Xijiang Military Mansion.
When Huang Zhonghu and Yang Zhian learned that the off-road vehicle driven by Xu Lang was heading straight for the oilfield, they were utterly shocked for a moment.
"General Huang, could Special Envoy Xu be planning to take on Shensan Country's soldiers single-handedly?"
"No, he isn't alone. General Shen went with him!"
"That reckless young man is simply being naive!"
The high-ranking officials of the military mansion chattered all at once, all convinced that Xu Lang had lost his mind. If not for the fact that he was personally appointed as a special envoy by the Dragon Lord, they probably wouldn't have been able to stop themselves from cursing him as an idiot.
Who did he think he was? What gave him the right to tell the people of Shensan Country to get lost?
Just with his mouth?!
Although Huang Zhonghu and Yang Zhian also thought Xu Lang's actions were far too reckless, they had to take action right away.
Putting Xu Lang aside, they absolutely could not let anything happen to Shen Torgang. After all, this female God of War was the beloved great-granddaughter of Xia Country's most cherished veteran hero!
To put it mildly, if Shen Torgang came to any harm, that old man would likely skin the two of them alive!
"Quick, assemble the troops and head out as fast as possible to provide reinforcements!"
"Also, contact Shensan Country. Under no circumstances are they to harm General Shen and Special Envoy Xu, or else we won't care about any agreements!"
Huang Zhonghu and Yang Zhian issued their orders one after another.
Over a thousand fully armed soldiers rapidly assembled, led personally by the two top commanders of the military mansion.
Meanwhile, on the other end.
Under Shen Torgang's shocked gaze, Xu Lang stepped out of the vehicle alone and walked straight toward the troops of Shensan Country.
"Stop right there! We can spare your lives, but you must become our prisoners. After a few days, we will safely send you back to Xia Country."
The leaders of Shensan Country were by no means fools. Although they had no intention of giving up the oilfield, they also did not want a complete fallout with Xia Country.
All the soldiers involved in this operation had received instructions to simply win the competition, and to avoid lethal force unless absolutely necessary.
Xu Lang turned a deaf ear, continuing his unhurried stride forward.
"Halt! Put your hands behind your head and squat down immediately, or we will open fire!"
The commander issued another warning.
Xu Lang ignored him completely. His calm composure was enough to win Shen Torgang's admiration.
"Could this guy really be planning to take them all on by himself?"
No!
Shen Torgang instantly dismissed the thought.
Xu Lang was all by himself, and he wasn't carrying any weapons. The most unusual thing about him was the mask on his face.
"Open fire!"
"Hold on—"
At the very last second, an off-road motorcycle sped over.
"It's General Herman! Don't shoot yet!"
The commander hastily stopped his subordinates from pulling the trigger.
A few seconds later, Herman arrived in front of the soldiers on his motorcycle, looking flustered.
"General, what's going on?" The commander asked, completely baffled.
Herman ignored him, instead waving his hand and barking an order: "All of you, put your fucking guns down."
Swish, swish, swish!
All the soldiers lowered their weapons in unison.
"General, that fellow is supposed to be from the Xia Country military. Even if we don't kill him, we at least have to detain him..."
"Slap!"
Before the commander could finish, Herman delivered a hard backhand slap across his face.
"Shut your damn mouth!" Herman glared with wide eyes, terrifying the commander so much that he didn't even dare to breathe heavily.
Immediately afterward, right under the watchful eyes of everyone, Herman ran forward to meet Xu Lang, who was walking over from not far away.
"General, you mustn't! Come back!"
Ignoring the pain on his face, the commander hurried to follow Herman.
At the same time.
Sitting inside the off-road vehicle, Shen Torgang noticed the situation. Recognizing Herman's identity, she thought to herself that if Xu Lang could seize this opportunity to take Herman hostage, he would gain the upper hand.
Even if Herman could not be used to force Shensan Country to give up the oilfield, it would at least guarantee their safe departure.
"Xu Lang, capture him quickly!" Shen Torgang couldn't help shouting out a reminder.
"Are you telling me how to do my job?" Xu Lang glanced back at her and retorted irritably, "Why don't you come do it?"
Shen Torgang couldn't help rolling her eyes, silently cursing Xu Lang as an absolute idiot.
The next moment—
What the hell?!
Shen Torgang's eyes widened in disbelief, wondering if something was wrong with her vision.
The soldiers of Shensan Country were equally dumbfounded, looking as though they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
They watched as Herman sprinted up to Xu Lang at top speed, and without a word, bowed at a full ninety degrees. He stood there like a frightened and terrified student who had done something wrong in front of his teacher.
"As soon as I learned you were here, I rushed over as fast as I could. Please forgive me for startling you!"
Herman kept his head down, not daring to look at the mask.
Xu Lang maintained his smile. "Let's skip the small talk. I saved your life once, and you said you owed me a favor. Do you acknowledge that?"
"I do!" Herman blurted out without a moment of hesitation.
Xu Lang nodded with satisfaction. "Good. I want you to pull back all your soldiers and stop fighting Xia Country for that oilfield."
"This..."
Herman's heart shook violently, a look of distress crossing his face.
Xu Lang raised an eyebrow, sensing the chill in his demeanor even through the mask. "What? Is it that difficult?"
"No, not at all!"
Herman spoke insincerely, biting the bullet as he promised, "I will convince our sovereign. Please rest assured."
"That's for the best!" Xu Lang chuckled and added, "Remind that old man Adi by the way—if he dares to go back on his word, I'll go find him for a cup of tea later!"
"Yes!" Herman reached out to wipe away a cold sweat.
Xu Lang waved a hand. "Go back. You have so many subordinates watching, don't ruin your prestige in the military."
Herman nodded in obedience, backing up three steps while bowing before turning around, displaying the utmost respect.
In less than two minutes, the soldiers of Shensan Country had vanished from the scene.
Shen Torgang appeared before Xu Lang out of nowhere, asking in sheer disbelief, "What on earth is going on? Why did Shensan Country's troops retreat?"
"Are you blind?" Xu Lang cast a sideways glance at her. "Didn't you see how I single-handedly held off an army of thousands just now?"
Shen Torgang rolled her eyes again.
If the point was that Xu Lang had looked quite impressive just now, she wouldn't deny that—after all, even a Shensan Country general had groveled before him.
But talking about holding off an army of thousands single-handedly? That was complete nonsense!
Regardless of all that, Shen Torgang's curiosity toward the young man beside her had reached its absolute peak. "How on earth did you get Shensan Country to retreat?"
"With this!" Xu Lang took off his mask.
A mere mask was enough to scare people away? Shen Torgang clearly thought Xu Lang was just bragging!
Without offering any further explanation, Xu Lang put a cigarette between his lips, but the wind was too strong for his lighter to catch.
Seeing this, Shen Torgang unbuttoned her trench coat on her own initiative to shield the wind for him.
"I don't eat it, thanks!" Xu Lang explained, "I'm lactose intolerant!"
Shen Torgang's mouth twitched violently, and she flew into an instant rage.
"You jerk..."