Chapter 1991: Wang Chong’s Killing Intent!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
An Yaluoshan’s heart was also brimming with killing intent, but the more this was the case, the gentler his expression became, completely devoid of anger.
“Heh, Your Highness is joking. Since Your Highness attacked us, we must have made a mistake somewhere to incur Your Highness’s anger. If Your Highness was angry and wanted to discipline us, then it was only right.”
Surprisingly, An Yaluoshan laughed and joked instead of being angry, even bowing in Wang Chong’s direction.
“I was the rude one. An Yaluoshan apologizes to Your Highness! Your Highness is a man of great character, venerated within Lingyan Pavilion. Presumably, you would not be bothered by a mere Protector-General like me!”
As An Yaluoshan finished speaking, the area fell silent.
Though An Yaluoshan was a Hu, he was also a newly promoted official who had just defeated Yeon Gaesomun in the northeast. No one had expected him to be so meek in front of Wang Chong, even bowing and apologizing to him.
Even Wang Chong was rather surprised.
A few moments later, Wang Chong regained his composure. He mentally gave a cold laugh as his eyes chilled.
Zhang Shougui had been a tiger of the realm, and Wang Chong had heard of the ways in which An Yaluoshan had managed to deceive him, but nothing could compare to seeing it for himself.
An Yaluoshan was a chubby man who would apologize and grovel the moment he was chastised. With the fawning look on his face, he was truly nothing more than a clown to bystanders.
After being threatened and bullied repeatedly, anyone else would have exploded in rage, but not An Yaluoshan. In front of his subordinates, soldiers, the people of the capital, and all the foreign dignitaries, An Yaluoshan had still lowered himself, showing none of the dignity and pride a normal person would have.
A normal person who saw An Yaluoshan lowering himself and praising them might have believed that they had won, or that this man was uninteresting, so they would have let him go.
This fiend truly needs to be killed!
Wang Chong squinted as the urge to kill him once more appeared in his mind.
An Yaluoshan was far too shrewd. It was not that he was a person without dignity, nor was he someone that would lower himself in front of the crowd. But as long as he could numb his enemy so that he could eventually defeat them and achieve his goal, An Yaluoshan did not care about dignity. He could even lower himself to the very bottom or play the role of a clown to amuse his enemy.
Trying to insult this man was like trying to punch cotton. There was no good place to strike.
But An Yaluoshan’s strategy was useless against Wang Chong. The more he was like this, the more Wang Chong wanted to kill him.
He was simply too frightening, too patient, too shrewd. The more he displayed these qualities, the greater the scheme he was brewing.
“Do you not realize… that this is of no use against me?”
Wang Chong’s eyes flashed as he took another step forward. The two of them were now just a few inches from each other. Wang Chong leaned forward and whispered to An Yaluoshan.
“An Yaluoshan, you can’t trick me. No matter what you do, I will kill you.
“Right, I forgot to tell you: Zhang Shougui already knows that you were playing the fool to frame him. In addition, I’ve already treated the poison in his body. He won’t let you go.”
Buzz!
An Yaluoshan had a beaming smile on his face, and he had planned to smile and laugh no matter what Wang Chong said. But Wang Chong’s words immediately made his body go stiff and the smile freeze on his lips.
Silence!
Absolute silence!
After what seemed like an eternity, one in which An Yaluoshan’s mind tossed and turned, all of the smiles on An Yaluoshan’s plump face faded, and his little eyes turned cold.
“King of Foreign Lands, you can’t kill me!” an almost inaudible voice whispered into Wang Chong’s ear.
A sinister and venomous light flashed in An Yaluoshan’s eyes, and his expression completely transformed.
An Yaluoshan was a man who had been pushed to the limit. When he heard the words ‘Zhang Shougui’, he knew that Wang Chong would not let him go no matter what he did.
Zhang Shougui was one of his greatest fears.
The moment Wang Chong told everything to Zhang Shougui and cured his poison, it had become obvious that he would not be let go.
Since this was the case, there was no reason for him to continue lowering himself.
“I know that you didn’t forget what happened two and a half years ago, and neither did I. But… I am now a valued subject of the Imperial Court who just defeated Yeon Gaesomun and Goguryeo for the empire. Do you really plan to kill me in front of so many people?”
An Yaluoshan slowly raised his head, a sharp light emerging from his eyes.
