"This time, I've come to convey an order from my father, the Emperor."
"From now on, the Emperor will directly mobilize you. You must be prepared to act at any moment to eliminate the enemy," the Second Prince said.
Upon hearing this command,
The three members of the Blood Kill Sect were greatly surprised.
The Second Prince said the Emperor would directly mobilize them.
The enemies they would have to deal with were likely Zhang Yang and his group.
"May I ask, Second Prince, did the Emperor specify what we are to do?" the Blood Kill Sect Master probed.
"Heh heh, my father hasn't explicitly stated yet. However, based on my guess, you'll likely be tasked with attacking Linhai City," the Second Prince chuckled.
This!
Just as expected!
It truly is Linhai City!
Their guess was not wrong.
It was just too coincidental.
The Blood Kill Sect Master and his companions had just agreed to Zhang Yang's terms, and then the Second Prince arrived to announce the Emperor's command.
At this moment,
How should they make their decision?
"What? You all seem reluctant?" The Second Prince noticed the unusual expressions on their faces and asked.
The three members of the Blood Kill Sect forced a bitter smile.
Zhang Yang was hidden behind the screen, so they dared not speak directly. They could only hint indirectly.
"Second Prince, you know better than us whose territory Linhai City is. How could a small force like ours possibly take it?"
"Even the Six Great Imperial Uncles' families disappeared a few days ago because they intended to attack Linhai City. If we go to Linhai City, wouldn't that be sending ourselves to our deaths?"
Hearing this, the Second Prince also sighed.
The sudden disappearance of the Six Great Imperial Uncles' families.
He felt a pang of sadness as well.
Strictly speaking, by lineage, he was half a member of the Shangguan family.
When the Six Great Imperial Uncles' families left the Imperial City, he received no news; he was kept entirely in the dark by the Emperor.
If it hadn't been for the news of the Six Great Imperial Uncles' families going missing later, the Second Prince would still be unaware!
"The Six Great Imperial Uncles' families might have merely gone missing. They were likely not dealt with by the descendants of King Ming. Otherwise, why would there be no witnesses?" the Second Prince explained.
"Furthermore, this matter was personally ordered by my father. Although you are all martial world factions, you are still under the Emperor's jurisdiction. Therefore, you should prepare yourselves."
The three members of the Blood Kill Sect fell silent.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yang and the Old Ancestor Shangguan, who were hiding in the shadows, also fell into deep thought as they observed the Second Prince's demeanor.
The Old Ancestor Shangguan had watched the Second Prince grow up.
He was very familiar with the Second Prince.
Although he was ambitious, he treated his family very well.
Just now, when the Blood Kill Sect Master mentioned the matter of the Six Great Imperial Uncles' families,
The sorrow that flashed across the Second Prince's face did not seem feigned.
"Zhang Yang, why don't we talk to the Second Prince?" the Old Ancestor Shangguan suggested.
Zhang Yang frowned, lost in thought.
There was one thing he was uncertain about.
That was, when did this impostor Emperor arrive in the Imperial City?
If the Second Prince and the others were impostors of the Emperor's biological offspring,
Then revealing themselves to the Second Prince would be like walking into a trap, wouldn't it?
"Old Ancestor, after the six princes were born, how did the Emperor treat them? Did he fulfill his paternal duties?" Zhang Yang asked.
Huh?
Zhang Yang's question was rather abrupt, and the Old Ancestor Shangguan was taken aback.
However, after a moment's thought, he replied,
"When the six princes were young, the Emperor often visited the imperial harem and treated the princes very well. But as the children grew up, he didn't pay much attention to them anymore."
Hearing this,
Zhang Yang's mind raced.
If that was the case,
Then the Emperor likely entered the Imperial City only after the princes were born.
And,
Zhang Yang suddenly thought of another matter.
The Ninth Princess!
The matter of Di Yun'er being betrothed to the Zhenxi Beast King!
If Di Yun'er was truly the biological offspring of the impostor Emperor,
Then the Emperor would not have allowed his own flesh and blood to marry that old scoundrel, the Zhenxi Beast King.
Therefore...
These princes were definitely not the biological offspring of the impostor Emperor.
With this thought, Zhang Yang smiled. He had made up his mind.
...
"Alright, I've said what I needed to say. As for your decision, it's up to you. However, I advise you not to be disloyal. My father's temper has been rather peculiar lately; even my eldest brother has been locked up."
"You should be careful not to offend him at this juncture, or the consequences will be dire," the Second Prince said with a smile.
He could tell that the three members of the Blood Kill Sect were quite reluctant to go.
But this was also understandable.
After all, the outcome for these factions going to Linhai City would be nothing but death, with no other result.
They wouldn't even qualify as cannon fodder.
"Second Prince, rest assured, we will obey the Emperor's command." The Blood Kill Sect Master could only force a smile and agree outwardly.
But what they truly thought was known only to the three of them.
However,
Regardless of their final decision, they could not refuse in front of the Second Prince.
"Good, then I shall take my leave. You don't need to see me off." The Second Prince nodded, then stood up to leave.
However,
Just as he was about to leave, he was called back by Zhang Yang and the Old Ancestor Shangguan.
"Second Prince, it's been a long time."
"Why are you leaving so soon after arriving? Won't you stay for a chat?" Zhang Yang said with a smile.
"Xiao Er, won't you come and greet the Old Ancestor?" the Old Ancestor Shangguan chuckled.
This!
The familiar voice made the Second Prince pause in his step.
His body trembled with excitement as he turned and looked in the direction of the voice.
Upon seeing Zhang Yang and the Old Ancestor Shangguan, he exclaimed excitedly,
"Zhang Yang!"
"Old Ancestor! Why are you here!"
The Second Prince strode forward and hugged them tightly.
"Heh heh, you've already told us your purpose, haven't you?" Zhang Yang said with a smile.
"We guessed that the Emperor would surely send martial world factions to deal with us, so we came ahead to persuade them," the Old Ancestor Shangguan explained.
"You?" The Second Prince was taken aback.
He suddenly recalled the reactions of the three Blood Kill Sect members from earlier and immediately understood.
No wonder these three had such strange expressions when they heard his command.
It turned out Zhang Yang and the Old Ancestor Shangguan had found them before him.
"You three old fellows are quite good at hiding. If Zhang Yang and the Old Ancestor hadn't come out to meet me proactively, I would have been completely fooled!" the Second Prince said sternly.
"Second Prince, please calm your anger. When you gods fight, we mortals caught in between suffer the most, pleasing neither side."
"Yes, whether it's the Emperor, Linhai City, or the King of Jiangnan, none are people we can afford to offend. We truly have no choice."
"We beg for your forgiveness, Second Prince."
The three members of the Blood Kill Sect quickly bowed their heads and apologized.
"Forget it, you can leave now. I have matters to discuss with Zhang Yang and the others." The Second Prince waved his hand impatiently.
The three members of the Blood Kill Sect felt as if they had been granted amnesty and left immediately.
"Remember, the fact that Zhang Yang and the Old Ancestor are here must be kept secret. Do not let it spread!"
As they were leaving, the Second Prince warned them.
In response,
The three repeatedly assured him, "Second Prince, rest assured, we saw nothing."