Chapter 201 The Crane Spreads Its Wings
The once impenetrable encirclement was instantly torn open with countless gaps.
The cold wind, carrying the noise from outside, rushed into the main hall, causing the candlelight inside to flicker wildly, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.
"W-What is that?!"
The commander of the axemen at the forefront was terrified and instinctively raised his Xuanhua axe to protect his chest.
However, it was neither assassins nor an army that rushed in.
Instead, they were dazzling white shadows, elegant in form yet moving as fast as lightning.
Those were dozens of red-crowned cranes kept in the Imperial Garden.
Normally, these cranes are a symbol of good fortune for the royal family.
They strolled with elegant steps, preening their feathers by the lake, accepting the food and praise from the palace servants, as docile as a group of decorative vases that only knew how to pose.
But now, they have changed.
Those once gentle crane eyes were now filled with fanaticism and ferocity after being manipulated.
They abandoned their usual lazy demeanor, their wingspan reaching two meters, resembling white fighter jets swooping down, whistling through the air with a sharp gust of wind!
"That's... a crane?!"
The Empress Dowager stared wide-eyed at the scene in disbelief.
That was her favorite auspicious beast! How could this be...?
"Gah—!!!"
The lead red-crowned crane let out a loud cry.
It completely ignored the Empress Dowager on the high platform and, like a white arrow released from a bow, rushed straight towards the commander who was holding a large axe.
The commander wore heavy armor, making him impervious to swords and spears.
But even the thickest armor couldn't protect his face, much less his eyes.
The red-crowned crane's long beak is a weapon sharper than a dagger and harder than an awl.
"Whoosh!"
The crane's neck suddenly shot out, so fast that only a blur could be seen.
"Pfft!"
A sharp sound as a weapon pierced an eyeball.
"ah--!!!"
The commander let out a bloodcurdling scream, his great axe crashed to the ground, and he covered his right eye with both hands, blood gushing out from between his fingers.
But this is just the beginning.
Dozens of red-crowned cranes, like dozens of well-trained assassins, rushed into the crowd.
Using their flight advantage, they skillfully evaded the heavy axes, specifically targeting the exposed faces of the axemen.
"My eyes! Ah!"
"Get out of here! You dead bird! Get out of here!"
"Help! I can't see!"
Screams rose and fell, and the Hall of Supreme Harmony was instantly transformed into a bloody battlefield.
Those swordsmen and axemen who had been so imposing and lined up in battle formation were now completely thrown into disarray.
They swung their axes wildly, but couldn't cut the agile crane at all; instead, they accidentally injured many of their companions.
Blood splattered on the gold brick floor, staining the dragon pattern that symbolized imperial power red.
"This...this is sorcery?!"
The officials were so frightened that they hid under the table, trembling as they watched the white shadows flying around overhead.
This is hardly an auspicious omen! This is clearly the White Impermanence, the reaper of death!
And at the heart of this chaos.
Pei Yunjing remained seated steadily in the tiger-skin chair, with Tangli, who was watching the show, in his arms.
A bloodthirsty red-crowned crane flew overhead. As if sensing Tang Li's presence, it restrained its ferocity, landed lightly on the table, elegantly preened its blood-stained feathers, and let out a low, ingratiating call.
Tangli reached out and stroked its red head, then smiled as she looked at the Empress Dowager, who was completely terrified.
"Your Majesty, look."
"Even the cranes, symbols of good fortune, couldn't stand your bullying behavior and came down to 'protect' you personally."
"Could this... be considered fate?"
The Empress Dowager trembled with rage, pointing at Tang Li: "You...you..."
"Don't rush."
Tang Li raised a finger and made a shushing gesture to her lips:
"Our friends from heaven have arrived."
"It's time for our friends on the ground to enter the arena."
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