【I Desire the World】【Part Six】

Feng Yihan, standing to the side, watched in surprise as Shui Qingqing handed an entire bottle of 'Azure Lotus Pills' to Wu Ziang. Having deep ties with the Demonic Sect, how could he not know the preciousness of these items? The Demonic Sect's 'Azure Lotus Spirit Pills' and Tianchi's 'Immortal Mushroom Pills' were universally recognized as holy medicines for healing, their rarity making them priceless. Shui Qingqing's generosity in giving all these spiritual medicines to Wu Ziang truly impressed him—this witch wasn't entirely heartless after all!
"Just some idle talk!" Wu Ziang smiled slightly. "Let's get down to business. You should know my intentions now!" (
Volume 3, Qin Du Feng Yun, Chapter 115, Unexpected Change)
"Ziang, don't keep me in suspense, just explain!" Distracted by Jingji's parents, Feng Yihan's train of thought was interrupted, so he shook his head and said.
"Have you forgotten what I instructed Chu Tianhe to do?" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly. "Tonight, I will send another elite team to take over!
Aren't Yi Han and Miss Shui worried about how to infiltrate the Commandant's Mansion undetected? Isn't this the opportunity I'm creating?"
"I see!" Shui Qingqing's beautiful eyes lit up upon hearing this. She now understood his intention. This method was brilliant—to send Chu Tianhe away and have herself and Feng Yi Han's trusted confidants disguised as soldiers to openly infiltrate the Commandant's Mansion!
"Yi Han and Miss Shui's problem is choosing a group of reliable people!" Wu Zi'ang looked at Feng Yi Han, who had also suddenly realized the situation, and continued.
"That's not a problem! What I lack least are loyal subordinates!" Feng Yi Han replied excitedly.
“Me too!” Shui Qingqing played with the amethyst bottle containing the 'Azure Lotus Elixir' in her jade-like hand, and nodded confidently, “It’ll be ready soon!” Wu Ziang stood up, dusted off his long robe, and said, “There’s no time to lose, you should go back and prepare as soon as possible!”
“Alright!” Feng Yihan also stood up and laughed, “Ziang, don’t laugh at my impatience, actually, I’m really anxious!
Well, I’ll take my leave first!” Saying that, without waiting for Shui Qingqing, he dusted off his robe and hurriedly left.
Shui Qingqing took two steps, then suddenly turned around and pounced on Wu Ziang like a gust of wind.
“What are you doing?” Wu Ziang asked, taking a step back warily. He had his hands wrapped around Shui Qingqing’s buttocks, always on guard against her retaliation.
“This, Lord Wu, you should keep it!” To Wu Ziang’s surprise, Shui Qingqing simply handed over the small amethyst bottle again.
"I was just joking!" Wu Zi'ang paused, then smiled and shook his head.
"Qingqing took it seriously!" Shui Qingqing chuckled softly, then, without a word, placed the amethyst bottle into Wu Zi'ang's hand before turning and leaving.
"This woman...!?" Watching Shui Qingqing's departing figure, a hint of confusion flashed in Wu Zi'ang's eyes. To be honest, he really couldn't understand this beauty!
After Feng Yihan and Shui Qingqing left, Wu Zi'ang also prepared to return to the General's Mansion. He hadn't forgotten to go with Qiu Xueqing to pick up his mother, and of course, he hadn't forgotten that Qiu Xueqing wanted him to rush back to take his medicine!
"Why are you back so early, husband?" Qiu Xueqing, who was decocting medicine, couldn't help but show a slight surprise when she saw Wu Zi'ang return.
"My wife ordered me to return early, and I dared not disobey!" Wu Zi'ang replied with a grin, then wrapped his arms around Qiu Xueqing's slender waist from behind.
"Husband, don't be silly, someone will see!" Qiu Xueqing said quirkily, but did not stop Wu Zi'ang's intimate actions.
"My wife's face is so delicate, I will obey your command!" Wu Zi'ang released his hand and stepped aside.
"I thought you would chat with that young lady for a while longer!" Qiu Xueqing gently fanned the fire, and the familiar aroma of medicine grew stronger, indicating that the medicine was almost ready and Wu Zi'ang's moment of punishment was approaching.
"My wife is jealous!?" Wu Zi'ang stared intently at her gently fanning herself; even such an ordinary action was so captivating.
"I am your wife. You are with another woman, and I am not allowed to be jealous?" Qiu Xueqing's jade-like face flushed red, but she still looked at Wu Zi'ang with wide eyes.
"Of course!" Wu Zi'ang's heart suddenly pounded. Even if he were stupid, he would understand that Qiu Xueqing's words were tantamount to admitting that she had opened her heart and completely accepted him!
"Drink it!" Qiu Xueqing presented the medicine to Wu Zi'ang with both hands, and said, "What are you daydreaming about?"
"My wife is so beautiful!" Touched, Wu Zi'ang flattered her profusely.
"Not as beautiful as that Miss Shui, is she?" Qiu Xueqing asked, a half-smile on her face.
"No! No! My wife is the most beautiful!" Wu Zi'ang took the medicine bowl, drank it all in one gulp without flinching, and then looked at her with utterly honest eyes.
"Alright! It's rare to see you take your medicine so well today!" Qiu Xueqing chuckled softly, taking out a silk handkerchief to gently wipe the medicine stains from Wu Zi'ang's lips.
"Shall we go pick up Mother this afternoon?" Wu Zi'ang gently pulled Qiu Xueqing into his arms and whispered.
"Mmm!" Qiu Xueqing responded softly, nestling obediently in his embrace. After lunch, Wu Zi'ang and Qiu Xueqing returned to the Ninth Prince's Mansion to pick up Lady Ling.
Having not seen her son for many days, Madam Ling held Wu Zi'ang's hand with great concern, saying, "Isn't it getting better? You've been taking medicine for so many days, but it hasn't worked!"
"It won't get better so quickly!" Wu Zi'ang smiled and reassured her, "Mother, don't worry, I actually feel much better!"
"You've always been frail!" Madam Ling shook her head and sighed, then added, "Listen to your mother, stay home and rest well!"
"Once this busy period is over, I'll stay home and rest peacefully!" Wu Zi'ang said, feigning ease, "Mother, don't worry, I'm not as bad as you think!"
"Alas!" Madam Ling looked at her son with deep worry. Lately, she had been having strange dreams, in which her son transformed into a blazing fire phoenix, flapping his wings and plunging into the Li River. She had a vague feeling that this was not a good omen, and coupled with Wu Zi'ang's sudden serious illness, she couldn't help but worry greatly.
Seeing that Madam Ling was still frowning, Wu Zi'ang and Qiu Xueqing used all their charm to finally coax her away, and they enjoyed a pleasant lunch together!
In the evening, at the entrance of the Commandant's Mansion, two squads of brightly armored soldiers stood on either side, while the Commander of the Cavalry, Chu Tianhe, was talking with the officer in charge.
"Brother, are you under General Tian Guang?" Chu Tianhe looked at the young officer before him with a hint of doubt.
"Indeed!" The young officer had an ordinary appearance, yet he gave off a mature air.
"My name is Wu Ming!" the young officer replied without hesitation.
"So it's Lieutenant General Wu!" Chu Tianhe laughed, "What a coincidence! I also have a distant relative who is a Lieutenant General under General Tian, Chu Zhan. Lieutenant General Wu should know him, right?"
"Never heard of him!" Wu Ming shook his head, speaking indifferently.
"Look at my memory! My distant relative works under General Feng Chang!" Chu Tianhe slapped his forehead, looking as if he had made a mistake, and then bowed to the other party, saying, "Please forgive my blunder, Lieutenant General Wu!"
"Commander Chu! It's getting late, and my men have been standing here for quite some time!" Wu Ming knew that the other party had become suspicious, otherwise he wouldn't have made such a probing question. If he continued to linger, he was afraid that he would eventually give himself away. He couldn't help but feel a little anxious, wondering why Wu Zi'ang hadn't appeared yet.
"No problem!" Understanding the unspoken meaning, Chu Tianhe readily nodded, waving his right hand. The soldiers guarding the door immediately made way.
Wu Ming turned around and waved his hand as well. Then, the remaining hundred soldiers filed in and entered the Commandant's Mansion.
As the last soldier entered the gate and Wu Ming was about to step into the Commandant's Mansion, he was suddenly startled to hear Chu Tianhe coldly say behind him, "Halt!" At the same time, a strong killing intent rolled in!
Wu Ming was startled. Damn it, he had finally been seen through. Turning around slowly,
Wu
Ming's expression remained calm. Meeting Chu Tianhe's almost tangible gaze, he said calmly, "What are your orders, Commander Chu?" In his heart, he didn't take this cavalry commander seriously, but at this crucial moment in the treasure transport plan, he really didn't want to create any complications. Therefore, he wouldn't take the initiative to act unless absolutely necessary.
Seeing the man before him remain so composed, Chu Tianhe couldn't help but sneer. Just as he was about to speak, he heard the sound of wheels approaching. Turning his head, he saw a carriage drawing near.
It slowly came to a stop, the curtain opened, and Wu Zi'ang's sickly face peeked out.
"Has General Wu arrived?" Wu Zi'ang asked immediately, his gaze sweeping over Wu Ming.
"Reporting to the General, it is indeed I!" Wu Ming thought to himself, "You've finally arrived."
"Wow! Commander Chu is here too!" Wu Zi'ang alighted from the carriage, glanced at Chu Tianhe, and smiled.
"The General ordered me to hand over my post, and I dared not neglect it!" Chu Tianhe quickly bowed and saluted.
"Oh! Did it go smoothly?" Wu Zi'ang continued to ask.
"Everything went smoothly!" Chu Tianhe glanced at Wu Ming, who was standing to the side, and saw his expression flicker with uncertainty before finally bowing and replying.
"Commander Chu, you've worked hard. Go back and rest early!" Wu Zi'ang said, feigning concern.
"Yes, Your subordinate takes his leave!" Chu Tianhe understood his superior's implied meaning and quickly responded. Then, with a wave of his hand, he led his soldiers away.
"If Zi'ang had arrived any later, this commander would have made his move," Wu Ming said solemnly, watching the direction Chu Tianhe and his men had left.
"Why? Did he recognize you, Yi Han?" Wu Zi'ang asked in surprise. Even he and Shui Qingqing couldn't detect any flaws in the disguise after it was completed. How could Chu Tianhe have seen through it? In fact, Chu Tianhe had only met Feng Yi Han twice.
"He may not have recognized me, but at least he can tell that I am not a subordinate general under Tian Guang!" Feng Yi Han, disguised as 'Wu Ming', said in a deep voice. "That doesn't make sense either.
The Commandant's Office is not under the military and rarely has official business dealings. There are quite a few subordinate generals under Uncle Tian. How could he recognize them all? If he didn't recognize them all, how could he determine that your identity was fake?" Wu Zi'ang shook his head, feeling very puzzled.
“What Young Master Feng said must be true!” The carriage curtain opened again, and Shui Qingqing lightly jumped down from the carriage and came to the two of them, saying, “Just now, Chu Tianhe must have seen Lord Wu arrive and learned from your conversation that Young Master Feng was indeed arranged by Lord Wu. Therefore, even though he knew that Young Master Feng was not Tian Guang’s subordinate, he still obeyed the order and left! Heh, this person is not simple!” She had secretly lifted the curtain to look outside and had taken in Chu Tianhe’s expression without missing a detail, which is why she made this judgment.
"Chu Tianhe is quite a talent, able to adapt to the times!" Feng Yihan nodded, agreeing with Shui Qingqing's opinion. He then asked Wu Zi'ang, "Zi'ang, do you think Chu Tianhe might...?"
Wu Zi'ang immediately understood and shook his head, saying, "Don't worry, I've already arranged everything. I've already spoken to Uncle Tian. Even if Chu Tianhe reports this to the Emperor, I have nothing to fear!" He wasn't exaggerating. He had obtained the hundred military uniforms from Tian Guang. Of course, he couldn't reveal the truth. He claimed that the defenses of the Commandant's Office were weak, so he had privately recruited a group of experts. Fearing criticism, he wanted to use the name of Tian's army! Tian Guang agreed to his request without even frowning, saying with a smile, "You are the General, so I will naturally obey your request."
"19 is fine!" Feng Yihan chuckled. "I really don't want to leave any trouble for Zi'ang!"
"I'll send someone to keep an eye on Chu Tianhe's movements. If he's not behaving himself, just kill him!" Shui Qingqing turned to the coachman Zhao Er and said, "I'll leave it to you!"
"Yes, Miss!" Zhao Er nodded, lightly jumped off the carriage, and chased after Chu Tianhe in the direction he had left. "Let's go!" Wu Zi'ang didn't stop him. If Chu Tianhe really wanted to stab him in the back, then so be it. He had already thrown the Infantry Commander into a death row cell, and he didn't mind taking the Cavalry Commander's life as well. Anyway, he was about to head west, so let the next generation worry about the position of Commandant!
The three of them turned and entered the Commandant's Mansion. At this time, Feng Yihan and Shui Qingqing's subordinates were already stationed every ten steps and every five steps throughout the mansion. Their task was to ensure the absolute safety of the Commandant's Mansion, while the second group of people who were about to arrive would be responsible for transporting the treasure.
As night completely enveloped Hengcheng, the back gate of the Commandant's Mansion quietly opened. Soon after, a group of men in black stealthily approached the gate. Upon receiving a slap from those inside, they filed into the Commandant's Mansion. Subsequently, every fifteen minutes, another group of men in black entered.
After the last person slipped into the Commandant's mansion, the four guards closed the gate and prepared to leave. However, one of the men, a pale-faced and beardless, suddenly tilted his ear and listened intently towards the door for a moment. A hint of doubt appeared on his face as he softly asked the other three, "Are there any members of the Demonic Sect who haven't arrived yet?"
"They're all here, a total of one hundred and fifty-three!" the tallest of the three replied. "What, are there more coming? Aren't they your people?"
"We're all here too, a full one hundred." The pale-faced man shook his head, a wary look flashing across his face. He whispered, "Since they're not our people, they must be enemies, not friends. Go and report quickly, just in case something changes!"
"I'll go!" a thin man volunteered. After receiving nods from the other three, he quietly ran into the mansion. The other three exchanged glances and stood close to the courtyard wall.
Then, a whoosh of wind suddenly rose, and five masked men in black leaped over the courtyard wall, landing in the backyard of the Commandant's mansion.
Before the five men in black could even regain their footing, the pale-faced, beardless man had silently darted behind one of them, lightly placing a fist on his back.
With a cracking sound, the man in black collapsed to the ground without uttering a sound, dying a dazed and confused death. The other four men in black immediately sensed something was wrong and shouted a warning. At the same time, the other two men with the pale-faced man emerged from the shadows, each attacking one of the masked men in black.
Suddenly, a gleaming blade flashed, reflecting the moonlight and emitting an eerie, cold light. The two demonic sect members who were about to ambush the masked men in black only saw a blur before their eyes, followed by a chill in their throats, and they collapsed, clutching their throats.
The pale-faced man was startled. Although these two demonic sect experts were not as skilled as him, he knew he couldn't defeat them in a single exchange. He had encountered a true master! the pale-faced man thought to himself, his eyes fixed intently on the one who had just drawn his blade.
The blade was still open, its slender, eyebrow-like shape causing the pale-faced man's heart to tighten. He whispered, "You're Lou Ren!?" The masked man in black didn't answer. He slowly raised his long sword above his head, his feet planted firmly on his sides. The pale-faced man immediately felt a chilling killing intent rushing towards him.
"You go. Leave this to me!" the masked man in black said curtly, the long sword above his head vibrating slightly, his aura locking onto the man opposite him.
"Alright!" The burly man in black, with an exceptionally imposing physique, responded, putting his hand into his mouth. A strange, bird-like cry rang out, and five more masked men in black leaped in.
Five in front, five behind. The pale-faced man's heart sank. His keen hearing allowed him to discern from the sound of the five landing that these men were all highly skilled.
"Go!" The burly man waved his hand, and the eight men flashed into the mansion.
"Ah!" Almost simultaneously, the masked man in black cried out, lunging forward with his blade.
A sharp flash of light, combined with the momentum of his leap, created an overwhelming sense of resistance.
The pale-faced man dared not be careless, whipping his sleeves to meet the blade.
With a clang, the blade and sleeves clashed, producing a crisp metallic sound. The pale-faced man staggered backward, his sleeves shredded by the blade's energy.
The masked man in black was initially startled, but after noticing something vaguely held in the moonlight, he realized what was happening. He let out another strange cry and, using the momentum of his previous strike, aimed straight for the central palace. His cherry-red blade flashed wildly, changing from a straight slash to a horizontal one. "This way!" The eight men in black who had infiltrated the Commandant's mansion, under the command of the burly man, moved with practiced ease towards the prison.
The strange noises coming from the back door had already been noticed by Feng Yihan and Shui Qingqing's men, who were responsible for guarding
it. They moved towards the prison in groups of three or five. The burly man was one thing, but the other seven, all wielding cherry-red blades, were not only ruthless and fierce in their swordsmanship, but also skilled in combined attacks. With each flash of their blades, they easily killed anyone who tried to stop them.
Even so, the burly man frowned secretly. When had the security at the Commandant's Mansion become so tight? Moreover, these guards were no ordinary soldiers; each one was skilled in martial arts. If he hadn't sought help from the Ghost Blade School, he probably wouldn't have even been able to enter the back gate, let alone rescue anyone.
"To the left!" After killing three more, the burly man leaped into the back garden. He knew very well that through this non-existent back garden was the location of the Commandant's Mansion's prison.
"Clang!" The seven Ghost Blade School experts coordinated skillfully, their thunderous strike finally meeting its match after successfully killing eighteen people.
Under the moonlight, a young man stood proudly, holding a long sword, blocking the path of the group of eight.
"Who goes there, daring to trespass into the Commandant's Mansion!" With a low, hoarse voice, the back garden immediately brightened, and surrounded by soldiers, a man in purple robes appeared in the eight people's sight.
"Kill him!" The burly man's eyes flashed with ferocity upon seeing the purple-robed man, and he pointed at him, shouting. "Zi'ang, step back!" The young man who had appeared earlier stepped forward, blocking the purple-robed man's path, and said.
What grudge do I have against him? The purple-robed man was none other than Wu Zi'ang. He looked at the burly, masked man with some curiosity. Although the man was masked, he felt a sense of familiarity. When he touched the man's empty right arm, a thought suddenly struck him, and he shouted, "Pass down the order to execute the death row inmate Jing Ji immediately!"
"Kill him now!" Hearing Wu Zi'ang's words, the burly man's eyes turned bloodshot, and he hissed the order.
Although the seven Ghost Blade Sect experts were displeased, they still let out a strange cry and charged at Wu Zi'ang with their swords raised.
"Let me handle this!" Feng Yihan stood ready, sword drawn, about to charge forward, when a soft, melodious voice suddenly rang in his ears. A fragrant breeze followed, and a lithe black figure had already plunged into the enemy's blade flash.
(Volume 3, Qin Capital Chronicles, Chapter 117: Heavenly Change 1)
Seeing a black figure rushing towards them, the seven Ghost Blade Sect experts focused their attention and recognized it as a woman in a black dress and mask. Seeing her so boldly attack, they shouted in unison and each slashed out with their swords.
The bright light of the swords flashed, the seven Japanese swords flicking out like snake tongues, cunning and venomous, sharp and fierce.
"Hmph!" The woman in the black dress snorted coldly, her figure flashing along an unpredictable trajectory, bursting out of the dense sword formation like a ghost. Before anyone could see her move, blood bloomed between the brows of four of the seven Ghost Blade Sect experts, who screamed and fell backward.
The other three experts, seeing this, were terrified and were about to retreat when they saw a faint silver light flash, felt a chill between their brows, and followed in the footsteps of their four companions.
In the blink of an eye, the burly man was all alone. He stared wide-eyed at the woman in the black dress standing before him with disbelief.
Neither Wu Zi'ang nor Feng Yihan had ever seen the 'Charming Empress' in action before. Although not among the Four Great Masters, she was still a figure on par with the Ghost King, the Demon Emperor, the Immortal Saint, and the Dao Madman. With a single move, the seven Ghost Blade Sect experts were utterly powerless to resist, losing their lives in a daze.
Wu Zi'ang and Feng Yihan both noticed the faint silver light and, recalling the weapon Shui Qingqing had used, immediately understood. To be able to transform soft spider silk into a sharp weapon and pierce the brows of those seven men—that skill alone was enough to make her look down upon the world.
"Who are you?" The burly man swallowed hard, staring at the beautiful woman who had just killed seven high-ranking soldiers, and asked in astonishment.
The beautiful woman snorted lightly, flicked her sleeve, and the burly man immediately felt a tightening around his waist, his entire body becoming uncontrollable. He was lifted into the air as if riding on clouds, but with a loud thud, he crashed heavily to the ground, dazed and confused.
"Hand him over to Lord Wu!" the beautiful woman said indifferently, then turned and walked away.
"What is your relationship with Jingji?" Wu Zi'ang was too lazy to take the man back to his room, so he interrogated him directly.
"Jingji is my elder brother!" The burly man struggled to raise his head, glaring at Wu Zi'ang with a fierce look.
"Oh!" Wu Zi'ang nodded, saying, "Remove the black cloth from his face!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a soldier stepped forward and ripped off the black cloth from the burly man's face, revealing an exceptionally ferocious face.
"It really is you!" Wu Zi'ang vividly remembered what had happened in Nanming Village that day, and immediately recognized the burly man as an accomplice of Jingji, whose right arm had been severed by Tie Ren's blow!
"So you're trying to break Jingji out of prison this time!" Wu Zi'ang's gaze swept over the seven corpses lying on the ground, and he asked in a deep voice, "How many of you are there? If you tell the truth, I'll give you a quick death!"
"I won't tell!" the burly man sneered, "Whether I die a good death or a bad one, I'll die anyway, I accept it!"
"Kill him!" Wu Zi'ang was too lazy to waste words on such a vicious and fearless scoundrel. With a command, soldiers rushed forward, their blades flashing, and the burly man was cut down.
"Continue searching!" Wu Zi'ang then ordered.
"No need!" a clear voice rang out, followed by a flash of white, and a woman in white appeared before them.
"Master!" "Looking at the newcomer, Feng Yihan couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
The newcomer was none other than Tian Dao Lei Rou. She glanced at everyone and said with a smile, "I was still worried, so I came to check. Hmm, I did find something!"
Just then, another man rushed over. It was the white-faced, beardless man who had been guarding the back door
. "Fortunately, Master arrived in time, otherwise Zhang Xin's life would have been lost!" The white-faced man recounted the scene with lingering fear. His martial arts were far inferior to that masked expert from the Ghost Blade Sect. After several rounds, he was in grave danger. Just when his life was in danger, Lei Rou arrived and killed the man in one fell swoop, saving his life!
"If that's the case, the enemy that attacked tonight should have been completely wiped out!" Wu Zi'ang asked with a smile after hearing what the man had said.
“I killed one first, then Master killed one, and with these eight, that makes ten!” Zhang Xin, the pale-faced man, wiped the sweat from his brow and answered.
“Except for this big man, the rest don’t seem to be from the Central Plains!” Feng Yihan looked at the gleaming Japanese sword on the ground and said with a hint of doubt.
“Young Master is right, the rest should be Japanese from the Eastern island nation!” Zhang Xin nodded.
“Japanese?” Wu Zi’ang’s heart skipped a beat. Looking at the Japanese sword on the ground, he thought to himself that they were just like the Japanese.
“Hmm! These seven people…” Tian Dao Lei Rou’s gaze swept over the seven corpses on the ground. She let out a slight sigh and then smiled, “So it was Empress Mei who made the move. Where is she?”
“She’s already gone to the back garden. She’s probably checking on Miss Shui’s progress!” Feng Yihan replied.
“Let’s go too!” Tian Dao Lei Rou said, “Although there were some minor changes, it didn’t cause too much trouble!”
Everyone agreed. A few people stayed behind to clean up the corpses, while the rest followed Tian Dao Lei Rou to the back garden.
This guy's really unlucky! Wu Zi'ang glanced one last time at the burly man's corpse, shaking his head inwardly. If it were any other day, he might have actually succeeded, but unfortunately, the other party chose this night to strike, and to make matters worse, the Empress and the Heavenly Blade, two great masters, were present. How could the word 'bad luck' even begin to describe it!
As dawn broke, Wu Zi'ang, who had been slumped over his desk, opened his sleepy eyes, stretched, and slowly stood up, his back aching and his limbs numb. Wu Zi'ang sighed inwardly; his body was getting worse and worse! He slowly walked a few steps to the window, pushed it open, and a blast of fresh air rushed in, instantly invigorating him. This was his habit; he always opened the window to feel the fresh air in the morning.
Throughout the night, the Heavenly Blade Lei Rou faction and the Demonic Sect mobilized nearly three hundred of their subordinates to transport the treasure of the Commandant's Mansion through a secret passage to the Fu Ji Rice Merchant Kingdom, and then devised another way to smuggle it out of Heng City.
Due to the time constraints, the amount of treasure transported by both sides was only two-thirds of the original plan. Even so, Wu Zi'ang still believed that with this treasure, both the Heavenly Blade and the Demonic Sect could achieve their respective goals.
Giving away this treasure for nothing seemed like the behavior of a merchant. But thinking about it carefully, had he lost out? He had used a treasure that originally didn't belong to him
to do a huge favor, thus bringing his relationship with the Heavenly Blade and the Demonic Sect to an almost impossibly close level.
Whether it was reincarnation or transmigration, his foundation in this world was weak. On the surface, he was a mighty general of the current dynasty, a commander of the Great Qin, and in the south, he had loyal subordinates and tens of thousands of iron cavalry left by his father. But in reality, he had no truly trusted and reliable forces that were entirely his! This treasure would be of great use to the Heavenly Blade, the Demonic Sect, or any other force, but in his hands, it was utterly useless. Because he had no room to maneuver, and moreover, now that the treasure had been exposed, he had no ability to monopolize this wealth that was worth more than a country.
His decision was not rash. During the treasure hunt, Feng Yihan refused to abandon his life and escape alone even at the critical moment of life and death. This was the fundamental reason why he spared no effort to help the other party. What kind of friend is most reliable? A friend who has shared life and death is most reliable - even though he had not known the other party for long!
As for the Demonic Sect, regardless of the character of Mei Hou and Shui Qingqing, just considering the relationship between Uncle Wei and Mei Hou, he didn't mind being a go-getter and giving his share of the treasure to Shui Qingqing!
In fact, both the Heavenly Blade and the Demonic Sect were potential stocks with appreciation potential - as for the Dao Sect, sorry, apart from the Immortal Saint and his disciples, plus Wei Lingyao, he found everyone else extremely displeasing!
"The weather is about to change!" The large dark clouds that appeared on the horizon made Wu Ziang sigh. The current situation in Hengcheng was like the sky, with a storm about to break. The success rate of his father-in-law's plan was almost a certainty. He learned from the Empress Dowager that not only was the Hengcheng garrison under his command under his father-in-law's control, but even the palace guards were at his disposal. The Imperial Guard Commander, Li Hui, was clearly one of his father-in-law's men!
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but admire his father-in-law, Ninth Prince Wu Shang's, shrewdness and foresight. Over the years, he had painstakingly cultivated numerous confidants, silently replacing Wuwei.
Just as he was pondering this, he heard footsteps outside the door, followed by Chu Tianhe's clear voice: "Your subordinate, Chu Tianhe, requests an audience!"
"Come in!" Wu Zi'ang wasn't surprised, as he had instructed Chu Tianhe to come this morning. Zhao Er, whom Shui Qingqing had sent yesterday, had returned. Chu Tianhe had acted without any impropriety, which pleased Wu Zi'ang greatly.
"Yes!" Chu Tianhe replied, stepping inside.
"Regarding last night's shift change, Commander Chu, do you have any questions?" Wu Zi'ang turned his head, his eyes fixed on the other man's face, and asked abruptly.
Chu Tianhe's expression changed instantly, but he quickly regained his composure and replied, "Reporting to the General, I have no questions!"
"Oh?" Wu Zi'ang seemed somewhat surprised, withdrawing his gaze and chuckling, "I noticed your expression yesterday, Commander Chu, and thought you had discovered something amiss, which is why I asked!"
"Rest assured, General, I will not speak of matters beyond my duty—everything was as usual last night. After the shift change, I returned to my residence to rest, and as instructed by the General, I came here early this morning!" Chu Tianhe answered calmly.
"Very good!" Wu Zi'ang nodded with satisfaction. The other man was intelligent and adept at the ways of a subordinate. Having such a trusted confidant would undoubtedly save a lot of trouble!
"To tell you the truth, Commander Chu, I received a secret report that someone intended to assassinate me, so I specially arranged for a group of experts to take over the guard duties from you!" Wu Zi'ang explained with a smile, "Last night, ten assassins were captured, all henchmen of the death row inmate Jing Ji. Commander Chu's task today is to carry out the execution on my behalf this afternoon! Afterwards, dispose of his body along with his accomplices!"
"Yes! Your subordinate obeys!" Upon hearing that an assassination attempt had occurred last night, Chu Tianhe was immediately startled, but after receiving the order, he bowed his head and responded. At the same time, his suspicions about the guard duty taken over last night lessened somewhat.
"Hmm!" Wu Zi'ang nodded, then said, "With a subordinate like you, I can handle things much more easily. It's just a pity that I'm about to be relieved of my post as Commandant, and I can no longer entrust Commander Chu with my duties!" "The General is no longer a Commandant!" Chu Tianhe's face showed surprise, but then he suddenly realized, "I was really confused. The General is the General; he would never be content with such a lowly position as Commandant for long!"
Seeing the other's ambiguous smile, a thought struck him, and he quickly knelt down, saying, "General, rest assured, whether you remain a Commandant or not, wherever you need me, just give the order, and I will do my utmost, even if it means going through fire and water!"
"I will remember Commander Chu's words today!" Hearing this direct and old-fashioned declaration of loyalty, Wu Zi'ang smiled and reached out to help the other up.
Just then, Tong Hu, the head of the guards outside the door, announced in a high-pitched voice, "Reporting to the General, Commandant Li Hui requests an audience!"
Wu Zi'ang was taken aback upon hearing this, thinking to himself, "How could it be him? "
Volume 3, Qin Capital Chronicles, Chapter 118, Heavenly Changes II.
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"What wind blew Lord Li here?!" As soon as Weiwei Li Hui entered, Wu Zi'ang greeted him with a smile and cupped his hands in welcome. After he became a commander, Weiwei Li Hui had hosted him at a banquet, so they were somewhat acquainted.
"What wind? Doesn't the General know?" Li Hui, the Commandant of the Guards, returned the greeting with a smile.
"Oh?" Wu Zi'ang was taken aback, a thought suddenly flashing through his mind. He couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Lord Li, could it be that you've been ordered by the Emperor to take over this Commandant's Office?"
"Indeed!" Li Hui nodded with a smile.
"Then what about Lord Li's position as Commandant of the Guards?" Wu Zi'ang was greatly surprised. Even if his father-in-law now controlled most of the power in Hengcheng, it wasn't a good idea to so openly place Li Hui in both the important positions of Commandant of the Guards and Commandant of the Capital. Not only would the officials object, but it would also arouse suspicion!
"The Emperor has, of course, arranged for someone else to take over!" Li Hui replied with a complex expression on his face.
"So that's how it is!" Wu Zi'ang nodded, seemingly understanding. Sending him west to take over Gong Yan's army, while appointing the former Commandant of the Guards, Li Hui, to take over the Commandant's Office, and then ordering someone else to fill Li Hui's vacancy—he couldn't believe there wasn't a reason for this arrangement. He knew his father-in-law's character well; cautious and calculating, even though he was his son-in-law and Li Hui was his confidant, his father-in-law couldn't completely trust them. He believed Li Hui was well aware of this as well.
"This is the Emperor's secret decree!" Li Hui took a roll of brocade from his sleeve and handed it to Wu Zi'ang.
Wu Zi'ang took it, glanced at it, and put it away with a smile, saying, "In that case, the official seal is handed over to Lord Li!"
With that, he gave an order, and a guard quickly presented the Commandant's Office seal.
The handover was complete. Wu Zi'ang didn't linger, chatted for a few moments, then bowed and took his leave of Li Hui.
Riding in an official sedan chair, escorted by four guards including Tong Hu, Wu Zi'ang returned to his residence—the General's Mansion.
From assuming the position of Commandant to stepping down, less than half a month had passed, making him probably the shortest-serving Commandant in the history of the Great Qin.
Having not slept well the previous night, Wu Zi'ang's complexion was even worse than usual, and he coughed violently several times.
Qiu Xueqing watched with great concern. Although Wei Xuanyi had said that Wu Zi'ang's life was not in danger, judging from his current condition, Wu Zi'ang's health was deteriorating.
"Don't worry!" Seeing the worry on her face, Wu Zi'ang forced a smile, suppressing his cough, "It's nothing, just that I didn't sleep well last night!"
"What urgent matter required you to go personally, and not return all night!?" Qiu Xueqing gently patted Wu Zi'ang's back, her tone tinged with reproach.
"It's urgent!" Wu Zi'ang couldn't tell his wife the truth, so he could only give a vague answer, then comforted her, "Now it's all right, I'm no longer a captain, so I can stay home and keep my wife company!"
