Ling Xiao pondered for a long ti before he said, "Enough, since my foundation is not yet stable and none of you listen to , death can be avoided, but punishnt cannot be spared. Zhang Yu Fei has destabilized the morale of our troops and defied his superiors, so punish him with a heavy beating of one hundred military sticks!"
These one hundred military sticks were not ordinary sticks.
Because the sticks used to punish martial artists, those were treasures, even imbued with spiritual qi.
This ti, the stick used on Zhang Yu Fei was an Immortal-grade Treasure.
Even though Zhang Yu Fei possessed the strength of a Ten Directions Heaven Cultivation, facing a hundred blows from this Immortal-grade Treasure, it was estimated he would faint from the pain.
Upon hearing this, everyone hastily begged for rcy again.
Ling Xiao simply drew his sword and cut the table in front of him in half with one strike, roaring, "If you all think I’m wrong, then kill now. It would spare the heartache of seeing Northern Desert City slaughtered by the Black Crow Army!"
The crowd was speechless, only able to shake their heads and sigh.
From an emotional standpoint, they sympathized with Zhang Yu Fei.
But rationally, they felt that Ling Xiao had done nothing wrong, so naturally, they wouldn’t kill Ling Xiao over this.
And so, before everyone’s eyes, Zhang Yu Fei’s shirt was stripped off, and the people from Dark Stinger started the punishnt.
After only sixty strikes, Zhang Yu Fei had already passed out.
The person ting out the punishnt was truly ruthless.
"We can’t beat him anymore, or it will be fatal."
Qin Huo quickly knelt down to beg for rcy.
"I hope the commander can show rcy."
All the generals also urgently pleaded with hardship.
"Hmph, considering you are a trusted general, the remaining forty strikes will be considered after the battle."
Coldly snorting, Ling Xiao turned and left the council hall with precision.
These sixty military sticks had truly punished Zhang Yu Fei severely. His skin was torn, and blood spurted out; he had fainted several tis over.
When the other generals ca to visit, Zhang Yu Fei just cursed Ling Xiao nonstop and none could persuade him to stop, including Li Ruguang, Qin Huo, and Zhu Ge Ming.
Fortunately, Ling Xiao was preoccupied with matters outside at that mont, so he was unaware of these events.
There was a Deputy Commander in the army nad Cai Yun.
He had always had a good relationship with Zhang Yu Fei, but no one knew that he was actually a spy from the Black Crow Empire in Northern Desert City.
It was he who had instigated the battle at Northern Desert Pass before.
Cai Yun specially ca to visit Zhang Yu Fei but closed the door and sent the guards at the door away.
After so probing, Cai Yun confird that Zhang Yu Fei truly had the intention to defect to the Black Crow Empire, and only then did he reveal his true identity.
He also said that if Zhang Yu Fei was willing, they could find an opportunity tonight to open the gates of Northern Desert City, deactivate all defensive formations, and let the large army enter the city.
"How can I trust you?"
Zhang Yu Fei frowned and asked, "What if you’re just a plant sent by that kid Ling Xiao to test ?"
"That’s easy. I’ll find a way to take you out of the city to et the prince soon. Once you et him, you’ll believe ."
Cai Yun said with a smile.
"Good!"
After the discussion was settled, Cai Yun sent a secret letter to Jiumo Zhiyan through a special channel, arranging to et near Northern Desert City.
Then Cai Yun and Zhang Yu Fei disguised themselves as scouts to gather information and left Northern Desert City.
Since this wasn’t the first ti such a thing had happened, Cai Yun was quite skilled at it and, surprisingly, no one suspected anything.
Although Zhang Yu Fei was battered and bruised, he was still a martial artist after all. Temporarily unable to fight, he had no problem walking, however.
anwhile, Jiumo Zhiyan, upon receiving the ssage, asked Mu Tu what should be done.
Mu Tu chuckled, "On the surface, it seems Zhang Yu Fei broke with Ling Xiao because his beloved subordinate was killed, and was beaten by Ling Xiao until his skin split open and his flesh burst. There must be internal strife.
"But we still need to be careful and guard against that kid’s tricks."
"Master, the heroes think alike. So, should I go this ti, or not?"
"Of course you should go, and you should go alone. If Ling Xiao and Zhang Yu Fei’s falling out is just a ruse, then they would surely not miss this perfect opportunity to kill you. But this might be very dangerous, you might indeed get killed by that Ling Xiao. Do you dare go?"
Mu Tu asked with a smile.
"Why not? ’How can one capture tiger cubs without entering the tiger’s den?’"
Jiumo Zhiyan nodded.
Afterward, Jiumo Zhiyan t with Zhang Yu Fei under Ling Xiao’s very nose just outside Northern Desert City, and they discussed the matter of opening the city gates that night.
Zhang Yu Fei seed nervous, as if he feared being discovered by Ling Xiao.
If this was an act, then his acting skills were truly excellent.
The fact that Jiumo Zhiyan safely returned to camp after his performance, coupled with Zhang Yu Fei’s behavior, proved that Ling Xiao and Zhang Yu Fei were indeed at odds.
However, Jiumo Zhiyan remained skeptical and, in the evening, he pretended to dispatch a troop, which included two n disguised as himself and Mu Tu entering the city.
Upon finding nothing unusual, he finally believed Zhang Yu Fei’s words.
Taking advantage of the darkness, the Black Crow Empire’s army quietly entered Northern Desert City.
On the city walls, one could faintly make out several fallen shadows, likely dealt with beforehand by Zhang Yu Fei and Cai Yun.
The city was quiet, but there were occasional snores and places where candlelight flickered.
Seeing this scene, both Jiumo Zhiyan and Timrman Mu Tu were reassured.
"Issue my orders, quickly deal with the city’s guards, leave none alive! I want Ling Xiao alive!"
Jiumo Zhiyan let out a cold laugh, issuing the command in a very low voice, wary of startling the resting city guards.
Even though at this mont, startling those people wouldn’t matter with their nurical advantage being able to easily crush them.
But Jiumo Zhiyan did not want to lose a single soldier; he wanted to take Northern Desert City with ease.
As such, his achievents would be reported back to the Black Crow Empire, and no one would dare to underestimate him again.
"Master, let us go et Ling Xiao. At this point, he must surrender whether he wants to or not."
After giving the orders, Jiumo Zhiyan turned to speak with Timrman Mu Tu.
"Hmm, that young man is still too green. Just gaining a bit of power and daring to make a move against an old general like Zhang Yu Fei, truly ignorant of gravity. But this battle was won too easily; it’s hardly satisfying."
Mu Tu said, still feeling the thrill.
"Why must master say so? After occupying Northern Desert City, we can lead our troops southward, marching straight for the Imperial City of the Phoenix God Empire. Your wish for a grand battle will certainly be fulfilled."
Saying this, the two stepped into the City Lord’s Mansion.
Inside the mansion, there were no guards, only the light from candles in the bedrooms and faint silhouettes of people.
"This young lad really has guts, daring to leave without setting guards. Doesn’t he fear assassination?"
Mu Tu remarked with a laugh.
"He probably thought Northern Desert City was still impregnable. What a pity."
Jiumo Zhiyan felt a surge of excitent in his heart.
Leading a big army for the first ti and being able to capture Northern Desert City was an enormous contribution for him.
If he could continue moving south, expanding his achievents, his influence would only grow, and even disputing Her Majesty the Queen was not out of the question.
Ling Xiao was right about one thing; although his mother seed to love him dearly, the succession for the throne was brutally harsh.
What of a biological son?
Still to be killed!
User Comments
0 comments from readers