Chapter 278: Chapter 278: Dismount and Accept Inspection
Lu Chao gazed ahead and said softly, "Let’s go. We’ll go meet the Lion Flame Commander right now."
And so, Lu Chao led the members of the Dragon Flame Academy, marching straight ahead.
Dean Jiang stepped forward in concern. "Lu Chao, what if there’s a huge ambush? What if the Six Great Flame Countries have already joined forces up ahead?"
If it wasn’t just the Lion Flame forces up ahead, but the assembled armies of all Six Great Flame Countries, they would be charging to their deaths.
One wrong move, and the entire academy would be wiped out...
In response, Lu Chao smiled calmly. "Don’t worry, Dean Jiang. We haven’t brought any of Dragon Flame’s forces with us. For now, the Six Great Flame Countries will still want to save some face. They won’t team up just yet."
"Besides, we’re too close to Dragon Flame here. If they did join forces, Dragon Flame would immediately send in troops and it would escalate into a full-blown war."
"More importantly, they’re also afraid the Great Wu Empire might launch a surprise attack."
Even though they had negotiated a temporary truce, who was to say the Great Wu Empire wouldn’t suddenly tear up the agreement?
"There’s no need to worry. This battle is inevitable."
With that, Lu Chao surged to the very front of the group.
An hour later, they saw a large mass of forces up ahead. All of them bore the insignia of the Lion Flame Kingdom.
As they drew near, Lu Chao raised a hand, bringing the group from Dragon Flame Academy to a halt.
And at that moment... THUD THUD THUD.
Dozens of warhorses charged out from the midst of the Lion Flame Soldiers and Horses. Two men led the charge. One was the Dean of the Lion Institute, and the other Lu Chao also recognized: the Lion Flame Commander he had once seen at the Tiger Flame Sword Tooth Cities.
From the Dragon Flame Academy’s side, Sun Shijin was the first to ride forward. He asked coolly, "Dean Lion Institute, why do you block our path?"
Although everyone knew what was going on, they still had to keep up appearances.
Hearing this, Dean Lion smiled...
He replied to Sun Shijin, "Elder Sun, I’m just here to watch the show. As for the specifics, you should ask our commander."
The Lion Flame Commander slowly urged his warhorse forward...
His gaze landed on Lu Chao, a cold glint flashing through his eyes. He then looked over to Fan Jinhua, the sinister look in his eyes intensifying. It was these two who had caused them so much trouble at Sword Tooth City.
Back then, these two had forced the Six Flames Commanders to request the Six Paths Royal Decree.
This Fake Lu Chao had been completely unknown at the time; he only started to become famous after impersonating Great Wu Lu Chao below the walls of Sword Tooth City.
He withdrew his gaze and suppressed the murderous intent in his heart...
The Lion Flame Commander replied, "Here’s the situation. We’ve received intelligence that spies from the Great Wu Empire have infiltrated your Dragon Flame Academy. Now, I must ask all of you to dismount and submit to an inspection."
In reality, it was just an excuse for revenge.
An excuse to stop the Beast Flame Outer Courtyard from truly establishing itself, and to get even for the failed negotiations.
If the Dragon Flame Academy were to submit to their inspection, he would immediately seize Lu Chao’s wife and claim she was from the Great Wu Empire.
A spy from the Great Wu Empire...
Everyone now knew that Lu Chao’s wife was the illegitimate granddaughter of the Saint Bone Su Family from Yangzhou City in the Great Wu Empire.
And Fake Lu Chao would never allow his wife to be captured and killed, so he would surely resist. Resisting would be grounds to accuse him of colluding with Great Wu Empire spies to infiltrate the Hundred Countries, giving them a reason to take him down on the spot.
Finally, it would incite the entire Dragon Flame Academy to fight back against them.
When that time came, blades would have no eyes, and the core figures of Dragon Flame Academy would all have to be slaughtered.
Although they had been mentally prepared, Sun Shijin and the others couldn’t help but look grim upon hearing these words.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the Lion Institute added with a wide grin, "So, it’s true you have Great Wu Empire spies in your midst. That’s a serious problem, Elder Sun. Why don’t you let us help you root them out?"
