Back at the mountain temple, Zhang Yong informed Gensei and the other three elders of the situation.
"I understand. So, what do you plan to do?" Gensei asked, his sharp eyes fixed on Zhang Yong, who sat before him in the temple's back room.
Zhang Yong twirled the wooden cup in his hands; the hot tea emanated a faint steam. "That person already knows I won't give in easily. He certainly expects me to come now, while we're speaking. So, simply put, I'll give him what he wants."
Gensei slowly raised his left eyebrow, his narrowed eyes carefully studying Zhang Yong. "You mean to go directly to him? That's suicide."
"Not if you have a plan," Zhang Yong replied calmly, then emptied his tea cup in one go and stood up. "In this battle, we may lose our lives. So I ask you, Master Gensei, are you willing to fight one last time?"
Gensei stared at Zhang Yong for a long time, his ancient eyes radiating wisdom gained from decades of combat. Then, suddenly, he burst into deep laughter that shook his shoulders.
"Hahaha... you naughty boy!" He slapped his knee with his fist. "You're asking an old man like me to fight to his last breath? That suits me. Fighting to the death in a battle—even if I die, I'll have no regrets. And my old comrades think the same."
He turned to his three elderly comrades sitting silently in the corner of the room. "What about you, old fellows? Do you still have enough strength for one final fight?"
Koki, the old man with the long, drooping eyebrows, chuckled softly while stroking the hilt of his ancient sword. "I've waited for this moment for years. It reminds me of my youth."
The third elder, named Rio, who had been silent the whole time, slowly opened his eyes—eyes as narrow as knife slits. "I will fight." His voice was hoarse, like the rustling of dead leaves.
The last one, Soji, didn't utter a single word, merely nodding as his eyes gleamed with determination.
Zhang Yong looked at them all, his blue eyes reflecting genuine respect. "Thank you," he whispered softly.
Then Zhang Yong turned with a smile. "Well then, let's first go to the slums to check on my men. We'll move out the day after tomorrow."
---
After two days
At the Imperial Palace, in the dead of night.
Arthur sat before Honest, while Honest voraciously devoured a plate of meat in a disgusting manner.
"You need to fix your eating habits, man," Arthur sighed, unable to hide his annoyance. If this man weren't useful to him, he would have gotten rid of him long ago.
Suddenly, the door burst open forcefully, and a guard entered with a pale face. "Sir... there's a problem."
Honest didn't lift his eyes from the meat. "A problem bigger than ruining my dinner?"
"It's... it's Zhang Yong. He has appeared at the palace gates."
Arthur laughed sarcastically. "Didn't I tell you he would come on his own two feet? I thought he'd be smarter and blow up the palace. Tsk, he has the power but doesn't use it."
---
At the palace gates.
Zhang Yong stood alone before the main gate, his hands in the pockets of his black coat. Dried blood still stained his clothes, but his blue eyes were clear and calm.
Dozens of elite guards surrounded him, clutching their guns and spears, but no one dared to approach. It was clear they were no match for him, and not one was brave enough to step forward and throw their life away.
Then, the gate slowly opened, and Arthur appeared with his usual demonic smile. "Oh, you're finally back. I was starting to get bored."
Zhang Yong didn't smile. "I've come, Arthur. Neither of us is from here. There's no need to involve others in our affairs. This is between you and me."
"I see. You're more of a fool than I thought." Arthur turned and walked away. "Follow me, then. Our fight will be inside."
Zhang Yong followed Arthur cautiously, looking around. The place was filled with guards and some familiar faces—members of Night Raid—standing with expressionless faces.
"What did you do to them?" Zhang Yong whispered, his voice carrying a low growl.
Arthur laughed. "I just opened their eyes to the truth." Then he raised his hand. "Kill him."
In an instant, Night Raid moved as one machine, their attacks coordinated and deadly.
Zhang Yong dodged Tatsumi's first strike with a backflip, but Susanoo was waiting for him, his weapon slicing through the air toward his head.
Clang!
Zhang Yong used his bone sword to block the blow, but the force pushed him back.
