[Wuxia] Wandering Freely in the Tang Dynasty (Complete) - 23

Chapter 81 On the Edge of Wrath
The red sun of winter had already turned westward.
Kou Zhong, sitting with Xu Ziling in the luxurious living room on the top floor of the 'Purple Smoke Pavilion,' a VIP-only establishment near the West Inner Garden in the northwest corner of the Taiji Palace, stood up and walked to the large north-facing window to gaze out.
The 'Purple Smoke Pavilion,' both in its exterior and interior, was exquisitely luxurious. The windows before Kou Zhong, adorned with intricate carvings, the fine wood exuding a subtle natural fragrance, the beautifully carved patterns, and the silk gauze curtains shimmering in the sunlight—all these left Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling in awe.
Kou Zhong's gaze settled on a unique garden on the east side of the West Inner Garden. He sighed with admiration. From this high vantage point, his line of sight could easily pass over the not-so-high but sturdy city wall between the West Inner Garden and the Taiji Palace, taking in the entire garden landscape. The elegant and tranquil garden courtyards had a unique design, blending seamlessly with the surrounding natural environment. There was no trace of artificial modification, and compared to the other palaces, it had a refreshing atmosphere.
Kou Zhong was thoroughly enjoying the scene. After a while, he turned to the pretty maid standing respectfully to one side and asked, "Excuse me, sister, what is that place?"
The maid had been secretly observing the two handsome young men, whose reputations were second only to Yuan Yueze, one lively and one quiet, both exuding an indescribable charm. Hearing this, her face flushed red, and she said shyly, "Young Marshal, you flatter me. Just call me by my name. That is the Princess Pingyang's residence, 'Yiyu Pavilion'."
Upon hearing the words 'Princess Pingyang', Kou Zhong, who had intended to tease the shy maid, immediately froze on the spot as if he had been dumbfounded.
Xu Ziling, who had been leisurely sipping tea, frowned and said to the maid, "Please leave now, young lady. We are aware of the banquet tonight and will attend on time."
The maid respectfully replied, "If the young marshal and young master Xu have any orders, please do not hesitate to ask. I am at the bottom of the stairs on the next floor."
After the maid left, Xu Ziling sighed and said, "You said you were causing chaos in the Li Tang dynasty, but you haven't even seen Li Xiuning yet, and you're already acting like a fool just from hearing her name. I think you're hopeless."
Kou Zhong came to his senses, sat down with a wry smile, and said self-deprecatingly, "Fortunately, only the three Li brothers greeted us just now." "If Li Xiuning comes too, I'm afraid I'll embarrass myself."
Xu Ziling said irritably, "It's good to let those people who worship you see the true face of their 'Young Marshal'."
Kou Zhong grinned and leaned in, "I heard that Mother and Brother Yuan live in the 'Lingyan Pavilion' not far away. Should we go and take a look?"
Xu Ziling shook his head and said, "No, we should try not to meet too often, otherwise we'll definitely be put on the defensive."
Kou Zhong chuckled and said, "Anyway, there's still some time before the banquet that Li Jiancheng has prepared for us tonight, so why don't we sneak away..."
Before he could finish speaking, a huge noise suddenly came from the southwest.
The two went to the other window and saw dust billowing in the distance, wondering what major event had occurred.
※※※※※ Tian Ce Mansion Study.
Li Shimin sat in the seat of honor, flanked by his trusted confidants: Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji, Duan Zhixuan, Pang Yu, Yuchi Jingde, and Li Jing.
Pang Yu was the first to report Yuan Yueze's whereabouts that day: "After the Emperor summoned Yuan Yueze today, he went out with Bai Qing'er, the concubine of Qian Duguan. The two were arm in arm, and their relationship seemed to be more than just casual. In the end, they went to 'Yu Xinglong,' owned by the second young lady of the Song family in the East Market. After the Prince of Qin welcomed the young marshal into the city and made proper arrangements, our spies have the latest news that he took Bai Qing'er and Yun Yuzhen to stroll in the direction of 'Beili,' presumably to gamble."
All the brothels and gambling dens in Chang'an were concentrated in Pingkangli, which was also called 'Beili' because it was close to the North Gate of Chang'an.
Pang Yu continued, "Of the others who came with him, 'Empress Yin' and 'Rakshasa Woman' are nowhere to be found; the young lady of the Dugu clan later personally visited the Emperor, and we don't know what they discussed; Wei Zhenzhen went to the West Market pharmacy to personally prepare medicine for several imperial concubines; Lady Dongming, the young lady from the Flying Horse Ranch, Empress Xiao, and that girl named Yin Xiaoji all stayed in 'Lingyan Pavilion' to play the zither and sing songs."
The people in the hall felt a sense of powerlessness: almost all the women in Yuan Yueze's family practiced martial arts, and among the women who came with him, apart from Xiao He'er, Song Yuzhi, and Shang Xiuxun, which one wasn't a super expert? Women like Zhu Yuyan, Shan Meixian, and Fu Junzhuo were even more celestial in their cultivation, and no one could detect them coming and going in the palace at will.
Thinking of Bai Qing'er again, Li Shimin suddenly frowned and said, "When Yuan Yueze introduced her, he only said that Bai Qing'er was a friend who wanted to visit Chang'an. How much truth do you all think of this?"
Du Ruhui, a slender, tall man with a refined appearance and a scholarly air, stood up and said, "I think this is definitely a lie. Bai Qing'er is Qian Duguan's concubine. How could she be so close to Yuan Yueze? Could it be that Qian Duguan has secretly submitted to him, and Bai Qing'er is likely a gift from Qian Duguan?"
The experienced womanizer Duan Zhixuan chimed in, "Based on my experience, that Bai Qing'er is clearly... hey! Clearly..." "She's still a virgin. The shrewd and calculating Qian Duguan's marital relationship with Bai Qing'er might just be a facade, something to be used to save his life when necessary. With her captivating beauty, she could indeed charm anyone. Even worse, the selfish Qian Duguan feigns surrender to Yuan Yueze while secretly plotting some conspiracy."
Pang Yu nodded, "However, Yuan Yueze is no ordinary man. The latest news from Luoyang says that Shen Luoyan has personally led 30,000 elite troops south, probably to give Qian Duguan a severe blow, so he won't dare to harbor any more evil thoughts." Li
Shimin's brows furrowed even more deeply. Xiangyang was the most important military stronghold south of Luoyang, a coveted territory for every power. Half a year ago, Li Mi personally went to Xiangyang to persuade Qian Duguan to defeat Wang Shichong, demonstrating Xiangyang's importance. If it fell into Li Shimin's hands, he could not only restrain Xiao Xian and Zhu Can, but also pressure Yuan Yueze on the front and control Du Fuwei on the rear, even using it as leverage to persuade others to surrender. However, if it fell into Yuan Yueze's hands, things would be dire. Luoyang and Xiangyang would be connected, and even without the threat of the Great Xia army on the flank, it would be extremely difficult for Li Tang to capture Luoyang. But right now,
he was too far away to act, and could only sigh helplessly. Li Shimin sighed inwardly again, thinking how well Shen Luoyan had seized the opportunity to launch her attack. By taking advantage of Yuan Yueze's entry into the pass, she had drawn all of Li Tang's attention, allowing her to finally implement her expansionist plans without threat.
Changsun Wuji hesitated, looking troubled, but Li Shimin noticed and said, "Wuji, please speak frankly."
Changsun Wuji hesitated and said, "Young Master Chai Shao just came by in person. He told me that he wants to attend the banquet to be held at Taiji Palace the day after tomorrow and asked me to ask Prince Qin to grant him permission."
Li Shimin calmly said, "In that case, please tell him that I will definitely secure a seat for him."
Just as Changsun Wuji was about to reply, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside, and a soldier ran and shouted, "Reporting to Prince Qin, something has happened at Lingyan Pavilion!"
The expressions of the people in the hall changed drastically.
※※※※※ Yuan Yueze, Yun Yuzhen, and Bai Qing'er walked out of the East Market, crossed Xinghua and Chongde wards, and began to wander aimlessly.
The area around the Imperial Palace was filled with powerful and wealthy people, whose aim was to easily curry favor with the royal family. Therefore, they competed to build mansions, which also provided convenience for shopping. Thus, the wards north of the East Four Markets were known as the "Golden Wards." The carriages traveling along the wide streets after the winter snow were all exquisitely decorated, and the pedestrians were dressed in fine clothes. The surrounding area was filled with mansions and courtyards, lush forests and tall bamboos, and magnificent pavilions, creating a scene of dazzling splendor.
Yun Yuzhen and Bai Qing'er were whispering arm in arm to one side, while Yuan Yueze looked around with interest at the dazzling array of goods in front of the various shops and the merchants and buyers haggling enthusiastically. Then he turned to the two who were giggling for some unknown reason and asked, "What are you laughing at?"
Yun Yuzhen quickly gave Yuan Yueze a flirtatious wink and said sweetly, "I was just telling Qing'er about how my husband descended from the sky and killed a master of the Great Ming Sect with a single sword strike."
Yuan Yueze said nostalgically, "That was several years ago."
Bai Qing'er interjected, "It seems Qing'er won't have the fortune to experience the feeling of soaring through the air on a sword."
Yun Yuzhen gently pinched her cute nose and said, "Luckily, you met your husband late in life, otherwise you would have fallen in love with him as recklessly as Wan Jing did back then. I was completely captivated by that sword strike!"
Bai Qing'er blushed slightly and pinched Yun Yuzhen, who giggled and dodged her.
Yuan Yueze shook his head and chuckled. With Shan Wan Jing's independent and strong-willed nature, she certainly wouldn't be easily attracted to him. Back then, he carried an ethereal aura that didn't belong to this world, which even Shan Meixian couldn't resist, let alone Shan Wan Jing. However, those auras had almost completely disappeared, which was why Bai Qing'er wasn't so easily disoriented when facing Yuan Yueze.
After passing Yankangfang, they turned onto Yong'an Street. The Yong'an Canal, over ten zhang wide, ran north to south, flowing ahead. A magnificent stone bridge stood majestically above the canal.
The Yong'an Canal connected to the Wei River in the north of the city, supplying half of Chang'an's water supply and serving as a vital waterway. This 'Yuema Bridge' was the most spectacular stone bridge in Chang'an. The straight Yong'an Canal ran parallel to Yong'an Street, passing through the north and south city gates. Boats ply the waters beneath the bridge, while carriages and horses traveled across it in an endless stream. All around were grand mansions and wealthy households.
Bai Qing'er's interest was piqued, and she whispered, "I heard that the 'Yang Gong Treasure Vault' is right below here. If Master doesn't tell people, they'll think the treasure has never been touched."
Yun Yuzhen frowned slightly upon hearing this. Before she could speak, Yuan Yueze turned to Bai Qing'er and smiled, "Then I'll take you to the empty treasure vault another day to have a good..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Yun Yuzhen constantly giving him meaningful glances. Yuan Yueze laughed heartily, hooked his arm around hers, and kissed her smooth, fragrant cheek, praising, "So fragrant!"
Passersby all looked at the three of them, whispering amongst themselves. The disdainful gazes of the scholars, the astonished gazes of the men, the envious gazes of the women, and the puzzled gazes of the children could almost burn the three of them.
Yuan Yueze whispered in Yun Yuzhen's ear, "I've detected someone following us. This is a diversionary tactic. Yuzhen, cooperate."
Bai Qing'er, seeing Yun Yuzhen's prominent breasts and apparent enjoyment, blushed slightly and turned away, muttering a curse under her breath.
Yuan Yueze leered, "Qing'er, would you like to join in?"
Bai Qing'er was horrified and quickly dodged to the side, only to see Yuan Yueze and Yun Yuzhen already walking ahead. She could only stomp her feet in frustration and follow.
A short while later, the three entered the bustling 'Northern Quarter'.
What had started as a aimless stroll had somehow led them to this place.
Yun Yuzhen pressed against Yuan Yueze's arm, gently rubbing her soft breasts against it, and said with a charming smile, "Should we find a gambling den and play a few rounds? I've heard from you, sister-in-law, about your Pai Gow skills, and I'd like to see them for myself."
Yuan Yueze chuckled, "I only do that on the spot..."
"Brother, something's happened at 'Lingyan Pavilion'!"
A frantic voice rang out, unusually loud in the bustling market.
The three turned around and saw Dugu Feng rushing towards them, panting heavily.
Yuan Yueze frowned and pressed his hand on her heaving shoulders, saying, "What happened? Tell me slowly!"
※※※※※ Yuan Yueze silently comforted the sobbing Shang Xiuxun in his arms, staring at the ruins before him, his body radiating a chilling killing intent that seemed almost tangible. The women standing nearby, including Shan Meixian, Shuanglong, Li Shimin, and their confidants, all trembled with fear, unable to even utter a word.
"Brother Yuan, may I ask what's going on here?"
Li Yuanji's familiar voice came from behind, tinged with smugness.
Turning around, Yuan Yueze coldly replied, "You're asking me? Who should I ask?"
Li Yuanji's face darkened, but under Yuan Yueze's oppressive aura, he gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Yuan, what is your intention in bringing firearms to my Great Tang Imperial Palace? May I say that you harbor ulterior motives?"
Yuan Yueze's large hand brushed against Shang Xiuxun's smooth long hair, as if talking to himself, "If I just kill you all, won't I be fearless?"
Everyone's expression changed drastically. Li Shimin coughed and said to the ashen-faced Li Yuanji, "How could Brother Yuan be such a villain? Third Brother, don't make wild guesses. This fire..." "These weapons must have some significance."
After a pause, he said apologetically to Yuan Yueze, "Brother Yuan, please calm down. Since you can conjure things out of thin air, it's not surprising that I have such suspicions. I know you're not that kind of petty person. Please don't let the two fight like the snipe and the clam, allowing the fisherman to profit!"
When the atmosphere became awkward, Kou Zhong laughed loudly and said, "So many firearms, I wonder who prepared them, where they came from, and how they could be hidden so well without anyone noticing!"
His tone was strange, clearly suspecting that Li Tang was plotting to harm Yuan Yueze's wife, and also subtly mocking Li Yuanji for turning the tables. Then he said to Li Shimin, "I must go back and rest now; we'll be drinking tonight."
After saying this, he nodded to Wei Zhenzhen and walked towards the 'Purple Smoke Pavilion' with Xu Ziling.
Li Shimin smiled and said to Yuan Yueze, "It's infuriating that such a thing could happen in the palace. Why don't you and your wives move to the West Garden? It's quiet and elegant there, and it should suit your temperament."
Yuan Yueze smiled faintly and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Shimin. If I find out who was responsible for today's events, I will surely inflict the most terrible punishment on them!"
Li Yuanji's face was cold, and he said with a forced smile, "Brother Yuan's reputation for loving his wife is known throughout the land. By the way, tonight the Crown Prince intends to host a banquet for the young marshal and Brother Xu. Because Father Emperor said he would personally welcome Brother Yuan, the Crown Prince did not invite them." "Brother Yuan, if you are interested, you may also participate."
