Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

Even if one receives the favor and blessing of an outer god, the years are reversed, and the soul is reshaped.

But the deep-seated fear still made the girl instinctively feel somewhat apprehensive.

"Awake? Stand behind me."

Samael gently stroked Yang Yuhuan's head, a faint smile on his face.

Feeling the warmth above her head, the little girl's unease and anxiety lessened considerably. Her shoulders stopped trembling, and she obediently shrank behind Samael, clutching his clothes tightly with her little hands.

Like a lost lamb, nestled beside a shepherd, seeking warmth and shelter.

"It seems that the gift I sent is to your liking."

Seeing the two's subtle actions, the First Emperor raised the corners of his lips and revealed a playful smile.

"Then I shall have to give you a piece of my mind, Your Majesty..."

Samael agreed with a forced smile, but couldn't help rolling his eyes.

Please, these are all ancient foxes, so please stop acting out a ghost story.

Also, don't make it sound like I'm a lolicon.

To reiterate, the value of a loli lies in nurturing her, while I have a particular fondness for mature women.

Just as the two emperors, who were cunning enough to have eight hundred schemes combined, were exchanging barbs and veiled barbs, the ground rumbled and shook, and dust billowed up from the foot of the mountain.

It was the sound of horses' hooves.

The rumbling sound was like a passing thunderstorm.

Samael climbed to a high vantage point and was astonished to see two cavalry units advancing from the valleys on either side, swiftly traversing the rugged mountains and forests as if walking on flat ground.

An overwhelming aura of malevolence swept over us, as if countless swords and spears were thrusting forward, making one's heart tremble with fear.

The saying goes, "Man is like a tiger, horse is like a dragon, climbing mountains is like an ape, entering water is like an otter, and their momentum is as great as Mount Tai." This is probably what it means.

The first to arrive was the heavy cavalry on the left.

The newcomers were fully armed, carrying long spears, longbows and quivers, and each wore a single-edged sword. They all wore solemn and imposing face armor.

The leading general, on the other hand, wore an even more conspicuous and ferocious bronze demon mask.

As the reins tightened, the warhorses neighed and stopped. The masked general and five hundred heavily armored cavalrymen dismounted in unison and respectfully saluted the First Emperor on the high platform.

The First Emperor nodded slightly and raised his hand to signal the soldiers in front of him to stand up.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

A gentle, refined voice came from behind him, and the general removed his mask in response.

A handsome face with silver hair and purple eyes came into view.

It is a gender-neutral beauty that transcends gender, combining gentleness and strength, making people feel good about it from afar.

However, there always seemed to be an indelible sadness and sorrow between the brows of this handsome young man, making him appear somewhat gloomy and sickly.

Lanling King – Gao Changgong.

Samael's lips moved slightly, his eyes filled with understanding; he recognized the highly recognizable young general at a glance.

Lanling King Gao Changgong, originally named Gao Xiaoguan, also known as Gao Su, courtesy name Changgong, was the fourth son of Gao Cheng, the powerful ruler of the Gao clan in the Eastern Wei Dynasty. He was a famous general in the Northern Qi Dynasty. Among the Northern Qi imperial family, which was full of ambitious people, fratricide, and perverts, Gao Changgong was one of the few loyal and good generals. He was gentle and kind, and had a beautiful voice and appearance. He was known as one of the four most handsome men in China.

During the Battle of Mangshan, the Northern Zhou army besieged Luoyang, but the Northern Qi army, fearing the enemy, dared not quell the attack.

At this critical moment, Gao Changgong led 500 soldiers into the encirclement of the Northern Zhou army, successfully broke through the enemy, contacted the garrison of Luoyang, and defeated the Northern Zhou. This victory, known as the "Great Victory of Beiman Mountain," is a classic example of a smaller force defeating a larger one in Chinese history.

The Book of Northern Qi records: "When the Turks entered Jinyang, Chang Gong fought them with all his might. After the defeat at Mangshan, Chang Gong was in charge of the central army and led 500 cavalrymen to re-enter the Zhou army. He reached the foot of Jinyong and was surrounded. The people on the city wall did not recognize him. Chang Gong removed his helmet to show his face, and then the crossbowmen were sent to rescue him. Thus, a great victory was achieved. The warriors sang a ballad about it, which became the 'Prince Lanling Enters the Battle Song'."

The famous "Prince Lanling Enters the Battle Song" originated from this.

