THE HUMAN EMPEROR

250-267

Chapter 250.

     "Did you find out where he went?"

Wang Chong lifted his head to look at Ma Yinlong and asked.

"I didn't chase after him. The forest is lush, making it easy for him to be discovered. Thus, the moment he entered the forest, he retreated. If I'm not mistaken, the place where the Goguryeon elites are gathered should be outside the city. "

Knowing that Wang Chong was referring to the assassin, Ma Yinlong said.

"Outside the city?"

Wang Chong's eyebrows twitched. He slowly turned his head around and gazed at the mountain peak beyond the city walls, deep in thought.

After looking around, he realized that the largest gathering point of the Goguryeons was located outside the city. Although it was a little strange, it made sense when he thought about it.

Firstly, they were connected by a secret passageway, allowing them to enter the city even at night. Secondly, even if their tracks were to be exposed, it would be convenient for them to escape.

"Do you have any thoughts on what to do next?"

Wang Chong looked at Ma Yinlong. The current Ma Yinlong was completely different from the disheveled middle-aged man he had seen at the Royal Jade Pavilion. His eyes were burning with an intense fighting spirit.

Ma Yinlong was the one who had released the assassin. Given Wang Chong's strength, he could have easily captured the assassin and interrogated him to reveal their location. However, Ma Yinlong didn't do so.

Wang Chong believed that he had his reasons for doing so.

As the person who had the deepest understanding of the Goguryeons and King Sosurim, Wang Chong believed that Ma Yinlong could be trusted in this aspect.

"The Goguryeon assassins are all death warriors, and it's impossible to extract any useful information from them. If we were to capture him, we might end up alerting them instead. "

Ma Yinlong knew what Wang Chong was thinking, and with just a few words, he explained the reason why he released the assassin.

"As for what happens next... After so many years, it's about time for them to appear! It's about time for this matter to come to an end. "

At the end of his words, Ma Yinlong sighed deeply, and a complicated look surfaced in his eyes.

...

Ma Yinlong applied for three days of leave. During these three days, he didn't mention where he would be going, and Wang Chong didn't ask either. From the "Fang of the White Tiger", who was favored by the heavens, to the "petty scribe" of the government office of the Ministry of Personnel, everyone had their own story behind them, and they did not dig into it.

However, three days later, Wang Chong saw Ma Yinlong's' results' in the Royal Jade Pavilion.

In front of Wang Chong, three middle-aged men in shabby clothes stood in a row in front of Wang Chong. Of the three, one was a seasoned bird trader with an exceptionally large eagle perched on his shoulder. The other was a one-armed drunkard with an empty left sleeve. Even from a distance away, Wang Chong could smell the stench of alcohol on him.

There was another one who looked particularly ferocious. It was obvious that he was the kind of mercenary expert who would sacrifice his life for anyone who gave him money.

Although the three of them looked a little different, they were not as simple as they seemed on the surface. But that was all.

There were at least a few thousand of such people in the capital.

In the past, Wang Chong wouldn't have even spared these three a glance, wouldn't have paid them much attention.

However, Ma Yinlong had spent three days to introduce them to him, so Wang Chong had no choice but to take a closer look at them.

"These people... Are they from the Bureau of Punishments back then?"

Wang Chong looked at the trio and asked. He wasn't a fool either. Wang Chong could sense the same emotions as Ma Yinlong from these people. If he wasn't mistaken, they were also those who were implicated in the case back then.

"Un, that's not entirely true. Solitary Wolf is from the Bureau of Military Personnel. "

Ma Yinlong pointed to the ferocious-looking mercenary expert who valued money more than his life, and said grimly:

"Back then, many officials and officials of the Six Bureaus were assassinated, and it caused a huge uproar. The few of us were the ones in charge of that case. If the case couldn't be solved, everyone would be implicated. I was demoted to the Bureau of Personnel to copy books, The Eagle fired me from my post, and I spent a few years in jail. When I was released, I had to disguise myself as a bird dealer. Even though Steel Arms wasn't imprisoned, he was crippled by the Goguryeons when he was investigating the case back then, and he spent his days getting drunk in taverns. As for Solitary Wolf, he concealed his identity and became a mercenary expert, working for anyone who paid him!

"Over the years, those brothers of mine from back then have either died or been severely injured. These are the only ones who managed to survive the assassination of the Goguryeons. "

Ma Yinlong spoke of the past with deep sorrow. The eyes of The Eagle, Steel Arms, and Solitary Wolf also reddened.

Even though Wang Chong hadn't been involved in the case back then, and he didn't know what they had gone through, he could sense it from Ma Yinlong's voice.

More than a decade ago, when King Sosurim assassinated influential officials of the royal court, they were still ambitious youths in the Bureau of Military Personnel and Bureau of Punishments, and they had bright futures ahead of them.

But because of this case, the brothers who had investigated the case with them back then had either died or been severely injured. They had fallen from the lofty position of young heroes into the dust, falling to their current state.

It was due to their sorrow that the reputation of King Sosurim rose, becoming the legend he was today.

The others in the room seemed to have noticed this as well, and the atmosphere turned heavy.

"Heh! Let's not talk about this anymore. Perhaps, this is fate. After fifteen years, we still can't escape from it! Since this matter started with us, let it end with us. The Eagle, Steel Arms, Solitary Wolf, and this is Wang gongzi. His grandfather... is Duke Jiu of the Tang dynasty! "

The trio had only appeared here out of respect for Ma Yinlong, but upon hearing that Wang Chong's grandfather was Duke Jiu, their expressions changed. Their gazes toward Wang Chong were filled with respect.

"Wang gongzi!"

The three prideful men lowered their heads at the same time and gave a deep bow.

"Wang gongzi, since you're Duke Jiu's grandson, you can't be considered as an outsider. Back then, due to the assassination of an important official of the royal court, we should have been executed. It was your grandfather and a group of officials who stood up to remonstrate with the Holy Emperor that we managed to survive. If gongzi has any instructions for us in the future, feel free to speak. "

Steel Arms said, and the other two nodded in agreement.

Hearing those words, Wang Chong's eyebrows shot up in astonishment. This was the first time he had heard of such a matter. Ever since he was young, including his previous life, he had never heard of it from his grandfather.

If not for the trio mentioning it, he would have been completely oblivious to it.

But thinking about it, such a huge case must have attracted a lot of attention. Given his grandfather's identity back then, it was only natural that he would be on the list of people paying attention to it.

If Ma Yinlong and the others were to be executed by the royal court, given his grandfather's temper, there was no way he would stand by idly.

"Wang gongzi, even though they look like they are in dire straits, lacking an arm, drunk, and fighting with their lives... they are still top-notch experts. In terms of their understanding of the Goguryeons and their martial arts, there is probably no one in the capital who can surpass them. "

Ma Yinlong introduced by the side.

"Even though Steel Arms only has a single arm, his remaining right arm is extremely formidable. The sword in his right hand is ferocious and incomparably sharp. Even I might not be able to withstand a blow from his right hand. Solitary Wolf loves to fight with his life on the line. Even the Goguryeon assassins would have to retreat before him. His strength isn't something that the guards in the King Residence can compare to. Back then, Solitary Wolf was already an expert in the Bureau of Military Personnel, and now, he's even more formidable.

"If gongzi keeps him by your side, he will be the best shield you can offer. Even if you were to encounter an assassination attempt from the Goguryeon, gongzi's life wouldn't be in danger. As long as Solitary Eye is still breathing, he won't allow anyone to approach gongzi. "

Ma Yinlong's words carried a deeper meaning, and even without any explanation, Wang Chong could tell that Ma Yinlong was looking down on the people around him, thinking that they wouldn't be able to guarantee his safety.

Even so, Wang Chong couldn't find any words to refute Ma Yinlong's words.

Regardless of whether it was Miyasame Ayaka or the experts of the Zhuang Clan and Chi Clan, none of them were capable of standing up to Ma Yinlong and the others. Putting everything aside, these people had been cultivating for much longer than Miyasame Ayaka and the others.

After all, they were still young!

"... However, I really couldn't tell! That Steel Arms reeks of alcohol, but to think that he's actually a formidable expert! "

Wang Chong thought.

He had a rough understanding of Ma Yinlong's means, and from what Ma Yinlong had said, the formidable Steel Arms was able to wield a sword with his right hand.

Of the three, Ma Yinlong had already introduced two of them, so there was only one left.

Wang Chong turned to look at the last person, The Eagle.

"As for The Eagle, heh, his martial arts aren't too high. However, he has some unique skills, and this is what we need right now. This is also the reason why I brought him here. "

As for the last person, 'The Eagle', Ma Yinlong didn't try to sell his connections.

"The The Eagle is the most formidable eagle tamer. Back then, he was publicly acknowledged as the number one in the capital. This is also the reason why he was transferred here to assist in the investigation of the Goguryeons. The eagles he trained are extremely intelligent, and they are skilled in tracking, scouting, and hunting.

"Back then, the person whom the Goguryeons wanted to get rid of the most wasn't me or One-eyed, but The Eagle. Even in the past few years, the Goguryeons have been trying to find news of him. Fortunately, other than us, no one else has seen him.

"I believe gongzi has noticed that the Goguryeons prefer to use specially trained ravens to transmit information. These ravens are extremely fast, and their talons are extremely powerful. Even Hai Dongqing is unable to catch them. However, the eagles trained by Old Eagle could successfully prey on them and track them without being discovered. If we wish to find the Goguryeons' base outside the city without being discovered, we will need to use the abilities of The Eagle. "

"Ah!"

Wang Chong widened his eyes in shock as he stared at The Eagle, who was dressed up as a 'bird merchant'. At this moment, he finally understood why Ma Yinlong was so insistent on bringing him here.

If he had the abilities of The Eagle, the Goguryeons wouldn't be able to hide from the The Eagle. Furthermore, no matter what kind of information they were sending, it would be captured in advance.

Chapter 251

     "Hahaha, good! With the seniors here, we won't have to worry about the Goguryeons being unable to subdue them. "

Wang Chong chuckled.

At this moment, he felt that his previous decision was a wise one. With Ma Yinlong and the others around, his plan could be considered complete.

They had fought with the Goguryeons for more than a decade now, and they had a deep understanding of their actions and habits. With them around, the success rate of the operation against the Goguryeons would be greatly increased.

"With The Eagle around, it won't be a problem for us to find the Goguryeon base. However, this is far from sufficient."

Ma Yinlong wasn't as optimistic as Wang Chong.

"It doesn't matter how many Goguryeons, including the Goguryeon assassins, die here. The Goguryeon empire can send more people over at any moment. To them, this bit of damage is nothing. The one I'm truly worried about is King Sosurim. "

Ma Yinlong frowned deeply.

"Shoot the horse first, and capture the bandits first. Even if we manage to foil their operation, I'm not confident that we'll be able to capture King Sosurim. As long as he's around, the Goguryeons can still launch a second, third... or perhaps even more frenzied vengeance. This isn't a loss that we can afford. "

Ma Yinlong said.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the room turned tense once more. Even the steel guards of the Chi Clan could understand the meaning behind Ma Yinlong's words.

King Sosurim was the root of everything. If they couldn't capture him, no matter how many Goguryeons they killed, they would still be defeated if he were to carry out his vengeance.

"Brother Ma is right. Gongzi, you haven't interacted with King Sosurim before, so you don't understand him. He might seem cautious at times, but there are times when he can be extremely frenzied. He's definitely capable of doing such a thing. "

Steel Arms, who had been silent all this while, suddenly stepped forward and said with a grim expression.

"Back then, we did reap quite a harvest. We killed many of the Goguryeon elites in the capital. But after the incident, King Sosurim began his vengeance. Under the frenzied assassination of the Goguryeons, the brothers from back then were either killed or wounded. In the end, only the few of us were left. It was then that I lost my left hand. "

The other two did not speak, but their expressions revealed the same thoughts.

Wang Chong frowned as he recalled the ferocity and viciousness of the Goguryeon warriors on the night of the assault on the Kunwu Training Camp.

Given their personalities, this kind of thing was completely possible.

At this moment, Wang Chong realized that he had overlooked something. He had underestimated the matter of dealing with the Goguryeons.

Given the current situation, if they couldn't capture King Sosurim, their actions would be meaningless. Even if King Sosurim failed this time, he could still launch a second, third, or even fourth large-scale assassination.

If they couldn't withstand it, they could even delay it indefinitely, waiting for them to relax before taking action. They could guard it for a month and be on high alert, but what about a year or two?

The crux of this operation was no longer whether they could find the Goguryeon base or how many Goguryeons they could kill. Instead, it was whether they could capture King Sosurim, the Goguryeon spy king.

"Seniors, do you have any ideas?"

Wang Chong raised his head and asked.

"Hehe, it's simple! Gongzi, weren't you afraid of alerting the Goguryeon base? That's why you didn't make a move on them in the past. But the situation is different now. What we need to do is to alert them! "

Ma Yinlong narrowed his eyes, and a cold glint gleamed in them.

"It's about time to wipe out the Goguryeon bases in the capital. Gongzi, there's no need to hold back in this operation. Only by destroying the Goguryeon bases in the capital will we be able to foil King Sosurim's plans. Only then will we be able to make him reveal his flaws.

"I know him well, and he won't cancel his plans so easily. On the contrary, he will speed up the execution of his plans. As the Goguryeon spy king, he's too conceited. Besides, to him, no matter how many losses there are, sacrificing the Goguryeons is nothing to him! "

At the end of his words, Ma Yinlong slammed his fist on the table. Even Wang Chong felt his heart palpitating at the sight of it.

As his nemesis, he really wanted to kill King Sosurim with his own hands.

"Don't worry. Leave this matter to me! "

After a moment of silence, Wang Chong nodded.

…

After leaving the Royal Jade Pavilion, Wang Chong headed straight for the King of Song's residence. From the King of Song, Wang Chong obtained a token for the mobilization of the royal guards.

Only a king of the royal family like the King of Song was capable of such a feat.

After settling this matter, Wang Chong went to meet his uncle, Li Lin. Dealing with the Goguryeons would be a huge contribution if he could do it well.

As the saying went, 'Keep the goodies within the family'. Toward his own family, Wang Chong treated them well. In any case, he wouldn't be able to benefit from this matter.

Wang Chong's uncle, Li Lin, was also very straightforward. After hearing Wang Chong's words, he discussed it with the commander of the Imperial Army, Zhao Fengchen, and decided to dispatch a large group of Imperial Army soldiers to assist Li Lin.

With this group of soldiers, Wang Chong had around four thousand experts under him. Based on Wang Chong's request, there were also quite a few master archers among them.

Putting aside using this army to encircle the Goguryeons, it was more than sufficient to fight a small-scale battle on the battlefield.

The capital was under the feet of the Son of Heaven. In order to not cause too much panic and chaos among the populace, as well as to prevent the Goguryeons from sensing anything amiss beforehand, the operation was decided to be carried out at night instead.

"Are you all ready?"

Amidst the darkness, Wang Chong stood beneath a tree and gazed at the residence from afar. The lights in the residence were extremely bright, and they served as a beacon to guide the crowd.

"Get ready. Master archers were stationed at all the crucial junctions. If anyone were to leave the residence, death would be the only outcome. Gongzi, don't worry. "

On the crown of a lush tree behind him, a speed-type Imperial Army soldier squatted down and said grimly. From Zhang Xuan's angle, he could see numerous fully-armored Imperial Army soldiers surrounding the courtyard in the distance.

These Imperial Army soldiers were well-trained elites, and according to Wang Chong's request, the frontmost row was equipped with heavy armor and shields.

The encirclement was slowly shrinking, but without Wang Chong's orders, no one dared to attack recklessly.

"Get ready! Release the signal! "

Wang Chong stared into the distance with a cold expression before swinging his arm down.

Boom!

The response to Wang Chong's words was a brilliant firework that soared into the clouds. The dazzling sparks and a long trail of smoke trailed behind it, making it particularly eye-catching in the dark night.

— — This was the signal to attack!

"Kill! — — "

In the next instant, battle cries reverberated in the air. Under the starry sky, brilliant Halos of Thorns bloomed in the darkness like beautiful flowers.

From the first base where Wang Chong and the others were at, to the second base, to the third base … all the way to the fourteenth base, almost all of the Goguryeons' bases in the Tang Dynasty's capital were under attack.

Three to four thousand Royal Guards and the City Defense Army were like wolves and tigers. Under the starry night, they crossed the city walls and charged into the courtyards with high walls.

Shieldbearers, master archers, cavalrymen … All of them worked together, from defense to offense. All of the Goguryeon bases were tightly surrounded, making it impossible for even a drop of water to pass through.

"Enemy attack! — — "

From afar, a shrill cry in Goguryeon resounded across the sky. The Goguryeon sentries had finally noticed the Imperial Army.

【Congratulations to user for killing 21 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

All of a sudden, a familiar voice sounded in Wang Chong's ears. Boom! Along with this voice, a powerful gale blew, and surges of energy surged into Wang Chong's body from all directions.

"What's going on?"

Sensing the changes in his body, Wang Chong was stunned. The operation had just begun, and he hadn't killed a single Goguryeon yet. Why would he receive such a notice?

However, before Wang Chong could clear his doubts, something even more shocking happened.

【Congratulations to user for killing 22 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 23 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 24 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 25 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

…

A series of cold and familiar voices echoed in Wang Chong's head, leaving him dumbfounded. Dense Origin Energy gathered from all directions and converted into Wang Chong's strength.

In just a short period of time, the progress of Wang Chong's Bane of the Battlefield aura had already surpassed the sum of the past few months. Furthermore, this number was still increasing rapidly.

Shock!

Doubt!

Everything that was happening before him had far exceeded Wang Chong's expectations. But the constantly growing energy of the Bane of the Battlefield Halo in his body clearly reminded him that everything was real.

【Congratulations to user for killing 35 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 36 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 37 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

…

【Congratulations to user for killing 49 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 50 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 51 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

…

A series of notifications sounded, and Wang Chong was completely stunned by this pleasant surprise. Almost subconsciously, Wang Chong released the Bane of the Battlefield aura in his body.

Weng! Amidst the darkness, massive ripples that only Wang Chong could see spread out in all directions.

This time, even at a distance of 1200 meters, Wang Chong could clearly see white ripples appearing beneath the feet of the Goguryeon soldiers in the courtyard.

Different from the first aura, all of the Goguryeon soldiers caught in the white ripples were weakened significantly.

Panic spread among the Goguryeons. Clearly, they had sensed the abnormality in their bodies.

In an instant, the casualties of the Goguryeons increased!

【Congratulations to user for killing 81 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 82 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 83 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

…

【Congratulations to user for killing 101 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 102 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 103 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

…

Information gushed into Wang Chong's head like a waterfall. At the same time, the ripples around Wang Chong grew even more intense.

Chapter 252

     The battle had only just begun, and there were definitely less than a hundred casualties in the first base. Without a doubt, the deaths of the Goguryeons mentioned by the Stone of Destiny definitely involved the other Goguryeon bases and bases.

"Could it be because of this?"

In an instant, a thought flashed across Wang Chong's mind, and he took out a luxurious golden token.

This token was given to him by The King of Song, and it represented that he was the commander of this operation. After much thought, Wang Chong realized that the only reason why the deaths of the Goguryeons in the other bases could be attributed to him was because of this token.

"Could it be that this token … or perhaps, my official rank can be of use in this operation, and I don't have to kill them personally?"

Wang Chong thought.

At this point, Wang Chong was delighted. Somehow, Wang Chong felt that he had found a shortcut to raise the Bane of the Battlefield halo.

Hong long!

At this moment, Wang Chong's body finally completed the final transformation. Hong long long, a furious gale blew, and the rumbling of thunder echoed in Wang Chong's head. Following which, a massive ripple suddenly surged out, and a powerful surge of energy gushed out.

【Congratulations to user for killing more than a hundred Goguryeon warriors. The Bane of the Battlefield halo has been raised from level 0 to level 1!】

The cold and familiar voice of the Stone of Destiny sounded in Wang Chong's head. At the same time, Wang Chong's Bane of the Battlefield halo expanded outward.

In the distance, the entire Goguryeon base was shrouded in this halo. Halos suddenly appeared around the bodies of the Goguryeon warriors, shocking the Imperial Army soldiers who were fighting with them. They thought that they had used some sort of trump card to boost their fighting prowess.

But what was even more shocking was the Goguryeons on the other side. They had already been weakened significantly, but this time, they were weakened even more.

Some of the True Martial Realm Tier 1 experts with one ring dimmed, like candles in the wind that were about to be extinguished. On the other hand, the Origin Energy Tier 9 Goguryeon experts were affected even more. Not only did they fall from Origin Energy Tier 9 to Origin Energy Tier 8, they even showed signs of falling toward Origin Energy Tier 7.

"What the hell is going on?"

Li Jiuhuan's hair was disheveled. He was shocked and angry. As the leader of the base, he wasn't affected by the Bane of the Battlefield at all, so he didn't understand what was happening to the others.

