Chapter 1 The End of the Cycle

The tree trunk, filled with a fragrant aroma, had already been stained crimson with blood. Zhou Xian was pinned to the tree by a military dagger, his chest completely pierced through, rendering him unable to move.

"...Heh, you guys are really something, even able to afford War Hammer." Blood dripped from the corner of Zhou Xian's mouth. "Lao An, I underestimated you. You really are from the Hua District."

An Ze City stared at him coldly. "I'm not, and no one tried to bribe War Hammer."

Zhou Xian was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Haha, then I understand...! How ironic, this knife wasn't stabbed by an enemy, but by my best friend. That's right, only he and Xue Ping An can wear the same pants so reliably. I never would have thought, Xiao Kang, a little disagreement, and you want to kill me!"

An Ze City didn't respond.

Zhou Xian's head leaned back against the tree trunk. "Xue Ping An's family, you released them?"

"Yes, I promised him I would release them." An Ze City nodded readily. "I didn't contact him; he contacted me."

Hearing this, Zhou Xian's heart turned to ashes.

"I originally wanted to take you back and argue with the corps headquarters, but your friend was faster than me!" An Ze City extended his palm and asked concisely, "Zhou Xian, do you have anything else to say?"

"What do you want to hear?!" Zhou Xian laughed in despair. "An Ze City, you don't think I'm going to beg for mercy, do you? Do you think a member of the Zhou family would kowtow to you? Huh?!"

"I really don't know how you people cultivate your sense of superiority." An Ze City picked up a military shovel and pointed it at Zhou Xian's chest. "Fight, it was your Zhou family who wanted to fight in the first place. The defeat in South Shanghai buried hundreds of thousands of people. Leave, it was your Zhou family who shouted the slogan in the beginning, but after millions boarded the ships, your grandfather cowardly committed suicide in the latrine. He abandoned all the generals and soldiers who followed the Zhou faction! After his death, my faction has talent as plentiful as the hairs on an ox, but your Zhou family still delusionally wanted to continue their rule, pouring all their resources into supporting an idiot like you. What good are you?! Even a piece of trash like Xue Ping An dared to jump up and stab you in the back. Do you even deserve to be called a leader?! The momentum of your siege of Bana City today, all the resources you mobilized, do you think you earned them through your own ability? That was earned for you by the Hua people who fell one after another on the independent battlefield! What right do you have to act tough in front of me?! My general stars were earned in battle, what about yours? You're not even qualified to inherit!"

Hearing this, Zhou Xian completely broke down. "An Ze City, you two-faced politician, you won't have a good end!"

"Words are done. I'm going to borrow something from you. Not for anything else, but to airdrop it to Lao Xu, to tell him, what kind of imperial nobility is he? If he dares to touch my family, I will definitely kill him!" An Ze City roared, gripped the military shovel with both hands, and slashed down diagonally.

"Thud!"

His neck snapped, and his head fell to the ground.

"Send his head back to Hua City." An Ze City threw down the military shovel and immediately said to Yu Mingyuan, "All of you retreat. Don't worry about the rest."

"Okay, Uncle." Yu Mingyuan nodded.

An Ze City immediately led his troops down the mountain.

Next to the tree trunk, Zhou Xian's head rolled into a puddle, his eyes wide, seemingly full of unwillingness.

Just as An Ze City said, the Zhou family, after generations and a hundred years of glory, was completely ended at this moment.

From the time Zhou Xian became aware, he was cultivated as the family's successor. The idea that was constantly instilled in him was that he was the family's hope, and he must restore the family's glory and return to its peak.

When a large amount of resources was given to Zhou Xian, what he felt was not the pleasure brought by power, but the pressure of walking on thin ice, like walking a tightrope. His political philosophy was too utilitarian, and his goals were too clear, so clear that he could sacrifice everything for them.

Therefore, his life ended in extreme loneliness. Even Xue Ping An, when he had no other way out, had hundreds of brothers willing to follow him, but Zhou Xian did not.

Looking back, when the great disaster came, Zhou Xingli led the family to rise all the way, and once touched the supreme power with his fingertips.

Looking at today, after more than a hundred years, the Zhou family had risen and fallen three times, and the descendants who were entrusted with high hopes ultimately fell into a puddle in the mountains...

A cycle had passed, and an era had passed.

...

Yu Mingyuan led his troops to retreat, and An Ze City returned to the helicopter, directly notifying his staff: "At the fastest speed, figure out the battlefield situation in Bana City for me, and come up with a reliable plan. Immediately!"

Five minutes later.

Inside the command post of the War Hammer mercenary group, Rumeini personally dialed the phone of Xu, the deputy commander of the Hua People's Corps.

"Hello?"

"I'm very sorry, General. A large number of enemy troops are hiding in Yad County. Commander Zhou Xian led a battalion of my troops to rescue hostages and was ambushed." Rumeini said in a sorrowful voice, "After a fierce battle for twenty minutes, our support troops arrived at the scene of the battle and successfully forced back the enemy, but unfortunately, Commander Zhou Xian has died in battle."

Deputy Commander Xu was completely stunned when he heard this.

"Before the operation began, I and my staff had repeatedly advised Commander Zhou Xian not to take risks personally, but in order to rescue your son, he still insisted on going himself." Rumeini said cunningly, "He...he wanted to rescue your son too much!"

In one sentence, he choked back the words that Deputy Commander Xu was about to scold.

What could you say?

Scold Rumeini? People had already told Zhou Xian in advance, telling him not to go, but he still had to push forward, so who could he blame for his death?

Scold Zhou Xian? The man was dead, what was the use of scolding him? What's more, he went to save your son.

Scold the inadequate support? But what if you scold him too harshly? What if they turned around and returned from Bana City, or simply gave up? Who would clean up the mess left by Zhou Xian?!

After quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind, Deputy Commander Xu, the old fox, said in a hoarse voice, "General Rumeini, please do your best to reinforce Bana City, no matter what. If we lose that, we'll be completely defeated! As for who will take over Zhou Xian's work, we will notify you immediately."

"Yes, we will definitely fight a bloody battle in Bana City!" Rumeini replied with confidence.

Three minutes later.

The high-level officials of the Hua People's Corps held a video conference.

Less than ten minutes later, Kang Dinghuang, who was walking out of the camp, received a call from Deputy Commander Xu. "Hello, leader!"

"After research and decision by the Corps Headquarters, you are hereby officially appointed as the forward commander-in-chief of the Bana City battle." Deputy Commander Xu said in a very fast tone, "Xiao Kang, you are the most familiar with the situation there, except for Zhou Xian. You must take over this heavy burden!"

"Yes, I guarantee to complete the mission!"

"And...!" Deputy Commander Xu said halfway.

"Don't worry, I will definitely rescue Xu Zhou and Zhu Peng."

"Please!" Deputy Commander Xu said sincerely.