Chapter 1881: Submission
The remaining Embroidered Envoys looked at each other in dismay. They"d never expected to have to face a Golden Token Envoy! Such a thing had never happened before.0
Zu An didn’t seem to notice them at all. He lowered his head and looked at Xiao Jianren, saying, “You’ve really had to suffer this whole time because of me.”0
Xiao Jianren chuckled and replied, “Don’t be like that, Sir Eleven. This isn’t just because of you. He wanted this old one to admit to conspiring against his majesty, a crime punishable by nine generations of clan execution. How could I admit to something like that? Moreover, I have remained faithful and true to the court as an Embroidered Envoy all these years and have no guilt. Even if I die, I will not take on such an accusation. Cough cough…”0
When he saw Xiao Jianren cough out b.l.o.o.d.y foam, Zu An consoled him. “Don’t talk for now, and just get some rest. Leave the rest to me.” Then, he looked at Bu Liangcai and asked, “Mister Bu, are you trying to obtain confessions under torture?”0
Bu Liangcai said with a sneer, “His majesty was attacked by a.s.sa.s.sins during the Violet Mountain campaign. After something so major has happened, all related personnel have to be investigated. Even the kings and state dukes are no exception. Everything I’ve done is merely handling matters according to the rules.”0
“Is this how an investigation is normally conducted? In that case, why don’t you need to be investigated?” Zu An replied with a sneer.0
Bu Liangcai’s expression remained calm as he retorted, “I didn’t even go to Violet Mountain; why would I need to be investigated?”0
“The other trusted aides of the chief commander have all died, leaving only you alive. You used that as a pretext to take control over the entire Embroidery House. According to the principle of "whoever has the greatest to gain is the true mastermind", aren’t you suspicious as well?” Zu An shouted.0
Bu Liangcai’s expression finally changed. He said, “What endless pestering. I don’t feel like wasting time arguing with you. You headed out ahead of time to eliminate Violet Mountain’s dangers, and you clearly already learned that there were mysterious forces trying to act against his majesty from Golden Token Seven. Just that alone is enough to convict you of your crimes. Capture him!”0
“Who dares?!” Zu An exclaimed, taking a step forward. “I am a Golden Token Envoy, while you are just a trifling Silver Token. According to the emergency protocol of the Embroidered Envoy, all of you are supposed to listen to my commands right now. Are you all trying to start a rebellion?”0
The Embroidered Envoys who had come over were a bit dumbfounded. Normally, they were supposed to listen to the Golden Token Envoy, but this was the trusted aide of the chief commander. Normally, they were all under his management, so they were momentarily at a loss for what to do.0
The Enforcement Troop also looked at each other in dismay. This situation really was a bit tricky. After all, ever since the founding of the Embroidery House, there had never been any incidents of anyone going against a Golden Token Envoy.0
“The chief commander already expected this kind of situation. That was why he put me in charge of everything ahead of time,” Bu Liangcai said, taking out an intricate token and explaining,“This is the chief commander’s personal official seal. He gave me authority over the entire Embroidery House. Even if you are a Golden Token Envoy, you still have to listen to my orders!” He said coldly, “Cease your resistance and we might still show leniency. Otherwise, we will kill you on the spot!”0
The Enforcement Troop finally acted, quickly surrounding Zu An and Xiao Jianren. They all took out their weapons, the trademark Soul Reaping Chains. Anyone caught up in them would have most of the ki in their body greatly restrained. The formation master quickly began to operate the formation wheel, surrounding them in flickering blue light.0
The Embroidered Envoys were never known for their individual strength, but rather for how well they coordinated with each other. All kinds of infamous roaming warriors and influential clan guardians had often fallen prey to these tactics.0
“Sir Eleven, you should hurry and leave. Do not worry about me,” Xiao Jianren said, panicking.0
He knew Bu Liangcai had always disliked Sir Eleven. After all, with his seniority and cultivation, he should have been the newest Golden Token Envoy, and furthermore, he was even Zhuxie Chixin’s trusted aide. That was already practically guaranteed. However, who could have expected that the emperor would create a Golden Token Eleven out of thin air? As such, his chances of being promoted were blocked right there and then.0
Bu Liangcai wouldn’t dare to resent the emperor, so of course he directed all of his hatred onto Golden Token Eleven. He felt as if this person had stolen what should have been his, and frequently looked for ways to vent his resentment, it was just that he hadn’t said those things to Sir Eleven before. Now that he had the Violet Mountain incident, which was such a good excuse... If Sir Eleven fell into his hands, he could find some problems even if there were none. There was no need to guess the conclusion.0
Even so, Zu An didn’t budge an inch. Instead, he consoled Xiao Jianren and said, “There"s no need to worry.” Then, he immediately raised a golden token and continued, “The chief commander token is right here. All Embroidered Envoys, heed my orders!”0
When they saw the token in his hands, the others were shocked. They instinctively kneeled down respectfully. Unlike Zhuxie Chixin’s personal seal that Bu Liangcai held, the token in Zu An’s hands represented the ident.i.ty and authority of the chief commander. There was no way it could be given to anyone else.0
Meanwhile, Bu Liangcai and his trusted aides stood in place. As they looked at the token, their faces were filled with shock and anger. Bu Liangcai exclaimed, “You scoundrel, where did you steal that token from?!”0
You have successfully trolled Bu Liangcai for +399 +399 +399…0
