CHAPTER 712: CHAPTER 438: ALIVE!_2

Xie Pianxian was indeed more effeminate.

Xie Pianxian’s feelings were also very complex.

If possible, he also wouldn’t have wanted to come.

But they insisted on needing a junior Grandmaster to bolster their forces, and then they just ’threw’ him out here.

He had already stepped through the Mountain Gate and entered the Grandmaster Realm, so a bit of cold was nothing to him.

But his heart was racing.

He still had a communication device attached to his ear and whispered a complaint, "We’re flying so high, aren’t we sitting ducks... what if they get a lock on us, a sure shot with every hit..."

One shot and he’d be done for.

No matter how skilled in martial arts, one still feared cannon fire.

And all the more so since the Fire God Battalion was well-equipped, a high-tech combat unit.

"Don’t worry," Tang Fei said, trying to console him.

"They wouldn’t dare to shoot?"

"If they do shoot..." Tang Fei explained, "then you’d have a King to accompany you in death. You wouldn’t be at a loss."

"..."

Listen, does that make sense?

Am I supposed to feel proud about this?

The moment Zhong Daolong and Xie Pianxian appeared in the sky, they immediately attracted countless gazes.

Everyone just thought Xie Pianxian ’looked so pretty for a man’, but Zhong Daolong often appeared in official reports and current affairs news.

Every New Year’s Eve, he was to give a national speech.

His face was even more familiar to people than the most famous stars on New Star.

"Look, that’s the King... it really is the King..."

"My God, the King in the air... The King has been kidnapped..."

"How dare they? It’s despicable... how could they do something like this?"

"Storm into Phoenix Palace, capture those traitorous officials... take revenge for the King."

------

The military was in an uproar.

Loyalty to the sovereign and service to the country.

These ideas had been deeply ingrained in the soldiers’ bodies and genes.

Seeing the current King being paraded in the air like a ’pet’, these soldiers felt a mix of anger and hatred.

When a ruler is insulted, his subjects must die...

They felt a righteous indignation, eager to burst into Phoenix Palace and wreak havoc.

The moment Zhong Daolong appeared in the sky, Shen Xinglan was also visibly astonished.

What’s this strategy?

What are they doing?

In an instant, Shen Xinglan understood their intent.

They had sent the current King into the high skies, and he was supposed to attack the main gate...

To attack or not to attack?

If he attacked, there was a chance that Zhong Daolong could be killed accidentally...

After all, he was still the Emperor of the Empire.

To kill him in front of the entire military and populace, even the prestigious Shen Family could not bear such grave guilt.

If he didn’t attack, wouldn’t his mission be a failure?

He had taken a military command from Grandpa...

What should he do?

Chen Shencong was also shocked, with a look as if he had just swallowed a fly, his eyes filled with grievance as he asked Shen Xinglan, "Young Master, what should we do?"

Inwardly, he felt relieved that the Military Minister had handed over the command of this battle to Shen Xinglan.

If it had been him in charge, facing such a situation... what could he do?

When the sky falls, it’s the tall and strong who must hold it up.

From his perspective, Shen Xinglan was quite suited for that role.

"Call off the attack," said Shen Xinglan, with a complex mix of emotions in his heart, unsure of how to describe his feelings at that moment.

Tang Fei... was there anything he wouldn’t dare do?

That was the current King, Phoenix’s father...

Do you truly love Phoenix?

Unfilial!

"Should we try another gate?" Chen Shencong suggested.

Of course, he knew the question was foolish, but at least it showed that he was ’working hard’ to offer advice to the young master.

"No need," Shen Xinglan decisively refused: "Whichever gate we attack, they’d just float towards it..."

"What if we attack all the gates at once?"

"There isn’t just one individual in Phoenix Palace..." Shen Xinglan sighed.

Inside Phoenix Palace lived so many Royal Family Members. If they positioned one at each gate, or rather, several at each gate...

How would they fight then?

"Forget it," Shen Xinglan said, waving his hand: "I’ll go back to see the Military Minister to confess my guilt."

"I’ll go with the young master. It’s my failure in command that led to this... following the young master’s consequences..."

Chen Shencong volunteered to take the blame.

Whatever he paid now, he could reap in the future.

No, double.

"No need," Shen Xinglan understood his intentions and refused: "You stay here and maintain a siege without attacking, according to the original plan..."

Chen Shencong felt regret; he had missed the chance to share responsibility with Shen Family’s Crown Prince, a seemingly heaven-sent opportunity.

"Yes, I’ll follow the young master’s orders. I’ll keep a tight watch on Phoenix Palace; without young master’s order, not a fly will get out."

Shen Xinglan went back to the Military Committee and reported the recent events to Grandpa.

Shen Wuxiang silently contemplated a document on the desk, remaining silent for a long time.

"Grandpa, I’m sorry, I’ve disappointed you," Shen Xinglan said, proactively apologizing to Shen Wuxiang.

Shen Wuxiang sighed softly, looking up at Shen Xinglan standing tall and straight before him: "Do you know why they came up with this strategy?"

After a moment’s thought, Shen Xinglan understood his grandpa’s meaning, responding: "Because they knew the siege commander outside was me."

"Yes, that young man banked on you not being able to slay the sovereign in public... which is why they unabashedly used Zhong Daolong as a human shield."

Shen Xinglan showed a look of shame, and said: "I know... but even if given another chance... I still wouldn’t be able to do such a thing."