“His Majesty favors me highly, and this feast of all countries is being held to celebrate my victory in the northeast. But your situation, King of Foreign Lands, is somewhat poor. I have heard that the Sage Emperor is quite displeased with you!
“The Wang Clan is a clan of ministers and generals. If you defy the imperial decree, I truly wouldn’t know how the Wang Clan might end up.”
Time seemed to stop.
Wang Chong narrowed his eyes and stared, but soon, a smile formed on his lips.
“Not bad! Finally learned how to talk? I said to you before, your disguise is useless against me!”
Wang Chong shook his head and chuckled at An Yaluoshan’s threatening tone.
He had finally shown his true face!
No matter how good of an actor An Yaluoshan was, he would still force him to show his true self.
“I know what you’re thinking. After seeing what I’ve done, you think that the Sage Emperor’s protection will really make me afraid to kill you?”
As Wang Chong spoke, he placed a palm on An Yaluoshan’s right shoulder.
Whoosh!
Cui Qianyou and Tian Chengsi were already nervous and wary. When they saw Wang Chong do this, they instantly grimaced.
“King of Foreign Lands, what are you trying?!”
“Release our lord!”
The two of them were nervous to the extreme.
Wang Chong was simply too strong. In the past, the two of them had believed that they finally had the strength to contend against him, but it was only when they actually met him that they understood that even after constantly receiving the boon of the world, soaking in the strength that An Yaluoshan received as the Child of the World to grow stronger every day, they were still rather far from Wang Chong’s level.
As for An Yaluoshan, while he seemed composed, he had momentarily shivered when Wang Chong placed a palm on his shoulder, a hint of panic in his eyes.
He had been provoking Wang Chong, but that was purely on the basis that Wang Chong would not dare to touch him. He had not expected Wang Chong to be this bold.
Even an imperial decree seemed to be useless against him.
Suddenly, as Wang Chong was building up strength in his palm and about to strike, a voice rang out. “Haha, is that the King of Foreign Lands?”
A moment later, a figure dressed in casual robes, wearing a scarf hat, riding a white horse, and escorted by ten-some guards approached the pair.
“Lord Prime Minister!”
Wang Chong said nothing, but Cui Qianyou and Tian Chengsi both sighed in relief and hastily bowed at the distant figure.
Great Tang Prime Minister Li Linfu!
No one had expected him to appear at this critical juncture.
“Hmph, so this is what you’re counting on?”
Wang Chong coldly snorted, not even turning his head.
He did not believe that Li Linfu had only just arrived. In fact, he had his Psychic Energy covering the area and had noticed Li Linfu some time ago.
“You’re not much of one for surprises!” Wang Chong mocked An Yaluoshan, a sneer in his eyes.
Even Wang Chong had to admire An Yaluoshan’s ability to make allies at times.
An Yaluoshan had originally been a Hu general that Zhang Shougui might beat up when he was unhappy. But through sheer will and ability, he had managed to become his adopted son.
Youzhou and the capital were far away from each other. Li Linfu was a crafty fox who did not easily reveal his abilities, collude with others, or leave behind any incriminating evidence. But An Yaluoshan had somehow managed to build a connection with him.
Li Linfu made a hand salute and said, “Your Highness, I did not think that you knew An Yaluoshan! How surprising! But this is even better. After the victory in the northeast, many honored officials of the court have wanted to meet this distinguished subject. They’ve even reserved the restaurants! They will be here soon, so why don’t you join us, Your Highness?”
Wang Chong simply chuckled.
As expected, Li Linfu had intervened. Wang Chong certainly did not believe his invitation to be sincere.
“How well prepared you are! No wonder you’re so fearless.”
With the Sage Emperor’s decree protecting him, An Yaluoshan had also colluded with Li Linfu and several major officials in court. With all these people watching, Wang Chong would barely be able to move before he was barraged by censures and criticisms, and the matter would cause a storm in the court. As for An Yaluoshan’s side…
The three of them were relaxed on the outside but tense on the inside, ready to receive his thunderous blow.
“But so what?” Wang Chong coldly said.
Clang!
Before anyone could react, a sword clanged, flashing cold light. A scream tore through the air, making everyone pale.
An Yaluoshan turned ghastly white, cold sweat drenching his back.
But when he saw that he was unharmed, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
“Wang Chong, you dare!” a voice bellowed in rage.
Cui Qianyou gripped his sheath, his eyes, crimson with anger, on a fallen Youzhou soldier several dozen feet behind An Yaluoshan.