“Steal?” Zu An replied. “Seeing the token is the same as seeing the person. From today on, I am the new chief commander of the Embroidered Envoy.”0
Now, even Bu Liangcai’s trusted aides found it a bit difficult to continue standing. They looked at each other in dismay, and their knees grew weak.0
“The chief commander is still present, so where would we get a new chief commander from so suddenly? You probably stole that token from the chief commander when he was wounded on Violet Mountain! This is absolute proof that you have offended your superiors and colluded with outside enemies. Men, arrest this scoundrel. If he dares to resist, execute him on the spot!” Bu Liangcai exclaimed.0
“Understood!” Bu Liangcai’s trusted aides replied, finally snapping out of their daze. They had already followed Sir Bu for so many things. If he was overthrown, they would also be stripped from their positions. They could only follow this path to the end.0
The others were also a bit moved. After all, what Bu Liangcai said made some sense. They thought, Could it be that Sir Eleven really did steal this token from Golden Peak?0
Although he saw their fl.u.s.tered and exasperated appearance, Zu An seemed to have already expected such a thing. He said “Steal? This was a token that her highness just personally bestowed on me. Right now, I am the Embroidered Envoy"s Chief Commander!”0
The expressions of the Embroidered Envoys who were still in the neutral camp changed. They gave Bu Liangcai a sympathetic look.0
Bu Liangcai was even more horrified. He really couldn"t understand why the empress would give the token to Zu An. However, as someone who had worked in the Embroidery House this entire time, he immediately understood his current situation. He would be consigned to eternal d.a.m.nation if he took even half a step back. As such, he roared, “You dare to falsify her highness’ imperial decree? Arrest him, and hand him over to her highness to deal with!”0
That way, at the very least, the other neutral Embroidered Envoys wouldn’t help Golden Token Eleven. As long as he first took down Golden Token Eleven and secretly killed him along the way, he would already be dead, so there wouldn’t be much to say even if the empress found out after.0
I"m the real leader of the Embroidery House, so who else could this chief commander position go to but me?0
Even if the empress won’t allow it, I can still side with other forces.0
In the time it took for sparks to fly off a flint, he had already finished a.s.sessing his priorities. He drew the blade at his waist and charged forth. He had cultivation at the peak of the ninth rank and was only a step away from master rank, having the highest cultivation among the Embroidery House’s Silver Token Envoys. He was even on the same level as other Golden Token Envoys. His full-strength attacks were naturally not to be underestimated. At the same time, he wanted to end Golden Token Eleven in a single strike, ordering his trusted aides to act together. He didn’t want to give Golden Token Eleven any chance to turn things around.0
He saw Zu An simply standing in place, and a hint of mockery appeared in his eyes. He wasn’t upset, and actually felt happy. He remarked, “You’re not even moving?”0
Even if this guy has some skill, he’s overestimated himself way too much and will pay the price for it!0
His blade had already reached its most powerful state. He could sense that he had never released such a liberating sword slash in his life. Perhaps because the situation was related to his future prospects, his blade displayed 130% of his usual strength. Together with the support formation of his surrounding aides, not even Chief Commander Zhuxie Chixin would be able to immediately deal with his attack.0
Huh? Where did he go?0
Suddenly, everything before Bu Liangcai’s eyes blurred. Golden Token Eleven wasn"t there anymore, giving him a great shock. He quickly tried to redirect his attack, but he noticed that a large pair of hands were already clamped around his neck. His eyes widened; he was horrified to discover that all of his ki seemed to be pouring uncontrollably into Golden Token Eleven’s hands. In just a few moments, his cultivation was sucked practically dry.0
What kind of demonic art is this?! 0
He was horrified, but at that point, he couldn"t say a single word more. With a crisp crack, his neck snapped.0
Zu An tossed the corpse in his hands away. At the same time, he let out a strand of flames to completely burn the corpse into nothing. He was worried that some people would try to get information out of his corpse, so he naturally had to erase the traces. Standing with his hands behind him, he coldly swept his gaze across the remaining Envoys and announced, “Bu Liangcai has rebelled against the emperor and has already been executed on the spot."0
Bu Liangcai’s subordinates felt as if they were dreaming. They had attacked Golden Token Eleven with a formation, so how was Bu Liangcai, the center of their formation, instantly defeated? All of them shivered all over. They didn’t have any intent to rebel and kneeled down to beg for mercy.0
The other Embroidered Envoys seemed to have woken up from a daze. They all kneeled down and called out, “We greet the Chief Commander!”0
Zu An had been a Golden Token Envoy to begin with, after all. The strength he had just displayed was no less than Zhuxie Chixin’s at all. In this division, they still believed in the strong.0
Zu An nodded. He had some people bring Xiao Jianren away to get some proper rest. At the same time, he a.s.signed some people to lock up Bu Liangcai’s trusted aides. No one dared to resist after seeing Bu Liangcai, a cultivator at the peak of the ninth rank, instantly killed.0
After dealing with all of those things, Zu An then arrived at Zhuxie Chixin’s previous office. He summoned all of the Silver Token Envoys in the Embroidery House and said, “I want the most detailed information on all of the hidden elders and ancestors of the capital’s great clans and the eight dukes.”0
Favorite