A thick gloom seemed to hang over the capital, oppressive and almost suffocating. As Xiao Yichen and his group's investigation deepened, Murong Xuan keenly sensed that he was driven to the brink. The truth hidden behind the layers of conspiracy, like the dawn breaking, was about to pierce through the endless darkness, exposing all his crimes. In this life-or-death moment, Murong Xuan's heart, consumed by greed and ambition, drove him to make a crazy and resolute decision—to gamble everything, using any means necessary to drag the capital into a deeper vortex of chaos, hoping to find a glimmer of hope in this turmoil and escape the punishment of justice.
In a dark corner of the capital, Murong Xuan gathered his remaining troops, his face twisted and ferocious, his eyes revealing a desperate madness.
"Gentlemen, Xiao Yichen and his gang are now in cahoots with the imperial investigation team. We have no way out. If we don't want to sit and wait for our doom, we have no choice but to take the initiative, disrupt the capital, and make them too busy to take care of themselves." Murong Xuan said viciously, his cold voice seeming to come from hell, sending a chill down the spines of everyone present.
One of his trusted confidants cautiously asked, "Young master, what do you plan to do? We are currently short-handed, and a direct confrontation would likely be difficult to win."
Murong Xuan sneered, "Hmph! A direct confrontation? I wouldn't be so foolish. We'll exploit the discontent among the people of the capital over the food crisis, incite them to riot, and drag the court and Xiao Yichen and his associates into a media storm. At the same time, we'll send our most elite assassins to launch a surprise attack on Xiao Yichen and his allies' strongholds, catching them off guard. As long as we can create enough chaos, we'll have a chance to escape."
The confidants looked at each other, and although they had doubts about Murong Xuan's plan, they had no choice but to obey.
Thus, a meticulously planned conspiracy quietly unfolded in the capital. Murong Xuan's men moved through the streets and alleys of the capital like ghosts, secretly spreading rumors and inciting unrest, shifting the blame for the food crisis entirely onto the imperial court and Xiao Yichen and his associates.
"Do you know? This food crisis was caused by the imperial court and those outlaws. They hoarded food and deliberately raised prices, completely disregarding the lives of us common people!" One of Murong Xuan's men shouted loudly in the crowd, and the surrounding people looked angry upon hearing it.
"Yes, we work hard all year, but we can't even get a full meal. Is there no justice in this world?"
"Let's go, let's go to the imperial court and reason with them! We can't let them bully us like this!"
Incited by Murong Xuan's men, the people of the capital were gradually blinded by anger. They gathered together and surged toward the palace and Xiao Yichen's stronghold, plunging the capital into chaos.
Meanwhile, under the cover of night, the assassins dispatched by Murong Xuan launched a fierce attack on Xiao Yichen and his group's stronghold. Zhao Feng's stronghold was the first to be attacked, as a group of assassins in black swarmed in like a tide, wielding sharp blades and cutting down anyone in sight without mercy.
"Enemy attack! Brothers, grab your weapons!" Zhao Feng roared, brandishing his broadsword as he charged towards the enemy. His brothers were also jolted awake from their sleep, grabbing their weapons and engaging the assassins in a desperate battle.
However, the assassins came on strong and were all highly skilled in martial arts, and Zhao Feng and his companions gradually found themselves outmatched. Flames soared into the sky within the stronghold, and shouts of battle and screams of agony mingled together, creating a chilling atmosphere.
"Brother, there are too many enemies, what should we do?" one of the brothers asked anxiously.
Zhao Feng gritted his teeth and said, "Don't panic! We'll hold our ground and wait for Young Master Xiao's reinforcements. Even if we die, we'll take as many as possible down with us!"
At another stronghold, Chu Yun and her female swordsmen encountered the same predicament. The assassins used their lightness skills to attack the stronghold from all sides. Although the female swordsmen were skilled in swordsmanship, they were somewhat overwhelmed by so many enemies.
"Sisters, maintain formation, don't panic!" Chu Yun shouted. Her sword gleamed coldly in the moonlight, each strike repelling an enemy, but the assassins kept coming, keeping her busy.
Upon learning of the attack on their stronghold, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er were extremely anxious. They quickly gathered their men and rushed towards the attacked stronghold.
"Yichen, the situation is critical, we must get there as soon as possible," Lin Wan'er said with a solemn expression.
Xiao Yichen nodded: "Wan'er, stay behind me and be very careful. Murong Xuan wants to wipe us all out, we can't let him succeed."
