Hu Zongxian and his entourage pressed on through the wind and snow, continuing until nightfall. The winter sun had quickly set.
Hu Zongxian estimated it was impossible to reach the Tongzhou garrison tonight. With his cultivation, he could have easily made the journey, but his companions were far weaker. He couldn't push them too hard.
Thankfully, just off the main road ahead, a farmstead with a welcoming red lantern hanging outside came into view. It was an inn.
In the courtyard, rows of cured meats – chicken, duck, fish, and pork, typical winter fare – hung drying on racks, adding a touch of festive cheer to the wintry scene.
"Grand Coordinator, the snow is heavy, making it difficult to travel at night. Shall we stay at the inn tonight?" one of Hu Zongxian's long-serving personal guards asked respectfully.
Hu Zongxian didn't answer immediately. He glanced at his companions' lifeless statues. He let out a sigh, exhaustion and weariness evident in his demeanor.
"Alright, everyone has worked hard today. We'll rest here tonight."
They entered the inn and called for wine and food. The innkeeper, however, was cold and unwelcoming, as if serving them was a great inconvenience.
One of the guards, angered by his attitude, asked, "Grand Coordinator, this innkeeper is incredibly rude. Should I teach him a lesson?"
Hu Zongxian shook his head.
"He's probably been working hard all year. Now, with the New Year approaching, business is slow, and he finally has a chance to rest. We've disrupted his peace. It's understandable that he might be upset."
The guard sighed. He had served Hu Zongxian for many years. He knew that on the battlefield, the Grand Coordinator was a decisive and ruthless commander, capable of leading his troops through any hardship, his orders carried out without hesitation.
But Hu Zongxian never mistreated ordinary people, even the most ignorant and foolish.
"Hey!" the guard shouted at the innkeeper.
"Bring us your best wine and food! Serve us well, and we'll reward you handsomely!"
He assumed that this display of generosity would improve the innkeeper's attitude.
But the man only grumbled, "Who wants your dirty money?"
Despite his complaints, the innkeeper still returned to the kitchen. A short while later, he reappeared, carrying plates of food and jugs of wine.
"Enjoy your meal!" He set the dishes upon the table carelessly and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
The guard had only glanced at the food, but he immediately shouted, stopping the innkeeper.
"What is it now?" The innkeeper turned around impatiently.
The guarddrew his sword, pressing the blade against the innkeeper's neck.
"You… What are you doing?!"
The guard sneered.
"You dared to poison our Grand Coordinator? Speak! Who are you?!"
The innkeeper quickly retorted, "Poison? What poison? What Grand Coordinator? I have no idea what you're talking about! Even if you are officials, you shouldn't bully ordinary people! Unless you're members of the Yan faction! Only corrupt officials from the Yan faction would behave like this!"
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Someone began clapping. It was Hu Zongxian.
"Impressive."
His voice was laced with sarcasm, but it was directed at himself.
"Even an innkeeper in a remote village knows that my money is dirty. He's aware of the Yan faction in the capital and knows that they are corrupt officials. How impressive… truly impressive…"
The innkeeper, realizing his mistake, quickly changed his tune.
Although young, he was handsome. "There's nothing impressive about that! The Great Ming has suffered under the Yan faction for far too long! Every citizen wants to eat your flesh and drink your blood!"
"Hahahahahaha!"
Hu Zongxian burst into laughter. But his laughter was laced with sorrow.
"Why are you laughing?"
The innkeeper's face turned red. He realized he had overstepped, but he still challenged Hu Zongxian.
"Was I wrong?"
"Humph!"
This time, it wasn't Hu Zongxian who answered, but his guard.
"How can an ordinary villager be so eloquent? Your words suggest you are a man of learning!
Speak! What is your true identity? And why are you waiting for our Grand Coordinator?"
Suddenly, the guard's voice trailed off.
Hu Zongxian, sensing something amiss, was about to intervene, but the guard suddenly stiffened and collapsed.
The innkeeper leaped back with incredible speed, leaving a trail of afterimages as he retreated to the kitchen entrance.
"A mere first-rank Golden Core cultivator, and you dare challenge me?" He pointed his right hand at them, his index and middle fingers extended like a sword.
At this moment, they noticed that his hands were white and smooth, clearly those of a scholar, not someone who worked menial tasks.
