Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 670: Chapter 670. Threat of Divine Punishment

At Golden Stone City’s palace, King Huang San was visited by the emissaries from Oredolia. He was accompanied by Lao Zen and Huang Zen.

”King Huang San, I demand an explanation! Why did your force attack our ally? Aren’t we in a treaty against common enemies?” Xin Dhaije’s voice reverberated in the throne room. The fury in his voice was evident.

”Emissary Dhaije, you are in the presence of the Echos King. Please lower your voice,” Lao Zen reprimanded.

The second emissary, Xin Jingsao, responded, ”If you breach the treaty, we have every right to raise our voice!”

”Jingsao, don’t think you can act haughty here! This is Echos!” Huang Zen exclaimed. Even though many years had passed, he was still bitter for having lost the duel against Xin Jingsao.

”I should be the one who said that!” Xin Jingsao returned. ”Echos seems to have forgotten its place. From where we see it, Echos seem to be playing everyone for a fool. You first trick us into thinking you are on our side as you send your troops into Khode. Once that is done, you secretly backstab us in the back by invading Kazhan. Do you deny this?”

Normally, Xin Dhaije would have stopped his disciple, but he let Xin Jingsao say his piece this time, for it was also what he wanted to say.

Huang Zen and Lao Zen said nothing. This allegation was a sensitive topic, one they were still discussing in closed doors in case someone came asking. They left the reply to Huang San.

Huang San remained silent as he pondered how to respond.

The problem with the issue was that it was bad both ways. Amon had invaded Kazhan without consent. Should Huang San disclose this fact? If he did, then he admitted he had an insubordinate general, one who was still allowed to roam free even after the fact was disclosed. This would paint him as an incompetent and powerless king, one who could not control his followers.

The other option was to pretend that this was the plan all along, but this would mean that he accepted the consequences of Amon’s action. Choosing so would put Echos on a sure path to becoming enemies with everyone wronged by Amon’s actions. Choosing so meant accepting the role of the guilty party.

He had sent Huang Er to Kazhan to stop Amon from causing further trouble. Huang Er had sent him a message a few days ago, but her message wasn’t encouraging. Amon was intent on clashing with Kazhan’s royal army.

Zong Hua’s information estimated that today should be the day the clash happened. He hadn’t received an update on the situation.

”What do you say, King Huang San?” Xin Jingsao urged. ”From the message of our colleague on Kazhan’s side, Kazhan’s royal army will arrive in Bulo City today. We believe King Shou Zou will decimate the army you have unwisely sent to Kazhan. Even so, this incident put us in a terrible position. Gyleth Marx is now advancing on us without hindrance, and we heard that Farghous’ army is mobilizing its army on our other border!”

”King Huang San!” Xin Dhaije exclaimed. ”You must take responsibility! We know you still have an army on standby at the Northeastern border. Mobilize that army and intercept Farghous’ army before they enter Oredolia. Farghous had invaded you and caused untold deaths. It is only right that you return the favor.”

Huang San took a deep breath. If Amon’s army had lost as Xin Jingsao claimed, he probably would have done as Xin Dhaije demanded. However, he hadn’t received the news. As impossible as it sounded for Amon to defeat Kazhan’s king, Huang San couldn’t rule out the possibility. Amon had been known to achieve the impossible.

”Honored emissaries,” Huang San finally spoke. He decided to be guilty instead of incompetent. ”Since it has come to this, I will be honest with you. We did what we did because we had come upon distressing information.”

Xin Dhaije frowned. ”What information?”

”Information on why in all the excavations we have unearthed. The records on every epoch never surpass ten million years. It is because the civilization of each epoch is wiped out by a worldwide calamity.”

”That’s preposterous information,” Xin Dhaije uttered. ”Even so, what does that have to do with this war?”

”It’s because from the intel we have gathered, the perpetrator of this calamity is the Temple of Divinity,” Huang San said.

”That’s blasphemous!!” Xin Jingsao shouted.

”King Huang San! Even if you are a king, I will not allow such heretical talk!” Xin Dhaije exclaimed. ”Repent at once! Or you will risk drawing the divine punishment!”

