The True Lord has arrived

Chapter 122 The Emperor Meets the Sovereign, the Ruler Meets the Emperor

As Pei Angju finished speaking his highly inflammatory and defamatory accusations, a deathly silence fell over the surroundings. The people's gazes were filled with suspicion and uncertainty, the hostility of the Pei family members was obvious, while Zhou Yan and his two companions remained silent and wary, like taut bowstrings.

Pei Angju and Pei Xuanbao are different.

In comparison, they are more composed and their methods are more insidious.

He seized the opportunity with precision. Now, the crowd hastily withdrew from the Reclining Buddha Temple, the people are still in shock and their ability to think has declined. Shen Cangming, Li Zhenyue, and Zhou Yan are all military strategists who can see through the situation at a glance.

He is a descendant of military strategists, possesses a powerful physique, and excels in close combat.

The spells and supernatural powers they possess mostly emphasize instantaneous bursts and destructive power.

Therefore, the amount of magical power is extremely weak.

To unleash maximum destructive power, teamwork is essential.

Having just experienced the fierce battle at the Reclining Buddha Temple, these three people were undoubtedly exhausted and at their weakest point.

Pei Angju immediately pinned the charges of traitor, rebel, collusion with demons, and hoarding national treasures on the three individuals. Using his familiar methods, he skillfully defined the crimes, elevating personal grudges to the level of national importance.

He further revealed his identity: a member of a prestigious family and a general in the Shuofang Army!
Using the authority of the imperial court, they could substantiate their earlier accusations.

Finally, they even framed Shen Cangming and his two companions, directly pinning the incident at the Reclining Buddha Temple on them. They used the people's fear and anger over the tragedy to their advantage, inciting the people to attack the three of them.

He himself hid behind.

Powerful clans are most adept at using such methods.

As long as they stir up public opinion and distort the truth, using the people as weapons, if Shen Cangming and his two companions do not fight back, they will exhaust themselves; if they do fight back and kill the people, then their crimes will be fully confirmed.

If they were to flee, they would have an explanation.

No matter how Zhou Yan and the other two respond, once this accusation is pinned on them, they can't escape it. Moreover, Pei Angju thought that this was definitely not entirely a case of him distorting the truth; Zhou Yan had indeed killed Pei Xuanbao in public.

And Pei Xuanbao is indeed a military officer of the imperial court now!

Zhou Yan was a commoner who killed an official!
He then killed the Buddhist abbot.

Pei Angju certainly knew that after the abbot died, blood kept flowing out, and there were twisted and demonized insects inside, which was obviously a problem, but ordinary people did not know.

With just a little manipulation, it could be turned into a story of 'the Buddhist abbot suppressing demons, Zhou Yan killing the old abbot and releasing the evil spirits from the Reclining Buddha Temple, the Pei family of Hedong, and the imperial general Pei Xuanbao discovering the problem and being killed instead.'

The terms "traitor" and "rebel" are also correct.

The Mo Dao held by Shen Cangming is also a national treasure that is strictly prohibited from being used privately.

Pei Angju remained calm. He habitually reinforced certain established facts and then used rhetoric to guide and distort the public's views in a direction most favorable to himself.

In this way, he could bring fame and merit to his family and return home.

Li Zhenyue raised his shield, Zhou Yan drew his sword, and Shen Cangming stared coldly at Pei Angju. Zhou Yan considered the distance and whether he could kill the man with a single strike amidst the shadows of the lamplight, but Pei Angju seemed unprepared and took a few steps forward.

'Kill me...'

Pei Angju stared intently at Zhou Yan, making no attempt to defend himself.

If Zhou Yan kills him, then everything just said will be directly attributed to Zhou Yan and Shen Cangming. In that case, Pei Angju's death would be enough to allow him to return to the main branch of the Pei family, be accepted by the family again, and wash away the family's shame.

They, who were falsely accused of colluding with a powerful demon, died to stop the true culprit behind the disaster at the Reclining Buddha Temple, sacrificing themselves for their country. This act can not only absolve them of their sins and allow them to return to their ancestral temple, but it can also become a weapon.

This allowed the Pei family of Hedong to launch a counterattack against Guo Ziyi.

The weapon to regain political dominance and stand once again in the Tang Dynasty court!
Therefore, Pei Angju didn't care about his own death at all, and took the initiative to move forward so that Zhou Yan would kill him.

