Starting as the young master of a medicine shop, he practiced swordsmanship for twenty years.

Chapter 436 Hu Weibang, the warlord of Sanshui County! Using unorthodox methods to attack Lu Xuan.
The Xia Yu Kingdom was a feudal state similar to the Republic of China era, formed after the collapse of the previous dynasty's imperial power.

It was divided into thirteen states, each with its own counties.

Qingzhou, the state where Lu Xuan is currently located, is situated in the southeast, a vital transportation hub with abundant resources, but it has also become a strategic location fought over by military strategists, with deeply entrenched internal factions.

The prefecture has a total of twenty counties, which are currently controlled by more than a dozen warlords of varying sizes.

Just three days after Lu Xuan returned from General Mountain, a group of well-dressed uninvited guests arrived outside the city gate of Dingnan County.

The leader was a middle-aged scholar wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a well-fitting Zhongshan suit.

Holding a gold-embroidered visiting card, he loudly proclaimed to the guards on the city wall: "Zhou Zhili, the secretary-general under Commander Hu of Sanshui County, has come to pay a visit to Commander Lu and present a personal letter from my lord, Commander Hu!"

The news quickly reached Lu Xuan's villa.

"General, that old fox Hu Weibang is quick on his feet." Deputy Mo presented the visiting card with extreme caution. "A weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken is definitely up to no good."

Lu Xuan accepted the visiting card, and with a light touch of his fingertip on the gold-lettered characters, a faint, chilling aura that had been trying to penetrate his body was dispelled.

"A murderous aura seeping into ink, bewitching the mind? A mere trick."

Lu Xuan then unfolded the visiting card, which contained Hu Weibang's smooth and humble words.

The gist is...

I have heard that Commander Lu recently acquired a great treasure from an ancient tomb, and I admire him greatly.

However, possessing such a treasure is a crime, as wolves surround him, fearing that the commander-in-chief might not be able to hold the line alone.

We have prepared a small feast and will hold it at the "Wangjiang Tower" at the border of the two counties. We wish to discuss with the commander-in-chief the grand plan of forming an alliance to defend against the enemy and work together to protect the peace of the region.

After reading the contents of the visiting card, Lu Xuan casually tossed it onto Deputy Officer Mo.

Lieutenant Mo quickly took it and examined it closely with the feng shui master who had come over.

A moment later, their expressions changed simultaneously.

"General, you mustn't go!" the feng shui master said anxiously. "Wangjiang Tower is built over the river, and the terrain is complex, making it the easiest place to set up an ambush!"
Furthermore, Hu Weibang appears benevolent on the surface but is treacherous at heart. His network comprises people from all walks of life, and there are bound to be wicked individuals assisting him.

"This banquet is likely a trap, a scheme to ensnare the commander-in-chief!"

Lieutenant Mo quickly added, "General, what the advisor said is absolutely right! Hu Weibang's nickname is 'Smiling Tiger,' and he's notorious for hiding a knife behind a smile."

A ruthless glint appeared on his face as he lowered his voice: "His invitation now is hardly an alliance; it's clearly because he's jealous of the gains from General Mountain and covets our three counties!"

"You think you can defeat our Dingnan Army with such despicable means!"

"If you ask me, we should just ignore him, or..." Deputy Mo's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he made a chopping gesture, "...have my men take a team of brothers and ambush him at Wangjiang Tower in advance, so we can strike first!"

"Just take down that old fox Hu Weibang, then seize the opportunity to annex his Sanshui County!"

Upon hearing this, the feng shui master beside him nodded slightly, clearly also believing it to be a good opportunity.

Although the Dingnan Army occupied three counties, most of them were barren mountainous areas with limited output.

Sanshui County, which Hu Weibang occupied, had a bustling river and land port, a prosperous business environment, and fertile land. It was one of the most prosperous counties in the surrounding area, and the Dingnan Army had long been envious of it.

Hu Weibang coveted the three counties and ancient tombs of the Dingnan Army, while the Dingnan Army also coveted his incredibly wealthy Sanshui County.

This chaotic world is a hunting ground where people devour each other.

