“Military Law Hall?”
Once he heard these three words, Jiang Yi immediately detected that someone was plotting against him. The Military Law Hall was where people who broke the military law were dealt with. He had only joined the Nine Yang Army for a few days, and he had not broken any of the military laws or regulations. Since that was the case, why was a commander from the Military Law Hall here to take him away?
Even if Mu Heyu was sure of his identity and wanted to surrender him to the Dao Clan, he would not activate the Military Law Hall to do so. He would instead activate the Inspector-General Hall.
This was because the only reason they could hand him over to the Dao Clan was if he was said to be a spy, who snuck into the Nine Yang Army harboring bad intentions. Before this, Mu Heyu did accuse Jiang Yi of being a spy. He was being investigated as if he was a spy, and the department that was in charge of dealing with spies was not the Military Law Hall but the Inspector-General Hall.
The Inspector-General Hall was in charge of the inspection of all soldiers in the army. Their job was to look for spies and traitors. Why were people from the Military Law Hall looking for Jiang Yi, then?
There was only one explanation for this: the Mu Clan had no power or influence in the Flying Feather Command and could only depend on the Military Law Hall to take Jiang Yi away. This proved the fact that Yun Bing was right. It was not the Commanders-in-Chief who wanted to surrender Jiang Yi, but the Mu Clan.
Once he became clear of this, Jiang Yi became relieved!
If only the Mu Clan was after him, he had a higher chance of survival. If the Nine Yang Army was after him, he might as well kill himself right there and then. There was no way he would be able to leave the mystic realm.
He activated his divine senses to survey the situation outside. Secretly, he looked into the first castle and found that Yun Bing was not around. What’s more, the two Senior Commanders seemed to be absent from the main hall as well. Instead, there was one bodyguard in there.
“Someone wants to arrest me! Help me notify Commander Liang and General Yun!”
Jiang Yi sent a voice transmission to the bodyguard who immediately responded: “Jiang Yi, I already sent a message to them. Commander Liang will be here soon, but General has gone to Nine Yang City. She has not replied.”
Jiang Yi’s heart jumped. Yun Bing was not here? If she was absent, could he count on Commander Liang to fend off the people from the Military Law Hall?
Just as Jiang Yi was hesitating, he heard some commotion outside. Then, there was a loud, arrogant laugh. “Are you rebelling? Do you dare to surround and attack those from the Military Law Hall? Get lost at once, or we will treat you like traitors and kill you without hesitation.”
There was no way Jiang Yi could remain here any longer. He opened the room door and saw Zhang Danian and the others blocking the entrance to his side hall. Immediately, he said, “Everyone, move away.”
Jiang Yi’s status in the team was quite high. Zhang Danian glanced at him and saw his determined look. At once, he waved his hand and said, “Everyone, move.”
Tens of people immediately moved to the sides of the side hall, emptying the main hall. Jiang Yi calmly turned to the middle-aged commander at the door and said in a cold voice, “I am Jiang Wuming. Who are you?”
“Can’t you read the medal?”
The commander gestured towards the medal hanging from his chest and laughed mirthlessly. “I am Commander Gu Jiangshan from the Military Law Hall. Please come back with me.”
“Go back with you?”
Jiang Yi’s ugly face twitched. Confused, he asked, “Why should I go back with you? I am the Staff Captain of the Flying Feather Army. You are not as highly-ranked as me. I don’t think you’re fit to ask me to go back with you.”
“En?”
Gu Jiangshan and more than ten of his subordinates’ expressions darkened. The Military Law Hall had always held a special position among the various armies. A commander aside, even an ordinary soldier would be treated respectfully by ordinary commanders.
The Military Law Hall reported directly to the Commanders-in-Chief and was in charge of enforcing the military laws and regulations. Jiang Yi was only a mere Staff Captain; that meant nothing at all in the eyes of the Military Law Hall. Even if he were a Senior Commander—without a noble background, he should not stand up to Gu Jiangshan.
Gu Jiangshan’s expression darkened at once. Softly, he said, “Do you dare to go against my orders? Do you know the punishment if you defy the Military Law Hall? You will be punishable by death! I will personally kill you.”
“Are you sure you have the right to?”
