopped waving her fan and straightened the corners of her mouth.

He turned his face away irritably and muttered, "What a pretentious jerk."

She shouldn't have taken this job.

Sun Zhaoruo was even more disliked by her than she had imagined.

Sun Ban looked her up and down: "Are you... the Painted Skin Ghost?"

Xiao Sui composed herself, grinned at Sun Ban, and with her free hand, touched and lifted her neck, revealing the crimson flesh and yellowish fat beneath the skin, the veins rhythmically contracting and pulsating. This sight shocked Sun Ban, who took a step back in horror. Xiao Sui reattached the skin, slapping her thigh and laughing loudly, "Hasn't Lord Zhaoruo ever seen a living person without their skin? Making a fuss over nothing, you seem unaccustomed to grand occasions."

Sun Ban was both surprised and furious when she realized that Xiao Sui was mocking her.

Before she could say anything more, Xiao Sui had already unilaterally refused to communicate and gave the soldiers a meaningful look: "Don't keep our lord waiting."

Xiao Sui regretted agreeing to let Sun Ban tidy up her appearance.

It's such a waste of her rare kindness.

The main tent was one that Sun Ban recognized all too well.

Two days ago, Sun Ban was the owner of this main tent, and all the furnishings inside, from the large brocade screen to the small tables, were arranged according to her preferences. Stepping in again, the tent had not changed much, but the person sitting at the head of the table was a completely unfamiliar face.

The gazes of all the civil and military officials towards Sun Ban shifted from bowing in reverence to a kind of scrutinizing and appraising, subtly containing a hint of cold, mocking observation. Despite being fully clothed, she still felt uneasy, as if she had been thrown into public, stripped of her clothes and skin, her soul being toyed with.

Sun Ban's hands, hanging by her sides, tightened subtly, her nails digging into her palms, her face calm. She slightly raised her chin, refusing to bend her knees or bend her waist in the slightest. Her posture remained upright as before, showing no sign of embarrassment or awkwardness.

Do others want to enjoy her downfall and loss of power?

dream!

Sun Ban's gaze swept over the unfamiliar faces in the tent, finally landing on Zhang Yang's face: "Lord Boyuan, I have long admired your name."

Zhang Yang said, "Is now not the time to call him a thief?"

She noticed something interesting: Sun Ban had a red name above his head, while the governor of Hu County who had come with her had a yellow name.

Sun Ban smiled and said, "Zhang the thief."

Calling her "Lord Boyuan" shows her good upbringing, but calling her "Zhang the Traitor" reveals what she truly meant, which can be considered as Zhang Boyuan getting what he wanted.

Lu Yuanzhe jumped up one after the other and started cursing loudly.

The others could only glare angrily.

Zhang Yang was different; she didn't even change her slouching posture: "You've been operating in Dou County for many years, do you have any special skills?"

Sun Ban sneered, "You want me to be your servant? Dream on!"

She would rather die than live a wretched life under Zhang Yang's command!

"I only asked what skills you have, I didn't say I wanted to use you, why are you overthinking things?" She glared at Guan Zong, blaming him for bringing her back alive. If she had brought back a corpse, it wouldn't have been so troublesome. "I won't raise a tiger to threaten you, but before you die, I have a question for you to answer. Why is your 'Fairy' different from others?"

Zhang Yang glanced at Sun Ban's panel data.

Among the people she met, Sun Ban's overall performance was above average, but it still couldn't explain why his men were so loyal to her, fighting to the death like demons. This loyalty seemed to have a limit—Changsun Wang and Ge Zhou had both fought to the death for her, and Zhang Yang, after spending time with them, found that while they liked and admired Sun Ban, it was far from being obsessive.

After examining the data of several people repeatedly, she discovered a clue.

[Late Stars Falling Violence]: Three levels, 朏朏.

In Mount Huo, there is a beast that resembles a fox, with a white tail and mane, named Fei Fei. Keeping it can relieve worries. Compared to the other fierce and malevolent spirits descending from the heavens, Sun Ban's Fei Fei can be considered friendly. Compared to the benefits, the minor negative effects are insignificant.

[Stars]: Ziwei Enclosure · Tianyi

Zhang Yang analyzed the situation using his limited common sense.

