[Fantasy] A Eunuch Breaks into the Inner Palace (Complete) - 20

Part One (Part Two), Chapter Four: The One-Horned Demon

. Watching the unfortunate soul scream and disappear into the one-horned demon's gaping maw, Li Yu collapsed to the ground, staring in terror at the horrific scene. Tears streamed down his face, and snot dripped from his nose. Combined with the sweat and excrement that had seeped from his lower body, not a single part of him was dry.
In the Tang Dynasty palace, all the ghosts who hadn't yet reincarnated had been subdued. Many female ghosts had become maids of You'er and the others, hiding in ruined halls or scattered throughout the palace rooms, monitoring the concubines and maids. Those now fleeing in panic in the palace were mostly the ghosts of deceased eunuchs and guards, who were on patrol when the one-horned demon caught up with them, tearing apart two ghosts dressed as guards, one in each hand. The guards around Li Yu, seeing this, trembled with fear, as if their own were doomed.
The one-horned demon ate with great relish, grinning wildly as it ate, casting a chilling and terrifying atmosphere over the entire palace.
After finishing the two guards, it galloped wildly through the palace, deliberately running over Li Yu's head. Its two long, black-haired legs strode over Li Yu's head, causing Li Yu to scream in terror and almost faint on the spot.
Ahead, the ghost of a young girl who had come out for a stroll saw the one-horned demon and was trying to flee in panic, but the demon saw her, chased after her, grabbed her, and laughed wildly, "Good! I love eating female ghosts the most. Today, now that we're in the palace, I'm going to have my fill!"
Dai'er cried out in panic. She usually stayed in Princess Changping's palace, chatting with her idly, and hadn't received any missions. Today, she had come out by chance, but was seen by the one-horned demon, making her lament that her fate was too bitter!
The one-horned demon gripped her arms tightly with its black hands, about to tear them apart, when suddenly it felt a tightening in its grip. It couldn't tear the delicate little ghost to shreds. Slightly startled, it stared at her in surprise, saying, "I didn't realize you could materialize like this. Looks like I'll have to use more force!"
It concentrated its strength in its arms and tore at her with all its might. The pain made Dai'er cry out in agony, filled with fear. She knew her strength was still too weak to fight this fierce demon; she feared she would be torn to pieces and devoured today.
Just as she was filled with despair, she suddenly heard a clear whistle in the distance, and someone shouted sharply, "You little brat, how dare you! Put her down right now!"
Upon hearing this, Dai'er felt a surge of wild joy welling up from the bottom of her heart. She cried out in pain and looked into the distance.
In the distance, a young man dressed in tight-fitting clothes, with a wide cloak and a sharp sword at his waist, was running wildly towards her. His handsome face was filled with panic and furious killing intent.
Upon seeing him, Dai'er felt a surge of heat emanating from the unrefined primordial yang within her lower abdomen, enveloped by her own spiritual power. This made her feel feverish, and she cried out in a delicate voice, "Help! Help me!"
The one-horned ghost, seeing Li Xiaomin rushing towards him, snorted coldly and increased the force of his pull, intending to tear the girl's ghost apart to strike his powerful enemy. Suddenly, he felt a heat in his hands. Looking closely, he saw that Dai'er's spirit had turned milky white, faintly emitting a white light. He was greatly alarmed, and no matter how hard he pulled, he couldn't break it.
Seeing his powerful tearing motion, Dai'er was terrified. Fortunately, the primordial yang continuously emitted heat, replenishing her spiritual power, which allowed her to barely hold on. She wept bitterly, filled with gratitude for Li Xiaomin's previous favor.
Li Xiaomin strode over, his gleaming blade sheathed and hanging at his waist. He saw Li Yu collapsed to the side, her face filled with terror, but ignored him. He drew his sword and leaped forward, the blade flashing like lightning across the night sky, aiming directly at the one-horned ghost.
The one-horned ghost leaped back, brandishing the ghostly girl in its hand, hurling it at Li Xiaomin, intending to use him to pierce the girl with his sword!
Li Xiaomin hurriedly sheathed his sword, grabbing Dai'er's slender waist. Her skin was warm to the touch. Looking down, he saw a blush rising on her snow-white face. He frowned slightly, realizing she had accidentally gone astray, her spiritual energy had gone astray, and she hadn't known how to refine a man's yang energy for days, leading to this state. If he hadn't reshaped her body, creating a special connection between his yang energy and her spirit, she would likely have already perished in flames.
Li Xiaomin brought his lips close to Dai'er's ear, whispering a cultivation incantation. He then embraced her delicate body and carefully placed her aside, instructing her to refine her primordial yang to increase her spiritual power.
Dai'er slowly nodded, her eyes filled with tears of gratitude as she looked at him.
After settling Dai'er in, Li Xiaomin turned to the One-Horned Ghost, smiled coldly, and said in a deep voice, "You're the One-Horned Ghost? What brings you here for no reason?" The
One-Horned Ghost had already drawn a pair of large axes, grinning maliciously, "You dog eunuch, I've come out this time to chop off your head! Enough nonsense, let's do it!" The
One-Horned Ghost, with his long legs and extremely burly physique, strode up to Li Xiaomin, wielding his giant axe and fiercely chopping down at the slender young man before him!
The crystalline blade thrust forward, lightly touching the axe blade. Li Xiaomin's body floated backward, and he sneered, "Your strength is alright, but your spiritual power is too weak. Not worth a laugh!"
The one-horned ghost didn't bother arguing with him. It swung its great axe with tremendous force, engulfing Li Xiaomin's entire body. Its techniques were extremely exquisite, and coupled with its immense strength, it was indeed difficult to resist. It slashed at Li Xiaomin with each blow, determined to cut him down and secure victory.
Li Xiaomin swung the crystalline blade, blocking left and right. Feeling the one-horned ghost's strength increasing, he didn't want to fight it head-on. So he leaped around, circling the one-horned ghost, occasionally thrusting out the crystalline blade, making the one-horned ghost flustered and roaring in anger.
The one-horned demon, being a ghost after all, was quite afraid of the immortal power emanating from the crystalline blade. Its massive size made it difficult to maneuver, while Li Xiaomin's speed increased dramatically. Taking advantage of the demon's unpreparedness, Li Xiaomin leaped behind it, thrusting his sword straight at the back of its neck.
The demon frantically turned to defend, but his axe missed its target. The crystalline blade veered in mid-air, shooting forward with lightning speed, piercing Li Xiaomin's right chest with a hiss. The demon cried out in pain, forcefully kicking backward, crashing into the palace wall and cracking a large section.
Li Xiaomin, sword raised and focused, coldly glared at the demon, uttering in a chilling voice, "Evil spirit, prepare to die!" The demon,
lying on the ground, was terrified by Li Xiaomin's thrust. It jumped up, raising its axe to block, fighting and retreating.