Yuan Yueze was surprisingly not annoyed and smiled, "I will definitely participate, thank you for your trouble, Brother Yuanji."
Seeing that the superficial relationship was finally not so tense, Li Shimin breathed a sigh of relief. He later arranged for Yuan Yueze and his several wives, who were not injured but were frightened by the explosion, to stay in the West Garden. Before he could finish giving the instructions, Eunuch Wei came and bowed to Li Shimin with a numb expression, saying, "His Majesty requests that Prince Qin be seen immediately."
Looking at Li Shimin's inexplicable expression and the fleeting look in Li Yuanji's eyes, Yuan Yueze vaguely felt that Li Shimin was probably in trouble.
After exchanging a few insincere pleasantries, Li Yuanji left, and Yuan Yueze and his family, led by a eunuch, headed towards the West Garden.
The place they were staying was actually the VIP courtyard next to Princess Li Xiuning's residence, 'Yiyuxuan'.
Apart from Zhu Yuyan and Fu Junzhuo, the whole family was present. In the luxurious hall, Yuan Yueze joked with Shang Xiuxun and Xiao He'er for a long time before pulling them out of the shadow of their recent fright. Then, turning to the other women who showed no sign of distress, he asked, "Who do you think did this?"
Shan Meixian replied, "It must have been the Li Tang people. As for who, it's hard to say, and it must involve the forces hidden behind them. We've only been here a day, and they've already plotted against us twice. This time it's even more insidious. They know they can't afford to offend my husband, and they know he loves us, so they intend to kill us to break his spirit. The person who came up with this plan is indeed not simple."
Yuan Yueze held the sleeping Xiao He'er in his arms and said coldly, "That's why I agreed to go to Li Jiancheng's banquet tonight. If I find out it was them, ten or eight Li Tangs will be destroyed!"
Wei Zhenzhen praised, "My husband has indeed grown. Under normal circumstances, just Li Yuanji's words would have been enough for him to kill us."
Yuan Yueze blushed and said, "Why is Li Yuanji's left hand still perfectly fine? That's strange!"
Bai Qing'er chimed in, "This morning, Master intended to tell you everything, but then he said he was going off-topic and was interrupted by Sister Zhen. Master said that Uncle Wei's position by Li Yuan's side has been declining day by day for the past two years. Uncle Wei wanted to investigate, but the imperial palace is heavily guarded, so even though he had doubts, he still dared not act rashly. According to Uncle Wei, Li Yuanji's arm recovered within half a month of returning to Chang'an. I'm afraid that apart from Li Yuan and a very few others, no one else knows the details."
Yuan Yueze nodded and asked, "Where did Yu Yan and Jun Zhuo go?"
Just as Xiao Bei was about to speak, Jun Zhuo's clear and melodious voice came from outside the door: "My husband still remembers me!"
Before she finished speaking, her graceful figure appeared at the door.
Seeing that her sisters were all alright, Fu Junzhuo sat down and said, "I went out for a walk this morning. Sister Yuyan told me to go out and look for my second brother, but guess who I ran into?"
Everyone around her looked blank. Fu Junzhuo whispered, "I ran into the leader of the group that ambushed me by the Yangtze River that day. I followed him for a long time and found that he ended up going into Yin Zuwen's father-in-law's mansion. I went through a lot of trouble to sneak in. The last thing I heard Yin Zuwen say was, 'It's good that you succeeded.'"
After saying that, Fu Junzhuo pouted and slumped back in her chair.
A long silence filled the hall. The astute Yun Yuzhen spoke first: "Judging from the person who attacked Jun Zhuo, to Yin Zuwen, and then to today's events, could Yin Zuwen also be involved?"
Yuan Yueze nodded: "That's possible. I remember from the aura that the person who attacked Jun Zhuo that day was from the Great Ming Zunjiao. Heh, this game is getting more and more complicated, and the plot has so many branches. It's so interesting."
Xiao Bei reminded him: "During the banquet, husband must take the lead in speaking, using a mix of truth and deception, making them want to hear more and more, and becoming increasingly confused."
Yuan Yueze nodded.
"Ah!"
Startled and asleep, Xiao He'er suddenly felt a heat rising in her body. An indescribable tingling sensation coursed through her. Her usually dry and clean private parts had become moist. She opened her hazy eyes and saw Yuan Yueze discussing things to be careful of with the women around him while simultaneously kneading and squeezing her well-developed breasts with his strange hands. She immediately cried out in surprise, her face flushed, and struggled to get out.
Seeing the reproachful looks from the women around him, Yuan Yueze scratched his head and said to Xiao He'er, who was so embarrassed that she almost buried her head between her exquisite breasts, "Haha! I'm used to it..."
※※※※※ As dusk settled, Yuan Yueze arrived at the largest and most luxurious banquet hall in the East Palace's 'Zuo Chun Fang'. The hall was exquisitely decorated, and the spacious interior was brightly lit, like daytime. The banquet was held at individual tables, and it seemed that ninety percent of the guests were already seated. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were also chatting with the surrounding dignitaries. As soon as Yuan Yueze entered, everyone's eyes were drawn to him.
Li Jiancheng, as the host, flashed a hint of joy in his eyes and came forward, saying, "Brother Yuan, it is my great honor to have you here. Come, come, let me punish you for being late with a few drinks!"
Yuan Yueze had a strange feeling. Why was Li Jiancheng so overjoyed, acting so intimately with him like an old friend?
After taking only two steps, a man stood up beside Kou Zhong's seat on the right. This man was tall and imposing, dressed in a well-tailored dark blue warrior's uniform with white lace trim, over which he wore a white wolfskin cloak, and a long sword slung across his back. He appeared to be only twenty-five or twenty-six years old, his fair, delicate face flushed with a healthy blush, his jet-black hair tied in a white cloth bun. He was strikingly handsome, with an imposing presence. His long, narrow eyes possessed a deep, serious, and frightening light, sharp enough to pierce through any opponent's defenses. Although he was dressed as a Han Chinese, Yuan Yueze sensed an aura remarkably similar to Tuli's emanating from him—an aura unique to those from beyond the Great Wall. He cupped his hands and said, "Indeed, seeing is believing! Brother Yuan is truly a remarkable man!"
After nodding to Kou Zhong and the other man, before he could speak, Li Jiancheng quickly introduced, "This is Brother Kedazhi, the Turkic master renowned throughout the desert for his 'Wild Sand Blade Technique.'"
Yuan Yueze carefully examined him, understood his intentions, and smiled slightly, saying, "I have long admired you, Brother Kedazhi. You are too kind."
Kedazhi was taken aback, clearly not expecting Yuan Yueze to be so polite. He continued, "I had a very pleasant conversation with the young marshal and we have agreed to a contest after the banquet. I have also heard that Ba Feng Han could not withstand more than two moves from you, Brother Yuan. Therefore, I would like to test how many moves I can take from you. I wonder if you would be so kind as to offer your guidance?"
Yuan Yueze remained as leisurely as ever, saying, "No problem. But you should know that when I make a move, I will kill. If you are willing to risk your life, I would welcome you."
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
Although Keda Zhi is a young master from beyond the realm, on par with Ba Feng Han, his opponent is Yuan Yueze! In the world today, the ranking of masters is clear. The highest level of cultivation naturally belongs to the three Grandmasters: Ning Daoqi, the Daoist representative 'San Zhenren'; Zhu Yuyan, the supreme master of the Demonic Sect 'Yin Hou'; and Bi Xuan, the 'Wu Zun' of the Desert Wolf. Below them are Song Shidao, Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, Ba Feng Han, Yang Xuyan, and Hou Xibai. Only Yuan Yueze's position is uncertain. Based on his past achievements, some say that since he lost to 'Yin Hou,' he can only be ranked below the three Grandmasters but above the younger generation. Others say that he deliberately lost to pursue Zhu Yuyan; otherwise, how could he have dominated the Bashu region? Various opinions exist, but one thing is certain: Yuan Yueze is at least significantly stronger than the younger generation of masters. Now that Keda Zhi dares to challenge him, if he refuses Yuan Yueze's merciless words, he will never be able to hold his head high again.
Keda's face darkened, but Li Jiancheng said, "Brother Yuan and Brother Ke are both exceptionally skilled, but Brother Yuan seems to have too much interest in martial arts and only loves beautiful women, haha! Brother Ke should just spar with the young marshal."
His words were tactful, possessing a uniquely masculine humor that made it impossible to be angry. Although not intended to satirize Yuan Yueze, it served to divert attention. Those who pursue martial arts only consider others as kindred spirits when they encounter those with similar pursuits. His words implied that Keda had no need to fight Yuan Yueze, as their pursuits were completely different. He was also afraid that if the eccentric Yuan Yueze were to make a move, and something happened to Keda, Li Jiancheng would ultimately suffer the consequences. Therefore, he used a simple sentence to defuse the awkward atmosphere between the two.
Yuan Yueze smiled calmly and sat down, saying to Li Jiancheng, "Where are Brother Shimin and Brother Yuanji?"
Li Jiancheng's expression changed slightly, and after sighing, he said apologetically, "Father found a batch of firearms in my second brother's palace, which are exactly the same as the firearms wreckage that destroyed 'Lingyan Pavilion' today..."
Yuan Yueze's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Li Jiancheng with a strange expression.

Chapter 82 The Crazy Gamble
On the way to the West Garden, Yuan Yueze recalled what had just happened: Amidst the clinking of glasses, the Crown Prince faction launched attacks on Yuan Yueze in another way. Keda Zhi and Li Jiancheng were clearly jealous because Shang Xiufang had stayed at Yuan Yueze's house for a short time; Wei Zheng was dissatisfied because of his former master; and Mei Xun was resentful because of the killing of Chao Gongcuo. Yuan Yueze could no longer stay, so he got up and took his leave without giving Li Jiancheng any face, simply because he could not sit with the people who were plotting against him.
Yuan Yueze had a vague idea that this was a conspiracy between Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji.
Everyone knew about the discord between the brothers; no wonder Li Jiancheng was so excited today. Li Yuanji's absence meant he was probably busy adding fuel to the fire so that Li Yuan would punish Li Shimin more severely.
But Yuan Yueze had no intention of saving Li Shimin. He was a human being, not a politician. He only remembered how, in Luoyang, he had even used his own sister for his own purposes. Yuan Yueze even felt that it would be best if Li Shimin could be reduced to a commoner tomorrow.
Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were in cahoots, and Li Yuanji, in turn, colluded with Xi Feng, Bi Shouxuan, and other members of the demonic sect. Li Shimin's internal struggles against the Crown Prince's faction and the concubines' faction within the Li Tang dynasty had been ongoing for some time. Yesterday's poisoning and today's explosion must have been the work of Li Jiancheng's group. How could a large quantity of firearms be transported to Li Shimin's residence so silently? The only plausible explanation is that the palace turmoil caused by yesterday's poisoning allowed them to carry out their secret plot. The poisoning was indeed a brilliant scheme to kill several birds with one stone.
Recalling Li Jiancheng's smug smile upon arriving in Chang'an yesterday, Yuan Yueze knew that Li Jiancheng had been planning this scheme for a long time, only lacking the "emperor" to be 'trapped' in the trap.
Walking in the cool night air, he leaped over the wall from the East Palace back to the West Garden in a few bounds. A sense of dejection rose in his heart. The enemy's plan to target him during his entry into the pass was clearly meticulous, while he had been constantly on the defensive. The few scattered clues he had could not be investigated further. The feeling of wanting to kill but not finding anyone to kill grew stronger.
The VIP courtyard was pitch black, except for the light flickering in the central living room. He gently pushed open the door, and found that only Li Xiuning was in the spacious hall.
She leaned against the round table, her chin resting on a small section of her delicate, jade-like forearm, gazing absently out the window.
Her hair was styled in double buns, adorned with an exquisite coral headband, and she wore a high-necked, lake-green dress with dark yellow floral patterns, over which she wore a white fur robe for warmth. Her magnificent attire did not diminish her elegant and refined temperament. The dim light of the oil lamp highlighted her pale face, making her look heartbreakingly haggard.
Hearing footsteps, Li Xiuning snapped out of her daze. She glanced back and saw Yuan Yueze had already closed the door and was standing at the round table.
Li Xiuning hurriedly stood up, bowing her head, and said, "Young Master is back. I apologize for my intrusion."
Yuan Yueze placed his large hands on her delicate shoulders, helping her sit down, her face slightly flushed. He then sat down himself, laughing, "You mustn't do this. You're a princess, and I'm just a commoner. What if others see us like this?"
Li Xiuning seemed to have been reminded of something painful, and she threw herself into Yuan Yueze's arms, sobbing softly, saying intermittently, "Xiuning is so tired. If there's a next life, I want to be born into an ordinary family."
"Cry, cry, cry out everything that's sad, tell it all!"
Yuan Yueze placed one hand on her shoulder and the other through his cloak, gently stroking her back to soothe her.
She cried for over a quarter of an hour, her tears, pent up from pent-up grievances, soaking Yuan Yueze's chest. Yuan Yueze shook his head and smiled bitterly: the Li Xiuning before him was vastly different from the historical Princess Pingyang, a woman of heroic spirit, commanding thousands of troops, and in no way inferior to men.
When she had cried enough, her delicate body nestled in Yuan Yueze's arms had noticeably warmed. Only then did Yuan Yueze ask, "How is your second brother?"
Li Xiuning stiffened, not daring to raise her head, and said, "Xiuning has a request, I would like to ask you, young master, to speak a few words of justice for my second brother. I'm afraid Father will punish him severely."
Yuan Yueze lifted her chin, gently wiping away her tears, looking directly at her pitiful and moving appearance. His voice was soft, but his tone firm as he said, "I'm sorry, this involves my principles, and no one can change them."
Li Xiuning's face darkened, and she said sadly, "Why must you two fight to the death!"
Two more tears streamed down her face.
Although Yuan Yueze was helpless, he wouldn't change his attitude; after all, he had feelings for her. Was it heartlessness? Was it affection? Or was it cruelty? Li Xiuning couldn't say for sure.
Pressing her burning face against Yuan Yueze's chest, Li Xiuning murmured, "Second Brother is the last hope of the Li family. If he's gone, the Li family's century-old foundation will be gone too."
Then, without waiting for Yuan Yueze's reaction, she sat up straight, stood up, and said softly, "Young Master, your wives are already asleep. I apologize for disturbing you. Farewell."
With that, she slowly walked towards the door, her frail body evoking pity.
Yuan Yueze shrugged and walked towards the master bedroom.
Starting the next day, a curfew was imposed throughout Chang'an. An outbreak in the palace was no small matter, and many soldiers began a thorough search. On the morning of the third day, Li Yuan suddenly issued an imperial edict lifting the curfew, and Chang'an, nearing the end of the year, returned to its prosperity.
Yuan Yueze hadn't gone out all day yesterday, only chatting with the women in his room. Zhu Yuyan had been gone for two nights and hadn't returned yet. Although she was unlikely to be in any danger, it still caused Yuan Yueze's family considerable worry. Even the usually composed Shan Meixian started complaining.
