Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

With a cold smile, Lu Chao looked at Fan Jinhua again and continued, ”Judging by the way Lei Zhen and his son are acting, it’s obvious, Master Fan. In the report you sent to the Tiger Flame Grand General, you never mentioned whether Lu Hanyan was dead or not, did you?”

Fan Jinhua nodded heavily.

It confirmed that in his letter to the Tiger Flame Grand General, he had only mentioned that they had captured Yangzhou City, leaving out the specifics of Lu Hanyan’s assassination.

The matter was too complicated, and he feared he would be punished on the spot...

That was why he had originally planned to wait for Lei Zhen’s arrival to explain everything in detail, hoping Lei Zhen could help him smooth things over.

Who could have known Lei Zhen would completely change his tune?

”In that case, Lei Zhen and his son will have to face Lu Hanyan very soon.”

”Naturally, we’re going to let him have all the credit. We can’t stay in Yangzhou City and fight Lu Hanyan alongside him.”

”If we leave too late, Lei Zhen will force us to lead the charge.”

”It’s not even out of the question that he’d sell us out and leave us here to defend the city.”

As Lu Chao spoke, everyone finally understood why he had agreed to everything so readily.

At once, Tan An lowered his head in shame and quickly apologized to Lu Chao.

Yu Xiaoping, on the other hand, couldn’t help but get excited.

”I’d love to see the look on the faces of Lei Zhen and his son when Lu Hanyan shows up at the city walls. It’s going to be so exciting...”

In an instant, all their previous dejection vanished, replaced by eager anticipation.

However, Luo Wendeng’s heart suddenly sank. He turned to Lu Chao...

”Brother Lu, we failed to assassinate Lu Hanyan. I’m afraid they’re going to make a huge issue out of this.”

”If Lei Zhen and his son die in battle, I’m afraid we’ll be sentenced to death.”

In an instant, the crowd’s excited expressions turned to panic.

But Lu Chao merely smiled calmly...

Cheng Yunsu couldn’t help but jump in. ”Why would you be sentenced to death? Lu Chao just said it: Lei Zhen was in command. The failure to assassinate Lu Hanyan was due to his flawed leadership. What does that have to do with any of you?”

The terrified men’s eyes widened once more. They stared blankly at Cheng Yunsu, then back at Lu Chao.

Two words flashed through their minds... ’How devious!’

...

As time passed, Lu Chao and Fan Jinhua’s two thousand men drew ever closer to Yinzhou City.

「Yangzhou City. The north tower.」

Having stolen the credit for a great victory, Lei Zhen and his son were drinking in celebration...

They had taken full control of Yangzhou City and had already set up its defenses. Drinking was forbidden during wartime, but they were simply overjoyed.

”Father, this is fucking great! We got all this credit for practically nothing!”

”I get the credit for taking the city, and you get the credit for commanding Lu Hanyan’s assassination. It’s incredible!”

”Just thinking about the look on Fan Jinhua’s face makes it worth another drink.”

After speaking, Lei Guangheng drained his cup in one gulp.

Wiping the wine from the corner of his mouth, he spoke again, a hint of confusion in his voice...

”Father, don’t you think you were a bit too hard on Fan Jinhua? Fan Changcun may not have many years left, but he still hasn’t spit out all his knowledge of the Soldier Dao. The Tiger Flame King still has to show him respect, at least on the surface.”

Why was it that even after Fan Changcun’s defeat at the hands of Lu Chao, Fan Jinhua hadn’t been cast aside?

It was precisely because Fan Changcun’s knowledge of the Soldier Dao and other arts seemed to be a bottomless well.

Forty years ago, the various Flame Countries had spared him not only to use him against the Great Wu Empire...

More importantly, they wanted him to train their generals and pass on the Soldier Dao. As long as he was alive and still had knowledge to offer, they had to maintain a facade of respect.

The corner of his mouth twitched...

Lei Zhen said nonchalantly, ”Guangheng, do you really think the Tiger Flame Kingdom, or any of the kingdoms for that matter, only want Fan Changcun’s knowledge of the Soldier Dao? What the Flame Countries truly want is the Azure Flame Sect’s treasure he holds.”

