"In this way, not only can he be killed openly and justifiably, but it will also elevate Your Highness’s reputation in Martial Arts and regain honor,"
Seeing Ji Ming somewhat confused, Yan Ruyu added another sentence.
If one strategy fails, she would simply devise another.
Ji Ming’s eyes brightened, and then he calmly walked out of the protection circle of the Seven Wolf Guards.
"Sikong Jing, you truly have audacious gall. Do you think that because you rely on the Long Night Saint Dragon Palace, I can do nothing to you?"
"Your father-in-law and mother-in-law have been confirmed to be spies, and you cannot be absolved of suspicion either."
"Now, surrender yourself!"
During his speech, Ji Ming still maintained the demeanor of a prince, as if giving Sikong Jing a chance to reform.
But he knew very well, Sikong Jing would not surrender easily.
Sure enough, Sikong Jing smiled lightly in response, "Ji Ming, do you remember I once said that Yan Ruyu will eventually be the death of you... You really shouldn’t have provoked me, after all, I do not wish to make an enemy of the Long Night Imperial Family."
"I’ll give you a chance, kill Yan Ruyu, clear my in-laws of all charges, and I’ll spare your life."
At these words, everyone around, whether bystanders, the Seven Wolf Guards, or the soldiers of the Imperial City Guard, all opened their mouths in astonishment.
To think someone in the Long Night Imperial City would give the Seventh Prince a chance, offering to spare his life?
Ji Ming’s face darkened slightly and he retorted sharply, "Obstinate fool, it seems you think you’re very strong, do you? You are just 698th on the East Plain Thousand Tyrant List, do you think you can defeat me without your mount?"
To this, Sikong Jing just shrugged his shoulders, offering no response.
"Very well, still being arrogant with me, huh? Now, not as a prince but as a martial artist, I challenge you."
"A duel to the death, do you dare?"
"Whoever dies, no forces behind them can seek revenge, with everyone here as my witness. Do you dare?"
Having said this, Ji Ming carried a righteous spirit.
He was very satisfied with his own speech, showing the spectators his mettle and also planning to kill Sikong Jing later.
He was certain, Sikong Jing would definitely agree.
However, Sikong Jing replied indifferently, "A duel to the death? Where no forces can seek revenge afterward?"
"Ha ha, another clever scheme by Yan Ruyu?"
"Too bad I’m not interested. After I win, your people will immediately rush out, numerous shouts of ’spare his life’ will follow, and the spy charges against my in-laws won’t be cleared. For me, it’s meaningless."
If it had been Sikong Jing of the Great Shang Dynasty era, perhaps he really would have agreed.
But now, having gone through countless life and death trials and having been framed by people like Yan Ruyu, he had already grown. Yan Ruyu just said he would impulsively accept the challenge?
No, he was very calm now, calmer than ever before.
Su Zhenglong and two others had already rescued him, leaving nothing to provoke him into impulsiveness.
Moreover, Sikong Jing did not want to fight outright, because he didn’t want to climb too high on the East Plain Thousand Tyrant List and be noticed by his sister.
On the other side, a confident Ji Ming opened his mouth wide, unconsciously looking towards Yan Ruyu, as it did not go as she had described.
Without waiting for Yan Ruyu to respond, Sikong Jing continued, "Ji Ming, no need to look any further, from now on neither you nor Yan Ruyu will dictate my actions here, I will take control of everything."
As his words fell, Sikong Jing looked into the distance, and spoke coldly, "My men have already arrived!"
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves came from afar, and seven hundred knights charged out from the streets, riding their black steeds.
They recklessly crashed into the spectating crowd, frightening everyone into retreating and clearing a path. Soon, these seven hundred knights had reached behind Sikong Jing, under his lead, their long spears pointed directly at Ji Ming.
The knights’ dark armor and their pitch-black steeds, along with their sharp long spears, made them resemble fierce beasts about to erupt.
In an instant, Ji Ming and the people around him were totally stunned; Sikong Jing had even brought troops. Where did he get the soldiers?
And these knights’ outfits and armor were unlike anything they had ever seen before, but the black steeds beneath them proved that they were indeed warriors of the Long Night Black Burning Army...
Of course, Ji Ming didn’t know that Sikong Jing had confidently stayed behind precisely because he was waiting for his Absolute Night Wolf Guard.
"Absolute Night Wolf Guard, kill!"
"Slaughter Ji Ming’s Seven Wolf Guards, not a single one spared!"
Suddenly, a command came from Sikong Jing.
The Absolute Night Wolf Guard fiercely raised their heads, their blood-red eyes fixed on the Seven Wolf Guards opposite them.
All of them were successful integrators of demon wolf essence blood.
And instead of sympathizing with the failures, they constantly humiliated and oppressed them, igniting a fury within their hearts. The Absolute Night Wolf Guard, holding their long spears, shouted ferociously, "Kill!"
Their momentum soared, and a wild aura filled the entire scene. They didn’t care whether Ji Ming was a prince or not; they only knew Sikong Jing was their king, a king for whom they must sacrifice their lives.
Accompanied by a thunderous cry of slaughter, the Absolute Night Wolf Guard charged like a torrential black flow towards Ji Ming’s position.
The terrifying aura startled Ji Ming, who hurriedly retreated back among the Seven Wolf Guards.
But then he grew angry again, the repeated failure of his plans greatly upsetting him. He yelled at Sikong Jing, "Since you refuse the chance of a life-and-death battle granted by this prince, don’t blame me for being unmerciful anymore."
"Lead? This prince would like to see how you plan to lead... Seven Wolf Guards, kill them all."
At Ji Ming’s command, the Seven Wolf Guards also rose with powerful auras, riding demon wolves to meet the Absolute Night Fierce Guard.
Watching the colliding knights from both sides, Ji Ming coldly snorted beside Yan Ruyu, "I wonder what elite force Beigong Xianfeng has concocted this time, but with equal numbers, the Seven Wolf Guards will definitely crush them in an instant."
His Seven Wolf Guards were the envy of countless forces in the Long Night Imperial City, invincible with equal numbers!
"My beauty, now you can enjoy watching the Seven Wolf Guards’ performance," Ji Ming emphasized again, feeling exceedingly pleased to demonstrate his powerful soldiers before a beauty even as the Seventh Prince. And the Seven Wolf Guards would certainly terrify Sikong Jing, giving him a chance to show off.
However, just as he finished speaking... Ah!
A scream sounded, and a head flew high into the air.
It was not one of Sikong Jing’s seven hundred knights, but one from his vanguard, the Seven Wolf Guards... One of them had just died.
"Seven Wolf Guards, you once brought us so much humiliation. Today, we will return it in full with your blood," said the Slaughterer, holding his long spear with a hoarse and terrifying voice.
He was Sikong Jing’s appointed deputy commander of the Absolute Night Wolf Guard, his name was Lian Guang.
With a roar from Lian Guang, the Absolute Night Wolf Guard crashed into the Seven Wolf Guards, and the scene that caused Ji Ming to collapse occurred.
The dark-armored Absolute Night Wolf Guard brutally impaled his Seven Wolf Guards, with continuous screams sounding and blood spurting over their bodies. Like reapers, the Absolute Night Wolf Guard harvested lives one after another.
Wolf blood against wolf blood, wildness against wildness, but the Absolute Night Wolf Guard, who had cultivated the ’Absolute Night Wolf King Technique,’ were stronger and fiercer.
In just a blink, Ji Ming’s pride, the Seven Wolf Guards, collapsed, killed in utter disarray.