Kang Chengren finished dressing and gave orders on his way out. "Pass on my orders: the army is to move out at once and meet the enemy.

If it really is the Gaoli Kingdom, this time we'll make them pay dearly."

The deputy bowed to take the order. "Yes, this officer will go at once." With that, he hurried off.

Kang Chengren took a dozen or so of his personal guards to see for himself what was happening at the gate.

He'd barely stepped out of the residence when a rider came galloping up. It was a scout.

The scout reined in and leaped from his horse, then hurried over and dropped to one knee. "Report, General!" he cried in a panic. "The Great Xuan's troops have broken into the city!"

Kang Chengren's eyes bulged. He couldn't believe it.

"What did you say?"

He thought he must have heard wrong.

The scout said it again, urgently. "General, the Great Xuan's troops have broken into the city."

Kang Chengren stood there, stupefied.

How was that possible?

How could Great Xuan troops be in his Qimu City?

Kang Chengren snapped, "Are you sure? Couldn't it be Gaoli troops in disguise?"

The scout said quickly, "It's the Great Xuan, no question. The first ones into the city were Ning Chen's own Ning'an Army."

Kang Chengren's head rang. His mind went blank, and he swayed so badly he nearly passed out.

"General..." The guards beside him hurried to catch him. "General, are you all right?"

It took Kang Chengren a long while to come back to himself. He strode forward and grabbed the scout by the collar. "Say it again. Who broke into the city?"

The scout had gone white with fright. His voice shook. "Th-the Ning'an Army, under Ning Chen."

Kang Chengren let go of the scout's collar and staggered back a few steps, his old face drained of color.

How could it be Ning Chen's Ning'an Army?

It wasn't possible. What would the Ning'an Army be doing here?

He whipped around to the scout. "Did you see Ning Chen?"

The scout shook…