Su Xin suddenly lunged for the Human Emperor Sword, drawing a wave of astonished and suspicious looks.
At Ji Yanheng's challenge, Su Xin shrugged. "The battle for the throne isn't something I can take part in. So when I took the Human Emperor Sword, I wasn't targeting you, Your Highness. You can only blame yourself for choosing to have Shaolin Temple help you."
At that, the faces of the Shaolin monks darkened, while the others wore knowing expressions.
Su Xin's sudden move to seize the Human Emperor Sword did him no good at all. He hadn't pledged himself to any of the princes, so the sword would be nothing but a useless piece of metal in his hands.
And yet Su Xin had still snatched it away, purely to spite Shaolin Temple. It was exactly the sort of thing that benefited no one and harmed someone else—and with Su Xin's temperament, it was just the sort of thing he would do.
But Ji Yanheng was furious enough to curse.
He had been caught in the crossfire for no reason.
The problem was, if he didn't rely on Shaolin Temple, he wouldn't just fail to get the Human Emperor Sword—he wouldn't even have had a chance to compete in the Kunlun Secret Realm.
The other princes exchanged glances. Since Su Xin hadn't sided with any of them, things were simple. Shaolin Temple was backing Ji Yanheng, and Su Xin had just helped them eliminate a rival.
Ji Yanyu immediately said, "Lord Su, hand me the Human Emperor Sword. I'll reward you handsomely in the future!"
Ji Yanlü added, "Lord Su, though we haven't known each other long, you should know my reputation. If you give me the Human Emperor Sword, I promise I won't treat you unfairly."
The two princes vied