Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Prince Humbled

It was over. The lord’s radiant image had utterly collapsed; in this lifetime, there was no hope of reclaiming that dream. The identity of Sun Ze, the servant, would now be etched into everyone’s hearts, impossible to change.

“Merciful aunt, merciful aunt, my eggs ache, my eggs ache—spare your servant Sun Ze!”

Sun Ze sobbed and pleaded, begging for mercy in a shrill chorus. His servile demeanor was complete, wholly resembling a grandson groveling before elders.

Lu Hu watched with a cheerful grin, enjoying the spectacle. The others, observing his expression, refrained from interfering.

Ma Lihong, now intoxicated by her sudden triumph, unleashed her twin kicks like spinning wheels, attacking relentlessly until she was panting and too exhausted to lift her legs any longer.

“Your kicking technique isn’t bad, quite powerful,” Lu Hu remarked, his tone ambiguous—unclear whether he meant praise or mockery.

Ma Lihong instantly transformed her expression, flashing a coquettish smile. “Thank you for your compliment, Lord. My mother was a dancer, and I learned a few moves from her as a child.”

So that’s the reason—her foundation was solid. Lu Hu nodded in understanding.

He swept his gaze across the crowd; instantly, everyone understood his intentions.

“Servant Sun Ze.”

“Yes, at your command, Lord.”

“Servant Sun Ze.”

“Yes, at your command, Lord.”

Sun Ze, accustomed to wielding power, was now at the mercy of the guards. Seizing the opportunity, they indulged themselves, prompted by Lu Hu’s glance.

When a wall collapses, everyone pushes; when a drum breaks, everyone beats it—that is human nature.

Each time he was called, Sun Ze meekly replied.

The group was in high spirits when Shi Gengxiang lifted the curtain and entered, kneeling before Lu Hu. “Reporting to the Divine Lord, the situation is settled. Please reward us with titles and honors.”

“How many have you gathered?” Lu Hu asked, thinking he’d restrained them enough to leave at least eight or nine hundred survivors.

“Fewer than five hundred,” Shi Gengxiang replied, beaming.

“So many killed?” Lu Hu was astonished.

“Divine Lord, the lord’s personal guard numbered over three hundred. They resisted desperately, and we suffered casualties as well, so the killing was intense.”

“All the guards wiped out?”

“The lord’s guards, the centurions of ten hundred-men units, and all the decurions—every single one gone, not a soul left.”

“Ah!” Sun Ze cried out in horror upon hearing this.

Shi Gengxiang was equally surprised. “How did the lord end up in this state?”

“General, please don’t call me lord anymore. I’m not a lord—I’m just the servant Sun Ze,” he replied, dispelling any former dignity in Shi Gengxiang’s heart.

“Let’s go, muster the troops and reorganize the ranks,” Lu Hu commanded. Shi Gengxiang, Shi Zhenxiang, Yake Xi, and several guards rushed to lift the bear-skin curtain for him, nearly tearing it apart.

On the parade ground, over a thousand soldiers stood in neat formation. As soon as Lu Hu appeared, deafening cheers erupted.

Then, following the lead of the Shi family’s Seven Fragrant, they dismounted and knelt.

Once everyone was kneeling, Lu Hu noticed the front rows were orderly, but the rear was uneven—some long, some short, a jumble.

Each of the Seven Fragrant had scrambled to pull men into their own ranks, resulting in a patchwork of numbers—the more one pulled, the more one had.

With night falling, the rewards and reorganization would likely last until dawn, with soldiers wandering amid scattered warhorses and corpses. The eager officers, fixated on promotions, neglected even to clean the battlefield.

Lu Hu raised his voice: “You’ve worked hard! Your achievements are noted. Tomorrow morning, we’ll discuss rewards and promotions. For now, collect the corpses, dig pits for burial, gather the horses, and enjoy a hearty dinner and a fragrant night’s sleep.”

He then looked at the Seven Fragrant at the front: “Each of you, discipline your own squads carefully—no mistakes allowed. Tonight, I want to see who leads best.”

With a wave, the Seven Fragrant began barking orders, leading their men to work.

