I Am Supreme
chapter-243

If looks could kill, Yang Botao would have died many times over.

Yang Botao was sallow, more ashen than the dead. Since Supreme Wind had appeared, he knew that he was doomed; any sense of hope had all turned into popped bubbles.

Supreme Wind had put himself in danger to take him down!

How could one shy away when witnessing such staunch resolution and unfaltering intransigence! The heroism, the wholehearted devotion, what was to do and what was never to do had always been like that!

"Why? I have nothing to say to that."

Yang Botao sucked in a soft breath and chuckled humorlessly. Raising his head to look at Supreme Wind perched on the flagpole, he said gruffly, "I know an apology doesn’t mean much but I still wish to say it. I am truly sorry."

Behind the mask, an icy smile was sculpted on Yun Yang’s face.

That was eight hundred and eight brothers’ lives!

A sorry?

What a tremendous sorry of yours it was!

"Yang Botao, you’ve been a recipient of His Majesty’s grace and have enlisted in the military since youth. You’ve fought hard in the battlefields, going through hundreds of wars and accumulated more than enough merits to become a marshal. These are real, a truth that can’t be ignored. I do not intend to cross them out."

Supreme Wind’s voice was vehement amidst the cold breeze. "I wonder though, if Marshal Yang still remembers the saying that circulates among Yutang militants – You live as Yutang’s man, you die as Yutang’s ghost!"

Silence permeated the crowd; the soldiers were somber.

"I am reluctant to wipe Marshal Yang’s merits away because I believe that Marshal Yang has once lived with this saying!"

Supreme Wind’s tone was dripping with confusion. "It’s also because of this that I am puzzled. Why? No matter which angle that you look at it from, you have no reason to betray us! How can a sorry end this entire story?"

Yang Botao laughed dryly. "Other than sorry, I have nothing to say. I don’t have any further explanation to Lord Supreme Wind either."

He inhaled deeply and stood up to say loudly, "Now that this is how things have become, any arguments or defense will only be an absurdity. As a man in this life, I’m ready to be accountable for what I’ve done. What happened then has been my doing!"

Before Yang Botao finished the last of his words, a roar of condemnation sounded from below as words of hatred were thrown his way.

Yang Botao wanted to continue speaking but was abruptly cut short by a voice. "Go!"

One could still hear the sound but three silhouettes had catapulted faster than rays of lightning from three different directions, charging for Supreme Wind on the flagpole while two faint silhouettes sprung up while hollering, "How dare you, you despicable one!"

At the same time, there were dozens of people who leaped towards the direction of the stage like tigers freed of their constraints. These people were initially spread out across the square, so the large movement had affected the ordinary citizens who were watching around them all the way to the stage. The group’s charge had flung some of the people away, lighter injuries consisted of broken bones or pulled tendons while more severe ones had brought about death.

Tie Zheng, who had been keeping watch, roared, lifting his huge saber of twenty-four feet while barreling his way over with bloodshot eyes. "Do not let Yang Botao get away!"

The army who had been on guard moved at the same time, reacting to his command.

Yun Yang, who was perched on the flagpole and was faced with an ambush from all four directions, was calm and composed. He had been prepared, knowing fully well that there would be danger awaiting his arrival. To truly harm him though, was a question up for debate!

When Yun Yang had known that the open trial would be held in Tiantang Square, he was even more sure of his assumptions and countermeasures.

Even if the Four Seasons Tower could plan all sorts of tricks below the stage, they could not do anything to him as long as he stayed on the flagpole and prepared his support earlier.

As long as he did not descend and land first, he would be fine without having to fear for his life, no matter how complicated a scheme the Four Seasons Towers had planned out.

He had everything within his fingertips, but seeing Yang Botao shouldering all his mistakes, Yun Yang could not help but sigh.

It would seem that his hope to haul Jiang Zhong and Fu Baoguo in one go using Yang Botao as a pawn would not work now.

Yun Yang could see it clearly. Yang Botao wore the determination to die right where he stood; he would put an end to himself and stop the traces of hints right there and then after he finished speaking what he wanted to.

It was not something Yun Yang was glad to see as it meant that he had lost the chance to chase after the other traitors.

However, what happened next was out of Yun Yang’s expectation.

Yang Botao’s death would put a halt to the investigation of other traitors and guaranteed their confidentiality – it was what the Four Seasons Tower would go for exactly, but they had actually made their move first to ambush Yun Yang!

With a start, Yun Yang thought of something else. Could it be that Four Seasons Tower had still not yet given up on Yun Yang until now?

Before he could dwell on the thought, the three shadows who had pounced the earliest had reached him swiftly.

With a snort, Yun Yang’s illusory physique struck with his saber – a brilliant radiance of saber light appeared in a blinding flash.

Divine Edge, strike – one form with two styles in a simultaneous attack!

Merciless blade – a chilling saber that beheaded foes; Merciless Dao – the ever turning God’s will that pardoned no one!

Two rays of saber glow spurted as they sprayed towards the incoming enemies. The three silhouettes blinked amidst the icy brilliance, moving forward in a direct attack without even trying to avoid the rays.

They obviously disregarded Yun Yang’s styles and wanted to subdue him by breaking through them before assassinating Supreme Wind of Nine Supremes to end things once and for all.

However, in the next instance, the fast-approaching saber light that was supposed to weaken according to their expectations remained at its initial surge of strength, ignoring the three men’s defenses – their air of blade and their cultivation skills were all useless as if they had never even existed.

The saber light escalated into incandescent brilliance.

With the possibility of death so near, the three men gave a shout before their rapidly advancing bodies exchanged spots in the air like ghosts. It should be noted that they were in midair and charging forward at a high speed, not moving on flat ground. Although they had only exchanged spots in support this time, the move had exposed their real cultivation base – they were all experts of Tenth Perfection.

Any one of their capabilities would not pale in comparison to the Dragon of Clouds, Liang Yunqi, Dayuan’s legend who had fallen within the Residence of Nine Supremes!

Such a squad was more than adequate to assassinate an emperor!

Their current state was less than favorable now though; blood was streaming from their bodies while the grunts they let out was a hint of their pain.

Yun Yang’s one form two styles had successfully injured the three experts but he sighed inwardly despite it. He had given his all in the two styles and was already at an advantage since the opposite party had underestimated him in addition to the peerlessly sharp blade of the saber in his hand. Yet he could only injure them instead of killing them outright; there was still a matter of difference in their cultivation bases that could not fulfill his intentions!

To dwell on the thought, if the three men had not been reckless in underestimating their opponent and were well prepared, they might even have avoided being wounded and could successfully counter his styles!

"What saber is this?" The question escaped one of the three men.

While the reason for their failure was the marvel of Yun Yang’s Destiny’s First Form, it laid mainly with the absolute sharpness of the Divine Edge. Not only could it cover up Yun Yang’s inadequate cultivation base, it could break through the mystical Qi protection of the three men. How could the men not be alarmed? Despite it not being the best time to ask questions, they still could not help themselves.

"A saber that kills!"

This was not Yun Yang’s reply. It was the two elders who had sprung up after the three men. These old men were wrapped in large robes and peppered with signs of old age but they had installed themselves firmly between Yun Yang and the three men.

Both of them blocked the three experts of the Four Seasons Tower, engaging in a heated battle in the air.

Although the three superior experts of the Four Seasons Tower had sustained some substantial injuries, their real capabilities were still undamaged. As for the two elders who had come to interfere, they had not placed themselves at a disadvantage despite being two against three – it also meant that these two men would be about the same skill level as the other three they faced!

On the other side, the Four Seasons Tower’s man had knocked Yang Botao out and carried him on his back. It was out of the question to just charge out and flee as Yutang’s army had securely guarded the surroundings in addition to the enraged Tie Zheng who was already running with Yang Botao in his sights. The man who had knocked Yang Botao out obviously had his plan though. Even if Yun Yang wanted to stop him, he was too far and ultimately, helpless.

"Fetch!" The man tossed Yang Botao into the air abruptly and swiftly.

Deicide Bow archers had long been prepared, but the change of events was too unexpected such that they could not launch their arrows at once, despite their famed reaction rates. Furthermore, the speed at which Yang Botao was tossed was too fast. After all, ordinary citizens filled the space around the stage. If their arrows were to miss, they would land and harm members of the crowd beneath.

Yang Botao was already hundreds of feet away now, gradually losing momentum but someone from the crowd sprung up to catch him before he pushed mightily once more and sent the two-hundred catties body shooting away like an arrow.

In spite of this, Yang Botao’s luck had run out.

Swoosh!

A chilling black shadow flashed through the air as blood spurted in the sky.

Those with better eyesight who followed the source could see a mystical steel arrow going through Yang Botao’s thigh with unerring accuracy.

The archers were Deicide Bow archers after all. Although there was a sudden turn of events and the initial hesitance of mistakenly injuring the citizens had stopped them from launching their arrows right away, the repetition of Yang Botao’s escape could not be tolerated. A Deicide Bow archer who was nearer had released his bow and hit the target; too bad it had only gotten Yang Botao’s thigh and could not end his life.

Another shadow appeared on the other side to cushion Yang Botao before launching him away once again.

Tie Zheng pushed those around him aside with a menacing growl as he leaped onto the stage and cried long and loud, "Yang Botao!"

In his hands, a bow was equipped with an arrow and pulled tautly; the arrow was then released in chase of a soul like a shooting meteor that blazed through the sky.