However, everyone's strength had been greatly reduced, and they were completely out of sorts. There was no doubt about this.

"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat! "

Li Jiuhuan was shocked and angry at the same time, shouting repeatedly. These imperial guards of the Tang dynasty came in a menacing manner, and there were many elites among them. It could be seen that they came prepared.

Li Jiuhuan was well aware that they had already been exposed. They could no longer keep this base.

Li Jiuhuan's only hope now was that they were the only ones exposed.

Xiu xiu xiu!

In the courtyard, countless steel arrows whizzed forth like venomous snakes. At this crucial moment, the two Goguryeon Condor Snipers stationed in the first base came into play.

Even though there were only two of them, they were top-notch condor snipers. With a single move, they shot out four to five lethal arrows, shrouding all of the Imperial Army soldiers in the courtyard.

Hong long!

But not too long after they made their move, an earth-shattering sound echoed in the distance. Before Li Jiuhuan could react, boom boom! Not too long after the two condor snipers made their move, two thick and long arrows pierced through their chests, and they were pinned to the ground.

Too hurried!

Too fast!

Without giving anyone any time to dodge, the two condor snipers whom the Goguryeons had spent a great deal of effort to groom were pinned to the ground in an instant, and they couldn't be any more dead!

Li Jiuhuan's face also turned as pale as a sheet of paper. He stared into the distance, and the color drained from his face.

Sou!

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Jiuhuan suddenly rose from the ground and leaped onto the roof. Without stopping for even a moment, he fled eastward without a second thought.

Everyone here was doomed. Not a single one of them would be able to escape.

Li Jiuhuan knew that he could only protect himself now.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

A deafening bellow echoed. Just as Li Jiuhuan was about to reach the wall, an Imperial Army commander dashed forward like a hawk, and with a slash of his saber, he blocked Li Jiuhuan's path in midair.

At this moment, the two-meter tall master archer sent over by the King of Song also slowly lowered the extra-large bow in his hands. There wasn't the slightest change in his expression, as though he had just done something insignificant.

"Well done!"

Under the shade of a tree, Wang Chong was delighted to see this sight. He raised his thumb and complimented the other party generously.

This fellow was too formidable! He was a one-sided slaughter!

If such an expert had been present on the night of the assault on Kunwu, he would have been able to defeat the several hundred master archers of the Goguryeons and Turks.

The King of Song had sent him an incredible expert!

Klang!

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Chong unsheathed his sword and bellowed as he charged into the distance.

"Gongzi, be careful!"

Seeing Wang Chong make a move, Miyasame Ayaka was alarmed. As though a shadow, she dashed out from the nearby forest and hurriedly followed after him.

"Haha, don't worry. With such a large army, what danger could there possibly be?"

Wang Chong laughed heartily. Driving Phantom Movement Art to its limits, he dashed forward like a wisp of black smoke.

【Congratulations to user for killing 140 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 141 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 142 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

…

【Congratulations to user for killing 175 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 176 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 177 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

…

The familiar voice in his head was still gushing down like a waterfall. Raging winds blew in all directions, and immense energy was gushing endlessly into Wang Chong's body, strengthening Wang Chong's strength.

The might of the Bane of the Battlefield halo continued to rise, and invisible ripples began to spread outward with Wang Chong at the center.

At this moment, not only was it shrouding the entire Goguryeon first base, it was even spreading toward the Goguryeon second base in the distance.

The area it covered was truly frightening!

And under the influence of this halo's power, the True Martial realm experts were affected more and more severely. Those "one-ringed martial artists" in the 1st level of the True Martial realm were already greatly affected. The cyan thorny halo around their bodies was like a candle in the wind, on the verge of collapse.

And as Wang Chong's Bane of the Battlefield Halo continued to grow stronger, it was now bursting like a bubble.

— — All of these people had their martial halos stripped away.

On the other hand, after the Origin Energy realm Goguryeon experts fell to Origin Energy Tier 7, the effects of the halo lessened, and they didn't fall any further.

Wang Chong was perplexed at the start, but he soon understood the reason behind it.

The halo only affected the Origin Energy in a martial artist's body, and it didn't have much of an effect on one's physical strength.

Thus, after the Origin Energy realm Goguryeon warriors fell to Origin Energy Tier 7, they wouldn't fall any further. Even so, the might of the Bane of the Battlefield halo was still fearsome.

Almost all of the Goguryeons in the first base had fallen by an entire realm.

And this was the might of a war-related halo!

There was no longer any suspense in the battle in the first base. Before Wang Chong could participate in any of the battles, the battle in the courtyard had already ended.

The entire courtyard was filled with Goguryeon corpses, swords, and arrows.

"Reporting to gongzi, there are a few metal chests in the Goguryeon base!"

After the battle ended, an Imperial Army soldier came to report that they had found a few huge chests in the underground chamber of the first base.

Wang Chong followed the Imperial Army soldier in, only to see several large metal chests, all of them locked, placed in a row in the middle of an underground chamber.

"What are these? Could they be weapons? "

Wang Chong thought.

Since the Goguryeons were prepared to wreak havoc in the capital, they must have prepared a huge amount of weapons. With a thought, Wang Chong whipped out his WuZi Steel weapon, and with a 'keng' sound, he sliced open the copper lock. Then, with a 'huang' sound, he opened one of the metal chests.

In the next instant, something unexpected happened. As soon as the chest was opened, a golden glow mixed with a rich aroma and mist drifted out from within.

What was lying in the chest wasn't a weapon used by the Goguryeons for their rebellion, but a chest full of highly aged Goguryeon ginseng.

Ssss!

Upon seeing the chest full of Goguryeon ginseng, putting aside Wang Chong, even the Imperial Army soldier who was reporting the news couldn't help but suck in a deep breath of cold air.

Even though they didn't know much about the Goguryeon Empire, they had a rough idea that the ginseng produced by the Goguryeon Empire was a top-notch martial artifact!

There were at least five to six hundred Goguryeons in this chest. The value of the ginseng was inestimable!

"… I've struck gold!"

Looking at the dazzling Goguryeon ginseng, Wang Chong was stunned for a moment. The harvest was far greater than he had expected, such that Wang Chong couldn't react in time.

"If the chests here aren't weapons but ginseng, doesn't that mean that …"

Looking at the huge metal chests, Wang Chong suddenly felt agitated, as though he had been struck by a great fortune.

Keng keng keng!

With such a thought in mind, Wang Chong brandished his WuZi Steel sword. Keng keng keng, he walked over and chopped down all of the copper chests.

He opened the chests one after another, and every single one of them was filled with a golden glow. Twelve chests, twelve chests of Goguryeon ginseng!

I've struck gold this time!

In that instant, Wang Chong couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Gongzi, how should we deal with these Goguryeon ginseng?"

The Imperial Army soldier by the side bowed and asked respectfully. He didn't seem to have any intention of getting his hands on the ginseng. Wang Chong was the commander of this operation, and he had the token of The King of Song on him. As such, he represented the King of Song.

Putting aside the Goguryeon ginseng, even if there was a mountain of gold, silver, or even immortal pills here, no one would dare to vie with the King of Song for it.

The Imperial Army still had this rule.

"Leave one chest for the brothers to enjoy. As for the rest, bring them to my residence! "

Wang Chong narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment. Then, with a wave of his hand, he decided on where the Goguryeon ginseng would go.

As the commander of this operation, he had the authority to do so. He believed that even if the King of Song were to learn of this, he wouldn't say anything.

This operation to wipe out the Goguryeons and destroy their influence in the capital was a huge contribution. He wouldn't be able to earn any credit, and he wouldn't be promoted either. However, these benefits were undeniable.

He believed that no one would dare to vie with him!

"Thank you, gongzi!"

Upon hearing that Wang Chong had left a chest for his brothers, the Imperial Army member who had asked for instructions was delighted. According to the rules, Wang Chong could have kept the ginseng for himself.

Yet, he actually gave them a chest. This was a huge favor.

Chapter 253

     The distribution of the spoils of war was soon decided, and all of the Goguryeon corpses in the base were looted clean.

— — Wang Chong didn't forget that each of these Goguryeons had a Goguryeon ginseng!

While the battle at the first base had ended, the battles at the other bases were still ongoing.

【Congratulations to user for killing 301 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 302 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 303 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

...

The familiar voice in his head continued. The number of Goguryeons Wang Chong had 'killed' swiftly surpassed three hundred, and it was still rising at an alarming rate.

The exhilaration of growing strength was indescribable!

I didn't think that borrowing the token of The King of Song would bring me such great benefits. However, it's a pity that such a good thing only comes once. I'll have to return it to The King of Song after the operation!

Wang Chong couldn't help but feel some regret.

Princes had their own tokens, and officials had their own tokens. These tokens issued by the royal court had to be kept close to their bodies. They could be lent out occasionally, but it was impossible for them to not return it for a long period of time.

Thus, Wang Chong's beautiful plans could only be wishful thinking at this point.

After leaving the first base, Wang Chong brought Miyasame Ayaka and the experts of the Zhuang and Chi Clans with him, and they rushed to the other bases.

Wang Chong's plan was simple. Due to the augmentation of his Bane of the Battlefield, the strength of the Goguryeons in the first base had been greatly weakened.

However, the same couldn't be said for the other bases.

If he were to encounter those troublesome Goguryeon bases with too many experts, his Bane of the Battlefield would be able to end the battle swiftly.

【Congratulations to user for killing 485 soldiers of the Goguryeon Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 486 soldiers of the Goguryeon Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 487 soldiers of the Goguryeon Empire!】

...

The information in his head flowed like a waterfall. At this moment, Wang Chong's Bane of the Battlefield had already expanded to a radius of more than eight thousand meters, equivalent to a distance of sixteen li!

About an hour later, all the battles were over. At the same time, the total number of Goguryeon warriors killed by Wang Chong also stopped at 623!

Wang Chong's' Bane of the Battlefield 'halo also had a range of 11,000 meters. Other than that, there were dozens of boxes of Goguryeon ginseng, and eighty percent of them were golden in color. Very few of them were the ordinary white ginseng that was only a few decades old.

All of these iron boxes were sent to Wang Chong's mansion.

This was the reward for being the commander and the victor!

"Hahaha, Chong-er, we've done a great service this time!"

Outside the walls of No.8's base, a towering tree towered into the clouds, brimming with vitality. Beneath the tree, Uncle Li Lin's face was flushed red. Looking at the blazing flames in front of him, he was in high spirits and exhilaration.

He really needed this kind of military merit!

Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to rely solely on Zhao Fengchen to promote him in the Imperial Army. With this meritorious deed, even without Zhao Fengchen's promotion, he would still be able to rise through the ranks.

The more he looked at his nephew, the more he liked him, and the prouder he felt. Other people relied on fawning on their superiors, but he relied on his nephew to rise.

However, Li Lin didn't think much of it.

To have such a talented son in the clan was something to be proud of. After a few decades of silence, he was finally going to soar into the sky.

"Hehe, uncle, don't worry. This is just a small contribution. Once we capture King Sosurim, it'll be a huge contribution. It'll be easy for uncle to be promoted in the future! "

Wang Chong said with a smile as he stood beside his uncle. After a period of absence, Wang Chong realized that his uncle had changed a little.

His figure was tall and straight, as though a spear was pierced into the ground. Furthermore, his spirit, energy, and psyche were united, and he exuded an aura of boundless vitality.

Without a doubt, Wang Chong's uncle's cultivation had improved significantly during this period of time. The cultivation technique he had given him had finally come into effect. His efforts hadn't been in vain.

Wang Chong felt gratified as well.

The reason why Wang Chong introduced Zhao Fengchen to Uncle Li Lin was because he didn't want his uncle to be beneath Zhao Fengchen for the rest of his life. Following Zhao Fengchen was just a means, a process, and not his final goal.

Wang Chong's final goal was for his uncle to become an independent existence in the Imperial Army, not a follower!

"Uncle, carry five boxes of those Goguryeon ginseng over. Also, I'll give you a few more pills after some time. "

Wang Chong suddenly said.

"Hehe, why? Are you afraid that your uncle's cultivation is too low? "

Li Lin turned around and chuckled.

"Hehe, uncle, do you think that your position is too high? If I recall correctly, the Imperial Army should be divided into many factions. It's always better to be stronger. Besides, the ranks of the Imperial Army are also linked to one's cultivation, right? There's nothing wrong with uncle bringing these things over to increase your strength as much as possible. "

Wang Chong said.

He had intended to give a few more boxes over, but five boxes already amounted to more than three thousand Goguryeon ginseng. It was sufficient for Uncle Li Lin to cultivate by himself.

Li Lin didn't say a word, but he fell into deep thought.

His initial intention was to reject Wang Chong's offer. After all, the contribution he had was more than enough. As for the Goguryeon ginseng, since they were his kin, there was no need for him to fight over them.

However, upon hearing Wang Chong's final words, Li Lin fell silent.

There were a few things that Wang Chong said that the Imperial Army was divided into many factions, and they were far more formidable than the outside world could imagine. Just by following Zhao Fengchen for a short period of time, he could already feel a strong sense of rejection.

In the Imperial Army, strength was everything, and the 'fist' was king.

Whoever had the bigger fist had the right to speak, and they would be respected by others.

"Alright!"

Li Lin nodded. He had finally changed his mind.

Only then did Wang Chong smile.

"Reporting to the two lords, the battlefield has been cleaned up!"

At this moment, an Imperial Guard trotted over and stood respectfully before the two of them.

"Good. You may leave. "

Li Lin waved his hands and dismissed the Imperial Army member. Then, he turned to look at Wang Chong with a passionate gaze:

"Chong-er, the battle is over. What do you plan to do next? "

"Hehe, I hope you didn't alert the enemy with the final base?"

Wang Chong said.

"Hehe, I didn't move!"

Li Lin nodded in understanding.

"Alright, let's retreat!"

After sending Uncle Li Lin off, Wang Chong turned around and headed straight for the Royal Jade Pavilion. This was an opportune moment.

The shops in the capital weren't open at night. And the Wang Clan was too conspicuous. However, with the Royal Jade Pavilion as his base, it was much more convenient. He didn't have to worry about attracting attention.

Even if others saw him eating in the pavilion, they would only think that he liked the food here, so he came here more frequently. Never would they have thought that he had bought this place.

Even more so, Ma Yinlong, The Eagle, Steel Arms, and Solitary Wolf were all stationed here.

"How is it?"

As soon as Wang Chong went up the stairs, the four immediately gathered around him and asked anxiously.

Wang Chong made an 'OK' gesture, and upon seeing the doubtful gazes of the four, he realized that they didn't understand what he meant.

"It's done."

With a smile, Wang Chong corrected himself. You must be joking! After mobilizing so many Imperial Army members and borrowing the prestige of The King of Song, it would be a wonder if they still couldn't deal with this.

"Hu!"

Hearing Wang Chong's words, the four heaved a long sigh of relief. It was as though their hearts had finally settled back into their chests.

"Wang gongzi, please don't blame us for the operation tonight. King Sosurim is too familiar with us. Thus, none of us can participate in the operation tonight. Not only so, not even a single one of The Eagle's eagles can be released. It's not a good thing to be exposed too early. "

"If King Sosurim realizes that we are participating in the operation tonight, the nature of the operation will be different. In fact, he might even cancel the operation altogether. "

Ma Yinlong suddenly thought of something and explained.

"Don't worry, I understand."

Wang Chong chuckled casually and waved his hands, gesturing for Ma Yinlong to be at ease. Since he trusted Ma Yinlong and the others, how could he possibly doubt them for not putting in enough effort?

Looking at Wang Chong's carefree expression, the four couldn't help but be impressed. Even though this gongzi was young, there wasn't the slightest hint of inexperience in him. Even though he came from a noble clan, he didn't have the air of a profligate scion.

After fifteen years, there might really be hope for them to capture King Sosurim this time around!

"Elder, what should we do next?"

The group sat cross-legged on the floor and formed a circle. Wang Chong humbly asked for guidance.

"Gongzi, did you touch the last base?"

"Not yet."

"Good, let's surround it. The crux of our operation lies in that base. If we were to destroy all of the bases, the Goguryeons would think that we have grasped their movements. On the other hand, if we were to destroy some of the bases, the Goguryeons would think that we have grasped their movements. The greater the momentum of our operation, the more bases we destroy, the stronger their conviction will be.

"We understand King Sosurim's mentality all too well. He's too conceited, so conceited that once he decides on a plan, he won't change it easily. No matter how great the sacrifice is, it's meaningless to him. He won't care. "

"Our current advantage is that he's in the 'light' while we're in the 'dark'. No matter how many Goguryeon bases you destroy or how many people you kill, you're still a newcomer. King Sosurim doesn't understand you at all. He doesn't know that we're the ones hiding behind your back. This is our greatest advantage. "

Ma Yinlong said grimly.

"Wait a moment."

Wang Chong suddenly interrupted Ma Yinlong. "Elder, you said that King Sosurim doesn't understand me, right? Hehe, I suddenly have an idea. "

After which, Wang Chong revealed his idea.

"Hahaha, that works too. Since we're going to do it, let's make it bigger. The more ostentatious you are, the more King Sosurim will be unable to see through you. At the same time, he will look down on you. Wang gongzi, let's do as you say. "

Hearing Wang Chong's idea, Ma Yinlong chuckled. If they were to go along with Wang Chong's plan, it would be much easier for the plan to succeed.

"As for what happens next, The Eagle, I'll leave it to you."

"Un."

The Eagle nodded solemnly.

Chapter 254

     Boom!

When the news of the dozen Goguryeon bases being destroyed spread out, it caused a huge uproar in the capital.

In the past, it wasn't a secret that the other foreign countries had spies in the Tang dynasty. However, none of them had built such a massive spy network like the Goguryeon Empire.

This was especially so after the corpses were displayed in the capital, causing a huge uproar.

Five to six hundred Goguryeon soldiers, this was a scale far greater than any other foreign country. It was on the scale of a minor rebellion.

Furthermore, according to the news from the royal court, the bases they had built had a history of more than a decade. Through these bases, they had carried out countless assassinations and sabotage. In fact, the assault on the Kunwu Training Camp a while ago was one of their most outstanding feats.

The Goguryeon soldiers were the best evidence of this. After the large number of Goguryeon soldiers were displayed, it further solidified the treacherous intentions of the Goguryeon soldiers, causing a huge uproar in the capital.

The City Gate Guards and Imperial Army began to move out to apprehend those who had slipped through the net. Even the Goguryeon territory in the west of the capital was invaded by a large group of soldiers.

The ferocious and valiant Goguryeons chose to keep a low profile in the face of the rage of the citizens of the capital, cooperating with them. Furthermore, they made it clear that they were honest merchants, completely different from the Goguryeon assassins and warriors who engaged in sabotage and sabotage. There was a world of difference between them and the Goguryeon warriors.

In a single day, a large number of Goguryeons were apprehended. Faced with the large-scale operation of the royal court, the merchants of the various countries of the Western Regions chose to remain silent.

Clearly, they could sense that the situation this time was different from the past. Assassination and sabotage couldn't be compared to legitimate business activities.

The excuses they used in the past couldn't be used here.

As the matter of the Goguryeons caused a huge uproar in the capital, more and more details were revealed. In the operation last night, the commander of the Imperial Army went by the name of Li Lin, and he had contributed greatly to it.

Due to this matter, he was commended by the Imperial Army and promoted to a grade-5 Dragonfang Lieutenant. However, the one who uncovered the Goguryeon spies was a name that the citizens of the capital couldn't be more familiar with:

Wang Chong!

It was during the Kunwu Night Raid that he discovered the traces of the Goguryeons and traced them all the way to their bases. Eventually, he led the Imperial Army to wipe them out!

It could be said that Wang Chong was the true hero behind the scenes!

…

"Bastard!"

In an unknown stronghold deep in the mountains outside the capital, an awe-inspiring figure slammed his fist on a table, exuding a terrifying aura.

In front of him, six figures knelt on the ground. Their bodies shivered, and they kept quiet like cicadas in the dark.

"It's such a big operation. Didn't you guys notice it at all?"

There was no light in the room. That awe-inspiring figure leaned forward slightly, but a pair of eyes emitted a cold light in the darkness. That huge pressure caused people's hearts to tremble.

"Your Highness, their actions were very sudden. We didn't receive any news beforehand. Furthermore, they were directly mobilized from the Imperial Army. Late at night is the time when our brothers are most relaxed. With more than a dozen bases moving together, we didn't have any time to react, much less escape! "

"The mastermind behind their scheme is extremely formidable. He didn't intend to give our men the slightest chance of survival."

A black-robed assassin kneeling on the floor said.

Outside of Goguryeo, there was only one person who could be addressed as' Your Highness'. Without a doubt, the person before him was the highest authority of the Goguryeo Empire in the Central Plains, the Tang dynasty, King Sosurim.

"It's impossible for our bases to be seen through so easily. Did you find any traces of the Fang of the White Tiger?"

