LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 196: These Two Old Guys are Tough Cookies!
It was precisely because of such reasons that at this moment, the lords of the Eastern Border were filled with suspicion and disdain for Ye Feng, especially Suksu of Coastal Ridge, who was the youngest and had the greatest potential.
From beginning to end, the two hook-nosed elders standing behind Suksu stood erect, their gazes unwavering, their expressions filled with indifference.
Ye Feng had been observing these two men for quite some time, and from this, he could tell that these two old fellows from the Sky Eagle Sect were ruthless characters!
The atmosphere in the council hall had become awkward for a moment when the Old Eastern King feigned a cough twice, and was about to speak.
However, just at that moment, an aged lord from the Eastern Border seated on the right asked, "May I ask the Eastern King, it is rumored that the Lord of Dongcheng, Dongfang Sheng, has died, and that he was murdered. Yet, it is unclear who killed him. Have you summoned us here today to discuss this very matter?"
The Old Eastern King suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed and, after thinking for a moment, said, "Dongfang Sheng is indeed dead. That man had no respect for laws and brazenly provoked the authority of the Northern Border Sovereign, and thus was executed on the spot by the Sovereign himself, a well-deserved death."
That elder in the first position on the right, Wu Feng, the Lord of Wuyi Ridge, and also the most senior among the lords of the Eastern Border, let out a cold chuckle and then asked, "May I ask the Eastern King, since Dongfang Sheng was killed by the Northern Border Sovereign, may I know which Northern King it was?"
Sima Zhantian heard this and roared with rage, "It's truly the biggest joke under the heavens, today there is naturally only one Northern Border Sovereign, and that is my lord Ye Feng. You old fool, knowingly asking such a question, are clearly provoking the authority of my lord, and that is a capital offense. Believe it or not, I can execute you right here on the spot!"
Wu Feng responded with a sneer and a cold laugh, "If your lord truly has such great ability, why not return to the Northern Border sooner to drive out Zhu Guangbo, instead of coming to our Eastern Border to throw your weight around?"
No sooner had his words fallen than another aged lord echoed, "Exactly, this is the Eastern Border, not your Northern Border. What airs are you putting on here? Do you really think the Eastern Border has no one left?"
Wu Feng bowed to the Eastern King and said, "Eastern King, although our Eastern Border has declined over the years, we are not so weak as to be bullied at our doorstep. Dongfang Sheng was one of our Eastern Border lords, and cannot simply be killed without clarity. Moreover, there is also the commander of the Eastern Border, Lu Bentian, who is rumored to have been executed by someone as well."
The Old Eastern King, Muu Tianye, once again slammed the table furiously and bellowed, "I've said this before, Dongfang Sheng deserved death for his insubordination. As for Lu Bentian, it was I who ordered his execution. Are you questioning that too?"
"I may be old, but I am still the King of the Eastern Border. You may not accept this in your hearts, but hold it in at least until I abdicate. Don't make a fuss in front of me again, or do not blame me for being impolite!"
Seeing the Old Eastern King, Muu Tianye, become angry, the several Eastern Border commanders dare not speak further. As the Old Eastern King had said, although he was old, he was still the King of the Eastern Border and still had great authority in his hands.
Su Kesu, however, responded with a faint smile, "The Old Eastern King has spoken in due time. Of course, we have no intention of challenging your royal authority. Now that things have been made clear, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave. There are guests from the Sky Eagle Sect waiting at Coastal Ridge, and I must attend to them."
"Wait a moment!" the Old Eastern King, Muu Tianye, suddenly gestured with his hand and said loudly, "I have summoned you here today by royal decree because there is another important matter that we need to discuss!"
At that point, several lords were already preparing to rise, but upon hearing this, they had to sit back down.
"May I ask the Old Eastern King, what else do you have in mind?" asked Su Kesu with a smile.
In fact, before coming here, the lords had already made their inquiries through the spies they had planted in the base camp. Otherwise, they would not have dared to come rashly. As for their current attitude, it was just for show.
The Old Eastern King understood in his heart, and of course, he knew that many spies had been planted by his side, but now he simply had no interest in caring about these matters any longer.
"I've summoned you all today to discuss how we should exterminate East Pole Island in the Outer Sea. I have decided to prepare and launch an extermination campaign in three days!" The Old Eastern King sat up straight again to appear more authoritative.
"A campaign to wipe out East Pole Island?" Martial Peak frowned and couldn't help but sigh, "Eastern King, I don't mean to dampen our own spirit and boost the enemy's morale, but with our current strength in the Eastern Border, I fear it is very difficult to annihilate East Pole Island. Not only did we fail three days ago, but we also suffered considerable losses.
If we act rashly again, I'm afraid it will weaken the foundation of our Eastern Border."
The Old Eastern King waved his hand, "This time is different, we have foreign support, and it's strong support at that!"
"Strong support? Who is it?" Martial Peak immediately asked.
"It's him, of course, the Northern Border Sovereign Ye Feng!" the Old Eastern King, Mu Tianye, turned his head towards Ye Feng.
"I disagree!"
Martial Peak immediately bellowed in anger, "Regardless of whether he's still the Northern Border King or not, he just killed Dongfang Sheng of Dongcheng Ridge the day before yesterday. And now you want me to join forces with him? I must say, I cannot do it!"
"I also disagree!"
"Flora Ridge does not agree either. Dongfang Sheng was my good friend, and his death at another's hand cannot be avenged by me due to certain reasons. But to ask me to cooperate with his murderer, I cannot do it. If the Eastern King insists on this, then please strip me of my Lordship!"
At that moment, several Lords of the Eastern Border unanimously expressed their opposition.
The Old Eastern King found himself in a difficult position. As he had neglected the affairs of the Eastern Border over the years, his personal control over the Base Camp's forces had dwindled, while the critical powers of the Eastern Border had become concentrated in the hands of several Lords.
If these Lords all disagreed, his position as the King of the Eastern Border would be nothing but empty authority.
At that point, only Su Kesu of Coastal Ridge had not given his opinion, and the Old Eastern King seemed to see a glimmer of hope as he asked, "Lord of the Coastal Ridge, you didn't speak up just now. May I know your thoughts?"
Su Kesu smiled and slowly said, "Although I wasn't close to Dongfang Sheng, he was still a colleague. Now that he has been slain, my subordinates and I decisively cannot cooperate with his enemy. My opinion is the same. If the Old Eastern King insists, then please take away my Lordship as well."
The Old Eastern King immediately felt powerless; it was naturally impossible for him to strip the positions of all five Lords at once. To do so might well throw the entire Eastern Border into chaos.
However, Su Kesu swiftly changed the subject and continued, "But Old Eastern King, as you just mentioned, if we want to attack East Pole Island and completely eradicate this cancer, my Coastal Ridge could also contact a strong foreign ally."
The Old Eastern King's eyes brightened as he immediately asked, "You can still contact strong foreign support? Which power is it?"
A slight smile played on Su Kesu's lips, and then he slowly enunciated, "The Sky Eagle Sect!"