Firmament Sword

”You…” The captive was so furious he almost fainted, but instead, he calmed down. He glanced at the Little Fatty and said flatly, ”Everything I said is true. Our Grand General is a man of honor and righteousness. If you want a fight, let’s settle it on the battlefield. Why would he do something so utterly depraved?”

”Heh, isn’t your general the one who specializes in lightning warfare, striking without a trace?” Liu Feng sneered.

”That wasn’t my general. You don’t have to provoke me; I won’t say anything more. Even if you cover me in honey and throw me into an ant nest, I won’t talk,” the captured youth said with a look of grim determination.

”Heh, now that’s strange. Your general is stationed in the Endless Forest Sea all year round. Are you saying all those villages and towns in my Cangqiong Kingdom, right on the edge of the Endless Forest Sea, that get plundered every year… were raided by our own people?”

Liu Feng’s face wore a mocking smile. He looked at the youth with contempt and said, ”If you did it, you did it. A real man owns up to his actions. Judging by a shifty coward like you, your Grand General must be nothing special either! Doesn’t have the guts to admit what he’s done, a spineless piece of trash!”

”Who are you calling spineless?! I’ll kill you!” The captured youth let out a furious roar. Though completely bound, he still charged at Liu Feng, his eyes bloodshot.

”Stay put!” Sui Yan lifted his foot and kicked the youth, sending him tumbling. He then pinned him down with his foot and said coldly, ”Are you looking to die?”

”HAHAHA, go on, kill me then!” The youth, his mouth full of dirt, roared back without a hint of weakness.

”Sui Yan, pull him up.” Xu Luo suddenly spoke, addressing the captive, ”I don’t think we have to be enemies. Why are you treating us with this attitude?”

”Not enemies? What a joke! Your Cangqiong Kingdom has always been the enemy of our Cao Kingdom! Always! Our Sovereign of Cao is the ruler of a nation, yet when he visits your Cangqiong Kingdom, he has to act like a subject and perform the three kneelings and nine kowtows.

One of your ministers dared to verbally insult our sovereign at a banquet! When the ruler is shamed, his subjects die for him… We wish we could march our army north, fight our way to your capital, and capture your Emperor, just to let him taste that same humiliation!”

The youth roared, tears welling in his eyes.

Liu Feng pouted, then suddenly sneered, ”Quite the passionate young man, aren’t you? In that case, why is your general planning to rebel?”

”How did you know?” the youth blurted out. The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it. His face turned deathly pale, and he glared at the Little Fatty with venomous hatred.

Liu Feng snickered, shooting Xu Luo a triumphant look.

Yesterday, when they had approached the massive valley where the Cao Army was stationed, they had already sensed the heavy atmosphere. A potent killing intent permeated the air.

This killing intent was one forged by an army of thousands, one that could never have been directed at just a few teenagers like them.

Therefore, Xu Luo, Huangfu Chongzhi, and the others had guessed on the spot that Cao Tianyi was likely being forced to rebel.

In fact, as of yesterday, Xu Luo and the others had already suspected that Cao Tianyi had nothing to do with the tragic massacre of the Cangqiong Kingdom’s villages.

Combining that with everything they had seen today, they could basically conclude that this incident stemmed from internal strife within the Cao Kingdom. A traitor had led outsiders to commit the massacre and then framed Cao Tianyi for it.

And for Cao Tianyi, who was unwilling to be destroyed, rebellion was his only way out.

He had no other path to take.

”Alright, Liu Feng, stop laughing. A warrior can be killed but not humiliated. Go on, untie him,” Xu Luo said with a smile.

”Are you really letting this guy go?” Liu Feng hesitated.

Xu Luo smiled and waved his hand. ”Let him go.”

Xiaotian, Liu San, and Xiahou Xian all looked slightly displeased. They stared at Xu Luo in confusion, not understanding why he was releasing a captive they had just managed to catch without even asking him a few questions.

Sui Yan, however, was indifferent. He had a cool temperament, and among the five brothers, he was the closest to Xu Luo.

So even if what Xu Luo said was wrong, he would carry it out without hesitation.

The same went for Liu Feng. He was also closest with Xu Luo, so seeing his insistence, he stopped asking questions. He walked over, cut the ropes on the youth with his dagger, and mumbled, ”You’re getting off easy. I really wanted to see what would happen if I stripped you naked, covered you in honey, and threw you into an ant nest.”

Although the youth was untied, he didn’t flee immediately. He knew he was no match for this group of teenagers, and besides, he was still bewildered, unable to understand why they were letting him go.

Hearing Liu Feng’s words, the youth shuddered and hastily took two steps back to put some distance between himself and the terrifying Little Fatty.

Xu Luo said to the youth, ”Go back and report to your general. Tell him that Xu Luo and Xu Jie, sons of Xu Ji and Xu Zhongtian, the Twin Walls of the Cangqiong Kingdom, wish to pay him a visit. If he agrees, have him send someone to escort us.”

Xu Luo didn’t reveal Huangfu Chongzhi’s identity, not because being a Prince was awkward, but because this matter could not yet be elevated to the level of the Royal Family.