After the great victory at Mangshan, Emperor Gao Wei of Northern Qi said to Gao Changgong, "You charged too deep into the enemy lines; if you suffer a defeat, it will be too late to regret it." Gao Changgong replied, "It was a family matter, and I didn't realize it." Gao Wei was dissatisfied with Changgong's use of the war as a family matter, feeling that he was ambitious. In addition, Northern Qi had a tradition of capable members of the imperial family bullying young emperors and usurping the throne. Changgong's outstanding military achievements and high prestige in the army aroused Gao Wei's suspicion.

Although Gao Changgong attempted to tarnish his reputation by accepting bribes and relinquishing his military power, demonstrating that he had no ambition to usurp the throne, he still could not escape his fate. In the fourth year of the Wuping era, Gao Changgong was poisoned to death at the age of thirty-three. Four years after his death, the already crumbling Northern Qi dynasty was finally destroyed by the Northern Zhou.

In short, he is a tragic hero.

Of course, in addition to Gao Changgong's own outstanding military talent and bravery, there was also a very important objective factor that contributed to the great victory at Beiman Mountain.

That is, the Northern Qi Dynasty had a very powerful elite force at that time, namely, the "Baibao Xianbei".

Baibao Xianbei, also known as Baibao soldiers. A military unit.

After Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi ascended the throne, he selected and trained the Xianbei from the six relocated wards, making them so brave that one man could be worth a hundred, and that they would die in battle. Then he took them to serve as his bodyguards. Every time they entered the battlefield, they were invincible.

Clearly, the five hundred soldiers behind this Prince Lanling were the same five hundred Xianbei soldiers who had charged into battle with him and won the great victory at Beiman Mountain.

"Tch, why does he look like a child? What kind of general is so frail?"

Hinako Akuta, who had arrived at some unknown time, grumbled irritably as she commented on the handsome young man before her, spouting her own outrageous opinions.

Samael rolled his eyes at one of the celestial maidens beside him, inwardly grumbling.

Come on, with your limited skills, you look down on a real general who came from a military background.

Do you know that in another timeline, you really screwed this person over?

However, whether it was due to being too perceptive or simply being incompatible, it's unclear.

As if sensing something, Hinako suddenly turned her head and glared fiercely at Samael, who was muttering to himself, grinding her teeth in resentment.

"What are you looking at! Didn't you get enough of looking yesterday?"

"Hey, hey, every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor. If you want revenge, go find that female fox!"

Samael spread his hands, feigning innocence and protesting his innocence.

"Don't give me that! You're clearly in cahoots. Who knows if you've been having an affair? Don't think you and Qin Liangyu are as easy to fool as I am!"

But Hinako scoffed at the ancient snake's explanation.

"That's not true at all! Lord Samael was clearly with Yu Yu last night!"

Hidden behind Samael, the young Yang Guifei, hearing the repeated slander, couldn't help but peek out, clenching her fists to clear her master's name.

"you……"

Hinako stared blankly at the little girl who barely reached her waist, then her eyebrows furrowed in indignation.

"You still claim to be innocent! You beast, how could you lay a hand on such a young child!"

"If no one else can take care of her, can't I lull her to sleep?"

To avoid being labeled a perverted lolicon, Samael, with a dark expression, vehemently argued his case.

Hinako responded with a cold laugh, her face full of disdain.

"So, you took care of things in bed?"

"..."

For a moment, faced with a truth in a certain sense, the ancient serpent was speechless.

"Little sister, come here quickly!"

Just as Samael was devising a plan to prove his innocence, Hinako Akuta grabbed the bewildered Yang Guifei and earnestly advised the ignorant little girl.

"My sister said we should stay away from that beast from now on; he's up to no good!"

As she spoke, Hinako Akuta, bursting with a sense of justice, stood in front of the ancient serpent like a mother hen protecting her chicks, shielding it from the demon's prying eyes.

However, before she could react, Yang Yuhuan darted past Jie Chuzi and slipped back behind Samael, hiding in the shadows that gave her a sense of security. Her gaze toward Jie Chuzi was filled with fear and terror.

"Terrible, that woman is so scary... She's trying to kidnap Yu Yu from Lord Samael's side..."

Frustrated by her unsuccessful attempt, Hinako could only grit her teeth in frustration and reluctantly offer empty platitudes.