King Sosurim asked coldly in the darkness. A chilling aura enveloped the entire room.

More than a dozen bases had been destroyed. This was something that had never happened before.

His first thought was that the experts from the Bureau of Military Personnel and Bureau of Punishments had participated in the operation. Only those old foes would have such a deep understanding of the Goguryeons.

"Nothing. When the incident happened, our men checked the surroundings, but they didn't find any traces of the Fang of the White Tiger. "

Another Goguryeon assassin said.

Even though more than a dozen bases had been destroyed, the Goguryeons were scattered all over the city. They weren't confined to a single base.

It was just that the base had the most people.

When the incident happened, the base was on fire. It was impossible for them to not notice such a big thing. Even though they didn't dare to approach the scene of the battle, they could still observe from the outside.

As such, the Goguryeons had gathered quite a bit of intelligence regarding last night's operation.

"Could this really be a coincidence?"

King Sosurim asked with narrowed eyes. Different emotions flashed through his eyes, but the kneeling Goguryeon assassins lowered their heads even more fearfully.

"Even though we can't be certain, based on the news we received, this matter is likely to be a coincidence. Also, we have some news regarding the matter Your Highness asked us to look into. "

As the third Goguryeon assassin spoke, he took out a scroll from his bosom and passed it over respectfully. Every single Goguryeon assassin had their own responsibilities.

Clearly, he was in charge of gathering intelligence.

The room was silent. King Sosurim waited for three seconds before taking the scroll from the Goguryeon assassin's hands. With just a single glance, King Sosurim's face warped slightly. He flipped through two to three pages and continued reading without saying a single word.

"Your Highness, we have investigated the identity of that Wang Chong from last night. He's the grandson of Duke Jiu of the Tang dynasty, and the Imperial Army commander, Li Lin, is his uncle. The two of them have a close relationship.

"Even though he's young, we can't underestimate him. The Tang dynasty Consort Tai Zhen incident and the regional commanders incident all have traces of this young man. In fact, there's even a rumor that the backer of the Yao Clan, Yao Chong, who had been at odds with the Wang Clan for decades, lowered his head to Wang Jiu Ling and admitted his mistake.

"From all of these, this young man is extremely talented. He isn't the profligate scion that we thought him to be. On top of that, he has a close relationship with The King of Song of the Tang dynasty, and he has been to the King of Song's residence many times before. The Imperial Army commander who carried out the operation last night was also mobilized by him through The King of Song's influence.

"Otherwise, given his uncle Li Lin's position, it's impossible for him to mobilize such a large number of Imperial Army commanders. On top of that, our men found traces of him at the scene of the operation. As he has quite a few experts by his side, we didn't dare to make a move recklessly.

"More importantly … we found his name in the Kunwu Training Camp, and he was at White Tiger Peak, the place where the operation was first carried out!"

At this point, the third assassin paused for a moment before speaking with a deep meaning in his voice.

"On top of that, our men found a few students from the Kunwu Training Camp, and they found out that this lad had led his men to seek reinforcements from other camps!"

At the end of his words, the third assassin's voice was brimming with killing intent. At the same time, the other assassins also began emanating killing intent.

Without a doubt, the matter was clear. It was inconceivable that more than a dozen of their bases had been destroyed, and it had dealt a heavy blow to them.

However, judging from the deeds of that Wang Chong, it wasn't impossible for him to discover their bases.

A person who could cause such a huge commotion in the imperial court of the Tang dynasty couldn't be judged with common sense. Appearance was no longer of any use to judge a person. No matter what he did, it was entirely possible.

In an instant, the room fell silent.

From King Sosurim to the six Goguryeon assassins, everyone was silent. Everyone could sense the weight of this news.

Ever since the Fang of the White Tiger more than a decade ago, they hadn't met such an opponent in the capital of the Tang dynasty. Unlike the Fang of the White Tiger, the Fang of the White Tiger was a failure.

But this young man named Wang Chong was only in his teens, and he had already brought them two failures and nearly seven hundred deaths.

Compared to the Fang of the White Tiger back then, this Wang Chong was far more menacing and dangerous.

This wasn't a good thing for the Goguryeon empire and the people in this base!

Everyone knew what this meant.

This Wang Chong had to be eliminated, or else the threat he posed to Goguryeo would only grow greater and greater!

"Let me ask you, is the final base safe? Have you checked it? Are there any suspicious traces of the Tang people in the surroundings? "

After an unknown period of time, King Sosurim was the first to speak. His voice was filled with deep contemplation.

"I've checked it. Nothing! Everything around the base is normal. It seems like the Tang people haven't discovered this base yet. "

One of the assassins said.

King Sosurim didn't say anything, but those who were familiar with him could sense that his gaze had relaxed significantly.

A single base meant nothing to the Goguryeon empire. Even if everyone in it were to die, it wouldn't mean much to them.

However, the meaning behind this small base wasn't as simple as it seemed.

"It seems like he's still too young! … "

In the darkness, King Sosurim raised his head and sneered coldly.

"Gather all of the empire's warriors!"

King Sosurim stood up from his seat and said a few words. Weng! But the six in the room jolted in shock and abruptly raised their heads.

"Your Highness, should we move now?"

"The Tang dynasty is currently at its most guarded against us!"

"If we move now, we'll suffer heavy losses!"

…

They knew that King Sosurim wasn't a person who would give up easily, but none of them could have imagined that he would be in such a hurry to make a move at such a critical juncture.

"Hmph, what's fake is real, and what's real is fake. This is the time when the Tang dynasty is at its most guarded, but at the same time, it's also the time when they're at their most relaxed. They would never have expected us to launch an assassination while they're conducting a large-scale search. "

King Sosurim raised his head with a disdainful gaze. Even though his voice wasn't loud, it carried an unquestionable tone.

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, this has always been the style of our Goguryeon Empire. Retaliating is the best response to their attacks, and it's also the best consolation for our fallen warriors. As for sacrifice, what does a little sacrifice matter to the empire?

"Those warriors who have sacrificed their lives for the empire are honorable. The empire will remember them!"

Those words extinguished all the objections in everyone's hearts. Reverence shone on the faces of the six assassins.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Three days later, the final batch of warriors will arrive. Let's move out! Also, add the Wang Clan into the assassination list as well! Aren't we going to assassinate the influential officials of the Tang dynasty? This clan won't make a difference! Hmph, there's always a price to pay for acting smart! "

At this point, King Sosurim harrumphed coldly and walked down from his throne. The fate of the Wang Clan had been decided!

"Yes!"

Chapter 255

     While King Sosurim and the group of Goguryeon assassins were discussing their next course of action, no one noticed that in the depths of the night sky above their heads, a massive eagle was circling in the air.

The eagle didn't make a sound, nor did it let out any cry. However, its sharp eyes were able to see everything in the dark as if it was daytime.

Sou!

After an unknown period of time, the eagle finally turned around and glided toward the northeast amidst the night breeze.

Flick flick, the eagle glided down from the treetops and landed on a hill in the mountain. From the darkness, a rough arm reached out and caught the intelligent, well-trained eagle. At the same time, another arm tossed a piece of dried meat over.

The eagle caught it and swallowed it in a few bites.

"To think that the Goguryeons' base would be here!"

Lone Wolf frowned as he stroked his chin. There was an indescribable feeling in his heart. From his angle, he could vaguely see the top of a monastery in the distance.

"Those Goguryeons sure are cunning. To think that they would use a monastery in the depths of the mountain as their base of operations. If we didn't know about it, who would have thought that it would be their base of operations? "

Steel Hands was also feeling extremely fortunate. If not for The Eagle noticing the Goguryeons' communication ravens entering the monastery, he would have never imagined that the Goguryeons would be hiding here.

"I remember that four months ago, a merchant reported to the royal court that he would donate a monastery in the depths of the mountain outside the city. From the looks of it now, the Goguryeons have been plotting this for a very long time. "

Wang Chong looked in the southwest direction at the massive monastery with a deep frown on his forehead. Great Senior, this temple is very famous. Who could have thought that it would be a base of operations for the Goguryeons?

Thinking about it, the reason why King Sosurim was able to escape from the encirclement and return to the Goguryeon empire safely was probably due to this monastery.

"Since this monastery is a base of operations for the Goguryeons, there's no doubt that the merchant who donated the money is a Goguryeon as well. I heard that he also recruited a group of workers and forbade others to come near during the construction period. From the looks of it, not only the monks in the monastery, even the workers are Goguryeons. "

"There's no way the Goguryeons would leave such a huge matter to an outsider!"

The night wind whistled. On the hill, everyone's expressions were solemn.

King Sosurim was much more cunning than they had expected. This monastery took four months to build, and all of the workers and monks were disguised as Goguryeons.

Even if something happened, not many people would link it to this temple. Because all of this was done in the open, under everyone's eyes!

"No matter how many people they have, no matter how cunning they are, this operation is destined to fail. The Eagle, what's the situation? "

Ma Yinlong stood under a pine tree and turned to look at The Eagle, who was feeding the eagle.

"Not good. There's a sentry every three steps and a sentry every five. I'm afraid that the Goguryeons will notice us before we even get close to the monastery. Not only so, the terrain here is complicated, and there are mountains and forests all around, making it convenient for us to escape. If the Goguryeons realize that their plan isn't working, they can just abandon the monastery and escape at any moment! "

The Eagle tossed the last piece of jerky to the eagle on his arm with a grim expression. The Goguryeons were far more vigilant than they had imagined, and there were no blind spots at all.

Under such circumstances, it was impossible for them to get close to the monastery. Before the army could even get close, the Goguryeons would have already fled.

Hearing The Eagle's words, everyone frowned.

Even if they managed to find the Goguryeon base, it would be difficult for them to accomplish their mission if they didn't resolve this problem. Perhaps, they might even fail at the very end.

"Not only so, have you forgotten about the elites of the Goguryeons? Since King Sosurim has decided to make a move on the officials of the royal court, he must have mobilized the top-notch experts of the Goguryeons, perhaps even the generals of the Goguryeon empire. If we don't have enough people, not only will we be ineffective, we might even be defeated by them! "

Steel Arms said grimly. He had lost an arm, and the painful lesson from more than a decade ago still left a deep impression on him.

"Gongzi, you must pay attention to this matter. The Goguryeons in the base that we have encircled are only ordinary soldiers. On the other hand, the subordinates that King Sosurim is sending to assassinate the officials are likely to be elites of the Goguryeon empire.

"We have to be extremely vigilant in order to encircle them. Otherwise, if the mission fails, none of us will be able to bear the consequences!"

The matter regarding the Goguryeons had caused a huge uproar in the capital, and it had attracted the attention of everyone. Even the foreigners of the Western Regions were paying close attention to this matter.

If the mission were to fail, even the Wang Clan would be unable to bear the consequences.

"Leave such a small matter to me."

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Chong smiled.

"I will coordinate with the royal court through The King of Song and have them deploy their best experts. As long as I tell them that the incident from more than a decade ago will repeat itself, they will understand the severity of the matter. The royal court will know what they should do. "

The incident from more than a decade ago had left a huge impact on the royal court. Even now, many of the officials still had a deep impression of it.

For such a matter, Wang Chong didn't need to beg too much. All he needed to do was to describe the matter. Wang Chong believed that there would be many officials who would take the initiative to request for more experts to be deployed, so there was no need for him to worry about this.

Ma Yinlong, The Eagle, Steel Arms, and Solitary Wolf glanced at one another, and they nodded in agreement.

This was the effect of one's influence and background!

What Wang Chong could accomplish with a single word was something that they couldn't do even if they were beaten to death. At the very least, if they had a relationship with Wang Chong back then, they wouldn't have suffered such a terrible defeat. Their brothers had contributed to the brilliance of King Sosurim, and they wouldn't have been plagued by nightmares ever since.

On the one hand, the four of them were filled with regret, but on the other hand, they were glad that they had the help of a King of Nobility, Generals, and Ministers.

Furthermore, the four of them had been expelled from the Bureau of Punishments and the Rear Division, so they could only rely on Wang Chong for this matter.

"Then, there's the sentries. They're the crux to the success of the operation, so we have to find a way to deal with them."

Steel Arms said.

"Hehe, don't worry, they won't be able to escape!"

Wang Chong chuckled. Stretching out a finger, he drew on the ground. This sudden action immediately caught everyone's attention.

"I've just thought about it. This is the map of the area, so there's no need for us to seal off the entire area. As long as we send a troop here and here, they won't be able to escape. They won't be able to escape. "

Wang Chong quickly drew out the map. In his previous life, he was extremely familiar with the mountains and rivers of the Central Plains. It didn't take long for him to finish drawing it.

Even Ma Yinlong and Solitary Wolf weren't familiar with it. For a young man like Wang Chong to be able to draw it out so easily, they were astonished.

"But how should we do it? It's impossible for such a large-scale mobilization of troops to not attract the attention of the Goguryeons. As soon as the army leaves the city gates, King Sosurim will probably be alerted. "

Ma Yinlong said.

Wang Chong's idea was great, but it wasn't practical at all.

"Hehe, who said anything about mobilizing the Imperial Army from the city?"

Wang Chong chuckled, a confident look on his face.

"The Bureau of Military Personnel conducts regular military movements every year, so all we have to do is to send a troop north. When the time comes, we just have to send an elite troop to infiltrate the troops. "

"Bureau of Military Personnel?!!"

The four glanced at one another, and they could see the shock in one another's eyes. To mobilize troops through the Bureau of Military Personnel to encircle the Goguryeons, this was an unimaginable feat to the four of them.

The military was a matter of national importance, and it couldn't be ignored.

Every single order from the Bureau of Military Personnel wasn't to be trifled with. To them, what Wang Chong said was something they didn't even dare to imagine.

But in Wang Chong's mouth, it seemed like it was nothing at all.

"Hehe, it's not that I'm spouting nonsense. Have you ever thought of the consequences if an influential official of the royal court were to be assassinated? In comparison, the mobilization of troops means nothing at all. Orders are dead, but men are alive. If it turns out to be a good thing, the outcome is something that everyone can accept. Besides, this isn't a large-scale mobilization of troops. All we need to do is to fortify the cities closest to the capital. This way, we can minimize the impact. "

Wang Chong knew what the four of them were thinking, so he explained.

The four of them nodded silently. If it was just a mobilization of troops of this scale, they could still accept it.

"Now, all that's left is King Sosurim!"

In an instant, the atmosphere turned heavy once more.

This time, even Wang Chong fell silent. It wasn't that he didn't want to help, but that he wasn't able to. He had never met King Sosurim before, so he had no idea what the other party looked like.

Under such circumstances, even if King Sosurim were to stand before him, Wang Chong probably wouldn't be able to recognize him. The enemy was in the dark while he was out in the open.

Not only so, from the few times they had come into contact with King Sosurim from afar, Fox King Chong knew that the other party was a cunning fellow, and he had a deep understanding of the other party's savagery.

The monastery before him was the best proof of that.

"The Eagle, I'll be troubling you then. Once the operation begins, release all of your eagles. I want you to keep an eye on every single Goguryeon who leaves the battlefield. Not a single one of them is allowed to escape. It has been more than a decade, and you should know that this is our final chance! "

"Un!"

The Eagle, Steel Arms, and Solitary Wolf nodded their heads. Their eyes were filled with the ominous glint that made Wang Chong feel uneasy once more.

Wang Chong wanted to say something, but in the end, he decided against it.

Chapter 256

     Regardless of whether it was the Goguryeons or Wang Chong's side, both sides had to make their preparations. Even Wang Chong didn't know that the Goguryeons had already moved ahead of time.

On the other hand, the Goguryeons also didn't know that Wang Chong and the others had already discovered their base.

However, this wasn't the crux of the matter. Neither side had realized that this had already turned into a race against time.

If the Goguryeons were to launch their attack a day ahead of time, even if Wang Chong and the others managed to discover their base, they would still be defeated.

— — That monastery was simply too close to the capital!

Similarly, if Wang Chong and the others were able to coordinate with the Bureau of Military Personnel before the Goguryeons made their move, the Goguryeons would surely suffer a crushing defeat.

But at this point in time, it was impossible for anyone to conduct reconnaissance or capture the other party's men. That would be too dangerous, and it would easily raise the other party's suspicions.

Three days passed in a flash.

"It's finally done!"

In a massive monastery located in the forest outside the capital, a Goguryeon dressed in a monk's robe and shaved his head, let out a long sigh of excitement.

After a long time, they had finally completed their preparations. All of the elite experts dispatched from the distant Goguryeo Empire to participate in the operation tonight to assassinate the important officials of the Great Tang had all arrived at the monastery. A storm of blood was about to descend upon the Great Tang Empire.

Most of the residences of those who could become famous officials of the Tang Empire were heavily guarded and had many experts. It was not easy to assassinate them. This was also the reason why they had to travel such a long distance and mobilize experts from within the empire.

To use the resources of an empire to assassinate the officials of another empire, this might be considered an assassination, but to the Goguryeons, it was a war!

Everyone was prepared for a war. Thus, no matter how much preparation they had, it was inevitable that they would die!

"Are you all ready?!"

The Goguryeon dressed in a monk's robe raised his arm and bellowed. In an instant, a thunderous roar echoed in the surroundings.

"We're ready!"

"For the empire!"

…

Looking down from the sky, one could see that the monk was surrounded by Goguryeon elites dressed in black with three sabers sheathed on their backs. Only a pair of sharp eyes could be seen, and they were gleaming with fervor, excitement, and fervor.

On their bodies, waves of killing intent gathered together, like a landslide or tsunami.

After a long period of preparation, which lasted four months and traveled across mountains, all the preparations were finally completed. There were more than a few hundred imperial warriors gathered here.

The huge temple was densely packed with over a thousand imperial warriors.

Moreover, unlike those imperial soldiers who had been wiped out in the capital, these people were true experts, true elites, handpicked from tens of thousands.

Fifteen years ago, they had set off a storm of blood in the capital of the Tang dynasty with such a large number of elites, shaking the entire Tang dynasty, and most of them had escaped unscathed.

Now, everything was about to repeat itself!

"For Her Majesty!"

"For His Highness!"

"For the glory of Goguryeo!"

"Kill! — "

…

Amidst a frenzied battle cry, the thousand black-clothed and masked Goguryeon elites unsheathed the Goguryeon sabers on their backs, and a dense forest of sabers pointed toward the sky. Under the starlight, they gleamed coldly.

Boom! In the next moment, the Goguryeon elites leaped over the high walls of the temple, charging toward the Tang dynasty's capital.

"Go, my valiant warriors. Let the blood of the Tang dynasty flow like a river! "

The wind howled. On the roof of the Buddhist temple, three figures with majestic auras stood there like a mountain range.

Gazing at the Goguryeons charging toward the temple, their eyes gleamed so brightly that even the stars in the sky paled in comparison.

Everything had been prepared. A batch of experts had already infiltrated the city, and the 'tunnel' leading in and out of the city had been specially arranged. Even if an accident were to occur and the city guards were to discover it, they would be able to swiftly eliminate the culprit, ensuring that no news would leak out.

After this night, the entire Tang dynasty would be shaken, and the distant Goguryeo Empire would be deeply proud of them.

Yiiii!

Just as the group was gazing into the distance and daydreaming, a sudden change occurred. In the darkness of the night, a resplendent firework suddenly burst into the sky.

The dazzling light and the long tail of smoke that accompanied it could be seen even from far away. It was extremely eye-catching.

"What's going on?"

On the roof of the Buddhist temple, the three figures with powerful auras that resembled a storm were stunned and dumbfounded. They weren't the only ones. Even the Goguryeon assassins who had leaped over the walls of the temple were dumbfounded. They looked at the sky and subconsciously halted their footsteps.

They were in the wilderness, a distance away from the capital. Logically speaking, there shouldn't be such a firework here.

Furthermore, this wasn't some festival, so there shouldn't be any fireworks here!

In an instant, the entire world fell silent. Even the cheers had vanished, leaving only the howling of the mountain wind.

Everyone faintly felt a trace of unease in their hearts.

However, it was quiet all around. Other than the firework that shot into the sky, nothing else happened.

It felt like an instant, but at the same time, it felt like countless centuries had passed. Just as everyone was thinking that something had happened, in the next moment …

Hong long!

The mountains shook as if there was an invisible hand shaking the mountains underground. Countless birds flapped their wings and flew into the sky.

"Kill! — — "

Deafening battle cries reverberated throughout the mountains. Before the shocked gazes of the Goguryeons, the Tang dynasty Imperial Army soldiers charged out from all directions.

"How is this possible?!"

On the roof of the temple, the faces of the three powerful Goguryeon assassins warped in horror, and they nearly fell from the roof.

"This is impossible! How can there be so many of them? How did they manage to sneak their way here? "

"Where are the scouts? Where are the scouts? Where are all the scouts we have? The Tang people have already sneaked their way here, so why didn't they send any warning back? "

"Be careful! Enemy attack!"

…

Shrill, anxious, and furious Goguryeon words echoed in the air, and the Goguryeon army outside the temple fell into chaos.

