Chapter 283: Greeting the Night Emperor

“I’ve come to kill two people.”

The Night Emperor’s voice resounded throughout the hall.

Everyone stood frozen, dumbstruck.

What did he mean?

Li Tangsheng, a man of princely status, was so stunned he didn’t react for a moment. “What did you say?”

Qin Tianxuan glanced at him. “Qin Wanchun and Luo Qilin!”

Li Tangsheng’s face instantly flushed red.

He slammed his hand on the table. “Imperial Capital Celestial Guard! Seize this bastard!”

From the shadows, a squad of fully armed Celestial Guards emerged.

They belonged to the Imperial Capital’s most vital defense unit, each an elite warrior chosen from ten thousand candidates across the various Battle Departments.

The man in the lead had four scars etched across his face. He gripped a military saber, his eyes filled with resolve.

There are only thirty-six members in the Celestial Guard, but every single one possesses the strength of a Deputy Commander of the War Department!

Qin Tianxuan’s gaze swept over the Celestial Guards. His brow furrowed when he saw their leader.

Li Tangsheng sneered triumphantly. “The Celestial Guard is here. Do you dare resist? Han Tiansha, what are you standing there for? Move!”

The leader of the Celestial Guard, Han Tiansha, slowly stepped forward.

Li Tangsheng breathed a silent sigh of relief. He knew Han Tiansha’s strength well and was completely confident he could take down Qin Tianxuan.

Even Huang Tian was shocked. “Is that the Celestial Guard’s top master, the one they call the Star of Calamity and Solitude?”

Li Tangsheng gloated, “Correct. He is invincible!”

Just as he said that, Han Tiansha slowly raised his saber.

The entire hall held its breath once more. Doubting Qin Tianxuan’s strength, they were ready to watch him be taken down on the spot by the Celestial Guard’s top master.

However!

CLANG! Han Tiansha dropped the saber from his hand.

Huh?

Li Tangsheng and the others leaned forward, their faces masks of astonishment.

After dropping his saber, Han Tiansha walked slowly toward Qin Tianxuan. Then, with utmost reverence and an expression of absolute piety, he slowly sank to one knee!

He bowed his head, kneeling on one knee with his left arm held across his chest.

This was the unique, highest form of salute in the Northern Domain Battle Department!

A salute reserved for matters of life and death on the battlefield!

Han Tiansha’s voice boomed like thunder. “This subordinate, Han Tiansha, formerly Ranger Captain of the Sixth Battalion, Personal Guard, Western Regions Battle Department, pays his respects to you, Sir!”

Qin Tianxuan shook his head. “Xiaohan, you don’t have to defy orders for my sake. Get up and fight me!”

Han Tiansha scratched his head. “You… you must be joking, Sir. You saved my life four times back in the Western Domain—these four scars on my face are the proof. First of all, there’s no way I could ever beat you. And second, if I dared to show you any disrespect, wouldn’t Boss Wutian skin me alive? Please, don’t make this difficult for me.”

War Venerable Wutian appeared, frowning. “Xiaohan, you little rascal, when did you end up in the Imperial Capital Celestial Guard?”

Han Tiansha chuckled, rubbing his chin. “I didn’t dare tell you, Boss. It was a mandatory transfer from the Imperial Capital. I promised you I’d guard the Western Domain, and then I went and got promoted to the Imperial Capital. I was too ashamed to face you.”

Wutian shook his head. “That’s an order. Stand up and fight me!” 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Han Tiansha just shook his head again.

This scene and this conversation left everyone in the room utterly dumbfounded.

Li Tangsheng looked as if his eyes were about to pop out of his head. He roared, “Han Tiansha, obedience is your sworn duty! You have disappointed me greatly! Do you still want to be the leader of the Celestial Guard after defying my direct command?”

Han Tiansha shot to his feet, raised his hand, and ripped the insignia from his uniform!

“Prince, you’ve treated me well. But unfortunately, the man standing here is the person I respect most in this world, the Night Emperor, and my beloved Boss Wutian. So, I quit! I’ll accept any punishment you see fit!”

With that, Han Tiansha turned to look behind him. “Tian Mie! Earth Demon! Come on. I will willingly accept the Battle Department’s Celestial Punishment!”

