Chapter 343: Rebellion

The stars were hidden behind thick clouds, the city's lights flickered in the wind, and the air was permeated with an aura of grief and unease.

Ansili welcomed its quietest night in history.

The Leader of Due Sect was dead.

Even though the funeral had already been held during the day, the populace still could not find relief from their sorrow.

Every household kept their doors and windows shut, immersed in sadness.

The usually bustling square was also sparse with figures, as if the entire city had fallen into grief.

However, on this night when the whole country was in mourning, what occurred within the towering imperial palace would deepen this pain even further.

Hogan stood at the palace gate in full military attire, expressionless; behind him were fully armed warriors, a resolute light flickering in his eyes, and the scimitar in his hand glinting coldly under the moonlight.

"General, everything is ready!"

A subordinate stepped forward to report, and Hogan nodded; without needing any words, the soldiers behind him gripped their weapons tightly, loyalty to the general burning in their eyes, and their footsteps were uniform as they surged toward the palace gates like a tidal wave.

At this moment, the palace was entirely filled with Hogan's men, so there was no resistance, and Hogan led his men to storm inside.

"General Hogan, what are you doing?!"

The King's personal guard was greatly alarmed to see Hogan leading men toward the bedchamber with such aggressive momentum; he blocked the entrance to the bedchamber and demanded an answer.

Hogan could not be bothered to waste words with him; with a flash of his blade, a pillar of blood sprayed from the guard's chest, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Boom!"

The soldiers behind stepped forward, kicked open the bedchamber door, and Hogan strode into the bedroom of King Abdullah.

"Ah!!"

Queen Fatima, wearing a thin silk nightgown, screamed in fright and wrapped herself in the quilt.

King Abdullah looked at Hogan with a face full of confusion and shock, asking: "Hogan, what has happened?"

Even now, King Abdullah did not believe that Hogan had betrayed him.

Hogan held his blade, staring blankly at King Abdullah, bright red blood droplets dripping from the tip of the blade, and he gradually revealed a ferocious grin:

"Abdullah, your era has ended; the future of this country is for me to decide!"

………

"Ah! Run! Run!"

The palace guards and servants were in a panic; they scattered in all directions, trying to find a safe place to hide, but the sound of soldiers' footsteps and the cold glint of blades followed them like shadows.

A female follower ran away screaming, her clothes torn to shreds, her face covered in wounds and tears.

She stumbled through the corridor, but the soldiers behind pursued her relentlessly, their laughter sounding particularly jarring amidst the chaos.

With Hogan's tacit approval, the palace treasury was forcibly opened, and soldiers greedily stuffed gold and silver jewelry into their pockets, even killing each other to snatch more treasure.

Precious artworks were brutally smashed, historical books turned to ashes in the flames, and the entire cultural heritage of the imperial palace was ruthlessly destroyed at this moment.

Princess Laila was surrounded by followers hiding in the palace, but she was separated by the chaotic crowd.

The panic-stricken Princess quickly crawled into a corner, curled up her body, clasped her hands together, and prayed silently.

………

Yuri wove through the chaotic crowd, fighting as she searched for the Princess, but she saw her own subordinates joining three soldiers in acts of arson, murder, and looting.

Yuri was furious; she leaped forward, drew her blade, and slashed at the back of that guard, roaring: "Who gave you the nerve?!"

The guard climbed up, hunched over, and looked at Yuri with a puzzled expression: "Commander Yuri, are you not with General Hogan?"

Yuri was stunned, recognizing the other soldiers as men under her father, Hogan.

"You actually dare to commit treason?!"

Yuri pointed her blade at the soldiers, looking incensed, "Where is my father? What have you done to him?!"

The soldiers looked at each other, looking innocent: "Commander Yuri, what is wrong with you? General Hogan has already gone to King Abdullah's bedchamber; perhaps he has already cut off the King's head by now."

"That's right, Commander Yuri, General Hogan will be the new King, and you will be the Princess."

"Commander Yuri, you should go to General Hogan quickly, or you will miss the General taking the throne."

Boom!

Yuri felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

"You... what did you say?"

Yuri could not believe her ears, yet her mind recalled the events of these past few days.

