The Villain Complains First

Chapter 32: The Villain Complains First

During the half-month journey back, Lin Yu had not lost weight. On the contrary, he had put on quite a bit. The others from the same camp could only smack their lips in silence when they saw it. They did not enjoy Lin Yu's treatment—how refreshing it was to eat without doing any work.

Click. The prison cart came to a stop. Lin Yu groggily stretched and asked, "Are we there already? That fast? I thought it would take another day or two. If so, that couldn't be better. I can get down now, right?" Mo Ce's mouth twitched. Clearly, Lin Yu's state of mind had not reached the point Mo Ce had hoped for.

Lin Yu was utterly unhurried, as though he still had some trump card up his sleeve. Instead, this gave Mo Ce a few worries. Looking at Lin Yu again, Mo Ce wore a cold smile and said, "Boy, laugh. Keep laughing. I'd like to see how long you can keep it up." Lin Yu had clearly seen through Mo Ce's thoughts.

Lin Yu made a few movements while sitting to the side, then continued, "I'm so scared. General, I don't want to die yet. Please don't tattle on me before the Ancient Emperor. I can't do anything else, but if you don't mind, I can warm your bed."

No one knew where Lin Yu had learned such words, but upon hearing him say them, all the soldiers burst into laughter.

Who would dare have an assassin warm their bed? Wouldn't that be courting death? Mo Ce did not even dare imagine what came next. With one icy glance from him, the three armies fell silent in an instant. Lin Yu walked ahead and said to Mo Ce, "Let's go, General Mo." A prisoner walking in front of a general—what colossal nerve!

The laws of the Ancient Imperial City had detailed records as well: anyone who showed any disrespect toward any general could be executed first and reported afterward. Lin Yu was merely a prisoner whose identity had yet to be verified. What could he do to him?

Lin Yu strode along grandly. When he reached the gates of the Lin Residence, he quietly glanced at them before continuing onward. He stopped before the towering imperial city and looked at it again, then asked, "This is the imperial city? I've grown this old, yet it's my first time in a place like this. I wonder what it looks like inside compared to my home." He spoke the latter half very softly. He could not let anyone know he came from the Lin Residence; the gulf in status was truly too great.

Mo Ce stood respectfully before the city gate and said, "This subject, Mo Ce, returned from the campaign in Tianling City at the Ancient Emperor's command. I have come especially to pay respects to the Ancient Emperor and report on military affairs." The crimson gates slowly opened.

"Soldiers of the three armies, enter the city." As soon as Mo Ce spoke, the soldiers marched straight in. Lin Yu thought to himself, This Ancient Emperor really is bold. At a time like this, he isn't worried at all. If Mo Ce were to rebel, who knows whether he could keep his throne. Lin Yu gently shook his head. He was truly somewhat disappointed in this Ancient Emperor.

The Dragon Cloud Stairway was filled with ministers. Looking higher up, a man in pale cloud robes embroidered with yellow dragons sat above them, his white beard making him appear even older. This man was the Ancient Emperor. He had ruled the Ancient Imperial City for more than three hundred years. If not for medicinal pills extending his life, he would likely have long since ridden a crane westward. Even his descendants were over a hundred years old.

"Ancient Emperor, during this campaign, we took the enemy general Zhang Shuai's head, scattering the enemy army. But what we never expected was that our Ancient Imperial City contained a spy from the Flame Emperor. What was even more unexpected was that he would viciously take the head of one of our own generals." Mo Ce spoke lightly, as though it were merely a trivial matter that could be brushed away with a stroke.

"Heh, you certainly make it sound nice. Why didn't you try infiltrating the enemy camp yourself? You might have been pierced through the heart by ten thousand swords the moment you arrived." Sitting on the ground, Lin Yu spoke to Mo Ce with some indignation.

That was not impossible. Lin Yu glanced at him again. This man had claimed all the credit for himself, then even came to lodge a complaint. He was utterly shameless.

"Who is seated below? Why do you not kneel before this emperor?" The Ancient Emperor was greatly puzzled. Who was this person, and how could he possess such audacity, as though he did not regard him at all?

"Oh, Ancient Emperor? These legs of mine kneel to heaven, kneel to earth, and kneel to my parents. I have never said they would kneel to royalty." Hearing Lin Yu's words, everyone was stunned. It was their first time seeing such a prisoner—knowing it could not be done, yet doing it anyway. The moment he spoke, the ministers all knew this man would most likely die.

Yet the Ancient Emperor laughed heartily and said, "Forget it, forget it. Plenty of people kneel to me. One more or one less makes no difference. General Mo, is this the man you claimed had been planted among the troops by the enemy?" After saying this, his expression turned cold again. He did not regard Lin Yu as anything of consequence.

"In reply to the Ancient Emperor, it is indeed this man. After infiltrating us, he fought one battle and then vanished. Later, he returned and claimed to have brought back intelligence from the enemy army, then left once more, until he took the heads of those two men." Mo Ce spoke far too easily, and at the same time, it was far too difficult to believe.

Lin Yu stood there, gave a cold laugh, and shouted, "Why don't you mention how I beat you until you were half-crippled? Why don't you mention how you promised the people of Tianling City they could leave? Why don't you mention the military pledge I made? Mo Ce, Mo Ce, you truly are petty to the bone." Everyone drew a sharp breath upon hearing him. General Mo Ce had been defeated—what a tremendous humiliation!

"Hm? Mo Ce, is this true?" The Ancient Emperor asked quietly from above. Mo Ce immediately knelt on the ground, his heart tense as he said, "Your Majesty, there is no such thing! Absolutely no such thing!"

Lin Yu gave another cold laugh. Mo Ce was panicking. That expression was far too unnatural.

Then Lin Yu said, "Tch. You were petty to begin with. How could you possibly admit to such things?" Lin Yu stretched lazily again.

"I once made a military pledge to take the enemy commander's head. Does General Mo remember?" Lin Yu asked lightly.

"When did you make such a pledge? Why was I unaware? That head was brought to me by one of my subordinate generals." Though Mo Ce was flustered, he had weathered great storms and seen towering waves. This was not enough to make him lose his composure.

"Oh..." Lin Yu said meaningfully before continuing, "If you hadn't reminded me, I would have forgotten. I remember that just after entering the city, those soldiers seized me and snatched away the heads in my hands. I suppose that general was one of your men, wasn't he?" Lin Yu sat there as though conducting a debate, not giving him the slightest opening.

"How could that be? I merely took what was mine to take. I know nothing whatsoever about anything else." Lin Yu smiled again upon hearing that. This general truly was thick-skinned...