Chapter 96 - Imperial City Underseige

He had hurt Ji Yao and was so scared he would do it again. It was because of this he decided to stay as far away as possible while protecting him from the background.

But what he didn't realise was that Ji Yao didn't take kindly to his decision. Rui Fei pursed his lips and decided not to say anything.

While Rui Fei was ridden in guilt the party reached the gates of the imperial palace. The emperor seemed to have assigned the big guns to this station.

The imperial guards were heavily armed as though preparing for war. The guards were in line formation with their spears pointing in their direction and shields protecting them.

It seemed this time the emperor didn't cheapen out. The latrion on their spearheads was of good quality but the problem was how they were going to get close enough to strike them. Atop the tall wall was a line of archers with their bowstrings stretched ready to fire at any moment.

Zhang Li found this so amusing that he burst out in laughter. These insignificant beings actually thought they could win this fight? They weren't here to pick a fight in the first place but since they wanted to play then why would he refuse? He was about to ask Ji Yao to let him finish them off when another battalion surrounded them from behind.

This time Zhang Li couldn't hold back any longer laughing even louder. Even Big Hei and Xunshi Zhe couldn't help themselves. Chuckles rang out in the small group of pirates puzzling the soldiers who were clutching their weapons tightly trying to act brave.

Just when they thought it wouldn't get any better than that a man spoke from behind the soldiers in front of them. From his tone and demeanour he must be some sort of high ranking general who was hiding behind his subordinates.

Maybe it was because he had gained some kind of confidence from the battalion's arrival that he actually dared to step out and face the invaders head on. "Your kind is not welcome here," he said with a fierce expression as he scanned the outnumbered group of pirates.

The laughter that had just died down reignited once more and this time Zhang Li was close to rolling on the floor. "Hahaha..... or else what? Wh-what are you going to do if we don't leave?"

"Poke us with their toothpicks hahahaha," was Big Hei's response as he leaned against Xunshi Zhe laughing his ass off.

The handsome looking General who had been mocked for the first time in his life placed his hand on his hilt as his anger rose.

Ji Yao was already in a terrible mood so he raised his hand indicating for these three to stop making a raucous and said, "Open the gate."

It was at this moment the general realised who was in charge. It wasn't the middle-aged aunty with exquisite makeup or the three clowns laughing like fools nor the scowling man who seemed to be disapproving of the three clowns.

No, it was the mysterious figure with a face hidden under the veil. His curiosity reached an all-time high as his gaze lingered on the veil. He wanted to see what was underneath it but the risk was too high.

He cleared his throat trying to extract himself from his previous line of thought. "We all know that's not going to happen," replied the general unsheathing his sword in preparation for a fight. The soldiers readied themselves but from the slight quiver in their legs, it was obvious they were scared shitless.

Ji Yao didn't even give them enough time to gather their courage granting his men permission to do as they please. Sounds of men being slaughtered permeated the air causing the soldiers inside the wall to shiver in fright whilst contemplating a shameful retreat.

Arrows flew from atop the wall but the archers only had the opportunity to fire once when they were sent flying off the wall. Soon it was raining bodies with some smashing into the walls and roofs of the building inside the boundary.

The gate was suddenly blown off its hinges like someone had used explosives. The force sent several soldiers flying as a cloud of dust rose. The men were astonished as they crawled up to the ground coughing up a mouthful of dust. From within the cloud of dust, an imposing figure clad in blue robes emerged with an oppressive aura that had them falling back in fright.

As the dust settled more and more people appeared and from the looks of it the imperial guards stood no chance. Even if they wanted to put up a fight they were heavily suppressed by an inexplicable force that didn't permit them to get up.

Soon Ji Yao reached the imperial court but of course, there was no one. The rumour that the imperial palace had fallen might have reached the emperor's ears so he decided to save himself by sneaking out of the palace.

Ji Yao turned to Xunshi Zhe and said, "Cut off his way out and the rest of you go find him." As he said this he met Rui Fei's eyes and the two of them stared at each other for a while.

"Except you," he said pointing at Rui Fei without a second thought. Rui Fei who was thinking of running away just now couldn't disobey Ji Yao's order so he remained rooted on the spot while the other scattering in all directions. 

Xunshi Zhe sympathized with Rui Fei as he crouched on the ground and began to draw some kind of array. He sat crossed-legged inside the array and chanted something and in two short minutes a powerful gale spread from the array all over the entire palace.

A barrier invisible to the human race surrounded the palace. This type of barrier wasn't just a wall to prevent people from fleeing but it was rather sinister in that whoever tried to pass through their flesh would melt off and their soul consumed by the barrier.

To be exact it was a barrier made of vengeful spirits hungry for fresh souls. This technique wasn't as effective on Nocru people of a certain level but for humans, it was a death sentence. Lucky for the emperor his subordinates who walked ahead of him alerted him of the danger by being sacrificial lambs. He had survived a calamity but it also meant he was trapped and his enemy was closing in on him. Translation, he was fucked either way.