Chapter 500: Not Enough Control!
Not Enough Control! . . .
Ling Wuxie was taken aback, and then his expression turned solemn. "Okay!"
In that moment, he grasped why Cha Eun Xiao had suddenly changed his mind.
He felt a sense of foreboding creeping in.
[Perhaps my intuition is correct...] Ling Wuxie thought.
...
At last, they had concluded their discussions on the conditions.
"Please, enjoy some tea," Cha Eun Xiao offered with a polite smile, the first time all three of them had exhibited such courtesy.
They sipped their tea, though it tasted bland.
[What a stubborn man. He won't yield to either soft or hard tactics. He's a real pain...]
Ling Wuxie swore to himself. [From now on, I'll never negotiate with this man again! He can always push you past your limits with ease... and he'll keep wanting more and more...]
[This is just excessive!]
...
Outside the capital, the battles were approaching their conclusions.
The other two kingdoms could only deploy limited forces within the capital of the Kingdom of Chen. Moreover, most martial forces in the world were drawn to Ling-Bao Hall.
If Ling-Bao Hall were to be defeated, these forces would readily create chaos within the Kingdom of Chen.
Such chaos could easily bring down the entire Chen-Xing City!
Surprisingly, Ling-Bao Hall chose to dispatch these forces. They didn't fight to retain them.
These assassins had been lurking, waiting for Ling-Bao Hall to post a bounty. The potential upheaval that could have destroyed the kingdom suddenly disappeared!
This turned the impossible into reality!
In fact, the Kingdom of Chen had made extensive preparations for such turmoil. The royal family was deeply concerned about their safety.
When they learned that the assassins were solely targeting Feng Zhiling, Wan Zhenghao, and all of Ling-Bao Hall, many members of the royal court breathed a sigh of relief. They were primarily concerned with their own safety.
The entire court was well aware of the saying, "Teeth cannot survive without lips." Ling-Bao Hall was pitted against a force representing the entire world. Even if the Kingdom of Chen attempted to shield them, it was likely to be in vain. Ling-Bao Hall had already expended all the promised funds.
Thus, the court officials preferred to adopt a wait-and-see attitude. Many had secretly ordered their subordinates that if Ling-Bao Hall fell, they should infiltrate the premises and seize as many treasures as possible. If Ling-Bao Hall crumbled, they would have a better chance to acquire something before it was too late!
Only the military stood unwaveringly behind Ling-Bao Hall, but the key figures of the military, Prince Hua-Yang, General Lan, and Cha Nantian, were all absent from the capital. They were too far away to exert their influence, and only lesser figures remained in the city. Their voices carried little weight in the court.
When the king forcefully struck the table, he declared, "We may not be able to save them, but we can stand beside them in their hour of need! Seventy billion won't buy betrayal! Seventy billion won't purchase safety for traitors! I will not trade the kingdom's honor for seventy billion!"
"I cannot face such shame!"
The king's words resounded through the entire court.
His words were like a heavy hammer, smashing through the confusion. The officials began to pay more attention to Ling-Bao Hall. As more and more forces converged on the situation, it spiraled out of control, causing panic among everyone.
They were eager to regain control of their own subordinates, and thus they recalled those sent from Ling-Bao Hall.
However, none of them were aware that those sent to assassinate Feng Zhiling were utterly ineffective, despite their claims of invincibility.
It left everyone baffled!
Within a mere four hours, countless assassins from across the globe made a hasty retreat. The significant global crisis seemed to evaporate in this short span of time. Furthermore, many of these assassins shifted their allegiance to Ling-Bao Hall.
It was the first time that Ling-Bao Hall, the wealthiest faction globally, showcased the incredible power of its wealth.
