In the Western Frontier camp.
Blondo was directly thrown into the hall by Zhang Yang.
Bang!
The intense pain brought the unconscious Blondo back to consciousness.
"Ah!"
As soon as he woke up, Blondo let out a scream and glared at Zhang Yang and the Zhenxi Beast King.
"The victor is king, the vanquished is the outlaw. If you want to kill me, then kill me! I, this general, will not utter a single word of complaint!" Blondo said solemnly.
The gladiators were wiped out today, and he himself was severely injured.
Blondo knew that escape was hopeless, so he resigned himself to death.
However.
Zhang Yang had no intention of letting him die so easily. Keeping him alive was essential to extract information.
He walked over to Blondo, squatted down, and asked, "Tell me, what is the relationship between your Emperor and you?"
Blondo was stunned. "What are you talking about? I don't understand. How could your Emperor have any relationship with us?"
"You don't understand?" Zhang Yang frowned.
"Are you planning to play dumb with me? I wouldn't have captured you if I didn't have some evidence!"
Blondo was even more suspicious.
"What relationship does your Emperor have with me? I'm only here in the Western Frontier on the orders of my Gu Ma Kingdom's sovereign to kill the Zhenxi Beast King. As for the other things you mentioned, I truly don't know."
This...
The suspicion on Blondo's face didn't seem feigned.
Zhang Yang found this very strange.
The Zhenxi Beast King also stepped forward and said.
"Could there be a mistake? Even if the Emperor is a fake, he couldn't possibly be from the Gu Ma Kingdom?"
Zhang Yang shook his head.
He refused to believe such a coincidence existed in this world. There had to be a connection.
"You're not going to talk? Then don't blame me."
Instantly.
Zhang Yang's True Dragon Qi manifested at his fingertips and he quickly pressed it onto Blondo, amplifying his nerve pain tenfold.
Then, Zhang Yang directly kicked Blondo away.
With his chest already fractured and internal organs pierced, Blondo let out a pig-like scream!
"Ah! Zhang Yang, if you have the guts, kill me! What kind of hero is it to torture me like this!" Blondo cried out in pain.
"Hero? I never considered myself a hero."
Zhang Yang sneered.
He then kicked the rolling Blondo back again and gestured to the Zhenxi Beast King.
"Come on, kick him back like a ball to relax."
The Zhenxi Beast King was momentarily stunned, but his footwork was not slow as he kicked Blondo back again.
Instantly.
Blondo rolled back and forth.
The pig-like screams grew louder and louder, until he finally passed out from the pain.
But!
Zhang Yang immediately revived him and pressed,
"Are you ready to talk now? Or do you want to continue being a ball?"
"You... you devil, I really don't know what relationship your Emperor has with us! I really don't know... Ah!" Blondo couldn't even finish his sentence before screaming again.
Clearly.
He was still being used as a football.
Ten minutes later, Blondo fainted again.
Zhang Yang revived him once more. This time, Zhang Yang didn't even bother to ask, simply gesturing to the Zhenxi Beast King to continue the game.
Blondo fainted again, and Zhang Yang rescued him again.
"Can you tell me now?" Zhang Yang asked with a smile.
"I really don't... don't know." Blondo was on the verge of collapse, his heart filled with terror.
Zhang Yang was too ruthless. He regretted not dying directly earlier!
"Still not willing to talk? It seems you truly think I have no temper!" Zhang Yang's expression darkened, his voice filled with anger.
Then, just as he was about to strike Blondo again, Blondo's eyes suddenly went black, and he fell heavily to the ground.
Zhang Yang squatted down to examine him, his expression full of helplessness.
Blondo was dead.
It was unclear whether he died from torture or from fear.
"His mouth is really tough, refusing to speak even in death. Is the Emperor's identity really that secret?" Zhang Yang frowned.
"I think it's possible that Blondo didn't know, or that you guessed wrong. The Emperor has no connection to the Gu Ma Kingdom," the Zhenxi Beast King speculated.
Zhang Yang fell into thought.
If the Gu Ma Kingdom simply intended to attack the Western Frontier, there would be no need to dispatch Blondo, the Gu Ma Kingdom's foremost general.
Therefore, there must be a deep connection between the Emperor and the Gu Ma Kingdom.
He absolutely refused to believe this was a coincidence!
There must be something he didn't know!
"Let's go. The person is dead, and there's nothing left to linger for here," Zhang Yang said.
The Zhenxi Beast King nodded and followed Zhang Yang as they left the Western Frontier camp.
After the battle at the border,
Zhang Yang and the Zhenxi Beast King were covered in blood, looking quite disheveled.
Therefore, there was no need to deliberately disguise themselves like He Guan and the others.
As they drove through the city, Zhang Yang deliberately rolled down the car window.
The Zhenxi Beast King noticed that the streets were lined with people from the Western Frontier, their gazes filled with reverence as they looked at the car.
Some even shouted at the top of their lungs.
"Beast King, you have done enough for the Western Frontier. Hurry and leave! Staying any longer will put your life in danger."
