Mountain Patrol Military Officer

"A bet is a bet."

"If you two feel humiliated, go ahead and make your move. I, the general, will accompany you, and let the citizens of Divine Capital see your skills!"

With these stirring words, a cold snort came from the distant sky. Then, from both east and west, two terrifying auras that had swiftly risen and begun to recover in an instant retreated like a tide, as if nothing had happened.

Also, the few pairs of eyes silently watching from the surroundings faded away without a trace.

The plan failed once again.

If they had blocked this side from making a move earlier, and the Ninth Mountain Troops were incited to be annihilated by the imperial guards, this Shu Colonel would definitely explode, providing an excuse to make a fuss. But now they had no reason to make trouble, and strong action would be in vain,

At that moment, the training ground, disrupted by a Mountain-cutting Banner, made the imperial guard troops feel as though an invisible and terrifying eye was staring down from the heavens, making their bodies shiver with cold and their hairs stand on end.

The indifferent and dominating voice of a person echoed beside the ears of every individual, resonating so powerfully it made their ears buzz.

"Every Tom, Dick, and Harry dares to provoke me and my soldiers. They're courting death."

As the words fell, a pair of fox-like eyes widened in horror on the Soldier Inspection Platform. That particular Imperial Censor, shocked as if struck by a heavy blow, his eyeballs bulged, and then his entire body was hit by some force, curling up like a shrimp ball.

"Puff"—a mouthful of blood spurted out.

A second later, the Imperial Censor flew backward, crashing through tables, chairs, curtains, and stone slabs, flying out of the Soldier Inspection Platform and landing heavily on the ground.

He spit another mouthful of blood, his face contorted in painful pallor, eyes filled with fear.

It was the Shu General who attacked him.

The other party wanted to kill him!

"I implore General Chen to show mercy!"

Just then, a loud voice sounded above the encampment, followed by a beast's roar.

A golden lion, dazzling like gold, about a zhang long, flew in the sky. On its back was a Silver Armor General, with a slender waist and broad shoulders like an ape, eyebrows extending to the temples, and a clear expression. A white-headed eagle stood on his shoulder, his battle robe was embroidered with golden jade, eyes like a tiger's, filled with martial prowess.

He cupped his fists toward the sky,

"I am Zhang Qing, the Twelve Guards Commander of the Northern Forbidden Army. Leave this matter and these people to me. I will report to Your Majesty and ensure a resolution is given to General Chen."

The imperial guard is divided into the Southern and Northern Court. The Southern Court guards the Divine Capital and Capital, while the Northern Court of Twelve Guards defends the Imperial City, based out of twelve encampments surrounding the city. Each commander oversees four encampments, all skilled in martial arts. Higher up are the Deputy Commanders, and the Great Commander of the entire Imperial Guard force, who is Marquis Wei Yuan.

He rushed over, having seen the confrontation on Xuankong Mountain between the mighty individual and two other powerful beings from a distance, knew something major was amiss.

A cold snort echoed from the sky, and then there was silence.

Zhang Qing waited for a few breaths, seeing the figure atop Xuankong Mountain did not further challenge the people below, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Then his gaze turned to the chaotic crowd of imperial guards below, eyebrows furrowing tightly, and he shouted angrily.

"All of you, return to your units!"

Then he leapt down onto the Soldier Inspection Platform, where Lin Zhonglang hastily bowed, "Commander!"

"Explain what happened!" Zhang Qing's face turned cold as he looked at his trusted subordinate, questioning how things could have escalated to near cataclysmic proportions within the encampment.

Lin Zhonglang, unable to hold back, quickly relayed the complete story, with every word pointing at Imperial Censor Wang Xi for stirring up trouble.

When Zhang Qing heard that Imperial Censor Wang Xi seemed to be colluding with the Three Families and impulsively instigating conflict, dragging the imperial guard into a confrontation, his brows filled with killing intent.

Some people think they're very clever. They are directly under His Majesty and must not get involved in court strife, especially faction fights, which are taboo.

Hearing that the guard units from the Three Families, while forcibly instigating conflict, failed to withstand even a few charges from the Ninth Mountain Army, his expression grew uglier.

Useless, absolutely useless. If you had won the conflict, the matter could have been smoothed over, as His Majesty has the final say. But you provoked them and still couldn't win.