Zhou Yan also realized this, realizing how troublesome and disgusting the offspring of the main lineage of the aristocratic families were. Just as this standoff was taking place, another young man's voice rang out, saying, "Something's not right, cousin."

Pei Angju was stunned.

Seeing that the one who spoke up to refute him was none other than his own cousin, Pei Xuanniao, he gripped his knife, turned to the side, lowered his eyebrows, and gave him a cold, sharp look, saying, "What's wrong?!"

Pei Xuanniao stood beside him with his sword and said, "Zhou Yan did kill Xuanbao, and Shen Cangming is indeed a traitor and does wield a Mo Dao. However, after the abbot died, many insect demons flowed out of his neck."

"Zhou Yan should have killed the demons!"

"Shen Cangming, wielding a Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword), also covered the retreat of the people, cutting off the gate of the Reclining Buddha Temple. They had violated the laws of the Tang Dynasty in the past, but this matter could not possibly involve them colluding with demons."

Pei Xuanniao said, "Nothing is certain at this moment."

"According to the laws of our Great Tang Dynasty, at most they should be disarmed and their crimes and merits re-evaluated after returning to Chang'an. Moreover, the people have only just been rescued and their hearts are not yet at peace. My cousin's actions are only stirring up the people's hearts. What if they are trampled and injured in the chaos later?!"

"Brother, are you judging me without my consent?!"

Pei Angju's mind went blank for a moment, then a hidden anger rose within him.

Pei Xuan Niao took half a step forward and said loudly, "I am Pei Xuan Niao of the Pei family. Although these three people have violated the laws of our Great Tang Dynasty, they are all human beings who slay demons and eliminate evil. You need not worry. They are definitely not people who collude with demons."

"I can entrust this to you..."

Originally just ordinary people, after experiencing a great calamity, the people were filled with fear and uncertainty because of Pei Angju's words, and only now have they calmed down a little.

Pei Xuanniao paused, and Pei Angju slapped him across the face.

Pei Xuan Niao was caught off guard by this turn of events and was knocked to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"My cousin?!"

The Pei family members, armed with knives, blocked the crowd and confronted Zhou Yan, Shen Cangming, and Li Zhenyue. They also surrounded Pei Angju and Pei Xuanniao. Pei Angju took two steps forward, grabbed Pei Xuanniao by the collar, and lowered his voice like an angry beast:

"Such a good opportunity to clear my Pei family of any suspicion of collusion with demons, are you going to drag your family into injustice?!"

"Are you going to bring shame upon the family?! Pei Xuanniao!" Pei Xuanniao stared at Pei Angju: "If you are truly guilty, then admit it."

"You are the one who brings shame to the Pei family."

"Furthermore, judging from your words, does my Pei family really have connections with the demon race? If so, wouldn't I be bringing shame upon the family?"

The arrogant seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy said:
"It is the Pei family of Hedong who have brought shame upon the Tang Dynasty!"

"you!"

Pei Angju slammed Pei Xuanniao down heavily. Pei Xuanniao had just fought a fierce battle, and his magic power and physical strength were greatly depleted. Pei Angju's realm was above his, and his physical strength and magic power were intact. With this blow, the wounds on his body burst open, and blood flowed out. He was unable to get up for a while.

Pei Xuan Niao said coldly, "Brother, your cultivation is impressive!"

"No wonder you ran so fast just now."

Pei Angju stood up, stared at Shen Cangming and the other two in front of him, and drew his sword: "He has been corrupted by demons and gone mad. Shen Cangming, Zhou Yan, and Li Zhenyue, the three of you are traitors to the human race. Guards, seize him!"

The Pei family members were somewhat silent and hesitant, and some seemed to be struggling with their own thoughts.

The teachings of their aristocratic families instilled in them a greater sense of honor and mission than ordinary people. This mindset gave them the courage to face death and sacrifice, but it also made them instinctively obey orders.

Just then, an old voice mocked and teased:
"Heh, I think what that young man said makes sense."

“What Pei Angju said is quite unreasonable.”

Things were unfolding in ways that did not meet Pei Angju's expectations. His plans and efforts were interrupted time and again. First, there was the Reclining Buddha Temple, then the insect demon, then the members of his family, and now, a mere old man in plain clothes dared to do this?!

