The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 704 paid a heavy price.
After saying this, Zhu Xiong Ying turned around and returned to his palace, where he began to change into his dragon robe and armor.

He looked at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes cold and resolute.

Liu Ran, my children, I will avenge you! Dongyi, I am coming!

……

Three days later, Zhu Xiong Ying led his army to the border in a grand procession.

Along the way, Zhu Xiong Ying traveled day and night without sleep, with only one thought in his mind: to reach the border as soon as possible and personally exterminate the Dongyi barbarians!
The army marched into a canyon when suddenly, shouts of battle came from ahead.

"Report! Your Majesty, an ambush by the Eastern Barbarians has been spotted ahead!"

Zhu Xiong Ying sneered, "Good timing! I was just worried about not being able to find them!"

He charged ahead, plunging into the enemy ranks, his long sword flashing like a dragon emerging from the sea, invincible in its path.

"Kill!" Zhu Xiong Ying roared, his sword flashing and blood splattering.

The Dongyi soldiers fell in droves, like wheat.

Zhu Xiong Ying was a peerless martial artist, unmatched by anyone. He charged forward, closing in on the commander of the Eastern Barbarians.

Seeing Zhu Xiong Ying's bravery, the Eastern Yi commander was terrified and immediately ordered a retreat.

"Trying to escape? Not so easy!" Zhu Xiong Ying sneered, leaping into the air to block the path of the Eastern Barbarian commander.

"You...you are a devil!" The Eastern Barbarian commander was so frightened that he staggered backward.

"I am the Emperor of the Great Ming!" Zhu Xiong Ying thrust his sword forward, striking the chest of the Eastern Barbarian commander.

The Eastern Barbarian commander screamed and collapsed to the ground, dead.

"Your Majesty is mighty!" Upon seeing this, the Ming soldiers were greatly encouraged and shouted their support.

Without a leader, the Dongyi army collapsed and fled in all directions.

Zhu Xiong Ying led his army in pursuit, chasing and killing the remnants of the Eastern Yi army all the way, leaving corpses strewn across the fields and rivers of blood flowing.

In this battle, the Ming Dynasty won a great victory, while the Eastern Barbarians suffered heavy losses and had no choice but to sue for peace with the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Xiong Ying returned in triumph and was warmly welcomed by the people lining the streets.

He stood atop the city wall, watching the jubilant people, but felt no joy in his heart.

Because he knew that although the war was won, it came at a huge cost.

Countless soldiers sacrificed their precious lives to protect their homeland.

And he also lost the woman and child he loved most.

"Ran'er, my child, I have avenged you..." Zhu Xiong Ying murmured to himself, two lines of clear tears slowly flowing down his cheeks.

Just then, a mysterious figure dressed in a black cloak appeared silently beneath the city walls...

The man looked up at Zhu Xiong Ying on the city wall, a strange smile appearing on his lips...

Below the city gate, the man in black robes stood motionless, seemingly blending into the night. Zhu Xiong Ying's gaze swept across the jubilant crowd, finally settling on this abrupt figure. He frowned slightly, a sense of unease rising within him.

“Jiang Huan,” Zhu Xiong Ying said in a deep voice, “who is below the city walls?”

Jiang Huan followed Zhu Xiong Ying's gaze and saw only shadowy figures in black robes, their faces obscured. "This subordinate will go and take a look," Jiang Huan said, and began to descend the city wall.

"Wait!" Zhu Xiong Ying called out to him, "This man's origins are unknown, and he may have ulterior motives. Take your men and seize him!"

Jiang Huan accepted the order and led a team of Imperial Guards downstairs to surround the man in black.

"You audacious scoundrel, how dare you trespass into the imperial city! Surrender at once!" Jiang Huan shouted sternly.

Upon hearing this, the man in black robes showed no fear whatsoever; instead, he let out a low, cold laugh. "Surrender? With your ants as low as you?"

