Divine Martial Kingdom, No.1 city in the west, Jiang Yi City!
Deputy General Jiang Zhun was in a rather good predicament recently. As one of the top ten deputy generals of the Western Garrison Army and also the collateral descendant of the Jiang Clan, he had a prestigious status. Since he built a relationship with Jiang Yiliu, his status was now even higher, seemingly comparable to the three generals of the Western Garrison Army.
Back at the Skyplume City, Jiang Yunhai offered him 500 thousand purple gold; he had been enjoying quite a comfortable life recently. When he returned to the Jiang Yi City, he took in one of the most famous courtesans in the city’s biggest brothel as his concubine. In short, he had been living a life of a deity for the recent days.
“Report!”
A voice that wanted to report came from the outside, rousing up Jiang Zhun who was drinking tea in his concubine’s room. He drew out his hands from the beauty’s robes and patted on her shoulder before heading outside.
A soldier knelt inside of a courtyard while raising his hand high, which was holding onto a confidential report. Jiang Zhun took it over with a single hand and took a glance. His pleasant mood had instantly fallen to the bottom. This secret report came from a scout that was planted in the kingdom by the Western Garrison Army. It stated the night when Jiang Yunhai assaulted Zhangsun Wuji.
Zhangsun Wuji was nearly killed, and one of the Soul Travel Realm experts of the Zhangsun Clan was dead, too. Such a huge commotion couldn’t be kept in the dark anymore. In addition, the matter of Jiang Yunhai being pursued by the Zhangsun Clan was soon found out by the scouts of the Western Garrison Army.
“Why did Jiang Yunhai want to assassinate Zhangsun Wuji? Does he not want to live anymore?”
Jiang Zhun murmured with some suspicion, and his eyes suddenly had this chilling flash. He then shouted, “Go get the name list of this year’s Mt. Spirit Beast College’s new cadets immediately!”
The soldier quickly stepped out and came back again with another secret report one hour later. Jiang Zhun swiftly opened it up and took a glance. His face turned pale the instant he saw the name ‘Jiang Yi!’
His mind was revolving very quickly, and his expression was turning intensively pale—even his body began to tremble. He then yelled again, “Where are the 600 Iron Blood Guards that His Highness wanted?”
The soldier muttered to himself for a moment before replying quickly, “General, the 600 Iron Blood Guards have all gone into the Tomb of the Heaven Monarch!”
“I am done for!”
Jiang Zhun swallowed his saliva. He lifted the soldier by his collar and roared, “Where is the Liege Lord?! Is the Liege Lord back yet?”
“I don’t know!” The soldier’s face was filled with fear, but he didn’t know why the Deputy General was so infuriated.
“Bang!”
Jiang Zhun threw the soldier out as he paced around his courtyard, feeling fretful. He might not know of Jiang Yi’s identity, but it shouldn’t be far from his guesses. Jiang Yunhai asked him not to ask or bother. He also knew that he shouldn’t interfere with the family affairs of the Western Garrison Liege Lord and quickly forgot about it after he returned to the Jiang Yi City.
Just recently, Jiang Yiliu gave him the orders to transfer 300 Iron Blood Guards. He didn’t have any considerations after knowing that Jiang Yiliu wanted to go have some fun inside the Tomb of the Heaven Monarch. He was still a young man… and youths always liked to go on adventures and seek for treasures. He might be going against orders transferring troops without approval, but Jiang Zhun wasn’t afraid. Even if the Western Garrison Liege Lord knew about this, Jiang Zhun would—at worst—get a scolding.
When Jiang Yiliu sent orders to transfer an addition 300 Iron Blood Guards, Jiang Zhun was bewildered. After all, 300 Iron Blood Guards were more than enough to ensure Jiang Yiliu’s safety; but he didn’t dare to go against Jiang Yiliu’s orders.
It was only at this moment that he realized it—when he received the report that Jiang Yunhai tried to assassinate Zhangsun Wuji. He understood that Jiang Yiliu didn’t transfer 600 men to protect himself when he searched for treasures but… to kill Jiang Yi!
The war between the two princes was something Jiang Zhun didn’t want to bother; neither did he dare to bother! He just transferred 600 men for Jiang Yiliu; if Jiang Yi died and the Western Garrison Liege Lord found out about it, his head would definitely be rolling on the floor.
“Swish!”
