Wayfarer

Chapter 491: Death of the Crocodile King

From outside the Xuanhuang Hall of Yongding, a soldier rushed into the hall and reported, "The capital of Daxing has flung open its gates. The king of Daxing has emerged with brambles on his back in surrender!"

Xiao Nanfeng sat on his dragon throne, dressed in golden draconic robes with a crown on his head. He smiled. "Very good."

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! That's the last of the five kingdoms!" an official exclaimed.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Long live Dazheng!" the other officials cried out.

Xiao Nanfeng was just about to respond when his face suddenly turned stern.

He got up from his throne and walked toward the doors of Xuanhuang Hall. The officials glanced at each other with confusion. Suddenly, someone realized something and shouted, "Protect His Majesty! Raise defenses across the city!"

Outside Xuanhuang Hall, a large flock of soldiers rushed over upon hearing the order.

By the time Xiao Nanfeng emerged from Xuanhuang Hall, the skies were filled with red clouds.

Moments ago, in a forest outside Yongding, Yin Tianci, Mo Lengxuan, and Tang had arrived stealthily with a group of cultivators in tow. They were standing in the dark as they watched Yongding from afar.

"Tang, very well done. You were even able to convince the crocodile king to make a move against Xiao Nanfeng!" Yin Tianci exclaimed in satisfaction.

Tang grimaced. "Convincing the crocodile king wasn't a big deal, Your Highness. After all, we've been laying the groundwork for that for a long while, and its subordinates and children have died gruesome deaths. It hates Xiao Nanfeng, and is naturally willing to take him down. However, I don't feel as though this plan will work."

Mo Lengxuan hissed, "Tang, are you attempting to distract us even at this critical juncture?"

"Sir Mo, I'm grateful that you recommended me to His Highness, but I'm loyal to him and have to consider things from his perspective. We have to be particularly careful about trying to take Xiao Nanfeng down. After all, I suffered against him many times because I was careless. We can't repeat the same mistakes."

"And how many Immortal spirits perished at the borders of Dazheng because of your plan? How dare you!"

Tang defended himself. "Sir Mo, I told you that you should have requested the help of Heaven and True Immortals from the beginning. You refused to listen to me, which was why we lost our forces repeatedly!"

Mo Lengxuan frowned. "That was only an accident. Now that the Immortals of Dazheng are all gathered by its borders, Yongding is undefended. It's the perfect time and place to take down Xiao Nanfeng. It hardly makes sense to have the crocodile king take down a bunch of Human and Earth Immortals! It would never agree."

"Why not? Wasn't our plan to seize Dazheng's borders bit by bit? Giving up on the five neighboring kingdoms and striking directly at Xiao Nanfeng is a foolhardy plan!"

"Enough! I've already set things in motion. It's not your place to speak."

Tang sighed in exasperation and turned to Yin Tianci. "Your Highness, though my words may not count for much, for your safety, we ought to retreat a little further."

"It's unnecessary. Sir Mo will take care of everything," Yin Tianci replied, shaking his head.

Although he agreed with Tang's perspective, he trusted Mo Lengxuan's loyalty more. In the end, he stood on Mo Lengxuan's side.

"But it's too dangerous! I do trust Sir Mo's ability, but I know how fearsome Xiao Nanfeng is. We may well be in danger at this proximity."

"Worry not. Sir Mo won't put me in any danger."

"Understood," Tang replied wearily.

"Tang, once we take down Xiao Nanfeng's head, I'll deal with you then," Mo Lengxuan hissed.

With a wave of his hand, he initiated a signal that sent a group of Immortal spirits charging toward the city.

The Immortal spirits moved rapidly, confident in their ability to take down Xuanhuang Hall within moments. An Immortal spirit even spat out a huge fireball straight at the hall.

A transparent formation seemed to have sprung up out of nowhere around Yongding. It activated like a net, blocking the spirits' attacks.

"That fireball was blocked by a formation!"

"We just saw a flock of birds pass by without being impeded. Where did this formation come from?"

"It can't stop us. Let's tear it down!"

The Immortal spirits struck rapidly, tearing apart the formation that blocked their path. Just then, lengths of red rope fell from the skies and wrapped around the spirits.

By the time Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the hall, there were dozens of Immortal spirits tied up outside Yongding. They fumed in outrage.

"Release us!" the Immortal spirits cried out.

"Break!" a Heaven Immortal spirit roared.

It broke free of the red rope, only to have dozens more lengths descend out of nowhere and tie it up once more, pulling on its body until it felt as though it would be torn apart.

"Save us, King!" the Immortal spirits cried out from all around.

