Chapter 1087: One Man Against a Nation
"Are you coming down yourself, or do I need to act?"
Xiao Yi's gaze was dark and penetrating, as if it could pierce through the void and directly see the room where Tang Hao was hiding.
From the moment Tang Hao and his men entered that courtyard, Xiao Yi had noticed them.
But he hadn't taken them to heart.
It wasn't until the people from Shadow made their move, attempting to assassinate Tang Long in the chaos,
that Xiao Yi developed the intent to kill Tang Hao.
If the attack from Shadow earlier had succeeded, Tang Long's death would undoubtedly have been pinned on him in the end.
Though he never planned to let Tang Long go from the start, it didn't mean he was willing to become a scapegoat for Tang Hao.
The audacity of Tang Hao to try to frame him.
This was the type of despicable tactic Xiao Yi despised the most.
Inside the room.
With a thud, Tang Hao fell off his chair, landing on the floor, his once handsome face now drained of all color.
He had never thought Xiao Yi would truly dare to kill Tang Long in public. It was precisely because of this belief that he had secretly arranged for Shadow's assassins to strike in the chaos, hoping to escalate the conflict between Xiao Yi and Tang Long. However, he never expected Xiao Yi to be so fearlessly decisive.
He killed Tang Long outright.
And now,
it was his turn to be targeted by Xiao Yi.
"What...what do I do now..." Tang Hao's face was pale, his eyes filled with confusion and terror as he turned to Zheng Dong'an.
Zheng Dong'an's whole body trembled, unable to say a word.
He had already witnessed firsthand Xiao Yi's decisiveness and fearlessness when Xiao Yi had forced Liu Chun to kneel in the Four Directions Tavern.
But even if someone gave him ten thousand ounces of courage, he wouldn't have dared to imagine that Xiao Yi would truly dare to publicly execute the crown prince in the imperial capital!
Faced with Tang Hao's plea for help.
Zheng Dong'an's mouth was filled with bitterness, as if he had swallowed pounds of yellow lotus root. He forced a bitter smile: "Your...Your Highness...the opponent's strength far exceeds our expectations. It looks like this matter cannot end peacefully..." After pausing briefly, he said in a deep voice, "Why...why don't we just appear before him and beg for mercy? Maybe there's still a chance for survival!"
After uttering these words, Zheng Dong'an felt as though all the strength in his body had been drained.
His entire body went limp.
Tang Hao forced a bitter laugh: "We...we can only do that..."
When Tang Hao and his party appeared on the street,
more than ten thousand city guards and a thousand imperial Dragon Guards had already been wiped out by Jin Yi.
Now, right in front of Xiao Yi, Hou Zhen and Nie Rong were kneeling in despair, their faces filled with terror and dread, as well as deep resentment and regret.
Hou Zhen pleaded: "S-spare me...Lord Xiao, I was coerced and misled by Nie Rong. I beg you to give me a chance to live. If you spare me, I am willing to recommend you to the Holy Land..."
Nie Rong's face was ashen, reaching an ultimate grimace: "Lord Xiao, please don't listen to his nonsense, all of this was his idea..."
"Nie Rong, you bastard!"
"Hou Zhen, don't you dare try to frame me!"
Watching the two arguing and blaming each other,
Xiao Yi impatiently waved his hand.
Jin Yi cracked a ferocious smile, his palm striking down, shattering the heads of both men in one swift motion.
Their cold bodies fell lifelessly to the ground.
This scene...
caused both Tang Hao and his servant to feel their legs weakening. They no longer dared to continue thinking too highly of themselves and immediately knelt before Xiao Yi.
Tang Hao pleaded in terror: "Lord...Lord Xiao, I only acted because I was misled by Zheng Dong'an. That's why I committed such an outrageous act. I now realize my mistake and beg Lord Xiao to spare my life."
Zheng Dong'an opened his mouth but did not dare to deny anything.
After all, his family was under Tang Hao's control.
If he dared disobey Tang Hao's will, not only would he die, but his family would also be doomed!
No matter how much resentment Zheng Dong'an felt in his heart, he could only swallow it and, gritting his teeth, step forward and say: "It was all my fault for misleading His Highness. If someone must be punished, let it be me!"
Upon hearing this, Tang Hao secretly let out a sigh of relief.
He tentatively glanced at Xiao Yi.
With Zheng Dong'an stepping forward as a scapegoat, Tang Hao assumed Xiao Yi now had an outlet for his rage and wouldn't risk going against the Ice and Snow Empire entirely just to kill him.
If it were any other person, perhaps things would have unfolded just as Tang Hao had surmised.
But unfortunately...
the person he had offended today was Xiao Yi.
Thud!
A cold gleam flashed by.