Although Cao Tianyi was a Prince, he was also a General. Therefore, for Xu Luo and Xu Jie, as sons of generals, to seek an audience, their statuses were more or less equal.

Besides, Xu Luo believed that Cao Tianyi had no reason not to see them.

As for their safety…

’Master Mao, I’m counting on you this time. You’re up for it, right? You’re not going to be a coward like when you saw that white-haired, white-robed person, are you?’

’Bastard! Now you remember to call me Master Mao? Dammit, you cunning human, how dare you underestimate Master Mao’s power? Those people in that military camp? Let Master Mao at them! Master Mao could easily chew them up bite by bite by bite by bite, ahhhh, and then turn them into Master’s poop piece by piece by piece by piece, ahhhhhh!’

Uncle Meow Meow had been provoked and roared indignantly in Xu Luo’s ear.

’With Miaomiao, a Tier Nine Spirit Beast, as my guard… hmm, even if it’s a juvenile Tier Nine Spirit Beast, my safety is largely guaranteed!’

Moreover, Xu Luo believed that Cao Tianyi had no reason to kill them. At worst… he would just lock them up. When that time came, with Miaomiao around, he was confident that escaping wouldn’t be a problem.

Most importantly, Xu Luo was making a gamble.

He was betting that Cao Tianyi wasn’t just a Prince and a General… He was betting that he was a titan of his time!

A top-ranking noble of the kingdom who could train troops for many years in such an arduous place with complete composure—Xu Luo simply refused to believe such a man was without a shred of ambition.

’Under normal circumstances, this kind of ambition might not show itself. For example, if the Sovereign of the Cao Kingdom gave his younger brother enough trust, then perhaps for his entire life, Cao Tianyi would have remained just that—a powerful General and Prince.’

’But if the Sovereign of the Cao Kingdom gave his brother no trust at all, and instead was endlessly suspicious and constantly undermined him, then…’

”You… you’re the sons of the Twin Walls of the Cangqiong Kingdom?” The youth stared at Xu Luo and Xu Jie, finding it hard to believe. He couldn’t quite accept this reality.

Sons of such a high-ranking and powerful Military Family, daring to venture into the Endless Forest Sea and enter enemy territory with just a few peers? And not only that, they had the guts to request a meeting with an enemy Grand General?

”This… This is just outrageously bold, isn’t it?” the young scout mumbled in disbelief.

’If you knew that a Prince, the son of a Tiger General, a Young Master, and the children of several other Cangqiong Kingdom nobles were also standing here, wouldn’t you faint from shock?’ Liu Feng and the others thought.

”That’s right. Now, you may go. You just need to deliver my message,” Xu Luo said, looking calmly at the youth.

”Now… I’m starting to believe your identities. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely deliver the message. But you should think it over carefully yourselves. Our Grand General is not a soft-hearted man!” the youth said before turning to leave.

”Third Brother, are you really going with Second Brother to see Cao Tianyi? Aren’t you afraid he’ll…” Liu Feng waited until the youth had left before his playful smile vanished, his tone anxious.

Xu Luo shook his head and said, ”Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”

Then, Xu Luo turned his head toward Huangfu Chongzhi and Li Hong, saying to them, ”Big Brother, Mu Zi, take the others and leave now. Go to our previous hiding spot. If you don’t hear from us within three days, leave the Endless Forest Sea immediately and report what happened here to Instructor Zhou, exactly as it occurred.”

”What if General Cao Tianyi really does detain you…” Li Hong’s face showed a hint of hesitation. Now that it was happening, he realized he was nowhere near as calm as the two scions of a great Military Family before him.

”Haha, Mu Zi, the two of us are worth far more alive than dead. Don’t worry. Even if Cao Tianyi does suddenly detain us, he won’t kill us.”

Xu Luo said with a smile, ”And if we can get Cao Tianyi to accept our terms… then our brothers in the Martial Soul Squad can just wait for their promotions!”

Xu Luo’s words made everyone’s eyes light up.

Even the somewhat aloof and proud Xiahou Xian, Liu San, and Xiaotian couldn’t help but have a glimmer of anticipation in their eyes.

Ling Luoxi looked like she was about to drool, and she grinned at Xu Luo. ”Boss, for the sake of all our fortunes, you two have to come back alive!”

Xu Lingtian added shyly, ”Safety is the most important thing. Fortune is secondary…”

The title ”Boss” made Xu Luo’s expression flicker for a moment. This was the first time anyone had called him that, but it seemed like the others didn’t react strangely to it.

Xu Luo suddenly remembered something his brother had once said…

’”Only when you genuinely care about others will they truly believe in you!”’

Shaking his head slightly, Xu Luo said to Huangfu Chongzhi and the others, ”Big Brother, you all should leave quickly!”

Huangfu Chongzhi nodded heavily, clapped Xu Luo on the shoulder, and said, ”Be careful with everything!”

Liang Ziyi pressed his lips together tightly, then suddenly spoke up, ”I, Liang Ziyi, have never submitted to anyone. But today, Xu Luo, I submit to you. Come back alive… and from now on, you’ll be my, Liang Ziyi’s, boss!”