Chapter 198: Seizing Power
"Shut up."
Duan Tianlang barked at Lin Feng, his voice cold. "Sharp-tongued and full of nonsense. Lin Feng, don't think that just because you're the princess's guard, you can do whatever you please. The military has its iron laws."
"You shut up, Duan Tianlang. I, Lin Feng, came to Broken Blade City to lend support, but I never said I would join your army. I'm here on the orders of the Second Prince to protect the princess, and that's the only reason I'm staying. What right do you have to command me? I am not your subordinate."
Lin Feng shouted back just as harshly, a cold sneer on his lips. Now that they had reached Broken Blade City, did he think he would still be afraid of Duan Tianlang?
Hearing Lin Feng's words, Duan Tianlang's eyes narrowed slightly, a chill flashing within them. In his view, now that Lin Feng was in his army, even if he was the princess's guard, he was still at Duan Tianlang's mercy to toy with as he pleased. He hadn't expected Lin Feng to dare refute him—what an arrogant bastard.
At this moment, the crowd's gazes also froze, staring blankly at Lin Feng. This guy really was bold enough to defy the commander right in the middle of the military camp.
"Uncle, what Lin Feng just said isn't without reason. The soldiers on the city wall saw our large numbers but still strictly followed orders. That shows General Shenjian runs a disciplined army. How could you say they harbor rebellious intent? What you said earlier, Uncle, was hardly appropriate."
Duan Xinye spoke up from the side, surprisingly taking Lin Feng's side, causing the surrounding gazes to freeze once more.
Duan Tianlang's eyes beneath his armor turned cold. "Princess, setting aside whether my words were appropriate or not, just based on Lin Feng's treasonous remarks just now, I must punish him."
"Punish me? What crime are you going to charge me with?" Lin Feng sneered. By now, Lin Feng had also realized that Duan Tianlang and the Second Prince, Duan Wuya, were likely not on the same side. Otherwise, he wouldn't have targeted Lin Feng the moment he arrived. After all, before they set out, the Second Prince had specifically instructed that only Duan Xinye could touch Lin Feng.
"Disobeying military orders and committing treason," Duan Tianlang said coldly.
"Treason?" Lin Feng stared at Duan Tianlang. "And what do you plan to do to me?"
"For the sake of the princess's face, I'll spare you the death penalty, but you won't escape punishment. I'll have you bound and imprisoned, then submit a memorial to His Majesty for him to decide your fate."
"Ridiculous."
Lin Feng responded coldly, then turned to Duan Xinye. "Princess, it's not that I, Lin Feng, refuse to protect you, but Duan Tianlang can't tolerate me. Lin Feng, I take my leave."
With that, Lin Feng spurred his horse forward, the dragon steed advancing as he called out to the crowd, "Anyone willing to follow me, step out."
"Let's see who dares to step out."
Duan Tianlang sneered coldly. This guy had quite the nerve—was he looking for death?
But no sooner had Duan Tianlang's words fallen than many people immediately spurred their horses forward. Meng Qing, Liu Fei, Wen Aoxue, Yuan Shan, Duan Feng, and others, along with Hei Mo leading thirty-two men in bronze masks, all stepped out. The massive formation made Duan Tianlang's eyes freeze. He had no idea when Lin Feng had gathered so many companions.
"Princess, it's not that I, Lin Feng, am unwilling to protect you, but Duan Tianlang is settling personal scores and simply can't tolerate me. Take care."
With that, Lin Feng's dragon steed charged forward, heading straight for the city gate at breakneck speed.
The others followed closely behind Lin Feng, causing the gazes of those behind to narrow slightly. What boldness.
"Archers!"
Duan Tianlang shouted coldly, killing intent spreading everywhere. Instantly, the armored soldiers in front took two steps forward, pulling arrows from their backs in one motion, crouching, and drawing their bows.
Lin Feng and the others tensed up, a faint chill radiating from their bodies. Their horses continued forward, but they were already prepared for battle.
"Everyone, stop right there!"
Just then, a furious shout rang out. The owner of this voice was none other than the usually gentle Duan Xinye.
"Princess, this is a military order. They disobeyed orders, so they deserve death," Duan Tianlang said coldly, staring at Duan Xinye. The saying "When on campaign, a general may refuse the emperor's command" was being played out to the fullest.
Once on the battlefield, Duan Tianlang had already cast aside the Second Prince Duan Wuya's words, intent on killing Lin Feng and the others.
