“Put out the fire! Hurry!”
This was no longer a clash between two sides, it had become a duel between the North Desert City garrison and the flames.
If the blaze could not be quenched, more would die, even total annihilation was possible.
Watching Ling Xiao like a god from heaven, the Dark Thorn soldiers admired him deeply.
Though Ling Xiao’s power was still not on the level of their grand general or many commanders.
His progress was simply too rapid.
In just one war, he had become this terrifying, no wonder General Ji Ning said they must protect Ling Xiao at all costs.
This man’s potential was too frightening.
If he continued to develop, he would surely surpass those commanders, even General Ji Ning.
“Ling Xiao, stop now, do you still refuse to see reason? Do you truly intend to oppose the entire Divine Phoenix Empire?”
The general panicked, seeing Ling Xiao unleash such terrifying strength, he had no thought of fighting.
He had risen by flattery, never experienced real battlefield slaughter, incomparable to Li Ruguang, Zhang Yufei, Zhuge Ming.
Facing Ling Xiao, he was naturally terrified.
“If the Divine Phoenix Empire wants me dead, what if I destroy it?”
Ling Xiao sneered disdainfully.
Since birth, he had known no parental love, no pity or sympathy from any nation.
Thus he felt no belonging to any country in this world.
Including the Holy Dynasty or Divine Phoenix Empire.
He only knew to repay kindness with kindness.
Moreover, the Divine Phoenix Empire was not his nation, destroying it meant nothing.
He would not hesitate.
“Mad! Truly mad!”
The general looked at Ling Xiao, realising this was no cushy post, it was a death mission.
“Stop him, escort me to the imperial city to report!”
The general fled, choosing escape over fighting with his men.
“Another shameless one.”
Ling Xiao sneered, a Crimson Sun Cone quickly forming at his sword tip, shooting out.
Boom!
A massive explosion.
The general burst apart on his horse, body turning to blood rain.
“Death is too good for him!”
Ling Xiao snorted, then turned to the thousands still alive, “Where is General Ji Ning? What of the hundred thousand troops and civilians?”
“Ling Xiao, do you think we fear you? Opposing the Divine Phoenix Empire means certain death! We will not speak, kill this traitor!”
Amid the flames, some still shouted to kill Ling Xiao.
“Brave, but I am in no mood, Dark Thorn, hear my order, kill without mercy!”
Xie Li was let in by Dark Thorn members, joining them in a massacre.
This battle was necessary.
Only through it would these people truly belong to Ling Xiao, not the Scorpion Tribe or Divine Phoenix Empire.
Slaughter plus fire, thousands died in moments.
Only one survived, fear finally making him reveal what Ling Xiao wanted.
“Just yesterday, General Ji Ning and others were escorted to the imperial city for judgement, of course, their capture allowed over a hundred thousand troops and civilians to flee into the desert depths, General Jia is currently searching everywhere.”
“Good, give him a quick end.”
Ling Xiao glanced faintly at the man, then said to Xie Li, “Xie Li, by my order, you garrison North Desert City temporarily, find the hundred thousand troops and civilians, leave two Dark Thorn to assist, the rest follow me to the imperial city to rescue them!”
“Young master, what after finding them?”
“Settle them first, it is not far from the imperial city, if anything arises, we will send word.”
Ling Xiao did not plan to attack the imperial city now, too few people.
Of the hundred thousand, only about thirty thousand were combat-ready soldiers, the rest common folk, good for logistics, but fighting meant death.
Moreover, with Yue Nu as a great weapon, worth hundreds of thousands of troops, even going to the imperial city without army was fine.
And perhaps it had not yet reached the point of blades.
Even Dark Thorn, he planned to disguise as civilians to infiltrate, await opportunity.
By his side, only Yue Nu, Leng Mei, and Ji Mingkong were needed.
Xie Li must stay, General Jia was strong, though not Yin-Yang Realm, only she could suppress him.
Otherwise Ling Xiao would bring her too, for greater rescue certainty.
“This trip to the imperial city is perilous, if any unwilling, I Ling Xiao will not force, leave now, stay in North Desert City.”
Ling Xiao turned to the Dark Thorn soldiers, speaking loudly.
No one spoke.
Every Dark Thorn face showed resolve.
They were furious!
Grieved!
Unwilling!
Tens of thousands bled on the frontier, repelled the Black Crow Empire army, held North Desert City.
Even captured the little prince Jiumo Zhiyan alive, killed Grand Tutor Temur Mutu.
Victory!
Complete victory!
Yet the result?
Ji Ning, Zhuge Ming, Zhang Yufei, Li Ruguang, Lü Chenglong captured, fate unknown.
Ling Xiao chased enemies thousands of li, yet branded traitor.
Humiliation!
Outrage!
Without clearing their names, how could they rest.
“Good! True men all, then we split, disguise as civilians, infiltrate the imperial city, await my order, we are loyal to this nation, but if it betrays us, we destroy it!”
“All follow the boss!”
Uniform voices rose, from this moment, Dark Thorn shifted loyalty from the royal house to themselves, to justice!
Before, facing this, they might die rather than betray nation or royals.
But now different, if lord demands subject’s death, must the subject die?
Emperor breaks law, same crime as commoner!
They would not die for a betraying emperor.
That is not loyalty, that is stupidity!
…
In the heavenly prison, Ji Ning, Lü Chenglong, Li Ruguang, Zhang Yufei, Zhuge Ming endured torture.
Specially crafted instruments took turns on their bodies.
Ji Ning bathed in blood.
Lü Chenglong lost one eye.
Li Ruguang’s legs shattered.
Zhang Yufei’s arm gone.
Zhuge Ming’s ears chopped.
Cruel torturers aimed only to force confession.
They refused, even in death.
They would not let enemies succeed.
Qin Huo, Meng Tong, and Xin escaped blame for short service in North Desert Army, Ji Ning entrusted the army and hundred thousand civilians to them.
