In the main hall of the City Lord's Residence of Lingyan City, Luo Ruofeng, who had arrived shortly after, was seated in the principal seat. He had already shed his armor, and his nearly thirty-year-old face was split by a broad smile. They were the last to enter the Tianyuan Empire, yet they were the first to breach Lingyan City. According to the agreement between him and his two elder brothers, the administrative authority over Lingyan City would belong to him...

It was widely known that Lingyan City was the largest granary in Yanzhou, possessing wealth beyond measure. Furthermore, Lingyan City and Lieyan City stood in a mutually reinforcing position; now that he possessed Lingyan City, breaching Lieyan City was only a matter of time...

If he could successfully conquer Lieyan City, how much would his standing in his father the King's eyes rise? At that point, his chances of inheriting the throne—no, perhaps inheriting the Emperor's throne—would greatly increase...

Of course, Luo Ruofeng understood that his ability to get ahead of his two elder brothers was entirely due to Ye Jingyu. Without him, how could he possess such formidable strength...?

The thought brought a look of increasing benevolence to Luo Ruofeng’s gaze toward Ye Jingyu. If not for the fact that he was a man, and Ye Jingyu had no peculiar inclinations, he would have offered himself in marriage...

Ye Jingyu sat to Luo Ruofeng's right. The joy of reunion had faded from his face; he was merely observing Sima Xuan, who sat opposite him, from time to time...

Sima Xuan, nearly fifty, appeared to be in his early thirties at most. He was reasonably handsome and exuded an amiable aura, giving the impression of a genuinely good-natured man. However, a faint air of authority lingered between his brows. This was a Grandmaster—a Grandmaster concealing his true might. Ye Jingyu kept telling himself: how could such a person surrender?

He was neither one to fear death nor one prone to arrogance. This was a man whom even Ye Jingyu could not fully decipher. He did not believe such an individual would yield easily, even if Bi Li was urging him on, even if Bi Li and his daughter had already developed deep affections...

Conspiracy. For some unknown reason, that thought flashed through Ye Jingyu's mind. Thus, he continued to scrutinize Sima Xuan, desperate to discern what was truly churning within his heart...

Beside Ye Jingyu sat Zhuge Yishi. A hint of confusion played across his slightly scholarly face. Like Ye Jingyu, he also doubted that Sima Xuan would surrender so readily. However, while Ye Jingyu relied on intuition, Zhuge Yishi relied on his established knowledge of Sima Xuan...

Anyone capable of becoming the City Lord of Lingyan City could not be such a coward obsessed with preserving life. Based on past records, Sima Xuan was a City Lord who appeared outwardly gentle but possessed genuine resolve. Even for the safety of his family, he absolutely would not yield so easily...

But now the army was pressing against the borders—did he have any trump cards left? Was it relying solely on his few thousand personal guards? Or perhaps...

Suddenly, Zhuge Yishi seemed to grasp something. One person was missing from the City Lord's Residence; or rather, one person was missing by Sima Xuan’s side: his son, Sima Xiongfeng, who was Sima Lingling's elder brother...

"Heh heh, Mr. Sima shows great consideration for the bigger picture; truly a benevolent soul. I wonder, however, where your esteemed son is at this moment?" A faint smile touched Zhuge Yishi's lips as he suddenly inquired...

Upon hearing Zhuge Yishi unexpectedly mention his son, Sima Xuan showed no outward reaction, merely replying softly, "As soon as the uprising began, my son led troops out to suppress the rebellion. Even I, this old man, do not know his current whereabouts..."

"Oh, it has long been known that Young Master Sima is a prodigy of heaven's making; it would be strange indeed if he weren't leading troops. However, Mr. Sima, you have now sworn allegiance to our Young Lord. To avoid the possibility of you and your son meeting on the battlefield in the future, perhaps you should find a way to summon the young master back..." Zhuge Yishi nodded, though his mind had already formed a substantial conclusion...

"That is natural. I have already dispatched men to contact my son, but there has been no news yet..." Sima Xuan nodded with utmost composure...

"It seems Mr. Sima has already made up his mind. I was overly concerned; please forgive my presumption..." Zhuge Yishi said, rising to offer a formal bow to Sima Xuan...

"Heh heh, not at all, not at all..." Sima Xuan quickly rose to return the courtesy...

"Now that we are all one family, there is no need for such formality. Let us discuss other matters," Luo Ruofeng interjected with a slight smile, though a trace of suspicion lingered in his gaze towards Sima Xuan. He knew Zhuge Yishi would never ask such a question without a reason...

"The Young Lord speaks the absolute truth. Here is the management data for Lingyan City, along with the City Lord's official seal. Please examine them, Young Lord," Sima Xuan stated calmly, producing a thick ledger and a jet-black seal from his person, which he passed to Luo Ruofeng via Xiao Muzi...

The two Grandmasters behind Luo Ruofeng had remained motionless, yet their auras were continuously locked onto Sima Xuan, for if a Grandmaster chose to erupt in violence, few could withstand it...

Luo Ruofeng nodded, taking the ledger and seal handed over by Xiao Muzi. The smile on his face grew more satisfied. Just as he was about to speak, urgent footsteps were heard from outside, and immediately a messenger burst in, rushing breathlessly...

"Reporting to the Third Young Lord, General Nangong has intercepted an enemy force at the North Gate and requests reinforcements!" The messenger rushed into the main hall and immediately knelt before Luo Ruofeng...

"Enemy forces? Could it be Xuanyuan Yu?" Sima Xuan, seated to Luo Ruofeng's left, raised an eyebrow, then rose and continued, "Young Lord, that Xuanyuan Yu is the most trusted confidant of Yan King Xuanyuan Yan; he would absolutely never surrender. Allow this old servant to go forth and sever that villain's head to demonstrate my loyalty..."

"Heh heh, then I shall trouble Mr. Sima," Luo Ruofeng nodded, accepting the offer immediately...

Sima Xuan was momentarily stunned. He had volunteered only to prove his allegiance; typically, surrendered generals were temporarily suppressed, their military authority removed. He had never expected Luo Ruofeng to agree so readily...

"General Mo, receive the order..." However, since Luo Ruofeng had spoken, Sima Xuan could not retract his offer, and he answered using the self-designation 'General Mo.' This meant that from this moment on, he was no longer the City Lord of Lingyan City, but a subordinate general under Luo Ruofeng...

After bowing to Luo Ruofeng, Sima Xuan turned directly and walked out of the hall, his personal guards following closely behind him toward the North City...

Watching Sima Xuan’s receding back, Luo Ruofeng suddenly spoke, "What do you make of this man?"

"Untrustworthy," Zhuge Yishi and Ye Jingyu spoke almost simultaneously...

Luo Ruofeng paused, then a faint smile spread across his face...