Chapter 247: Turn of events
"You’re lying! 12 years ago, I was only three years old. Saying that I killed their king is an insult to their king! Or... do you have a guilty conscience?" Fang Zhengzhi’s gaze became sharp and icy.
He had expected Shan Jia’s response.
It was only reasonable for Shan Jia to respond that way. Shan Jia was actually not the guilty party. However, who cared about that? Fang Zhengzhi was just waiting for that response.
"Aroo!" The one thousand Blue Fire Wolves howled after hearing what Fang Zhengzhi said. This time, their howls were filled with fury.
As beasts who lived in a herd, their intelligence was much greater than those of other beasts. They had quickly come to a decision on who was lying.
"Imagine if i had killed their king, wouldn’t I have even less incentive to show his hide and speak out about the incident? Do you really think that these are mindless wolves who will be controlled by you?" Fang Zhengzhi said deliberately as he saw the raging pack.
The eyes of the 1000 Blue Fire Wolves turned red in that instant.
Shan Jia’s expression also changed.
He had no idea that the Blue Fire Wolf King was killed. He also did not expect that Fang Zhengzhi would use its hide to frame him.
He felt incredibly wronged.
He felt like the monk who knew that the kid in the lady’s womb was not his. However, after the baby was born, a blood test revealed that it was a match to his.
Was there anything more ridiculous than this?
F*ck!"
This is ludicrous!
Shan Jia wanted to explain himself, but he did not know how.
The thousands of soldiers were stunned by this turn of events. All of them looked towards Fang Zhengzhi.
"Did Shan Jia really kill the Blue Fire Wolf King?"
"If that is so, this is a great chance for us!"
The soldiers did not know if Fang Zhengzhi was telling the truth. However, they were inclined to believe him. After all, like what Fang Zhengzhi said, he was only three years old 12 years ago.
Killing the Blue Fire Wolf King at three?
Is that possible?
Of course not.
Fang Zhengzhi ignored the surprise of the soldiers. He continued to motion with his limbs. He wanted to strike whilst the iron was hot.
He would keep going, suffocating Shan Jia until he had gotten what he wanted.
"I still have other evidence, would you like to see it? It has to do with the Tri-horn White Rhinoceros, the Steel Limb Golden Ape, and the Torrential Thunder Lions. Which one would you like to see first?" Fang Zhengzhi continued before Shan Jia could reply.
"That’s impossible!" Shan Jia’s eyes turned red. He had chased all four of the kings away in four different directions.
His sole intent was to prevent them from interacting with each other.
Even if Fang Zhengzhi could get his hands on the Blue Fire Wolf King hide, how could he possibly have those of the other three?
Shan Jia did not believe it.
However, if Fang Zhengzhi clearly did not have it, why would he announce it so loudly? Is he not afraid that his lies will be torn apart?
Or...
"Not good!"
Shan Jia suddenly remembered something. He subconsciously tried to run, but it was too late. A purple light had hit his body, and there was a ray of black light hidden within it.
That was a lethal strike.
"Sh*t!"
Before he could say anything, a large black sword had already pierced his heart, sending blood splattering everywhere.
Shan Jia’s eyes widened as the life slipped from him.
He finally understood what Fang Zhengzhi was trying to do, but it was too late. He could feel the energy exit his body in that instant.
"Oh... I see... ahem..." Shan Jia coughed up a mouthful of blood as he glared at Xing Yuanguo. His eyes were filled with pain and unwillingness. However, there was also a subtle glint of relief, almost as if a load had been taken off his shoulders.
"Shan Jia, aren’t you going to say anything before you die?" Xing Yuanguo’s eyes glimmered.
It was not difficult for someone as powerful as him to sneak an attack on Shan Jia. Furthermore, Shan Jia was flustered, his concentration fully on Fang Zhengzhi.
Xing Yuanguo would never let an opportunity like that slip by.
"Haha, you want to know the Southern Mountain Range’s... attitude towards the Great Xia Dynasty? If you want to know... go... go take a look for your... yourself..." Shan Jia’s eyes closed before he could finish.
Even at the point of death, he still did not know why his plan had failed.
He had put in so much effort to set up Cang Ling Mountain and absorb it into The Vast World. He had also made all of the beasts his subordinates.
Each of the 1000 Blue Fire Wolves were at the Divine Seal State. The Steel Limb Golden Ape were incredibly agile, the Tri-horn White Rhinoceros were powerful, and the Torrential Thunder Lions were ferocious...
More importantly, with his training, these beasts could form powerful magical formations. Even if there were many times the number of soldiers, they would still die.
What had gone wrong?
The Blue Fire Wolf King...
How could he have been killed by a three year old kid 12 years ago? Why? All of the villages at the foot of Cang Ling Mountain were all ordinary villagers. No matter how many of them there were, it would be impossible for them to kill a Blue Fire Wolf King!"
"Dong!" Shan Jia’s head hit the ground.
"Aroo!"
"Aroo!"
"..."
"Roar!"
"Aroo!"
All of the beasts, from the Blue Fire Wolves to the Torrential Thunder Lions, were in chaos. Each of them howled and roared continuously.
They seemed to be honoring their dead kings, as well as praying after Shan Jia’s death.
Those were sounds of sadness and anger.
What would a raging army of beasts do? Xing Yuanguo, Bai Xiang, even every member of the Red Pinion Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army knew.
Fang Zhengzhi did not.
Shan Jia had trained these beasts for 12 years. If they would turn against him simply because of what Fang Zhengzhi said, then those 12 years would have been a waste.
He had never intended to turn the army of beasts just by pinning the murder of the Blue Fire Wolf King on Shan Jia. He was just using it to create chaos.
And...
Give Xing Yuanguo a chance to attack.
