Chapter 181: The Battle of the Nine-Headed Insect in the Eastern Capital
Wang Shichong's head exploded, and Zhou Yi gathered his energy at the Tinggong acupoint and listened quietly.
If there is any unusual movement in the inner house, he will definitely not be able to hide it.
Especially in the room where Wang Shichong lay dead, there was no other sound except the woman's screams, and no trace of a third person.
Even if Wang Shichong had a substitute, he would not allow the women in the inner house to have an affair with the substitute.
Unless this guy likes green grassland above his head.
After listening quietly for a few moments, Zhou Yi quickly escaped to the courtyard with a lotus pond on the east side of the inner house, and then used his nightgown to blend into the darkness.
He thought he should be more careful than the previous person.
When he heard the commotion in Duke Zheng's mansion, he did not flee in a hurry. He was skilled and brave, and turned back to investigate when he heard crying and shouting.
Servants and maids were seen moving about in a hurry, and many guards looked nervous, holding knives and guarding the moon-shaped hole in the corridor.
Zhou Yi leaned slightly sideways on the courtyard wall and looked inside. The window frame was half open. A headless, naked man was lying on his back, allowing the woman to manipulate him and help him put on his clothes and pants to maintain his decency.
Judging from this, Wang Shichong is most likely dead.
"The assassin is there, come quickly!"
The guards on the roof had a better view. Zhou Yi's shadow was shaken by the moonlight. After the guards noticed it, they shouted and rushed over immediately.
"Bang!"
The first big man who came with a knife to kill was sent flying backwards, smashing the window frame. The people beside Wang Shichong's dead body had just quieted down, but they screamed again at this time.
"kill--!"
Seven figures came from all directions, three of them used sickles to break the swords, and the remaining four held knives in one hand and rattan shields in the other to protect themselves.
This style of fighting, which involves implicit coordination of military formations, is often very effective when used against powerful enemies.
Zhou Yi raised his left palm and raised his true energy to block the three men wielding sickles.
The strong energy splashed out from the sword in his right hand.
An arc of light flashed across, and the four hard rattan shields shattered into pieces under the horrified gazes of several people.
The force spread along the rattan shield, and the four men were no match for this powerful innate energy, and they all screamed in agony. At the moment the four figures flew backwards, the three men with the hooks and sickles were about to unleash their strength.
Zhou Yi, who had just used his true energy to attack, became a monster that could work non-stop in their eyes.
He didn't catch his breath, but he continued with the next move almost without any pause.
Zhou Yi raised his left palm to the sky and shook off the three hook sickles above their heads. The three men all leaned back. People who practiced martial arts instinctively protected their vital parts, so they lowered their heads to protect their necks. However, a sword shadow with a sharp edge flashed by before they lowered their heads.
The sword wounds on the three men's necks formed a line, the blood flying out also formed a line, and even their heads remained at the same height in the air when they moved and flew into the sky.
The subtle control of strength is an art form.
If Emperor Ding saw this scene, he would probably applaud.
There are many people in the mansion of Duke Zheng. When a group of people died, they were immediately replaced.
After the killing is complete, I'm afraid his generals will lead the troops here.
"Bang~!"
Zhou Yi knocked down the Moon Gate with one palm, causing gravel and dust to fly up, and several guards who had jumped over the wall fell into the dust.
Roars were heard immediately after the dust, and dozens of people broke through the fog and rushed over, leaving no room for anyone to breathe.
With this kind of fighting style, no matter how skilled you are, if you cannot borrow the external force of heaven and earth and only attack from within, you will eventually be exhausted to death by them.
Zhou Yi glanced at Wang Shichong's body again. He was in no mood to waste time with this group of people. He stepped back and walked out of the mansion in two steps.
"Tattattatt"
Ripples appeared in the huge lotus pond, and the moon reflected in it was blurry. Zhou Yi skimmed through the water and was about to leave the Zhengguo Mansion.
At this moment, the sound of two breaking winds in front of him made him stop.
Immediately afterwards, a third eerie aura approached rapidly.
The water surface under Zhou Yi's feet began to freeze, providing him with strength, and the true energy flow of the stars swirled around, causing waves.
“BOOM~!!”
The loud bang came from the first collision between the four people. Water waves nearly three meters high shot out from the lotus pond, forming a layer of water curtain that enveloped the four people.
Before the waves could fall, the broken lotus leaves and the colorful koi fish were like a burst balloon under the stimulation of the fierce true energy.
The water waves exploded~!
