Chapter 422: A Life at Stake

Chapter 422: A Life at Stake

Outside, a general in military attire slowly entered the hall, causing everyone to momentarily freeze in surprise.

"Lan Xiaoyu?" someone exclaimed.

"General Lan?" someone stepped forward, scrutinizing the man in military attire, eyes wide: "You, you're really alright? Didn't you... have your legs crippled and your internal energy depleted?"

"So, Minister Qu thinks there’s no expert in the world who can heal me?" Lan Xiaoyu said.

"There are experts, but can you recover so quickly?" General Bai Xi said.

He was now the general in charge of the city defense camp. Previously, he had both admired and feared Lan Xiaoyu, but after Lan Xiaoyu's incident, he became the commander and general.

When Lan Xiaoyu suddenly appeared, Bai Xi could hardly believe it was real.

Although he knew Lan Xiaoyu was leading troops for Great Wei and was about to attack the Imperial City, Bai Xi still found it hard to believe that Lan Xiaoyu had recovered so well.

No matter how skilled the experts are, Lan Xiaoyu would still need time to recover, wouldn’t he?

So, Bai Xi assumed Lan Xiaoyu was merely commanding on the battlefield, not fully recovered and ready to fight.

When Lan Xiaoyu appeared, Bai Xi was truly shocked.

"What, do you want to test me?" Lan Xiaoyu asked.

"If the Emperor agrees, it’s no issue!" Bai Xi turned to look at the Emperor.

The Emperor, under pressure and unsure what to do, had been glancing at the court officials, hoping they’d come up with a solution. Just then, Lan Xiaoyu arrived, diffusing the awkward tension.

"Well, since he’s defected to another country, whether he can compete with you isn’t my call. Let’s see what the Emperor of Great Wei thinks," the Emperor of Western Yue said.

Xiao Yin looked at Lan Xiaoyu, then at Bai Xi.

"Uncle, Bai Xi embodies the White Tiger’s spirit. If we can capture him, it could turn the tide in our favor," Ruo Xi Baby looked at her uncle, feeling like a worried little baby: "With him and Lan Xiaoyu on our side, you can relax!"

Xiao Yin lightly tapped the armrest of his chair and said, "If it’s just a duel, wouldn’t it be dull? What if General Bai Xi loses to our General Lan Xiaoyu? That would be embarrassing!"

"Hmph, the Emperor of Great Wei might not fully grasp my strength. If something goes wrong, don’t blame me—I don’t hold back!" Bai Xi proudly raised his head and said.

"Is that so? Then let’s see what you’ve got. Don’t underestimate our General Lan Xiaoyu!" Xiao Yin said calmly.

The duel was meant to take place outside, but before the Emperor could give the order, Bai Xi raised his hand and advanced toward Lan Xiaoyu.

"Bang, bang, bang"

As the clash of battle rang out, the surrounding court officials fled in panic.

The ministers ducked behind pillars and Xiao Yin’s chairs, while others bolted outside.

Outside, the eunuchs and maids, too afraid to look, strained their ears, relying on sound to picture the scene.

The Emperor, naturally timid, seeing the two locked in fierce combat, immediately rose and took cover behind the dragon throne, with the chief eunuch and imperial guards forming a protective circle around him.

As the battle raged on, the two combatants moved from the east to the west, then south, and finally north across the Diligent Government Hall.

The pillars trembled, and some chairs teetered on the brink of collapse under their stomping.

The court officials, terrified, screamed and many ran outside.

Neither Xiao Yin nor Ci Xin moved. They simply moved their chairs aside as the two began to fight, making it easier for them to engage.

"Bang!"

Perhaps because he underestimated his opponent, Bai Xi was sent flying by Lan Xiaoyu with just a few moves, crashing into the distance.

As fate would have it, Bai Xi landed near Ci Xin and Ruo Xi Baby.

Ci Xin was just about to get up and leave, but Bai Xi came too fast. Before he could move out of the way, Bai Xi was already falling.

"Thud!"

Bai Xi turned his head and met the little child's gaze. With a twist of his body, he managed to crash into a nearby pillar instead.

"Not bad, it seems this man has a noble spirit!" Ruo Xi Baby nodded, feeling even more satisfied with Bai Xi.

"Bai Xi, let me make a bet with you!" Xiao Yin, picking up on Little Bao'er's thoughts, immediately had an idea.

"What bet?" Bai Xi stood up, rubbing his chest, and asked.

The emperor leaned out from behind the throne, looking at Bai Xi, and said, "General Bai, you must show your true strength. No matter what, you can defeat Lan Xiaoyu. I believe in you. Make a big bet—cities, even countries…"

The old emperor of Xi Yue stepped forward, shaking his robe, and said, "I can see it now. You underestimated him earlier, but Lan Xiaoyu actually has weaknesses!"

Bai Xi frowned slightly but remained still and silent. He stood up, steadied his inner energy, and said, "Lan Xiaoyu, then let us bet our lives!"

The emperor stumbled, nearly falling.

"General Bai, you’re my only hope! You can’t do this!" the emperor immediately said. "Xi Yue still needs you. You mustn’t!"

"Your Majesty, my life belongs to me. This time, if I don’t give my all, your honor will be lost. Therefore, I absolutely cannot back down now," Bai Xi said.

Ci Xin gently patted Ruo Xi Baby, feeling completely at ease.

Bai Xi's earlier performance had pleased the baby, so when Bai Xi stood up, Ci Xin, holding the baby with one hand, reached out with the other to help Bai Xi up. As luck would have it, Ruo Xi Baby grabbed Bai Xi's wrist, which had a wound. The baby had just bitten her own hand with her little teeth, creating a wound, and thus, a blood pact was formed.

But Bai Xi had not yet noticed, and the baby did not heal his internal injuries, letting him go into battle.

After all, the baby still wanted General Lan Xiaoyu to win, so…

"Fine, then let us bet our lives!" Lan Xiaoyu glanced at Ruo Xi Baby. He had actually seen the little girl's actions earlier, and from his angle, he even saw a glow.

Lan Xiaoyu himself had been healed of his internal injuries by the little girl, so he deeply believed in the rumors that she was a divine being.

Most importantly, although the emperor had not said anything to him, with just one look, Lan Xiaoyu could tell that the emperor wanted Bai Xi.