"The Celestial Wolf King has quite the nerve," the crowd thought with a shudder. Yue Tianchen and the others, however, wore faint smiles. What they dared not do, the Celestial Wolf King was doing for them.
"Military order?" Duan Xinye's beautiful face was covered in a layer of frost. She hadn't expected Duan Tianlang to be so audacious.
"Today, whoever dares to loose that arrow, I, Duan Xinye, will kill them on the spot. Let's see if the Celestial Wolf King dares to make a move against me."
A cold shout erupted from Duan Xinye's lips, causing the armored soldiers ahead to tremble inwardly, caught in a difficult position.
That was right. If Duan Xinye were to kill them on the spot, even if they could fight, they wouldn't dare. If they injured Duan Xinye, they believed the Celestial Wolf King would not hesitate to kill them instead.
Duan Xinye was different from Lin Feng. She was a true princess, of noble status. No matter how bold Duan Tianlang was, he wouldn't dare let anything happen to her.
Duan Tianlang's gaze also froze. He hadn't expected Duan Xinye to go so far to help Lin Feng.
In that brief moment, Lin Feng and his group had already ridden far, reaching the base of Broken Blade City in an instant. By now, even arrow attacks wouldn't do much damage to Lin Feng and the others.
"I am Lin Feng. Please, brothers, open the city gate."
Lin Feng called out to the soldiers atop the city wall. Recognizing his face, they revealed faint smiles and called back, "It's Young Master Lin Feng. Open the gate."
"Young Master Lin Feng, is our young lady safe?" a soldier on the wall asked. Just then, Liu Fei beside Lin Feng removed her helmet, revealing her beautiful face.
"Young lady, you're back!"
Those men exclaimed excitedly. At that moment, a rumbling sound echoed as Lin Feng and the others spurred their horses forward. In just a few moments, they had entered the city gate.
This scene left the distant soldiers exchanging bewildered glances. Their army had arrived with military orders and the Celestial Wolf King himself, yet the gate hadn't opened.
But Lin Feng had barely been there a moment, and with just one word, the soldiers on the wall opened the gate.
"General, they're utterly disrespectful. Why don't we just storm the gate?" someone behind the Celestial Wolf King suggested. Among them were many Spirit Martial Realm experts. The city wall wasn't very high; a few leaps would get them up. But generally, they wouldn't do that. Forcibly climbing the wall would be an act of siege, leading to open conflict and a fight to the death.
The Celestial Wolf King turned back and coldly glared at the speaker, his gaze sharp.
"I came to join forces with General Shenjian to repel foreign enemies. I will not deliberately provoke conflict. Fall back."
"Yes, General." The man, hearing Duan Tianlang's icy shout, trembled slightly, bowed his head, and retreated. Anger burned in his heart, but he dared not voice it. The Celestial Wolf King didn't seem like he was here to join forces at all—but he only dared to think that.
"Pass the order to the entire army: halt and rest here."
Duan Tianlang said indifferently. The order was relayed, and instantly, the soldiers stirred with agitation, a hint of anger in their hearts.
How infuriating. They had come to help Liu Canglan fight the enemy, only to be blocked outside the city gate, resting in the dust. This also diminished their goodwill toward Shenjian Liu Canglan. They didn't understand why the Celestial Wolf King was swallowing his pride.
Meanwhile, Lin Feng and the others entered the city gate and saw at a glance that order within Broken Blade City was well-maintained, not chaotic at all. At the same time, Liu Canglan's figure appeared before them, walking over with a smile.
"Lin Feng, Feifei, you're here."
"Uncle Liu," Lin Feng called out, but his eyes were filled with doubt as he occasionally glanced into the distance.
"Xiao Feng, are you wondering why Broken Blade City is still so peaceful? And why I'm here instead of on the city wall, not letting them in?"
Liu Canglan seemed to see through Lin Feng's thoughts at a glance and spoke to him.
"Please enlighten me, Uncle Liu," Lin Feng admitted without denial.
A bitter smile curled at the corner of his mouth. Liu Canglan said, "Xiao Feng, they must have told you that Broken Blade City was under attack by Moyue and urgently needed reinforcements, so they raised an army to come and help, right?"
"Isn't that the case?" Lin Feng's pupils contracted at Liu Canglan's words, as if he suddenly realized something.
And Liu Canglan's bitter smile deepened, with a hint of coldness.
"Broken Blade City has been perfectly peaceful. There was never any crisis. They didn't come to help—they came to seize power. The royal family couldn't hold back any longer and decided to make a move against me."