Chapter 475: Chapter 475. A Welcome Feast

Amon didn’t take Huang Zhan’s hand. He said, “If you are sincere, how about you ask everyone to stand down.”

Huang Zhan looked around. The soldiers were still holding their weapons and in combat pose. He chuckled. “Everybody, stand down! Go back to your duty!”

The soldiers sheathed their weapons and returned to their stations. Despite the circumstances, Amon was impressed by their obedience.

“By the way, I thank you for not killing any of my men,” Huang Zhan said with a smile.

Amon remained alert. He glanced at Da Niu, who was holding his four Alpha Flying Knives. He extended his hand, asking for his weapons back.

Da Niu turned to Huang Zhan, who nodded. Da Niu offered the knives in his hand to Amon. When Amon was about to take them, shattering sounds were heard. The Alpha Flying Knives broke under Da Niu’s clench. The knives fell to the floor in pieces.

Amon frowned at this.

“Ah… Da Niu, why did you do that? You are too emotional…,” Huang Zhan said with a sigh but then added, “Well, perhaps it is for the best. If I’m not mistaken, the martial art you used to control those knives is the Flying Sword art, isn’t it?”

Amon didn’t confirm.

Huang Zhan continued, “The Flying Sword art is the exclusive martial art owned by the Temple of Divinity. If the news reaches them, I’m sure they will send people to investigate. Our country is currently on good terms with them. We shouldn’t provoke them, so you have better not use that art anymore.”

Amon observed his situation. No one appeared aggressive anymore, except for Da Niu, who continued to glare at Amon.

“Come on, Colonel Amon. There is no need to be that tense anymore. You are safe. Come! I have prepared a welcome feast for you,” Huang Zhan uttered.

When Amon didn’t move, Huang Zhan said, “Are you afraid I will lead you to a trap? If I truly mean you harm, you are already in one. Or do you think you can escape from this place with an army surrounding this place and two Spirit Stage cultivators to contend against?”

Actually, Amon still had the trump card in the form of the high-tier runic giant battle puppet that guarded Yuka, among other secrets. If just now Huang Zhan joined Da Niu to attack him, he would have to use everything he had to escape.

But Huang Zhan didn’t know that. Under normal circumstances, the chance of him escaping in this condition was zero. In other words, Huang Zhan was right. There was no point in preparing another trap. If he truly meant Amon harm, all he needed to do was continue the aggression.

Even so, Da Niu’s first attack on him was fatal. He wondered if the general used deadly force out of his personal decision. Was Da Niu someone who pretended to be obedient but was instead an unruly type?

Nevertheless, Amon wasn’t ready to reveal all his arsenals yet. So, he accepted Huang Zhan’s offer. “Lead the way, Your Highness,” he said.

Huang Zhan smiled. “Come!” He said again.

They flew toward the main keep of the fortress, which was three times larger than Fort Fresh Maw. Da Niu followed behind them. Amon remained alert.

They entered the keep and into a great hall that had been decorated for a festivity. Tables filled with food and wine lined up the hall. The end of the hall was made to look like a throne room. A large chair on an elevated platform served as the throne. Huang Zhan sat on that chair.

The prince gestured for Amon to sit in a prepared chair by his side. Da Niu sat on the opposite side. After they sat, the maids served them with meals and wine. A band of musicians started playing music, and a group of dancers danced before them.

Judging from this, Huang Zhan was sincere about hosting him. If the prince truly meant him harm, he wouldn’t have wasted the time to prepare all this. Amon pondered deeply about the matter.

“Why the scowl? Do you not enjoy the show?” Huang Zhan asked Amon. “Are you still upset about my test at the gate earlier?”

“I’m not that petty. I thank Your Highness for your hospitality. I just can’t fail to notice that the maids and workers, who are not soldiers, all have chains on their feet. Are they slaves?” Amon asked, trying to divert the subject.

“Your observation is correct,” Huang Zhan confirmed. “Why? Are you one of those who object to slavery?”

“Not really. I’m just curious. Considering you fight Kazhan. Why adopt their customs?”

“Hahaha!” Huang Zhan laughed. “Our animosity is with the people, not their customs. If it is good, why not adopt? Moreover, it is poetic justice to have them taste their own medicine.”

