Fighting is Meaningless

23. Brother

"Welcome to the Emperor's Palace, Grand Duke" Jing Yuan bowed and the guards behind him followed him.

Ying and the Knights looked at each others to then get off their horse. Jing Yuan's eyes locked on Ying's one "The Emperor is waiting to receive you in the audience room" he looked at the knights "Your knights might stay outside."

Jing Yuan couldn't help but smile as he noticed only Sahon, Daerion, Varan came with Ying. He knew the strongest knights were the one also living in the manor. Seeing only them, he got in his mind the fact Famir and Arthur then stayed in the manor to protect Lady Layla but also the Crown Prince.

Dan Heng was safe.

Ying tilted his head "My knights are literally part of the hightest rank of the military management. If the Emperor has to warn us about any war coming soon, then they shall come with me."

Jing Yuan's stare for a moment looked at the other generals of the Royal Guards and sighed "It's... a very private matter of the Royal Family." 

Ying sighed and looked at his knights who were already looking down on the royal guards.

There was tension for sure.

The Royal Guards knew Ying was the Commander of the Emperor's Army basically, but it was also true he held mana, so he was in the list of monsters the Emperor himself did hate.

Jing Yuan walked Ying in the audience room and soon Ying and the Emperor were alone in that big room.

"I do apologise I have called you in the capital so soon, Lord Ying" the Emperor was sat on his throne and Ying kneeled before him "I hope you haven't met any nuisances in your path"

"Not at all, Your Majesty." Ying spoke to then fix the black mantel covering partially his armor "What's the urgency?" he asked straight at the point.

The Emperor stand up and sighed heavily "I had fought for many years to keep my beloved land... pure for my son to walk on it safe. Mana owners are incredible but quite dangerous" he looked at Ying "I trust very few with these powers, but your family has always been loyal... Right now there's... something that might cause the Empire to fall."

Ying opened up his eyes and walked closer to the Emperor "A threat to the Empire? I made sure to do my best and suppress any creature against your lands, your Majesty. We're also controlling the tensions between the other reigns... How is it possible?"

The Emperor looked at Ying and smirked "Indeed... How is it possible?" he sighed "It's not something you and your son could predict as it's something that happened in my territories, the inner territories." he looked fierce "I set up a bounty."

Ying felt shivers "A bounty?"

"A creature I was keeping for interrogation had escaped. This man knows too much. He had infiltrated, he had stolen from the Royal Family. Till he will be alive, I won't let the Crown Prince take my throne. He's a threat to our territories, to our Empire, Ying."

Ying found himself surprised.

The Emperor set a bounty for Dan Heng.

"I put my Royal Generals to seek for this man... But I fear he might have... reached your territories" the Emperor got closer to Ying "Nobody has to know the appearance of this man, not even your wife or your son, Ying." 

Ying nodded "Yes, your Majesty. I will hunt him down, personally and bring this monster back to you to be executed."

***

Blade smirked at the sight of the duke and his servants dead on the floor as the manor was going on fire.

"... And this was the last... I am sure your son will do better, else..." he kneeled before the corpse of the noble "Your son and wife will reach you soon" he smiled, enjoying the sight of the servants dead while the maids, along with the duchess holding a baby was running to check what was happening in that night inside her manor.