Leone pounced on him with her sharp claws, while Akame suddenly appeared from the side with her sword.
Zhang Yong dodged Leone's strike with a sideways roll, but Akame was faster.
Murasame gleamed in the moonlight, cutting through the air like lightning toward his neck.
Shing!
The sword clashed with Zhang Yong's bone sword, sparks flying from the point of impact.
"Akame, wake up!" Zhang Yong yelled, his blue eyes carrying a desperate look, but hers were empty of any expression.
Suddenly, Susanoo attacked from behind, his serrated weapon carrying enough force to shatter Zhang Yong's bones.
Zhang Yong turned his head, his pupils constricting to pinpricks.
Void Path – Earth Fold
He appeared directly above Susanoo and swung his foot swiftly toward his head. His powerful kick sent Susanoo crashing into one of the palace pillars.
But before he could catch his breath, Najenda suddenly appeared before him, launching her mechanical arm straight at his face.
Thud!
Zhang Yong raised his arms just in time and protected his head. The powerful blow struck Zhang Yong and sent him crashing through the wall behind him. He felt as if his ribs had shattered, blood filling his mouth.
"Arthur...!" Zhang Yong snarled as he tried to get up. "Is this your game? Making them kill me with their own hands?"
Arthur smiled mockingly. "Isn't this the best scene? An ironic, unrepeatable spectacle."
Zhang Yong didn't reply. Instead, he closed his eyes for a moment, then suddenly opened them. His blue eyes blazed with a mysterious purple light.
Void Path – Earth Fold
Zhang Yong vanished from his spot, appearing directly in front of Arthur.
"This is your end," Zhang Yong declared, raising his bone sword.
But his gaze was met with Arthur's cold stare. "Oh, are you sure?"
Before the sword could fall, Zhang Yong felt something pierce his body from behind. An ice spike emerged from the other side, the blood already frozen.
He looked at his pierced chest, then at Arthur, who was smiling coldly.
"Esdeath..." Zhang Yong barely spoke, black blood flowing from his mouth.
"Good shot, Esdeath," Arthur laughed, then looked at Zhang Yong with green eyes shining with triumph. "Finally, the beast has fallen."
"Take him to the torture chamber," Arthur ordered coldly with clap of his hand "We'll have plenty of fun there."
---
In the torture chamber.
The room was dark and damp, the smell of blood and rust filling the air. Iron chains hung from the ceiling, and various torture tools lined the walls.
The guards chained Zhang Yong up; his bloodied body hung in the middle of the room.
Four people were present. Besides Esdeath and Arthur, their companions were Shura and Dorothea.
Shura and Dorothea stood to the side, their expressions ranging between curiosity and indifference.
Arthur walked slowly around Zhang Yong, his hands behind his back. "Alright, let's begin. Where is that girl from Night Raid?"
Zhang Yong slowly raised his head, his faded blue eyes staring at Arthur without fear. "If I knew, do you think I would tell you?"
"Don't pretend to be brave now," Arthur laughed, his eyes shining with pleasure. "Whether you want to or not, you will talk."
Arthur gestured to Dorothea, who stepped forward with a terrifying smile, her long fangs glinting in the dim light. "Let's see how long he lasts."
"Heehee, you'll be lucky if you die from this." Dorothea approached Zhang Yong, then sank her fangs into his neck.
He felt as if his life force was being drained from him; his body began to shrink slowly. But suddenly, his purple eyes flashed.
Dorothea flinched backward, her eyes widening as she covered her mouth. "What is this?! His blood tastes disgusting! This is gross!"
'My blood is nothing more than a collection of blood from danger beasts, and you want to drink it?' Zhang Yong sneered in his heart.
Shura laughed out loud, slapping his knee. "How amusing! But let me try something too!" He approached with swaying steps, cracking his knuckles. "Let me show you my talent for killing people by beating them!"
Thud!
A powerful blow from Shura pierced Zhang Yong's side. The sharp pain made him hold his breath for a second, but he made no sound. Black blood flowed from his mouth, but his lips formed a twisted smile.
"Is that all you've got?" he whispered in a hoarse voice.