When Xiao Yichen and his group arrived at Zhao Feng's stronghold, the scene before them was horrifying. The stronghold was in complete disarray, littered with corpses and bloodstains. Zhao Feng and his brothers were locked in a bloody battle with the assassins, and the situation was extremely precarious.
"Brother Zhao, I'm here to help you!" Xiao Yichen shouted, charging into the enemy ranks like a dragon emerging from the sea. His swordsmanship was incredibly fierce, and wherever he went, the assassins fell one after another.
Lin Wan'er also displayed her martial arts skills; her hidden weapons streaked across the night sky like meteors, accurately striking the enemy's vital points. With the support of Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, the pressure on Zhao Feng and the others was greatly reduced, and they fought back fiercely, gradually turning the tide of the battle.
However, just when they thought they were about to defeat the enemy, Murong Xuan personally led a team of experts to arrive. His appearance made the already tense situation even more serious.
"Xiao Yichen, do you think you can ruin my plans so easily? Today is your death day!" Murong Xuan laughed wildly, his eyes revealing madness and hatred.
Xiao Yichen coldly looked at Murong Xuan: "Murong Xuan, your conspiracy will not succeed. Those who do many evil deeds will surely perish. Today is the day you pay the price for your crimes!"
After saying this, Xiao Yichen and Murong Xuan engaged in a thrilling duel. Both of them possessed extremely high swordsmanship, and for a time, their swords flashed and they were evenly matched.
Lin Wan'er, Zhao Feng, and the others continued to fight against Murong Xuan's men. They knew that this battle was about the fate of the capital and the struggle between justice and evil, and they could not back down.
Inside the palace, the emperor was furious upon learning of the riots in the capital and the attack on Xiao Yichen and his group's stronghold.
"How dare Murong Xuan! He dares to act so recklessly right under my nose! Minister Li, I order you to immediately dispatch the Imperial Guards to quell the rebellion and arrest Murong Xuan!" The Emperor roared angrily.
Lord Li immediately accepted the order: "As you command! Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost to wipe out Murong Xuan and his cronies."
Lord Li swiftly organized the Imperial Guards and rushed towards the rioting crowds and Murong Xuan's location. The situation in the capital was becoming increasingly tense, like a volcano about to erupt, ready to engulf everything at any moment.
At the height of this crisis, the duel between Xiao Yichen and Murong Xuan reached its climax. Xiao Yichen knew that he had to defeat Murong Xuan as soon as possible, or the capital would be plunged into utter ruin.
Lin Wan'er quickly walked to Xiao Yichen's side and asked with concern, "Yichen, are you alright?"
Xiao Yichen shook his head slightly and gently held Lin Wan'er's hand: "Wan'er, I'm fine. Thanks to everyone's concerted efforts, we were able to get through this ordeal."
Zhao Feng walked over laughing heartily: "Young Master Xiao, Murong Xuan finally got what he deserved. Our battle was truly exhilarating!"
Xiao Yichen smiled and nodded: "Brother Zhao is right. However, we cannot let our guard down. Although Murong Xuan is dead, the 'Golden Scale Society' behind him has not been completely eradicated. We must find the key evidence as soon as possible and wipe them out in one fell swoop, otherwise the crisis in the capital will still recur at any time."
Chu Yun said from the side, "Young Master Xiao, I think that since Murong Xuan dares to be so audacious, he must have hidden some important evidence in a very secret place. We can start by searching his residence or the places he frequents."
Xiao Yichen pondered for a moment and said, "Miss Chu Yun is right. We will split into several groups and conduct a thorough search of Murong Xuan's residence, study, and other properties in the capital. We must not miss any corner."
So, everyone quickly sprang into action. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er led a group to Murong Xuan's residence, while Zhao Feng led his brothers to search Murong Xuan's study, and Chu Yun led the female swordsmen to investigate Murong Xuan's other properties.
Murong Xuan's residence was located in a secluded spot in the capital, with deep courtyards and towering pavilions. Xiao Yichen and his companions cautiously entered, finding the interior luxuriously furnished yet exuding a sinister atmosphere.
"Everyone, search carefully and see if there are any hidden compartments or secret rooms," Xiao Yichen instructed.
The group began to search the house thoroughly, moving furniture, tapping on walls, and leaving no place unchecked for possible hiding of evidence. Suddenly, one of the men discovered a hidden compartment behind a painting in the study.
"Young Master Xiao, there's a hidden compartment here!" his subordinate shouted excitedly.