They had thought that they would be facing the guards of the officials' residences, not the regular Imperial Army of the Tang dynasty.

This was no longer an assassination, but a war.

"Be careful! For the empire! "

Clang clang clang. Some of the Goguryeon elites were the first to react. They drew all of their weapons and assumed a defensive and offensive stance.

But the ones who reacted even faster than them were the Tang dynasty.

Boom boom boom!

Before the Goguryeon elites could even react, their chests were pierced by thick metal arrows, and they were pinned to the ground.

"Master archers! Be careful! There's a master archer! "

A shrill scream echoed in the air. But as soon as it sounded, it died down. The Goguryeon's forehead was pierced by an arrow, and his body was pinned to the ground.

"Defend! Defend!"

Those who were deployed here were all elites. After the initial ambush, they immediately scattered and searched for cover before swiftly retreating to the back.

Their bodies changed indeterminately, flickering and twisting between the branches. Their movement techniques were so fast and nimble that ordinary people couldn't compare to them at all.

"Kill! — — "

Before they could retreat to the Buddhist temple, warhorses neighed as the first wave of imperial cavalrymen, who had carried out the first mission of delaying their opponents, arrived.

These warhorses were wrapped in iron armor, and each of them was incredibly tall. Their sturdy bodies contained monstrous strength, and even the trees in their way were smashed to pieces. Their momentum was unstoppable, and they swept away everything in their way.

Hong long long!

In just an instant, the two forces clashed with one another. Two different war halos lit up simultaneously before clashing heavily with one another.

The immense force from the collision shattered the surrounding trees into pieces. Thousands of wooden shards flew several dozen zhang into the air.

【Congratulations to user for killing 691 Goguryeons!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 692 Goguryeons!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 693 Goguryeons!】

…

In an instant, a furious gale blew. On a distant hill, Wang Chong was standing beneath a huge tree. That familiar voice sounded in his ears once more, and a huge wave of information gushed into his mind. The Bane of the Battlefield halo in Wang Chong's body grew stronger once more.

"A war-related halo … Indeed, it's best to grow in battle!"

Amidst the furious gale, Wang Chong felt his strength growing at a rapid pace. Every single cell in his body was relaxed, and he felt incredibly comfortable.

This method of growing his strength without using anything at all was simply too exhilarating.

"It's a pity that I'm only one of the commanders in this battle. The true commander is that person over there!"

Wang Chong turned his head to look in another direction.

It was an Imperial Army general riding on a huge steed with a cold expression on his face. His eyes were staring straight ahead, and he exuded an intense aura of steel and blood. Clearly, he had participated in large-scale battles before.

This was a direct assignment from the royal court.

Even though Wang Chong had the favor of The King of Song, he wasn't a member of the Imperial Army. Furthermore, in order to prevent the Goguryeons from escaping, the Imperial Army had mobilized too many Imperial Army soldiers. Thus, there was a need for a high-ranking Imperial Army general to command the troops.

He was the true commander of the battle.

Thus, the benefits that Wang Chong received were unavoidably diluted. However, it was fortunate that Wang Chong had The King of Song's token, and this base was discovered by Wang Chong. Thus, Wang Chong was still able to reap the greatest benefits from it.

"It's fortunate that I called uncle in. Good things should not flow to outsiders. After this encirclement and suppression, uncle will definitely be promoted again. With this contribution, his seniority will far surpass the others, and it's only a matter of time before he rises in the ranks of the Imperial Army! "

Wang Chong turned his head to look at Uncle Li Lin, who was leading the army toward the monastery, and a smile crept onto his lips.

Chapter 257

     "Brothers, charge!"

"Don't get tangled up. Remember, our target is King Sosurim. No matter what, we mustn't let him escape!"

...

Just as Wang Chong was deep in thought, a loud bellow suddenly sounded by his ears. Following which, the clopping of hooves sounded. Before Wang Chong could stop them, he saw Ma Yinlong, Solitary Wolf, Steel Arms, and Old Eagle galloping toward the monastery with reddened eyes. A cloud of dust billowed behind them as they charged toward the monastery.

"Fast!"

In their eagerness to kill the enemy, Wang Chong wanted to delay their arrival a little, but it was already too late. After pondering for a moment, he decided to just let them be.

It would be a wonder if the four of them could hold themselves back for so many years.

In the distance, the battle was already nearing the vicinity of the monastery.

Boom! Suddenly, the ground trembled. Before Wang Chong could react, he felt a powerful surge of energy gushing out from the direction of the monastery.

Wherever the invisible surge of energy passed by, bizarre changes would occur. Under Wang Chong's vision, the feet of the Goguryeon assassins suddenly lit up, and a bizarre Halo of Thorns burst forth. Then, a second, and a third!

The monastery shook three times, and three different halos of different colors lit up beneath the feet of the Goguryeon assassins.

"Generals! There's a Goguryeon general in the monastery! "

Everyone on the hill was stunned when they saw the halos that lit up in the darkness. Even Wang Chong couldn't help but blink his eyes in astonishment.

Generals who had cultivated their war halo to a certain level would be able to imbue their own war halo to their subordinates. This was one of the unique traits of war halo.

This was also the origin of the name of war halo!

However, this ability wasn't something that everyone could imbue. Only formidable generals who had reached a certain level of cultivation were able to do so.

Regardless of which empire it was, be it Goguryeo, the Tang dynasty, Ouzan, or Abbasid Caliphate, these generals were extremely influential figures. They wouldn't be as insignificant as ordinary soldiers who could be sacrificed casually.

If a general of such caliber were to die here, it would be a huge loss to Goguryeo.

"The Goguryeons have really gone all out!"

Wang Chong sneered and quickly realized what was going on. Without a doubt, this should be the "masterpiece" of the leaders of the monastery that Eagle had observed.

The fact that the Goguryeons had even sent out their most orthodox generals showed just how determined they were to succeed in this operation.

Indeed, compared to the "open battle" on the battlefield, this kind of "covert battle" had a smaller investment, but the rewards were much greater.

"Boom!"

While the three Goguryeon commanders on the rooftop of the monastery released their war halos to envelop all of the Goguryeons, on the other side, not too far away from Wang Chong, the Imperial Army general who was in charge of this operation stepped forward on his steed and released his war halo as well. Rings of dazzling light immediately burst forth, enveloping all of the Imperial Army soldiers.

"Kill! — "

In the distance, a furious gale blew, and battle cries echoed in the air. Halos collided with halos, and Stellar Energy collided with Stellar Energy … The two powerful forces clashed with one another, and the battle swiftly grew more intense.

On the surface, the Tang dynasty held the absolute advantage, but the resistance of the Goguryeons was extremely intense. The expected scene of the Goguryeons collapsing didn't happen. The complicated terrain of the mountains and the dense forest were all things that they borrowed from.

On top of that, these Goguryeons were all elites with swift and agile movement techniques. On top of that, their ferocious and ruthless Three Saber Stream actually managed to form a defensive formation, and they didn't collapse.

"Hmph, are you still intending to put up a resistance?"

Wang Chong sneered coldly. The stubbornness of the Goguryeons was truly ingrained in their bones. No matter how bad the situation was, they would still go berserk, determined to bite down on the other party.

It was the same for a one-on-one fight, and it was the same for a group attack!

However, if the Goguryeons thought that they would be able to deal with so many enemies with just a thousand top-notch elites and the complicated terrain, they were truly naive.

Weng!

Wang Chong abruptly stomped on the ground. Hong long long, the world shook. In an instant, Wang Chong released the Bane of the Battlefield halo, and an invisible ripple spread across the entire mountain range with Wang Chong at the center.

But this time, the target of the ripple wasn't the Imperial Army but the opposing Goguryeons. Weng! Wherever the ripple passed, the halos beneath the feet of the Goguryeons would vanish.

This abrupt change shook the entire army.

The orderly Goguryeon army immediately fell into chaos. Without the support of the halos, the Goguryeons suffered heavy casualties in an instant.

Not too far away, sensing the changes on the battlefield, the cold Imperial Army general turned his head to look at Wang Chong from afar, and a peculiar glint flashed across his eyes.

However, Wang Chong didn't have the luxury of time to explain himself. He heard that familiar voice once more.

【Congratulations to user for killing 721 soldiers of the Goguryeon Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 722 soldiers of the Goguryeon Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 723 soldiers of the Goguryeon Empire!】

…

【Congratulations to user for killing 834 soldiers of the Goguryeon Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 835 soldiers of the Goguryeon Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 836 soldiers of the Goguryeon Empire!】

…

A huge surge of information flowed into Wang Chong's mind, and the Bane of the Battlefield halo in his body grew significantly.

"Aren't they being too naive if they think that they can fight against the Imperial Army in the territory of the Tang dynasty?"

Wang Chong chuckled.

With him around, the Goguryeons were truly naive to think that they could put up a resistance with their elites. He wouldn't give them the chance to do so.

"Miyasame Ayaka, tell them to prepare themselves. We'll be setting off at any moment to join the battlefield!"

Wang Chong said.

"Yes, gongzi!"

Miyasame Ayaka nodded and quickly left. In this battle, Wang Chong didn't have much authority. The main commanding authority still lay in the hands of the general of the Imperial Army.

Even so, Wang Chong still used the token from The King of Song to request for a contingent of Imperial Army soldiers to be under his command. Even though Wang Chong didn't have an official rank, no one here could surpass him in terms of strategy and seizing opportunities.

"Seeking peace through war and replacing retreat with offense, these Goguryeons sure are smart. They know that fleeing at this moment will only lead to their deaths. By then, none of them will be able to escape. Thus, they should gather their men to form a defense before finding a way to break out of the encirclement … It's a good idea, but a pity that it's not practical! "

Wang Chong sneered coldly.

This batch of Goguryeons was indeed formidable. Given their strength, it was possible for them to gather their men to fend off the attack before organizing their men to break out of the encirclement.

However, with him around, they were thinking too much.

He wouldn't give them the chance to do so. Trying to scheme before him was no different from playing around.

"Gongzi, I've gathered everyone!"

Soon, a voice sounded behind him. Miyasame Ayaka was kneeling on the ground with her head lowered, not moving in the slightest. Behind him, a group of about a hundred Imperial Army cavalrymen rode their horses and slowly appeared on the hill.

These people were well-built, had determined gazes, and powerful auras. Every single one of them exuded the aura of a hundred. They were all elites of the Imperial Army, specially selected by Wang Chong from the Imperial Army.

"Get ready! Arrow Formation! "

Wang Chong led a horse over, leaped onto it, and drew his sword. His gaze was sharp, and his wrist was straight.

Upon seeing Wang Chong's silhouette, a grim expression appeared on the faces of the Imperial Army cavalrymen. When they first followed Wang Chong, they were worried that Wang Chong would blindly command them.

But judging from Wang Chong's disposition when he gave the order, they realized that they were overthinking it. At this moment, the feeling that Wang Chong exuded was that of a veteran general.

One second, two seconds, three seconds! …

Wang Chong gazed into the distance, not moving in the slightest. After an unknown period of time, just when everyone thought that Wang Chong's' Respect 'would never come down, the long-awaited order finally appeared.

"Kill! — — "

Like ferocious tigers charging down the mountain, the hundred Imperial Army cavalrymen surrounded Wang Chong, Miyasame Ayaka, and Miyasame Ayaka. As though arrows released from a bow, they charged down the hill furiously.

Hong long long!

The ground rumbled, and the silhouettes on both sides retreated as swiftly as bolts of lightning. The wind howled shrilly in Wang Chong's ears.

As Wang Chong listened to the deafening roar, the thundering of hooves and the neighing of warhorses, the blazing flames in the distance and the cold glint of weapons, a voice seemed to roar in his mind, and he felt like all the blood in his body was boiling.

In an instant, his consciousness seemed to have transcended time and space. Once again, Wang Chong felt a calling from the depths of his soul, a calling from the battlefield.

He belonged to this place, to the battlefield!

Weng!

As though a miracle, a gap suddenly appeared in the formation of the Goguryeons. Hong long! In the next instant, the hundred-plus cavalrymen led by Wang Chong stabbed into the gap like a sharp knife, ripping it apart.

The immense might of the Rear Charge even flung the Goguryeon assassins high up into the air.

"Kill! — — "

A deafening roar reverberated across the sky. In just an instant, the Goguryeon formation had been torn into two, and the formation that they had just stabilized with great difficulty immediately fell into chaos.

"Bastard!"

At the top of the monastery, the faces of the Goguryeon leaders who were observing the situation from a high vantage point immediately warped. Wang Chong's charge had completely destroyed their previous efforts.

The trio's faces were cold. They wanted to destroy this army, but soon, they couldn't be bothered about anything else. Because the Tang people's army was already charging over ferociously.

This time, the trio joined the fray.

"Get ready! There's still one more time! "

In the distance, Wang Chong, who had just pierced through the Goguryeon formation, led his elite cavalrymen and stopped on the opposite hill.

From Wang Chong's perspective, the Goguryeons were still gathering their formation, and they were preparing to regroup once more.

But to Wang Chong, as long as he pierced through their formation twice, all of the Goguryeons would be routed.

Assassination was one thing, but war was another!

The Goguryeons had already fallen into his rhythm.

"Prepare for the second attack!"

Hong long! When Wang Chong led the hundred-plus elites to pierce through the Goguryeon formation for the second time, the thousand-plus Goguryeon elites finally crumbled. They were no longer able to form a proper formation to defend themselves.

Chapter 258

     Translator: ryuxenji Editor: H2dH2mr A group of Goguryeon elites who were unable to form an effective formation, no matter how many men they had and how powerful they were, they were no different from a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

From the moment Wang Chong broke through their formation for the second time and disrupted their formation, the fate of these Goguryeon elites that had been mobilized from the distant Korean Peninsula had been sealed.

"Retreat! Retreat! Leave this place! "

Chaos broke out among the Goguryeons, and as though frightened beasts, they scattered in all directions. No one thought of hiding in a monastery or temple. That would be like catching a turtle in a net, and it would be even more impossible for them to escape.

Boom!

By Wang Chong's side, the morale of the Goguryeons was invigorated. The hooves of their warhorses galloped, and brilliant halos tore through the darkness as they chased after the Goguryeons.

— — If they were to resist, it would still be troublesome. However, if they were bent on escaping, they would only die even faster!

【Congratulations to user for killing 1110 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 1111 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 1112 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 1113 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

...

【Congratulations to user for killing 1257 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 1258 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 1259 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

...

Information gushed into his mind like a waterfall. Amidst the mountains, a strong gale blew, and formless ripples shook the surroundings. After reaching a radius of ten thousand meters, Wang Chong's Bane of the Battlefield halo began to expand once more.

The exhilaration brought about by the growth of his strength left Wang Chong feeling unprecedentedly excited.

"With another seven hundred more, I'll be able to reach level 2!"

Wang Chong thought.

The 'Bane of the Battlefield' aura became more and more difficult to upgrade as one progressed. At the very beginning, Wang Chong only needed to kill a regular non-humankind soldier.

However, to advance from level 0 to level 1, he would have to kill a hundred Goguryeon, Ouzan, Abbasid Caliphate, and Mengshe Zhao soldiers. Furthermore, these soldiers were at least at Origin Energy Tier 9 to True Martial realm, and none of them were easy to deal with.

And at level 2, the number of Mutated Race warriors needed to be killed was even more, 2000!

Wang Chong's "Bane of the Battlefield" halo was still at level 1 and could only be effective against martial artists at True Martial Tier 1 and below. Its effects were practically overwhelming and destructive.

However, it was much less effective against martial soldiers at Tier 2 of the True Martial Realm and above.

If he wanted to deprive a Tier 2 True Martial expert of his martial arts halo and use it on an even stronger opponent, Wang Chong's Bane of the Battlefield halo had to reach at least level 2.

Roar!

Just as Wang Chong was deep in thought, a deafening roar suddenly echoed from the monastery at the foot of the mountain. A powerful shockwave swept up the surroundings, and leaves were even blown into the air before Wang Chong and the others.

"It's from the monastery. They are currently fighting with the Goguryeon leaders!"

Miyasame Ayaka's low voice sounded by Wang Chong's ear. The violent wind caused her black clothes to flutter violently.

Looking down from atop his steed, Wang Chong saw that the walls of the monastery had already been pushed down, and within the monastery, Wang Chong's uncle Li Lin, Ma Yinlong, The Eagle, One-eyed, Steel Arms, and the cold-faced Imperial Army general appointed by the royal court, whom Wang Chong wasn't familiar with, were working together to attack the three Goguryeon leaders. Both sides were engaged in an intense battle.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Mighty torrents of energy blotted out the sky and covered the earth, toppling mountains and overturning seas. Everywhere they passed, the high walls, temples, houses, artificial mountains, and even the tall stone tablets in the temples were smashed into pieces like tofu.

Different types of Stellar Energy collided with each other, triggering a storm that soared into the sky. The storm reached a height of several hundred feet, and nearly enveloped half of the monastery.

In the face of this chaotic, destructive, and destructive Stellar Energy storm, almost all of the Imperial Army soldiers were forced out of the monastery.

Hu!

Flames several dozen zhang high soared into the sky, dyeing the air crimson. At the same time, blazing sword qi and saber qi threatened to tear the sky apart. In the midst of the storm, one could vaguely see some frightening and bizarre images.

Even Miyasame Ayaka couldn't help but blink her eyes in fear at the sight of that overwhelming aura, and she subconsciously took several steps back in fear.

Profound Martial realm!

Miyasame Ayaka was certain that most of these people were Profound Martial realm experts, and even if some of them weren't, they were close to it. After all, only Profound Martial realm experts could produce such an aura.

"How powerful!"

Miyasame Ayaka thought.

It was impossible for a True Martial realm cultivator to stand against a Profound Martial realm expert. If not for the encirclement of the army and the Profound Martial realm experts in the Imperial Army, she wouldn't have dared to participate in such a battle.

"Don't worry, they won't be able to reach here!"

Wang Chong said with a smile.

Miyasame Ayaka was skilled, but she had never been on the battlefield before, so she wasn't too familiar with such matters. 'Soldier against soldier, general against general '. On this battlefield, anyone could escape, but the three Goguryeon leaders couldn't. Needless to say, it was impossible for them to come here and kill them.

This was the reason why the Imperial Army general appointed by the royal court had been watching the battle from the side. The fact that the three Goguryeon leaders didn't escape meant that they understood this point.

No matter what, the Tang dynasty wouldn't allow them to escape. Unless they had absolute confidence, it was futile for them to escape.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Aura Qi, which far surpassed that of any True Martial realm expert, flowed wantonly, colliding in all directions. The entire mountain range was trembling from the fight between the top experts.

In just a short period of time, two-thirds of the Buddhist temple that had taken more than four months to build had been destroyed. Broken bricks and wooden shards were swept up by the Stellar Energy, filling the air with a fearsome aura.

Ever since his reincarnation, this was the first time Wang Chong was seeing a battle between Profound Martial realm experts.

A battle of this level had far surpassed Wang Chong's current cultivation realm. Putting aside Wang Chong, even Miyasame Ayaka and the others who were stronger than him wouldn't be able to interfere.

However, it was still possible for them to interfere a little.

"Call Luo Chong over!"

Wang Chong suddenly said with a smile.

Luo Chong was the name of the master archer whom The King of Song had sent to Wang Chong's side. It took Wang Chong quite a bit of effort before he managed to get the name.

That person was simply too taciturn!

"Gongzi."

Soon, a fully-armored Luo Chong appeared behind Wang Chong with a custom-made bow on his back.

Standing there with a height of more than two meters, he gave people a great sense of oppression.

Luo Chong was a subordinate of The King of Song, and the fact that he was able to reach such a level and become an esteemed figure in the Tang dynasty meant that his archery skills were formidable. In this battle, he had killed several times more True Martial realm experts than the other master archers of the Imperial Army.

This was the difference in their strength!

To Wang Chong, there was no doubt that Luo Chong was the strongest person in the entire battlefield, and he trusted him the most.

"Luo Chong, are you able to see the situation in the monastery?"

Wang Chong stretched out a finger and pointed to the bottom of the hill as he asked.

Those words immediately caught the attention of everyone around Wang Chong, and the hundred Imperial Army elites beside Wang Chong immediately turned their gazes over.

"It's useless. They are too fast, and the disturbance from the Stellar Energy Storm is too great. If I were to make a move like this, I might accidentally injure them. "

Luo Chong's entire body was wrapped in thick armor, and his voice buzzed. He didn't even need Wang Chong to say it; he already knew Wang Chong's intentions.

Wang Chong's idea was good, but it wasn't practical at all.

As the saying goes, 'In a battle between experts, every second counts'. Their speed was simply too fast. Given his strength, he could easily kill those True Martial realm experts with a single arrow, pinning them to the ground without giving them a chance to dodge at all.

However, those who had reached Profound Martial realm, like the three Goguryeon leaders, had a high chance of fending off his arrows.

Their reactions were simply too fast!

