Chapter 545 - 361: The Old Emperor Possessed by a Demon? (Part 2)

Chapter 545: Chapter 361: The Old Emperor Possessed by a Demon? (Part 2)

"Even the birds and beasts couldn’t escape... the whole town... is empty."

"I... find it very suspicious." The aura around Emperor Zhenwu suddenly turned icy cold and piercing.

"Therefore, I must uncover the true culprit behind this and crush them to dust! To comfort the thousands of souls of Qianfu Town!"

As he spoke the last words, the bright yellow dragon robe on Emperor Zhenwu fluttered without wind.

"But such a matter..."

Emperor Zhenwu suddenly lowered his voice in an eerie way, "I... cannot trust others."

As he spoke, he pressed his withered claw-like hand heavily on Lu Xuan’s shoulder.

"Only my Crown Prince... my flesh and blood..."

Emperor Zhenwu’s breathing suddenly grew rapid, his breath carrying a faint stench of decay, "can set me at ease..."

"This Dragon’s Saliva Fragrance is to protect you, my son!"

Emperor Zhenwu stared intently at Lu Xuan, his withered fingers suddenly clenched tightly with astonishing strength.

Lu Xuan was about to inquire about the details of Qianfu Town, but he noticed a strange glint in the old emperor’s eyes.

"My son, lives are at stake, finding out the truth of Qianfu Town is of utmost urgency."

Emperor Zhenwu’s voice suddenly turned cold and piercing, "You are to set off immediately for Southern Domain Jinming State."

As soon as he finished speaking, he clapped his hands three times, leaving no room for Lu Xuan to refuse.

"Come!"

Though Emperor Zhenwu’s voice was as light as a mosquito’s drone, it caused an eerie echo in the vast square.

Woosh--- woosh--- woosh---!!!

Three shadows, like specters, appeared from hundreds of meters away, instantly kneeling before Emperor Zhenwu.

They were dressed in black scale armor forged from dark iron, their faces covered with specially made black iron masks, only exposing a pair of cold, inhuman eyes.

Emperor Wenjing Guard...

The memories of the original owner suddenly surfaced in Lu Xuan’s mind, and he frowned slightly.

These death guards, secretly trained from childhood, are rumored to be monsters transformed through special drugs and secret methods.

They have no human emotions and exist solely to protect the emperor, true killing machines.

What’s more terrifying is that every one of them possesses strength comparable to a Martial Arts Grandmaster, and they fear neither pain nor death.

It is said that when all the Emperor Wenjing Guards gather, they can easily kill any Martial Arts Grandmaster.

"Lu Yi, Lu Er, Lu San."

Emperor Zhenwu’s hoarse voice carried an unnerving intimacy, "From today, you will protect the Crown Prince."

The three guards bowed simultaneously, their armor clashing to make a crisp "clang" sound.

When they raised their heads, three cold gazes locked onto Lu Xuan simultaneously.

Their eyes did not seem to regard him as a living person but as an object needing protection...

A cold light flashed in Lu Xuan’s eyes, and alarm bells rang in his heart.

He was not the simple Crown Prince the original owner was; this series of arrangements revealed chilling cunning at every turn.

Bestow the fragrance, dispatch the guards, urgent mission...

Every step seemed like a meticulously woven spider web, just waiting for him, the moth, to walk right into it.

However, the most ruthless move was yet to come—

"Issue the decree."

Without any warning, Emperor Zhenwu commanded, "Summon Mr. Peng to the palace immediately for an audience!"

Lu Xuan’s mouth twitched slightly.

This move of catching the thief in his den was almost writing the conspiracy on his face!

Who in the entire Wenjing Dynasty didn’t know that Peng Lie was the Crown Prince’s greatest support?

Back when he vied for the position of Crown Prince, it was this grandmaster of martial arts, Mr. Peng, who fully supported the original self, keeping all other forces at bay.

Ha... Lu Xuan sneered inwardly.

This move by Emperor Zhenwu was extremely sinister—ostensibly sending the Emperor Wenjing Guards to "protect" him, while secretly removing his greatest backing.

This was no longer a hint; it was a blatant declaration: I mean you harm!

From afar, hurried footsteps could be heard, presumably the eunuch who conveyed the decree had already sprinted off.

Lu Xuan didn’t even need to think to know that outside the palace gate, more Emperor Wenjing Guards must be lying in wait, ready to ensnare Peng Lie in this meticulously prepared cage.

