The Human Emperor

Gao Shang and Yan Zhuang felt something entirely different.

This was Gao Shang’s immediate reaction.

Gao Shang had never met Wang Chong before, and this was his first time meeting the legendary War God of the Great Tang. In the past, Gao Shang would have somewhat looked down on Wang Chong. After, scholars and martial artists pursued different paths.

But after that fortune manifestation, the number one strategist had gained an entirely different opinion of Wang Chong.

Gao Shang inspected Wang Chong. He had a perfectly formed face, with strong and sturdy cheekbones. In the field of bone divination, this was considered the face of a dragon or phoenix.

Gao Shang had begun traveling the world at a young age, and he had met many heroic characters: governors, powerful border officials, court officials, nobles… Though he was never able to enter their homes or offices, he could still see them from a distance.

But none of these heroic figures could compare to this golden-armored youth standing at the gate.

But most important of all was that he was simply too young!

Pacifying the southwest, Ü-Tsang, Talas, and destroying Arabia… even for legendary War Gods and generals, these were difficult feats, but this man had done it all before the age of twenty.

Truly the most superb of vassals!

Gao Shang had studied all the histories, even the unofficial ones, but he had never heard of someone like this.

If one needed to describe him in a few words, it would be ‘hero of the age’!

Ripples of unease appeared in Gao Shang’s heart, but he quickly managed to calm them, his expression turning ice-cold.

The mightier and more heroic Wang Chong was, the greater the enemy he was to Youzhou and the more he needed to be removed.

Fortune and fame were found in danger, and he would never allow anyone to stop him and the others of Youzhou from pressing forward.

Any stumbling blocks had to be eradicated!

Everyone was focused on Wang Chong, but suddenly…

“Everyone, watch out!”

Tian Chengsi and Cui Qianyou paled, the two of them going for their sabers and their faces tensing.

They had been so focused on Wang Chong that they had failed to notice the heavy ballistae and sharp arrows targeting them from behind the city gate. Moreover, Wang Chong stood in the center of the road with an icy visage, clearly not welcoming any visitors.

The Sage Emperor had ordered Wang Chong to welcome An Yaluoshan, but where was the welcome?

This was clearly the prelude to a battle!

Following Cui Qianyou’s order, the nearly seven hundred Youzhou elites dismounted, their energies rising as they tensely gripped their weapons and prepared for battle.

Heavy ballistae could not be underestimated!

Although Wang Chong had only brought out ten, heavy ballistae needed just a few seconds to inflict massive casualties.

Through various wars, the ballistae had long ago developed the reputation as meat grinders of the battlefield!

Youzhou was a chaotic land in which battles were frequent. The soldiers of Youzhou were known for their courage and fearlessness, but not even the greatest courage could stop a ballista!

The tension instantly soared.

“Ah!”

As the two sides took up their positions, cries of alarm came from the surroundings. The onlookers suddenly dispersed like frightened birds.

The common folk were rather slow to realize what was going on, but now that both sides were clearly preparing for battle, how could they fail to see it?

Gao Shang and Yan Zhuang also became nervous.

While Gao Shang tried to remain composed, his fan was creasing up from how tightly he was gripping it, betraying his true feelings.

Gao Shang was an intelligent strategist, but according to An Yaluoshan, this man in front of them was a madman, caring not for etiquette or imperial authority.

At any time or place, he could attack them!

Gao Shang had not put too much stock in these words, but now, he completely believed them.

If someone who dared to take out ballistae to ‘welcome’ a newly promoted subject of the court in front of the common people was not a madman, what was he?!

If Wang Chong decided to defy the laws and attack, his schemes would be for nothing!

“An Yaluoshan, having seen this king, are you still not coming?”

Wang Chong’s face was aloof, his eyes cold, and he disdainfully looked down at An Yaluoshan.

Even in front of the crowd with so many foreign emissaries watching, Wang Chong had no plan to hide his killing intent.

With regards to the future archvillain behind the chaos of the Central Plains, Wang Chong didn’t mind killing him if he had the chance. No matter who was around or who tried to protect him, he would try to kill An Yaluoshan, even if he had to pay some price for it.

