: Coercion

Time rewinds to the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Upon hearing that Zhang Hei had gone to the Red Flower Camp to demand an explanation, Liu Er immediately sensed trouble and hurried out of his tent.

He first contacted Guan Hong using his spiritual sense, informed him of the situation, and instructed his second brother to carefully manage the camp.

Then, Liu Er hastily mounted his horse and rushed out of his own camp.

At the camp's entrance, he ran into Ning Zhuo, who was just returning.

"Military Advisor, you're back!" Liu Er's face lit up with joy, but it was quickly replaced by anxiety. "Military Advisor, things are bad. I must hurry to the Red Flower Camp. If I'm late, my third brother might face danger," Liu Er said urgently.

Ning Zhuo was surprised and asked, "What happened?"

Spiritual sense communication is very fast, and within a couple of breaths, Ning Zhuo understood the whole story.

Ning Zhuo immediately grabbed the reins of Liu Er's mount: "General, stay calm! If you rush over like this, you might not be able to help General Zhang Hei."

"Does General Liu intend to join forces with General Zhang to take down General Mu Lan?"

Liu Er was taken aback, lowered his head, and pondered: "General Mu Lan is highly skilled in archery and can severely injure even Long Ye. Unless my second brother, third brother, and I join forces, we might stand a chance against her."

"That's why I'm so worried about my third brother this time."

Ning Zhuo continued: "General, since you don't want to fight General Mu Lan, you must go to reason with her."

"Going empty-handed and unprepared will only lead to humiliation."

Liu Er was stunned again and urged, "Military Advisor, the situation is critical. Don't keep me in suspense. If you have any ideas, just say them directly. I'll follow your advice."

Ning Zhuo suggested: "General, why not bring our severely wounded soldiers along to the Red Flower Camp? The wounded don't need further treatment; it's best if they can barely cling to life."

Liu Er suddenly understood: "Let's do as the Military Advisor says!"

He immediately gave the order.

The severely wounded were loaded onto carts, and Liu Er rode at the front.

"I have a good relationship with Physician Zhang Zhongyi of the Red Flower Camp. Perhaps we can use this connection to ease tensions between our camp and theirs," Ning Zhuo added as he joined them.

Liu Er was burning with anxiety, but Ning Zhuo reassured him: "With General Zhang's abilities, even if he can't win, he can certainly hold out for a long time without being quickly defeated."

"And even if he has already lost to Mu Lan, General Mu Lan wouldn't be foolish enough to kill a comrade."

"Her own situation is precarious—she can barely protect herself!"

Liu Er grew curious: "Why is that?"

Ning Zhuo took the opportunity to tell Liu Er about his experience today, having morning tea with Shuang Jing.

When Liu Er heard that Ning Zhuo had directly refused Shuang Jing, he was so excited he nearly jumped off his horse to grab Ning Zhuo's hands and shake them.

Liu Er's impression of Ning Zhuo greatly improved, and he praised him: "Military Advisor, your character is noble and loyal. That Shuang Jing scorns the monarch and harms his colleagues—he is nothing but a parasite to the state!"

Ning Zhuo nodded and sighed: "After this incident, I've finally seen Shuang Jing for who he is. I never expected someone of the royal surname to engage in such deceitful schemes."

"Alas, perhaps this is why the family elder allowed me to travel and see the world."

"I've met you three generals, witnessed your oath of brotherhood, fought side by side, and also seen the state's parasites and the villains who harm their comrades."

"I'm not leaving."

"Staying in the Three Generals Camp is far more comfortable than the White Jade Camp."

Hearing this, Liu Er's heart raced with joy: "I too feel fortunate to have met the Military Advisor in Canglin Immortal City!"

His joy greatly alleviated the anxiety in his heart.

When they arrived near the gates of the Red Flower Camp, they saw Zhang Hei and Mu Lan already engaged in a duel high in the sky.

"Alas! They've started fighting after all. What should we do?" Liu Er asked Ning Zhuo for advice.

Ning Zhuo spread his hands: "Since they've already started and what's done is done, let them continue."

After watching for a while, they saw Mu Lan retreat suddenly, take out her weapon treasure, the Red Phoenix Bow, nock a Fierce Heart Arrow, and even activate her divine ability, the Red Heart Swan Arrow!

Liu Er cried out in alarm: "This is bad! Third Brother is in danger!"

He wanted to intervene, but it was too late. The arrow shot out.

It veered far off course, streaking across the sky and disappearing into the clouds.

*Thud.*

After shooting the arrow, Mu Lan vomited blood, her vision went dark, and she fainted, plummeting from the sky.

Fortunately, she regained consciousness shortly after, midway through her fall, and quickly adjusted.

*Boom.*

She still hit the ground, sending up waves of air and dust.

As the dust settled, Mu Lan was seen kneeling motionless in a deep crater.

Seeing something was wrong, Zhang Zhongyi rushed over and noticed Mu Lan's face was pale and purple, and the wound on her forearm had reopened, bleeding continuously!

"Just as I thought!"

Zhang Zhongyi's heart sank instantly: "Mu Lan forced herself to cultivate the Mystic Gold Armor-Breaking Technique, and the backlash has been accumulating. It's finally erupted. This is a big trouble!"

Mu Lan couldn't stand up and quickly sent a spiritual sense message: "Uncle Zhang, I'm too weak to stand. Please help me up, quickly!"