Hu Zongxian shot to his feet. His spiritual energy surged, swiftly analyzing the situation.
"So, it's the 'Heaven Concealing Earth Obscuring Formation?' No wonder I couldn't see through your disguise.
Ninth-rank, Great Perfection of the Divine Transformation Realm… It's only natural that my guard was no match for you."
Hu Zongxian's voice was heavy with sadness. He knelt beside the fallen guard, gently closing his eyes.
"Chen Wu served me for many years… To die like this…"
He stood up, looking coldly at the innkeeper.
"Just because you are 'clear stream' officials, it gives you the right to kill?"
The innkeeper quickly retorted, "I am a righteous warrior, a protector of the people! I've come to eliminate the corrupt Yan faction! Who told you I was a 'clear stream' official? Tell me then, what is my rank? Where do I serve?"
Hu Zongxian shook his head. "I don't recognize you."
Seeing the triumphant look on the innkeeper's face, Hu Zongxian continued, "But I can tell you this much. You are either from the auxiliary capital, or you are a probationary official from one of the provinces."
"Hahahahahaha!"
Laughter echoed from the second floor. A handsome figure, resembling a scholar, appeared, holding a folding fan.
"Brother Zili, I told you not to be overconfident. Even though Grand Coordinator Hu is a member of the Yan faction, he is not a fool like Zhao Wenhua. How could you possibly deceive him?"
As he spoke, another man appeared, dressed as a scholar, but radiating an undeniable aura of authority.
"Brother Defu is right. Your acting skills are terrible, Brother Zili. You couldn't even fool one of his guards, let alone Grand Coordinator Hu, a man known for his cunning!"
His words were filled with animosity towards Hu Zongxian. He had even addressed him as a "cunning villain."
But Hu Zongxian didn't recognize any of them.
"Grand Coordinator," a previously inconspicuous servant beside him said, "they are all officials from the Nanjing Ministry of War."
"Yang Jisheng, courtesy name Zhongfang, currently serving as an Assistant Secretary."
"Shen Liangcai, courtesy name Defu, currently serving as a Vice Minister."
"Tan Lun, courtesy name Zili, currently serving as a Director."
The three men froze, astonished. They hadn't expected that their identities would be so easily revealed by one of Hu Zongxian's servants.
"Indeed," Shen Liangcai said coldly, "Hu Zongxian, today is your last day. We are acting openly and righteously. There's no need to hide our identities."
Hu Zongxian, after a moment of shock, regained his composure. He looked at the three young men with admiration.
"Nanjing… Junior Grand Secretary Xu has kept talented officials like you in the auxiliary capital, allowing you to hone your skills, away from the chaos of the court. Such foresight and generosity, I have always admired it. Today, I am honored to meet you.
The Great Ming Dynasty is truly blessed with capable individuals."
Hu Zongxian's genuine praise made the three young men feel uncomfortable. They were about to kill this man. He was practically praising them as if they were his own sons.
"Ahem! Hu Zongxian! Enough with your honeyed words!
We have prepared a formation, and we have gathered experts from the Nanjing Ministry of War. You will die here today!"
Tan Lun forced himself to regain his composure.
He gave the order, and thirty-six armored warriors charged into the inn. They wielded goose feather swords and shields, quickly forming a battle formation within the small space. Their positions, at a glance, seemed to align with the thirty-six Heavenly Stars.
Hu Zongxian stood motionless, observing their movements. Even his guards remained still, as if awaiting his command.
Once the formation was complete, Hu Zongxian nodded approvingly.
"The 'Heaven Concealing Earth Obscuring Formation' to block my senses. The 'Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars Sword and Shield Formation' to block my escape.
If I had eaten your poisoned food, your plan might have succeeded. Your arrangements are meticulous. You've thought of everything.
But…"
Hu Zongxian's expression turned regretful.
"Your plan is flawed. First, you rely too heavily on multiple stages, each dependent on the previous one. If even a single stage fails, your entire scheme collapses.
Second, an ambush should prioritize speed and surprise, a single, decisive strike. You've wasted too much time trying to ensure every detail is perfect, hoping to gain every possible advantage.
And finally…"
Hu Zongxian sighed.
"Even if everything went according to plan, with my cultivation, I could still defeat all three of you and escape. You've miscalculated the difference in our strength. This ambush was doomed from the very beginning."
