Ren Tianxing frowned, letting out a soft sigh of disappointment, before his expression smoothed out again. "Very well, this battle is only slightly harder than the last invasion by the Yaksha Clan into Huizhou. We still might have a chance to win."

In truth, he was acutely aware of the current state of Da Qian. As Zhang Huai's sworn brother and close friend, he understood it perhaps better than anyone.

He had merely harbored a sliver of hope regarding the Immortal Court of Da Qian that Zong Shou had established beyond the boundaries.

The several generals present also fell silent. Even though they were all famous in their own right, possessing the reputation of renowned commanders and having weathered countless storms, they still felt immense pressure now.

Zong Shou’s solitary arrival had utterly shattered their last shred of hope.

Even if reinforcements were unattainable, they would have to rely solely on these three million two hundred thousand troops and the thirty thousand Blood Cloud Cavalry to wage a grueling war against the Great Shang.

Zong Shou, however, smiled. "There are reinforcements. They will arrive shortly."

Zong Yuan and the others felt their expressions shift slightly, knowing that Zong Shou was referring to the Weiyang Sword Cavalry of the Sword Sect and the Vast Life Mystic Dragon Riders of the Vast Life Dao.

It was precisely because of these two elite forces that they believed Da Qian still held a slim chance of victory.

However, the Sovereign likely had no idea just how low the morale of these three million soldiers had sunk before he arrived.

The Confucian enemies were decadent, tyrannical, and cruel. At this moment, even those most loyal to Zong Shou couldn't help but feel their spirits flag. The Confucian School controlled the world's academies, inheriting the mantle of scholarship, while in the villages, even a slightly literate person was treated with great respect.

Furthermore, the Sage Zhu Zi was worshipped as a deity in many places.

Although the territory under Da Qian's rule included many desolate regions, a significant number of people had been influenced by Confucian doctrine, believing this battle to be unjust—that the Sovereign was wrong, and Da Qian was in the wrong. "The situation is indeed difficult, but I believe there is still a ninety percent chance of victory in this engagement. You need not worry; simply attend to your respective duties. What you should be concerned about is what comes after this great victory..." Zong Shou did not elaborate on the specifics of how to defeat the enemy, merely winking subtly and gesturing with his sleeve.

Zong Yuan and Ren Tianxing immediately understood. Although they had been separated from Zong Shou for several years, at this moment, even a thousand words could not equal one glance from Kong Yao.

Yet, the more this was the case, the more it proved Zong Shou's absolute confidence.

They all chuckled, bowed slightly, and silently withdrew from the tent.

Kong Yao, however, noticed nothing amiss. Upon hearing his words, understanding dawned, and she scrutinized the geographical map spread across the table with a serious expression.

A ninety percent chance of victory?

Unlike her subordinate generals, as Zong Shou's confidante, she knew much more about his foundations.

She knew where Zong Shou's confidence originated, and she had never once worried about the outcome of this war.

What truly held her attention was Zong Shou's last remark: After this great victory? What exactly did that sentence mean?

After pondering for a long time without finding an answer, Kong Yao was about to speak and inquire when she felt a pair of hands wrap around her slender waist. Zong Shou pressed his body tightly against her from behind.

"Ah?"

Kong Yao instantly flushed crimson and glanced around in panic. Only when she confirmed that no one else was in the tent besides her and Zong Shou did she let out a breath of relief. This was immediately followed by indignation as she attempted to pry Zong Shou’s hands loose.

"Husband, what are you doing? Let go!"

"So you still remember that I am your husband?"

Zong Shou chuckled, nipping gently at Kong Yao’s earlobe and licking it slowly.

One of his hands unceremoniously climbed upward, resting upon the twin peaks that were impossible to grasp fully. Though Kong Yao struggled with all her might to stop him, she was no match for Zong Shou's immense strength.

She could only clutch desperately at her collar, trying to prevent that demonic hand from sliding inside.

Unexpectedly, Zong Shou grew impatient and roughly tore open her bodice. A pair of perfectly formed jade breasts immediately sprang free like startled rabbits, exposed to the air.

Kong Yao felt tears welling up, thinking that the Confucian scholar had at least been right about one thing: this man was utterly lawless and licentious!

"Mmm..."

Zong Shou did not just ravage her body with his hands. He also unfurled his seven fox tails, caressing and stimulating every sensitive spot on her body.

In an instant, Kong Yao felt herself completely lost, her senses growing hazy with desire.

Having been starved for two years, her lust erupted like a tidal wave. Yet, she still stammered, "I am the commander of the entire army, Hus-Husband, if you act so recklessly, where will my authority lie? In the future, how will I have the face to lead the whole army? Husband, if—if you have appointed me as commander, then in the military formation, in the ranks, you must obey me!"

Only then did Zong Shou realize the issue. He thought that Kong Yao’s cold demeanor since he arrived meant she was angry with him. "Why didn't you say so sooner?"

Zong Shou felt a pang of guilt. He retracted his fox tails. The hand that had been playing with her jade breasts also became restrained, reluctantly pulling away before turning to help Kong Yao rearrange her robes.

Feeling deeply ashamed for having misunderstood his wife, Kong Yao secretly ground her teeth!

