An emblem of a Python Sparrow Devouring Dragon was sprawled across a Map of Mountains and Rivers.
One hand was held behind his back, the other grasped the Three-Foot Green Peak Sword.
This… The War God of the State is here in person?
Han Tai was instantly dumbfounded.
How could this guy be here?
"You seed to be enjoying your little speech just now," Chen Yang said. "Co on. Repeat it for ."
CLANG.
Chen Yang slowly drew his blade, tossing the scabbard to Yang Hu. He pointed the tip at Han Tai. "Miss a single word, and I'll cut you down."
Han Tai was speechless.
The manor's steward, who had followed them in, opened his mouth to speak several tis, but ultimately just stood aside with his head bowed, not daring to make a single move.
How could a re steward like him possibly stop such a powerful man?
"I don't know how to conduct myself? Setting aside luck, I am less than nothing?" Chen Yang raised his longsword, his face an expressionless mask. He was quoting Han Tai's insults back at him. "Pray tell, what does that make you?"
Han Tai remained silent.
SMACK.
Chen Yang whipped his sword out sideways. The flat of the blade struck Han Tai's face, instantly splitting the skin and sending blood flying. "Speak!"
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Han Tai staggered back several steps, clutching his face with one hand, frozen to the spot.
"This general is arrogant and complacent, and his achievents end here?" Chen Yang narrowed his eyes, a faint, mocking smile on his lips. "And I wonder, who might you be to say so?"
The vast courtyard was utterly silent.
Han Tai, in particular, felt a chill perate his entire body, his limbs stiffening.
Who could have imagined it? The man who had been so proud and haughty just monts before, who looked down on even the War God of the State, now stood there with a blood-streaked cheek, not daring to utter a sound.
SMACK.
Chen Yang raised his hand again. With a light flick of his wrist, the flexible blade slapped against Han Tai's other cheek. The force of the impact ruptured the flesh, exposing the stark white bone beneath.
The middle-aged man, who had been spouting such arrogant words just a second ago, had his face contort in agony. He dared not make a sound, only turning his head subconsciously to look at his teacher, his eyes pleading for help.
It wasn't just him. The surrounding crowd, trapped between shock and fear, also turned their gazes toward Ye Kuan.
"Hmph!" Ye Kuan took a deep breath, his gaze turning grim. "You wound him again and again. What is your goal?"
"Don't forget where you are. As the newly appointed War God of the State, you had best show so restraint. Don't be too arrogant."
SMACK.
Chen Yang glanced at his blood-dripping longsword. When Ye Kuan finished speaking, Chen Yang cast a single look at him before striking Han Tai's face with the flat of the blade yet again.
"You ask what I want to do?" Chen Yang's question was clearly for Ye Kuan, but his next word was for Han Tai. "Kneel."
After three consecutive strikes, Han Tai felt as if his very soul was being flayed from his body. He stared at Ye Kuan, his face a mask of indecision, his pleading gaze saying everything.
Ye Kuan exploded with fury. Does he even see ? His eyes blazed with rage as he pointed a finger at Chen Yang. "I told you to show restraint! Do you intend to defy to the very end?"
Chen Yang ignored him, his unwavering gaze fixed solely on Han Tai.
Han Tai felt as if his insides were on fire, and his heart was about to explode. Trembling, he knew that if he didn't kneel, he would lose his life right here.
But if I kneel, what about my teacher's dignity...
THUD!
His knees buckled, and he dropped heavily to the ground. "Sir! I-I'm sorry! Please don't take my earlier nonsense to heart."
He simply didn't want to die.
"And?" Chen Yang toyed with his Three-Foot Green Peak Sword, uttering the single word with casual indifference.
SMACK.
Han Tai slapped himself hard across the face, then pressed both hands to the ground and kowtowed. "I was wrong," he begged.
Ye Kuan watched, speechless.
Useless trash!
Ye Kuan's face was as dark as storm clouds, and he was furious beyond asure. This student, whom he had always held in such high regard, was so utterly spineless that he knelt the mont he was told to. Did his own master's dignity an nothing?
"Get out of my sight!" Ye Kuan roared, slapping Han Tai aside in a fit of rage.
