Chapter 2155: The End of the Song and the Demise of All

Lu Zhenxian immediately reached out, angrily rebuking Lu Zhensheng, "You murdered to seize power! The Lu family has actually produced such a scoundrel!"

Lu Zhensheng's eyes flickered, but he still argued forcefully with the Great Emperor Jiuyou, "These are all illusions; he fabricated them!"

All eyes of the Lu family members converged on the Great Emperor Jiuyou. He casually pointed at Lu Zhensheng, and his calm voice held a deadly resolve: "Seize him! Execute him on the spot!"

Inside and out, the entire Lu clan knelt. Who would still dare deny his position as the Lu family head?

Lu Zhensheng had only temporarily managed clan affairs because no one from the main branch was present. Now that the Son of Fortune had returned as king, what right did Lu Zhensheng have to continue clinging to power?

Of course, while He Lingchuan was in the right, the most crucial reason for everyone's swift change in attitude was the Great Emperor Jiuyou's overwhelming power!

Having just secured the authority to govern the clan, he immediately intended to settle accounts with Lu Zhensheng!

In addition to murdering the former clan head and coveting Lu Xiaoyun's fortune, Lu Zhensheng now faced an extra charge today: ambushing the Son of Fortune.

Three concurrent crimes meant he deserved death.

The Black Armored Army, having long awaited this command, eagerly charged forward at the sound.

Lu Zhensheng recoiled a step behind Mu Bing, shouting, "Commander Wu, save me!"

Commander Wu also found the current situation exceedingly tricky.

If He Lingchuan had forcibly abducted and killed the Bailie family head in his capacity as the ruler of Cangyan, Commander Wu's intervention would have been entirely justified. As Bailie was a vassal state of Mou, Mou could not stand by and watch Bailie be annexed by Cangyan.

But now, with every member of the Lu family, from top to bottom, acknowledging He Lingchuan's position as clan head, this conflict had transformed into an internal Lu family dispute!

With the Lu family fighting amongst themselves, what standing did Commander Wu have to interfere?

Yet Commander Wu distinctly knew it wasn't that simple!

Nevertheless, bound by royal decree, he stepped forward two paces, drew his saber, and bellowed, "Halt!"

The Mou army behind him also fanned out, their weapons drawn and aimed, with over ten archers taking aim at the Great Emperor Jiuyou.

This was the Mou army's third intervention. Commander Wu's face was stern; just as he was about to speak, the Great Emperor Jiuyou wearily stated:

"The Lu family is cleaning house. Those who obstruct me will die."

The implication was that the Mou people's identity held no sway here.

Today at the Lu residence, all the necessary procedures were finally complete, and the spectators had seen everything there was to see. He Lingchuan was tired of playing games.

It was time for a showdown.

His gaze swept across the Mou army. Upon making eye contact with him, one archer inexplicably felt his heart lurch and his arm go numb, causing his hand to release. The arrow whistled off the string and sped toward the Great Emperor Jiuyou.

Luo Xie extended a hand, and his Folding Saber deflected the arrow:

"Well, you dared to attack the Great Emperor!"

Everyone saw it clearly. Commander Wu inwardly cursed, realizing the gravity of the situation.

Before he could speak, He Lingchuan pointed forward: "Leave ten alive who can speak. Kill the rest."

Apart from the Black Armored Army, everyone present was greatly startled by such chilling words.

"Yes, sir!"

The Black Armored Army surged past him like a tide, engaging the Mou army in fierce combat.

The Great Emperor Jiuyou clasped his hands behind his back and stepped back a few paces.

The two sides were vastly mismatched in numbers. The Mou army's greatest reliance was merely their identity. Though courageous, this battle was a classic example of the many overwhelming the few, leaving no room for doubt.

The Black Armored Army fought like wolves and tigers. After just a few exchanges, Commander Wu and his men found themselves heavily besieged. As he fought fiercely, he loudly proclaimed, "Ruler of Cangyan, you dare to disrespect Great Mou! My Emperor will surely..."

Before he could finish, Luo Xie's Folding Saber shot out from seven feet away, slicing with an unexpected arc and severing half his head.

