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Coiling Dragon

Page 192

by welyjesch


  Johann’s face turned steely. “Julin, that bastard!”

  Johann looked at Linley with fury in his eyes. “Master Linley, We had no idea that Julin actually did something like this. He has brought utter shame upon our Empire. Master Linley, please don’t worry. We guarantee you that We will definitely take severe actions to censure him. Tomorrow, no, immediately, We shall send our senior ministers to go to the Southeast Administrative Province and strictly investigate this matter. We definitely will not let off anyone who committed any major crimes with a light punishment!”

  Linley had seen through Johann’s little ploy from the very beginning.

  Johann would ‘send someone’?

  Even if they discovered anything, they wouldn’t find Prince Julin guilty of any serious crime.

  “Your Imperial Majesty, no need to trouble yourself. Whoever caused my brother to die, I shall make them die.” Linley’s voice was cold and fierce, causing Johann’s heart to quiver.

  But Emperor Johann was frantic as well.

  Linley was actually saying he was going to directly kill Julin! He was going to go kill Johann’s brother? He, Johann, only had a single brother. What was Reynolds? Nothing more than a common noble. If he died, he died.

  How could Reynolds’ life compare to Johann’s brother’s life?

  “Linley, the Empire has our imperial laws.” Emperor Johann said in a cold voice.

  For his little brother’s sake, he had decided to try and face Linley head on for once.

  Linley looked at Emperor Johann. With a cold, calm voice, he said, “Dare I ask, according to military law, what is the punishment for someone who is afraid to do battle against an enemy of just three hundred soldiers, and even stands by and does nothing as his own soldiers are slaughtered?”

  “The penalty is indeed death.” Johann nodded. “However, an investigation is still needed to find out exactly what happened.”

  Linley glanced at Johann. “What happened is quite clear. I’ve only come to inform you of what I am going to do. Johann…do not press your luck. Do not think you can use worldly laws to bind and restrict me.”

  Saint-level experts were indeed free of worldly laws and restrictions.

  Emperor Johann stared at Linley. Suddenly, he said in a soft, begging voice, “Linley, you have a little brother as well. You should understand how I feel.”

  “Haha…” Linley laughed loudly. “Your Imperial Majesty, it seems you are suggesting that so long as one has an older brother, then they can kill any of my brothers with impunity, and then have their older brother say to me, ‘You have a little brother as well’? And then let me pardon their little brother?”

  Linley’s face was so cold, it seemed like a layer of frost was covering it. “How laughable!”

  It was indeed laughable. Someone had killed his bro, and now was trying to stir up sympathy by talking about the relationship between older and younger brothers.

  “Linley, you…” Emperor Johann was furious.

  “Johann, I hope that you won’t let yourself act rashly. Otherwise…” With a flip of his hand, Linley retrieved the scarlet talisman which the War God had given him.

  Emperor Johann, upon seeing the talisman in Linley’s hands, seemed to have had a bucket of ice water poured onto his head. His entire body began to shake.

  “The War God’s Talisman?” Johann stared disbelievingly at the talisman.

  After the founding of the O’Brien Empire, the War God, O’Brien, had abdicated and given the throne to his son, who had passed it down over time to future generations. Every generation of Emperors knew that the War God’s Talisman represented the War God himself!

  Whosoever held this War God’s Talisman even had the power to force the Emperor to abdicate!

  Naturally, very few people were in possession of the War God’s Talisman, and those people wouldn’t dare to falsify an order from the War God.

  “It’s good that you recognize the War God’s Talisman.” Linley looked calmly at Emperor Johann. “Emperor Johann, I don’t care about the fact that you don’t handle affairs with impartiality. I, Linley, am not the sort of person to consider myself the epitome of honor and righteousness. However, don’t try to put on any airs around me and restrict me. I won’t offend others, but I don’t wish for others to offend me either.”

  “Also. I do not wish to see you scheme against or act against the Dunstan clan, the clan of my friend Reynolds.” Linley said calmly. And then, Linley immediately took to the air and flew off towards the east.