Chen Che's intent to harm Princess Laila, the massive reshuffling of palace guards, the citizens gathering outside the palace to petition...

For a moment, she seemed to understand all the connections, yet she forced herself not to think about it.

"It cannot be... it cannot be..."

Yuri lowered her head, her whole body trembling, and the joints of the hand gripping her blade cracked loudly.

The soldiers looked at each other, not knowing what was wrong with Yuri.

One of them gathered the courage to ask: "Commander Yuri, oh no, Princess Yuri, what... is wrong?"

Yuri raised her head, her face already covered in tears; she gave a desolate smile and swung her blade at the soldiers in front of her.

………

The King stood barefoot at the highest point of the palace, a platform extending two meters from the palace wall usually used for placing telescopes and other equipment, but today, His Majesty the King was forced to stand upon it.

King Abdullah looked at the army below, his hands trembling, his eyes filled with fear.

He glanced back at the smug Hogan, knowing his rule had reached its end, but his pride would not allow him to submit easily.

"Hogan, I am the King of this country; what you are doing is treason!" His voice echoed in the empty palace, yet it sounded so powerless.

Hogan slowly walked up the steps, each step heavy and firm. His gaze pierced through King Abdullah's posturing, pointing straight at the fear in his heart: "You were, but from this day forward, you are no longer."

"Hogan, why must you do this?"

King Abdullah let out a roar of resentment.

On a cold night, he stood barefoot on the high platform of the palace wall, wearing only thin pajamas, and questioned Hogan: "We grew up together, you are the person I trust most, why would you betray me!?"

Hogan sneered: "Abdullah, how dare you speak of the friendship between us? I have been loyal to you since we were children, yet you have always ignored me. If Kuli hadn't died, this general's position would likely never have been my turn."

"Where am I inferior to that idiot Kuli? Yet you insisted on letting him step on my head and humiliate me!"

"And another thing, Abdullah, you are not fit to be king. You are pedantic and selfish. Even in this era where Martial Artists are prevalent, you still restrict the use of thermal weapons in the country—oh, no, that's not right, you just keep all the True Qi Weapons in your own hands."

"You were afraid that the people would learn to use True Qi Weapons and threaten your rule, but what about now? The thermal weapons are all in my hands. As long as you die, tomorrow will be a brand new day, and this country will turn a brand new page!"

Hogan spread his arms and laughed arrogantly and triumphantly.

King Abdullah took a deep breath and lowered his head in despair: "So, it wasn't Chen who wanted to harm Laila, but the Du'e Cult Leader, and the reason he was able to enter Laila's room so smoothly was because of your help?"

Hogan laughed: "Abdullah, what is the point of knowing this now? I originally intended for the Cult Leader to help me kill you, and the method he thought of was to use Laila, but I didn't expect the plan to be interrupted by an outsider."

"But it seems the result is the same now. As long as I subdue those officials and ministers tomorrow, the entire Ansili will be mine."

"So we were the ones who wronged them; we were the ones who harmed our most noble friends. However, fortunately, I let them leave."

A deep sense of regret flashed in King Abdullah's eyes, but a new hope ignited: "Hogan, Chen and Xie will definitely come for you. Everything you have done will be punished."

"At a time like this, you are actually counting on two outsiders?"

Hogan snorted: "But it doesn't matter, I don't care. Even if I am to be punished, you won't be around to see it."

Hogan took a gun from his subordinate and pointed it at King Abdullah: "Abdullah, we have had decades of friendship after all. If you jump yourself, I can still bury you with the honors of a king."

King Abdullah glanced at the pitch-black ground, closed his eyes in resignation, and finally pleaded: "Hogan, I can die, but I beg you, do not make things difficult for Fatima and Laila."

Hogan grinned hideously: "Rest assured, Abdullah. After you die, not only will I replace you on the throne, but I will also replace you as Fatima's bedfellow."

"Besides, Laila and Yuri grew up together; as long as she is willing, I can treat her as my own daughter."

"However, I am more inclined to have Laila be my Follower, to be my exclusive possession."

"Hogan, you animal! Laila is just a child, you are not allowed to hurt her—"

"Bang!"

The gunshot pierced the night sky, and King Abdullah fell from the high platform, crashing heavily to the ground.

………