Martial Arrogance Dragon Soul-Chapter 351 - 334 Discussing Important Matters

The white-robed elder stared coldly at Qin Qing, his intent to kill not the least bit concealed.

"Young man, you should not meddle in other people’s affairs!"

"Otherwise, death is the price you must pay!"

With his killing intent fully revealed, the white-robed elder suddenly stepped forward, his figure flickering like a white shadow arriving in an instant.

Meanwhile, right behind Qin Qing, a black shadow flashed into existence. Just as the white-robed elder was about to touch Qin Qing, the black shadow suddenly erupted with a terrifying aura, accompanied by a fearsome burst of thunder and lightning.

"This is bad!"

Behind them, Hou Yuan and the others showed expressions of absolute shock.

The white-robed elder’s face also registered great alarm.

He had scented the danger and hurried to retreat.

But it was too late!

He, a cultivator of the Nascent Soul Realm and a martial arts ancestor, now felt a sense of powerlessness!

"Boom!"

Thunder roared!

A sphere of lightning seemed to appear out of nowhere, engulfing the white-robed elder completely.

The next moment.

The lightning dissipated.

All that remained on the ground was a skeleton.

On that skeleton, one could faintly see one or two streaks of lightning still flickering...

"Is he dead?"

Hou Yuan was utterly dumbfounded.

His master was an authentic Nascent Soul ancestor.

But now he had been killed by someone in a single move?

Hou Yuan looked at the black-robed elder who had suddenly appeared and killed his master. After the deed, the black-robed elder calmly turned and gave a slight bow to the young man behind him before disappearing on the spot.

Hou Yuan’s throat churned as he swallowed hard.

His perception of Qin Qing had completely changed now.

A master who could kill a Nascent Soul Realm expert in an instant was so respectful to this young man.

Undoubtedly... this young man must be a princely heir from one of those ancient country families.

Such a heir was simply not someone he, a minor City Lord from Qian Country, could afford to provoke!

Hohohoho...

Suddenly, outside the City Lord’s Mansion, the sounds of marching troops echoed throughout Tongcheng.

Within a dozen breaths, soldiers rushed into the City Lord’s Mansion.

From the armor worn by these soldiers, it was clear that they were not Mansion Soldiers but seemed to be the West Gate Army stationed at the West Gate.

"The West Gate Army got here so quickly?"

Qin Qing’s brow furrowed slightly, his mind on alert.

Dealing with the West Gate Army would be much more difficult than dealing with the Mansion Soldiers of the City Lord’s Mansion.

The main reason was that Qin Qing did not want to reveal his identity.

However...

The situation seemed to be different from what Qin Qing had anticipated.

After rushing in, these West Gate Army soldiers did not come directly to surround and attack Qin Qing.

Instead, the leading officer looked somewhat surprised at the scene of devastation in the City Lord’s Mansion.

After a brief moment of being stunned, the commanding officer waved his hand and pointed at Hou Yuan along with the other general and ordered, "Seize all these people!"

By then, Qin Qing had understood.

These West Gate soldiers were not here to rescue Hou Yuan; on the contrary, they were here to capture him.

Soon enough, Hou Yuan and the so-called General Fang were taken away by the West Gate soldiers.

At that moment, the West Gate military officer turned his gaze back to Qin Qing, cupped his fists in salute, and asked, "Young brother, you had a conflict with Hou Yuan just now. May I know what the matter was about?"

Qin Qing, too, cupped his hands towards the officer and briefly recounted the incident.

After listening, the West Gate officer nodded slightly, his eyes flickering as if he had thought of something, and then pulled Qin Qing aside, saying, "Young brother, may I have a word with you in private?"

Qin Qing was somewhat puzzled but didn’t say much, nodding his head and following the West Gate officer to one side.

"May I presume you have come from the imperial city?"

With his first sentence, the West Gate officer sent a jolt of alarm through Qin Qing, who immediately became vigilant.