Before it had taken more than a few steps, it suddenly felt as if spiritual energy was pulling it from below, rendering it unable to move. The one-horned demon looked down and saw vines seemingly growing from the ground beneath him, ethereal and indistinct, yet they had bound his legs, preventing him from breaking free.
Looking up, he saw Li Xiaomin holding a sword, forming hand seals and chanting incantations. Clearly, it was Li Xiaomin who had tampered with the weapon, enraging the one-horned demon, who roared and brandished his axe, demanding Li Xiaomin settle the score!
Li Xiaomin smiled coldly, turned, drew a bow from his back, nocked an arrow, aimed at the one-horned demon, and said in a chilling voice, "You fool, take this!"
The bow was fully drawn, and with a whoosh, the incredibly sharp arrow shot straight at the one-horned demon!
This arrow had been refined by Li Xiaomin using immortal magic; its tip gleamed coldly. It was a spirit arrow specifically designed to pierce spirit bodies, piercing through the one-horned demon's chaotic axe movements, and with a hiss, it pierced heavily into his demonic body!
Intense pain surged through his limbs, and the one-horned demon raised his head, letting out a deafening, piercing roar!
The guards standing nearby were already trembling with fear, huddled together with Emperor Li Yu, shaking with apprehension. Li Yu, watching from afar as Li Xiaomin displayed his divine power, single-handedly slaying the vengeful ghost, was filled with gratitude and admiration for his heroic act of saving the emperor.
Li Xiaomin's face was frosty, his cloak billowing in the night wind as he fired arrows with deadly precision. Soon, the one-horned ghost was riddled with arrows, like a hedgehog, unable to withstand the powerful spiritual attack any longer, its body gradually dissipating in the wind.
Seeing that it could not withstand the onslaught, Li Xiaomin shouted, "Take this!"
The arrow, imbued with powerful spiritual energy, pierced the air, striking the one-horned ghost's heart with a resounding thud
, reaching its back. The ghost's body could no longer withstand the arrow's might, allowing it to penetrate and fly away, striking a large tree with a deafening crash. The tree shook violently, the wound charred black. The one-horned ghost's face showed disbelief and despair. Its lips trembled, as if it wanted to utter a few harsh words before its demise, but no words came out. Only a long sigh escaped its lips before its spirit dissipated, and the ghost guards surrounding it devoured it completely.
At the Tang Dynasty palace, a chilling wind howled, and ghostly mist filled the air. Countless vengeful spirits and vengeful ghosts were locked in a fierce battle, a scene that shook heaven and earth.
In the air, ghosts frantically brandished spiritual blades and claws, fighting amongst themselves. Although most did not manifest their true forms, the wailing of the ghosts was enough to chill the entire palace to the bone.
The attackers were the subordinates of the Northern Netherworld King, many of whom were fierce ghosts he had brought from outside the city. Under his training, they were savage and ferocious, howling wildly as they surged towards Jinling in waves.
The defenders, however, were the ghosts of palace guards and eunuchs, who, under the orders of their leaders, fought desperately to prevent the ghosts from breaking through.
The two sides clashed, the battle far more brutal than any human army battle. The
fierce ghosts outside the palace, overwhelming in numbers, charged into the palace after a chaotic rampage, howling as they searched for their leader—the eunuch who possessed magical powers. The palace was in complete disarray, sandstorms swirling, cups and plates flying everywhere, terrifying the concubines, princesses, and palace maids who huddled together, weeping and trembling with fear.
Just as the ghosts reached the center of the palace, rampaging through the chaos, a clear, sharp whistle suddenly rang out. On the palace rooftop in front of the horde of ghosts, a young man stood proudly, a crystalline blade in hand. He formed a hand seal and roared, "You little devils, how dare you be so arrogant! With me here, how dare you be so cocky?"
His clear, resonant voice echoed throughout the palace. The concubines and princesses, some recognizing the voice of Eunuch Li Xiaomin, wept with joy, hoping this renowned eunuch, skilled in magic, would display his divine power, vanquish the ghosts, and protect the lives of everyone in the palace!
Li Xiaomin strode swiftly, displaying his agility and skill in scaling walls and rooftops, weaving through the palace air. He charged into the midst of the ghosts, his sword flashing, and cleaved the foremost ghost in two. The immortal power within the blade instantly shattered the ghost's soul, causing it to scream and vanish into thin air.
Behind him, over a hundred ghost guards charged forward, following him into the enemy ranks, hacking and slashing with abandon. In an instant, a handsome young man, wielding a sharp sword, led a horde of ghosts into the densely packed horde. He slashed and hacked, causing ghost heads to fly and spirits to scatter, their screams deafening. He was truly invincible; no ghost could withstand a single blow from him.
The ghosts of the guards and eunuchs, already terrified by the slaughter, were suddenly invigorated by seeing their master lead a large force of ghostly guards, cutting down the enemy ghosts. They brandished their spirited swords and claws, charging forward to surround the weakened ghosts, hacking and tearing them apart, the pieces scattering in the wind. With
this new force joining the fray, the ghosts were immediately overwhelmed and retreated in disarray. Those who were slow to escape were cleaved in two by a crystalline blade, their spirits splitting apart and disappearing without a trace. The ghosts behind were terrified, letting out a scream as they scattered in all directions.
Li Xiaomin stood atop the Golden Palace, sword in hand, and roared, "Heaven and earth are boundless! All guards, heed my command! We must pursue the fleeing enemy with our remaining strength, not seek fame like Xiang Yu! Today, we must annihilate
all the vengeful ghosts, leaving not a single one to cause future trouble!" This clear cry, filled with boundless heroic spirit, greatly invigorated the ghosts. Amidst their frenzied howls, they followed their valiant and invincible ghost guard leader, charging forward in a mad charge. The vengeful ghosts had nowhere to escape, only able to cry out in terror and beg for mercy on their knees.
Inside the palace, except for those who had fainted from fright, everyone huddled together, trembling. Hearing this clear cry, their hearts were filled with relief, like drowning people grasping at a straw. They wept and prayed to heaven, hoping that Eunuch Li Xiaomin could slay all the vengeful ghosts and prevent them from ever entering their quarters! Everyone felt a deep sense of admiration and gratitude towards Eunuch Xiaominzi. Many secretly resolved that if they survived this calamity, they would erect a memorial tablet for him, burning incense and praying daily for his protection throughout their lives!
In Empress Zhou's palace, Princess Zhenping was trembling with her mother and younger sister, Princess Anping, when she suddenly heard a sharp whistle and became puzzled: "Didn't Xiaominzi say he didn't understand poetry? Why did he utter such beautiful lines?"

