30: Chapter 30: The two offerings hidden nearby?

Li Yuan, who had been enjoying the spectacle moments before, looked speechlessly at this father-daughter pair from the Nanhe Kingdom.

Incredible. Just like that, his life-saving grace was being sold out?

He had been waiting for her to repay the favor, but instead, he was being used as a pawn.

This Princess Zhuang Yuan seemed to fancy herself a masterful chess player.

As Zhuang Yuan's words fell, the Lord of Nanhe Kingdom's gaze also turned toward Li Yuan.

He knew this was likely someone being offered up to take the blame.

But he didn't care. Right now, he just wanted to kill, to vent the fury in his heart.

At the same time, the gazes of everyone around also fell upon Li Yuan.

The blame for the deaths of the two princes would likely fall squarely on Li Yuan's shoulders.

Seeing this, Li Yuan showed little panic. Instead, he took a few steps forward.

"Princess Zhuang Yuan, so this is how you repay my life-saving grace.

Is this the legendary 'those who do great deeds don't get bogged down in minor details'?"

As Li Yuan spoke, a faint smile still played on his lips.

"Young Master Li, I told you not to lay a hand on my two elder brothers.

How could you...

I wanted to protect you, but how could my father easily forgive..."

Zhuang Yuan's face was full of helplessness, as if she truly felt heartache for Li Yuan.

The Lord of Nanhe Kingdom walked over to one of his guards and drew a long blade from the man's waist.

Pointing the sharp blade at Li Yuan, he was a vessel brimming with rage ready to overflow.

With this commotion stirred by Zhuang Yuan, the crime of fratricide had been shifted entirely onto Li Yuan.

"Young Master Li, among the surrounding guards are many Fifth-Rank experts.

Although you possess Fourth-Rank strength, escaping from here is impossible.

I will erect a monument for you, and remember your assistance.

But with my two elder brothers perishing by your hand, I truly don't know how to protect you."

After saying this, Zhuang Yuan turned her head away, not daring to look any longer.

The Lord of Nanhe Kingdom's long blade drew closer and closer, then suddenly slashed down in the next moment.

This strike did not aim for Li Yuan's vital areas.

It seemed he intended to thoroughly torment Li Yuan, to make him suffer immensely before allowing him to die.

The blade fell, yet no blood splattered.

The long blade in the Lord of Nanhe Kingdom's hand had abruptly ended up in Li Yuan's grasp.

The surrounding guards who reacted, including Zhuang Yuan's people, immediately drew their weapons, pointing them at Li Yuan.

"Father, this guest of mine is impulsive by nature, and he also possesses Fourth-Rank strength..."

Zhuang Yuan's words were telling the Lord of Nanhe Kingdom that he couldn't subdue Li Yuan.

Let the others suppress him first, then he could take action.

The Lord of Nanhe Kingdom didn't respond. He simply took another long blade from a guard beside him.

His blade pointed at Li Yuan, and Li Yuan likewise pointed his long blade at this Lord of Nanhe Kingdom.

Seeing Li Yuan had no intention of surrendering at all, Zhuang Yuan's brows furrowed even tighter.

She didn't want too many unexpected developments at this stage.

She needed Li Yuan to die early so she could continue pushing matters to the next phase.

"Li Yuan, if you harm my father, I will no longer plead for you.

Forget about fantasies of monuments, books, or songs extolling your name.

Harming my father makes you the greatest sinner in the world, a crime beyond forgiveness!"

Faced with these accusatory words from Zhuang Yuan, Li Yuan couldn't help but feel like laughing.

Could those who aspire to high positions all spout such nonsense without batting an eye?

"In all these years, I've encountered very few who repay kindness with enmity.

And among those, you are particularly special.

Not only do you want the benefits, but you also want a good reputation."

Li Yuan commented on Zhuang Yuan, his tone seemingly calm, not a loud shout.

Yet these words were heard clearly by everyone present.