Several osmanthus trees beside the yard were almost beaten bare, with leaves scattered all over the ground. The guards who ran to the gate screamed in pain, and those who came later hurriedly avoided them.
At this moment, the lotus pond water carrying true energy is more powerful than ordinary hidden weapons.
Zhou Yi's gaze was fixed on a plump figure.
This middle-aged woman, who was even more coquettish than before, held the Jade Xiaoyao and tapped it on Zhou Yi's true energy flow that looked like the Immortal Seal.
Who else could it be but the kind mother Shafang?
There were two other people beside Shanmu. The one on the left was extremely tall and shrouded in a black robe, so his face could not be seen. At this moment, his withered claws were flexed and stretched, and the true energy stimulated by his black nails was still above Shanmu.
The man on the right has an old face and wears a strange robe.
Around his neck hung a Buddhist rosary made of 108 steel balls. He clasped his palms together, and the Buddha's light around him surged like a golden wave. The air was so heavy that it was suffocating.
"Good, good, good."
The old monk stared at Zhou Yi and said, "Your Excellency is right. This donor is indeed a formidable figure. His martial arts skills are also unique. He was able to withstand the combined strength of the three of us."
Shanmu smiled and said, "Of course. If I hadn't relied on you two, I wouldn't have dared to do it."
She was about to continue when she suddenly felt a surge of pressure.
Waves of energy were being transferred to her Yu Xiaoyao, constantly consuming her energy, and the smile on her face disappeared.
There was a hint of smile in Zhou Yi's eyes. He stared at Shan's mother and said, "Since you are the weakest, I have no choice but to kill you first."
Shanmu was alert and said calmly, "Master, if you don't break his method of transferring true energy, you will never be able to kill him."
"I don't have the ability to do that. Master, please show me your Mahayana Buddhist skills."
The old monk narrowed his sleepy eyes slightly, and his palms suddenly revealed a layer of golden color, covering an area of three feet in radius, forming a field similar to the demonic force field. Once this method was used, it was an indiscriminate attack.
Shanmu, the tall person whose face could not be seen, and Zhou Yi's energy began to be weakened.
The more he reduced others, the stronger the old monk's momentum became.
"What kind of technique is this?"
Seeing that Zhou Yi seemed to be unable to hold on, the old monk smiled with his Buddha eyes: "You may not have heard of this, but this is the Ten Stages of Mahayana practice. Although I haven't achieved it, I am very good at dealing with secret methods like yours."
"Why do you have to resist so stubbornly?"
When the old monk said this calmly, he suddenly changed his mind and his palms turned into dozens of palm shadows and attacked wildly without any gap!
Moreover, the sound of the whirling wind carries enough true energy to fill the opponent's ears, reaching the "hearing cessation calamity" among the ten calamities of Mahayana, which can deprive the opponent of his sense of hearing.
He suddenly attacked, and it was almost a fatal blow!
This miraculous Buddhist power also affected Zhou Yi, causing his ears to ring.
But having had the experience of the Duke of Lu's Mansion, he was already prepared.
At this time, he reached out and grabbed the space, diverting the strength of the Good Mother and the Man with Dry Claws. This time, the pressure was not small. Fortunately, he was different from before. He gathered and compressed the two true forces, combined with his own true energy, and fought against three with one. The moment he launched a violent attack, his aura exploded like the "burn everything down" of the Queen of Yin.
“Buzz buzz buzz~~!”
There was no explosion, only a fluctuation.
The Daoxin Demon sees everything as fluctuations, and the innate true qi is a higher-level and subtle fluctuation. At this time, the wave of true energy turns into a test of the four people's subtle true qi.
The large rockery in the center of the lotus pond, which was several people tall, was at the center of the wave of true energy. It immediately turned into slag and shattered, collapsing into the pond water with a thud.
All four of them were affected by the backlash of the wave, and Zhou Yi was the first to break free from the restraints.
It would be easy for him to leave at this moment.
But he did the opposite and slashed at Shanmu with a sword!
Shafang was gentle but fierce, ignoring the turbulence of blood and energy in her body, Yu Xiaoyao suddenly pointed out, and the shadow of the stick was like a snake, whooshing through the air.
The silver stick has not arrived yet, but the strange cyclone has already arrived.
Thirteen Qi arrows were formed from the broken Qi, but when these Qi arrows encountered Zhou Yi's sword Qi, under the collision of Qi and spirit, the true Qi could not win, and the actual spirit was even knocked down.
Shafang was shocked.
