The Phoenix Reborn Book II

Chapter 78 Sacrifice and Choice

Wu Huatai's hand shook, disbelieving what he had just heard. “K-you said what?” his heart felt like it had stopped beating for a moment upon hearing Li Changsheng's words.

A smile was plastered on the face of the former King An, but his eyes were teary, reflecting the sadness in his heart. The man then lowered his sword, “I don't have time to pretend with you.” Then, he switched on Hudie, “Do as planned.” Afterwards, he said coldly, “Catch Wu Huatai.”

Hudie's eyebrows shot up, then she waved her hand forward while saying in a chanting tone, “Serang.”

In the next instant, troops from the Hudie and Li Changsheng side immediately invaded Wu Huatai's forces. Despite being squeezed by two troops, the soldiers of the Wu Kingdom still insisted on maintaining their formation. In a cornered situation like this, running away was not an option at all. Therefore, they could only carry out their obligation to protect the emperor, even if the payment was life.

Wu Huatai could only watch his subordinates die one by one before him. Empress Tianzhen who was in her arms shook violently, but the woman did not make any sound, knowing that screaming in fear would not help.

In his place, Hudie looked straight at Emperor Huatai. Then, he glanced at Li Changsheng who was also busy paying attention to the leader of the Wu Kingdom. Hudie tapped her index finger on her arm, as if she was busy thinking about something.

Suddenly, Hudie glanced at the one subordinate who was next to her. Then, he nodded his head, throwing his chin towards Wu Huatai.

Knowing the intent of the leader, one soldier nodded his head. The man darted past the Wu Huatai warriors, so easily because his enemy was busy fighting his ally's soldiers. Then, the soldier pointed his sword towards Wu Huatai, preparing to stab the man.

“Your Majesty!” Empress Tianzhen screamed in panic as she pushed hard on her husband to get away.

Wu Huatai who was pushed a few steps to the side was shocked. When he saw a sword aimed at his wife, he could only shout, “Zhen’er!”

***

The sound of flesh being torn apart and low moans could be heard. It was interspersed with cries of death and also cries of despair. Under the scorching sun, the scent of blood was scattered all over the capital of the Wu Kingdom.

“Kill everything! Don't spare a single one, especially if they're royalty without a plaque!” shouted a man with a rather horrible stature. His body was tall and muscular, a large machete in his hand accompanied by several holes decorated with rings. A clattering sound could be heard every time the man swung the machete and slashed at its victim. A wide smile adorned his face as he shouted, “Stop all baj*ngan from the Kingdom of Wu!”

The war cry from the man with the huge machete was followed by the spirited cry of several people with similar appearances, he said, clothing made of animal skin accompanied by iron armor that mainly covered the chest and shoulders covered their bodies. The people's hair was left untouched, adding a wild element typical of prairie tribes.

Without looking at the feathers, the group of troops attacked everyone who was in front of them, whether it was soldiers or ordinary people, even beggars should not be victims. As per the command of the big joking man who could be guessed was the leader of that army, they left not a single person who crossed the view.

Not far from where the attack took place, one figure was seen busy hiding in a small alley. After the area is finished ‘degat’ by the pasture warriors— left the streets quiet without life—the figure rushed back to the other end of the alley.

After running for so long, the figure stopped before a group of people riding. Then, he knelt down, “Report, Deputy General. They have passed Wuyi.” road

On top of the horse, a man with thick eyebrows and pointy eyes put on a very serious expression. His face was so handsome, and the armor he was wearing made him look so gallant. However, the killing aura surrounding him would make most people run away.

“Good, we can directly pass through the Wujia line to then try to penetrate the East gate of the capital,”, said the man on horseback who is none other than Chen Long, the deputy general of the Kingdom of Wu. He then turned to another riding soldier who was behind him, “Ready,” Chen Long said in a low tone. “After we arrive at the East gate, we should try to pass them as soon as possible, you understand?” his assertiveness was immediately followed by a nod of his entire subordinates. Then, he glanced at Hongchen, “No matter what will happen later, none of you should look back and try to save each other.”

Hongchen frowned, “Deputy General, but—”

“Message must be conveyed to Premier Liang,” cut Chen Long with a serious face, do not want himself to be denied. “Therefore, at least one of us must make it out of the capital, even if the others must lose their lives ..including myself.”

Hearing this, Hongchen clenched his hands. The expression on the man's face turned dark, not accepting the order that had just been handed down by his master. As an escort bodyguard, he had trained his entire life to obey and protect Chen Long. However, when the two tasks contradict each other, what should Hongchen do?

Finally, Hongchen could only reply, “I understand.” In his heart, Hongchen could only pray that the moment where he had to choose between obeying or protecting Chen Long would not arrive.

After lowering his orders, Chen Long turned to the man who was still kneeling before him. “Stand,” he said which the soldier quickly followed. “You just need to keep an eye out from a distance. If we ... any of us make it through, let Young Master Shen know immediately. You know the place where he is.”

The soldier nodded steadily, “I understand.”

Hearing this, Chen Long immediately spurred on his horse. It was quickly followed by his subordinates at the back. Their faces exuded a unanimous determination to fulfill the task they had been given.

