MTLNOVEL Chapter 438: Damn It, Did I Become the Traitor?
Chapter 438: Damn It, Did I Become the Traitor?
Jun Yunshang gazed at the weary Ke Ziqian with a serene smile, her tone calm and composed. “General, what do you bring to the table with your surrender?”
Ke Ziqian looked up at the breathtakingly beautiful Jun Yunshang, who seemed almost divine, and felt that she was inscrutable and utterly terrifying.
Initially, he too had dismissed Jun Yunshang as merely a pretty face. It wasn’t until she had thoroughly defeated him, leaving him questioning his very existence, that he finally understood.
She was undoubtedly a master at playing the fool to deceive others!
Otherwise, how could someone like Ye Xuefeng, a prodigy among prodigies, have fallen for her?
“Your Majesty, this defeated general brings with him a thousand Tiger Guard soldiers and can help you take back Longming City!” Ke Ziqian declared.
“If Your Majesty can answer one question of mine, I am even willing to swear a Dao Oath of Eternal Loyalty!”
Upon hearing this, the surrounding generals couldn’t help but feel excited. This was not only a renowned general, but also a Void Realm expert!
Ke Ziqian had never sworn a Dao Oath in Moon Shadow Dynasty, which was why he had been able to defect in the first place.
Jun Yunshang smiled faintly. “General, please ask.”
Ke Ziqian’s eyes were bloodshot, his gaze intense. “Your Majesty, how did you know my strategies?”
(╬ Ò﹏Ó)
He was on the verge of insanity. For him, surrendering was a minor matter; what he truly wanted to know was why!
Otherwise, he feared that he would die with regrets!
Seeing Ke Ziqian on the verge of a mental breakdown, Jun Yunshang smiled mysteriously.
“General, there’s no need to rush. After we achieve a great victory in this battle, I will surely tell you.”
Ke Ziqian seemed to age several years in an instant.
(╥﹏╥)
Although he was burning with impatience, he also knew that such a secret wouldn’t be revealed to him at this moment.
He was a determined man. Taking a deep breath, he knelt down without another word and immediately swore the Dao Oath.
“Ke Ziqian swears eternal loyalty to Your Majesty, willing to serve the Phoenix Emperor to the death even if it means sacrificing my life!”
Since I can’t beat her, I might as well join her!
Being enemies with this woman is just too painful!
Jun Yunshang smiled in satisfaction. “Good! Since General Ke has seen the light and decided to leave the darkness for the light.”
“I hereby appoint you as the General of the Western Garrison. In this battle, you shall lead the vanguard and take back Longming City for me!”
Ke Ziqian knew that Jun Yunshang was demanding his pledge of loyalty. He bowed respectfully. “Yes, Your Majesty, I accept the order!”
Having already defected, he no longer hesitated. He led his Tiger Guard soldiers to the front lines.
Jun Yunshang watched Ke Ziqian depart, a slight smile curling at the corners of her lips.
The art of ruling as an emperor wasn’t so difficult after all, was it?
On the other hand, when the Moon Shadow Blade Emperor learned that Ke Ziqian had defected to Junyan with his elite troops and even led the charge to retake Longming City, he was furious.
This confirmed Ke Ziqian’s status as a traitor. Only Ke Ziqian knew how truly wronged he was.
But now, it was like having mud stuck to his pants – even if it wasn’t shit, it might as well be.
The Moon Shadow Blade Emperor ordered the execution of all of Ke Ziqian’s relatives within the Moon Shadow territory as a warning to others.
This time, he trusted no one. He acted alone and appointed his brother-in-law, Yi Yongchang, to take command.
Forced into this critical position, Yi Yongchang felt a surge of ambition and made a bold promise.
He boasted that within seven days he would crush Junyan’s Western Desert, capture Jun Yunshang, and use her to reward the troops!
But soon, just like Ke Ziqian, he encountered a mysterious force from the future and began to sweat profusely.
Yi Yongchang couldn’t help but suspect the Moon Shadow Blade Emperor and swallowed hard.
After eliminating all impossibilities, the remaining possibility, no matter how unbelievable, must be the truth!
If I’m not the mole, then there’s only one person left!
Brother-in-law, why?
