Jiang Mengxin found Lu Ming utterly unimpressive. While she conceded his martial arts were decent, his mind was as dull as a pig's. A prime opportunity lay before him, yet he failed to seize it, insisting on waiting for the enemy's main force to arrive before engaging.
*Hmph.* Did he think he could fight ten thousand men alone?
Jiang Mengxin pondered a crucial question: should she abandon Lu Ming and escape on her own? Lu Ming was clearly seeking death, and she saw no reason to perish with him. If the ten-thousand-strong army arrived and she was killed alongside him, what then?
Over there, Xie Zhong seemed to have seen through Jiang Mengxin's thoughts. He let out a hearty laugh. "Patriarch Jiang, rest assured, I will not kill you. In consideration of Lu Ming's gentleman's agreement with me, and his willingness to wait for my main force before commencing battle, I can show you leniency. When my army arrives shortly, they will not lay a hand on you."
Hearing this, Jiang Mengxin felt a slight sense of relief. It appeared this Xie Zhong was not entirely unreasonable. He had spared the three Su family women before, and now he was willing to spare Jiang Mengxin as well. He was quite principled. If it were any of the other four Emperor Lords, they might not even be granted a burial place.
Time ticked by.
Ten minutes...
Twenty minutes...
Twenty-five minutes...
As the thirty-minute mark drew closer, everyone's hearts grew increasingly tense. Yet, Lu Ming remained unfazed, still engrossed in his phone, appearing like a gaming addict.
"Still playing on his phone. Is he truly not afraid?"
"Putting aside other things, just this level of courage is possessed by few."
"Lu Ming, a true man."
People's perceptions of Lu Ming began to shift. At least they no longer saw him as someone who feared death, and his bravery far surpassed that of ordinary individuals. Inevitably, their admiration for Lu Ming grew by a third.
Thirty minutes.
Time's up!
Everyone's hearts hung in suspense, awaiting the arrival of the main force. However... there was not the slightest stir. The so-called ten-thousand-strong army was nowhere to be seen.
What was going on?
"The main force?"
"It didn't come!"
"No, could this Southern Emperor Lord be a fake?"
Faced with the crowd's doubts, Xie Zhong began to panic. He had been so smug moments ago, but now he trembled with anxiety. Why hadn't they come? Even if the main force moved at the slowest pace, they should have arrived by now. Even if the main force hadn't arrived, the vanguard should have, and a few hundred men would have been enough to deal with Lu Ming. But who would have expected that not a single person would show up!
Putting away his phone, Lu Ming stood up, brushed off some imaginary dust, and said calmly, "Thirty minutes are up, Emperor Lord Xie. Where is your main force? I don't see anyone."
*Er...*
Lu Ming continued, "Is there still some error? Do you need another ten or eight minutes?"
"Wait a moment, I'll make a call to ask." Xie Zhong immediately pulled out his phone and dialed his strategist, inquiring about the situation.
As soon as the call connected, Xie Zhong couldn't help but roar, "What the hell is going on? Where are they? They haven't arrived after so long, are you snails, moving so slowly?"
A helpless voice came from the other end. "Emperor Lord Xie, it's not that we're not coming. We're being held back."
"What? Who dares to block my army?"
"It's the official forces of Fog City!"
"Hmm? Fog City and I have always been like well water and a river, each minding its own business. Why would they block my main force's path?"
The strategist wailed, "I don't know. I've tried everything, pleasantries and threats, but the other side won't listen. Moreover, if we try to advance, they'll engage us in direct combat! I had no choice but to lead the men out of the city."
This... this was outrageous. Unless something earth-shattering had happened, the authorities would not interfere with the actions of the Five Great Emperor Lords, let alone engage in direct combat. But... what could have happened?
Xie Zhong was utterly bewildered, his mind unable to grasp any explanation, no matter how hard he tried. He wasn't to blame. Before Lu Ming started playing games, he had sent a text message to the Dragon King: "Hinder the Southern Emperor Lord's main force from entering Fog City."
A single text message had crippled Xie Zhong's troops! The Dragon King, carrying the Dragon Suppression Token, had met with Fog City's official leadership and ordered them to block the Southern Emperor Lord's main force, leading to the subsequent events. In truth, Fog City's officials had long been displeased with the Five Great Emperor Lords. Fog City was their territory, so why should the Five Great Emperor Lords be able to come and go as they pleased? This time, with the command of the Dragon Suppression Warlord, the authorities finally had a legitimate reason to curb the Emperor Lords' arrogance! They simply blocked the path and forced the main force out of Fog City!
Xie Zhong, completely unaware of what had transpired, stood frozen on the spot, unsure of how to salvage the situation.
Lu Ming glanced at his phone. "Another five minutes have passed. Why isn't the main force here yet? Emperor Lord Xie, give me a clear answer. How much longer do I have to wait for your main force to arrive?"
Wait how long? *Hmph.* No matter how long he waited, the main force would never arrive!
Xie Zhong stood there, stunned, his head bowed, looking dejected, like a stray dog. Without the support of his main force, he was no match for Lu Ming. What was he to do?
*Whoosh—*
Lu Ming took a deep breath, slowly walked forward, and said, "It seems the main force will not arrive. In that case, I apologize, Emperor Lord Xie, but I will have to settle the score with you."
Xie Zhong trembled. Stripped of his authority, he was less than a dog before Lu Ming. Meanwhile, Jiang Mengxin was overjoyed. She hadn't expected that an Emperor Lord, so highly lauded, would be so insignificant.
Lu Ming bent down and picked up a gun from the ground. Xie Zhong's face turned deathly pale. With a mere raise of Lu Ming's hand, he could end Xie Zhong's life on the spot! The dignified Southern Emperor Lord, reduced to such a pathetic state, to die at the hands of a live-in son-in-law, was truly laughable.
However, the turn of events once again defied his expectations. Lu Ming tossed the gun onto the ground and smiled. "As they say, you reap what you sow. Xie Zhong, you spared the three Su family women earlier. This time, I will spare you as well."
Xie Zhong was overjoyed. "Really?"
Lu Ming chuckled, "I, Lu Ming, always keep my word."
Xie Zhong let out a long sigh, marveling at how correct his earlier decision had been. If he hadn't shown leniency then, would he even be alive to leave now? He had intended to leave immediately.
"Wait." Lu Ming suddenly called out to him.
Xie Zhong asked, "What? Have you changed your mind?"
Lu Ming shook his head. "It's not about changing my mind. It's about you being less than honorable. How did you 'spare' the three Su family women earlier? Have you forgotten?"
*Er...*
Xie Zhong immediately understood. His so-called 'sparing' of the three Su family women had involved forcing them to drink until they vomited blood. That was his definition of 'sparing.'
The wheel of fortune turns. Now that Lu Ming held the upper hand, he too would 'spare' Xie Zhong.