A sharp aura wantonly danced in the air.
However, Shan Ling's blade stopped. He did not believe Fang Zhengzhi, or rather, he did not want to believe Fang Zhengzhi.
But...
He had to hear Fang Zhengzhi's words.
He was the Crown Prince of the Southern Region.
He could plot against his two brothers and seize power for himself, but he could not abandon the roots of the Southern Region, the warriors of the Southern Region, under the city walls.
"Speak! You only have one chance to speak! "Shan Ling's tone was icy. It was as though he was looking down on the world from a high position.
Fang Zhengzhi was a genius.
However, he was just a genius. In the face of absolute strength, no matter how powerful a genius was, it was impossible for him not to die.
"Actually, I don't like it when people point a knife at me." Fang Zhengzhi looked at Shan Ling with disdain.
"Weng!" The blade rang.
Shan Ling's hand was pale as he gripped the blade. The blade trembled. As a man, he felt that he should stick to his promise and stab Fang Zhengzhi.
However, he could not.
He was the Crown Prince of the Southern Region, he could not destroy the glory of his ancestors.
Fang Zhengzhi smirked as he looked at the menacing Shan Ling. Then, he flicked the tip of the blade.
"Ding!" The crisp sound of the blade rang out.
Fang Zhengzhi put the blade down.
When the King of the Southern Region and Princess Shan Yu saw this, they looked at each other and heaved a sigh of relief. However, there was one thing that they did not understand.
The situation was so tense...
How could Fang Zhengzhi still be so calm and composed?
Could it be that he really had such strong confidence?
"Crown Prince, can you answer a question? If the 3,000 Silver Horned Wolves are in the Sagely Mountain City, can they reach the Iron Soldier Settlement before the Demons do?" Fang Zhengzhi asked.
"Of course they can..." Shan Ling trailed off.
That was because he had already understood what Fang Zhengzhi meant.
The individual combat ability of the demon race was very strong, but, no matter how strong their individual combat ability was, it could not compare to the most elite tribe of the Southern Mountain Range, three thousand Silver Horned Wolves.
Furthermore, the 3,000 Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry were supposed to be attacking the Iron Hill Settlement. Their speed was fast, so they could definitely reach the Iron Hill Settlement before the Demons.
The King of the Southern Region and Princess Shan Yu seemed to understand what was going on.
However, what they did not understand was …
The 3000 Silver Horned Wolves were not in the Sagely Mountain City. Then, this assumption was meaningless.
"The elites of the Southern Region are the 3000 Silver Horned Wolves. The elites of the Great Xia are the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army!" Fang Zhengzhi said calmly as he looked at Shan Ling, the King of the Southern Region and Princess Shan Yu.
However …
Shan Ling, the King of the Southern Region, and Princess Shan Yu's expressions changed.
Even though Fang Zhengzhi did not make it clear, the meaning behind his words was clear. The Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army were in the Sagely Mountain City!
"If you are willing to negotiate with the Great Xia, the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army will reach the Iron Hill Settlement before the Demons arrive. They will join forces with the 80,000 elites of the Iron Hill Settlement to defend against the Demons. Then … we will still have time!" Fang Zhengzhi continued.
Shan Ling was silent.
There was an obvious struggle in his eyes, almost as if he was deep in thought. Waves of cold air emanated from his body, filling the entire throne room.
"How can I trust you?" Shan Ling looked at Fang Zhengzhi after a full 15 minutes of silence.
"You have no choice." Fang Zhengzhi replied calmly.
"What I am asking is, how can a mere rank four Sword Envoy like you represent the Great Xia Dynasty?!" Shan Ling's tone was icy.
"What if I add this into the equation?" Fang Zhengzhi chuckled, almost as if he had expected this question from Shan Ling. He sat back down in his chair.
Then, a golden token flashed.
The token wasn't too big. However, it was completely made of pure gold with a golden dragon spiraling around it. Most importantly, there was a word engraved on the token.
"Sage!"