After breakfast, Dugu Feng suggested, "Let's go to the East Market to pick up Zhijie and then go for a walk."
Yun Yuzhen chimed in, "Great idea! I was just about to see my husband's gambling skills the other day, but Feng'er ruined it."
The two women playfully bickered for a bit, and then they all went out together. Yuan Yueze said, "Could it be that those two lads, Kou Zhong and his companion, helped Li Shimin? Why didn't Li Yuan punish them much, only giving them a simple reprimand?"
Wei Zhenzhen frowned and pondered, "Impossible, Xiao Zhong and his companion don't have that much influence."
Dugu Feng pouted and said, "Sister Zhenzhen is a miracle worker! She cured all the poison from the women in the harem within two days and saved Li Yuan's son, yet he didn't even say thank you! Truly... " "I don't understand why Father would ask someone to give that priceless 'Winter Forest and Clear Distance' painting to Li Yuan."
Yuan Yueze laughed, "Perhaps that original painting has a special relationship with both Father-in-law and Li Yuan. Father-in-law's actions also imply that the two will no longer have a friendship. After all, only one side can live well in the future. Father-in-law's actions are very much to my liking."
Bai Qing'er pouted and said, "Who is as heartless as you, young master? You don't even give face to the Li Tang princess."
Yuan Yueze made a fierce expression, then stretched out his "breast-grabbing dragon claw hands" and said with a lewd smile, "If it's for Qing'er's sake, I will definitely give it to her."
Bai Qing'er screamed in fright and hid behind Shan Meixian, who was laughing so hard she was doubled over.
A moment later, the group left the palace and dispersed. Only Yuan Yueze, Yun Yuzhen, and Xiao He'er continued north along the road they had taken yesterday. Although Bai Qing'er was shrewd, she hadn't been making a fuss about getting Yuan Yueze to help her take revenge as soon as possible. These past few days, she seemed to be enjoying this simple yet real family life and was quite absorbed in it. Xiao He'er heard that her old friend lived in Shanglin Garden in Beili, and she didn't want to be separated from Yuan Yueze, so she followed along.
Upon stepping onto the 'Leaping Horse Bridge' again, the atmosphere had changed somewhat compared to two days prior. Yun Yuzhen leaned close to Yuan Yueze and whispered, "Husband's plan to deceive the enemy succeeded! There are many auras underwater; it seems they are searching for the entrance to the treasure!"
Yuan Yueze chuckled. Yun Yuzhen continued, "I just heard from people on the road that 'Yueshan' entered the pass last night and is staying near the imperial city. Li Yuan even went to see him personally!"
Yuan Yueze pondered for a moment and asked, "Could it be that Second Brother pleaded for Li Shimin?"
Yun Yuzhen replied, "That's possible. It's inconvenient for us to meet; we'll just have to wait for an opportunity. Since Second Brother is here, Sister-in-law should be here too. Perhaps we can run into her at the gambling den in Beili!"
Xiao He'er, who had been watching the commotion, turned around, her pretty face slightly flushed, and pouted, "Brother Yuan, you're shameless! Being so intimate with Sister Yuzhen in public!"
Yuan Yueze shook his head and chuckled. The three of them turned and entered 'Beili' once more.
The most prestigious gambling den in the world is 'Mingtangwo' in Chang'an, Guanzhong, located next to the most famous brothel, Shanglin Garden. It is run by the renowned "Great Immortal" Hu Fu, the head of the "Hu Xian Sect," and the most respected "Old Swindler" in the gambling world. "Old Swindler" is a term used in the underworld to refer to a person who cheats others through gambling.
Although everyone knows that "nine out of ten gambling games are rigged," no one wants to patronize an old swindler's den. Hu Fu started his career by cheating, building his wealth and reputation. Twenty years ago, he publicly offered a whole pig and sheep to Hu Xian, vowing never to cheat again and guaranteeing that no one would be allowed to cheat in his den. Therefore, gambling at his Mingtangwo is safer than anywhere else, and his business has grown ever larger.
The three stopped a few dozen feet outside the bustling gate of the "Mingtangwo" gambling den.
Yun Yuzhen suggested, "The 'Liufu Gambling Den' is run by Chi Shengchun, the 'Divine Hand' of the Xiang family. If we want to gamble, let's go there."
Yuan Yueze nodded and smiled, "I'm better at causing trouble, but we should find a friend for my little sister first."
Suddenly, he remembered that Shang Xiufang, whom he hadn't seen for several months, should be staying here. To avoid her getting into too much trouble, Yuan Yueze hadn't visited her. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to inquire with the guards at the gate first.
The "Shanglin Garden" was famous throughout the country for its unique style. At a glance, Yuan Yueze noticed its distinctiveness. Unlike the "Liufu Gambling Den" and "Mingtangwo," which used a lot of colorful glazed tiles for decoration, it pursued a noble and elegant style, full of scholarly atmosphere. The main building after entering is the most representative, with large gray brick walls, a roof of black glazed tiles with green trim, and green painted decorations under the eaves. The pillars and latticework railings are unpainted, revealing the natural color of the wood. The couplets on the pillars are also made of hardwood, elegant and refined, no wonder poets and writers have praised it endlessly.
If it were an ordinary person, they would have been cursed away by those fierce-looking guards long ago, but since it was Yuan Yueze, the "grandfather of hooligans," and he was also a distinguished guest of Li Tang, the guards answered his questions with admiration and utmost respect. From time to time, a few flirtatious glances drifted in Yuan Yueze's direction from upstairs.
After finding out the truth, Yuan Yueze breathed a sigh of relief: the popular aunt Ji Qian was currently gambling in the "Mingtangwo" across the street, so the three of them turned and headed towards the "Mingtangwo."
'Mingtangwo' and 'Shanglinyuan' stood side by side, with 'Liufu Gambling House' directly opposite. These three independent building complexes formed the central area and focal point of 'Beili', with other smaller brothels and gambling houses surrounding them, further highlighting their grandeur. Outside these brothels and gambling houses, people were busy with business, selling sesame cakes and crispy fried dough twists, frying oil cakes and selling eggs—it was bustling with activity.
Even before reaching the entrance, he was recognized by the gatekeeper, who immediately came over to invite him. The three of them squeezed through the crowd of gamblers and slowly entered the spacious, palatial hall of 'Mingtangwo,' which was filled with noise and laughter.
The scene before him surprised Yuan Yueze. Nearly a thousand people were gathered around fifty or sixty large gambling tables, gambling with such intensity that the sun and moon seemed to have disappeared. Perhaps to prevent cheating, although it was daytime, the hall was brightly lit with many unusually brilliant lights. The deafening clang of the dice hitting the bowl, combined with the shouts and cheers of the men and women, easily created a sense of detachment from reality.
Led by guards, the three passed through the main hall; their destination was the VIP hall.
The four VIP halls of 'Ming Tang Wo' were four separate buildings connected by covered walkways. The walkways were flanked by beautiful gardens with pavilions and ponds, a tranquil environment quite different from the noisy main hall.
The four VIP halls were named 'Great Immortal,' 'Heavenly Emperor,' 'Earthly Emperor,' and 'Human Emperor.' Except for the 'Great Immortal Hall,' which did not have a dice game, the latter three halls each had their own games: the Heavenly Emperor Hall for dice, the Earthly Emperor Hall for 'Fan Tan,' and the Human Emperor Hall for 'Pai Gow.' All were popular gambling games.
From the constantly explaining guards, the three learned that Ji Qian was in the 'Heavenly Emperor Hall,' which specialized in dice, so they entered that hall as well. This hall was only two-thirds the size of the main hall, but it held a quarter the number of people. The guests were of high social standing, all dressed elegantly and impeccably. Although it lacked the clamor of the gamblers in the outer hall, the atmosphere was still lively. Among them were many beautiful women, mostly courtesans brought by wealthy patrons. Everyone was gambling with great gusto, completely absorbed in the game.
When Yuan Yueze and his companions entered, the hall suddenly fell silent. All eyes turned to them. The men were almost all looking at Yun Yuzhen, while the women kept scrutinizing Yuan Yueze, making the three of them feel uncomfortable, the feeling of being stared at like monkeys returning to their hearts.
Suddenly, a woman's voice rang out beside them, "Young master, please wait."
Now all eyes turned to the girl who had entered. She was dressed as a maid, no more than twenty years old, with a hint of spring in her eyes and a bold gaze, unlike a maid from a respectable family. Under countless intense gazes, even the maid couldn't resist. She walked over, handed Yuan Yueze a note, and fled without a word.
Yuan Yueze opened the faintly fragrant note, glanced at it, and then handed it to Yun Yuzhen.
"Young Master is truly charming!"
A melodious and alluring voice, seemingly carrying endless temptation, rang out from the other side of the hall. A graceful figure appeared at the end of the corridor—a young woman dressed in a high-necked gown and a cloak for warmth. This woman had eyebrows like crescent moons, eyes like autumn water, and her beauty and skin were extraordinary, even more delicate than the graceful little crane. What was particularly alluring was her exquisite and full-figured curves.
"Please continue, everyone! Young Master Yuan is getting embarrassed by all the stares."
The woman walked over gracefully, speaking as if she were very familiar with Yuan Yueze. Although people still occasionally glanced over, the lively atmosphere in the room had returned. Upon arriving before Yuan Yueze, the woman boldly met his gaze and bowed, saying, "This humble servant is Hu Xiaoxian. I greet you, young master, and your two wives. Welcome to 'Mingtangwo'."
This woman was Hu Xiaoxian, the only daughter of Hu Fu, the "Great Immortal" who was in charge of 'Mingtangwo'.
Yuan Yueze glanced at her only once. After Yun Yuzhen folded the piece of paper and placed it in his arms, he looked around the hall and said, "You're too kind, Miss. We're here to see Miss Ji Qian from 'Shanglin Garden'."
Hu Xiaoxian wasn't annoyed that Yuan Yueze didn't look at her directly; Yun Yuzhen's beauty and charm were undeniable. However, upon hearing Ji Qian's name, a flash of displeasure crossed Hu Xiaoxian's eyes. She then led the three forward, pressing her delicate, fragrant body close to Yuan Yueze's side and whispering, "A few months ago in Jiujiang, I met Lei Jiuzhi, a renowned gambler who had once challenged my father to a duel at the gambling table, losing by a single game and being known as 'Northern Lei and Southern Xiang' alongside Xiang Gui. I also heard from them that you easily defeated them in Chengdu that day. Would you be interested in playing a game with me?"
Yuan Yueze's mind raced, and he realized that he had met Lei Jiuzhi in Chengdu that day... The tall, thin man at the gambling table must be Lei Jiuzhi. He then smiled faintly and said, "Let's talk about it after I find my little sister's long-lost friend."
Seeing Hu Xiaoxian's puzzled expression, Yuan Yueze put his arm around Xiao He'er's
fragrant shoulder and explained, "Miss Ji Qian is my little sister's former friend." Hu Xiaoxian suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. I thought you came to find Ji Qian to keep you company! You know she has a strange temperament. She probably wouldn't even glance at an ordinary person. But if it's you... Oh! That's Ji Qian."
Following Hu Xiaoxian's smooth, white, and boneless slender fingers, he saw a charming female gambler sitting on a chair a few feet away. She was as beautiful as a flower, with a captivating glow. Apart from Yun Yuzhen, no other woman in the entire hall could compare to her. However, she was flirtatious, had a bold gaze, and occasionally let out a silvery laugh, adding a lot of excitement to the tense gambling game.
While she was still urging the dealer to shake the dice faster, she didn't seem to find it strange that everyone's attention at the table was focused on Yuan Yueze and Yun Yuzhen.
"Xiao...Xiaoqian?"
Xiao He'er's excited yet uncertain voice rang out.
Ji Qian looked at Xiao He'er, not even bothering to glance at Yuan Yueze and Yun Yuzhen. After staring at Xiao He'er for a few moments, she immediately frowned slightly, her expression still beautiful and charming, full of intoxicating allure. Suddenly, she covered her mouth in surprise, exclaiming, "You...you're Xiao Ji?"
The two women had been separated for many years, and these years coincided with their puberty, so it was normal for their appearance and figure to change significantly, but not to the point of completely altering their features.
※※※※※ Hu Xiaoxian and Yun Yuzhen continued their high-stakes gambling. Yun Yuzhen also had a powerful background, and although her gambling skills were not simple, she was still no match for Hu Xiaoxian. Only the two women remained at the gambling table; the others either lost and went home or stood and watched the spectacle.
Yuan Yueze yawned to the side.
After Ji Qian and Xiao He'er recognized each other, they immediately ran back to the 'Shanglin Garden' across the street to chat. Yuan Yueze and his companion spent their time there, waiting for Xiao He'er to return.
Hu Xiaoxian won another round and, looking listless and dazed, said to the young master with a coquettish smile, "Young master, are you perhaps feeling down? How about playing a few rounds with me?"
Ji Qian had just given Yuan Yueze a disdainful look, a look that everyone around could sense. Hu Xiaoxian assumed Yuan Yueze was upset, which was why she said such a thing.
Yun Yuzhen frowned slightly, displeased, and said, "She's just a prostitute. We didn't despise her, yet she despises us."
Over the years, her temperament had become much more peaceful. She said this only because she felt uncomfortable, just as Yuan Yueze had once told them: You may not appreciate or like someone, but you have no right to despise them.
Yuan Yueze smiled slightly, and amidst the surprised expressions of the surrounding crowd, he took out a large pile of jewels and gave them to Yun Yuzhen, saying, "Keep playing. Winning or losing doesn't matter, just enjoy yourself."
Hu Xiaoxian's eyes flashed with a strange light, but Ji Qian's cold voice came from the hall: "Young Master Yuan, would you be interested in playing a game with me?"
Yuan Yueze lay on the corner of the table, not moving, and lazily said with his eyes closed, "No interest."
Ji Qian pulled Xiao He'er, whose face was complicated and who seemed to want to say something, and quickly sat down at the table. The two women's beautiful eyes were a little red and swollen, probably caused by tears of joy from their long
-awaited reunion. Ji Qian snorted and said, "I'm not interested in betting with you either, but this matter involves my sister, so I want to bet with you. If I win, you must not only guarantee that Xiao Ji has nothing to do with you anymore, but also take back the people you've been helping her find her brother. We'll send people to find him ourselves."
Yuan Yueze looked at Xiao He'er in astonishment, wondering what she had said to Ji Qian. Xiao He'er shook her head, about to speak, but was interrupted by Ji Qian raising her pale hand, saying, "If Xiao Ji considers me a sister, then don't speak anymore. The world isn't as innocent as you think."
Then she turned to Yuan Yueze, disdainfully saying, "Young master, why be so hesitant about whether to gamble or not?"
"Slap!"
Yuan Yueze flipped his hand, placing his long sword horizontally on the table, his eyes gleaming as he stared intently at Ji Qian. Ji Qian met his gaze without fear, saying sarcastically, "You, Young Master Yuan, are highly skilled. If you were to kill a weak woman like me out of anger, it wouldn't be so bad."