On top of that, they were simply too close to one another. If his arrows missed the three Goguryeons, they would hit their own comrades instead.

Furthermore, there were simply too many disturbances in the monastery. Leaves, bricks, mud, wood shavings, blazing flames, saber qi …

Even though these disturbances didn't affect them as much as the others, they still interfered with their movements.

In this kind of close combat, if there was even the slightest mistake, not only would they not be able to kill the enemy, but their own side would also be killed.

If that were to happen, he would be overconfident.

It wasn't that he hadn't seen the battle in the monastery, but there was a reason why he hadn't made a move yet.

Wang Chong was thinking too simply.

"Hehe, do you see the toad head at the back of the monastery?"

Wang Chong chuckled as he pointed to the bottom of the hill.

"Toad head?"

Luo Chong was taken aback. Perplexed, the others also turned their gazes over.

Two-thirds of the monastery at the bottom of the hill had been destroyed, and only a third of it remained. And in that third of it, at the location closest to the battlefield, there was indeed a toad head lying on the roof.

In the construction of houses, this kind of eaves shape was actually very common.

Just that, they couldn't understand what this had to do with helping their comrades deal with the Goguryeons.

"Later on, when the flames reach a height of eleven zhang, stand here and listen to my command. Lower your wrist by three fen, four li, and two jiao, and aim there."

With his hands behind his back, Wang Chong pointed confidently to the side.

Weng!

Hearing Wang Chong's words, Luo Chong's heart jolted. Staring at Wang Chong, astonishment flashed across his eyes for the first time. Three fen, four li, and two jiao, this was something that could only be used in archery.

When the top archery experts of the Imperial Army imparted their students, they would often point out how high and how low their wrist should be.

Due to the high requirement of archery, this number had to be accurate without the slightest error.

At the same time, due to the difference in everyone's height, arm length, archery holding habits, and center of gravity, when pointing out and correcting a person, the number would vary depending on their situation.

In order to achieve this, one had to have an extremely high level of attainment in archery. But Wang Chong didn't even have calluses on his fingers. In the period of time he had been following Wang Chong, he had never seen Wang Chong touch a bow before.

He couldn't understand when Wang Chong managed to attain such a high level of attainment in archery.

Chapter 259

     Xiu!

Drawing a specially-made arrow from the quiver by his waist, Luo Chong held it between the index and middle fingers of his right hand as he walked over to the position Wang Chong pointed out. After which, he nocked the arrow and turned to look at Wang Chong.

Wang Chong was amused. How could he possibly not know what Luo Chong was thinking?

It was true that he wasn't skilled in archery, and he wasn't a master archer either. However, the reason why he guided Luo Chong wasn't through archery but through his own eye of discernment, experience, and judgment.

'Mastery of a single technique, mastery of all techniques'. Upon reaching the peak of martial arts, determining Luo Chong's height, arm length, center of gravity, and degree of correction was a walk in the park.

This didn't require any exceptional mastery in archery, and it wouldn't be affected by reincarnation either.

As an existence who had once reached Saint Martial realm pinnacle, it wasn't too difficult for Wang Chong to achieve this feat.

Even though his physical body was that of an ordinary Origin Energy Tier 9 martial artist, Wang Chong's soul was at Saint Martial realm pinnacle.

Of the entire battlefield, he was the only one qualified to interfere in the battle in the monastery.

"Await my orders!"

Wang Chong shot Luo Chong a glance before turning around to look at the monastery at the foot of the mountain. He remained motionless, and it was as if he had turned into a clay sculpture.

However, in his mind, Wang Chong's mind was working furiously.

"It has been a long time since I've done this! … "

Wang Chong thought.

Ever since his reincarnation, this was the first time that Wang Chong was using the strength of his previous life to interfere in a battle of this level with his Origin Energy Tier 9 body.

The mountain wind howled, brushing past the treetops, shrubs, and grasses. Wang Chong and the hundred Imperial Army elites stood motionlessly on the slope.

The entire world was silent, and the only sound that could be heard was the intense battle in the monastery.

After an unknown period of time …

"Release!"

As soon as Wang Chong's voice fell, rumble! A thick iron arrow shot through the air. In that instant, it seemed as if the sky itself was being torn apart. The fierce astral wind slapped against Wang Chong's face like a whip.

This was the first time Wang Chong and the rest had seen Luo Chong shoot an arrow. In that instant, the world seemed to lose its color.

Buzz!

In the distance, as if by magic, a huge scarlet firestorm soared up from the ground amidst the heart-wrenching cries. Behind this scarlet firestorm, a figure miraculously appeared in mid-air, as if it had come up on its own, blocking Luo Chong and the toad head on the eaves.

Rumble!

The arrow pierced right through the chest of the Goguryeon expert, and the immense force of the arrow sent him flying through the storm.

"Buzz!"

In an instant, everyone who saw this scene on the hillside was dumbfounded.

"Young master?!"

Miyasame Ayaka turned around and stared at Wang Chong in astonishment, as though she didn't recognize him at all. This was a battle between Profound Martial realm experts, and even she wasn't able to interfere in it.

There were simply too many interfering elements in the area.

Yet, Wang Chong was actually able to predict when the Goguryeon leader would leap up, where he would appear, and even instruct Luo Chong to shoot him. This was truly inconceivable.

Despite having followed Wang Chong for so long, Miyasame Ayaka had never known that he possessed such capabilities.

"This … Isn't this way too incredible? Like father, like son. Has the heritage of the Wang Clan really reached such a level? "

On the hillside, the hundred Imperial Army elites were initially dissatisfied with the royal court's decision to assign them to Wang Chong. Even after Wang Chong led them in two crucial charges to disperse the organized resistance of the Goguryeons, their dissatisfaction didn't vanish completely.

But upon seeing this sight, everyone was rendered speechless.

Wasn't this young man from the Wang Clan a little too incredible?!

But the one who was the most shocked was still Luo Chong!

He was the only one who knew what had just happened. 'In a battle between experts, every second counts'. From the moment he nocked the arrow to the moment he released the bowstring, the Goguryeon leader hadn't left the ground at all.

But in the next moment, as if Wang Chong had predicted it, the Goguryeon leader leaped into the air and collided with his own arrow.

Throughout the entire process, other than pulling the bowstring, he didn't do anything else. All Wang Chong did was borrow his strength.

It's no wonder why His Highness The King of Song thinks so highly of him. This child … is too incredible. It's impossible to fathom him with common sense!

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed across Luo Chong's mind.

He was an archer, and only archers could win his respect. From the moment he had followed Wang Chong, it was only at this moment that Wang Chong had won his acknowledgement!

Luo Chong finally understood why The King of Song thought so highly of him. This young man's talent was truly unparalleled.

"Lord!"

A series of shouts in Goguryeon suddenly sounded from the monastery. Putting aside Wang Chong and the others, even the Goguryeon leaders were taken aback. Following which, a deafening roar erupted from them.

The two Goguryeon leaders exerted their monstrous strength, and despite being outnumbered, they actually managed to force Li Lin, Ma Yinlong, and the others back. Then, they charged toward the Goguryeon leader who had been sent flying.

"It seems like you managed to shoot a formidable fellow!"

Wang Chong was slightly taken aback, but he soon chuckled.

"That's even better."

Luo Chong's arrow didn't kill the Goguryeon leader, but the outcome was decisive. The three Goguryeon experts were already outnumbered, and it was difficult for them to hold their ground. If one of them were to be severely injured, they would be even less of a match.

More importantly, Wang Chong had made use of Luo Chong's arrow to break their coordination.

— — This was the reason why they were able to hold on for so long!

The Goguryeon experts were simply too familiar with one another, and their teamwork was simply too seamless. In comparison, even though Wang Chong had many experts on his side, they were fighting individually, and their teamwork was lacking.

Boom!

With a deafening explosion and several screams of agony, the battle in the monastery finally came to an end. The three powerful and vicious Goguryeon leaders fell heavily to the ground.

Around him, the ground was a mess.

【Congratulations to user for killing Grade-5 Goguryeon General Dae Hyeonseok! For altering the Fulcrum of Destiny, you have gained 3 Destiny Energy】

【Congratulations to user for killing Grade-5 Goguryeon General Dae Insoo! For altering the Fulcrum of Destiny, you have gained 1 Destiny Energy】

【Congratulations to user for killing Grade-5 Goguryeon General Dae Gyeonhwang! For altering the Fulcrum of Destiny, you have gained 1 Destiny Energy】

…

Following the collapse of the three, three voices sounded in Wang Chong's head.

"Hm? Dae Hyeonseok, Dae Gyeonhwang! "

Wang Chong was surprised. In Goguryeo, most of the generals who could use the word 'Da' before their name were of some standing.

Regardless of what they were called before, upon reaching this level, they would all change their name to 'Da'. For example, 'Dae Hyeonseok', 'Dae Insoo', and 'Gyeonhwang' represented their standing in Goguryeo.

"Dae Hyeonseok, this name sounds familiar!"

Wang Chong frowned in contemplation. Soon, Wang Chong recalled where he had heard the name before. Dae Hyeonseok, wasn't that the Goguryeon general whose real name was Lee Jiuhuan, who led the Goguryeon soldiers to raid and harass the northeast region of the Tang dynasty after the civil strife in the Central Plains?

During the civil strife in the Central Plains, he was the most hated Goguryeon general in the Andong Protectorate Manor. To think that he would die here.

"To think that he would be together with King Sosurim at the very start. If not for this operation, he might have returned to Goguryeo together with King Sosurim after the assassination, thus becoming a threat to the northeast region of the Tang dynasty. "

Wang Chong's mind was in turmoil.

In his previous life, there weren't many people who knew that Dae Hyeonseok, or rather, Lee Jiuhuan, had infiltrated the Tang dynasty. Recalling how he had infiltrated the Tang dynasty with King Sosurim, it was no wonder why he led an army to raid the northeast region of the Tang dynasty so easily after returning to Goguryeo.

But it was a pity that he wouldn't have such a chance in this lifetime!

But soon, Wang Chong couldn't be bothered with Dae Hyeonseok anymore.

"Hahaha, I actually obtained five points of Destiny Energy. What an unexpected fortune!"

Wang Chong laughed heartily as he looked at the additional points of Destiny Energy in his head.

This was truly an unexpected harvest!

Thinking back, he had only led his troops to charge here twice and had Luo Chong shoot an arrow, but he had already obtained five Destiny Energy for nothing.

Wang Chong knew how difficult it was to obtain Destiny Energy, and he had experienced it firsthand. Up until now, these five points of Destiny Energy had been the easiest for him to obtain.

All he had to do was lie down and he would reap the rewards!

One must know that the three Goguryeon generals were Profound Martial realm experts!

Given Wang Chong's strength, he could forget about killing a single one of them. If he were to encounter them, he would have to think about how to escape. This time, it was all thanks to the Imperial Army general appointed by the royal court and Uncle Li Lin.

Under normal circumstances, it was impossible to obtain such Destiny Energy.

This wasn't just a matter of strength. Rather, enemy generals like them wouldn't appear alone. They would usually have a large number of elites by their side.

It wasn't that easy to kill them!

"It's a pity that such a good thing only happens once! There won't be another chance in the future! "

Wang Chong couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret.

After this incident, the Goguryeons had suffered a heavy blow, and they no longer had the ability to carry out any assassinations in the capital. Even the people from the Western Regions would probably be intimidated by this incident, and they wouldn't dare to carry out any more schemes in secret.

In other words, this was the first time in the capital that he had obtained Destiny Energy for nothing, and it would probably be the last.

However, it wasn't as if Wang Chong had come out empty-handed.

"It turns out that if I can kill an enemy general and change his fate, I can also obtain Destiny Energy."

Wang Chong fell into deep thought.

This could be said to be his greatest harvest in this operation. At the very least, Wang Chong hadn't obtained this information from the Stone of Destiny.

This was something he had learned through practice.

Although a general was only rewarded with one point, such as Dae Hyeonseok, who later became a 'threat' to the Tang dynasty's borders and had some status, only received three points, many a little makes an ocean.

Chapter 260

     "Right!"

Wang Chong suddenly recalled something. If killing three Goguryeon generals had given him five Destiny Energy points, wouldn't that mean that he would be rewarded with even more Destiny Energy? If so, wouldn't he be rewarded with even more Destiny Energy if he foiled King Sosurim's plan and prevented the second assassination attempt against the officials of the Tang dynasty?

At this point, Wang Chong couldn't help but feel excited.

The strengthening of the Bane of the Battlefield halo was indeed rare and precious, but comparatively speaking, Destiny Energy was the foundation. This was the most important thing.

"I wonder how many Destiny Energy points I'll get from killing King Sosurim this time? With the reward of killing three generals and the final reward, this trip down the mountain is truly worth it! "

Wang Chong was overjoyed.

Regardless of what the final reward was, Wang Chong was certain that it wouldn't be less than 10 Destiny Energy points.

When Wang Chong left the mountain to deal with the Goguryeons, he was only focused on enhancing his Little Yinyang Art and the Bane of the Battlefield halo, as well as stopping the assassinations of the Goguryeons. He didn't think that there would be a reward of Destiny Energy.

This was an unexpected reward!

Roar!

Just as Zhang Xuan was deep in thought, a sorrowful howl suddenly sounded from the monastery.

"No, no! That fellow isn't King Sosurim! — — "

The wind howled, shaking the heavens and the earth. That voice was filled with indignation and had nowhere to vent it, and it instantly attracted everyone's attention.

"It's Ma Yinlong!"

Astonished, Miyasame Ayaka immediately turned her head over. She had been in contact with Ma Yinlong for quite some time now, so she knew a little about him.

In this operation, Ma Yinlong didn't care about anything other than the Goguryeon King Sosurim.

"Is King Sosurim not one of them?"

Miyasame Ayaka was astonished.

None of the Profound Martial realm experts were ordinary individuals. Given how the three of them were able to last so long despite being surrounded by so many people, how could they not be King Sosurim?

If the three of them weren't King Sosurim, where was he?

Wasn't he present for such a huge operation?

"Wait here, I'll go down for a while!"

A light flashed in Wang Chong's eyes. He placed his right hand on the saddle beside him and flipped himself onto the horse's back. Hyah! He clamped his legs together and immediately kicked up a cloud of dust as he galloped down the mountain.

None of the Profound Martial realm experts were King Sosurim. Others might not know this, but Wang Chong couldn't be any clearer.

Di da da!

The war horse was as tall as a man, shiny and shiny, and as black as a dragon. With a leap, it flew over the broken walls of the temple and landed inside the courtyard.

The Imperial Army of the Tang dynasty was indeed well-trained. A portion of them chased after the fleeing Goguryeo elites while the rest entered the courtyard to deal with the corpses.

This was the sight that Wang Chong saw when he walked in.

"Young Master Wang, are these your subordinates?"

Amidst the rubble, the indifferent and powerful Imperial Army general raised his head. This was the first time he had spoken to Wang Chong since the operation began.

"Un."

Wang Chong nodded.

"Not bad, they are true warriors!"

A hint of respect flashed across the Imperial Army general's eyes. After saying those words, he led his horse away from the temple.

Sitting on the back of the horse, Wang Chong was slightly surprised. But soon, Wang Chong couldn't be bothered with such things anymore. With a flip of his body, Wang Chong dismounted from the back of the horse and headed toward the area where the battle had been the most intense.

At the very center of the temple, the ground was distorted like a fried dough twist. Deep holes could be seen all over the ground, and rubble could be seen everywhere.

At the center of this devastated land, Ma Yinlong was kneeling on the ground, and it seemed as if he had collapsed completely. The determination and sharpness that Wang Chong had sensed from him seemed to have vanished in an instant.

Around him, The Eagle, Steel Arms, and Vicious Wolf also lowered their heads in a daze.

The battle had ended, and the three most formidable Goguryeon leaders had died in their hands. But King Sosurim wasn't among them.

After persevering for fifteen years, they felt as if their conviction had crumbled.

That was more than a decade! Many of their brothers had died, and they had suffered great humiliation. Yet, in the end, King Sosurim still managed to escape.

It wasn't hard to imagine the disappointment the four of them felt.

How many fifteen years did one have in their lives? In the battle against King Sosurim, the brothers had ultimately lost.

"Chong-er!"

Upon seeing Wang Chong, Wang Chong's uncle, Li Lin, sighed with a hint of pity in his eyes. Even though he hadn't interacted much with them, he still knew of King Sosurim's name.

After all, given his age, he knew of the matter back then.

King Sosurim's name, as well as the reactions of the others, Li Lin could more or less guess what had happened. However, there was nothing he could do in this regard.

"Let me do it."

Wang Chong said calmly.

"Un."

Patting Wang Chong's shoulders, Li Lin turned around and left, leaving Wang Chong, Ma Yinlong, and the others behind.

"Heh, you're giving up so quickly?"

Wang Chong walked over with a smile.

None of the four spoke a word, as though they were statues. It was as if they hadn't heard Wang Chong's words at all. At this moment, no one was in the mood to strike up a conversation with Wang Chong.

"Haha, you can't be thinking that King Sosurim has really escaped, right?"

Wang Chong laughed heartily. There wasn't the slightest hint of sorrow in his voice.

Weng!

The hearts of the four jolted, and they raised their heads to look at Wang Chong.

"Wang gongzi, you mean to say that King Sosurim hasn't escaped yet? He used the three of them to attract our attention. Did he sneak into the midst of the Goguryeon soldiers and escape? "

The one who spoke was Steel Arms. He wasn't a fool, and he could vaguely guess what was going on from Wang Chong's words. In that instant, a spark of hope lit up in the eyes of the four.

"Heh, I didn't say that. The entire mountain range is filled with Imperial Army soldiers. Do you think that King Sosurim is that foolish? "

Wang Chong shook his head, refuting Steel Arms' conjecture.

For a meticulous and astute Goguryeo 'spy king' to be able to come up with a plan like the 'monastery', spend four months to perfect it, spend a huge amount of effort and effort to dig a secret tunnel that connects the capital to the inner and outer walls, and at the same time, be vicious enough to make a move on the officials of Great Tang …

How could such a character be so shallow? He was truly underestimating the renowned Goguryeon spy king of the Central Plains too easily.

"Wang gongzi, what do you mean by that?"

The four turned to look at Wang Chong, and the spark of hope that had just lit up in their eyes dimmed once more.

"Don't worry, he won't be able to escape."

Wang Chong smiled mysteriously, but he didn't explain anything. There was no need to worry about King Sosurim. The urgent matter at hand was to end the battle here first.

"Speaking of which, it should be about time for the other side to make a move, right?"

Wang Chong lifted his head and gazed into the depths of the mountain range. A deafening battle cry could be vaguely heard from that direction. The ambush that Wang Chong had planted through the Bureau of Military Personnel had finally come into effect.

It was an inescapable net that surrounded the Goguryeons. No matter where they fled to, they wouldn't be able to escape.

The thousand Goguryeon elites were destined to be buried here for the rest of their lives.

…

"To think that … it would still end in failure!"

Back in time, when the Buddhist temple was burning with a raging fire, far away, under a pine tree on a mountain, an old woodsman with a face full of wrinkles and black hands was carrying a bundle of firewood on his back. He wore a bamboo hat and had a complicated look in his eyes.

His current position was neither too far nor too close to the monastery, allowing him to accurately observe the monastery without being surrounded by the imperial guards of the imperial court.

There were many woodsmen in the capital who would enter the mountains at night and sell their firewood in the day. It wasn't a rare sight.

"A gentleman's vengeance is a dish best served cold. These are the words of the people of the Central Plains. Just wait and see, you won't be happy for long! "

Gazing into the distance, the old woodsman didn't attempt to warn or change anything. Instead, he decisively turned around, pressed down on his bamboo hat, and walked down the mountain with a bundle of firewood on his back.

He walked very slowly and calmly, like an ordinary woodsman who couldn't be any more ordinary. He even chopped two handfuls of firewood along the way, then made a detour and calmly went down the mountain.

He rested for a moment, drank some water, and continued on his way.

It was still early, so the old woodsman didn't use the secret tunnel beneath the capital. The monastery outside the city had been discovered, and it had been wrapped up like a dumpling.

At this moment, nothing was safe.

If he were to use the secret tunnel recklessly, he might just expose his identity, and that would be too dangerous.

Carrying the bundle of firewood on his back, the old woodsman walked to the city gate and sat down by the wall. Beside him, other woodsmen had already appeared, and they were seated on the ground just like him.

Upon seeing the familiar face of the old woodsman, a few of the woodsmen even greeted him warmly. Some of them even passed their tobacco pipes to him, inviting him to take a puff or two.

They had met him several times at the city gate and in the mountains, and they had a good impression of him.

The old woodsman chuckled and rejected the woodsmen who invited him to smoke in fluent Central Plains language.

It was still early, and the city gates of the Tang dynasty would only open at dawn.

The old woodsman wasn't in a hurry either. He blended into the crowd and waited patiently. The more people there were, the safer it would be for him.

