Chapter 298: Assassination

"What are you saying?"

"Wu Kaiti has dispatched troops to Cheshi?"

At the same time.

Xie Xuan of the Dayuan Kingdom stood up, his eyes filled with killing intent.

He had only sent Cheng Cheng out a few days ago, and estimated he would only reach Yanqi by tomorrow, yet this Wu Kaiti had already dispatched troops to Cheshi.

"Your Majesty, Wu Kaiti has gone too far!"

"He has absolutely no regard for the law!"

"Your Majesty, the Qiuci are powerful, and for these past few years they have often feigned compliance while acting in opposition. It seems this fellow can no longer restrain himself this time!"

Xie Xuan burned with rage, his lips beginning to tremble.

The aftershocks of the defeat at Yanqi had finally appeared. Qiuci Governor Wu Kaiti had dispatched troops privately without Xie Xuan's consent; this was clearly no longer holding Xie Xuan, a tiger nearing the end of its life, in any regard.

To think he had controlled the Northern Western Regions for over thirty years, from the tyranny of those years when all the Western Region states submitted, to today, where they actually treated his Imperial Edict as if it were invisible!

How preposterous!

"Bang!"

Xie Xuan's gaze turned cold, and he barked: "Wu Kaiti has no regard for the law; he must be executed!"

The crowd echoed his sentiment one after another.

In reality, these people lowered their heads, yet each harbored their own ulterior motives. Wu Kaiti no longer listened to Xie Xuan's orders; his intent to openly rebel was clear for all to see. What about them, then?

Was the Dayuan Kingdom of today still worth following?

They wanted to see how Xie Xuan would handle this matter.

After all, in the last great defeat, the Qiuci Army had not dispatched many troops because they were guarding against Loulan. The two hundred thousand-strong army that was lost consisted basically of the United Army of the Dayuan Kingdom, Wusun, Gumo, and Jingjue.

Therefore...

In the Dayuan Kingdom today, the Qiuci were the strongest; this was publicly acknowledged.

What could His Majesty even do to him?

Wu Kaiti dispatching troops privately and ignoring orders—would this be the crack that tears apart Xie Xuan's high-handed rule over the Northern Western Regions?

If this matter were allowed to develop, it was feared that the Dayuan Kingdom would no longer be able to maintain order, and imperial power would slip away.

Among the Governors present, which one of them truly submitted?

Xie Xuan looked coldly at this group of people; how could he not understand this logic?

These barbarians of the Western Regions!

If he were given another five years, he could build another powerful army, and marching on Longyan would not be impossible...

But...

A bunch of mud that couldn't be plastered onto a wall!

At the same time, he felt somewhat powerless against Wu Kaiti right now.

The Qiuci Army was at its peak; what was he to do?

Suddenly...

A flash of brilliance shone in his eyes.

If he couldn't take down Wu Kaiti head-on, then he would assassinate him! The Night Walkers of his Dayuan Kingdom were not a group that had earned their reputation for nothing!

He took a deep breath and said calmly: "My ministers, you may withdraw for now. This Wu Kaiti will absolutely not live past three days!"

The crowd was shaken and withdrew one after another.

Once these people had left, Xie Xuan said coldly: "Did you hear? I want to take Wu Kaiti's head within three days! Three days! I promised you that I would not go to war with the Protectorate, but I do not want to lose the Northern Western Regions!"

Zhai Qing'er, with her graceful figure, slowly walked out from behind. She smiled sweetly, hugged Xie Xuan gently from behind, and whispered: "Your Majesty, your servant will do as you wish..."

Xie Xuan endured and endured, until finally, a mouthful of black blood sprayed out.

"The Cheshi have dispatched troops to raid the Northern Border Army?"

At this moment.

The large and burly Wu Kaiti of the Qiuci Army heard this news and was filled with excitement: "A night raid! This time we must take Cheshi; the great cause can be achieved!"

Those around him tried to persuade him one after another.

"Governor..."

"Hmm?"

Wu Kaiti's gaze turned cold.

That person trembled all over and hurriedly changed his words: "My King, marching through the night is not a good strategy!"

"That's right..."

"My King, not marching at night is an ancient teaching. If..."

"My King, it would not be too late to leave tomorrow morning... If His Majesty sends the Night Walkers..."

Wu Kaiti could not listen anymore and roared: "A basket full of nonsense! Speed is the essence of war; I want my Qiuci Army to suddenly appear at Cheshi City! Once I take Cheshi, why should I fear that mere Dayuan? Night Walkers? They are just playing gods and ghosts; do you think I would be afraid? My Qiuci Army is like fire; we do not fear this bunch of clowns!"

Intense hatred flashed in his eyes.

Thirty-some years, it had been thirty-some years... Starting from his father's generation, the Dayuan Kingdom had begun to squeeze the Qiuci, squeezing them without end!

Wu Kaiti had always kept it in his heart; when his father died, his eyes were full of hatred and unwillingness.

He hadn't said a single word.

But he knew his father's heart.

Restore the glory of Qiuci!

Overthrow Xie Xuan's rule!

The Geography of Qiuci should be enough to look down upon the Western Regions, yet it has become a vassal state of Dayuan; who could be content with that?

"Your Majesty..."

Wu Kaiti drew his sword and immediately severed the man's head, which terrified those around him into kneeling on the ground. Wu Kaiti shouted coldly: "Anyone who utters nonsense will be executed without mercy!"

"Pass the order down, march at full speed!"

"I will take Cheshi and dominate the Western Regions!"

"Yes!"

At this moment.

From two directions, dozens of Night Walkers from each side began to sprint toward the same place simultaneously.

