Chapter 489: Chapter 222: Indecision, Blood Guard Army, Sudden Turn of Events
Bang… Bang……
As it turns out, during this operation to eliminate disobedient camps within the alliance, Long Mountain indeed put in great effort.
Xia Hong, trailing behind the Long Mountain group, heard the sounds of a massive battle ahead after walking less than five kilometers east.
Crack……
A large tree split in half and then crashed to the ground.
Three middle-aged men wielding different weapons, dressed in black, flew out from the broken section of the tree in a very sorry state.
Rather than flying out, it would be more accurate to say they were smashed out.
The first person who was smashed out held a longsword, and his abdomen was caved in by more than half, clearly indicating it was the horrific force on his abdomen that mainly broke the tree.
The other two, one wielding a knife and the other a club, had pale faces and hands with cracked knuckles—a shoulder of one was bloody, and the leg of another was pierced with two iron arrows, both obviously severely injured.
“Second Master, why kill us before the alliance has even begun?”
“White Abyss Camp has been loyally devoted to Long Mountain, we beg Second Master for mercy!”
“Zhaoyang repeatedly bullied us, but we never submitted. Dong Zhong never thought of betraying Longyou, we hope Second Master can see clearly…”
The three men in black who were hit into the snow immediately flipped upright, their tone full of pleading as they spoke to the front, their expressions extremely panicked.
“All claim loyalty to Long Mountain, yet where are your tributes?”
A domineering voice echoed from behind the tree, a middle-aged man in white, with a robust build, approached the three, wielding a snake spear.
Behind the middle-aged man followed four others, who appeared older; their weapons varied, but all bore bloodstains evidently from Dong Zhong and the others on the ground.
Upon hearing the word “tribute,” Dong Zhong and the others on the ground showed a slight change in expression and quickly attempted to speak up. But just as they opened their mouths, a voice from behind left them instantly in despair.
“These three families are close with Hou Hu; don’t waste time talking, just kill them. Hou Hu is probably arriving, prepare in advance.”
Li Xuanyan and others arrived with three hundred Longyou troops.
Seeing Wang Hu, Liu Xian, and Yan Chuan’s heads held by the Longshan Eight Great Vajra, and Peng Bo and Chen Yingyuan submissively standing behind Li Xuanling, Dong Zhong and the three others suddenly realized they were utterly hopeless.
Long Mountain never intended for an alliance, the Alliance Leader Order was merely a death warrant; all who disobeyed must die. They had hoped to ally with Hou Hu to force the throne, and such thoughts now seemed utterly laughable.
“Great Master, Xiling Camp has no rebellious intentions; it was only under Hou Hu’s aggressive pressure that Yu Bin had to feign alliance. I beg Great Master to give me a chance; Yu Bin is willing to lead for Long Mountain in the expedition against Zhaoyang!”
Yu Bin, leader of Xiling Camp, realizing the predicament, kneeled before Li Xuanyan, offering allegiance directly.
His kneeling prompted Bai Qiucheng of White Abyss and Dong Zhong of East Kang to also kneel before Li Xuanyan, expressing their loyalty, their tone incredibly devout.
“Now you know to kneel, it’s too late!”
Li Xuantiang spoke with extreme dominance, his form suddenly moved as his snake spear rushed towards the three, and simultaneously, the four others also moved.
Yu Bin and the others had just been beaten by these five; seeing Li Xuantiang charge again terrified them, hurriedly raising their swords in defense, while desperately pleading to Li Xuanyan.
“Great Master, wouldn’t it be better to keep us alive to fight Hou Hu?”
“Great Master, spare us…”
“East Kang is willing to fight against Zhaoyang for Long Mountain, I beg Great Master to spare my life!”
……
During their desperate pleas, the three sustained several more injuries, yet seeing Li Xuanyan as their only lifeline, they continually begged for mercy, hoping he would spare them.
“Second Brother, hold on a minute…”
Finally, Li Xuanyan couldn’t help but speak up.
At his words, Li Xuantiang, who was frantically attacking Yu Bin and the others, instantly furrowed his brows; not only him but Li Xuandu and Li Xuanling, standing behind, also furrowed their brows.
Evidently, the three disagreed with Li Xuanyan.
“This Li Xuanyan……”
Not only these three, but Xia Hong, concealed in the shadows, saw the five really stop after Li Xuanyan spoke, looking at his hesitant face first with a strange expression and then gently shook his head.
The key to Long Mountain’s action this time lay in swiftly eliminating these rebellious camp leaders—prevent them from joining with Zhaoyang Camp, and later kill a few troublemakers, taking over these camps would be straightforward.
But failing to kill them would pose a significant problem.
The worst is indecisiveness.
And this Li Xuanyan was precisely soft in the ears.
It’s not that his soft ears at this moment would ruin things.
The issue is it showed Li Xuanyan doesn’t quite possess the qualities of a Longyou ruler, and his relationship with his two brothers and sister seems less than harmonious.
Moreover, it’s likely that testing with the Alliance Leader Order and then ambushing these camp leaders was not his idea.
“Thank you, Great Master, for sparing our lives, we are eternally grateful!”
“White Abyss Camp shall henceforth unwaveringly serve Long Mountain, Great Master, give the command, into the mountains of blades or the sea of fire, Bai Qiucheng will not hesitate!”