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Fengyun City.
This is the city closest to Xingn City.
The city's defending commander was Pang Tun, forrly a deputy to Liu Fuhai, a powerful three-tiered expert of the Dharma Manifestation Realm.
While grilling at in the backyard, Pang Tun suddenly heard hurried footsteps coming from outside the courtyard. Looking up, he saw a ssenger soldier running frantically toward him, shouting, "General, General, terrible news..."
"What's the matter?"
Pang Tun's face expressed waning interest.
He once had a heart full of patriotic fervor, but not long ago, Yang Kun had astonishingly returned the hard-won Southern Ice City to the Sword Dynasty. There were even rumors that they had captured heroes like Liu Yi, who aided in defeating the Sword Dynasty, and delivered them as a peace offering.
Furthermore, Yang Kun's coronation was approaching.
With his spirits dampened and feeling disheartened, he no longer possessed his forr passion.
The ssenger soldier, panting heavily, said, "General, scouts from the front report... Xiao Yi is back, and, and he has turned General Liu, just took Xingn City, beheaded General Qin Feng, and is now heading towards our Fengyun City..."
"What?"
Pang Tun stood up abruptly, the at in his hand dropping to the ground with a clatter, sending sparks flying onto him, which he seed not to notice.
The ssenger soldier looked anxious and uneasy, asking, "General, what should we do? Should we alert our brothers to prepare defenses?"
"Defend? I defend your mother..."
Pang Tun slapped the ssenger on the head and burst into laughter, saying, "Ha, to think that Xiao actually survived and returned from the Sword Dynasty! Hurry, order the brothers to open the gates and go out to welco Xiao!"
"Ah?"
The ssenger soldier looked utterly baffled.
Pang Tun, however, couldn't wait a mont longer and ran out barefoot.
A mont later...
The barefoot Pang Tun led the fifty thousand troops of Fengyun City in flinging open the gates and moved in an impressive array to a location ten miles outside the city to wait.
Just as Xiao Yi and his party arrived, Liu Fuhai spoke gravely, "Xiao Yi, the commander defending Fengyun City ahead is my forr deputy, Pang Tun. He's a rare valiant soldier, resolutely courageous, and also utterly loyal to the emperor. Allow to speak with him first..."
"Hmm!"
Xiao Yi nodded and was about to speak when a rush of galloping hoofs was heard from ahead.
"Not good! Enemy attack!"
"Defend..."
Millions of soldiers and civilians simultaneously gripped their weapons tighter.
Liu Fuhai closed his eyes, "Indeed... this uncouth man would never surrender easily. I only hope that Xiao Yi won't embark on a massacre..."
However...
What Liu Fuhai didn't expect was that, no sooner than he had finished speaking,
Pang Tun from the front shouted, "Xiao, don't fight, I am Pang Tun, and I co to surrender..."
Xiao Yi: "..."
Liu Fuhai: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Damn it!
Wasn't he said to be unwaveringly brave?
How co we hadn't even reached Fengyun City, and he already ran out for ten miles to surrender?
Thump!
The barefoot Pang Tun ran up to Xiao Yi and the others, and from dozens of ters away, thumped down on his knees, sliding several ters on montum to Xiao Yi, sincerely saying, "Xiao, General Liu, I, Pang Tun, renounce the darkness to seek the light and wish to follow the general into the imperial capital to support the rightful king!"
Xiao Yi glanced at Liu Fuhai.
Liu Fuhai, with an embarrassed face, coughed lightly and said, "Pang Tun, why... why have you left the city to surrender?"
Pang Tun blinked, looking confused, and asked, "General Liu, now that the crown prince has committed heinous acts, killing his father to usurp the throne, shouldn't I oppose him?"
Uh...
```
Liu Fuhai was montarily left speechless.
But Xiao Yi just laughed heartily, dismounted his horse to help Pang Tun up, and patted the dust off his clothes. Looking down at his bare feet, he imdiately flung out a pair of boots from his storage ring, saying, "General Pang, I am very grateful that you could join our Royal Guard Army. However, you should put the shoes on first!"