What was this? Had this man teased her to the brink of climax only to stop there?

She was clearly about to ascend to the clouds, yet he suddenly halted. This man was simply too wicked!

"Despicable!"

Kong Yao actively turned, forcefully pushing Zong Shou down onto the seat. Then, without hesitation, she ripped open his trousers as well. She slowly sat down upon the pink fissure at his lower body, enclosing his massive rod inch by inch.

Only then did a sound of deep satisfaction escape her lips, followed by the sight of Zong Shou's teasing gaze.

With a soft huff, Kong Yao bit down fiercely on Zong Shou's shoulder. Putting all her strength into it, she thought, You like to tease and torment people, well, Yao'er will bite you to death!

But then she felt a massive surge of force from below. It was Zong Shou's essence beginning to strike that tender flesh, continuously rubbing and impacting it. Even her core was being relentlessly pounded.

The tingling, trembling pleasure made Kong Yao gradually lose focus, forgetting everything else.

When she awoke again, she found her delicate body held tightly in Zong Shou's embrace.

She was no longer biting Zong Shou's shoulder but was instead locked in a lingering, intimate kiss with him, their lips entwined.

The afterglow of their coupling still permeated her entire being, and Zong Shou's great pillar remained deep within her body.

Looking outside, the sky had changed from high noon to evening.

This meant that the two of them had been utterly frantic inside the command tent for at least half a day!

Gradually recalling the madness of the preceding hours, Kong Yao's face flushed crimson, and she tried to stand up, but Zong Shou held her fast. She struggled, twisting her body, yet she forgot about the object in her core that she loved and hated. Under the friction, her limbs turned weak, and the desire within her body surged anew.

Knowing that this could not continue—that she would likely be unable to resist and engage in intimacy with Zong Shou again—Kong Yao had no choice but to stop, saying with deep frustration, "Husband, this is not some private place; this is the army camp. I am the commander of an army, and I still have so much to do."

After this absurdity, she didn't know how she would face her generals. She was utterly mortified!

It was the same as when Zong Shou underwent his tribulation previously.

When Kong Yao mentioned military matters, Zong Shou felt a slight pang of guilt. He knew he could not delay official duties, which was why he hadn't lingered for a prolonged affair, stopping after just half a day.

However, he was unwilling to let Kong Yao have her way completely. He smiled faintly. "There's no one else here. When we were in the Outer Domain, I missed my Yao'er terribly. I was reluctant to let go, let me hold you a little longer..."

Kong Yao's gaze shifted, and she looked steadily at Zong Shou. Somehow, her emotions surged like a tide, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, initiating a kiss.

She felt as if all military duties, all sense of dignity, and all thoughts of victory or defeat were suddenly unimportant.

Just Zong Shou's simple words made her feel supremely fulfilled; she had no regrets in this life.

This deep intimacy lasted another half a day. When dawn broke, the mist cleared, the clouds dispersed, and the two finally ceased their battle and withdrew their forces.

Perhaps due to the nourishment, Kong Yao's already breathtaking beauty seemed even more radiant.

She was reluctant to leave the warmth of Zong Shou's chest, remaining naked, curled in his arms, gazing at the strategic map while continuing to ponder the question from the previous day.

"Husband, are you planning to win using Sun-Roar?"

Zong Shou responded with a soft "Mm," but remained silent. He inhaled the scent of Kong Yao's presence with deep contentment, holding the person in his arms, feeling as if the pent-up malice in his chest had significantly dissipated.

Kong Yao chuckled softly; this was obvious.

With such a trump card in hand, it would be impossible not to use it.

That little earth dog was a genuine Kirin King Beast, and her husband was a living Sage Monarch. Therefore, although the army's morale was fractured due to the slander from the Confucian faction, she had never been worried.

"My Lord, you mentioned earlier that what we truly need to worry about is after this great battle? Are you concerned about Shi Yue then?"

Zong Shou's eyebrows rose, and then he laughed. "Yao'er, how did you guess?"

Kong Yao shook her head slightly. After this war, the elite forces of the Great Shang would surely be annihilated. Although she managed her troops cautiously, such an opponent hardly warranted her focus.

Thinking it over, the only person worth worrying about was this other individual who was also carving out territory beyond the Cloud Realm.

"If Husband hadn't reminded me, I almost overlooked him. We could suffer a great loss after this entire campaign..."

Getting up from Zong Shou's embrace, Kong Yao casually picked up some clothing and draped them over herself.

However, the coolness emanating from below caused her to blush with shyness once more.

It was the trace left by the night of intense battle, leaking out from her secret reservoir.

In truth, if it were possible, she wished to preserve these vestiges inside her for much longer; she desperately wanted to bear Zong Shou a child.

"But since we are aware now, it doesn't matter. If he doesn't come, so be it. If he dares to come, Kong Yao will surely make him regret it..."

Her aura was powerful, and her gaze sharp.

She had already prepared to lead her troops north, sweeping through the Central Plains, to conquer a vast territory for her husband, even replacing the Great Shang as the orthodox Imperial Dynasty. She had completely forgotten that this man might already be lurking nearby, waiting to reap the benefits.

Therefore, before the Northern Expedition, she would first let this person sample the sharpness of her blade.