Xiao Yichen quickly went over, opened the hidden compartment, and found an account book and several letters inside. He picked up the account book and letters and examined them carefully. The account book detailed the financial transactions between Murong Xuan and the "Golden Scale Society," as well as their manipulation of the capital's grain market. The letters contained instructions and plans from the "Golden Scale Society," explicitly mentioning a conspiracy to exploit the grain crisis to incite unrest in the capital and then seize control of the court.
"Found it! This is the key evidence we've been searching for!" Xiao Yichen said excitedly.
Lin Wan'er watched from the side, her eyes also showing joy: "Yichen, with this evidence, we can completely expose the conspiracy of the 'Golden Scale Society' and restore peace to the capital."
Just then, Zhao Feng and Chu Yun also brought news that they had discovered some clues and evidence related to the "Golden Scale Society" during their search. Xiao Yichen compiled all the evidence, secretly rejoicing. This evidence was not only enough to eradicate the "Golden Scale Society's" influence in the capital, but also to provide important evidence for the court to resolve the food crisis.
Xiao Yichen, carrying the evidence, rushed to the palace and reported the good news to the Emperor. Upon hearing this, the Emperor was overjoyed.
"Minister Xiao, you have rendered a great service this time. I will certainly reward you and your allies handsomely. With this evidence, I can order a thorough investigation of the 'Golden Scale Society' and restore the capital's food supply," the Emperor said with satisfaction.
Xiao Yichen immediately knelt down to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty, we have only done our duty and dare not take credit. We only wish that the capital can be restored to peace as soon as possible and that the people can live and work in peace and contentment."
The Emperor nodded: "Minister Xiao's loyalty is commendable. You may step down now. I will immediately summon the ministers to discuss countermeasures."
After leaving the palace, Xiao Yichen returned to his residence and told Zhao Feng, Chu Yun, Lin Wan'er, and the others what had happened. Upon hearing the news, everyone cheered with joy.
"It's finally coming to an end. It's been a long and difficult journey," Lin Wan'er said with emotion.
Zhao Feng laughed and said, "Yes, we have done a great thing for the people of the capital. I look forward to seeing the capital return to its former bustling state as soon as possible."
Chu Yun said, "Although we have found crucial evidence, the influence of the 'Golden Scale Society' in the martial arts world should not be underestimated. We still need to keep an eye on their movements to prevent them from making a comeback."
Xiao Yichen nodded in agreement: "Miss Chu Yun is right. We cannot let our guard down because of a temporary victory. While the court is working to resolve the food crisis, we must also keep an eye on the remaining forces of the 'Golden Scale Society' in the martial arts world to ensure the long-term stability of the capital."
Thanks to the court's vigorous efforts, the grain market in the capital gradually returned to order. The court opened granaries to release grain and stabilize prices, allowing people to finally buy affordable food and bringing back long-lost smiles. Meanwhile, officials who colluded with Murong Xuan and members of the "Golden Scale Society" were brought to justice and received their due punishment.
However, Xiao Yichen and his companions knew that although they had achieved a partial victory in the fight against evil forces, the grudges and feuds of the martial world and the power struggles within the imperial court never ceased. On this stage in the capital, they were only temporarily playing the role of guardians of justice; many more challenges awaited them in the future.
As the situation in the capital gradually stabilized, Xiao Yichen began to consider how to further enhance his and his allies' strength to prepare for potential future crises. They decided to open martial arts schools and intelligence agencies in the capital, recruit talented individuals, impart martial arts skills and martial arts experience, and collect intelligence from both the martial arts world and the imperial court to detect any impending danger as soon as possible.
Lin Wan'er, on the other hand, used her connections and wisdom to build a bridge of communication between the capital and the martial arts world. She actively promoted exchanges and cooperation between martial arts sects and the imperial court, hoping to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings between the two sides and jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the world.
Zhao Feng and Chu Yun led their brothers and sisters on patrols inside and outside the capital to maintain order. Their presence acted as a solid defense, giving the people of the capital a sense of security and peace of mind.
As dawn broke, Xiao Yichen and his companions did not linger in the joy of victory. Instead, with even stronger conviction and determination, they embarked on a new journey. They knew that the path of the martial world was long, and the protection of justice was endless. Thanks to their efforts, the future of the capital was moving in a brighter direction, but the unknown dangers lurking in the shadows still followed them relentlessly, waiting for them to overcome them one by one.
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