Part One (Part Two), Chapter Five:

Above the palace of the Netherworld Demon King, ghostly mist billowed, and countless fierce ghosts retreated madly like a tide, followed by ghost guards leading countless spirits in a frenzied attack. The scene was grand and breathtaking.
Li Xiaomin sheathed his sword and sneered, about to lead his men to search for the enemy ghosts attacking the palace, when suddenly he saw the sky change color, and a huge figure loomed overhead!
He looked up, but beneath the shroud of dark clouds, a vast, ethereal figure filled the air, its body like a thin mist. Waving its broad arms, it roared, "You dog eunuch, how dare you kill my loyal subordinate! So audacious! Today, I will make you pay for his life!"
Li Xiaomin's expression changed drastically. He turned, drew his bow, and shouted to the sky, "Netherworld Fiend King, I have no grudge against you, why are you so relentlessly pressuring me! Tell me, who instructed you to come here and oppose me?"
The Netherworld Fiend King's terrifying face shifted and blurred in the air. Fu, grinning, laughed loudly, "You don't need to worry about that! My old friends, who hate you to the core, will soon come to Jinling to seize this beautiful world! However, you won't see it. As long as I take care of you today, I'll rule this city for a few days first!"
Li Xiaomin roared, "I knew it! It must be them causing trouble!"
He remembered that he had killed two Yinshan demons in succession, acting without imperial orders. If someone found fault with him, they might say that he had killed the emperor's invited sorcerer without cause, leading to this disaster. Although Li Xiaomin was not afraid, he didn't want to say more. He stood proudly atop the Forbidden City, holding his carved bow, drawing it to its full extent, and shot at the sky!
The arrow shot like a meteor straight into the sky. In the air, the wandering Netherworld Demon King suddenly had a large hole appear in his body, revealing a path for the spirit arrow to shoot out from the hole without harming his spirit body.
Li Xiaomin sheathed his bow and sneered, "Netherworld Fiend King, is all you dare to do is dodge?"
In the sky, the giant face revealed a ferocious smile, hissing sharply as a cloud of white mist shot from its mouth, hurtling towards Li Xiaomin.
Li Xiaomin leaped back, pulling a large, jet-black pearl from his robes, and shouted, "Netherworld Fiend King, do you dare to fight me?"
The Netherworld Fiend King didn't reply, flapping its thin wings and chasing after Li Xiaomin through the air, spewing white smoke that surrounded him.
From within the white smoke, countless grotesque ghostly figures emerged, their expressions terrifying, roaring and howling, their gaping maws snapping at Li Xiaomin!
Li Xiaomin silently chanted an incantation, and the Netherworld Pearl shot out black light, striking the white mist with a loud hissing sound, dispersing the smoke. Although the ghosts and monsters in the white mist were ferocious, they were terrified at the sight of the black light. Some, unable to dodge in time, were struck in the face by the black light, their faces shattering and festering.
Although Li Xiaomin was disgusted by the sight, he still tried his best to chant the incantation, using the black light to dispel the white mist. Before long, the area around him was clear, and the white mist had completely dissipated.
The Netherworld Demon King floated in the air, and seeing that this move had failed, he cackled loudly and hissed, "You dog eunuch, you really have a trick up your sleeve! Very well, watch this move!"
His bat wings spread out wildly in all directions, and in no time, his body, as thin as a cicada's wing, had covered the sky and enveloped most of the palace.
Li Xiaomin stood proudly atop the Forbidden Palace, his spirit arrows continuously firing from his carved bow. Since the Netherworld Fiend King's body had grown so enormous, his dodging ability was insufficient. Unable to protect himself, he was struck by the arrows, hissing and creating small holes. The Netherworld Fiend King merely frowned and endured, forcing himself to enlarge his body despite the damage to his spiritual power.
Before long, the vast swarm of spirits had enveloped the entire palace. The Netherworld Fiend King's even larger, ferocious face revealed a terrifying smile in the air, and he coldly said, "You dog eunuch, take this!"
Countless white smoke billowed from his thin body, heavily bombarding Li Xiaomin in the center of the palace. Within the white light, fierce ghosts howled, as if countless heads were surging and frantically biting at Li Xiaomin!
Li Xiaomin swung the Netherworld King Pearl; a flash of black light dispelled all the white light, and the ghostly faces within vanished with screams.
More and more white smoke billowed in from all directions, engulfing Li Xiaomin completely. Li Xiaomin roared in fury, the pressure on his body growing increasingly immense. He looked up to the sky and cried out, "Netherworld Fiend King, you actually used such a vicious trick! Do you intend to slaughter everyone in the palace?"
A terrifying smile appeared on the Netherworld Fiend King's ghostly face as he hissed, "You're right! Even if all this ghostly smoke fails to attack you, even if the entire palace is wiped out, I'm afraid you still can't stop it! At that time, the crime of failing in battle and causing the extermination of the royal family will be enough to have your entire family executed!"
Li Xiaomin was enraged. The death of Li Yu's family was none of his concern, but the problem was that many of the beauties in the palace had intimate relationships with him. If they died here, it would be a lifelong sorrow!
While brandishing the Netherworld Pearl to deflect the ghostly smoke attack with its magic, he feigned a smile and said, "Netherworld Demon King, how about we make a deal? You won't kill anyone in the palace, and I'll go with you to the North City. We can negotiate properly, okay?"
The Netherworld Demon King burst into wild laughter, his shrill voice shaking the heavens and earth: "You dog eunuch, I already have the situation under control. Why would I negotiate with you! If you want to negotiate, wait until you're dead!"
This violent laughter shook the palace, then suddenly turned into a scream: "You're so despicable!"
The large swaths of spirits in the air suddenly developed large holes, all bearing burn marks. The thin spirits immediately contracted, shrinking back to the center of the sky like lightning, returning to their original size. The Netherworld Demon King huddled in a ball, glaring angrily at the hundred or so ghost guards flying in the sky, and the two icy beauties leading them.
Just as the Netherworld Fiend King was laughing wildly, the two women, Feng and Shuang, who had been lying in ambush in the air, led their ghost guards down from the sky, their spirit blades slashing wildly, cutting the Netherworld Fiend King's scattered body into pieces. Now, his spiritual power greatly diminished, he could no longer use that move.
Li Xiaomin laughed loudly, forcefully drawing back his carved bow, nocking three spirit arrows, and shouting sharply, "Take this!"
The spirit arrows shot out, striking the Netherworld Fiend King with a thud. The Netherworld Fiend King cried out, unable to dodge, and fell from the sky, transforming into a wisp of smoke that clung to the palace wall, trembling and panting.
Seeing that the Netherworld Fiend King was severely injured, Li Xiaomin continued to fire spirit arrows, the tips aimed directly at that section of the palace wall!
Panting, the Netherworld Demon King leaped into the air, fleeing northwards, roaring, "You dog eunuch, this isn't over! I'll settle the score with you
later!" Li Xiaomin, unwilling to let him escape, led his men in hot pursuit. They soon passed through a large area of houses, the chase relentless.
As the Netherworld Demon King desperately fled, suddenly, a giant hammer crashed down, striking his spirit body and nearly smashing his ghostly head. Immediately afterward, a large blade slashed down from the shadows, severing his slender, ethereal hindquarters.
Amidst a loud, boisterous laugh, Generals Sha and Zeng emerged from the shadows, leading over a hundred ghost guards to surround the Netherworld Fiend King. They roared, "Netherworld Fiend King, your spiritual power is greatly diminished, and you've lost the ability to transform! Kneel down and surrender!"
The Netherworld Fiend King shrank into a sphere, gritting his teeth and snarling, "You dog eunuch, setting up so many ambushes! Bah! Did you think I didn't have manpower around?"
The sphere opened its massive maw and howled to the sky. Suddenly, thousands of vengeful spirits flew in from afar, surrounding Li Xiaomin and his group.
From within the sphere, a large mouth roared, "Men, kill them all! Leave no one alive!"
The vengeful spirits howled and charged forward, fiercely fighting the ghost guards, determined to rescue their master from the encirclement.
Li Xiaomin ordered Generals Sha and Zeng to hold off the ghosts, while he and the two women, Feng and Shuang, attacked the Netherworld Fiend King. As the crystalline blade rose, it cleaved heavily towards the sphere. Two arms emerged from the sphere, wielding a pair of spirit blades, roaring fiercely as they clashed with Li Xiaomin.
Besides the arms, the sphere also sprouted wings, flapping wildly as it soared into the sky. However, it was met with a fierce counterattack from two beautiful women in the air, who wielded wind-blade swords and frost-covered blades, forcing it back.
The two, one human and two ghosts, surrounded the Netherworld Fiend King and engaged in a brutal battle. After dozens of moves, Li Xiaomin roared, and the crystalline blade slashed down with tremendous force. The immense immortal power it carried instantly severed the spirit blades, leaving a deep gash on the sphere.
Meanwhile, in the sky, the two beautiful women, with skin as white as snow and eyes as sharp as knives, also raised their swords, chanting incantations. A fierce wind and frost arose, flying from their swords and blades, directly attacking the Netherworld Fiend King!
Amidst the wind and frost, swords and blades, seemingly everywhere, engulfed the sphere in an instant. Countless wind blades and frost swords slashed wildly across the sphere, leaving countless deep wounds that continuously eroded the waning spiritual power of the Netherworld Demon King.
The Netherworld Demon King roared fiercely, suddenly enlarging several times its original size, and countless wild spikes sprouted from the sphere as it charged madly towards the two women. Several enormous, blood-red mouths with sharp teeth clashed together, viciously biting at the two women!
Although they had been ghosts for many years, they were still women who valued cleanliness. Upon seeing such a monstrous creature, the two women instinctively shrank back, creating a path for the heavily wounded Netherworld Demon King to rush out at top speed, heading straight for the horizon!

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Six: Unifying the Ghost Realm