Qiu Xueqing sighed softly, glancing at Wu Zi'ang with concern.
"Has Uncle Wei returned?" Wu Zi'ang changed the subject, asking with a smile.
"He hasn't returned yet!" Qiu Xueqing shook her head. He'd been gone for a whole day and night. Wu Zi'ang secretly wondered if Uncle Wei had gone to find the Immortal Saint after his words. He hoped for a satisfactory outcome!
"Let's go eat first!" Qiu Xueqing reminded him, seeing Wu Zi'ang seemingly lost in thought, "Eat well before taking your medicine!"
"Okay!" Wu Zi'ang nodded with a smile. Actually, he had no appetite due to his physical condition. But to reassure her, he went to the back room to eat with her.
"Ah! It's Qimeng!" Wu Zi'ang, who had just finished breakfast and medicine, was about to take a nap to catch up on sleep from the previous night when Qiu Xueqing informed him that someone had come to visit. When asked who it was, Qiu Xueqing remained silent, only looking at him with a half-smile.
Upon arriving at the front hall and seeing the beautiful woman in a white dress sitting in a chair sipping tea, Wu Zi'ang finally understood who it was and blurted out, "Blind!"
"By order of my master, I have specially invited Lord Wu to Qingli Xiaozhu. I wonder if Lord Wu would do me the honor!" Seemingly surprised that Wu Zi'ang addressed her so intimately in front of Qiu Xueqing, Su Qimeng's beautiful face flushed slightly, and she quickly stood up, speaking in a very polite tone.
Master!? Immortal Saint!? Wu Zi'ang was taken aback. Why would she invite him? Could it be because of Uncle Wei? With a quick thought, she smiled and said, "How could I refuse an invitation from a celestial saint! However, could I bring my family along?" She glanced at Qiu Xueqing with a smile.
"Of course!" Su Qimeng understood her meaning and nodded with a smile, "It would be wonderful if you could come along, sister. My master also wishes to witness the 'Ice Beauty's' charm!"
"Sister, please don't tease me!" Qiu Xueqing blushed slightly and said softly, "There are still some matters to attend to at the manor, so I won't go with you, husband. Sister, you go!"
She then turned to Wu Zi'ang and said, "Husband, remember to come back at noon to take your medicine. Also, please invite Brother Tie Ren to come along!"
Wu Zi'ang nodded. He had been worried that he had neglected her due to his busy schedule, which was why he had considered going with Qiu Xueqing. However, seeing that she didn't want to go, he had to give up the idea.
Calling Tie Ren, Wu Zi'ang and Su Qimeng left the General's Mansion. Riding in the same carriage as Su Qimeng, Tie Ren sat to the right of the driver. With a crack of the whip, the wheels began to turn slowly, heading towards Qingli Xiaozhu on the banks of the Li River west of the city.
"Lord Wu's illness seems to have worsened!" In the carriage, Su Qimeng gazed at Wu Zi'ang's face, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.
"Three doses of medicine a day, yet he remains in this state of half-death!" Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly, "His body is truly failing him!
" "At this rate, Lord Wu's health is worrisome!" Su Qimeng, skilled in medicine, shook her head and sighed. His complexion was even worse than in the past few days. The prescription was one she and Wei Xuanyi had discussed and agreed upon, and there were no problems with it. Why hadn't it brought any improvement?
"Life and death are determined by fate!" Wu Zi'ang said, his smile unable to conceal his exhaustion. "I didn't believe this saying before, but now, it seems I have no choice but to!"
"Medicine can't cure every disease, Brother Wu, you should have more confidence!" Su Qimeng sensed a hint of self-abandonment in his words and quickly advised him gently.
"Brother Wu? Didn't Qimeng just address me as Lord Wu?" Wu Zi'ang immediately noticed the change in address and asked with a smile.
"Just now was just now, now is now. Is the matter of address important?" Su Qimeng blushed slightly, then replied seriously.
"Perhaps not! Oh, your master invited me. Is there something important?" Continuing further would be impolite, so Wu Zi'ang immediately stopped and changed the subject.
"It's not anything important, but some old friends have been in Hengcheng for many days and wish to see Brother Wu." Su Qimeng replied with a smile. "Old friends?" Wu Zi'ang's face showed surprise. "Who are they?" He had only met a limited number of people in this strange world, and even fewer could be considered old friends. He thought and thought, but couldn't recall any.
“You’ll know when you arrive, Brother Wu!” Seeing the other’s puzzled expression, Su Qimeng smiled and said, “However, I can tell you that Master Jingguan and Senior Sister Wei are also at Qingli Xiaozhu!”
“Oh!” Upon hearing this, Wu Zi’ang asked again after a moment’s thought, “Is there anyone else besides them?”
“No!” Su Qimeng smiled at him and said, “Master Fang is still at the Left Prime Minister’s residence. My master did not invite him!”
“Qimeng is really smart. She actually understands what I’m thinking!” Out of sight, out of mind. Upon hearing that Dao Kuang and his disciple were not there, Wu Zi’ang felt much better and praised her with a smile.
"It's just a coincidence. How could a mere woman like me possibly fathom Brother Wu's thoughts!" Su Qimeng shook her head, giving Wu Zi'ang a deep look before saying, "Brother Wu is the most unfathomable person I've ever met!"
"Am I as mysterious as Qimeng makes me out to be?" Wu Zi'ang chuckled, "I consider myself a rather straightforward person."
"Then, Brother Wu, could you honestly tell me why you spied on me on the Li River that day?" Su Qimeng suddenly asked, her beautiful eyes fixed on him.
"Uh! This…!" Wu Zi'ang was caught off guard, speechless with astonishment. Why? How would he know why! He wasn't the one who was spying! But he couldn't bring himself to say it, and could only stammer, "Of course, it was because I heard of Qimeng's beauty that I was momentarily confused and did such a rude thing! Cough, I remember apologizing to Qimeng before, please forgive me, Qimeng is magnanimous!"
"Qimeng and Brother Wu have known each other for quite some time! I know very well that Brother Wu is not a lecherous man, yet his temperament has changed so drastically, how could Qimeng not be suspicious?" Su Qimeng pressed on relentlessly.
"A moment of confusion, truly a moment of confusion!" Wu Zi'ang knew he couldn't be guilty at this moment, so he put on an extremely sincere expression and looked at the other party, saying, "To tell you the truth, I have admired Qimeng for a long time, so when I heard that Qimeng had come to Hengcheng, I was so excited that I did this foolish thing!"
"You, you!" Hearing the other party suddenly say such blunt words, Su Qimeng was both ashamed and angry, her jade face flushed red, and for a moment she didn't know what to say. After a long pause, he managed to compose himself, his expression turning serious as he said, "Brother Wu, if you continue with your nonsense, Qimeng will get angry!"
"I won't say it anymore, I won't say it anymore!" Wu Zi'ang, eager for her to stop the conversation, quickly waved his hand, saying, "Actually, if Qimeng hadn't pressed me, I would never have said these things!"
"You still dare to say it!" Su Qimeng snapped. "
I won't say it anymore!" Meeting her dreamlike, beautiful eyes, Wu Zi'ang's heart skipped a beat. He quickly turned away, inwardly exclaiming, "The charm of a beautiful woman is truly extraordinary!" Su Qimeng also turned her head away. Although somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, she couldn't deny that her heart had pounded uncontrollably after he said those words. No man had ever expressed his feelings so directly, and this enigmatic man was an exception. His mysterious personality attracted her like a magnet! For no apparent reason, she suddenly remembered that kiss, and her jade-like neck flushed crimson!
"Miss, we've arrived!"
In the ambiguous atmosphere, Wu Zi'ang and Su Qimeng remained silent until the carriage suddenly stopped and they heard the driver's voice. They both breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at each other simultaneously, and exclaimed, "You...!"
They were speechless! Wu Zi'ang and Su Qimeng were both taken aback. After a moment, the former immediately reached out and lifted the carriage curtain, smiling, "Qimeng, please go first!"
Volume 3, Qin Capital Chronicles, Chapter 119: Heavenly Change Three.
As Wu Zi'ang stepped into the elegant and unique Wei Li Xiaozhu, his eyes fell upon the several people seated on either side of the hall, smiling at him. His face lit up with joy, and he bowed respectfully, saying, "So it's you seniors! I should have known!"
"Haha!" The people present laughed in unison, each standing up to greet Wu Zi'ang. The first, an old man in yellow, laughed, "Could it be that after more than a month apart, Zi'ang has forgotten us old folks?" Before
Wu Zi'ang could reply, another old man with a ruddy complexion interjected, "As the saying goes, noble people are often forgetful. Even if Zi'ang has forgotten, this old man wouldn't find it strange!"
"Old Master Zuo, Old Master Yan!" Wu Zi'ang said with a wry smile, "Are you trying to make me feel ashamed by saying that?"
The newcomers were none other than the four masters Wu Zi'ang had met once before: Zuo Xingyuan, Yan Bufu, Mr. Beiguo, and the taciturn Mo Yan. Although their time together was short, Wu Zi'ang had developed a deep liking for these four.
"Zi'ang, don't listen to those two old geezers' nonsense!" Mr. Beiguo exhaled the last puff of smoke, habitually tapping his pipe, and chuckled, "I just wanted to get together with Zi'ang because I'm leaving Hengcheng!"
"Zi'ang isn't in good health, please take care!" Mo Yan looked at Wu Zi'ang's face and unusually uttered nine words.
"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Mo!" Among the four, only Mo Yan was the youngest, hence Wu Zi'ang's address.
"Are you seniors leaving? Why not stay a few more days so that I, Zi'ang, can show you some hospitality!" In truth, Wu Zi'ang knew that these four had been in Hengcheng for many days, and their purpose was obvious: to help the Dao Sect seize the treasure. Now that they knew the treasure was hopeless, there was no need for them to stay!
"No need!" Zuo Xingyuan said with a smile, "I only ask for a gathering; it doesn't matter who hosts!"
Wu Zi'ang turned his gaze to the three people standing smiling not far to his right: Tianchi Sect Master Jing Guan, Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi, and Wei Lingyao. He cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "I am honored by the invitation of the Immortal Saint!"
"Lord Wu is too kind!" The Immortal Saint smiled and said, "Please sit down!"
"Come, come!" Yan Bufeng pulled Wu Zi'ang's hand and took a few steps forward, pushing him into a chair. He smiled and said, "Today, Zi'ang is the guest, and we are the hosts!"
Seeing Wu Zi'ang sit down, Tie Ren also stepped forward, holding the divine weapon 'Tianyan' and standing behind Wu Zi'ang.
Yan Bufeng glanced at Tie Ren, frowned, and after a moment, suddenly slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Could it be Tie Ren, kid?"
"It's kind of you, Elder Yan, to remember me!" Tie Ren smiled slightly and bowed gently to Yan Bufeng.
"It's been fifteen years since we parted ways in Nanwei! You retired so abruptly, without a word, without even saying goodbye to this old man. Don't you consider me a friend at all?" Yan Bufeng leaned closer, speaking with a mix of emotion and reproach.
"I don't want to bring up the past!" A hint of sadness flashed across Tie Ren's face as he forced a smile. "Elder Yan, you only need to understand that I don't have many friends, and you are one of them!" Yan Bufeng wasn't senile
. From Tie Ren's expression, he guessed that there must have been some complicated and unspeakable reason for Tie Ren's retirement. He patted Tie Ren's shoulder and asked, "So, what are you doing now...?"
"Just making a living under General Wu, that's all!" Tie Ren said with a smile.
"You don't need to hide it from this old man. Don't I know your temperament? Navigating the officialdom, how could that be your character, Iron Blade?" Yan Bufeng shook his head. The other man had changed somewhat. Fifteen years had passed since they parted, and Iron Blade was no longer the sharp-tongued Mo Jian of yesteryear!
"People will change eventually!" Iron Blade said calmly. "I now reside in the General's Mansion. If Elder Yan has some free time, feel free to look for me. Iron Blade hasn't forgotten that sharing a drink with Elder Yan is the greatest pleasure of my life!"
"Good, good, good! I remember!" Upon hearing Iron Blade's invitation to share a drink, Yan Bufeng's eyes immediately lit up. He said "good" three times in a row before turning to take his seat.
After the host and guests were seated, maids quickly served fragrant tea.
Sipping the tea and listening to everyone chat about various anecdotes of the martial world, Wu Zi'ang didn't find the time passing by. However, he wasn't relaxed, because he was certain that the Immortal Saint's invitation to him today was not merely for a gathering with Zuo Xingyuan, Yan Bufeng, and the others.
"I heard that yesterday Lord Wu handed over the official seal of the Commandant's Office, and Commandant Li Hui took over the position!"
As if casually, Sect Master Jingguan of Tianchi mentioned the change of Commandant.
"Senior's information network is quite impressive!" Wu Zi'ang smiled. "Because of the treasure, the Emperor had long planned to replace the Commandant; you should know this, Senior!"
"Indeed, Lingyao relayed Lord Wu's message to me!" Jingguan nodded, her eyes turning to Wei Lingyao beside her.
The latter hesitated slightly before slowly speaking, "I wonder what Brother Wu's plans are for the future?"
"Plans?" Wu Zi'ang immediately understood the other's intention and laughed, "What plans could I possibly have? Of course, I'll just stay home and recuperate! Perhaps I can live a couple more years!"
"Brother Wu, don't speak such discouraging words!" Hearing Wu Zi'ang's words, Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng were both moved and frowned.
"It's not discouraging words. Don't I know my own illness?" A look of despondency appeared on Wu Zi'ang's face as he sighed, "My fate is in the hands of heaven, not in my own!"
Hearing the sorrow in Wu Zi'ang's words, those present exchanged glances, wanting to offer words of comfort but unsure how to begin, and the entire hall suddenly became somewhat somber.
"Let's not talk about this!" Wu Zi'ang forced a smile. "We should be talking about happy things today, don't let me spoil everyone's mood!"
Jing Guan stared at the sickly-looking young man. Whether he was speaking from the heart or trying to gain sympathy, she couldn't bring herself to ask any more sensitive questions.
Actually, it was Wei Lingyao who invited Wu Zi'ang today, and the main purpose was indeed to allow Yan Bufu, Zuo Xingyuan, and others to meet with Wu Zi'ang, thereby easing the tension between them. After all, Wu Zi'ang had a good relationship with these four experts in Luo City.
Jing Guan didn't object, as she also wanted to use this opportunity to gauge their intentions. Although the Qin Emperor already knew about the treasure, and neither the Dao Sect nor the Demonic Sect could gain any advantage, she had a vague feeling that things weren't so simple. The Demonic Sect and the Heavenly Blade faction were acting too calmly, a calmness that felt unreal to her.
"Brother Wu, don't be discouraged. Just rest and recuperate. Take the medicine I prescribed each day, and I believe you will recover!" Su Qimeng gently advised Wei. In fact, seeing Wu Zi'ang's condition, for the first time in her life, she doubted her own medical skills!
"Qimeng is right. Medicine can cure any disease. A real man should be strong!" Zuo Xingyuan also encouraged Wu Zi'ang from the side.
"I am deeply grateful for everyone's concern!" Wu Zi'ang bowed to Zuo Xingyuan and the others, sincerely thanking them.
"Alright, to entertain Lord Wu, I have already served everyone a small meal. Let's move to the back hall!" The Immortal Saint, now a human, stood up with a smile and gestured for everyone to proceed. "I've been waiting for you to say that!" Upon hearing the word "wine," Yan Bufeng's eyes lit up. He eagerly stood up, grabbed Wu Zi'ang's hand, and said, "Zi'ang, let's go to the branch office and have a few drinks!"
"Zi'ang is ill; I'll keep you company!" Tie Ren said with a smile from the side.
"Perfect!" Yan Bufeng was overjoyed and quickly uttered a single word: "Let's go!"
Just as the group was about to move to the back hall, the maid Lian'er hurried in from outside, came to Su Qimeng's side, and whispered a few words in her ear.
Su Qimeng was slightly taken aback, then looked troubled, but after a moment of contemplation, she still whispered an order. The maid Lian'er nodded, turned around, and went out again.
"What happened, Qimeng?" Xian Sheng asked softly upon seeing this.
"What a coincidence! Senior Uncle Dao Kuang has arrived with Senior Brother Fang and Senior Brother Pei!" Su Qimeng looked at Wu Zi'ang, a helpless expression on her jade-like face. She had originally told them that Dao Kuang and his disciples wouldn't be attending the gathering, but coincidentally, they showed up uninvited, putting her in a rather awkward position.
All eyes immediately turned to Wu Zi'ang. Seeing this, Wu Zi'ang immediately understood that everyone present knew about his past conflict with Dao Kuang and his disciples. After
a moment's thought, Wu Zi'ang raised his head and smiled, "It's not that I'm petty, it's just that I really don't get along with Senior Fang. Rather than both of us being unhappy when we meet, it's better to avoid each other for peace and quiet. I'll take my leave and visit again another day!" With that, he bowed to everyone and turned to leave.
"Brother Wu!" Su Qimeng and Wei Lingyao called out simultaneously.
However, just then, three figures appeared at the doorway—Dao Kuang and his two disciples had entered at the opportune moment.
"Eh, isn't this Lord Wu?" Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian feigned surprise. "What? You're leaving as soon as you see me? Don't you find that impolite?"
Wu Zi'ang glanced at Dao Kuang and Fang Jinwu and Pei Zhi behind him, and smiled. "Ignorance is no excuse. To be honest, I don't want to see you, senior, and you probably don't want to see me either. In that case, wouldn't it be better if we ignored each other?"
"That makes sense!" Fang Dingtian nodded and stepped aside. "Then please, Lord Wu!"
Wu Zi'ang smiled lightly, didn't reply, and strode towards the front hall.
Seeing Wu Zi'ang approaching, Fang Jinwu also stepped aside, but Pei Zhi didn't budge.
"Move aside!" Wu Zi'ang stopped and said calmly.
Pei Zhi snorted coldly, still showing no intention of moving aside.
"Clang!" A crisp sound rang out, and the iron blade behind Wu Zi'ang flicked its sheath, instantly unleashing a chilling killing intent that pressed towards Pei Zhi.
Pei Zhi was startled and instinctively dodged to the side, while Wu Zi'ang seized the opportunity to step out of the room.
"Halt!" Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian suddenly called out softly.
"Senior, is there anything else you wish to instruct me on?" Wu Zi'ang turned around, frowning as he asked.
"I have long heard of the Mo Jian swordsmanship's unparalleled skill, and fifteen years ago it was hailed as the number one swordsman. I, Fang, am not talented, but in recent years I have comprehended a set of sword techniques and wish to spar with Brother Tie. I wonder if Brother Tie would do me the honor?" Fang Dingtian stared intently at the iron blade, speaking in a very calm tone.
Everyone present, including Wu Zi'ang, changed their expressions. Dao Kuang's words were clearly a challenge to the iron blade.
Tie Ren frowned, about to speak, when someone suddenly said, "Brother Ding Tian, if you want to spar, why not ask me?" As soon as the words were spoken, Wei 　　Xuanyi
's imposing figure appeared before everyone. 　　"It's truly unexpected, Brother Xuanyi, to come uninvited! To be honest, it's rather impolite!" After a moment of surprise, Dao Kuang Fang Ding Tian had regained his composure, looking at Wei Xuanyi with a forced smile. " 　　This Qingli Xiaozhu isn't Brother Ding Tian's private property, so I think it would be more appropriate for its owner to say these words!" Wei Xuanyi smiled and stepped in. 　　Almost speechless at Wei Xuanyi's sharp words, Dao Kuang's face flashed with anger, but he quickly forced a smile and said, "Indeed, it would be more appropriate for Lingxi to say these words! Isn't that right, Lingxi?" He turned his head, looking at the Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi. 　　The expression on Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi's jade-like face was complex, a stark contrast to her usual serene demeanor. Her beautiful eyes gazed at Wei Xuanyi, her gaze questioning and tinged with expectation, yet she remained silent. 　　Wei Xuanyi's sudden appearance surprised not only Fang Dingtian, Jingguan, Wei, Su Er, and Yan Bufu, but even Wu Ziang and Tie Ren exchanged bewildered glances, unable to understand why Wei Xuanyi, who had been missing for a day and a night, would seek out Qingli Xiaozhu at this time. 　　In truth, Wei Xuanyi was right; the owners of Qingli Xiaozhu were the Immortal Saint and her disciple. Without their permission, no one else had the right to criticize Wei Xuanyi's unauthorized arrival. 　　First Dao Kuang, then the Demon Emperor—their successive appearances immediately made the atmosphere within Qingli Xiaozhu exceptionally tense.

"I wonder what brings you here, Brother Wei?" After a long silence, Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi finally spoke slowly, deliberately maintaining a distance in her tone.
"I want someone!" Wei Xuanyi glanced at everyone present, finally fixing her gaze on Immortal Saint, and said calmly.
"Want someone?" Immortal Saint was slightly taken aback, but quickly understood, shaking her head and saying, "Brother Wei, you must have misunderstood. I invited Lord Wu here purely on behalf of some of his old friends, to reminisce at Qingli Pavilion. I have no intention of harming Lord Wu whatsoever!"
"Brother Xuanyi, you are being too petty!" Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian interjected with a cold laugh.
"No!" Wei Xuanyi shook his head and smiled, "I did not come for Zi'ang." "Then what kind of person do you want..." Even the intelligent Immortal Saint could not guess what kind of person Wei Xuanyi had come to ask her for, and a look of doubt appeared on her face.
Of the crowd, only Wu Zi'ang knew why Wei Xuanyi had come, and thus watched with great interest how Wei Xuanyi would speak.
"You!" Wei Xuanyi uttered a single word clearly.
"Me?" Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi's body suddenly trembled, her jade-like face first showing surprise, then doubt, and finally joy.
Everyone present, except Wu Zi'ang, paled. At this moment, they clearly understood the Demon Emperor's intentions.
"Wei Xuanyi, how dare you!" Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian pointed at Wei Xuanyi and said sharply.
"Shut up!" Wei Xuanyi's smile vanished abruptly, and he said coldly.
Fang Dingtian was stunned, staring at him for a long time, speechless. Not because the other party had suddenly turned hostile, but because, in an instant, he realized that the 'Demon Emperor' from fifteen years ago had returned!
The astonishment in Jingguan's heart was beyond words. He was still dressed in black, his face still weathered and etched with hardship, but Wei Xuanyi gave her a different feeling. The weariness and dejection she felt when they met a few days ago were completely gone, replaced by an incomparably sharp edge, like a drawn blade. Jingguan couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "He's alive! The Demon Emperor of yesteryear has been resurrected!" He simply stood there, yet the feeling he exuded was oppressive. Before this man in black, everyone else was relegated to mere extras. "
Amazing!" Tie Ren's eyes gleamed. This was the Demon Emperor, the one who had fought him for hundreds of rounds.
"Follow me!" Wei Xuanyi gazed deeply into the eyes of the Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi, his tone gentle yet filled with an undeniable and unyielding authority.
Everyone's gaze shifted to the Immortal Saint, eager to know how he would react to Wei Xuanyi's words.
Dao Kuang was extremely nervous, his eyes fixed on Ji Lingxi without blinking. The fact that one of the Four Great Masters could be so tense showed how important Ji Lingxi was to him.
Gradually, the joy on Ji Lingxi's face faded, returning to her usual calm, and she turned away quietly.
Seeing this, Wu Zi'ang's heart sank; he thought to himself, "This is bad!"
Conversely, Dao Kuang looked pleased and inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.
Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng exchanged bewildered glances; for the first time in their lives, these two beauties were at a loss, unsure of which side to take.
Outsiders like Zuo Xingyuan, Yan Bufu, Mr. Beiguo, and Mo Yan were even more confused; they had no right to speak about the past affair between the Demon Emperor and the Immortal Saint.
Wei Xuanyi remained calm, standing there awaiting the Immortal Saint's reply. Regardless of whether the other party agreed to go with him, this was his last chance, for himself and for the other party! " If you miss today, you'll never have another chance, never!
" "Wait, I'll go pack some things, I'll be right back!" Just then, a low but exceptionally clear voice entered the room, instantly causing someone's heart to plummet from the heavens to the earth.
The owner of this voice was none other than the Immortal Saint.
Therefore, Dao Kuang's face immediately turned extremely ugly, his body trembling violently as he stared at the Immortal Saint's retreating figure with disbelief.
"Leave everything behind, the two of us will be fine! Let's go!" Wei Xuanyi's face softened with a gentle smile as she softly said, "Yes!" The Immortal Saint didn't press the matter, giving a soft reply before turning and walking slowly towards Wei Xuanyi. Her jade-like face flushed, her eyes shimmering like water; something belated made her resemble a girl experiencing first love, exceptionally beautiful and captivating.
Taking the Immortal Saint's hand, Wei Xuanyi remained silent, turning and pulling Ji Lingxi towards the door. Although fifteen years late, this day had finally arrived!
Watching the Demon Emperor and the Immortal Saint walk side-by-side towards the entrance, the expressions on the faces of those present varied, but no one spoke. Ultimately, this was a private matter between the Demon Emperor and the Immortal Saint; the Immortal Saint had already decided to leave with the Demon Emperor, and no one dared to stop her. The right to stop.
Dao Kuang's face was contorted with rage, his eyes blazing with fury as he stared at the Demon Emperor and the Immortal Saint. Jealousy, sorrow, resentment—each feeling threatened to drive him mad.
Standing behind Dao Kuang, Fang Jinwu and Pei Zhi could even clearly hear the soft cracking of their master's bones.
He endured, then endured again, constantly reminding himself that Jing Guan and his disciples were still there, that Zuo Xingyuan, Mo Yan, Yan Bufu, and other experts were present, and that Wu Zi'ang and Tie Ren were also at home. He couldn't let others see him make a fool of himself, but even with his forced restraint, he couldn't suppress the overwhelming rage within him. "Senior Brother Fang!" A calming call eased Dao Kuang's impending fury, and he finally watched helplessly as Wei Xuanyi and Ji Lingxi walked out of the room hand in hand.
Silence! The only sound in the room was Dao Kuang's heavy breathing. Thirty years of cultivation hadn't truly eradicated his greed and anger.
"Farewell!" Wu Zi'ang was greatly relieved. His uncle, Wei Shu, had suffered for over ten years due to love, and today he finally achieved fulfillment—this was what he most wanted to see. As for that other person, let him suffer on the sidelines. Therefore, he cupped his hands again and turned to leave.
"There's no time like the present! Let me experience the swordsmanship of the Ink Sword today!" Before he had taken more than a few steps, he heard Fang Dingtian shout softly behind him, followed by a powerful aura surging like a raging wave. Immediately,
Tie Ren behind Wu Zi'ang became alert, his figure abruptly turning back, his right hand wielding the divine weapon 'Heavenly Flame,' diagonally raising it to instantly dissipate the pressure.
The onlookers, including Jing Guan, were astonished. Dao Kuang, in his rage, exuded an incredibly fierce aura, yet Tie Ren had effortlessly deflected it. This was enough to show that the one known as the Ink Sword truly possessed strength comparable to the Four Great Masters.
"Right now, your mood is unstable; it's not a good time to fight! How about we choose another day?" "Tie Ren and Dao Kuang had no real relationship, but he still didn't want to take advantage of the other's impetuousness, hence his words.
"Brother Tie, are you perhaps afraid?" Dao Kuang not only didn't appreciate the gesture but also mocked, "If you are afraid, then pretend I never said anything!"
"Since Brother Fang is so sincere, I can't refuse, so please!" With that, Tie Ren handed the 'Heavenly Flame' to Wu Zi'ang and strode out of the courtyard.
Dao Kuang sneered, and in a flash, he too had moved outside the room.
Zuo Xingyuan, Yan Bufu, Mo Yan, and Mr. Bei Guo exchanged glances and smiled bitterly in unison. None of them had expected that today's gathering would end in a duel between Dao Kuang and Mo Jian!
"Brother Tie!" Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but call out.
"Don't worry, young brother, I will never lose!" As he said this, a confident smile radiated from Tie Ren's rugged face. He hadn't shown any fear when he fought the Demon Emperor fifteen years ago, let alone facing Dao Kuang fifteen years later!
Sensing the opponent's strong confidence, Wu Zi'ang felt relieved and nodded with a smile.
The front yard wasn't large, but it was enough for experts like Tie Ren and Fang Dingtian.
Jing Guan, Wei Lingyao, Su Qimeng, Zuo Xingyuan, and Fang Jinwu stood on either side of the doorway, their gazes all fixed on Tie Ren and Fang Dingtian, who
were poised to attack. In reality, Dao Kuang was simply venting his anger on Wu Zi'ang and Tie Ren, who had lost all their martial arts and were juniors; therefore, he had targeted Tie Ren.
"Bring me your sword!" Fang Dingtian shouted, and Fang Jinwu immediately unsheathed his broadsword and hurriedly handed it to his master.
"Where is Brother Tie's sword?" The sword, more than twice the size of a normal sword, landed in Dao Kuang's hands and immediately began to writhe and undulate as if alive, all due to the infusion of Dao Kuang's inner energy.
"Right here!" Tie Ren smiled slightly and slowly extended his hands.
Dao Kuang was taken aback, then laughed angrily, "Very well, I consider myself the most arrogant I've ever been, but compared to you today, I suddenly realize there's still a huge gap! I'll ask you one more time, are you really determined to use your hands instead of a sword?" "Absolutely!" Tie Ren replied with a calm smile.
"Good!" Purple energy appeared between Dao Kuang's brows, and with a flick of his wrist, the giant sword struck the ground with a clang. He shouted, "I'll test your skills!"
Volume 3, Qin Du Feng Yun, Chapter 121, Heavenly Change Five.
Although enraged, Dao Kuang still valued his status. His opponent was unarmed; if he used a weapon, even if he won, it would be an unfair victory.
"Brother Fang, please!" Tie Ren nodded to his opponent, his right index and middle fingers joined together, already in the starting stance of the Xuan Tian Sword Technique. He wasn't being arrogant; in fact, long before retiring from the martial world, he had already abandoned his famous Ink Sword, transitioning from "having a sword" to "having no sword," a crucial sign that the Xuan Tian Sword Technique had reached its peak.
In fact, Dao Kuang also knew somewhat that the 'Xuan Tian Sword Technique' could be used to create a sword with one's hands when it reached its most profound state, but even so, he still thought it was too arrogant for his opponent to face him empty-handed!
"Please!" Dao Kuang's face was ashen, and he responded in a deep voice, but his body remained still without any movement, although an even stronger aura than before had already spread out.
In contrast, Tie Ren was not polite. With a swift movement, he took three steps forward, his right hand swiftly slashing down. With a 'hiss' sound, a burst of azure light appeared, and an incomparably sharp sword aura pierced towards Dao Kuang.
"Eek!" Jing Guan, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation upon seeing this. She hadn't expected Tie Ren to be so bold, unleashing such a fierce killing move right from the start without any testing.
Dao Kuang was also slightly surprised. Seeing the fierce and ruthless sword energy coming from his opponent, he couldn't help but feel a competitive urge. He let out a soft shout, his wide sleeves billowing up, and a fist brimming with Purple Extreme True Qi burst forth from his sleeves like a cocoon, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, heading straight to meet the azure sword energy.
Wei Lingyao and Su Qimeng both widened their beautiful eyes, watching the sword and fist duel about to unfold in the arena intently. This kind of competition between experts of this level would undoubtedly benefit them greatly.
Wu Ziang was also watching the two in the arena with complete focus. Although Tie Ren had told him that he would never lose, he still had a faint sense of worry in his heart. Regardless, Dao Kuang is one of the Four Absolutes, a master on par with Uncle Wei. Can Brother Tie really win?
"Whoosh!" To everyone's surprise, the sword energy and fist wind didn't produce the expected loud noise when they clashed; only the fierce sound of Dao Kuang's fist wind was heard.
Jing Guan's expression changed. She had already noticed that at the moment the fist wind and sword energy touched, the azure sword light disappeared like snow melting into water, causing Dao Kuang's powerful fist force to strike empty air.
Sword energy doesn't disappear into thin air, and there's only one answer to this: Tie Ren's sword energy cultivation has reached a level of complete control and effortless execution.
In fact, Jing Guan herself, Dao Kuang, and even the other two of the Four Absolutes, the Demon Emperor and the Ghost King, could all reach this level. But the problem is that Dao Kuang, in his current state of rage, didn't expect Tie Ren to use this feint.
Dao Kuang, realizing his attack had missed, immediately retracted his right fist, withdrawing most of his force. Even so, his body was still stretched thin, forcing him to take a small step forward.
This small step had serious consequences. Iron Blade, the moment Dao Kuang's punch missed, had already lunged forward, his hands flashing out seven cyan sword beams, sharper than blades, mercilessly piercing Dao Kuang's vital points. Jing Guan,
observing from the side, saw two mistakes Dao Kuang had made. First, fueled by anger, he hadn't anticipated Iron Blade's initial feint. Second, he had forcibly withdrawn his force even when his attack was exhausted, creating a weakness in his defense.
With his attack weakened and his force waning, the wiser course of action would have been to use the momentum to lunge forward, shifting his body to counter Iron Blade's impending attack. While that would have temporarily put him at a disadvantage, it would have been far more effective.