Lu Hu then addressed Shi Zhenxiang and Shi Gengxiang: “Tonight, you two must patrol the camp with your men,” glancing at the guards who had captured the Lord’s escort.

“Brother-in-law, find a tent nearby and settle our six horses.” The surrounding tents, once housing the personal guards, were now empty—plenty of space.

“Divine Lord, let me serve you,” Yake Xi offered eagerly, perhaps thinking of the two young maids and hoping for extra duties.

“The Divine Lord is well attended—your clumsy hands are better suited for night patrol,” Shi Zhenxiang saw through Yake Xi’s scheme, thinking, If I can’t get closer, neither can you.

“Enough, get to your tasks,” Lu Hu snapped, seeing Yake Xi glare, ready to quarrel with Shi Zhenxiang, and quashing their budding conflict.

“Divine Lord, rest assured, I’ll satisfy you,” Shi Zhenxiang flattered, preparing to mount his horse, but Lu Hu called him back: “Pick some good game from today’s hunt.”

“I’ll go,” Yake Xi sprang onto his horse and galloped off, afraid Shi Zhenxiang would beat him to it.

Lu Hu let them compete, frowning in concern. This method of driving wolves to kill their leader worked well, but rewarding and reorganizing the army was exhausting—if only he had a clerk.

The original centurions and decurions had fought their way up, experienced in leading troops, but now they’d all met their end.

The new centurions, aside from Shi Taixiang, were basically ordinary soldiers used to taking orders.

The newly promoted leaders were fierce enough, but their ability to command was lacking—otherwise, they’d have risen sooner.

Better to station here for a few days and drill the troops.

While pondering, a commotion erupted at the camp gate, followed by shouts and screams.

Could it be infighting?

Lu Hu wondered as Shi Zhenxiang rode up. “Divine Lord, a hundred-man unit returning from hunting on the mountain was brought in by the brothers.”

“How many are left?”

“They all wanted credit; by the time I got there, only thirty-something remained. The centurion and decurions were hacked to mincemeat.”

“Go back and assign the survivors—watch them closely tonight, no mishaps.”

“Rest assured, Divine Lord.” Shi Zhenxiang dropped two young deer at Lu Hu’s feet and rode off.

The two deer were still alive, trembling in terror—likely their parents had been shot, leaving them lost and helpless, caught alive.

“White Big White, Little Five, time for a fresh meal,” Lu Hu called to his two tigers in tiger tongue.

White Big White, ever at Lu Hu’s side, now revered him as a god, willingly serving as his loyal companion.

Seeing the deer, it salivated, but would not touch them until Lu Hu gave permission.

Now, with a signal, it pounced, bit off the deer’s neck, and tossed it to Little Five, who peered out from behind.

Then, it turned and took down the other deer.

“Help me, mother, save me!” The deer sobbed pitifully, eyes brimming with tears.

“Big White, don’t kill it,” Lu Hu understood its cries and was moved to pity. Though survival of the fittest ruled nature, witnessing a slaughter before him was too much.

Big White’s teeth had barely touched the deer’s neck before it withdrew immediately.

The little deer, clever enough, realized who had saved it, and scrambled to Lu Hu’s side, rubbing against his leg.

Poor little creature—its spirit nearly frightened away. Fall behind and you’re beaten, be weak and you’re killed. Alas, such is its fate.

Lu Hu crouched, gently stroking the deer to comfort it.

“Wah-hoo, wah-hoo, wah-hoo…” Little White in his arms grew agitated, pushing up and glaring with its small tiger eyes, mouth open, paws batting and scratching—adorably fierce.

The deer shrank back, though much larger than Little White, it had no will to resist, only the urge to flee.

Carnivores are born to eat meat, herbivores are destined as prey—such is nature, passed down through generations.

Another wave of hoofbeats—Yake Xi returned, followed by over a dozen fine horses, all chosen from the camp’s unclaimed mounts.

Game hung from their backs.

“Big White, pick what you like—tonight, eat your fill,” Lu Hu patted Big White, who sat beside him admiring Little White’s ferocity.

Denied its earlier treat, Big White’s drool flowed freely. Now, with so much game before it, its eyes gleamed red.

Awaiting only the divine command to feast…