Yun Yuzhen's eyes blazed with fire. Anyone at the table could sense that Ji Qian was targeting Yuan Yueze. Yuan Yueze grabbed Yun Yuzhen, who was about to retort, and after a long laugh, said, word by word, "What's wrong with gambling? Why not go for something bigger?"
Xiao He'er immediately sensed something was wrong.
Ji Qian said calmly, "What do you mean by 'bigger'?"
Yuan Yueze pointed to his head and said coldly, "One round to decide the winner. If I lose, I will not only grant you any request, but I will also give you my head!"
The hall fell silent.
Xiao He'er's pretty face turned ashen, and Ji Qian was also dumbfounded and speechless. After a moment, she managed to say, "If I lose, will I also offer my head?"
Yuan Yueze shook his head and said, "No need. If you lose, you only need to strip naked and walk around Chang'an City at noon!"
The crowd in the hall erupted in commotion, and some were even secretly laughing maliciously.
Ji Qian's face flushed crimson, a mixture of shame and anger. She said coldly, "Fine! The rumors aren't entirely true. All that talk of chivalry and pity is just a lie!"
Yuan Yueze snorted, "Do I even know you? Why should I pity you? You've been pushing me relentlessly. If I were to keep offering my kindness, wouldn't that be groveling? Don't think that just because you have a better figure and a pretty face, you're superior to everyone else. In my eyes, you're nowhere near as cute as my little sister."
Ji Qian's breathing quickened with anger, her heaving chest rising and falling. Xiao He'er, who was about to speak, was forcefully stopped by Ji Qian. Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice echoed from the depths of the hall: "Gambling is just for entertainment. Please calm
down, gentlemen." At the end of the corridor, surrounded by four burly men, Hu Xiaoxian, who had just mysteriously disappeared, and a middle-aged man strode over.
Those around them parted to make way, and the six of them went directly to the round table.
The person beside Hu Xiaoxian appeared to be around forty-five or forty-six years old. His thick, gray hair was combed straight back from his forehead and tied in a bun, covered by a small square crown made of green jade. He had a handsome and distinctive face with five long tufts of beard, the same gray color as his hair. Combined with his tall and slender figure, he possessed a strange, almost fox-like aura. Particularly striking was his partner, whose skin was pure white and slender, and who seemed to possess magical powers.
Yuan Yueze said calmly, "Are you the master of this 'Mingtangwo,' Master Hu Fu?"
The man clasped his hands and said, "It's an honor to have you grace us with your presence, Master Yuan."
Yuan Yueze smiled slightly and said, "It's not that I'm disrespectful to the master, but anyone who pushes me too far must be prepared to lose everything, even die. Since Miss Ji Qian has made such a decision, why shouldn't I grant her wish?"
A chill ran through the surrounding people, and an indescribable sense of fear rose in their hearts, especially since Yuan Yueze spoke these words with such a leisurely and composed expression, which was far more threatening than any forceful tone.
Although Ji Qian worked in a brothel, she never sold herself. At this moment, she gritted her teeth and said resolutely, "If Ji Qian loses, she won't do as you wish, but she will offer you her head!"

Chapter 83: The Path of
No Return. After leaving the palace, Shan Meixian and the other women went their separate ways.
Bai Qing'er walked alone on Zhuque Avenue, the main north-south axis of Chang'an City, looking left and right.
On both sides of Zhuque Avenue, whether shops or residences, were all grand mansions with multiple courtyards and side halls. The houses in the alleys and lanes were single-story buildings with tiled roofs and white walls, arranged in rows. The gates were often elaborately decorated with tiled wooden door frames, high walls and deep courtyards, the alleys long and winding, a stark contrast to the bustling main street, quiet and peaceful.
The mansions of wealthy families were extremely magnificent and imposing, and the shops were also ingeniously designed, with exquisitely carved beams and rafters, interwoven beams and brackets, and eaves, each with its own unique style.
Bai Qing'er, engrossed in observing, suddenly realized that she had gradually adapted to, and even come to like, this life—though lacking power and flattery, with people around her treating her sincerely, and without any constraints, a life of complete freedom. Having grown up in the strictly regulated Demonic Sect, she realized for the first time that life could be so pleasant and beautiful.
To prevent flooding, drainage ditches, as wide as small streams, lined both sides of the main streets of the city. Stone bridges spanned the intersections of these ditches, forming a unique feature of Chang'an. Locust trees were planted along the avenues, but in this cold winter, their lush foliage had long been replaced by snow and icicles, conveying the majesty of the depths of winter.
The frigid weather did not diminish Chang'an's prosperity. The streets were bustling with carriages and pedestrians, comparable to the vibrancy of Luoyang.
At the Industrial Park, Bai Qing'er was about to wander to the left when she noticed a strange, crookedly drawn arrow in an inconspicuous corner amidst the throng. No one would notice it, as everyone assumed it was just a child's doodle. Bai
Qing'er paused, her beautiful face turning cold, and walked in that direction.
Xiao He'er looked at Yuan Yueze with a pleading expression. She didn't want either of them to lose, but both of them were stubborn and unyielding.
Hu Fu clearly wanted to curry favor with Yuan Yueze, a renowned figure and a distinguished guest of the Li Tang dynasty. Moreover, regardless of the outcome of their match, it wouldn't negatively impact Hu Fu. So, he smiled and said, "If both parties agree, gambling with one's life is nothing unusual. Besides the Heaven, Earth, and Human Emperor Halls, I also have the Grand Immortal Hall, specifically for receiving distinguished guests. If you and Miss Ji are interested..."
“No need! We’ll settle this right here with a dice game. Does Miss Ji have any objections?”
Yuan Yueze said with his eyes closed.
Ji Qian sat opposite him, her expression icy, motionless, like a beautiful jade statue.
This meant she didn’t object. Hu Fu gestured to his subordinate beside him.
A moment later, a special dice cup gleaming with gold and three dice were brought out. To prevent cheating in such a large game, Hu Fu personally shook the dice for the two of them.
Hu Fu explained that the dice cup and dice were collected by him many years ago, made of deep-sea refined iron inlaid with rare jade and gold. Shaking the cup would make no sound, so any cheating methods relying on superior hearing would be ineffective.
Ji Qian’s face was solemn, nervously watching Hu Fu’s right hand, which seemed to possess a captivating charm as it moved rapidly. Yuan Yueze remained seated, his eyes closed.
Many people around him were holding their breath and staring at him. Hu Xiaoxian suddenly realized that, as an outsider, her tightly clenched palms were slightly sweaty.
Suddenly, to everyone's astonishment, Yuan Yueze became lifeless, like a dried-up corpse. His entire essence, energy, and spirit seemed to have been drawn to another dimension, instantly returning to normal.
Hu Fu had already placed the dice cup in the specially made jade plate; the entire process was completely silent.
Ji Qian stared at Yuan Yueze with her beautiful eyes and said, "Young Master, are you cheating with sorcery?"
Yuan Yueze casually pointed to the eighteen position with his sword sheath, stood up, and said, "I'm human, what sorcery do I have? If you want to bet, bet; if not, leave. Why all the nonsense?"
Ji Qian's temper flared even more. With her charm as the most beautiful woman in Chang'an, even Emperor Li Yuan of the Tang Dynasty, who had some interest in her, had never spoken to her in such a tone. Feeling the admiring, approving, or surprised looks on the faces of those around Yuan Yueze, Ji Qian pouted and gave a soft snort, saying, "Young Master, are you betting on eighteen points? If it's not eighteen points, does that mean you've lost?"
Yuan Yueze nodded.
Many people around thought this woman was cunning, knowing that the odds of Yuan Yueze betting on eighteen points were extremely slim. Ji Qian's move meant she had gained a significant advantage.
Everyone stared intently at Hu Fu's slender right hand; once that hand moved, it would mean the end of a life.
Despite her strong personality, Ji Qian felt a strange sense of regret: she had no hatred for Yuan Yueze, so why did she despise him so much? It was just a rumor. Ji Qian also thought that Yuan Yueze was promiscuous and played with women's feelings. Otherwise, how could he disregard ethics and take other women's sisters and mothers and daughters into his private life? He was not only a member of the Demonic Sect, but also ruthless and cunning. While Shen Luoyan was presented openly, he was actually manipulating things in the shadows. Just now, while recounting her experiences over the years to Xiao He'er, upon hearing that Yuan Yueze had saved her, Ji Qian felt uneasy. Long-held beliefs formed from hearsay, coupled with her stubborn nature, created an inexplicable aversion to Yuan Yueze. She had seen many hypocrites, but never one as hypocritical as Yuan Yueze. Her attempts to persuade the now-blinded Xiao He'er were futile. Ji Qian decided to confront him directly. Being a skilled gambler, she naturally thought of gambling, never anticipating that the situation would escalate to this point where both sides were risking their lives. Yuan Yueze's words were an insult to her, further fueling her already extreme views. She resolved that she would rather die than suffer humiliation before Yuan Yueze.
But was it really worth it?
Yuan Yueze sat there motionless. Recalling the rumors about him over the past few years, Ji Qian's inexplicable fear grew stronger.
"Excuse me, I must take my leave for a moment!"
Yuan Yueze suddenly opened his eyes, shooting out a blazing light, and uttered these words before drifting out of the window like a weightless willow catkin. Yun Yuzhen followed without a word.
Not only the onlookers, but even the seasoned veteran Hu Fu stood there dumbfounded.
Should the dice cup be revealed or not?
Hu Fu had never hesitated like this in his life.
Time seemed to stand still in the hall. After an unknown amount of time, Hu Fu noticed that his palms were sweating, so he raised his hand and said, "Everyone, please step down. I guarantee that this game will be fair, and the outcome will be known to everyone."
The people around him began to get restless and started discussing among themselves. Some said that Yuan Yueze was afraid of losing and had already run away, and there was no way he would come back. Others said that Yuan Yueze was not that kind of person. After a long while of chatter, people lost their enthusiasm and patience to wait any longer. In any case, with Hu Fu's reputation, he would never lie. As long as the outcome after the dice cup was revealed, that was enough. The people gradually dispersed.
Only Hu Fu, Hu Xiaoxian, Ji Qian, and Xiao He'er remained in the hall.
Hu Fu said to Ji Qian, "If Miss Ji is worried, you can stay here and keep watch."
He then turned to leave with his daughter.
Ji Qian was taken aback. "Mr. Hu, aren't you afraid I'll tamper with it?"
Hu Fu laughed loudly, "The dice leave marks from contact with the jade plate below. If it's been moved, I'll know immediately. Excuse me."
Ji Qian and Xiao He'er stared blankly at the dice cup. After a long while, Xiao He'er's delicate hand trembled as she reached out.
Ji Qian screamed, "Stop!"
Xiao He'er stuck out her tongue. "Looking is fine, but I'm not moving!"
Ji Qian said dejectedly, "Who do you think will win?"
Xiao He'er said smugly, "It must be Brother Yuan. He's even more skilled than you think!"
Then her face darkened: if that were true, it meant Ji Qian would lose her life to Yuan Yueze!
Ji Qian feigned composure, disdainfully saying, "Hmph! I'll let you give up."
As she spoke, she reached out her delicate hand and gently turned a corner of the dice cup.
Upon seeing the three dice, both women froze.
Their movements were static.
※※※※※ Bai Qing'er calmly watched the middle-aged man sitting opposite her at the luxurious square table, puffing away on his pipe.
The man was of medium height, his expression composed as he held his pipe, attentively served by a maid beside him. He relaxed and enjoyed his pipe, exuding an air of nonchalance. However, his complexion was somewhat pale from excessive drinking, and at first glance, he appeared unremarkable. If his fine clothes were removed and he were thrown onto the street, he would certainly not attract attention. Bai Qing'er, however, knew better than anyone that the man before her was not only no ordinary person, but could be described as 'unfathomable'.
After sitting silently facing each other for a long time, the man waved away the maids, and when only the two of them remained, his gaze suddenly turned mysterious, and a chilling, eerie demonic aura emanated from his body, filling the small hall. The surrounding lights were suddenly affected and went out.
The room was pitch black.
Only the occasional sparks from the pipe could be heard.
"Qing'er, do you still remember this room?"
the man asked, his voice gentle and pleasant.
Bai Qing'er calmly replied, "Of course I remember. Before I followed my master, Uncle-Master Yin always kept me in this small courtyard."
The middle-aged man was none other than the father of Consort Yin, the beloved concubine of Emperor Li Yuan of the Tang Dynasty, and the one Bai Qing'er hated most, the "Duke Yin" Yin Zuwen, a member of the "Path of Extinction of Emotion" of the Demonic Sect.
Yin Zuwen's gaze seemed to see right through Bai Qing'er. After staring at her for a long while, he sighed, "Yesterday, Venerable Zhu came to see me privately."
A flash of cold light appeared in Bai Qing'er's eyes, but she continued calmly, "What does Master want with you, Venerable Master?"
Yin Zuwen's gaze turned to Bai Qing'er again, and instead of answering, he slowly asked, "Is Qing'er still the same Qing'er that I took in fifteen years ago?"
Bai Qing'er smiled sweetly and said, "Qing'er will always be the same Qing'er."
Yin Zuwen sneered, "Fine!"
Having said that, she extended her crystal-clear, white right hand to within an inch of Bai Qing'er's face.
Although the hall was pitch black, for these two with their high cultivation levels, seeing everything around them was no problem at all.
Yin Zuwen held a black pill in his hand and said, "It's not that I don't trust you, but after Qing'er was deprived of her sect leader position, her cultivation level not only didn't regress but actually advanced, clearly showing her unwillingness to be subordinate to others. However, your arrival in Chang'an with Yuan Yueze makes one suspicious. This pill is from me..."
Before he could finish speaking, Bai Qing'er calmly extended two slender jade fingers, picked up the pill, and without hesitation threw it into her slightly open mouth, swallowing it.
Yin Zuwen was taken aback, then laughed loudly, "Good, good!"
Then his face darkened and he said, "If you think that Wei Zhenzhen, who is skilled in medicine, can cure this drug for you, then you are very wrong. Don't blame me for not warning you."
Bai Qing'er shook her head and said, "Uncle Yin, there's no need to say more. Qing'er just wants to show you through my actions that I am still the same person I was before!"
Yin Zuwen nodded in satisfaction and said, "Even I can't cure this drug. It was given to me by a friend. Qing'er, don't be afraid. He gave me an antidote. If you really haven't changed, how could your uncle harm you! But once this drug takes effect, you will suffer torture more cruel than a ghost within a day and a night, and then turn into a dried corpse! Alright, let's talk about serious matters now!"
Bai Qing'er didn't say a word.
Yin Zuwen cleared his throat and said, "Qing'er, there's no need to worry. Even if Zhu Yuyan miraculously mastered the 'Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique,' the Yin Gui Sect Master didn't pass it on to you, and the matter is far from over."