Seeing the seven sword energies hurtling towards them with a whooshing sound, Dao Kuang roared, his voice like a thunderclap in mid-air, causing a deafening boom in the ears of everyone present. Wu Zi'ang felt a buzzing in his head, a surge of blood rising in his chest, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Dao Kuang's roar contained the power of internal energy that could penetrate metal and pierce stone; even masters like Zuo Xingyuan and Yan Bufu had to exert their inner strength to resist it. Wu Zi'ang, having lost all his martial arts, was no match for it.
A white shadow flashed by, a delicate fragrance wafted over him, and a slender, smooth hand grasped Wu Zi'ang's right wrist. Immediately afterward, a gentle yet abundant flow of true energy surged through him, causing Wu Zi'ang's blood and qi to circulate freely, and he regained his senses.
"Brother Wu, are you alright?" A gentle voice sounded in his ear. Wu Zi'ang looked up and met Su Qimeng's concerned gaze. His heart warmed instantly, and he forced a smile, shaking his head and saying, "I'm fine!"
"Brother Wu, why don't you go inside and rest for a while?" Although he said he was alright, Su Qimeng knew that Wu Zi'ang's body was already weak and couldn't withstand any further harm, so she suggested softly.
"Thank you for your concern, Qimeng! But I'm really fine. I must watch this match to the end!" As he spoke, he took out a silk handkerchief from his bosom and covered his mouth. After smiling at Su Qimeng again, he turned his gaze back to the battlefield.
Looking at the familiar silk handkerchief in Wu Zi'ang's hand, Su Qimeng's beautiful face froze. She subconsciously turned to look at Wei Lingyao, only to meet Wei Lingyao's concerned and questioning gaze.
Thanks to Shui Qingqing and the demonic sect master Nie Li, Wei Lingyao was still recovering from her serious injuries and unable to fight for half a year. Therefore, she was also affected by Dao Kuang's roar. However, under the protection of her master Jingguan, she was unharmed.
This kid got incredibly lucky! Pei Zhi, standing to the side, saw Su Qimeng unabashedly pulling Wu Ziang's hand to transfer her true energy, and a look of jealousy appeared on his handsome face. He wished Wu Ziang would cough up blood and die immediately.
Tie Ren's seven sword qi moves were all chosen at the awkward moment when Dao Kuang's old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet been generated. But even so, Tie Ren was not arrogant enough to think that he could defeat Dao Kuang, one of the Four Great Masters, with just these seven sword qi moves.
A thunderous roar made Tie Ren's body tremble, and the sword qi in his hand also slackened.
Grasping this brief slackening, Dao Kuang's purple robes swelled up as if filled with an air sac. He raised his arms, and a circle of purple light that seemed to be real instantly condensed in front of his chest.
As the cyan sword light collided with the purple halo, a series of rapid "crackling" sounds followed, like firecrackers exploding on Dao Kuang's body.
Dao Kuang remained as steady as a mountain, having still managed to withstand the seven fierce and unparalleled sword energies from Tie Ren even after losing the initiative.
Pei Zhi and Fang Jinwu, who were watching from the sidelines, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this. Although they knew their master's martial arts were unparalleled, witnessing what had just happened still made them somewhat uneasy, after all, Tie Ren, known as the Ink Sword, was not someone to be trifled with!
However, their relief was premature. Withstanding Tie Ren's seven sword energies did not mean that Dao Kuang could reverse his previous defeat, because Tie Ren would not give Dao Kuang a chance to breathe.
With the initiative in hand, he had to seize it firmly. After Tie Ren's seven sword energies failed to penetrate, he suddenly rose up, his right hand transforming into a blade, slashing directly at Dao Kuang.
Wu Zi'ang's eyes lit up, immediately recognizing it as one of the three deadly moves of the Xuan Tian Sword Technique: Heavenly River Reversal!
In an instant, a chilling sword aura filled the sky, and Tie Ren, suspended in mid-air, was surrounded by layers of faint blue light. But at this moment, his hand—no, his entire body—transformed into an indestructible divine weapon, crashing down on Dao Kuang with the force of Mount Tai.
Although they were more than ten steps away, everyone, including Jing Guan, felt an unprecedented pressure, and their expressions changed drastically. Tie Ren's strength was terrifyingly powerful. Dao Kuang still did not retreat, because Tie Ren's aura had already locked onto him. Retreating would not allow him to dodge this deadly move; instead, it would put him in an even more dangerous situation. On the surface, he had brilliantly blocked seven sharp sword energies from his opponent, but in reality, that was the result of him hastily condensing fifty percent of his power to resist. The consequence of this was that he was now unable to sustain his true energy.
What a powerful iron blade! In just a few exchanges, it had forced him into such a miserable state. Impatience and rashness were indeed a major taboo, even for a master like him.
At this moment, Dao Kuang, on the contrary, calmed down, his eyes fixed on the oncoming sword energy like a hawk's, his purple robes billowing once more.
This time, Fang Jinwu and Pei Zhi's hearts were in their throats. Master couldn't lose, because Master couldn't afford to lose; similarly, they couldn't afford to lose, and the entire Yunxu Sect couldn't afford to lose either.
Jing Guan held similar thoughts; ultimately, if Dao Kuang lost, the entire Dao Sect would lose face.
"Boom!" Like a thunderclap from a clear sky, just as the sword energy was about to strike, Dao Kuang, with a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, pulled the giant sword that had just been lying on the ground and clashed head-on with the iron blade.
The ferocity of the collision defied description. Amidst the billowing dust, the intense energy swirled into dozens of vortexes of varying sizes, spreading in all directions. Observers, including Wu Zi'ang, had to close their eyes and cover their mouths and noses to avoid the onslaught of the dust.
Within the dust, Tie Ren's body darted backward, only regaining its footing after seven or eight steps. Dao Kuang, on the other hand, remained standing proudly in the arena, his greatsword hanging low, his eyes coldly fixed on Tie Ren.
After this exchange, neither immediately clashed again, instead staring intently at each other, as if trying to discern something from the other's face.
After a long silence, Tie Ren smiled slightly and said, "Brother Fang truly lives up to his reputation as one of the Four Great Swordsmen. His swordsmanship is profound; I, Tie Ren, readily concede defeat!"
Dao Kuang merely snorted softly, offering no reply. Instead, Jingguan, who had been observing the fight, spoke up: "Both of you are masters of swordsmanship. Today's exchange should be evenly matched, so how about we call it a day?"
Upon hearing this, Zuo Xingyuan, Yan Bufu, Mo Yan, and Mr. Beiguo exchanged glances. In truth, from threatening to fight empty-handed to being forced to draw his sword, Dao Kuang had already lost half the battle. However, in the fierce clash, Tie Ren retreated six or seven steps, while Dao Kuang didn't retreat an inch. Judging from this, it wouldn't be entirely unreasonable to conclude that the two were evenly matched!
"As the sect leader says!" Tie Ren nodded slowly, then said to Dao Kuang and Jing Guan, "In that case, I'll take my leave!"
He then turned to Wu Zi'ang and said, "General, you're not feeling well, you should go back to your residence and rest!"
Wu Zi'ang nodded, about to leave, but then felt the yellow stain on his right wrist still there. He looked at Su Qimeng and said softly, "I'm fine now, thank you, Qimeng!"
Su Qimeng immediately realized she was still holding his wrist, her jade-like face flushed, and she quickly released his hand, whispering, "Brother Wu, go back and take good care of yourself. I'll visit you again another day!"
"You're welcome anytime!" Wu Zi'ang replied with a smile, then turned and walked towards Tie Ren. The two walked out of Qingli Xiaozhu, one after the other.
Just as Wu Zi'ang and Tie Ren left, Jing Guan smiled at Dao Kuang and his disciples, saying, "I have something I'd like to discuss with Senior Brother Fang. Please come with me!" He then turned to Zuo Xingyuan, Yan Bufu, and the other three, saying, "Excuse me!"
"Sect Leader, please go ahead if you have something to attend to!" Zuo Xingyuan vaguely sensed something, a strange look flashing across his face as he watched Dao Kuang and his disciples follow the others into the back hall.
"Thump!" As soon as they stepped into a side room with Jing Guan, Dao Kuang could no longer hold back, spitting out a mouthful of blood
. "Master!" Fang Jinwu and Pei Zhi were shocked upon seeing this, rushing forward
to support Dao Kuang. Their master was injured! The shock in their hearts was indescribable. Dao Kuang had always been an invincible figure in their eyes, yet today he had lost in a fight with Tie Ren, injured and coughing up blood. This was truly unbelievable to them.
"It's nothing!" Dao Kuang shook his head, gently pulling away from Fang and Pei's arms, a hint of dejection flashing across his face. He had lost today's battle, and lost in a very frustrating way. But who was to blame? Knowing that his mind was unsettled and not conducive to fighting, he still unwisely challenged Tie Ren under the influence of his anger!
While his own actions certainly contributed to his defeat, ultimately, Tie Ren, known as the Ink Sword, truly possessed the strength to challenge him. Even without his emotional turmoil, he might not have been able to defeat him. "
What an Ink Sword, what an Iron Blade!" Dao Kuang sighed inwardly, slowly sitting down on the wooden chair.
"How does Senior Brother Fang feel?" Jing Guan asked softly. She had already discerned that Dao Kuang's strength had waned after his fierce clash with Tie Ren. When Tie Ren spoke, Dao Kuang hadn't refused to answer, but his blood and qi were surging, preventing him from speaking. Therefore, she spoke up, suggesting a draw and a truce.
In truth, she was also very nervous. She knew all too well the consequences if Tie Ren insisted on continuing the fight.
Fortunately, Tie Ren didn't go all out and saved Dao Kuang's face, preventing him from being humiliated in front of everyone.
She then used the excuse of discussing something to lead Dao Kuang to this room.
"The blood stasis has subsided, I'm fine!" Dao Kuang replied hoarsely, his tone unable to hide his disappointment.
"Victory and defeat are common in war, Senior Brother Fang, don't worry too much!" Jing Guan gently advised. She knew how arrogant the man called 'Dao Kuang' was, and today's defeat was undoubtedly a heavy blow to him.
"I understand!" Dao Kuang nodded, forcing a smile. "I need to use my internal energy to heal my injuries. Junior Sister Jing Guan, please take them out!"
"Alright!" Jing Guan glanced at Dao Kuang, sighed inwardly, and then gestured to Fang Jinwu and Pei Zhi. Then, the three of them left the room, leaving Dao Kuang alone.
"Uncle-Master, is Master alright?" Fang Jinwu couldn't help but ask after taking a few steps out of the room.
"It's nothing serious, he'll be fine after a few days of rest!" Jingguan shook her head and replied. She knew perfectly well that Dao Kuang was injured by Tie Ren because he was mentally exhausted and unprepared. Having lost the initiative, Dao Kuang couldn't perform at even half his usual level. This defeat was extremely unjust.
"Then we can rest assured!" Fang Jinwu and Pei Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Jingguan, however, still frowned slightly. She wasn't worried about Dao Kuang's injury, but about something else. Internal injuries are easy to heal, but mental illness is hard to cure! This defeat would inevitably leave a shadow in Dao Kuang's heart, which would undoubtedly be a disadvantage for a martial artist.
"Brother Tie, you're awesome!" On the way back to the General's Mansion, in the carriage, Wu Zi'ang smiled and gave Tie Ren a thumbs up.
"It was a bit of an unfair victory, but anyway, I got a great deal!" Tie Ren shook his head and smiled. "Brother Tie already warned them not to fight, but he stubbornly walked into the line of fire. Who can he blame?!" Wu Zi'ang laughed. "However, it's only because of Brother Tie. If it were anyone else... He stubbornly walked into the line of fire. Who can he blame?!" Wu Zi'ang laughed. "I think even if he took advantage of Dao Kuang's unstable mind, he might not be able to win." Can I understand this as my little brother's flattery? Tie Ren shook his head and chuckled.
"Hehe!" Wu Zi'ang laughed. "If there's time, I'd like Tie Da Ren to teach me a couple more times...!" Saying this, he suddenly remembered that he would never have the chance to learn martial arts again, and he choked, swallowing back the rest of his words.
"It will get better!" Tie Ren's eyes showed regret. The other party was a good material for martial arts, with excellent aptitude and comprehension. What a pity!
"It's okay. With Brother Tie as my bodyguard, do I need to take action?" Wu Zi'ang feigned nonchalance and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Hmm, I'm hungry. I thought I could mooch a meal at Qingli Xiaozhu!"
"Lord Wu, if not this time, there's always next time! Miss said you're always welcome to visit!"
No sooner had Wu Zi'ang finished speaking than laughter came from outside the curtain. Clearly, the coachman of Qingli Xiaozhu had overheard Wu Zi'ang's words.
"I'm ashamed!" Wu Zi'ang chuckled, realizing he'd been mistaken for someone genuinely wanting a free meal!
Riding in Qingli Xiaozhu's carriage, Wu Zi'ang and Tie Ren returned to the General's Mansion.
Seemingly surprised by Wu Zi'ang's early return, Qiu Xueqing was visibly taken aback upon seeing him and Tie Ren.
"A small accident happened, so I came back early!" Seeing Qiu Xueqing's expression, Wu Zi'ang explained with a smile. "
My husband's return is just in time. Eunuch An arrived early from the palace and is waiting in the front hall!" Qiu Xueqing didn't press for details about what had happened to Fa Niu, but instead told Wu Zi'ang something with a pleasant expression.
"Oh? I'll go see!" Wu Zi'ang's mind flashed, wondering if it was that matter. He immediately went to the front hall.
"General, you're back!" Upon seeing Wu Zi'ang enter, the head eunuch, Eunuch An, who was sitting in a chair drinking tea, immediately beamed and stood up to greet him.
"My wife said that Head Eunuch An arrived early this morning. Is there something important?" Wu Zi'ang didn't waste any words and asked directly.
"Indeed!" Eunuch An replied in a low voice, then glanced at the servants standing to the side.
"You may all leave for now!" Wu Zi'ang immediately understood, waved his hand, and the servants bowed and withdrew.
Then, Eunuch An mysteriously pulled a secret edict from his sleeve, handed it to Wu Zi'ang, and whispered, "His Majesty's secret edict orders the Grand General to immediately depart secretly for Tianmen Pass to take over all of Gong Yan's troops!"
Sure enough, Wu Zi'ang knew his prediction was correct; Eunuch An's trip was indeed to convey Wu Shang's secret order. It seemed his father-in-law's plan had been brought forward.
Taking the edict, Wu Zi'ang glanced at it. The content was nothing more than removing Gong Yan from his position as Grand General and appointing him as the highest-ranking general at Tianmen Pass in the west, responsible for border defense.
However, Wu Zi'ang knew in his heart that whether this secret edict would be accepted by Gong Yan's subordinates was still unknown, and his journey to Tianmen Pass was uncertain.
"Tell His Majesty I will depart immediately," Wu Zi'ang said with a smile to Eunuch An after putting away the edict. "Chief Eunuch An may return to report!" Wu Zi'ang put away the secret decree and smiled at Eunuch An, saying, "Chief Eunuch An, you may return now. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, the Emperor has specially transferred eight Imperial Guards to the General, and they are currently in the residence!" Finally, Eunuch An whispered in his ear, "These eight are not aware of the situation. General, feel free to send them on dangerous missions. Ideally, all eight should be eliminated upon their return to the capital!"
"I understand!" Wu Zi'ang nodded calmly, secretly thinking that his father-in-law intended to use him to eliminate these eight skilled Imperial Guards.
"In that case, this servant wishes the General a safe journey and swift success!" Eunuch An's face showed a servile smile, and he cupped his hands, saying, "This servant takes his leave!"
"Thank you, Chief Eunuch An, for not seeing me off properly!" Wu Zi'ang also cupped his hands and smiled.
Watching Eunuch An leave, Wu Zi'ang stared blankly at the secret edict in his hand for a moment before calling out, "Brother Tie!
" Before he finished speaking, Tie Ren appeared in the room, quickly approaching. Tie Ren asked in a low voice, "Is it necessary for you to head west immediately?"
"That's right!" Wu Zi'ang toyed with the secret edict in his hand, slowly nodding, "Brother Tie, please come with me!"
"If you don't take me, I really won't feel at ease!" Tie Ren smiled at Wu Zi'ang, then suddenly remembered something, frowning, "The journey to Xitianmen Pass is long, I'm worried about your health!"
"No problem, I've already planned the route. We'll start by boarding a boat at the mouth of the Li River, then transfer to a carriage in Luzhou!
In total, waterway travel will make up the majority, so I won't be too tired!" Wu Zi'ang said confidently.
"Excuse my boldness, but is it worth it for you to work so hard only to benefit someone else?" "Iron Blade sighed softly and asked.
"What do you think, Brother Iron?" Wu Zi'ang smiled and asked in return.
"I am not you after all!" Iron Blade shook his head.
"First of all, he is my father-in-law, and now we are in the same boat. If this uprising fails, not only my father-in-law, but I will not be spared either! Under such circumstances, how can I not do my utmost?" Wu Zi'ang put away his smile, looked out the window, and said lightly, "If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. Brother Iron should know the meaning of these four words, right?"
Iron Blade nodded slowly and said, "Since you have decided to set off immediately, young brother, you should prepare quickly!"
"Yes!" Wu Zi'ang responded, put the secret decree into his pocket, and called out, "Uncle Fu!"
In October of the seventeenth year of Jianxing, Emperor Wuwei of Qin suddenly fell critically ill. The news spread throughout the capital, and all officials, both civil and military, sensed that another dynastic change was imminent. As a close confidant of the
Crown Prince, the Left Chancellor Zhang Zhongshu, upon learning of this, began writing to General Gong Yan, stationed at the border, to begin a plan to ensure the Crown Prince's smooth succession.
Meanwhile, the Third Prince Wuzhi's influence in the court also began to stir. If Wu Che were to ascend the throne smoothly, a tragic fate awaited the former. Wuzhi understood this clearly, and therefore, he had no choice but to gamble everything and fight to the death.
Just as the two sides were in full swing, about to witness fratricide and internal strife, Wu Zi'ang, along with Tie Ren, Liu Fu, and eight Golden Guards, had already arrived at Tianmen Pass to guard it.
Tianmen Pass had a garrison of 80,000 troops, all loyal to Gong Yan, making it the second largest military force in Qin after the Wu family's iron cavalry.
In recent years, with the decline of the Northern Liang's national strength, the threat to the Great Qin was far less than before. However, despite this, Emperor Wuwei of Qin still attached great importance to the western defense and had always sent Gong Yan to guard it.
"The imperial edict has arrived!" With a drawn-out tone, Wu Zi'ang, surrounded by Tie Ren, Liu Fu, and eight Golden Guards, swaggered to the front of General Gong Yan's residence at Tianmen Pass.
"The imperial edict is here!" Wu Zi'ang held up the imperial edict to the guards and shouted, "Why don't you go and report it?!"
The guards were stunned for a moment. Seeing the imposing manner of Wu Zi'ang and his men, they dared not be negligent and immediately sent one of them to run into the residence. In fact, Wu Zi'ang estimated that Gong Yan had probably already returned to the capital and heard the news of the emperor's critical illness. He did not believe that the other party could stay at the border steadily.
Volume 3, Chapter 123, "Celestial Change Seven," of Qin Capital Chronicles:
However, to Wu Zi'ang
and the others' surprise, shortly afterward, Gong Yan, dressed in military uniform, strode out, followed by several unfamiliar middle-aged officers. Upon seeing Wu Zi'ang and his group, Gong Yan and the officers behind him all changed their expressions. They didn't recognize Wu Zi'ang, but they certainly recognized the eight Golden Guards under the Emperor, indicating that the messenger was no imposter.
"Gong Yan greets the messenger!" Gong Yan stepped forward, his expression extremely respectful, and bowed.
"Huh!?" Seeing Gong Yan's attitude, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but feel suspicious, but he remained outwardly calm, slowly unfolding the imperial edict in his hand and saying, "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that General Gong Yan, who has guarded the border for many years and has made great contributions, is hereby ordered to return to the capital immediately to receive his title. The original position of border garrison commander shall be assumed by General Wu Zi'ang. This is the imperial decree!"
"What?" After Wu Zi'ang finished reading the imperial edict, all the officers, including Gong Yan, changed their expressions drastically, and some even gasped softly.
"General Gong, shall you accept the decree?" Wu Zi'ang handed the imperial edict forward, indicating that the other party should accept it.
"This...?" Gong Yan hesitated for a moment before taking the imperial edict, forcing a smile. "Your Excellency has traveled a long way and must be tired. Please come in and rest. I will prepare a banquet to welcome you all!"
"Then I will trouble General Gong!" Wu Zi'ang bowed to Gong Yan, then led Tie Ren, Liu Fu, and eight Golden Guards into the mansion.
At this moment, Gong Yan gave a wink to a deputy general beside him, who immediately understood and was about to turn and leave.
"Hey, you there!" Suddenly, Wu Zi'ang turned around and beckoned to the officer who was about to sneak away.
"Uh! What are your orders, Your Excellency?" The deputy general was taken aback at first, but quickly regained his composure and said with a forced smile.
"You look very familiar, I feel like I've seen you somewhere before!" Wu Zi'ang began to lie through his teeth, staring at the deputy general with a confident expression. "I'm sure I've seen you somewhere before, let me think!"
"Your Excellency is too kind. I've been away from home for many years and haven't returned to the capital recently. How could Your Excellency have seen me before?" the deputy general quickly replied.
"Could I be mistaken? Yes, perhaps I am mistaken!" Wu Zi'ang smiled at the deputy general and asked, "May I ask your name?"
"I am Ye Tingfeng!" the deputy general replied respectfully, not daring to be negligent.
"So it's Deputy General Ye!" Wu Zi'ang nodded, then turned to Gong Yan and the others, saying, "This general has been ordered by His Majesty to bring many rewards to distribute among you all. Please follow me! His Majesty has repeatedly instructed that everyone should receive a share, so please do not refuse!"
Upon hearing this, Gong Yan and the others exchanged glances. Although they didn't understand Wu Zi'ang's intentions, they already had a vague sense of unease.
Although this was Gong Yan's territory, under the watchful eyes of the eight Golden Guards, none of the six, including Gong Yan, dared to make a move.
"Gentlemen, please!" Wu Zi'ang waved his hand with a smile, as if he were the master of the place.
"Please, please!" Gong Yan and the other five officers glanced at the eight Golden Guards in their golden armor and replied insincerely. Although they were from the military, they knew very well that they had no chance against the Golden Guards beside the emperor.
The group arrived at the main hall, and Gong Yan immediately ordered his servants to serve tea, but Wu Zi'ang stopped him.
"Don't rush to drink the tea. There's something I'd like to ask you all!" Wu Zi'ang smiled at everyone and said slowly.
"Please speak freely, sir!" Gong Yan and the other officers nodded hurriedly.
"Where is General Gong Yan now?" Wu Zi'ang stared into 'Gong Yan's' eyes and asked, enunciating each word clearly.
Upon hearing Wu Zi'ang's words, Gong Yan and the others immediately changed their expressions, some even secretly placing their hands on the hilts of their swords.
"You jest, sir. I am right here before you," Gong Yan forced a laugh, attempting to evade the question.
"Really?" Wu Zi'ang looked at him with a half-smile, mockingly saying, "General Gong, do you not recognize me? Or have you truly forgotten the pain of losing your son and forgiven past grievances?"
Gong Yan inwardly thought, "I'm doomed!" He now knew where he had slipped up. This Wu Zi'ang was clearly the general's enemy, yet he spoke to him with such humility; it would be a miracle if the general didn't become suspicious.
Clang, clang! Two crisp sounds rang out, and two of the lieutenants, unable to contain themselves, leaped aside and swiftly drew their swords.
Wu Zi'ang didn't even glance at the two men, his gaze sweeping over the other four. He said calmly, "I'll give you a choice: pledge allegiance to Gong Yan, or to the Emperor! The former, please stay with these two courageous generals; the latter, come to my side!"
Hearing Wu Zi'ang's words, 'Gong Yan' and the others understood that he had come specifically to deal with the Grand General. Seeing eight Golden Guards blocking the doorway, and a white-haired old man staring at them with hawk-like eyes, these men felt their hearts pounding with anxiety.
Loyalty to Gong Yan, or loyalty to the Emperor, that is the question!
"The time limit is one incense stick's time!" Wu Zi'ang leaned back lazily in his chair, looking at the several lieutenants whose expressions were uncertain, and added the time limit.
The room immediately became extremely quiet. Gong Yan and the other three lieutenants looked at each other, all with expressions of panic.
After a moment, one of them slowly stood up, then took a few steps and came to Wu Zi'ang's side.
"Ye Tingfeng, you... shameless!" One of the lieutenants who had jumped out with a knife earlier glared at the man and shouted angrily.
"Idiot!" Ye Tingfeng remained unperturbed, merely glancing at the man indifferently before uttering two words.
"Very good!" Wu Zi'ang tilted his head, sizing up Ye Tingfeng, and smiled, "You're a smart man!"
"Thank you for the praise, General!" Ye Tingfeng immediately bowed, his face expressionless.
"I look forward to the next one!" Wu Zi'ang's gaze shifted to 'Gong Yan' and the other two.
"Fight!" The two lieutenants who had previously wielded knives exchanged glances, roared, and charged at Wu Zi'ang with their steel blades.
"Kill him !" "Wu Zi'ang answered them with the same two words.
But a gray shadow flashed, and Liu Fu pounced out like a ghost. The two lieutenants only saw a blur before their throats were gripped by a powerful hand. With two crisp cracking sounds, the two men, who had been lively just moments before, were now two corpses.
*Screech!* Gong Yan and the other two lieutenants gasped, their faces simultaneously showing terror. They exchanged glances, slowly stood up, and came to Wu Zi'ang's side, whispering, "We are at General Wu's command!"
"Very good!" Wu Zi'ang nodded in satisfaction and said to 'Gong Yan,' "Take off your mask!"
"This humble servant uses a disguise drug, which can only be washed off with water!" the 'Gong Yan' replied with a smirk.
"I see!" Wu Zi'ang's mind raced, and he then asked, "What are your names, generals?"
"This humble servant is Lu Yuanfeng!" the fake Gong Yan said first.
"This humble servant is Qian Zhaonan!" another deputy general followed.
"This humble servant is Huang Xi!" the last person also answered.
"Let me ask you, where is Gong Yan now?" Wu Zi'ang straightened up and looked at the group, asking in a deep voice.
"Gong Da... Gong Yan led five hundred personal guards to the capital seven days ago!" As if seeking credit, the deputy general Lu, who was impersonating Gong Yan, quickly answered.
Sure enough! Upon hearing that the emperor was critically ill, this fellow couldn't wait to rush back, and, well, he even brought a squad of personal guards!
After a moment's hesitation, Wu Zi'ang softened his tone and asked, "Besides Gong Yan, who else is in charge here?"
"Generals Xiong Yao and Yan Guang!" Lu Wufeng answered first again.
What a spineless coward! Wu Zi'ang narrowed his eyes, making this judgment in his mind.
Seeing Wu Zi'ang's gaze fall upon him, Lu Wufeng mistakenly thought the other party felt he hadn't explained in enough detail, and quickly added, "These two are Gong Yan's confidants, and now they're in charge of all matters, big and small, in the army. Having me impersonate Gong Yan is merely a smokescreen! If the General wants to take control of the garrison here, he must first eliminate these two!" "What
Vice General Lu says is exactly what I think!" Wu Zi'ang nodded with a smile, "In that case, Vice General Lu, why don't you rack your brains and come up with a plan to get rid of these two!"
"This humble servant has a plan!" Not wanting Lu Wufeng to have all the credit, Vice General Qian Zhaonan spoke first.
"Oh? What brilliant plan does Vice General Qian have? Tell me quickly!" Another spineless coward! However, this was exactly the kind of person he needed now, so he smiled broadly and looked at the other party with encouraging eyes.
"The General has arrived at Tianmen Pass, and Xiong Yao and Yan Guang will surely receive the news and come with their men later! At that time, I can step forward and lure these two into the hall. The General has many experts under his command, and capturing these two will be a piece of cake!" Qian Zhaonan said softly with a fawning smile.
"Indeed a brilliant plan!" Wu Zi'ang clapped his hands in praise: "Just as Vice General Qian said! If this plan succeeds, I will definitely report to the Emperor and ask for a reward for Vice General Qian!"
"Thank you, General!" Qian Zhaonan looked flattered and bowed in thanks.
"Someone's coming!" Just then, the warning sound of a steel blade came from outside the door. Even before entering, Wu Zi'ang had deliberately left the iron blade outside the door. Although soldiers guarded the entrance, their pressure points were sealed by the blade's technique, rendering them like wooden puppets, unable to move or speak. Otherwise
, they would have noticed any disturbance inside.
"It must be Xiong Yao, Yan Guang is here!" Qian Zhaonan said confidently.
"Vice General Qian's time to shine has come!" Wu Zi'ang gave him an encouraging look and gestured, "Go!"
"Yes, sir!" Qian Zhaonan bowed and turned to walk towards the door.
At that moment, Liu Fu suddenly flashed to Vice General Qian's side, his hands already striking several major pressure points on the man's chest.
"This is to ensure that Vice General Qian doesn't have any wild thoughts and can focus on his work. Otherwise, the two brave and unyielding vice generals inside the room, and the soldiers outside, will be your role models!" Wu Zi'ang's slightly hoarse voice reached Qian Zhaonan's ears, causing the latter to shiver slightly. Feeling the abnormality in his body, he knew that the other party had tampered with his things, and if he had any disloyal thoughts, his life would be in danger. He quickly replied, "Understood!" and hurriedly left.
After a while, footsteps gradually came from outside the door. Wu Zi'ang smiled slightly, knowing that Qian Zhaonan had returned.
Just then, a sudden change occurred. Ye Tingfeng, who had been standing quietly not far from Wu Zi'ang, suddenly pounced on him, shouting, "General Xiong, be careful!" (
Volume 3, Chapter 124, Heavenly Change 8
) Ye Tingfeng shouted a warning, but his movements didn't falter for a moment; he rushed straight towards Wu Zi'ang. His plan was to capture the leader first.
He was confident in his agility that he could subdue Wu Zi'ang before the white-haired old man and the eight golden guards could rescue him. Seeing that the other man was still sitting on the wooden chair, his bright eyes showing no sign of panic, but rather a hint of mockery,
Ye Tingfeng's heart sank inexplicably. Before he could even ponder what was wrong, He heard two sharp whooshing sounds as his voice cut through the air, a sudden chill ran down his spine, and he lost his balance, collapsing to the ground with a thud.
Just before he fell, he clearly heard General Xiong Yao's angry shout outside the door, but it was only for a fleeting moment before silence returned. Ye Tingfeng felt a chill run down his spine, immediately realizing that Xiong Yao and Yan Guang had met with misfortune. To be able to take them down in such a short time, just how skilled was the middle-aged man guarding the outside?
It's over! Ye Tingfeng closed his eyes in despair. At this moment, he knew they had no chance of turning the tide.
With two whooshing sounds, two large bodies were thrown into the room, rolling precisely to Wu Zi'ang's feet.
"Everything's alright outside, General, please rest assured!" Whenever there were outsiders present, Tie Ren invariably addressed Wu Zi'ang by his official title, despite the latter's repeated requests that it be unnecessary.
"You, who are you?" "Stunned and disoriented from the fall, Xiong Yao struggled to lift his head, glaring at Wu Zi'ang with his bull-like eyes, and roared.
"This is General Wu, Xiong Yao, don't be rude!" Vice General Qian, who had followed in, immediately feigned a reprimand, then stepped forward to Wu Zi'ang with a fawning smile, saying, "This humble officer has fulfilled his mission!"
"Vice General Qian has done well. I will report to the Emperor and request a reward for Vice General Qian!" Wu Zi'ang praised with a smile.
"Thank you, General!" At this moment, Qian Zhaonan knew he had bet on the right thing. Only by obeying the other party's orders could he save his life and his official position.
"Qian monkey, I knew you were a scoundrel long ago! A traitor who sells out his master for personal gain, I curse your ancestors…!" Seeing Qian Zhaonan's servile and obsequious appearance, Xiong Yao couldn't help but curse.
"You blind bear, I've had my eye on you for a long time! You always rely on Gong Yan's favor to act arrogantly and try to shit on my head!" Qian Zhaonan, humiliated by Xiong Yao's insults, immediately retorted, "Gong Yan harbors evil intentions and plots to rebel. I merely abandoned the darkness and came to the light to atone for my mistakes! What wrong have I done? It is you who have pledged allegiance to a traitor and show no remorse; you deserve to die!"
"You, you…!" Xiong Yao was so angry his eyes rolled back. If his acupoints hadn't been sealed, he would have definitely gotten up and torn the other man to pieces.
Lu Yuanfeng and another deputy general, Huang Xi, exchanged glances. Although they were also fickle and cowardly, they couldn't help but blush for Qian Zhaonan after hearing his words. Come to think of it, Gong Yan had never treated them badly!
"Deputy General Qian speaks well!" Wu Zi'ang laughed and applauded, clapping his hands. "These traitors truly deserve to die. When I came to Tianmen Pass, His Majesty repeatedly instructed that any stubborn rebels should be executed without mercy! Deputy General Qian, Deputy General Huang, and Deputy General Lu, these three rebels are now yours to deal with. What do you say?"
"Your subordinate obeys!" Although they knew Wu Zi'ang intended to force the three men into a corner, things had progressed to this point, leaving them no choice but to grit their teeth, clasp their fists, and respond in unison.