Before the words were even finished, the man in black robes flashed, moving like a ghost among the Imperial Guards. Wherever he passed, the Imperial Guards fell to the ground, groaning in agony.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Xiong Ying on the city wall had his pupils shrink. The black-robed man's martial arts skills far exceeded his expectations!
"You wicked villain, how dare you commit such atrocities right under my nose!" Zhu Xiong Ying roared, leaping down from the city wall and heading straight for the man in black robes.

Seeing Zhu Xiong Ying make his move, the man in black didn't dodge but instead met him head-on. The two clashed instantly, sword light flashing and palm winds whistling. Although Zhu Xiong Ying's martial arts were unparalleled, the man in black's martial arts were also extremely unpredictable, each move deadly, making it difficult for Zhu Xiong Ying to gain the upper hand for the time being.

The two fought fiercely for dozens of rounds, with neither gaining the upper hand.

“Your martial arts are very similar to someone…” Zhu Xiong Ying said in a deep voice while parrying.

"Oh?" The man in black sneered. "Like who?"

“Like…the late…Gu Santong!” Zhu Xiong Ying said, enunciating each word clearly.

Upon hearing this, the man in black paused, then burst into laughter. "You recognized me after all! That's right, I am the successor of Gu Santong!"

"A descendant of Gu Santong?" Zhu Xiong Ying was startled. "Didn't you say that Gu Santong was dead?"

"Dead? Hmph, he was just forced into hiding by you hypocrites!" The man in black robes spoke with resentment. "Today, I will avenge my master!"

After saying that, the man in black attacked again, his moves even more ferocious.

Zhu Xiong Ying dared not be careless and fought with all her might. The two clashed again, fighting fiercely until the sky darkened.

Upon seeing this, the surrounding people were terrified and fled in all directions.

"Your Majesty, be careful!" Jiang Huan shouted anxiously from the side.

Zhu Xiong Ying and the man in black robes fought fiercely, each using all their skills.

Suddenly, the man in black robes feinted an attack and then turned and fled.

"Trying to escape? Not so easy!" Zhu Xiong Ying sneered, giving chase.

The man in black robes ran wildly, with Zhu Xiong Ying in hot pursuit. The two chased and fled, and soon left the imperial city.

The man in black robes led Zhu Xiong Ying to a desolate wilderness.

"What, you're too scared to fight?" Zhu Xiong Ying sneered.

"Hmph, your provocation won't work on me!" the man in black said, suddenly pulling out a black pill from his robes and swallowing it.

"What is this?" A sense of foreboding rose in Zhu Xiong Ying's heart.

"This is... a pill that can greatly increase my power!" After the man in black robes finished speaking, a powerful aura immediately emanated from his body.

"Not good!" Zhu Xiong Ying exclaimed inwardly, and quickly got into a fighting stance, ready to meet the attack.

The man in black robes attacked again, his speed and strength several times greater than before.

Zhu Xiong Ying was caught off guard and retreated repeatedly.

"Haha, now you know how powerful I am!" the black-robed man laughed wildly. "Today is your death day!"

The man in black robes struck Zhu Xiong Ying's chest with a palm.

Zhu Xiong Ying hurriedly dodged to the side, but was still hit by the palm strike and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Your Majesty!" Upon seeing this, Jiang Huan rushed forward and stood in front of Zhu Xiong Ying.

"Get out of my way!" The man in black robes slapped Jiang Huan away with a single blow.

"Jiang Huan!" Zhu Xiong Ying's eyes were bloodshot as he charged forward again.

The man in black robes sneered and slapped Zhu Xiong Ying in the chest.

Zhu Xiong Ying felt a sharp pain in her chest, and she was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground.

"Your Majesty!" Jiang Huan struggled to his feet and ran to Zhu Xiong Ying's side.

Zhu Xiong Ying's face was pale, and blood kept flowing from the corner of his mouth.

"Cough cough..." Zhu Xiong Ying coughed a few times with difficulty, "Am I...am I going to die here?"

(End of this chapter)