Throughout history, the best way to deal with an enemy has always been to hold a meeting.

This method has always worked, so how could Lu Xuan not understand it?

Perfect timing! He wanted to relax a bit too. If the other side dared to come to the meeting, Lu Xuan guaranteed they'd be left with no one to turn to for help!
"You two will lead a thousand elite troops and wait five miles outside Wangjiang Tower."

"I, the commander-in-chief, will go personally."

"General, you mustn't!"

Upon hearing this, both Lieutenant Mo and the feng shui master were taken aback at first, then their expressions changed drastically, and they almost simultaneously blurted out their dissuasion.

The commander-in-chief personally went to this dangerous place; it was far too risky.

"I have my own plans."

Lieutenant Mo and the feng shui master trembled, all their words of dissuasion stuck in their throats, and they quickly bowed deeply.

"Yes, Commander! Your subordinate obeys!"

Only then did they suddenly realize that the man before them was no longer the commander-in-chief they used to need to protect at all times.

The Grand Marshal is a terrestrial deity who can freely draw divine talismans, annihilate flying zombies, and invoke the might of heaven!

Yes, the commander-in-chief is protected by all sorts of divine talismans, and his supernatural powers are unfathomable.

Let alone dealing with a "smiling tiger," even conquering the world single-handedly is not impossible!
Their previous worries seemed so superfluous and laughable in the face of absolute power.

When the two looked up again, their eyes were filled with absolute awe and fervent trust.

Hu Weibang, the smiling tiger, is destined to disappear from the world completely this time.

And the prosperous Sanshui County will surely fall into the hands of the Dingnan Army!

The next day, at Wangjiang Tower.

This building stands alone by the river, offering a stunning view. Below, there are noticeably more capable "men" patrolling back and forth, their eyes sharp and their waists bulging.

The private room on the top floor had a window facing the river wide open, allowing a gentle breeze to caress the delicate gauze curtains.

The banquet has been prepared, with a dazzling array of delicacies from land and sea.

When Hu Weibang, who was in the main seat, saw Lu Xuan enter, he was particularly struck by the fact that the man was followed by only a mere fifty-odd soldiers.

A barely perceptible glint of shrewdness and disdain flashed deep in his eyes, but his face instantly lit up with an incredibly enthusiastic smile as he stood up from his seat to greet him.

"Oh my! Commander Lu! Your presence is an honor to our humble abode! Please, take a seat!"

Hu Weibang acted extremely humbly, even personally leading Lu Xuan to a seat, placing him in the honored guest seat at the head of the table.

The most eye-catching thing was a woman that Hu Weibang had specially arranged to stand next to Lu Xuan.

The woman was about sixteen years old, wearing a moon-white cheongsam embroidered with twin lotus flowers. The fabric was exquisite, and the cut was perfect, perfectly outlining her breathtaking curves.

With her exquisite eyebrows and eyes, fair skin, almond-shaped eyes and peach-like cheeks, and a delicate and pitiful charm that evoked pity in her eyes, she was exactly the kind of Jiangnan beauty that the original owner favored most.

Before Lu Xuan could ask, Hu Weibang introduced her with a smile, his tone carrying an ambiguous tone that only men could understand: "General Lu, this is Miss Su Wan, a famous talented woman in our Sanshui County. She is proficient in all the arts, especially the pipa."

"Having heard of your refined taste, Commander Lu, I, Hu, have specially invited you here to add to the festivities of today's banquet. I hope you will not find it offensive."

Upon hearing this, Su Wan rose and bowed gracefully to Lu Xuan. Her movements were elegant, her neck slightly drooping, revealing a delicate, fair curve, and her voice was soft and intoxicating.

"Wan'er greets Commander Lu."

When she looked up at Lu Xuan, her eyes were like spring water, containing just the right amount of shyness and admiration.

Any normal man would probably find it difficult to resist such beauty and charm.

Hu Weibang carefully observed Lu Xuan's reaction from the side, sneering inwardly.

Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman, let alone a lecherous brute like you.
The moment you let your guard down, it will be your death day!
Lu Xuan calmly glanced at Su Wan, as if admiring a fine piece of porcelain, and nodded slightly in response.

Under his all-seeing eye, all pretense and falsehood were exposed. This woman appeared frail and delicate, but in reality, her movements were graceful and controlled, as light as a feather.

Her breathing was long and subtle, far exceeding that of ordinary people, clearly indicating that she possessed extraordinary seductive skills, belonging to the unorthodox school.

Hu Weibang's schemes were ruthless.

If the person sitting here were still the same lustful ghost, faced with such stunning beauty and deliberately flattering charm, he would probably have already been swayed by her beauty and his bones would have melted, leaving him with no sense of caution whatsoever.
When that time comes, the danger will be upon you, and you may not even know how you died.

At this moment, Hu Weibang introduced the people accompanying him at the table: "This is Director Wang of the Chamber of Commerce, and this is Mr. Li, a local gentry..."

He paused slightly and smiled when introducing the last two silent, ordinary-looking elderly men.

"These two are guests of Hu's household. They have some knowledge of health preservation techniques. I brought them out to broaden their horizons."

Lu Xuan's gaze seemed to casually sweep over the two "guests" standing behind Hu Weibang.

The man was thin and bony, like a withered bamboo in the wind. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, but the ten fingers that occasionally peeked out had long, grayish-white nails.

His eyes appeared cloudy, but deep within them flickered an unsettling green light.

A sorcerer specializing in occult arts.

Lu Xuan immediately made a judgment in his mind: this kind of evil art uses all kinds of poisonous insects in the world as a medium to bring disaster to living beings, and is extremely insidious.

The other person had a rosy complexion and always wore a harmless, warm smile, like a kind elder.

However, the inconspicuous little black gourd hanging from his waist faintly emitted a strange and alluring fluctuation that could bewitch the soul and disturb the mind.

The Soul-Capturing School specializes in attacking the soul, excelling in illusion and control, and is also a leader among unorthodox sects.

Hu Weibang really went to great lengths to deal with him, recruiting all sorts of monsters and demons.

Lu Xuan remained calm and composed, even picking up his teacup and taking a small sip, as if he were merely examining two insignificant ornaments.

In the eyes of this Taoist master, these unorthodox tricks were nothing but demons and monsters, which could be easily destroyed.

After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

Seeing that the atmosphere was "harmonious," Hu Weibang felt that the time was right and began to talk at length about the "benefits" of the alliance.

He spoke earnestly, appearing to be concerned for Lu Xuan: "General Lu, you have obtained a great treasure from the previous dynasty, which is truly enviable. However... this blessing is too great, and sometimes it can be a hot potato."

Hu Weibang feigned concern: "As you probably know, that scoundrel Zhang Tianbiao, the 'Mad Dog,' has long been eyeing your three counties!"

He commands ten thousand guns and controls the coal mines of Blackstone County; his soldiers are fierce and his generals are brave—he's not to be trifled with!

"And then there's 'Stone Buddha' Zhao Shoucheng, with eight thousand men under his command, guarding the mountainous pass of Pan'an County. He's a formidable opponent."

At this point, Hu Weibang leaned closer and lowered his voice, as if he were sharing some secret.

"To be honest, Commander Lu, both of them have sent people to contact me, Hu, with the intention of harming you!"

He then changed the subject, putting on a "sincere" smile.

"But! As long as you, Commander, are willing to show sincerity and cooperate with me wholeheartedly... I, Hu, am not very capable, but I still have some influence in Qingzhou. If I intervene, I guarantee that Zhang Tianbiao and Zhao Shoucheng will not dare to touch you in the slightest!"

After Hu Weibang finished speaking, he held up two fingers, but then felt that wasn't enough. Finally, he spread his palms out, made a "seven" gesture, and said with a smile his ultimate goal.

"It doesn't need to be too much. Commander Lu, you only need to take out 70% of the gold and silver jewelry you have obtained this time, and I will use that to bribe the various parties."

"In this way, we can ensure your safety, and our two families can become allies to fight against foreign enemies. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Seventy percent?