***
With the help of the three deputy generals, Lu, Qian, and Huang, over the next few days, Wu Zi'ang, along with Tie Ren, Liu Fu, and eight Jin Wei, used a piecemeal approach to eliminate Gong Yan's trusted confidants at Tianmen Pass in batches.
"Kill them!" This was the word Wu Zi'ang had uttered most frequently in the past two days. Gong Yan had painstakingly cultivated his power over many years; how could he not have some loyal followers? And for these people, Wu Zi'ang didn't hesitate for a moment. Two words: 'Kill them,' and it was all over!
Venturing into the tiger's den, how could he show any mercy? Although Wu Zi'ang admired the fearlessness of these tough men, he showed no mercy in his hands. Those who obeyed prospered, those who resisted perished! Dozens of officers, both high and low, became headless ghosts, drinking their blood in the Yellow Springs.
With ruthless methods, Wu Zi'ang successfully wiped out Gong Yan's loyal followers at Tianmen Pass.
With their hands stained with the blood of their comrades, Lu Yuanfeng, Qian Zhaonan, and Huang Xi had no way back. Witnessing Wu Zi'ang's cold-blooded methods in recent days, the three dared not harbor any rebellious thoughts, wholeheartedly serving as Wu Zi'ang's executioners.
Unbeknownst to them, Wu Zi'ang had been at Tianmen Pass for nearly half a month. After eliminating Gong Yan's loyalists, Wu Zi'ang appointed four of his eight Golden Guards as deputy generals to fill the vacancies in the Tianmen Pass garrison.
Wu Zi'ang was quite satisfied with these eight guards; they were not only highly skilled in martial arts but also intelligent, making them exceptionally easy to manage. In several minor, unexpected clashes with Gong Yan's cronies, the Eight Guards performed exceptionally well. Furthermore, their imperial golden armor deterred many of the Tianmen Pass garrison from acting rashly. Without the command of Gong Yan and his trusted officers, the deterrent power of imperial authority was considerable; after all, they were subjects of the Great Qin!
"Cough, cough!" Another long, violent cough erupted, the heart-wrenching sound causing Tie Ren, standing nearby, great distress.
The medicine had been prepared in sufficient quantities before their arrival, and had been taken daily for the past ten days, but for some reason, Wu Zi'ang's illness was much more severe than in Hengcheng.
The frequency of his coughs had increased, and his body was gradually becoming emaciated, resembling skin and bones.
"It's alright!" Wu Zi'ang covered his lips with a silk handkerchief, panting heavily, "It'll be fine after a while!"
"Your illness…! Sigh!" Tie Ren looked at the bloodstains on his lips and couldn't help but sigh, his worry evident.
Zi'ang stared at the silk handkerchief in his hand, a bitter smile creeping onto his face. He had originally intended to return it to Wei Lingyao, but he had unintentionally used it again and again, and now the handkerchief was stained with blood; he feared he would never return it.
"I wonder, how is Hengcheng?" After a moment of distraction, Wu Zi'ang suppressed the itch in his throat and spoke with difficulty.
"Your father-in-law has painstakingly built up his power over the years, controlling both the capital's capital and the court's military forces. If he were to start a rebellion, he would surely succeed! Young brother, shouldn't you worry about yourself?" Tie Ren shook his head and said.
"Life and death are in the hands of fate! What good would it do if I worried and was anxious!?" Wu Zi'ang smiled as he looked out the window at the setting sun. Having experienced death once, he was no longer particularly afraid of its approach.
"Young brother…!" Tie Ren hesitated, for he suddenly realized he could find no words to comfort him.
"Let me in, let me in!" A man's voice suddenly came from outside the window, startling Wu Zi'ang, who quickly looked up.
Through the window, he clearly saw a servant-like man struggling against a gatekeeper. Judging from his clumsy movements, he was clearly unskilled in martial arts.
It was precisely because of this that the gatekeeper didn't use force, merely grabbing the man by the collar and striding towards the door like an eagle snatching a chick.
"I want to see your general! I want to see your general!" the servant-like man shouted, his face flushed.
"Wei Han, let him in!" Wu Zi'ang ordered in a low, hoarse voice.
"Yes, General!" Wei Han, one of the gatekeepers, responded and released his grip.
The servant, without even straightening his wrinkled clothes, hurriedly ran into the room.
"Who are you, and what business do you have with this general?" Wu Zi'ang asked in a hoarse voice, looking at the young man who appeared to be about his own age.
"I am a servant of General Gong's residence!" the servant, accustomed to being a slave, still referred to himself as 'this humble servant' even with an angry expression .
"I've heard that the General is the son of the late, mighty General. Though I'm just a lowly servant in General Gong's household, I've heard of his illustrious name. People often praise him for 'treating prisoners of war kindly after every battle, and not harming women and children—a truly benevolent general!' But seeing the actions of his descendants today, it's utterly despicable!" The young servant seemed to have some education, speaking in a refined, literary style, yet his righteous indignation came from the heart.
"What do you want to say?" Wu Zi'ang put away the blood-stained handkerchief and asked calmly.
"I want to say, it's one thing for you to eliminate dissidents and massacre officers, but why do you also allow evildoers to bully women and children?" The young servant showed no fear, his words resounding.
"Explain in more detail!" Wu Zi'ang, having vaguely understood some of what he was saying, continued.
"That Qian Zhaonan was a despicable man, yet you recruited him as your subordinate. Just now, he led his men into the General's mansion, attempting to forcibly assault the lady and young lady. Steward Qin Bo tried to stop him, but was killed by him with a single blow!" The servant's voice grew louder and louder, his expression increasingly grief-stricken. At the height of his emotion, he pointed angrily at Wu Zi'ang: "Birds of a feather flock together! Recruiting a despicable man like Qian Zhaonan shows you're no better!"
"That's all!" Wu Zi'ang, now aware of the servant's purpose, frowned slightly and said, "Lead the way!"
Huh! The servant hesitated for a moment before asking, "You... are you going?"
"You risked your life to come here, just to have me go?" Wu Zi'ang glanced at the servant and said in a hoarse voice, "Stop talking nonsense, lead the way!"
"Okay, okay!" The servant's face lit up with elation. He had only held onto a sliver of hope, but now that the servant had volunteered, he hurriedly turned and led the way.
"Brother Tie, come with me!" Wu Zi'ang said, forcing himself to stay awake.
"Your health!" Tie Ren kindly reminded him, "Why don't I go instead? You rest at home!"
"I'm feeling a tightness in my chest, might as well go for a walk!" Wu Zi'ang shook his head and followed the servant.
Tie Ren sighed helplessly, picked up the divine weapon 'Heavenly Flame' from the table, and followed.
"What's your name?" Wu Zi'ang's residence wasn't far from General Gong Yan's residence, so Wu Zi'ang, Tie Ren, and the four Golden Guards and servants all walked.
"I am Ding Nan!" the young servant replied, his steps swift and agile, making it quite difficult for the ailing Wu Zi'ang to keep up.
Seeing this, Tie Ren reached out and grabbed Wu Zi'ang's arm, channeling his inner energy, almost pulling Wu Zi'ang forward.
Before long, the group arrived at General Gong Yan's residence.
"Get out of the way!" Wu Zi'ang coldly shouted at the soldiers guarding the gate, then strode inside.
(Volume 3, Chapter 125: Heavenly Change Nine)
The spacious front courtyard was now a scene of utter chaos. A dozen or so of Qian Zhaonan's personal guards were driving the male servants and maids of the manor together, forcing them to huddle in one spot. Upon spotting a beautiful maid, they pounced on her like wolves.
In an instant, cries of pleas, screams, the ripping of clothes, and the unrestrained laughter of the abusive guards filled the air. Any servant who resisted was immediately hacked to death. The horrifying trails of blood showed that many had already perished at the hands of these guards.
Qian Zhaonan was notorious for his lechery, and his guards, influenced by him, were also a group of lustful men, known in Tianmen Pass as the "Lustful Army." They were notorious for their bullying and tyranny within their jurisdiction, committing countless atrocities. Gong Yan had only lightly mentioned this a few times, without any intention of punishment. Now, however, retribution had fallen upon Gong Yan himself.
Gong Yan's first wife died young, and his new wife, Lady Jing, was only thirty years old and as beautiful as a flower. Besides his deceased only son, Gong Qi, he also had a daughter, Gong Lan, who was fifteen years old. Although still young, she was already showing signs of beauty and was a true beauty in the making.
Gong Yan had already betrothed her to the son of the Left Chancellor, Zhang Zhongshu. Now, Qian Zhaonan had completely betrayed his former master and, without hesitation, set his sights on Gong Yan's wife and daughter. After helping Wu Zi'ang eliminate Gong Yan's trusted followers, he eagerly led his men to surround Gong Yan's residence.
In fact, upon hearing of the commotion at the general's mansion, many of Gong Yan's former subordinates had also arrived. Although they had surrendered to Wu Zi'ang, they privately still respected Gong Yan's wife and daughter and had not shown any offense. Now, seeing Qian Zhaonan openly enter the mansion and commit violence, everyone was indignant, but fearing that Qian Zhaonan was the highest-ranking deputy general with military power, they dared not speak out.
Lu Yuanfeng and Huang Xi arrived at this moment. Seeing Wu Zi'ang leading his men into the mansion from afar, the two instinctively slowed their pace. They couldn't tell whether this bloodthirsty young general was there to stop Qian Zhaonan's actions or simply indulging in some fun.
"Stop!" Looking at the soldiers with lewd eyes, displaying their ugly behavior and engaging in wanton acts, Wu Zi'ang's anger surged, and he roared.
Hearing the reprimand, the soldiers simultaneously stopped and turned to look at Wu Zi'ang.
They all recognized this young general; his hoarse, low, yet deadly command of "kill" had been deeply ingrained in their minds for days.
Seeing Wu Zi'ang arrive, the soldiers were startled, hurriedly standing up and searching for their clothes.
Wu Zi'ang's gaze swept over the corpses of servants on the ground, then over the naked, abused maids, and finally settled on the dozen or so soldiers who had just committed their bestial acts.
"Kill them!" Wu Zi'ang slowly uttered two cold, murderous words.
"General, spare us…!" Hearing those two words, like a death knell, the soldiers were terrified and tried to kneel and beg for mercy.
With a soft clang, a blue sword aura filled the sky, accompanied by a series of screams. Blood mist erupted from the chests of the dozen or so soldiers, and they collapsed to the ground.
"Qian Zhaonan is worse than a beast!" Lu Yuanfeng and Huang Xi, who had secretly followed into the mansion, immediately knew which side to take. They strode forward and bowed to Wu Zi'ang, saying, "Why trouble the General to do it personally? We will send someone to bring that scoundrel Qian Zhaonan here for the General to deal with!"
Wu Zi'ang glanced at them coldly, then strode away without a word, heading straight for the inner hall.
Tie Ren and four Golden Guards followed closely behind. Lu Yuanfeng and Huang Xi exchanged a glance and quickly followed them in. Behind them were many of Gong Yan's former subordinates who had dared not speak out against him.
"You, you beast! You went back on your word! You promised not to touch Lan'er!" In the inner room of the back hall, a naked woman lay sprawled on the bed, her beautiful face contorted with shame and indignation.
Beside her, Qian Zhaonan was on top of a young girl, his large mouth nibbling at her breasts. Hearing the woman's question, he stopped, turned his head, and lewdly laughed, "Hehe, did I say that? We agreed that you would let me have my fill before I touched this chick. Unfortunately, looking at your seductive appearance, you couldn't even withstand a few thrusts from me before you passed out. I didn't get my satisfaction, so who else would I go for if not this chick! She's not your own daughter, what are you so worried about!?" With that, he forcefully spread the girl's smooth, slender thighs apart, grinning maliciously, "Lan'er, don't be afraid, Uncle Qian will take you to heaven!"
The girl's pressure points were sealed, and she couldn't move at all. She could only stare wide-eyed in fear at the beast pressing down on her.
"Break for me!" Qian Zhaonan lewdly laughed, his body suddenly sinking downwards, intending to take the girl's precious virginity.
However, before the echo of the word "broken" had even faded, the tightly closed door suddenly shattered into pieces with a loud crash. Qian Zhaonan, who was about to commit his lustful act, suddenly felt a tremendous suction force. Before he could even resist, his entire body lost control and was thrown backward through the air.
"Bang!" Qian Zhaonan's body crashed heavily to the ground, stars flying everywhere, bones trembling. He struggled to lift his head, and a familiar figure appeared before his eyes.
"Great... General!" Meeting the other's gloomy gaze, Qian Zhaonan couldn't help but shiver, his voice trembling.
At the same time, the pressure points of Jing Shi and Gong Lan on the bed were also released by Tie Ren using a technique that released pressure points in mid-air.
Gong Lan was almost in a daze, her empty eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Although her pressure points had been released, she remained lying there motionless.
Ignoring her shame, Madam Jing, naked, held Gong Lan in her arms, calling out tearfully, "Lan'er, Lan'er!"
But no matter how she called, Gong Lan remained unresponsive. A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of her lips. Realizing she could not escape, this frail girl desperately chose to bite her tongue and commit suicide!
"Lan'er…!" Madam Jing's face turned deathly pale. Holding the gradually cooling corpse, her gaze became vacant.
Looking at the girl's wide-open, dead eyes, at the shocking crimson stain, Wu Zi'ang's heart ached sharply.
A flurry of footsteps approached. Lu Yuanfeng, Huang Xi, and some of Gong Yan's former subordinates stood by the broken doorway, staring in stunned silence at the scene inside!
"Madam, Miss!" The servant Ding Nan, seeing this, was struck dumb, kneeling on the ground in a daze.
"Cough, cough!" Another series of violent coughs followed. Wu Zi'ang once again pulled out a silk handkerchief and covered his lips. After a long while, the coughing subsided, revealing a streak of blood on the snow-white handkerchief, as striking as the blood at the corner of the dead girl's lips!
"General, spare my life!" Qian Zhaonan, lying on the ground, sensed something was wrong and hurriedly begged for mercy.
"Lingchi!" Wu Zi'ang's tone was filled with unprecedented anger. His sickly face was covered with an eerie blush, and his body began to tremble. The words "lingchi" seemed to be shouted with all his might.
"Are you all deaf? I said lingchi!" Seeing that everyone was still stunned, Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but shout angrily.
"Yes, Your subordinate obeys!" Wei Han, one of the Golden Guards, stepped forward, reached out and lifted Qian Zhaonan from the ground, and retreated with the other three guards.
Seeing this, everyone, including Tie Ren, knew that Wu Zi'ang was truly enraged.
Especially Tie Ren, who had known Wu Zi'ang for so long, this was the first time he had seen him so emotionally out of control.
Unable to bear looking any longer at the dead girl's pale face and empty eyes, Wu Zi'ang dragged his exhausted body out of the room.
A young girl in the prime of her life was gone just like that. Who was the murderer? That's right, it was Qian Zhaonan! And what about himself? If he had simply eliminated Qian Zhaonan after using him, none of this would have happened.
Unfortunately, he wasn't a god; he didn't have the ability to predict the future.
Lost in thought, Wu Zi'ang returned to his official residence in a daze. He felt like his head was about to explode and all he wanted was to rest.
"Young Master, Eunuch An has rushed over from Hengcheng, saying there's something extremely urgent!" Liu Fu hurriedly reported as soon as Wu Zi'ang entered the residence.
"They must have succeeded in the capital!" Wu Zi'ang guessed, forcing himself to stay alert as he walked into the hall.
"General!" Upon seeing Wu Zi'ang enter, Eunuch An rushed forward as if seeing a relative, grabbing Wu Zi'ang's hand and weeping bitterly, "Something terrible has happened! His Majesty is critically ill and demands your immediate return!"
"Critically ill? That's part of the plan…!" Wu Zi'ang's expression suddenly changed, and he grabbed Eunuch An's wrist, demanding sharply, "What did you say?" "
His Majesty has suddenly contracted a strange illness, becoming completely paralyzed and unable to speak. Therefore, he has specially ordered this servant to urgently escort the General back to the capital. Delay could lead to unforeseen consequences!" Eunuch An said, tears streaming down his face.
"What?" Wu Zi'ang's heart immediately panicked. He could almost instantly imagine the severity of the consequences. If Prince Wu Shang died, the court would inevitably descend into chaos. Whether the Crown Prince ascended the throne or the Third Prince did, neither would let the Ninth Prince's mansion and the General's mansion, which harbored ambitions of usurping the throne, escape unscathed. And the first to be in danger would be his mother and wife!
Volume 3, Qin Capital Chronicles, Chapter 126, Heavenly Change 10:
"Tell me more details!" Wu Zi'ang's face was filled with anxiety, but he told himself not to panic, to calm himself down, and said in a deep voice.
"According to the plan, His Majesty, posing as Wu Wei, pretended to be critically ill, luring the Left Chancellor Zhang Zhongshu and his cronies to visit him. Taking advantage of this, he captured them all in one fell swoop, imprisoning them in a death row cell. He immediately sent men to surround the Left Chancellor's residence, capturing Gong Yan, who had secretly returned to the capital. Then, His Majesty forged an imperial edict, passing the throne to the Ninth Prince. This move shocked the court officials, but anyone who voiced dissent was executed on the spot." At this point, Eunuch An took a long breath and continued, "The events proceeded very..." With Chang Shunli's arrival, the entire capital had fallen into the Emperor's hands, and the dissident forces had been completely eliminated. The Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and the Second Princess were all under house arrest. The situation inside and outside the palace was now stable. Only then did the Emperor secretly reinstate his status as the Ninth Prince, enter the palace to preside over the overall situation, and announce the death of Emperor Qin Wuwei, who would succeed him! However, just as the Emperor decided to execute Zhang Zhongshu, Gong Yan, and others in the imperial prison, he suddenly collapsed
. He only awoke two days and two nights later, completely paralyzed and with a crooked mouth and eyes. "Who is in charge in the capital now?" This was the question Wu Zi'ang was most concerned about.
"Commander Li Hui and Court Minister Xiao Bufan!" Eunuch An hurriedly replied.
"There's no time to lose, return to the capital immediately!" After hearing Eunuch An's words, Wu Zi'ang knew that not even a second could be wasted. "What about Qian Zhaonan? Has he been executed?" Wu Zi'ang, still preoccupied with the matter, pressed for an answer. "
Reporting to the General, I've sent men to find an experienced executioner, but there's been no reply yet. Qian Zhaonan has already been imprisoned!" Wei Han hurriedly replied.
"So troublesome!" Wu Zi'ang raised an eyebrow. He had heard of this cruelest form of execution before—death by a thousand cuts, also known as fish-scale slicing—where the victim had to endure 3,600 cuts before dying. Therefore, only an experienced executioner could perform this task.
Wu Zi'ang was considering whether to simply have Qian Zhaonan dragged out and beheaded when he heard Wei Han say, "There's another matter I must inform the General of: Lady Jing of the Gong family has also committed suicide!"
"Tear him apart by chariots!" Wu Zi'ang's waning anger reignited upon hearing this news. He sternly ordered the four guards, "That's easy! Quickly bring Qian Zhaonan here; I want to personally oversee the execution outside this residence!"
"Yes, yes!" Wei Han responded twice, then turned and hurriedly took the prisoner away.
"General, we should set off as soon as possible!" Eunuch An couldn't help but remind him.
"No rush, I want to see this villain beheaded with my own eyes!" "Wu Zi'ang replied with a gloomy expression.
Soon after, Qian Zhaonan was brought over by Wei Han, and the other three Golden Guards had also brought five warhorses. This action immediately attracted the attention of many officers and soldiers, who all moved towards the gate of the Tianmen Pass garrison's residence.
Five ropes were taken out and tied to Qian Zhaonan's head, hands, and feet. The four Golden Guards, along with Liu Fu, each rode a warhorse, quietly awaiting orders. He then took Eunuch An's hand and turned to walk out the door.
Tie Ren, standing outside the door, had overheard Eunuch An and Wu Zi'ang's conversation. Shocked, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Man proposes, God disposes. Who could have imagined that such an accident would occur just as Wu Shang was about to achieve his goal?" "I have important business to attend to and must return to the capital immediately!" As soon as he stepped outside, Wu Zi'ang summoned Wei Han and the other four Golden Guards and ordered in a deep voice, "You stay here and inform the other four to keep the troops under control!" "Any mistake will be severely punished! Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!" The four guards immediately responded in unison.
"Execute!" Wu Zi'ang's low, hoarse voice echoed in the air, causing all the soldiers present to tremble.
"Giddy up!" Liu Fu and the four guards spurred their horses, gave a soft shout, and rode their warhorses in five different directions, their speed increasing from slow to fast. When the reins were taut, everyone present closed their eyes in unison.
After a loud thud, blood splattered outside the garrison gate. Qian Zhaonan, whose acupoints were sealed, couldn't even scream before being cleaved into five pieces, his body lying on the spot!
"Let's go!" Wu Zi'ang looked exhausted, glanced at Eunuch An, and then turned and left.
"Qing'er, how long has Zi'ang been gone?" Inside the Hengcheng General's Mansion, Madam Ling sat on the couch, her face unable to hide her worry. "Mother, it's been half a month!" "Qiu Xueqing answered softly.
"He didn't even say when he'd be back, and just quietly left the capital on business. This child is increasingly disregarding his mother!" Madam Ling shook her head and sighed.
"You know perfectly well that he's the most filial son," Qiu Xueqing smiled and said, "He didn't tell you because he was afraid you'd worry!"
"Does that mean I won't worry?" Madam Ling deliberately kept a straight face, then softened her expression after a moment, saying, "A mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles, especially with Zi'ang's health... alas!"
"Mother, don't worry, Zi'ang will be back soon!" "Qiu Xueqing comforted her, "Otherwise, I'll go ask my godfather." "No need!" Madam Ling waved her hand and said, "Speaking of my in-laws, haven't they ascended the throne yet?" "
Not yet!" Qiu Xueqing shook her head and said, "There's been no news from the palace lately. Perhaps my godfather wants to wait until the situation stabilizes further?"
"Qing'er, tell your mother the truth, was the Wuwei you saw before your godfather in disguise?" Without warning, Madam Ling suddenly stared at Qiu Xueqing and asked softly.
Qiu Xueqing was startled by the question, a look of hesitation flashing across her jade-like face. After a moment, she slowly nodded and said, "Mother guessed it long ago!
"At first, I didn't understand. I just felt that some of Wuwei's actions were becoming more and more abnormal. Later, when I thought about the day when Xuan Yi impersonated Tianyao with a mask, I began to suspect that this Qin Emperor Wuwei might be your godfather!" At this point, Madam Ling sighed softly and said, "Zi'ang should have known the truth long ago. This trip out of the capital must have been to do something for his in-laws!" "
Mother truly lives up to her reputation as the daughter of Prime Minister Han and the wife of the mighty General!" Qiu Xueqing praised from the bottom of her heart.
"Don't try to fool me," Madam Ling smiled and shook her head. "What I can think of, others might not be unable to think of either. It's just that because of the emperor's special status, even if his subjects have some doubts, they dare not act rashly!"
"That's right, my adoptive father also said that his identity can only be concealed for a time, which is why he came up with the plan of using a fake edict to ascend the throne legitimately!" Thinking of the recent turmoil in the capital, Qiu Xueqing couldn't help but sigh. "I wonder how many people will lose their lives because they opposed my adoptive father's ascension to the throne!"
"When dynasties change, bloodshed is inevitable!" Madam Ling turned her gaze to the window and said, "If Tianyao were alive, he would scold me for talking nonsense!"
"Princess, Steward Yu of the Ninth Prince's Mansion requests an audience!" After Liu Fu followed Wu Zi'ang to Tianmen Pass, Tong Hu, the leader of the four guards, took over the responsibility of the general's mansion steward, so the task of delivering the message fell to him.
"Uncle Yu!?" Upon hearing Tong Hu's report, Qiu Xueqing was slightly taken aback, then quickly said, "Let him in!"
"Yes!" Tong Hu responded and left, soon bringing in Yu Lu, the steward of the Ninth Prince's residence.
"This old servant greets the Princess and the General's wife!" As soon as Yu Lu entered the room, he bowed and curtsied to Qiu Xueqing and Madam Ling.
"Uncle Yu, is there anything I can do for you?" Qiu Xueqing waved her hand, signaling him to rise, and asked.
"The Princess Consort hasn't seen the Princess for almost a month and is very concerned, so she specially sent this old servant to bring the Princess back for a few days!" Standing up, Yu Lu replied with his usual simple smile.
"I see!" Qiu Xueqing frowned slightly upon hearing this. "Go back and tell my mother that Zi'ang is not here, and I still need to manage things at the General's Mansion. I can't leave for the time being. I'll go back to visit him when Zi'ang returns!"
"Qing'er, you should go back. Xiao Shi and Xiao Hua can take care of me here!" Madam Ling knew what Qiu Xueqing was worried about. Since moving to the General's Mansion, she hadn't returned home even once.
"I'm really worried!" Qiu Xueqing shook her head and said.
"The Princess Consort knew that the General was not at the mansion, so she instructed me before I came to ask Madam to come along!" Yu Lu quickly said upon seeing this.
"That's wonderful!" Qiu Xueqing's face lit up with joy upon hearing this. She took Madam Ling's hand and said, "Mother, let's go to the Prince's residence for a few days. We'll return after Zi'ang goes back to the capital! This will lessen the loneliness. I know you and my godmother get along very well!"
"Alright!" Madam Ling nodded. She and the Ninth Prince's Consort were quite compatible, so she smiled and said, "As Qing'er says!"
"I'll instruct Guard Tong to prepare the carriage!" Qiu Xueqing beamed. She and the Princess Consort had the deepest bond, and she missed her dearly after not seeing her for nearly a month.
"Princess, there's no need for further preparations. This old servant already prepared a carriage when I came!" Yu Lu quickly reminded her.
"In that case, allow Mother and I to get ready!" Qiu Xueqing nodded and said.
"This old servant will wait for you outside the residence!" "With that, Yu Lu bowed again to Qiu Xueqing and Madam Ling, then withdrew.
A short while later, Qiu Xueqing, supporting Madam Ling, left the General's Mansion and boarded Yu Lu's carriage.
"Princess, perhaps you should have me accompany you for protection?" Tong Hu, the head of the four guards, hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Is it Guard Tong?" Yu Lu interjected with a smile, "Guard Tong, do you underestimate the people of the Ninth Prince's Mansion? If we can't even protect the Princess's safety, what face do we have to eat in the Prince's Mansion?!"
Tong Hu glanced at the eight attendants Yu Lu had brought and nodded secretly. These eight men all had sharp eyes and composed demeanor; one glance was enough to tell they were all experts. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "I didn't mean that. In that case, I'll trouble Chief Steward Yu."
"Farewell!" Yu Lu clasped his hands in a fist salute to Tong Hu, then waved his hand, and the carriage slowly moved forward. Eight attendants lined up in two rows on either side of the carriage, following closely behind the wheels.
Half an hour later, the carriage slowly returned to the Ninth Prince's residence.
Qiu Xueqing and Madam Ling alighted from the carriage and, led by Yu Lu, entered the residence. Sure enough, upon entering the hall, Qiu Xueqing immediately saw the Princess sitting on the couch. Just as she was about to call out to her, she suddenly noticed that there was another person in the room, standing with his back to her by the window.
"Mother!" Qiu Xueqing called out softly.
"Ah!" The Princess was startled upon hearing this and turned around. When she saw that it was Qiu Xueqing and Madam Ling, her expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly said, "You, hurry up and leave!"
"Doesn't the Princess think it's too late?" With a deep voice, the person standing by the window slowly turned around, smiling at Madam Ling and Qiu Xueqing.
"Right Prime Minister Wei!" "Upon seeing the man's face clearly, Madam Ling and Qiu Xueqing couldn't help but gasp simultaneously.
Volume 3, Qin Capital Chronicles, Chapter 127, Heavenly Change Eleven.
Why is Wei Ruoxuan here? Why did Mother say such things? Qiu Xueqing vaguely sensed something was wrong and subconsciously looked back, only to see Yu Lu had already led his men to seal the door.
"Yu Lu, hello!" Seeing this situation, the Ninth Princess knew it was too late to warn him, so she glared angrily at Yu Lu standing at the door.
Yu Lu, the former steward of the Prince's mansion, saw the Ninth Princess glaring at him, and a hint of shame flashed across his face, barely perceptible to others, before he slowly looked away.
Hearing the Ninth Princess's rebuke, Madam Ling and Qiu Xueqing's hearts sank simultaneously. They vaguely understood two things. First, Wei Ruoxuan's visit was ill-intentioned; second, the steward Yu Lu had actually betrayed the Prince's mansion, and from this, it could be deduced that the entire Ninth Prince's mansion had probably fallen into Wei Ruoxuan's control.
"What does the Right Prime Minister mean by this?" "Qiu Xueqing quickly regained her composure, her beautiful eyes looking at Wei Ruoxuan.
"Before you arrived, I had already laid everything out with the Princess Consort, so the Princess Consort might as well ask her!" Wei Ruoxuan smiled at Qiu Xueqing and said calmly.
"Mother, what exactly happened?" Qiu Xueqing stepped forward, came to the Ninth Princess Consort's side, and took her hand, asking.
"Your godfather was harmed by them!" Hearing Qiu Xueqing's question, the Ninth Princess Consort's eyes reddened, and she choked out a shocking piece of news.
"What?" Qiu Xueqing and Madam Ling were both taken aback by the news. The former looked at the relaxed Wei Ruoxuan with disbelief. She really couldn't understand how her godfather, who held military power in the capital and had many trusted and skilled men, could be poisoned by those in power.
"Why?" After a long while, Qiu Xueqing finally uttered these three words, seemingly asking the Ninth Princess Consort, and also seemingly asking Wei Ruoxuan.
"What the Ninth Prince did for me, I did for him!" "Wei Ruoxuan stroked his long beard and replied with a smile.
"Doesn't Your Excellency think this is wishful thinking?" Qiu Xueqing's jade-like face showed resentment upon hearing this, and she sneered, "Although my adoptive father's methods were not honorable, he is still a member of the Qin royal family. And you, a mere subject, want to take advantage of the chaos to seize the throne? How can the civil and military officials submit to you? How can the people of Qin submit to you?"
"Princess Xue is absolutely right!" Wei Ruoxuan seemed to agree with her, nodding and smiling, "Therefore, I have no intention of ascending the throne! Hehe, as long as I control the entire Qin, I don't need the empty title of emperor!" "Whom do you intend to install as a puppet?" Qiu Xueqing immediately asked coldly.
"Ah, Princess Xue is truly intelligent!" Wei Ruoxuan's eyes showed admiration, "You even guessed my intentions!"
"Is it Wu Xin!?" Qiu Xueqing's face appeared even more aloof, and she asked again.
"I am truly in awe!" Wei Ruoxuan's eyes shone with even greater admiration. He gave a thumbs-up and laughed, "Although the Ninth Prince has no children, he has such a bright and intelligent adopted daughter as you, which is enough to make him feel content!"
"I dare not accept such praise from the Right Prime Minister!" Qiu Xueqing shook her head and said quietly, "Xueqing just wants to know, after harming my adoptive father, what are your plans for dealing with us? To kill us? Or to imprison us?"
"Hehe, Princess Xue is so clever, why don't you guess again!" Wei Ruoxuan said with a smile.
"I... don't know!" Qiu Xueqing turned around and answered softly.
"Actually, Princess Xue has already guessed, hasn't she?" Wei Ruoxuan smiled, turned to look out the window, and said slowly, "Our General Wu seems to be returning soon!?"
Qiu Xueqing and Madam Ling both trembled upon hearing this. Although they had already guessed that Wei Ruoxuan intended to imprison them to threaten Wu Zi'ang, they still couldn't help but be alarmed by his obviously suggestive words.
"I will not make things difficult for the Princess and Madam!" Wei Ruoxuan continued, "Speaking of which, I have a good personal relationship with Tianyao. As long as the Princess and Madam can persuade Zi'ang to help me, I guarantee that everything the General's Mansion currently possesses will remain unchanged!"
"Why should we believe you?" Madam Ling shook her head and said, "Your guarantee is worthless!"
"You have no choice!" Facing Madam Ling's tough attitude, Wei Ruoxuan showed no anger and still smiled, "I do not believe that you, as wives and mothers, can just stand by and watch Zi'ang die young. If I remember correctly, Zi'ang is not twenty-one this year!"
Hearing Wei Ruoxuan's words, which were full of threat, Madam Ling and Qiu Xueqing's expressions changed.
"Trying to harm Zi'ang? You are delusional!?" Although Madam Ling's voice was stern, she could not hide a trace of panic in her eyes.
"I can use Zi'ang to threaten you, and I can use you to threaten Zi'ang!" Wei Ruoxuan smiled slightly. "If you all want to live peacefully, then you have no choice but to cooperate with me! I've said my piece, think it over carefully!" After speaking, he glanced at the three people who were bowing their heads in silence, flicked his sleeves, and walked out of the room.
"Don't neglect the Princess and the Princess!" Wei Ruoxuan instructed as he passed by Yu Lu.
"Understood!" Yu Lu quickly bowed his head and replied.
"Hmm!" Wei Ruoxuan nodded and walked straight out of the Prince's mansion without stopping. "
Mother! How could Yu Lu have been bribed by Wei Ruoxuan?" After Wei Ruoxuan left, Qiu Xueqing couldn't help but ask the Princess. In any case, Yu Lu had been the steward of the Prince's mansion for more than ten years, how could he easily betray the Prince's mansion?