Yu Xiaoyao and Zhou Yi's swords collided with each other, and the two sides competed again. The sky-changing and earth-strike attacks quickly broke through Shanmu's spiritual method.
Shanmu is completely defeated!
At this time, the black robe fluttered, and the tall man approached like a ghost, with his skinny eleven fingers stretched out, and the shadows of his claws filled the sky.
This move is very similar to the "Suzaku Rejecting Corpse" in the Eighteen Claws of Returning Souls.
Before the claws reached the body, the cold demonic energy had already arrived. The scene in front of Zhou Yi suddenly distorted, and the air around him seemed to be undulating. The tall figure was split into three, and six dry claws, with sharp whistles that tore through the air, attacked the throat, heart, and dantian respectively.
It is difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion, and the devil's appearance confuses the mind!
The Dao Heart Demon Qi in Zhou Yi's Ren and Du meridians entered the Sizhu Kongxu on the edge of his eyebrows, making his eyes infinitely deep, as if there was a whirlpool that was about to pull the phantom of the tall figure in.
Ignoring the injured Shan Mu, he swung his sword back.
The long sword did not meet the claw shadow, but drew a half arc, and with a "swish" sound, it tore through the air flow in front of it.
As the sword wind passed by, the air made a sound of tearing silk, and the three figures rushing towards them shook violently and blurred like reflections in the water - their true identities were exposed!
The tip of the sword turned into a cold star and pierced the Shenmen acupoint on his right wrist, forcing him to withdraw his claws.
The man in black robe reacted extremely quickly, but when he dodged, he leaned back and exposed his face.
Zhou Yi saw in the moonlight and lamplight that under the deep brim of the hat was a faceless person.
The golden Buddha light spread out, and the old monk attacked again.
The palms that were clasped together suddenly separated, and the right palm pressed into the air. It was not a strong palm force, but a golden Buddha light and energy wall that was as sticky as a substance, pressing down with a loud bang.
When faced with this move, an ordinary warrior would feel as if he was carrying a mountain, and all the bones in his body would be broken.
What is even more terrifying is that both sight and hearing are suppressed, the Buddha's light is blinding, the overlapping Sanskrit chanting fills the ears, and the five senses are confused.
Zhou Yi glanced towards a dark corner of Duke Zheng's mansion, with the long sword in his hand blazing with fire.
“Bang~!”
The golden Buddha wall blocked the Lihuo sword energy.
"You are so angry, benefactor, but to destroy my Buddhist power, you need the real fire of the sun."
The old monk pretended to be pleased, attacked him with words, and was ready to use a dirty trick.
"You bald thief, you're full of lies. Do you think you're Zhu Faqing?"
Zhou Yi snorted disdainfully, and his mental power suddenly spread out. The spirit from the top of his head rushed down like a waterfall, following the force of the sword and hitting the old monk directly. The old monk trembled slightly, and resisted with all his might, and could no longer speak.
"Why, are you mute?"
The old monk's eyes were filled with anger, and the expressions of the kind mother and the faceless man beside him both darkened at this moment.
Just as the old monk risked getting hurt and tried to put his hands together to hold down Zhou Yi's sword and hold him back, Zhou Yi's true energy surged and repelled the old monk along with the true energy Buddha wall.
Then he flashed and left the battle circle.
The faceless man's claw shadows and the good mother Yu Xiaoyao's claw shadows all missed.
He could leave whenever he wanted, and no one could stop him.
"You three are defeated. I will come back to treat your head another day."
After saying this, he took off into the darkness, avoiding the rain of arrows coming from afar with a phantom.
Even if a large group of people were chasing after them and they ran through alleys and streets, it would be of no avail and it would be difficult to get a glimpse of their backs.
From the dark corner, a tall man walked out.
He looked straight in the direction Zhou Yi left.
Shafang panted and asked, "Great Master, didn't you find an opportunity?"
"No."
Xu Kaishan said slowly, "He hasn't reached his limit yet, and he's been aware of my presence for a long time, so he's been on guard. If you ignore your injuries and attack with all your strength, there's still hope. Otherwise, we won't be able to stop him."
The old monk frowned and said, "This man is extremely difficult to deal with, especially his Qinggong skills. I don't know if it's worth it for me to offend him this time."
Shanmu reminded him, "Master, there is no turning back."
"Good, good, I don't have many years left to live, so I'm not afraid of going to hell."
The faceless man listened to them silently without saying a word.
…
"Master Zhou, has Duke Zheng's headache been cured?"