The two most feared elders of the War Department Prison, Tian Mie and Earth Demon, slowly emerged.

Li Tangsheng was about to die from rage. He pointed at the Celestial Guards behind him. “Wei Dongjian, I am now promoting you to leader. Continue to carry out my command.”

Wei Dongjian, a man of about thirty with a palpable murderous aura, slowly stepped forward.

RIP! He too tore the insignia from his uniform and saluted Qin Tianxuan directly. “Wei Dongjian, former Captain of the Third Squad, Escort Cavalry Guard, Eastern Domain Battle Department, pays his respects to you, Sir!”

Qin Tianxuan sighed softly. “You’re the squad leader who fought the East Sea Pirates with me, aren’t you? It’s been many years. Have your wounds fully healed?”

Wei Dongjian’s eyes grew red. “Back then, the East Sea Pirates captured me and severed the tendons in my hands and feet. You stormed their stronghold alone and carried me out from a pile of corpses. You even had Miss Lingsu heal me. Although I was never a subordinate of the Night Emperor, I will never forget your kindness as long as I live.”

For crying out loud…

Li Tangsheng looked ready to faint from sheer exasperation.

He looked weakly at the remaining Celestial Guards. “You… any of you who know Qin Tianxuan, just… just get the hell out here now!”

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

Almost every single Celestial Guard dropped their weapons and rushed forward excitedly, saluting Qin Tianxuan in perfect unison.

“Former Reconnaissance Department, Western Domain…”

“Former Reserve Unit, Northern Domain…”

“Former Reconnaissance Guard, Martial Venerable Hall…”

Thirty-five members of the Imperial Capital Celestial Guard, the absolute elite of the Battle Department, all knelt before him.

Only a single Celestial Guard remained standing silently at the back.

Li Tangsheng was beyond caring. He grabbed a cup, took a gulp of water, and stared at the last Celestial Guard with wild joy. “Excellent! It’s true that a crisis reveals a person’s true character. So there is at least one obedient man left in the Celestial Guard.”

The last Celestial Guard slowly sheathed his weapon and gave the prince a faint smile. “My apologies, Your Highness. The only reason I didn’t go over to pay my respects is that I was merely a logistics soldier under Lord Tianxuan. My rank is the lowest here, so protocol dictates I must be the last to greet him.”

After he spoke, he waited for all the Battle Department seniors to finish their greetings before quickly stepping forward to offer his own salute.

PFFT!

Li Tangsheng sprayed a mouthful of water all over the floor.

He collapsed weakly into his seat, his eyes vacant. “Uncle Huang Tian, you… what do we do now? This is going to be the death of me.”

Huang Tian was also rather shaken.

‘So that’s how it is. The heroes and true masters of the Battle Department were all once Qin Tianxuan’s men.’

‘It’s no wonder, then. Could any guard trained by Qin Tianxuan be anything less than exceptional?’

Now in an impossible situation, Huang Tian pondered for a long moment. “This group of Celestial Guards disobeyed a direct order, so they can’t be let off lightly. However, seeing as they are men of passion, we will deal with them according to Battle Department regulations!”

Li Tangsheng could only nod. “Have Tian Mie and Earth Demon do it. Use the Celestial Punishment directly!”

The two old men, Tian Mie and Earth Demon, walked out with grim expressions, yet there was something very odd about their faces.

One’s palm was numb, the other’s knees were trembling. They were barely managing to stay on their feet.

But they were too embarrassed to say anything.

On the other side, Han Tiansha, Wei Dongjian, and the others sat down cross-legged without a moment’s hesitation. All thirty-six Celestial Guards were ready to accept their punishment.

Wutian watched anxiously. “Sir, what should we do? Once the Celestial Punishment begins, they’ll all be crippled…”

Qin Tianxuan revealed a mysterious smile. “Don’t worry. Tian Mie and Earth Demon are completely spent. If they try anything now, it’ll be like they’re just tickling them.”

Wutian was aghast.

Meanwhile, the Celestial Punishment began with astonishing momentum.

But Han Tiansha and the others just blinked. After the “punishment” was over, they hopped to their feet one by one as if nothing had happened, laughing and joking as they fell in line behind Qin Tianxuan.