"It wasn't bribery. Originally, this old servant was Elder Wei's man!" Before the Princess could speak, Yu Lu had already answered.
"Elder Wei?" Qiu Xueqing's jade-like face showed surprise as she asked, "You call him Elder?"
"That's right, the Right Prime Minister of Great Qin, and also an elder of the Demonic Sect!" Yu Lu calmly revealed a secret that made Qiu Xueqing and Madam Ling's expressions suddenly change.
"So, the Demonic Sect master who has been secretly teaching Wanhe and Shuixian martial arts in the Prince's Mansion for so many years is actually you!" Qiu Xueqing finally realized and pointed at Yu Lu.
"The Princess already knows the identities of those two girls!" A hint of surprise flashed across Yu Lu's honest face as he nodded and said, "It seems that Elder Wei and this old servant underestimated the Princess. We thought those two girls would never be exposed!" "
It's truly commendable that Elder Wei has been so meticulous in his planning for so many years!" After a moment, Qiu Xueqing's face regained its composure as she coldly looked at Yu Lu.
“Isn’t Your Highness the same?” Yu Lu sighed and said, “Your Highness and Elder Wei are the same kind of people, except that the latter is more patient!”
“So, Wei Ruoxuan already knew about my adoptive father’s impersonation of the emperor, didn’t he?” Qiu Xueqing understood that with Yu Lu as an inside man, and given Wei Ruoxuan’s cunning, he would definitely see the flaw in his adoptive father’s long absence and thus determine that Wuwei at that time was his adoptive father in disguise.
"That's right. Eunuch Zhao disappeared without a trace, and Eunuch An took over as the chief eunuch. From that time on, Elder Wei became suspicious! Later, when he saw the emperor's unusual behavior of exonerating General Wuwei and reprimanding himself for his mistakes, Elder Wei was certain that Wuwei had been replaced! And that person was none other than the Ninth Prince, who had been away visiting friends for a long time!" Sure enough, Yu Lu's words confirmed Qiu Xueqing's guess. Finally, Yu Lu added, "You probably don't know, but Eunuch Zhao is also one of our people!"
Qiu Xueqing had to admit that Wei Ruoxuan was indeed very patient. After learning this secret, he kept it hidden until his adoptive father was about to achieve great success and his mind was relaxed before suddenly launching an attack, thus becoming the 'sowary' who ultimately benefited!
"Why did you tell me so much?" Qiu Xueqing asked, staring at Yu Lu's old and honest face.
“General Wu is about to return to Hengcheng, and he will inevitably fall into the hands of the elders!” Yu Lu said in a low voice. “At that time, Elder Wei will confront you directly, so what this old servant has said is hardly a secret!”
“What makes you so confident?” Qiu Xueqing stared into Yu Lu’s eyes and pressed him for an answer. “Does this mean the entire Hengcheng is in your hands?”
“Controlling the palace is enough!” Yu Lu hesitated for a moment before answering. “Because…!”
“Yu Lu, how dare you reveal our sect’s secrets!” Just then, a gloomy voice cut Yu Lu off abruptly.
Yu Lu was slightly startled and turned to see a young man with a cold expression stepping into the room.
“Greetings, Hall Master Nie!” Although Yu Lu was old, his eyesight was still sharp, and he recognized Nie Li, the Hall Master of the Cold Sword Hall of the Demonic Sect. Although he was not Nie Li’s direct subordinate, their positions were still inferior, so he quickly bowed.
Nie Li didn't even glance at Yu Lu, his cold gaze fixed on Qiu Xueqing, Madam Ling, and the Princess. When he saw Qiu Xueqing in her white dress, his eyes lit up, and he stared intently at her.
Noticing his gaze, Qiu Xueqing remained unmoved, her beautiful eyes meeting his cold stare without flinching.
When their icy gaze met, Nie Li felt a sudden, inexplicable panic. That coldness, like that of millennia-old ice and snow, was unbearable even for him, and he quickly looked away. He
couldn't bear to look at her from afar; in her presence, Nie Li felt as insignificant as dust!
How damn strange! Nie Li cursed inwardly, then turned to Yu Lu and demanded, "You leaked information without permission, what is your punishment!"
"It was my negligence!" Yu Lu bowed slightly, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "If Hall Master Nie insists on punishing me, then we may go to the Hall of Punishments together and let Elder Ge decide!"
"Forget it, just be more careful in the future!" The person in front of him was not his direct subordinate, but rather Elder Wei's confidant, so Nie Li did not dare to be too serious and simply waved his hand to let it go.
"I will definitely pay more attention in the future!" Yu Lu nodded.
"Alright, I have some things I want to ask the Princess privately, you may take the Princess and the General's wife and leave!" Nie Li took two steps and suddenly said to Yu Lu.
Upon hearing this, the Ninth Princess and Madam Ling were startled. 'Private questioning'? The other party clearly had ill intentions, and they immediately turned their gazes to Yu Lu.
Qiu Xueqing, however, remained expressionless, simply staring coldly at Yu Lu, wanting to hear how he would answer.
"I cannot agree to this!" Yu Lu refused without hesitation. "Elder Wei instructed before he left that no one was to disturb us, so you, Hall Master Nie, are no exception!"
"Don't always use Elder Wei to intimidate me!" Nie Li's eyes flashed with a venomous, chilling light as he said coldly, "Do me a favor, and I'll benefit too. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"No!" Unaffected by the other's expression, Yu Lu met Nie Li's gaze without fear and said calmly, "If you want to turn against me, go ahead. I'll take it!"
Upon hearing this, the chilling intent in Nie Li's eyes intensified, and one hand slowly reached for the hilt of the sword at his waist. His insistence stemmed from two reasons: firstly, Qiu Xueqing's cold and noble demeanor piqued his interest, and secondly, he wanted revenge for Wu Zi'ang's injury to him at the Commandant's Mansion that day.
"I want to remind Hall Master Nie that I'm not alone here!" With that, Yu Lu clapped his hands lightly.
Two crisp claps rang out, and eight men silently appeared at the doorway, staring at Nie Li expressionlessly.
Veins throbbed on Nie Li's forehead as his eyes swept over the faces of the group, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.
"I've got it!" After a long standoff with Yu Lu and the others, Nie Li finally released his grip on the hilt. He was confident he could defeat any one of them in a one-on-one fight, but he wouldn't be able to handle a group attacking him. Besides, he didn't want to escalate the situation. So, after glaring fiercely at Yu Lu, he gritted his teeth, uttered a harsh threat, and turned to leave.
"Phew!" Only after Nie Li's figure disappeared did Yu Lu breathe a sigh of relief. Although his side outnumbered them, he had absolutely no confidence in defeating the second youngest expert besides the sect's Holy Maiden.
"Thank you, Uncle Yu!" Qiu Xueqing said softly.
Hearing that familiar address, a warm feeling welled up in Yu Lu's heart, but his face remained expressionless as he turned and walked towards the door.
"Princess and Queen, rest assured, everything is under your care!" These were Yu Lu's last words as he left the room.
Volume 3, Qin Capital Chronicles, Chapter 128: Nirvana Stepping
back onto the soil of Hengcheng, Wu Zi'ang was filled with emotion. Just over half a month ago, his father-in-law was full of ambition, ready to establish a new dynasty. However, fate is unpredictable; in the blink of an eye, he heard the news that his father-in-law had suddenly fallen seriously ill. Truly, man proposes, God disposes!
"General, there's no time to lose! Let's hurry to the palace to see the Emperor!" As soon as they disembarked, Eunuch An urged anxiously.
"Ahem, ahem! Alright!" Wu Zi'ang coughed lightly twice, then turned to Liu Fu and said, "Uncle Fu, you should go back to the General's Mansion and report that everything is alright!"
"Yes!" Liu Fu replied, turning and leaving first.
"Brother Tie, accompany me to the palace!" Wu Zi'ang then said to Tie Ren. To be honest, with the Ninth Prince seriously ill, he was worried about potential changes within the palace, which was why he left Tie Ren behind as a precaution.
Seeing Tie Ren nod, Eunuch An waved his hand, and a carriage immediately pulled up beside him, showing that Eunuch An had made prior preparations.
The three boarded the carriage, with the rest of Eunuch An's entourage following behind, heading straight for the palace.
Half an hour later, the carriage arrived outside the imperial city. Here, Wu Zi'ang, Tie Ren, and Eunuch An disembarked and entered the imperial city on foot.
Led by Eunuch An, Wu Zi'ang and Tie Ren crossed bridges and corridors, quickly heading towards the imperial bedchamber.
Along the way, Tie Ren noticed that the brightly armored palace guards were all drawn and ready for battle, as if facing a formidable enemy. It was clear that with the Ninth Prince Wu Shang seriously ill and the situation still unstable, the current Minister of Justice, Xiao Bufan, was extremely cautious! Just
as they were about to reach the emperor's bedchamber, two guards with swords blocked their path.
"General, your attendant cannot enter!" one of the guards said.
"Brother Tie, please wait here for me!" Wu Zi'ang said softly to Tie Ren. He explained the palace rules: officials' attendants were not allowed to enter the palace, let alone carry weapons.
"Hmm!" Tie Ren responded softly and remained where he was. Wu Zi'ang and Eunuch An entered the emperor's bedchamber one after the other.
Pushing open the door, Wu Zi'ang and Eunuch An quietly entered. At a glance, Wu Zi'ang saw Prince Wu Shang on the dragon bed.
His face was pale, his eyes were closed, and if it weren't for the faint rise and fall of his chest, one might have mistaken him for a corpse.
"Father-in-law, father-in-law?" Reaching the bedside, Wu Zi'ang called softly with complicated emotions.
Alas! Prince Wu Shang seemed to hear someone calling him. He suddenly opened his eyes, and upon seeing who was standing before him, a look of joy appeared on his face. But it was only for a brief moment; the joy vanished, replaced by despair.
Struggling to move his lips, Wu Shang managed to utter a barely audible sound.
Wu Zi'ang quickly leaned closer, bringing his ear to the other's mouth.
"Be... careful! Wei... Ruo... Xuan! Quickly... run!" Each word was uttered with all his might by the Ninth Prince.
Wu Zi'ang's heart skipped a beat. In that instant, he realized that his father-in-law wasn't suddenly afflicted with a serious illness, but had been assassinated—by someone else, none other than Wei Ruo Xuan, the current Right Chancellor of Qin!
How could this be? His father-in-law had many confidants and controlled most of the capital's military forces. Wei Ruo Xuan was merely a figurehead Right Chancellor; what ability did he have to so easily assassinate his father-in-law?!
Run! Wu Zi'ang had just stood up, preparing to obey the Ninth Prince's orders to leave, when suddenly a cold, sharp dagger was pressed against his neck.
"You're a traitor!?" Wu Zi'ang stared at the owner of the dagger, Eunuch An, his face contorted with rage, a flash of fury in his eyes.
"Don't blame me, I was forced into it!" Eunuch An's old face twitched as he gritted his teeth.
"You killed my father-in-law!" Wu Zi'ang tried his best to suppress his anger and questioned him angrily.
"No, it wasn't me!" Eunuch An shook his head repeatedly. Although he knew that the other party had lost his martial arts, he still couldn't help but feel fear when he saw the other party's angry eyes, and his short knife tightened in his hand.
"Then who was it?" Wu Zi'ang ignored the slight pain in his neck, took a step forward, and asked sharply.
"It was, it was Her Majesty the Empress!" Eunuch An blurted out subconsciously.
"The Empress?" Wu Zi'ang was stunned. The answer that Eunuch An gave was far beyond his imagination. Why? Wasn't the Empress his father-in-law's person? How could she betray his father-in-law? Even with his intelligence, he couldn't figure out the reason!
"Hahahaha!" Just then, accompanied by a series of loud laughter, a figure appeared in the palace.
Hearing the laughter, Ninth Prince Wu Shang, lying on the dragon bed, trembled. He struggled to turn his head, his eyes filled with intense hatred. This was the person who, just as he was about to achieve his goal, silently stabbed him in the back! The Empress, that vile woman, had actually conspired with this old scoundrel to plot against him! He hated her so much!
*Giggle!* The Ninth Prince's pale face instantly turned crimson with pain. He laboriously raised his arm, slowly pointing at Wei Ruoxuan, a strange sound escaping his throat. Then suddenly, his arm fell limp, his eyes wide open, almost bulging out of their sockets—he was dead.
"Father-in-law!" Wu Zi'ang cried out, ignoring the blade at his neck, bending down to grasp the Ninth Prince's right hand.
The cold, lifeless body reminded Wu Zi'ang that the person lying on the dragon bed was now a corpse! A once-powerful figure had died with resentment at the very moment when the throne was within his grasp!
Although he didn't have deep feelings for this father-in-law, in retrospect, if it weren't for him, his father's injustice would not have been redressed, and he would not have been able to reunite with his mother! Whether it was manipulation or genuine affection, the Ninth Prince had always treated him well!
"Are you very pleased with yourself?" Wu Zi'ang released the Ninth Prince's cold hand, raised his head, and looked at Wei Ruoxuan, who was all smiles.
"Of course!" Wei Ruoxuan laughed, "In this contest with your father-in-law, I had the last laugh. How could I not be pleased?"
Staring intently at him, Wu Zi'ang slowly nodded and said, "Very well then. Now that my father-in-law is dead, what do you intend to do with me? Kill me, or imprison me?"
"Hehe!" Wei Ruoxuan chuckled, "The General and Princess Xue are truly a match made in heaven; even your questions are perfectly aligned!"
"Xue Qing?" Wu Zi'ang's expression changed, then he demanded sharply, "What have you done to her?"
"What else could I do?" Before Wei Ruoxuan could speak, another cold voice answered first, "Of course, I've served her well!" Wu Zi'ang looked over and saw a gloomy-faced man in gray step into the room. His heart sank. He recognized this man as Nie Li, the demonic sect expert who had recently plotted against Wei Lingyao, Shui Qingqing's subordinate.
How could this be? Shui Qingqing, she actually knows how to deal with him? Who was Wei Ruoxuan, that he could mobilize the power of the Demonic Sect? A thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly remembered Shui Qingqing telling him that "the Demonic Sect also has experts hidden within the Qin court." He immediately turned to Wei Ruoxuan, emphasizing each word, and asked, "Are you a member of the Demonic Sect?"
"That's right!" A hint of surprise flashed in Wei Ruoxuan's eyes, but he smiled and said, "I didn't intend to hide it from you. I am an elder in the Demonic Sect!"
No wonder, with the Demonic Sect's immense power and the Empress as an inside agent, even a shrewd man like his father-in-law was ambushed! Judging from the current situation, the palace was clearly under their control, and perhaps the entire Hengcheng was in the same predicament!
Thinking of this, Wu Zi'ang's heart trembled. He looked at Wei Ruoxuan and said, "Don't say anything else. I just want to know, how are my mother and Xue Qing now?"
"General, rest assured, Lady Ling and Princess Xue have been invited to the Ninth Prince's residence by me, and everything is fine!" Wei Ruoxuan replied with a smile.
Wu Zi'ang ignored Wei Ruoxuan's reply, turned to stare at Nie Li, and asked, "What did you mean by 'serve well' just now?"
"Don't you understand?" Nie Li suddenly smiled, a lewd and sly smile, meeting Wu Zi'ang's eyes as he slowly said, "Let me tell you, your ice-cold beauty has already been well served by me. Tsk tsk, the feeling was truly intoxicating, that body..."
"Shut up!" Wei Ruoxuan sharply interrupted Nie Li's description. He hadn't been to the Prince's mansion these past few days, so he didn't know whether Qiu Xueqing had been violated. However, under these special circumstances, Nie Li's words, so provocative to Wu Zi'ang, were clearly detrimental to his plan to persuade him to surrender. He knew that a man could tolerate someone defecating on his head, but he couldn't tolerate someone touching his woman!
"General, don't listen to his nonsense! I guarantee Princess Xue is safe and sound!" Seeing Wu Zi'ang's face turn from white to red, then to crimson, Wei Ruoxuan quickly said.
Unfortunately, his words sounded like a futile attempt to cover up his misunderstanding to Wu Zi'ang! Taking a deep breath, Wu Zi'ang slowly closed his eyes. The scene at Tianmen Pass suddenly flashed into his mind: a naked girl, a streak of shocking red blood!
If Xue Qing had been violated, given her nature, how could she possibly live on? Beast! Beast! At that moment, Wu Zi'ang could almost hear the sound of his blood boiling within him, the blood surging ever faster, needing an outlet.
Seeing the eerie crimson flash across Wu Zi'ang's face, Wei Ruoxuan suddenly remembered something, his old face changing color, and he shouted, "Kill him quickly!"
Hearing Wei Ruoxuan's order, Eunuch An gritted his teeth, about to forcefully slash down to end Wu Zi'ang's life, when suddenly a stream of heat surged from the hilt of the knife into his hand, scalding him so much that he cried out in pain, the short blade slipping from his grasp and falling to the ground. *
Sizzle!* A sinister sword light surged, tracing a strange trajectory straight towards Wu Zi'ang's throat. Nie Li, who had long wanted to kill him, couldn't wait to strike.
Just then, Wu Zi'ang suddenly opened his eyes, his black pupils flashing with fierce fire. The ferocious and violent aura emanating from them made even a cunning person like Nie Li feel fear, and his hand instinctively changed from a straight thrust to a slanted attack.
*Crack!* A burst of blood gushed out, and Wu Zi'ang's left arm flew off, the splattering blood instantly staining the nearby eunuch An red!
"Clang!" After severing Wu Zi'ang's left arm, Nie Li originally intended to take advantage of the momentum to cut Wu Zi'ang's body in two. However, to his surprise, when the sword touched the opponent's body, it produced a metallic clang, and the longsword was immediately deflected.
Clutching his severed arm with his right hand, Wu Zi'ang stared coldly at the pale-faced Wei Ruoxuan and Nie Li. Despite his severe injuries, the fire burning in his eyes hadn't died down; instead, it burned even brighter. He
slowly removed his hand, and the bleeding from the severed arm had stopped. The charred wound reminded Wei Ruoxuan and Nie Li of the method this young man had used to stop the bleeding!
With a look of horror, Eunuch An slowly retreated. Once he determined he was out of danger, he turned and ran.
"Whoosh!" A blast of hot air caught up with Eunuch An from behind, instantly sending the fickle man flying into the air.
With a muffled "Boom!", Eunuch An's body exploded, his severed limbs scattering at Wei Ruoxuan and Nie Li's feet.
Nie Li stared in disbelief at the one-armed man before him. He couldn't believe that Wu Zi'ang, so severely injured, could suddenly unleash such extraordinary strength. A sickly man had transformed into a ferocious demon in the blink of an eye—this was completely beyond his comprehension!
"Go!" Seeing this, Wei Ruoxuan acted decisively. In a flash, he floated out the door. He had already realized that Wu Zi'ang had risked his life to trigger the third injury of the 'Burning Blood Soul Remnant Technique,' 'Blood Exhaustion and Soul Remnant'! Although he had warned him, it was too late; he hadn't nipped the threat in the bud!
Seeing the power Wu Zi'ang was displaying, Wei Ruoxuan wisely chose to retreat, temporarily avoiding his sharp edge. He knew that Wu Zi'ang, who was unleashing his physical potential at the cost of burning his life, couldn't hold out for long. If he were to be dragged down with him in his dying moments, it would be a colossal joke!
Nie Li was quick as well. Just as Wei Ruoxuan uttered the word "go," he flashed forward, following closely behind her out of the palace.
Whoosh! Two more gusts of wind blew as Wu Zi'ang's right arm slashed out, unleashing two terrifying bursts of fiery energy that surged towards Nie Li's back.
Unlike Eunuch An's amateurish skills, Nie Li, hearing the wind, was already alert. His feet barely touched the ground before he rolled to the side.
Crack! The fist struck the wooden pillar at the doorway, producing a crisp sound. The thick pillar shattered instantly, sending sparks flying in all directions!
Before he could even be shocked by the scene, Nie Li used the momentum of his roll to continue his escape, fleeing in panic. At this moment, he regretted making up that lie earlier!
A purple shadow flashed; Wu Zi'ang's body seemed to be trailing a trail of fire, relentlessly pursuing Nie Li. He was determined to grind this scoundrel who had violated his wife to dust.
Suddenly, two oblivious guards abruptly cut in from the side, their long swords viciously aimed at Wu Zi'ang's ribs from either side.
"Get lost!" A thunderous roar erupted from the ground. The two guards shuddered, instantly halting their attacks and freezing in place. Nie Li, fleeing ahead, nearly stumbled and fell to the ground upon hearing the shout.
A purple shadow flashed, and crimson blood slowly oozed from the mouths, noses, and ears of the two guards who had launched the sneak attack. Their bodies slumped down like puddles of mud. With just the power of that single shout, the two guards' heart meridians had been severed!
At that moment, Tie Ren, blocked outside the hall, felt a strange unease. He paced back and forth a few steps, and inadvertently noticed the strange expressions on the faces of the guards at the hall's entrance.
Suddenly, a cacophony of noise reached Tie Ren's ears, causing him to shudder, a sense of foreboding washing over him. He brandished his divine weapon, Heavenly Flame, and prepared to charge in.
"No entry!" The guards at the gate immediately changed their expressions, each drawing their weapons and pointing them at Tie Ren.
Seeing this, Tie Ren became even more certain of his suspicions, and in his anxiety, he unconsciously used excessive force.
*Crack! Crack! Crack!* A series of crisp sounds rang out as Tie Ren broke the leg bones of several guards with his sword sheath.
Ignoring these clowns, Tie Ren swiftly entered the hall.
"Brother Tie, where are you going?" A deep voice called out, startling Tie Ren, who turned around.
A purple Taoist robe, a long black beard, a broad greatsword, and eyes as sharp as blades. Who else could it be but Dao Kuang?
"Brother Fang, what brings you here?" Tie Ren asked calmly.
"Why I'm here is unimportant. What's important is that Brother Tie cannot enter this hall!" Dao Kuang said indifferently.
"Brother Fang, what do you mean by this?" Tie Ren frowned and asked, "What is the connection between this Qin Palace and Brother Fang? And why are you blocking my way?"
"This is a long story, let me explain it to you in detail!" Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian smiled slightly, took two steps, and intentionally or unintentionally blocked Tie Ren's path.
"No need!" Tie Ren knew that the other party was stalling for time, so he immediately refused, "If you want to stop me, then fight!" After saying that, he gripped the divine weapon 'Heavenly Flame' and took three steps forward.
"Brother Tie, are you not planning to fight me empty-handed this time?" Dao Kuang's smile did not diminish, but his eyes revealed a solemn look. Back at Qingli Xiaozhu, he had already seen that the other party was probably holding a peerless divine weapon!
"Brother Fang, if you want to provoke me, you have miscalculated. Today is different from the past, please forgive me!" Tie Ren was not moved at all. With a flick of his left hand, the divine weapon 'Heavenly Flame' seemed to come alive and jumped out of its sheath, falling into Tie Ren's large hand.
The ink-black sword blade pointed directly at Dao Kuang. Feeling the warmth emanating from the hilt, Tie Ren let out a soft shout, and the Heavenly Flame cleaved out with a fierce strike. Driven by his inner force, the tip of the Heavenly Flame unleashed a crimson sword beam about three feet long, directly enveloping Dao Kuang.
In Tie Ren's hands, this divine weapon displayed its greatest power. The incomparably scorching crimson sword beam filled the air, as if proclaiming: "Those who stand in my way, die!!!" Even
Dao Kuang, one
of the Four Great Masters, dared not directly confront this sword's power, shifting his feet to the side to evade it.
With a loud bang, the solid stone slabs on the ground shattered into countless fragments under this sword strike. Amidst the flying stone chips, Tie Ren's figure flashed forward. His original intention was not to harm his enemy, but to escape Dao Kuang's entanglement!
He was fast, but Dao Kuang was no slower. In a flash, Dao Kuang leaped into the air and pounced on Tie Ren, his right hand wielding his greatsword, aiming straight for Tie Ren's back.
Although lacking the power of the divine weapon Heavenly Flame from before, this strike was still formidable. Tie Ren, charging forward, immediately felt a powerful pressure. With a thought, he continued his rapid advance, his right hand flashing out Heavenly Flame in a backhand strike, delivering a blow without looking back.
Several crisp clangs rang out as Tie Ren's Heavenly Flame clashed with Dao Kuang's greatsword several times in an instant. The former used the force to continue his forward momentum, while the latter, by skillfully using the side of his blade to strike Tie Ren's Heavenly Flame, slowed his pace. When he tried to catch up again, he was already a step behind!
Tie Ren's speed was like the wind. At this moment, his greatest worry was Wu Zi'ang's safety. Seriously ill and powerless, Wu Zi'ang was utterly unable to handle any unexpected events. Even a fool would understand that Dao Kuang's appearance was specifically aimed at him, and from this, it could be deduced that Zi Ang was in danger.
The sounds of sword energy slicing through the air rang out one after another. The agitated Tie Ren unleashed a series of
deadly attacks, his Heavenly Flame slicing through three palace guards who tried to block his way like vegetables. Chaotic footsteps echoed throughout the
Yangxin Hall, the former imperial bedchamber of the Great Qin Dynasty, now filled with the glint of swords and the aura of slaughter. Tie Ren, wielding his divine weapon, was no match for his men; in flashes of blood, palace guards fell one after another to his blade.
More and more guards not only failed to stop Tie Ren's advance but also hindered Dao Kuang's relentless pursuit.
Enraged, Dao Kuang swung his greatsword, cutting down several guards who stood in his way, letting out a wild roar as the greatsword flew from his hand, aiming straight for Tie Ren's back.
This was Dao Kuang unleashing the full power of his body. The furious force of his giant sword pierced through the back of an unfortunate guard, sending flesh and blood flying, its momentum undiminished.
The crimson sword light surged again, followed by a loud clang of metal on metal. Dao Kuang's giant sword was instantly shredded into countless iron filings by the divine weapon, Heavenly Flame.
However, forced back five steps by the internal force of Dao Kuang's sword, Tie Ren was ultimately no match for his opponent in terms of internal strength.
Seizing this opportunity, Dao Kuang stepped forward, blocking Tie Ren's path once more.
Meanwhile, numerous palace guards, wielding swords and knives, surrounded the two.
Tie Ren made no further attempt to break through, for at this point, it was pointless. Not far away, a familiar figure flew towards them with lightning speed.
Tie Ren's heart sank to the bottom in an instant. Wu Zi'ang, seriously ill and having lost all his power, was now moving at a speed comparable to any master. What did this mean?
'Blood exhausted, soul shattered,' yes, there was only one possibility, and this possibility meant that a life was about to end. Thinking this, Tie Ren suddenly gripped his divine weapon, Heavenly Flame, tightly, his eyes, filled with murderous intent, slowly fixed on Dao Kuang. Even
though Dao Kuang was ranked among the Four Great Masters and had experienced countless battles in his life, he couldn't help but feel a tightness in his heart when he met Tie Ren's gaze, and immediately became cautious!
Boom! Engulfed in raging flames, the five guards flew into the air with screams of agony. Then, an explosion rang out, their bodies shattered into pieces, chunks of blood and flesh flying everywhere!
Enveloped in flames, Wu Zi'ang was now like a god of death from hell; with every step he took, a guard perished, his death a gruesome sight.
Dao Kuang also noticed Wu Zi'ang's strange behavior, his heart trembled violently, and he subconsciously took three steps back. He wasn't stupid. The power of Wu Ziang's punch was something that even the Four Great Masters combined couldn't match, let alone him. This kid was clearly using the price of burning his life to unleash the greatest potential of the human body. Yes, it must be the 'Burning Blood and Residual Soul Technique'!
"Little brother...!" Tie Ren said in a trembling voice as he looked at Wu Ziang slowly approaching.
"Brother Tie, please, go to the Prince's Mansion and save my mother!" Wu Zi'ang's eyes still burned fiercely, his overflowing true energy surging through his body like a burst dam. Killing was his current craving; only in this way could he soothe the endless fire within him. Although his mind was becoming increasingly hazy, he still remembered Lady Ling, imprisoned by Wei Ruoxuan.
"Let's go together!" Tie Ren reached out and grabbed Wu Zi'ang's only right arm, gritting his teeth.
"Don't worry about me!" Wu Zi'ang easily pulled his hand away, his fiery eyes slowly sweeping over the terrified guards around him, finally settling on Dao Kuang. He shook his head and said, "I'll hold them off. You go, go!"
With the last word, Wu Zi'ang suddenly grabbed Tie Ren's wrist and flung him away with all his might.
The incredibly powerful internal energy was something even Tie Ren couldn't resist, and his figure flew towards the gate of the Yangxin Hall as if riding on clouds.
Dao Kuang tried to stop him, but suddenly saw a purple shadow flash, and Wu Ziang's body was already rushing towards him.
A surge of intense heat made Dao Kuang's breath catch in his throat. Although he had just witnessed the power of Wu Ziang's punch, now that it was his turn to experience it firsthand, Dao Kuang couldn't help but be greatly shocked. Having roamed the martial world for nearly thirty years, this was the first time he had felt such immense pressure.
Retreat! A single word flashed through the usually arrogant Dao Kuang's mind, and he immediately made a wise choice, his body flying backward. He shared the same thought as Wei Ruoxuan: there was no need to fight to the death with the person before him; as long as he temporarily avoided the attack, the opponent's demise was only a matter of time!
He retreated, and Wu Ziang advanced, his punch suddenly transforming into a claw, gently retracting. Dao Kuang immediately felt a tremendous suction force pulling him back. Startled, he swiftly reached out with his left hand, grabbed a guard beside him, and threw him.
Bang! The scapegoat didn't even utter a sound before following in the footsteps of the previous guards, shattered into pieces by Wu Zi'ang's fiery energy.
Under Wu Zi'ang's terrifying fist force, the guards had lost their initial courage, their faces filled with fear, gripping their weapons and daring not to advance again.
Dao Kuang retreated again, Wu Zi'ang advanced again, the two advancing and retreating rapidly towards the palace gate.
Dao Kuang pushed his power to the limit, yet he still couldn't shake off Wu Zi'ang. In horror, he repeatedly threw the guards around him to their deaths.
However, the guards weren't fools. Seeing Dao Kuang's actions, they were filled with both hatred and fear, abandoning their attack on Wu Zi'ang and scattering.
In the end, with no one to catch him, Dao Kuang could only take a deep breath of true energy, and with a slight sway of his shoulder, his figure instantly split into three.
Seeing this, Wu Zi'ang didn't even think, changing his right hand from a straight strike to a horizontal slash, a surging wave of heat slicing through the three figures at the waist.
"Bang!" With no way to avoid it, Dao Kuang finally clashed palms with Wu Zi'ang.
A muffled groan rang out, Dao Kuang's old face instantly turning blood-red. Suppressing a mouthful of blood rising in his chest, he used the force of the impact to retreat backward, fleeing towards the palace gate.
Wu Zi'ang was about to give chase when he suddenly felt a sweet taste in his throat, and a mouthful of blood spurted out, spraying onto the ground.
Several guards, seeing this, couldn't help but show delight, exchanging glances and quietly approaching Wu Zi'ang with their weapons drawn.
Die! Without turning his head, Wu Zi'ang threw a punch, sending the four sneaking guards to their deaths.
Stepping out of the palace gate, Dao Kuang was nowhere to be seen; only the palace guards used as cannon fodder remained.
Kill! The crimson wind of his fists was a death warrant, reaping one fragile life after another. In the short distance between the Hall of Mental Cultivation and the Hall of Supreme Harmony, blood and corpses were the most common decorations.
Upon reaching the Meridian Gate Square, Wu Zi'ang slowed his pace. The blazing sun cast blinding rays into his eyes.
On the wide square, countless armored soldiers, wielding swords, shields, and spears, stood in two formations awaiting his arrival. Among them, Wei Ruoxuan and Nie Li, unarmored, were strikingly conspicuous, as was the ashen-faced Daoist Fang Dingtian.
"Surrender, and I'll grant you a complete corpse!" From afar, Wu Zi'ang heard Wei Ruoxuan's menacing voice. What a joke! Death is death; what difference does a complete corpse make? He didn't have much time left! Another mouthful of blood, and his life would end.
Looking at his blood-stained right hand, a flash of anger flickered in Wu Zi'ang's eyes. Since he was destined to die here, then let countless lives be his burial offerings!
With a long roar, Wu Zi'ang charged forward. His inner energy pushed to its limit, his figure blurred into a blur as he charged straight towards the array of armored soldiers.
"Kill!" Seeing this, Wei Ruoxuan's face was grim. With a wave of his right hand, a squad of armored soldiers charged out.
Individually, any palace guard would undoubtedly be far stronger than an armored soldier, but in a formation charge, these well-trained elite Qin infantrymen were clearly the kings of the battlefield.
Swords and shields, spears, and armor forged from fine iron formed a steel torrent, colliding with the charging Wu Zi'ang.
"Great use of the outer armor, true essence filling the inner body. Returning to emptiness and entering wholeness, accumulating strength to become mighty. Possessing all things, traversing the vast sky!"
"Majestic!" Though he only had one arm left, it did not prevent Wu Zi'ang from unleashing the most domineering move from the Demon God's Record to its fullest extent.
A howling sound like a gale swept through, and the rolling waves of fire transformed into a vast, crimson cloud, enveloping the oncoming armored army.
