Chapter 548 - 546: Dead Men Walking

The Night Ghost’s sudden departure left Lord Wen and the others baffled.

"What’s going on? Why did the Night Ghost leave so suddenly?"

Lord Wen looked at Master Yuan Hui, the confusion gnawing at him.

The Night Ghost had never been so panicked before.

It had always stayed in the Fire Sparrow Kingdom, but just now, it seemed to have discovered something unusual—something that made it want to flee the kingdom entirely.

This was unbelievable.

The Night Ghost was even packing up to leave overnight.

Master Yuan Hui’s face was tense, his brow deeply furrowed.

He could rack his brains all he wanted, but he couldn’t understand the Night Ghost’s behavior tonight.

Even though the Night Ghost had already told them where Jiang Chen was hiding.

"This..."

"Sovereign, perhaps the Night Ghost has run into trouble of its own."

"Besides, we couldn’t keep the Night Ghost in the Fire Sparrow Kingdom forever. Keeping it here for too long would drain our kingdom’s fortune. If it wants to go, just let it go."

"We shouldn’t ask too many questions."

Lord Wen finally nodded, accepting Master Yuan Hui’s words.

"The Night Ghost’s unusual behavior this time gives me a feeling that our Fire Sparrow Kingdom is facing a grave crisis."

"After we deal with the third one, we must strengthen the Kingdom’s defenses."

After their discussion, Wen Shixuan quickly chimed in, "Father, National Preceptor, why don’t we go to the Guardian Hall and capture the third one?"

"He’s hiding in the Guardian Hall now. He can’t possibly escape."

"As long as we surround the Guardian Hall and conduct a thorough search, he’ll have nowhere to run."

Lord Wen had already been thinking the same thing. He led a group of men and hurried to the Guardian Hall.

But upon arriving at the Guardian Hall, Lord Wen felt a little uneasy.

The Guardian Beast was actually protecting the Third Prince.

He walked up to the entrance of the great hall and bowed. "Lord Guardian Beast, may we enter?"

Inside the hall, the Fire Sparrow said lazily, "Come in."

Lord Wen immediately led Master Yuan Hui, Wen Shixuan, and Wen Shixi into the Guardian Hall—four people in total.

Inside the hall, the Fire Sparrow was perched idly on a pillar.

It glanced at the four of them and asked, "What brings you to disturb me again?"

Lord Wen was silent for a moment, seeming to consider how to phrase his next words. After a while, he finally spoke. "Lord Guardian Beast, why are you sheltering my third son, Wen Shiren?"

"I know he is in this hall."

At that moment, not one of them—not Lord Wen, Master Yuan Hui, Wen Shixuan, or Wen Shixi—dared to raise their head to look at the Fire Sparrow.

The Fire Sparrow looked down on the four men.

It suddenly shook its head slightly. "The four of you are dead men walking. Everything you are doing now is only pushing yourselves further down the path to ruin."

"The more you struggle, the faster you will die."

"The Fire Sparrow Kingdom needs a master, after all. The Third Prince carries great destiny and is the only one who can survive this. It is only natural that I protect him."

What?

The four men shuddered violently.

They stared at the Fire Sparrow in disbelief.

The Fire Sparrow was telling them that the four of them were as good as dead. How could that be?

How could that be possible?

They were alive and well; in fact, the situation was completely under their control.

Lord Wen even planned to sit on the Sovereign’s throne for several hundred more years.

None of his three sons would have a chance to take the throne anytime soon.

The atmosphere grew terribly oppressive.

They all felt that the Guardian Beast was cursing them.

Suddenly, Lord Wen mustered his courage and raised his voice. "Lord Guardian Beast, you are our Kingdom’s revered Guardian Beast. We respect you."

"But when my royal father was on the throne, you said you would protect our Fire Sparrow Kingdom."

"Now, the Third Prince has committed treason, a crime punishable by death. Why do you protect him? Why protect someone who has committed a capital offense?"

"I, Lord Wen, in the name of my royal father, ask that you give me a reasonable explanation."

The Third Prince listened to the series of events unfold from the shadows.

He was in a panic. After all, his royal father already knew he was here.

At this moment, despite his panic, Wen Shiren suddenly stepped out from behind.

He said loudly, "You have been unfair to me."

The four men looked over. It was the Third Prince. So he really was hiding here.

Now he had revealed himself.

Lord Wen roared, "Treacherous son! Get over here!"

But the Third Prince just shook his head.

He pointed at Lord Wen and said, "In all these years, when have you ever treated me fairly?"

"I have done nothing wrong, nor have I ever disrespected you, yet you have been unfair to me time and time again."

"I cannot accept it."

Although he had stepped forward, the Third Prince didn’t dare go anywhere near Lord Wen or the National Preceptor, instead hiding behind the Fire Sparrow.

A sword suddenly appeared in Lord Wen’s hand.

He roared, "Today, I will cut down this treacherous son with my own hands!"

"Now die!"

With that, he moved to kill the Third Prince.

But in that instant, the Fire Sparrow suddenly spread its massive, flame-wreathed wings.

It barred Lord Wen’s path, blocking him.

It said impatiently, "Lord Wen, I warn you again. Go back now and be the Sovereign in peace. You might still be able to rest easy."

"But if you insist on this, perhaps no one will be able to save you."

"Oh, and the rest of you. Knowing your place is the only way to survive."

"Destiny cannot be changed, and fate cannot be defied. The Third Prince is destined to be the Sovereign of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom."

"Even my own fate has long since been altered."

"You have already been disrespectful to me today. Out of respect for your royal father, Wen Liang, I will let you leave. Now, get out."

In that moment, the entire Fire Sparrow Hall was filled with dancing firelight as flames shot to the ceiling.

An endless heatwave rolled out, emanating from the Fire Sparrow.

At the same time, a terrifying aura radiated from the bird.

It surged toward Lord Wen and the others, pressing down on them.

"BOOM!"

Lord Wen, Master Yuan Hui, Wen Shixuan, and Wen Shixi all shuddered violently as if struck by a great force, and they stumbled backward.

In the blink of an eye, they had been forced out of the Guardian Hall.

Then, the fiery light receded.

Outside the hall, Lord Wen and the others were pale-faced.

Gasping for breath, they knew the Fire Sparrow had shown them mercy.

It had even mentioned Wen Liang. Wen Liang was the previous Sovereign and the founder of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom.

Leaving the Guardian Hall, Lord Wen’s face was ashen.

He said furiously, "The Fire Sparrow... it’s changed. It is no longer the Guardian Beast of our Fire Sparrow Kingdom."

"It has forgotten its mission. It’s supposed to protect our Fire Sparrow Kingdom, not just one person."

"It has forgotten the life-debt it owes my royal father."

Master Yuan Hui said in a low voice, "Sovereign, calm your anger."

"Perhaps the Fire Sparrow has indeed lost its loyalty and its will to protect our Fire Sparrow Kingdom."

"If it is no longer fulfilling its duty, we can petition the ancestors to have it removed."