Gu Hai’s voice rang out from outside Martial Heaven City.
The entire city broke out in a commotion.
“This is the Han Imperial Emperor? That’s definitely Gu Hai’s voice!”
“He is seeking death. He actually dares to come in person to Martial Heaven City?”
“How bold of him! To think he dares to come when His Reverence is here!”
The entire city turned noisy.
The expressions of all the people around Long Shenwu changed.
“Gu Hai?” Ao Sheng’s expression changed. He was the first to step out.
Long Shenwu glanced at Sima Changkong with a sullen expression. Sima Changkong was somewhat stunned. After glancing at his wife and son, he gritted his teeth and walked out of the palace hall.
Long Shenwu followed him out only then.
Before walking out, Long Shenwu said, “Six Fingers, protect Madame Sima and Young Master Sima!”
“Yes!” Six Fingers remained in the palace hall.
Sima Changkong turned his head to glance at Long Shenwu, letting out a bitter sigh. Even now, His Reverence has his guard up against me? What do you mean, protect my wife and son? This is simply holding them hostage.
Long Shenwu walked out of the palace hall, and the various Wu Nation officials in the surroundings quickly converged around him. They looked coldly at three figures to the south: Gu Hai, Ao Shun, and the Mosquito Daoist.
“Gu Hai!” Long Shenwu glared, showing overwhelming hatred in his eyes.
Gu Hai glanced at Long Shenwu and smiled coldly. Then he turned to look at Sima Changkong.
“Mister Sima, we are here just for you today. I wonder if you have considered the Mosquito Daoist’s suggestion?” Gu Hai said.
Sima Changkong’s eyelids twitched wildly. He showed an extremely complicated expression as he looked at Gu Hai.
Long Shenwu coldly eyed Sima Changkong. “Lord Sima, Gu Hai is here for you?”
Sima Changkong turned to Long Shenwu and found him very unfamiliar.
Sima Changkong turned back and coldly faced Gu Hai. “Gu Hai, you came here just for me? Hah! Do you know how badly you sabotaged me?”
“Sabotage? Hah! Mister Sima’s various recent schemes in Borderless Heavenly Capital were not sabotage?” Gu Hai smiled.
Sima Changkong’s face stiffened.
“The clash between Mister Sima and ourself surely is not a matter of who sabotages whom, just who can calculate farther into the future!” Gu Hai smiled.
Sima Changkong’s expression turned sullen.
“Mister Sima, the Han Imperial Dynasty is sincerely inviting you over. Will Mister Sima join our Han Imperial Dynasty? I promise you will have nothing to worry about!” Gu Hai said gravely.
“Hah! Hahahaha! Gu Hai, where do you think this is? This is our Martial Heaven City, and you are poaching our official?” Long Shenwu glared.
Only now did Gu Hai look at Long Shenwu. “You distrusted your officials and turned them into zombies. You fear everyone like they are snakes. Even if we did not come today, your officials would leave you one by one. You are not worthy of being a sovereign!”
“We are not worthy? Hahahaha! Gu Hai, aren’t you being overconfident?” Long Shenwu retorted coldly.
“You can try asking Mister Sima. He used to be your most trusted official, but now?” Gu Hai said seriously.
Long Shenwu looked at Sima Changkong.
Sima Changkong looked at Gu Hai and sneered, “Gu Hai, just give up. This humble one is the Wu Nation’s official. I will never betray the Wu Nation.”
Long Shenwu inwardly released his bated breath.
The citizens frowned at Gu Hai. This person is too arrogant. Does he think he can tempt Lord Sima with just a few words?
“Oh? Is that what Mister Sima truly thinks, or is it because Long Shenwu is holding your wife and son hostage back there, so you have to obey?” Gu Hai asked.
“What does he mean?”
“Wife and son held hostage?”
The countless citizens felt confused.
“Gu Hai, I don’t know what you are saying. To think you make such bold claims in Martial Heaven City, challenging the Wu Imperial Dynasty? Do you know you are courting death? Martial Heaven City is full of blessings. His Reverence can easily kill you like a chicken!” Sima Changkong said coldly.
