Chapter 123: Lin Yang Lays Down His Arms and Surrenders

Chu Yun smiled to himself as he observed the flicker of cowardice in the eyes of Lin Yang, his son Lin Yan, and the sixteen guards of the Viscount’s estate. He said nothing more, remaining mounted on his horse, staring down at them coldly.

His four guards and Chu Wencai had initially been terrified by the display of force from the Viscount’s estate, knowing full well that these guards were battle-hardened veterans. However, the mention of Chu Yun’s master, the Thunder God, brought to mind the night the Thunder God unleashed his lightning, shattering the three-thousand-strong army of the Witch Doctor Cult. Their fear vanished instantly. They straightened their backs and held their heads high, mimicking Chu Yun’s cold, condescending gaze toward the father, son, and their men.

The Viscount’s estate fell into a deathly silence. For Lin Yang and his group, the atmosphere grew suffocating; their heart rates spiked, cold sweat beaded on their skin, and their breathing turned shallow. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Lin Yan looked at Chu Yun and stammered, "What exactly do you want to do with us?"

Knowing they had reached their breaking point, Chu Yun sneered, "I told you, I am going to kill you!"

Terrified, Lin Yan stumbled backward, nearly collapsing. Seeing his fear, the morale of the sixteen guards crumbled as well. Lin Yang felt a surge of frustration. In a confrontation, momentum was everything, and his son’s display had completely shattered their resolve. Yet, he could not blame him; even as a seasoned general of the Qi state, the mere thought of the Thunder God’s terrifying power filled him with dread.

Lin Yang gritted his teeth, gripped his bronze sword, and glanced around. "Chu Yun, I don't see your master, the Thunder God, anywhere! With him absent, I’d like to see whether you kill us, or we kill you!" He shouted to the guards, "Don't be cowards! You are the fierce warriors of the Tiger Army. Are eighteen of us afraid of just six of them?"

Lin Yan looked at his father, hesitant. "Father, do we really have to fight?" The sixteen guards also looked at Lin Yang, their hands trembling as they gripped their weapons.

"Don't you see his master isn't here?" Lin Yang roared. "Attack! To hell with fear, let’s finish them!"

He lunged forward, sword drawn, aiming for Chu Yun. Chu Yun remained motionless on his horse, as did his guards and Chu Wencai. They stood still, confident that the Thunder God would intervene if Chu Yun were truly in danger. Chu Yun’s stillness was a calculated move; he knew that the more indifferent he appeared, the less Lin Yang would dare to actually strike. He could see that Lin Yang’s bravado was a facade—the fiercer he acted, the more terrified he was inside. Even if Lin Yang had truly aimed for a vital spot, Chu Yun, with his special operations training, was confident he could deflect the blow.

Everything went as expected. The tip of Lin Yang’s sword stopped a foot short of Chu Yun’s throat. Lin Yang then stumbled and fell to the ground. A man of his skill had no reason to trip; he did so because his mental state had collapsed. If Chu Yun had retaliated, it would have meant the Thunder God was absent, and Lin Yang might have seized Chu Yun as a hostage to survive. But Chu Yun’s calm, detached demeanor left him paralyzed with uncertainty. After all, the Thunder God was a divine being, not someone a mortal could easily witness.

Scrambling to his feet, Lin Yang tossed his sword aside and bowed deeply. "Lord Count, please investigate! My support of the Witch Doctor Cult with horses, chariots, supplies, and troops was done under duress!"

Clatter! Clatter! Seeing their leader surrender, Lin Yan and the sixteen guards dropped their weapons and knelt. "Spare us, Lord Count! We were forced to help the Witch Doctor Cult!"

Chu Yun exhaled softly. His guards looked at him with even greater reverence. Chu Yun shook his head with a cold laugh. "Forced, you say? A fine excuse! Lin Yan, you once showed me the Tiger Army camp built against the cliffs of the narrow valley—a place where one man could hold off ten thousand! If you had retreated with the people of Nanhai Town into that valley, how could the Witch Doctor Cult have forced you to act against me?"

Lin Yang and Lin Yan were left speechless. After a long silence, Lin Yang explained, "Lord Count, you are right, but the situation is far more complex. There is a great misunderstanding! The King of Qi suddenly ordered us to prepare horses, chariots, and troops to meet the main army at Qitan Town. We thought the capital was in trouble and we were to assist the King in escaping here. We only realized the truth upon arrival—the army assembled there belonged to the Witch Doctor Cult. We realized then that the King had likely been killed or captured. They surrounded our estate, forced us to hand over our supplies, and forbade us from sending word to you."

Chu Yun turned to Lin Yan. "Is this true?"

Lin Yan nodded frantically. "Yes, Lord Count! It is the truth!" The sixteen guards chimed in, "It is true, Lord Count! We were all deceived by the wiles of the Witch Doctor Cult!"

Chu Yun let out a cold snort. "Rubbish! You are lying!"

As they all denied it, Chu Yun barked, "Lying? Then tell me this: when you first received the King's order to assemble at Qitan Town, why didn't you send a carrier pigeon to warn me?"

Lin Yan and the guards fell silent, unable to offer a word in their defense.