In response, Sun Shijin couldn’t be bothered to reply and instead looked toward Lu Chao.
He really didn’t know how to handle this kind of situation.
Lu Chao, however, urged his horse forward and said with a light chuckle, "What a coincidence. We at Dragon Flame Academy have also received intelligence. It says that you have spies from the Nanye Dynasty mixed in with your Lion Flame Soldiers and Horses. Please, all of you, remove your armor, dismount, and allow us to conduct an inspection..."
As soon as he said this, the Lion Flame Commander immediately bellowed, "Fake Lu Chao, you’re just a junior student! You have no right to speak."
Suddenly, Lu Chao produced a token...
"Before I set out, I received a token from our Dragon Flame King. Right now, I am not just a student, but also a Junior General of the Dragon Flame Kingdom. The order I received was... to eliminate spies from the Nanye Dynasty."
In truth, the token was merely a formality.
Following Lu Chao’s words, the atmosphere instantly dropped to a freezing point, and the two sides were locked in a standoff.
In the next moment, the Lion Flame Commander couldn’t be bothered to pretend anymore.
He roared, "It seems you of Dragon Flame Academy are determined to harbor spies from the Great Wu Empire! In that case, you leave us no choice... I will force you all to submit to an inspection."
"Soldiers of Lion Flame, hear my command! Follow me and strip the Battle Armor from everyone in the Dragon Flame Academy."
As before, he just needed an excuse to attack.
Following the Lion Flame Commander’s order... THUD!
The Lion Flame Soldiers and Horses took a heavy step forward in unison, their ferocious battle intent surging to the heavens as the horns of war began to sound.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao slowly put away his token, his voice thundering, "The Lion Flame Commander is the real spy from the Nanye Dynasty! He has brought his troops here to invade Jilong State! Everyone, follow me and... execute him!"
Returning the favor, Lu Chao directly branded the Lion Flame Commander a spy, marking him for death.
The eyes of the Dragon Flame Academy members flew open. Some students were panicked and nervous, but others were filled with extreme excitement. The excited ones were the several hundred young people from the Azure Flame Sect. They could once again go on a killing spree with Lu Chao.
They unconsciously found themselves missing the days when they followed Lu Chao, wreaking havoc across the Hundred Countries.
Their bodies seemed to radiate a bloodthirsty battle lust.
The Lion Flame Commander gave a cold laugh. "With your paltry two-thousand-some people? How utterly ridiculous... Kill them!"
As his voice fell... KILL!
The Lion Flame Soldiers and Horses let out a roar and charged forward to kill. But in the very next moment... AHHHHHHH!
Screams of agony suddenly erupted from within the ranks of the Lion Flame Soldiers and Horses. Countless arrows flew in from all directions, raining down on them in a frenzy. The Lion Flame Commander was instantly stunned. ’What is happening?’
In the next moment, Lu Chao shouted, "Nanye spy, Lion Flame Commander, who said there were only a mere two thousand of us?"
As his voice fell, the Lion Flame Commander glared at him furiously...
He roared, "Fake Lu Chao, your Dragon Flame Kingdom actually sent troops into the Hundred Countries! Are you trying to make an enemy of all the Hundred Countries?"
In his mind, the troops ambushing them from the surroundings must have been sent by the Dragon Flame Kingdom.
But Lu Chao retorted, "Who told you the Dragon Flame Kingdom sent troops into the Hundred Countries? Have you perhaps forgotten what we descendants of the Azure Flame Sect enjoy doing most?"
The Lion Flame Commander froze, as did the Dean of the Lion Institute. ’What is it they enjoy doing most?’
"Lion Flame Commander, Fake Lu Chao has taken us hostage!"
Just at that moment, several figures appeared on a distant hilltop.
They were clad in royal robes. Behind them were several descendants of the Azure Flame Sect, holding swords to their necks.
The Lion Flame Commander looked up, his eyes immediately widening.
Then, he whipped his head back to look at Lu Chao and stammered, "You... you... you... you’re taking the kings of the smaller kingdoms hostage again!"