Could it be that you think the Yi family has grown too powerful, and you’re colluding with that woman Fengyao to set me up?
Is Brother-in-law Trying to Wipe Out the Yi Family?
The more Yi Yongchang thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He decided to stop following the Moon Shadow Blade Emperor’s orders.
Sure enough, as soon as he stopped obeying the Blade Emperor’s commands, he won several small victories in a row.
Yi Yongchang’s hands and feet turned cold, and he broke into a cold sweat.
Indeed, the traitor was his brother-in-law!
Who would have thought that the ruler of an empire could be the traitor?
Now, if he were to lose again, he would surely be held accountable. The only way to save himself was to achieve a great victory.
After returning to the court, he would immediately claim illness and retire from military service. Perhaps that way, he could spare his life.
If his brother-in-law questioned him later, he could simply say, “A general in the field is not bound by orders from the court”.
Panicked, Yi Yongchang decided to go all out and launch a surprise attack, concentrating his forces to crush Junyan.
However, one day later, the overambitious Yi Yongchang was ambushed by the Junyan Empire in Longxi City.
Tens of thousands of cultivators were wiped out, and Yi Yongchang, who had been worrying about how to deal with the responsibility the day before, no longer had to worry.
Amidst the chaos, he was slain by Jun Aoshi, and his body was hung from the mast of a warship as a warning to all.
The previous small victories were just part of Jun Yunshang’s strategy to lure the enemy deeper, based on a prophecy.
Although this battle cost many cultivators their lives, it completely crippled the Moon Shadow Dynasty’s army.
Somewhere outside of Longxi City, Lin Fengmian watched the battle conclude and couldn’t help but take a sip from his wine flask.
The history books would record: “Empress Fengyao lured the enemy deep into Longxi, killed thousands, and dealt a crushing blow to the Moon Shadow Dynasty!”
Yunshang has changed.
In the past, she would never have used human lives to set a trap.
This was the kind of growth I had hoped to see, so why does it feel so heartbreaking?
He took a few more gulps of the bitter wine, feeling its harshness.
The innocence I had hoped she would preserve had ultimately been altered by my own actions.
Lin Fengmian composed himself and looked up at the sky, lost in thought.
Enough of this. It’s time to deal with the Moon Shadow Blade Emperor once and for all!
It’s already the sixth day since Luo Xue entered that space. She should be almost done by now.
As soon as Luo Xue returns, I’ll be tied down!
Blade Emperor, isn’t it about time you made your move?
After all, does your Moon Shadow Dynasty still have anyone willing to take the field?
As Lin Fengmian had predicted, after this battle, no one from the Moon Shadow Dynasty dared to enter the battlefield.
The series of defeats had silenced all the famous generals. This battle was simply too bizarre.
That woman on the other side seemed to know everything in advance. Whoever stepped forward would only face disaster.
Many shared Yi Yongchang’s suspicion: there was definitely a traitor, and it was the biggest one in the Moon Shadow Dynasty!
Stepping forward now would be like sticking one’s head out to be chopped off.
Of course, everyone saw through it, but they didn’t say it out loud. How could the Holy Emperor be wrong?
It must be the fault of his subordinates!
Many young and capable generals suddenly claimed to be ill or suffered from qi deviations, leaving them half-paralyzed.
Under Junyan’s instigation, the Moon Shadow Dynasty was now united in its opinion: they all hoped that the Moon Shadow Blade Emperor would personally take to the field and turn the tide.
At first, the Moon Shadow Blade Emperor was confused. How could all these strong and healthy men suddenly fall ill?
Were they really so afraid of that woman?
But once he figured it out, he was trembling with rage.
“Damn it, have I become the traitor?”
The Moopn Shadow Blade Emperor slammed his hand on the dragon throne and turned to the old eunuch beside him. “Dayong, do I look like a traitor to you?”
The old eunuch, Fu Dayong, forced a dry laugh. “Your Majesty, of course not!”
You are absolutely the traitor!
Now that he trusted no one, the Moon Shadow Blade Emperor had no choice but to issue a solemn command.
“Spread the word. I will personally lead the expedition and confront that woman Fengyao!”
His eyes flashed with cold light as he declared, “This time, it will be a showdown between emperors!”