For ordinary people, it might be acceptable, but for someone like Duker, who was at the end of his rope, it was of no use.
Thinking of this, Pelisa's eyes reddened. Duker waved his hand, and Pelisa, realizing her impropriety, turned her head away.
This scene was not seen by Gusang beneath the city gate. All eyes were focused on Duker, as if he were the center of the universe; who would pay attention to anyone else?
Duker, putting aside his emotions, smiled and said, "Brother Gusang, since you've traveled so far, won't you come in for a chat?"
Gusang shook his head, "Keer! Gusang will visit you alone on horseback another day!"
Duker nodded, "Give my regards to the brothers and sisters in the West. Tell them Duker misses them dearly!"
As he spoke, his voice became somewhat mournful, clearly moved.
Gusang was also deeply moved, casting a long glance at Duker, "Keer! The brothers in the West miss you too!"
With that, he cupped his hands, "Farewell!"
The three armies moved in unison, turned their horses, and left Tieqiu Fort.
Duker waved his hand, leaning on his body, and stood on the city wall, watching Gusang's troops recede into the distance.
The shadow of Gusang's troops was no longer visible in the distance; only a black speck could be seen constantly crawling forward.
Duker remained motionless for a long time. Pelisa, suppressing her pain, softly said, "Brother! Gusang has left!"
Duker slightly lifted the corner of his eye, "Your Majesty, Duker has not failed you! Do not you fail Duker either!"
Duker's voice was weak, as if he had expended all his strength. After saying this, he felt his momentum loosen, and his entire body rapidly aged at a visible pace. He slowly closed his eyes.
Pelisa immediately burst into tears, knelt down, and cried out with all her might, "Brother!"
The officers and soldiers on the city wall were all shocked, feeling a pang in their hearts, and knelt down together:
"General!"
That night, Duker, one of the six dukes of the Shengduo Dynasty, died of illness in the small pass of Tieqiu Fort in such a lonely manner. Duker's death did not cause much reaction in Shengdiluoman and was soon forgotten.
Gusang's tens of thousands of troops returned without success, and Wilson also fell ill on the way to dispatch troops in a very intriguing manner.
As a frontier marquis, Wilson would not be targeted by Tadarell when the Winter regime was stable, nor would he be made difficult because Wilson fell ill.
Only Agamemnon marched his army out of Zhenyang, but soon encountered the renowned general Aaron.
After a month of stalemate with Aaron, Agamemnon achieved no success. Moreover, the other two routes retreated, and the beast race was still preparing, clearly showing no intention of dispatching troops.
After cursing the ancestors of the other three routes for eighteen generations, Agamemnon also slowly retreated.
Victor's four-route army attacking Shengdiluoman thus retreated with little fanfare, but its imposing momentum caused Shengdiluoman to break out in a cold sweat.
However, the Shengdiluoman high command was unaware that a conspiracy was being meticulously brewed.
The Xinzhi side had already received news of the independence of the three cities. Xinzhi City, situated at the edge of the previous vortex, was in a state of panic, and entry and exit were strictly checked.
Who would have thought that Gissed, this madman, would arrive at the city gate, claiming to be the mayor of Xinzhi and demanding that the current mayor come out immediately to hand over the seal?
The mayor naturally refused, but unexpectedly, Gissed killed and injured several people.
Hodesa ascended the city wall and heard shouts from below: "I am the mayor of Xinzhi. Quickly, let your mayor come out to hand over the city and welcome me in!"
The mayor, standing on the city wall and seeing his ferocity, was filled with fear. At this moment, Hodesa ascended the city wall and smelled a strong scent of blood from afar.
The mayor turned around and met Hodesa's gaze. The mayor quickly stepped forward, grabbed Hodesa's hands, and said anxiously, "Oh! Sir, you've finally arrived! This brute below the city is truly formidable!"
The mayor's voice seemed to have changed its tone.
Hodesa saw the mayor sweating profusely, and knowing he was terrified, he comforted him, "Mayor, there's no need to worry. He's just a presumptuous little thief."
Hearing Hodesa's tone, the mayor felt relieved, his face regaining some color, and he nodded repeatedly, "With you here, I am at ease!"
The mayor relaxed, and suddenly heard a hissing sound from behind, which sounded very strange. He couldn't help but glance behind Hodesa. He was so startled that he immediately jumped behind Hodesa and shouted, pointing behind Hodesa, "A snake!"
The king cobra on Zu'an's cane was flicking its scarlet tongue, its eyes viciously fixed on him, as if it could instantly see through his inner thoughts. He felt extremely horrified and terrified.
Zu'an had already retreated to Hodesa's side. He bowed slightly and said, "Sir, you have been frightened!"
As he spoke, he stroked the snake on his cane. The snake, after being stroked by Zu'an, immediately restrained its sharpness and was no longer as terrifying.
The mayor, still looking at Hodesa with a terrified expression, said, "This is an old acquaintance of mine."
Only then did the mayor wipe his forehead, muster his courage, and step out from in front of Hodesa, "Sir, you truly have remarkable skill."
Zu'an did not speak. The three of them arrived at the city wall and looked down.
Hodesa couldn't help but frown. There were already dozens of people dead below the city, forty or fifty at least. Limbs were scattered, and it was impossible to tell whose they were. Some people's heads were brutally torn off, and the groans were incessant, making it incredibly tragic.
The ferocity and ruthlessness of the attackers made even the usually bloodthirsty Wu people look sideways.
Looking at the mess below the city, even the seasoned soldiers' faces were pale. It was no wonder no one dared to go down.
Hodesa's gaze shifted to the swaggering man below the city. Demonic energy surged from him; it was clear at a glance that he was some kind of demon transformed.
It was said that in this chaotic world, demons and monsters ran rampant, but who would have thought they would be so lawless?
Although Hodesa was a Wu person, he was deeply influenced by traditional culture and possessed a righteous spirit. He hated villains who slaughtered innocent people the most, but his usual composure suppressed the anger in his chest.
Zu'an saw this and, without changing his expression, looked down at the city and said, "In this life, no one can stand aloof. Destiny is not something you can escape if you wish to."
The mayor was confused by his words, but Hodesa understood. This senior Wu tribesman was indeed an excellent orator, but he might never understand that the hatred between the Wu tribes had long doomed them to be unable to unite.
The Black Feather ancestor had already proved this with the blood of the past. Even giving up all worldly power could not extinguish the hatred. "If others do not offend me, I will not offend them. If others offend me, what about gods and Buddhas?"
In Shengdiluoman, civil and military officials gathered for the morning court. Sailerpeis, seated on the supreme throne, yawned repeatedly. It was only when Xiao Xun stepped forward that Sailerpeis became alert.
"Your Majesty, the three routes of the Winter army have retreated, leaving only the beast race. I request to be sent as an envoy to the beast race to persuade them to cease hostilities."
Sailerpeis naturally understood that Xiao Xun's so-called persuasion to cease hostilities was essentially mediation, just phrased differently.
Sailerpeis, having been raised in the royal family since childhood, had a royal demeanor in his conduct and style.
Although he harbored deep hatred for the beast race, as Jet had said, as a royal descendant, he should endure what others could not and do what others could not do.
Shengdiluoman was too fragile and could not withstand major storms. What Shengdiluoman needed now was to recuperate and build strength.
However, a stir arose in the military ranks. But Xiao Xun was not Jet. When he made a decision, others had to consider it carefully, so no one voiced their opposition.