It was actually—Mu Yunjin!
Luo Zhiheng was clearly surprised to see Mu Yunjin; the astonishment in her wide eyes was evident. No matter how much she thought about it, she hadn't expected Mu Yunjin to appear at this crucial moment, let alone support Mu Yunhe. This left her both doubtful and slightly moved.
Mu Yunjin, however, didn't have so many thoughts. He only knew his shock and disbelief when Mu Yunhe rebelled, so much so that he had been secretly watching the so-called Mu Yunhe, but he couldn't see anything wrong with it. But then this woman appeared, and her words gave Mu Yunjin a sudden sense of hope. That's it, Mu Yunhe wouldn't do such a thing, so there was a reason that could be explained, and the woman's words weren't without merit.
Looking up, Mu Yunjin stared directly at Prince Mu and said, "Father, you must not blindly blame Mu Yunhe. Now that someone has said that this person is not Mu Yunhe, you should believe Mu Yunhe."
Prince Mu was surprised by Mu Yunjin's appearance. This brave and skilled young hero's son had been depressed for so many years because Mu Yunhe had so cruelly murdered his mother. He thought that the two sons were going to be enemies to the death. But he never expected that Mu Yunjin would stand up and speak up for Mu Yunhe!
"Yun Jin, do you believe Yun He?" Even though Mu Yun He's actions today deeply saddened Prince Mu, he was still his son. There was another perspective that favored Mu Yun He, and Prince Mu naturally didn't want to condemn him outright. Yet, each word of "belief" left Prince Mu uncertain. Was it genuine trust in Mu Yun He, or was there some other motive?
Mu Yunjin, however, didn't think anything of it: "Of course I believe you. Who knows our family better than our own family?"
Mu Yunjin's rhetorical question and the phrase "family" surprised both Prince Mu and Luo Zhiheng. However, Prince Mu was immediately overjoyed, and Luo Zhiheng was relieved.
Unexpectedly, this disaster led Mu Yunjin to let go of her resentment, accept Mu Yunhe, and forgive him. This was a pleasant surprise.
Luo Zhiheng was grateful to Mu Yunjin, who was currently the first and only person to support Mu Yunhe. She sincerely said, "Mu Yunjin, you won't be disappointed in your trust today. This person is not Mu Yunhe. He has taken over Mu Yunhe's body. All I can confirm now is that he is from the Demon Clan. Mu Yunhe's soul is very weak, but I don't know if Mu Yunhe is still alive."
Mu Yunjin's expression changed. He finally walked to Luo Zhiheng's side, looked up at her, and was momentarily stunned by her beautiful eyes. But this was quickly replaced by calm, as if Luo Zhiheng couldn't stir his heart in the slightest. He frowned and asked, "If Mu Yunhe's soul is still alive, can he defeat this so-called Great Demon King?"
Luo Zhiheng shook her head and said, "I don't know, but the last time I saw Mu Yunhe, he was already very weak."
Mu Yunjin's expression was solemn: "Then, is it possible for us to defeat this great demon king?"
Luo Zhiheng sighed, a bitter taste in her mouth: "I don't know. He incited the generals who held military power and also took control of the capital region. Now, this place is full of his people, guarding it tightly and surrounding the entire imperial city like an iron barrel. Quite a few officials have been pulled away by him. I don't know how many troops are in the capital, but it's clear that we are at a disadvantage."
"These are all inevitable factors that we cannot ignore. And that great demon king is not an ordinary human, but has superb martial arts skills. We already lack the manpower to deal with those soldiers, so dealing with that great demon king will probably be even more difficult." Luo Zhiheng spoke very objectively. She would not add negative emotions to the despair, but she would not look at the problem in such an optimistic way either.
Mu Yunjin frowned and pondered for a while. His handsome face appeared much more mature and composed than San Nianqiang because of his mustache, and his decadent temperament was even more charming because of his seriousness when he was thinking.
Luo Zhiheng couldn't help but think that if these two brothers survived this calamity, their mutual support and forgiveness would be a beautiful story. Looking at Mu Yunjin like this, Luo Zhiheng suddenly thought of Yu'er, whom she hadn't seen for many years. She still remembered that lively and proud girl confidently declaring, "I love men as mature and steady as my father."
Looking at Mu Yunjin now, isn't he mature and composed enough?
