Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"Enough, stop this nonsense. Do you all have to fight until bloodshed is inevitable?"

Yu Ling Shuang finally lost her temper and, like a volcanic eruption, loudly stopped Shen Lang and Bai Tianyu.

"We're all on the same side, why do we have to act like this is a fight to the death?"

"Our current enemy is the Great Chu Dynasty, and the Empress sitting on the throne, not someone we can fight over because we don't like each other."

Yu Ling Shuang coldly lectured Shen Lang and Bai Tianyu.

Bai Tianyu was the first to bow to Yu Ling Shuang and admit his mistake: "What you say is very true, Madam. I was a bit presumptuous."

Yu Ling Shuang nodded, then shifted her gaze to Shen Lang.

However, Shen Lang had no intention of calming things down at all. He stood there motionless, his expression sinister and his state of mind unreadable.

"Shen Lang, why aren't you saying anything?" Qi Yinshang's voice rang out. "Sect Leader Bai has already admitted his mistake, shouldn't you also show some appreciation?"

"Show what?" Shen Lang retorted. "This guy surnamed Bai came up here and started smearing me, and you expect me to show some respect? Ha, you're really joking."

Bai Tianyu: "If it weren't for you, would the martial world have become like this? Shen Lang, I wish I could tear you apart and rip your bones to vent my hatred."

Shen Lang's lips curled into a smile: "Then what are you waiting for? To wait for the banquet to begin!"

Bai Tianyu clenched his fists, his face flushed red: "If this weren't Blackwater City, I..."

"Oh, you don't dare?" Shen Lang interrupted Bai Tianyu, who was about to speak. "If you don't dare, where do you get the courage to say such nonsense?"

Bai Tianyu was furious.

Seeing that the two were about to fight again, Yu Ling Shuang raised her voice once more: "Stop arguing, don't you think the situation is complicated enough?"

"Sect Master Bai, you are, after all, the Sect Master of Xuantian Sect. I deeply regret what happened to your beloved disciple, but now is not the time to act rashly."

"And you, Shen Lang, stop acting like you're always right and won't let it go. We're all in the same boat now."

Mutual understanding and support are essential. Besides, it's because of you that everything is happening now, so what's wrong with letting him say a few words?

"I don't want to get involved in the conflict between the two of you. I won't interfere in how you resolve it privately after this is over."

"The most urgent task is to annihilate the Chu army troops equipped with sharp firearms and clear away all hidden dangers for crossing the Yangtze River to Nanjing.

Shen Lang and Bai Tianyu finally calmed down for the time being.

But judging from the look of mutual disdain in their eyes, this matter is clearly not over yet.

"Shen Lang."

Yu Ling Shuang looked at Shen Lang and said.

"If Blackwater City were to establish an army equipped with firearms like the Chu army, would you be willing to lend a hand?"

Instantly, everyone in the hall was dumbfounded, even Shen Lang was taken aback.

What does this mean?

Is it possible that by establishing a firearms unit for Blackwater City, Blackwater City is also abandoning its cooperation with sect forces and resorting to strange and ingenious techniques to conquer the world?

No, this is absolutely unacceptable.

"I object!"

Gong Jingshan, the leader of the Hundred Herbs Sect, immediately voiced his opposition.

"Madam, do you not trust our sect?"

"Why do you say that, Sect Leader Gong?"

"If not, then why establish a firearms army? This clearly shows a lack of trust in sects like ours."

A chorus of doubts immediately rose within the hall.

"Sect Leader Gong is right. Isn't this a clear indication that they don't trust our sect's strength?"

"Madam, are you going to use those weapons that were used to humiliate our sect's disciples to humiliate us?"

"Madam, isn't your suggestion going too far? Please forgive us, but we absolutely cannot agree to it."

Yu Ling Shuang was amused by this group of short-sighted fellows.

Seeing the chaotic and noisy scene inside the hall, she immediately stood up and shouted, "Have you all had enough?!"

The hall fell silent instantly.

"You should all be well aware of the power of firearms. How can we suppress the Chu army without using firearms? Are you planning to pay with your lives?"

"Besides, we're just using firearms to subdue the enemy. Once it's done, we can simply destroy them. I don't know what everyone's worried about!"

Yu Ling Shuang's voice echoed in the hall, causing everyone to unconsciously lower their heads.

"Shen Lang, how about I entrust you with full responsibility for the manufacture of firearms?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, I can't do that."

Yu Ling Shuang's face stiffened: "Can't you do it? Or are you unwilling to do it?"

Shen Lang snorted coldly: "I say, aren't you oversimplifying the manufacture of these firearms?"

Do you know how many steps it takes to make a rifle from a blank iron to a finished product?

Do you know how complicated the selection of iron materials is?

"Furthermore, how rigorous is the firearms' accuracy calibration?"

"We have nothing now, and the Chu army is right here. It's simply not realistic to develop firearms at this point."

"You think you can replicate a Chu army armed only with firearms without a complete system? Madam, you are oversimplifying things."

Upon hearing Shen Lang's words, many sect leaders who had been on tenterhooks breathed a sigh of relief.

Since even the former son-in-law of the Great Chu Emperor says it won't work, then it's basically hopeless.

Upon hearing this, Yu Ling Shuang's eyes flashed with barely concealed disappointment: "Since the Duke of Zhenguo has said so, then let's put this matter aside for now."

Just then, a member of the Swift Wind Team entered the hall, quickly walked to Tuoba Ying's side, and whispered a few words in his ear.

Tuoba Ying nodded and immediately said to Yu Ling Shuang, "Madam, I have important matters to attend to, please excuse me."

Yu Ling Shuang did not stop him, but simply nodded to him and let him leave.

As soon as they stepped out of the main hall, Tuoba Ying grabbed the collar of the messenger and demanded, "Explain yourself clearly, what exactly happened?"

"Captain Tuoba, after entering Blackwater City today, I specifically counted the number of Swiftwind Team members and found that one person was missing."

"One is missing?" Tuoba Ying frowned. "What are you trying to say?"

"Captain Tuoba, please think carefully. The personnel count was conducted twice: once before entering the city and again after entering the city."

There were no missing people before entering the city, but when I counted them just now, I found that one person was indeed missing.

Tuoba Ying: "So, you're saying we didn't realize someone was missing from the team? Then where did he go?"

"I just retraced my steps and discovered it near the entrance to Blackwater City."

Lying there was a corpse; it was Xiao Qi, a member of my Swiftwind Team.

"He was only wearing a single garment when he died, and his armor was nowhere to be found."

Tuoba Ying's eyes narrowed sharply: "So, someone has infiltrated Blackwater City under the identity of Xiao Qi?"

"Yes, Captain Tuoba, it seems that there is no other way to explain this strange phenomenon."

ha~

The smile behind Tuoba Ying's Yaksha mask.

"Go find him immediately! You must bring him to me!"

……

At that moment, a member of the Swiftwind Team quietly appeared in the back mountain.

As a result, they had only taken a few steps into the back of the mountain.

"Who goes there! Who gave you the audacity to trespass into the restricted area behind the mountain without permission!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful palm strike descended from the sky.