“Do you mean…”

“Yes. We captured these slaves from the Kazhan forces we defeated during our skirmishes,” Huang Zhan said.

“Do you mean Kazhan defectors?” Amon asked. “Kazhan has now changed to feudal government under the influence of the Temple of Divinity. The temple’s teachings ban slave practice.”

Huang Zhan chuckled. “Kazhan’s politics are more complex than anyone thought. Even now, you can say there is a secret war waging inside the nation’s political system. Half approves the conversion following the Temple of Divinity’s doctrines. The other half longs for the old way. Why do you think Kazhan hasn’t done anything to all the defectors? Do you think it is because they don’t have the power to? Those sly bastards even use these defectors to raid our settlements without having to bear the responsibility.”

Amon pondered this information. Huang Zhan’s viewpoint of Kazhan’s defectors wasn’t too farfetched. By supporting these defectors behind the scenes, Kazhan could attack their neighbors without causing international incidents. They could be viewed as state-supported pirates.

Huang Zhan resumed, “Before I took over this fort, Echos’ settlements near the Northern border rarely had a peaceful time. Now, it’s the other way around.”

“What do you mean?” Amon asked.

“Since Kazhan cannot be blamed if these defectors assault our towns, they also can’t blame me when I massacre these defectors, hehe. Speaking of which, my scouts have gained intel regarding one of these defector’s villages. We will move out to raid them. Do you wish to join this raid…? No, you must join this raid! I insist!”

Since Amon was not given any choice, he complied with the offer.

Different performers replaced the dancers. These performers enacted a play. The story was about a past battle between Echos and Kazhan. After the play, it was a comedy show. The crowd laughed at the show, but Amon didn’t. He watched the show but focused on using the Nine Moon Restorative Mantra. The internal injury he suffered from Da Niu’s attack was pretty severe, after all.

Huang Zhan could sense Amon using the healing art. He didn’t bother Amon until the next show.

The next show was a martial arts competition. Two bare-chested soldiers came up. They fought using only martial arts. At first, Amon thought this was only a friendly spar, but it turned out it was not so. After one of the soldiers landed a decisive hit that caused his opponent to become unconscious, he proceeded to grab his opponent’s neck and break it. The crowd cheered for the winner while someone removed the dead loser.

Another pair came up. The same match was repeated. Twelve people dueled, and six corpses were carried out of the hall.

After the six matches, a single soldier walked to the center of the stage. He saluted Prince Huang Zhan and General Da Niu before turning to Amon. He uttered, “Colonel Amon, please honor me with a match!”

Amon turned to Huang Zhan, who was smiling. The prince asked, “Colonel Amon, will you entertain us?”

“Haven’t you tested me enough earlier?” Amon asked back.

“I have witnessed your wits under duress. I haven’t seen your prowess against an equal opponent,” Huang Zhan said. “You were busy trying to escape. I want to see how you do when it is one-on-one.”

“Equal opponent…,” Amon muttered. His Mystic Sense detected that the soldier challenging him was at the Intermediate Mystic Stage.

Amon stood up.

“In case you haven’t noticed, you may only use martial arts,” Huang Zhan said. “No weapon and no armor.”

Amon stored his weapons and Jue Body Suit in his space rings. He was bare-chested like his opponents. His toned muscles were well-defined. There was no visible fat.

“Impressive physique. If I was a woman, I would have felt turned on,” Huang Zhan uttered jokingly.

The previous matches started with Da Niu knocking on his table. This match was the same. Once the knock was heard, Amon vanished. He used Silent Swift Shadow Fist.

The surprise element of this art was no longer effective against opponents of the Martial Realm because cultivators of this realm had sensing abilities. The soldier knew Amon was coming toward him. He used one hand to catch Amon’s punch while the other to perform a cutting motion. His cutting hand conjured the image of a large saber.

Amon materialized again once his fist touched the soldier’s defending hand. His left hand blocked the soldier’s saber hand. Both fighters might seem equal. They both blocked the opponent’s attack, but it only lasted an instant.

While the soldier’s saber hand cannot cut through Amon’s left hand, Amon’s right fist proceeded forward, pushing the soldier’s guarding hand until it sunk into his chest.

*CRACK!*

The sound of bones breaking could be heard as the soldier was sent flying back.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep