novelzi Chapter 262: Act First, Report Later
Chapter 262: Act First, Report Later
A game of the highest order in the Northern Border, belonging to Xuanyuan Nation, concluded in just two days; neither Ye Feng nor Mu Tian behind the scenes ever thought of stretching the seven-day timer to its limit.
The supposed seven-day limit was nothing more than a signal Ye Feng had sent out.
In the east, the battle along the Gesang River, which lasted several grueling hours, finally came to an end when the last Dongying Ronin fell.
For those on Ye Feng’s side, the battle was anything but easy.
The Ronin from Fusang, with sixteen of them at Martial King Level and among them three at Peak Martial King Level—one from Celestial God Mountain, a retainer from the Longma Family, and the last a disciple of Sword Saint Musashi—came prepared to die.
The moment these Fusang Ronin encountered their opponents, they immediately showed a fierce desire to kill or be killed, fighting viciously; of the three Peak Martial Kings, aside from one who went to engage Lin Chong, the other two were ferocious enough to take on five opponents each.
If not for their numerical advantage, if not for the last-minute reinforcement led by Yu Feiyu, the battle could indeed have resulted in the annihilation of the enemy, but it would have been a pyrrhic victory.
Still, in this battle, the toll on Xuanyuan Nation’s soldiers exceeded twenty lives; six Martial Kings fell, including Zhang Che of the Utility Pavilion, a Martial King named Zuo Jianqiu, one from the Cao Family loyal to Cao Yi, Supervisor Su Haomin from Northern Su, Lin Chong’s personal guard, and the National Guardian General Zhang Zhen who also came—the latter two also perished.
These men, up until the moment of their deaths, bore no trace of regret in their eyes, remaining resolute throughout, even though they were aware that they were taking shots intended for Ye Feng.
These secretly infiltrated Ronin Samurai were all targeting Ye Feng.
Longma Family!
Sword Saint Palace!
Celestial God Enlightenment Mountain!
Such dedication from the Ronin Samurai, such spirit of bushido—when the corpses of those who died in battle were brought back one by one, Ye Feng sank into a deep silence.
They had followed his orders in this battle, but the will they showed to slay the enemy far exceeded his commands. What kind of sentiment was that?
Ye Feng knew that he owed those who had fallen in battle, an explanation.
"Back to the Northern Border Camp!"
After a great battle, fortunately, his three generals—Leng Wuming, Sima Zhantian, and Qin He— all survived, and Xia Lengchan, too, advanced to the rank of Peak Grandmaster.
All other words were pretentious!
If fate would have it, we shall fight again in another life, Ye Feng quickly took his leave from the imperial envoy and embarked on the road back to the Northern Border Camp.
They had won.
But such a victory could not bring joy to Ye Feng; it was an internal power struggle within Xuanyuan Nation, a fight where, regardless of who perished, they were all his countrymen.
How could one be excited over such a victory?
Moreover, what truly pained Ye Feng was Wu Yi’s betrayal and Mu Tian’s treachery; why the imperial capital was attacked months ago, and who was behind the betrayal, he finally had his answers.
Northern Border Camp.
"Xiao Chuanqi, as fellow commanders in the Northern Border Legion, by what right do you imprison us three?"
At the Third Legion Camp, it was now bustling with people, with both sides on edge. Xiao Chuanqi, leading the First, Fourth, and Fifth Legions, had barged in and now besieged the place, forbidding anyone from leaving.
This included the commander of the Third Legion, Guan Bohou, the commander of the Sixth, Ouyang, and the commander of the Eighth, Zhong Chengyun, who were all inside the main camp.
Outside the camp, Northern Border Soldiers faced off against one another, most wearing expressions of bewilderment, while only the loyal followers of the three commanders showed indignation.
In terms of authority, although Xiao Chuanqi was the Chief Legion Commander within the Northern Border Camp, he truly had no right to command or detain any other legion commander.
Everyone in the Northern Border Camp knew that the only one with the sovereign authority to reward or punish the Eight Legions’ commanders was the Northern Border King.
But would Xiao Chuanqi be reasonable?
Clearly not. He stood before the camp gates with his sword, declaring coldly, "I obey the King’s Order to guard the Northern Border Camp, until the Northern King returns, anyone who dares to leave the camp will be judged as a deserter and dealt with accordingly."
In the Xuanyuan Nation of the Four Realms, all four kings have their exclusive tokens. Seeing the token is as if seeing the king himself. One of the main reasons Zhu Guangbo had not been able to win over the people was that he lacked the Northern Border Token.
And the Northern Border Token had long been entrusted to Xiao Chuanqi by Ye Feng, precisely to prevent this scenario.
A singular King’s Order, unmatched in the world, no one dares to impersonate.
Seeing Xiao Chuanqi raising the Northern Border King’s Order, the soldiers who had taken action were astonished and then one by one dropped their weapons to the ground.
Read exclusive content at novelhall.Côm
Of course, some discarded their weapons, and others refused to surrender them. Facing these men, Xiao Chuanqi’s eyes instantly hardened, and in the next moment, sword lights flashed all around.
Xiao Chuanqi did not move; it was only the small Sword Intent that did.
Can they escape?
Watching the three flee in the opposite direction, Xiao Chuanqi stopped his slaughter and, retrieving the token, turned to chase after them.
"Damn it, those men have stopped."
In less than two minutes, Xiao Chuanqi caught up with the three legion commanders, who still hadn’t managed to escape the Northern Border Camp.
How dare they move!
Facing Xiao Chuanqi’s Sword Intent and slaughter, the followers of the three were already terrified, their hands shaking with fear. Not to mention that their commanders had fled the field—what was there left to fight for?
"Xiao Chuanqi, what do you intend to do? Don’t forget who you are, you’re just a legion commander."
As Xiao Chuanqi drew his sword, the three became panic-stricken.
"You seem to have forgotten what I just held. With the King’s Order in hand, I can execute first and report later."
"In your next life, remember not to betray again. Considering your past services to the Northern Border, I will not let you suffer."
With a flick of his wrist, three sword blossoms drifted toward the tops of their heads.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The three legion commanders were simultaneously struck by the sword and fell almost at the same instant.
"Farewell!"
Xiao Chuanqi sheathed his sword and solemnly closed the eyes of the three men.
In the past, the eight legion commanders had sung and drunk together; they had fought side by side against mighty foes; they had even secretly vowed never to fall unless it was in battle, preferring death to seeing each other perish.
Alas, when brothers turn their weapons against one another, whose fault is it all?
"Shangguan Fenghua, who exactly are you?"
A figure arrived slowly, the senior Seventh Legion Commander.
"I understand what you mean, but I was never anyone’s man, just a true soldier of the Northern Border. Who wins or loses in this struggle actually isn’t important to me," he replied.
"Besides, at the moment, I am one to send them off."
Shangguan Fenghua took off his military cap, gazing deeply at the three fallen legion commanders, then bent over. When he stood up, tears streamed down his face.
Ye Feng had won, and the three legion commanders who had betrayed him would die.
Likewise, had Zhu Guangbo won, even if he had shown favor to Xiao Chuanqi, Sima Zhantian and Qin He would still have to die.
The palm and back of the hand, both belonged to the same comrades.
If only they hadn’t been born in the Northern Border, their hearts devoted to their original purpose, now pained as if being wrenched apart.