Covered in cold sweat, the Netherworld Demon King sighed with deep resentment. Today was truly unlucky; he hadn't expected the enemy to be so fierce, and with so many powerful generals and soldiers under his command, he was almost doomed here! The only option now is to retreat temporarily and seek revenge on our sworn brother at Dongshan later! The treacherous Yinshan Sect only knows how to sow discord and use our power against their enemies; relying on them for revenge is unreliable. In
the night sky, a perfectly round sphere, riddled with deep, sharp thorns, flapped its wings wildly, about to fly away, when suddenly a whooshing sound rang out behind it. It no longer had the spiritual power to transform and dodge; with a scream, it was struck heavily by the incoming spiritual arrow, plummeting from the height. Before
it even hit the ground, several ghost guards emerged from the shadows, wielding spiritual blades and hacking wildly, shattering the entire sphere into pieces.
Li Xiaomin also rushed over, raising the Underworld Pearl high, unleashing a burst of black light that struck the shattered fragments of the spiritual body. With a hissing sound, the fragments were scorched by the black light, white smoke rising as they vanished into nothingness in the air.
Under the immense power of the Underworld Pearl, the Netherworld Fiend King's desperate attempt to preserve his spirit was utterly thwarted. On each remaining fragment, several sharp mouths opened, their fangs clenched, and they hissed in a shrill, piercing voice that sent chills down the spines of everyone in the city, raising goosebumps all over their bodies.
Li Xiaomin, too, felt a chill run through him. Suppressing his discomfort, he used the black light of the Underworld Pearl to sweep across the area, eliminating all remaining traces of the Netherworld Fiend King's spirit and severing his hope of rebirth, ensuring he could never return to this world.
Terrified screams erupted from all directions. Thousands of fierce ghosts who had rushed from afar and were battling the ghost guards roared in terror, astonished and terrified by the demise of their wise and powerful master.
Meanwhile, the thousands of ghosts led by the three hundred ghost guards roared with excitement, knowing their master was about to unleash his divine power and annihilate the enemy ghosts!
After the initial surprise, the battle resumed!
Thousands of ghosts, wielding spirit blades and claws, swept towards the enemy, frantically slaughtering the timid ghosts. Ignoring their scattered escapes, they relentlessly pursued them throughout the city, turning the entire city of Jinling into a battlefield!
Under Li Xiaomin's tutelage, the ghost guards had learned slogans like "Surrender and you will not be killed," shouting them out loud. Their subordinates responded in kind, and the fleeing ghosts, surrounded and pursued by the massive enemy forces, had no choice but to kneel and beg for mercy, kowtowing and weeping, begging only to avoid being annihilated!
The ghost leaders, loyal to Li Xiaomin, were overjoyed, leading their men in a frenzied charge towards the enemy's main camp in the north of the city!
The vengeful ghosts guarding the northern city, seeing the massive horde of enemy ghosts charging in, shouting "The King of the Underworld is annihilated!", were terrified, their faces drained of their luster, trembling in fear!
They knew the news was true! No matter how much they channeled their spiritual power, how they tried to call upon their master, they couldn't make a single contact!
The formidable defenses crumbled. Countless vengeful ghosts collapsed to the ground, groaning and crying out in surrender. Even those fierce ghosts who refused to yield were quickly overwhelmed by the frenzied onslaught of the horde, their souls scattered, never to be reborn!
The dust settled, the great battle ended.
The entire ghost realm of Jinling was now unified, swept through by Li Xiaomin, riding the wave of his victory. He had dragged out all the lesser ghosts hiding in the shadows, forcing them to accept his leadership. Anyone who resisted was immediately wiped out, leaving no trace of danger!
From then on, all the ghosts in Jinling City were obedient and submissive, following Li Xiaomin's orders, and no ghost dared to harbor any disloyalty.
Afterwards, Li Xiaomin ordered a strict system of baojia (a system of mutual responsibility among ghosts) to be implemented in the city's ghost realm. All ghosts were to be registered, responsible for maintaining order and gathering intelligence, and required to report regularly to their leaders, carefully guarding against ghosts from other places from infiltrating Jinling City. If a new ghost arrived, it had to be reported to its leaders and brought into the new ghost camp for training.
Generals Sha and Zeng recruited soldiers extensively in the city, carefully selecting ghosts with profound spiritual power to join the army, forming the ghost army. The ghosts selected for the ghost army were all very proud, considering themselves far superior to ordinary ghosts.
Each ghost had its own merit book. When they accumulated enough merit and reached a certain score, they could choose whether to accept rituals performed by monks and Taoist priests summoned by their master to help their souls find peace. If they wished, they could be reincarnated and spared the suffering of being a wandering ghost; if they did not wish to be reincarnated, they could continue to be ghosts and learn some spiritual cultivation techniques from the ghost guards to strengthen their spiritual bodies and strive towards becoming ghost immortals.
Besides controlling the ghost realm of Jinling, Li Xiaomin also received commendation in official circles.
After this great chaos, Jinling was in ruins, with many families holding funerals, and the sounds of weeping echoing throughout the city. Even officials' families raised mourning banners and respectfully sent their loved ones to their graves.
Although Li Xiaomin had the responsibility to protect the city, and was responsible for his negligence in guarding against such a major event, he still managed to turn the tide, saving everyone in the palace from dire straits and single-handedly driving away the evil spirits. Such a great achievement deserved a reward.
When Li Yu collapsed on the ground, watching with pitiful eyes Li Xiaomin display his divine power and vanquish the evil spirits, he was already filled with awe and fear towards him. After this fright, even though he was on the verge of death, he still struggled to order a generous reward for Li Xiaomin to appease him. In recent days, the sorcerers of Jinling City have either died or fled, leaving almost no one remaining in the city. If he were to leave in anger due to punishment, Jinling City would truly be hopeless.
Empress Zhou issued an order in court, bestowing upon Li Xiaomin the title of Earl of Annam, with a fief of five hundred households. From then on, he held the title of earl, becoming even more influential in the court.
Li Xiaomin seized the opportunity to recommend a group of officials who were willing to join him, claiming that they had helped him during this chaos, diligently quelling the people's fears and suppressing the unrest before it could fully develop, and thus deserved credit. Empress Zhou also rewarded them, promoting some to more important positions, instructing them to work even more diligently for Li Xiaomin.
In addition to promoting Li Xiaomin, Li Yu also strongly demanded that a Taoist sect be found to enter the court to protect the dynasty from ghostly invasions. Right Chancellor Qian Song took the opportunity at his sickbed to recommend the sorcerers of the Yinshan Sect, saying that their profound magical powers would certainly enable them to shoulder important responsibilities. However, due to the recent battle with the overseas water monsters, although the monsters were wiped out, the sorcerers' magical powers were slightly diminished, and they are not yet able to enter the court. After some time, they can enter the court to serve the emperor.
Li Yu, hearing this while ill, was overjoyed and immediately issued an edict summoning the sorcerers of the Yinshan Sect to the court. Once their magical powers recovered, they would enter the court to serve the emperor, and would certainly be granted titles. The implicit meaning in the edict was that the Yinshan Sect was to be chosen as the guardian sect of the nation.
Li Xiaomin scoffed at the fact that the Yinshan sorcerers' magical powers were damaged in the battle with the water monsters. He thought the so-called water monsters should perhaps be renamed the former guardian sect, the Guishan Sect, which would be more accurate. He was quite worried about the Yinshan Sect's impending entry into the court, but there was nothing he could do. He could only diligently cultivate every day and urge the ghosts not to slack off in their cultivation, in order to prepare for the possible great battle.
In Jinling City, his spies were everywhere. Every little detail of the officials' lives was recorded in intelligence reports and placed on his desk for his review.
Among the tens of thousands of newly recruited ghost servants, there were quite a few talented individuals who could handle various affairs for him. Some had been intelligence workers in their previous lives, and continuing this work after death was quite adept at it. The general ghosts did the intelligence gathering, while the professional intelligence agents were responsible for summarizing and extracting the important information from a large amount of irrelevant news to submit to their master.
These intelligence agents were not all from the Tang Dynasty. Some were intelligence officials from the Northern Zhao, Western Shu, and Chen Kingdoms stationed in the Southern Tang. Some had died tragically and failed to be reincarnated, thus remaining here, wandering aimlessly. Now subdued by Li Xiaomin, to preserve their remaining souls, they had no choice but to submit, abandoning all matters of their former families and states, with loyalty to their master being their top priority.
Li Xiaomin sat in his mansion, looking at the intelligence reports being delivered, nodding and smiling.
Under his command were three hundred loyal ghost guards; three thousand ghost soldiers organized into an army to maintain order in the capital; and thirty thousand ghost citizens recruited and subservient to him. The entire ghost realm of Jinling City had been forged into an impenetrable monolith. It could be said that Li Xiaomin was the emperor beneath Jinling City, and no one, no ghost, could shake his authority.
Inside the imperial palace, in a ruined hall, three beautiful women sat gracefully on prayer cushions, their hands forming hand seals, their eyes slightly closed, their expressions solemn and dignified, resembling the elegant beauty of a white-robed Guanyin. Their solemn demeanor was captivating.
Outside the hall, a handsome young man slowly entered, gazing at the three beautiful women meditating, smiling blankly.
One of them was exceptionally beautiful, yet quite young, appearing to be only twelve or thirteen years old. Li Xiaomin, however, was not fooled by her appearance. Having cultivated as a ghost for three hundred years, even if her heart remained as pure as a blank sheet of paper, she was far older than him.
On either side, two young and beautiful women in white stood with icy expressions, calmly cultivating with their eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to his approaching footsteps. Li Xiaomin didn't mind, but as he gazed at their shapely and sexy figures, he secretly swallowed, pondering how to persuade them to come and share his pleasure.
The beautiful young woman, having completed a full cycle of cultivation, slowly opened her bright eyes. Looking at the smiling young man before her, a hint of joy appeared in her eyes. She gracefully rose from the futon and said sweetly, "Young Master, you've come?"
Li Xiaomin smiled, stepped forward, and embraced her soft, delicate body. He gently caressed her breasts, kneading them as he teased, "You'er is growing more and more beautiful, and your body is so supple. It seems your cultivation has been successful!"
You'er blushed, carefully pushing his hand away. She glanced at the two women, Feng and Shuang, on either side, and seeing that they were still cultivating with their eyes closed, she felt relieved. Leaning against Li Xiaomin, she softly said, "Young Master, my cultivation is not yet complete. I didn't participate in the last great battle. Please forgive me!"
Li Xiaomin shook his head and laughed, "It's alright, it's alright. I know you've reached a crucial stage in your cultivation. Even if you come out, it won't be of much use.
It's better to continue cultivating so you can be of greater use in the future." In his heart, however, he secretly thought, "There's nothing to apologize for, it's just that you can only look but not touch while you're cultivating, it's really frustrating!"
To salvage as much as possible, Li Xiaomin's hands intensified their caresses on her body, gently pinching her small, fragrant buttocks, and even reaching inside her clothes to directly caress her delicate spirit body. He lowered his head and passionately kissed her luscious cherry lips, causing You'er to gasp for breath, and she had no choice but to push him away in distress.
The two women, Feng and Shuang, also opened their eyes, gracefully stood up, turned around, and calmly looked at them.
Li Xiaomin felt a chill run down his spine from their gazes, so he released You'er's slender waist, walked over, bowed deeply, and said with a forced smile, "Aunt Feng, Aunt Shuang, hello! Thank you so much for taking care of You'er these past few days!"
Aunt Shuang only responded coldly, her face remaining calm. Aunt Feng covered her mouth and giggled, "Protecting the princess is our duty, isn't it? We're sorry to have disturbed your intimacy."
Normally cold as ice, her smile was like a hundred flowers blooming, captivating and alluring. Li Xiaomin's heart pounded. He thought, "Aunt Feng smiled at me, could it be that she's interested in me?"
He cupped his hands and smiled, "In the palace, there are some female ghosts who don't obey orders. As a man, I'm not good at dealing with them. How about I ask Aunt Feng to help me?"
Aunt Feng covered her mouth and giggled, "Since you say so, young master, how could I refuse?"
You'er nodded understandingly, "In that case, Aunt Feng, you should go with the young master. Aunt Shuang and I will cultivate here."
Li Xiaomin was secretly delighted, but outwardly remained calm. He chatted with the two women for a few moments, then led Aunt Feng out towards his own palace.
Outside the door, several eunuchs bowed respectfully and said in unison, "Eunuch Li, you're back!"
Because of his great merit and high rank, Empress Zhou had sent many eunuchs to serve him. Li Xiaomin, however, disliked them, only ordering them to guard the door and forbidding them from interfering in anything inside.
Li Xiaomin nodded and smiled, "Alright, you may leave. I don't need anyone to serve me here."

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Seventy-Four: The Battle of Qinhuai River

On the Qinhuai River, in a deep part of the water, a passenger boat was moored in the middle. Nearby, the water was open, and no other boats passed by.
In the spacious cabin, a beautiful young woman sat in the main seat, her eyebrows lightly painted, dressed in an elegant silk robe, her gaze indifferent, holding a stack of books in her hand, casually flipping through them.
Below, beside a large table, two rows of burly men in blue robes sat upright, their faces solemn, respectfully watching the young woman in the main seat.
The young woman flipped through the booklet in her hand, casually put it down, looked up at the silent crowd below, and said gently, "Is this all?"
The burly men in blue robes below hurriedly nodded and said, "Yes, the information we obtained is roughly here."
The young woman frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Then, have you found out about Li Bai's whereabouts, which I asked you to investigate?"
The burly men in blue robes looked at each other, and after a long while, one of them replied, "Reporting to Miss, we have searched everywhere but have not found his whereabouts. We only know that he appeared with Chen Dexiu, the big boss of Taixing Restaurant, and then suddenly disappeared without a trace."
"According to the intelligence provided by the informant in the Zhou family, the deceased Zhou Chang'an once hired a group of assassins to assassinate Li Bai. Where exactly did the bloody battle take place? Have you found out?"
A man in blue hurriedly replied, "Yes, I have. The location is in a secluded village on the outskirts of the city, but the house registration lists Chen Dexiu as the owner. No one lives there now; at least, we've been lying in ambush for days and haven't seen anyone come or go. But we can't get in either. If we approach, we hear someone shouting from inside, forbidding anyone from approaching."
The young woman nodded in understanding, pondered for a moment, and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work. You may all leave now."
Seeing that she seemed preoccupied, the burly men didn't dare say anything more. They all stood up, clasped their hands in greeting, and filed out of the spacious cabin.
The young woman nodded in greeting. Watching them leave, she sat alone in the cabin, her face etched with sorrow, her delicate hand supporting her cheek
. She sighed softly, "Li Bai, oh Li Bai, you are like a divine dragon, appearing only briefly, never to be seen again. Where are you now?" Suddenly, a scream rang out from outside the cabin. The young woman jolted awake, slamming her hand on the table and shouting, "What has happened?"
Several of the burly men in blue robes rushed back into the cabin, their faces filled with fear and anger. They gritted their teeth and cried out, "Those men in black from last time, they've attacked again!"
The young woman was both shocked and furious: the men in black who had attacked her last time had remained a mystery. Now, taking advantage of her key subordinates' meeting, they had launched a surprise attack. Were they truly after her, determined to kill her?
She used her light-footed skills, and without any apparent movement, she leaped out of the cabin. Looking up, she saw a dozen small boats weaving back and forth on the water, surrounding her large ship. The boats were filled with men in black, each with a black veil covering their face, wielding powerful bows with nocked arrows, unleashing volleys of arrows upon the ship.
The burly men in blue on the ship, panicked and enraged, drew their sabers to deflect the arrows and organized the able-bodied men to raise their bows and fire back. However, caught off guard by the sudden attack, they were caught off guard and bombarded by the rain of arrows. Several men immediately fell to the ground, screaming in agony.
The beautiful young woman, her eyebrows raised, shouted in a delicate voice, "Retreat back into the cabin! Fight back from there!"
She snatched a longbow from one of her subordinates, nocked an arrow, aimed at the enemy ahead, and with a whoosh, released the arrow far away!
The arrow, like a meteor, traced a path through the air before hurtling towards the enemy ship. With a soft thud, it pierced the chest of a black-clad leader standing at the bow, loudly commanding his men to fire. A spray of blood erupted, and the leader tumbled headfirst into the water, splashing profusely.
The men in black cried out in alarm, and the rain of arrows intensified. The young woman, however, remained fearless. She drew her bow, deflecting the arrows, and retreated step by step into the cabin. She drew her bow again, nocked an arrow, and fired it from the cabin window, sending another black-clad man in a smaller boat flying into the water. His screams echoed across the surface, causing the black-clad men to turn pale with fright.
On the largest boat, a black-clad man roared, "The wicked woman is inside! We only want the dead, not the living! Fire arrows!"
Hearing the mention of fire arrows, the men in blue on the large boat paled, their anxious eyes fixed on the young woman, awaiting her command.
Although the young woman was incredibly resourceful, she was helpless in this situation. She could only grit her teeth and glare at the men in black outside, trying to discern their allegiance from their actions.
A dozen small boats and over a hundred men in black simultaneously loaded rockets, lit them, and fired them at the large ship from afar!
The rockets landed on the bow and quickly burst into flames. The entire ship was engulfed in flames!
Smoke billowed, and flames obscured the sky!
Thick smoke billowed in from outside, causing everyone inside to cough violently. The young woman immediately ordered that towels soaked in the water stored in the cabin be placed on their faces to prevent suffocation. Her mind raced, desperately searching for a way to escape the perilous situation.
Just as she was about to order her men to jump into the water, a deafening scream suddenly erupted outside the cabin!
The rain of arrows falling on the ship instantly thinned out. The girl was surprised, fearing it was an enemy's trick. She grabbed a shield, took her carved bow, opened the door, and went out, only to find that the situation had changed drastically. The black-clad man who had been swaggering just moments before was now a fish to be slaughtered!
A dozen or so small boats, appearing from nowhere, surrounded the battlefield from a distance, their rapid barrage of crossbow bolts overshadowing the smaller boats that had previously surrounded the large ship.
Their weapons were clearly powerful military crossbows, capable of striking the enemy ship even from a distance, shooting the men in black one by one into the water.
The water was quickly stained crimson with blood!
The large ship where the girl was located was like the center, with the small boats carrying the men in black forming the outer circumference. Outside, a dozen or so newly arrived boats surrounded them, forming a bloody concentric circle, frantically slaughtering the men in black within the inner circle!
The leader of the men in black roared, ordering his men to abandon their attack on the large ship and instead row swiftly towards the outer boats, determined to quickly reach the enemy ship and fight them to the death, to see who these powerful individuals were who dared to set up a bridge here!
The men in black raised their shields to deflect the arrows, while others rowed frantically. But before they had gone more than a few dozen feet, they cried out in terror: all their boats had been simultaneously pierced through the water, and river water was pouring in!
The leader of the men in black, standing high at the bow, deflecting the arrows with his sword, was utterly horrified. The simultaneous leaks in over a dozen boats were clearly not accidental; the enemy had already laid an ambush with underwater monsters—a deployment and strength far surpassing their own meticulous planning!
Before he could even ponder what had gone wrong, the small boat he was standing on sank. His men screamed in agony as they fell into the water, their bodies gushing blood—clearly, they had been killed by the underwater enemy.
The leader, filled with shock and rage, was about to struggle to swim away when suddenly his feet seemed to be entangled in vines, desperately pulling him downwards.
The waters of the Qinhuai River quickly rose above their heads. Through the clear surface, the leader could clearly see a hideous ghostly face right before him, brandishing sharp claws and grinning maliciously.
Before he could even discern whether the face was a masked figure, he felt a deafening thud on the back of his head, and was struck hard, immediately losing consciousness.
With the threat of arrows gone, the able-bodied men on the large ship rushed out of the cabin, grabbed buckets, and began fetching water to fight the fire.
Once the fire was extinguished, the men in blue robes on the large ship walked in twos and threes to the side of the vessel. Looking at the numerous black-clad corpses floating on the water, they were both shocked and relieved, bewildered by how the situation had suddenly turned out this way.
Rescue ships approached from afar, but did not approach the large ship. The people on those ships were mostly dressed in plain clothes, their faces covered with white cloth, refusing to show their identities. Their actions, though seemingly casual from a distance, exuded the boldness of江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) figures.
The young woman, however, observed them closely and found no particularly skilled martial artists among them. At the young woman's prompting, a burly man in blue robes stepped onto the bow of the boat and shouted, "Where did you come from, friend? You saved me from dire straits! I will repay your great kindness! Would you be so kind as to show me your intentions?"
The masked men on the smaller boats seemed not to hear him, merely glancing at the corpses in the water before rowing away. A pleasure boat, however, approached from afar. Someone on board called out, "Miss Qin Xian'er, would you do me the honor of joining us on this boat?" The burly men
in blue robes on the boat all looked on with surprise at the beautiful, serene face of their leader, the young woman in charge of intelligence in Southern Tang.
Their side had secretly gathered on the secluded waters of the Qinhuai River, thinking they would remain undetected. Little did they know they had fallen into someone else's trap. Not only had a group of men in black launched a sneak attack, but even the people who had saved them knew their identities, while no one on their side knew their origins. This time, their side had truly been defeated.
The young woman was also calculating in her mind, but her jade-like face remained calm. She nodded in acknowledgment, and the burly man in blue who had spoken earlier replied loudly, "My lord is willing to go for a meeting."