That is correct.

The Night Walkers of the Dayuan Kingdom have no need for horses, as their foot speed is extremely fast. These assassins, trained from childhood by Zhai Qing'er and Xie Chan, are adept at utilizing various elements of the natural world to achieve their sprints, concealment, and assassinations. They are born to be people who operate in the night.

This is because, although the nights in the Western Regions are cold, they do not lack water like the days do.

Night mist and morning dew allow them to replenish their physical strength quite well.

Sprinting under these conditions also consumes less physical energy.

More importantly.

During the day in the Western Regions, it is very easy to get lost because the only thing that can distinguish direction is the sun, but the sun is constantly moving. However, this does not happen at night!

Observing the stars to determine position!

This is the most basic skill of a Night Walker. Because compared to the sun, the stars scattered across the sky have many fixed positions!

Regarding this, Zhai Qing'er has a complete training system.

Therefore, the Night Walkers also became synonymous with the Dayuan Kingdom after Xie Xuan's rule. They also became the most powerful trump card for Xie Xuan in stabilizing the Western Regions.

It is just that...

As time passed, people only heard of the Night Walkers but had never truly seen them—they, who once assassinated disobedient officials, naturally had no need to act often as these Governors became more and more obedient and compliant.

This time was so long that...

It seemed that even a young generation Governor like Wu Kaiti, who had not experienced the turmoil of the Northern Western Regions, had almost forgotten the existence of the Night Walkers.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

The Night Walkers are not affected in the slightest by limited visibility at night.

In the night sky, the occasional strange insect chirps and bird calls are the methods they use to communicate with their companions.

The thirty thousand men of the Qiuci Army.

Have already been on the march for two days.

Therefore, at this speed, they will arrive at Cheshi tonight.

Wu Kaiti is extremely excited at this moment.

The Geography of Qiuci is the center of the Western Regions, and this Cheshi is the gateway to the Longyan Dynasty! If he can take advantage of the empty defenses in Cheshi city to seize it, the entire Northern Western Regions will be within his encirclement!

Thirty thousand men...

That is enough!

At this time, Cheshi has just suffered a great disaster and the people are in a panic; how could it withstand the charge of his Qiuci army?

He only hopes...

That the Northern Border Army will definitely exhaust the living strength of Cheshi! Fortunately, spies from Cheshi sent news that both sides suffered heavy casualties in the great battle! For Wu Kaiti, this is absolutely great news!

With Cheshi so powerless to fight again, Xie Xuan still dares not send troops?

He could not help but sneer and shake his head; the current Emperor of the Dayuan Kingdom is truly becoming more and more cowardly.

Of course...

He still has to guard against those legendary Night Walkers.

It is just that...

He has been ambitious since childhood and has long prepared his own body double guards, each one highly skilled in martial arts. With them here, why fear those so-called Night Walkers?

"Chirp, chirp..."

Just at this moment.

When the Qiuci army was about to pass through a Gobi Desert, a strange sound suddenly rang out in the night.

Wu Kaiti's expression changed slightly, and with a wave of his hand, the entire army halted.

The guards around him were also on high alert, as if facing a great enemy.

How could there be the sound of vultures in this night?

"Chirp, chirp..."

The sound was emitted once again.

Yet in this vast Gobi Desert, filled with hills and stone piles, the source of the sound could not be found at all!

Wu Kaiti's eyes were also searching for movement in the distance, yet he saw nothing!

The atmosphere at the scene instantly became eerie.

The crowd was in chaos.

"Night Walkers?"

A sharp glint flashed in Wu Kaiti's eyes, and he shouted angrily: "I am here, who is playing tricks on me! If you have the ability, come out and fight!"

He drew his sword, looking majestic and awe-inspiring.

"Protect the King!"

"Protect the Great King!"

The Qiuci Army formed a defensive formation, moving forward slowly.

Seeing his thirty thousand elite soldiers, Wu Kaiti's confidence surged, and he laughed heartily: "You petty scoundrels, playing tricks! Do you dare to fight against this King's Qiuci Army?"

The army also shouted in unison: "Come out and fight!"

The sound was earth-shaking and terrifying.

However...

The surroundings remained deathly silent.

Even the "chirping" sounds had vanished.

Eerie!

Terrifying!

For some unknown reason.

The uncertainty in Wu Kaiti's heart grew stronger and stronger: "Search for me! Find this group of rats who dare not show their faces in the daylight and bring them out to me!"

"Yes!"

The Qiuci Army dispatched several small squads, which began to spread out in all directions.

A carpet-style search!

Not a single place was overlooked.

Wu Kaiti did not believe that in such a situation, those Night Walkers could still get close enough to assassinate him.

Just like that.

The search continued for a full hour.

The Qiuci Army remained stopped there for an hour.

Wu Kaiti even felt some regret at this moment; why did he have to march through the night? Was it not better to stay in a tent with people protecting him?

However, it was useless to regret now.

"Your Majesty, there is nothing unusual!"

"Your Majesty, the search did not find any Night Walkers!"

Squad after squad of the Qiuci Army returned to report.

Only then did Wu Kaiti feel relieved, laughing: "I said it, this group of rats is only good for scaring those good-for-nothings at court, but as for me..."

Just at this moment.

Among the returning Qiuci Army, a dozen or so men struck out in shock.

In the night, a cold blade-light appeared before Wu Kaiti.

His expression changed rapidly, and he cursed aloud.

He thought his "highly skilled" guards would be able to protect him well.

Who would have thought.

The guard closest to him was the first to plunge a Dagger into his back.