Suddenly, Mu Yunjin looked up and shouted towards the Great Demon King's direction, "Brothers on the city wall, listen up! I am Mu Yunjin. I wonder if any of my comrades who fought alongside me back then are still here? I have truly wasted my life these past three years. Many brothers have come to visit me, but I was unable to overcome the grief of losing my mother, and I have truly failed to live up to their loyalty. Today, I stand here because I want to completely move on from the past. Are there any of my brothers who fought alongside me who are still willing to fight alongside me?"
“The person you are following now is not Mu Yunhe. If you follow him, you are condoning the murderers who harm our innocent people. You are accomplices! We are the real family. In this capital city, in this Mu Dynasty, who is not our father and fellow countryman? Can you really bear to help an outsider with wolfish ambitions to harm your own family?”
"Open your eyes and take a good look. Is he still the same Mu Yunhe who was devoted to the people? Ask yourselves honestly, what right does someone who recklessly burns, kills, and attacks have to sit on the throne? If you follow such a person, can you guarantee that you won't be the next ones to die without a burial place?"
"Brothers, do you still remember the beliefs we held when we went to the battlefield? Do you still remember our perseverance in the bloodshed? Do you still remember the courage that kept us alive through countless nights of hunger and cold? What we did was to protect our homeland, the families, brothers, and sisters who surrounded us in the rear! Can we forget our faith and beliefs today? Do you really want to become executioners who come from the battlefield and create new battlefields? Our fallen brothers, their families may be under your swords today! Your swords were once stained with blood to protect them, are you going to stain your swords with the blood of our loved ones today?"
A deathly silence fell over the surroundings. Everyone stared wide-eyed in disbelief at Mu Yunjin below. No one had expected him to openly speak up and try to rescue her, even in such a disadvantageous situation. His words were incredibly inflammatory. What could be more unforgettable than the poignant tale of men sharing life and death, sacrificing their lives for each other? Having faced death together, they were now brothers. Mu Yunjin's words were truly heartfelt and sincere.
Even though the Great Demon King was confident and seemed to be watching the show, Mu Yunjin's sudden move made his expression change repeatedly.
The human heart is the greatest uncertainty. No one knows what a person's heart truly holds. Whether it's national grudges or brotherhood, which is more important, there are a hundred different opinions among a hundred people.
"Mu Yunjin? What kind of thing are you? How dare you come out and provoke me! Do you still have the nerve to stand up and talk about the things you did back then? You say you believe in my character, but now you want to openly challenge me? I really don't want a relative like you!" The Great Demon King immediately spoke up, and his words, though unspoken, were clear to everyone. He was accusing Mu Yunjin of being two-faced.
"I am nothing, but your mistake is that you shouldn't have used Mu Yunhe's identity to do evil! How dare you slander Mu Yunhe? Do you really think the people of this world are blind and can't see Mu Yunhe's character over the years?" Mu Yunjin said sternly.
The Great Demon King roared, "Mu Yunjin, you're courting death! Do I need you to tell me what to do? You're just a defeated opponent of mine. Within a quarter of an hour, obediently go back to your rat hole, or I'll be the first to kill you."
Mu Yunjin stood tall and proudly declared, "If you want to fight, then fight! If I, Mu Yunjin, were to even blink, I wouldn't be worthy of being the major general of those brothers who died in battle!!"
"Well said, Major General!" Suddenly, an excited response was heard from the city wall, shouting loudly. It turned out to be a city guard who rushed forward: "Major General, Mo Jiang is confused. Mo Jiang will never help the devil to harm his fellow villagers!"
Mu Yunjin didn't recognize the young general, but he knew he must have been one of his former soldiers. Before the smile could even form on Mu Yunjin's lips, the Great Demon King swung his blade, and blood splattered down from the high city wall. The young general, who had just been alive, suddenly plummeted from the wall!
Warm blood fell rapidly through the air, hitting the ground and mixing with the severed limbs, leaving no trace.
Mu Yunjin's expression changed drastically, and Luo Zhiheng's breathing also became rapid. However, at this dangerous moment, another person rushed out and shouted, "We will not forget our beliefs. Our hands are for protecting our homes and country, not for killing each other! Major General, we will not be executioners who harm our fellow villagers!"