In order to relax, the old woodsman even closed his eyes and took a short nap.

Hong long long, after an unknown period of time, the city gates finally opened. The old woodsman shook his body and stood up. Then, he blended into the crowd and passed through the city gates.

It was still early, and there weren't many people on the streets yet. The old woodsman finally dropped his disguise and hastened his footsteps, displaying a vigor that belied his age.

After passing through many alleys, the old woodsman arrived at a remote woodshed in the south of the city.

This was one of his secret strongholds in the capital, as well as his safe house. This was something that even the people around him were unaware of.

The old woodsman glanced at the surroundings, and after confirming that no one was following him, he entered the woodshed. The woodshed was empty. Even though there wasn't anything inside, it was extremely clean.

The old woodsman swiftly placed down the bundle of firewood and took off his bamboo hat. Then, he skillfully opened a dusty box at the corner of the woodshed.

He changed out of his dirty woodsman clothes and changed into a set of clean silk robes. In the blink of an eye, the old woodsman had turned into an extraordinary silk merchant.

"I'm finally back!"

Show menu

NovelThe Human EmperorChapter 262: King Sosurim!, Part One
THE HUMAN EMPEROR
C262: King Sosurim!, Part One
Chapter 262: King Sosurim!, Part One

The Great Tang Imperial Army might have found his arrangements in the monastery beyond the city, but he was still a step in front of them.

Sacrifice was inevitable for those who wish to achieve great things!

He didn't feel anything sacrificing a thousand Goguryeon warriors and three of his loyal subordinates.

Instead, he thought that it would be more worthwhile for them to die here than on the battlefield.

Once Great Tang invaded Goguryeo, the death toll wouldn't just be capped at a mere thousand. The best they could do now was to get rid the potential threats to them within Great Tang, and weaken Great Tang.

For that, this little bit of sacrifice paled in comparison!

All he felt was a little pity that the plan didn't go according to his design.

But regardless of how many men had been killed, as long as he remained, he would make sure that Great Tang would pay a terrible price for their deaths.

After a long moment, he took out a notebook from his chest, sat down by his bed frame, and fell into deep contemplation.

This was a habit of his—regardless of which operation it was, he would earnestly evaluate his actions and learn from the experience.

This was one of the main reasons why he was able to single-handedly grow the Goguryeon influence in Great Tang to such a huge scale and organize many assassinations within it, creating a long river of blood, yet still remain scot-free.

There's something very bizarre about this operation. Exactly where did I go wrong?, he thought grimly on the bed frame.

For more than a decade, his plans had not failed so utterly. Not to mention, it was on such a vital operation.

He had spent four months preparing for this operation, consisting of over a thousand elites from his homeland, and he had ensured that he had taken all aspects into consideration.

There were no giveaways throughout the entire process, and he hadn’t detected the slightest anomaly, either. Where could he have gone wrong?

A storm stirred up within his mind. If he couldn't resolve this problem, he would be unable to plan his next operation.

And that wasn't all of his worries. The dozens of gathering points in the capital were also established painstakingly through years of efforts.

For the past fifteen years, there had been no problems with them.

He made use of those taverns and gambling dens to draw Great Tang's attention. He had left out those operating those businesses, so it was impossible for Great Tang to find anything on them.

Those who were on the move were the customers and Han impersonators hidden amongst them.

For so many years, this strategic system he had implemented had not been exposed.

But with everything falling apart, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

It was as if an opposing strategist had seen through all of his plans, and the feeling that he was completely exposed made him feel very uncomfortable.

He sat there silently as he thought through everything in his mind.

... Is it that young fellow from the Wang Clan?

His eyes narrowed, and his face suddenly turned cold.

After much thought, the most suspicious person he could think of was that lad named Wang Chong, although he still didn't think anyone could defeat him in a battle of wits.

But considering that lad's reputation in Great Tang, the possibility did exist.

I really underestimated him. I should have gotten rid of him first, before making my move.

Clenching his fists tightly, an overwhelming killing intent wafted into his surroundings.

However, it isn't too late. After I make arrangements at the final base, I'll bring more soldiers over from the empire and eliminate the Wang Clan once and for all!

Thinking so, he abruptly stood up.

He might have failed, but all wasn't lost yet. The final base he had was his last sliver of hope. The men in the base were all veterans who had been with him for a long time, and they were all very knowledgeable in the affairs of Great Tang.

As long as these “sparks” remained unextinguished, he would be able to swiftly reestablish dozens of bases and gather more experts from the empire. This was the main reason why he returned to the city.

After arranging matters with his subordinates in the final base, he would leave the city to stay out of the storm that would occur very soon. When things finally calm down, he would return to rebuild all that was lost and create something even bigger than before.

"It's time for me to leave."

He placed his bamboo hat on the bed frame with a smile. With his current image as a middle-aged silk merchant, even those woodsmen who had just greeted him earlier wouldn't be able to recognize him.

Needless to say, neither would his enemies.

Thus, he took his step out into the world with his new identity as a silk merchant.

When he stepped out from this room, no one else would be able to recognize him anymore.

Weng!

But right when he opened the doors, he sensed something that made his composed face warp in shock.

How is that possible?

His face paled, and his eyes widened to the brim. Peng! He immediately shut the door and retreated back to his room.

"Quick, this is the place! Surround it tightly..."

A loud bellow boomed outside. Following which, the clopping of innumerable horses sounded the outside.

His heart immediately sank.

Without much time for thought, he immediately stripped off his silk robe and threw it into the bottom of the box, buried by old clothes. Then, he donned his disguise as an old woodsman and grabbed the bamboo hat on his bed frame.

After a moment of thought, the old woodsman finally opened the door once more and walked out. The bag of lumber which he had carried back was placed right by the door. Lowering his back slowly, he carefully lifted it up before walking calmly over to the saw pit.

Even though he was alarmed by the sudden arrival of the Great Tang Imperial Army, he was entirely confident in his disguise.

He didn't think that he had left behind any openings that those people could possibly exploit.

"Hold it right there!"

But as soon as he walked over to the saw pit, a sharp bellow echoed above him.

"Gongzi, I am only a woodsman. I'll have to deliver the lumber to my customers later on, why must gongzi trouble me so?"

With a lowered head, the woodsman sighed with deep exhaustion in his voice. He sounded like a perfectly ordinary woodsman who had just toiled the entire night.

"Wang gongzi, are you certain that this is the correct location?"

Hearing the old woodsman's words, Ma Yinlong turned around to look at the young man beside him.

The ones who appeared at the saw pit were none other than Wang Chong, Ma Yinlong, Steel Arms, Old Eagle, Solitary Wolf, Li Lin, and dozens of Imperial Army guards.

After the battle at the monastery ended, Wang Chong brought the group here immediately, claiming that he would lead them to King Sosurim.

Everyone thought that they would be in for another bitter battle, but who knew that they would come to this humble abode instead.

"Chong-er, are you certain that this is the place?" Li Lin was a little doubtful at this turn of events. This was a perfectly ordinary residence for a woodsman; short, tattered, and old. There were plenty of similar residences across the capital.

He couldn't help but think that Wang Chong might be mistaken.

"Old man, let me ask you. Did you see anyone suspicious coming by here, especially any men wielding three sabers?" Li Lin asked with a frown on his forehead from the back of his horse.

"Old masters, you must be jesting. I'm just a woodsman, how could I possibly know so much?" The old woodsman shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Wang gongzi, are you sure?" Solitary Wolf also spoke up with a doubtful tone.

To think that they were so excited a moment ago. Was the man that Wang Chong led them to catch this old woodsman? This was ridiculous!

The others didn't speak, but their expressions reflected their disbelief as well.

"HAHAHA..." Hearing their words, Wang Chong burst into laughter.

"Elders, since I've said that I would bring you all to King Sosurim, I will definitely do as I have said. Men, surround this place!"

"Yes, my lord!" In an instant, the powerful Imperial Army cavalry immediately encircled this humble residence tightly.

Seeing this sight, the old woodsman's heart sank.

“Hahaha, King Sosurim! To think that Goguryeon royalty would actually pass themselves off as an old woodsman, you sure aren't picky at all!" Wang Chong's body tilted forward slightly from the back of his horse as he examined the old woodsman before him playfully.

After the end of the battle, Wang Chong checked and saw the old woodsman whom King Sosurim was playing off was walking slowly back to the city. Thus, Wang Chong waited calmly for him to return before dispatching his men to surround him.

Recalling the Goguryeon chief spy who introduced a huge wave of chaos within Central Plains in his previous life, and looking at the unkempt and exhausted old woodsman before him, Wang Chong couldn't help but think that life was truly reminiscent of a soap opera, and he couldn't help but want to laugh at it.

Since they were within the city, and there were so many experts around, Wang Chong didn't fear him escaping anymore.

"King Sosurim, you sure have worked hard to play off as an old woodsman so flawlessly. Soiled clothes, smoking pipe, and lumber, even your Han accent is perfect... You must have put in a great deal of effort into it." Wang Chong said playfully.

"I have no idea what gongzi is talking about." The old woodsman shook his head slowly. At this moment, his heart was cold as though the middle of winter, but he didn't allow it to show through on his face.

What in the world had happened?

Many scenarios flashed across the old woodsman's head, but he still wasn't able to comprehend how he could have possibly drawn the Great Tang Imperial Army over.

"Wang gongzi, even though I wish dearly to find King Sosurim to settle the debt, are you certain that this old woodsman is him?" Ma Yinlong turned around and asked grimly.

Rarely would he speak like that. From his expression, Wang Chong could sense that he was asking this question earnestly. Clearly, Ma Yinlong didn't believe that this old woodsman was King Sosurim. It was taking his all to hold himself back from lashing out at this moment.

"It's a pity that you don't recognize your mortal enemy." Seeing Ma Yinlong's expression, Wang Chong sighed. Logically speaking, Ma Yinlong should have a deep impression of King Sosurim. Were Ma Yinlong's eyes really that bad to not recognize his enemy, or was King Sosurim's disguise really that flawless? After all, on top of the latter's appearance, his accent and disposition had changed entirely as well.

But regardless of which one it was, Wang Chong knew he had to offer the other party an explanation. Otherwise, the four would surely think that he was just making a fool out of them.

"Old Eagle, do you remember the old woodsman I told you to keep an eye on a few days ago?" Wang Chong turned around and asked.

"I do. But isn't he just an ordinary woodsman?" Old Eagle replied in surprise.

"I remember that we looked into his identity, and there was nothing suspicious about his identity. He only delivered lumber to the monastery, and he would only remain there for a few seconds each time."

As everyone's doubtful gaze fell on him, Old Eagle smiled awkwardly and hurriedly explained the affairs from a few days ago.

For this, they would have to trace back to three days ago, when the birds whom Old Eagle sent to keep a lookout at the monastery noticed an old woodsman among them.

At that time, Wang Chong issued an order to have everyone who came into contact with the monastery investigated, and that included that old woodsman as well.

And Old Eagle did investigate him, and he found that there was no problem with the other party. The other party was just an ordinary old woodsman who delivered lumber to the monastery.

He would leave right after delivering the lumber each time, and he never stepped into the monastery.

When Wang Chong heard of the matter, he instructed Old Eagle to dispatch a nightingale to follow the old woodsman.

In the last fifteen years, Old Eagle had trained many different kinds of birds just so to prevent the Goguryeons from noticing him. After all, after the incident fifteen years ago, eagles had become his trademark.

But thinking that it was nothing much, Old Eagle forgot about the matter regarding the old woodsman as well.

Who could have thought that Wang Chong would eventually lead them to the abode of this old woodsman?

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

Contact - ToS - SitemapShow menu

NovelThe Human EmperorChapter 263: King Sosurim!, Part Two
THE HUMAN EMPEROR
C263: King Sosurim!, Part Two
Chapter 263: King Sosurim!, Part Two

"Hahaha. Old Eagle, you're taking it too lightly."

Wang Chong burst into laughter. Did Old Eagle think that he had instructed him to send a nightingale to follow the old woodsman for fun?

"An operation consisting of a thousand Goguryeon elites. Just the preparation itself spanned over four months, and they even built a monastery in the middle of the mountain for it... Given how much effort was devoted into this matter, did you think that King Sosurim wouldn't supervise it personally? Since he isn't in the monastery, there's no doubt that he would be in the surroundings to view the entire operation!" Wang Chong explained confidently. This was no longer a deduction to him, he bore no doubts whatsoever that the old woodsman before him was the elusive King Sosurim.

Weng!

The old woodsman's heart jolted. He didn't expect the young fellow from the Wang Clan to be so sharp. He had always kept his whereabouts a mystery, such that not even his own subordinates were aware of them.

Yet, Wang Chong was able to deduce it from this angle.

"... Also, King Sosurim has always been known to be a wary person. He even swapped all of the monks within the monastery to be Goguryeons as well. Considering that they were planning to kill the influential officials in Great Tang, do you think that he would actually allow an old woodsman of unknown background to come into contact with the monastery?" Wang Chong sneered coldly.

Even the slightest opening can expose the greatest of secrets. Even though the old woodsman was only there for a few seconds each time, there was still a chance he could have seen something that would have made him doubtful, thus compelling him to report it. If that were to happen, their previous efforts would have been in vain.

After much thoughts, Wang Chong felt that the old woodsman who sent lumber to the monastery everyday was the most suspicious of all.

Weng!

Initially, everyone was still skeptical of Wang Chong's words. However, after hearing his explanation, they began to become doubtful of the old woodsman before them.

Indeed! It was an operation involving a thousand True Martial realm Goguryeon elites, how could King Sosurim possibly stay out of it?

Given that they had searched through the monastery and there were no traces of him, only one possibility remained—King Sosurim must be viewing the entire operation from afar.

Given King Sosurim's cautious nature, there was no doubt that this was what he would do.

Furthermore, how could a person as wary as him possibly be so careless as to allow an outsider to deliver lumber to them every day?

The more they thought about it, the more suspicious it felt.

"Who in the world are you?" Ma Yinlong reached for the saber by his waist as he stared at King Sosurim with a grim expression.

"Old masters, I'm just a woodsman. I really have no idea what you are all talking about..." the old woodsman waved his hands as he backed away with a frightened expression. "Gongzi, why must you do this to me? I'm just an ordinary person, I really don't know anything about what King Sosurim you speak of."

The fearful expression on the old woodsman made everyone hesitant once more... Were they really mistaken? Judging from how unstable his footsteps were, he did seem like an ordinary man.

"Hahaha! King Sosurim, I heard that you are quite a figure yourself, but you are looking rather pathetic now trying to deny it even when cornered. None of us are fools here. Why don't you change your shoes before talking about it?" From atop his horse, Wang Chong gazed down at the old woodsman and sneered.

Those words immediately brought gazes to the old woodsman's feet, and vaguely, they could see a pair of cloud embroidered white silk shoes hidden beneath the tattered gray robe.

The old woodsman also noticed his shoes at the moment, and his face immediately darkened. He had always been a careful person, meticulous even with the smallest details.

Thus, when he switched to the appearance of a silk merchant, he changed the shoes and everything else as well. Who could have known that when he was changing back, he would actually forget about the shoes.

How could an old woodsman who had to toil every day to make a living possibly afford a pair of embroidered silk shoes? He had schemed for his entire life, but who knew that he would actually be caught by a pair of shoes?

It was impossible for him to deny it anymore.

"Since you specialize in disguise, there must be more than one costume inside. You few, go inside and search his room. There must be more clothes inside, and I'm certain that most aren't what an ordinary old woodsman could afford." Wang Chong chuckled confidently from his seat on his horse.

"King Sosurim, what else do you have to say?"

"Bastard, so you are the one!"

No matter how slow-witted Ma Yinlong was, it was clear that there was something very wrong with this old woodsman. With reddened eyes, a powerful aura gushed forth from him.

A destructive gush of black Stellar Energy rushed forth with incredible momentum toward the old woodsman.

Boom!

A resounding explosion echoed in the air. Ma Yinglong's attack was dispelled as swiftly as it came. An immense force jolted his entire body backward.

That powerful black Stellar Energy was torn apart in an instant. A powerful wind gushed into the surroundings, drawing dust and grit up into the air. The war steeds neighed uneasily as they retreated in fright.

Boom!

At that very instant when Ma Yinlong was jolted flying, a specially-crafted arrow harnessing ridiculous might instantaneously appeared in the courtyard, its trajectory heading straight for the old woodsman.

Luo Chong, who was hidden at the back of the formation, had made a move!

Luo Chong's archery surpassed all other master archers he had met. His arrows were as swift as lightning, rendering them impossible for anyone to dodge.

And the frightening might behind his arrows ensured a one shot one kill, pinning his enemy firmly onto the ground. Even the strongest True Martial realm expert was no exception to the rule.

Weng!

A hand reminiscent of a steel claw grabbed the shaft of the arrow, stopping this sure-kill arrow with sheer brute force.

Weng!

The surroundings instantly fell silent. Even Steel Arms, Old Eagle, and Solitary Wolf who wanted to rush forward to assist Ma Yinlong halted in their footsteps.

At 800 meters away, Luo Chong gripped onto his bow with an incomparably grim expression.

To think that he would be so strong!, Wang Chong sighed deeply as coldness welled in his heart.

Currently, Ma Yinlong and Luo Chong were the two strongest men by his side. The incredible black Stellar Energy that tore apart everything in its path that Wang Chong first saw back at the Bureau of Personnel yamen branch had left him with a deep impression.

On the other hand, the master archer which King Song assigned him with had refreshed Wang Chong's understanding of master archers with the incredible might of his arrows. To those beneath Profound Martial realm, he was no different from a God of Death.

With that archer standing behind him, Wang Chong felt extremely safe.

And yet, the both of them actually weren't able to stop this old woodsman. In fact, the latter even grabbed Luo Chong's arrow with his bare hand.

This situation was unprecedented!

With a strong sense of danger overwhelming him, Wang Chong immediately drove his war steed back. It seemed like he had severely underestimated this chief spy of Goguryeo.

"Hehehe!"

Grabbing the shaft of the arrow, the old woodsman released a sinister laughter.

"To think that a pair of shoes would be my undoing. Young man, I really have underestimated you. I intended to kill you a little later, but who knew that you would come seeking your death so anxiously."

Shua! Kacha!

He threw the bamboo hat onto the ground with his left hand while breaking the thick metal arrow in two with his right.

Then, the old woodsman slowly lifted up his head and tore off the mask tattered by the collision of Stellar Energy just a moment ago.

A foreign middle-aged man with narrow eyes reminiscent of a wary and cunning fox appeared before everyone's eyes.

The callousness projected through his distinctive facial features sent warning bells chiming in everyone's hearts.

Only with the viciousness of a wolf could one maintain an ironclad grip over an organization,

Only with the cunning of a fox was one able to escape from whatever dangerous position one was in.

Wang Chong had never seen King Sosurim before, but the features of the old man made him ever more certain that he wasn't mistaken.

The dangerous and vicious disposition he carried far surpassed any assassin or murderer. Even the three Goguryeon heads would pale before him.

"Gongzi, be careful!"

Sensing the hostility from the other party, Miyasame Ayaka's crouching figure immediately rushed forward to protect Wang Chong.

"King Sosurim, I'll kill you!"

The revelation of the other party's face smashed any remaining doubts the crowd had of his identity. With reddened eyes, Ma Yinlong, Old Eagle, Solitary Wolf, and Steel Arms dashed forward.

Roar!

Peng peng peng peng, powerful auras exploded from the four. Solitary Wolf with his massive saber, Steel Arms with his one-handed sword, Ma Yinlong with his fearsome Stellar Energy, and Old Eagle with his iron fists; the four of them charged forward.

"Hah, four losers actually dare to challenge me!"

The old woodsman, or rather, King Sosurim, crushed the lumber before him with his left hand, and three cold gleaming Goguryeon sabers immediately fell into his hands.

Boom!

A powerful surge of Stellar Energy mixed with sharp saber qi burst forth like a huge storm. In an instant, Ma Yinlong, Steel Arms, Solitary Wolf, and Old Eagle were all knocked back.

King Sosurim was too strong!

With his full strength raging out, he looked nothing like that weak old woodsman from before.

Other than Old Eagle, the other three were at Profound Martial realm 1-dan or 2-dan. Yet, even when collaborating with one another, they weren't King Sosurim's opponent at all.

Not only that, they even felt a fatal threat from the three sabers in King Sosurim's hands.

"Lad, you have foiled my plans too many times. Let me start with you!"

After pushing back Ma Yinlong and the others, King Sosurim dashed forward, his movement directed straight at Wang Chong.

Of everyone here, Wang Chong was the easiest target, as well as the target whose life he wanted to claim the most now.

This young lad from the Wang Clan had made him feel restricted no matter what he did. If he didn't kill the other party now, he wouldn't be able to continue on with his plans confidently.

This young lad was simply too smart!

Furthermore, King Sosurim had a feeling that if he were to allow this young lad to grow, he would eventually become a huge danger to the empire. By then, it would be too late!

