Chapter 431: What a Coincidence, We Meet Again

Nan Zhuiming had once again regained his expert demeanor, befitting the Patriarch of the Saint Bone Nan Family.

He faced the roaring Dragon Flame Warriors with placid calm, regarding the entire Dragon Flame Camp as if it were nothing. After all, he had four Yan Soul Guards at his back—experts assigned to him by Mo Jing.

And so, he spoke again, his voice cool. "You four, listen up. Kill anyone who dares to approach."

Nan Zhuiming was actually giving orders to the four Yan Soul Guards. A cold glint flashed in their eyes before they replied in low voices, "Yes."

They actually accepted his command...

That single word, "Yes," sent Nan Zhuiming soaring. He felt utterly elated.

Not long after escaping the Dragon Flame Royal Capital, Nan Zhuiming had felt he was going mad. The assassination of the Dragon Flame King had failed. He had then run into Lu Chao and been beaten so badly he could only flee for his life, nearly failing to escape at all.

Forget achieving great merit; he was afraid Lord Mo Jing would simply cast him aside.

Then, he had actually run into Mo Jing.

Although Mo Jing had chewed him out, he had still been given another mission: to assassinate Fan Changcun.

At the time, Mo Jing had said...

"You're too much of a failure. I'm afraid you'll fail to assassinate Fan Changcun as well."

"I'm assigning four Yan Soul Guards to you now, but you cannot reveal they are from Yan Soul City, lest our Young Master Yan Mu finds out."

"When you carry out the assassination, you will take the lead. The Yan Soul Guards will act as your subordinates for the time being."

'To put it bluntly, if you're going to put on a show, you have to commit to it fully...'

If Mo Jing had simply dispatched the Yan Soul Guards to assassinate Fan Changcun, Yan Mu would likely find fault with him if he discovered it later. He might say something like, 'The insignificant Azure Flame Domain requires an assassination? How unnecessary.'

In other words, Mo Jing wanted his plan to be flawless. He wanted to make Yan Mu believe that he himself had conquered the Azure Flame Domain perfectly.

Thus, the assassination had to be led by Nan Zhuiming, a native of the Azure Flame Domain.

'Being able to command the Yan Soul Guards... the feeling is just incredible.'

While Nan Zhuiming was reveling in his secret delight, his target, Fan Changcun, quickly spoke up. "Warriors, stay back for now! These men are likely experts from the Cyan Sword Great Empire."

He issued the command to the tense Dragon Flame Warriors surrounding them.

Nan Zhuiming's expression flickered. "Fan Changcun, what are you talking about? Cyan Sword Great Empire? These are all experts of my Nan Family."

'Of course, I can't let too many people know about the Yan Soul Guards.'

He let out another savage grin. "Fan Changcun, you're about to die. Any last words? After you're gone, my Nanye Dynasty's forces will immediately storm Dragon Flame. This place will become a river of blood, and no one will be spared."

Behind him, the corners of the four Yan Soul Guards' mouths twitched. 'This Nan Zhuiming... why is he wasting so much time talking?'

Raising his eyes slightly, Fan Changcun replied, "I heard that in the Dragon Flame Royal Capital, you were scared off by the Dragon Flame King, and then beaten away by Lu Chao?"

He wasn't asking a question; he was rubbing salt in Nan Zhuiming's wounds.

Sure enough, Nan Zhuiming's expression changed dramatically. This was his greatest shame...

"I also heard that in the Dragon Flame Palace, you proclaimed yourself the number one expert in the Azure Flame Domain. What number expert are you now, I wonder?"

Fan Changcun asked again, his voice aged.

He was stalling for time. He didn't know if Lu Chao was confident of victory, and he needed his subordinate commanders and experts to arrive in full force.

They would stand with Lu Chao to resist the experts from the Cyan Sword Great Empire.

His words had been a probe. And though Nan Zhuiming refused to admit it, Fan Changcun had basically confirmed his suspicions.