Sensing Qin Qing’s wariness, the officer from the West Gate laughed and said, "You need not worry, I had received a message from General Zhao stating that Brother Qin might have already arrived at the West Gate. Moreover, on my way to the City Lord’s Mansion earlier, I saw a Bodhi Vulture, which must belong to the Zhuiri Ancestor, am I right?"

"General Zhao sent you a message?" Qin Qing looked at the officer.

The officer from the West Gate nodded and said, "My name is Li Hetai. General Zhao and I are sworn brothers; he guards the Northern Pass while I have been stationed here at the West Gate for nearly forty years. We both studied at the Great Qian Martial Institute and are fellow disciples. Later, having shared countless life-and-death experiences, we became the closest of friends!"

"So, you are General Li, my apologies for the oversight!" said Qin Qing, saluting once more.

"General Qin, General Zhao also told me about your exploits at the Northern Pass. If it weren’t for you, the Northern Yuan’s troops might have broken through Mohe Pass, and our Great Qian’s lands would have been in grave danger," continued Li Hetai.

"I only did what was necessary. I am far from comparable to the Prince of Zhennan and General Li, who have for decades steadfastly defended the Border Pass, both north and west. That truly is admirable!" exclaimed Qin Qing.

Qin Qing was not flattering; these were his sincere feelings.

Without those generals and soldiers who bore the brunt at the Border Pass, how could the Qian Country have enjoyed years of peace and stability?

"Alas..."

Hearing Qin Qing speak so, Li Hetai let out a heavy sigh.

Once he made sure they were alone, he lowered his voice and said, "Unfortunately, General Qin, these times have darkened."

"The emperor is incompetent, wicked ministers prevail, and the loyal and good are persecuted! The world has been obscured by darkness!"

Li Hetai’s voice was filled with indignation and profound anxiety.

He grasped Qin Qing’s hand and continued, "General Qin, did you know that the Prince of Zhennan is currently under house arrest in the palace... He cannot even leave Luochuan."

"What?" Qin Qing exclaimed, taken aback.

Was General Zhao indeed placed under house arrest in the imperial city?

Considering that the Prince of Zhennan had publicly confronted Qin Sheng in the imperial city for Qin Qing’s sake and even made such rebellious remarks, it was unlikely that Qin Sheng would let the matter rest.

Furthermore, sending the Prince of Zhennan back to the Northern Pass would be like releasing the tiger back into the mountain.

Qin Sheng would certainly not allow such a significant threat to reemerge!

"Shangguan Yong, this traitor, has betrayed loyal and good generals and is filled with evil deeds, yet he remains trusted and utilized."

"Among the princes and princesses, several are cruel and vicious, treating lives as worthless as grass."

"Look at Hou Yuan, a City Lord of a frontier city, yet conspiring with the enemy. Doesn’t that show that the Qian Country has decayed to its core?"

Li Hetai’s face showed his anger.

"Hou Yuan conspired with the enemy? And General Fang, he’s the enemy?" asked Qin Qing.

"Indeed. His name is Fang Mengyu; he is a general from Yu Country. Over the years, Hou Yuan has colluded with the enemy forces of Yu Country, exchanged intelligence on our West Gate soldiers for petty favor and profit from Yu Country. He has also forcibly taken women, sending our Qian Country’s women to those men in Yu Country... truly devoid of all conscience!"

"Our West Gate army has finally gathered enough evidence over the years, hence we came directly to the City Lord’s Mansion to apprehend the culprits. It was unexpected to encounter Brother Qin here..."

Qin Qing nodded slightly, so that was the case.

Hou Yuan was indeed rotten to the core.

"Hou Yuan, being able to serve as the lord of a single city in the West Gate yet engaging in such treachery, it’s clear how utterly corrupt Great Qian has become," said Qin Qing.

"Indeed!" Li Hetai agreed, then looked at Qin Qing again and said, "General Qin, I know of your plight as well. You are currently persecuted by that dog emperor. Why don’t you join us? We are secretly planning something, and if you are willing to join us, General Qin, your aid would be invaluable."

"With that – our cause might indeed succeed!"