I am who I am

“Do you truly comprehend the extent of Lady Hai Zhu’s influence upon this kingdom?”

Sima Le’s expression was one of profound reverence—no, it transcended mere admiration, bordering on devout piety.

“During the kingdom’s darkest hour, she alone rescued everything, eradicating its long-standing ailments and ushering in an era of rebirth and prosperity.”

“From the tranquil fields and winding country roads to the bustling main streets, hidden alleyways, military garrisons, and even the hallowed halls of the royal palace, people captivated by Lady Hai Zhu’s beauty and might filled every corner of the kingdom.”

“Whenever they faced adversity, they would remember Lady Hai Zhu standing behind them, believing that with her presence, miracles were inevitable.”

“A Saintess? No, to the kingdom’s populace, Lady Hai Zhu was nothing less than a deity!”

“They worshipped Lady Hai Zhu as they would a god, convinced that she would forever safeguard this nation!”

“Yet, that god is no more.”

“They, however, have never once contemplated what to do in the absence of their deity!”

“They haven’t even begun to grasp the terrifying colossus the Empire has become, especially without their divine protector!”

“They whitewash the truth, fabricating false deities to soothe the populace, yet they have utterly failed to consider the catastrophic ruin that will befall the kingdom once their deception is unveiled!”

“I understand they are merely stalling for time, hoping the kingdom will eventually grow strong enough… but such a feat is utterly impossible!”

“This land, so impoverished in magic, simply cannot foster truly exceptional talents!”

“Do you realize the astonishing pace at which the Empire has developed over the past decade?”

“While they may not yet rival our kingdom, they too have unearthed relics of ancient civilizations!”

“Their Battle Dukes are no longer merely seven in number; they now boast twelve, perhaps even more!”

“The Battle Dukes Lady Hai Zhu once vanquished have long since been replaced, and their new ranks are even more formidable!”

“Concurrently, they have begun to view our kingdom with heightened importance, consistently dispatching agents to secretly acquire our technologies over the years!”

“In another ten, twenty years, what leverage will our kingdom possess to contend with them?”

“Even the grand formation upon which we so heavily rely has had its vulnerabilities discovered by them!”

“They have even devised a strategy specifically targeting Lady Hai Zhu, intending to execute it this very year; should it succeed, or if Lady Hai Zhu truly proves absent, they plan to outright destroy the kingdom!”

“If it fails, they will simply refine their approach and try again at a later date.”

“The Empire, with its formidable national power, can afford countless attempts and innumerable failures… yet we cannot afford to fail even once!”

“Should we fail, my beloved family, my loyal subordinates, my devoted students… all of them will perish without a trace!”

“So, you’ve chosen surrender, begging for the Empire’s mercy?” Xie Shenhong glared at Sima Le, his eyes blazing.

“This is no plea; it is a transaction!”

“A transaction made while the kingdom still possesses the leverage to negotiate with the Empire!”

“Once the Empire conquers this kingdom, I shall become a member of the Knights of the Round Table, an Imperial Marquis, and be granted all territories within the southern region of the current Vermillion Bird Kingdom, including its capital!”

“No one will perish, and there will be no further need to fear the Empire’s threats, for we will have become an integral part of the Empire itself!”

“So you are merely a pessimistic defeatist, your mind filled with fanciful notions of ‘saving the nation through indirect means’ and ‘breaking before rebuilding’…” Xie Shenhong sighed, then his face twisted in revulsion. “Spare me your nauseating rhetoric. Who would ever want a traitor like you to rule this kingdom?”

“Are you concerned for Duanmu Yun? Rest assured, I shall spare her life.”

“Silence yourself! A wretch who would betray their nation for personal gain has no right to utter her name!”

“Very well, then. Ultimately, it seems we must let our fists do the talking… Are you prepared?” Sima Le gazed at Xie Shenhong with an expectant air, as though he were an apprentice receiving instruction.

Xie Shenhong, however, swiftly regained his composure.

He had vaguely suspected Sima Le’s genuine betrayal of the kingdom even before his arrival.

Yet, being a man who valued concrete evidence and believed only what he saw with his own eyes, he had posed that final question before resorting to action.

Regrettably for Sima Le, Xie Shenhong’s preparations had not been in vain.

