Chapter 6 Father's knife is faster than a candied hawthorn.

"His Majesty!"

"Father!"

"Summon the imperial physician immediately! Summon the imperial physician at once!"

The main hall instantly descended into chaos.

Chu Chongyun's face turned ashen, but he reacted quickly and immediately pointed the finger at the most conspicuous target.

He pointed at Mu Yu, who was still standing there in a daze, and roared hoarsely, "Witch! This witch must have used some kind of sorcery to curse Father Emperor! Guards, protect the Emperor! Kill this father and daughter who are spreading sorcery on the spot!"

Upon hearing this, several guards who were nearby instinctively drew their swords, but when they saw Mu Fang's cold face standing opposite them, and Prince Chu Heng holding the Imperial Sword beside him, they stopped in their tracks.

This is General Zhenguo, the God of Slaughter Mu Fang! This is King Lie! Who dares to touch him?

"Who dares!" Chu Heng's voice wasn't loud, but it carried immense force. "I saw with my own eyes that His Majesty was glaring at the Imperial Advisor before he coughed up blood. Why didn't the Crown Prince question the Imperial Advisor first, but instead rushed to kill him to silence him? What kind of logic is that?"

Just as everyone's attention was drawn to the standoff, the Taoist priest in the robe, who had been wearing a compassionate smile, the Imperial Preceptor Ling Lan, made a move.

His eyes no longer held any trace of his otherworldly elegance; only the ruthlessness and determination that followed the exposure of his conspiracy remained.

The plan has been exposed; a fatal blow is necessary!

With a flick of his wide Taoist robe sleeve, a black poison needle as thin as a cow's hair silently shot towards the unconscious emperor on the dragon throne!

His target was the emperor's heart!

All of this happened in the blink of an eye, unnoticed by anyone.

Apart from Mu Yu.

In her eyes, it wasn't a needle, but a concentrated, dark, deathly aura, carrying a pungent, fishy stench, heading straight for the Emperor's grandfather's fading golden light.

"don't want!"

Mu Yu screamed, no longer caring about anything else.

She was exhausted and hungry, and the little pond in her mind was almost empty, so she couldn't use any powerful spells.

But with her last bit of strength, she made a fierce face at the Taoist priest, shouting in her heart, "I'll teach you to fall! You big bad guy!"

Almost simultaneously, the Imperial Preceptor Linglan, who was about to step forward to ensure everything was in order, suddenly slipped as if she had stepped on an invisible ice surface, and staggered.

The poisoned needle, thus deflected slightly, grazed the edge of the dragon robe, and with a "thud," embedded itself in the armrest of the throne, instantly turning the piece of golden nanmu wood pitch black.

That stumble gave Mu Fang an opportunity!

"Clang—"

With a clear and melodious dragon's roar, the long sword was drawn, so fast that only a bright white streak could be seen!

Mu Fang's figure swept across the hall like a ghost, even stirring up a sharp gust of wind that made everyone's clothes flutter wildly.

His voice was squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a murderous aura reminiscent of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"court death!"

That battle sword, which had beheaded countless enemy chieftains on the border, now transformed into a deadly arc, aiming straight for the throat of the Imperial Preceptor Linglan!

"Mu Fang! You dare to use force in front of His Majesty! This is treason!" Chu Chongyun roared in shock and anger.

He never expected that Mu Fang would dare to draw his sword in front of everyone in the emperor's bedchamber!

But in Mu Fang's eyes, there was only that evil Taoist who dared to attack both his daughter and the monarch at the same time.

Even the Imperial Advisor Linglan hadn't expected Mu Fang's reaction to be so swift and ruthless!

He could no longer maintain the facade of a reclusive master. With a strange cry, he twisted his body at an uncanny angle, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow to his throat. The blade grazed his neck, drawing a trail of blood.

"Imperial Guards! Stop him! He's trying to kill the emperor!" Ling Lan shouted shrilly as she dodged in a disheveled manner, attempting to shift the blame.

The imperial guards exchanged bewildered glances, completely thrown into disarray. On one side was the Crown Prince, on the other, the Prince Lie, and now the Imperial Preceptor and General Zhenguo were fighting amongst themselves. Whom should they listen to?

"All guards, heed my command!" King Chu Heng's voice boomed like a great bell. "The Imperial Preceptor attempted assassination, and General Mu has rendered meritorious service by protecting me! Seize this evil Taoist priest, dead or alive!"

