Ao Dongping was, after all, an old turtle who had attained spirit form. With his wealth of experience, he naturally understood General Lei's concerns.
After fighting side by side for some time, the two had developed a measure of mutual respect and camaraderie as fellow officers.
So he quietly told General Lei, "If His Highness truly is angry, I will certainly do my best to put in a good word for you and explain the reasons."
They traveled a little farther, until they could clearly make out the Sea-Heaven Pillar's precipitous landscape of jagged rocks. At last, a messenger hurried over from its direction.
The messenger conveyed His Highness Ao Han's orders to General Lei:
All demon soldiers under his command were to remain in this camp to rest and recuperate.
All captured supplies were to be registered, then immediately placed in storage and inventoried.
Lei Chuanyun and Ao Dongping were each to bring two personal attendants and follow him immediately to His Highness Ao Han's central command tent to report.
General Lei selected Huang Daoling and another trusted personal guard.
Ao Dongping chose Cui Jiuyang and a little sea turtle serving under him.
The four followed the messenger toward the towering, magnificent palace.
Ao Han, the ninth son of the East Sea's Dragon Palace and a member of the East Sea royal family renowned for his martial prowess, was waiting for them there.
Chapter 353: A grand feast
The group followed the messenger toward the Sea-Heaven Pillar.
The closer they drew to that towering mountain, the more uneasy General Lei became.
Although Ao Dongping was an old retainer who had served His Highness for centuries, as the princes' struggle for succession intensified, His Highness's temper had grown increasingly unpredictable and volatile.
Thus, at the prospect of seeing His Highness