Within monts, the atmosphere on the field grew exceptionally tense.
Even Han Shaobai, who had feigned indifference, could no longer maintain his composure. As Ji Ping approached with his sword drawn, the Peerage King's throat tightened, and his entire body went rigid.
The normally glib Jia Shijie, seeing no way out, could only steel himself and call out, "Commander Ji."
If one had to say whose territory Cangyun City was, it naturally belonged to the Ten Thousand Martial Guards. He was different from Han Shaobai. As a re deputy general, he dared not act so brazenly before Ji Ping, a Commander.
HUM!
The Three-Foot Green Peak Sword trembled faintly again, its gleam like a shooting star that made hearts pound, and no one dared to make a move.
A mont later, Han Shaobai hurriedly explained, "Commander Ji, my deputy's joke truly went a bit too far. Please don't take offense." He then turned to his subordinate. "Jia Shijie, are you not going to apologize to the Commander?"
Ji Ping gave a cold smile. "A mont ago, didn't you say this deputy of yours has a habit of speaking the truth? How has it suddenly beco a joke?"
Han Shaobai was speechless.
"Haha…" Han Shaobai laughed, intending to let the matter drop. After all, they were comrades-in-arms; there was no need to dwell on a few words. Most importantly, he was slated to beco the War God of the State soon. Ji Ping was just putting on a show. Everyone understood.
However.
"Kneel and co here!" Ji Ping roared, raising a hand and pointing at Jia Shijie.
"You, you…" Jia Shijie's face paled. He shot a desperate, pleading look at Han Shaobai while stamring, "I… Our General Han will soon ascend to the position of Supre Martial Commander! For your own future, you'd best be more polite."
"Heh heh…" Ji Ping laughed. "Still dreaming?"
"You're both supposed to be important figures. How could you so readily believe rumors from the outside?"
Jia Shijie froze. "What do you an?"
"The Commander himself wishes to retire, but the Elders' Court does not plan to approve it, so…" Ji Ping smiled with great interest. "I wonder, how does your general plan to ascend to his new position?"
Jia Shijie: "…"
Han Shaobai: "…"
How… How can this be? Weren't there rumors that the higher-ups couldn't tolerate his flagrant behavior and were going to remove him?
Instantly, Han Shaobai's face flushed crimson, and his hands hung awkwardly at his sides. This joke has gone too far.
"Publicly insulting the Supre Martial Commander. Is this the kind of subordinate you train? And just now, it seed you shared his sentint?" Ji Ping sneered, pressing the tip of his longsword against Jia Shijie's throat.
The young deputy general, who had been so arrogant monts before, broke out in a cold sweat, his legs shaking uncontrollably.
"According to the laws of the Martial Departnt, what is the penalty for insulting the Supre Martial Commander?" Ji Ping asked coolly, his eyes narrowed.
The penalty? What is the penalty? Execution! Jia Shijie mumbled to himself, his strength failing him as he collapsed to the ground. He had always assud Chen Yang's position was precarious and that he would soon be dismissed, but now…
"Execution," Ji Ping uttered the word coldly and raised his longsword.
"Let !" Yang Hu shouted, snatching Liu Wu's battle saber and taking a fierce step forward. Without another word, Ji Ping imdiately backed away.
"My boss… is he soone a piece of trash like you is qualified to insult?" Yang Hu spat, gripping the saber with both hands as he stood over Jia Shijie and demanded harshly.
Jia Shijie: "…"
"Even if my boss were truly stepping down, what does that make you?"
"Do you really think soone can protect you?"
Han Shaobai was well aware that Yang Hu was using this as a pretext to kill, but the facts were irrefutable. What could he possibly do?
Jia Shijie breathed heavily. An overpowering killing intent washed over him, threatening to pierce his very soul and stirring turmoil within him. He hurriedly began to apologize. "S-Sorry…"
BOOM!