At that very moment, at the Li River ferry, another great battle was about to erupt.
Before two cargo ships about to set sail stood the alluring Bai Yuqing, Shui Qingqing, Tian Dao Lei Rou, Feng Yihan, and numerous experts from the Demonic Sect and Tian Dao's side.
Opposite them were the Tianchi Sect Master Jing Guan, Wei Lingyao, Su Qimeng, Zuo Xingyuan, Yan Bufu, Mo Yan, and Master Beiguo, among other Daoist experts. Compared to the Daoist Sect's usual lineup, the Immortal Saint Ji Lingxi and the Daoist Madman Fang Dingtian were absent, but two white-browed, white-bearded old monks were present.
"Have the two masters, Wuyin and Wuwei, also come to wade into this mess?" Tian Dao Lei Rou's sharp gaze fixed on the two white-browed old monks as she asked slowly.
"Amitabha! Such reckless fighting is not my wish. However, the Soul-Stealing Treasure is of paramount importance, and I cannot stand idly by while Benefactor Lei and Benefactor Bai use it to commit further bloodshed!"
"Elegant words!" The Empress scoffed at Master Wuyin's words, coldly retorting, "Actually, Master, you also want a share, don't you?!" She then turned to Jingguan, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly, and said, "I am very curious, who exactly has been repeatedly informing your Daoist sect! I wonder if Sect Master Jingguan can enlighten me?" "I cannot tell you!" Jingguan replied with a smile. In truth, she herself did not know who it was, and even if she wanted to tell them, how could she?
"Fine, I understand!" A cold glint flashed in the Empress's eyes as she coldly said, "Enough with the nonsense. If you want the treasure, let's settle this with our men!" (
Volume 3, Qin Capital Chronicles, Chapter 130: Nirvana III)
In truth, from the very beginning, both sides understood that today's battle was inevitable. After the Empress uttered those words, the Demonic Sect's Heavenly Blade and the Daoist Sect clashed.
The Empress chose to target Jingguan, while the Heavenly Blade faced Master Wuyin of Qingyin Temple. The remaining four—Feng Yihan and Su Qimeng, Shui Qingqing and Wei Lingyao, and Master Wuwei and Zuo Xingyuan—also faced a large group of Heavenly Blade and Demonic Sect experts.
In terms of strength, the Demonic Sect and Heavenly Blade had a numerical advantage, while the Daoist Sect had a qualitative advantage. Overall, it was a closely contested battle.
However, Empress Bai Yuqing was not at ease, because Daoist Fang Dingtian, the Daoist Madman, had not yet shown himself. If he appeared, it would undoubtedly tip the tide of victory in Daoist territory.
After all, her martial arts were only on par with Jingguan's, and Tiandao and Wuyin were also evenly matched. The remaining experts were already struggling to hold back Master Wuwei and the other four Daoist experts.
A series of whooshing sounds rang out as three silver threads suddenly shot from Empress Bai's sleeve, forcing Jingguan back three steps. She turned and shouted towards the ship, "Set sail!"
Hearing Empress Bai's command, the sailors on the ship were startled, because nearly a third of the treasure on the shore had not yet been loaded onto the ship. Setting sail would result in a huge loss. Hearing
Empress Bai's order, Jingguan knew he was in trouble and tried to bypass her and rush to the bow.
However, Empress Bai was not about to let him have his way. When it came to entanglement, there was no more troublesome hidden weapon in the world than the Ice Soul Spider Silk!
As the Empress Mei flashed, her jade hand flicked, and six silver threads, barely visible to the naked eye, shot out. Four targeted the vital points on Jing Guan's chest and abdomen, while the other two aimed to entangle the opponent's legs.
The moment the Empress Mei gave the order to set sail, Tian Dao Lei Rou understood her intentions. In this situation, abandoning the unloaded treasures on the shore was undoubtedly the wisest course of action.
Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Only by giving up can one gain. If they refused to relinquish the treasures on the shore and continued to entangle with the Dao Sect experts, they might not even be able to protect the treasures on the ship.
Therefore, Tian Dao Lei Rou also ordered her subordinates to set sail, while they would hold off the Dao Sect experts.
The Dao Sect members weren't fools; seeing this, they all understood the Empress Mei's plan. However, they were bogged down by the numerous Demonic Sect and Tian Dao's forces, and could only watch helplessly as the two ships weighed anchor and slowly sailed away from the riverbank.
Aside from Mei Hou and Tian Dao, there were no other particularly skilled fighters. The Daoist sect, however, had one vacant spot: Master Wuwei. Yet, Tian Dao's six swordsmen, seemingly proficient in combined attack formations, managed to keep this Buddhist master, comparable to the Four Great Masters, completely entangled.
This was due to two reasons: first, Master Wuwei, out of compassion, refused to kill easily; second, the six swordsmen, personally trained by Tian Dao, possessed a truly exquisite and integrated attack and defense technique.
While Zuo Xingyuan, Mo Yan, Yan Bufu, and Bei Guo Xiansheng were considered first-rate fighters, they were powerless to break through the encirclement and stop the ships from leaving the shore under the full force of attacks from the demonic sect, which outnumbered them by more than two.
Seeing both ships sail away from the riverbank and further away, the Daoist masters, including Jing Guan, knew that pursuit was hopeless. They calmed down and focused on dealing with the demonic sect and Tian Dao masters before them.
If they could seize this treasure from the demonic sect on the shore, the trip would have been worthwhile!
Just as the demonic and righteous factions were locked in a fierce battle, a group of men in blue robes rushed in from afar.
Feng Yihan, who was fighting Su Qimeng, only glanced at them and knew that it was his Green Wood Hall men. He was overjoyed and unleashed a flurry of attacks with his Remnant Sun Blade, the blazing blade energy immediately forcing Su Qimeng back three steps.
"Go!" The leader was Zhang Xin, the fair-skinned, beardless middle-aged man from the Commandant's Mansion that night. He was now rushing over with more than ten subordinates. Seeing this situation, without waiting for Feng Yihan's orders, he waved his hand, and more than ten Green Wood Hall experts rushed forward, taking Feng Yihan's place.
"Young Master!" Zhang Xin looked worried, his words trailing off.
"Speak!" Seeing the other's expression, Feng Yihan knew that something must have happened, so he said in a deep voice.
"I just received news from Zhou Jiong that Ninth Prince Wu Shang is dead, and General Wu is trapped in the capital, in imminent danger!" Zhang Xin leaned close to Feng Yihan's ear and truthfully reported the news he had learned.
"What?" Feng Yihan's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and he turned to look at Zhang Xin sternly, asking, "Is the news true?"
"Would Zhou Jiong deceive the young master?" Zhang Xin replied with a wry smile.
"Who is so bold as to plot against the Ninth Prince and also intend to harm Zi'ang!?" Hearing that Wu Zi'ang was in danger, Feng Yihan lost his composure and angrily asked Zhang Xin.
"It's Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan, and Zhou Jiong also said that he saw Dao Kuang in the Yangxin Hall!" Zhang Xin dropped another bombshell that shocked Feng Yihan.
"What the hell is going on?" Feng Yihan could no longer contain himself. He rushed into the crowd, brandishing his scorching sun and pointing it at Su Qimeng, shouting, "What exactly is your Dao Sect plotting? You've colluded with Wei Ruoxuan, not only killing the Ninth Prince but also trying to harm Zi'ang!"
"What?" Feng Yihan's words were like a bombshell, shocking the experts on both sides who were locked in a life-or-death struggle.
Instinctively, both sides stopped fighting and turned their gazes towards the furious Feng Yihan.
"Who wants to harm Wu Zi'ang? When did our Dao Sect collude with Wei Ruoxuan? Young Master Feng, don't spout nonsense!" Jing Guan was the first to react, her delicate eyebrows slightly raised as she asked.
"Stop pretending!" Feng Yihan was completely devoid of his usual composure. He turned his scorching sun and pointed it at Jing Guan, angrily questioning, "My men saw Dao Kuang Li Dingtian in the Yangxin Hall of the Imperial City. Sect Master Jing Guan, can you explain why he was there?"
"What exactly happened?" Tian Dao Lei Rou asked, frowning.
"That's how it is!" Zhang Xin, who was standing nearby, quickly relayed the news. Upon hearing Zhang Xin's words, members of the Demonic Sect, the Heavenly Blade Sect, and the Daoist Sect all showed expressions of disbelief.
"No wonder Dao Kuang isn't here; so this is the trick your Daoist Sect is playing!" Lei Rou of the Heavenly Blade Sect suddenly realized the Daoist Sect's intentions and couldn't help but sneer, "Secretly seizing the Great Qin's territory, is it to help Nanwei unify the world?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't believe your one-sided story!" Jing Guan shook her head and said, "Senior Brother Fang returned to Nanwei half a month ago, so how could he appear in the imperial city?"
"It really is him!" At this moment, Empress Bai Yuqing suddenly said. Her beautiful eyes looked at Jing Guan and she asked hatefully, "The one who kept informing you was Wei Ruoxuan, wasn't he?"
"I really don't know!" Jing Guan shook her head, and vaguely, she also began to waver. With her skill in observing people, she had already sensed that neither Zhang Xin nor Feng Yihan seemed to be feigning their emotions!
"How could Wei Ruoxuan know about us...!" Tian Dao Lei Rou frowned and asked, but halfway through her sentence, a glint of light flashed in her beautiful eyes as she said, "So, he is your Demonic Sect's most mysterious Elder Tianxuan?!"
"That's right! Like your Zhou Jiong, Wei Ruoxuan is a spy planted by the Demonic Sect in the Qin court!" Although she was wearing a black veil, and others couldn't see her expression, the anger flashing in the Empress's eyes revealed how furious she was. No wonder all the spies in the capital hadn't made a move, no wonder their actions had been repeatedly discovered by the Dao Sect—it turned out that Wei Ruoxuan had already colluded with the Dao Sect, plotting to seize the Qin throne.
"What should we do?" Shui Qingqing was now frantic, her beautiful eyes blazing with anger. She grabbed the Empress's arm and asked urgently, "Master, quickly think of a way to save him!" She didn't care about the deaths of others, but Wu Zi'ang was absolutely unacceptable!
A flicker of hesitation crossed the Empress's eyes. She considered how heavily guarded the Qin capital was; even if she wanted to save him, she was powerless. Besides, given Wu Zi'ang's current condition, he might have already met with misfortune before they even set off! Furthermore, there were still treasures they hadn't yet moved; letting the Dao Sect take them was truly a difficult decision.
"No matter what, I must go!" These were the words of Feng Yihan. In his entire life, Wu Zi'ang was the only person he could truly call a friend. Regardless of whether Wu Zi'ang was currently in danger, he had to go to the capital. As for the treasures, to hell with them!
"Let's go together!" A black shadow flashed, and Shui Qingqing followed.
"Sigh!" Tian Dao Lei Rou sighed softly, turning to Zhang Xin and the others, saying, "Follow the young master, I'll be there soon!"
"Yes!" Zhang Xin responded, leading more than ten subordinates to follow.
"If Sect Master Jing Guan doesn't intend to stop me, then I must also leave!" Tian Dao Lei Rou glanced at Jing Guan quietly, and seeing that the other party had no intention of making a move, she waved her hand lightly and left with the remaining experts.
"Take these things if you want them!" Mei Hou glanced at Jing Guan mockingly, her figure darting out like a ghost, chasing after Shui Qingqing ahead.
In the blink of an eye, the Demonic Sect and the experts from Tian Dao had all left, leaving only Jing Guan and the Daoist experts such as Wu Yin Wu Wei.
Wei Ling Yao and Su Qi Meng exchanged a glance, both nodding, and each used their lightness skills to rush towards the city gate.
"Ling Yao, Qi Meng!" Jing Guan frowned upon seeing this, and was about to get up to stop them, but suddenly Master Wu Yin flicked his sleeve, stopping her movement.
"Let them go!" Master Wuyin's face, as clear as the ancient moon, showed a solemn expression. He said, "Not only them, but we must also go and see. If Fellow Daoist Dingtian is indeed in the Imperial City, then shouldn't he give us a reasonable explanation?"
Jingguan pondered for a long time before slowly replying, "Master is right!"
Thus, the battle for treasure between the Dao and Demonic factions vanished without a trace. With their own purposes, these experts, disregarding the shocking nature of the situation, pushed their lightness skills to the limit and sped towards the city.
***
"The wind whips up the water, the trees are broken. Suffering is unbearable, but rest is not available. A hundred years pass like flowing water, wealth and honor turn to cold ashes. The Great Dao is lost day by day, what is the use of heroic talent? The brave warrior draws his sword, his sorrow is overwhelming. The leaves fall rustling, the rain drips on the moss."
"Lament!" Wu Zi'ang roared, his figure soaring into the sky. While dodging more than a dozen long spears, he turned his right fist into a palm and swept it towards the black-armored soldiers on the ground.
Like a giant tornado, a dozen black-armored soldiers were swept up in the air by the powerful fiery energy. Amidst the flashing red light, screams of agony filled the air. Their fine iron armor couldn't withstand the indestructible power of the Samadhi True Fire, instantly turning them into piles of scrap metal and mangled corpses that fell to the ground. It
was a completely one-sided massacre. Wu Zi'ang, burning with the potential of his life force, unleashed the fist techniques recorded in the Demon God's Record, ruthlessly pulverizing life after life into dust!
Covered in blood, he rampaged through the black-armored army, each swing of his right arm declaring the end of several lives.
While secretly shocked, Wei Ruoxuan and Nie Li coldly watched the demon-like Wu Zi'ang. They weren't in a hurry; their opponent was ultimately human, not a god or demon. That terrifyingly powerful state couldn't last indefinitely. They waited, waiting for that opportunity to arrive.
Finally, after blasting away three black-armored soldiers, Wu Zi'ang's body suddenly trembled, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. As he expelled the blood, the red light around him subsided.
The opportunity had arrived! Nie Li's figure flashed silently, using the momentum of his leap to slash fiercely at Wu Zi'ang's neck with his chilling longsword, carrying an aura of death. As the sword energy enveloped him, Wu Zi'ang, his red light fading, suddenly turned his head, his piercing gaze fixed on Nie Li descending from the sky.
With a crisp clang, just as Nie Li's longsword was about to strike Wu Zi'ang's neck, the latter shifted his body slightly, causing the longsword to strike his shoulder.
As if striking metal or stone, Nie Li's longsword rebounded with a clang. Realizing he was in trouble, Nie Li withdrew his sword and fled.
However, Wu Zi'ang, who had long desired to devour him and tear him apart, would not let him go. With a soft whistle, he soared into the sky.
In an instant, a crimson light burst forth from Wu Zi'ang's body, the leaping flames stinging the eyes of all the soldiers present. The surging flames that spread in all directions almost turned the plaza into a molten lava hell.
Behind Wu Zi'ang, a pair of almost tangible fiery wings suddenly grew out, sweeping towards the fleeing Nie Li.
"Ah!" With a shrill scream, Nie Li, engulfed in flames in mid-air, crashed to the ground with a thud.
Nie Li, engulfed in flames, rolled back and forth on the ground, but could not extinguish even a single flame. His heart-wrenching howls terrified the many armored soldiers.
Having dealt with Nie Li in one move, Wu Zi'ang did not pause for a moment. Using the momentum of his descent, he rushed towards Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang like a hawk.
"Block it!" A flicker of panic crossed Wei Ruoxuan's eyes, and he instinctively retreated. He had realized that Wu Zi'ang was using the power of the third injury from the 'Burning Blood Remnant Soul Technique' to unleash the 'Phoenix Nirvana Great Art.' This should also be his final, death-defying attack, its power undoubtedly earth-shattering. Therefore
, he hastily ordered his cannon fodder to go and die. It must be said that the Ironclad Army responsible for guarding the imperial city was indeed an elite force. After Wu Zi'ang had slaughtered hundreds of them with terrifying methods, and after enduring psychological pressure that most people couldn't bear, they still did not retreat. Following Wei Ruoxuan's orders, they formed ranks and charged forward once more.
A muffled thud resounded, not as earth-shattering as Wei Ruoxuan had imagined. Wu Zi'ang simply struck the iron shield of the first Ironclad soldier who had blocked his path with his single right hand.
Almost simultaneously, three iron swords and five spears pierced Wu Zi'ang's body from the side.
Aside from a spear piercing his leg, none of the other weapons could harm Wu Zi'ang in the slightest. The 'soft gold armor' bestowed upon him by the Empress Dowager played a crucial protective role in the chaotic battle!
*Thud!* A low, explosive sound suddenly emanated from the body of the armored soldier struck by Wu Zi'ang, and a spray of blood mist spewed from his mouth and nose. Immediately afterward, a series of explosive sounds echoed across the square like firecrackers.
Following a straight line, Wu Zi'ang's punch, delivered with all his might, instantly shattered the heart meridians of twenty-four armored soldiers. The terrifying force of the punch, still lingering, surged towards Wei Ruoxuan like a raging torrent.
The cunning Wei Ruoxuan had already noticed the strangeness of this punch. He swiftly retreated, raising both palms to his chest, channeling all his strength to forcefully block Wu Zi'ang's fiery force.
*Hmph!* Wei Ruoxuan grunted, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his old face instantly turning deathly pale. After the fiery energy pierced through the bodies of more than twenty armored soldiers, though its power waned, it still caused him a considerable loss!
A series of strange sounds rang out. After unleashing a powerful punch, Wu Zi'ang's right hand, like a knife, flicked its fingers, and a crimson sword aura flashed. The heads of the six armored soldiers closest to him instantly flew into the air, blood gushing from their necks like fountains, splashing onto the soldiers who caught up later!
"Ah!" Witnessing this bloody scene, one armored soldier finally broke down, dropping his spear and turning to run like a madman, screaming incoherently. Soon
, this fear spread like a plague through the armored army. The godlike strength and the bloody, cruel methods far exceeded the psychological limits of these armored soldiers. They were all elite warriors who had experienced countless battles, their wills far stronger than ordinary people. However, precisely because of this, once their minds collapsed, they were even more frenzied than ordinary people.
Several mentally unstable armored soldiers completely ignored Wei Ruoxuan's orders, wildly brandishing their swords and spears, shouting and charging out of the crowd.
"Don't panic!" Wei Ruoxuan shouted, trying to calm the chaotic situation, one hand clutching his chest, the other pointing at Wu Ziang kneeling on one knee, saying, "He, he's finished, he's finished!"
Hearing Wei Ruoxuan's words, the armored soldiers in the arena couldn't help but turn their gazes to Wu Zi'ang. Seeing that the red glow had faded and he was kneeling motionless on one knee, they began to believe Wei Ruoxuan's words and gradually calmed down.
"Go and check on him!" Wei Ruoxuan ordered again.
However, the numerous armored soldiers merely surrounded Wu Zi'ang, none volunteering to step forward to examine him.
After a long while, one armored soldier shakily threw his spear. With a thud, the spear pierced solidly into Wu Zi'ang's right arm, yet Wu Zi'ang showed no reaction, truly as if dead.
Several other armored soldiers followed suit, throwing their weapons. With a few crisp clangs, the spears and swords that had pierced his back bounced to the ground; only the arms and thighs could be easily penetrated.
"Dead! Really dead!" one armored soldier shouted with wild joy.
"Clang!" As news of Wu Zi'ang's death was confirmed, the armored soldiers could no longer hold their weapons, which fell to the ground. They collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. This was the most brutal battle of their lives; the enemy was singular, yet had slaughtered hundreds of them. The dead were dead, but the survivors would be haunted by nightmares. The scene of today was etched into their hearts, indelible.
Wei Ruoxuan felt no relief either. His original intention was to use Wu Zi'ang as a hostage. In the Qin Dynasty, Wu Zi'ang, as the newly appointed General of Might and Valor, though lacking the prestige of Wu Tianyao, still controlled tens of thousands of Wu clan cavalry in Pingyang. Furthermore, his recent westward march to Tianmen Pass to take command of another general, Gong Yan's army, made him the most powerful military commander in the Qin Dynasty.
To seize the Qin throne, Wu Zi'ang's support was absolutely essential. However, his plans had all fallen apart. Wu Zi'ang was dead, and how could the tens of thousands of Wu clan members in Pingyang let it go? How could the two generals, Feng Chang and Tian Guang, whom he had tricked out of the capital, let it go? And how could the Demon Emperor, the former leader of the Demonic Sect and the head of the Four Absolutes, let it go?
In the end, it was all because of Nie Li's words that this disaster had occurred! "He deserved to die!" Wei Ruoxuan cursed inwardly, staring hatefully at the charred corpse, while his mind raced, trying to come up with a solution.
"What do we do now?" Dao Kuang, his face ashen, stepped forward and asked in a hoarse voice.
"Release Zhang Zhongshu and Gong Yan!" Wei Ruoxuan made a decisive decision, saying in a deep voice, "Only by getting Gong Yan back to Tianmen Pass to regain military power can we hope to fight against Feng Chang and Tian Guang's army!"
"I'm afraid that's too late!" Dao Kuang shook his head, his face full of worry, "Besides, Gong Yan may not listen to us!"
"I have my own methods!" A ruthless look flashed across Wei Ruoxuan's face as he said, "What I'm worried about now is Commandant Li Hui. This man is not simple. I sent two groups of men to try to capture him secretly, but they all disappeared without a trace. I suspect they were killed by him instead! Now that Wu Zi'ang is dead, our control of the palace forces alone is no longer enough. Once the news gets out, before Feng Chang and Tian Guang even return to the capital, the Commandant's Imperial Guards will come knocking on our door!"
“I’m in a lot of trouble too. Tie Ren has escaped, and news of my helping you will inevitably reach Jing Guan and Wei Xuanyi’s ears. Even if I can fool Jing Guan, Wei Xuanyi won’t let it go!” The usually arrogant Dao Kuang had become somewhat discouraged after a series of events.
“We’ll meet force with force! Junior brother, we have no way back!” Wei Ruoxuan said in a deep voice.
“Senior brother is right! Moreover, we still have a chance!” Dao Kuang raised his eyebrows upon hearing this, his arrogance returning to his face.
Just as the two were discussing countermeasures, they suddenly heard shouts of battle coming from the south gate, and their expressions immediately changed.
"Report...!" A general, his voice trailing off, rushed from afar, arriving before Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang, breathless, and said, "General Tian Guang, Feng Chang, along with Commandant Li Hui, have led the Imperial Guards to attack... to break into the South Gate!"
"What?" Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang exclaimed in shock. Although they had anticipated this day, they hadn't expected the enemy to arrive so quickly.
"Where is Xiao Bufan? Where is your Court Commandant? Why didn't you send someone to replace him?!" Wei Ruoxuan shouted angrily.
"Xiao... Court Commandant Xiao defected on the battlefield, opening the palace gates. He's the one who let the enemy in!" the general stammered.
"Damn it!" Wei Ruoxuan's eyebrows and mustache stood on end, and he kicked the general several meters away.
"What do we do?" Dao Kuang was also in a state of panic.
"Retreat!" Wei Ruoxuan managed to utter a single word. He had compared himself to a cicada stalking a bird, secretly laughing at the Ninth Prince's elaborate schemes that had ultimately benefited him. He hadn't expected that even this cicada would one day be caught in the crossfire. Such is the power of change, beyond human control!
***
After half an hour of fierce fighting, the battle was nearing its end. Although Wei Ruoxuan's elite ironclad army was formidable, their morale had plummeted after Wu Zi'ang's massacre. Facing an Imperial Guard several times their size, they quickly crumbled!
General Feng Chang, Tian Guang, Captain Li Hui, Tie Ren, Liu Fu, Mei Hou, Tian Dao, Shui Qingqing, Feng Yihan, and Wei Lingyao, Su Qimeng, Jing Guan, and the two masters Wu Yin Wu Wei all arrived at the Meridian Gate Square.
On their way back to the city, they were shocked to see the Imperial Guards under the command of the Commandant's Office marching in formation toward the palace. Upon inquiring with the Commander of the Cavalry, Chu Tianhe, they learned that after receiving news that Wu Zi'ang was trapped in the capital, Commandant Li Hui had decided to launch an attack on the city together with General Feng Changtian, who had secretly returned to the capital. Under these circumstances, Tian Dao Lei Rou, Mei Hou Bai Yuqing, Shui Qingqing, Feng Yihan , and others joined them, storming into the Qin Imperial City.
The Meridian Gate Square was a scene of utter devastation, with corpses lying haphazardly in various positions. A kneeling figure stood out starkly against the backdrop of the carnage.
Everyone's breath caught in their throats; that familiar figure was the one they had been searching for. But was it all too late?
One step, two steps—Shui Qingqing could no longer contain herself and leaped out of the crowd.
With her were Feng Yihan, Wei Lingyao, and Su Qimeng.
As their fingers touched Wu Zi'ang's cold body, the four men's hearts sank into an abyss. They couldn't find a trace of life in him.
In fact, the weapon embedded in Wu Zi'ang's body had already said it all.
General Tian Guang and Feng Chang, who arrived shortly after, knelt on the ground, gazing at Wu Zi'ang's face, which still seemed to burn with a fierce fighting spirit. Tears streamed down their faces. They had sworn to protect Wu Tianyao's only bloodline, but in the end…!
"What the hell did I hesitate for?! I should have sent troops into the palace to kill this old traitor long ago!" Tian Guang slapped himself hard
across the face. If only he had done it one day earlier, no, even just one hour earlier, none of this would have happened! Tian Dao Lei Rou and Empress Bai Yuqing also slowly stepped forward. Looking at this young man they had always deeply admired, even though they were used to death, they couldn't help but sigh deeply, filled with regret!
"Is he really… dead?" Shui Qingqing raised her tear-filled eyes and asked softly.
“Dead!” Wei Lingyao lowered her head, her trembling hands pulling a blood-stained silk handkerchief from Wu Ziang's arms. It had originally been hers, and now she had taken it back, as a lifelong treasure!
Su Qimeng remained silent, staring blankly at Wu Ziang's face, the words he had once spoken echoing in her mind: “My fate is in the hands of heaven, not my own!”
Recalling the dejected helplessness on his face when he said those words, two lines of clear tears slowly streamed down her cheeks!
Volume 3, Qin Capital Chronicles, Chapter 131, Nirvana IV
A chilling sword aura enveloped Wu Zi'ang, whose entire body glowed crimson. He abruptly turned, his piercing gaze fixed on Nie Li, who had descended from the sky.
With a sharp clang, just as Nie Li's sword was about to strike Wu Zi'ang's neck, the latter subtly shifted his body, causing the sword to strike his shoulder instead.
As if striking metal, Nie Li's sword rebounded sharply. Realizing he was in trouble, Nie Li sheathed his sword and turned to flee.
However, Wu Zi'ang, who had long desired to devour him, would not let him go. With a soft whistle, he too soared into the sky.
In an instant, crimson light erupted from Wu Zi'ang's body once more, the leaping flames blinding all the soldiers present. The surging flames almost turned the plaza into a molten lava hell.
Behind Wu Zi'ang, a pair of almost tangible fiery wings suddenly sprouted, sweeping towards the fleeing Nie Li.
"Ah!" With a piercing scream, Nie Li, engulfed in flames mid-air, crashed to the ground with a thud.
He rolled on the ground, his body ablaze, but the flames wouldn't extinguish. His heart-wrenching cries terrified the armored soldiers.
Having finished off Nie Li in one move, Wu Zi'ang didn't pause. Using the momentum of his descent, he charged towards Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang like a hawk.
"Stop!" A flicker of panic crossed Wei Ruoxuan's eyes, and he instinctively retreated. He realized that Wu Zi'ang was using the power of the third wound from the 'Burning Blood Remnant Soul Technique' to unleash the 'Phoenix Nirvana Great Art.' This should also be his final, deadly strike, its power undoubtedly earth-shattering. Therefore, he hastily ordered his cannon fodder to sacrifice themselves.
It must be said that the armored soldiers responsible for guarding the imperial city were indeed an elite force. After Wu Zi'ang had slaughtered hundreds of them with terrifying methods, and after enduring psychological pressure that ordinary people could hardly bear, they still did not retreat. Following Wei Ruoxuan's orders, they once again formed ranks and charged forward.
With a muffled "bang," not as earth-shattering as Wei Ruoxuan had imagined, Wu Zi'ang simply struck the iron shield of the armored soldier who had first caught him with his only right hand.
Almost simultaneously, three iron swords and five spears pierced Wu Zi'ang's body from the side.
Except for a spear that pierced his leg, the other weapons could not harm Wu Zi'ang in the slightest. The 'soft gold armor' given to him by the Empress Dowager played a huge protective role in the melee!
Thud! A low cracking sound suddenly came from the body of the armored soldier who had been struck by Wu Zi'ang, and a spray of blood mist spurted from his mouth and nose. Immediately afterwards, a series of cracking sounds resounded in the square like firecrackers being set off on a festival.
Along a straight line, Wu Zi'ang unleashed a punch with all his might. After instantly shattering the heart meridians of twenty-four armored soldiers, the terrifying force of the punch, still lingering, surged towards Wei Ruoxuan like a raging torrent.
The cunning Wei Ruoxuan had already noticed the strangeness of this punch. He swiftly retreated, raising both palms to his chest, channeling all his strength to forcefully block Wu Zi'ang's fiery energy.
Hmph! Wei Ruoxuan grunted, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his old face instantly turning deathly pale. Although the fiery energy had weakened after piercing through the bodies of more than twenty armored soldiers, it still caused him a considerable loss!
A series of strange sounds rang out. After unleashing his full power, Wu Zi'ang's right hand formed a knife-like shape, lightly slicing, and crimson sword energy flashed. The heads of the six closest armored soldiers immediately flew into the air, blood gushing from their necks like fountains, splashing onto the soldiers who caught up later!
"Ah!" Witnessing this bloody scene, one of the armored soldiers finally broke down, dropping his spear and turning to run away like a madman, screaming incoherently.
Soon, this fear spread like a plague through the armored army. The demonic power and the bloody, cruel methods had far exceeded the psychological limits of these armored soldiers. They were all elite warriors who had experienced countless battles, their wills far stronger than ordinary people. However, precisely because of this, once their minds collapsed, they were even more insane than ordinary people.
Several mentally deranged armored soldiers completely ignored Wei Ruoxuan's orders, wildly swinging their swords and spears, shouting and charging out of the crowd.
"Don't panic!" Wei Ruoxuan shouted, trying to calm the chaotic situation. Clutching his chest with one hand, he pointed at Wu Zi'ang, who was kneeling on one knee, and said, "He...he's finished, finished!"
Hearing Wei Ruoxuan's words, the armored soldiers couldn't help but look at Wu Zi'ang. Seeing that the red glow had faded and he remained kneeling motionless, they believed Wei Ruoxuan's words and gradually calmed down.
"Go and check on him!" Wei Ruoxuan ordered again.
However, the numerous armored soldiers simply surrounded Wu Zi'ang, and not one volunteered to go forward to examine him.
After a long while, one armored soldier shakily threw his spear. With a thud, the spear pierced Wu Zi'ang's right arm, but Wu Zi'ang showed no reaction, as if he were truly dead.
Several other armored soldiers followed suit, throwing their weapons. With a few crisp clangs, the spears and swords embedded in their backs bounced off and fell to the ground; only the arms and thighs remained easily pierced.
"Dead! Really dead!" one armored soldier shouted, his face filled with wild joy.
"Clang!" As Wu Zi'ang's death was confirmed, the armored soldiers could no longer hold their weapons, which fell to the ground. They slumped to the ground, panting heavily. This was the most brutal battle of their lives. There was only one enemy, yet he had slaughtered hundreds of them. The dead were dead, but those who survived would be haunted by nightmares. No matter what, today's scene was etched into their hearts, never to be erased!
Wei Ruoxuan felt no relief. His original intention was to coerce Wu Zi'ang into serving him. In the Great Qin, Wu Zi'ang, as the newly appointed General of Might and Valor, though lacking the prestige of Wu Tianyao in his prime, still controlled tens of thousands of Wu clan cavalry in Pingyang. Furthermore, his recent westward march to Tianmen Pass to take over the army of another great general, Gong Yan, made him the most powerful military commander in the Great Qin.
To seize the Great Qin throne, Wu Zi'ang's support was absolutely essential. However, his plan had now completely fallen apart. Wu Zi'ang was dead. How could the tens of thousands of Wu clan loyalists in Pingyang let this go unpunished? How could the two generals, Feng Chang and Tian Guang, whom he had tricked out of the capital, let this go unpunished? And how could the Demon Emperor, the former leader of the Demonic Sect and the head of the Four Absolutes, let this go unpunished?
Ultimately, it was Nie Li's words that triggered this disaster! "He deserved to die!" Wei Ruoxuan cursed inwardly, glaring hatefully at the charred corpse, while his mind raced, trying to come up with a solution.
"What do we do now?" Dao Kuang, his face ashen, stepped forward and asked in a hoarse voice.
"Release Zhang Zhongshu and Gong Yan!" Wei Ruoxuan made a decisive decision, saying in a deep voice, "Only by getting Gong Yan back to Tianmen Pass to regain military power can we hope to fight against Feng Chang and Tian Guang's army!"
"I'm afraid that's too late!" Dao Kuang shook his head, his face full of worry, "Besides, Gong Yan may not listen to us!"