”Treasure?” Lei Guangheng’s eyes widened.

Nodding gravely, Lei Zhen continued to explain...

”I only found out about this recently myself.”

”Rumor has it that the Azure Flame Sect has a Forbidden Land that was never partitioned. Unlocking its gate requires the methods of the Soldier Dao.”

”That’s why forty years ago, Fan Changcun and the entire Azure Flame Martial Dao Sect were allowed to survive.”

”At the time, Fan Changcun claimed he couldn’t open the Forbidden Land and needed more time, so the various Flame Countries granted it to him... Then, three years ago, he said he needed to go to the battlefield to practice his Soldier Arrays in order to find the key to opening the Forbidden Land.”

”So, the Flame Countries let him lead an army to war.”

”They didn’t even hold it against him when he was ultimately defeated by that upstart, Great Wu Lu Chao.”

At this, a savage grin spread across Lei Zhen’s face...

”But another three years have passed, and he still hasn’t managed to breach the gate to the Forbidden Land.”

”The various Flame Countries have completely lost their patience.”

”They suspect he’s stalling on purpose, so they’re forcing his hand by making the Azure Flame Sect’s descendants assassinate Lu Hanyan. If Fan Changcun still can’t open the Forbidden Land, Fan Jinhua will be the next one on the chopping block.”

”In other words, Fan Jinhua is a dead man.”

After hearing all this, Lei Guangheng finally understood. So many other reasons lay behind the respect shown to Fan Changcun.

Suddenly, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. ”Father, does this mean that whether the Forbidden Land can be opened or not, all the descendants of the Azure Flame Sect are doomed to die?”

Gently raising his wine cup, Lei Zhen gave a cold smile. ”When you cut the weeds, you must pull out the roots!”

Lei Guangheng understood at once. From now on, he could bully and abuse Fan Jinhua however he pleased.

Suddenly... ”Report!”

An urgent shout echoed from the distance. ”General Lei, Great Wu forces are attacking!”

CRASH...

Lei Zhen immediately smashed the cup in his hand and declared with an imposing air, ”All men, prepare for battle! Lu Hanyan is dead, and the Great Wu forces are in disarray. We will claim a true victory!”

His voice boomed across the distance, intended to boost the morale of his troops.

The words had barely left his lips when the Great Wu Empire’s forces appeared in the distance, charging wildly toward them...

Then, a cold shout erupted from within the Great Wu ranks. ”What cur dares curse me, this young lady, to death?”

It was none other than Lu Hanyan, responding in a fury after hearing Lei Zhen’s declaration.

Only a short time ago had she realized she’d been tricked again—Fan Jinhua’s team of assassins had actually turned back to attack Yangzhou City.

Lu Hanyan had been incensed, immediately leading her troops back toward Yangzhou City in hot pursuit.

And just as she drew near, she’d heard someone yelling that she was dead. ’The bastards.’

Lu Hanyan’s voice, carrying her powerful True Qi, blasted toward the Yangzhou City tower.

In an instant, the imposing figures of Lei Zhen and his son went slack-jawed...

They stared at Lu Hanyan amidst the Great Wu forces, emanating a terrifying, icy aura. The image from her official portrait flashed through their minds, and Lei Zhen asked dumbly, ”Lu Hanyan, how are you still alive?”

Upon hearing this, Lu Hanyan flew into another rage, her voice shrieking with manic fury...

”Your entire family will die before I do!”

”Where is Fan Jinhua? Tell him to get his ass out here! You aren’t worthy of speaking to me.”

Even now, Lu Hanyan still believed the one who had made a fool of her was Fan Jinhua.

Lei Zhen and his son stared at each other in utter dismay.

The image of Fan Jinhua flashed through their minds, only to be instantly replaced by the face of an unfamiliar young man—Lu Chao. ’It was that bastard... the one who agreed so readily.’

’We’ve been had! Goddammit, Lu Hanyan isn’t dead!’