If word of this spreads, the entire imperial guard will be shamed.

He himself is going to be doomed by that eunuch Wang Xi!

If His Majesty discovers that the imperial guards under him are like this, the wrath will be unimaginable. No, His Majesty probably already knows; Zhang Qing shivered inside, he must quickly take people to confess their crimes.

If it's delayed, his life won't be spared.

As he thought this, Zhang Qing's tiger-like eyes glinted ruthlessly,

"Bring along those who caused the trouble. I don't care which of the Three Families they're from, accompany me to see His Majesty, or neither of us will have a good outcome."

Having finished speaking to Lin Zhonglang, his fierce gaze shifted as he dashed to the back of the Soldier Inspection Platform, then landed on a piece of open ground.

At his feet, Imperial Censor Wang Xi coughed blood, sprawled like a dying dog. Seeing Zhang Qing's arrival, his eyes lit with hope, clutching his chest, struggling to rise.

"General Zhang, it's fortunate you came in time, otherwise..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Qing landed a fierce kick into his stomach, causing him to scream miserably, rolling seven and a half times on the ground.

Then Zhang Qing stooped, grabbing him by the collar, eyes filled with a fierce glare,

"Otherwise what? You worthless creature, causing so much harm."

"Whatever you have to say, tell it to His Majesty when we get there!"

With that, Zhang Qing picked him up like a dead dog, leaping onto his mount, the Golden Lion.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhonglang called for the capture of the sons of the Gongyang family and the Meng family who were buried in the sand, and had Wang Xi's favorite godson tied up thoroughly; the latter was so terrified his face was deathly pale, nearly unable to stand.

Following this, Zhang Qing, accompanied by Lin Zhonglang, quickly escorted the group out of the camp and headed straight toward the central Imperial City.

Meanwhile, local citizens from the Divine Capital, having witnessed the supernatural phenomenon and seeing the mighty in action, were stirred with excitement despite the briefness of the event. The streets buzzed with chatter as they pointed towards the direction of Xuankong Mountain.

Not long after, carriages arrived one after another at Chengtian Gate outside the Dragon Court walls.

"I have an urgent matter to report and must enter the palace to see His Majesty."

"Make way."

"....."

In the afternoon, a crowd of officials entered the palace.

Outside the Taiji Palace, several advisors and censors knelt before the tightly shut main gates, calling out the name that hadn't been mentioned in court for days.

Their words, each aimed at touching upon Shu Colonel Chen Yuan's self-important and unruly behavior, accused him of using his troops to harm the southwest and accused him of deliberately injuring and killing imperial guards with malicious intent, suggesting grave punishment.

Some in the Three Families grew impatient, seeking to use today's incident to collectively make a stand, forcing a commitment from His Majesty.

They were sure this incident would infuriate His Majesty.

After all, this imperial guard incident had tarnished His Majesty's reputation as well.

Outside the Taiji Palace, these advisors were shouting one after another, forming an incendiary chorus of clamor, practically demanding a decree from His Majesty to execute the general from Shu.

Soon enough, the doors of the Taiji Palace creaked open.

Amidst the opening doors, sharp, desperate cries for mercy resonated.

"Your Majesty!"

Spare me"

..."

That afternoon a group of officials entered the palace.

In the center, disheveled and frantic, was the Military Supervisor Wang Xi, who was pushed out with the rest, his voice shrill with fear.

Twelve Guards Commander Zhang Qing stepped out of Taiji Palace, eyes like a tiger as he glared coldly at the kneeling officials outside the gates, then turned his gaze to the four men being dragged out, eyes flashing with danger,

A few words were followed by high-pitched pleas for mercy as the gates opened.

"Your Majesty, please show mercy!"

With the issue at hand finally addressed, in the afternoon, all the officials entered the palace.

At Zhang Qing's command, the four men were dragged to the ground before the eyes of the gathered court advisors.

As Imperial Guardsmen held the long spears across the necks of the four, pressing their heads to the ground, execution was carried out in full view of the officials.

The heavy iron rods struck the men's behinds forcefully, shattering the True Qi defense upon them, sending piercing sounds through the air, causing the spirit of these court officials to waver and, in their fright, silence fell upon their lips.