"What does this have to do with the rebellions in the lower tier kingdom!?" The enforcers replied coldly.
"Then tell me, why are you defending a sect guilty of rebellion? Could it be that you knew of it and approved of it?
Also, the Moonshade Sect started this war under a force pretense of defending theirselves from the empire's threat just like those sects in the lower kingdoms, am I wrong?'' Prince Shen replied.
"We can give you our word that those things happening in the lower kingdoms has nothing to do with us"
"But the Moonshade Sect situation is different, we have reasons to believe that the general of the empire plotted all this to trap the Moonshade Sect"
"This is something that is unacceptable and should be frowned upon on"
The Moonshade Sect only crime was stupidly falling into that trap.. and that the alliance would see to it to give them an appropriate punishment"
The enforcers said still not willing to back down.
"In the past, many empires have fallen into such traps and were all destroyed by the alliance.
Eighty years ago, an empire fell for such a trick crafted by one of your sects, the United Imperials had also argued with the same logic you are using now,
But did you know what the alliance said?" Prince Shen said icily.
"They said that just because they felt into the trap does not mean they didn't committed it, so using that same logic the alliance used eighty years ago, the Moonshade Sect should pay for their crimes.
If the alliance decides to stand with them, then the United Imperials would also stand behind the empire to demand justice" Prince Shen continued with a serious expression.
"Prince Shen, do you know the meaning of what you are saying? Are the imperials going to really go to a full blown war with us for such a minor incident as this?" The enforcers asked gritting their teeth.
They had been ordered by the higher up's to protect the Moonshade Sect no matter the situation.
If it was only Gu Shang, it would have been easier but wilth the arrival of the Prince Di and Shen, things were becoming complicated.
Lately there've been high tensions between the alliance and the United Imperials because of how fast the sects are swallowing the kingdom in the lower tier regions.
The alliance claimed to be innocent, but the imperials weren't dumb and heavily believed the alliance involvement in the upstages in the lower realm.
Only a thin line was now separating the two parties from going to war.
The enforcers knew that whatever choice they made here would decide the conflict between the two groups.
They didn't like that kind of weights on their shoulders.
Whiles the two groups were bickering back and forth, Gu Shang slowly approached the Moonshade Sect, the swords hovering around him all pointed theirs sharp blades toward the disciples and elders.
This immediately knocked the disciples from their daze.
The ancestor smiled wryly and glanced at the sect leader, "Remember what I told you, never forget it" he said with a smile before approaching Gu Shang.
The sect leader gritted his teeth, he was extremely unwilling to follow the ancestors orders but that was the only way they could survive.
"Grand General, so we finally meet" The ancestor of the sect said with a smile.
The enforcers and princes stopped and glanced at Gu Shang and the old ancestor.
"You dare!!" The enforcers shouted angrily but before they could even make a move, the ancestor of the sect silenced them all with a single gesture.
He knelt down before Gu Shang, "The Moonshade Sect is willing to surrender to the Grand General" he said.
"What? Are you crazy?" The enforcers were enraged, if the Moonshade Sect surrender's to Gu Shang, then they will have no right to interfere in the situation again.
Gu Shang on the other hands was more surprised than all of them gathered there, he had imagined a thousand scenarios but the Moonshade Sect surrendering wasn't one of them.
The Moonshade Sect was a three star sects and had existed for countless years, they were proud and unyielding. This pride of theirs mattered more than even their lives, and this wasn't for just the Moonshade Sect.
Every sect with the history and heritage of the Moonshade Sect all had this kind of pride.
History had proved that many high tier sect always choose destruction or self-destruction when they were faced with such choices.
And honestly Gu Shang didn't come here for their surrender, he was here to make an example of the Moonshade Sect. His goal coming here was to end them, but now this was unexpected.
The enforcers watched the ancestor on his knees with disbelief. Where was his pride as an Immortal King? Where was his pride as the back bone of a three star sect?
"Old man, you don't have to do this, we're here to protect your sect so you don't have to do this!" The enforcers said in a displeased voice.
Gu Shang had an expressionless face, but even he was confused. With enforcers here to back them, shouldn't the old foggy feel safer? Why was he doing this? Gu Shang wondered silently.
The grand elders looked at their sect master, they didn't know how to react to this.
The sect master also went on his knees, "The Moonshade Sect is willing to surrender and obey the Grand General"
"What are you all waiting for, greet the general!" The sect master said through gritted teeth.
The disciples and elders were hesitant to do it but after seeing the cold face of their ancestor, they all went on their knees with the grand elders taking the lead.
Gu Shang raised an eyebrow, "Old Foggy, what trick are you up to" Gu Shang asked calmly.
"This old man is up to no trickery, we were wrong to rebel against the empire so it's only right that we're punished for our crimes" The ancestor said.
"What makes you think that surrendering to me would make me spare your lives. You've just admitted your guilt, so you should know am here to destroy your sect.
Does surrendering now change anything?" Gu Shang asked.
"I know we were wrong and deserve to die... But I believe we'll be more useful to you alive than dead"
Gu Shang raised an eyebrow.
"Oh do tell me your usefulness"
"Isn't the General interested in why the alliance are going through all this trouble to help our sect even at the cost of a full blown war with the United Imperials" The old ancestor said.
Gu Shang eyebrows softened before he used his spiritual senses to scan the entire territory.
A frown appeared on his face, before a beautiful smile formed on his lips.
"Well then, now you've got my interest"