He slammed the imperial sword to the ground with a clang, the sound of metal striking stone resounding throughout the hall.

"Father..."

Mu Yu hid behind the dragon throne, her small hands tightly gripping the hem of the bright yellow robe.

She was so sleepy that her eyelids felt like they were weighed down by two weights, and she was about to close them again.

She watched as her father brandished his broadsword, the blade flashing, and in one swift motion he chopped off a piece of the villainous Taoist's sleeve, then slashed his back.

Wow, that was fast...

My father's knife is faster than the uncle selling candied hawthorns at the street corner!

She nodded her little head, murmuring to herself, "Candied hawthorn...so red..."

The fighting inside the hall had reached a fever pitch.

The Imperial Preceptor Linglan's martial arts style is extremely strange. His movements are unpredictable, and black mist can be flicked out from between his fingers from time to time, carrying a power that corrodes people's hearts.

But Mu Fang was a true warrior who had fought countless battles. His swordsmanship was bold and unrestrained, without a trace of fancy moves. Every strike was filled with the purest killing intent and power.

No matter your thousand spells or myriad tricks, I will shatter them all with a single strike!

"Sizzle—"

Ling Lan couldn't dodge in time, and Mu Fang's blade slashed her arm from top to bottom, leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound from which black blood gushed out instantly.

He let out a bloodcurdling scream, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes.

He knew he had met his nemesis today. The murderous aura of military spirit emanating from Mu Fang was the natural nemesis of his evil arts!

"Mu Fang! If you kill me, you won't live either! Your Highness—" His last hope was placed on Chu Chongyun.

However, Chu Chongyun was so frightened by Mu Fang's bloodshot eyes that his legs went weak and he dared not utter a sound.

"You talk too much nonsense."

Mu Fang snorted coldly, twisted his wrist, and the back of his blade slammed heavily onto Ling Lan's knee like a thunderbolt.

"Crack!"

The cracking sound of bones breaking is chilling.

Ling Lan screamed and fell to his knees, powerless to resist. Mu Fang swung his sword backhand, pinning him firmly to a golden dragon-carved pillar in the hall!

The long sword pierced Ling Lan's shoulder blade, locking him firmly in place, unable to move.

"ah--!"

A piercing scream echoed through the deathly silent hall.

Only then did the belated imperial physicians rush in amidst Chief Eunuch Li's screams.

"Quick! Look at His Majesty!"

"His Majesty's pulse is weak; he has been poisoned by a rare toxin!"

"Quick! Prepare the acupuncture needles! Also, get some old ginseng to keep the heart functioning!"

A group of white-bearded old men were making a ruckus around the dragon throne.

Mu Fang slowly drew his knife and wiped the bloodstains on Ling Lan's Taoist robe, his movements as elegant as if he were polishing a work of art.

He sheathed his sword and turned around.

The terrifying killing intent that had swept across the entire area vanished without a trace in an instant. He transformed back into the composed and steady General Zhenguo.

He strode towards the dragon throne, bypassing the flustered imperial physicians.

"Little Yu'er?"

There was no response.

His heart tightened, and he went around to the back of the throne, only to see his beloved daughter curled up in a small ball, asleep on the base of the dragon throne.

Her little face was rosy, a crystal tear clung to her long eyelashes, her chubby little hands clutched the corner of the emperor's dragon robe, and she was smacking her lips as if she were having a sweet dream.

Mu Fang's tense heartstrings softened instantly.

He bent down and carefully lifted his daughter from the ground, his movements as gentle as if he were holding a priceless treasure.

The little one in his arms seemed to sense the familiar embrace, moved her little head, nuzzled against his chest, and murmured incoherently in her sleep:

"Daddy...eat sugar cake...Little Yu'er...want to eat the biggest one..."

Mu Fang's eyes welled up with tears.

He held his daughter and looked at Chu Heng who was walking over, his eyes questioning.

Chu Heng nodded solemnly at him, his face showing undisguised approval and lingering fear.

If it weren't for this father and daughter, the sky over the Great Chu Kingdom would probably have truly collapsed.

Mu Fang withdrew his gaze and hugged the little one in his arms even tighter.

His little koi fish was exhausted.

But it's alright, we'll leave the rest to Daddy.