Free Web NovelChapter 91: Chapter 91: Blatantly Stealing Credit
’Call him General?’
Fan Jinhua froze in an instant. Behind him, Luo Wendeng, Tan An, and the others were all stunned as well.
’This attitude... doesn’t seem very friendly, does it?’
Lu Chao glanced at Cheng Yunsu. The look they shared said it all: Fan Jinhua had been far too optimistic.
As the group stood there dumbfounded, Lei Zhen tilted his head again, staring at Fan Jinhua. "What’s the matter? You’re not willing?"
Fan Jinhua’s smile slowly vanished...
He took a deep breath and cupped his fists. "Fan Jinhua greets General Lei."
Then, glancing at the dozens of longspears surrounding them, he asked, "General Lei, could you perhaps have your men lower their weapons?"
A faint smirk touched the corner of his lips...
From his fiery warhorse, Lei Zhen looked down and said, "I’m afraid not. Master Fan, I naturally trust you, but I don’t know the people behind you. We have to be careful. There could be assassins."
His words drifted over to Luo Wendeng and the others, and their hearts began to sink.
’This isn’t at all what Uncle Fan said it would be.’
The way Lei Zhen looked at them was the same as everyone else in the Flame Country: with contempt and suspicion for the descendants of the Azure Flame Sect.
Hearing this, Fan Jinhua’s smile didn’t just disappear; his expression grew darker.
He glared at Lei Zhen. "General Lei, I can vouch for these people. They’re no threat. They’re all..."
Lei Zhen cut him off. "Descendants of the Azure Flame Sect. I know."
At his words, Fan Jinhua clenched his fists, his grim face flushing red with anger. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
But Lei Zhen acted as if he didn’t notice, continuing, "When it comes to the descendants of the Azure Flame Sect, I naturally have to be a little cautious. After all, the Azure Flame Sect of forty years ago was a terrifying force."
His words were dripping with mockery...
The Azure Flame Sect of forty years ago was indeed terrifying, but it had been destroyed, and all its Cultivation Techniques and Martial Techniques had been divided up.
The survivors were merely what was left of the Azure Flame Martial Dao Sect.
Most of the people in the Azure Flame Martial Dao Sect lacked sufficient Martial Arts Talent and their Destiny Bone Levels were too low... and now, forty years later, these descendants of the Azure Flame Sect just wanted to live quiet, ordinary lives.
They had no ambition whatsoever to reestablish their sect.
Just as indignation swelled in Fan Jinhua’s heart...
Lei Zhen suddenly changed the subject, chuckling. "By the way, Master Fan, let me introduce you. This is my son, Lei Guangheng."
He gestured to the young man behind him, whose chin was raised slightly in arrogance.
The young man immediately urged his horse forward and cupped his fists. "Master Fan, I’ve heard so much about you."
Fan Jinhua’s expression flickered. He had no idea what Lei Zhen was up to, or why he was suddenly introducing his son. But he could only suppress his anger and offer a few words of empty praise for Lei Guangheng.
The next moment, Lei Zhen’s eyes narrowed...
"Ah, Master Fan, your performance in the assault on Yangzhou City was excellent."
"Especially under the command of my son, Lei Guangheng. You fought a spectacular siege, didn’t you?"
As his voice fell...
Fan Jinhua froze once more. Luo Wendeng, Tan An, and the others were all dumbfounded, and they instinctively turned to look at Lei Guangheng.
The latter’s chin lifted even higher as he swept his gaze over them with a sinister smirk.
Cheng Yunsu slowly tightened her grip on Lu Chao’s hand, a furious glint appearing in her eyes.
Lu Chao remained calm on the surface, but deep in his eyes, a faint, cold light began to gleam.
In the dead silence that followed...
Lei Zhen’s voice boomed again. "Answer me. Under the leadership of my son, Lei Guangheng, did you or did you not perform exceptionally well?"
His voice was heavy with pressure.
Fan Jinhua’s face turned red again, this time a deep crimson.