Just as the soldier was rising up and preparing to jump down to Mu Yunjin's side, the Great Demon King swiftly and accurately killed him from behind.
Then, one after another, more than twenty soldiers rushed out, brandishing swords and charging towards the Great Demon King. Their betrayal, even in the face of death, stemmed from a renewed sense of conscience; Mu Yunjin's words had deeply moved and ashamed them. Soldiers have their own bottom line and beliefs. Soldiers do not exist to kill; their existence is solely for protection!
They safeguard the peace of the region, the tranquility of their fellow villagers, and the peace of their motherland!
The soldiers, suddenly roused, charged at the Great Demon King without prior arrangement. However, their blades were no match for the Great Demon King's martial arts skills, and their conscience and passion led to their gruesome and swift demise.
Those dozens of vibrant lives were lost in the blink of an eye, becoming the souls of the great demon king!
This way of dying was even somewhat pathetic and absurd, yet it commanded profound respect. At the very least, their courage and fervor stirred the conscience of many soldiers and ministers, revealing to them the venomous heart of the very people they were to serve and follow!
The emperor was already heartbroken, while Mu Yunjin's eyes were bloodshot as he gritted his teeth and roared, "I'll kill you!"
Luo Zhiheng quickly pulled back the frenzied Mu Yunjin. She lashed out with her whip to firmly stop Mu Yunjin's impulse, shouting, "Calm down! He's not human, he's a devil!"
Even though Mu Yunjin's method was good, it was impractical to try and get soldiers to defect to their side. The Great Demon King could easily kill any defecting soldiers; while he couldn't kill them all at once, those close to him would certainly die. And the soldiers who were dying now were truly brave!
The Great Demon King nonchalantly licked the blood off his hands and sneered, "What use is there in keeping such a traitor alive? Since he was willing to follow you, Mu Yunjin, then it's only right for me to kill him! Those who disobey me and attempt to betray me will only have one fate: death!"
Those who had initially hesitated and wanted to object were all visibly shaken. The ministers who followed the Great Demon King's ministers felt their hearts race, but the soldiers who had served Mu Yunjin were not. They were still young, they were full of passion, and they did not back down because of the Great Demon King's intimidation!
They were soldiers organized into the capital region or the city's defense forces. Only one-tenth of them had ever seen battle, but they were unwilling to betray their conscience and follow this devil. Even their generals, who held the insignia of soldiers, could not allow them to betray their conscience.
But they died.
Luo Zhiheng suddenly understood Mu Yunjin's bloodshot eyes and trembling body. The feeling of watching his brothers die one by one and being powerless to do anything about it was just too painful.
The pungent smell of the flames stung her eyes, making them sting. She looked up sharply, then suddenly raised her whip and pointed it at the Great Demon King, shouting, "Great Demon King, what excuses do you have now? You are not Mu Yunhe at all! You impersonated Mu Yunhe because you wanted to destroy him, to make everyone hate him, because you orchestrated the coup that Mu Yunsheng launched three years ago! You used the pretext of making Mu Yunsheng a puppet emperor, but you wanted to be emperor yourself! You couldn't become emperor three years ago because Mu Yunhe stopped you. Three years later, you've returned, but because you harbor resentment, you're settling old scores and new ones! Your evil deeds and your conspiracies have not been without clues. I know everything, I know everything! You can't deny it!"
Now that the people's hearts have been won over, the Great Demon King, enraged, no longer pretended to be strong and arrogantly said, "Yes, I am not Mu Yunhe. I am going to destroy Mu Yunhe and take away this Mu Dynasty! What can you do to me!"
548 The battle begins!
Updated: 2014-01-10 20:19:10 Word Count: 3394
Such arrogance reveals his wolfish ambitions and the shocking truth that Luo Zhiheng spoke of.
This person is really not Mu Yunhe! Is this person truly a demon who has controlled other people's souls?!
Everyone standing behind the Great Demon King was filled with terror and despair. Who were they standing behind? How could they have been so blinded by greed to choose this person? This wasn't someone who could bring them wealth and glory; this was a devil who would send them to hell!
People were filled with fear and unease, and screams erupted everywhere.
This was Luo Zhiheng's ultimate goal! Only by forcing the Great Demon King to confess could she completely convince everyone and clear Mu Yunhe's name of injustice and stigma. Only in this way could she sow discord and completely isolate the Great Demon King.
