This man was Ning the Silver Coat?

The soldiers all around went blank, and then looked at one another.

Ning Chen said loudly, "For a garrison of the court to leave camp without an edict is equally a crime of treason. Gu Xingfa, do you know your offense?"

Gu Xingfa looked at Ning Chen with contempt all over his face.

"You say you're Ning Chen, so you are?"

"Brothers of the Changxiu Army, I have had secret word that this man killed Ning Chen, took the imperial sword and has been going about deceiving people... He is not Ning Chen at all."

"Take him."

Ning Chen's face went hard. "Gu Xingfa, you are very bold... If you want to die, don't drag the brothers of the Changxiu Army down with you."

The words were out, and he tore the mask straight off his face.

"Look at me and be sure. I am Ning Chen... I am inspecting Xiuzhou for His Majesty. Gu Xingfa has no edict and led troops out of camp on his own authority. His crime deserves ten thousand deaths."

Ning Chen held the imperial sword up high. "His Majesty granted me the imperial sword, with the right to execute first and report afterward... Let me see who dares move."

Gu Xingfa was all contempt. "Changing his face, hiding his head and showing his tail. Anyone can see he's a common sneak thief."

"Take him. If he resists, shoot him down."

Ning Chen said harshly, "Let me see who dares. You are soldiers of Great Xuan, not Gu Xingfa's private troops... The edict and the Dragon Guard are already on the road to Xiuzhou."

"Any man who moves—the entire household to the sword."

Gu Xingfa's face darkened.

"What are you standing there for? Whose men are you? This is a military order, and any man who disobeys it dies."

"Protector Gu, what if he really is Ning the Silver Coat?"

One of the soldiers said it, low.

Gu Xingfa's eyes went hard. "You dare disobey a military order?"

As he said it he drew his long saber and…