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Seventy-Five: Spy War and Beauty

Two large boats slowly approached. On the pleasure boat, those rowing and oaring were all dressed in plain clothes, their faces covered with white cloth, heads bowed, not daring to look up at Qin Xian'er as she approached.
Qin Xian'er, poised and graceful, placed her hand on the hilt of her sword as she strode across the boardwalk between the two boats. Her brows radiated brilliance, and every movement exuded a heroic and forthright spirit. Who could possibly recognize her as Qin Xian'er, the most famous courtesan among all the pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River?
Before her, a masked man in white bowed respectfully, inviting her into the cabin.
Qin Xian'er's beautiful eyes scanned the scene, growing increasingly alarmed. This pleasure boat was brand new, clearly newly built, yet every detail was identical to the one she usually used for entertaining guests. The person she was about to face had obviously been observing her for a long time, even having his boat made to look exactly like hers, while she knew nothing of him. Before even meeting him, she was already at a disadvantage.
Reaching the cabin door, the masked man opened it but refused to enter, only respectfully inviting Qin Xian'er to step inside before closing the door behind him.
In the spacious cabin, one side faced the water, and the railings were intricately carved. The beautiful scenery of the Qinhuai River was clearly visible on its vast expanse.
Several tables were set around the cabin, each laden with fine wine and delicious food, steaming hot, clearly freshly prepared.
At the head of the table in the center sat a musical instrument, not a zither, but a brocade zither, similar in style to the one Qin Xian'er often used, ornately decorated, seemingly waiting for her to play.
Qin Xian'er's gaze passed over the familiar furnishings and landed on the tall, slender figure standing by the railing, facing the water. A smile of relief appeared on her pretty face as she softly said, "Young Master Li, it's been a long time!"
The young man facing the water slowly turned around, holding a folding fan and gently waving it in front of his chest. His slightly dark skin with a healthy hue, his handsome face, and his bright, piercing eyes made Qin Xian'er's heart pound. She couldn't help but recall that chaotic night, and a blush involuntarily rose on her delicate face.
The young man's bright eyes gazed at the stunningly beautiful girl before him, a mysterious smile slowly spreading across his lips. He cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Miss Xian'er, I pay my respects!"
Qin Xian'er raised her head, bravely meeting his meaningful smile and eyes, and said calmly with a smile, "It's true what they say, 'Life is full of unexpected encounters,' Young Master Li, we meet again!"
Li Xiaomin lightly waved his folding fan as he strolled slowly through the cabin of the pleasure boat. His lustful eyes appraised Qin Xian'er with a smile, noticing that she was even more beautiful and mature than when
he last saw her. He thought that this must be due to his own nurturing, which had brought about her remarkable growth, and he couldn't help but feel smug and proud. Looking at the girl's confident eyes, Li Xiaomin decided to deflate her arrogance, lest she become arrogant in front of him in the future. If she were to ride roughshod over him again, it would be a powerful blow to his male pride. Now that he was Li Bai, no longer a lowly eunuch, he could no longer conceal his masculine spirit!
He snapped his folding fan shut, gazed at the beauty, and smiled, "Miss Xian'er, should I address you as Miss Qin Xian'er or Miss Meng Xian'er?"
Qin Xian'er raised an eyebrow, looking at Li Xiaomin in surprise. She hadn't expected him to uncover her deeply hidden identity so easily.
Li Xiaomin strolled leisurely through the cabin with his hands behind his back, saying, "Meng Xian'er, daughter of the royal family of Western Shu, joined the Western Shu intelligence organization 'Yixiantang' at a young age. After years of training, she has risen to the position of regional administrator, overseeing Western Shu's intelligence affairs in the Tang Dynasty. Because Western Shu and the Tang Dynasty are allies, she is under the protection of Prime Minister Zhou. Here on the Qinhuai River, she gathers intelligence and shares information obtained from merchants from various countries with the Tang Dynasty's intelligence agencies. Miss Meng Xian'er, am I correct?"
Meng Xian'er was astonished. It wasn't so bad that he knew her identity; after all, within the Tang Dynasty, while few knew, it wasn't impossible to find out. But her real name had been automatically erased when she joined Yixian Hall, and she usually only used a pseudonym. Her parents were both dead, and now only the most confidential register in the hall still bore her real name. Could this young man truly possess extraordinary abilities to access the Yixian Hall's top-secret register?
Silently gazing at the smiling, dark-skinned youth before her, Meng Xian'er felt a surge of indescribable emotion. This youth seemed like an insurmountable mountain, giving off an extremely unfathomable aura.
Seeing Li Xiaomin's smug and confident expression, Meng Xian'er suddenly felt a surge of resentment and decided to give him a piece of her mind, to curb his arrogance. She slowly walked to the railing, her gaze sweeping across the water to the large ship she was on not far away. She said leisurely, "Young Master Li, please come here. Can you see the people on the ship?"
Li Xiaomin was startled, and curiously walked to her side, looking up at the ship.
Although attacked by rockets, the ship hadn't been badly burned thanks to the best efforts to extinguish the fire. On the charred bow stood several men in blue robes, their anxious eyes fixed on them, worried about their leader.
Among them, two men caught Li Xiaomin's attention:
one was burly and handsome, around twenty years old, looking remarkably dashing and heroic, his hand on his sword hilt, anxiously looking in their direction.
Standing beside him was an exceptionally handsome young man, dressed in a blue robe that accentuated his fair skin, making him appear exceptionally elegant and refined, like a delicate jade doll, utterly endearing.
Li Xiaomin nodded, indicating he had seen them, but inwardly he wondered what Qin Xian'er meant by showing him these two.
Meng Xian'er smiled leisurely and said calmly, "Young Master Li, what are your thoughts upon seeing that tall, handsome young man and that charming young boy?"
Li Xiaomin frowned slightly, thinking, "Thoughts? I don't think about anything. They're just two men, what's so interesting about them? Hmm, does she mean she has some connection with those two?"
At this thought, Li Xiaomin felt a surge of anxiety, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. He secretly ordered his ghost guards to prepare, ready to chop off their heads the moment he had the thought!
Meng Xian'er intently observed his expression, biting her lip lightly, and smiled, "These two are the ones I prepared for Young Master Li. Whichever one Young Master Li prefers, I will arrange for him to serve you and spend the night with you!"
These words struck Li Xiaomin like a bolt from the blue, causing him to stagger back two steps, his mouth agape, staring blankly at Meng Xian'er.
Meng Xian'er suppressed a laugh, but still wouldn't let him off the hook, smiling understandingly, "I know Young Master Li likes men. I wonder, among these two, do you prefer the obedient and handsome one, or the strong and powerful one?"
Li Xiaomin could no longer bear it, and with a thud, he knelt on one knee, retching. Meng Xian'er, however, covered her mouth and laughed, her beautiful eyes smiling as she looked him over, enjoying his miserable state.
After vomiting for a while, Li Xiaomin couldn't vomit anything because he hadn't eaten dinner that day. He looked up and saw Meng Xian'er bending over, curiously looking at him. He was furious. He jumped up, wiped his tears with his sleeve, put his hands on his hips, glared at the elegant beauty, and cursed, "You motherfucker! Even if your husband likes to take the dry road, he would never take the male... ugh! If he's going to take it, it'll be yours!"
Hearing such vulgar words, Meng Xian'er blushed and immediately rolled up her sleeves, ready to pounce on him with her fists.
Seeing the beautiful woman transform into a savage girlfriend, Li Xiaomin naturally couldn't just sit idly by. Just as he was about to punch her to the ground, he suddenly thought, "Those guys over there are still watching this way. If her men see this and start a brawl, it won't be fun!"
His mind raced, and Li Xiaomin decided on a strategic retreat. He slipped and quickly retreated, running wildly through the cabin, circling around until he reached the main table. He pushed open the back door of the cabin and slipped inside.
Meng Xian'er, having been unjustly scolded, naturally wouldn't let him off the hook. She rushed in, cornered him in the room, rolled up her sleeves, and chuckled coldly. Just as she was about to pin him down and give him a good beating, she suddenly noticed the furnishings and was startled.
Inside, it wasn't exactly the same as her original pleasure boat with its dressing table and various musical instruments. There was only a large bed, covered with a brocade quilt, as if waiting for someone to come and sleep there.
Seeing her standing at the door in a daze, Li Xiaomin rolled up his sleeves this time, gritted his teeth and sneered, pounced on her, grabbed her around the waist, and threw her onto the bed. Then he leaped on top of her and ripped off her belt.
Meng Xian'er was shocked and struggled, but she couldn't withstand his strength. Li Xiaomin pinned her hands down, pressed her down on top of him, kissed her face indiscriminately, and reached inside her clothes, groping her everywhere.
Meng Xian'er screamed repeatedly, but Li Xiaomin had already set up a restraint, so she couldn't call for help. Feeling those demonic hands groping her body, gradually reaching her private parts, she was filled with shame and hurriedly cried out, "No, stop!"
Li Xiaomin wouldn't stop, and retorted, "Stop? Do you think I'm a fool? You dare to slander your husband, today your husband will take your dry path!"

