Chapter 357 The Shocking Truth
Sima Ray had occupied Yu Haitang’s body at the moment. However, Yu Haitang’s appearance began to change because Sima Ray used the body to practice martial arts day and night. After a long time, he looked no different from Sima Ray’s original appearance at a glance.
Seeing Yu Haitang’s shocking change, Qin Yunuan thought that the people around Yu Haitang might have noticed something. However, they all agreed to say nothing. To keep silent was the key to survive beside Sima Ray.
Now Marshal Yu had already been a young man who looked exactly like Sima Ray without the name of Prince Ray.
“Leng Changxi, there are smoke bombs in four colors in my hands, red, yellow, blue, and green. They are responding to the codes of the people watching bonfires in the four corners of the Royal City respectively. Red is the east. Yellow is the west. Blue is the south. Green is the north. As soon as I let go of the smoke bombs, someone over there will immediately lead sparks to houses that have covered with coal oil. At that time, even gods can’t save people in time.”
Leng Changxi raised his head, looking at Sima Ray who stood on the city wall, “Why do you bother to threaten me with the lives of all the people in the city?”
“It’s simple,” Sima Ray shook his head, “I won’t be able to win you otherwise.”
Leng Changxi nodded and said, “Well, it is the truth.”
“Stop talking nonsense,” Sima Ray had already raised the signal flares in his hands high, “Okay. You can start to make your choice now. Which one do you choose to be the first and which one is the last?”
“Sima Ray, now you have put the emperor under home arrest and used the residents in the Royal City as your bargaining chip. Aren’t you afraid of being condemned by the god?” Qin Yunuan stepped forward and said. While she knew that the words to Sima Ray were of no use, she prepared to delay as much time as possible using her silver tongue.
However, Sima Ray seemed to know what Qin Yunuan was thinking about. He didn’t care about the details at all but shook his head and said, “People in the world all know that I’m going to rebel anyway. I used to try my best to cover it. Now, I don’t need to pretend to be a loyal official any longer.”
Holding the four signal flares, Sima Ray suddenly drew out the red, raised it high, and lit it. A red spark rushed into the sky quickly. Seeing that a red flame was going to burst out soon, Leng Changxi made a prompt decision. He backhanded to draw out the longbow on the back of the archer next to him and pulled the string with all his strength. At the very moment, Leng Changxi shot the red spark, which fell midway. Leng Changxi’s army couldn’t help but burst out chuckles.
However, it didn’t take a long time before a huge fire occurred in the east of the Royal City. The monstrous fire seemed to be engulfing all the houses around it. Qin Yunuan raised her head to stare at the sinful fire, “We’re still tricked by Sima Ray.”
“Do you think that it will be okay if you ruin the signal flares in my hand? Before I send the signal, I also ask people to inform the guards at the four corners to light bonfires and houses. Leng Changxi, now you are held back by all the people in the Royal City. What can you rely on to beat me?” Sima Ray raised his head and laughed. He firmly believed that he finally grasped Leng Changxi’s greatest weakness. According to Leng Changxi’s personality, he would never give up the people in the city.
“Sima Ray, the one who lost morality will get little support from the god. Do you really think that you can keep everything in your own hand?” Qin Yunuan took one step forward.
“Nuan, it doesn’t matter for me to lose the whole world as long as I have you. Once I win this match, I will be the real emperor of Qi. At that time, I will marry you to be my empress. Even though I can have so many concubines, I will have no woman but you. Do you like it?” Sima Ray said to Qin Yunuan sincerely. He looked so genuine that people who didn’t know him would think that Sima Ray loved Qin Yunuan so deeply.
“Stop talking like that. It disgusts me,” Qin Yunuan turned her head to one side.
It was really a great insult for the Leng Army to see Sima Ray molesting Leng Changxi’s wife in public like that. Nevertheless, Qin Yunuan was very admirable in the Leng Army. Someone couldn’t stand it anymore. One of the archers who could shoot trees from a hundred steps away was going to shoot an arrow at Sima Ray immediately. It was lucky that Zhuge Qingtian had stopped him in time.
“Don’t act rashly. He tries to force us to attack by speaking like that. Then he can ignite the whole Royal City and die with us.”
“Fuck him! Will he give up igniting the city if we don’t attack him?” Tuoba Wuyu didn’t like the euphemistic way of speaking of the people from the Central Plains obviously, “I think we should play fast. If we can attack one by one, I will kick him so much that his biological mother won’t be able to recognize him.”
There were so many masters in Leng Changxi’s army. Despite the geographical advantage, Sima Ray had already lost most of his masters. Therefore, it could be a good strategy to occupy one place.
If Leng Changxi fought alone, he wouldn’t be able to get in. If he tried to storm the enemy, Sima Ray would ignite the Royal City.
At this moment, a low but powerful voice came from the Royal City.
“Sima Ray is rebellious and unfilial. Today I will kill the mutineer for Qi.”
Just when people were all surprised, wondering who was speaking in the city, only Leng Changxi curled his lips slightly and said, “Good. It’s Prince Fu.”