He then sneered, "Hmph! Although we, the people of the Holy Sect, value true feelings, Zhu Yuyan's actions are still despicable. She actually served a man alongside her granddaughter, and changed the rules of our Holy Sect to resemble those hypocritical righteous sects. It's truly absurd! By the way, why did you come to Chang'an with Yuan Yueze?"
Bai Qing'er's heart skipped a beat, and she asked with a puzzled expression, "My master asked me to come along, but she didn't say why, so I dared not ask."
Yin Zuwen said disdainfully, "Could it be that Zhu Yuyan, after regaining her youth through the Heavenly Demon Technique, has fallen into a love trap and wants to offer you up to please Yuan Yueze?" He
then smiled knowingly. "Could Qing'er have fallen in love with Yuan Yueze? This boy's charm is indeed extraordinary."
Bai Qing'er laughed and said, "Uncle-Master, you are insulting Qing'er. Qing'er only has eyes for the Holy Sect. To seize the position of Sect Master, she can abandon everything else."
Yin Zuwen praised again, saying, "Qing'er is indeed most suitable to be a member of the Holy Sect. When I took you in, I already saw your talent. Why don't you ask me why I was still so confident when facing Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan?" Bai
Qing'er smiled and said, "Uncle-Master will tell me these things if he wants to. Why should Qing'er ask so much?"
Yin Zuwen nodded and said, "There are some things you shouldn't know now, so I can only tell you roughly. The Holy Sect will soon be unified, but the leader will not be you or me. However, I can hold up ..." " Qing'er, become the sect leader, and then, with the combined strength of our sects, we will reclaim our power. Qing'er, do you still remember what you promised me fifteen years ago?"
Feeling his colder gaze, Bai Qing'er smiled elegantly: "Qing'er dares not forget day and night, especially since Qing'er's life is now in my master's hands."
Yin Zuwen's old face flushed slightly, and he said: "Qing'er, next, gather information for me from Yuan Yueze. How does he treat you?"
Bai Qing'er lowered her head and said: "He covets Qing'er's beauty, but he has several jealous wives in his family, so we have never..."
Yin Zuwen said: "Qing'er is practicing half of the 'Charming Maiden Heart Method' that has fallen into the Yin Gui Sect. The other half is in my hands. If you practice them together, you will achieve great seductive power, capable of killing people invisibly. However, it requires stimulating life potential with the Ten Needles Acupuncture Method. If one's will is weak, one will surely perish before mastering it." Death, would you try?
Bai Qing'er didn't even think about it and said decisively: "This risk is worth taking. Only by practicing the 'Girl's Mind Technique' can we be completely sure to kill people without a trace." Unexpectedly, the two classics of the Yingui Sect and the Mie Qingdao were combined into one, and this secret method of the Holy Sect, which had been lost for nearly a hundred years
, could be given a complete look. "Yin Zuwen laughed. Bai Qing'er took his poison pill and was willing to take the risk to try the 'Girl's
Mind Technique'. This was of great help to his plan, so he said: "If our Holy Sect is revived, then Yuan Yueze will definitely become Qing'er's subordinate. Bai Qing'er said disdainfully: "Qing'er will not fall in love with such a scheming person." "
Yin Zuwen was about to speak again when a slight but clear voice came from outside the door: "To Duke Yin, Concubine De has come to invite you to the palace for a banquet. ”
※※※※※ “Ah sneeze! "
After running far away from Beili, Yuan Yueze suddenly sneezed and stopped in a sparsely populated suburban area. Yun Yuzhen, unable to stop in time, bumped into Yuan Yueze's back with her soft and exquisite body. She cried out softly in pain, rubbing her arm and frowning as she complained, "What happened? Why didn't you say a word before rushing out and heading towards the northern suburbs of the city?"
Yuan Yueze pulled her into his arms, his grotesque hand gently caressing her high, firm breasts, and asked with concern, "Did you hurt yourself?"
Yun Yuzhen's body went limp. She looked at him with a mischievous grin, slapped his hand away, and struggled, asking, "What happened?"
Yuan Yueze straightened her up, looked to the north, and said seriously, "I sensed Yuyan's location, so I came out to check. Why did you come along? Who's responsible for my little sister's safety?"
Ever since the two of them cultivated the 'Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique' in that strange way, their spiritual connection had greatly improved, and a mysterious spiritual bond had been established between them. Zhu Yuyan had disappeared silently for over two days. Yuan Yueze had tried searching the city, but found no trace of her presence. Just now, he suddenly sensed a familiar feeling near the outskirts of Beili, and rushed out without hesitation.
Yun Yuzhen scoffed, "That Ji Qian will protect my little sister, what's there to worry about?"
Yuan Yueze shook his head, "If it's just an ordinary person, my little sister will be fine. The problem is that the person who's been plotting against us might make a move. Stop fooling around, let's go back." Yun Yuzhen
, understanding the situation, turned and walked away, but then suddenly remembered something and reminded him, "It's getting late, husband, don't forget the banquet at the palace tonight."
Seeing Yuan Yueze nod, Yun Yuzhen quickly ran towards Beili.
Yuan Yueze closed his eyes and activated a mental technique similar to the 'Heaven and Earth Searching Technique,' beginning to search for the exact location of Zhu Yuyan, whose presence wasn't very strong.
Strangely, Zhu Yuyan, who was originally due north, seemed to be getting further and further away from him.
Before he could even think, several powerful killing intents from the northwest clearly entered his senses.
Running several hundred paces forward, he saw a blond man supporting a brown-haired woman, staggering towards the north gate of Chang'an.
Yuan Yueze froze. Wasn't that Yun Shuai, the Western Turkic Grand Preceptor, and his only daughter, Lian Rou, whom he had fought in Chengdu?
Judging from their disheveled state, who could possibly have forced a master whose martial arts had already reached the highest level to such a state?
"Grand Preceptor Yun, how have you been?"
Yuan Yueze appeared suddenly before Yun Shuai and his daughter like a ghost, startling them greatly.
Lian Rou, exhausted, was shocked to see Yuan Yueze, whom she hadn't seen for months. She immediately abandoned Yun Shuai and rushed into his arms, crying, "Please save my father! I'll do whatever you say from now on!"
Yuan Yueze supported the father and daughter, channeling his inner energy into them as he spoke, "What happened to you..."
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
After several whooshing sounds, more than twenty people appeared ten feet away from Yuan Yueze. These people included both men and women, all dressed in foreign attire, and their auras were sinister and eerie, clearly not ordinary individuals. Among the leaders, the man was a top-tier fighter, while the other women, dressed in flamboyant attire and adorned with jewels, possessed captivating charm and were clearly highly skilled.
If these people were to attack Yun Shuai, they certainly had the ability to defeat him, or even injure him. Although Yun Shuai's lightness skill was unparalleled, he would likely find it difficult to escape while caring for his daughter, whose cultivation was not high.
With a mere glance at the group, Yuan Yueze continued to channel his inner energy into the two women, whispering, "Don't be afraid. Who are they?"
The Yun father and daughter, their strength rapidly returning, looked at Yuan Yueze gratefully. Lian Rou spoke first, "They are members of a cult from the Uyghurs, plotting to seize the Western Turks and harming my godfather and father."
Yuan Yueze's face turned cold. The Uyghur cult—wasn't that the Great Ming Zunjiao? He hadn't expected their evil claws to extend not only to the Central Plains but also to the powerful Turks.
Upon recognizing the person supporting the Yun father and daughter, the group froze, too afraid to move.
The long, uncombed hair, the handsome and dashing appearance, the tall and imposing figure, the transparent longsword in the left hand resting on the Yun father's shoulder, the light purple outfit swaying in the wind—all revealed the man's identity.
A soft laugh rang out behind them, dispelling the tense atmosphere.
Surrounded by seven or eight people, a charming middle-aged woman with an alluring air slowly descended from the crowd who had retreated to the sides. Breathing softly, she said in Chinese, "This humble servant is Shafang, greetings to Young Master Yuan."
Shafang had a full, round face, a voluptuous figure, and a noble air. She wore brocade boots, a sable collar, a purple-gold phoenix-patterned robe, and an apricot-gold coin-patterned skirt. Her hair was styled in a jeweled bun. The front of her long skirt swept the ground, and the back trailed over a foot long, adorned with two red and yellow ribbons. Strangely, she still exuded an air of ethereal grace. In her hand, she held a gleaming silver rod, about two feet long, more like an ornament than a weapon. A captivating smile graced her face as she gazed at Yuan Yueze with seemingly deep affection.
Yuan Yueze scoffed inwardly. So it was this group!
Based on Yuan Yueze's own understanding and summary, the Great Ming Zun Sect is divided into two parts: the 'Dark Department' and the 'Dark Department'. The 'Dark Department' is the highest command organization, headed by the 'Great Ming Holy Venerable' Liu Yu. The 'Dark Department', under the leadership of the 'Great Ming Venerable God,' is further subdivided into two major systems: the 'Dark System' and the 'Bright System'. The 'Bright System' is headed by the 'Good Mother' and the 'Five Bright Sons,' and is responsible for propagating the religion. The 'Dark System' is headed by the 'Atom' and the 'Five Types of Demons,' and is responsible for eliminating dissidents; they are the executioners within the sect.
This Sha Fang is the 'Good Mother,' whose public identity is the queen of the Uyghur King Changshi Jianqijin. The silver staff in her hand, 'Yu Xiaoyao,' combined with the twenty-eight forms of 'Xiaoyao Dismantling' evolved from the Great Ming Zun Sect's treasured manual, 'Pobu **,' is infinitely varied and quite powerful.
In fact, after discussing the matter with Xiang Yutian that day, Xiang Yutian had said that Liu Yu probably couldn't be considered a true member of the 'Great Ming Venerable Cult,' given his selfishness and scheming. These pure members of the Great Ming Venerable Cult before them, however, were the most authentic and fanatical religious figures.
Yuan Yueze, still looking like a dead man, said, "The Great Ming Venerable Cult has a grudge against me, so leave your heads behind today!"
Speaking of Yuan Yueze's 'fearsome reputation,' how many people in the world wouldn't turn pale at the mention of his name? But the group on the other side showed no fear. Sha Fang smiled charmingly and said, "Young master, you must have a deep misunderstanding with our Great Ming Venerable Sect. There is absolutely no such person as 'Great Ming Holy Venerable' in our sect. Our leader, 'Great Venerable,' is called 'Great Ming Venerable God.' This is a secret within our sect. We are revealing it today only to resolve our enmity with you, so that we can keep to ourselves from now on. How about that?"
Yuan Yueze thought to himself that Xiang Yutian's speculation was indeed true. Very few people knew Liu Yu's identity. People like Sha Fang, who held a high position in the Great Ming Venerable Sect, were easily manipulated without even realizing it. She then laughed heartily and said, "Enough nonsense! Now that the feud is settled, why would I believe your one-sided story!"
Sha Fang's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and her magnificent robes and ribbons suddenly billowed without wind. She coldly snorted, "If you think we're afraid of you, then try to be alive after my twenty-eighth day!"
Before she finished speaking, she suddenly moved forward. Because her long, trailing skirt concealed her feet, she seemed like a ghost, drifting towards Yuan Yueze, who was still transferring true energy to the pale-faced Yun Shuai and his daughter.
Her figure shot to within inches of Yuan Yueze's eyes when a strange change occurred.
She swayed left and right with a strange gait, her 'Jade Wanderer' drawing countless dazzling silver light and shadow patterns in her hand with unbelievable dexterity. With unparalleled speed and eerie technique, she made fifteen feints at the motionless Yuan Yueze from different angles, unleashing fifteen sharp bursts of energy. Some directly attacked Yuan Yueze's vital acupoints, while others, seemingly aimed at empty space, actually sealed off Yuan Yueze's evasive maneuvers.
The fifteen bursts of energy, like fifteen arrows of air, completely enveloped Yuan Yueze. Even more ingenious was that two of these bursts of energy were subtly separated, targeting Yun Shuai's 'Xuanji' and Lian Rou's 'Tian Ding' respectively, ruthless and cunning. At the
same time, she said with a charming smile, "Young Master should know their internal condition. If you stop transferring true energy, they will surely die."
A cold smile escaped Yuan Yueze's lips, his eyes blazing with killing intent.

Chapter 84 Extraterrestrial Change
"Clang!"
Yuan Yueze flicked the hilt of his sword with his thumb, and the longsword leaped three inches from its sheath, emitting a clear sound like the roar of a dragon and the howl of a tiger, as if it were a curse from the eighteenth level of hell, or celestial music from beyond the nine heavens. The faint white light emanating from the sword was beautiful yet eerie.
Not only Sha Fang and the others behind her, but even the Yun Shuai father and daughter beside Yuan Yueze were filled with disbelief.
Yuan Yueze's hand, which was pressing on the shoulders of the Yun Shuai father and daughter to transfer qi, did not move at all. The longsword, which had only slightly left in its sheath, shot forward as if it had a life of its own, reaching the sole of his right foot, which was already spinning high in the air. Then, the part of his right leg below the knee seemed to disappear, no longer visible to the naked eye.
Sha Fang's composed expression vanished abruptly, and her face turned cold and stern.
Yuan Yueze's feet didn't vanish into thin air; instead, they appeared and disappeared in a small space in front of him. A longsword spun rapidly beneath his feet, each sharp "ding!"
sound emanating from the image as it became clearer.
This was the symbol of neutralizing Sha Fang's attack.
After fifteen clear rings, Sha Fang coldly snorted, shifting to the left. Then, with a whirlwind, she transformed into a thousand-armed Guanyin, conjuring hundreds of illusory shadows to envelop her body in light and shadow as she launched a full-force attack.
This all-out strike was aimed solely at Yuan Yueze, unlike her previous attack that targeted three people at once.
With her cold snort, everyone behind her pounced.
In an instant, swords flashed and energy filled the air.
After Lian Rou recovered half her strength, she noticed that Yuan Yueze's true energy was becoming increasingly ineffective. She was about to speak when she heard Sha Fang's warning, so she swallowed her words. She glanced worriedly at Yun Shuai, who was more seriously injured protecting her, and unconsciously tightened her grip on Yuan Yueze's calmly clasped arms.
"You won't give up until you're at your wit's end!"
With a furious shout, Yuan Yueze unleashed a burst of energy from his feet, causing his sword sheath to plunge several inches into the ground. The sword was fully drawn, and using his foot to control the blade, he delivered a simple thrust at Sha Fang, who had charged forward first. The thrust seemed slow, but Sha Fang knew it was no less fast than her own astonishing speed. As Sha Fang unleashed eight energy arrows through 'Jade Freedom,' the sword struck the true master within the illusory image.
"Clang!"
In a flash, the swords clashed.
Sha Fang's body trembled violently, and she staggered backward, clearly having suffered a hidden loss. Lian Rou, who had witnessed everything, was dumbfounded. Sha Fang had clearly hit Yuan Yueze's vital points with at least five energy arrows, yet he seemed completely unaffected and launched a fierce counterattack.
"If we continue fighting, Young Master, you should know who will benefit. We will never forget today's humiliation, and we will definitely avenge it double in the future!"