"It's best not to utter disrespectful words."

The Great Emperor Jiuyou stood watching from outside the circle, his gaze deep and silent.

The Blood Demon remarked to him, "The soldiers of Mou still possess some backbone."

"How could military generals dispatched by great nations for foreign affairs be cowards?"

Commander Wu was the first to fall. His subordinates, knowing they wouldn't survive the day, did not break formation; instead, they all roared and attacked, fighting with utter disregard for their lives.

The scene was particularly heroic, but unfortunately, they were ultimately outnumbered.

Shortly thereafter, the brief and fierce battle concluded.

Of the over three hundred Mou soldiers, more than two hundred ninety were killed.

All of Lu Zhensheng's guards who dared to draw their blades were annihilated.

Only ten Mou survivors remained, including the blood-splattered Commander Huang; all were tied up and cast aside.

Wan Qifeng was adept at his duties; even without specific instructions from He Lingchuan, he ensured one official was left alive to speak.

Commander Huang looked at He Lingchuan, his gaze a mix of hatred, anger, and disbelief.

He and Commander Wu had initially assumed the worst outcome would be capture, after which Cangyan would be forced to negotiate with Mou.

To their shock, the other side had brandished a butcher's blade!

Reclaiming the Bailie family headship was one thing; slaughtering the Mou army at the slightest disagreement was an entirely different matter. Even the Beijia army typically wouldn't dare to act this way.

What kind of madman would eagerly provoke Great Mou?

He Lingchuan didn't bother to look at him. He merely raised his chin toward Lu Zhensheng and commanded, "Take him into the ancestral hall. Make him kneel."

With blades flashing all around them and even Mou generals slain, the Lu family father and son slumped to the ground, barely able to stand.

Luo Xie seized Lu Zhensheng, dragged him before the Lu ancestral shrine, and delivered a powerful kick to his thigh:

"Kneel!"

His kick was incredibly powerful.

With a sickening snap, accompanied by Lu Zhensheng's screams, his leg broke.

Luo Xie deliberately forced him to his knees, making him tremble uncontrollably from the pain.

Lu Zhensheng finally could bear it no longer and wailed, "Kill me! Just kill me!"

From the moment the Great Emperor Jiuyou revealed his identity as the "Son of Fortune," Lu Zhensheng knew that if his ambush failed, he would not escape death.

Lu Qing'an knelt to the side, drenched in cold sweat, not daring to move an inch.

Lu Lianyuan poked Lu Zhensheng's forehead, seething with anger: "Xuan Yuan's entire family was ruined because of you! Bailie suffered endless humiliation because of you! You truly deserve to die!"

This time, he spoke before Lu Lianqing could.

The clan members, observing the corpses strewn across the ground, all pointed at Lu Zhensheng and cursed him relentlessly. Some even threw stones at the father and son.

If not for Lu Zhensheng's lack of virtue and incompetence, how could Bailie have endured foreign aggression for so many years, and how could the clan have faced such calamity today?

Lu Lianqing was also utterly heartbroken: "Our Lu clan has a long and distinguished history; how could such an unfilial descendant, one who forgets his ancestors, emerge from us! Go quickly and beg forgiveness from our forefathers!"

Lu Zhensheng's face was streaked with tears, but his eyes were red as he retorted, "The Lu clan's decline did not begin with me! Lu Xuanyuan, when he led the family, lacked adaptability; the Lu family was repeatedly assailed by Great Mou and was already on the verge of collapse! If not for my tireless efforts after I took power, the Lu family would have vanished long ago! You useless individuals, who only complain and demand money all day, would have been reduced to commoners, harvesting palm and tilling fields, with no time to wag your tongues here!"

"You heartless wretch!" He spat a mouthful of bloody foam onto the ground. "Ungrateful!"

He was going to die anyway.

Seeing his cheek bulge, Wan Qifeng suddenly lunged forward and dislocated his jaw: "He had poison hidden in his mouth."

The Soul-Seizing Mirror clicked its tongue twice, remarking, "I didn't expect this fellow to have a bit of backbone."

He Lingchuan shook his head slightly.

Was that backbone? No, that was fear!