"Yes, it's not worth risking your life for such an Emperor. Hurry and leave!"
"We thank you for your guardianship over the years. We don't want to see you die at the hands of your own people. Hurry and leave!"
"That's right, if you leave, someone else will surely defend the Western Frontier. Don't endanger yourself for us. Let that detestable Emperor figure it out himself!"
"..."
Uh~
The Zhenxi Beast King was dumbfounded.
Although he didn't know what was going on, he extended his hand out of the car window and kept waving goodbye to the people of the Western Frontier along the way.
The Zhenxi Beast King didn't know what to say at this moment, so he could only keep waving.
His silent waving, however, was interpreted by the people of the Western Frontier as utter despair.
Their anger towards the Emperor's actions intensified!
He was truly inhumane.
The Zhenxi Beast King had guarded the Western Frontier for years, and the Western Frontier had been peaceful because of his contributions.
And yet?
The Emperor could commit such a wicked act.
Who wouldn't be disheartened?
"Zhang Yang, what's wrong with them?" the Zhenxi Beast King asked, completely bewildered.
"Haha, I had He Guan and the others spread rumors. The people of the Western Frontier likely believed them," Zhang Yang said with a smile.
Then, he secretly told the Zhenxi Beast King about it.
"My heavens, you can do that?" The Zhenxi Beast King was completely convinced by Zhang Yang.
He hadn't expected that as they were withdrawing from the Western Frontier, Zhang Yang would still manage to play a trick on the Emperor.
"Heh, if the Emperor wants to kill us, why should we be polite to him?" Zhang Yang said with a smile.
"But won't this directly enrage the Emperor? What if he attacks Linhai City recklessly?" the Zhenxi Beast King worried.
Zhang Yang shook his head dismissively and explained.
"Don't worry, with no one defending the Western Frontier, the Emperor definitely won't abandon it. Moreover, if tonight's events aren't controlled, they'll be known to everyone by tomorrow. To salvage his reputation, the Emperor will surely send people to defend the Western Frontier."
"As long as he sends people to defend it, then Linhai City won't be in much danger. I've bought us some more time."
The Zhenxi Beast King nodded after hearing this.
What Zhang Yang said made sense; the Western Frontier couldn't be left undefended.
Otherwise, Zhang Yang's rumors tonight would become reality.
At that point, the Emperor would be in an even more passive position.
"Haha, this is exhilarating!"
As he thought about it, the Zhenxi Beast King burst into laughter.
He suddenly realized that joining forces with Zhang Yang was the wisest decision he had ever made.
"It will be even more exhilarating in the future, believe me, this fake Emperor won't be able to harm our land!" Zhang Yang said with a cold smile.
...
At the same time.
The Emperor, waiting for news in the Imperial City, kept glancing at the time.
He paced back and forth in the Imperial City's grand hall.
For some reason.
His heart was filled with unease, as if he felt tonight's operation was going to go awry.
Ring ring~
As expected, the phone rang.
"How is it? Did Blondo and the others succeed? Is the Zhenxi Beast King dead?"
As soon as the phone rang, the Emperor asked directly.
"It failed. Blondo is dead, all fifty thousand elite gladiators are annihilated, and not a single person in the Western Frontier is injured!"
On the other end of the phone, the Gu Ma Kingdom's sovereign said in a low voice.
He was in a very bad mood now. The mark Blondo left in the Gu Ma Kingdom had shattered, indicating his death.
He had also immediately dispatched people to the Western Frontier border to investigate.
The news he received was of a battlefield littered with chaotic and broken corpses.
These corpses were all gladiators!
Judging by their state, they had all been dismembered by fierce beasts!
Later.
Gu Ma Kingdom scouts infiltrated the Western Frontier to inquire and learned that the Beast King Army had already departed.
The Zhenxi Beast King had also left!
None of them had died!
"How is that possible? Blondo's strength is clearly superior to the Zhenxi Beast King's. How could he have died? And the gladiators were all annihilated? This is impossible!"
Upon hearing this news, the Emperor's face was filled with horror as he denied it.
"Second Brother, do you think I have any reason to lie to you? On the battlefield at the Western Frontier, there isn't a single Beast King Army corpse. My gladiators were all dismembered!"
"If nothing unexpected happened, the Ten Thousand Mountains must have unleashed a large-scale beast tide, and this beast tide only targeted the Gu Ma Kingdom's gladiators!"
"Did the Zhenxi Beast King have some trump card that you didn't tell me about?"
The Gu Ma Kingdom's sovereign said solemnly.
The annihilation of Blondo and fifty thousand gladiators was a great loss for the Gu Ma Kingdom, and how could he not feel heartbroken?
"Impossible, the Zhenxi Beast King doesn't have the ability to incite such a large beast tide!" the Emperor immediately denied.
If the Zhenxi Beast King had such an ability, he wouldn't have come to the Imperial City to beg for forgiveness back then.
With such a massive beast tide, the Zhenxi Beast King would have had ample confidence.
Therefore, the Emperor absolutely refused to believe that the Zhenxi Beast King could have reached this point.
