Chapter 320: Left Behind Alone

Chapter 320: Chapter 320: Left Behind Alone

As soon as the Second Lord finished speaking, a chorus of furious curses erupted from behind Yi Xiaoyao.

"You old bastard! The nerve of you, saying you’ll ’let us go’?"

"I’d say you’re just too scared to fight us!"

"We won’t abandon our Grand Alliance Leader! We’ll fight to the death!"

The Second Lord’s brow furrowed at their words.

It wasn’t just their insolence; he genuinely had no desire to wage war against the full army of the Chaotic Alliance Domain.

The Second Lord was well aware that while the Chaotic Alliance Domain had existed for years, the true reason it now posed a threat to Great Xia was Yi Xiaoyao.

The strategy was simple: cut off the head of the snake. All he had to do was take down Yi Xiaoyao and destroy the Azure Heaven Order.

Once that was done, without a commander and the binding power of the Azure Heaven Order, the Chaotic Alliance Domain would once again become a scattered mob—no threat to Great Xia. No matter how much chaos they stirred up, they wouldn’t be able to make any real waves.

The next moment, Yi Xiaoyao spoke.

"Second Lord, as for your request, I can agree to half of it."

Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes glinted as he glanced at the fearless army behind him, a gratified smile on his face.

"Hand over the Azure Heaven Order and surrender to face punishment? Impossible."

"But as long as you let them go, I will stay and fight you!"

Yi Xiaoyao looked at the Second Lord again, the corner of his mouth hooking into a cold smile as he asked, "How about it?"

Everyone’s expression changed, especially the people behind Yi Xiaoyao, who all cried out in protest.

"Commander! We are not cowards who fear death! We are all willing to fight at your side. For you to make such a decision... are you forcing us to be disloyal?"

Bai Ye stepped forward and, on behalf of everyone, refused to leave.

Yun Mengling also grabbed Yi Xiaoyao’s arm. "Xiaoyao, I’ll support any decision you make. But even if it means death, I’m staying with you."

"Silly Ling’Er," Yi Xiaoyao said, squeezing her hand with a smile. "If you stay, I’ll just have to divert my attention to protect you, won’t I?"

With that, he looked at Bai Ye and said, "Bai Ye, take the Yun Family and all our brothers, and leave!"

Refusal was written on every face. They all harbored a deep hatred for Great Xia, and Yi Xiaoyao was the dawn that would lead them to trample Great Xia underfoot. How could they be willing to abandon that dawn and flee?

And so, no one obeyed the command to leave.

A flash of anger crossed Yi Xiaoyao’s face. He immediately brandished the Azure Heaven Order and roared.

"The Azure Heaven Order gives its word!"

"The Command must be carried out!"

The Alliance Leaders responded without the slightest hesitation, their faces hardening with resolve.

The next moment, they all commanded their subordinates in unison: "We are withdrawing!"

Just as the army of the Chaotic Alliance Domain began to pull back, an icy voice cut through the air.

"Hold on! When did I agree to let them leave?"

The Second Lord’s expression turned frigid as he spoke. He had just witnessed how this "scattered mob" from the Chaotic Alliance Domain united as one before Yi Xiaoyao, and he was beginning to regret his offer to let them go.

"You old bastard! Did you really think we were leaving because we’re afraid of you?"

"I’d love nothing more than to stay and slaughter a few of you Imperial Army Mansion lapdogs!"

The experts of the Chaotic Alliance Domain halted, turning back to roar in fury.

Yi Xiaoyao raised a hand to silence the crowd and gave the Second Lord a cold smile.

"I know what you’re afraid of. But you must also understand that if you kill me, no one will be left to command them."

"My willingness to stay and fight you should mean the same thing to you as me handing over the Azure Heaven Order and surrendering, shouldn’t it?"

"Or could it be... that the Second Lord has so little confidence in himself that he doesn’t believe he’s a match for me?"

The Second Lord snorted. "Hilarious! You think you’re qualified to make me lose my confidence? Killing you would be as easy as flipping my hand!"

"Then that settles it, doesn’t it? So why are you keeping my brothers here?"

Yi Xiaoyao grinned. "If my brothers here decide to fight with their lives on the line, I’m afraid your Imperial Army Mansion won’t be able to handle the fallout!"

The Second Lord narrowed his eyes, clearly hesitating. He knew Yi Xiaoyao wasn’t lying.

"Fine! I will spare these remnants!"

Finally, the Second Lord said to Yi Xiaoyao, "I’d like to see just where you get the confidence to stay and fight me!"

Yi Xiaoyao gave a cryptic smile, then turned to the army behind him and yelled, "Now get the hell out of here!"

Every expert from the Chaotic Alliance Domain trembled. Their Grand Alliance Leader, their Commander, had just told them to get lost.

But instead of anger, their hearts filled with deep emotion and a reluctance to part.

Because Yi Xiaoyao was trading his own life for theirs!

’This is a true hero!’

Seeing them dawdling, unwilling to leave, Yi Xiaoyao sighed with a helpless smile. "Do you all have so little faith in me?"

Hearing this, everyone’s expression changed in unison.

"We believe the Grand Alliance Leader will be victorious!"

With that, everyone began to retreat rapidly, their deafening cry lingering in the air.

"We will wait in the Chaotic Alliance Domain for the Grand Alliance Leader’s return! You will lead us to crush Great Xia!"

As the thunderous sound of hope faded into the distance and the voices of his experts vanished over the horizon, the smile on Yi Xiaoyao’s face slowly dissolved into a bitter one.

His brothers had faith in him and were waiting for his return.

But Yi Xiaoyao himself, in truth, had not the slightest confidence that he could defeat the Second Lord, let alone return to the Chaotic Alliance Domain alive.

These people trusted him, followed him. All the more reason he couldn’t drag them down with him, couldn’t let them throw their lives away alongside his.

’In a battle that’s all but lost, it’s better for one man to fight and die than for all of us to perish together.’

This was Yi Xiaoyao’s responsibility, his duty as a commander!

"Wait for your return? Crush Great Xia? To think these warmongering, bloodthirsty thugs from the Chaotic Alliance Domain have such a naive, sentimental side."

The Second Lord’s cold laugh interrupted Yi Xiaoyao’s thoughts.

He looked at Yi Xiaoyao indifferently and said, "I’m afraid you’re going to have to disappoint them."

"Is that so?"

Yi Xiaoyao’s expression also became calm and detached as he swiftly entered a combat-ready state.

He drew his sword from its sheath, his lips parting slightly.

"How will we know if we don’t even try?"

As his voice fell, the Bloodthirsty Sword suddenly erupted with an astonishing sword cry, resonating with Yi Xiaoyao’s immense battle intent.

"A punk like this is only at the third realm of Nascent Soul Transformation. There’s no need for the Lord of the Mansion to get his hands dirty. I’m more than enough to kill him!"

An expert at the Ninth Realm of Nascent Soul Transformation stepped forward to face Yi Xiaoyao.

Yi Xiaoyao didn’t even deign to look at the man. A cold, detached voice was his only reply.

"You are not worthy."

Hearing this, that person flew into a rage and was about to attack, but was stopped by the Second Lord.

"Don’t forget, Xing Jian Gang died by this boy’s sword. And Xing Jian Gang was the strongest expert in our Imperial Army Mansion, second only to the Third Lord."

"So, you really aren’t worthy of being Yi Xiaoyao’s opponent."

The Second Lord slowly strode forward on the air. "I will kill him myself," he stated calmly. "His death is certain."

...