Yang Hu kicked out, pinning him to the ground. He raised the battle saber high. "Your apology? My boss, and the entire Hanyun Valley Martial Guard, do not accept it!"
SLICE!
The blade rose and fell.
The sudden silence was terrifying.
GULP.
Even Han Shaobai swallowed hard. When he saw Yang Hu turn to him with a malevolent grin, the Peerage King stumbled back several steps. Steeling himself, he forced out, "You… you've gone too far! For a few harmless jokes, you've cut down a pillar of my Chenlong Martial District?"
A pillar of talent? Yang Hu laughed aloud, scoffing, "A piece of filth like him is a pillar of talent? Why don't you list his military achievents for all of us to admire?"
Han Shaobai: "…"
The other colleagues from the Chenlong Martial District fell completely silent.
"Can't think of any?" Yang Hu questioned Han Shaobai. "Then present your own military record. Let's have a look at the great accomplishnts of the Peerage King."
Han Shaobai: "…"
"What's the matter? Are there none, or are you too embarrassed to say?" Yang Hu closed the distance between them. "So, on what grounds do you believe you're qualified to beco the War God of the State? On your audacity alone?!"
Han Shaobai: "…"
RUSTLE!
Just as the Peerage King was at a loss for how to respond, another group of people arrived on the scene.
Han Shaobai instinctively looked over. Upon seeing the old general striding toward them, he was not only surprised but also felt a wave of relief.
It was Tian Ling, the old general from the Qingteng Martial Zone. As the Supre Commander of the Qingteng Martial Zone, Tian Ling's military achievents were remarkable, yet he was an extrely low-profile individual who rarely made public appearances. It was unexpected to see him here today.
Han Shaobai imdiately rushed forward to greet him. "General Tian, you must be here because of this arrogant, insolent fellow, right?"
"Him!" Han Shaobai pointed at Yang Hu. "This worthless dog just cut down my deputy general!"
Though nearly sixty, Tian Ling was still hale and hearty. As a commander of an entire branch, his status and prestige were beyond question. He had appeared today only because he did not wish to see the Martial Departnt descend into chaos and had co to diate.
"He said a few harmless words, yet this man abused his power to arbitrarily execute a comrade-in-arms! What staggering arrogance!" Han Shaobai pulled Tian Ling along, adding his own exaggerations as he recounted Yang Hu's supposed transgressions.
He had already made up his mind. He would drag the old general to the Elders' Court to report Chen Yang's cris and ensure he was brought down. Of course, imprisoning the Supre Martial Commander would be even better.
Tian Ling did not jump to conclusions. His resolute gaze swept past Yang Hu and settled on Chen Yang.
However…
That single glance made the battle-hardened old general tremble from head to toe, and he instantly grew agitated. "You, you are…"
Neither Chen Yang's appointnt as the Zhennan Prince nor as the War God of the State had been publicly announced. As a result, it was natural for an old general like Tian Ling, who had never interacted with him, to not recognize his face.
But now…
"Eight years ago, during a campaign, I was surrounded by the enemy for two days due to my unfamiliarity with the terrain. In desperation, I sought help from the Hanyun Valley Martial Guard. An hour later, five hundred heroes from Hanyun Valley arrived like an unstoppable force, crushing the enemy and rescuing from that dire predicant."
"The man leading them that day… that was you, wasn't it?"
With that, an emotional Tian Ling respectfully clasped his fists and bowed to Chen Yang. "Thank you for your help that day!"
"Supre Martial Commander, you are truly worthy of the title!"
With a re five hundred n, he had defeated several thousand enemy soldiers. His strategic brilliance left even a veteran like him in awe, feeling utterly inferior.
Han Shaobai: "…"
「Half an hour later.」
The Qingteng Martial Zone made a public declaration: The Supre Martial Commander serves the country and its people and is worthy of the title 'War God of the State.' Should anyone dare to spread malicious rumors, the entire Qingteng Martial Zone Martial Guard will not stand by and watch.
Everyone: "…"
…
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