Lu Chu didn't sleep and kept waiting for Zhou Yi to return.
"It was treated simply."
Lu Chu was a little confused: "How is it so simple?"
Zhou Yi pondered, "It would be like taking Wang Shichong's head off and smashing it into a rotten watermelon with one blow."
Lu Chu was secretly shocked and laughed dryly: "Mr. Zhou is really a miracle doctor."
"I can be sure that the face wasn't disguised, nor was it a human skin mask. It was her original appearance, and she was having sex openly in the inner chamber. I heard the guards later call the woman Zheng."
Lu Chu stroked his mustache and said, "That Zheng is very coquettish and is Wang Shichong's favorite concubine."
He was a little excited: "Perhaps on this ordinary night, Master Zhou has eliminated a great evil for Luoyang!"
The next day.
A fast horse galloped to the gate of Lu's mansion.
When Lu Chu heard the gatekeeper report that someone had come from Duke Zheng's mansion, he ran out to listen in person, hoping that it was good news.
The messenger said:
"Mr. Lu, the Duke reminds you to go to the Imperial City Council on time tomorrow."
Lu Chu's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained composure. "There was turmoil in the city last night. Did Duke Zheng rest safely?"
"Safe, safe."
The man laughed and said, "A thief broke into our house last night, but he was quickly sent away. My Duke and Madam Zheng woke up early to eat, so it seems they weren't affected."
"By the way, the Duke also asked me to pass a message to the Internal Affairs Secretary."
"What?"
"I heard that Master Zhou of the Internal Affairs Office is an expert in treating brain diseases. I would like to invite him to come and treat the Duke's stubborn illness. Master Zhou has not yet arrived, but the Duke is very sincere and has already made many good arrangements."
"Okay, I understand."
The messenger sent by Wang Shichong rode away with a sneer on his face. The horse's pace was slow and leisurely, and he looked completely relaxed.
Lu Chu returned to the mansion and told Zhou Yi what had happened.
Seeing Zhou Yi's face darken, he said, "I don't know what tricks Wang Shichong used, but it's within our expectations. Young Master Zhou, don't worry about it."
"Could he be a nine-headed monster?"
Lu Chu soothed: "Maybe."
After saying this, he saw the young man in front of him had a sullen face again, and he felt a little frightened by the arrogance of the big thief Wang Shichong.
Even if you have some tricks up your sleeve, is it really appropriate to provoke this person like this?
"Okay, very good."
Zhou Yi laughed angrily: "I want to see how many heads this guy has."
Lu Chu knew he couldn't stop him, so he suggested, "I've been dealing with Wang Shichong for a long time. If Master Zhou succeeds again, why not bring back his head so I can take a closer look at it?"
Zhou Yi nodded slightly.
Thinking about those people last night, except for Shanmu, the identities of the other two are unclear.
I thought the one using claws was Demon Marshal, but it turned out to be a faceless man.
Judging from his martial arts style, he should be related to the Demonic Sect.
As for the insidious bald thief, he is proficient in Zhu Faqing's strange Buddhist skills. In terms of combat power, this Ten Stages Mahayana skill can naturally restrain any internal skills and mental methods, which is no small matter.
Even if Thief Baldy hasn't mastered all of his skills, he's still a troublesome existence.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yi asked, "Which monks from the surrounding temples has Wang Shichong interacted with?"
Lu Chu recalled: "If we talk about the best relationship, the first one is White Horse Temple."
Luoyang has three major scenic spots: one temple, one temple and one cave, namely White Horse Temple, Laojun Temple and Longmen Grottoes.
Zhou Yi heard Lu Chu say again:
"This White Horse Temple is the first Buddhist temple in the Central Plains. It was built in the tenth year of the Yongping reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was named after the two eminent monks, Shemoteng and Zhu Falan, who were brought back from India with Buddhist scriptures and statues carried by white horses."
"This is the beginning of Buddhism in China, so it is known as the ancestral temple and the source of Buddhism."
"Wang Shichong passed by the White Horse Temple many times and became friends with a master named Zhu Faming. This master had practiced at the Yique Shrine. Although not well-known, his martial arts skills were very high."
Zhou Yi is not a native of Dongdu and does not know much about Buddhist forces other than the Four Great Monks.
"Do you know what kind of martial arts Zhu Faming practices?"
"I don't know."
