Free Web NovelChapter 125: Chapter 125: The Forbidden Land’s Conundrum
As several thousand cavalrymen appeared and the voice of Yin Qixing, Marquis Jilong’s adjutant, rang out, the entire crowd was stunned.
The Tiger Flame Eldest Prince was dumbfounded. ’What’s going on?’
Snapping out of it, he whirled on Fan Changcun beside him and demanded furiously, "Was this you? You’re in league with Marquis Jilong of the Dragon Flame Kingdom too?"
Fan Changcun simply smiled, offering no reply.
At that moment, Yin Qixing’s voice rang out again. "By order of Marquis Jilong, the Descendants of Azure Flame and their families are to be escorted by us to Jilong State in the Dragon Flame Kingdom. No one is to stand in our way..."
His voice boomed, thundering across the sky and striking the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince like another blow.
The Prince snapped his head up, his voice turning cold. "Just because Marquis Jilong says we can’t interfere, we can’t interfere? Who the hell does he think he is?"
Of course, the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince would never agree to such a demand. Absolutely not.
He spoke again, his tone frigid. "The people of the Azure Flame Sect belong to our Six Great Flame Countries. What gives Marquis Jilong the right to take them away as he pleases? Even if the Dragon Flame King himself were here, the Six Great Flame Countries would not consent."
He was just a marquis from the Dragon Flame Kingdom. Of course the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince wasn’t afraid.
Besides, the enemy only had a few thousand cavalrymen. He was even less intimidated. If they wanted a fight, he would give them one!
However, Yin Qixing’s expression turned grave. "This young, masked brother has already said that Lord Marquis Jilong will guarantee the thrones of all the kings held hostage. If you interfere... the one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers will launch an all-out counterattack."
The "young, masked brother" he referred to was, of course, Lu Chao.
Lu Chao also urged his horse forward...
"Tiger Flame Eldest Prince, you want to throw the one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers under my command into disarray. You want to depose the hostage kings and install new ones."
"But Marquis Jilong wants to guarantee their thrones."
"So tell me, will this rabble you’ve brought with you not be completely annihilated here?"
At these words, the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince’s face went white. A moment later, as the realization dawned, it turned a livid shade of fury.
’He would depose the kings to throw the hostage armies into chaos.’
’But Marquis Jilong wanted to guarantee their thrones. What would the hostage kings do then?’
’Of course. They would fight tooth and nail to help the Descendants of Azure Flame.’
’In other words, with Marquis Jilong’s guarantee, the one hundred fifty thousand soldiers of the Azure Flame Descendants were united once more.’
’Add Marquis Jilong’s several thousand knights to the equation, and the freshly conscripted soldiers he had brought would be hopelessly outmatched.’
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The Tiger Flame Eldest Prince snarled at Yin Qixing, "What is Marquis Jilong playing at? Does he intend to make an enemy of the Six Great Flame Countries?"
To this, Yin Qixing replied coolly...
"I wouldn’t know. I am simply following orders. As for the details, you can send someone to negotiate with our Marquis Jilong."
Having said this, Yin Qixing glanced at Lu Chao beside him...
After a slight frown, he turned his gaze to Fan Jinhua, who stood a short distance away, and said, "Gather all your people. Follow me to Dragon Flame."
With that, he turned and rode off, the several thousand Jilong cavalry moving swiftly to follow.
In truth, Yin Qixing had arrived several days prior and had already held detailed discussions with Fan Jinhua and Lu Chao.
The result of those discussions was a plan: first, wait for all the families to arrive, then decide on a course of action based on the reaction of the Six Great Flame Countries.
And Lu Chao had long predicted...
...that the Six Great Flame Countries would never take this lying down. So, he had arranged for Yin Qixing to wait within the ruins of the old city. Only when the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince spoke of "enthroning new kings" would Yin Qixing and his soldiers make their appearance.
A gambit to "secure the kings and decide the outcome"...
Yin Qixing’s glance from Lu Chao to Fan Jinhua just now was because he, too, was somewhat unsure who was in charge. The two people who had negotiated with him over the past few days were Fan Jinhua and the "Fake Lu Chao."