Tang Hao's head was instantly separated from his body, soaring into the air. In his eyes lingered a trace of confusion and disbelief: "There was already someone to take the blame for me; why did you still kill me?"
Before his consciousness completely faded,
he heard Xiao Yi's calm voice in his ears: "Before absolute strength, all schemes and plots are meaningless. What I despise most are despicable people like you, duplicitous and deceitful..."
Thud!
Tang Hao's head fell heavily to the ground,
his warm blood splattering all over Zheng Dong'an's face. Zheng Dong'an stood frozen, staring blankly at the scene before him.
He felt both a small sense of relief and overwhelming despair.
Relieved that Xiao Yi hadn't killed him,
but despairing over the fact that with Tang Hao now dead, both he and his family would inevitably meet a grim end.
Xiao Yi cast a cold glance at Zheng Dong'an, but did not act against him. Just like Liu Chun earlier, these people were merely pawns following orders.
The true perpetrator had already been punished.
Xiao Yi naturally felt no need to cause any more unnecessary bloodshed. Turning to look at Jin Yi, Little Lin, and the pair of fighters nicknamed "Grimace," he spoke lightly: "Come with me to the imperial palace!"
"Understood!"
Everyone nodded and followed Xiao Yi as he soared into the skies.
Moments later,
in the Ice and Snow Empire's imperial palace.
Within the royal court, the current emperor of the Ice and Snow Empire, Tang Wei, sat on the dragon throne, his hands clutching the armrests tightly. His expression was dark and foreboding as he stared fixedly at Xiao Yi and his entourage, who had suddenly appeared.
The eminent figures lining the court wore expressions of alarm as they cautiously scrutinized the group.
Yet, none dared to make a move.
They had all heard rumors of the crown prince Tang Long mobilizing the city guards and the Dragon Guard to eliminate a young man named Xiao Yi. Yet now, this youth, Xiao Yi, stood before them in the royal court. The conclusion was evident: Tang Long had failed.
That was ten thousand city guards and a thousand Dragon Guards!
Not to mention Tang Long, an exceptional powerhouse at the Heavenly Venerate Realm Peak.
And still, they hadn't been able to take down Xiao Yi?
Tang Wei asked gravely, "Where is Long'er?"
Xiao Yi shrugged indifferently and replied, "Killed."
*Gasp!*
A chorus of shocked gasps filled the royal court.
Although they had expected as much,
hearing Xiao Yi admit it aloud sent a chill down their spines. Their gazes toward Xiao Yi shifted instantly, as though eyeing a feral beast from beyond the riverbanks.
Tang Wei's face darkened, just as he was about to speak.
Xiao Yi, as though recalling something, added nonchalantly, "Oh, and Tang Hao—I killed him too!"
"..."
Not a sound could be heard throughout the court.
Tang Wei's face alternated between shades of green and white before he finally spat a mouthful of blood uncontrollably.
"Your Majesty..."
"Protect His Majesty!"
"Audacious fiend! Not only have you slain my two sons, but you also dare to show yourself blatantly in my royal court! Are you declaring war on my Ice and Snow Empire?"
Several generals stood poised, their vigilant gazes locked on Xiao Yi.
The tension was palpable, the atmosphere of the court set to erupt in bloodshed at any moment.
"Stand down!"
Tang Wei wiped the blood from his lips, gritting his teeth, his icy glare as if it could devour Xiao Yi whole. "Have you come to flaunt your power?"
Xiao Yi shrugged lazily and said, "I'm only here to confirm something."
"What is it?"
Tang Wei clenched his teeth and asked.
Xiao Yi replied, "I killed your two sons, both receiving what they deserved. Today, I'm here to ask you one thing: Let it end here, or continue?"
"And what if I let it end? And what if I choose to continue?" Tang Wei asked in return.
"If it ends here, your Ice and Snow Empire will remain the sovereign among the mundane realms of Beizhou. But if you choose to continue..."
With a wave of his hand, a Peak of Earth Revered Realm general exploded into a bloody mist without warning. Xiao Yi smiled playfully and said, "This will be the fate of the Ice and Snow Empire."
"..."
The royal court fell into dead silence.
They hadn't witnessed how Xiao Yi had killed Tang Long, but this time, they had seen it clearly. This was a Peak of Earth Revered Realm powerhouse!
Yet Xiao Yi had crushed him effortlessly with a single gesture.
Such strength...
left everyone feeling powerless and despairing.
Tang Wei's body remained tense for a dozen heartbeats before it seemed to deflate as he slumped onto the dragon throne, shaking his head bitterly. "Enough, enough! My Ice and Snow Empire will have nothing more to do with you!"
"Your Majesty..."
The court ministers fell to their knees, wailing and weeping.
The Ice and Snow Empire, its dignity utterly obliterated.
And all of it...
was caused by this young man before them.
One man, suppressing an entire nation!