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Seventy-Six: Identity Exposed

In keeping with his harsh words, his hands made corresponding movements. Meng Xian'er felt the parts of her body being violated, and tears of shame streamed down her face. She was already weak and powerless to resist, and just as she was about to be violated again, a sudden inspiration struck her. She cried out, "Eunuch Li!"
Li Xiaomin abruptly stopped, lifting his head from her exposed breasts. A nipple escaped his lips as he stared at her blankly for a long time before struggling to utter a difficult sentence: "You're calling...husband, aren't you?"
Meng Xian'er blushed deeply, taking the opportunity to cover her clothes, trying to maintain her elegant ladylike demeanor, and smiled faintly, "I should call you Young Master Li." "Should I still call you Eunuch Li?"
Li Xiaomin looked at her quietly for a while, then suddenly laughed, sat up, hugged her, and gently kissed her neck, smiling as he asked, "How did you know?"
Meng Xian'er breathed softly, seeing that although he still had his hand inside her clothes, groping her breasts, he no longer forced himself on her, her heart calmed down slightly. She pressed his hand down and smiled, "It's not difficult. Li Bai appeared with Chen Dexiu, and the place where Li Bai was attacked was also a house that Chen Dexiu had bought. This shows that Li Bai and Chen Dexiu must have a very deep relationship."
Li Xiaomin nodded. "Yes,"
Meng Xian'er said, "but what does that prove?" She narrowed her eyes and smiled calmly, analyzing, "The person the restaurant owner is so eager to curry favor with must have a deep business relationship with him. And Chen Dexiu's behind-the-scenes boss is none other than the currently powerful eunuch Li Xiaomin, a fact known to many."
Li Xiaomin nodded again, "So what? Is there any other evidence?"
Meng Xian'er glanced back at him, her eyes slightly apologetic, and said softly, "Last time I thought you were into homosexuality, but I was wrong. Later I told those two young masters..." "I drew their likenesses and carefully investigated. They turned out to be two princesses of the current dynasty, disguised as men, clearly having a close relationship with you. Princess Zhenping even left the palace several times to meet with you secretly, obviously you, posing as Li Bai, have also deceived her."
Li Xiaomin asked curiously, "But after saying all this, it still doesn't prove I'm Xiaominzi?"
Meng Xian'er smiled and said, "You don't know, we planted spies near your residence. They reported to us that they saw Li Bai go in, but later it was Eunuch Li who came out. We waited a long time but didn't see Li Bai come out again. Comparing the two, it's not hard to guess."
Li Xiaomin nodded in realization, thinking to himself, "That was a long time ago. Back then, I hadn't yet set up my city-wide intelligence network, so I didn't find out about this. This girl is quite clever; she even guessed it."
He thought for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "You seem to have forgotten that although I look similar to Xiaominzi, he's a eunuch! And that day, you personally saw me and Xiaominzi together on the pleasure boat. If we were the same person, how could we be together? Or perhaps it's more plausible that Xiaominzi and I are brothers?"
Meng Xian'er smiled and shook her head, softly saying, "No. Li Bai disappeared without a trace from that day on. No matter how we searched, we couldn't find his whereabouts, just as we couldn't find his origins. With the strength of Yixiantang, if..." "If we can't find this person, it must mean that this person doesn't exist. Therefore, I'm certain that you are Xiaominzi's incarnation. And the appearance of two people at the same time isn't difficult. Everyone knows that Li Xiaomin's immortal magic is outstanding. If he creates an avatar, it's not something that immortals can't do. And with your skills, deceiving him about being a eunuch in the palace is just a piece of cake, isn't it?"
Li Xiaomin secretly admired her, hugged her, kissed and caressed her, and laughed, "You guessed right. Here's a reward for you. Let's start with a kiss!"
Meng Xian'er was kissed until her body went weak, and she barely pushed him away, blushing, and said, "Don't be silly! You still haven't told me what your background is?"
Li Xiaomin casually told her his background. Anyway, he was used to telling such a background. Whether he said it was true or false, no one would know.
After saying this, he suddenly smiled and said mysteriously, "You know everything, but do you know the origins of those men in black?"
Meng Xian'er frowned and said, "They were probably sent by Northern Zhao and Chen, fearing that my Great Shu and Southern Tang would join forces to attack Chen. Therefore, they first tried to kill me so that no one in my Great Shu would contact Prime Minister Zhou, and then use this to sow discord between the two countries. It's just that those people hid too well. I used all my strength, but I still couldn't find out where they were hiding. This meeting was also very secretive, but who knew they would find out and launch a sneak attack. If you hadn't come, I'm afraid we would have all been wiped out here!"
Thinking of the thrilling part, Meng Xian'er couldn't help but feel grateful to Li Xiaomin for helping her. She hugged his neck and gently kissed his lips. She was shy and buried her face in his neck, remaining silent.
Overjoyed by her kiss, Li Xiaomin no longer cared about her disgusting accusation that he preferred men's "dry passages." He picked her up, straightened her clothes, and laughed, "Don't worry, I'll find the traitor in your Yixiantang!"
Meng Xian'er was startled. She followed him out of the cabin and saw him standing in the banquet hall. She slapped her hand and shouted, "Bring the traitor up!"
The cabin door opened, and several masked men in white pushed in a man in blue, bowing and standing aside.
These masked men were Li Xiaomin's private soldiers secretly stationed outside Jinling. Because he couldn't use the government army to help Meng Xian'er, he brought out his private soldiers, whom he had trained for a long time, and used crossbows he had secretly bought to give them a chance for real combat training.
The man in blue, bound like a dumpling, lay sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain. Looking up at Meng Xian'er, he cried out, "Miss, I'm innocent! I'm loyal and honest; how could I betray the organization!"
Meng Xian'er had been shocked when this man was brought in. He was a key member of the organization, named Xi Ping, who had established numerous intelligence networks in Jinling City and was considered a meritorious figure. It was truly unexpected that he was a traitor.
The other men in blue, also brought from the large ship by Li Xiaomin's men, entered the cabin. Seeing Meng Xian'er's disheveled hair and tattered clothes, and Xi Ping bound and weeping on the ground, they were all startled. They gripped their swords, watching Li Xiaomin with growing wariness.
Seeing their strange looks, Meng Xian'er blushed and hurriedly ran back to her cabin to tidy her hair and clothes. Striving to maintain her superior's dignity, she looked at Xi Ping and coldly demanded, "Xi Ping, tell me the truth about your collusion with Bei Zhao and Chen Guo!"
Xi Ping kowtowed and wept, insisting he was loyal and could never have done such a heinous thing! He claimed Li Xiaomin's instigation was clearly malicious, and begged his mistress not to fall for his trick!
Several burly men in blue robes nearby were also suspicious. They bowed and stepped forward, asking Meng Xian'er to investigate the facts before taking any action.
Meng Xian'er had no evidence to prove Xi Ping was a traitor. Seeing his sorrowful cries, she became somewhat skeptical. She looked at Li Xiaomin, hoping he would say something.
Li Xiaomin stood smiling to the side, clapped his hands, and a man in white robes took out a scroll from his robes and respectfully presented it to Meng Xian'er.
Meng Xian'er opened the document and her expression changed drastically. After examining it carefully for a long time, she forcefully threw the document in front of Xi Ping and angrily said, "Xi Ping, you still dare to argue! This is the letter of surrender you wrote to the spies in Northern Zhao. It's clearly your own handwriting, and it even has your fingerprint on it. What do you have to say for yourself?!"
Xi Ping looked down and was stunned. This letter of surrender was clearly placed in the most secret place by the leader of the Northern Zhao spy organization. How could it have fallen into Li Xiaomin's hands?
The hatch opened, and several men in white dragged in the soaking wet leader of the men in black, forcing him to kneel on the ground. He reported, "My lord, this scoundrel is stubborn and won't say a word!"
Li Xiaomin glanced at the man and casually smiled, "If he won't talk, then he won't talk. He's just the head of Chen Guo's intelligence organization in the Tang Dynasty. This time, he joined forces with Bei Zhao to try and destroy the Yixiantang's forces in Jinling, to prevent them from joining forces with Zhou Xiangguo to find their secret base and wipe them out. Anyway, what he knows, we also know; what he doesn't know, we know even more. Let's hand him and his surviving men over to the heroes of Yixiantang to deal with!"
Several burly men in white grabbed the two men by the neck and carried them to the large ship. The men in blue hurriedly bowed and thanked him, their eyes full of admiration and gratitude.
Although being thanked was a good thing, Li Xiaomin still felt nauseous at the sight of the two handsome teenagers. He took two steps back and forced a dry laugh, saying, "Not at all, not at all, this is nothing! We haven't wiped out the enemy yet, it's nothing!"
To avoid the two handsome men Meng Xian'er had prepared for him, Li Xiaomin urgently sought a way to escape. He grabbed Meng Xian'er beside him and forced a dry laugh, saying, "There's no time to lose, let's go and destroy the enemy's secret base now, and wipe out everyone inside!"
Without further ado, he grabbed Meng Xian'er's slender waist, ignoring her shameful struggles, and leaped over the railing. He used his skill in crossing water, lightly touching the scattered pieces of wooden boats on the water's surface with his toes, and quickly disappeared into the distance, leaving only his dashing and elegant figure for the dumbfounded men in blue to admire.