Although, it seemed the Fake Lu Chao had done most of the talking.
In the end, Yin Qixing paid it no mind. He was simply there to carry out Marquis Jilong’s mission.
As Yin Qixing and his thousands of cavalry thundered away, Lu Chao looked to Fan Jinhua. The latter then ordered everyone to follow Yin Qixing, including the one hundred thirty thousand hostage soldiers. They all fell in line.
And so, the vast procession moved out.
Lu Chao and Fan Jinhua brought up the rear, their gazes fixed deeply on Fan Changcun, who remained by the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince’s side.
Fan Jinhua’s voice trembled as he said, "Grandfather, I’m going to Dragon Flame now."
In response, Fan Changcun, tears welling in his eyes, gave a slight nod.
Lu Chao took a deep breath, gave Fan Changcun a clasped-fist salute, and turned to leave without another word.
Before merging back into the main column, Lu Chao looked once more toward the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land.
During his seven days at the old site of the Azure Flame Sect, he had not only discussed plans with Yin Qixing but had also explored the Forbidden Land.
"Lu Chao..."
Just then, Cheng Yunsu’s voice reached him. She was approaching on her horse.
Lu Chao smiled at Cheng Yunsu and spoke softly. "The Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land is as mysterious and unfathomable as they say. It really does require an exceptionally powerful Soldier Dao and other skills to act as a key to unlock it. For now, I’ve only been able to get past six layers."
Indeed, Lu Chao hadn’t just scouted the Forbidden Land.
He had tried to break through it, but he hadn’t fully succeeded. The gate to the Forbidden Land was protected by layer after layer of trials, each one more difficult than the last.
Cheng Yunsu replied with firm belief, "You will, in the near future. I’m sure of it."
With a small smile, Lu Chao said no more and spurred his horse onward alongside Cheng Yunsu. They merged completely into the army of one hundred fifty thousand, a sharp glint in Lu Chao’s eyes. He was certain that his future self would be able to unlock the gates of the Forbidden Land...
The knowledge of the Soldier Dao that Fan Changcun had imparted to him had provided immense inspiration during this period.
Just then, a thunderous shout boomed from Yin Qixing at the front of the column: "Make way, or... you will be killed without mercy!"
For ahead of him, the path was still blocked by the encircling armies of the Six Great Flame Countries.
Faced with his menacing command, the soldiers had no choice but to obediently clear a path.
In the blink of an eye, everyone had followed Yin Qixing out of the old Azure Flame Sect grounds, heading straight for Jilong State in the Dragon Flame Kingdom.
The Tiger Flame Eldest Prince, standing beside Fan Changcun, raised his hand as if to order an attack, but ultimately, he didn’t dare.
’It was impossible. He couldn’t win!’
Just then, Fan Changcun’s aged voice spoke up again. "Once all the Descendants of Azure Flame have reached Jilong State, I will attempt to unlock the Forbidden Land."
The Tiger Flame Eldest Prince glared coldly at Fan Changcun, his expression flickering with uncertainty...
’He didn’t quite trust Fan Changcun. He feared that once the Descendants of Azure Flame were completely safe, the old bastard would simply kill himself on the spot.’
As if sensing the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince’s concerns, a mocking smile touched Fan Changcun’s lips. "I am not like you lot, who so easily go back on your word. I am a man who honors my promises."
Hearing this, the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince’s worries eased slightly...
The next moment, an incredibly faint voice drifted from behind them. "Eldest Brother... Li Wumian! Li Wumian!"
The two of them turned to look...
It was the Tiger Flame Second Prince, Chang Qi, who had been so ravaged by the Fierce Demon Pill that he was now little more than skin and bones.
He had followed them to the ruins of the Azure Flame Sect. The poison was on the verge of killing him; of course he had to come.
Chang Qi’s meaning was clear: he wanted the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince to quickly give chase and bring back Li Wumian.
If he didn’t get the antidote soon, he was truly going to die.