The Great Xia Dynasty's Sage Token.
Fang Zhengzhi had seen one in Xing Qingsui's hands. Of course, he had one himself. However, it was not used to command an army.
Instead …
Emperor Lin Mubai had given it to him to enter the Ministry of Rites.
Seeing the Sage Token was like seeing the Emperor himself.
This thing was very useful. Moreover, the holy badge would never clearly state the use of this holy badge, so it was impossible for anyone to detect and discover it.
However, it was not very useful either.
If he used it "indiscriminately", he would be charged with "falsifying the Sage Token". If he was found out, there was only one thing that awaited him …
Death!
"This is … the Sage Token?!" Shan Ling looked at Fang Zhengzhi differently. For the first time, he retracted his aura.
"That's right." Fang Zhengzhi nodded. This was the effect he wanted.
"Why do you have the Sage Token?" Shan Ling did not understand.
"Your Highness, do you really think that I came to the Southern Region just to participate in the combat examinations? Do you really think it's normal for me to barge into the Southern Region alone and enter the Princess's army camp? "Fang Zhengzhi replied without hesitation.
Shan Ling was silent.
He had eyes and ears in Princess Shan Yu's camp. As such, he was able to guess Fang Zhengzhi's identity. As such, he knew what had happened between Fang Zhengzhi and Princess Shan Yu.
He also knew …
Princess Shan Yu had handed over 500 Silver Horned Wolves to Fang Zhengzhi.
However, when he heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, he frowned subconsciously. Of course, he understood what Fang Zhengzhi was trying to say.
It was precisely because he understood that he felt a chill run down his spine.
Originally …
He felt that this war had always been under his control, but now, when Fang Zhengzhi flashed the Holy Token in his hand, he had a strange feeling.
It was the feeling of being a marionette.
In front of the Devil Race, he was an object to be used, but in front of the Great Xia, all of his actions were also within the calculations of the Great Xia Emperor.
Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"That is impossible. How could the Emperor have guessed that I would negotiate with you? How could he have sent you into the Southern Region? More importantly, how could he have guessed that the Princess would let you go and allow you to participate in the combat examinations?! "Shan Ling could not believe it.
"Is there a point? Is the Princess going to let me go or not? Does it really matter if I participate in the combat examinations or not? Your Highness, think about it. What is really important? The Demons will definitely attack the Southern Region … as such, my presence is necessary! "Fang Zhengzhi said as he kept the Sage Token.
Silence. Silence.
Shan Ling did not speak.
The King of the Southern Region and Princess Shan Yu did not speak immediately. However, they knew that the matter was already decided.
There was no other choice.
There was no point in hesitating.
"Fang Zhengzhi … tell us what the Great Xia wants!" Shan Ling did not remain silent any longer. He knew the situation he was in. Of course, he also knew that...
There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
"Even though the Dragon Protection Squad and Mountain Breaking Army are more powerful than the Demons, they are not familiar with the terrain. As such, if we want to reach the Iron Hill Settlement before the Demons, we will need the cooperation of the Southern Region."
"What cooperation?"
"The terrain, the terrain of the Southern Region!"
"You want the map of the Southern Region?!"
"Yes."
"Impossible. Our Southern Mountain Range relies on our geographical advantage. The topographic map of the Southern Mountain Range has been in the possession of the Southern Mountain Range's royal family for generations. If we hand it over to you, it would be equivalent to exposing the entire Southern Mountain Range to the Great Xia Dynasty."
"Hmm, Crown Prince's words make sense. Then, Your Highness, please give the order immediately."
"What order?"
"The order to follow us to the Iron Hill Settlement? Since you are not willing to give me the map, I will have to find someone to lead the way! "Fang Zhengzhi replied matter-of-factly.
"There is no need, I will lead the way myself!" When Princess Shan Yu heard this, she finally spoke again. At the same time, she walked to Fang Zhengzhi's side.
She had no intention of asking the King and Shan Ling for permission.
