The re thought of it caused a tsunami to rage within Li Teng's heart.
This… how is this possible?!
Subconsciously, Li Teng stared intently at Yang Hu. He searched for any flaw in the man's expression that would prove this was all a bluff—a simple trick to frighten him.
But the man was perfectly calm. Worse, the way he looked at Li Teng was as if he were gazing upon a fool.
A sudden chill washed over Li Teng, and his last shred of hope shattered instantly.
The Patriarch of the Li Family staggered back several steps, nearly collapsing. His face was a mask of horror, as if he had just seen a ghost.
"To block the War God of the State's carriage and even plan to commit murder… the Li Family certainly has so nerve!" Yang Hu declared.
"I, I…"
Li Teng could no longer support himself. With a thud, he fell to his knees, kowtowing in terror. "S-Sorry, I'm so sorry…"
Everyone: "..."
The sudden developnt left everyone dumbfounded.
What… what is going on?
That was the current Patriarch of the Li Family! Just monts ago, he was radiating killing intent, ready to slaughter everyone in the vehicles. But now, he was kneeling?
He's kneeling…
Seeing Li Teng's terrified state, the crowd felt as if they were trapped in a surreal dream. The other mbers of the Li Family were especially shocked, all frozen in place.
What in the world just happened?
GULP.
Many of them swallowed hard, their gazes becoming vacant.
BANG!
Su Ling charged forward, raised his longsword, and slashed the old man standing beside Li Teng, sending him to the ground.
A horrifying gash stretched across the man's entire back, deep enough to expose the bone beneath. Blood gushed out like a waterfall.
As a top-tier expert of the fifteenth rank, the elder was filled with rage but dared not speak. He remained motionless, letting his blood pour freely.
"You dare put your hands on my throat? I'll kill you!"
Su Ling kicked the elder to the ground, then strode over to Li Teng and delivered a heavy slap across his face.
SLAP.
Li Teng collapsed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Su Ling grabbed him by the collar, hauled him to his feet, and said coldly, "Weren't you just shouting about killing soone? Here. The sword's yours. Go on, kill soone for to see."
CLANG.
Su Ling tossed the longsword onto the ground in front of him.
Li Teng glared at Su Ling, his eyes burning with fury.
SLAP.
Su Ling raised his hand and struck him again. "What is it? You look rather dissatisfied."
"No, I wouldn't dare," Li Teng ground out through clenched teeth.
"Hmph, you really think you're sobody special?"
Su Ling shoved him back to the ground and adjusted his collar, feeling imnsely satisfied.
"Are you trying to avenge Li Chen?" Chen Yang finally spoke, his voice indifferent and tinged with an ethereal quality.
"I…"
Li Teng knew exactly who was speaking and shook his head frantically. "A misunderstanding! This is all a misunderstanding!"
"Have you ever considered that the people your son victimized also have parents?" Chen Yang asked. The implication was clear: was your son's life precious, while others were re weeds?
"I'm sorry! I know I was wrong! Please, sir, forgive !" Li Teng begged pitifully.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Chen Yang tapped on the carriage door. "Let's go."
"Right away!"
The two vehicles, one after the other, pulled away from the congested road.
PHEW.
Feeling as if he had just survived a catastrophe, Li Teng collapsed onto the ground and subconsciously raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
"This…"
To his horror, the arm he raised was visibly disintegrating into a mist of blood, inch by inch. Like snow lting under a blazing sun, it dissolved before his very eyes.
"No, no!"
Li Teng's eyes looked as if they would burst from their sockets as he let out a horrified scream. He tried to stand, but his legs had already dissolved by half.
"No…"
And just like that, under the gazes of countless horrified onlookers, the Patriarch of the Li Family vanished, leaving behind nothing but a swirling red mist.
Li Shuhang: "…"
Everyone: "…"
「…」
Details of the battle at Hanyun Valley continued to pour in from the front lines, spreading throughout Cangyun City, the imperial capital.
"Latest news! The newly appointed War God of the State will depart for Hanyun Valley tomorrow!"
"As the saying goes, a new official lights three fires to establish his authority. It seems his first fire will be lit against the Barbarians outside Hanyun Valley."
"This will be the first battle since the War God of the State took office! Everyone is waiting to see what happens!"
"Rumor has it that the Lord War God plans to push the national border fifty li further out."
"…"
Countless people waited with bated breath, hoping this legendary general could secure the nation in a single battle and thoroughly intimidate the Barbarians beyond the border.
Public expectation was one thing. However, the fact that battle details were being so clearly communicated to the populace, and that the War God of the State's itinerary was revealed, ant that soone was clearly fanning the flas from behind the scenes.
To put it bluntly, it was a classic attempt to build him up for a great fall.
Victory and defeat are ordinary aspects of warfare.
If the War God of the State were to lose this battle, or if he failed to achieve the widely rumored goal of pushing the border out by fifty li, how would public opinion shift? The expectant masses would surely be overco with disappointnt.
In that case, the prestige of the newly appointed War God of the State would not only plumt, but it would likely trigger a wave of calls for his dismissal.
If his very first battle ends in failure, what right does he have to be called a god of war?
Step down!
「Mountains Rivers Villa.」
"These bastards are truly malicious!"
Looking at the public uproar, Yang Hu clenched his fists and sneered. "Boss, this trip to Hanyun Valley is probably not going to be easy."
"I heard that our eight hundred thousand brothers-in-arms have already started gathering at Hanyun Valley?"
Chen Yang ignored Yang Hu's complaint, a faint smile playing on his lips as he flipped through the docunts from the Elders' Court.
"Right!" Yang Hu nodded. "These are all soldiers capable of fighting against overwhelming odds. Even the Elders' Court treasures them, so they secretly issued an order for them to assemble at Hanyun Valley as quickly as possible."
"When those young rascals learn that you weren't really dismissed and that the king has returned, they'll probably roar with excitent."
Chen Yang smiled and shook his head. "I do miss them."
"Get ready. We're leaving imdiately."
Yang Hu was stunned. "L-Leaving for Hanyun Valley?"
"What else?" Chen Yang gazed toward Hanyun Valley, his eyes narrowing. "I've never cared for sches and plots. I will first push back the Barbarians. Then, I will root out those with treachery in their hearts and simply behead them."
Yang Hu: "…"
Does… does this an he's going to face the Barbarian Military Guards all by himself?
Holy hell…
The re thought made Yang Hu's blood boil with excitent.
So badass!
Yang Hu took a couple of deep breaths, his face flushing. "I'll go get ready right now."
Chen Yang stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze profound.
I once swore an oath. Even if I am the last man standing, I will defend this ancient land with my own power.
"…"
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