Cornered as he was, he was confident in breaking out of this encirclement with his superior cultivation. By then, he could choose to either conceal himself within the capital or escape through the secret tunnel.

Even if there was someone standing guard at the tunnel, he was confident of getting past them to escape.

"Die!"

Three cold saber qi rushed straight for Wang Chong, who was galloping away on the back of his horse.

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

Contact - ToS - SitemapShow menu

NovelThe Human EmperorChapter 264: King Sosurim!, Part Three
THE HUMAN EMPEROR
C264: King Sosurim!, Part Three
Chapter 264: King Sosurim!, Part Three

To think that King Sosurim would actually abandon an opportunity to get rid of Ma Yinlong and the others to deal with the weakest Wang Chong. Even Wang Chong himself was shocked by this turn of events.

"Gongzi, be careful!" the startled Miyasame Ayaka exclaimed as she drew out two daggers.

However, shadows flashed, and yet another figure appeared before Wang Chong with a much greater speed than Miyasame Ayaka.

"Chong-er, get away!"

In that crucial moment, Li Lin sensed that Wang Chong was in danger and rushed forward.

Boom! The next moment, a powerful force struck him, sending him flying far away.

Even Li Lin was no match was no match for King Sosurim's fearsome saber qi. However, his interference wasn't completely useless—he managed to dispel two of the three saber qi.

Boom!

A streak of black light flashed across the sky, and the final saber qi was crushed by Luo Chong's arrow from eight hundred meters away.

"No one will be able to save you!" King Sosurim sneered coldly. Xiu, at that instant when the three saber qi were taken down, he flicked his wrist, and a black screw-like dart curved in a unique trajectory, aimed straight for Wang Chong.

Even space distorted in the trajectory where the black dart flew. Its immense might seemed like it would even combust oxygen in the air.

"This is bad!"

A strong feeling of danger rushed up on Wang Chong like a tsunami. His body turned cold, and goosebumps rose.

He could sense King Sosurim's determination to kill him. It seemed that the other party would pay any price so long as he could take down Wang Chong.

Xiu xiu xiu!

In that split moment, Wang Chong had little time to think. He struck the back of the steed to make use of the momentum to leap off it while shooting out five surges of Sword Qi of Massacre from his fingers.

The martial arts experience he had accrued in his previous life proved to be crucial at this very moment. With his cultivation of Origin Energy Tier 9, it should have been impossible for him to hit King Sosurim's rotating dart. Yet. three of Wang Chong's six sword qi did manage to land on its target.

Chi!

The dart flew past him by just the smallest of gap, tearing apart Wang Chong's sleeve and leaving behind a crimson streak on his shoulder.

That was close!, Wang Chong thought fearfully. If not for his sword qi changing the trajectory of the dart, given the force and sharpness of it, he would have surely lost an arm or even everything beneath his shoulder.

"All Imperial Army guards, stop King Sosurim! Don't allow him to get away!" Wang Chong issued an order. At the same time, as soon as he landed on the ground, he immediately dashed for another steed not too far away.

When the Imperial Army encircled the residence, they left their steeds outside. At this moment, they had become the straw of hope for Wang Chong's survival.

Jya!

Striking the back of the horse, he galloped into the distance.

Of all that were gathered in the area, he was the weakest. The Bane of the Battlefield aura was completely ineffective on King Sosurim. In other words, there was no doubt that he would die if he were to collide with King Sosurim.

For a Profound Martial realm expert, slaying an Origin Energy martial artist wasn't much different from killing an ant.

"How is this possible?"

Seeing Wang Chong's departing back, King Sosurim was stunned for an instant. His rotating dart wasn't any slower than Luo Chong's arrow. Given Wang Chong's current cultivation realm, it would be impossible for him to even perceive it clearly, let alone dodge it.

Yet, not only did Wang Chong dodge it, he even used his sword qi to change the trajectory of his dart thrice. This should have been impossible!

"Advance together, don't let him get away!"

At that instant, a formation consisting of dozens of Imperial Army encircled King Sosurim tightly. His cultivation might be impressive, but on a battlefield, what that would make the difference between a win or a loss wasn't one's individual prowess.

An army of ants biting an elephant to death—such sights couldn't be more common on the battlefield.

Hong long!

In an instant, Ma Yinlong, Steel Arms, Old Eagle, Solitary Wolf, and Li Lin charged forth. From afar, Luo Chong also shot arrows out at an incredible pace from behind Wang Chong as well.

While it wasn't suitable for him to interfere in this kind of chaotic battle, he could still spray his arrows out to prevent King Sosurim from pursuing Wang Chong any further.

Boom!

A saber qi rose more than ten zhang high. With just a single strike, five Imperial Army guards were knocked flying as blood spewed from their mouths. Boom! Yet another saber qi struck, and another group of Imperial Army soldiers was jolted flying once more.

Despite the collaboration of the group, they were still unable to stand toe-to-toe with King Sosurim. All they could manage was to encircle him at the moment.

However, judging from the situation, it wouldn't take long for King Sosurim to charge out of their encirclement.

"He's too strong!"

Upon seeing this sight, everyone's faces darkened.

Even though they were all using the arts from the Three Saber School, King Sosurim was clearly much stronger than the three Goguryeon heads in the monastery. Every single time his saber was raised, blood would surely splatter. The savagery of this fight was astonishing.

The three sabers seemed to come to life in King Sosurim's hands, turning to ferocious beasts that would tear apart those that they laid their fangs on.

In just a short encounter, Ma Yinlong, Steel Arms, Old Eagle, Solitary Wolf, and Li Lin were already injured. There were even deep cuts on the Xuan metal armor Li Lin was wearing.

Unlike Dae Hyeonseok and the other Goguryeon commanders, King Sosurim was much more cunning. While suppressing the crowd with his saber qi, he continuously moved among the crowd, leaving them unable to work together properly.

Furthermore, his movements were well-calculated to best use the bodies of others to block the group's attacks. Thus, despite the valiant sight of dozens of people surrounding King Sosurim, only a small handful of them could attack him at any given time.

In fact, the numerical advantage seemed to be even working against them. Most of the Imperial Army guards found themselves incapable of utilizing their strength. Instead, they were maneuvered by King Sosurim to hinder Ma Yinlong, Steel Arms, and the other Profound Martial realm experts' attacks.

While the circumstances seemed to be against King Sosurim, the truth was that he could possibly break through the encirclement at any moment.

"These Imperial Army guards have never learnt any offensive formation, so they aren't able to bring out their numerical advantage!"

With a glance, Wang Chong could see the core of the problem, and this had left him anxious. However, there was nothing much he could do at this point.

But after a short moment of contemplation, he suddenly thought of an idea.

"All of the Imperial Army guards, take eight people to be a group. There'll be a group that is in charge of offense whereas the others will back off and maintain the encirclement to prevent King Sosurim from escaping. Also, immediately call for assistance!"

Weng!

King Sosurim's face immediately darkened. Even amidst the chaotic battle, he still lifted his head, and amidst the gleaming swords, ferocious roars, and rain of blood, he saw Wang Chong in the far distance.

Strong killing intent emanated from his eyes.

This young man might be so weak such that he wasn't even qualified to participate in the battle, but King Sosurim still felt the greatest threat from him.

The other party could issue decisive and effective orders despite the tense circumstances. What left him feeling the most threatened was his instruction to 'call for assistance'.

He was currently at the very core of Great Tang, Chang'an. It might still be dark, and there weren't many people around, but he had no doubt that as soon as a signal for assistance were to be made, a huge crowd of experts would immediately come swarming over.

By then, his fate would truly be sealed!

Wang Chong had stepped right on his weakest spot.

"Seems like I really can't let you go!"

King Sosurim narrowed his eyes, and the overwhelming killing intent that came pouring out from him caused the temperature to plummet in an instant. Even from a hundred meters away, Wang Chong could sense an immense threat looming above him.

"Do as he says! HURRY!"

At this moment, the only other person who was capable of thinking rationally and could order the other Imperial Army guards was Wang Chong's uncle, Li Lin.

He possessed the utmost trust in whatever Wang Chong said, so he immediately ordered to have the other party's instructions carried out.

Weng!

With that order, except for the eight section leaders of the Imperial Army, the others immediately backed off. YIIII! At the same time, one of the Imperial Army guard took out a cylinder-shaped firework and lit it. A blinding spark of flame burst into the air, leaving behind a trail of white smoke.

The brilliant spark amidst the dim sky of dawn immediately caught the attention of many.

The patrol squads, the Imperial Army sentry at the city gates, as well as the royal palace... All of them saw this call for assistance in an instant.

Di da da!

A formless ripple spread across the surroundings, and in the blink of an eye, squadron after squadron of black-armored soldiers came rushing to the area where the signal was sent...

"Damn it!"

Seeing the signal, King Sosurim's face immediately twisted in frenzy. Not to mention, the new formation of leaving only eight Imperial Army section leaders to deal with him only further increased the pressure on him. With everything turning against him, the killing intent King Sosurim had against Wang Chong intensified.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

By forcefully taking the blows from Ma Yinlong, Steel Arms, Old Eagle, and Solitary Wolf, King Sosurim suddenly displayed a burst of immense might with his three sabers, and along with a furious gale of Stellar Energy, he actually managed to break out of the primary encirclement.

"This is bad, don't let him get away!" The group's faces immediately paled in shock.

Boom boom boom!

While dashing away from the primary encirclement, another powerful burst of Stellar Energy from King Sosurim sent more than a dozen Imperial Army guards flying. With the gap which he forcefully created, he actually broke out of the encirclement!

Sou!

As soon as he was out, King Sosurim shot a dozen rotating darts behind him. The immense might of every dart and their unpredictable trajectories forced the crowd to retreat. At the same time, with a burst of speed, he dashed towards Wang Chong.

Dragging an incredible shock wave behind him, King Sosurim's killing intent seemed to have materialized, twisting the space around him.

No matter what happened to him today, he was determined to kill this lad!

Boom!

Several dozen zhang were covered in an instant, and even before King Sosurim arrived before Wang Chong, his saber qi and flying darts were already whizzing for his target.

"Shit!"

Wang Chong immediately turned his steed around and galloped for the distance.

"You can't escape!"

King Sosurim's speed was actually even faster than the sprinting horse! His eyes reflected a vicious gleam, like a cat toying with a mouse.

If not for Wang Chong's spectacular performance, he could have put him off for later. But since that lad just had to get on his nerves, he had this coming!

No matter how many guards Great Tang sent after him, he was confident that he could escape after killing this lad.

Given his wisdom, there were simply too many ways he could avoid the pursuit of those guards.

Boom!

Words couldn't begin to describe how swiftly everything happened. Just as King Sosurim was about to reach Wang Chong, out of another humble residence by the side, a silhouette suddenly appeared, charging into the midst of King Sosurim's storm of saber qi.

Hong long! The saber qi immediately shattered, the Steller Energy was extinguished, and the overwhelming killing intent vanished. Right before King Sosurim, a green-robed, stern-looking elder suddenly appeared.

His hand held onto King Sosurim's throat as he measured the latter with a nonchalant gaze, as though what he was holding was a ragged doll. Just like that, the legendary chief spy was lifted from the surface of the ground by his neck.

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

Contact - ToS - SitemapShow menu

NovelThe Human EmperorChapter 265: The Unfathomable Old Butler!
THE HUMAN EMPEROR
C265: The Unfathomable Old Butler!
Chapter 265: The Unfathomable Old Butler!

In that instant, the area around the saw pit turned silent.

The figure which had just appeared left everyone's mouth agape with shock.

They had experienced King Sosurim's immense might personally. Even a collaboration between Ma Yinlong, Old Eagle, Solitary Wolf, Steel Arms, and Li Lin couldn't stop him, and he managed to break out from their encirclement.

The incredible master archer whom King Song assigned to Wang Chong could kill a True Martial realm expert with every single arrow, but King Sosurim was able to catch his arrow bare-handed.

And yet, such a powerful person actually had his armor of Stellar Energy shattered so easily, and was currently clutched by his throat.

"Ol-old butler?"

Seeing the silhouette by the street, astonishment was suddenly reflected in Li Lin's eyes. The person who saved Wang Chong was no other than the old butler who was often by King Song's side.

"How could this be?" Li Lin muttered to himself. He had never known that the old butler by King Song's side was actually such an astounding expert.

"Lad, is this fellow the Goguryeon chief spy you were looking for?" The old butler nonchalantly ignored the dumbfounded crowd and turned to Wang Chong instead.

In his hands, King Sosurim was howling in fear, but he was unable to do anything at all. He found that he couldn't even lift his own arms.

On the other hand, seated on the back of his horse, Wang Chong wasn't any less astonished than the others.

He didn't know that the old butler would be so ridiculously powerful. In that momentary encounter, Wang Chong couldn't even sense his presence at all.

All of the sudden, the old butler suddenly felt like an enigmatic existence to him.

"To think that King Song would dispatch him!" Wang Chong muttered to himself. Even though Wang Chong was astonished, he wasn't really surprised by this turn of events. That was because he was the one who requested it.

For this operation, he had requested for King Song to dispatch an expert to assist him should the need arise.

It was just that Wang Chong didn't expect that person to be this old butler.

"Yes, it's indeed this person. I'll be depending on you, then." Wang Chong swiftly regained his calm and smiled.

Err err!

Hearing those words, King Sosurim's face was streaked with fear. Releasing frightened moanings, he mustered all of his strength to struggle. But, kacha! The old butler tightened his fingers and snapped the other party's neck.

Peng!

The old butler flicked his wrist before dumping King Sosurim's corpse onto the ground, right before Ma Yinlong and the others.

"Lad, I've already killed the man for you. You should settle everything else yourself."

Leaving behind these words, the old butler clapped his hands and left, as though he had just done something completely insignificant.

"Thank you, elder." Wang Chong bowed respectfully as he watched the other party leave. Only then did he leap down from his horse.

Hu la! At the same moment, Ma Yinlong and everyone else rushed forward to examine King Sosurim's body.

"He's dead!"

"He's really dead!"

"Unbelievable! We almost let this fellow get away!"

The group stared at King Sosurim's corpse with complex emotions. This fellow was cunning and vicious, possessing the traits of a wolf and a fox.

In the past fifteen years, he had been an unrivaled existence in the capital, causing destruction as he pleased... But now, he was lying lifelessly on the ground with nothing, but fear on his face.

Those who had once lived under the fear of King Sosurim could even more vividly feel how difficult it was to slay this Goguryeon chief spy.

"This matter... has finally ended!" Looking at the corpse on the ground, Wang Chong released a long sigh of relief.

On top of preventing the future assassinations and damage he would cause, killing King Sosurim also preserved Great Tang's dignity and honor.

It sent a stern message that the Central Plains would not allow any foreigners to act as they pleased on its lands.

【Congratulations to user for killing King Sosurim! For unraveling the assassination plot of the Goguryeon Empire, you are awarded 20 Destiny Energy.】

That anticipated message finally sounded in Wang Chong's mind, and a hint of a smile slowly appeared on his lips.

However, at that moment, a shocking incident occurred.

【Congratulations to user for killing 1581 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 1582 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 1583 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

--

【Congratulations to user for killing 1588 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 1589 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

【Congratulations to user for killing 1590 soldiers of the Goguryeo Empire!】

Amidst a frenzied wind, great energy gathered from the surroundings and seeped into Wang Chong's body. In that instant, Wang Chong felt his Bane of the Battlefield aura rising to new heights. At the same time, the Goguryeon death toll also increased by 10.

"Hm? Killing King Sosurim is actually equivalent to killing ten Goguryeon warriors?"

Wang Chong was taken aback.

This was the first time he realized that killing a high-tier commander could translate to a higher death toll for ordinary soldiers.

"Uncle, I'll leave everything else to you," Wang Chong said.

"Un." Li Lin smiled. He understood Wang Chong's intentions. With King Sosurim's corpse, he would be the greatest contributor to this operation.

This was a huge merit. With this, as long as he could raise his cultivation up to the required level, he would surely be promoted. It would no longer be a dream for him to rise above the others and become an esteemed Marshal.

The clopping of horses sounded in the distance. Wang Chong chose to leave before those from the patrol squad and the city defense squad arrive.

------

Boom!

When the corpse of the culprit, King Sosurim, who had caused a huge storm in Great Tang by slaying many officials fifteen years ago appeared in the capital, it caused a huge uproar.

The royal court swiftly put up notices to confirm the authenticity of this matter.

When the offspring and family members of those victims of that tragic incident back then learned of this matter, they immediately broke down in tears.

Due to this incident, the Wang Clan won the gratitude of nearly every single official in the capital, and many even personally paid a visit to the Wang Clan to express this.

As such, the Wang Clan earned greater prestige and support from the populace and officials.

In fact, due to this incident, the Sage Emperor made an exception and summoned Li Lin, who led the operation, and Ma Yinlong, Steel Arms, Old Eagle, and Solitary Wolf from the Bureau of Military Personnel and Bureau of Punishments back then to the royal palace to reward them.

This incident also caused a stir amongst the foreign tribes and Hu in the capital.

King Sosurim, known as the “Fox of Goguryeo”, despite his anonymity in the Great Tang, was a well-known figure among the Hu.

After the things he had done, his influence had been immediately pushed to the peak.

There was no doubt that he was the greatest spy in Great Tang's capital. As such, his death had left many shocked.

A rare peace settled upon the capital for a period of time.

Even the fierce Goguryeons had decided to lay low and live their lives silently for this period of time.

------

"Damn it!"

To the far northeast of Great Tang, across many mountains and rivers, toward the east of the Eastern Protectorate Manor, in Hwandu City of the Goguryeon empire, a figure smashed his fist onto the table.

"Wang Chong, I'll remember your name! One day, you shall pay the price for your actions!"

The figure clenched his jaws and bone-chilling hatred burned in the depths of his eyes.

------

Time passed swiftly, Regardless of the uproar outside, after the event with King Sosurim, Wang Chong lived his days both peacefully and lavishly.

"Chong-er, eat more, eat more! How hard must you have worked to grow so thin? These are the sea cucumbers your father had General Zhang from Lingnan deliver over. They are very nutritious, so eat more."

On the dining table of the Wang Clan, Madam Wang grabbed a huge piece of sea cucumber and placed it on Wang Chong's plate dotingly.

His little sister wasn't around, his father and big brother were deployed elsewhere, and his second brother was in the death prison. Thus, Wang Chong tried to spend as much time as possible with his mother. However, after hearing her words, his outstretched chopsticks paused for a moment.

"General Zhang? Lingnan?"

Wang Chong glanced at the luxurious meat drizzled with rich soup on the fresh sea cucumber in his bowl in astonishment. His mother might not have noticed anything was amiss, but Wang Chong instantaneously realized something.

His father rarely sent anything back home, especially sea cucumbers such as this. With just a few bites, he could tell that this was no ordinary sea cucumber. These were top-grade jade sea cucumbers!

Other than its succulent texture, it was said to be able to lengthen one's lifespan and nourish one's body, allowing one to return back to one's youth. This was the favorite beauty product of the consorts in the royal palace.

Initially, Wang Chong thought that his mother had gone out to purchase this. After all, with the huge revenue from the Wootz steel business, the Wang Clan had become rather affluent and could afford this kind of luxury as well. However, from the looks of it, that wasn't the case.

"But father doesn't have any friends by the name of General Zhang, not to mention, Lingnan?"

His mother might not be well-versed in the affairs of the military, but how could Wang Chong possibly be ignorant of it? After his previous life, he had a good grasp on his father's connections and subordinates.

Putting aside how there weren't many people whose name went by Zhang in the military, he knew that his father had never been to Lingnan. So how could he possibly have connections there to have sea cucumber delivered here?

General Zhang, General Zhang... This is obviously Zhangchou Jianqiong!, Wang Chong thought.

Zhangchou Jianqiong wanted to enter the central political arena, and the Wang Clan had done him a huge favor this time. Wang Chong knew that the general was currently on his way here, but to think that he would send a few boxes of sea cucumbers over before even arriving here...

He... sure is incredible, Wang Chong smiled after he knew the origin of the sea cucumber.

If his father had been here, such gifts would probably not have been accepted.

However, Wang Chong was different. Knowing that it was from Zhangchou Jianqiong, he felt even more reassured.

"Chong-er, what's wrong?" Madam Wang asked in surprise.

"It's nothing,” Wang Chong replied, recovering from his thoughts, before burying himself in the food.

Judging from the time, Zhangchou Jianqiong should be arriving in the capital very soon, Wang Chong thought.

Jiannan was extremely far from the capital, but Wang Chong was certain that Zhangchou Jianqiong would surely trudge on regardless of day or night, so his traveling speed couldn't be gauged through normal standards.

It was a crucial moment in the selection of the Minister of War, so he had to be present at the scene himself.

Alright, it's about time for us to meet anyway!, The thought flashed across Wang Chong's mind before he started gobbling down the sea cucumbers again.

This meal was indeed sumptuous!