In terms of astrological analysis, the Heavenly Nobleman (天乙) signifies visible benefactors, superiors, and colleagues who actively appreciate and promote one's career, leading to great success. However, Sun Ban has no superiors; she is simply the leader of her own faction. From a purely astrological perspective, the stars are more like the Jade Hall Heavenly Axe (玉堂天钺).

Sun Ban, a reclusive advisor and subordinate, silently loyal to his superiors, ensured that she could turn misfortune into good fortune no matter what she encountered. However, considering the discrepancies between astrology and celestial constellations, generalizations cannot be made.

Zhang Yang then asked, "Is it because of the Heavenly Noble Star talent?"

Everyone remained silent.

Only Sun Ban's mood went through several ups and downs in this passage.

Finally, he looked at Zhang Yang in utter shock.

"How could you...?"

Whether it's the celestial descent or the stars, the combined number is no less than three to five thousand, and none of them can be discerned at a glance. Even experienced individuals cannot identify them simply by wishful thinking. If one encounters something obscure, they might rack their brains and still not be able to figure it out.

If one's aura is perfectly concealed, it is difficult for outsiders to detect it.

Zhang Zei, however, revealed her biggest secret in a single encounter.

Xiao Sui's hand, which was fanning herself, stopped subconsciously. She exclaimed in surprise, "Feifei plus Tianyi Xingchen? That makes it no wonder so many people are so devoted to her. How could they not like her after spending so much time together?"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Unexpectedly, Sun Ban started cursing.

Her sudden outburst startled even the governor of Hu County.

Everyone turned to look at Sun Ban, whose features were contorted with rage and turned ashen. She gasped for breath, "Everything that has happened all these years is because I am who I am, Sun Ban of the Sun family. What does it have to do with the 'Descending Stars' or the stars themselves? Don't try to sway my resolve!"

Zhang Yang, always direct, asked, "You think others are loyal to you and like you because of your personal charm, so you're unhappy when it's revealed that it all stems from divine intervention? That's strange; what's so hard about admitting that?"

Is it really that easy to break through their defenses?

NPCs cannot understand human awkwardness.

Zhang Yang wouldn't be offended because the money to buy the land deed was obtained by robbing players, rather than by players offering it as a gift. Nor would she be offended because she used money to bribe the Imperial Throne City for help, instead of having Chao Tan of the Imperial Throne City come to her voluntarily. The result is the same either way! So, does Sun Ban mind that his overnight wealth was due to winning the lottery rather than earning it through hard work? How strange.

Judging from Sun Ban's reputation, it's clear that her success wasn't entirely due to "luck," and her influence wasn't that widespread. Her fame beyond that initial circle undoubtedly stemmed from her excellent acting skills.

Sun Ban roared, "Shut up! Shut up!"

As emotions erupt, the body's yin energy begins to become unbalanced.

Zhang Yang said, "A friend of mine once said that humans always break down because of what they lack. So you also think that you have no personal charisma and cannot achieve the effect of the combined influence of the 'Starry Descent' and 'Heavenly Noble Star' on your own? Oh, I see."

If that's the logic, then it should indeed be red-temperature resistant.

After that, the situation got out of control.

The ever-refined and composed Sun Ban, disregarding her status as a prisoner, charged straight at Zhang Yang, wanting nothing more than to tear him apart. However, before she could make a move, the waiting Lü Yuan preemptively subdued her, twisting her hands behind her back, rendering her immobile.

Zhe Meng was a step too slow and sighed in regret.

Lu Yuan shouted, "Don't you dare hurt my godmother!"

Zhang Yang showed no sign of panic.

Sun Ban's health bar wasn't even enough for her to smash with a gold brick.

Ba Feng was making a fuss over nothing, but after all, it was the child's filial piety, and Zhang Yang couldn't dampen the child's enthusiasm.

Zhang Yang walked up to Sun Ban and placed his hands on his knees.

He bent down, tilted his head, and stared straight at her with his captivating peach blossom eyes.

"You're already in the red zone?"

? ?(σ???)σ..:*☆Hey

Today's update is a bit late, I'll try to make the next chapter longer!