'These four men in black are definitely from the Cyan Sword Great Empire.'

In that instant, Nan Zhuiming's face became incredibly ugly once more.

He felt the urge to vomit blood. Finally, he couldn't keep up the pretense any longer and roared, his voice dripping with ice, "Of course I'm the number one expert in the Azure Flame Domain! Soon, both the Dragon Flame King and Lu Chao will be dead!"

With that, he stalked toward Fan Changcun, ready to land the fatal blow.

「Inside the tent...」

Lu Chao's gaze had been fixed on the four men in black. Fan Changcun's stalling had also been to give Lu Chao time to observe them.

He silently made his judgment. 'None of them have reached the Creation Realm. All four are at the peak of the Peak Realm. Their Heavenly Destiny Bones should all be Moon Mortal Bones. As long as I can keep Marshal Fan from being targeted, we can win this fight.'

With this thought, Lu Chao slowly extended a hand, pushing aside the tent's door flap.

At that very moment, Nan Zhuiming whispered coldly to Fan Changcun, "Lord Mo Jing was actually worried I couldn't assassinate you. But killing you is as easy as flipping my hand... Now, go to Hell!"

With that, Nan Zhuiming thrust his palm toward Fan Changcun.

「In the distance...」

"Marshal!"

One by one, commanders from the Dragon Flame forces charged forward, roaring in fury as they witnessed the scene.

But they were still too far away.

Yet, facing Nan Zhuiming's heavy palm strike, Fan Changcun showed no fear. He was perfectly calm and composed.

He knew Lu Chao was right behind him and would not let him come to harm.

And just as expected... SWOOSH!

Just as the force of Nan Zhuiming's palm was about to strike Fan Changcun's face, a hand shot out from the tent. In an instant, it pulled Fan Changcun inside, yanking him clear of the attack.

The scene left Nan Zhuiming stunned, and the four Yan Soul Guards were equally dumbfounded.

At the same time, the eyes of the distant Dragon Flame commanders lit up. After letting out a long sigh of relief, one immediately shouted, "Archers, fire! Kill the assassins!"

THWIP THWIP THWIP...

A volley of arrows rained down. Before, with Fan Changcun outside the tent, they hadn't dared to fire for fear of hitting him. Now, there was no such issue.

Seeing this, the expressions of Nan Zhuiming and the Yan Soul Guards soured.

One of the Yan Soul Guards snorted coldly. "Nan Zhuiming, we told you to stop wasting time. Now hurry up and get in there and kill him!"

As he spoke, the four Yan Soul Guards moved swiftly to block the incoming arrows for Nan Zhuiming.

The latter's mouth twitched before he roared, "There was someone else in the tent! I'll tear you to shreds!"

'Getting chewed out by a Yan Soul Guard!' Fuming, Nan Zhuiming charged into the tent.

The True Qi of his Creation Realm cultivation erupted from his body, ready for a potential ambush... but there was none. After he entered, he saw no traps, only a single person.

A straight-backed figure, clad entirely in black.

In an instant, Nan Zhuiming's eyes bulged. He shrieked in disbelief, "Lu... Lu Chao!"

"Nan Zhuiming, what a coincidence."

Lu Chao chuckled. "It's been less than four days, and we meet again."

He was frozen...

Nan Zhuiming stammered, "How did you get here so fast? I was on a mount from the Cyan Sword Great Empire!"

Lu Chao couldn't be bothered to answer that. Instead, he just smiled again. "Nan Zhuiming, I've reached the Peak Fourth Layer."

As his words fell, with a BOOM, True Qi exploded from Lu Chao's entire body.

The sheer force of it shocked Nan Zhuiming, forcing him back several steps. Then Lu Chao asked again, "So, in the Azure Flame Domain... what number expert are you now?"

Trembling violently from head to toe, his teeth chattering, Nan Zhuiming suddenly screamed...

"Yan Soul Guards, get in here!"

"Lu Chao is in this tent! He's broken through again! I'm no match for him!"