Chapter 214 - 213: It Came Too Quickly

Chapter 214: Chapter 213: It Came Too Quickly

After listening to Soul-breaking Saber Zhao Gang, Divine Catcher Wind-Chasing Sword Li Qing, who sat opposite him, raised an eyebrow. "You have a point. I also think there’s something suspicious about Yun Liyue and her master. They’re skilled in Confusing Skill and are quite familiar with the situation in the Imperial Palace. Perhaps they’re the ones behind some of the palace’s unsolved crimes."

"That’s right. And while His Majesty hasn’t ordered us to capture Yun Liyue and her master, Elder Qing Yin, again, he hasn’t explicitly told us not to, either," Zhao Gang sneered. "His Majesty even ignored Divine Constable Sun’s earlier suggestion. He has obviously given his tacit approval for us to capture Yun Liyue."

"Moreover, I’ve heard that while the original manual for the Sword Control Skill was lost, Yun Liyue and her master, Elder Qing Yin, have already learned it. If we can just apprehend them, we’ll be able to obtain this Supreme Secret Technique. Presenting it to His Majesty would be a monumental service."

Greed flashed in the eyes of the Famous Constables nearby. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If they could make a good impression on Emperor Xia, their futures would be limitless.

Besides, with criminals running rampant these days, the timing of this issue with Yun Liyue and her master was suspicious. There might be a connection.

Even if there was no connection, that Supreme Secret Technique alone was reason enough for them to act.

They had also heard that Crown Prince Consort Yun Liyue possessed a kingdom-toppling beauty and unparalleled grace. If they could enjoy her favors in the process, that would be all the better.

The elder Crown Prince was senile and decrepit; rumor had it he only had a few days left. He was utterly incapable of protecting Yun Liyue. Meanwhile, Xuan Nu Palace hated her to the very bone. Why would they ever help her?

They just needed to throw their weight around, and they could take her down with effortless ease. Once she was locked in the Celestial Prison, they could do as they pleased.

Even her master, Elder Qing Yin, couldn’t possibly defy the heavens when faced with a siege by so many Grandmasters and even Super Grade Celestial Humans, could she?

After some discussion, emboldened by wine, the few Divine Constables and dozens of Famous Constables decided to use this opportunity to haul Yun Liyue to the Celestial Prison. Once they had her in their grasp, they had plenty of ways to make her talk.

When it came to women, they had countless dirty tricks up their sleeves.

What the group didn’t know was that as they conspired, a Shadow Guard was eavesdropping from outside. The guard immediately reported the information up the chain, and it quickly reached Zheng Zhicang.

After receiving the report, Zheng Zhicang bundled it with other messages and sent it to Xia Wuyang through a secret channel Xia Wuyang had established.

By the time the group of plotters finished drinking and headed back, Xia Wuyang had already received the news. After a dalliance with a few new Palace Maids, he "plausibly" collapsed onto his bed and was carried to the Practice Room to "rest."

Little did anyone know that the moment the special stone door to the Practice Room shut, Xia Wuyang had already changed his appearance. In Disguise and wearing a Cloak, he slipped out of the Imperial Palace without a sound.

As midnight approached, Soul-breaking Saber Zhao Gang returned to his room. He had just removed his outer coat and was about to extinguish the lamp for the night when every hair on his body suddenly stood on end—an instinct honed from years of living on a knife’s edge.

"Who’s there?"

Zhao Gang spun around abruptly, his Nine-Ring Saber already in his hand.

The room was empty, yet the flame of the oil lamp began to flicker strangely, casting distorted shadows on the floor.

"Enough with the theatrics!"

Zhao Gang snorted coldly, and his saber flashed like a bolt of silk as he slashed toward the shadows.

"CLANG!"

Amid the clang of metal, a fist shot out from the darkness. It was a seemingly ordinary punch, but it struck the saber’s edge head-on, sending the Nine-Ring Saber flying. The impact split the webbing of Zhao Gang’s hand, and blood began to flow freely.

Zhao Gang cried out in alarm and turned to flee for his life, but it was already too late.

The fist struck out again. It wasn’t using some legendary Divine Skill, but one of the most common forms of Fist Technique in the Jianghu: Arhat Fist.

Most martial arts dojos taught it. The moves were simple and direct, and its power was considered average, but its greatest strength was in building a solid Foundation.

Yet it was this simple Arhat Fist that effortlessly shattered all of Zhao Gang’s Defenses. Before his horrified eyes, it landed squarely on the vital points of his torso.

"CRACK..."

The sound of bones shattering was sickeningly clear. Zhao Gang flew backward like a discarded rag doll, blood pouring from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. He looked on in abject terror. "You... you’re a Celestial Human! Why are you killing me?"

"In your next life, remember not to cross those you can’t afford to cross. Like Yun Liyue," Xia Wuyang said softly, walking slowly to his side and leaning down to whisper in his ear.

"Ah..." Zhao Gang’s eyes widened in disbelief. "But... we only just finished plotting this... How could you know?"

Xia Wuyang smiled but said nothing. He brought his fist down—still Arhat Fist. Zhao Gang’s skull shattered, and he fell silent forever.

He had used the Soul Enchantment Technique to glean some of the man’s thoughts. Now, he gathered everything of value from the corpse and stored it in his Personal Space.

He then shook the blood from his hand and walked toward the next house.

Soon, the surrounding courtyards had become a Chaotic Scene.

Divine Catcher Wind-Chasing Sword Li Qing died by his own blade. Xia Wuyang used the Empty-Handed Blade Seizing technique from the Arhat Fist to take the man’s sword before using it to pierce his throat.

Divine Catcher Iron Palm Sun Biao tried to counter with his signature Mountain-Opening Palm, but Xia Wuyang’s Arhat Fist crushed him with a single blow.

Ghost Shadow Leg Zhou Xun was a master of Lightweight Leg Technique, but before Xia Wuyang’s Arhat Fist, he was as helpless as a child. A single Arhat Subduing the Tiger stomp snapped his spine...

As for the weaker Famous Constables, the subordinates of these Divine Constables, they were cut down like stalks of wheat, falling one after another under Xia Wuyang’s iron fist.

Four First Grade Grandmasters, dozens of Grandmasters and Military Generals—all of them were killed, clean and simple. Not a single one was left alive.

Before they died, Xia Wuyang showed them the "mercy" of letting them know why they were being killed.

That was why their faces were masks of regret and horror. They had just finished plotting against Yun Liyue, and not even a few minutes later, they had been utterly annihilated.

Only their small group had known of the plan; the outside world was completely unaware. Now, even after their deaths, no one would know the reason they were killed.

Most importantly, who on earth was the expert who had killed them? Could it really have been Yun Liyue’s master, Elder Qing Yin? How could their intelligence have been so frighteningly fast?

Truth be told, some among them had still been hesitant about going after Yun Liyue. After all, the unknown expert backing her was clearly no ordinary figure. They never imagined that before they could finalize their decision, the other party had already made their own move.

He expanded his Mental Force Field, erasing all traces of his presence while deliberately planting a few false ones. Only then did he walk to the courtyard well, draw water, and wash his hands. The rest of his body was completely free of bloodstains; Xia Wuyang was at least skilled enough to avoid being spattered.

He straightened his clothes and scanned the area one last time. After confirming that everything was in order, he departed slowly, returning to Wenhua Hall to continue his cultivation.