Without much guesswork, Wu Ming immediately pinned the suspicion on “The Main God.”
“In order to truly be reborn, is this the preparation to seize the reincarnator’s body?”
After all, being merely a lingering soul, attempting to reach for the authority of the Main God must have been quite troublesome.
Wu Ming immediately figured it out: “Reversing space-time, twisting the timeline, only then can one be born again and obtain the identity of a reincarnator? What a grand scheme! Truly a grand scheme!”
“But after expending so much, after reincarnation, wouldn’t your accumulated foundation be pushed to its limit?”
“And what little remains, how far can it elevate you?”
Wu Ming smiled faintly, with a trace of regret in his expression: “To forcibly reverse space-time, and even establish a final blockade—how much energy must this have cost the Main God’s Hall?”
Needless to say, at this moment he already regarded the Main God Hall as his own and was quite displeased with the so-called actions of the Main God.
After all, it was likely consuming energy that would have belonged to him in the future!
…
“Is this place Wu Family’s Fortress?”
At this moment, outside the fortress, several fine horses galloped past. On one of them, a young knight looked left and right, finally scoffing: “It’s nothing special! At most, it’s just like a wealthy household in a county. I really don’t understand why Elder Sister Wu acts this way.”
“Brother Wu, we are on an important mission. Please refrain from unnecessary talk!”
Upon hearing this, an elderly man in the middle sternly stopped him.
“Uncle!”
Wu Lie also chimed in, his eyes darting: “You don’t know, Wu Ming is of low character and narrow-minded, yet Elder Sister promoted one of his servants to a high position, causing great unrest both inside and outside the family!”
“Hmm…”
The old man seemed slightly moved, but then shook his head: “We are here merely to invite your cousin back to Nanfeng Prefecture to preside over the ceremony. Remember not to bring up these matters…”
Yet, he also looked somewhat worried.
“Sigh… My niece is excellent in both civil and military arts, but now that she has become the family head, she must take responsibility. This time, we must force her to return, using the ceremony as leverage to make her back down. This is the decision of the family elders…”
The old man silently mused: “At the very least, we must make her change that Wu boy into a son-in-law by adoption! Otherwise, how can the head of the Wu family, a regional military governor, become a mere wife in someone else’s house? That’s simply outrageous!”
Seeing this, Wu Lie poured oil on the fire: “Uncle, I heard that that Wu boy even has ambitions over the two prefectures… We must be cautious!”
This hit the old man’s sore spot exactly.
Under current circumstances, if Wu Ming were to interfere in the military and political affairs of the two prefectures, they really wouldn’t have a solid excuse to oppose him, which was exactly the elders’ concern.
“This kid must be taught a lesson!”
Seeing this, the old man from the Wu family became even more determined.
The fertile fields were crisscrossed by paths, covered with a thin layer of white frost in the cold wind. The chill meant nothing to these three members of the Wu family.
“Who goes there?”
Upon reaching the fortress gate, the three were immediately stopped by the guards.
After the wedding, the defense of Wu Family’s Fortress had naturally been taken over by the prefecture, so the patrolling forces were no longer ordinary village braves, but fully armored soldiers with a chilling aura that made the old man frown.
“Are you blind? Can’t you recognize us as members of the Wu family?”
Crack!
Wu Lie shouted and lashed out with his horsewhip, leaving a red mark across the soldier’s face.
In his mind, all the soldiers in the two prefectures were merely private troops and servants of the Wu family! It was only natural for a master to beat a servant—even killing them was acceptable!
“Enemy attack!”
Clang!
The soldier drew his long sword, and immediately archers appeared on the fortress walls, their sharp crossbows locking down the entire ten-zhang area below in an instant.
“Hmph! Look at that, Uncle!”
Although targeted like this, Wu Lie remained unrepentant, treating it instead as evidence: “So tell me, whose soldiers are these—yours or his?”
“Indeed excessive!”
The old man from the Wu family also frowned, thinking this Wu boy was far too arrogant.
“Hold on!”
At this moment, a general strode out—it was none other than Wu Tiehu.
His face was cold and stern. Seeing Wu Lie, Wu Si, and the old man from the Wu family, his facial muscles twitched slightly, but he still stepped forward and saluted: “Master Lie, may I ask what brings you here today?”
“Hmph! So it’s you, the servant of a son-in-law by adoption?”
Wu Lie snorted coldly, eyeing the other’s seventh-grade general’s robe with growing jealousy.
Even within the Wu family, few had achieved such a position, commanding five hundred men directly. And now it was given to an outsider!
More importantly, he, Master Lie, hadn’t even received such a post!
He pointed at the soldier who had been whipped and ordered imperiously: “You’re just in time. This man was insolent and insulted us. Take him away and execute him immediately! Otherwise… hehe…”
“Execute?”
Wu Tiehu’s expression also turned cold: “This is my soldier. If he committed a crime, he shall be punished according to military law!”
“Dare you defy the orders of the Wu family, you dog!”
Wu Lie shouted furiously, his voice hoarse, his forehead bulging with veins.
“Hmph! I call you Master Lie out of respect, but do you really think you’re someone important?”
Wu Tiehu sneered: “If you’re here to visit, then wait patiently while I announce your arrival. Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait. Anyone who dares to force their way in will be killed without mercy!”
