Chapter 25

**Huge Strength! Dash!**

Seeing that he was already not far from Volff, and that there were only a few soldiers between them, He Ping decisively used two abilities he had not used before: the strength-based Huge Strength and the speed-based Dash. The moment the Huge Strength ability was activated, He Ping's strength instantly doubled. Although at his current level, he could only double his strength, He Ping was already incredibly powerful, and with the increase, he became unstoppable.

The soldiers who were still blocking his path were immediately swept aside by He Ping's sweeping attack, leaving essentially an open space between him and Volff. Even if a few soldiers remained, they could hardly affect He Ping. As the soldiers around him surged forward like a tide, He Ping activated his Dash ability. In that instant, his speed also doubled. Everyone around him only saw a blur, and He Ping shot toward Volff like a black shadow.

The sudden turn of events left Volff with no time to react. By the time he realized something was wrong, He Ping was already standing in front of him. Volff instinctively reached for his sword to attack He Ping, but He Ping did not give him the chance. With a kick, Volff's sword was sent flying, and an Oaklan soldier was taken down in the process. Then, He Ping reached out, grabbed Volff by the collar, and pulled him into his embrace, choking him by the neck.

"Everyone, don't move!" He Ping said in Oaklan to the surrounding soldiers. "Your general is in my hands. Don't make any sudden moves. If I feel threatened in any way, I will immediately strangle this old man to death. According to Oaklan law, most of you will be tried and even buried with him!"

Hearing He Ping's words, the soldiers looked at each other. Although they still pointed their weapons at He Ping from a distance, no one dared to step forward. He Ping was right; although he did not know the specific details, he had learned some information about Oaklan from Zhao Zheng. This was a country where nobles were supreme. If a noble died due to the mistakes of commoners, all those responsible would be deemed guilty. In some regions with stricter laws, there was even a system of being buried alive with the noble!

If the soldiers ignored Volff's life and insisted on attacking He Ping, leading to Volff's death, He Ping, who killed a noble, would be the primary culprit and would be hanged according to the law. However, if the soldiers took extreme actions despite He Ping's warning, they would also be considered guilty under the law. He Ping knew that the Lances Province was one of the regions in the Oaklan Empire with the strictest laws.

He Ping was shorter than Volff, but he now had Volff by the neck, and with his other hand, he held a long spear, gradually moving backward. Volff's body was being dragged along the ground. Volff did not dare to struggle; if he used even a little force, He Ping might lose control and strangle him. Therefore, the fear of death made Volff not only refrain from making any heroic declarations to the soldiers but also nervously say:

"Everyone, don't do anything rash. Step back, give us some space. Everyone, step back. No one is to move without my order. And you, are you called He Ping? Don't be nervous. Control your grip. I'm not struggling. Don't kill me. You know, killing me won't benefit you at all, and you won't be able to escape. Let's talk. Tell me what you want. Whatever Zhao Zheng can offer you, I can offer you, and even more."

It had to be said that Volff was a formidable figure. Even in this dire situation, although he was afraid of death, he did not lose his basic composure. He knew the key points in a crisis and tried to persuade He Ping to spare his life, even attempting to negotiate and possibly turn He Ping. If He Ping were really just a teenager, he might have been deceived!

However, He Ping was nearly forty, approaching the age of no confusion. How could he be deceived by Volff's insincere lies? Facing Volff's hopeful gaze, He Ping only bared his teeth in a strange and cruel smile. Seeing this demonic smile, Volff's heart tightened. This was definitely not the smile of a teenager, and it certainly did not bode well.

The surrounding soldiers did not dare to attack, and He Ping took the opportunity to gradually move toward the camp's exit. Without Volff's order, not only the ordinary soldiers but even the other generals under his command did not dare to act rashly. Although they were also nobles, compared to Volff and the Lances family, their families and titles were insignificant. If they caused Volff's death, the empire's law might not take their lives, but the Lances family would not let them off.

What to do? The generals were anxious like ants on a hot pan, but no one could come up with a reliable plan. They watched as He Ping, with Volff in tow, was about to leave the camp. Although their speed was not fast, the soldiers could continue to follow them even after they left the camp. But what if He Ping headed toward Tianhua and entered Qingyang territory? Zhao Zheng's spies would certainly see the situation, and Zhao Zheng would surely send reinforcements.

"Perhaps we should find a marksman to shoot He Ping from a distance, at least to wound him, so we can send a few people to rescue the general!" a younger Oaklan general suggested.

"Bad idea! Not only do we not have a longbowman who can accurately shoot He Ping from a distance without him noticing, but even if we did, we wouldn't have time to save the general. The general's life is in his hands, and it's just a matter of a moment for him to strangle the general. With his strength, it would take just a blink of an eye. Even if the longbowman hits a vital spot, he could still kill the general before dying, let alone if he's just wounded," a middle-aged general scoffed at the idea.

"Then, find the fastest and most skilled warrior, have the other soldiers block He Ping's view, and have that warrior rush forward to rescue the general!" the young general, unwilling to give up, suggested another idea.

The middle-aged general snorted and said, "He Ping defeated Lord Chris in the previous battle. Do you think we can find a warrior stronger than Lord Chris and bring him here in a short time?"

The young general, speechless, blushed and retorted, "This won't work, that won't work! What do you suggest we do? Are we just going to watch the general be taken away?"

**[PS: Three updates today! So this one is a bit earlier. This is the first update. See you at 3:30 PM!]**

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