Chapter 108 Siege: I Must See Him
Upon hearing this, Li Tiankuo took several steps back, his face turning deathly pale.
Even Bai Yuheng was taken aback. How could this be? Hadn't she broken the key to it?
Could it be...?
Bai Yuheng connected these events, and a certain figure surfaced in her mind—a genius who had been wanted by the righteous path for hundreds of years for creating forbidden techniques, who had disappeared for centuries, her former comrade-in-arms, and old friend—
Gu Pingzhi!
Bai Yuheng's face suddenly turned pale. So, the fact that she was able to return to this life and that the Four Directions Mirror was shattered must have been his doing!
Thinking of this, Bai Yuheng felt a chill run down her spine, her eyes filled with vigilance.
Pei Yuan was the first to notice her change in mood. Almost as soon as she lost her balance and stumbled back several steps, he reached out to support her, pressing his strong, warm hand on her shoulder as if to give her solid and reliable strength.
"What's wrong?" Pei Yuan looked down at her pale face and asked in confusion, "Are you feeling unwell? Shall I help you back to rest?"
Bai Yuheng shook her head, coming back to her senses. She was just a little shocked. If he still held a grudge against them, he was probably plotting something big with this act of exposure.
Bai Yuheng couldn't say she knew Gu Pingzhi the best, but having spent some time with him, she knew he was vindictive and ruthless.
When I first got to know him, I found him to be a calm and quiet person, but also someone who was passionate and vengeful. However, after spending more time with him, I discovered that he was extremely petty and prone to overthinking. Often, a thoughtless remark could cause him to dwell on it endlessly and become evidence of his contempt for me.
Back then, the Floating Pagoda Sect was wiped out because some of his fellow disciples had a grudge against him, and they felt that their master and uncles looked down on him, disdained his background and the magic he had researched... After going mad and becoming a demon, they slaughtered the entire sect!
If he really reappears, there might be trouble ahead.
Bai Yuheng regained her composure and listened as the old emperor said, "The secret report says they have already encamped outside the capital. Tomorrow, they will march on the capital under the pretext of 'purging the court of corrupt officials' and upholding imperial power, put me under house arrest, and gradually erode my power."
The old emperor calmly recounted Prince Gong's plan and then stated his own decision: "I have already instructed the Imperial Guards to summon the old ministers to court. I will announce my abdication in court shortly and pass the throne to you. You must hold on and eliminate all the traitors..."
Li Tiankuo was shocked. The old emperor gripped his hand tightly, his gaze firm and resolute: "My days are numbered. The future of our Great Zhou depends entirely on your hands... Tian'er! Do not fail my trust!"
The old emperor cried out in anguish, and unable to catch his breath, he coughed up another mouthful of blood.
Just then, the commander of the Imperial Guard arrived.
"Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Highness! Your Majesty, the matters you instructed have been conveyed! All ministers are awaiting you in the Taiji Hall!"
"Good! Chen Fuhai! Dress me!" The old emperor, supporting himself with one hand on the chief eunuch and the other on Li Tiankuo, stood up, his eyes burning brightly, like the last bit of oil in a lamp burning intensely.
At dawn, the sky was bright, and wisps of morning mist, carrying the chill of winter, blew stinging the faces of the dazed officials.
His Majesty... His Majesty has actually abdicated in favor of the Prince Xian!
The cold wind brought the group back to their senses. Some of the more cunning among them regretted not having befriended the wise king, thus losing an opportunity to climb the social ladder!
Many others knew the inside story and were worried about the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the safety of the people.
More than anything, they were worried about their future.
"Run! Run!"
"Monster! Run!!"
"Help!!!"
"Monsters are attacking the city!!!"
"Father, Father, wait for me!"
"Mother, mother woo woo..."
"Run! Run!!!"
"Aa ...
"Bang bang bang..."
A series of earth-shattering sounds came from hundreds of meters away from the city gate, and the broken stones vibrated with each step.
In an instant, dark clouds filled the sky, a chilling wind blew, and white paper fluttered everywhere.
Dark clouds loom over the city, threatening to crush it.
The commander of the Imperial Guards, along with a squad of Imperial Guards, stood on the city wall, overlooking the lifeless army.
"The King of Qin has rebelled and has been executed; to protect the safety of our Great Zhou, the Prince of Jiangzhou has personally led 30,000 troops to defend the King and protect Zhou!" A person emerged from behind the neatly arranged rows of ghost soldiers. He had a dignified appearance, but his eyes were sharp like an eagle's.
Prince Gong then appeared behind him, riding a tall horse. He looked somewhat haggard, but was more rosy and healthy than when he was in Jiangzhou.
"I heard that my brother is unwell, so I came to visit him while I was on duty to defend the emperor. I ask Lord Chen to open the city gates."
"A traitorous official speaks so eloquently and dares to incite people's hearts!" The commander of the Imperial Guards shouted sternly.
Prince Gong narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Chen Weimin, what an arrogant official you are! You're just a commander of the Imperial Guards, and you think you can stop me from entering the capital?"
Chen Weimin scoffed, “Your Highness may enter the capital, but you…” He glanced at the creature that was neither human nor ghost, and laughed, “you cannot set foot in the capital even once.”
Prince Gong laughed: "Of course, I said I would serve the Great Zhou, so I know the rules."
Having said that, he turned to the person next to him and said, "You stay here and protect the capital city well. Don't let the Qin King's troops get close, or you will be held responsible!"
"It's Your Highness!"
A subordinate beside him blew a horn, and the sinister soldiers disappeared in batches, then reappeared in various corners of the city gate, looking like cold statues.
Upon seeing this, Chen Weimin's face flushed red; he was furious.
