King of Creation
Chapter 2220: Chapter 2205: Military Law Above All
"May I ask what instructions do you have, Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum?"
In the reception hall of Blood River Fortress, Ye Zhen and Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum sat opposite each other as host and guest, both maintaining a faint smile on their faces.
This Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum, Ye Zhen had not met before, but during an investigation at Dingbian Fortress, he had secretly met him.
Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum had been widely recruiting followers and spreading beliefs at Dingbian Fortress, but he did so with extreme caution.
However, today he used the name of the Heavenly Temple to request a meeting with Ye Zhen, which Ye Zhen could not refuse.
Whether it was the warning from the Mirage Dragon Pearl back on the True Profound Continent, the fall of his master Lud Li, or the series of events that occurred previously, all had extremely complex adversarial relationships with the Heavenly Temple.
However, those were in secret.
For now, Ye Zhen could not openly oppose the Heavenly Temple or show them disrespect.
After all, the Heavenly Temple was currently a colossal entity that even Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long had to be extremely wary of.
"My purpose here, for one, is to personally witness the hero capable of slaying the Seven Surnamed Prophet Demon Masters of the Demon Clan.
Now that I see for myself, your demeanor surpasses the rumors.
Marshal Ye indeed is a hero among men, I am truly impressed." Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum repeatedly cupped his hands.
Ye Zhen was accustomed to such pleasantries, so with a few chuckles and a cupped hand gesture, he responded accordingly.
After pondering for a moment, Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum spoke again, "Secondly, I have a matter to trouble Marshal Ye."
"Trouble?"
Ye Zhen’s eyes slightly shifted, "I am in military service during wartime, I’m afraid the word ’trouble’ isn’t quite fitting."
Ye Zhen, having vaguely guessed Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum’s intent, indicated his stance and refused.
But the people of the Heavenly Temple were always thick-skinned, and Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum was no exception.
"Marshal Ye, don’t refuse just yet; listen to what I have to say first."
Bitter Chrysanthemum cleared his throat, "Marshal Ye has executed strict military law over the past month, resulting in the military execution of over 300 of our Temple’s disciple followers. I am here to request that Marshal Ye refrain from targeting our Temple’s disciple followers, offering them a way to survive."
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhen’s face suddenly became stern; he had indeed predicted that Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum had come for this matter.
Still, to openly admit that the militia included their disciple followers was truly bold.
"Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum exaggerates. I enforce military law, which applies to the entire army, not specifically the militia.
Within the entire army, as long as one adheres to military law, there’s no issue. But anyone who dares violate military discipline shall be executed without pardon!"
Ye Zhen added, "Moreover, Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum might have forgotten; according to the Law of Great Zhou, it is forbidden to establish altars and recruit followers within the military and border regions!"
"Establishing altars and recruiting followers within the military and border regions?" Bitter Chrysanthemum looked surprised, "Our Heavenly Temple has never done such a thing."
"Oh, right; as for those disciple followers among the militia, they were disciples of our Heavenly Temple from centuries ago, who, out of empathy for the suffering and insecurity of the border people, forsook their comfortable lives to convert the border people, shielding them from disasters, and teaching cultivation techniques to strengthen them.
Those followers are indeed descendants of our Temple’s disciples who have been settled here, passed down through the generations over the centuries."
Now it was Ye Zhen’s turn to be surprised.
Ye Zhen had long witnessed the shamelessness and audacity of the Heavenly Temple.
Unexpectedly, today he witnessed a new low.
Followers passed down through the centuries, such a claim was indeed shameless.
If brought to the Great Zhou Imperial Court, even with the shamelessness of those characters in the Heavenly Temple, they could hold their ground with such a claim.
Suppressing the twitching at the corners of his mouth, Ye Zhen uncomfortably said, "Regardless of whether they are generational followers or not, I do not care. As Commander, I lead this army of nearly a million, enforcing military law impartially, acknowledging only military law."
After speaking, Ye Zhen raised his teacup to bid farewell, but was stopped by Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum’s soft call, "Marshal Ye, our Heavenly Temple is open to concessions, and it’s common for followers of our Temple to interact; could you please extend a courtesy?"