He spoke without a hint of mockery, his tone resembled that of a teacher patiently instructing his students.
He pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of their plan, as if he genuinely wanted them to learn from their mistakes, to improve their chances of success in the future.
Tan Lun, Shen Liangcai, and Yang Jisheng were red-faced with shame.
Yang Jisheng, unable to contain his anger, shouted, "Silence! We don't need your criticism! You are nothing but a corrupt official, a lackey of the Yan faction! Your words mean nothing to us!"
Hu Zongxian shook his head. "To be easily angered, to act impulsively… those are grave mistakes in the officialdom."
Yang Jisheng snorted and was about to order his men to attack when Tan Lun stopped him. "Hu Zongxian, I know you are an eighth-rank Unity Realm cultivator. But we have planned this ambush meticulously. As long as every stage succeeds, you will be defeated. How can you possibly kill us and escape?"
His words were those of a scholar, challenging Hu Zongxian to a debate.
Hu Zongxian smiled wryly.
This young man… He was acting like a child, oblivious to the gravity of the situation.
But he still patiently explained, "The reason is quite simple. Recently, while imprisoned, I achieved a breakthrough. My cultivation is now ninth-rank, Great Perfection of the Unity Realm."
Their faces paled. They all had the same terrifying thought.
They were all ninth-rank Divine Transformation cultivators, an entire realm below Hu Zongxian. Even with the formation and the support of the Nanjing Ministry of War troops, could they truly defeat him?
Ninth-rank, Great Perfection of the Unity Realm?
Junior Grand Secretary Xu Jie had once said that if their plan were to succeed, even he would be defeated. And Xu Jie was an eighth-rank Unity Realm cultivator, just like Hu Zongxian had been.
That was why they were so confident in their scheme. They had hoped to achieve this glorious victory, to be promoted and transferred to the true capital, where they could fight against the Yan faction.
But ninth-rank, Great Perfection… It seemed beyond their capabilities.
Hu Zongxian said, "Why don't you simply leave? I am here under the Emperor's orders to reclaim our lost territory. I have no ulterior motives. If you attack, I will defend myself. You will all die, and I will be injured. If this affects the Yunzhou campaign…"
"Silence, traitor!"
Before Hu Zongxian could finish, Shen Liangcai interrupted.
"Do you truly believe the Great Ming has no other capable individuals? Even if we die here today, it won't be in vain!
Yunzhou City can be retaken by countless other generals! We don't need you, a defeated dog of Yan Song!"
His words were cruel, striking at Hu Zongxian's deepest wound.
A defeated general?
A dog of Yan Song?
With his prestige, no one had ever dared to insult him like this. And these men, their ranks so low, they weren't even worthy of speaking to him.
"Must… Must you truly do this?"
Hu Zongxian's voice trembled. He was trying to control himself, to suppress his anger and his sorrow.
He used his willpower to restrain his emotions. But his body, like his voice, still trembled slightly.
Yang Jisheng said, "A brave general doesn't cling to life through cowardice. A righteous man doesn't betray his principles for survival. We would rather die here today than allow you to live!"
Shen Liangcai added, "For the sake of our nation, we are willing to sacrifice our lives. I will use my own body to cleanse the Great Ming of its filth!"
Tan Lun said nothing. He raised his hand, signaling the attack.
The thirty-six warriors charged toward Hu Zongxian without hesitation.
The next moment, the inn exploded, the entire building reduced to rubble, scattering in all directions.
The spot where the inn had once stood was now a bare patch of earth.
Hu Zongxian stood in the center, but all his companions have already retreated.
The three officials, seeing this, laughed. "They truly are corrupt officials, devoid of any righteousness! The battle has just begun, and they've already abandoned their master!"
Hu Zongxian didn't care. His gaze lingered on the three men for a moment, then shifted to another location.
A tall, imposing figure, dressed as a scholar, stood atop a tree beside the road. The old man's aura was even stronger than that of the three officials, rivaling Hu Zongxian's own.
But Hu Zongxian was trapped within the formation, surrounded by thirty-six warriors, his position far more precarious.
Hu Zongxian nodded.
"I knew it. Junior Grand Secretary Xu is too cunning to entrust such an important task to these three young men.
Minister of Rites Gao Gong… You've also come."