It's getting too hard to differentiate the military ranking of the characters due to lack of precise terminology. Thus, from this point onward, do take commander and general with a pinch of salt. Neither represents a rank higher than the other, though I'll try to keep it clear by the context.

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

Contact - ToS - SitemapShow menu

NovelThe Human EmperorChapter 266: Three Followers!
THE HUMAN EMPEROR
C266: Three Followers!
Chapter 266: Three Followers!

Leaving the dining hall, Wang Chong headed straight for his study.

This was where he had been cultivating recently.

"Hm?"

Unexpectedly, when he entered the study, he saw four figures standing within. Before he could even speak, putong! The four figures immediately kneeled down.

"Elder Ma and the others, what are you doing?"

Astonished, Wang Chong quickly rushed forward to pull them up. He dared not accept such grand formalities from them.

"Wang gongzi, we can't possibly express our gratitude toward you with words. Please accept our kowtow!"

The four in the room was none other than Ma Yinlong, Steel Arms, Old Eagle, and Solitary Wolf. Their eyes were red with agitation as they lowered their heads to kowtow.

"Elders, how can I accept this?" Wang Chong was astonished. If he recalled correctly, Ma Yinlong and the others should have been meeting the emperor in the royal palace a moment ago.

They should have been celebrating after that. Why would they suddenly come here?

"Gongzi, you might not be able to accept it, but this is something we must do! Fifteen years, it has been fifteen years! If not for gongzi, we would have never been able to cleanse ourselves of this humiliation!"

Ma Yinlong, along with the other three, kowtowed heavily on the ground several times before getting to their feet.

Wang Chong could sense their emotions, and he felt deeply moved.

Be it Ma Yinlong, Steel Arms, Old Eagle, or Solitary Wolf, they were true men. It had been fifteen years since that incident happened, but despite being stripped of their positions and living entirely different lives, they could never put down the matter.

A part of it was for themselves, a part of it was for Great Tang, and a part for their deceased comrades... They were indeed people who were worthy of respect.

"You're being too courteous. King Sosurim has been slain, and everything is over now. That reminds me, I have yet to congratulate you all for your return to the Bureau of Military Personnel and Bureau of Punishments!" Wang Chong congratulated the four of them earnestly.

He had already received news that the Bureau of Military Personnel and Bureau of Punishments had invited back to their ranks during the meeting with the Sage Emperor.

Hearing Wang Chong's words, Ma Yinlong, Old Eagle, Steel Arms, and Solitary Wolf glanced at one another and smiled.

"Speaking of which, that's the very reason why we're here now."

"We've turned down the invitations from the Bureau of Military Personnel and Bureau of Punishments!" Ma Yinlong said.

"AH?!" Wang Chong's body jolted as he exclaimed in shock. "Why?"

The four of them had originated from the Bureau of Military Personnel and Bureau of Punishments. It was only due to that unfortunate matter fifteen years ago that they were demoted and transferred away. According to what Wang Chong knew of them, the four of them must be intent on returning back to their places.

The fact that they would reject such a precious offer was beyond Wang Chong's expectations.

"When I was first demoted to the Bureau of Personnel, I did dream of returning to the Bureau of Punishments once I cleansed myself of the shame. However, fifteen years have already passed, and the tenacity I had back then has faded."

"Indeed, we were still hot-blooded youths in our twenties then. But now, we're all in our forties already."

"Everything has changed! Our comrades back then are no longer there, are we to compete with those bunch of youngsters in there now?"

"What Old Eagle said is precisely what we are all thinking. Honestly speaking, we're already satisfied with avenging our comrades and cleansing ourselves of shame. Besides, the places in the Bureau of Punishments and Bureau of Military Personnel are already full. If we were to enter now, they would have to create some special positions for us, and the youngsters in there would be affected by our entry too. There's really no point to it."

"After so many years out here, we are already used to this life. Returning now would only make us feel uncomfortable. So, we turned down the offer..."

The group of four spoke their minds.

Wang Chong could see that there were many complicated emotions brimming in their eyes, but the strongest of all was determination. Clearly, they had thought this matter through many times, and their will was resolute.

"Since this is elders' decision, I will respect it. May I ask what do you all intend to do from now onward?" Wang Chong asked. After hearing that they wouldn't be returning to the Bureau of Military Personnel and Bureau of Punishments, some thoughts sprouted in his mind. However, he wasn't confident that they would be willing.

"This is precisely the reason why we're here. If gongzi doesn't mind, we would like to follow behind gongzi!" The one who spoke these words was Old Eagle. Saying so, he stepped forward.

"Same as well. If not for gongzi, who knows whether I could have avenged my brothers. I ask of gongzi to accept me." Solitary Wolf stepped forward and spoke grimly.

"If gongzi doesn't despise the fact that I only have a single arm, I ask of gongzi to accept me as well." Steel Arms stepped forward with a slight smile.

"What are you all saying? How could I possibly mind it? I'm more than delighted to take you all in!" Wang Chong said with a brilliant smile.

He was still wondering whether he could have them follow him since they were unwilling to rejoin the Bureau of Military Personnel and Bureau of Punishments. However, he had no confidence in recruiting them, and he had no idea how he should bring it up either.

Who knew that they would offer themselves instead!

Wang Chong had witnessed their amazing strength for himself. Even the single-armed Steel Arms had incredible offensive power.

Not to mention, most of them were Profound Martial realm experts.

Wang Chong didn't have any sizeable fighting force other than the guards in his residence. However, these guards were lacking in strength, and even Miyasame Ayaka could defeat all of them alone, not to mention there were plenty of experts stronger than her out there.

If these people could follow him, his strength of his fighting force would grow in an instant.

As such, he was excited to accept their offers.

Of the four, only Ma Yinlong hadn't expressed his decision yet.

"Gongzi, pardon me but I won't be able to follow you for the time being as... I have something important I must attend to. After I'm done, so long as gongzi doesn't mind, I'm willing to serve you for life."

After a moment of silence, Ma Yinlong spoke with a voice tinged with deep sorrow.

"Just that, I've no idea how long it would take for me to resolve the matter. It might be a year, ten years, or perhaps even longer than that."

"Hm?" Wang Chong was slightly surprised, but he soon smiled.

"Don't worry, elder, feel free to do whatever you need to. Should you need help, feel free to look for me."

Everyone had their own secrets. Even though Wang Chong didn't know what it was that would take Ma Yinlong such a long time, his instincts told him that it was something related to the matter back then.

"There's no need for it." Ma Yinlong waved his hands with a smile. "I'll be counting on gongzi to take care of my brothers. Gongzi is the offspring of Duke Jiu, and your eyes are on the entire world. Perhaps, my brothers would be able to achieve much more beside you than being in the Bureau of Military Personnel and Bureau Punishments. Also, Solitary Wolf is a money-grubber, and he has heard that gongzi is earning huge buckets of money every day. I'll have to ask gongzi to take care of that as well."

"Hahaha..."

Hearing Ma Yinlong's teasing, Wang Chong burst into laughter.

"Elder, don't worry. I may not be confident in anything else, but my ability to earn money is still on the mark!"

The group of four immediately burst into laughter.

"Gongzi, you need not call us elders in the future. Just call us by our nicknames, Solitary Wolf, Old Eagle, and Steel Arms!"

---

Watching Ma Yinlong's back disappear into the distance, Wang Chong sighed.

Even though they hadn't worked together for too long, he had an extremely good impression of the Fang of the White Tiger.

"Elder, I wish you luck." Wang Chong mumbled.

After arranging some matters with Old Eagle, Steel Arms, and Solitary Wolf, Wang Chong grew busy once more. Even though the matter with the Goguryeons had come to an end, he still had a bunch of matters he had to attend to.

The attack on the Goguryeon bases had brought Wang Chong incredible gains—dozens of chests filled with Goguryeon ginsengs. Other than leaving a few for his own use, he sent to the rest to the spirit vein for the consumption of selected recruits.

They would become the Wang Clan's strength in the future, as well as Wang Chong's future subordinates. Thus, without second thought, he decided to give these precious ginseng to them.

Following which, Wang Chong called Tuoba Guiyuan and settled the matter regarding the Wootz steel weapons.

Only when all of these were done did Wang Chong finally find some time to spare.

------

Unknowingly, eights day flew by.

The mountain range beyond the capital was filled with lush trees. At the very peak of a certain mountain, white steam filled the entire area. In the middle of the steam, a man was meditating motionlessly.

Spiritual energy gushed in from the surroundings, seeping into that man's body.

"Hahhhh!"

After a long moment, Wang Chong exhaled deeply, and his eyes opened amidst the white steam. The golden rays of a morning sun shone from the horizon, traversing through the trees, dyeing the entire area yellow.

Gazing downward, one could see a flight of stairs linking the bottom of the mountain to the top.

There were many beautiful infrastructures to be seen along the both sides of the stairs, be it elegant pavilions or long corridors. The number of infrastructures only increased the further one proceeded.

At the very peak of the mountain stood a majestic cluster of halls divided into the residential area, training area, and resting area. There were also gardens, ponds, fake mountains... It seemed as though everything could be found here.

Not too far away from Wang Chong, a group of young men and ladies were busy cultivating and sparring. A sharp gust of wind could be heard with every punch and kick they made.

The group of ex-Imperial Army instructors whom Wang Chong recruited were standing around them. With austere gazes and stern bellows, they corrected the various faults of these young recruits.

"It truly wasn't easy to come this far!"

Wang Chong took a deep breath as he looked at the scene before him with deep pride and a strong sense of accomplishment.

After devoting a huge amount of manpower, resources, and money, Wang Chong's base centered around the spirit vein was finally completed after five months of work.

Even though it was still a humble base hidden in the depths of the mountain, everything was on track already.

Eventually, this would become his strength to change the future of the world!

"In the future, I'll have to expand the number of recruits. Also, I mustn't limit myself to this one base. Eventually, I'll have to establish a large number of such bases in every single province."

Wang Chong gazed at the rising sun as hopes for the future sprang within him.

This spirit vein might be his starting point, but it wasn't where he was going to end. In the future, he would expand this model throughout the Central Plains and recruit even more people. His base would be built on meritocracy; orphans and ordinary civilians would be given an equal chance as the scions from prestigious clans.

Wang Chong had maintained a narrow outlook in his previous life. He had never thought of using his own birthright as a strength to wield.

But when the catastrophe struck, the thin line between the wealthy and the poor faded entirely. Everyone went by just a single identity—men of the Central Plains. There was nothing shameful about wielding what the heavens had blessed him with at birth as his own strength to rally others.

"Chong-er!"

Just as he was deep in contemplation, a familiar voice suddenly sounded by his ears.

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

Contact - ToS - SitemapShow menu

NovelThe Human EmperorChapter 267: Little Sister's Secret!
THE HUMAN EMPEROR
C267: Little Sister's Secret!
Chapter 267: Little Sister's Secret!

Turning around, Wang Chong saw a familiar figure staring at him from beneath a tree.

"Teacher!"

Laughing, Wang Chong rushed forward.

The man beneath the tree was none other than Wang Chong's teacher, Demonic Emperor Old Man. After months of absence, the Demonic Emperor Old Man was visibly much stronger than before, and his complexion looked significantly better as well.

His aura seemed to have changed as well. The aura of callousness that he, as a man of the unorthodox, had once carried had faded, and in its place was gentility and composure.

Those who didn't know of his background would surely think that this gray-robed smiling elder before them was just an ordinary old man.

"Teacher really has changed a lot."

Looking at his teacher who was sipping on a cup of fragrant tea, Wang Chong thought. It was as if the dying man he had met back then wasn't the same man as he was seeing before him right now.

Even though Wang Chong didn't know how it all happened, he felt happy for his teacher.

"How is your progress in your martial arts going?" The Demonic Emperor Old Man asked as he placed his teacup down.

"It's still going fine, but I haven't managed to gather my Origin Energy to form the white ripples yet," Wang Chong bowed and replied respectfully.

He had reached Origin Energy Tier 9, but to be able to create the white ripples, his Origin Energy would need to be further refined.

Once he mastered it, his fighting prowess would increase by leaps and bounds.

This was exactly what Wang Chong had been doing every day on the spirit vein.

"Un. In order to create the white ripples, your Origin Energy must be compressed to the limit. This is also the reason why I called you here. You should proceed slowly and not get anxious. Given your talents, within five days at maximum, you should be able to make a breakthrough,” the Demonic Emperor Old Man said.

"Yes, I understand," Wang Chong replied respectfully.

No matter how fearsome a reputation the Demonic Emperor Old Man had out there, there was no denying that the latter did treat him very well. Rather than his disciple, the latter seemed to regard him as kin, instead.

Humans would reciprocate feelings. Unknowingly, Wang Chong also viewed the Demonic Emperor Old Man as his kin, as well.

"Haha, third brother, you're here!"

Suddenly, a laughter as crisp as the ringing of bells sounded. Then, a small figure with two conspicuous braids reminiscent of horns rushed out excitedly.

"What are you here for? Are you done with your homework already?" All of the sudden, the gentle Demonic Emperor Old Man's face turned stern, and he reprimanded the small figure sharply.

Shua!

As though a pail of cold water was poured over her, the excited little sister of the Wang Family suddenly stopped, and fear surfaced in her eyes. But soon, she pouted angrily and glared at the Demonic Emperor Old Man indignantly.

"Why? Do you feel indignant?"

"Hmph, what is there for you to be so smug about? To think that a person of your age would actually bully a small child like me!"

"Heh, say whatever you like, but as long as you can't defeat me, don't even dream about leaving here!"

"Old fogey!"

Seeing the old man and the young girl glare at one another, Wang Chong nearly burst into laughter.

His little sister possessed extraordinary strength, but her boisterous personality made her incapable of cultivating silently for prolonged periods, thus resulting in her indolence. Unfortunately, no one in the Wang Family could keep her under control, either.

Wang Chong did have the mind to intervene, but it was a pity that he wasn't able to defeat her yet.

But this time, his little sister seemed to have met her nemesis. Acting coy, playing cute, feigning pity, pleading, throwing a tantrum, insulting, assaulting, sneaking out... For the past few months, in order to get off the mountain, she had tried every means at her disposal.

But none of it would work on the Demonic Emperor Old Man.

Little sister, don't blame me for this. You were the one who came up here out of curiosity, Wang Chong chuckled inwardly.

"Third brother, you should quickly return and gather your troops. Let's call big uncle over to slaughter this old fogey!" Failing in the glaring contest, the little sister of the Wang Family rushed forward in a frenzy to her elder brother for help.

"You must be joking, like I will agree to that!"

Wang Chong was nearly laughing his guts out. If his little sister were to know that his mother had specially sent a letter to him to allow her to cultivate diligently here, she would probably be even more frenzied.

"Little sister, big uncle is busy and can't possibly come over. Your cousin and I aren't a match for him, either. I think you should just listen to him obediently and cultivate. When you finally surpass him, you will be able to leave here,” Wang Chong advised with a mock bitter face.

"AHHHH! I'M ABOUT TO GO INSANE! THIS OLD MAN FORCES ME TO TRAIN EVERY SINGLE DAY! ..." the little sister of the Wang Family complained angrily, unaware that her brother was in cahoots with the old fogey before her.

"Hmph, old fogey, just you wait! One day, I'll surely defeat you!" She pointed a finger at the Demonic Emperor Old Man angrily. Defeated, she could only fling her arms and walk over to her brother despondently for consolation.

Wang Chong didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this. Just as he was going to console her, suddenly——

Haha, I got you! Just as she was passing by the Demonic Emperor Old Man, a cunning gleam suddenly flashed across her beady eyes.

The Demonic Emperor Old Man couldn't see it, but on the opposite side, Wang Chong could see everything clearly.

Th-this... Little sister is actually resorting to trickery!, Wang Chong widened his eyes in shock.

Was this still the innocent little sister he knew? Or was his little sister forced to awaken her hidden talents?

However, something even more shocking awaited him.

Peng!

His little sister leaped up with a jumping power that was disproportionate to her body size. Following which, a powerful fist came falling upon the Demonic Emperor Old Man.

Boom!

Powerful shock waves and Stellar Energy diffused into the surroundings. That tiny fist that his little sister wielded carried unimaginable strength. Kacha! The tree behind the Demonic Emperor Old Man fell instantly under that powerful shock wave, and the tiles on the ground cracked immediately.

After this, a brilliant and giant green halo emerged from his little sister's small body.

Wang Chong had never seen such a huge halo before. Rather than a halo, it seemed like a humongous light sphere instead. Within the light sphere, Wang Chong could feel the might of the mountain and earth.

Under the effects of the immense green halo, his little sister's aura seemed to vaguely harmonize as one with the mountain range and trees beneath her. Spiritual energy rushed out from the spirit vein to fuse together with her small fists, amplifying her strength further.

Boom!

A powerful might emanated into the surrounding, causing the entire mountain to tremor ever so slightly. At the same moment, Wang Chong clearly saw a vague image of the winding mountain range behind her.

Halo... Little sister has already reached True Martial realm! Wang Chong was astonished.

If he hadn't witnessed this personally, he really dared not believe that her little sister would have made a breakthrough to True Martial realm after a few months with his teacher. Furthermore, he had never seen such a halo before, and it was unimaginably powerful. It far surpassed any True Martial realm halo that Wang Chong had seen.

With such strength, probably none in the True Martial realm could surpass her!

It seemed that his little sister had grown much more than him during this period of time!

"HAH!"

While such thoughts were running through Wang Chong's mind, the little sister of the Wang Family bellowed loudly as a storm-like barrage of fists harnessing her full might fell upon the Demonic Emperor Old Man.

Boom boom boom!

A thick white mist immediately filled the entire field. No matter where or how powerful the little sister of the Wang Family attacked, the Demonic Emperor Old Man was able to easily deflect it with just a single finger while his other hand rested behind his back.

Left, right, up, down, front, back... No matter where the attack came from, the Demonic Emperor Old Man could deflect it easily without moving a step. It was as if that single finger was the strongest barrier in the world, taking down every single attack the little sister of the Wang Family could possibly launch at him.

"AH!!! I quit!" Seeing that her attacks were completely ineffective, the little sister of the Wang Family shouted furiously and threw a tantrum. However, at that moment, she lost her balance and fell to the ground. In an instant, her mouth pouted even more angrily.

"Hmph! Old fogey, I'll surpass you one day!" Furious, she harrumphed angrily and immediately charged back into the hall to cultivate.

"Teacher, her halo..." Wang Chong was astonished. Just like the previous him, his little sister was an indolent person who was content with living her life leisurely.

In his previous life, his little sister had never managed to cultivate a martial halo, so the appearance of the massive green halo had left him shocked.

Everything was already different from his previous life.

"That is the 'Halo of Mountains', a True Martial realm 1-dan halo. It allows one to gather strength from the mountains, granting her incredible might. It can be considered as a strength-type halo, but of the highest tier," the Demonic Emperor Old Man said.

There was no need for him to hide anything from Wang Chong. Since the first time he saw that girl, he could already sense the astounding talent and strength emanating from her.

It would be difficult to find even one like her amongst a million people. If not for that case, he wouldn't have forcefully taken her in as his disciple and had her remain here to cultivate.

"What's going on?" Wang Chong was bewildered by the situation. There were many types of strength-type halos, such as the Halo of Great Might and the Halo of Herculean Strength... They did boost the strength of martial artists, but never to such a ridiculous extent.

His little sister's ability to harness the power of the mountain was completely inconceivable. That halo was nearly to the class of a Profound Martial realm martial artist by itself.

"Even though I'm not too sure, either, I can fathom a guess. Year, month, day, and time, these are known as the Four Pillars. Every single pillar consists of two words, and together, they form the Eight Characters of Birth. This is the divination art that I once studied when I was younger."

"I have asked your mother about it, and your little sister is born in the yiwei year, which possesses the yin attribute. If I'm not mistaken, she was probably born in a yin year yin month yin day yin time, thus giving her an “Eight Characters of Perfect Yin”, also termed as the Moment of Absolute Yin.

"A person who was born at such a time will be aligned with the secrets of the world, granting them superior talents from birth. Extreme yin will require the complementation of extreme yang, thus her body is exceptionally potent in absorbing yang energy. Even if she does nothing at all, she would still possess herculean strength. And once she starts cultivating, even absorbing the essence of the mountain wouldn't be beyond her.

"Given her talent, as long as she puts in a little more effort, her future accomplishments will be limitless! It is very possible that she might even surpass the me back then!"

The Demonic Emperor Old Man couldn't help but sigh in contentment at this moment. To be able to accept these two incredibly talented disciples in his later years, he was without any regrets now.

"!!!" Wang Chong stared at the Demonic Emperor Old Man in shock. To think that there would be such an explanation behind his little sister's herculean strength.

Shocking!

Yiwei year is a concept from the sexagenary cycle, where years are recorded in a cycle of 60. Yiwei is the 32nd year in the cycle. It is an ancient method of recording year, month, day, and time.

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

Contact - ToS - Sitemap