“Lü Chenglong, shut your mouth. I know you and Ji Ning go way back. Speaking for a rebel now, do you plan to join his revolt?”
Sikong Zun barked sternly.
“Sikong Zun, you are the Northern Punitive General, true, but some words cannot be spoken lightly. General Lü is deputy commander of the imperial camp. Even the emperor trusts him deeply. Do you seek to sow internal strife?”
Feng Qingyan spoke up too.
“Feng Qingyan, stick to your deputy role. When I, Sikong Zun, discipline someone, it’s not your place to interfere.”
“Lightning Demon King truly has a big mouth. Do you want God Phoenix Empire in chaos so your True Demon Empire can invade?”
Suddenly, Ling Xiao, silent until now, spoke.
He knew reasoning with this old dog Sikong Zun was useless. Only striking his weakness would restrain him.
Neither Lü Chenglong nor Feng Qingyan was direct enough; their words missed the mark.
But Ling Xiao’s struck home, sparking murmurs among the soldiers.
“Silence! You’re just a minor centurion. What right have you to speak before me? Insolence!”
Sikong Zun roared.
“The insolent one is you! As centurion, I indeed lack qualification to address you, but I hold a secret decree from Prince Yinshan.”
Ling Xiao said calmly. “By Prince Yinshan’s order, I serve as overseer, coordinating North Desert and punitive forces. The emperor approved, stamping his seal. General Sikong, do I now have qualification?”
He had kept this decree hidden, awaiting the perfect moment.
Now was it.
What!
Sikong Zun, Lü Chenglong, and Feng Qingyan examined the decree closely. Indeed genuine, bearing the emperor’s seal and Prince Yinshan’s mark.
Undeniable.
Overseer could be minor or major.
Minor: no power.
Major: could override the commander.
Directly answerable to the emperor.
Sikong Zun’s heart jolted. The emperor did not fully trust him, planning mutual checks with Ji Ning to prevent dominance.
Cunning old fox. Thought a puppet, yet so sly.
The soldiers now regarded Ling Xiao with respect. This humble human was overseer appointed by emperor and prince. Impressive.
“As overseer, Ji Ning refuses the gates. Does he have a guilty conscience?”
Sikong Zun asked, suppressing rage.
“Commander errs. If any army claims court dispatch and demands entry, what if trouble follows?”
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. “God Phoenix Year 182, July: southern border, small kingdom troops infiltrated, disguised as imperial soldiers, entered city, killed lord, looted. Bloody lesson. Commander ignores it?”
“Then what? Soldiers marched far. Leave them baking under the sun?”
Sikong Zun asked.
Feng Qingyan and Lü Chenglong looked to Ling Xiao.
The commander spoke truth.
“Leave it to me.”
Ling Xiao smiled. They knew not his ties to Ji Ning. Without them, the emperor would not approve Yinshan’s suggestion for overseer.
“To you? Hahaha. Ji Ning ignores my face. What are you? Even as overseer, he scorns the emperor, let alone you!”
Sikong Zun scoffed.
“We shall see!”
Ling Xiao smiled, leading Leng Mei and others to North Desert City.
“Listen on the battlements! I am Ling Xiao, here to meet General Ji Ning. Open the gates, please!”
The battlements had recognised him long ago but said nothing since he requested no entry.
“It’s Young Master Ling, who saved the general!”
“The general said: Young Master Ling arrives, open gates at once.”
After discussion atop, they said, “Young Master Ling, you may enter, but the others cannot. This concerns North Desert citizens’ safety. Understand.”
“Of course. Just eleven of us. The rest stay out.”
Ling Xiao smiled.
He must enter to discuss with Ji Ning. Cannot leave the punitive army outside long; it would brand revolt, allowing open targeting of Ji Ning.
“Hold!”
As gates slowly opened and Ling Xiao prepared entry, Sikong Zun shouted.
“What now, Commander?”
Ling Xiao frowned.
“You may enter, but the others stay!”
Sikong Zun said coldly.
“What? Hostages? You fail to open gates, I negotiate with Ji Ning, not only no thanks but this?”
Ling Xiao said coldly. “What if I refuse?”
“Archers!”
Sikong Zun bellowed, ordering archers to aim at Ling Xiao’s group. “Ling Xiao, don’t make this hard!”
Whoosh!
Suddenly, many crossbows protruded from the battlements, aiming at Sikong Zun and his archers.
“Brothers, someone threatens the emperor-appointed overseer. What do we do?”
A voice shouted from above.
“Protect the overseer! Shoot the rebels!”
The roar echoed below.
“Sikong Zun, are you truly a True Demon Empire spy harming God Phoenix?” Feng Qingyan asked coldly.
“You doubt me too?”
Sikong Zun stunned, asked angrily.
“How not? Killing the overseer today sparks North Desert and punitive forces’ conflict, mutual slaughter. Is that not your aim?”
Feng Qingyan said loudly.
Prompted by Ling Xiao, he grew shrewd. His words rang out.
Sikong Zun’s prestige was low. Hearing this, his archers hesitated.
“Hahaha, Deputy overthinks. How could I? Merely fear all entering risks harm by foes. One alone is safer.”
Sikong Zun saw he could not control, having offended Lü Chenglong and Feng Qingyan, so abandoned attacking Ling Xiao temporarily.
Quick to change face.
“Humph, no need for Commander’s concern! Soldiers, listen! This overseer enters to talk with General Ji Ning. Once he knows truth, he will let us in. No worry.”
Snorting coldly, Ling Xiao turned back towards North Desert City.