He finally couldn’t hold back and roared, "Lei Zhen! Have you no shame, openly trying to steal our credit for taking the city?"
He understood, of course. Lei Zhen was preparing to steal their achievement for his son.
Everyone knew that many prominent families sent their children to the battlefield to "gild their resumes," so to speak.
But to seize someone else’s accomplishments so bluntly and tyrannically was simply outrageous.
Especially when Fan Jinhua had just been telling Luo Wendeng and the others that Lei Zhen would petition for honors on their behalf. He’d personally vouched for it.
How could Fan Jinhua possibly endure this? He started yelling at him directly.
It was useless, however. Looking at the explosive Fan Jinhua, a cold glint flashed in Lei Zhen’s eyes.
He suddenly gave a hand signal to the spear-wielding knights.
THUD...
Dozens of knights spurred their horses forward, the tips of their spears closing to within three feet of Fan Jinhua and the others. freewebnσvel.cøm
Then, Lei Zhen’s voice turned cold as he asked again, "Master Fan, think it over carefully before you answer me."
Without a second thought, Fan Jinhua opened his mouth to retort...
But Lei Guangheng cut in from the side, his voice chilling. "Are these all the descendants of the Azure Flame Sect that are left? It wouldn’t be unusual for a few more to die. After all, assassinating Lu Hanyan is an incredibly difficult task."
Those words were like a bucket of ice-cold water, instantly dousing the flames of Fan Jinhua’s rage.
Luo Wendeng and the others exchanged glances, a bone-deep chill spreading through them.
Finally, Fan Jinhua calmed down slightly. "Lei Zhen, you were practically a student of my grandfather’s..."
For the sake of Luo Wendeng and his men, Fan Jinhua was prepared to take a softer approach to convince Lei Zhen to back down from stealing their credit.
But Lei Zhen didn’t let him finish, immediately roaring, "Don’t you fucking disgust me! How could I be the disciple of some old fool who couldn’t even beat Great Wu’s Lu Chao? Don’t you ever mention that again."
As his words fell, Fan Jinhua was completely stunned, then his rage flared anew. "Lei Zhen, you dare insult my grandfather?"
Pfft...
Lei Guangheng, at Lei Zhen’s side, let out a cold snort...
"That old fool Fan Changcun? Does he even need us to insult him?"
"Don’t tell me he actually beat Great Wu’s Lu Chao three years ago? And back then, Great Wu’s Lu Chao was just a rookie."
The words hit Fan Jinhua like a physical blow, and a chill spread through his entire body...
He didn’t understand. Before coming to Yangzhou City, he had been treated with respect. Why had everything suddenly changed?
His grandfather had lost to Emperor Star Lu Chao, it was true. And while he’d endured sarcasm from others over the past three years, no one had ever been this blatant.
Just then, Lei Zhen spoke again. "Fan Jinhua, I’ll ask you one more time..."
Before he could finish, Fan Jinhua interrupted through gritted teeth, "Lei Zhen, I’ve already spoken with the Tiger Flame Grand General for this campaign..."
This time, it was Lei Zhen’s turn to interrupt. "Grand General Guan Zanyi is in Yinzhou City. We just came from Yinzhou City."
Fan Jinhua’s expression completely froze.
The implication was clear: Grand General Guan had tacitly approved of them stealing the credit.
Gritting his teeth so hard they might break, Fan Jinhua trembled violently...
Suddenly, Lu Chao’s calm voice came from behind him. "Master Fan, agree to their terms."
The voice was calm, causing Fan Jinhua and the others to turn and look.
Lu Chao pulled Cheng Yunsu forward, his voice low as he spoke to Fan Jinhua again. "Agree to it. Otherwise, Brother Tan and the others will be in a very difficult position."
He stared intently at Fan Jinhua, giving him a meaningful look.
Fan Jinhua already had absolute trust in Lu Chao, and he knew that any further struggle was useless. Finally, with a miserable expression, he looked at Lei Zhen and said hoarsely, "General Lei is correct. It was Junior General Lei who led us in the capture of Yangzhou City."