"Then what exactly happened?" the Gu Ma Kingdom's sovereign asked solemnly.
"I'll have someone investigate," the Emperor said in a deep voice.
As soon as the Emperor hung up the phone, it rang again.
It was a scout left in the Western Frontier.
"Your Majesty, the situation in the Western Frontier is not good. The entire Western Frontier has a very negative impression of you. Everyone is saying that you cannot tolerate the Zhenxi Beast King, believing that the Zhenxi Beast King's achievements have overshadowed your authority, and thus he colluded with the Gu Ma Kingdom to launch a surprise attack on the Zhenxi Beast King, intending to harm him!"
"The entire Western Frontier has descended into chaos. This news, if nothing unexpected happens, will spread tomorrow."
What?
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's face changed drastically!
How did the Zhenxi Beast King know that he had colluded with the Gu Ma Kingdom?
There was no reason for this!
He had done it so discreetly, how could they know?
"Where are the Zhenxi Beast King and his men? Where did they go?" the Emperor asked sternly.
"According to the flight path, they should have retreated to Linhai City," the scout reported.
Linhai City?
The Emperor's killing intent surged.
The temperature in the entire Imperial City's grand hall dropped to freezing point, his expression incomparably sinister.
The Zhenxi Beast King had fled with the Beast King Army, and on his way out, he had misled the people of the Western Frontier!
Making them believe that he was petty and intolerant of anyone!
This tactic was undeniably poisonous!
However.
How could the Zhenxi Beast King's mind come up with such a plan?
Was it the strategist beside the Zhenxi Beast King, He Guan, who came up with it?
But even so, who resolved Blondo and the fifty thousand gladiators?
There must be something he didn't know about this.
"Tonight, besides the Zhenxi Beast King, did you see anyone else in the Western Frontier?" the Emperor asked.
"At the time of the great battle at the Western Frontier border, we couldn't get close, so we are not clear."
"However, the Ten Thousand Mountains did indeed launch a large-scale beast tide," the scout reported.
This...
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's brow furrowed even tighter.
What was happening that he didn't know about?
After hanging up the phone, the Emperor smashed his dragon statue with a palm.
Then he dialed the numbers of the Northern Border Wolf King and the Eastern River Dragon King.
"The two of you are to immediately dispatch fifty thousand soldiers to guard the Western Frontier. And make sure to appease the people of the Western Frontier and minimize the impact of today's events in the Western Frontier!"
"You..."
The Emperor issued orders overnight, sending two War Kings to the Western Frontier.
This matter had to be handled properly.
And it had to be done quickly, otherwise, by the time the Western Frontier spread the news, his reputation would truly be ruined.
Just two days ago, Zhang Yang had personally come to the Imperial City to resign from his position as the King of Jiangnan.
Now, the Zhenxi Beast King had also left!
The Emperor had to immediately mitigate the negative impact. Even if he knew the Zhenxi Beast King was telling the truth, he had to twist it into a lie.
Fortunately, this solution was not difficult.
As long as the Zhenxi Beast King was demonized, the people of the Western Frontier would change their perception.
When it came to such matters.
The Emperor had plenty of experience, he was well-versed in it.
The two War Kings dared not delay, understanding the gravity of the situation, and immediately mobilized their troops and set off for the Western Frontier overnight.
Then.
The Emperor's expression turned cold, and he thought of Linhai City, his killing intent uncontrollably leaking out!
"Descendants of the Ming King! Do you really think I'm going to let you off the hook! Do you really think I wouldn't dare to destroy you?"
The Emperor roared alone, then dialed the numbers of the six Great Imperial Uncle families.
"Where have you reached?" the Emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, we are almost at Linhai City. We can attack Linhai City tomorrow," replied the six Old Ancestors.
"Don't rush. Wait for my command before you act. I will arrange for people to cooperate with you!" the Emperor said.
This...
The six Great Imperial Uncle family Old Ancestors were stunned. The Emperor was going to send them reinforcements?
Was there such a good thing?
Had they misunderstood the Emperor at first? Was the Emperor not trying to kill them?
"Alright. We will await Your Majesty's news."
After hanging up the phone, the six Old Ancestors also breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, the Emperor had called tonight, otherwise, if they had attacked directly tomorrow, there would have been no turning back.
"What do you think about this matter?" asked Old Ancestor Shangguan.
"There's something fishy about it. Something we don't know must have happened tonight," said Old Ancestor Huang.
"But what could have happened? Although we have left the Imperial City, we have acquaintances in the Imperial City. If there were any changes in the Imperial City, someone should have notified us," Old Ancestor Huangfu said curiously.
"..."
The six Old Ancestors studied it for a long time but couldn't figure anything out.
And the next moment.
A deafening roar echoed through the sky.
"Look! Why are so many planes entering Linhai City?"
"Something must have happened tonight. Quickly find someone to investigate what's going on."
"I knew the Emperor wasn't that kind-hearted. So the situation has changed!"
Seeing the planes constantly taking off and landing, the six Old Ancestors understood.