Chapter 120 The City Gate Collapses
Inside and outside the capital of the Western Regions, red silks were hung high, and gongs and drums resounded, yet a suffocating sense of oppression permeated the air. Today was the day that Crown Prince Helian Jin of the Western Regions was to marry Li Bao'er.
Above the highest palace in the imperial city, Li Bao'er wore a wedding gown for the Crown Princess of the Western Regions, the gold thread embroidery so bright it hurt the eyes in the sunlight. On her wrist, the crimson lotus mark burned like a flame, a constant reminder of her controlled situation.
Helian Jin stood beside her, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, his emerald green eyes fixed on the outside of the city, a smile playing on his lips.
The brilliance of this palace lies in the fact that it is the highest point in the palace complex, and the walls of the palace are right outside the city, offering a panoramic view of the entire city.
Helian Jin held Bao'er's hand tightly, which she couldn't break free from, and whispered, "He's here."
Sure enough, on the horizon, dust billowed, and the dark banner of the Great Lin Army pressed down like a storm cloud, bringing with it the force of a thunderbolt, as the army besieged the city! The leader, a black-armored rider in black armor, was none other than Mu Cenlin!
Bao'er's heart skipped a beat. It had only been a few days since she last saw Mu Cenlin, and he looked noticeably haggard. Her heart ached for him!
The Western Regions army filed out and lined up to meet the enemy. The Western Regions commander-in-chief slowly rode out of the city gate. He was dressed in the armor of a Western Regions general. He was tall and strong. His face was weathered but still resolute. His brows showed the calmness of a veteran of many battles and a hint of abnormal emptiness.
"Uncle... Uncle?!" Mu Cenlin exclaimed in shock, almost unable to believe his eyes! It was actually his uncle, General Zhang Ling, who had been missing for many years!
An uproar erupted within the Great Lin army! How could General Zhang Ling appear in the Western Regions? And become the enemy's commander-in-chief?!
"Your Highness! It's General Zhang! It really is General Zhang!" Yuan Ting's voice trembled with disbelief.
Mu Cenlin's heart ached, and a chill ran from his feet to the top of his head. His uncle was still alive! But why would he serve the Western Regions?!
On the city wall, Helian Jin watched Mu Cenlin's shocked and pained expression, his smile deepening with a cruel pleasure. He slightly turned his head and cast a glance at Fang Xu, who was hidden in the shadows.
Fang Xu remained expressionless, his hand forming a strange hand seal. It was he who had temporarily controlled Zhang Ling's mind using the system that had regained its power, turning him into the sharpest and most cruel knife to deal with Mu Cenlin! Zhang Ling's will was unyielding, and without the power of the system, he could not have been controlled so easily.
"Mu Cenlin!" Zhang Ling spoke, his voice hoarse, "Retreat immediately! Otherwise, don't blame me for being merciless!"
Mu Cenlin instantly understood! His uncle was being controlled! Considering Bao'er came from another world, this absurd conclusion was no surprise!
Seeing Mu Cenlin's shocked and flustered expression from above, Li Bao'er immediately realized that the general who had led the Western Regions into battle was no ordinary person. She looked at Helian Jin, who was dressed in red beside her, and said coldly, "Helian Jin, when did you become so cold and selfish?"
Helian Jin, who had been all excited, suddenly looked pained: "My name is Ling Jin, Bao'er."
"You don't deserve to be my family."
"Uncle! Wake up, it's me, A-Lin!" Mu Cenlin's voice was hoarse.
However, Zhang Ling's eyes remained vacant. He raised his long sword, pointing it directly at Mu Cenlin, and repeated the cold command: "Retreat! Otherwise, show no mercy!"
Mu Cenlin gripped his spear tightly, raising his bloodshot eyes to look at the crazed figure on the city wall: "Helian Jin, today, I will raze this Western Region imperial city to the ground! I will tear you to pieces!"
The two sides clashed. Mu Cenlin and Zhang Ling fought side by side. Zhang Ling's swordsmanship was fierce and ruthless, aiming straight for vital points. Mu Cenlin, on the other hand, only parried and never took the initiative to attack. Several marks were even left on his armor by Zhang Ling's blade.
"Uncle! Wake up! Look at me!" But Zhang Ling's eyes remained empty, and his attacks continued unabated.
On the city wall, Xi Yuan yawned as he watched the tedious cat-and-mouse game, a hint of impatience flashing in his glassy eyes.
"Your Highness Prince Jing, how long will this slow and drawn-out battle last? I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn." He pointed to a thin stick of incense that had somehow been lit beside him. "If you haven't defeated General Zhang by the time the incense burns out, then General Zhang will immediately commit suicide. You choose: will you kill your uncle with your own hands, or watch him take his own life?"
These words were like a bolt from the blue, exploding in the ears of Mu Cenlin and all the soldiers of Da Lin!
"Despicable!" Yuan Ting and the others exclaimed, their eyes bloodshot with rage.
Mu Cenlin froze, nearly being struck by Zhang Ling's blade, but he managed to parry it!
The incense ash fell little by little, and time flew by.
He absolutely couldn't have killed anyone! But he also couldn't just stand by and watch his uncle commit suicide!
Just as the incense was about to burn out, Mu Cenlin seized an opportunity and deliberately created an opening, luring Zhang Ling's longsword straight at him. He then used his arm guard to block the blow, while his other hand flashed out and grabbed Zhang Ling's wrist holding the sword!
With a leaping somersault, Zhang Ling's hands were already under his control.
[Host! Watch out for Xi Yuan! He's planning to launch a sneak attack on Zhang Ling!] 001 suddenly warned.
Upon hearing this, Li Bao'er turned her head sharply and saw a flash of cold light in Xi Yuan's sleeve. A poisoned short crossbow was silently aimed at Zhang Ling's brow below!
No time to think!
Li Bao'er, with a sudden burst of strength, broke free from Helian Jin's tight grip on her hand! Caught off guard, Helian Jin's expression changed drastically as she broke free: "Bao'er!"
Li Bao'er used all her strength to ram into Xi Yuan, who was preparing to fire a crossbow bolt! Xi Yuan did not expect Li Bao'er to suddenly attack, and was knocked off balance by her collision. The crossbow bolt went astray with a "whoosh"!
But the immense inertia caused Li Bao'er to lose her balance. She slipped and, amidst Helian Jin's terrified shouts and Xi Yuan's astonished gaze, fell backward from the high crenellations of the city wall!
Her red dress fluttered like a butterfly with broken wings, falling towards the hard, cold ground.
"Bao'er—!!!"
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