Unexpectedly, there were more voices to fight against the rebels, seeming to come from all around the Royal City. Although there were many steps, judging from the sound, it could be found that the people lacked training despite their huge numbers. It was not like an army rebelling inside but like many nobles coming with their servants.
However, their leader was nobody else but Leng Zhongxiao, Prince Ning. The one following him beside was the orphan picked from the Shangguan Family. Leng Zhongxiao had given him a new name and taught him some martial arts. Today, the orphan of Shangguan Family had gathered some young people scattering in the city and followed Prince Ning to come to Sima Ray for revenge.
Collaborate from within with forces from outside?
Qin Yunuan looked at Leng Changxi, feeling a little surprised, “Did you contact people inside?”
“I don’t have such a great ability,” while listening to the gathering noise inside with satisfaction, Leng Changxi said with his head shaking, “Previously Sima Ray had blockaded the Royal City so perfectly that I couldn’t send people into it at all. I had to hide the message in the woodsman’s firewood outside the city and ask him to take it in.”
“Still, it was you to contact them. What a good cooperation between the inside and the outside!”
“It’s not my contribution,” Leng Changxi smiled, “It’s my father who did it. At that time, Sima Ray was still under the guise of defending the royal family. I just told him to spread rumors everywhere, saying that Sima Ray was going to kill all the nobles in the city before the army of West Xia entered to keep the royal family from being insulted. Although these cowardly nobles care for nothing but saving their skin generally, a cornered beast will do something desperate. It’s time for them to stand up and bite someone.”
Sima Ray merely glanced at the mob gathering under the city wall with disdain and nodded, “They are no more than useless people good only for feasting and drinking. They can be easily solved.” Then he just ordered a lieutenant beside him to take care of it. Turning his head, he raised the signal flares in his hands towards Leng Changxi, “Do you think that the group of people who can’t even lift a sword can help you delay time? I won’t waste time anymore. Leng Changxi, if you don’t tie yourself up, come to me and kowtow three times obediently, all the people in the city will die because of you. You have to think wisely.”
“Changxi, no,” Qin Yunuan hurried to stop him, “Even though you act according to his words, it will be just wasting one life more. Sima Ray is treacherous and cunning. Now that he is using Yu Haitang’s body with Yu Haitang’s inner Qi and skills, he can definitely give the torture worse than death if he wants to attack you.”
Occupying Yu Haitang’s body now, Sima Ray had Yu Haitang’s excellent hearing. Even if it was so far apart, he could also hear Qin Yunuan’s whisper to Leng Changxi clearly. He nodded and laughed, “Yunuan, you really know me. It seems that I will surely have you. However, despite this, what if General Leng is willing to bet it with me? Leng Changxi, you have to think about it. If you bet with me, you have half the chance to win. If you don’t, all the people in the city will turn into roast ducks.”
“Well. I promise you,” Leng Changxi glanced at Qin Yunuan, and then he turned around and ordered Zhuge Qingtian to tie his hands for him.
“No,” Sima Ray shook his head, “How can I trust your people? Of course, I will trust my own person. Mr. Shi, you will do the work.”
Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi suddenly stared at Shi Ruisheng with wide eyes. Shi Ruisheng’s face looked as calm as stagnant water, but his eyes were a little uneasy.
“Cousin?”
Shi Ruisheng’s eyes toward Qin Yunuan were no longer gentle. He only turned his head to the other side and said, “I’m sorry. I’m never your cousin. All that I have told you is a lie.”
Standing on the city wall, Sima Ray watched all this with satisfaction as if all the plans lied in his chest, “Leng Changxi, you want to arrange spies around me, but you are too naive. How can you people who claim to be righteous defeat me when playing the trick of sowing distrust? Surely I know that Mr. Shi is your acquaintance before. However, anyone can be driven by benefits. He can follow your order because of emotion. Surely he will follow mine due to benefits. You should learn more about some things.”
“General Leng, excuse me,” Shi Ruisheng stepped forward, twisting Leng Changxi’s arms with a backhand. Zhuge Qingtian and Tuoba Wuyu both took out their weapons to stop him. Qin Yunuan also stretched her hand to stop. However, they were all held back by Leng Changxi’s shout.
Sima Ray sent a fast horse immediately. He had already stood on the high city wall, looking at Leng Changxi who was tied up on the horse like an eagle looking at its prey. Well, he had never thought about it. The god of war in Qi, who had always been invincible, would have such an embarrassing day. Surprisingly, he dared to sacrifice himself like that for the untouchables of a city.
By the time Leng Changxi was dragged off to come over, Sima Ray had already been like a wild wolf with sharp teeth, ready to slaughter Leng Changxi at any time.
“I have never thought that you will be like that,” Sima Ray walked around Leng Changxi, seeing that Shi Ruisheng really tied Leng Changxi rather tightly for fear that he would run away.
“But I also have never thought that you will set the wolf to keep the sheep,” Leng Changxi’s unruly eyes were full of confidence.
Sima Ray’s heart fell abruptly, having an ominous presentiment, “What do you mean?”
“Me? What do I mean?” Leng Changxi suddenly raised his eyes and glanced at Sima Ray. The corner of his mouth rose up evilly.