Lu Xuan paused slightly in his hand holding the wine glass, and looked up at Hu Weibang.

This guy just talks the talk, does nothing, and thinks he can take away 70% of the ancient tomb's treasure out of thin air?

They really treated Lu Xuan like a sucker they could manipulate at will.

At this moment, Su Wan held her pipa, gently plucking and strumming, and played a tune.

The zither music flowed gently and tenderly, and an invisible allure rippled with the sound waves, attempting to soften Lu Xuan's mind and amplify his inner desires.

She would occasionally glance at Lu Xuan, her eyes filled with a seductive allure.

Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Hu Weibang raised his glass again, his smile becoming even more sincere.

"...Therefore, for the well-being of our two armies, and for the peace of the northern border of Qingzhou."

"I hope that Commander Lu can give me a clear answer today."

“Okay,” Lu Xuan said, putting down his wine glass. His voice echoed in the private room.

“However, I want Sanshui County.” He looked at Hu Weibang as if stating a given fact. “General Hu, I’m sure you won’t refuse this small request of mine.”

Upon hearing this, all sounds in the private room ceased abruptly, plunging into a deathly silence.

Hu Weibang's smile froze instantly, his skin and flesh twitched stiffly, and the veins on his forehead bulged out.

He practically forced the words out through clenched teeth: "General Lu... haha... hahaha... these jokes aren't funny at all!"

"Who's joking with you?" Lu Xuan's voice suddenly turned cold. "From today onwards, Sanshui County will be under the jurisdiction of my Dingnan Army."

"You're asking for it!" Hu Weibang could no longer maintain his pretense of kindness and slammed his fist on the table!

Almost at the same moment he stood up, something unexpected happened!
Su Wan, who had been feigning weakness, instantly transformed her gentle and charming eyes into a venomous and shrewish gaze!
Her jade-like fingers slashed across the pipa strings, and instead of a melodious tune, a piercing, ear-piercing sound that tore at the eardrums!
The sound waves were condensed into a tangible substance, transforming into countless invisible sharp needles that pierced Lu Xuan's eardrums!

The Gu Master suddenly raised his hands from under the table, his ten fingers like ghost claws, and countless tiny Gu worms, almost invisible to the naked eye, spewed from his fingertips, like a gray mist, silently enveloping Lu Xuan!
Once this insect enters the body, it can both control the mind, turning the person into a puppet, and devour them completely.

Almost simultaneously, the Soul-Seizing Sect cultivator slapped the black gourd at his waist, and a flash of black light appeared at the mouth of the gourd.

An invisible, soul-capturing ripple shot straight towards Lu Xuan's brow, seemingly trying to temporarily immobilize his soul to facilitate the invasion of the Gu worms!
Sound attack, Gu technique, and soul-capturing technique—three deadly moves—explode in the same instant!

Their target was Lu Xuan, aiming to kill him in one strike and bring him under control!
Upon seeing this, Hu Weibang's smile instantly turned into a sinister expression and an air of certainty.

However, Lu Xuan didn't even flinch in the face of this sudden and deadly attack.

He simply put down his wine glass.

"Ding."

The soft sound of the bottom of the cup touching the table seemed to carry a strange rhythm, easily dispelling the demonic sound.

next moment,
The swarming insects, when they were still a foot or so away from Lu Xuan's body, seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall of flames. They didn't even have time to scream before they instantly vaporized and disappeared into wisps of green smoke!

The soul-capturing ripple vanished without a trace the instant it touched Lu Xuan's brow.

The Soul-Seizing cultivator was struck as if by lightning. He groaned, black blood seeping from his seven orifices, and fell straight backward—his magic had been backfired a hundredfold!
In an instant, Su Wan's body trembled violently, and the pipa in her hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

The force of the recoil caused her blood to surge, and a sweet taste rose in her throat, almost making her vomit blood.

Lu Xuan then raised his eyes and looked at Hu Weibang, whose smile had completely frozen on his face and whose face was deathly pale.

"Is this...your attitude towards cooperation?"

"Then this great general will not stand on ceremony!"

(End of this chapter)