Shan Ling looked at Princess Shan Yu, then at the King of the Southern Region. He bit down on his lips, blood trickling down from the corner of his mouth.
"And I... will lead the way for you!" Shan Ling seemed to have made his final decision.
"Ling Er!"
"Father, I will leave the Sagely Mountain City to you!"
"Ling'er... Yu'er, be careful." The King of the Southern Region looked at Shan Ling, then at Princess Shan Yu, before nodding.
The Sagely Mountain City had to be guarded.
This was the root of the Southern Region. As long as the Sagely Mountain City stood, the Southern Region soldiers would not give up.
"Long live the King! Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Princess!" The maidservants of the Southern Region shouted in unison when they saw this.
Princess Shan Yu looked at the maids, then back at Fang Zhengzhi.
She felt that something was amiss. Based on Fang Zhengzhi's personality, shouldn't this be the time to take advantage of the situation and negotiate terms?
But...
Why didn't Fang Zhengzhi mention anything?
Moreover, wasn't this negotiation a little too simple and sloppy?
There was no contract, no witness, just a verbal agreement and the Southern Region and the Great Xia had reached an agreement? Were they reconciled?
Princess Shan Yu felt that the scene in front of her could only be described as magical.
However, this matter happened just like that.
...
Fang Zhengzhi was not someone who would pass up an opportunity. However, that was only if he had the time. He did not have the time now.
As for the contract that Princess Shan Yu was talking about...
He would not sign it.
Because...
He wanted to forget about this matter, or rather, from the beginning to the end, he did not want anyone to know that the Southern Region peace talks had anything to do with him.
It was not because he was arrogant.
He did not want anyone to know that he had used the Emperor's token to pass off as the Emperor's will.
He could not bear the crime of being beheaded. Even though there was an 80% chance that the Emperor would think that Fang Zhengzhi could be spared the crime of beheading due to his meritorious deed.
But, so what?
80% was only 80%.
The other 20% could not be ignored. Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi did not have much interest in being an official or achieving merits.
As such, he did not want to take such a risk.
Lastly...
There was one more important point.
He did not know if the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army were in the Sagely Mountain City. All of this was just a guess.
Secondly, he did not know if the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army could reach the Iron Hill Settlement before the Demons. Would they be able to buy enough time for the rest of the army?
All of this was a question mark.
There were too many uncertainties.
In that case, there was no point in talking about conditions or contracts now.
"Shall we go?" Princess Shan Yu looked at the motionless Fang Zhengzhi. She didn't know what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking, but she knew that time was of the essence.
Shan Ling looked at Fang Zhengzhi.
There were 20,000 soldiers in the Sagely Mountain City. However, after a day and night of fighting, 30% of them had died. There were only 10,000 soldiers left.
These people would stay behind to protect the Sagely Mountain City.
This was to prevent the Iron Hill Settlement from launching a sneak attack on King City in the event that they were defeated.
Under such circumstances...
Shan Ling and Princess Shan Yu were waiting for Fang Zhengzhi's soldiers. To be more precise, they were waiting for the Dragon Protection Squad and Mountain Breaking Army hidden in the Sagely Mountain City.
"Alright, let's go!" When Fang Zhengzhi heard Princess Shan Yu's words, he quickly stood up and nodded his head. Then, he patted away the water stains on his body and turned to walk out of the door.
Outside the palace...
When the six injured soldiers saw Fang Zhengzhi, they subconsciously raised their broken spears in the air.
"Stop!" Shan Ling roared.
The six spears froze in mid-air.
Fang Zhengzhi didn't even bother to look at them. He walked past the stunned soldiers and walked out of the palace.
Because...
His priority now was to find the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army.
"Xing Hou... I trust you. Even I can understand the meaning behind the Imperial edict. How can you not see it? Where are you... in the Sagely Mountain City? Or at the base of the mountain? Can you … give me a clear hint? "Fang Zhengzhi looked at the sky as he walked.
The night was silent.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