Lu Chu shook his head and changed the subject: "I don't know Zhu Faming, but I did meet another monk from the White Horse Temple more than ten years ago. His name was Zhu Fachen. At that time, he talked to me about the Jataka Sutra, the Buddha's Life Sutra, and the Dharma Sea Sutra, and persuaded me to enter the temple to practice."
"Do you still have a connection with Buddha?"
"But I can't bear that kind of suffering. I just heard from this master that he possesses the Mahayana Buddhism, which is called the Broken Vajrayana."
Lu Chu sighed, "What about the body being a precious raft to cross the world? I can't stand hearing that. Instead of keeping a useful body, it's better to enjoy this life in the mortal world and do what I should and can do."
Zhou Yi muttered: "Broken Vajrayana, the Internal History may have missed a secret Buddhist technique."
"That's not a pity. I have a family, how can I abandon them?"
Zhou Yi said with a smile: "You do have some wisdom."
"You're too kind," Lu Chu said with a smile that wrinkled his face. "I've seen that master practicing under the scorching sun. I wonder if the one you're talking about is the same."
Zhou Yi knew what was going on and said no more.
Lu Chu asked again, "When did Master Zhou go to Dugu's house?"
"What suggestions does Nei Shi have?"
Lu Chu suggested, "Why don't you come with me, Mr. Zhou? This way we can fulfill our promise without losing face by coming uninvited."
Zhou Yi looked at him and couldn't help but smile. In fact, it was not as serious as he said.
However, Little Phoenix also seems to be a master of keeping secrets.
When he took his grandmother's training notes before, he had been holding out in Luoyang and had never revealed his identity. Judging from Dugu Feng's attitude now, she was probably still keeping it secret.
Wang Shichong has many experts on his side, so keeping this secret is a good thing.
He was just thinking about it when he heard Lu Chu say, "The young master of the Li family in Guanzhong will soon enter the Eastern Capital. If my information is correct, they will go to the Dugu family, and there may even be people from Cihang Jingzhai. This time, the Emperor will go to the Dugu Mansion."
"They are all relatives, and we are just there to listen."
"What do you think, Master Zhou?"
Zhou Yi nodded: "Okay, let's follow the arrangements of the Internal History."
On this day, Dongdu was exceptionally peaceful, like a calm lake.
No disputes broke out in the court or in the underworld.
However, more and more people from the underworld entered the city through various gates, including some who spoke with foreign accents and were "prominent".
Those who had been hiding in the White Horse Temple, Laojun Temple, Longmen and Yique also walked out and headed straight for the Eastern Capital.
In Yanshi, Hulao and Xingyang in the east, there were signs of large-scale military movements.
Several elite troops from the Jianghuai region also marched northwards and entered Pengliang to join forces with Du Fuwei and Shan Xiongxin.
When Wang Bo of Shilang entered from the north gate of the Eastern Capital holding the Dingshi Whip.
The carriages from the five noble houses of Lu, Guo, Huangfu, Duan and Zhao arrived outside the imperial city.
Lu Chu and Zhou Yi got off the carriage together.
After the Jiangdu Imperial City, we saw the Dongdu Ziwei City.
The walls of Ziwei City are taller and more majestic and solemn, completely different from Jiangdu Qiuyue, and have an even more royal and majestic atmosphere.
It can be seen that Guangshen gave special love to the special Jiangdu.
A tall and thin general in his thirties rushed out from the Zuowuwei Battalion, which was in charge of guarding the city gate.
Lu Chu looked at Zhou Yi and thought to himself that it was indeed so.
He whispered, "This is Dugu Feng's eldest son, Dugu Lang. Compared to his third son, Dugu Ce, this one is much more reliable. Although he likes to visit brothels, he also does not neglect his work in the Zuowuwei Camp."
"I heard he has a lover in Lixiangyuan whom he loves very much, but he doesn't dare to bring her home."
Zhou Yidu glanced at Lu Chu.
Are you, Old Lu, also so gossipy?
"Why didn't you take it home?" Zhou Yi asked.
"I guess he's afraid the old lady will break his legs."
The two of them whispered to each other, and Huangfu Wuyi and Guo Wenyi glanced at them from time to time, both showing understanding.
Lu Chu and Guo Wenyi, one was the Minister of Internal Affairs and the other was the Vice Minister of Internal Affairs.
The standard eldest and second in command.
Now Guo Lao Er was looking at Lu Lao Da eagerly, thinking that Lu Chu must have surrendered completely.
This chief officer is too unkind. He didn't promote me and didn't even know about it.
His identity hasn't been exposed yet, why don't you, Old Lu, help introduce him to me and leave me a way out?
