Zither Emperor

Chapter 32 – The Return of the Five Zithers (I)

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Xiang Luan smiled and said, “I trust you. So what are your orders for me?”

Ye Yin Zhu’s eyes displayed a firm resolve as he declared, “We’ll climb the city walls.”

“Okay. I’ll follow your insane plan. If you succeed, you’ll be the hero of the Milan Empire. If you fail, we’ll all go see the gods together.”

Ye Yin Zhu suddenly realized that Xiang Luan’s smile was even more touching than before.

Sura said, “You guys climb the city walls; I’ll go help Oliveira.”

Xiang Luan disagreed. “No, you stay here. You are an assassin, so your skills would be restricted if you were at the frontlines of the battlefield. It would be better to stay here and help Yin Zhu; he might need your assistance. Didn’t he need it back in the mountain range?”

Sura looked at Ye Yin Zhu, who nodded at him.

When the four of them arrived at the top of the city walls, the student mages of Milan Institution for Magic and Martial Arts were already waiting there for them. It was Oliveira who had made them come. Since he couldn’t prevent the princess and prince from fighting, he could only fully support their plans.

The mages had clearly known Xiang Luan’s identity. When they saw the four of them arrive on the city walls, all of the student mages bowed to her simultaneously.

Oliveira suddenly appeared, but currently his expression was rather unsightly. He focused on Ye Yin Zhu. “I’ll take my leave then. Yin Zhu, honestly speaking, I don’t know whether I should admire your bravery or hate your recklessness, but the situation has already proceeded to this point; it’s too late to turn back now. Anyway, all of you cannot lose. I will pray for you. Your Highness the Princess, even though I don’t know what will happen next, I was still unable to convince His Highness the Prince to not take risks. I ask of you, please keep him here in the city.”

Xiang Luan also knew that this was Oliveira’s bottom line, so she nodded her head and assented. “Okay. You can say it is my order to have him come back to the city. Also, you are to take all of the soldiers protecting the city with you. Even one more person will increase our power significantly.”

Oliveira shook his head and said, “That won’t work. The soldiers originally guarding the city will still stay. Otherwise they will react counterproductively. Princess, I hope I can still see you again later.”

Xiang Luan’s eyes darkened. “Praise Blue Dias, brave Knight. You will definitely return victorious.”

Oliveira didn’t say anything else as he turned and left.

“Elder Brother Oliveira, wait!” Ye Yin Zhu suddenly shouted out toward Oliveira.

Oliveira stopped and pivoted to look back, only to see Yin Zhu quickly walking towards him. Ye Yin Zhu spoke softly so that only the two of them could hear. “Elder Brother Oliveira, remember what you taught me. In order to win the war, use any and all methods, right?”

Oliveira nodded and whispered, “Of course. As long as you can ultimately win in the end, use any means possible. Even if it’s despicable and wretched, spare nothing.”

Ye Yin Zhu spoke, relieved, “Then I feel reassured. It seems that my decision isn’t wrong. But Elder Brother Oliveira, I heard that you have a Genuine Gigantic Dragon. Please, do not summon it. Use your Maginot Iron Dragon to fight.”

Oliveira was confused. “Why?”

Ye Yin Zhu shook his head and explained, “I cannot tell you, but please trust me.”

Oliveira frowned. “But an Earth Dragon’s fighting strength is far inferior to my Water-attribute Gigantic Dragon. There is a tremendous disparity between our strength and the beastmen army’s.”

Ye Yin Zhu hesitated for a moment before saying, “Then, only if it’s a last resort. Otherwise, please don’t summon it. The same applies to Nesta.”

Although Oliveira didn’t clearly understand why Ye Yin Zhu said this, he vaguely felt that Ye Yin Zhu was saying this for his own good.

“Alright. Yin Zhu, the outcome of today’s battle not only determines the losses the Empire will incur, but it also determines the Empire’s future. If the worst happens, please promise me one thing.”

“Promise what?” Ye Yin Zhu puzzledly asked.

Oliveira grimly said, “Take the Prince and Princess and escape. Among the students, Nesta and my younger sister are both flight-capable as they have Gigantic Dragons. At the very least, they can take you all and leave. I have already warned them. If either the Princess or Prince resists, use force. Do you understand? Neither of them is your match.”

Staring profoundly at Oliveira, Ye Yin Zhu nodded. “I understand.”

Oliveira turned and left while Ye Yin Zhu returned to his original location.

Xiang Luan said, “Fellow students, we are about to face the beastmen legion. Even though I cannot personally confirm that your clan belongs to the Empire, I do know that your clans have influential status. I hope that you will be able to inherit your clan’s honor. For the sake of Milan, for the sake of your clan, go all out in this war. As long as we are able to withstand the legion until reinforcements arrive, you will all be heroes of the Empire.”