The lengths of red rope were tightening around their necks and hanging them in the air. They struggled in fear and pain.

"Halt!" a voice roared.

The sound wave alone caused the formations all around Yongding to ripple. A man in blue flew into the sky, striking at the red clouds with a palm.

The red clouds shuddered violently and began to dissipate, the lengths of red rope trailing down from them doing the same. The Immortal spirits appeared to be saved—but the next moment, the skies flashed red once again. Countless red clouds emerged and flung down more lengths of red rope to entrap all the Immortal spirits.

"A deific domain?" The man in blue frowned.

He could see a red moon in sight, and he made to destroy it.

"I advise you not to strike. I didn't kill these Immortal spirits when I could have; if you continue to harass me, I guarantee that they'll all die," a threatening voice called out from Xuanhuang Hall.

The man in blue turned to see Xiao Nanfeng standing at the entrance to the hall and glaring at him.

"Xiao Nanfeng, how impudent you are. Do you still think you can survive the day?" The man in blue made to strike at his red moon.

"You've seen it, haven't you? There's a cursed effigy lying in ambush within my red moon. You can test it if you dare."

The man in blue frowned and caught himself. He had been incited to head to Yongding and deal with Xiao Nanfeng, but he was no fool. Something did seem wrong.

"There have been plenty of Immortal spirits helping the five neighboring kingdoms against Dazheng. Did you send them? I don't know you, do I? Why have you repeatedly attacked Dazheng? Who instigated you?"

"Immortals of Dazheng killed my subordinates. I'm here to settle that matter."

"In other words, we had no previous quarrel. Someone got you to attack me—and perhaps your subordinates were tricked as well. Their deaths brought you here, after all."

The man in blue raised an eyebrow. Indeed, was this a scheme?

"I care not who you are. Your subordinates chose to die on Dazheng's battlefields of their own accord. Why should that involve you and me? Is there a need to fight to the death? Perhaps you believe that you can overwhelm me with your strength, but have you considered why those instigating you made you take the lead? Clearly, they're not confident in taking me on themselves."

The man in blue frowned, deep in thought.

"I advise you not to initiate this attack. Why should you be in the vanguard? Let those who have sent you step forward themselves. Isn't it better if you sit back and take on the winner?"

The man blinked. Wasn't Xiao Nanfeng's suggestion rather too considerate of him?

"I don't wish to kill more than necessary, and you don't want to be a shield. Why don't you reveal the masterminds to me? I'll free your subordinates and guarantee you safe passage."

The man in blue considered the proposal. No one had told him that cursed effigies were involved. Cursed effigies varied in strength, but anything that had to do with cursed effigies would be troublesome indeed.

Why should he serve as vanguard? There was no reason to do so. Better to watch from afar and swoop in if there were spoils to be gained.

"Very well. The instigators of this entire affair are in that forest. Deal with them first." The man in blue pointed toward

Yin Tianci, Mo Lengxuan, and Tang.

"The crocodile king betrayed us! We've been exposed!" Yin Tianci shouted.

"No, this isn't good! The crocodile king only knows that Tang and I are involved. He's not aware of your presence, Your Highness!" Mo Lengxuan blanched.

"Hide your face, Your Highness. We have to flee!" Tang cried out.

Just then, many lengths of red rope shot toward them.

"Break!" voices shouted from within the forest.

Yin Tianci's guards had struck down the red rope, but even more fell from the sky.

"You can't reveal my identity!" Yin Tianci hissed.

If his identity were made known to the world, everyone would know that he was taking revenge on Xiao Nanfeng in flagrant violation of the Immortal Emperor of Dayin's promise.

"Understood!" everyone replied.

Countless lengths of red rope surged toward the forest in a huge explosion.

"Crocodile King, do you know what you've done? You'll pay for this!" Mo Lengxuan roared.

"Oh? No—I'd have paid dearly for listening to you," the man in blue replied. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. Now that the mastermind has been revealed, release my subordinates."

Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, freeing the gathered spirits from his red rope.

"Crocodile King, are you? I commend your wisdom. Now, please leave Yongding so I don't get distracted."

"Let's go!" the crocodile king commanded.

"Understood!" the spirits replied.

In the forest some distance away, Mo Lengxuan was so incensed that he was about to spit blood. If the crocodile king left, they would be entirely exposed! "Hold it, Crocodile King! Are you going to backstab us?!"

However, the crocodile king flew away with his subordinates in tow, ignoring Mo Lengxuan's protests.

Yin Tianci, surrounded by a group of his subordinates, glared at him. "Mo Lengxuan, you said this was a flawless plan!"