Duskwild Prefecture.
Li Kuangren traveled along the secret route provided by the three scoundrels.
Along the way, he could easily identify gaps in the defenses of the border battlefront.
Upon reciting the code phrase—"Those who believe in the Pavilion of Heavenly Mystery shall gain eternal life"—a group of believers, devoted to their god, appeared to welcome him.
Thus, he traveled unimpeded all the way to Fourth Prince's Manor.
Li Kuangren's expression remained dark throughout the journey.
Azure Cloud Prefecture was, after all, a territory governed by his own family.
Having stayed there for so long, handling only the affairs of Azure Cloud, he had nearly forgotten the filth and corruption of the Dynasty.
Even though he had harbored suspicions, Li Tianyue's words had still exceeded his worst expectations.
Upon arriving at Fourth Prince's residence, Li Kuangren composed himself and pushed those thoughts aside.
Fourth Prince's manor was surprisingly tranquil.
It bore not the slightest resemblance to the domain described in the Dynasty's rumors—a place where Fourth Prince supposedly "devoured human flesh and blood and feasted on children daily."
Nor did Fourth Prince resemble the image of an emperor holding dominion over the masses; to the eye, he was merely a leisurely old man sitting by the lake, wearing a bamboo hat and fishing.
The fishing rod twitched slightly.
The old man placed a flopping green carp into his bamboo basket and baited the hook once more.
Without turning his head, he spoke:
"Li Kuangren of the Li family.
Back then, you angrily rebuked the court officials in the Imperial Hall. Later, you served as a Judge in the Azure Cloud Region.
After that, you managed Hundred Treasures Mountain. And now, you hold the reins of power in Azure Cloud Prefecture, handling affairs great and small with competence."
Li Kuangren remained silent.
This Fourth Prince was unlike others; he put on no airs.
The moment Kuangren arrived, Fourth Prince simply recited the deeds that outsiders considered praiseworthy.
Fourth Prince continued, "It was my Twelfth Brother who asked you to come, relying on the bond of sentiment between myself and your Li family.
The Dynasty is currently in peril.
If Shadowfell Prefecture is conquered by the Wu Race, I fear the Twelve Totems of the Wu Race will all stir into action.
That would truly be a catastrophe for our Dynasty.
He sent you here to sue for peace, so that he can divert his attention to deal a heavy blow to the Wu Race."
"My Twelfth Brother is far more intelligent than that Crown Prince Sheng.
Thanks to your Li clan's proper guidance, those three hundred years spent as a farmer in your family really smoothed out his temperament."
Li Kuangren knew that playing games with such an old fox was pointless, so he spoke straightforwardly.
"Nothing escapes Your Highness Fourth Prince. However, Your Highness surely does not wish to see the Dynasty destroyed, do you?
This world belongs to your clan, but it is also the world of the Human Race. Your Highness knows far better than this humble one what needs to be done."
Hearing these words, the Fourth Prince's fishing rod twitched.
Only then did he turn his head with interest to cast a glance at Li Kuangren.
Li Kuangren finally got a clear look at the Fourth Prince's features.
Fourth Prince's hair and beard were completely white, yet he appeared hale and hearty.
At a glance, he struck one as a kind and benevolent figure.
The old man stroked his beard, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
"You are right. Since you came from Dongfang Liancheng's side, you should be aware of the matters happening behind the scenes.
Whether the war can actually be stopped, and whether we can appease these soldiers, ultimately depends on your Azure Cloud Li Clan."
"..."
Li Kuangren frowned slightly.
He had merely come to negotiate for peace; he had never intended to get involved in the thick of it.
At this moment, following beside Li Kuangren, Li Wei narrowed his eyes, his expression grave.
"In this entire world, aside from my Azure Cloud Li Clan, is there no one else who can lead?"
...
Upon returning from Duskwild Prefecture to the Azure Dynasty's military camp, Li Kuangren was weighed down by heavy thoughts after his lengthy discussion with the Fourth Prince.
He could not make this decision alone, yet hidden within his eyes was a trace of irrepressible desire and excitement.
Just as he headed toward where his Aunt was staying, Li Kuangren furrowed his brows.
He saw soldiers rushing forward in droves, gazing toward a place thick with the scent of blood.
Many soldiers were whispering among themselves.
"Did you hear? They're carrying out executions inside.
A thousand people are being beheaded in this batch—executions at the third watch!"
"What terrible crime did they commit? Is it collective punishment for deserting the battle?"
"There is no such thing as desertion; a deserter wouldn't even make it off the battlefield alive.
I heard it was collusion with the enemy, but I don't see that being likely.
These are the veteran subordinates of our Blood-Robed War Goddess, famous for their strict military discipline.
If they were going to turn traitor, they would have done so long ago."
"...."
Li Kuangren's expression turned grim, and he immediately rushed toward the execution ground.
A multitude of soldiers had gathered there.
Looking past the crowd, he saw row upon row of soldiers, bound and kneeling on the ground.
With death staring them in the face, every one of them was trembling uncontrollably.
At the very front, executioners wielding Spirit Weapon broadswords—their own faces pale—were wiping down their blades before proceeding to decapitate the next in line.
One by one, the headless corpses were carried away.
While everyone's attention was fixed on the "collaborators" being executed, they failed to notice the numerous generals gathered to the right, all wearing amused, mocking smiles.
For an event as significant as the execution of over a thousand men, Dongfang Liancheng and the army's top experts were notably absent.
Li Tianyue, her face pale, watched as her veteran subordinates were beheaded one by one, their divine souls utterly annihilated.
Standing beside her was a general with a dignified bearing and the appearance of a young man.
He sighed and said to her, "General Yue, the hardest thing to fathom in this world is the human heart.
To think that these old soldiers would collude with the enemy for mere petty profits...
It is fortunate we discovered it early, or it would surely have brewed a great disaster."
Li Tianyue clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white!
Every single one of those soldiers was her veteran subordinate.
Some had followed her for two hundred years.
To claim they colluded with the enemy—that was absolutely impossible.
Facing their sentence, though the subordinates trembled uncontrollably, they remained silent.
Among these subordinates, some even turned their heads to look at her, offering a smile and shaking their heads.