Jiang Yi smiled. Although he did not know the military laws—if the Commander had such huge powers, the Nine Yang Army would have descended into chaos a long time ago. His divine senses scanned the outer surroundings and found the remaining bodyguard. Jiang Yi asked: “Do they need approval or tokens to take me away?”
The bodyguard remained silent for several seconds before he nodded and replied: “Staff Captain Jiang, a Senior Commander must be here for you to be taken away given your status. Either that, or the token of the Military Law Hall’s Hall Lord must be presented.”
Jiang Yi understood this. He turned to Gu Jiangshan and asked, “Where is your Hall Lord’s token? If you can present it, I will follow you without any hesitation. Otherwise… please go back to where you came from. I have many things to do, and I have no time to entertain you. Of course, if you think you have the power to kill me right now, you can try.”
“Keke!”
Gu Jiangshan was just about to reprimand Jiang Yi when a laugh echoed throughout the surroundings. An elderly man with a goatee led more than ten people in. He laughed mirthlessly and said, “A mere Staff Captain is acting so powerful. Did you really want me to make an appearance? Is the Flying Feather Army planning to revolt? Where is General Yun Bing? Ask her to step out to see me.”
A few soldiers turned around and immediately widened their eyes. All of them recognized this man. He was evidently extremely famous in the Flying Feather Command. He was Gu Xichao, nicknamed ‘Judge’, and a Senior Commander in the Military Law Hall. The Military Law Hall’s Hall Lord hardly performed his duties well. All along, Gu Xichao had always been the one enforcing the military laws.
Jiang Yi did not need to ask around to know that this man was an important character in the Military Law Hall. He cupped his hands and said, “Lord, may I know what crime I committed? Why has the Military Law Hall been activated? If I am guilty, I will follow you without question. I will even submit myself to be dealt with by military laws.”
Gu Xichao’s skinny, sharp face looked unique as it darkened. He focused his malicious gaze on Jiang Yi as he said in a low voice, “You will find out what crime you committed once you get to the Military Law Hall. Men, take him away!”
Gu Jiangshan waved his hand, and seven or eight men immediately stepped forward, prepared to take Jiang Yi away.
Jiang Yi was faced with an intense dilemma. If he allowed them to take him away, he would lose control of his fate once he got to the Military Law Hall. For all he knew, the Military Law Hall could even sentence him to be killed at once.
However, if he resisted arrest, he would really be defying military orders. Gu Xichao would then have every right to kill him on the spot.
Gu Xichao was a King-Ranked martial artist, but Jiang Yi had confidence in killing him from such a close distance. The problem was… how would he escape after killing him? There was a significant number of King-Ranked martial artists in this mystic realm. Even if he could get out of the mystic realm and escape to Nine Yang Valley, the thirty-six Heavenly Kings would probably come after him, wouldn’t they?
“Hahaha!”
Just as Jiang Yi hesitated, he heard another laugh echo from outside. The crowd parted, and Commander Liang walked towards him, taking big strides. The Military Law Hall soldiers who had been walking towards Jiang Yi suddenly halted. Commander Liang walked in, looked around, and cupped his hands. “It is Lord Gu. Why have you mobilized so many people to come here?”
“Taking him in!”
Gu Xichao looked at Commander Liang expressionlessly and said, “Commander Liang, I am carrying out my duties. Are you trying to stop me?”
“Lord Gu, please don’t misunderstand.”
Commander Liang smiled subtly and glanced at Jiang Yi. Suddenly, he said in a suppressed voice, “Lord, you are an intelligent man. You just have to put in some effort to deal with Staff Captain Jiang’s matter. You don’t have to push things to the extreme. Not only might you not gain benefits, but you might even get yourself in trouble.”
Gu Xichao pondered for a while and kept silent for a few seconds. Then, he looked up at Jiang Yi and said, “Staff Captain Jiang, take a walk with me.”
He did not say that he was taking Jiang Yi away this time, and it was obvious that his attitude was much better. Jiang Yi turned to Commander Liang, and the latter nodded. A knowing smile split his face, and Jiang Yi understood. He, too, nodded and said, “Let’s make a trip to the Military Law Hall, then. Lord Gu, please.”
Gu Xichao led the group out, and Jiang Yi followed closely behind him. Once they got out of the castle, Commander Liang unsurprisingly sent a voice transmission to Jiang Yi: “Staff Captain Jiang, rest assured and go. Don’t be rash. Leave everything to us.”