Just because Shan Jia was dead did not mean that the army of beasts would be commanded by Fang Zhengzhi. However, if Shan Jia was alive, Fang Zhengzhi would have no chance of commanding the army of beasts.
There was absolutely no reason to let Shan Jia live.
Fang Zhengzhi’s idea was simple. He would create an opportunity for Xing Yuanguo to kill Shan Jia. Everything else was not his problem. All he had to do was find a safe place to hide.
Shan Jia’s death resulted in chaos within the ranks of the beasts. He could not possibly predict what would happen next. They could tear Shan Jia apart, turn and attack the demons, or even scatter from the scene.
However, he was sure that without Shan Jia’s leadership, this army of beasts would be untamed.
They would simply run riot!
After the music stopped and the beasts finished their prayers, their eyes glowed with ferocity as they roared.
They did not leave. They glared at everyone in the throne room, including Bai Xing and the black robed men. At this point, everyone was the enemy.
"Fang Zhengzhi!" A raging voice called out his name. This voice naturally originated from Bai Xing. He was furious.
However, Fang Zhengzhi did not care.
Bai Xing’s opponent was Xing Yuanguo.
Xing Yuanguo was quite the match for him. At the very least, Bai Xing had to concentrate fully if he wanted a chance to defeat Xing Yuanguo.
"Kill!" The nine black robed men behind Bai Xing leapt into action.
"Kill!" The morale of the thousands of soldiers rose to an all time high. With the army of beasts left without a commander, it felt like their fighting spirit had been ignited.
The battle finally started. Everyone was inside the bloodbath, and the beasts attacked manically, regardless human or demon.
"Ah!"
"Go to hell!"
...
The battle in the throne room was intense and savage.
Fang Zhengzhi stood by the side of the battle, calm and serene. He was flanked by two ladies.
"Where did you get the hide of the Blue Fire Wolf King?" Ping Yang did not understand what just happened. She could not suppress her curiosity any longer.
"I killed it." Fang Zhengzhi’s mouth twitched as he replied disdainfully.
"You killed it?! Don’t lie to me. How old were you 12 years ago, three? You could kill the Blue Fire Wolf then?" Ping Yang did not believe it.
"Did I say I killed it 12 years ago?" Fang Zhengzhi replied.
"He did kill the Blue Fire Wolf King. However, he didn’t kill it 12 years ago. He killed it eight years ago. He was seven years old then!" Chi Guyan’s voice interrupted the conversation.
"Sister Yan knows about this?"
"Mm."
"Okay then, since Sister Yan says that he killed it, I will believe him. But... he killed it eight years ago?! But he said 12! Fang Zhengzhi, you... you liar!" Ping Yang finally understood.
"Aish... I thought that they were slightly dumb, but I never expected you to be like them... how did you not see through something so obvious?" Fang Zhengzhi mocked.
"How dare you call me dumb? I will complain about this to the emperor and have him strip you of your post!" Ping Yang raged.
She could not possibly tolerate being called dumb in front of Chi Guyan.
"You need to be able to get out first." Fang Zhengzhi ignored Ping Yang’s fury. He was used to it, she was just a pampered princess.
"Get out? Then... then why aren’t you thinking of a method?"
"I already thought of it. Didn’t I just say? I already found a lead!" Fang Zhengzhi said calmly.
"You meant it when you said you found a lead?" Ping Yang said in disbelief.
Chi Guyan was taken aback. She guessed that Fang Zhengzhi was just finding an excuse to get them out of the battle. How could he have possibly found a lead?
"Of course it’s real. Why else would I go back for you two? I am not sick..." Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
"Then tell us!" Ping Yang said anxiously.
"Oh please, if I say it now, you will go to the emperor to complain and strip me of my Sword Envoy position. And then you’ll throw me in jail? I’m not so dumb!" Fang Zhengzhi shook his head.
"You... you are now a rank four official, the Sword Envoy of the Great Xia Dynasty. How dare you disobey my direct order?" Ping Yang said haughtily, her arms akimbo.
"I’m about to be fired anyways, what’s the difference?" Fang Zhengzhi ignored Ping Yang.
"You, you... argh... Sister Yan, he’s bullying me!"
"Fang Zhengzhi, you should just tell us your lead. Maybe we can think of a solution together. I’m sure time is of the essence for you too?" Chi Guyan finally said exasperatingly.
Fang Zhengzhi was slightly taken aback. Just as Chi Guyan had said, time was of the essence. He had to get back to the Northern Mountain Village by sunrise. Else, the damage could be irreversible.
However, he wasn’t too happy about being so submissive towards Chi Guyan.
"I was just lying to her, you actually believed me?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Chi Guyan.
"..." Chi Guyan was stunned. Her lips parted, but words eluded her.
Ping Yang’s face flushed instantly. Her head was held high as a bright red spear appeared in her hand.
It was the Blazing Qilin Spear.
"I will kill you!"
A column of flame shot skyward as Ping Yang bellowed. It crashed towards Fang Zhengzhi, its aura intimidating and powerful.
"You were all talking about the scene at the army camp. The Red Pinion Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army were fighting illusions, but ended up fighting themselves. Afterwards, they were massacred by the black robed masked men. Think about this, if the demons had such a powerful army, why bother training an army of beasts for 12 years?"
Fang Zhengzhi’s mouth twitched as he looked at the column of flames.
Ping Yang’s spear froze in its spot, the flames and the golden glow not able to advance any further.
"Yes! Why?" Ping Yang asked curiously.
Chi Guyan’s eyes glowed as she thought about it. Then, she seemed to have a revelation.
"What you’re saying is..."
"I think that we will have an answer very soon!" Fang Zhengzhi looked thoughtfully at the nine black robed men standing behind Bai Xing.