Over on the other side, Elpin's face darkened after Erp was gone. He waved at someone behind him. "You can leave now."
Nobody answered him. There was no sound. It was as if Elpin was talking to empty air. However, if one looked closely, one would see something moving in the darkness.
"That was boring. I thought I could see some action." Elpin turned the ring on his finger.
He then started drinking again. He was like this for a reason. Erp was his older brother, and the two of them grew up together. He was supposed to be the next Emperor Oogh. However, the previous emperor changed his mind and let Elpin take the throne.
The relationship between the two brothers got complicated. Elpin was guarding against Erp all the time. He had activated his ring because he needed to summon his weapon as soon as something happened.
The secret guards hidden in the dark were also capable enough to withstand an Emperor-stage cultivator.