His face livid, the King of Xiliang was turning over in his mind how to get rid of Tantai Qingyue without a soul knowing.

Killing her openly was out of the question.

Tantai Qingyue had saved so many prisoners that her name stood high both in the army and among the common people.

So to kill her, he would need a suitable reason.

And now she was raising money and grain to help the people of the Great Xuan's Xiguan City. That was a golden opportunity.

If he had her killed on a charge of dealing with the enemy and betraying the country, wouldn't it be perfectly legitimate?

The King of Xiliang weighed whether the plan would work.

Tantai Qingyue might be only a Holy Maiden with no real power, but as the first in the martial arts, she still had plenty of followers.

Besides, a good many ministers at court were in close contact with her... and they all supported helping the people of Xiguan City.

Just then, Feng Chi, commander of the Xiliang royal guard, came striding into the great hall and dropped to one knee. "Your Majesty, urgent military news... Word has just come that Bianzhou has fallen. Leng Wenyan is dead, and Bianzhou is in Ning Chen's hands."

The King of Xiliang and his senior ministers were struck dumb as a dog.

Bianzhou had actually fallen?

Feng Chi went on, "And that's not all. Commander-in-Chief Bian was leading a hundred thousand men to reinforce Leng Wenyan, and on the way Ning Chen ambushed him. The losses were heavy!

Of the hundred thousand men, more than thirty thousand were killed and more than sixty thousand captured.

General Lou Guanghe was beheaded and his head put on display."

It was a thunderbolt out of a clear sky.

The King of Xiliang and several of his ministers felt their heads buzz. Their vision went dark, and their faces turned deathly white.

Feng Chi wasn't finished yet. "Ning Chen led his army to Xiguan City, and in less than three days he marched on Linxuan City.

Linxuan City fell easily.…