At the same time.
Zhang Yang, having left the imperial city, once again disguised himself and vanished into the crowd.
Even if the Emperor wanted to send people to track him, they wouldn't be able to find him.
Moreover, Zhang Yang didn't return to Jiangnan City, but instead sneaked off to Xijiang!
As for Jiangnan City.
The Northern Wolf King and the Eastern River Dragon King each assembled thirty thousand Battle King troops.
A total of sixty thousand surrounded Jiangnan City.
They gathered outside Jiangnan City, preparing to act when darkness fell.
After tonight.
The Five Dragons of Huaxia would cease to exist!
To ensure the plan was foolproof, the Northern Wolf King and the Eastern River Dragon King acted together.
As night descended, they sat together chatting.
"It's quite peculiar, isn't it? The Emperor always has issues with each Jiangnan King, and in the end, we're always called upon to act," the Northern Wolf King chuckled.
"Alas... isn't that the truth," the Eastern River Dragon King sighed.
"The world believes the past Jiangnan Kings died at the hands of the Japanese pirates, but little do they know, they were all quietly eliminated by the Emperor."
This secret.
Few people knew about it.
Only the Northern Wolf King and the Eastern River Dragon King.
Because these Jiangnan Kings were all killed by them in the past.
"Alas, serving the emperor is like walking with a tiger."
The Eastern River Dragon King gazed at the Five Dragons of Huaxia base within Jiangnan City, sighing.
The Northern Wolf King also fell into a contemplative silence.
Including Zhang Yang, they had eliminated the forces of five Jiangnan Kings.
If it were in the past, he would have thought the Eastern River Dragon King was overthinking things, but now the Northern Wolf King deeply empathized.
After all, in their eyes, Zhang Yang had not reached a point where he absolutely had to be killed.
Perhaps if they hadn't let him go to Shennong Gorge back then, there might have been a turning point.
"Never mind, let's not think about it too much. It's time for us to get to work when it gets dark," the Northern Wolf King said, patting the Eastern River Dragon King's shoulder with a sigh.
Night fell.
The expressions of the two men turned serious.
An aura of killing intent emanated from the Battle King troops!
The two Battle Kings donned their masks and, with their Battle King troops, stealthily infiltrated the Five Dragons of Huaxia base.
When they reached the base entrance, they froze.
Something seemed amiss.
The main gate of the Five Dragons of Huaxia base was open!
Although there was no one outside, the base building was bustling with activity!
What was going on?
They exchanged glances, finding it strange.
Logically speaking.
When Zhang Yang voluntarily abdicated his position as Jiangnan King today, the Five Dragons of Huaxia should have received the news.
So why was the Five Dragons of Huaxia base acting as if nothing had happened!?
Hadn't Zhang Yang notified them? Told them to run?
"Something's fishy! Be careful, everyone!"
When unusual things happen, there's usually a reason, said the Eastern River Dragon King.
"Be cautious, and keep up," the Northern Wolf King reminded them sternly.
Following that.
The two of them, along with their Wolf King troops, stealthily surrounded the Five Dragons of Huaxia base.
Then, the two Battle Kings each led a group of men upstairs!
But!
As they prepared to raise their blades for slaughter, they were stunned!
Before them were a pile of cameras, microphones, and cameras!
What!
Why were there reporters!
The two froze and quickly turned to flee!
"Hey, who are you guys, and why are you in our office? Sneaking around with your faces covered late at night!"
"They're definitely not good people. Where are the cameras? Hurry and follow them, this is a hot news story!"
"Let's go, let's go, don't let them escape!"
Inside the base, the cameramen and photographers rushed out.
This caused the complexions of the two Battle Kings to change drastically.
They absolutely could not be photographed, or things would get serious!
At this point.
They knew they had been tricked!
They had fallen into a trap!
The Five Dragons of Huaxia base had been empty for a long time.
These reporters must have been deliberately arranged by Zhang Yang.
He had also guessed that the Emperor would not let them off, so he wanted to use the media to expose this matter!
This would indirectly corroborate what happened in the imperial city this morning.
"Let's leave first!"
The two Battle Kings led their men to retreat rapidly, their speed immense.
Naturally, the reporters couldn't catch up.
After they retreated from Jiangnan City, their expressions were incredibly grim!
"This Zhang Yang is indeed interesting, to think he could come up with such a tactic to constrain the Emperor!"
"Fortunately, we all wore masks today and didn't let those reporters capture our faces, otherwise, it would have had a significant impact on the Emperor."
The Northern Wolf King said in a deep voice.
"Let's report this matter to the Emperor first," the Eastern River Dragon King also felt stifled. This was the first time they had encountered such a situation.
"..."
The Emperor, far away in the imperial city, answered the phone, "Did it succeed?"
"No, Emperor, we failed, we..." the Eastern River Dragon King reported the events of the night to him.
Upon hearing this.
The Emperor was enraged and smashed the table in front of him!
"Damn it, this Zhang Yang truly deserves to die, to think he dared to play a trick on me!"
"Emperor, what should we do now?" the Eastern River Dragon King asked.
"Withdraw for now. If we can't kill them, so be it. The Five Dragons of Huaxia are just drowning grasshoppers, they won't be able to hop around for long," the Emperor said unwillingly.
However.
Zhang Yang's move had indeed restricted him completely.
With the huge commotion outside the imperial city this morning, if they were to force their way into Jiangnan City now.
Even if they dug three feet into the ground and found the people of the Five Dragons of Huaxia, they couldn't kill them.
Otherwise, public opinion tomorrow would undoubtedly still point towards him.
This would be even worse for him.
"Alright."
After hanging up the phone, the Eastern River Dragon King visibly relaxed.
He informed the Northern Wolf King of the Emperor's order to withdraw.
The Northern Wolf King also smiled knowingly.
For some reason, the two of them suddenly felt a sense of liberation.
On the way back, the two Battle Kings coincidentally thought of Zhang Yang's figure.
"Do you think Zhang Yang will disappear after stepping down as Jiangnan King?"
"Probably not. Does Zhang Yang's personality seem like someone who would stay put?"
...
At the same time.
Huo Zhu and the others, who had already arrived in Linhai City, burst into laughter upon learning that the two Battle Kings had come up empty-handed.
"Haha, Zhang Yang is truly amazing, calculating every step perfectly!"
"I'm so curious about the Emperor's expression when he was thwarted!"
In fact.
As early as when Zhang Yang went to the imperial city.
Huo Zhu had already led the members of the Five Dragons of Huaxia to transfer completely.
Under the arrangement of Zhu Zhi, the Grand Elder of the Ming King's descendants, they had arrived in Linhai City.
And Zhu Zhi had already made all the necessary arrangements.
The Five Dragons of Huaxia were not coming to seek refuge, but to form an alliance!
Therefore, Zhu Zhi gave the Five Dragons of Huaxia considerable respect, specially designating a large area for the Five Dragons of Huaxia to use.
Many people on the central island had grievances about this matter.
Even though Zhang Yang was now in charge of the Five Dragons of Huaxia, they still felt it was inappropriate.
However, after the events of today spread, they all tacitly agreed.
After all.
Zhang Yang was the first person to make the Emperor suffer a setback!
The one who dared to speak his mind in the imperial city!
For this reason alone.
Their perception of the Five Dragons of Huaxia would change.
They were friends, not stray dogs in misfortune.
At this moment.
Zhu Zhi was leading a group of central island members to find Zhu Zhi.
"Are you all getting used to living here? I have something I'd like to discuss with you."