Mu Lan urged.

Zhang Zhongyi hurriedly helped Mu Lan to her feet.

Seeing Mu Lan stand up again, her body straight as a spear, the Red Flower Camp, which had been worried into silence, erupted in cheers.

"The General is fine! It seems her injuries aren't serious!"

"How is this possible? The General actually lost?!"

"If Old General Mu were here, he'd have that black brute on the ground in no time!"

The soldiers of the Red Flower Camp were in an uproar, their morale wavering.

Hearing these voices, Mu Lan felt dizzy and nearly fainted on the spot.

Just then, Ning Zhuo's voice suddenly rang out across the camp: "Thank you, General Mu Lan, for showing mercy! To spare General Zhang's life, you intentionally missed, enduring immense backlash."

"From start to finish, you held back in this duel. Such magnanimity is truly worthy of the heir to the Upper General's Manor!"

The soldiers of the Red Flower Camp were stunned for a moment, then understood.

"So that's what happened!"

"I knew our General couldn't possibly lose!"

"Hmph, that black brute is unreasonable, a ruffian by birth. How could he match our General's integrity?"

Morale stabilized once more.

"Ning Zhuo..." Mu Lan silently repeated the name, her feelings toward him growing even more complex.

Hovering in the sky, Zhang Hei glared, wanting to loudly refute Ning Zhuo—none of what he said was true.

But at that moment, he received a spiritual sense message from Liu Er.

Zhang Hei choked back his words, unable to voice them, and landed dejectedly to greet Liu Er.

"Big Brother, why..." Zhang Hei sent a message, utterly confused.

Liu Er replied: "Shut up, you reckless fool. Your impulsiveness nearly caused a disaster. Listen to the Military Advisor more, cooperate with him, and stop speaking out of turn."

"Oh, okay." Zhang Hei could only lower his head, feeling extremely frustrated but unwilling to disobey Liu Er.

Next, Ning Zhuo stepped forward as a bridge to facilitate communication between the two sides.

With Liu Er keeping Zhang Hei in check, he could only glare helplessly.

Mu Lan was injured and unable to fight, and she held a favorable impression of Ning Zhuo, so she didn't cause trouble.

In full view of everyone, Ning Zhuo organized a confrontation between the parties involved. He easily identified falsehoods or omissions in the soldiers' accounts.

In less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ning Zhuo had clarified the cause and restored the facts.

Seeing that his own soldiers had indeed provoked first, even spitting in the face of a Red Flower Camp soldier, Liu Er took the initiative to apologize to Mu Lan.

Mu Lan also apologized for her side's excessive force.

Thus, the conflict was resolved.

Before leaving, Zhang Zhongyi sent a spiritual sense message to Ning Zhuo: "Young friend Ning Zhuo, please stay. There's an important matter to discuss."

Ning Zhuo replied: "Physician Zhang, please don't blame me. Given the current situation, it's not appropriate for me to stay."

"I must first return to the Three Generals Camp with Generals Liu and Zhang."

"If you have any important matters, feel free to come to the Three Generals Camp later. I will naturally welcome you!"

Zhang Zhongyi sighed and agreed: "Very well."

Not long after Liu Er, Zhang Hei, Ning Zhuo, and the others left, Shuang Jing received the report.

"Hahahaha." He laughed triumphantly.

"To think Mu Lan actually lost to Zhang Hei!"

"Her defeat is excellent."

"This conflict came at the perfect time, a true gift from heaven. I should seize this opportunity!"

Thinking this, Shuang Jing decided to act.

But someone else moved faster than him.

Red Flower Camp.

While receiving treatment from Zhang Zhongyi, Mu Lan suddenly shouted: "Who's there!? Show yourself!"

Sun Gan materialized, smiling faintly: "As expected, General Mu Lan, you've encountered problems cultivating your family's Mystic Gold Armor-Breaking Technique. Otherwise, with your skills, how could you have lost today?"

Mu Lan stood straight, her face cold: "General Sun, you've entered the camp without permission, violating military regulations! I could execute you here as an enemy spy."

Sun Gan sneered, clasped his hands behind his back, and strolled up to Mu Lan: "A little girl at the Golden Core stage—I held you when you were born. Trying to scare me?"

He found a chair and sat down leisurely: "You're right, the regulations do say that."

"But in your current state, with the Red Flower Camp as it is, can you kill me?"

His expression softened: "I came here to help you. There's no need to be so tense."

Mu Lan sneered: "Why would I need your help?"

Sun Gan: "If you don't need help, the Red Flower Camp will collapse sooner or later, and the prestigious Upper General's Manor will fall into decline."

Mu Lan's expression changed sharply.

Zhang Zhongyi took a deep breath: "General Sun, if you have any ideas, please speak freely."

Sun Gan said: "Girl Mu Lan, you need strong support. The Red Flower Camp needs help, and the Upper General's Manor must be upheld. What do you think of me...?"

Zhang Zhongyi stared wide-eyed: "What?!"

Mu Lan's face grew even darker.

Sun Gan looked directly at the red-clad female general and stated plainly: "Let us cultivate together as husband and wife. From then on, I will take charge of the Upper General's Manor. With my abilities, I will surely restore the Upper General's Manor to its former glory!"

(End of )