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Immortal Sword Couple

In a large mansion in the countryside north of Jinling City.
An elderly man in black paced back and forth in the hall, his heart filled with unspeakable anxiety.
This residence was the headquarters of the Northern Zhao's spy agency in Jinling City, and this old man was a well-known local gentry. No one knew that he was a spy sent by the Northern Zhao, in charge of the Northern Zhao's intelligence work in the area, and had been lurking in Jinling for decades.
Today's operation was a joint plan he had devised with the head of the Chen Kingdom's spy organization in Jinling, and they had sent their best men to carry it out. It was almost a full-scale operation. If they failed to annihilate the Yixiantang in one fell swoop, and instead suffered a backlash, the losses would be incalculable.
While anxiously awaiting news from the action team, suddenly, the guards outside the wall shouted in panic, followed by several screams, which terrified the old man.
He hurriedly went out to see what was happening, only to find that a group of guards in the courtyard had already heard the screams outside. They were all brandishing their swords and on high alert, preparing to open the gate to see what was going on, when suddenly they heard a loud laugh coming from above. They all looked up.
On a tall tree outside the wall, a handsome couple stood proudly with elegant smiles.
The youth, so handsome he seemed otherworldly, held the slender waist of the woman beside him, standing atop a high branch. Their bodies swayed with the trembling branches, and a gentle breeze stirred their elegant robes. This couple was clearly so ethereal and otherworldly that they captivated all who beheld them.
The guards raised their swords in the air, shouting in panic. The old man also shouted, "Form a sword formation! Prepare to meet the enemy!"
The guards hurriedly ran around the courtyard, and just as they were forming their battle formation, the handsome couple had already gracefully arrived!
As if riding on a gentle breeze, the youth, arm in arm with his companion, floated down from the air. The long sword in his hand had a narrow, crystal-clear blade. Reflecting the sunlight, it shimmered slightly, scattering countless rays of light, dazzling the guards so much that they couldn't open their eyes.
The young man, suspended in mid-air, had already thrust out his longsword with a graceful, fluid movement, as elegant as flowing water. With a soft hiss, the sword traced a beautiful line through the air, gently piercing the throat of a guard. He then withdrew it, a spray of blood flying as it fell into the wind. The guard didn't even have time to scream before collapsing limply in the wind, his long robe billowing as if in harmony with the young man's movements, possessing a poignant beauty as he fell to the ground, dead.
Beside him, the beautiful woman, seemingly slightly older than the young man, was also as beautiful as a celestial being. She raised her longsword, waving it lightly in the wind, the tip grazing the neck of another guard. This guard, too, didn't utter a scream before collapsing to the side, blood splattering, leaving a crimson trail in the air.
The boy's hand remained on the girl's slender waist, linking their arms as they moved like a gentle breeze among the guards. Their gleaming longsword danced in the wind, thrusting east and slashing west, its movements as scattered and chaotic as falling petals, yet possessing a poignant beauty. They sliced open the throats of the guards, blood splattering like fallen petals in the wind.
As if sensing his ethereal grace, the girl's swordsmanship became even more fluid than usual, her movements perfectly synchronized with his. Her longsword thrust in all directions, sending sprays of blood flying. When the young couple broke through the sword formation, the corpses of the guards lay scattered in their wake.
Their movements, though seemingly slow, were actually incredibly fast. The young man's footwork was also quite peculiar, his rhythmic steps almost in sync with music. He carried the girl through the sword formation. The guards could see clearly, but they couldn't dodge, forced to watch helplessly as the young man slashed and killed their comrades. They couldn't even muster a single move.
Blood splattered in the breeze, mingling with the thuds of guards falling to the ground. The handsome couple smiled and turned back to stand, while the remaining guards were all deathly pale.
The old man in black was deathly pale, swaying slightly as he stared at the young couple. He nodded and laughed bitterly, "Qin Xian'er, you're truly remarkable! You actually managed to ambush such a top-tier expert within the Jinling Yixian Hall! The action team I sent out is now wiped out, isn't it?"
Meng Xian'er nodded and smiled, casting a grateful glance at the young man beside her. She said calmly, "Since things have come to this, what else do you have to say? Why not surrender and at least save your life, avoiding further misfortune!"
The old man in black laughed bitterly, "Hehe..." "I am a native of the Great Zhao, stationed in Jinling by imperial decree. I established a vast intelligence organization, rendering outstanding service to the Great Zhao. Who would have thought I would fall into your hands? Do you think I would surrender and live on? It's a pity that my years of heroism have been ruined in a single day! However, rest assured, although I am dead, the intelligence organization in Jinling will still exist and will continue to contend with your Southern Tang and Western Shu!"
Meng Xian'er's expression changed, and she said in a deep voice, "So you want to protect the organization's secrets with your death? I apologize for my disrespect!"
The old man in black flipped his hand, revealing a... A sharp dagger was already pressed against his throat, and he sneered with a hint of smugness, "I've painstakingly built this organization over many years; how could I let it fall into such danger so easily! Today, though I die here, the people of Great Zhao will avenge us sooner or later!"
Standing beside Meng Xian'er, the young man who had been secretly groping her slender waist suddenly cried out, "Ah!" and looked up at the sky, shouting, "I remember now! The Northern Zhao intelligence organization you mentioned, is it the people in here?"
He reached into his robes and pulled out a small booklet... "Come, turn to the first page," the old man in black said loudly, "Chen Luoshen, Huang Ye, Tan Songming..."
His face suddenly contorted, his eyes bulging from their sockets, his terrifying gaze fixed on the young man. He hissed, "You... how do you have our organization's roster?"
The first name read was his own, while the other two were the other two top leaders of the Jinling Beizhao organization, deeply hidden. After his death, Huang Ye would take over his position, leading the remaining intelligence personnel to continue transmitting intelligence for Beizhao. These
two names were a closely guarded secret; even the guards in the courtyard couldn't possibly know them. Tan Songming, on the other hand, was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in the Southern Tang Dynasty. He had secretly developed a large number of intelligence personnel in the Southern Tang, including many court officials who maintained direct contact with him, forming a major faction within the Jinling intelligence organization. Even the old man, Chen Luoshen, couldn't know the names of his intelligence agents.
Faced with the old man's question, Li Xiaomin said smugly, "Ha, it's nothing much. A couple of nights ago, around midnight, one of my men saw someone digging a hole in the ground. Thinking he was burying some gold or silver treasure, he went to check out. He found him burying some kind of booklet, wrapped in oilcloth and placed inside an earthenware jar, looking rather suspicious—more like a ghost than a ghost! My man was curious, and although he wasn't strong enough to dig it up, he could ask the leader for help! The leader dug out the jar, initially thinking it was an account book for tax evasion. But when it was taken up, my intelligence chief thought it was quite important and sent it to me!"
The old man's eyes nearly popped out of his head, his gaze fixed on the booklet waving in Li Xiaomin's hand.
This booklet was something he had secretly buried in another secret base the night before last. It was done very discreetly, and there were many guards outside that courtyard—how could an outsider have gotten in? Moreover, with his keen senses, he could hear even the slightest breath if someone was nearby. Could it be that the spy's skills were so advanced, almost ghostly?
Just as his heart was pounding uncontrollably, Li Xiaomin pulled out two more booklets and smugly laughed, "What's yours? I have two more here, from Huang Ye and the Tan family. All those people you mentioned, whether you know them or not, have their names in here! I'll invite them all over later, let them live in a big house with you, and get to know them better, what do you say?"
The old man could no longer speak; the muscles in his face were contorted beyond recognition. He stared intently at the incomparably handsome and terrifying young man, his mouth gurgling, unable to utter a word.
The guards beside him were also ashen-faced, staring blankly at the three facing off. Even the most foolish among them knew that the Northern Zhao intelligence organization had suffered a complete defeat and was about to be wiped out.
After trembling violently for a long while, the old man finally raised his thin, bony hands, brandishing a sharp dagger. With all his might, he roared hoarsely, "Brothers, we men of Great Zhao cannot sit idly by and wait to die! Even if we all die here, we must kill these two! We cannot let the organization's secrets leak out! For the sake of our hidden brothers, charge!"
Hearing this piercing cry, the remaining dozen or so guards showed a resolute and tragic expression on their faces. They brandished their swords, shouted wildly, and charged towards the couple, intending to exchange their blood for the lives of the two men within five steps!
Li Xiaomin shook his head and sighed, not even swinging his sword. He simply looked at the old man in black leading the charge with the gaze of someone looking at a dead man.
A gust of wind swept in, instantly engulfing the men of Great Zhao. In the wind, it seemed as if steel blades and sharp swords were slashing down swiftly at bizarre angles invisible to the naked eye. The burly men who were rushing forward suddenly gushed blood, screaming as they charged forward, but could no longer maintain their balance and collapsed to the ground with a thud. They lay sprawled haphazardly in front of Li Xiaomin, covering the ground.
The men struggled, muttering curses, but they were too weak to rise. Even those who managed to lift themselves halfway collapsed, lifeless. Blood gushed from their bodies, staining the ground crimson.
The old man in black fell at Li Xiaomin's feet, using his last strength to lift his head. He saw the young man looking at him with pity, a mysterious smile slowly spreading across his handsome face.

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