“Alas, what a pity. I wanted to finish off that scum myself!”
Jia Yun truly felt some regret. Now, because he had assisted in capturing criminals like Ji Ning and rendered great service, he had been personally ennobled by the Emperor as deputy commander of the imperial city guards.
Though this was only a nominal position, he could still mobilise a large number of guards.
Moreover, he had broken through to the ninth heaven of cultivation, so in his eyes, Ling Xiao was not even worth a fart.
If Ling Xiao appeared before him now, he guaranteed he could easily take the dog’s life.
“Commander, traces of the Beimo army have been spotted ten li outside the imperial city, led by Qin Huo!”
Someone suddenly came to report.
“Good, they come at the perfect time!”
Hearing this news, a cold smile lifted the corners of Jia Lin’s mouth.
“The commander truly predicts like a god! I admire you!”
Feng Mingjun hurriedly said.
Though he was supervisor of the nine gates and held no low status, his cultivation was far inferior to Jia Lin’s. Moreover, with Jia Lin’s current high standing in the Zhengqi Alliance, after Ji Ning’s capture, the Jia family could be said to cover the sky with one hand.
His obsequious attitude towards Jia Lin was perfectly normal.
“Hehe, Supervisor, no need for compliments. The credit is ours together. How could I dare claim it alone?”
Jia Lin smiled. Unlike Ji Ning, he knew how to conduct himself. It was precisely because of the Shenhuang Empire’s royal support that their Jia family could dominate the Zhengqi Alliance.
He understood this clearly.
Yellow sand filled the sky.
The army marched towards the imperial city.
Every soldier’s face burned with indignation and resolve.
Better to die than do nothing.
Since there was no justice in this world, they would fight for it with their own hands.
If no one dared spill hot blood, no one would resist.
Justice and righteousness were not achieved by talk alone; they required blood and sacrifice!
Including Qin Huo, they all knew this journey offered no return, but if they did not go, they could not forgive themselves.
Nor live with their conscience.
When Ji Ning and the others were taken away, they had questioned Jia Lin: was there still justice in this world? Was there still law?
At that time, Jia Lin had only sneered at them and said a sentence they could never forget.
“Justice? Righteousness? This world has only strength! Power! What justice or righteousness exists, you pack of fools!”
Yes, they were fools. Only in that moment did they realise what they had pursued all along was so illusory.
But justice and righteousness did exist in this world; it was just that some had rotted it from the roots.
The entire Shenhuang court had decayed, fallen!
Nine li from the imperial city!
On the city wall, Jia Lin gazed coldly into the distance. A dark mass of the Beimo army advanced towards them.
Fewer than thirty thousand; they must have left some to protect the citizens.
A slight pity, but close enough. Kill these rebels, and the remaining troops and citizens would give them reason to exterminate them all.
“Archers, prepare!”
Jia Lin waved lightly. As the enemy gradually entered range, he felt his heart pounding uncontrollably.
After so many years, he could finally trample Ji Ning completely underfoot.
“Rumble!”
The thunderous sound of the army grew closer.
Five li!
“General, they have stopped, just outside the range of archers and formations.”
One li away, the army suddenly halted. Jia Lin was stunned.
Jia Yun also frowned.
What was going on?
Jia Lin tried to see the situation in the distance, but with ranks of over twenty thousand, no small number, he could not discern what was happening within that army.
“Do not panic. Since they came, they cannot simply stand by. We wait here.”
Though puzzled, Jia Lin trusted his judgement. They had not come to the imperial city to sightsee; they were here to rescue people.
If so, waiting was enough.
Within the Beimo army.
“Young master, you are alive! Wonderful!”
Qin Huo, Meng Tong, and Xin all knelt on the ground, tears of excitement in their eyes.
“First, calm down. All three of you, rise. How is the great general?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“According to Vice-Dean Feng Qingyan, resentment in the city is boiling. They all regard the general as a traitor who colluded with the enemy. He is likely to be executed by a thousand cuts today!”
Qin Huo said agitatedly, “We originally did not want to attack rashly, but if the great general dies so muddled, we cannot live with ourselves.”
“I know. In your place, I would do the same.”
Ling Xiao nodded, “A thousand cuts? That old dog Sikong Zun is truly vicious!”
“Young master, since you are here, the army needs your command. When the great general was taken, he said that if you returned, you would be the second city lord of Beimo City.”
Qin Huo said.
“Set that aside for now. Have everyone pitch camp. We will try courtesy before force. Now that I am back, I have sufficient proof of Great General Ji Ning’s innocence, so it is not yet time for battle.”
Ling Xiao had no interest in the city lord title. He had hurried back to the imperial city solely to save Ji Ning and the others.
Fortunately, he was not too late. He was glad.
As long as Ji Ning and the others lived, he would find a way to rescue them all.
“Young master, what is there to discuss? Charge in and kill!”
Meng Tong said loudly.
“Charge in? Do you know how many defenders the imperial city has? How many powerful protective formations? Do you want to throw these twenty thousand plus lives away too?”
Ling Xiao said irritably, “Action requires not only courage but brains. On this, learn more from Qin Huo.”
“Young master, tell us what to do. We will follow you.”
Qin Huo said.
“First, order everyone to rest in place, light fires, cook meals. We have marched far. Even for a hard assault, we must conserve strength. Attacking now would be too disadvantageous.”
Ling Xiao waved his hand and gave Qin Huo and the others the last batch of rejuvenation pills and heaven-restoring spirit pills, “Distribute these. Prepare for the worst.”
He knew clearly that reasoning might not work. Even if he now carried Tiemu’er Mutu’s head and had captured Jiumo Zhiyan alive, he might not get to see the enemy or the heir apparent Feng Yinshan.
Without seeing them, nothing mattered.
Those on the city tower, Jia Lin and the rest, would never let them enter alive.
They must prepare for a tough fight.
Moreover, he still awaited the arrival of Xieli and the scorpion people.
Since Jia Lin had not pursued those hundred thousand plus citizens, Xieli would surely come here.
One more Xieli meant one more yin-yang realm expert.
If it came to a real fight, they might not lose.
The Beimo army’s admiration for Ling Xiao was no less than for Ji Ning. For his orders, whether understood or not, they would execute without question.
After all, this young man had led thirty thousand plus to rout the Black Crow Empire’s million-strong army, a divine general!
Even Great General Ji Ning had never achieved such a brilliant feat.
Truly too strong.