Shura trembled with rage, his eyes lighting up with madness. "I'll make you regret every word you utter!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Successive blows, each stronger than the last, but Zhang Yong remained steadfast. His bones were broken, his flesh torn, but his will remained unbroken
And needless to say , he can heal himself withe the art of the sacred wood
"Tsk, what a man," Shura walked towards the wall of torture tools and smiled savagely. "But what if your manhood is crushed! Will you surrender then?" He reached out, grabbed a large iron clamp, and raised it towards Zhang Yong.
Over the next hours, Zhang Yong suffered incredibly.
His nose was cut off and thrown into boiling water, he was submerged in it, making it difficult to breathe. He was squeezed, pulled by his four limbs, stabbed with hot iron rods, then his wounds were cooled and his skin peeled off.
But Zhang Yong did not scream. His faded blue eyes remained fixed on Arthur; his murderous intent rising relentlessly.
Day had already broken, and Zhang Yong had not had a single moment of rest.
But suddenly, the ground trembled, dust falling from the ceiling, followed by the screams of guards from outside.
A guard entered the torture chamber towards the leaders and shouted, "There's an aerial attack on the south side of the palace! We suspect it's the rebel group."
'Good, it's Mine. Everything is going according to the plan.' Zhang Yong's heart fluttered with joy.
Arthur didn't seem bothered; instead, he smiled that evil smile everyone knew.
"All of you, go deal with the rebels," he said calmly, while his green eyes gleamed with cunning intelligence. "Don't worry, I'll take care of things here myself."
Shura looked at him hesitantly. "But—"
"Didn't you hear what I said?" Arthur interrupted him in a sharp, sword-like voice. "Go!"
After a moment, everyone left the room, leaving Zhang Yong alone with Arthur.
Arthur stood before the chained Zhang Yong, his eyes studying his bloodied face. "You know, I've always admired your willpower," he said quietly. "That explosion just now, it was Mine, wasn't it? Since you have no other assistant."
Zhang Yong laughed a bloody smile. "And if it was?"
Arthur then pulled a small knife from his pocket and approached Zhang Yong. "I'll leave you here to die slowly. That girl will die, and so will you."
But before he could move, Zhang Yong's eyes suddenly flashed purple.
Blood Path – Blood Control
Blood extended from Zhang Yong's wound and pierced Arthur's head directly, without wasting any time.
Arthur's eyes suddenly widened, then rolled back, and his body fell to the ground heavily, like a puppet with its strings cut.
Zhang Yong smiled and used Bone Control to make his bones thin enough to slip through the chains binding his arms and fall to the ground.
With faltering steps, he left the torture chamber. The corridors were deserted; the guards had either fled or were occupied with the external attack.
Zhang Yong seized the opportunity and slipped through the shadows, heading towards the royal treasury.
After searching for a while, he found the treasury; guards were standing at the gate.
Zhang Yong drew a few drops of blood from his wound, turned them into needles, solidified them, and launched them at the guards using Swallows Parting Flight, taking them all down.
Then he passed through them and used Ghostly Form to penetrate the door without any trouble.
The inside wasn't very large. Zhang Yong had expected there might be some Teigu present, but...
The treasury had no Teigu. He had considered this possibility. Most Teigu already have owners, and more than half were lost or destroyed during the civil war.
But in the middle of the room, on a platform of black marble, there was a single book.
"Impossible... The Book of World Rungo Rungo? It's not supposed to be here."
He approached it slowly and picked it up with a trembling hand. The cover was made of unknown leather, and there was a fearsome aura around it.
Zhang Yong began flipping through the pages quickly, memorizing everything in his brain.
The book contained information about the world's geographical lands, the countries of the world, and even every existing Teigu!
As he flipped through the pages, he reached the last page of the book. There was only one sentence:
'The world will end under the oppression of the Outsiders.'
Zhang Yong read the final sentence in a low voice, his blue eyes widening in astonishment.
"Outsiders...?" he whispered. The word carried a bitter taste he hadn't expected.
He didn't understand, but he couldn't stay. He took one last look at the place before turning to leave.