"Close the gates, close the gates, no one is to go out!"

In front of Zaozi Ridge, row upon row of massive wooden palisades were shut, and heaps of Iron Thorns, rolling stones, and logs were pushed to block the crucial passes. The troops guarding the pass all retreated inside the ridge, looking as if they had all been struck dumb by an Evil Ghost.

This scene stunned the Food Protection Army and others who came to seize the pass.

On their way, they had encountered many county towns, passes, and military leaders under the command of the God-given King, many of whom had brought along some sinister madness.

Seeing the army approaching, everyone resorted to sinister tricks and malicious tactics, never showing fear. Some even took the initiative to harass the army. It was fortunate that they were few in numbers and that Vanguard Officer Dong Qiaoyun had many cunning strategies, allowing them to advance unimpeded all the way to Zaozi Ridge.

Yet everyone knew that the fierce reputation of the God-given King was not to be trifled with, and the smooth journey so far was merely a coincidence.

Sooner or later, they were bound to meet the main force of the God-given King for a great battle, and this Zaozi Ridge was such a place for a fierce fight.

Unexpectedly, just as they were prepared for a fierce battle, the opponent instead closed the gates and dared not fight?

"Open the gates, open the gates for me!"

And Dong Qiaoyun, or rather Mrs. Lu, or Sweet Potato, instantly became furious at seeing the enemy turtle up, mounted a large horse, and cursed: "If you have the guts, open the gate and come out to battle with me, don't hide without a sound!"

"You guys tricked me, harmed me, hunted me down, and ruined my reputation when I was on your turf."

"Now the tables have turned, and I'm back!"

"I joined the army to settle the score, and you'll pay back everything you owe me. If you don't come out, I'll curse you until it gets dark!"

"..."

"..."

In fact, Sweet Potato didn't curse until dark, she cursed until dawn.

The troops guarding Zaozi Ridge were surprisingly tolerant, shutting the gates without showing a single face, letting Sweet Potato curse outside with no response at all.

Sweet Potato cursed until it got dark and was exhausted, but her anger wasn't appeased, so she summoned a group of little ghosts to continue cursing for her. At night, both sides only heard the yin qi rolling down the mountainside, filled with curses.

The cursing only ended at the crow of the rooster, without a single repetition.

Even the Central Route General Shen Hongzhi, who doted on this sworn sister, felt sorry for Sweet Potato, personally cooked pear soup for her at night, stroked her smooth hair, and sighed: "How much has my sister suffered back then under the God-given King?"

"Now, seeing her so upset, I, as her sister, must stand up for her this time!"

"..."

At dawn, orders were immediately given.

They were determined, no matter if the troops at Zaozi Ridge responded or not, even if a hard battle was needed, they would take it down.

But just as the troops gathered and pressed towards Zaozi Ridge again, before they could speak, they heard someone inside Zaozi Ridge cursing: "What a King of Mingzhou, what a Food Protection Army! It's laughable how you boast and spread such a good name for yourselves."

"What benevolent and kind to the people, what an iron discipline! What 'never encroach a single hair'!"

"Yet in reality, your army accepts such a wicked, venomous, demoness as a general."

"Back then, this demoness saw people in Quzhou refining ghosts and insisted on refining an even more powerful one. When not allowed, she accused us of entrapping her, committed crimes to punish her, and even had the audacity to cause trouble at the Divine Gifted Prince Mansion..."

"All the deeds of the sects in Quzhou combined don't match the trouble she caused in a month. Claiming our Quzhou's reputation was ruined by her alone is simply...

"Furthermore, our God-given King, originally respected your Ming King for his reputation, willing to form an alliance with him, to advance and guard together."

"Yet your Ming King not only disregarded this goodwill but also inexplicably provoked, easily invading, insulting our king. As matters have come to this, the battle between Mingzhou and Mingzhou can no longer be avoided. If you have the courage and ability, come to Menghu Pass and fight to the death!"

"..."

"Nonsense!"

Central General Shen Hongzhi, upon hearing this, was already furious: "My sworn sister is loyal and righteous, beautiful and kind, yet you curse her as utterly wicked?"

"And wasn't it also because the God-given King first insulted our Ming King, acting arrogant, that we have this battle?"

"Come, lead the troops to attack the fortress, I want to see what kind of dates grow on this ridge that make them so obstinate!"

"..."

Saying this, she was about to order a forceful attack on the ridge.

Sweet Potato also jumped out first: "Sister General, forcefully attacking the ridge can easily cause casualties."

"I'll charge forward, you follow me!"

In Shen Hongzhi's excited gaze, Sweet Potato led the charge, dismounting. Such an ascent is indeed extremely dangerous and horses can't be ridden.

The soldiers of the Lu family, seeing this young lady so valiant, were all moved and countless brave warriors followed her, with a determination to die, climbing vines and treading rocks, storming the pass.

But to their astonishment, as soon as they entered, they were immediately dumbfounded, seeing that on the ridge, overnight, the troops were gone.

Even those who were cursing down the ridge early in the morning had long slipped away.

Now, in this once heavily garrisoned land of Zaozi Ridge, overnight it had become empty, taken without breaking a sweat.

Everyone was both shocked and amazed.

Ordinary soldiers all cheered, saying that General Qiao Yun's all-night verbal battle frightened the army of Zaozi Ridge into retreat.

"They've truly lost their nerve!"

Shen Hongzhi was both angry and delighted, angry for not avenging her sworn sister, but delighted for achieving such a great merit without losing a single soldier, thus saying: "Since they are afraid, let's send word to the Ming King and, without a pause, march on to Menghu Pass to meet the God-given King!"