Sima Le, with his cooperative explanations, had inadvertently allowed Xie Shenhong’s Crimson Twin Guns to recharge to their optimal state.

All that remained was—

“Prepare to die!”

Xie Shenhong, in a single breath, unleashed fifty-six magical projectiles, immediately beginning to circle Sima Le.

“What in the world are you doing?”

Sima Le failed to comprehend Xie Shenhong’s peculiar maneuver.

Especially the magical projectiles Xie Shenhong had fired; some drifted as slowly as falling feathers… No, wait!

Could it be… Sima Le’s gaze darted towards the doorway, a flicker of terror in his eyes.

“Precisely as you’re thinking!”

Xie Shenhong fired live rounds in every direction; as soon as a clip was emptied, he swiftly reloaded and continued his barrage.

Concurrently, over two hundred magical projectiles surged from the exit, floating slowly at varying speeds. Before long, however, the barrage of live rounds altered their trajectories, redirecting them all towards Sima Le.

Sima Le, of course, was not so foolish as to allow Xie Shenhong free rein. Yet, just as he prepared to move, some of the magical projectiles entering from the doorway had already assailed him, while fourteen of the fifty-six earlier shots now converged upon his front.

Most astonishingly, these projectiles precisely struck several of his vital points, causing his movements to falter. He was then immediately hit by the magically redirected bullets, which, like stars chasing the sun, shifted their paths to strike him again, completely incapacitating him from obstructing Xie Shenhong’s maneuvers.

After four such rapid circuits, Xie Shenhong completed his full rotation.

Sima Le, in turn, had been struck by over two hundred magical projectiles during that same circuit.

His defensive magic—shattered!

His protective enchantment—breached!

Both of his legs were struck.

A shoulder took a hit.

Sima Le stumbled, collapsing to his knees.

“Such astonishing precision in prediction and calculation… you truly astound me. Yet, I am most curious: how did you know I would initially stand in that exact spot?”

“Did you truly believe I would grant you a moment to recover?”

Xie Shenhong leveled his weapon at Sima Le.

Truth be told, a direct assault with live ammunition would have been the most effective course of action. However, before arriving, Xie Shenhong possessed fewer than a hundred live rounds.

Given that the most numerous vital points were typically located on the front of the body, he had been compelled to direct hundreds of magical projectiles at Sima Le’s front.

Though Xie Shenhong remained silent, the battle-hardened Sima Le had largely surmised the underlying reason.

“So that’s it. Beyond merely buying time, our conversation served another purpose: you exploited my apprehension and my desire to test you, subtly maneuvering me into your pre-planned firing position… My arrogance proved my undoing.”

“Rest assured, you will have ample opportunity for repentance… though it will be from the confines of a prison cell.”

Xie Shenhong prepared to fire a few more shots, ensuring Sima Le would be utterly incapacitated, allowing the soon-to-recover Lyte to seal his magic… Just as this thought crossed his mind, he noticed Sima Le was still smiling.

‘An accomplice?’

“Rest assured, I have no allies remaining.” Reading Xie Shenhong’s thoughts, Sima Le adjusted his posture, settling onto the ground. “But I have not yet lost.”

“Do not move a muscle!” A chilling premonition seized Xie Shenhong.

“Crimson Hawk…” Sima Le drew a deep breath, his eyes wide and blazing with fury as he roared, “What do you truly make of human lives?!”

It was an utterly baffling statement.

One might even have dismissed it as an outburst of impotent rage.

Yet, for reasons unknown, upon hearing those words, Xie Shenhong’s mind went utterly blank with a deafening hum. Simultaneously, a wave of profound dread and an icy chill erupted from the depths of his being, rendering his limbs numb and his entire body utterly immobile.

Clang.

No, he couldn’t even maintain his grip on his weapon.

‘Why?’

‘Why is this happening?’

Xie Shenhong struggled to comprehend the reason for his sudden paralysis; he couldn’t even process a coherent thought.

“As the rumors suggest, you indeed suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Taking a sip of a high-grade healing potion, Sima Le slowly rose to his feet, raising a clenched fist.

“However, you have certainly exceeded my expectations… Rest assured, I have no intention of killing you, nor will I damage your most vital asset: your mind.”

*Boom!*

With a single devastating punch, Xie Shenhong was sent hurtling backward.

The blonde youth who had bravely stepped in front of him was sent flying alongside.