The rest of the onlookers, no matter how arrogant they usually were, now stood with their heads bowed, their scalps tingling with fear. It was one thing to gossip behind his back, but none of them would dare spout such nonsense to his face, not even if they had a hundred tis the courage.
Chen Yang swept his gaze over them. As blood dripped ceaselessly from his longsword, his cold voice echoed through the courtyard. "Does anyone else have an opinion about ?"
The courtyard was plunged into Siji.
With a great shuffle, everyone scrambled backward, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and Ye Kuan, terrified of being caught in the crossfire.
Ye Kuan's face twitched.
What a pack of turncoats!
In the suddenly empty courtyard, only Chen Yang and Ye Kuan remained, facing off against each other.
Chen Yang's expression was impassive, betraying no emotion. Ye Kuan, on the other hand, had lost all the calm and steady composure expected of his age. His face shifted through several expressions, and his gaze was glacial.
After a mont, Ye Kuan said in a grave tone, "This is my private residence. I demand that you leave imdiately!"
TWEET! TWEET!
Ji Ping marched in with the Ten Thousand Martial Guards, who quickly took control of the entire manor.
In that instant, even Ye Kuan felt his scalp prickle in alarm. What is this man planning? He even deployed the Ten Thousand Martial Guards?
"Ji Ping, how dare you! Do you know where you are? You will give an explanation for this, now!"
A well-dressed young man in a blue suit with slicked-back hair hurried over, exuding an air of wealth. "Do you have any idea how much damage your actions will cause to my grandfather's reputation? This is completely reckless!"
The young man, who was in his thirties, entered the courtyard and was about to say more when his eyes landed on Chen Yang.
He froze instantly, looking like a strangled duck. A horrified expression crossed his face.
This… This is the War God of the State, the one they're celebrating all over the country for his great victory?
HISS.
The young man, Ye Qin, drew in a sharp breath. He moved to Ye Kuan's side and asked anxiously, "Grandfather, this... this is…?"
"Can't you see? This newly appointed upstart wants to make an example out of ," Ye Kuan said, forcing a calm deanor and raising his voice an octave to bolster his own confidence.
"I am warning you. Even if you hold a high position and great power, you cannot act so recklessly. If you provoke , you'd better watch out for your own position."
After a derisive scoff, Ye Kuan clasped his hands behind his back, straightened his posture, and lifted his head to gaze at the sky. "I have always conducted myself with integrity and righteousness. I have made it my mission to be compassionate to the people, serving the nation and its citizens selflessly my entire life.
"And now, without any cause, you wish to make an example of to establish your own authority? Have you thought about how you will answer for this? Have you considered how you will face the condemnation of the masses?"
"Heh heh..." Watching Ye Kuan's righteous performance, Chen Yang suddenly laughed.
He really couldn't help it. He couldn't imagine how thick-skinned a person had to be to spew such hypocritical nonsense.
"What are you laughing at?" Ye Kuan demanded.
Chen Yang shook his head. "I'm laughing because you, you old codger, are like a stone in a latrine pit: hard and stinking."
"You…"
Ye Kuan let out a long sigh, his old eyes brimming with tears in a show of genuine emotion. "I have lived my life with integrity, dedicating myself to the nation and its people, prepared to work myself to death for the cause. I never expected to be targeted by such a vile person.
"The heavens may be unfair, but if I were given another life, I would walk the sa path without hesitation."
He looked utterly wretched, the very picture of a tragic hero.
"Cut the crap!" Yang Hu could no longer stand it. He slapped a file of docunts against Ye Kuan's face. "Selflessly dedicated? You've been in the military for decades, so how is it you've never once set foot on the front lines? And what about the new young woman you have on your arm every month?"
Ye Kuan was stunned into silence.
"You live a life of integrity? So much integrity that every single one of your descendants has assets worth tens of billions?"
Ye Kuan had no reply.
"Enough." Chen Yang waved for Yang Hu to stop, lifting his longsword. "Why explain things to a dog? You just cut its head off."
"Ji Ping."
"Your subordinate is here!"
Chen Yang waved his hand dismissively. "My orders are to leave none of them alive."
Ye Kuan paled.
The entire crowd froze in terror.
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