As Sha Fang retreated, she first let out a sharp, cold snort. Her men, who were rushing towards her, all abruptly withdrew their attacks and flew backward with her. By the time she finished speaking, the group had already traveled dozens of feet away.
The longsword in the air, at its highest point several feet above the ground, drew a graceful arc before falling.
"'The Evil King' has arrived, why hide?"
Yuan Yueze said without turning his head, still maintaining his qi-transferring posture.
"Good! Multitasking, controlling the sword with your feet, wielding the sword and saber techniques, you are even stronger than before. I admire you, and I am even more determined to eliminate you!"
Shi Zhixuan's familiar voice rang out from behind, appearing like a ghost behind Yuan Yueze, his expression cold as he stood with his hands behind his back, exuding the aura of a ruler.
"Clang!"
At this moment, the longsword had only traveled a few feet in the air before returning to its sheath.
Yuan Yueze suddenly beamed with joy, seemingly ignoring Shi Zhixuan as if he were invisible. He looked down at Lian Rou, whose complexion had returned to rosy hues, and asked, "Was it the people from the Great Ming Venerable Sect who injured your father like this?"
He had used his true energy to examine Yun Shuai's meridians and knew perfectly well how severe Yun Shuai's injuries were.
Lian Rou glanced sadly at Yun Shuai, whose eyes were still tightly closed, and nodded, saying, "In terms of martial arts, they were no match for Father, but they used something like poison during the attack. Father was distracted trying to save me, and they took advantage of that. As a result, Father not only failed to shield me from the poison but was also attacked, and I also came into contact with a small amount of the poison."
Yuan Yueze's mind raced, and he instantly grasped a clue: the Great Ming Venerable Sect's treasure manual, the *Po Bu*, contained a volume titled... The *Medicine King's Scripture* is all about poison. The fact that Commander Yun was injured like this shows that the poison was indeed extraordinary. Yuan Yueze understood this the moment his true energy clashed with Commander Yun's. That's why Sha Fang attacked Yuan Yueze with such confidence. She knew Yuan Yueze's hands were busy, but Yuan Yueze not only multitasked but also used his feet to control a sword, defeating Sha Fang. The moment Sha Fang ordered a group attack, she sensed Shi Zhixuan's presence. To avoid a conflict where one side would benefit, she had no choice but to retreat temporarily.
However, Yuan Yueze still had doubts. Ordinary poisons wouldn't have much effect on someone of Commander Yun's level. Could the *Medicine King's Scripture* really be that miraculous?
Shi Zhixuan's emotionless voice rang out again: "Grand Preceptor Yun, shouldn't you admit defeat now? No one can cure the poison in your body. Don't waste your energy anymore."
His last sentence was naturally directed at Yuan Yueze.
Lian Rou turned her head, glancing sideways at the suave, scholarly-looking, yet cold-faced murderous demon king. She said hatefully, "You despicable villain! You dare call yourself a master? You dare to team up with others to attack my father!"
Yuan Yueze then understood that Commander Yun had been attacked from both sides by Shi Zhixuan and the Great Ming Sect, which was why he was injured so badly. But how could Shi Zhixuan be involved with the Great Ming Sect? Within the demonic sects, only the "Extinguishing Emotions Path," possessing the "Punishment Escape Technique" (a small portion of the criminal arts that was destroyed by Ghost Shadow years ago), could refine extremely rare poisons. If Shi Zhixuan obtained this poison-refining method and combined it with the *Medicine King Scripture*, there was indeed a high probability he could refine a poison that no one could cure.
While many incomprehensible questions flashed through his mind, Shi Zhixuan ignored the arrogant Lian Rou, shaking his head and chuckling as a powerful burst of true energy erupted, enveloping the three of them.
"If you wish to harm Yu Yan's husband, you'll have to ask me first!"
Zhu Yu Yan's alluring voice suddenly rang out, carrying a mysterious and enigmatic air.
The group looked over and saw Zhu Yu Yan's slender and graceful figure approaching from the north. She carried a burly man, seemingly oblivious to his fate, her steps light and deliberate, as if treading on earth, yet also as if walking on thin air.
Shi Zhixuan's expression turned cold.
With boundless grace in her movements, her eyes sparkling with a captivating light, she possessed an alluring and enchanting quality. Her beautiful face showed slight fatigue, but her bright eyes gleamed with a sharp light. Zhu Yu Yan finally arrived beside Yuan Yueze. Without needing many words, a glance was enough for the two to know that the other was unharmed. After nodding in acknowledgment, Zhu Yuyan looked at Shi Zhixuan and coldly asked, "What are you doing here?"
Shi Zhixuan rarely showed a human-like smile and chuckled, "Yuyan, have you forgotten your old flame because you have a new love? Your old flame, Yue Shan, arrived in Chang'an last night and is openly staying near the capital. Li Yuan has even gone to see him. Don't you want to go see him? I ran into him this morning and we exchanged a few blows. I found that his 'Sun-Changing Technique' is indeed a peerless skill of our time, and he can even fight me to a standstill."
Shi Zhixuan was indeed shrewd. With just a few words, he not only implied that every move in Chang'an could not be hidden from his eyes, but also sowed discord between Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan, and even instigated Yuan Yueze to deal with Yue Shan. This would not only buy Shi Zhixuan precious time, but also allow him to use someone else to kill Yue Shan.
Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan understood even more clearly: Song Shidao, to make his performance convincing, must have expressed his determination to eliminate Shi Zhixuan and avenge Bi Xiuxin.
Zhu Yuyan let out a silvery laugh and said, "Then how about Yuyan goes to see him, or even kills him for you? But before that, you must live under my thumb!"
Shi Zhixuan's long laugh made Yuan Yueze's eardrums tingle. He clearly felt that Shi Zhixuan's cultivation had improved at an unimaginable speed in the few months they hadn't seen him.
What kind of experiences had he had that allowed him to improve his cultivation so quickly without absorbing the essence of the relic?
This question had troubled Yuan Yueze for months, and he still couldn't figure it out.
But the facts were right in front of him, leaving him no choice but to believe it.
Shi Zhixuan let out a long laugh: "Let me see if my 'Seven Illusions of Immortality' can surpass the Holy Sect's highest mental technique, the 'Great Demon Seed Technique of the Dao Heart'!"
Before his words were finished, he had vanished. The next moment, his clothes fluttering wildly and his long hair standing on end, he appeared like a demon descended to earth, a foot in front of Zhu Yuyan, who stood calmly with her hands behind her back, and punched her in the chest.
"Don't look! Focus your mind!"
Yuan Yueze shouted, startling Lian Rou, who had been distracted by Shi Zhixuan's energy.
Releasing his true energy to shield Yun Shuai and his daughter from Shi Zhixuan's strange, alternating hot and cold true energy, Yuan Yueze didn't turn around. However, through his 'Mind's Eye,' he clearly observed every subtle movement in the battle. Shi Zhixuan's punch, seemingly slow, was actually as swift as lightning. As the fist traveled, the resulting raging aura intensified. Even more impressive was the tricky angle of his punch, constantly changing within its short range, completely blocking Zhu Yuyan's attack and evasion routes.
Just as Lian Rou was wondering why Zhu Yuyan remained motionless, certain to die under this unparalleled punch, Zhu Yuyan suddenly retreated with unbelievable speed.
Shi Zhixuan's body trembled, halting his momentum.
His fist stopped a foot away from Zhu Yuyan's slender neck, who remained standing still, her feet not budging an inch.
Shi Zhixuan laughed loudly, saying, "I, Shi, am a master of illusion, and my understanding of the 'spiritual superiority over matter' technique in the Demon Seed Technique is extraordinary. Even I was almost bewitched."
Zhu Yuyan didn't speak, only smiled slightly, and slowly pointed her sword finger.
Shi Zhixuan's pupils suddenly contracted. He withdrew his fist and switched to his elbow, swiftly sweeping away Zhu Yuyan's finger, which not only seemed to have no strength but was also incredibly slow. Because no one knew better than Shi Zhixuan, the one involved, that Zhu Yuyan's seemingly clumsy yet skillful finger strike was definitely faster than lightning.
"Bang!"
The two energies collided, producing a muffled thunderous sound. Zhu Yuyan's shoulders swayed slightly, and Shi Zhixuan, who had taken a step back, let out a long howl, suddenly shifting sideways, disappearing like a ghost ten feet away, then leaping up and heading into the nearby dense forest, vanishing without a trace in an instant.
If it weren't for Yuan Yueze protecting Yun Shuai and his daughter, they would probably have been pulverized by the energy field.
Yuan Yueze turned his head, a half-smile on his face, and said, "Why did you let him go? Was it because you couldn't bear to?"
Zhu Yuyan gave Yuan Yueze a huge, alluring glare, which made Lian Rou momentarily lose her composure. She thought to herself, "Shouldn't she be an old woman? How can she be so much more beautiful than him? Even women can't resist her charm!"
Zhu Yuyan didn't answer but instead asked, "You said that after hearing Shi Qingxuan's flute music that day, you disregarded the fact that your true energy would harm you and forcibly withdrew the burst of true energy so that he would only be injured but not killed. Why did you do that back then?"
Yuan Yueze smiled awkwardly.
Zhu Yuyan asked with a puzzled expression, "What kind of experiences has he had? Why is he so strong? If I wanted to kill him, I'm afraid I couldn't do it within a hundred moves."
Then she lifted the burly man in her left hand, kicked him, and said, "I've been tracking this scoundrel for the past two days. He even managed to escape just now. I'm exhausted."
"Cough!"
Yun Shuai, who had finished circulating his energy and regained some strength, opened his eyes. When he saw the stunningly beautiful Zhu Yuyan, he was momentarily stunned, then coughed lightly.
The other three followed his gaze down and saw that Yuan Yueze's hand, which had been resting on Lian Rou's fragrant shoulder, had unknowingly slid down her exquisite body to her slender waist. Lian Rou's large, watery eyes were misty with desire, and her slightly twisting body was unclear whether she was enjoying it or trying to break free.
Yuan Yueze casually stroked her flat stomach and asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
Zhu Yuyan's face flushed slightly, she spat inwardly, and turned her head away.
Seeing that this guy was even more shameless than rumored, openly disrespecting his daughter without any sense of shame, and becoming even more unscrupulous, Yun Shuai, however, was still grateful to Yuan Yueze for saving his life. He reluctantly said, "Thank you for saving my life, Brother Yuan. Please let go; we've regained some strength."
Yuan Yueze shouted, "Don't move!"
startling Yun Shuai, who was struggling to move away. Even the lustful Lian Rou regained some of her senses.
Zhu Yuyan interjected, "Grand Preceptor Yun, don't act rashly! You're both severely poisoned. Princess Lian Rou is alright, but after the intense battle, the poison has rapidly spread through your internal organs along with your inner energy. If your husband hadn't been constantly channeling energy into you, you would have died long ago." Yun Shuai
, with his considerable cultivation, certainly understood that there was nothing he could do! He looked at Lian Rou with affection and said with a wry smile, "I thought we wouldn't be able to escape to the Central Plains. It's already quite remarkable that we've survived these few more days. My daughter's injuries aren't serious. Please take good care of her in the future. I will be eternally grateful."
Lian Rou's face turned pale, and tears streamed down her face like broken beads. She hugged Yuan Yueze and pleaded, "Your abilities are extraordinary. Please save my father. I will repay you even if I have to be your servant."
Yuan Yueze smiled and said, "I never use servants in my household."
Then, ignoring the disappointed Lian Rou, he said to Yun Shuai, "National Preceptor Yun, don't say discouraging things. I can guarantee with my life that you are not only out of danger, but you will also recover all your strength tonight. Tell me about your ordeal!" Yun Shuai
, who had already lost all hope, was overjoyed. Although he still had doubts about whether he could survive, he had heard of Yuan Yueze's miraculous abilities. So, in his life-threatening situation, he felt as if he had grasped a lifeline and nodded, "Then I will trouble Brother Yuan."
"Slap!"
Upon hearing Yuan Yueze's confident words, Lian Rou immediately tiptoed and kissed Yuan Yueze's handsome face with her fragrant, soft cherry lips, saying in a coquettish voice, "If you save Father, I'll marry you, okay?"
Yuan Yueze once again experienced the generosity of women from beyond the Great Wall.
Zhu Yuyan glared at him and said, "Sit down and talk."
Tossing the unconscious burly man aside, the four sat down on the spot, and Yun Shuai began to recount, "I benefited greatly from the battle with Brother Yuan that day. I wanted to take my daughter back to the Western Turkic Khaganate to cultivate in seclusion, but who knew that many things would happen."
Lian Rou remembered Yuan Yueze's evaluation of her that day and pouted unhappily, saying to Yuan Yueze, "You said I was cunning, but I've only been exposed to things from a young age, and there are many things I don't understand." Yun Shuai raised his hand
to interrupt his daughter, who was clearly caught up in love, and continued, "Both of you are extraordinary people. You should be able to guess the reason why I came to Chengdu last time. It was under the Great Khan's orders to come to the Central Plains to stir up trouble, take the opportunity to cooperate with some forces, and plot to seize the Central Plains." "Originally."
After Yuan Yueze and the other man nodded silently, Commander Yun continued, "Don't be fooled by my outward appearance of success. I have untold hardships behind the scenes. In the year your former Sui Emperor Yang died, Khan Tong Yehu succeeded his brother Shekui as Khan of the Western Turks. I supported him before he became Khan, which is why I became the Grand Preceptor. But starting more than ten years ago, Tong Yehu began to suspect me. Although he didn't show it, I could clearly feel it. However, due to our long-standing friendship, and because his uncle Moheduo in the country has always opposed him becoming Khan, Tong Yehu did not deprive me of my rights."
Lian Rou looked at Commander Yun in surprise, clearly unaware of these matters.
Yun Shuai sighed and said, "Tong Yabghu is brave and resourceful, with unparalleled martial prowess. For over ten years, he has conquered the Tiele in the north, resisted Persia in the west, and connected with Jibin in the south, subjugating all without exception. He commands hundreds of thousands of archers, dominating the Western Regions. My hometown is Persia. Four years ago, Tong Yabghu became increasingly distrustful of me. He secretly carried out many things I should have known. Later, through my own investigation, I discovered that he had found someone more useful than me. I don't know that person, but one time, after getting drunk, I overheard Tong Yabghu vaguely mentioning the Uyghur Holy Religion, Allah, and the *Baoming Zhenjing*. After further investigation, I learned that the person was a member of the Great Ming Zunjiao sect, but there were no clues about Allah or the *Baoming Zhenjing*. Based on my experience, it should be a name from a country near Persia. On the way back to Western Turks from Chengdu, my daughter and I were attacked by many mysterious people. After arriving in Western Turks, we hadn't even had time to rest..." Then I was invited as a guest by Tong Yehu. During the banquet, under the pretext of a martial arts contest, they asked me to participate, but I fell into their trap. Although I escaped, my daughter was captured by Tong Yehu. It took me two months to find out my daughter's whereabouts. On the way to rescue her, I overheard Tong Yehu conspiring with someone and learned that Tong Yehu's ruthlessness towards me was due to coercion. That person seemed to have some shady dealings with Mohedu, and I guessed it was the Uyghurs whom Tong Yehu had always trusted. At the time, I didn't have time to think much about it. I took my daughter and headed east, intending to make further plans after reaching the Central Plains, where hidden talents abound. But as soon as news of my daughter's rescue spread, the Uyghurs began to hunt us down. We killed countless pursuers along the way. This time, the experts they sent were not only terrifying but also knew how to use poison. We fell into their trap without even realizing it.
Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan fell into deep thought.
Yun Shuai gave a wry smile and said, "Brother Yuan is someone who has a grudge against the Great Ming Zunjiao. I'm telling you this information in the hope that it will be helpful to you. After all, if the Western Turks fall into the hands of a cult, it will pose a greater threat to your future."
Yuan Yueze sighed, "The Great Ming Zunjiao is not something you can deal with so easily!" He
then told Yun Shuai everything he knew.
Yun Shuai was shocked after hearing this, saying, "There are still descendants of the Liu Song dynasty of the Southern Dynasties alive, and they have even become leaders of a cult, intending to revive the Liu Song dynasty?"
Yuan Yueze said helplessly, "Things have become so complicated, alas!"
Yun Shuai and his daughter looked at him in bewilderment.
Zhu Yuyan shrugged and took his large hand.
The matter was indeed complicated, because it was not surprising that Yun Shuai and his daughter did not know Allah and the "Precious Life True Scripture," but Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan knew the details: it involved Islam, one of the three major religions of later generations. Islam arose in the Arabian Peninsula in the early 7th century, revived by Muhammad of Mecca. For over a thousand years afterward, numerous feudal dynasties, large and small, were established under its name, including the Umayyad Caliphate, the Abbasid Caliphate, the Fatimid Caliphate, the Mughal Empire of India, and the Ottoman Empire of Turkey. Initially a religion of a nation, it then became the spiritual source of feudal empires, and subsequently a religious, cultural, and political force, a way of life, continuously developing worldwide and eventually becoming one of the three major religions of later generations.
Based on the timeline, more than a decade ago, the middle-aged Muhammad should have claimed that while meditating alone in the Cave of Hira, he received divine revelation from Allah, commanding him to act as a messenger on earth to spread the teachings. The Quran, also known as the "Precious Life Sutra," is the sole fundamental scripture of Islam. It is a collection of Allah's revelations proclaimed by Muhammad during his twenty-three years of missionary work.
By this time, a theocratic Muslim regime based on Islamic faith should have been established on the Arabian Peninsula. The person manipulating Tong Yabghu is likely the ambitious Liu Yu, whose ambitions are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Judging from Yun Shuai's information, Liu Yu may have already gained Muhammad's control, or perhaps the two have established some kind of cooperative relationship based on shared interests.
He had no interest in religious matters. In later times, with the separation of church and state, he wouldn't object to the existence of any normal religion. But things were different now. This was the feudal era, where the rise and fall of religions were closely linked to politics. For both public and private reasons, Yuan Yueze would never tolerate such a situation.
The situation in the Central Plains was becoming clearer, but turmoil had begun in the outer regions. Liu Yu, ambitious and seeking to restore the old dynasty, and colluding with foreign tribes to control the Western Turks, and the mysterious Eastern Turkic shaman, the Red-Clothed Shaman, were the two people Yuan Yueze feared most. It wasn't that they were particularly capable, but rather that their wisdom and cunning were terrifyingly extreme. What was strangest was that these two had vanished almost a year ago, as if they had evaporated into thin air. Their subordinates hadn't bothered Yuan Yueze again, which only made Yuan Yueze more agitated.
Zhu Yuyan transmitted her mental information to his mind, suppressing her agitation. Pointing to the man on the ground, she said, "Let's go back to the city and interrogate him. Let him see my methods. Although not as powerful as the 'Five Extreme Punishments' of the 'Path of Extinction,' they're by no means inferior."
Yuan Yueze released the burly man's pressure points with a flick
of his finger, impatiently saying, "Why bother with all that!" He then gave the burly man a short time to regain his senses before coldly saying, "Tell me everything you know, or you'll suffer worse than death!"
The burly man was no weakling. Realizing his true energy was sealed, he could only stand up, look around, and give a disdainful snort, refusing to speak.
Zhu Yuyan pouted and said, "I caught him yesterday morning. No matter how I tortured him, he wouldn't talk."
Yuan Yueze flicked his left hand, saying, "Isn't that easy?"
The burly man looked at Zhu Yuyan and the Yun father and daughter, their faces pale, bewildered. What had happened to shock them so much?
Suddenly, he felt a chill wind whistling through his head. Just as he reached up to touch his scalp, he was horrified to discover a dark mass protruding from the tip of Yuan Yueze's longsword—a clump of hair still attached to his scalp.
A piercing pain shot through his body, and the burly man
immediately understood. Zhu Yuyan and the other two felt like vomiting.
Yuan Yueze's lightning-fast sword had ripped a large hole in the burly man's head. The strike was exquisitely precise, cleaving the skull open without damaging his brain tissue. The sight of white brain matter, the intricate network of bright red blood vessels, and the trickles of blood seeping from the subcutaneous tissue was enough to make even the ruthless Zhu Yuyan and the cold-blooded Yun Shuai feel nauseous. Lian Rou even turned away and vomited.
The burly man let out screams worse than a pig being slaughtered, still refusing to surrender.
He couldn't even run; Zhu Yuyan's imposing aura had already locked him in place, making even a single step difficult.
Seeing that he was bleeding very little, Yuan Yueze's expression grew even colder. Suddenly, he leaped in front of him, and with a forceful 'ripping!', tore off the man's entire arm. Seeing that only a few thin trickles of blood flowed from the wound, Yuan Yueze transformed into a demon. A flash of white light, and the burly man's other arm fell to the ground.
"I'll tell you everything! Spare me!"
the burly man, sweating profusely and pale with pain, knelt and begged for mercy.

Chapter 085: A Feast Without Goodness The lanterns
were lit.
Li Shimin, who outwardly appeared as if nothing had happened, personally came to escort Yuan Yueze to the Taiji Palace for a banquet.
The group passed through the Anli Gate, the Crane Feather Hall, and the Ganlu Hall, making their way to the Taiji Palace.
Li Shimin kept talking, but Yuan Yueze's thoughts drifted back to an hour earlier.
Under the coercion of torture methods such as "human stick" and "dried human flesh," and with Zhu Yuyan's enticements, the burly man finally broke down and revealed everything he could.
He was merely a pawn on the periphery of the Great Ming Venerable Sect, responsible for delivering intelligence. He had been taught the sect's ultimate techniques and thought he could become a peerless master. However, when he reached the point of no return, he discovered that the divine skill had left him in a state of neither life nor death. Although he had been brainwashed by the sect's doctrines, he had one weakness: a fear of death. His companions, who had been trained with him, couldn't bear such a life and committed suicide. Only he couldn't bring himself to do it, which gave Yuan Yueze an opportunity to break down his psychological defenses.
According to him, he was delivering intelligence for a "Mr. Feng" he had only met once. From his description, Yuan Yueze already knew that "Mr. Feng" was Xi Feng. Yun Shuai, who had cooperated with An Long before, also hinted that this Mr. Feng had also cooperated with An Long. Yuan Yueze then remembered that he had indeed heard An Long say the same thing to You Niaojuan in Chengdu.
Two days ago, Zhu Yuyan went to see Yin Zuwen, but Yin Zuwen was two-faced and only gave her perfunctory answers. Zhu Yuyan then followed the big man to a place more than a hundred miles outside the city, where she caught him meeting with four other experts. The four men, captured by Zhu Yuyan, refused to be humiliated and committed suicide on the spot. The big man said he didn't know the identities of the four men, only that they were sent by the palace. This gave Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan a clue: whose subordinates were these four men?
The Crown Prince's faction? Li Yuan? Or Li Shimin?
The real answer could not be guessed for the time being, because all of them were possible.
The message the burly man conveyed consisted of only eight words: "One plan succeeded, the second plan is temporarily suspended."
Two days earlier, Yuan Yueze would never have known the true meaning of these words. Now, however, he deduced that the "first plan" was likely the scheme involving "poison" and "explosives." In fact, their first plan had already failed today. So what was the "second plan"?
Another matter caught Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan's attention. As Yuan Yueze was enthusiastically explaining the "human stick" torture to the trembling man, the couple clearly sensed a faint, peaceful spiritual aura emanating from at least a hundred feet away, vanishing in the blink of an eye. After
arranging for the immobile Yun Shuai and Lian Rou to stay in a secluded cave in the wilderness, temporarily imprisoning the half-dead man, Yuan Yueze and Zhu Yuyan rushed into the city. His first priority was to summon his two wives and use their special powers to revive Yun Shuai and his daughter.
Upon entering the palace and returning to the West Garden, they briefly discussed the matter with the women present. Yun Yuzhen and Wei Zhenzhen were tasked with detoxifying Commander Yun and his daughter. Since the release of their extraordinary power required at least some time to recover, the woman with the least responsibility among them was best suited to perform the detoxification.
Song Yuzhi spoke first, "It's getting late, we should go to the banquet. Sister Junzhuo just secretly saw Li Yuan in plain clothes going to see Second Brother. Could it be related to the banquet tonight? Or did he directly invite Second Brother to the banquet?"
Yuan Yueze asked in surprise, "What? Isn't Second Brother being too reckless?"
Shan Meixian smiled, "Shidao would never do that. This morning, Zhizhi got a letter from Shidao that he left for us through 'Yuxinglong's' informant. It said that he entered the city last night and stayed at an inn near the capital. Li Yuan has informants all over the city, and Shidao swaggered in, so he was discovered by Li Yuan immediately. Afterwards, he went to see him. Shidao briefly said that in order to avoid benefiting those people who manipulate the Crown Prince's party behind the scenes, he pleaded for Li Shimin. It seems that Li Yuan did not severely punish Li Shimin today, which must be related to what Shidao said."
Yuan Yueze suddenly realized: he and Song Shidao were similar in personality, but there were subtle differences. He was the kind of person whose principles were so strong as to be abnormal, ruthless to the extreme in his dealings with others and himself; Song Shidao, on the other hand, was more like a "normal person," and his perspective and way of thinking would naturally be different. Yuan Yueze could be ruthless towards Li Shimin, but Song Shidao could not. In doing so, he had done Li Shimin a great favor. Moreover, this also showed Li Yuan's trust in Yue Shan, his "elder brother" from many years ago.
Shang Xiuxun, who had just finished combing her hair into a ponytail, snuggled into Yuan Yueze's arms and said sweetly, "Second Brother Song has some very important news. He said that Li Yuan, in order to help him take revenge, plans to send several mysterious masters who have followed Li Yuan for decades and have mastered extraordinary martial arts from other regions to help Second Brother Song. However, in order not to give himself away, Second Brother Song, although very eager to know the origin of these mysterious masters, had no choice but to refuse. He also said in his letter that it was inconvenient to contact us and that everything would be done as the situation allowed.
" Yuan Yueze thought to himself that with Yue Shan's proud nature, how could he easily accept Li Yuan's proposal? Therefore, Song Shidao could only refuse. So he kissed her soft cheek and asked, "What did you all discover today?"
Shan Meixian told Yuan Yueze about Bai Qing'er's 'playing along' and how Xiao He'er was stubbornly kept in 'Shanglin Garden' by Ji Qian. Apart from being followed, the other girls had not encountered anything else.
Bai Qing'er only felt a blur before her eyes, and Yuan Yueze's large mouth lightly pecked her pretty face. Then, he said with admiration, "Qing'er, that was quite a move."
Being humiliated in public, Bai Qing'er blushed with shame and anger. She kicked out, her small foot almost hitting Yuan Yueze's groin. Yuan Yueze jumped back a zhang and exaggeratedly covered his crotch, shouting, "If you dare to cripple me, my wives will hate you to death!"
The other women were used to his antics, but Bai Qing'er was still not used to it. She said weakly to Shan Meixian, "Senior Sister, aren't you going to do something about him?"
Shan Meixian glared at Yuan Yueze and said, "Stop fooling around. Tonight, Xiuxun, Zhizhi, Feng'er, and Qing'er will accompany my husband to the banquet."
Of these four women, except for Bai Qing'er, all of them were of high enough status to attend such an important occasion. Although Bai Qing'er's identity was unknown, it was a good plan for Shan Meixian to use to show Yuan Yueze's importance to her and to confuse Yin Zuwen, who would definitely be attending. Yuan Yueze asked, "Aren't you and Bei'er going? You two have more experience; you'd be better at handling those kinds of occasions."
Xiao Bei shook her head, "Meixian and I can't attend. I met with my brother today; he's old-fashioned and rigid, and he thinks I've disgraced the Xiao family. We had a very tense argument. Meixian, to avoid Li Yuan who's been giving her the cold shoulder these past few days, has also decided not to attend. Zhizhi and Qing'er are perfectly capable of handling those occasions for my husband."
Yuan Yueze sighed, "It seems Xiao Yu is wholeheartedly devoted to the Li Tang. Li Yuan dared to make a move on Meixian! He's infuriated me! I'll kill him in public tonight!"
Shan Meixian laughed, "Don't be reckless! A moment of impulsiveness could ruin everything; wouldn't you regret it later?"
Dugu Feng chimed in, "Exactly! That's how charming Meixian is!"
Shan Meixian lightly tapped her head, saying, "Let's discuss the possible situations at the banquet and how to deal with them!"
"Brother Yuan! Brother Yuan! We've arrived!"
Li Shimin's voice roused Yuan Yueze from his reverie.
He coughed awkwardly and looked around.
Before him lay a wide plaza flanked by bell and drum towers, with the magnificent Taiji Hall standing imposingly at the north end. A path paved with large stone slabs led from the plaza's gray brick surface to the hall's entrance. The Taiji Hall was the most magnificent building in the palace, twelve bays wide and fifteen bays deep. Most breathtaking was its single-eaved, four-sloped roof, with four layers of brackets, a simple yet intricate structure—a true combination of beauty and mechanics. At the north end of the spacious hall were six round tables for the head of the family; those seated there were undoubtedly members of the royal family. Seating was arranged on the east and west sides, everything orderly and orderly.
The hall was filled with over a hundred guests, mainly Tang officials and their families, as well as local merchants, envoys from other regions, and foreign merchants. Whether palace maids or officials' wives, all were dressed in their finest attire, adorned in silks and brocades, adorned with jewels and fragrant powder, their elegant attire adding to the gentle charm of the banquet. Although the hall was full, as this was a court banquet, everyone was solemn and restrained, daring not to make a sound, only whispering among themselves, creating a controlled and serious atmosphere. As
soon as Yuan Yueze and his entourage stepped into the hall, all eyes instantly turned to the family of the evening's main guests. Li Shimin, knowing the situation, stood to the side.