“Yes, sir!”
The soldiers behind him roared in response, swords drawn and pointed straight ahead. Wu Lie had no doubt that if he really violated military law, these men would not hesitate to strike.
“Very well!”
The old man, who had seemed to be dozing, finally opened his eyes: “Go fetch Wu Ming. I’ll speak with him myself!”
“Sorry, but if you wish to see my master, you must wait for an announcement!”
Wu Tiehu replied coldly.
“Insolent brat!”
The old man was also secretly furious but held himself back, saying indifferently: “Then please announce our arrival!”
“Uncle, why show weakness to the enemy?”
Seeing Wu Tiehu’s back disappearing inside, Wu Lie became anxious.
“Brother Lie, Father is just retreating to advance!” Wu Si, who had been watching silently, smiled.
“Exactly!”
The old man from the Wu family swept his cold eyes around: “Even when our family head was in power, would the military camp tolerate such noise? I wouldn’t have agreed either. But this servant of ours dares to act so arrogantly. When we meet my niece, we must confront him directly and see how he explains himself?”
This was an open strategy, so he spoke it directly in front of the guards without the slightest hesitation.
“Please, the three of you!”
Moments later, Wu Tiehu came out, his face still gloomy.
“Hmph!”
Wu Lie and the others walked ahead, not bothering to speak to him.
After walking for a while, passing through a garden and two corridors, they arrived at the main hall.
The hall was brightly and spaciously decorated. On the main seat sat a young man in a simple robe, his eyes gentle like jade. His hair was simply tied into a Daoist bun with a wooden hairpin. He stood up slightly and bowed: “Honored guests from afar, please be seated!”
“You…”
At this sight, the old man from the Wu family was utterly furious.
“Truly impolite to the extreme!”
Wu Si’s eyes also showed anger.
According to etiquette, when elders visit, one should receive them with great ceremony. At the very least, one should come out to greet them instead of merely standing up and bowing slightly.
Wu Ming’s casual attitude was simply unbearable to their pride.
“Uncle, did you see that? This kid dares to disregard us like this. He will surely turn traitorous in the future, bringing great calamity!”
Seeing this, Wu Lie was even more delighted and fanned the flames.
He pointed at Wu Ming: “How dare you! Not even bowing properly before the elders of the Wu family?”
“You…”
Wu Ming’s expression was quite innocent, almost as if to say, “Are you out of your mind?” “You are the elders from my wife’s family. As the saying goes, a married daughter is like water poured out. I have already shown you courtesy. What more do you expect?”
“Hmph, so you finally reveal your wolfish heart without restraint?”
Wu Lie and Wu Si were both furious, almost ready to curse.
But the old man from the Wu family merely frowned, his eyes cold: “Enough! Bring my niece out. We have something to say to her!”
“A married woman follows her husband. Whatever you have to say to her can be said to me just the same!”
Wu Ming had already guessed their intentions and naturally showed them little courtesy.
“Hmph!”
The old man was furious: “Nonsense! Bring my niece out immediately so she can return with me to study the family laws. You must also apologize properly, or else…”
“Or else what?”
Wu Ming waved his hand, clearly bored of the conversation: “Perhaps you think I’m just some lucky fool who must kowtow to you, even fearing that I might seize your power…”
“Hehe… You don’t know better than to talk to a summer insect about ice! A phoenix will only perch on the parasol tree, eat only the fruit of refinement, and drink only from sweet springs. Today, you few crows have obtained a rotten mouse, yet you fear I will snatch it away? Haha… Haha…”
He burst into laughter.
“You…”
No one would be pleased at being compared to a crow that eats dead mice. The old man from the Wu family was so angry his beard and hair stood on end: “Don’t think my niece will always protect you. Know this—I am an envoy sent by the Wu family council. Even the family head herself must treat me with respect! Today, I will have my niece strip you of your position and punish you!”
“It seems you still don’t understand…”
Wu Ming’s gaze turned pitying: “Wu Tiehu, do you remember what I told you before?”
“I am guilty!”
Wu Tiehu immediately knelt on one knee: “I have failed in my duty!”
“Then tell me, didn’t you just report that someone attacked my residence without cause and injured my guards? What should be done?”
Wu Ming asked leisurely.
“The safety of the family head is paramount. Military law must be enforced! According to the law, anyone who enters the military camp without authorization shall be executed!”
Wu Tiehu grinned menacingly.
“Then what are you waiting for?”
Wu Ming waved his hand.
“Yes, sir!”
Wu Tiehu stood up, clapped his hands emotionlessly, and a squad of armored soldiers immediately rushed in.
In reality, these three so-called envoys were all bark and no bite. Even one man like Wu Tiehu could easily deal with them.
“Seize them and execute them!”
“What are you doing? What are you doing?”
Wu Lie looked at the two soldiers approaching him, his face finally changing: “I am a member of the Wu family! Let me go! I must see Wu Zhi! I must see Wu Zhi!!”
Unfortunately, no matter how much he shouted, the two soldiers remained expressionless, dragging him out just the same.
After a brief cry, a soldier entered and presented Wu Lie’s severed head: “Reporting to the family head, the execution is complete!”
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