Rolande earnestly said, “So we can finally fight! I thought we would’ve been shut inside here the entire time. Senior Xiang Luan—oh, may I still call you this?”

Xiang Luan smiled slightly and assented. “Of course you may.”

Rolande continued, “I have been looking forward to the day we can be on the battlefield. Relax, even if I use up the last drop of my magic, I will also defend the Empire’s territory and uphold my Violet Clan’s honor.” The excitement in her eyes was absolutely not fake, her beautiful irises even emitting a bloodthirsty radiance. She was the epitome of a tyrannical woman.

Xiang Luan’s gaze swept over all of the mages, somewhat surprised to discover that these students of Milan Institution held no trace of fear at all. The vast majority of them were more or less like Rolande. In fact, she failed to consider that these children of nobility had never experienced a genuine war, so they naturally didn’t know of war’s cruelty. Furthermore, they were all mages, and with their current position atop the city wall, they were far from needing to worry about their safety.

Milan Empire and Mjolnir Stronghold had not been at war for only one or two days. In addition, the beastmen had never once succeeded in breaching into the Milan Empire’s territory, so they had a lot of confidence that a large amount of reinforcements was being sent. Of course, this was definitely related to Oliveira’s previous report for quick reinforcement before he had sent them to the city.

“Good. Since that is the case, starting now, everyone will listen and obey Ye Yin Zhu’s orders, including myself. Sura, please hang this ensign from atop the city wall. If the enemy attacks, I will be at the very front.”

At this crucial moment, Xiang Luan fully revealed her unyielding character. Her attractive face glimmered with pure and holy rays of light as she withdrew an ensign from her space ring and handed it over to Sura.

Sura’s hand trembled as he accepted it. Carrying the ensign, his body practically transformed into a streak of lightning as he quietly flew up to the flagpole. With quick and efficient movements, he hung the large ensign.

The ensign was embroidered with a large shield, the Ruby Cross symbol atop an alternating backdrop of red and black vertical stripes. It was very similar to the Milan Ruby Cross Shield Emblem Xiang Luan had. On both sides of the shield, however, was the embroidery of a dragon, one gold and one silver. Sunlight shone down on the ensign, causing it to sparkle and shimmer.

Looking at this ensign, regardless of whether it were the mages atop the city walls or the Dragon Cavalry that had finished assembling inside the city and were rushing out the city gate, they all couldn’t help themselves from being fired up at this very moment. They naturally understood what this ensign represented. Although it was not the national Milanese flag, it was still the flag of the Milan Royal Family, the Berlusconi Clan flag. Only direct descendents of the Empire’s Royal Family could use it. Xiang Luan used it to tell all of the warriors and mages that the Milanese Royal Family was with them.

Xiang Luan’s gaze drifted toward Ye Yin Zhu. “The rest is up to you. Everyone will listen to your orders. Go ahead.”

Ye Yin Zhu nodded and said, “Are there any Water Mages?”

“I am.” A youth stepped forward. He appeared to be over twenty years old, with average looks. He was obviously an upperclassman at the Milan Institution for Magic and Martial Arts.

Ye Yin Zhu asked, “How long would it take for you to make me an ice block approximately ten meters in width and at least a meter thick?”

The Water Mage hesitated before answering, “The weather is currently cold, so it’s relatively easy to freeze water. I can accomplish this in an hour.”

Ye Yin Zhu nodded and said, “Good. Stand here, behind me, and start making this block of ice right now. The thickness must be at least a meter thick, and its surface as smooth as possible. The side of the ice facing me should be concave. Begin now. Don’t be stingy with magic; use all of your magical reserves to create the ice.”

The Water Mage didn’t have many doubts, so faint green light sparkled and began condensing around his body. The electric-green light indicated that he was an Intermediate Level Green Rank Great Mage. Along with the display of the brilliant green rays, the atmosphere immediately became ice-cold.

Ye Yin Zhu didn’t supervise the Water Mage. He once again asked the crowd of mages, “Who here is a Spatial Domain Mage? Step forward.”

Three people left the crowd, among them Chang Hao. They all confirmed themselves to be Spatial Domain Mages.

Ye Yin Zhu said, “Can you cast a Magic Amplification spell? The greater the amplification effects, the better. At the same time, I also need a voice amplification spell. Can you do this?”

The oldest of the Spatial Domain Mages said, “If I was given enough magical crystals or magical cores from magical beasts, I can cast a Voice Magnification spell, but a Magic Amplification spell is somewhat difficult. That spell is too complicated and too difficult to set up. I would need time to practice. I’m afraid that I am unable to complete it in a short amount of time. My magic rank is insufficient.”

Xiang Luan said, “I have magical crystals with me. Spatial Domain, right? Here.” Worthy of her status as the Princess of the strongest power in the Longinus Continent, she raised her hand and extracted a pouch of gems from her space ring, handing over said pouch to the mage in question.

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