Tyrant Sky Martial Soul

Chapter 1057: Chapter 1057: Kill to Establish Authority

Si Kong Zun was fending off the attack from the arrows and Array Formation while he bellowed, ”Ling Xiao, don’t spew nonsense. It was Ji Ning who destroyed our unity, who first tried to assassinate me and then allowed his men to attack my Northern Desert Pass, which led to the Black Crow Army exploiting the gap. Tens of thousands of soldiers died miserably. If anyone is to be blamed, it is Ji Ning who is the most culpable!”

Hearing this sophistry, the murderous intent in Ling Xiao’s eyes grew even more intense.

This despicable and shameless man had set up a Hongmen Banquet under the guise of unity, only to allow agents of the Black Crow Empire to blend into the feast.

Afterward, he injured himself but got Ji Ning to be the victim of an assassination attempt, struck by a poisoned arrow.

Not only that, but he also ordered his subordinates to secretly kill both him, Ling Xiao, and Ji Ning.

Had the Dark Stinger not been successful, the two of them would probably now be unjustly dead.

And it was this shameless man, who, despite seeing the Black Crow Army approaching, still ignored advice and stubbornly sent out all the troops to pursue the retreating Northern Desert Army.

As a result, the Imperial City Camp was encircled, and under a hail of arrows, a great number was killed or wounded.

It was still this shameless man who secretly ran away when the Black Crow Army attacked the Northern Desert Pass, causing Feng Qingyan and Lu Chenlong, along with thousands of soldiers, to be captured alive.

This man’s crimes are too numerous to record, yet now he has the audacity to turn the blame around and try to shift the responsibility onto Ji Ning’s shoulders.

It’s the absolute height of shamelessness!

”What utter nonsense!”

Ling Xiao shouted in anger, ”If I were you, I would have taken my own life on the battlefield long ago. How can you still have the face to stand here and twist the truth?

As the commander, disregarding the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers, you insisted on abandoning the Northern Desert Pass, our barrier, to attack the retreating Northern Desert Army.

That’s what caused blood to flow like rivers, countless dead and wounded!

In the battle of Northern Desert Pass, the deputy commanders Lu Chenlong and Feng Qingyan fought valiantly and were captured. They are heroes. And what about you? You slipped away secretly. How can you have any face to yell here?

If you had fought, how could just one Mu Tu have captured you all?

And still, you dare say you have no secret dealings with the Black Crow Empire?

Northern Desert City has stood unyielding in the Northern Territory for more than a decade, but since you came, it has been thrown into chaos. Even General Ji Ning has been poisoned and lies unconscious, yet you have the shamelessness to lay the blame at his feet?

You say General Ji Ning colluded with the Black Crow Empire?

That’s laughable. General Ji Ning has numerous achievements over the past dozen years, and has killed countless Black Crow Empire Martial Artists. Do you think he would find refuge with the Black Crow Empire?

And you? You have accomplished nothing and have caused the death of countless soldiers. Can I be wrong in stating that you and Jiumo Zhiyan have been exchanging flirtatious glances?”

Every word that Ling Xiao spoke was Heart-Slaying, each one piercing Si Kong Zun like a sharp sword.

Even those of the Northern Desert Army who had harbored some doubts before, now fully understood.

Ling Xiao’s words were actually meant for them to hear.

”You have no evidence, so what is the point of saying all this?”

Si Kong Zun moved out of the firing range and said with a cold laugh.

”Heh, you’ll know whether I have evidence when we return to the Imperial City! Unless you flee back to the True Demon Empire or hide in the Black Crow Empire, I will surely reveal your treacherous wolf-like nature to everyone in the Imperial City.”

Ling Xiao did indeed have some evidence, but it wasn’t yet sufficient. However, the Dark Stinger was still intensively investigating.

He would never let Si Kong Zun, this old dog, get off scot-free!

”Fine, then we shall see who will be publicly tried and who will die sooner!”

Si Kong Zun sneered, ”I’ll be waiting for you in the Imperial City. I hope you don’t die too soon at the hands of the Black Crow Army, hahaha.”

”Rest assured, I won’t die, because I need to save this life to claim your despicable head and your proud True Demon Empire; I will completely reduce it to flat land!”

Ling Xiao had the audacity to say such words today, and he would have the audacity to follow through in the future. The lives he vowed to take had never spared a single one.

It was just a matter of sooner or later.

Dealing with Si Kong Zun was a challenging task, but he was not afraid. With this kind of drive, he could grow even faster.

”Qin Huo, tonight will be the turning point. From now on, no matter what happens outside the city, no matter how many they kill, everyone must endure!”

Ling Xiao took a deep breath.

The most difficult moment was now, yet as long as they could endure it, victory would be theirs!

...

During the first shichen, a hundred captives were killed.

The people from the Black Crow Empire didn’t just kill them; they purposefully erected tall poles and hung their corpses up, making sure those in Northern Desert City could see them at all times.

In the second shichen, another hundred captives were killed.

It was then that the first sign of trouble arose within Northern Desert City. Zhang Yu Fei’s subordinates spread talk of surrender and were executed under martial command by Ling Xiao.

Although this matter was temporarily suppressed, the unease among the citizens inside the city was inevitable.

To overcome the enemy, Ling Xiao gathered his officers, big and small, in the council hall to plan the battle strategy.

It was then that Zhang Yu Fei, furious, shouted, ”Plan what else? At this rate, not only will those outside captives get killed, but even our own men will be annihilated by you!

With just over thirty thousand city defenders left, already dispirited and demoralized, facing the high-spirited, unanimous Black Crow Empire, how could we possibly win? Do you want to doom the people in the city?”

Ling Xiao didn’t explode in anger but asked coldly instead, ”Then what do you propose we do?”

”Humph, the subordinate who died had it right. Since the Black Crow Empire promised not to harm a hair, we should surrender for the sake of the city’s people. What does personal honor or disgrace count for? The people are what matter; that’s also the will of the Great General.”

Zhang Yu Fei snorted coldly.

”Smack!”

Upon hearing this, Ling Xiao slammed his palm on the table and roared, ”Zhang Yu Fei, I’ve said before: whoever dares to waver military hearts shall be killed without mercy! You bolster the enemy’s morale and destroy our own prestige. You not only shake the military heart, but your intentions warrant execution. Come, drag Zhang Yu Fei out to be beheaded as a warning to others!”

”You wouldn’t dare!”

Zhang Yu Fei bellowed, ”When I was following the Great General into battle in the north and the south, you were still wetting your pants! Do you dare to kill me?”

”Why are you all standing there? Are my orders ineffective? This man not only shakes the military spirit but also brazenly defies superiors; his crime is unpardonable. Drag him out and execute him immediately!”

Ling Xiao’s anger was explosive.

At that moment, Zhu Ge Ming stepped forward and said, ”Commander, Captain Zhang merely spoke in a moment of anger. Please don’t take it to heart. He’s truly concerned for the people, and he has no intention of betrayal.”

”So, he’s not wrong? Is it I who is mistaken? Come, throw Zhu Ge Ming out with a beating. Whoever pleads for mercy will share the same fate!”

Ling Xiao nearly shouted.

Zhu Ge Ming was thrown out of the council hall by the Dark Stinger soldiers.

”Please, Commander, show some mercy.”

At this, led by Li Ruguang, dozens of officers big and small knelt to beg for mercy for Zhang Yu Fei.

Even Qin Huo said, ”Commander, General Zhang is a long-serving official of the Great General. By killing him, you may create unrest within the army, which would be even harder to manage.”