“Naturally, we would be in danger if Long Shenwu were to use the power of his nation—possibly even fatal danger. However, we came despite knowing the risks. It is not because we are ignorant or arrogant, but we are here to invite Mister Sima to join our Han Imperial Dynasty with our full sincerity. The Wu Imperial Dynasty is no longer worth your betting everything on it. The Han Imperial Dynasty is your best choice!” Gu Hai said sincerely.
Gu Hai invited Sima Changkong as a sovereign, taking the risk of coming personally. Everyone could feel his sincerity. How could Sima Changkong not feel it?
At the very least, Long Shenwu would not do this. Sima Changkong appeared slightly bitter.
However, he could not agree.
Long Shenwu glared and said, “Gu Hai, it looks like we will keep you here forever today!”
As Long Shenwu spoke, the golden blessings dragon above roared, looking like it would drive the power of the nation.
“Long Shenwu, you don’t dare come over,” Gu Hai sneered.
“Huh?”
“Because you have not turned Sima Changkong into your zombie progeny yet. If you charge us, we guarantee the Mosquito Daoist will immediately take him away. Do you believe that?” Gu Hai said coldly.
“However, you will remain behind!” Long Shenwu said coldly.
“You can try!” Gu Hai said coldly.
After that, Gu Hai looked at Sima Changkong. “Mister Sima, if Long Shenwu attacks with his full power, I will have to back off, as I don’t have my nation’s power backing me. However, I will get the Mosquito Daoist to rescue you, and your wife and son in the palace hall behind you. I guarantee your safety. Please cooperate!” Gu Hai shouted.
Long Shenwu’s eyelids twitch wildly.
I have to turn Sima Changkong into a zombie first. Otherwise, if I fail to kill Gu Hai…
Long Shenwu glanced at Sima Changkong.
Right now, Sima Changkong was fighting an intense internal battle.
His first thought was to reject Gu Hai. However, what about afterwards? Even if he did not cooperate with Gu Hai and remained behind, Long Shenwu would turn him into a zombie. From then on, he would be neither a human nor a ghost. His wife and son might even become zombies.
Long Shenwu changed. He is different from before. He will do it.
However, should I accept Gu Hai’s offer?
Look at Gu Hai’s breadth of character. Look at his officials, Meng Tai, Mo Yike, Kong Xuan, Ao Shun, and the Mosquito Daoist. They all used to be Gu Hai’s enemies and were even deadly foes. However, he never brought up the past hatred after he recruited them. This is the bearing of a sovereign, a bearing that can accept everyone.
Now, look at Long Shenwu. He could even doubt the person he trusted the most.
Is there a future in following Long Shenwu? How laughable was my past loyalty!
Furthermore, Gu Hai has already demonstrated his sincerity to the greatest extent. He is even risking his life to recruit me. What else can I nitpick on?
“Sima Changkong?” Long Shenwu said.
Sima Changkong smiled bitterly. I have no way to flee. Although Gu Hai is inviting me, so what? Even so, he suddenly bowed to Gu Hai.
“You dare?!” Long Shenwu glared.
“Many thanks, Mister Sima!” Gu Hai guffawed.
Long Shenwu reached out to grab Sima Changkong.
“Attack!” Gu Hai shouted.
Boom!
The Mosquito Daoist suddenly waved his hand. A dense swarm of mosquitoes assaulted the palace.
“Fire the arrows!” the palace guards shouted.
Boom!
A rain of arrows flew at the mosquitoes.
Ao Shun immediately rushed over. Clearly, Long Shenwu could no longer wait to turn Sima Changkong into a zombie.
“Ao Sheng, block Ao Shun. Leave Gu Hai and the others to us!” Long Shenwu shouted.
“Yes!”
Boom!
Ao Shun and Ao Sheng suddenly clashed in the air.
Long Shenwu immediately soared into the sky. His figure trembled, and a humongous pair of dragon bone wings emerged from his back.