"Go! Go ask the immortal masters if they have any solutions!" This is simply outrageous and disgusting!
"Lord Chen, please open the city gates," Prince Gong said with a smile, looking up at him from below the city gates.
It felt like punching cotton, leaving Chen Weimin extremely frustrated!
But we just can't let him in like that.
"Are you really Prince Gong? I now have reason to suspect that you are an imposter." Chen Weimin had no choice but to resort to stalling tactics.
Prince Gong laughed heartily: "Lord Chen, have you gone mad from killing so many people?"
Prince Gong took out his princely badge, squinted, and said, "This old man is too frail to lift it. Why don't you come down and see for yourself if it's real?"
Chen Weimin and he were locked in a stalemate.
Suddenly, the ghost soldiers who had been quietly guarding the city gates exploded with a loud bang, their golden armor and flesh flying everywhere like snowflakes.
Prince Gong's previously amused expression turned cold, and he reined in his horse, turning it back to his camp.
"You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences. It seems Lord Chen won't let me enter the capital easily today..." Prince Gong gestured to the person beside him, who immediately shouted, "Chen Weimin of the Imperial Guard is plotting a rebellion and murdering a prince. He should be executed immediately!"
"kill!"
"Kill! Kill!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The ghostly soldiers behind them also shouted without any emotion. No one knew what method they used, but their voices could be heard for two miles. Even the people who stayed indoors could hear this chilling murderous aura. They hurriedly put heavy objects behind their doors to block the sound, and hugged their families, trembling with fear.
With the charges settled, Prince Gong stopped playing along and immediately ordered an attack on the city.
The sounds of explosions continued to rise and fall around the city walls.
Prince Gong's heart sank even more upon hearing this. Today's matter must have a result; it's either his death or his defeat!
*
"Here's the fragment you wanted."
Princess Jing'an, her forehead slightly sweaty and panting, handed the things in her arms to Guihua.
"Thanks." Guhua took the fragment. The golden primordial spirit, like smoke, swirled around the fragment. As soon as she touched it, the primordial spirit seemed to smell a familiar scent, loosened the fragment from her fingertips, and wrapped around her arm.
Princess Jing'an squinted at the scene before her.
"What's this?"
After successfully absorbing the primordial spirit, the injuries she had sustained from the backlash caused by Mao Mao were now mostly healed.
In high spirits, she readily answered her question: "The primordial spirit."
"A primordial spirit?" Princess Jing'an was surprised. When she found this thing, she thought it was rare and that it would glow when touched. She thought she would ask Gu Pingzhi what it was when he came back, but she didn't expect that she hadn't seen him for almost a year.
I wonder how he is doing...
Princess Jing'an thought to herself.
"Is this your primordial spirit?"
Guhua glanced at her, then smiled and said, "Yes."
As she felt the spiritual energy within her body gradually filling up, she couldn't wait to run to Bai Yuheng and absorb the remaining primordial spirit to make it her own!
Princess Jing'an was unfamiliar with the affairs of the cultivation world. Seeing that she was alright, she said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. I've been quite busy today."
Guhua realized that Pei Yuan was also in the palace. She hadn't gone to see him last night while she was healing, but now that she had the time, she decided to go and see him. After that, she would set off for the Netherworld Realm.
She would tell him about the other matters after she had recovered her primordial spirit.
I'll only see him once.
I didn't get a chance to have a proper talk with him last time.
After thinking it over, Guihua smiled and said to Princess Jing'an, "You're going to the palace? Take me with you."
Princess Jing'an knew this person had a lot of bad intentions, and she didn't want to be ruined by her at this crucial moment, so she had no choice but to say, "You want to go to the palace? What do you want to do there? The palace is under martial law these days, and ordinary people are not allowed to enter. I can't take you there."
"Let's wait a while." Princess Jing'an squinted at the direction of the city gate, estimating the time in her mind. "At the latest, we'll wait until tomorrow."
"I'll have someone take you in tomorrow, and then you can wander around however you like."
After saying that, he waved his hand dismissively and prepared to leave.
"I'm not just going to wander around; I need to meet someone, and then I'll leave."
Upon hearing this, Princess Jing'an had the leisure to ask further: "Who is he? Tell me, and I'll have someone bring him out."
Guhua pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and said, "You probably don't have the ability to order him around."
Princess Jing'an got excited too: "Then tell me, who is it?"
"Pei Yuan."
As Guihua carefully uttered the name, her heart skipped a beat.
"He came back with your younger brother."
"What? You think you can make him come out and see me?"
Princess Jing'an was suddenly startled, and the figure she had seen last night flashed through her mind.
"Who do you want to see?"
"..." Guhua glanced at her impatiently, "I told you you can't do it. There's a barrier in the palace. I can't get in by any other means. It would be best if you led me in through the main gate..."
“Okay.” Princess Jing’an replied immediately. “I know him. He won’t listen to me. I’ll take you in.”
Guhua was also surprised by how quickly her expression changed, and a strange displeasure arose in her heart.
"What did you say his name was?"
“…Pei Yuan.”
Guhua stared at her suddenly and warned, "Why are you asking him?"
Based on her intuition, Guihua felt that this person must know Pei Yuan, but she had never met him, so she had only heard his name.
Princess Jing'an's gaze lingered on her for a moment, her expression complex. She was dressed in black, her face veiled by a black gauze, and a three-finger-thick black snake was always perched on her shoulder, obscuring her true appearance.
Upon hearing her suspicion, Princess Jing'an paused, pursed her lips, and finally spoke under the gaze that seemed to want to tear her apart: "I've heard people talk about him."
"who?"
"...Gu Pingzhi."
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