While spurring his horse, the group of Wu troops could see corpses lying on the road that passed. Although no one stopped or gave a big reaction, but sadness and anger emanated clearly from their eyes. After all, the corpses were part of their kingdom, some might even be people they had known.

While his soldiers were determined to avenge the country, Chen Long was thinking about his father. Just a moment ago, when it was realized that the situation of the kingdom had reached its worst point, especially when it came the messenger who reported that Emperor Huatai had become a hostage, it was, Chen Qiang was forced to pass down an order to his son.

“Chen Long! You must inform the royal situation to Prime Minister Liang!”

Chen Qiang insisted on storming into the palace, even after learning of a trap and the possibility that he would not survive. This made Chen Long reluctant to obey his orders. However, his father's words made the young man silent.

‘Li Changsheng..’ Chen Long growled at heart, remembering the information given by the messenger about the mastermind of the palace attack. ‘Baj*ngan don't know yourself!’ Chen Long was furious to learn that the man given a second chance at life by the emperor would follow in his mother's footsteps!

No, compared to Empress Dowager He, Li Changsheng took a much more severe action, he implicated ordinary people!

After spurring his horse for so long, Chen Long could see the distance between his entourage and the East gate had been very close. He drew his sword forward, a movement in silence that hinted at one thing, ‘Serang!’

***

The girl's eyes opened slowly, showing off her striking young brown bead. For a moment, he blinked his eyes several times, adjusting to the light that burst into his vision. He sat himself down, then raised his hand to the front of his chest and then clenched it. In contrast to before, he felt his body lighter.

After making sure that her body condition was better, the girl turned her head to the right, sweeping the view of her sleeping room. Not seeing the existence of the figure he expected made the girl frown.

‘Where is Lu Si?’ the inner girl.

Yes, the girl with bright brown eyes and wavy hair was Lan’er.

Just as Lan’er raised a question about the whereabouts of his companion, he caught the whereabouts of his book on the table. The girl stuck out her hand, and the book suddenly shot up into the air. Lan’er's palm swung towards him, and the book that floated in the air then shot towards him.

Lan’er hurriedly opened the book in his hand, then read its contents. It only took a few seconds before the expression on the girl's face turned bad. Lan’er's grip on the book also tightened, voicing a passionate emotion in him.

Suddenly, Lan’er closed the book loudly and directly threw it in any direction. “Baj*ngan! How dare he!” maki the girl rushed down from the bed. Just as Lan’er set foot on the floor, he immediately fell down hard. “Ah!” he cried, not expecting his feet to have no energy. ‘How long have I been unconscious?!’ Aware that emotions were making her rash, Lan’er took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. ‘Quiet ...’

Lan’er changed her sitting position to cross-legged. With her hands placed on her knees, the girl took a meditative position. His eyes closed as he felt a power seeping into the body.

At least one incense stick of time had passed when Lan’er's ears caught the sound of the rapid footsteps, indicating the owner was in a state of panic. It was followed by the door slamming open, showing the figure of Lu Si with his red eyes that had a surprised expression on his face.

“Lan’er!” exclaimed Lu Si as he approached the girl. Unexpectedly, the girl stood up and threw a slap at him. Surprised, Lu Si froze in place. Then, he frowned and looked at Lan’er sharply. “What's your problem?!”

“What's my problem?!” tanya Lan’er with high tone. “Don't try playing with me, Lu Si!” The girl raised her hand and the poor book she had just thrown up instantly landed in her hand. “What is this?!” Lan’er revealed a single page before Lu Si. “Do you dare say that you have nothing to do with this?!”

Capturing what Lan’er meant, Lu Si's expression turned calm. The man replied to the girl's remark, “You know that it cannot be eliminated to reach the final destination.”

Lan’er looked at Lu Si with a look of disbelief. “Lu Si, you know clearly that I can—”

“I will not allow it,” cut Lu Si with anger radiating from his eyes. “Until any time, I won't let you do that. They don't deserve it!”

Hearing Lu Si's reply, Lan’er fell silent in place. Then, the girl's body trembled, her emotions could no longer be contained. “You think who you are so you can manage me?!” his yell. Then, the girl slammed the book in her hand into Lu Si's chest, and she ran past the man.

Before Lan’er could leave the room, Lu Si immediately caught the girl's wrist. “Where are you going?!”

Lan’er swung her hand violently, causing Lu Si's hand to slip from her wrist. With brown eyes that look smoldering with the flames of anger, the girl growled low, “Clean the mess you created!” And, before Lu Si could say anything more, he disappeared from sight.

In his place, Lu Si could only fall silent while clenching his hands. ‘To save a life, then there must be another life to replace it.’ Then, a bead as red as the man's blood pointed towards the sky. ‘And, if that one life manages to live to the end .. then you ... will receive the punishment of the sky.’ An injured expression was fondling Lu Si's face, ‘How could I be willing to see that happen?!’

___

A/S:

I see a lot of hard to follow what's really going on. Well, the author is again baek, so intend to love the clue for who the mastermind behind the attack Wu:

Are you not the same as Hudie?

Yes, the clue is doang. HAHAHAHA

*Direct run because it will be pelted pans*