"I have my own methods!" A ruthless look flashed across Wei Ruoxuan's face as he said, "What I'm worried about now is Commandant Li Hui. This man is not simple. I sent two groups of men to try to capture him secretly, but they all disappeared without a trace. I suspect they were killed by him instead! Now that Wu Zi'ang is dead, our control of the palace forces alone is no longer enough. Once the news gets out, before Feng Chang and Tian Guang even return to the capital, the Commandant's Imperial Guards will come knocking on our door!"
"I've got plenty of trouble too. Tie Ren has escaped, and the fact that I helped you will inevitably reach the ears of Jing Guan and Wei Xuanyi. Even if I can fool Jing Guan, Wei Xuanyi won't let it go!" The usually arrogant Dao Kuang has become somewhat discouraged after a series of events.
"We'll meet force with force, and flood with force! Junior brother, we have no way back!" Wei Ruoxuan said in a deep voice.
"Senior brother is right! Moreover, we still have a chance!" Dao Kuang raised his eyebrows upon hearing this, his madness returning to his face.
Just as the two were discussing countermeasures, they suddenly heard shouts of battle coming from the south gate, and their expressions changed immediately.
"Report...!" A general, his voice drawn out, ran from afar and arrived in front of Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang, panting, "General, General Tian Guang, Feng Chang, along with Commandant Li Hui, led the Imperial Guards to attack, attack, and break into the south gate!"
"What?" Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang exclaimed in shock. Although they had expected this day to come, they did not expect the enemy to arrive so quickly.
"Where is Xiao Bufan? Where is your Court Commandant? Why didn't you send someone to replace him?!" Wei Ruoxuan shouted angrily.
"Xiao, Court Commandant Xiao defected on the battlefield and opened the palace gates. He's the one who let the enemy in!" the general stammered.
"Damn it!" Wei Ruoxuan's eyebrows and mustache stood on end as he kicked the officer more than ten meters away.
"What do we do?" Dao Kuang was also in a state of panic.
"Retreat!" Wei Ruoxuan managed to utter a single word. He had compared himself to a cicada stalking a bird, secretly laughing at the Ninth Prince for his elaborate schemes, only to find that even he, the cicada stalking a bird, would one day be caught in the crossfire. Variables, indeed, are beyond human control!
***
After half an hour of fierce fighting, the battle was nearing its end. Although Wei Ruoxuan's elite Ironclad Army was highly skilled, their morale had plummeted to rock bottom after being slaughtered by Wu Zi'ang. Facing the Imperial Guards, who outnumbered them several times over, they quickly collapsed!
General Feng Chang, Tian Guang, Captain Li Hui, Tie Ren, Liu Fu, Mei Hou, Tian Dao, Shui Qingqing, Feng Yihan, and Wei Lingyao, Su Qimeng, Jing Guan, and the two masters Wu Yin Wu Wei all arrived at the Meridian Gate Square.
On their way back to the city, they were shocked to see the Imperial Guards under the command of the Commandant's Office marching in formation toward the palace. Upon inquiring with the Commander of the Cavalry, Chu Tianhe, they learned that after receiving news that Wu Zi'ang was trapped in the capital, Commandant Li Hui had decided to launch an attack on the city together with General Feng Changtian, who had secretly returned to the capital. Under these circumstances, Tian Dao Lei Rou, Mei Hou Bai Yuqing, Shui Qingqing, Feng Yihan , and others joined them, storming into the Qin Imperial City.
The Meridian Gate Square was a scene of utter devastation, with corpses lying haphazardly in various positions. A kneeling figure stood out starkly against the backdrop of the carnage.
Everyone's breath caught in their throats; that familiar figure was the one they had been searching for. But was it all too late?
One step, two steps—Shui Qingqing could no longer contain herself and leaped out of the crowd.
With her were Feng Yihan, Wei Lingyao, and Su Qimeng.
As their fingers touched Wu Zi'ang's cold body, the four men's hearts sank into an abyss. They couldn't find a trace of life in him.
In fact, the weapon embedded in Wu Zi'ang's body had already said it all.
General Tian Guang and Feng Chang, who arrived shortly after, knelt on the ground, gazing at Wu Zi'ang's face, which still seemed to burn with a fierce fighting spirit. Tears streamed down their faces. They had sworn to protect Wu Tianyao's only bloodline, but in the end…!
"What the hell did I hesitate for?! I should have sent troops into the palace to kill this old traitor long ago!" Tian Guang slapped himself hard
across the face. If only he had done it one day earlier, no, even just one hour earlier, none of this would have happened! Tian Dao Lei Rou and Empress Bai Yuqing also slowly stepped forward. Looking at this young man they had always deeply admired, even though they were used to death, they couldn't help but sigh deeply, filled with regret!
"Is he really… dead?" Shui Qingqing raised her tear-filled eyes and asked softly.
“Dead!” Wei Lingyao lowered her head, her trembling hands pulling a blood-stained silk handkerchief from Wu Zi'ang's bosom. It had originally been hers, and now she had taken it back, as a treasured possession for life!
Su Qimeng remained silent, staring blankly at Wu Zi'ang's face, the words he had once spoken echoing in her mind: “My fate is in the hands of Heaven, not my own!”
Recalling the dejected helplessness on his face when he said those words, two lines of clear tears slowly streamed down her cheeks!
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 132 Rebirth 1
In October of the seventeenth year of Jianxing, Prince Wu Shang launched a coup, seizing Emperor Wuwei of Qin and replacing him. At the end of October, Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan and Empress Xiao poisoned Prince Wu Shang with tea in the Taihe Hall. In early November, Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan devised a plan to recall General Wu Zi'ang, who was far away at Tianmen Pass, intending to capture him, but he suffered a fatal backlash, resulting in the deaths of over 170 palace guards and over 360 armored soldiers. Meanwhile, General Tian Guang, Feng Chang, and Commandant Li Hui led troops into the palace to quell the rebellion. Except for Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian, none of the other rebels escaped!
Hengcheng, Lijiang River.
Five warships slowly sailed away from the riverbank towards the vast river's heart. On the lead ship, Tie Ren, Feng Yihan, Shui Qingqing, Wei Lingyao, Su Qimeng, General Tian Guang, Feng Chang, Commandant Li Hui, and others stood at the bow.
On the deck, Wu Zi'ang, dressed in a brand-new purple robe, lay peacefully, his brow calm, as if in a deep sleep.
Qiu Xueqing knelt beside him, her beautiful eyes already swollen and red, one jade hand tightly gripping his cold palm, her face filled with unbearable sorrow. Even now, she refused to believe that he was dead!
"Princess! We've arrived!" General Tian Guang tried his best to keep his voice steady as he reminded Qiu Xueqing.
"No!" Qiu Xueqing's delicate body trembled, and she instinctively gripped Wu Zi'ang's hand even tighter.
"This humble subject understands the princess's feelings, but... but Zi'ang is ultimately dead, that's a fact..." Feng Chang's voice choked with emotion at the end.
"Bury him!" Seeing Qiu Xueqing's appearance, Tian Guang felt a pang of pity, but still forced himself to give the order.
"Yes!" The four guards beside him, including Tong Hu, responded softly and slowly stepped forward. "Let me stay with him a little longer!" Qiu Xueqing raised her tear-filled eyes and looked at the four guards who had stepped forward, choking back tears.
"Princess, it wouldn't be good to delay the time!" Li Hui whispered from the side.
Hearing Li Hui's reminder, Qiu Xueqing finally slowly released her hand. Although she was reluctant to part with him, she understood that she couldn't miss the time for the water burial.
For centuries, it had been a tradition in the Great Qin Dynasty that, apart from the king, all renowned meritorious officials and generals who died would be given the honor of water burial, buried in this area of the Li River.
Tong Hu and his four guards slowly lifted Wu Zi'ang from the deck and carried him to the bow.
Watching the four guards gradually lower the stretcher onto the shimmering water with ropes, Tie Ren, Feng Yihan, Shui Qingqing, Wei Lingyao, Su Qimeng, and the others all wore expressions of grief. Each of them understood that from this day forward, Wu Zi'ang would no longer exist in this world. Was it because of someone's passing that others felt the preciousness of the time spent with that person in life?
Gradually, the ropes were lowered, and Wu Zi'ang's body, under everyone's gaze, slowly sank into the water.
"Ha!" Seeing this, the soldiers on the five warships shouted in unison, pointing their spears towards the sky.
The deep river obscured the last glimpse of the people on the bow, finally engulfing Wu Zi'ang's body.
"Young brother, rest in peace!" Tie Ren slowly handed the divine weapon 'Heavenly Flame' to the bow. With a release, the peerless weapon fell swiftly, splashing water before sinking to the bottom of the river.
"Let this zither represent me, to accompany you always!" Su Qimeng silently said in her heart. She tossed the ancient zither 'Listening to Dreams,' a gift from Wu Tianyao, beneath the boat.
Wei Lingyao clutched the blood-stained silk handkerchief tightly in her hand, letting tears stream down her cheeks. She wanted to use the handkerchief as a burial offering, but ultimately couldn't bear to part with the blood on it.
A mournful horn sounded on the river, announcing the end of the water burial ceremony. Five warships slowly returned to port, leaving Wu Zi'ang forever in the vast, misty river.
***
Relatives may grieve, others may sing, what can be said of the dead? Let my body rest with the mountains! Wu Zi'ang's death and the escape of Right Chancellor Wei Ruoxuan did not signify the end of the chaos in the Qin court; on the contrary, it marked the beginning of even greater chaos.
General Feng Chang and Tian Guangzhong were loyal and patriotic men. With Emperor Wuwei of Qin dead and the Ninth Prince also perished, leaving Qin in a leaderless state, they released the Empress Dowager (who had been under house arrest), the Second Princess Wuling, and the Crown Prince Wu Che and Third Prince Wu Zhi (who had been imprisoned).
The question of who would inherit the Qin throne then confronted the court officials.
On one hand, the Crown Prince's supporters revived, with many advocating for Wu Che to succeed as the new emperor. However, this was opposed by Commandant Li Hui and Court Minister Xiao Bufan.
These trusted ministers of the Ninth Prince Wu Shang knew full well what would happen to them if Wu Che ascended the throne.
Meanwhile, some ministers who supported the Third Prince also seized the opportunity to side with Li Hui and Xiao Bufan, disagreeing with the Crown Prince becoming the new emperor.
"If the Crown Prince is unsuitable, then tell me, who is suitable to be the new emperor of Qin?" the Empress Dowager asked, looking at the heatedly arguing ministers.
"Empress Dowager, do not forget that the late Emperor has already passed the throne to the Ninth Prince. Although the Ninth Prince has not formally ascended the throne, there is no doubt that the princes have lost their priority to inherit the throne!" Commandant Li Hui stood in the hall and answered calmly.
"Out...!" Crown Prince Wu Che was furious upon hearing this, almost uttering profanities, pointing at Li Hui and shouting, "It is clear that the Ninth Prince murdered Father, plotted to usurp the throne, and massacred loyal ministers. All the civil and military officials witnessed such atrocities!"
"What evidence do you have? Who can come forward to testify?" Upon hearing this, Li Hui swept his eyes across the assembled officials, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and asked coldly.
"This...!" The ministers, meeting Li Hui's murderous gaze, all felt a chill in their hearts. Those who had already spoken immediately shut their mouths, and those who wanted to speak abandoned the foolish idea.
Everyone knew that power in Hengcheng had fallen into the hands of Commandant Li Hui and Court Minister Xiao Bufan. One commanded the Imperial Guards, the other the Court Army, and both were trusted confidants of the Ninth Prince. Unless they were desperate, who would be so foolish as to step forward and testify against them?
"You, you all…!" Looking at the group of ministers who stood frozen in fear, Crown Prince Wu Che turned pale with rage, his body almost unable to stand.
"General!" The Empress Dowager, also aware of the gravity of the situation, looked to Generals Tian Guang and Feng Chang for help. She knew that only these two were truly loyal to the Qin Dynasty, and only they could protect them, the royal family!
Tian Guang and Feng Chang exchanged a glance, their faces showing difficulty. Yes, they were loyal to the Qin royal family, but the current situation was extremely complicated. If the charge of Prince Wu Shang's usurpation were truly proven, then Wu Zi'ang, as the Prince's son-in-law, would undoubtedly be implicated as well. Once Wu Che ascended the throne, he would inevitably target the General's Mansion and the Prince's Mansion, something they desperately wanted to avoid.
Therefore, after much deliberation, Tian and Feng had too many concerns.
"Empress Dowager," Tian Guang said, "I believe this matter requires careful consideration. Perhaps I can report back to you after I have discussed it thoroughly with Li Hui and the other officials." Left with no other choice, Tian Guang resorted to delaying tactics, temporarily suppressing the immediate conflict.
"Very well, then everything depends on the two Generals!" Hearing Tian Guang's words, the Empress Dowager couldn't hide her disappointment, but considering Tian Guang and Feng Chang's concerns, she could only nod in agreement.
With power now in their hands, the Qin royal family, including herself, could only rely on Tian Guang and Feng Chang!
Back at Changxin Palace, Crown Prince Wu Che could no longer contain his emotions and hysterically shouted, "Is this Great Qin still our Wu family's? These traitors, I will have them all tortured to death sooner or later!"
"Grandson, calm down. Acting rashly is not the behavior of a wise ruler!" The Empress Dowager sat on the couch, looking exhausted. Since its founding, Great Qin had never encountered such a crisis. If no solution was found, Great Qin would perish sooner or later!
"Grandmother, help your grandson!" After venting his anger, Crown Prince Wu Che pleaded with the Empress Dowager again.
"I'm at my wit's end now. Without the support of Generals Feng Chang and Tian Guang, you have absolutely no hope of ascending the throne!" The Empress Dowager sighed softly. "You saw it yourself just now; they hesitated. Why? Because they fear that once you become emperor and seize power, you'll target the Generals' Mansion and the Ninth Prince's Mansion. Their friendship with the late General Wu Tianyao was incredibly deep; how could they possibly stand by and watch such a thing happen?"
"Die, you bunch of rebels!" Crown Prince Wu Che gritted his teeth. "They're all destined for a bad end. Ha! Wu Shang is dead, Wu Zi'ang is dead too! Good riddance!"
"There's a fact: if it weren't for Wu Zi'ang's intercession, you would already be beheaded. Why are you here venting your anger in vain?!" Looking at Wu Che's performance, the Empress Dowager's face showed disappointment. "What you need to do now is to unite the forces you can, to find a way to convince powerful figures like Commandant Li Hui and Court Minister Xiao Bufan that your ascension to the throne will not only not endanger their lives, but will actually grant them greater positions and power. Do you understand?"
"I...I understand, Grandmother is right!" Hearing the Empress Dowager's rebuke, Wu Che's mind cleared considerably, and he quickly lowered his head and whispered.
"You may leave! Let Grandmother rest for a while!" The Empress Dowager looked weary and gently waved her hand.
"Grandmother, please take care of yourself. Your grandson takes his leave!" Crown Prince Wu Che quickly responded and bowed as he withdrew.
"Alas!" The Empress Dowager couldn't help but sigh deeply. She was nearing seventy, her energy already failing, yet she still had to worry about the current crisis facing the Great Qin! At this rate, she feared she didn't have many days left to live! She wasn't afraid of death; what she feared was facing her deceased husband, Emperor Hui of Qin, after her death.
"Alas!" With another sigh, the Empress Dowager whispered to Eunuch Li, who stood by with his hands clasped, "Go, take this letter to General Zhao!"
***
Dusk fell, the sun gradually setting.
The setting sun cast its rays across the river, the shimmering light on the water like countless winding golden ribbons leaping.
The river breeze remained gentle, the ripples calm as usual,
yet in the endless depths of the river, a strange thing quietly occurred.
A corpse, presumably lifeless, slowly opened its eyes.
Where was this? When Wu Zi'ang opened his eyes, staring at the bizarre scene before him, he was stunned.
In the dim light, he could vaguely make out schools of fish swimming above him, and turning his head, clumps of swaying water plants appeared in his vision.
"This, this is underwater?" Wu Zi'ang opened his mouth in surprise. No, then why couldn't he feel the water on his skin? Why could he breathe?
Slowly, he sat up, his gaze immediately drawn to a cluster of light in front of him—the source of all the light.
He moved slowly towards it, and Wu Zi'ang couldn't help but shudder, instantly freezing in place as if petrified.
He wasn't surprised by the shimmering, mesmerizing pearl beneath the reef; he was shocked by what he saw less than five steps away: a one-armed man in a purple robe lay silently, the light illuminating his face—it was...it was the face he knew best, his own face.
Was that himself? And who was he? Wu Zi'ang instinctively looked at himself, his heart pounding again.
A suit! Then leather shoes, and finally, the gleaming watch on his wrist. These things were so familiar to him.
Could it be...no, it must be! Wu Zi'ang's heart was filled with shock. He had actually found his original self—Lin Zixuan, the one who had thrown himself into the sea!
Although he couldn't see his face yet, he was over ninety percent certain that he had returned to his true body!
For a full ten minutes, Wu Zi'ang finally snapped out of his daze at this bizarre reality. He took a few steps closer, examining the other self lying there as if asleep, a look of confusion in his eyes.
In this body, he had gained so much: a prestigious family, a powerful official position, a beautiful wife, and unparalleled martial arts skills! In less than a year, he had experienced the wonders of this world as if he had entered a magical game!
Was this truly his past life?
Before this life, who was I? After this life, who will I be? Wu Zi'ang murmured to himself, reaching out to touch the dead 'self'!
Feeling a burning sensation on his fingertips, Wu Zi'ang was startled and was about to pull his hand away when he suddenly felt his wrist tighten as the dead 'self' grabbed his hand.
A wave of heat washed over him, and a surge of fiery energy rushed from his wrist into Wu Zi'ang's body. To his horror, the 'self' he thought was dead slowly opened its eyes, revealing an eerie smile.
Before he could struggle, the fiery energy that had entered his body exploded like a bomb, the intense pain instantly plunging him into unconsciousness.
"Huh? Was that all a hallucination?" Wu Zi'ang stared at his motionless, quietly lying self, letting out a soft gasp. His hand remained poised to touch the other.
He hesitated for a moment, then his hand fell. With a soft swish, the moment his fingers touched the corpse, it crumbled like dust, vanishing from Wu Zi'ang's sight, leaving only the brand-new purple robe.
***
With a splash, a figure emerged from the river, took a few steps, and ran to the shore.
"Phew!" Wu Zi'ang let out a long sigh of relief, staring blankly at the strangely glowing bead in his hand. It was hard to imagine that he, who knew nothing about swimming, had actually used this magical bead with water-repelling properties to slowly move from the bottom of the endless river to the riverbank.
What kind of treasure was this? As Wu Zi'ang was carefully examining the bead, he suddenly heard a crisp "snap," and the bead in his hand instantly turned into a pile of powder, leaking through his fingers and disappearing without a trace.
This…! Wu Zi'ang stared blankly for a long time before coming back to his senses. He sighed softly, thinking that perhaps such a treasure did not want to be submerged in the mundane world? After a series of experiences, he, who was originally an atheist, seemed to be gradually believing that there really was some kind of mysterious power in this world!
Looking up, the sky was already showing the first light of dawn. A new day was about to begin, but what about his life?
Stroking the warm scabbard of the divine weapon 'Heavenly Flame,' Wu Zi'ang felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of bewilderment. What should he do next? Return to the General's Mansion? He knew all too well what kind of scene it would be if someone proven dead suddenly reappeared before everyone! How could he explain his resurrection? Fine, even if he convinced everyone he hadn't truly died, how would he explain the resurrection of his severed arm? He'd just have to
take it one step at a time! Looking down at his purple robes, Wu Zi'ang gave a bitter smile. To avoid shocking the world, he had no choice but to remove his rather modern suit and put on the purple robes, taking with him the divine weapon 'Heavenly Flame,' which had been buried with him.
Composing himself, Wu Zi'ang straightened his clothes and headed towards the city gate.
The city gates opened early, and the guards, their eyes half-closed in sleep, stood listlessly on either side of the gate.
"Halt!" Sensing someone approaching, the guards immediately sprang to attention and shouted.
"What is it?" Wu Zi'ang stopped unhurriedly, meeting the suspicious gazes of several soldiers. Although it was a bit early, there were plenty of young masters spending the night on the pleasure boats of the Li River, and he didn't think he had anything to be suspicious about.
However, when he realized that the soldiers' eyes were all fixed on him, he couldn't help but inwardly cry out in alarm.
"This is a new hairstyle that the girls on the boat made for me. Never seen it before, have you, you bumpkins!" Wu Zi'ang proudly raised his head, giving the soldiers a disdainful look, and swaggered towards the city gate.
Seeing his imposing manner, the guards assumed he was a young master from some wealthy family, and out of apprehension, they could only watch helplessly as Wu Zi'ang swayed into the city.
"Chengzi, what's wrong with you? Are you possessed?" Not long after Wu Zi'ang entered, a burly soldier suddenly noticed something was wrong with his companion and asked with wide eyes.
Hearing the burly soldier shout, the other soldiers noticed the strange behavior of the soldier named Ge Cheng and gathered around.
"Ghost! Ghost…!" Ge Cheng's face was deathly pale, and he pointed tremblingly in the direction Wu Zi'ang had left, his voice trembling and off-key.
"What ghost? Who's the ghost?" Hearing Ge Cheng's words, the soldiers felt a chill run down their spines. The burly soldier slapped him hard across the face with his large, fan-like hand, shouting,
"Just now, just now that person was the General, the General!" Despite seeing stars from the slap, Ge Cheng felt no pain and said, his face ashen.
"The General, which General?" the burly soldier shouted, shaking Ge Cheng's neck. "Could it be…!" Before Ge Cheng 　　could answer, another soldier suddenly remembered something, his expression instantly turning as pale as Ge Cheng's, and he stammered, "It
's the Mighty General!"
The soldiers gasped in unison. The Battle of the Meridian Gate, where over 170 imperial guards and 360 armored soldiers had perished at the hands of the mighty General Wu Zi'ang—this legendary tragedy had already spread throughout Hengcheng in just a few days. In the soldiers' minds, no word other than "demon god" could adequately describe Wu Zi'ang!
"You...you're not mistaken?" Even the burly, tanned soldier, usually so confident and bold, felt a chill run down his spine after hearing Ge Cheng's words, his voice involuntarily trembling.
"Absolutely right. Half a month ago, when the General returned to Hengcheng by boat, I was on duty guarding the gate!" Ge Cheng swallowed hard, replying.
"What are you all babbling about here?" A stern voice suddenly rang out, causing the soldiers to turn around in unison.
"Commander!" Seeing the middle-aged officer in full armor approaching, the soldiers quickly scattered, returning to their positions, straightening their posture, and bowing in salute.
"Xu Wei! What were you all up to just now?" The middle-aged officer asked, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers with obvious displeasure.
"Reporting to Commander Bai, Ge Cheng just said he saw him, he saw General Wu!" The burly soldier answered honestly upon hearing his superior's question.
"What?" Commander Bai's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. He knew, of course, that there was only one General Wu in the Great Qin, and that this young general had died in the Meridian Gate Incident half a month ago. Now Ge Cheng claimed to have seen General Wu—had he stumbled upon a ghost?
"Ge Cheng!" Thinking of this, Commander Bai frowned and said sternly, "Tell me the truth!"
Ge Cheng quickly stepped forward and recounted the events to his superior in detail, concluding with absolute certainty, "I guarantee with my life that it was General Wu who just passed by, there's no mistake!" Seeing the man's confidence, Commander Bai was at a loss. After a moment's thought,
he said, "Xu Wei, quickly take men and chase after him along the way, see if you can catch up!"
"Yes!" The burly soldier Xu Wei responded, waving his hand, and several men from the gate guards set off in the direction Wu Zi'ang had left through the city gate.
"Ge Cheng, come with me to the Commandant's Office!" After some deliberation, Commander Bai decided to report the matter to the Commandant's Office.
***
"What?" Upon hearing the description from Commander Bai and Ge Cheng, Commandant Li Hui, sitting in his chair, nearly fell off.
"Do you know the consequences of deceiving this Commandant?" Li Hui narrowed his eyes, exuding a dangerous aura that made the centurion and Ge Cheng almost breathless.
"I swear on my life, everything I've said is true. Many of my comrades also witnessed it!" Ge Cheng knelt on the ground, his voice trembling as he answered.
After staring at Ge Cheng for a while, Li Hui withdrew his sharp gaze, pondered for a moment, and then turned to the cavalry commander Chu Tianhe beside him, saying, "Go and invite Generals Feng and Tian, and also invite Princess Xue!"
"Yes, sir!" Chu Tianhe responded and turned to leave the main hall of the Commandant's mansion.
"And you, go back and bring all the guards who were on duty this morning!" Li Hui then ordered the centurion below.
"Yes, sir!" The centurion did not dare to delay, bowed his head, and went back to gather his soldiers.
About an hour later, the main hall of the Commandant's mansion was filled with people.
Li Hui gave the main seat to Princess Qiu Xueqing, while he, General Tian Guang, and Feng Chang sat on either side. Upon hearing the news, Tie Ren and the old steward Liu Fu also rushed over.
People are like that; even knowing Wu Zi'ang was indeed dead, knowing that the dead cannot be brought back to life, they still can't help but harbor a fantasy when they hear even a trace of information about him!
When Ge Cheng and several soldiers described how the General Wu they saw was half a head taller than them, with a robust physique and an intact left arm, a look of disappointment flashed in Qiu Xueqing's beautiful eyes. She knew that it was definitely not Wu Zi'ang!
"Enough!" Qiu Xueqing waved her hand lightly, her brows furrowed with exhaustion. In the half-month since Wu Zi'ang's death, she had barely slept a wink, her spirit in a state of extreme weakness. At this moment, she truly didn't want to listen to these soldiers' nonsense anymore.
"Princess, every word I said is true, there is not a single lie!" Noticing Qiu Xueqing's expression, Ge Cheng and the other soldiers were terrified. If they were found to be lying to deceive their superior, they would face beheading.
"Take him away!" Commander Li Hui ordered with a grim face. He shouldn't have believed the soldier's foolish words in the first place. How could a person be brought back to life? In the end, it was all his own thoughts that were causing the trouble!
"My lord, I'm innocent! I really did see the General. At that time, he was holding a black longsword...!" Ge Cheng still cried out as he was dragged away by the guards.
"Wait!" Tie Ren, who had been silent all along, suddenly had a glint in his eyes upon hearing this and shouted in a deep voice.
Taking a few steps forward, Tie Ren stood before Ge Cheng, bending down to stare intently into his panicked eyes. He asked, slowly and deliberately, "What are the characteristics of that sword?"
"Uh, ugh!" Ge Cheng blinked, trying to recall, but his mind was blank; he couldn't remember anything.
"Okay, it seems there are... a few golden flames!" a soldier beside Ge Cheng whispered.
"Yes, yes!" Ge Cheng suddenly remembered, quickly gesturing with his hand, "Yes, there are several flames!"
"Clatter!" Qiu Xueqing accidentally knocked over a teacup on the table. Her previously lifeless eyes suddenly shone brightly. She took a deep breath and said in a trembling voice, "Go, send someone to find it…!" However, before she could finish speaking, she felt dizzy, her delicate body swaying as she collapsed onto the table.
"Young Madam!" Liu Fu was startled and quickly stepped forward to grasp Qiu Xueqing's jade-like wrist.
"How is she?" Tian Guang, Feng Chang, and Captain Li Hui all asked with concern.
“It must be due to emotional distress and physical weakness!” The old steward, Liu Fu, slowly released his grip and said, “However, for safety’s sake, I should still go and invite Miss Su!”
“Then go quickly!” Captain Li Hui nodded repeatedly, then turned to Feng Chang and Tian Guang and asked, “What are your plans, Generals?”
“Martial law for the entire city, search thoroughly!” Tian Guang and Feng Chang said in unison.
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 134 Rebirth Three
“In this world, is there really such a miraculous thing as someone coming back to life?” After instructing the cavalry commander, Chu Tianhe, to convey the order for martial law for the entire city, Li Hui looked at Feng Chang and Tian Guang and asked with a wry smile.
“Perhaps, someone is impersonating Zi Ang!” Tian Guang frowned and guessed.
“Who would have such audacity, and what would be their purpose?” Feng Chang shook his head, disagreeing with his old partner’s opinion.
"That sword is unmistakable!" Tie Ren's tone was unusually certain. Having held the Heavenly Flame sword for many days, he knew its characteristics perfectly: "Seven golden flames on the scabbard—it must be the divine weapon Heavenly Flame! And this sword was the one I personally threw into the Li River that day! So, who could find the location where we buried Zi'ang and dive into the water to accurately locate the Heavenly Flame sword?"
"Too bizarre!" Li Hui, Feng Chang, and Tian Guang all looked bewildered. They couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation for this inexplicable event!
"If we catch that person, everything will become clear!" Tie Ren turned his gaze to the window. He was determined to solve this mystery.
"My lords, I must take my leave!" After pondering for a while, Tie Ren cupped his hands to Feng Chang, Tian Guang, and Li Hui, then turned and left the Commandant's Mansion. He had already decided to wander around the city to see if he could find the purple-clad man who looked exactly like Wu Zi'ang.
After Tie Ren left, Li Hui, Feng Chang, and Tian Guang all fell into deep thought. After a long while, Li Hui slowly broke the silence, saying, "Putting this matter aside, what are your two generals' opinions on the matter of establishing a new emperor?"
"I want to know, what are Lieutenant Li's plans?" Hearing Li Hui mention this question, Tian Guang was slightly taken aback, then passed the buck back to him.
"Haha!" Li Hui chuckled, his eyes fixed on Feng and Tian, and said, "My thoughts should be very clear to you two generals. For my own benefit, I will never allow Wu Che to ascend the throne!" "
In the end, the Crown Prince is the eldest son of the late emperor, and inheriting the throne is a matter of course!" Tian Guang retorted with a slight frown.
“I’ve already said, I’m acting in my own best interests. If Wu Che becomes emperor, how could he possibly let me go? Not only me, but the General’s Mansion and the Ninth Prince’s Mansion will also face certain death! Now that General Wu is dead, do you two generals really want his family to suffer further misfortune?” Li Hui calmly looked at the two men and said indifferently.
“Fine, even if we don’t support the Crown Prince as the new emperor, we still have to choose someone to rule the Qin Dynasty!” What Li Hui said was exactly what Tian Guang and Feng Chang were worried about. But could they just drag it out like this? The answer was no. A country cannot be without a ruler for a day. If they dragged it out any longer, the Qin Dynasty would be in danger!
“It’s a pity the princess is a woman, otherwise…!” A look of regret appeared on Li Hui’s face. What Feng Chang and Tian Guang said was indeed the crux of the problem. Someone had to be chosen as the new emperor. If Wu Che couldn’t be chosen, would Wu Zhi be suitable? Would Wu Xin be suitable? No matter which of these three became emperor, they would not let Li Hui, the General’s Mansion, and the Ninth Prince’s Mansion go! If Qiu Xueqing were a man, he was confident he could put her on the throne, but unfortunately, that was just a hypothetical scenario!
"If all else fails, then let's invite the Seventh Prince of Hancheng back!" After a moment of contemplation, Li Hui finally voiced his idea.
"The Seventh Prince?" Tian Guang and Feng Chang asked in surprise.
"Indeed, the Seventh Prince has a good relationship with the Ninth Prince and General Wu Tianyao. If he were to succeed to the throne, it would be harmless to both the General's Mansion and the Ninth Prince's Mansion!" It was clear that Li Hui had been pondering this idea for a long time.
Tian Guang and Feng Chang exchanged glances. They knew, of course, that because of jealousy of the Seventh Prince's bravery, Emperor Qin Wuwei had banished him to Hancheng on charges of treason, and it had been almost seventeen years since then! It was only because of Wu Tianyao's intercession that the Seventh Prince was spared death, suffering only exile!
"Let us go back and think about it some more!" Establishing a ruler was a major matter, so Feng Chang and Tian Guang decided to carefully consider it before making a decision.
"Very well!" Li Hui nodded. He understood that establishing a ruler was no small matter, and these two generals would not agree lightly. Rushing things would be unwise.
"We'll take our leave now. We'll leave the matter of the man in purple to Commander Li!" Feng Chang and Tian Guang stood up and bowed to Li Hui in farewell.
"If there's any news, we'll immediately inform the two generals!" Li Hui quickly returned the bow.
***
After passing through the city gate guards, Wu Zi'ang made several turns, deliberately choosing secluded spots. Fortunately, it was early morning, and there weren't many people on the streets. Even so, his hair still attracted several surprised glances along the way.
Wu Zi'ang knew this wouldn't work; he had to cover his hair, otherwise, his conspicuous appearance would eventually be discovered—his face was exactly the same as the deceased 'himself'!
Touching his chest, he realized he was penniless. However, when his gaze fell on a shop with a large 'pawn' sign, he suddenly had an idea.
Turning into a small alley, he quickly unfastened his divine weapon, the Heavenly Flame, and sliced off the gems from his belt. It had to be said, his entire outfit, from head to toe, was valuable, especially his belt, which alone held three gems—enough to fetch some money, right?
Sure enough, when Wu Zi'ang handed a sapphire to the shopkeeper, the middle-aged man, who was as fat as a ball, immediately had his eyes light up and held up three fingers: "Three hundred taels!"
Wow! That's so valuable! Without even thinking, Wu Zi'ang said, "Deal!"