  Johann watched as Linley flew eastwards.

  He knew…that Linley was heading to the Southeast Administrative Province to go kill his younger brother. But did he dare to stop him? Right now, Johann didn’t even dare to try and verbally argue with Linley.

  He was the Emperor, true.

  But who had given him his authority? The War God! A single word from the War God could force him to abdicate. By then, he, Johann, wouldn’t have any authority at all. The loss of his younger brother’s life, or the loss of his Imperial power…which was more important?

  Johann chose himself.

  The wind blew with dreary force as Linley flew at high speed towards the Southeast Administrative Province. At this time, a black light suddenly flew towards him at high speed from the imperial capital, soon reaching Linley’s side. It was Bebe!

  “Boss, how’d it go?” Bebe asked.

  “Although Johann dotes on his little brother, he values his Imperial power even more. I didn’t have to say anything. All I did was take out the War God’s Talisman, and he no longer dared to make a sound.” Linley chuckled.

  Worldly power?

  That was nothing more than secondary, and bequeathed upon you by others at that. Only true personal power, developed by training, was truly effective. No wonder the War God didn’t want to be Emperor, but instead spent his time in quiet training.

  Linley and Bebe, the man and the magical beast, flew east at high speed, and in the blink of an eye disappeared into the eastern horizon.

  Book 9, His Fame Shakes the World – Chapter 42, The Southeast Administrative Province

  Emperor Johann lay down on a bench within the imperial palace’s flower gardens, feeling utterly powerless. A weak, pale look was on his face. His eyes were closed, and he was silent. The only thing the nearby palace attendant could do was to carefully take care of him. The palace attendant was very puzzled. “Just then, his Imperial Majesty was in a fine mood. But after chatting a while with Master Linley, he became like this?”

  Emperor Johann’s eyes suddenly opened.

  “Transmit this decree. Marquis Jeff is to go to the Central Administrative Province and join with the Jacques Legion. Let Legion Commander Lace arrange a relaxed assignment for him. Unless there are special circumstances, Marquis Jeff is not to be permitted to return to the imperial capital.” Emperor Johann said calmly. He truly did not wish to see Marquis Jeff again. Whenever he saw Marquis Jeff, he would be reminded of Prince Julin.

  The event which occurred today was the deepest humiliation in Emperor Johann’s heart. But Emperor Johann knew that there was nothing he could do about it. All he could do was accept it.

  Although the palace attendant was puzzled by the Emperor’s orders, he still said respectfully, “Yes, your Imperial Majesty!”

  Emperor Johann sat back down on his seat. Suddenly, he seemed to have become much older.

  From the imperial capital to the Southeast Administrative Province, even flying at high speed in a straight line, over two thousand kilometers had to be traversed. In mid-flight, the impatient Linley transformed into his full Dragonform, making haste towards the southeast at top speed.

  When Linley had left the imperial capital, the sun had already sunk down to and reached the edges of the eastern horizon.

  When Linley arrived at the provincial capital of the Southeast Administrative Province, the entire world had begun to grow dim, and the countless commoners had begun to sit down in their homes an
d prepare for dinner.

  “Whoosh!” While flying towards the top of provincial capital in his Dragonform, Linley suddenly spread out his spiritual energy, easily encapsulating that luxurious castle in the center of the city within it.

  Prince Julin was living there. “Boss, should I handle it?” Bebe was flying side by side with Linley.

  “No!” Whenever Linley thought of his bro, Reynolds, the flames of fury in his heart burned ever hotter. Although he had flown here at high speed, Linley still felt that this trip had been a long one. Too long!

  Linley’s dark golden eyes had turned slightly bloodshot.

  “Julin!” Linley ground his teeth and said in a low voice, and then his dark golden eyes became all the more grim and callous.

  Thousands of guards were currently on patrol outside the administrator’s castle of the Southeast Administrative Province’s provincial capital. There were many beautiful maids and servants walking about the castle as well.

  Within one quiet, secluded room within the castle. Behind a hazy gauze screen. The sound of low panting. A coquettish voice moaning nonstop. Two bodies intertwined with each other.

