The shrill cries of "Murder!" from the two Phoenix Spirit Guards who had suddenly appeared did not shock the surrounding nobles. On the contrary, they piqued their interest.
Although deaths in battle were permitted in this small-scale Military Exercise, actual fatalities during one were exceedingly rare.
The moment they heard the screams, everyone became intrigued.
On the viewing platform, Old Master Lu, who had been deeply worried, suddenly lit up. "Eh, Zi Ying? Aren't those Phoenix Spirit Guards from the Fifth Guard Fourth Brigade? Someone from the Fifth Guard Fourth Brigade was killed?"
Almost instantly, Chen Jiawei, commander of the Fifth Guard, and Huang Tianhuo, commander of the Seventh Guard, rushed over to the two terrified, screaming soldiers on the Military Exercise grounds.
"Speak! Who killed someone? Who was killed?" Chen Jiawei, the Fifth Guard's commander, was the most anxious of all. He grabbed one of the Phoenix Spirit Guards by the collar and lifted him up.
"Di Kuohai!"
"Di Kuohai killed someone!"
"Di Kuohai of the Seventh Guard Second Brigade killed someone!"
It was the first time he had seen such a bloody scene during a Military Exercise. Having watched his comrades die miserably before his very eyes, the Phoenix Spirit Guard was so frightened that he could barely speak coherently.
The three words "Di Kuohai" immediately drew the attention of Old Master Lu, Zi Wenxuan, and Chen Xiang on the viewing platform. All three pricked up their ears.
"Bastard! Tell me, who did Di Kuohai kill?" In his anxiety, Chen Jiawei slapped the Phoenix Spirit Guard, jolting him back to his senses.
"Di Kuohai killed people! He killed three brothers from our Fifth Guard Fourth Brigade! One of them was Zi Qi—our squad captain, Zi Qi!"
"He killed three? And Zi Qi was among them!"
A savage gleam