How dare you do this?!

Anyone who encounters obstacles or things that don't go their way while doing something will feel frustrated. If these obstacles keep happening in a short period of time, the dissatisfaction and frustration will accumulate to a very high level.

Those who have been pampered since childhood and whose every demand has been met will experience more intense frustration and simmering rage than the average person in this situation.

After the old man spoke, the remaining soldiers and the rescued civilians all spoke up to refute Pei Angju. Their voices converged and turned into a wave, unlike Pei Angju's usual habit of being surrounded by a crowd.

Pei Angju, whose negative emotions had already reached their peak, said coldly:
"As I have already said, he is a traitor, a man who secretly colludes with demons!"

"Who's talking nonsense?! Are you perhaps one of those secretly colluding with the demon race? Do you think my blade can slay demons but not you to establish my authority?!"

When he spoke, his voice was relatively calm, but as he spoke coldly, his hand was already on the hilt of his knife. He suddenly turned around and slashed at the old man who had spoken: "Mere commoner."

"How dare you act so presumptuously here?!"

The horizontal blade was cold and sharp, with fine, cloud-like patterns on its surface. When it was drawn, its sharpness was fierce, but it was blocked. A sheathed horizontal blade was extended.

Pei Angju was determined to establish his authority, and his strike was ruthless.

However, when it struck the scabbard, it felt as if it had hit a black iron rod.

The sheathed sword remained motionless, while Pei Angju's hand was numbed by the shock. The top-quality wrought iron sword was actually shattered, with the front half of the blade spinning out and landing on the ground with a crisp sound.

The lower half of the blade still struck the scabbard. Pei Angju looked at the dignified old man he was about to kill. He saw that the old man was dressed in a brocade robe, with a calm demeanor and an indescribable air about him. To his side was an old man with a white face and no beard, holding a whisk.

The tall, imposing warrior, wielding a sword, blocked his heavy strike.

The people here had just been drawn to Pei Angju's words, and then were terrified by this knife strike. The surroundings were deathly silent. Just as the people around were either pale with fright or furious.

The arrogant and haughty Shuofang army general, Pei Angju, the main branch of the Pei family in Hedong, turned pale. He loosened his grip, and the precious sword fell to the ground. Then, Pei Angju's knees seemed to bend, and he slowly lowered himself to his knees.

His voice trembled as he said, "This humble general, this humble general is the sinful subject Pei Angju."

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Retired Emperor..."

The surroundings were deathly silent. The title of the Holy Emperor Sanlang referred to the emperor who had ruled a peaceful world for fifty years. From birth to death, His Majesty was still His Majesty, still the Holy Emperor. Even during the An Lushan Rebellion, his prestige remained terrifyingly high.

So the people who were nearby bowed, and the gesture spread out in all directions like waves and ripples. Kneeling was not customary in the Tang Dynasty, but they bowed with their hands clasped together, like the autumn wind sweeping through a pine forest. These people all bowed.

Shen Cangming stood there, and Li Zhenyue saluted.

As Zhou Yan pressed the Earth Soul Heaven-Shattering Staff against the ground, he could feel the panic in the hearts of these people disappear in a short time, replaced by trust and a sense of unity.

The emperor, once a sage.

I didn't expect you to have the courage to stand up at this time.

Zhou Yan thought that Li Sanlang would remain hidden forever.

But is it enough to use the emperor's authority to calm the people down? Zhou Yan thought to himself, he still had doubts about this. The reputation of the sage emperor could make the people put aside their fear and have a sense of unity, but they were facing unknown demons.

Humans have an instinctive fear of demons and monsters.

As Zhou Yan was thinking, he saw Li Sanlang looking at him. The old man gave him a pleasant smile and then took a few steps toward him. His every move attracted everyone's attention.

Li Sanlang swept his sleeves.

In front of others, greet them with a slight bow, showing respect as equals.

The sage emperor smiled and said:
"How did things come to this? We've been apart for so long."

The place fell silent for a moment, with only the soft sound of the wind passing through the sparse woods remaining.

The people heard it, and all living things in heaven and on earth heard it.

Li Longji smiled slightly and addressed the young man in the blood-stained Taoist robe, wielding a heavy sword, as follows:

"Lord Taishan!"

(End of this chapter)