  After a long moment…

  A low growl. And then, the room returned to utter silence.

  “Your Imperial Highness.” A soft, sweet voice.

  “Baby, you really are bewitching. You are much better than my wife.” Prince Julin opened the gauze screen, then put on his long robe and left the bed. “Baby, rest here. I’ll order someone to bring you food.”

  “Thank you, your Imperial Highness.” The woman behind the gauze screen had jade hair which cascaded down like a waterfall, and her eyes seemed utterly bewitching.

  A hint of a satisfied smile was on the corner of Prince Julin’s face.

  He was very satisfied with his life.

  What was so good about being an Emperor? As a Prince, he had as many servants as he wished and as many women as he wished. Wasn’t this sort of life even better than that of a god’s?

  “That big brother of mine. Jeeze. All I did was cause that Reynolds to die, but he lectured and berated me.” Prince Julin pursed his lips disdainfully.

  His life was extremely valuable.

  If a common noble died, he died. What was the big deal about it? Prince Julin’s absolute bottom line was this; anything which might threaten his life, no matter how small, had to be stopped.

  Prince Julin walked out of the room, feeling satisfied.

  “Your Imperial Highness.” The two female attendants outside the room said respectfully.

  Prince Julin gently stroked the face of one of the female attendants. Laughing lightly, he said, “Baby, tonight, you can come serve me.”

  “Yes, your Imperial Highness.” A hint of joy actually appeared on that female attendant’s face.

  Just as Prince Julin was feeling that his life was simply too perfect, a cold voice rang out from the skies above, covering the entire castle. “Prince Julin, are you enjoying your life?” That voice was filled with resentment and hatred, causing Prince Julin to suddenly tremble.

  “Who is it?!” The castle guards all raised their weapons and roared angrily.

  “Up above. Ahhh! It is a demon!” A guard saw Linley standing in mid-air.

  Prince Julin’s heart was filled with terror and fear. He didn’t know who had come to act against him. The people whom Prince Julin had offended were all people who were inferior in status to him. Prince Julin knew very well that some powerful experts were not to be offended. So who was this? Prince Julin raised his head high…and his face turned ashen in terror.

  Linley was currently standing in mid-air above Prince Julin’s residence. In full Dragonform, Linley was surrounded by a dense fog of azurish-black battle-qi, which swirled and roiled about him. Linley did indeed look like a demon from the abyss.

  His dark golden eyes were staring down at Prince Julin.

  All Linley had done was to use his spiritual energy to search and investigate. After hearing Prince Julin’s words to the two female attendants, he knew that this person was indeed Prince Julin.

  Linley’s body suddenly descended, and a terrifying surge of energy blasted out in every direction.

  “Boom!”

  The nearby buildings were all blown apart by this terrifying blast of force. Linley landed heavily on the ground, and the stone floor of the residence instantly cracked and shattered, as though it had been struck by a massive falling boulder.

  “Milord, who are you?” Prince Julin squeezed out a smile, appearing to be incredibly humble.

  The man in front of him was a Saint. Prince Julin was absolutely certain of this.

  Prince Julin deeply cared about his life, so he never offended any Saints.

  “Milord, is there perhaps some mistake? Why have you sought me out?” Prince Julin forcibly maintained his smile, but just at this time, from afar, a guard’s voice could be heard. “Your Imperial Highness, that person is Master Linley. I went to the imperial capital and watched his duel with Lord Haydson.”

  Many people had watched the duel between Linley and Haydson. People from the Southeast Administrative Province had gone as well. Naturally, that guard recognized Linley.

  Prince Julin hadn’t gone.

  To Prince Julin, watching experts fight wasn’t as interesting as playing around with some beautiful women. It was fortunate for him that he was the Emperor’s younger brother, because otherwise, in a country like the O’Brien Empire, where people worshipped experts and valued training and personal strength, his life would have been terrible.

  “Master Linley?”