Huang San sighed. He guessed there was no going back. He stood and said, ”Emissaries, one of my people has informed me about undeniable proof of this calamity, as well as a clue to your temple’s involvement. She is on her way back with that proof as we speak. To tell you the truth, I also received news that Gyleth Marx and Farghous targeted you because they believed the same thing, that you are the bringer of the coming calamity. If you want to prove your innocence, then allow us to search your temple and interrogate your leaders.”

”How dare you!!” Xin Dhaije bellowed. ”Prove our innocence? That is a demand only we, the worthy ones blessed by the divine, may command! To dare accuse us of such a thing is already a gravely unforgiven sin! We are done here! You and all the Huang Clan prepare to face the divine punishment! Jingsao, we are leaving!”

”Hey! Don’t think this is a place where you...”

Huang Zen stopped after Huang San gestured at him. Huang San didn’t want to offend Oredolia further before he knew for certain the situation in Kazhan. He silently watched as the two emissaries left the throne room.

Exiting the throne room, Xin Dhaije and Xin Jingsao noticed Yang Li standing beside the door. She was holding her baby.

Xin Dhaije recognized her attire as one worn by the queen, but he was not in the mood for formality. He simply harrumphed and resumed walking.

Yang Li remained standing there. She had been standing there for a while and had heard all the exchanges. She also left. Arriving in her room, she took out a message talisman and started writing.

*

Inside the throne room, Huang San continued to discuss with the others until he received an update from Huang Er.

”King Shou Zou was slain...? Is Your Majesty sure the message is correct?” Huang Zen asked.

”Here, read it yourself,” Huang San passed the message talisman to Huang Zen. Lao Zen came over and read it with him. It’s not that they doubted Huang San’s words. It’s just that the news was too unbelievable.

”A Lord-level spirit beast...? Two Lord-level battle puppets...? My goodness, how does General Amon come into possession of such power?” Huang Zen remarked.

Everyone went into silence until Lao Zen broke it. ”Your Majesty, you do know what this signifies? This means General Amon has the power to take over this country if he wishes.”

”The public and Echos soldiers won’t let him...,” Huang San uttered. His voice didn’t sound confident, though. ”Do we have direct access to our soldiers under Amon’s command?”

Lao Zen shook his head. ”We don’t have anyone there who has message talismans linked to ours. If we want to communicate, we need to reach them directly.”

After some pondering, Huang San took out a message talisman and used it.

”What did Your Majesty do?” Lao Zen asked after Huang San was done.

”I told Huang Er to reach those soldiers directly,” Huang San answered.

”General Amon won’t like that,” Lao Zen said.

”I’m afraid that ship has sailed some time ago... Sigh, I do know he is a two-edged sword. I was probably hoping too much to think that our time spent together was enough for him to grow at least a little sense of loyalty to our kingdom.”

”Uncle, what about Oredolia?” Huang Zen asked. ”Now that General Amon had defeated Kazhan. There is no way we can make it right with Oredolia. You heard how those two were just now. They have no respect for us. We should stop considering our relationship with them.”

Lao Zen nodded. ”There is also the claim about the calamity. I myself still don’t believe it, but Princess Huang Er claimed to have seen evidence regarding the matter. Perhaps we should start treating it as a valid concern.”

Huang San slapped the armrest of his throne and stood. ”I have decided. Rather than letting Amon act as if he were roaming free without rein, it is better to pretend he is acting under my command. We know his next target is Oredolia. Since that is the case, we will do the same. Inform Jiang Tong to ready his army. I will also join him in this campaign.”

”In that case, I will join as well!” Huang Zen stated. He had never liked Oredolia. He was glad this happened. He hoped he could have his rematch with Xin Jingsao in this war.

”Your Majesty, is it wise to join the war directly? It may not be safe,” Lao Zen warned.

”Don’t worry,” Huang San said. ”With Gyleth Marx and Farghous also ganging up on the same target, I don’t think we will need to be involved directly. Our presence is just for show. We are there simply to take credit when Amon injected himself into the battle.”

”I see. In that case, I will immediately relay Your Majesty’s command to General Jiang Tong.”