Colin Gu looked up and saw the sky darken as countless flying beasts swooped in, blotting out the sun.
"That's the Flying Cavalry Corps from the High Kingdom... Even they’re here. We’re doomed!"
"All the Flying Cavalry Corps are at least Spirit Practitioners, and there’s hundreds of them..."
...
Everyone stared in terror as the massive flying beasts grew closer, their legs turning to jelly from fear.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I’m scared!" Wendy Zhu hid behind Colin Gu, clinging tightly to his arm.
Colin Gu glanced at her, then shoved her to the ground, his face dark as he stared at the Flying Cavalry Corps heading straight for them.
"Grace." Minister Zhuo took the opportunity to approach her, unable to hide the joy in his voice. "Where’s your mother? I haven’t seen her."
Grace’s heart sank. "Isn’t Mom at home? Why are you asking me?"
"Didn’t you bring her into the palace last night?" Minister Zhuo asked. "Pan’er came back to fetch her personally!"
"Hope?" Grace was startled.
She hadn’t seen Hope since going to bed last night.
This morning, with the chaos of people coming to dress her, she hadn’t noticed.
"Wait... Didn’t you bring your mother into the palace?" Minister Zhuo asked.
"No." Grace looked at Colin Gu.
But at that moment, the flying beasts had arrived.
Massive and powerful Iron Eagles, each with talons strong enough to snatch up a cow;
Firebirds that could spit fireballs;
Lightning Finches, so fast they were just a blur;
And the man-eating Red-crested Golden Eagles...
As the flying beasts landed, their wings whipped up fierce winds, sending sand and stones flying everywhere.
Leading them was a massive Red-crested Golden Eagle.
After it landed, a man dismounted from the eagle’s back.
He looked cold and aloof, tall and dressed in black robes, his long hair tied back and trailing behind him. He walked forward, godlike, making the fierce flying beasts and skilled cavalry behind him seem like mere scenery.
Everyone just stared at him, dumbstruck.
Grace’s eyes widened, totally starstruck.
Wendy Zhu’s eyes widened too, filled with jealousy and resentment.
It was... Evan Xiao.
Wasn’t he supposed to be dead?
How is he back again?!
After a long moment, someone called out, "General, what’s going on here?"
Evan Xiao looked at the crowd and announced, "The High Emperor has decreed: Colin Gu has committed treason and must be arrested immediately. All Blue Moon officials—those who surrender will live, those who resist will die!"
With that, he strode toward Colin Gu.
"Protect His Majesty! Protect His Majesty!" the Empress Dowager screamed in terror.
The imperial guards rushed to shield Colin Gu, Grace, Wendy Zhu, and the Empress Dowager. Wolf and Scorpion led the charge, brandishing their weapons at Evan Xiao.
"Swish! Swish!" Evan Xiao flicked his hand, and something sliced through the air.
Wolf and Scorpion collapsed silently, dead before anyone could react.
No one even saw how Evan Xiao killed them.
Then Evan Xiao kept walking forward.
This time, without even a wave of his hand, the imperial guards blocking Colin Gu were sent flying, landing in a pile.
...
Seeing this, someone shouted, "Blue Moon is a vassal of the Vermilion Kingdom—we’re all subjects of the Vermilion Kingdom! We pledge loyalty to the High Emperor! Long live the High Emperor!"
Soon, more and more voices joined in.
Most of the officials at the ceremony quickly knelt, swearing allegiance to the High Kingdom.
It’s over!
Blue Moon... Against the High Kingdom’s army, it was like an egg hitting a rock.