"If Marshal Ye is willing to extend this courtesy, our Heavenly Temple will surely reward you in the future. Besides, even if you enforce military law, executing our Temple’s followers excessively, aren’t you afraid of karmic consequences?"
"Reward? Karmic consequences?" Ye Zhen smirked coldly.
It was only now that Ye Zhen fully understood Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum’s intent.
The request was for Ye Zhen to turn a blind eye, relax control, and allow their Heavenly Temple to investigate the strange occurrences within the Blood River Fortress.
Because up to now, besides the first batch of Great Priest Tongna and the second batch of Supreme Elders, the Ancestor God Temple had already sent five groups to the Blood River Fortress.
This kind of activity might be unknown to the Demon Clan, but within Great Zhou, it had attracted much attention.
Whether it was the Human Demon Battlefield Commander’s Mansion, the Heavenly Temple, or any of the other Prince of Political Affairs, all had taken action.
Unfortunately, it was the front line, a battlefield, under military law control, with no ordinary civilians, making infiltration extremely difficult, and investigations slow.
As an old rival of the Ancestor God Temple, the Heavenly Temple was naturally anxious.
Even with Ye Zhen’s strict military law, they still pushed their followers to risk actions, resulting in the execution of over 300 militia by military law over these days.
It seems this was why the stationed Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum was moved to act.
And Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum’s earlier words, alternating between mention and omission, were both promises and threats.
The promise of a great reward was naturally if Ye Zhen cooperated or turned a blind eye, the Heavenly Temple would provide benefits.
The karmic consequence was undoubtedly a threat.
The karmic consequence of executing the Heavenly Temple’s followers by military law naturally implicated the Heavenly Temple itself, implying that if Ye Zhen continued, the Heavenly Temple would have to stand up for those slain followers.
Unfortunately, Ye Zhen was someone who never caved to threats.
More importantly, when it came to matters of right and wrong, Ye Zhen’s position was always clear and firm.
The mysterious formation activity secretly ongoing at the Blood River Forbidden Land was a matter of national significance, affecting the entire Human-Demon Battlefield’s situation, and since he had accepted Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s order, Ye Zhen would not permit anyone to sabotage it.
The Heavenly Temple was seen as a potential disruptor even by Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long and Ye Zhen.
This was a matter of principle.
Therefore, Ye Zhen would not compromise.
"Under military law, there are no innocent souls! And in the military, military law is above all!"
After speaking, Ye Zhen raised his teacup towards Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum, signaling the end of the meeting.
Sitting below, Gu Tieqi immediately rose, addressing Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum, "Please."
It was time to dismiss the guest.
Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum, being dismissed, had an expression of greenish rage on his face, "Marshal Ye, it seems you are determined to bear the karmic consequences of executing followers?"
"I act by military law, where are the karmic consequences?"
"Military laws are also set by Marshal Ye. By enforcing this law, executing over 300 of our Heavenly Temple’s generational followers, Marshal Ye must bear this karmic consequence!
I ask Marshal Ye to reconsider; this karmic burden is not easy to bear!" Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum’s tone already carried a hint of threat.
"If there’s any karmic consequence, I will bear it all!"
Anger surfaced on Ye Zhen’s face, this Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum was incredibly bold to openly threaten him.
It should be known, Ye Zhen’s status was not ordinary; as the Third-class Duke of North Sea, Marshal of the Heavenly Wave Army of North Sea, and the Left Chief Priest of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, none of these positions could be threatened by just any grand master of the Heavenly Temple.
In a military camp, if it were in some other isolated place, Ye Zhen might have resorted to various means to eliminate this Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum first.
"Dismissed!"
With a low shout, two Heavenly Patrol Divine Generals and a team of Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunters, with aides holding Flame Spirit Burst Demon Crossbows, immediately responded with stern shouts.
"Please!"
Under the subtle threat of their aura, Grand Master Bitter Chrysanthemum smirked coldly as he swept out, "Bear it all? Marshal Ye, do not regret it then!"

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