The Great Demon King had clearly anticipated this outcome. He looked mockingly at the group of bewildered ministers and soldiers and threatened, "Are you panicking? Don't you realize it's too late? You're already on my pirate ship. You can get off if you want, but your corpses will remain with me. Your souls are yours to do as you please."
"You bastard, how dare you deceive us!" a minister roared in exasperation. Perhaps in his eyes, this great demon king was still Mu Yunhe, and he had not yet seen the true terror of the great demon king.
The Great Demon King killed the minister without a word, eliciting screams from the surrounding crowd. His icy voice drowned out everyone else's words: "Shut up if you don't want to die! If you weren't so vain, how could you have been tempted by me? You just wanted promotions and riches, so you can't blame anyone else. But I don't tolerate betrayal. Since you've stood on my side, your lives and deaths are mine to bear."
Perhaps noticing the ministers' ashen faces, and knowing he needed help, the Great Demon King softened his voice, saying, "However, you don't need to be too afraid. I am not truly a demon. Think about it, even if you regret it now and go back there, will they accept you? You would be traitors to them. It's better for you to wholeheartedly serve me. That way, when I ascend to the throne, you will all be my meritorious followers. Do you think I would mistreat you then?"
A glimmer of hope flashed across the ashen faces of the ministers. A hint of mockery flickered in the Great Demon King's eyes, but he suddenly laughed and said, "However, if I discover those who do not truly follow me, I will show no mercy!"
Everyone shuddered. After much deliberation, someone finally realized the gravity of the situation, knelt down, addressed the Great Demon King as Emperor, and cried out in gratitude for the Emperor's great favor. Once one person did this, the others, not wanting to die, followed suit. Only a very few truly understood, standing stiffly in the direction of the palace. One of them cried out in anguish, "Your Majesty, this old minister was wrong! We were bewitched! Please, Your Majesty, in consideration of this old minister's final repentance, treat Old Chen's family well after my death! This old minister kowtows to Your Majesty in gratitude!"
The minister then kowtowed to the emperor with tremendous force, drawing blood from his forehead. Those who shared the same sentiment also kowtowed forcefully to the emperor. They were resigned to their fate. In this final moment, they chose to believe in the emperor's faction.
This great demon king was clearly of dubious origin and untrustworthy. The Mu Dynasty, with its forty-three pharaohs as guardians and that mysterious woman, might not necessarily be unable to win. They couldn't be certain the emperor would ultimately prevail, yet they persisted. Their final resolve stemmed from a sliver of conscience and shame. They knew they had wronged the late emperor, so they expressed their repentance and loyalty to the new emperor in this way before their deaths.
The ministers who did this were mostly elderly officials, and only such people could make a wise choice when they were about to die.
Without giving the emperor a chance to speak, the Great Demon King was ruthless; anyone who betrayed him would be killed without mercy! In the blink of an eye, the Great Demon King had wiped out all the old ministers, their corpses lying haphazardly on the ground, their blood quickly pooling into small pools.
The crowd was filled with fear and dread at the Great Demon King's cruelty and ruthless killing.
The emperor was furious, his eyes red as he roared, "You monster! They were all elderly people, how could you do such a thing!"
"Why can't you bring yourself to do it? In my eyes, they are nothing more than slaves, whether they can be used or not. Since they are unwilling to pledge allegiance to me, then they must die! Do any of you want to taste the bitterness of death?" The Great Demon King glanced at the crowd with a bloodthirsty smile.
Everyone fell silent, terrified.
Luo Zhiheng roared, "You beast! You have no feelings or humanity. Get out of Mu Yunhe's body right now!"
The Great Demon King raised an eyebrow and sneered: "Come out? That won't do. I've finally got such a fine appearance for myself, I'm more than happy to have it, how can I let it go? As for you, if you really can't bear to part with my fine appearance, why don't you just come with me?"
"You're talking nonsense! I'll kill you!" Luo Zhiheng was furious. Her fiery red whip lashed the ground with a crack, and she stood up from her horse, leaping forward in the motion.
Everyone was shocked, and Mu Yunjin rushed to catch her. However, a gust of green wind flashed by, and Luo Zhiheng was carried by someone by the waist and flew straight towards the city wall.