Guo Laoer even maliciously speculated whether he was eating alone.
If Xiao Guo had not brought the news from Xuanyuan Road, he would still be kept in the dark, just like Zhao Congwen.
Huangmen Shilang Zhao Congwen didn't have any extra thoughts. He was the first to greet Dugu Lang. After exchanging greetings, he asked:
"Have Duke Zheng and Chief Steward Dugu arrived?"
"Already in Daye Palace."
"good."
Zhao Congwen didn't waste any words. Since they were not in the Ganyang Palace, there would not be a large number of court officials entering the palace.
"Gentlemen, please."
Zhao Congwen could act arrogantly in the officialdom of Dongdu, but his status was the lowest among the Seven Nobles.
At this time, please invite Duke Chen Duan Da first, and then invite the rest of the people.
Because it happened during the special period when Duke Lu was killed, everyone was surrounded by retainers and guards. Since it was not a formal occasion like Ganyang Palace, Dugu Lang, who was used to such scenes, did not stop them.
He waved his hand, and the people from the Zuo Wuwei Camp dispersed.
Zhou Yi followed Lu Chu and passed through the high palace wall with rammed earth as the core and blue bricks as the outer layer.
Next is the huge "A"-shaped building complex consisting of gate towers, Duo towers and Que towers.
The central gate tower rises high into the clouds, with long corridors extending on both sides connecting the east-west symmetrical towers, and then extending forward to form huge double towers, like spread-out wings, guarding the central imperial road.
Passing through three levels of gates, each one leading to a higher level, the majesty and inviolability of the imperial city are vividly displayed.
The Ganyang Hall rises high into the sky, and the first thing you see is the highest standard double-eaved hipped roof.
Lu Chu, Huangfu Wuyi and others were accustomed to it and did not stay.
Zhou Yi followed them past the golden and jade-filled Ganyang Palace, passed through the Daye Gate, and arrived at the Daye Palace where the regular court was held.
Although slightly smaller in scale than the Qianyang Hall, it is more exquisite and was where the emperor handled daily government affairs. The furnishings inside the hall are more lifelike, but still retain the same majesty.
After entering the hall, there were only a few eunuchs.
There are only Dugu Feng and Wang Shichong.
Zhou Yi narrowed his eyes and stared at Wang Shichong. Wang Shichong gave him a devilish smile, which made Zhou Yi want to splatter blood in Daye Hall.
"And His Majesty?"
Huangfu Wuyi asked calmly.
Everyone looked at Dugu Feng and Wang Shichong. The old man Dugu said, "Your Majesty is ill, so today's meeting will be left to us to discuss on our own."
They have the final say on the affairs of Dongdu, and Emperor Huangtai will basically not object to their decisions when he hears them.
"Duke Zheng, it was you who proposed this matter, so you can speak."
Lu Chu asked, "Didn't you say you wanted to discuss the Duke of Lu's affairs?"
"It's related to Brother Wendu."
Wang Shichong said, "Why did Brother Wendu die? It all comes down to the chaos in the martial arts world. Too many martial arts masters have flocked to Dongdu, so we are unable to act without restraint and dare not incur public wrath."
"These Jianghu people rely on their great strength and are very brave."
Wang Shichong glanced at Zhou Yi and asked Dugu Feng:
"Butler, if you and your wives and concubines are working, and someone comes to your house and kills people, acting lawlessly, should such a person be killed?"
"Nonsense, of course he deserves to be killed."
Dugu Feng slowly raised his eyes and asked, "What's the purpose of you saying these crude things in the Imperial City?"
Lu Chu glanced at Zhou Yi and slightly moved his body in front of him, fearing that he would act impulsively due to his youthful vigor.
If we take action against Wang Shichong here, he will be wanted by the whole city. Even if he can escape, it will be difficult for him to do things in Dongdu.
Wang Shichong was silent for a moment before he said, "So, we need to eliminate the root cause. The source of the chaos in the martial arts world is the Heshi Bi. Without the Heshi Bi, these people will scatter like birds and beasts."
Zhao Congwen and Guo Wenyi were shocked: "Duke Zheng wants to seize the Heshi Bi?"
"What do I want the Heshi Bi for?"
Wang Shichong bowed towards the dragon throne in Daye Hall:
"I'm helping Your Majesty seize the Heshi Bi. If Your Majesty succeeds, it will be destined by heaven, carrying the mission of saving the Great Sui Dynasty. This will win the hearts of the people and attract more forces to follow. Then, the power of our Eastern Capital will surely be far greater than it is now."