"Just wait, one day I'll expose your true colors!"

Samael was at his wit's end with Akuta Hinako's persistent nagging. He deeply regretted that when he was having sex in London, he had impulsively brought in this outsider to clean up the crime scene.

Clearly, the series of coincidences, along with that grand gathering without cover, had transformed this "celestial maiden" into his dedicated little black-eyed servant.

Just as the two rivals were bickering, the sound of horses' hooves rang out, and dark clouds loomed over the city.

The cavalry on the right wing were also ordered to retreat to the front of the main hall on the mountaintop.

The leading general was eight feet tall, with a majestic and imposing figure, a dignified face, and double purple pupils in his eyes. He held a long spear in his hand, exuding a fierce aura, and rode a magnificent black steed.

"Ji, come and report back."

The figure on horseback merely cupped his hands in a slight gesture of respect, offering only a half-bow. Even when facing Ying Zheng, the First Emperor of All Time, he showed no intention of dismounting and bowing.

The First Emperor waved his hand, seemingly unconcerned.

If you want to use his martial prowess, you have to tolerate his arrogance. He has the magnanimity to tolerate others and is confident that he can control this beast.

Moreover, putting a vicious tiger in a cage and eroding its arrogance will inevitably cause it to lose its offensive edge and wildness.

"This person is so rude."

Akuta no Hinako looked down at the double-pupiled general sitting high on his warhorse, who seemed to look down on everyone, and couldn't help but frown and snort coldly.

Samael smiled and spoke calmly.

"If he could humble himself, he wouldn't be Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu."

Before him stood the legendary Hegemon-King of Chu, whose strength was said to be able to lift a tripod and whose bravery was unparalleled throughout history.

His personality was indeed as recorded in historical texts: arrogant, unruly, and sharp-tongued.

Historically, there was a person who was quite similar to this King Xiang Yu of Chu.

That is, King Zhou of Shang, who possessed the ability to support a beam and replace a pillar, and the strength to drag nine oxen backwards.

Even more coincidentally, both of them were invincible in their time, and both ended up on the same path of self-destruction.

One set himself on fire at the Star-Picking Tower, and the other committed suicide at the Wujiang River.

Life and death are not in the hands of others.

Samael sighed and then turned his gaze to the back of the Chu King.

If I'm not mistaken, these are the eight thousand Jiangdong soldiers who shared life and death with him, the renowned "Wucheng Soldiers".

Qin Liangyu and her three thousand White-Haired Warriors, Prince Lanling and his hundred Xianbei protectors, Xiang Yu and his eight thousand Jiangdong warriors...

These heroic spirits of the Chinese people, who came under the command of the First Emperor Ying Zheng, actually arrived with his most elite army.

The ancient serpent narrowed its eyes, a hint of doubt creeping into its expression at this unusual outcome.

"The front, middle, and rear armies have arrived, but where is the mother fox?"

The First Emperor looked at the only empty seat in the room and couldn't help but be a little surprised.

Samael snapped out of his reverie, his cheek twitching unnaturally, his eyes darting nervously.

"Uh, I might have overslept, let's wait a bit longer..."

A full quarter of an hour later, a emaciated fox spirit, clutching her backside and leaning against the wall, limped out of the side hall, muttering bitterly to herself.

"Liar, liar, big liar..."

The First Emperor gave his business partner a deep, meaningful look.

Noticing the subtle shift in the surrounding gazes, Samael braced himself and went to meet them, quickly helping the drained Tamamo-no-Mae to her feet.

Seeing that the serious atmosphere was about to be ruined by this adulterous couple, the First Emperor immediately summoned a jade seal engraved with five imperial heads and asked in a deep voice.

"The Kongtong Seal is here. What are the next three steps?"

Hinako Akuta, who was asked the first question, was slightly taken aback and awkwardly turned her head away.

I was in a daze from the moment I fell asleep until I woke up, so how could I know anything about the method to reopen the connection between heaven and earth?

Seeing this guilty reaction, the First Emperor frowned slightly and his face darkened.

Could it be that we can't even get past the first hurdle?

"Let me handle this kind of thing."

Fortunately, the usually unreliable fox spirit was actually quite dependable this time, taking the initiative to accept the task.

Watching that graceful figure break free from his support and walk lightly onto the altar, Samael was first slightly stunned, then his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Clearly, he had been tricked by that sly fox again.

It seems that it was too lenient.