Right at this moment, an air-piercing sound echoed from the northern skies. A huge golden carriage came from the sky while countless soldiers and citizens immediately knelt down and shouted, “Respects to the Liege Lord!”
“The Liege Lord is back?”
Jiang Zhun’s body trembled. His eyes flickered for a few rounds before he revealed an unwavering expression. His body burst forth towards the giant mansion that was located in the center of the city.
“Respects to the General!”
Jiang Zhun soon arrived at the Liege Lord’s Residence. The guards from the Western Garrison Army hastily knelt when they saw him. Jiang Zhun didn’t even say a word as he sprinted past them and saw that the giant carriage had just landed.
“Everyone, withdraw!”
There were many people who were preparing to receive the Liege Lord in the front yard. Jiang Zhun burst out a shout and knelt before the stalwart man who was like a god. “Jiang Zhun pays his respects to the Liege Lord. I have something to report.”
Western Garrison Liege Lord, Jiang Bieli. He looked to be around the age of 30 or 40 years old. His body was extremely tall and sturdy; his face was flawless like a forged saber. He wore a purple robe on his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His tiger-like eyes didn’t have a hint of emotion and gave an imposing aura when he wasn’t even angered. He didn’t release any presence from his body, but Jiang Zhun could feel this invisible pressure shrouding and suffocating him.
Jiang Bieli gave a hand gesture, asking all the soldiers to withdraw. He then looked at Jiang Zhun indifferently and asked, “What is the matter?”
“This foolish general deserves to die!”
Jiang Zhun bowed his head low and spoke with a lowered voice, “His Highness ordered me to transfer 600 Iron Blood Guards to the Tomb of the Heaven Monarch recently. This foolish general didn’t dare to go against the will of His Highness. I just received a report this morning that he ordered for those Iron Blood Guards to kill a Mt. Spirit Beast College cadet named Jiang Yi!”
Jiang Bieli frowned and puzzledly spoke, “Who is this Jiang Yi? Why does Yi’er want him dead?”
Jiang Zhun lifted his head and looked at Jiang Bieli. He clenched his teeth and replied, “This subordinate does not know of the exact details either. But I have found out that someone addresses this Jiang Yi as Young Lord, and that someone is… Jiang Yunhai!”
“Jiang Yunhai?”
Jiang Bieli’s tiger eyes suddenly shot out rays of chilling light. A berserk presence was released from his body that instantly enveloped the entire Liege Lord’s Residence. Countless people felt that the sky was about to collapse, and Jiang Zhun, who stood in front of Jiang Bieli, prostrated under this presence.
“Young Lord?”
Jiang Bieli mumbled for a moment before he suddenly yelled, “Jiang Rentu!”
“Swish!”
A shadow immediately appeared from the corner of the room. His entire body was oozing with cold killing aura. He wrapped his fist and replied loudly, “Liege Lord!”
Jiang Bieli yelled, “Go and investigate all the information regarding Jiang Yunhai and Jiang Yi. Within one hour, I want to know… Jiang Yi’s true identity!”
“Swish!”
Jiang Rentu didn’t even reply as his body vanished into the darkness. Jiang Bieli restrained his aura presence while he looked towards the sky outside of the courtyard and didn’t utter a single word. Jiang Zhun was still prostrating in the courtyard and didn’t even dare to move a single inch.
One hour later!
Jiang Rentu was back, and he had this grave expression as he reported, “Liege Lord. According to the information, Jiang Yunhai left the Liege Lord’s Residence with Lady Yi. Three years later, Jiang Yunhai suddenly adopted two children and brought them to Skyplume City. One of the children was Jiang Yi. If Jiang Yunhai truly addressed Jiang Yi as Young Lord, then… he might be the child of you and Lady Yi.”
“Boom!”
Jiang Bieli lifted his hand and slammed a palm strike towards Jiang Zhun. A formless force brushed across and sent Jiang Zhun’s entire body flying over a hundred feet. He fainted on the ground, and no one knew if he was dead or alive.
Jiang Bieli didn’t even take a look at Jiang Zhun. He turned his head to faced Jiang Rentu and shouted, “Go and lead ten-thousand Killer Divine Guards to the Tomb of the Heaven Monarch this instant! If Jiang Yi isn’t dead yet, then bring him back. If he is dead, bring his corpse back! In addition… break both of Jiang Yiliu’s legs and bring him to Madam. Ask her to discipline her own son. If there is no way to teach some sense into him, then ask both the mother and the son to get out of Jiang Yi City!”