"What do you think, gentlemen?"
Zhou Yi was a little surprised, while Lu Chu was thinking.
Zhou Yi stood behind him, listening attentively.
Lu Chu's expression changed slightly, and he was the first to speak: "I also want to help Your Majesty seize the Heshi Bi, but I am alone and weak, and I am afraid I cannot defeat the powerful people in the martial arts world. Duke Zheng is powerful, since you have proposed it, can you be the vanguard?"
"If that's the case, Lu has no objection."
Wang Shichong stretched out his arms and said confidently, "I have no choice but to accept this."
"good."
After Lu Chu said yes, Huangfu Wuyi also said, "I agree."
"I agree too." Guo Wenyi followed closely.
Duan Da and Zhao Congwen, who had not yet reacted, spoke out one after another. Except for the deceased Yuan Wendu, all the six nobles agreed.
Everyone looked at Dugu Feng.
The old man's expression changed. He was still calculating the pros and cons when everyone around him agreed. He suddenly felt isolated by them.
If these people collude with each other, his Dugu family will be in trouble.
Dugu Feng assessed the situation and said, "The Imperial Guards must protect the Imperial City and must not be deployed en masse. However, since you all have no objections, I cannot stop you even if I want to."
A smile flashed across Wang Shichong's sinister eyes, and he half-jokingly said, "As long as the steward doesn't interfere, it will be of the greatest help."
"snort."
Dugu Feng said coldly, "If you are sincere in serving Master Huangtai, why would I interfere?"
Wang Shichong smiled but did not answer.
Dugu Feng left Daye Palace without even saying hello and was the first to look for His Majesty.
The six nobles are showing signs of uniting, and this must be made known.
Wang Shichong was also about to leave, but suddenly stopped in front of Lu Chu, patted his head and took a breath.
"Master Zhou, my stubborn brain disease has recurred and it's been aching. When will you be able to treat me?"
"The illness cannot be delayed. I will visit you another day."
"Okay, then I'll be waiting for you."
Wang Shichong bowed politely and walked out of Daye Hall, as if he didn't care at all about what others said.
Lu Chu wanted to say something, but Zhou Yi reminded him and he kept silent and left the hall.
After they were far away, he asked, "Mr. Zhou, who are you avoiding?"
"Duan Da."
Lu Chu was slightly startled: "Duke Chen! Why is this happening?"
"He is in cahoots with Wang Shichong. Whatever you said to Huangfu Wuyi and the others just now, Wang Shichong will know it."
Lu Chu's eyelids twitched, he didn't notice anything unusual about Duan Da.
But Zhou Yi's words, full of confidence, always make people believe that what he says is true.
"I really can't understand why Wang Shichong wanted to seize the Heshi Bi. Isn't this a thankless task?"
"Don't worry about his purpose. Think about why he wants your consent first."
Zhou Yi's question did not stump Lu Chu:
"Many people privately opposed him, but we agreed, and there was no dissenting voice in the Dongdu officialdom, nor in the military. He wanted to do things peacefully, and he was afraid we would interfere, especially Dugu Feng. Those loyal to the Great Sui Dynasty would basically listen to his opinions."
"I now suspect that he sent someone to kill Brother Wendu for this very reason. Brother Wendu would definitely be the first to oppose him, and I would stand with him."
"If you hadn't spoken up, I would still have opposed him."
Zhou Yi focused his gaze and looked in the direction Wang Shichong had left: "The Wang Shichong today is not the same person I saw that night."
Lu Chu frowned: "Why can't I see any clues?"
"His voice, his appearance, his temperament, have not changed. He is the same Wang Shichong that I am familiar with."
"No."
Zhou Yi shook his head slightly. "When your skill is high enough, you can feel the subtle fluctuations, and then you can experience the different auras of each person. This aura is related to the pulse energy, blood energy, and true energy."
"So is he real or fake?"
"I don't know, because I've never met Wang Shichong."
Wang Shichong had clearly seen him just now, but Lu Chu was a little confused when he heard Zhou Yi's words.
Everyone has their own judgment. From an experience perspective, Lu Chu disagrees: "I think he is Wang Shichong, and he was the same that night. They are exactly the same as the Wang Shichong of the past, there is no difference."
"Then why doesn't he die?"
Lu Chu hammered his forehead: "Maybe it's really like you said, he is a nine-headed monster."
"Or, he's some kind of dirty thing."