“Wu Imperial Dynasty citizens, the deceitful people of the Han Nation are attacking. We require your energy. Please raise your right hands and aid us in destroying these deceitful people!” Long Shenwu shouted.
Roar!
The golden blessings dragon roared, spreading Long Shenwu’s voice to all the Wu Imperial Dynasty citizens.
All the citizens immediately raised their right hands, lending their energy.
“Retreat!” Gu Hai smiled coldly.
Whoosh!
Gu Hai and the Mosquito Daoist immediately fled into the distance.
“Trying to leave now? It’s too late!” Long Shenwu roared and instantly arrived before Gu Hai.
Boom!
The Mosquito Daoist exchanged palm strikes with Long Shenwu but got sent flying. During this time, the golden blessings dragon continued sending surging energy into Long Shenwu’s body, strengthening him.
Protected by the Mosquito Daoist, Gu Hai quickly fled.
“Fleeing? Let’s see where you can go!” Long Shenwu sneered.
“Five-colored divine light!” A loud shout suddenly came from Martial Heaven City.
Boom!
A loud report rang out as many Wu Nation zombies in Martial Heaven City got sent flying.
“Sima Clan disciples, fly quickly! I’ll bring you away!” Kong Xuan’s voice came from Martial Heaven City.
The expression of Long Shenwu, who was charging towards Gu Hai, changed. He knew things were bad. Gu Hai had made ample preparations. Long Shenwu wanted to deal with Kong Xuan but could not bear to give up this opportunity to kill Gu Hai.
“Six Fingers, kill Sima Changkong’s family!” Long Shenwu shouted.
Now, Long Shenwu targeted Gu Hai. He would win as long as he killed Gu Hai. However, as a precaution, he also could not let Kong Xuan snatch Sima Changkong away. If he could not obtain Sima Changkong, Gu Hai should not, either.
Long Shenwu’s command caused the distant Sima Changkong’s expression to change. “Don’t! Don’t kill my wife and son!”
Sima Changkong charged into the palace hall in a panic.
Inside the palace hall, Six Fingers threw a palm strike at Sima Changkong’s wife and son.
“Father, I’m scared!” Little Bao cried.
However, Six Fingers was much stronger than Sima Changkong’s family combined. It looked like he would kill the two.
“Don’t!” Sima Changkong yelled in horror.
Suddenly, Madame Sima showed a cold smile and threw a palm strike at Six Fingers.
Boom!
A loud report rang out. Madame Sima was fine. However, the immense force from her palm strike immediately shattered Six Fingers.
Six Fingers was a heaven-grade zither; his body differed from a human body. This palm strike covered his body in cracks.
“How…how can it be? It’s you? Shangguan Hen?” Six Fingers yelled in despair.
Madame Sima started transforming, taking on Shangguan Hen’s appearance.
Clatter…!
Six Fingers fell, turning into a pile of splinters.
Six Fingers died.
“Shangguan Hen?” Sima Changkong’s face changed.
“Mister Sima, please forgive me. His Reverence worried your wife would get hurt, so he got me to take on her appearance.” Shangguan Hen bowed.
“Where’s my wife?” Sima Changkong glared.
“She’s fine. We had already sent her out of the city before your esteemed son and I got caught,” Shangguan Hen said.
Sima Changkong suddenly felt his head buzzing. Then he revealed a bitter smile.
Sima Changkong now understood. My wife fleeing? That was just a show Gu Hai set up to force Long Shenwu to doubt me, to force Long Shenwu to hold my wife and son hostage against me. Gu Hai’s timing was spot on. Shangguan Hen must have informed him.
Gu Hai fooled Long Shenwu. He also fooled me.
However, so what if Sima Changkong got fooled? Long Shenwu’s command of “Six Fingers, kill Sima Changkong’s family” had made him give up completely on Long Shenwu. Although he felt stifled, Gu Hai was his only option now.
“Mister Sima, you and the young master will be safe with me around.” Shangguan Hen picked up Sima Changkong.
Whoosh!
The three immediately vanished from the palace hall.
With Long Shenwu gone, Shangguan Hen could sweep his way through Martial Heaven City.
