"Ye Jingyu, do you dare defy the General's orders?" Seeing that Ye Jingyu completely ignored his words and instead ordered men to take over Tianyun Town, the officer shouted in fury...
Tianyun Town was a vital stronghold in the Western Frontier, its populace notoriously fierce; even Xiaogeng had merely stationed his troops a few li away. Who would have thought this newcomer would immediately demand control of the town...
"Ye Jingyu, how dare you call me that? Mr. Zhuge, to address a superior by their given name—what crime is that?" Ye Jingyu let out a cold snort...
"Reporting to the General, if it were a common offense of insubordination, the penalty would be two hundred strikes of the rod, as a disciplinary measure," Zhuge Yi Shi stepped forward, stating calmly...
"Ye Jingyu, I am not your subordinate. Do you dare punish me?" The officer’s expression shifted upon hearing Zhuge Yi Shi’s words, but recalling that General Xiaogeng's fifty thousand troops were camped nearby, he merely scoffed...
"And what if it is not a common offense of insubordination?" Ye Jingyu couldn't be bothered with the officer’s reply and continued to press the question...
"If it is not a common offense of insubordination, then it amounts to treason and rebellion, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of the family," Zhuge Yi Shi still replied evenly, his face showing no fluctuation of emotion...
Hearing Zhuge Yi Shi declare the crime as treason, the young officer's face drastically changed. He had merely used the superior's given name; how had it escalated to rebellion? Did this man truly dare to execute him in front of so many people?
"Xiu, take down this traitor. Anyone who dares to resist shall be executed without mercy..." Ye Jingyu's words made it clear to the young officer that nothing was impossible in this world...
Chi Yixiu said nothing, raising his battle-axe, which weighed over a thousand jin, and lunged toward the officer...
"Ye Jingyu, what kind of entity are you to dare sentence me to treason? General Xiaogeng’s fifty thousand troops..." The officer had not finished speaking when he saw Chi Yixiu’s colossal figure, nearly ten zhang tall, drawing near, and the massive battle-axe swung down directly at him...
This wasn't merely 'execute those who resist'; this was executing whether one resisted or not...
Having no other choice, the officer drew his military saber to block, but how could an ordinary military saber withstand the immense strength of Chi Yixiu, which could crush ten thousand jin...
The moment the enormous battle-axe struck the saber, the blade was completely shattered. The giant axe head then cleaved down without mercy toward the young officer...
In the officer's horrified gaze, the axe entered his body from his left shoulder and pulled out through his right abdomen, splitting the whole torso cleanly into two segments...
Guts and viscera sprayed out, and bright crimson blood splattered everywhere. The officer's upper half slowly began to slide down, his eyes filled with terror. Only at this moment did he recall Ye Jingyu's title... The Tyrant...
Seeing their commander cleaved in two by a single swing of an axe, the remaining soldiers turned deathly pale. Even though they were the strongest elite troops of the Shu Yun Kingdom, they had never witnessed such carnage, especially Ye Jingyu, who killed so swiftly and brutally over mere verbal offense to a superior. Was there no law, no military code left?
They harbored deep resentment and profound helplessness, but above all, they were consumed by fear that Ye Jingyu might turn on them next...
Even if Xiaogeng's fifty thousand troops were only a quarter of an hour's ride away, that time was enough to completely dismember them...
"You few, get back and report to Xiaogeng. To reach this place swiftly, I have ridden day and night without a single sip of water, leaving me utterly exhausted. Tonight, I shall rest well here in Tianyun Town. Tell him to come find me here tomorrow if he has matters to discuss," Ye Jingyu said coldly, his eyes not even glancing at the two twitching halves on the ground...
Riding day and night without water? Without a sip of water? If he hadn't drunk water, how could he still be alive? Hearing Ye Jingyu shamelessly claim non-stop travel, the soldiers inwardly grumbled. If he had truly ridden nonstop, he would have arrived ten days ago, not waited so long. But facing Ye Jingyu’s violent threat, they dared not utter a word, and each one turned to flee in the direction of Xiaogeng’s army...
Watching them run, Ye Jingyu coldly sneered a few times: "You want to show me who’s boss? You're far too slow..."
No one said anything about Ye Jingyu executing Xiaogeng's subordinate immediately upon arrival. Not even Zhuge Yi Shi uttered a word. Here, the emperor’s reach was long, but justice would have to wait until they returned to Yunjing. As for Xiaogeng, he certainly wouldn't risk an all-out fight for a minor officer; he was still counting on the Iron Army to wear down the strength of the Aoshi Warband...
Until that time, no matter what Ye Jingyu did, Xiaogeng had to endure it...
Of course, regarding the supposed offense against Xiaogeng, judging by the General's attitude, even if Ye Jingyu showed him utmost respect, the Iron Army's fate as cannon fodder was unlikely to change...
Therefore, even Zhuge Yi Shi would not say more...
The Tyrant, the Tyrant—since he has been named the Tyrant, let that name resonate throughout the entire Western Frontier...
Everything unfolded exactly as Ye Jingyu and his company had predicted. Upon learning that Ye Jingyu had slain his subordinate, Xiaogeng made no grand moves, merely sending a letter back to Yunjing before saying nothing further...
He showed no reaction to Ye Jingyu garrisoning Tianyun Town, as if nothing had occurred...
Ye Jingyu gave no deep thought to Xiaogeng’s silence. After ordering that the populace must not be disturbed, he led his generals to the pleasure quarters of Tianyun Town to feast and drink heavily. Of course, certain licentious activities were unavoidable, but our Young Master Ye was still a virgin and wouldn't partake in such frivolities with those painted courtesans...
It was impossible for this contingent of martial artists not to cause disturbances. That very night, the number of thefts reported in Tianyun Town was several times the usual amount, though these individuals were somewhat intimidated by Ye Jingyu's brutal nature...