The King guards the nation's borders; the sovereign dies for his realm.
This has been an immutable truth throughout the ages.
The importance of Cangyun City was self-evident. Hundreds of millions of Martial Guards protected the capital, and beyond them were the Heavy Armored Guards. If chaos were to ever erupt in Cangyun City, these Martial Guards would rush to its aid in the shortest possible ti.
Not long ago, one hundred fifty thousand Martial Guards from Hanyun Valley had co charging with murderous intent before continuing their march south. It was assud that the matter had ended there. Who could have predicted that these sa one hundred fifty thousand Martial Guards would once again cross the Eight Hundred Li Hongzhi River? Under the command of Jingnan Prince Liu Wu, they pointed their blades toward a certain major figure within Cangyun City. In this era of profound peace, it was a rare sight to witness a troop of Martial Guards galloping through Cangyun City on multiple occasions.
「Inside the Elders' Court」
Wu Xing and Jin Zheng received Jingnan Prince Liu Wu, who had been the first to enter the city.
"I'm giving you one hour," Jin Zheng said to Liu Wu. "After you're done, withdraw imdiately. Can you do that?"
As the saying goes, without standards, nothing can be accomplished. Marching on Cangyun City was a grave offense, but so things simply had to be done.
"That's more than enough!" Liu Wu clasped his fists, then hesitated. "Elder, are the rumors about the Boss stepping down true?"
The city was rife with speculation that the War God of the State was resigning, with countless theories about the reason.
"It was Chen Yang's own request. We have not yet made an announcent," Jin Zheng sighed and patted Liu Wu's shoulder. "Our term has one year remaining. At the very least, we will not approve it within this year."
Chen Yang wants to bear all of this alone, but how could we just stand by and watch?
"Thank you, Elder!" Liu Wu bowed respectfully.
"One more thing," Wu Xing, who had been silent all this ti, suddenly spoke. "Since that dog Zhang Zhi is acting up so much, there's no need to let him live. Use a blade from your Hanyun Valley and cut him down!"
"Afterward, return to Hanyun Valley. Cangyun City is chaotic enough as it is."
"As you command!"
Liu Wu bowed again, a grim killing intent touching his lips as his gaze turned sharp and cold.
At the sa ti, a young man from the Southern Pole Royal Family nad Tang Yunfeng personally ca to supervise the marriage. He expressed his hope that Chen Yang would stop wasting ti and finalize the matter quickly. He openly declared that Chen Yang was nothing more than the descendant of a sinner from the Royal Chen Clan—a discarded, unwanted child. He added that the Southern Pole Royal Family's generosity in accepting him was an imnse imperial favor.
A descendant of a sinner, a discarded child?
These words naturally caused a great uproar. After all, the Royal Chen Clan had maintained its silence for a long ti, offering no comnt on the matter. It seed the Southern Pole Royal Family might have inside information.
"Could it be? Are the rumors that the Supre Martial Commander is stepping down true because he wants to return to the Royal Chen Clan and wait for them to take him back to assu the position of Family Head?"
"If that's the case, how disappointing!"
"Most importantly, the Royal Chen Clan still hasn't responded. Doesn't that put the Supre Martial Commander in an awkward position where he can neither advance nor retreat?"
All sorts of speculation filled the air, and many people's opinions of the Supre Martial Commander began to shift.
Is he really about to abandon his responsibilities and convictions?
***
After breakfast, Chen Yang and Yang Hu arrived at the estate of the Long Family, one of Cangyun City's eight great local families.
Among the eight families, the Long Family was by no ans weak, but it was the most low-key of them all, never one to flaunt its power. If the Southern Pole Royal Family hadn't stirred the pot and forced the Long Family to act as their vanguard pawn, they would have remained in their dormant state. However, a low-key style of conduct has nothing to do with character. The arrogant words of Long Kuang, the family's eldest young master, made that much clear. He was a textbook example of a groveling dog.
Inside the Long Family's residence, Tang Ziyan and Tang Yunfeng had yet to appear. Patriarch Long Cangqing and his eldest son, Long Kuang, were the ones to receive Chen Yang and Yang Hu. They had never t the Supre Martial Commander before. In the past, they would have certainly greeted him with the utmost respect and tried their best to curry favor, but now...
"Intentionally delaying things? Trying to show how special you are?" Long Kuang, a man in his thirties, glanced at Chen Yang and beckoned nonchalantly. "Still, you're sensible enough to show up. Otherwise, the consequences would not have been sothing you could bear. This way."
Chen Yang smiled without a word and followed him.
"You look excited, don't you?" Long Kuang said as he led the way. "I suppose you would be. We're talking about the Southern Pole Royal Family. For you, even becoming their servant is an unparalleled honor."
The Long Family estate was bustling with activity today. Besides their own mbers, many outsiders were present, all of whom had co to seek an audience with Tang Ziyan and Tang Yunfeng. The spacious front hall was crowded and lively, filled with influential figures from all over Cangyun City.
"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up."
"Did he dare not to? His position as Supre Martial Commander is about to be stripped, and the Royal Chen Clan considers him the descendant of a sinner. This is the only path he has left!"
"When you really think about it, it's quite pathetic."
The hushed whispers soon gave way to open mockery, and the hall erupted in boisterous laughter.
A smirk played on Long Cangqing's lips while Long Kuang watched with pure schadenfreude. They didn't even offer Chen Yang a seat, simply leaving him to stand in the middle of the room.
Perhaps in their eyes, this made Chen Yang look more like a monkey for their amusent? Honestly, the sense of accomplishnt they felt was imnse.
"Just wait here. Miss Ziyan is still upstairs," Long Kuang instructed Chen Yang as he settled comfortably into the main host's seat, crossed his legs, and took a sip of tea.
Beside Chen Yang, Yang Hu's eyes were like ice. He cracked his neck, letting out a series of sharp POPS.
"Hah!"
From the nearby staircase leading to the second floor, a middle-aged man in a gray robe descended with his hands clasped behind his back. His sharp eyes locked onto Yang Hu. "What, you plan to start sothing here?"
"The might of the Southern Pole Royal Family is absolute! To reveal killing intent in the presence of my clan, you must be tired of living!"
Yang Hu glanced over, a wicked smile slowly spreading across his lips.
"Ignore him for now," Chen Yang instructed. He took out a cigarette and lit it, not even bothering to look at the middle-aged man nad Tang Ji.
Only then did Yang Hu retract his gaze and resu his position at Chen Yang's side.
"My young lady will be down shortly! Kneel at once and prepare to welco her!" Tang Ji commanded Chen Yang and Yang Hu, his chin held high in arrogance as he approached.
The other guests in the hall promptly rose to their feet, turning respectfully toward the staircase. But the glances they occasionally threw at Chen Yang were filled with playful mockery and gloating.
Yes, you were once overwhelmingly powerful, a man whose call was answered by all. But as the saying goes, a phoenix in distress is no better than a chicken. Today, before a mber of a royal clan, you have no choice but to kneel in submission, do you?
Chen Yang acted as if he heard nothing. With one hand holding his cigarette and the other behind his back, he tilted his head up slightly, watching the sky where the dark clouds were gradually scattering, revealing the fiery sun about to break through.
The scorching sun is a bit much, but it's still better than this gloomy oppression, right?
User Comments
0 comments from readers