"Ah?"
Pang Tun looked at the boots in his hands, his eyes full of gratitude, "Thank you, Director Xiao, I've long heard that you are the chosen one; following you, I'm sure to be right!"
And so...
Xiao Yi's team grew even larger.
As they made their way, whenever they approached a city, the gates would be flung open or the inhabitants would co out to welco them.
And if there were any city defenders who dared to resist.
The soldiers under their command would revolt along with the citizens, capturing the defenders, and swinging the city gates wide open.
On this journey...
Xiao Yi and his party encountered almost no obstacles, with a clear path ahead, getting ever closer to the imperial capital.
anwhile...
In the Great Qian Dynasty's capital, it was already adorned with festive lanterns, brimming with excitent and celebration.
At Yang Kun's behest, every household left their hos to gather at Xuanwu Square outside the Imperial Palace. This was to witness the coronation of this new ruler of the Great Qian Dynasty. If anyone dared to hide at ho, the masters of Blood Shadow Tower and the Blood Saber Guard would appear at their doorstep in no ti.
Especially the court officials, who, along with their families, flocked to Xuanwu Square.
At this mont...
Down Vermilion Bird Avenue, the main thoroughfare of the capital, a procession of prison carts was slowly making its way.
Inside these carts were the people from Xiaoshanhe Institute, as well as Wang and other senior officials who had joined forces to resist Yang Kun. Bringing up the rear were Yang Ling and Qi. They were all dressed in cangues, with massive Black Profound Iron Chains binding their hands and feet.
Even with all their cultivation, it was utterly useless at this mont.
They were caged like wild beasts in the prison carts.
Paraded through the streets, they were put on public display.
"Is that Prince Yang Ling? How pitiful..."
"What did the people of Xiaoshanhe Institute do to deserve this? Director Xiao leads a fight outside, spilling blood in battles, making the Sword Dynasty's scum dare not fight back, yet this is how his Shanhe Court is treated at ho..."
"Shh! Keep your voice down; the Blood Saber Guard and Blood Shadow Tower operatives are nearby. If they hear you, you're done for!"
"Damn it, I'm not afraid. If Yang Kun dares to do it, he shouldn't be afraid of people talking..." A young man filled with righteous indignation just finished speaking when suddenly a cold blade rested on his neck.
Thud!
Blood gushed forth, and the young man collapsed into a pool of his own blood.
Cries of shock burst from the crowd.
An assassin from Blood Shadow Tower slowly retracted his dagger, looking indifferently at the people, "Those who slander His Majesty shall die!"
Hisss!
The surrounding citizens imdiately fell silent as if struck by frost, not daring to utter another word.
The procession of prison carts continued to slowly advance.
Directly towards Xuanwu Square.
The multitude of court officials and citizens watching from the square felt their scalps tingle at the sight of Yang Ling, Qi, and Ye Heng, as well as others on the carts who had suffered brutal torture and looked utterly wretched. All of them tortured to the point of inhumanity, gaunt in appearance, and despondent.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Amid the clashing of tal, operatives from the Blood Saber Guard and those from Blood Shadow Tower, now incorporated into the Blood Shadow Guard, violently yanked Yang Ling and the others from the carts, forcing them all to kneel in the very center of Xuanwu Square.
Just from Xiaoshanhe Institute alone, there were tens of thousands of strong individuals, plus several hundred court officials and people like Yang Ling.
They nearly filled half of the vast Xuanwu Square.
At this mont...
A piercing and unpleasant voice spread throughout Xuanwu Square, "His Majesty decrees that on the joyous day of His Majesty's ascension to the throne, three thousand rebel officials and traitors' heads shall pave the way, and their blood shall lay down a red carpet, proclaiming to the world: those who follow will prosper, those who oppose shall perish!"
PS: The fifth update is here; there are still five more today. Xiao Tian plans to release them all at once, which might be late! If you can't wait, you can read it tomorrow, and by the way, let promote our Q group: 979661908
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