  Prince Julin’s heart shook. What he had feared the most had come! Previously, at Neil City, he had caused Reynolds death. After Prince Julin had discovered the relationship between Linley and Reynolds, he was filled with regret, but it was too late.

  “What the hell did my big brother do? Didn’t he say that Linley didn’t know that this affair had something to do with me?” Prince Julin began to curse Johann in his heart. Meanwhile, Linley just stared at Prince Julin.

  His dear brother, Reynolds, had died because this Julin had extinguished Reynolds’ last chance at life due to his own cowardice. His dear brother didn’t have to die.

  “Do you know why I have come?” Linley was unable to restrain his fury any longer.

  “Ah! So it is Master Linley!” Prince Julin hurriedly said. “It is Julin’s honor to be able to welcome you here, Master. But I actually do not know why you have come here, Master.”

  By now, groups of people had clustered around them, watching.

  There were many of Prince Julin’s women, some of his children, and many guards and female attendants. They all watched with terror. Even the two experts of the ninth rank who were Prince Julin’s special guests stood far away, their hearts filled with terror.

  “Master Linley, if there’s anything you want, please speak calmly. I think, Master, you must have some sort of misunderstanding about his Imperial Highness.” The caretaker of the castle said from the side in a trembling voice.

  Linley turned back to glance at the caretaker, whose face instantly turned white.

  “Misunderstanding?”

  Linley walked towards Prince Julin, one step at a time. Cold sweat poured from Prince Julin’s forehead. He was so frightened that not a hint of blood could be seen in his face. Linley’s lips quirked upwards, revealing a terrifying smile.

  “Whoosh!” Linley’s ferocious black draconic tail suddenly moved, wrapping around Prince Julin’s body and constricting him like a whip.

  “Ah!!!” An shrill scream burst out from Prince Julin’s throat, sounding like a woman being molested.

  Linley’s dark golden eyes stared remorselessly at Prince Julin. “Why are you screaming? I haven’t even used any force, but you are already screaming. If I were to use force…”

  “Spare me, Master Linley, spare me.” Prince Julin said, terror-stricken.

  “Spare you?”

  Linley’s voice
suddenly turned into a guttural growl. “Me, spare you? What about my brother Reynolds? Who spared his life?” Linley’s black draconic tail, radiating a cold light, began to squeeze while lifting Prince Julin into the air.

  Prince Julin was constricted and lifted into the air by this draconic tail which was as thick as a strong man’s arm. As the tail began to tremble slightly, Prince Julin began to howl in terror. “Ah!!” “Slash.” Fresh blood began to dye Prince Julin’s clothes red.

  “Stop!” Many of the loyal guards raised their weapons from afar and howled angrily. They didn’t dare to charge forwards, but they did dare to at least shout.

  “F*ck off!” Linley frowned, his heart filled with fury.

  “Boom!” A terrifying surge of energy erupted from Linley, blasting out in every direction. All of the surrounding guards and female attendants were sent flying. Some unlucky guards ended up smashing into walls head first, with their brains splattering. Others fell to the ground and were heavily injured.

  In the blink of an eye, aside from Linley and Prince Julin, not a single person was still on his or her feet.

  “The Boss has really gone crazy.” Bebe watched quietly from midair.

  Linley retracted his gaze from the surrounding people, turning to stare at the bloody-faced Prince Julin. “Julin, don’t’ worry. I’ll let you live for a bit longer…I’ll let you have the sensation of a slow death.” Linley’s voice was very soft, but it filled Prince Julin with the utmost fear.

  “Master, please spare me. I’ll do anything you want, give you anything you want, as long as I am capable, anything is fine, but the important thing, don’t kill me.” Prince Julin still thought that he could escape from this situation alive.

  Linley didn’t pay any attention to Prince Julin’s squabbling. The only thing in his mind was the smile of his Fourth Bro, Reynolds. That adorable youngster, so dissolute and lazy, had spent ten days and ten nights waiting for him in a blizzard when he had been carving ‘Awakening From the Dream’.

  “Crunch.” A cringe-inducing sound could be heard from Prince Julin’s entire body.

 

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