All the men's eyes were fixed on Shang Xiuxun to Yuan Yueze's right, while all the women's eyes were fixed on Yuan Yueze.
From the moment Shang Xiuxun, lightly dressed, stepped into the hall, everything and everyone within seemed to pale in comparison. Her unadorned, natural beauty, her ethereal and refined气质 (qi zhi - a kind of refined elegance), and the simple white gauze draped over her body, her hair tied back with a blue bow—a stark contrast to the elaborate court hairstyles of the era—made her transcend the definition of 'perfection.' She seemed to exist independently of heaven and earth; to look at her even slightly would be to desecrate this sacred goddess.
The women in the hall, whether married or unmarried, were momentarily captivated, though a touch of jealousy followed. But their gazes were immediately drawn to the handsome, dashing, and composed Yuan Yueze. Many young women, still unmarried, were completely mesmerized by him.
Yuan Yueze and the four women felt a chill run down their spines. He disliked being in the limelight and was particularly uncomfortable with being stared at like a monkey.
Li Shimin coughed heavily, startling the stunned crowd. He led the five men to the head table at the north end of the hall, where six round tables were arranged. Those seated at these six tables were of extraordinary status; judging by their size, they were all subordinates of Li Yuan's three sons. Crown Prince Li Jiancheng had the most seats, followed by Li Shimin, and Li Yuanji had the fewest. Those who had arrived were seated on the east and west sides in an orderly fashion.
After temporarily arranging the five men's seats, Li Shimin introduced Yuan Yueze to the nearby dignitaries. Kou Zhong and his companion were chatting enthusiastically at a table not far away, not looking over, but instead making a victory sign under their armpits. Yuan Yueze found it amusing: Wei Zhenzhen or Song Shidao must have taught them that.
Yuan Yueze smiled slightly at Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, whose faces were gloomy with frustration at the failure of their scheme. He glanced at the two empty seats beside him and said to Song Yuzhi, who was sitting not far away, "Zhizhi, sit next to me."
Song Yuzhi wrinkled her delicate nose and said, "Those are seats arranged by the Emperor; I dare not sit there!"
Hearing her slightly sarcastic tone, Li Yuanji's expression grew even colder.
Li Shimin's expression remained unchanged as he said, "These are seats arranged by Father for the young marshal and Xiuning."
Yuan Yueze felt a sense of foreboding. This old fox, Li Yuan, was clearly planning to scheme against Yuan Yueze from the very beginning. He knew that if Li Xiuning sat between him and Kou Zhong, all three, with their complicated relationship, would be awkwardly put in a passive position. Yuan Yueze
's expression suddenly became incredibly calm, and he quickly drifted into a state of profound contemplation.
At this moment, a commotion suddenly arose at the palace entrance. It turned out that Shang Xiufang had arrived, accompanied by Li Xiuning. Men and women alike vied to see her, a testament to her astonishing charm.
Since Shang Xiuxun took her seat, no one dared to look at her anymore. One reason was that she was so perfect as to be almost unreal, preventing anyone from having any impure thoughts; another reason was that she was the beautiful wife of the ruthless Yuan Yueze, and who would dare to glance at her for more than a second! Shang Xiufang, on the other hand, was more real than her. Most importantly, Shang Xiufang was a beautiful woman without a master.
Shang Xiufang was indeed naturally beautiful, possessing a captivating beauty that could topple kingdoms. Her most charming feature was that every movement she made was graceful and elegant; every smile and frown could bewitch all beings. When she and Li Xiuning arrived at Yuan Yueze's table, everyone, including Li Shimin, was breathless with admiration at her extraordinary and captivating beauty revealed even with minimal makeup. Li Jiancheng and Kedazhi both stared at Shang Xiufang with infatuated expressions.
Her large, seemingly affectionate eyes swept over everyone before finally settling on Yuan Yueze, who was deep in thought. She smiled and said, "Xiufang thanks His Highness the Crown Prince and the Emperor for the invitation. Young master, it's been several months since we last met. How have you been?"
Her gaze remained fixed on Yuan Yueze, but her first words were addressed to Li Jiancheng. Li Jiancheng's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. Kedazhi, standing to the side, looked at Yuan Yueze with envy.
"Ah?"
Yuan Yueze, who could fall into deep thought at any moment, was startled awake by a nudge from Bai Qing'er beside him. The first thing he saw was Li Xiuning, dressed in magnificent court attire, exuding a noble air, her faint smile clearly forced. He smiled and said, "So it's Xiuning. Come, come, sit down! Ouch!"
Bai Qing'er pinched him again, pouting at the embarrassed and dissatisfied Shang Xiufang.
"Xiufang is here too? Sit! Sit!"
Yuan Yueze's strange expression and actions made everyone at the table try to suppress their laughter, and the girls even burst out laughing.
Shang Xiufang looked even more embarrassed. Li Shimin smoothed things over, saying, "Miss Xiufang, please take a seat. Father should be arriving soon."
Shang Xiufang sat down at the next table with dissatisfaction, and Li Jiancheng and Keda immediately went over to fawn over her.
Ignoring Shang Xiufang, Yuan Yueze continued to think about how to turn the tables. Bai Qing'er leaned closer and lowered her voice to the lowest possible level, but still spoke clearly, her breath sweet as orchids, "The guests attending tonight are all high-ranking figures of the Li Tang dynasty. Young Master, you must be careful."
Before Yuan Yueze could answer her, palace music began.
The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty arrived, and all the guests in the hall stood at attention to welcome him.
Li Yuan, accompanied by three concubines and surrounded by dozens of eunuchs and palace maids, arrived slowly.
All three women wore wide-sleeved, knee-length cloaks embroidered with colorful gold thread patterns. Underneath the cloaks were short, long skirts tied at the waist, reaching almost to their armpits, making the already tall and slender women appear even more graceful and elegant. Their movements were graceful and captivating. However, the three women had distinctly different temperaments. The concubine on the left had a pitiful and charming appearance; the woman on the right had a seductive and alluring air; and the concubine with a slightly protruding belly, whom Li Yuan personally supported, was undoubtedly the most favored. She had delicate features, a high nose, deep-set eyes, and blonde hair with blue eyes, clearly a woman from the northern frontier. Beneath her delicate appearance, a wildness emanated from her bones. For a man who loved conquest, this woman was indeed a top choice.
Halfway through the procession, several women stepped out and stood beside the three brothers, Li Jiancheng and his brother, presumably their respective concubines.
Most of those sitting at the same table with Yuan Yueze were Li Yuan's confidants. Glancing at the petite and beautiful Princess Changsun beside Li Shimin, whose reputation was celebrated by later generations, Yuan Yueze thought to himself that under this feudal system where the emperor held supreme power, a minister's or concubine's lasting fame was largely dependent on the emperor's wisdom. Take Empress Xiao, for example; if she had met Li Shimin instead of Yang Guang, her reputation would certainly not have been inferior to that of Empress Changsun.
After a brief moment of reflection, Yuan Yueze used his supreme spiritual techniques to probe the body of what should have been Consort Lian, discovering that she indeed did not know martial arts.
After the Li clan members were seated around the main hall, Li Yuan took the lead and said, "Tonight is a banquet held by our Great Tang to welcome the Yuan family from Luoyang, including the young marshal; at the same time, my elder brother, a close friend from over forty years ago, the renowned 'Overlord Blade' Yue Shan from northern Shaanxi, has also come to Chang'an. On this auspicious occasion, please enjoy yourselves and drink to your hearts' content, without any restraint!"
Led by Li Yuan's two closest ministers, Liu Wenjing and Pei Ji, the assembled officials and guests toasted Li Yuan and Yuan Yueze three times, instantly enlivening the atmosphere in the hall.
Yuan Yueze wondered if Song Shidao had truly come to the banquet. Where was the others?
Li Yuan gestured with his hands and continued, "Soon it will be the Spring Festival, and the Turkic Khan, Jieli, will send the martial arts grandmaster 'Martial Venerable' Bi Xuan to Chang'an as a guest; and the 'Five Blades Overlord' Gaesomun, the chieftain of Goryeo, will also be arriving in Chang'an at that time. You will all be able to attend the New Year's banquet then!"
Everyone readily agreed.
Immediately afterwards, dozens of singing girls floated out like colorful butterflies from the rear hall doors on either side of the chairman, singing and dancing to the melodious sound of drums and music.
When the dance ended, cheers resounded throughout the hall.
Palace maids then brought out a continuous stream of delicacies, creating another lively atmosphere. When it was Li Yuan's turn to toast everyone, a harmonious atmosphere of joy and merriment arose. "
This is no welcoming banquet at all; it's clearly a show of the Li Tang dynasty's zenith and immense power!"
Yuan Yueze cursed inwardly.
After several rounds of drinks, Li Shimin raised a handsome young man in elegant attire and a haughty demeanor to the head of the table. He loudly proclaimed, "Since the renowned Brother Yuan and Young Marshal Kou are both here tonight, and both are masters of martial arts, why not add some excitement to the banquet?"
The young man glanced at Kou Zhong, who seemed utterly disoriented upon seeing Li Xiuning, and Yuan Yueze on the other side, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. It was unclear what deep-seated grudge he held against Yuan Yueze and Kou Zhong.
Yuan Yueze glanced at the absent-minded Kou Zhong and the unnatural expression on Li Xiuning's face, shook his head, and sighed. Matters of the heart were truly too complicated. He then stood up and said…? "How should I address you, sir? If you wish to spar, why not? I, Yuan, am happy to oblige!" the
young man declared proudly. "My name is Chai Shao. Brother Yuan, your martial arts are superb. May I, your humble servant, challenge the young marshal first?"
Chai Shao's words were indeed brilliant. After his marriage to Li Xiuning was abruptly annulled, he naturally harbored deep resentment towards Yuan Yueze. Yuan Yueze's reputation was too great, and the close relationship between Kou Zhong and Yuan Yueze was common knowledge. Although the two appeared cold on the surface after arriving in Chang'an, they still did not reassure those with ulterior motives. Chai Shao's words not only did not provoke resentment but also made people admire his magnanimity even more. Although fighting was not allowed within the Forbidden City, the Li clan had a tradition: every festive occasion was a good day for sparring. Everyone would only touch the target briefly, without any serious injuries or bloodshed. It was precisely because of the Li Tang's strong martial spirit that their army was invincible. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chai Shao not only used Li Xiuning to sow discord between Yuan and Kou, but also cleverly bypassed Yuan Yueze, using the chance to dampen the arrogance of the clearly out-of-focus Kou Zhong, thus gaining greater favor with Li Yuan. This multi-pronged strategy was indeed remarkable.
Li Shimin, standing beside him, remained calm and composed, even Yuan Yueze couldn't understand what he was thinking. If Chai Shao were to act impulsively in such a grand setting due to burning jealousy, wouldn't he be a fool?
Li Yuan, seated at the head of the table, first frowned, then said, "The competition is irrelevant; it's enough to stop when you've made your point. Do Young Master Yuan and the young marshal have any questions?"
In this situation, Chai Shao had already spoken so generously; if the two of them dragged things out, it would only damage their reputation and even undermine the confidence of the people in their respective territories.
Yuan Yueze was indifferent to such matters, but Kou Zhong laughed heartily, stood up, and his imposing figure made many women in the hall's eyes light up. He casually took a few steps forward, came to the center of the hall, and cupped his hands to Li Yuan, saying, "I have no objection, please give me your guidance, Brother Chai. But my brother Xu Ziling's cultivation is no less than mine, so next time you mention my brother, please don't forget to mention him."
Chai Shao indeed didn't mention Xu Ziling at all, but Kou Zhong was dissatisfied, which is why he said this.
"Brother Chai, wait!"
A pleasant voice came from Li Jiancheng's seat, and then, under everyone's gaze, Keda Zhi stood up, walked proudly to the front of the hall, knelt down and kowtowed to Li Yuan, saying, "Keda Zhi, the Commandant of the Changlin Army, had a battle agreement with the young marshal, but it was delayed due to yesterday's events. Under the circumstances tonight, may I ask to stand in for Brother Chai and fight the young marshal?"
He was not a local tyrant like Yuan Yueze or Kou Zhong, so he still had to perform the etiquette of a subject to a ruler.
His move was indeed brilliant. Just by observing that both Chai Shao and Kou Zhong could speak before their master, it was clear they were not only of high status but also acting under orders. He used this tactic to subtly mock Li Shimin as a suspect, imply that Chai Shao was no match for Kou Zhong, and steal the limelight from Chai Shao, cleverly 'stealing' the momentum the Tian Ce Mansion had just built.
Glancing at the unchanging Li Shimin and the now cold-faced Li Jiancheng, Yuan
Yueze suddenly understood after Li Shimin said, "If the general is interested, then please!" Li Shimin was extremely astute.
Because Crown Prince Li Jiancheng had sent the Turkic expert Keda Zhi to challenge the Tian Ce Mansion's forces at banquets and parties under the guise of 'martial arts friendship,' all of them, except for Li Jing, were defeated. The outcome of this two-on-one duel was not insignificant; in fact, it severely impacted the Tian Ce Mansion's prestige, morale, and confidence. Thanks to Li Shimin's unparalleled military achievements, the Tiance Mansion had established an unparalleled and perfect image among the people and soldiers of the Tang Dynasty. However, Keda Zhi, with his masterful Kuangsha sword technique, was trying to break through this flawless image. As a result, the Changlin Army's prestige naturally rose. If Li Shimin did not find a way to remedy this and restore his reputation, he would be forced to a disadvantage in the struggle against Jiancheng and Yuanji. Li Yuan, influenced by his favored concubine and treacherous officials, had a deteriorating impression of Li Shimin, but he still continued to bestow titles upon him, also out of necessity. If this situation were reversed, the consequences would be unpredictable.
The Tiance Mansion had suffered several defeats, but these had only occurred at relatively small imperial banquets. Although the Crown Prince's faction exaggerated and spread these incidents afterward, the damage, while severe, was not decisive. However, tonight, with a gathering of ministers and foreign guests, if the Tiance Mansion were to suffer another defeat, the consequences would be unimaginable.
When he initially sent the hot-tempered Chai Shao to challenge Kou Zhong, he had already accurately guessed the intentions of Li Jiancheng's side. Then, the martial arts enthusiast Ke Dazhi jumped in to steal the credit, but it was actually just a minor victory. Li Shimin cleverly transformed the conflict between the Crown Prince's faction and the Tian Ce Mansion into a conflict between the Crown Prince's faction and Yuan and Kou. Even more remarkably, to outsiders, Yuan and Kou appeared to be helping Li Shimin, which was perfect for Li Shimin to restore his prestige.
Li Shimin's retaliation was anything but simple!
As Yuan Yueze frowned deeply at Li Shimin's scheme, Li Yuan spoke up: "Very well, as you two have requested. Before the competition, please welcome our other distinguished guest for tonight." As soon as
he finished speaking, a chilling and overwhelming killing intent suddenly erupted from the dark corridor behind him, filling the spacious hall.
The hall fell into complete silence.
Everyone held their breath, staring at the entrance of the corridor.

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