Seeing Luo Zhiheng walk right into his trap, the Great Demon King was overjoyed and teased, "So eager to throw yourself into my arms? I can't wait either."
Luo Zhiheng was filled with murderous aura. Before she could fly to the top of the city wall with the help of the demon lady, the great demon king had already flown down and was trying to grab Luo Zhiheng with his hand in a claw shape.
Both of them were incredibly fast, causing everyone to worry and feel tense about the sudden appearance of this mysterious woman.
Luo Zhiheng, however, showed no sign of nervousness. Suddenly, she swung her whip forward, the sharp blade seemingly tearing through the air, flying straight towards the Demon King with a whoosh. The Demon King seemed completely unfazed, actually catching it with his bare hands. Luo Zhiheng sneered, "So confident? Then let me show you the taste of this 'reformed' whip!"
"Huh? Oh no!" The Great Demon King had just grabbed the whip when he felt a burning sensation. He looked down and his expression changed. He cursed under his breath and tried to let go, but then he realized that he couldn't let go. The whip seemed to be permanently attached to his hand.
"You bastard! What's wrong with this whip?" the Great Demon King roared, his face contorted with rage.
Luo Zhiheng smiled brightly and said coldly, "If I told you, would that still be considered a secret weapon? Idiot!"
The Demon King's expression grew even more grim. The reason he dared to grab the whip was because he had seen it before and thought it was the same thing that, while somewhat powerful, couldn't really harm him. Little did he know that this thing was now possessing immense power, devouring his soul.
No, it wasn't devouring, it was sucking! This whip could actually suck the soul? He felt his soul being wildly sucked by this unshakeable whip, and his soul became extremely uneasy inside Mu Yunhe's body.
Luo Zhiheng acted decisively, ordering the Demoness to advance immediately. The Demoness didn't hesitate, rushing towards the Great Demon King even faster. In Luo Zhiheng's hand, she held a handful of powder. They didn't need to get too close to the Great Demon King; they just needed to get the powder onto him. However, this was still extremely dangerous; a slight misstep could very well cost Luo Zhiheng her life.
But Luo Zhiheng and Ayi went without hesitation! Because she had no other choice!
Seizing the opportunity, Luo Zhiheng threw the powder at the Great Demon King. The Great Demon King was not unprepared, but the whip couldn't dispel his extreme anxiety and unease. He looked up with a distorted expression and just happened to see Luo Zhiheng's bright eyes and the white powder that suddenly flew towards him.
The Great Demon King immediately dodged. As expected of the Great Demon King, Luo Zhiheng's attack missed, and the Great Demon King dodged it!
Ke Luo Zhiheng wasn't disappointed; she still had powder. But the Great Demon King was furious. Since he couldn't shake off the whip, he'd shake off the person wielding it!
"You scoundrel, you're asking for death!" The Great Demon King was furious. He gripped the whip tightly and swung it around in mid-air, spinning the nude photo and the demoness around. The immense force left them like puppets, unable to control themselves. They dared not let go rashly, otherwise they might have been thrown out and crashed into something.
Everyone turned pale at the sight. Mu Yunjin, anxious, picked up a knife from the ground and threw it forcefully at the Demon King, aiming straight for his back. The Demon King, however, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head; he coldly snorted, and a powerful gust of wind shredded the knife.
"Master, please let go and let the demon lady grab the whip!" the demon lady shouted. The wind force and inertia were too strong; if this continued, Luo Zhiheng would definitely not be able to withstand it.
Luo Zhiheng shook her head firmly. The demoness was doing this for her own good, so how could she abandon her? She didn't believe the Great Demon King could hold out for long. This whip was enhanced with something good given by the World King. Even if it couldn't kill the Great Demon King, he definitely wouldn't gain any advantage! Now it was just a matter of who could hold out longer.
As expected, the Great Demon King couldn't hold on for long, because he couldn't shake off that strange force, and it was even more frantically sucking at his soul. If this continued, his soul would be pulled out of Mu Yunhe's body!
The Great Demon King's eyes darkened as he glared fiercely at the hand that was stuck to the whip. Since he couldn't shake it off, then he didn't want it! He said cruelly to Luo Zhiheng, "You wretch, you forced me to do this. Since you don't want Mu Yunhe, why should I leave him a whole corpse?"