Yet, the world remained unaware of the full story. If the royal court had known that Cha Eun Xiao, Ling-Bao Hall's monarch, had effectively vanquished the assassins using financial means, annihilated sixty-four elite cultivators from the two major sects, and even defeated the legendary figure Bu Jingtian, the court officials would have wept in despair. Even if they were cognizant of Ling-Bao Hall's remarkable victory, they would still have regretted their inaction. Timely support meant so much more earlier than later.
When the Kingdom of Chen was besieged by external threats and faced its most perilous hour, Ling-Bao Hall had offered vital assistance. This support enabled the Kingdom of Chen to recover and transformed danger into an opportunity, bringing victory within reach. However, when Ling-Bao Hall needed help the most, the entire kingdom turned its back on them. Some individuals even sought to exploit Ling-Bao Hall's downfall. This was not mere betrayal; it was sheer treachery.
Such were the consequences of political motivations. Morally, however, it was reprehensible.
At this juncture, Ling-Bao Hall possessed overwhelming power. To spies from other kingdoms, it seemed wiser to abandon any designs against Ling-Bao Hall and, instead, incite assassins to target the royal house. Ling-Bao Hall was currently impervious to defeat, but the Royal House presented an enticing opportunity. If they managed to undermine the royal family, perhaps by assassinating some princes, the crown prince, or even the king, it would be a significant achievement.
Their efforts, however, were thwarted by the Kingdom of Chen's well-prepared defense forces!
While the Kingdom of Chen's defense forces were not exceptionally powerful, there was an intervention by a group of black-clad individuals.
Leading this group were Ning Biluo and Zhao Pingtian!
The world's No. 1 and No. 3 assassins!
The King of Assassins!
The Killer King!
Alongside them was another figure, the Instant Killer, Liu Changjun!
For those embroiled in the battle, these individuals were a tremendous shock!
Most importantly, they were allied with the Kingdom of Chen.
Ning Biluo and Zhao Pingtian swiftly advanced, seeming like two death deities who had suddenly descended upon the world. Wherever they went, blood and flesh flew.
They charged and slew with ruthless efficiency, vanquishing their adversaries.
When the royal guards sounded the horn to mount a counteroffensive, the situation was already resolved!
In fact, the presence of Ning Biluo and Zhao Pingtian was the deciding factor in the outcome. With Ling-Bao Hall aligning itself with the Kingdom of Chen, the outcome was essentially sealed!
Since the turmoil began, the king had refrained from retreating to a hidden chamber and instead stood, watching the city's battles unfold. He remained silent and motionless.
Two superior cultivators stood beside him, ready to protect him.
Behind him was an empty residence.
"Who are these individuals? They've come to aid us, but how can they possess such incredible martial skills?" The king asked, his sharp eyes fixed on the group led by Ning Biluo and Zhao Pingtian.
"Those two are the No. 1 and No. 3 assassins on the global ranking list: Ning Biluo and Zhao Pingtian. According to information from Ling-Bao Hall, they've both joined the hall," Master Sun, who stood behind the king, explained.
"So, they're from Ling-Bao Hall..." The king observed them and sighed. "Does this mean that Ling-Bao Hall has overcome its crisis?"
Master Sun nodded. "It must be. The city is in disarray, so news is arriving late, but with these two assassins here, Ling-Bao Hall should be safe."
"I... I owe Ling-Bao Hall an apology. I owe an apology to Feng Monarch," the king lamented.
Master Sun reassured him, "No need to feel guilty. A king is often the most powerless. The Kingdom of Chen is presently in a perilous situation, and the events in the martial world are not our primary concern. Feng Monarch can certainly empathize with your predicament. Moreover, you've demonstrated your commitment not to betray them. Otherwise, Feng Monarch wouldn't have dispatched Ning Biluo and others to aid us."
"If he cannot comprehend my situation, I might feel better." The king expressed his sorrow. "When a king makes a decision, he sometimes suffers immense losses."
"I've been contemplating whether I've exerted enough power to control this court... but it seems insufficient..." The king's eyes gleamed with intense, murderous intent, causing the two prominent cultivators beside him to shudder.
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