But Wang Chong first needed to know something.

All was silent, the city gate watched by crowds in the open and those hidden in the shadows.

An Yaluoshan squinted and quickly broke into a laugh.

“Hahaha, what are all of you doing? Don’t you see that this is the Nine Provinces Protector-General? You bastards, hurry and put away your weapons!”

An Yaluoshan turned his head and rebuked his soldiers.

“Cui Qianyou, Tian Chengsi, don’t you see that this is the hero of the Great Tang? Put your weapons away!”

Cui Qianyou and Tian Chengsi hesitated, but they still sheathed their sabers. However, their bodies were still tense and wary.

An Yaluoshan turned back around and gave Wang Chong a sincere smile.

“To think that the Nine Provinces Protector-General himself would welcome us…! An Yaluoshan is panicked and anxious! He cannot accept this honor!”

An Yaluoshan dismounted, bowed his body, and began to walk forward.

Cui Qianyou and Tian Chengsi nervously kept close to his side, protecting him.

Wang Chong glanced at the two before turning his gaze to An Yaluoshan.

“Hmph, I’d like to see how long you can keep up this act.”

Wang Chong coldly sneered.

An Yaluoshan was trying to play the honest and innocent fool. This might have worked against Zhang Shougui, but not on him.

Wang Chong stepped forward, energy erupting from his body and slamming down on the three like a mountain.

Boom! The ground beneath Cui Qianyou and Tian Chengsi exploded, and the two of them paled.

An Yaluoshan was in a somewhat better state, but cold sweat broke out on his temples.

Wang Chong seemed truly ready to attack them.

“The Andong Protector-General is truly bold. You dare to make this king wait for so long? Truly fitting… for the future master of the Central Plains!” Wang Chong coldly said, going to great pains to emphasize the last few words.

These words made An Yaluoshan break out in a cold sweat all over.

Some of the initial cold sweat had been feigned, an intentional show of weakness in front of Wang Chong, but now, An Yaluoshan was truly frightened.

He had prepared himself for all sorts of difficulties from Wang Chong, but Wang Chong had immediately opened with an intimidating salvo that An Yaluoshan found it hard to stand against.

An Yaluoshan wiped off his sweat and said, “Yo-your Highness, I have no idea what you’re saying.”

“Hmph, do you really not know, or are you only pretending not to know? Do you still plan to use the same disguise you used to hoodwink Protector-General Zhang?” Wang Chong coldly said.

With each step he took toward An Yaluoshan, his killing intent thickened.

It was so concentrated that it was almost tangible, and even though An Yaluoshan was a Great General, he still felt terrifying pressure.

Cui Qianyou finally couldn’t help but speak. “King of Foreign Lands, the Sage Emperor decreed that you should welcome the Lord Protector-General, not question him, and we reported our arrival time to the court long ago. It is Your Highness that came too early.”

An Yaluoshan was still the Andong Protector-General, the future True Dragon, Son of Heaven. Even if Wang Chong was the King of Foreign Lands and the Nine Provinces Protector-General, he could not bully his master like this!

Wang Chong softly chuckled. Ignoring Cui Qianyou, he turned his eyes back to An Yaluoshan.

“You’ve truly got some guts. I let you escape two and a half years ago, but did you think I wouldn’t recognize you?” Wang Chong said in a whisper, his voice oozing bloodlust.

An Yaluoshan, Cui Qianyou, and Tian Chengsi trembled in shock, and their faces visibly paled.

Their greatest worry was that Wang Chong would mention the incident from two and a half years ago.

They thought that the passage of the time, the increase in their status, and their favor from the Imperial Court would allow them to at least be polite to each other on the surface.

But Wang Chong refused to go along.

The feast of all countries was such an important affair with so many important dignitaries, and there were so many spectators, yet Wang Chong had shown no fear and exposed their feud.

“This bastard!”

Cui Qianyou and Tian Chengsi gripped their sabers, their bodies trembling.

Two and a half years ago, Wang Chong had led his forces and inexplicably attacked them. Now that they were meeting again, Wang Chong showed no signs of contrition. On the contrary, he was even more vicious and unrelenting.