"Would the King intervene at a time like this?" Chen Fenglei quietly asked.

He shouldn't be speaking these words; as the Grand Steward of the palace, his duty was to work for the Royal Family and handle their dirty work.

However, as there was no one else present under his eyelids, he voiced his own suggestion.

"Mediate?" Zhong Daolong's eyes filled with killing intent as he spoke, "Do you think the Shen Family would back down, or the Lu Family would surrender? Who would listen to me?"

...

At that moment, the wooden door of the room was lightly knocked.

Chen Fenglei walked over to open the room door where a palace guard officer stood at the entry, reporting in a low voice, "The Military Minister wishes to see the King."

Chen Fenglei nodded, then closed the door tight once more.

"The Military Minister has arrived," Chen Fenglei said, walking up to Zhong Daolong.

"Mm," Zhong Daolong murmured, playing with the wine cup in his hand, "Just say I'm busy and have him wait a while."

"Yes," Chen Fenglei said in a deep voice.

There are many ways for a sovereign to impose authority; keeping someone waiting is one of them.

After a pause, Zhong Daolong looked toward Chen Fenglei and asked, "How is Dean Yan's preparation going?"

Chen Fenglei smiled and said, "Shall I go and ask?"

Zhong Daolong waved his hand, "Nevermind, when the time is ripe, he will make his move."

"Dean Yan is exceptionally capable; naturally there won't be any problems," Chen Fenglei agreed.

------

Luojia Mountain. Bamboo Sea.

Shen Xinglan dressed in white, his demeanor as dashing and elegant as an Immortal descending to earth.

With a single sword strike, numerous bamboo blossoms drifted with the wind, as if a snowfall had occurred.

His figure flickered, and he appeared on the Sea-view Platform.

Uncle Biao stepped forward, offering a white cotton towel, and Shen Xinglan smiled as he took it, "Thank you, Uncle Biao."

He wiped the sweat off his forehead, his gaze falling upon Shen Boyu's face, he asked, "Why has Grandpa Second come?"

"The Fire Fox, White Wolf, and 722, three of the Undying Army's trump brigades, infiltrated the heart of Lu Ban Mountain last night, were entirely annihilated, not a single survivor," Shen Boyu said gravely. "We've lost."

Last night, the two of them were predicting today's outcome, not expecting such a drastic divergence from their expectations.

They had actually lost.

Lost?

This word shouldn't exist in the Shen Family's dictionary.

Shen Xinglan's expression slightly shocked, voiced, "How dare the Lu Family?"

The soldiers of the three trump brigades totaled thirty to forty thousand men, all from the Empire's regular army.

The Lu Family had slaughtered them all without a word...

Now, apart from treason, they had no other path.

Knowing full well the consequences of their actions, they still took such a risky move... what exactly did they want to do?

What was their trump card?

"Who knows? Are they desperately lashing out or making a last stand? But considering the Lu Family's propensity for patience... isn't such action too reckless, leaving no room for retreat?"

"What does Grandpa have to say?" Shen Xinglan asked.

"We've just got off the phone; he said he's going to the Phoenix Palace to admit guilt."

Shen Xinglan raised an eyebrow, but he held his tongue out of respect for his elder.

"Something wrong? You think it's improper?"

"The Royal Family didn't stop the use of troops on Lu Ban Mountain because they also wanted to gauge the strength of the Lu Family... If we could fight incessantly with the Lu Family, weakening each other, that would be ideal."

"But to send in thirty to forty thousand men without any noise, not even knowing how they were killed..."

"The one inside the Phoenix Palace is surely seething with anger right now; Grandpa rushing over at this moment might provoke him."

"Your Grandpa knows this, but he has no better choice. With things having come to this point, someone must step up and clean up the mess."

"Not to mention, since lives have been sacrificed, we must regain some advantage from somewhere else..."

"The Lu Family's extensive slaughter of the Empire's soldiers is not the act of loyal subjects... they are cutting themselves off from the Empire, from the whole world..."

"So, your Grandpa's idea is to suggest in the name of the Military Committee... to have the King address the whole nation publicly, condemning the Lu Family's heinous treasonous actions."

Shen Xinglan sighed deeply and said, "As Grandpa forces the Lu Family into a corner, he also brings the Shen Family to the brink of a cliff..."

"He is a sovereign with high pride, how can he tolerate repeated challenges to his authority?"

Shen Boyu naturally understood the implication in Shen Xinglan's words and sighed as he said, "Success or sacrifice. We have no other choice."

Shen Xinglan looked down at the long sword in hand and asked, "Grandpa Second, do I need to take action?"

Shen Boyu gestured with his hand, "You are our ace; we cannot employ you so hastily. Rest for now, there will be a time for you to make a name for yourself."

Shen Xinglan nodded, then said no more.

He was obsessed with Martial Arts; his only aim was to keep growing stronger, ever stronger.

------

Shili Slope. An old factory.

Tang Fei's gaze swept across the faces of the thirty men in black, smiling as he spoke, "Starting now, in pairs... I don't care how you do it, I want you to plunge Phoenix City into complete chaos. The more chaotic, the better."

"Yes, Master," the group responded in unison.

These were members of the Ghost Assassination Group, descendants of the direct Tang Family line, trained and cultivated by Bai Wuxin.

Each was capable of taking on a hundred by themselves, and their loyalty was unquestionable.

"The hard work is appreciated. I trust that no drop of blood will be shed in vain, no one will die for nothing."

"Thank you, Master!"

After bowing, the group turned and left.

Grabbing chestnuts from the fire.

The bigger the blaze, the better.

Just like the great fire in Imperial Square seventeen years ago.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.