Chapter 695: The Dazzling Young Master Yun
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
All the martial world artists present were desperate for an answer as they were truly frightened.
If it had been any other time, they would have been unfazed. It was not an arduous task to fend off the Deicide Bows with their cultivation base.
Now? Now, when everyone was worn out from the battle and was left with a sliver of their cultivation base? Now, when they had to face ten thousand Deicide Bows, all at once? Ten thousand bows!
They wondered what the sight of ten thousand arrows released all at once would look like.
Did you see those assassins that were about to become porcupines? Were their cultivation base any lower than yours?
Fortunately, their doubts were quelled quickly.
A figure appeared from a high altitude in the sky, accompanied by the sound of whistling wind. His clothes fluttered in the air, his commanding aura did not need the company of rage to make it impressive. The person was none other than Yutang's King Xiaoyao.
"General Li? What is going on?" Yun Xiaoyao asked authoritatively, "I've promised the martial world on behalf of the Yutang administration that we would not partake in this matter. Why are you here now? Why have you killed so many people with the Deicide Bows? General Li, give me an explanation – at once!"
General Li, who led the troops and was mounted on his horse, cupped his fist calmly and replied, "Don't be angry, King Xiaoyao. This lowly general is only running the orders he has received."
"Received orders? Whose orders?" Yun Xiaoyao questioned angrily.
General Li remained still with his fist still cupped by his hand, balancing himself on the horse as he answered, "This general has received the instruction from the crown prince's eastern palace. His Highness does not mean to target the martial men, the initial promise is still in effect. However, these assassins are wicked ones, doing more harm than good – none of them can be forgiven!"
Yun Xiaoyao's expression was dark and grim. "This is unreasonable. The killers are a part of the martial world. Such intentional bias isn't logical at all!"
"There is a reason for this. Does King Yun remember the previous period when a lot of Yutang officials were ambushed? Including those of royalty. These cases happened after these assassins arrived," General Li answered.
"These assassins are the murderers."
"His Highness has investigated the workings of the case and recognized the reasons that it happened. Although the commissioner cannot be identified, for now, it is a wonderful chance to wipe out the world's killers. There'll definitely be lesser trouble in the future!"
"By nipping things in the bud, does it not mean that we get to erase the danger and hidden threat right at the source? This lowly general asks that King Xiaoyao be understanding, and not make things any harder than it has to be."
Yun Xiaoyao spoke in contemplation, "No. The martial world affairs end in the martial world. To derive ploys secretly and ambush targets during their vulnerable moments like what you have done, in addition to being unfaithful to your words, it's not what a man does! This cannot be!"
"The royal command is sanctioned, it cannot be denied. If King Yun intends to stop it, King Yun can take up this matter with His Highness. However, this lowly general must carry out the operation!" said General Li.
At this moment, where both parties insisted that their course of action was the right one, growing increasingly unforgiving with their words, a purple robe flashed into existence as Yun Yang arrived, fluttering down from the sky. He called out in a low voice, "General Li, your purpose of arriving, especially His Highness' intention, we know and we understand. However, the reality now is that the assassins here have either perished or injured. The few more remaining can hardly make anything out of themselves. God is always merciful – let's not force them to a dead end. If you do carry out the operation to its end, showing the world that we do not follow through with our promises, the damage done to His Majesty or my father's reputation will be massive. Who, then, will shoulder this damage? Will you be the one, General Li?"
General Li was caught off-guard, his hesitation painfully evident.
Hen Bieli, Hong Zhan and the others felt immensely grateful to Yun Yang who was hovering in the air. They did not expect that it would be the target they had been commissioned to kill who would step forward and talk on their behalf, saving their lives, when they were caught in an impasse. They wouldn't have known that this would be the final juncture out of which they were unable to extricate themselves!
They felt a rush of complicated feelings, which was hard to describe.
As for the martial world practitioners and cultivators who were lined in an outer circle surrounding the vicinity, not a single one of them failed to give their two thumbs up to the father and son pair.
A gentleman would repay the favor with favor and avenge grudges fairly; his bottom line was clear. What the Yun father and son pair was doing was truly principled! This was how a true gentleman would act.
This was the mannerism of a great empire, the grace of a great family!
King Xiaoyao of Yutang indeed! Young Master Yun of Yutang indeed! These two were dazzling indeed!
General Li was hesitant as he murmured, "This…"
Yun Yang chuckled and said, "It has been said that a rumor must be instigated, but for the assassin, league to be left with the five people from their initial tens of thousands, and for this handful of men to be so terribly battered, they can really be up to nothing. I believe that His Highness the crown prince will not blame all of you after he knows."
"Since King Yun and Young King Yun says so, this lowly general truly has nothing else to say. There is no use for me to insist. However, even if the five of them are pardoned, the two pieces of the map… must be retained – so this lowly general can conclude this matter to His Highness!" General Li continued speaking in a troubled tone.
Once his words left his lips, Hen Bieli, Hong Zhan and the rest of the assassins raised their heads up immediately. The resentment in their eyes was thick enough to coalesce into physical matter!
What marvelous words! They could be pardoned, but some evidence must be left as a conclusion – an explanation. It seemed reasonable, but anyone could hear the implied truth behind that sentence. So, this was the reason! The genuine reason had finally been revealed!
The martial world men who were beyond the attacking range came to a boil as well when they heard him. "What is the meaning of this? Leave the dragon hide treasure map?"
"We've fought for so long, putting our lives on the line! Tens of thousands of souls have been lost. We've finally executed ninety-nine percent of the assassin league and then you, who have just been watching from the sideline and waiting to reap what we sow, decide to intervene? You plan to just ask for the map, with mere words?"
"If you want it, why didn't you come forth and join the battle since the very beginning!"
"What's the meaning of coming forward now?"
"Could you possibly be any more shameless?"
"If it weren't for Yutang's official order, we would have f*cking gone elsewhere with our battles; why would we stay here?"
"Are you planning to toy with us by playing this hand now?"
"Not only are you taking advantage of the situation, but you also aren't contributing anything!"
"Do you plan to tackle the observers as well now?"
"Are you going to play us all out? Wipe out the proficient cultivators of the martial world?"
"How could you be so brutal?"
Obviously, the martial world men were thinking too far ahead. The paranoia that stemmed from their panicked state was brewing storms in their minds. With the capabilities of these martial world artists, the entire Tiantang City could be leveled if they could not suppress their internal fear, channeling it out in a negative direction. There was honestly no doubt about this. It was not even a challenge to the martial artists who were currently gathered in Tiantang City.
Just as these people were about to overflow with rage, resentment, and fear, just when a decisive battle could break out at any time, Yun Yang spoke again. His tone was discontent.
"General Li, you should watch your words! Prior to this, my father has sought His Majesty's approval and has made allowances for this incident. His Majesty has personally permitted this to take place. Anyone from Yutang must not partake in this martial world turbulence nor can they lust after the two pieces of dragon hide treasure maps. The dictum is not to be violated."
"His Majesty has even spoken ceremoniously that the divine gem of the martial world, no matter how godly it is, belongs only to the martial world. Yet General Li now speaks of retaining the secret map!"