Emperor Zhenwu, hunched over and wearing a satisfied smile, was gradually leaving with the aid of several red-robed eunuchs, trembling and tottering.

Upon departing, he did not forget to "carefully" advise, "Be careful on your journey, my son..."

The hypocrisy and pretense made Lu Xuan furrow his brow.

He seriously doubted whether this old emperor had gone mad or was possessed by demons.

The square outside fell into deathly silence, leaving only the three Emperor Wenjing Guards standing like statues.

Their eyes beneath the iron masks emitted a faint green glow in the shadows, akin to lurking venomous snakes.

"Crown Prince, please set off immediately."

The Imperial Guard in the middle suddenly spoke, appearing respectful but devoid of any awe.

Their stance seemed casual, yet it blocked all escape routes.

Lu Yi stood before the palace door, Lu Er blocked the side corridor, and Lu San clung ghost-like to Lu Xuan’s back.

A stick of incense later!

Clop, clop, clop—

Outside the palace gates, the sound of orderly hoofbeats resonated.

Eight pure white Ferghana horses raised their heads and neighed, pulling the gilded carriage back into view.

This time, however, three hundred black-armored cavalry followed.

These cavalrymen uniformly wore iron masks, and the swords at their waists were not ordinary blades but custom-made curved horse-cutting sabers from the palace.

—The spine of the sabers bore barbs, glistening menacingly in the sunlight.

Rumble!!!

Where the convoy passed, citizens in the imperial city swiftly fled far away!

The fierce aura these black-armored cavalry exuded seemed to condense into a tangible blood mist in the air.

Lu Xuan sat expressionless inside the carriage.

And behind the carriage, the three Imperial Guards hovered in a triangle formation, encircling Lu Xuan’s carriage completely.

Those three pairs of relentless eyes continually locked onto the carriage, like wardens watching over their prisoner....

Southern Domain Jinming State, Qingming Prefecture.

The scorching midday sun baked the official road outside the city walls like blazing flames.

On the scorching stone pavement, distorted heat waves rose in swells.

Governor Wei Yuanlang of Jinming State, along with dozens of prefectural officials, had been waiting anxiously at the Official Reception Pavilion outside the city gates for a long time.

The robes of these usually pampered officials were soaking wet with sweat, clinging to their backs.

Their faces were sunburned red, and sweat droplets as big as beans constantly rolled down their foreheads, yet none dared to wipe them away or utter a single complaint.

After all, they were awaiting the envoy specially dispatched by His Majesty.

"Mr. Wei......"

The voice of Mr. Liu, the prefecture judge in his sixties, trembled, his legs starting to quiver.

"The envoy’s carrier pigeon arrived a few hours ago; logically, it should have......"

Wei Yuanlang locked his brows tight, squinting as he peered towards the end of the road.

As the governor, he understood the gravity of the situation better than anyone.

With over three thousand lives lost in Qianfu Town, handling it poorly would mean the end of his tenure as governor.

"Silence!"

Zhao Yuanlang lowly reprimanded, "The envoy’s journey is not ours to speculate!"

Just then, a plume of dust suddenly rose from afar.

The guards on the lookout tower shouted loudly, "Here! The envoy’s carriage has arrived!"

All officials were instantly shocked, hurriedly adjusting their attire.

Wei Yuanlang immediately took a deep breath, suppressing the anxiety within.

Yet, they had no idea.

What was approaching them now was the retinue of the reigning Crown Prince.

"Hm?"

Wei Yuanlang suddenly shuddered as his eyes, with the acuity of a Martial Arts Grandmaster Realm, were the first to see the carriage five hundred meters away.

Those eight pure white Ferghana horses, that crimson curtain embroidered with the five-clawed true dragon pattern!!!

This was unmistakably...

"This... this is...!!!"

Wei Yuanlang, the dignified Martial Arts Grandmaster, suddenly lost control of his legs, turning weak.

A chill surged from his feet straight to his crown, drenching his back in cold sweat.

His lips trembled, and it took all of his strength to shout, "It’s... it’s the Crown Prince arriving!"

This voice exploded like thunder, leaving all present officials stupefied.

Wei Yuanlang "thud" fell heavy, kneeling, pressing his forehead hard against the scalding stone pavement: "All of you, kneel with me! Hurry!"

Those officials who hadn’t reacted suddenly did, kneeling en masse.

Wei Yuanlang’s temple throbbed intensely.

The tragedy in Qianfu Town had alarmed the Crown Prince... this thought nearly suffocated him.