Whose spendthrift son is this? The pawnshop owner, suppressing his smug delight, took a money bag from his clerk with his plump, pig-trotter-like hands and handed it to Wu Zi'ang, smiling broadly, "Young master
, you've counted it!" Wu Zi'ang took the money bag, but without opening it to check the amount, he pointed to a bamboo hat hanging on the shop wall with his right hand and said, "How much is this? I'll buy it!"
"If you need it, young master, just take it!" The owner, having made a fortune, generously gestured for his clerk to bring the bamboo hat and gave it to Wu Zi'ang.
"Thank you!" Wu Zi'ang put the bamboo hat on his head, immediately covering his hair and most of his face, thanked him, and turned to leave.
He had originally intended to pawn some money and then buy a bamboo hat at the clothing store, but he hadn't expected to get it so easily, without spending a penny.
"Strange young man!" The pawnshop owner muttered softly, watching Wu Zi'ang's departing figure.
Where was he going? As Wu Zi'ang walked, he pondered. Judging from what he saw when he woke up at the bottom of the river, Tie Ren, his mother, and his wife should all be safe. Otherwise, he wouldn't have found the divine weapon, Tianyan, at the bottom of the river, nor would he be wearing new, valuable clothes. The ancient zither 'Tingmeng' that he hadn't brought with him also indicated that Su Qimeng had attended 'his' funeral. He knew a thing or two about the water burial system of the Great Qin Dynasty!
However, despite this, he was still somewhat uneasy, and his feet unconsciously led him towards the General's Mansion.
Just then, the martial law order issued from the Commandant's Office reached all the Imperial Guard camps. A massive search operation began in Hengcheng.
Seeing the rows of brightly armored Imperial Guard soldiers appearing on the streets, Wu Zi'ang immediately sensed something was wrong. Then, the portraits prominently displayed throughout the streets and alleys made him realize that everything was aimed at him!
Stopping in his tracks, Wu Zi'ang adjusted his bamboo hat slightly, quickly glanced around, then turned and headed into the alley to his right.
Clatter! The crisp sound of hooves reached Wu Zi'ang's ears as a carriage slowly emerged from the alley and passed by him.
"Stop!" A soft, melodious female voice rang out, causing Wu Zi'ang to flinch. An image of a stunningly beautiful woman in a black dress flashed through his mind.
He continued walking, but for some reason, he felt as if a pair of beautiful eyes were silently watching him from behind!
"Halt!" The familiar voice reached his ears again, causing him to stop involuntarily.
A waft of intoxicating fragrance followed, and a graceful figure appeared before him, blocking his path.
"Draw your sword and let me see!" Hearing the slight tremor in the other's voice, Wu Zi'ang was startled. He realized where his weakness lay!
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 135 Counterattack
Originally, he thought it would be a waste to leave the divine weapon, Heavenly Flame, buried at the bottom of the river. Why not use it for self-defense? However, today, he encountered Shui Qingqing, who immediately saw through his disguise. This divine weapon was something he, Shui Qingqing, and Feng Yihan had obtained while searching for treasures near the Commandant's Mansion. How could Shui Qingqing not be familiar with it?
With a thought flashing through his mind, Wu Zi'ang whispered, "If you want to see the sword, you must escort me out of the city!"
"Capture you, and I can still see it!" Shui Qingqing took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and then said.
"Wait!" Wu Zi'ang knew very well what the consequences would be if he fought here. Aside from the fact that his martial arts were inferior to hers, the Hengcheng Imperial Guards that would be attracted would be enough to cause him trouble. In broad daylight, escaping would be extremely difficult. Left with no other choice, he could only push his straw hat up a little and whisper, "Is this the third thing you've asked me to do?!"
"You...!" Shui Qingqing stared at the face under the straw hat, her delicate body trembling violently as if struck by lightning. However, after a long moment of agitation, her mind cleared, and she shouted, "Who are you, daring to impersonate Wu Zi'ang?"
Hearing Shui Qingqing's shout, the coachman Zhao Er also jumped down, his bright eyes fixed on Wu Zi'ang, his face showing surprise and suspicion.
"That kiss in the Prince's back garden, that tender moment, still lingers in my memory!" At this point, Wu Zi'ang knew he had no choice but to explain clearly; he had to convince Shui Qingqing of his identity.
"You…! I…!" This time, Shui Qingqing was completely stunned, frozen in place, staring incredulously at the man before her, muttering incoherently. This was a secret known only to him and her. Though it was just a light kiss, it had left her breathless and unable to control herself. How could she forget something so unforgettable?
"Get in the carriage, I'll tell you more!" Noticing a group of Imperial Guards approaching, Wu Zi'ang leaned closer and whispered something in Shui Qingqing's ear, then swiftly entered the carriage.
Shui Qingqing forced herself to compose herself and turned to get into the carriage as well. Seeing this, the driver, Zhao Er, suppressing his own doubts, returned to the front of the carriage, cracked his whip, and continued driving forward.
Inside the carriage, Wu Zi'ang and Shui Qingqing sat facing each other.
"Take it off!" Shui Qingqing stared intently at him, her voice trembling.
Wu Zi'ang immediately removed his bamboo hat, revealing his entire face.
Shui Qingqing slowly extended her jade-like hand to touch Wu Zi'ang's face, still wanting to verify. Neither the human skin mask nor the disguise could fool her hand.
Wu Zi'ang remained motionless, letting her soft hand touch his face.
"Is it really...is it really you? How is this possible?" Her fingertips traced Wu Zi'ang's cheek, and Shui Qingqing's expression suddenly became incredibly agitated. There was no human skin mask, no disguise; what appeared before her eyes was indeed a genuine face.
However, she had personally witnessed his heart meridian rupture and his life force cease. Could the dead truly be resurrected? Even if resurrected, could a severed arm grow back? Apart from this face, everything else was different—his voice, his body, and even his strange hairstyle!
"If you doubt again, I will punish you with my bare hands!" Wu Zi'ang smiled and raised his right hand, as if to slap the other woman's ample buttocks.
Wow! Shui Qingqing could no longer hold back and suddenly threw herself into Wu Zi'ang's arms, bursting into tears. For days, she had been in a daze, her mind filled with fragments of her past interactions with Wu Zi'ang. His death made her finally understand how important he truly was to her!
"Don't cry, don't cry!" Wu Zi'ang gently patted Shui Qingqing's shoulder, deeply moved. He hadn't expected her to value his life so much; he had thought she mostly used him!
"Is it really you?" Only when her tears soaked Wu Zi'ang's clothes did Shui Qingqing raise her tear-streaked face, still seemingly unsure, and ask.
"It was me!" Looking at her tear-streaked face, Wu Zi'ang felt a pang of pity and smiled, "Besides me, who else knows about the three requests, who else knows about your kiss at the Prince's mansion, and who else knows about me hitting 'this place' in the carriage?"
"But, I saw it with my own eyes, you were definitely dead!" Shui Qingqing's beautiful eyes showed confusion as she said softly.
"I was completely confused too. I only know that after I woke up, I was at the bottom of the river, my body perfectly intact!" Concealing the fact that he had been given a different body, Wu Zi'ang described what happened at the bottom of the river to Shui Qingqing.
"Is there such a miraculous thing in the world? It's unbelievable!" After hearing his account, Shui Qingqing's beautiful face was filled with shock.
"Why do you think I dare not return to the General's Mansion, and why am I avoiding these Imperial Guards?" Wu Zi'ang said with a bitter smile, "It's because this matter is too bizarre. A person can be brought back to life? Who can believe that?! An example like mine is probably unprecedented and will likely never be repeated!"
"No!" Shui Qingqing shook her head, "Legend has it that there is an internal energy cultivation method called 'Nine Transformations of the Heavenly Silkworm,' which can bring back to life those whose heart meridians are severed, and whose power is even greater than before!"
"Even if such a method exists, I have never practiced it!" Wu Zi'ang reached out to wipe away the tears on her face, answering with a bitter smile.
"But you have practiced the Phoenix Nirvana Technique!" Shui Qingqing seemed to have realized something, blinking her beautiful eyes, "I heard my master say that if you cultivate the Phoenix Nirvana Technique to its highest level, you can truly be reborn like a phoenix!"
"That's right!" Wu Zi'ang immediately feigned sudden realization. Thanks to her, he finally came up with a reasonable explanation for his rebirth!
"Don't agree with me!" Shui Qingqing had calmed down considerably by now, her beautiful eyes fixed on Wu Zi'ang. "Now, the interrogation officially begins. Tell me, how did we meet? And the whole process of the treasure hunt in the Commandant's Mansion's underground area? And where did I kiss you that day in the Prince's Garden? And…!"
After nearly half an hour of interrogation, Wu Zi'ang's throat was dry from talking. Only after answering all the questions did Shui Qingqing nod in satisfaction and lean back against Wu Zi'ang's shoulder.
"That's great, that's great!" Shui Qingqing murmured, her head drooping gently, and she fell asleep in Wu Zi'ang's arms.
Along the way, many Imperial Guards tried to stop the carriage for inspection, but upon seeing the tiger-shaped insignia on both sides of the carriage, they all stepped aside to let it pass. All the soldiers knew that the tiger-shaped insignia meant that a distinguished guest of the Great Qin was riding in the carriage.
***
"Any news?" Inside the General's Mansion, Qiu Xueqing, lying on the bed, asked the old steward Liu Fu, who stood respectfully to the side.
"Not yet!" Liu Fu shook his head and said, "The Imperial Guards of the Commandant's Office have all been mobilized, but so far, there's still no news!"
"It's been half a day!" Su Qimeng, sitting by the bed, frowned deeply, her tone filled with anxiety. Ever since hearing about the 'Purple-Clad Man,' she and Qiu Xueqing had both harbored a glimmer of hope, though that hope was almost nonexistent!
"Elder Zuo and the others have already gone down, and the Heavenly Blade Sect and the Demonic Sect have also sent people to participate in the search. With their power, I believe they will surely find traces of the Purple-Clad Man!" Although both sides were hostile, Wei Lingyao still had to admit that the Heavenly Blade Sect and the Demonic Sect's power in Hengcheng was indeed stronger than that of the Dao Sect.
To date, this was the first time that the Dao Sect and the Demonic Sect had aligned their goals on a certain matter, and even adopted a cooperative attitude.
"Sister, do you think there really are miraculous cases of people being resurrected in this world?" Qiu Xueqing asked, her beautiful eyes shining with anticipation as she looked at Su Qimeng and Wei Lingyao.
"The world is vast and full of wonders! Anything is possible!" Wei Lingyao softly comforted the other woman, though in truth, she was also comforting herself.
"If only it were true!" Qiu Xueqing murmured to herself, slowly closing her beautiful eyes. She had just taken the calming medicine prescribed by Su Qimeng, and drowsiness overcame her, causing her to fall into a deep sleep.
"Sigh!" Looking at Qiu Xueqing's haggard face, Su and Wei couldn't help but sigh softly. As women, they felt the depth of her feelings for Wu Zi'ang all too well.
"Is there no news from Uncle Fang either?" After a long silence, Su Qimeng suddenly remembered something else and asked softly.
"No!" Wei Lingyao shook her head. Although she had heard Tie Ren testify that Dao Kuang colluded with Elder Wei Ruoxuan of the Demonic Sect, her mentor Jing Guan still couldn't fully believe it. Everything needed to wait for Dao Kuang to appear and confront them to reveal the truth. But the trouble was that Dao Kuang, along with Pei Zhi and Fang Jinwu, had also disappeared without a trace!
"These are turbulent times!" Recalling the series of astonishing events that had recently occurred, Su Qimeng sighed deeply, thinking to herself, "If only he were still alive!"
***
"There's news of the man in purple!" A figure hurriedly entered, startling the Empress Mei, who was deep in thought with her hand on her forehead.
"Elder Xu, tell me quickly!" Looking at the newcomer, the Empress Mei raised her eyebrows and asked urgently.
"So it was Wei Ruoxuan who did this!" The tall, thin Elder Xu said angrily, "Elder Chang and I captured that man in purple. You can find out the details when you ask, Empress!"
"You've captured him? Where is he now?" Upon learning that the man in purple wasn't really Wu Zi'ang, a hint of disappointment appeared in Empress's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and asked softly.
"He's right outside the door!" Elder Xu said, turning his head and shouting, "Bring him in!" As soon as he finished speaking, an old man in yellow robes led a disheveled man in purple robes into the room.
"Kneel down!" The old man in yellow robes kicked the man in purple robes to the ground without any politeness, then looked up and bowed to Empress, saying, "I've brought this fellow here for you to decide his fate, Empress!"
"Elder Chang, you've worked hard!" Empress said softly, then slowly stood up and walked towards the man in purple robes.
"Raise your head!" Approaching the man in purple, Empress Mei frowned, for he had kept his head down since entering, preventing her from seeing his face.
The man seemed terrified; upon hearing her words, he trembled and slowly raised his head.
"You…!" Staring at the face with the eerie smile, Empress Mei was startled and retreated with lightning speed.
However, the man in purple was no slower; already poised to strike, he pounced like a cheetah, throwing a punch at her. A
muffled "bang!" echoed, and a puff of white mist filled the air. Caught off guard, Empress Mei had no choice but to meet the attacker's blow head-on. The powerful force of the punch caused her body to tremble violently, and even more terrifyingly, she caught a whiff of a strange fragrance, causing her internal energy to immediately stagnate.
Almost simultaneously, Xu and Chang also pounced, but not to help the Empress. On the contrary, they took advantage of her misfortune, each unleashing a ruthless attack on the retreating Empress.
"Hiss!" A tearing sound suddenly rang out. Xu and Chang, the two elders who had intended to take advantage of the situation, let out a miserable groan, clutching their throats as they fell from mid-air, lifeless. "Bang!"
However, seizing the opening after the Empress's attack, the purple-clad man forced her into a direct clash.
Under this series of sneak attacks, the Empress, caught off guard, suffered a great loss. A mark appeared on the black veil covering her face near her lips—clearly a bloodstain.
Although it was a sneak attack, there were very few people in the world who could injure the Empress in just two direct clashes. Of course, if it were any of the Four Great Masters, that would be a different story.
"As expected of the Empress, to still be able to kill these two under such circumstances is truly quite surprising!" After exchanging another blow with the Empress, the purple-clad man didn't rush to pursue, but stopped and smiled at his opponent with his hands behind his back.
"I'm also very surprised! The dignified Dao Kuang, one of the Four Great Masters, would actually resort to such despicable methods!" The Empress clutched her chest, her beautiful eyes flashing with intense hatred, and said in a hateful voice.
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!" Before Dao Kuang could answer, another person entered the room, stroking his long beard and smiling as he replied, "As long as the goal is achieved, everything else is insignificant!"
"Indeed, that matter is true!" The Empress looked at Wei Ruoxuan, who had appeared later, and said coldly, "But I really can't understand how you and Dao Kuang got involved!?"
"This secret, I'm afraid the Empress will never know!" Dao Kuang and Wei Ruoxuan exchanged a glance and both laughed heartily.
"Kill me, and you think you can control the Demonic Sect?" A hint of disdain flashed in the Empress's beautiful eyes. "The Sect Master and I have already issued a kill order. You are nothing but a traitor to the Demonic Sect! You have no right to command the followers!"
"Is that so?" Wei Ruoxuan's tone was mocking. He clapped his hands lightly twice and said, "Look who this is!?"
As soon as the clapping subsided, the curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged man in blue robes walked in.
"Sect Master!" Looking at the slightly handsome middle-aged man who had entered, a look of surprise flashed in the Empress's eyes.
"Unexpected, isn't it!" Wei Ruoxuan smiled slightly. "The Sect Master has already agreed to cooperate with us. From now on, it's not me who will be branded a traitor, but you, Empress!"
"Nangong Qian, give me an explanation!" The Empress looked at the middle-aged man and said calmly.
"Do I need to explain? Is it even necessary?" Nangong Qian stared coldly at Mei Hou and said, "For more than ten years, you have decided all the affairs of the sect, big and small. I, the sect leader, am nothing but a figurehead! Why? Why should I, Nangong Qian, be manipulated by a woman like you? Enough, I have endured this for too long!" Nangong Qian's expression became more and more agitated, and in the end, the veins on his face bulged, and he looked like he was about to devour someone.
"Do you think you can escape your puppet fate by cooperating with him?" Hearing Nangong Qian's words, the Empress Mei wasn't angry. Instead, she looked at the pitiful man with almost pity, sighing softly, "At least I can keep your nominal position, while he will use you and leave you without a trace!"
"Empress Mei, your provocations are useless!" Wei Ruoxuan said calmly, "In any case, you will not escape death today!"
"No, Elder Wei, you promised me you wouldn't harm my senior sister!" Hearing Wei Ruoxuan's intention to kill the Empress Mei, a scholar in green robes, hiding in the shadows, disregarded everything else and rushed in from outside, pointing at Wei Ruoxuan with shock and anger.
"I promised to leave the Empress Mei to you, but I didn't specify whether it was to leave her alive or a corpse!" Wei Ruoxuan replied without batting an eye.
"It really is you, you beast!" Upon seeing the scholar in blue, Empress Mei gritted her teeth and said, "I truly regret not taking your dog's life that day!" She had already suspected that the white mist was his 'masterpiece' used to harm women, and now that the scholar had appeared, it confirmed her suspicions.
"If Empress Mei wishes to kill him, this old man can do it for you!" As soon as the word 'do' was uttered, Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian's figure flashed in front of the scholar Bai Yuchang, and with a swift movement, he struck the man's chest heavily.
"Crack!" A sound of bones breaking rang out, and amidst the gushing blood, the scholar's body was sent flying, crashing straight into Empress Mei.
Dao Kuang used the momentum to charge forward, while Wei Ruoxuan and the Demon Sect Master Nangong Qian also pounced from the side. Clearly, the three of them intended to use their combined attack to kill Empress Mei in one fell swoop.
Dao Kuang, needless to say, is one of the Four Great Masters, and his skill surpasses even that of Mei Hou. Wei Ruoxuan also displayed astonishing strength at this moment, unleashing a barrage of claw shadows that incorporated the techniques of both the Demonic Sect and the Daoist Sect. As for Nangong Qian, being chosen as the sect leader, his martial arts were undoubtedly exceptional. With a single punch, he unleashed the most powerful move from the Demon God Record, "Majestic Power"!
Facing the combined attack of three masters, and poisoned by Bai Yuchang's "Muscle-Weakening Powder," Mei Hou still displayed astonishing strength under these extremely adverse circumstances.
With a series of hissing sounds, seven silver rays shot out. One entangled the oncoming Bai Yuchang and was then thrown away, while the other six split into three groups to attack Dao Kuang, Wei Ruoxuan, and Nangong Qian.
Dao Kuang's charging momentum remained unchanged, his hands radiating purple energy, using his Purple Extreme True Qi to forcefully repel the two silver rays that attacked him. Wei Ruoxuan, like a thousand-armed Guanyin, precisely seized two silver threads from her claw shadows. Of the three, only Nangong Qian's skill was slightly weaker; although he used a powerful move, he was still forced back by Mei Hou's two silver rays.
If all seven silver threads were concentrated together, they would have been enough to force back any one of them. But even divided into three groups, Mei Hou successfully created an opening from the weakest of the three, Nangong Qian, and her figure, like a butterfly, escaped from the encirclement of the three, flashing straight towards the door.
"Stay!" Dao Kuang roared, his right hand slowly thrusting towards Mei Hou's back with the force of a thousand pounds. A burst of purple light flashed, seemingly distorting even space itself.
"The ultimate Dao is boundless, the ultimate Purple Profound, in the midst of uncertainty, heaven and earth change!"
To kill Mei Hou, Dao Kuang unleashed the ultimate strike from his Purple Extreme True Qi, 'Purple Qi Stabilizes Heaven and Earth'!
Similar to the 'Hundred Steps Divine Fist' of the Mo family of Taizhou, but undoubtedly far more lethal, especially when wielded by a peerless master like Dao Kuang!
At this moment, after Mei Hou's all-out breakout, the effects of the 'Muscle Softening Powder' within her body were gradually taking hold. Although she sensed the strangeness behind her, she was powerless to change her movements.
Just as the sound of wind and thunder was about to strike Mei Hou's back, a green shadow flashed by, actually using its own body to block between Mei Hou and Dao Kuang. At the same time, it pushed with both hands, using its remaining strength to send Mei Hou out the door.
With a loud "thud," the figure in blue collapsed to the ground with a scream, a series of bone-cracking sounds echoing throughout his body.
Dao Kuang's deadly strike had landed squarely on the selfless Zhehua Xiushi, who had risked his life to save someone. The latter's bones shattered instantly, his meridians were severed, and he died bleeding from all seven orifices! Dao Kuang's attack was powerful enough to break metal, let alone the already critically injured Zhehua Xiushi.
Faced with this turn of events, Wei Ruoxuan, Dao Kuang, and Nangong Qian were all stunned for a moment, but only for a brief instant. The three of them immediately chased after him.
Although they knew that Mei Hou had been poisoned by the 'Muscle-Weakening Powder,' the three of them dared not relax their guard in the slightest. If Mei Hou were to escape, given her influence, it would be difficult to seize control of the Demonic Sect.
Taking advantage of the incident with the purple-clad man, Mei Hou had sent out all her subordinates to search for her. With the Hengcheng branch sect vulnerable, Wei Ruoxuan, Dao Kuang, Fang Dingtian, and Nangong Qian devised this scheme, intending to eliminate Mei Hou in one fell swoop. The plan was about to succeed, and they couldn't let the sure thing slip away.
The three chased after her and saw the Empress clutching her chest, leaning against a locust tree in the courtyard, panting heavily. They immediately relaxed. They knew perfectly well that the Empress was under the influence of the drug and had lost the ability to escape.
"Give up, no one can save you!" Nangong Qian's usually humble and amiable face flashed with violence and murderous intent as he stepped towards the Empress.
Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang also slowly stepped forward, staring intently at the Empress.
"Bang!" Nangong Qian threw a punch in mid-air, the sharp wind of the punch striking the Empress, who had no way to dodge and was immediately sent flying.
The Empress's delicate body fell to the ground, a large amount of blood gushing out, soaking the face towel. At this moment, she had suffered serious internal injuries. Although she knew she was on the verge of death, she still calmly watched the three approaching again with her beautiful eyes.
"Master!" Just then, a figure flashed at the courtyard gate, and Shui Qingqing and Wu Zi'ang walked in side by side. Upon seeing the scene, Shui Qingqing's beautiful face changed drastically, and she cried out in alarm.
"You two go quickly!" The Empress Mei was extremely anxious upon seeing her beloved disciples and shouted sharply.
"Stay here!" Seeing that only two people from Shui Qingqing's side had returned, Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian had the idea of wiping them out in one fell swoop. Their figures flashed as they rushed towards Shui Qingqing and
Wu Zi'ang. Nangong Qian's target was still the Empress Mei. There was always something going on if he waited too long. He had to get rid of the Empress Mei first. As for Shui Qingqing, he believed that Dao Kuang and Wei Ruoxuan could handle her more than enough.
"Whoosh!" A sharp sound of air being cut rang out, and a bamboo hat shot towards Nangong Qian, who was rushing towards the Empress Mei, accompanied by a whooshing sound. "Bang!
" With a crisp sound, bamboo chips scattered all over the sky, and Nangong Qian was actually forced back seven steps by the hidden internal force of the bamboo hat before he could regain his footing.
Wei Ruoxuan and Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian's expressions immediately changed, and their already propelled figures fell back to the ground. They weren't surprised that the bamboo hat could force back a top-tier expert like Nangong Qian, but rather shocked by the true face of the purple-clad man after he removed the hat. The battle at the Meridian Gate had left a far too deep impression on them.
Taking advantage of the moment when Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian, Wei Ruoxuan, and Nangong Qian were still in shock, Wu Zi'ang and Shui Qingqing immediately rushed to Mei Hou's side, protecting her.
"You, who are you?" Wei Ruoxuan, regaining her senses, pointed at Wu Zi'ang, her eyes flashing with shock.
Too lazy to waste words, with a crisp clang, the divine weapon Heavenly Flame was drawn. Wu Zi'ang pointed his longsword diagonally at Dao Kuang, Wei Ruoxuan, and Nangong Qian, while whispering to Shui Qingqing, "Help the Empress to the General's Mansion. I'll hold them off!"
"But...!" Shui Qingqing was startled. Although he had the divine weapon Heavenly Flame, letting Wu Zi'ang fight these three masters alone was tantamount to suicide.
"But my foot!" Wu Zi'ang cursed for the first time, impatiently saying, "You go first, I'll be there soon!"
"Go!" Wu Zi'ang shouted, his body rising into the air, the Heavenly Flame in his hand blazing, and without hesitation, he unleashed one of the three killing moves of the Profound Heaven Sword Art, 'Heavenly River Reversal,' at the still bewildered Dao Kuang, Wei Ruoxuan, and Nangong Qian!
Volume 4 Rebirth of the World Chapter 137 Cutting Off the Rear 2
There will be another chapter tonight, this chapter is to make up for yesterday's!
A burst of crimson light flashed, and a wave of flames swept across the sky. Boundless sword energy transformed into a torrent of water from the heavens, heading straight for Dao Kuang, Wei Ruoxuan, and Nangong Qian. With the aid of the divine weapon Heavenly Flame, even though Dao Kuang and the other two were absolute masters, they dared not directly confront its edge. They retreated in unison. Qingqing knew that if she did not leave, not only would Wu Zi'ang's painstaking efforts be in vain, but her master would also be doomed. With tears in her eyes, she reached out to help Meihou up and quickly flashed towards the courtyard gate.
"Bang, bang, bang!?" After a series of muffled thuds, Wu Zi'ang's Heavenly River Cascade technique struck empty air. In an instant, the entire courtyard was filled with dust, making it almost impossible to see.
Wu Zi'ang was stunned. He hadn't expected his sword move to have such power. Clearly, he felt his internal energy was stronger than before. Although it didn't have the terrifying strength he possessed at the Meridian Gate, it was definitely far greater than when he was uninjured before his rebirth. He hadn't expected this move to injure Dao Kuang and the other two; his purpose was merely to slow them down. The dust that filled the sky... The sandstorm, however, did him a great favor.
Dao Kuang Fang Dingtian and Wei Ruoxuan were even more terrified. The opponent's appearance could be faked, but his martial arts skills, and especially that divine weapon, Heavenly Flame, could not be faked!
But the problem was, Wu Zi'ang was clearly dead that day at noon! Could it be that in this world, the dead can truly be resurrected?
Although Dao Kuang and Wei Ruoxuan were both calm and collected, faced with such an unimaginably bizarre event, they couldn't help but lose their composure, ultimately missing the golden opportunity to pursue and kill the Empress.
Otherwise, these three... The top experts split into two groups: one to entangle Wu Zi'ang, and the other two to pursue him. With only Shui Qingqing protecting the Empress, escape was uncertain.
The remaining Demon Sect leader, Nangong Qian, though never having fought Wu Zi'ang before, witnessed the power of his sword strike and saw that Dao Kuang and Wei Ruoxuan dared not act rashly. He cautiously remained still, waiting for the dust to settle.
Gradually, the dust cleared, and the figures reappeared in the courtyard.
Wu Zi'ang stood with his sword, his face calm and composed. He felt his own power increase, which gave him confidence. His heart surged with excitement. Stopping these people was no longer the ultimate goal; the ultimate goal was to ensure his own escape after holding them off. To be reborn for only a day and then die again would be a colossal joke. Kuang and Wei Ruoxuan exchanged a surprised glance. Judging solely from the aura displayed by the other party, they were already placing him among their formidable enemies!
The two were ultimately unparalleled heroes. Although they harbored doubts, they had regained their composure. Whether the person before them was truly Wu Zi'ang or someone in disguise, he was their enemy.
Although the opponent's momentum was astonishing, it was far from reaching the level of the Meridian Gate of the Imperial City. Given the strength of the three of them, even if the Demon Emperor himself came, he wouldn't fare well.
Thinking of this, the cunning Wei Ruoxuan suddenly spoke up: "Sect Master and Junior Brother, hold this brat back! I'll go after the Empress!
" "Alright!" Dao Kuang responded, immediately leaping upwards, his right hand radiating purple energy, pushing a palm towards Wu Zi'ang from afar. Knowing the sharpness of the divine sword in Fang's hand, he immediately adopted a long-range attack tactic.
Seeing Dao Kuang pounce, Nangong Qian didn't hesitate either, his powerful technique reappearing, also charging towards Wu Zi'ang.
Meanwhile, Wei Ruoxuan's figure flashed, as if pouncing towards the courtyard gate.
Wu Zi'ang wouldn't let them have their way. With a light shout, he swung the Heavenly Flame in his hand again, unleashing the second killing move of the Profound Heaven Sword Technique, "Hou Yi Shoots the Sun!"
Countless red rays shot into the sky, like arrows fired from ten thousand crossbows, accompanied by a terrifying whooshing sound, hurtling towards Dao Kuang and Nangong Qian. Back when they were attacked outside Hengcheng Gate, Wu Zi'ang had used this move barehanded to annihilate more than a dozen assassins. This time, although his opponent had changed to Dao Kuang, one of the Four Great Masters, he now wielded the indestructible divine weapon, the Heavenly Flame!
Under such a dense onslaught of fiery energy, Dao... Kuang and Nangong Qian retreated once more. It wasn't that Wu Zi'ang's killing move was flawless, but under the cover of his divine weapon, which could cut through iron like mud, the flaws were easily concealed.
Forcing Kuang and Nangong Qian back again, Wu Zi'ang didn't hesitate. He shifted three steps to the side, unleashing seven crimson sword beams from his divine weapon, intending to block Wei Ruoxuan.
Wei Ruoxuan coldly snorted, his hands flashing, and one strange internal force after another overflowed, barely neutralizing the opponent's sword energy.
At this moment, the forced-backed Kuang and Nangong Qian charged forward again, facing the three peerless masters... Faced with the combined attack of masters, Wu Zi'ang steeled his resolve, determined to fight to the death. He brandished his divine weapon, unleashing the final move of the Xuan Tian Sword Technique: Star Annihilation and Moonfall!
Strangely, as Wu Zi'ang swung his weapon, the light in the entire courtyard suddenly dimmed. Unlike the astonishing power of the first two moves, the final move, Star Annihilation and Moonfall, fell into a deathly silence, as still as stagnant water.
Yet, the calmer the silence, the more intense the hidden danger. As a lost art, the Xuan Tian Sword Technique... The power of knowledge is even more unpredictable than the Demon God Record and the Profound Heart Technique!
Twice forced back by the young man in purple before him, Nangong Qian was truly enraged. Although the other wielded a divine weapon, and although his martial arts were inferior to Dao Kuang and Wei Ruoxuan, it didn't mean he couldn't handle this callow youth!
With a low roar, Nangong Qian's hair and beard bristled, his arms sweeping towards his chest. Just before they touched, he suddenly thrust forward with this move. Wu Zi'ang was familiar with it; it was one of the eight moves from the Demon God Record, named: "Heroic!?"
"Viewing flowers without restraint, swallowing the vast wilderness. From the Dao to the Qi, emptiness becomes madness. Heavenly winds surge, seas and mountains are vast. True power fills the air, all things are beside me."
Unlike the most powerful move in the Demon God Record, "Majestic," "Heroic" emphasizes... overwhelming power! The move is like a vast, sweeping wind and clouds, galloping across the sky, or like a boundless, surging river!
Even before the opponent unleashed the first move—"Powerful"—Wu Zi'ang had already roughly guessed the identity of this refined-looking middle-aged man. After all, the "Demon God Record," a treasure of the Demonic Sect, wasn't something anyone could learn. Besides Uncle Wei and himself, only the current Demonic Sect Master possessed it.
From this, one could deduce what Dao Kuang, Wei Ruoxuan, and this Demonic Sect Master were plotting today. In a flash, the divine weapon in Wu Zi'ang's hand suddenly and strangely pulsed, completing the final step of "Star Annihilation."
"Bang! Bang! Bang!?" A series of crisp sounds, like firecrackers, rang out. Within a radius of about ten meters centered on Wu Ziang, countless dazzling lights, like stars, suddenly flashed. These "stars" appeared and disappeared in an instant, leaving behind rapidly spinning and extremely destructive vortexes of energy.
Even in Wu Ziang's initial stance, numerous undercurrents, like "bombs," were hidden around him. The final inhale and exhale acted as a fuse, igniting all these "bombs"!
Nangong Qian's "boldness" met Wu Ziang's "stars extinguished and moon fell." The two vastly different energies clashed, and a piercing hissing sound immediately filled the air. The former's powerful internal force clashed with the countless vortexes... The two attacked and clashed, creating a stalemate.
Seeing that Nangong Qian had successfully held back Wu Ziang's offensive, the cunning Wei Ruoxuan immediately shifted his position, moving like a ghost to close the distance to Wu Ziang, his right hand conjuring countless palm shadows to strike at his head.
Dao Kuang, his purple robes billowing, also threw a punch accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder towards Wu Ziang. To force Dao Kuang, one of the Four Great Masters, to use his power again? His Purple Qi could stabilize the universe? This was enough to show that Wu Ziang was now considered on par with masters like the Empress!
The two didn't attack alongside Nangong Qian, but deliberately positioned themselves on the front line. Perhaps it was a tactical necessity, perhaps they were intentionally using someone as cannon fodder, or perhaps both!

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【I Desire the World】【Part Six】

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