Zhuang Yuan's face darkened. Though a woman, she was no innocent rabbit to have come this far.

"Since you've started wildly accusing others, I can no longer plead for you either.

Impulsively killing my two royal brothers... I, Zhuang Yuan, have done all I could for you. What more do you want!"

As her words fell, Zhuang Yuan's eyes flickered slightly.

Beside her, that General Xiang stepped forward, blade in hand, and fiercely chopped at the hand with which Li Yuan held the sword.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, Li Yuan's hand still held the long blade.

While General Xiang's sword-wielding hand... was severed...

Screams began to echo, blood spurting forth.

This General Xiang was a battlefield commander who led troops, and moreover, he was a Fifth-Rank Entry-Level expert!

Apart from the few Sixth-Rank Offerings of the Nanhe Kingdom, he was one of the top-tier experts.

Even if some could defeat him, it shouldn't be possible to sever his hand in a single Move.

This scene imprinted itself in the eyes of the onlookers. Those with sharper minds had already realized:

This guest named Li Yuan was no Fourth-Rank Martial Artist, but a Fifth-Rank Perfection realm expert!

For a moment, Zhuang Yuan's mind was in disarray. She hadn't expected to have misjudged and underestimated Li Yuan so gravely.

Her misjudgment had directly led to the loss of two Fifth-Rank experts.

There was no chance for regret now. Having chosen to sacrifice Li Yuan, she could only see this path through to the end.

"Li Yuan, you persist in your delusion, even harming a loyal and righteous general of the Nanhe Kingdom.

Even Fifth-Rank strength won't be enough to spare your life!"

After saying this, Zhuang Yuan gestured with her hand.

The Fifth-Rank Martial Artists close to her all stepped forward, even more than she had anticipated.

Many Fifth-Rank Martial Artists had not previously sided with Zhuang Yuan.

Now, with the two princes dead, the future situation held almost no suspense; Zhuang Yuan would undoubtedly inherit the position of Lord.

Faced with an opportunity to show loyalty, how could they not seize it?

Once Zhuang Yuan truly secured that high position, such chances would be impossible to come by.

In that moment of hesitation, eight Fifth-Rank Martial Artists had already stepped forth.

Their sharp blades gleamed with silver light. With the elite of a kingdom attacking together, who could possibly withstand it?

"Leave him with a breath. I have questions for him."

The Lord of Nanhe Kingdom added this instruction.

As these words fell, several Fifth-Rank Martial Artists attacked simultaneously.

Every direction around offered no chance for escape.

Faced with this certain-death situation, Li Yuan raised his blade.

When Li Yuan made his Move, the eight Fifth-Rank experts seemed to transform into clumsy children.

Their Martial Skill Moves slowed down several times in an instant.

Compared to Li Yuan, it was like watching a slow-motion performance.

But when the blade took their lives, everyone could finally be sure this wasn't an intentional act.

No one would be willing to sacrifice their life for a performance.

Eight Fifth-Rank experts perished under Li Yuan's blade in an instant.

Zhuang Yuan's body began to tremble slightly. She hadn't anticipated such a massive upheaval at this step.

It was just about sacrificing a chance-met individual. How could it have shattered her entire intricate plan...

"I thought I came here today to help you resolve some hidden dangers.

If variables arose, I could help suppress and solve them.

Consider it repayment for the fate of our meeting.

I never imagined the reason I was summoned here was to be used as a sacrificial pawn."

Li Yuan looked at Zhuang Yuan. At this moment, in Zhuang Yuan's eyes, Li Yuan resembled an immensely vast, divine being.

Standing before her, he made her feel breathless.

"You... don't you dare act recklessly. The Offering ancestors of my Nanhe royal family are Sixth-Rank Supreme beings.

If you dare harm my father or me, you will die too..."

Zhuang Yuan was still threatening, trying to intimidate Li Yuan.

But Li Yuan simply pointed toward a spot not far to the east: "Are you referring to the two hiding over there?"