If you die, I will be able to inherit your cultivation.

In the direction of the south gate, three torches were lit simultaneously, drawing three urgent circles in the night.

This is a pre-arranged signal.

The south gate has been captured.

Upon seeing the signal, Su Mingyue pointed her silver spear forward.

Behind them, 100,000 elite troops, who had been waiting for battle, poured out of the woods like a flood bursting its banks, the sound of their hooves rolling like thunder in the night.

From the capture of the south gate to the entry of 100,000 troops into the city, it took only a quarter of an hour.

When Su Mingyue rode into the city, the streets near the south gate were already filled with Youzhou soldiers wearing red scarves around their necks.

She reined in her horse, her silver spear gleaming coldly in the torchlight, and issued a series of military orders in an orderly fashion.

"Order five thousand men to be stationed at each of the North Gate, East Gate, and West Gate to block them off completely, and not a single person shall be allowed to escape."

"Order all residents of the city to stay indoors and not leave their homes; anyone who goes out on the streets without permission will be killed without exception."

"Order the main force to follow me directly to the General's Mansion. No burning, killing, or looting is permitted along the way. Anyone who disobeys will be executed."

One hundred thousand elite troops from Youzhou poured into the streets and alleys of Anyang City, and quickly deployed according to the street fighting plan that had been rehearsed countless times beforehand.

Each team advanced along the designated streets, overwhelming any sporadic resistance they encountered with overwhelming force. Checkpoints were eliminated one by one, and the city's defenses were quickly brought under control.

Most of the Yunzhou garrison inside the city were still sleeping in their barracks. By the time they were awakened by the shouts of battle, the Youzhou army's swords were already at their necks.

Someone groggily jumped out of bed to reach for a knife, but it was pushed back into its sheath before it could even be drawn.

Several quick-reacting battalions attempted to organize a counterattack in the streets.

They were quickly divided and surrounded by the well-organized veterans of Youzhou, and were all disarmed in less than half an hour.

The General's Mansion is located in the very center of Anyang City.

Zhao Chongyuan did not sleep tonight.

He has been suffering from insomnia night after night ever since the news of the fall of Shun Ning came.

Tonight, I felt inexplicably palpitated, so I simply put on an outer robe and sat idly in the study.

The shouts of battle outside grew closer, the mansion gate was smashed open from the outside, and a heavy thud was heard as something fell to the ground from the courtyard wall.

He then realized that his city had fallen.

It wasn't because we were besieged for three months and ran out of ammunition and food, nor was it because the city walls were bombarded by catapults.

While he was still waiting for Su Mingyue's army to arrive and set up camp outside the city, her people had already entered his city, broken down his mansion gates, and rushed into his courtyard.

He stood up, straightened his clothes, and took down the sword that had been with him for most of his life from the wall of the study.

His hands were very steady.

He spent decades fighting on the battlefield, rising from a lowly captain to the ruler of Yunzhou, dominating this land for most of his life.

He was suspected by the emperor, fought countless battles with the Dayan Dynasty, defeated one political enemy after another in the court, and even joined forces with Yuwen Shuo to kill the Marquis of Yongning at Wild Wolf Slope.

He thought his opponent was Su Yongning, but Su Yongning ended up being tricked and killed by him.

Now a woman who is more than two cycles younger than him has jumped out.

What's even more ridiculous is that he was cornered at his doorstep before he even saw the woman.

The sound of orderly footsteps and the clanging of armor echoed from outside the courtyard wall.

The soldiers of Youzhou surrounded the general's mansion completely.

The torches illuminated the entire mansion as if it were daytime, but no one rushed in.

They are waiting, waiting for their coach.

The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached, then abruptly stopped outside the mansion gate.

Su Mingyue dismounted, holding her silver spear diagonally in her hand.

As she stepped across the threshold, the dew on her black armor gleamed coldly in the torchlight.

Zhao Chongyuan stood at the door of the study, holding the sword in his hand, and sized her up by the firelight.

This was the first time he had seen Su Mingyue up close.

Her black hair was tied into a neat high ponytail, her face was cold and sharp, and there was no extra expression on her face.

This is not the look a greenhorn should have; it's the coldness that comes from killing countless people.

He suddenly laughed.

The sound was dry and harsh, like sandpaper rubbing against rotten wood.

"Su Yongning has given birth to a wonderful daughter, it's a pity he broke through to the Blood Exchange Realm."

Upon hearing his words, Su Mingyue frowned, not understanding what Zhao Chongyuan meant, and immediately questioned him.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Heh, I have no obligation to explain so much to you. Do you really think Su Yongning died because of my and Yuwen Shuo's retreat and lack of supplies?"

"Do you really think the leader of the Pantheon died at our hands?"

"Haha... You know nothing about this world. Haha..."

After laughing, Zhao Chongyuan slowly closed his eyes, tilted his head back, took a deep breath, and gave Su Mingyue a strange smile.

Before Su Mingyue could ask any further questions, Zhao Chongyuan held his long sword to his neck.

With a swift stroke of the sword, blood splattered onto the stone steps in front of the study. Moments later, the body collapsed with a thud.

Su Mingyue stood there, looking down at the blood-stained corpse on the ground.

What exactly happened on the battlefield at Wild Wolf Slope?

Did the 200,000 Northern warriors and her father, Su Yongning, get stabbed in the back?

She remained silent for a long time, the torchlight flickering on her face.

Dongmei quietly stepped forward, wanting to say something, but saw her slightly raise her hand to stop her.

Su Mingyue handed the silver spear to Dongmei, turned around, and the armor made a slight metallic clanging sound.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it drowned out the sound of all the torches burning in the courtyard:

"Give Zhao Chongyuan a grand funeral befitting a Duke. Issue an order that the entire territory of Yunzhou surrender, treat the surrendered soldiers well, and prohibit indiscriminate killing."

The aftermath of the events in Yunzhou was busy and tedious, so Su Mingyue stayed in Anyang City for three days.

She had to personally oversee every single matter, from the reorganization of surrendered soldiers and the resettlement of surrendered generals to the reappointment of officials in various counties and prefectures, and the inventory and allocation of grain and military equipment.

Fortunately, the people she brought were already very familiar with the process.

The veteran officials in the North handled the paperwork meticulously, and the generals, following her instructions, took charge of various passes and cities.

She left 200,000 troops on the border between Yunzhou and the Dayan Dynasty.

One hundred thousand elite troops from the northern border, plus another one hundred thousand surrendered soldiers who had already been reorganized, were under the unified command of Gao Pengda.

The Dayan Dynasty had been eyeing the other side of the border for decades. Now that Yunzhou had changed hands, the border defenses could not be relaxed in the slightest.

After making the arrangements, she set off north with 300,000 elite troops and 200,000 surrendered soldiers, totaling 500,000 troops.

The army set off from Anyang City and headed north along the official road.

Anzhou was already under control, and the counties along the way had long since surrendered. Wherever the army passed, the people lined the streets to kneel and welcome them.

They arrived without stopping, so there was no need for a hasty return march.

When passing through Anzhou territory, Su Mingyue suddenly reined in her horse.

The official road forks here; to the west lies the main road leading directly to Youzhou, while to the east lies a barren, desolate mountain.

The mountain is not high, with a gentle slope and jagged rocks.

The hillside was covered with waist-high withered yellow grass, which surged like waves in the north wind.

At the foot of the mountain stands a stone tablet, its surface blurred by wind and rain, the inscription almost illegible. Wild Wolf Slope.