Lighting the Flame

King Yue Yao Tosai was furious. Nearly thirty officers in the Imperial Guard should have been loyal to him, yet Wucuo had obtained only a dozen or so blood-stained sheepskins.

"Betrayal!" he bellowed in his tent. Wucuo stood awkwardly behind him, while several officers stood even more awkwardly before him. Many more had refused to meet the prince. "Don't think I'll go easy on you. Your fathers and brothers are still in my hands, and crushing a few tiny tribes would be child's play..."

One Centurion could no longer hold back. He raised his head and said, "The fact that we came to see Your Highness already proves our loyalty."

"Ha! Do you think I'm a fool? You're only pretending so you can pump me for information. I'll make you all pay. Gratitude means nothing now. Only bows and arrows can show who's master!"

When Gu Shenwei walked in, this was the scene he found. The officers kept their heads down, but every one of them looked indignant.

"Get out." Tosai drove away the disloyal men, then looked coldly at the Dragon King. "The Dragon King didn't attend the announcement ceremony."

At that ceremony, the Dragon King should have seized an opportunity to assassinate the newly appointed Grand Commandant, who was not to his liking.

"I couldn't get away. King Yue Yao should know that."

Wucuo hurried to speak first. "His Highness knows. You can't blame the Dragon King for this. It happened so suddenly; no one could have done anything."

Tosai finally reined in his anger, though his tone remained harsh. "Fine. This isn't your fault. The real culprit is someone else. Bring him in!"

A little while later, the "real culprit" appeared.

Vajra Tou Tuo dropped to his knees, his hands bound behind his back. "Spare me, Your