Lu Chu shook his head and warned, "He has been provoking you, but don't fall into his trap. Just like today in Daye Hall, I was afraid that you would take action. If you did, it would be irreversible and the entire Dongdu would target you."
Zhou Yi smiled and said, "Wang Shichong is using himself to make a nest and is fishing me like a fish."
"What are you going to do?"
"This is very interesting. Of course I want to play with him."
That night.
With the arrival of the men in black, the Duke of Zheng's mansion fell into chaos again, with men screaming in trembling tones and women shrieking in fear and panic.
This time no major war broke out.
After the man in black took off Wang Shichong's head, he passed through the defense with his phantom-like movements and rushed out of the mansion.
Not long after, the head appeared in Lu Neishi's home.
Zhou Yi handed the head to Lu Chu, who, as an old acquaintance, would study and preserve it, and also do some anti-corrosion treatment.
The next day.
The messenger from Duke Zheng's mansion came again and repeated his previous words.
With a smile on his face, he asked Zhou Yi to treat his brain disease.
That night, Wang Shichong's general Wuliangjian and Xiang Siren arranged an ambush early, but no one showed up until the second half of the night.
At dawn, Wang Shichong got up and had breakfast.
Halfway through the meal, my head suddenly moved.
Soon, they arrived at Lu Nei Shi's mansion.
Lu Chu began to compare the differences between the two heads.
After a period of rest and fighting, until the eighth day, Lu Chu stared at the five heads of Wang Shichong arranged in a "three-two" pattern.
He said with some choking: "Even if he is a nine-headed monster, he should be dead."
"Mr. Zhou, please stop."
Lu Chu sighed, his eyes twitching as he said, "You can't kill him, and he can't do anything to you either. Let's wait until we get to the Dugu family and then make a long-term plan."
"Also, these past few days I've been dreaming about meeting Wang Shichong. His heads have been circling around me, making me toss and turn."
"My eyes are blurry now, and everything I see looks like Wang Shichong."
His eyes were filled with blood, which was really hard to understand.
Zhou Yiqing smiled coldly: "Hold on a little longer, I've noticed something."
That night.
A real fire broke out in Duke Zheng's Mansion and a big battle broke out!
Nearly a hundred of Xiang Siren's men died, including the old monk Zhu Faming, Shanmu, Poison Xinnaya, and the faceless man. The Great Master still felt that something was missing and he didn't find a chance to kill them, so he failed.
After this night, the man who went to Lu’s house to deliver the message never showed up again.
The Duke of Zheng's Mansion seemed to have given in.
The Lu family welcomed a new visitor.
It was Guo Wenyi.
Guo Laoer thought about it for a long time, and took the opportunity of going to Dugu's house to look for someone.
After receiving a reply from the manager of the Lu Mansion, I learned that Lu Nei Shi and Master Zhou were both at home.
Guo Wenyi followed the guard who led the way into the inner hall.
The inner hall is different from the reception hall outside. It is a place for private conversation.
He walked and speculated.
"It seems that Brother Lu and Master Zhou already know my intentions. This is good. Let's be frank. Covering up is not good."
Muttering to himself, the guard led him to a secret room beside the inner hall.
Guo Wenyi understood what he meant.
He pushed open the door and saw a scene that he could never have imagined in his life.
There was a pungent smell of lime in the secret room. A row of large candles with strong flames were lit. The candles were placed by the window, with yellow paper pasted on both sides with talismans or something like that drawn on them to ward off evil spirits. There was a small incense burner by the window, with two incense sticks half-burned.
Some offerings should be placed on the counter below the incense burner.
at this time
A chill rushed from the soles of Guo Laoer's feet all the way up to the top of his head, and the door behind him creaked and closed automatically.
Guo Laoer stared blankly at the sacrificial table, where a pile of things were placed in groups of three or two. He was very familiar with each of them, but when these familiar things were put together, it gave people a feeling of absurdity and horror.
Wang Shichong, Wang Shichong, and still Wang Shichong.
“Here, here.”
Guo Laoer kept mumbling "this" for a long time, not knowing how to describe it.
He really hoped that Wang Shichong would die, but he could not accept the sight of six identical heads in front of him.
Guo Wenyi looked at Zhou Yi and Lu Chu and said in horror:
"What on earth is going on with Wang Shichong?!"
Lu Chu's bloodshot eyes smiled cruelly:
"Brother Guo, you've arrived just in time. Young Master Zhou has already discovered the Nine-Headed Insect, ahem, Wang Shichong's secret!"
…
(End of this chapter)
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