Chapter 134: Suspicion in the Palace
Xiaoyao Lang descended from Tianji Peak, whistling a soft "whoosh." His steed, "Black Brother," came trotting out of the forest. Though separated for a month, they had not forgotten each other. Xiaoyao Lang mounted his horse, glanced at Tianji Peak one last time, and then spurred his horse away, kicking up a cloud of dust…
In Longyang City, Emperor Ouyang Fan leaned on his throne and said leisurely, "Grandmaster, both of them slipped through your fingers. Your abilities have impressed me quite a bit."
The Grandmaster immediately cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am indeed responsible for the dereliction of duty in the escape of Yin Xiaosheng and Yi Qingxue. However, upon closer examination, Yi Qingxue's qi and blood were sealed, and Yin Xiaosheng's hands and feet were bound, yet they escaped almost simultaneously. There must have been someone helping them. I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!" As he spoke, he glanced at Yi Mingjian.
"Oh!" Ouyang Fanhuang sat up straight and asked in a deep voice, "Then what you mean is, who is secretly assisting?"
The Grandmaster waved his goose-shaped fan, his gaze sweeping over all of Yi Yunke's old acquaintances before finally settling on Yi Mingjian. "Young Master Yi, what do you think this person might be?" the Grandmaster asked in a coquettish voice.
Yi Mingjian's heart tightened at the question, but his expression remained calm. He immediately replied coldly, "I don't know. Tell me who helped release the person; why ask me?"
"Young Master Yi, do you really believe that one of our own people let them go?!" The Grandmaster immediately questioned sharply, then waved his goose-shaped fan and said in a coquettish voice, "Yi Qingxue is your own sister, so naturally you care about her more than anyone else. Since they were able to escape, none of you can escape responsibility." As he spoke, his gaze swept over Yi Yunke's old acquaintances.
Xiong Ba's former subordinates dared not speak out in anger, and could only stand aside, puffing out their cheeks and glaring with hatred.
Yi Mingjian stepped forward and said, "Grandmaster, you are mistaken. Since we have already submitted to the Brahma Emperor, we are absolutely loyal to him. How can you make unfounded accusations against us! As for why the two of them escaped, I'm afraid the Grandmaster knows better than anyone else!" After speaking, Yi Mingjian gave the Grandmaster a disdainful look.
The Grandmaster immediately retorted, "What do you mean by that?"
"Hmph!" Yi Mingjian snorted coldly and said loudly, "Grandmasters have profound martial arts skills, but they don't know that there are always people more skilled than them. That Yin Xiaosheng has mastered the Cold Condensation Martial Arts and is most skilled in freezing techniques. Cutting two ropes would be an easy task for him."
“That’s right! There are countless strange and unusual techniques in this world! It’s just that some people are too ignorant to have encountered them.” Xiong Ba chimed in agreement.
"You..." The Grandmaster hesitated, then helplessly fanned himself to vent his anger. Yi Mingjian continued, "As for Yi Qingxue's escape after her acupoints were sealed, she has a friend named Murong Hanchan. This person's cultivation is unfathomable; she can transfer her acupoints to release them herself. I witnessed this with my own eyes. I wonder if the Grandmaster is aware of this?"
The Grandmaster was rendered speechless, his gaze filled with resentment as he refused to reply. Yi Mingjian's fabricated story had even forced Ouyang Fanhuang to believe it, after all, the world's martial arts were full of wonders. He said loudly, "Enough! Since the person has escaped, there's no point in arguing." He then turned his gaze to the Grandmaster and called out, "Grandmaster."
"Your subordinate is here!" the Grandmaster replied respectfully.
Ouyang Fanhuang said in a deep voice, "The person was lost under your care, so you should bear the primary responsibility. I hope you can find the person as soon as possible."
The Grandmaster raised his eyes slightly upon hearing this and immediately replied, "Yes."
Ouyang Fanhuang turned his gaze to Yi Mingjian and called out, "Disciple!"
"Mingjian is here!" Yi Mingjian replied respectfully.
"Grandmaster believes that your men released Yin Xiaosheng and the others. It's not that I don't trust you, but human hearts are unpredictable. Therefore, you were also involved in the search, which can be seen as a show of loyalty! Do you have any objections?" Ouyang Fanhuang's gaze was fixed on Yi Mingjian in the hall.
Yi Mingjian replied loudly, "Disciple has no objection. I am willing to die ten thousand deaths to serve the Brahma Emperor!"
"Very good!" Ouyang Fanhuang said with satisfaction.
In a dilapidated temple in Baiyun City, Ling Xueyan meditated and practiced the Shattering Floating Hand technique. True energy swirled around her, and with each hand gesture, waves of energy surged and spread. Suddenly, she lightly raised her right hand, palm facing upwards, and the tiles and broken pieces of wood on the ground rose up and floated in mid-air.
"Ha!" With a sharp shout, she flipped her right palm into a fist, and the floating broken tiles and wood shattered instantly, turning into dust in mid-air. She abruptly flipped herself to her feet, channeling her energy into her left palm, which faced the towering stone statue. She gently lifted it upwards, and the statue rose in response. As her gaze narrowed, and her palm transformed into a fist, a muffled "poof" echoed, and the massive statue instantly turned to dust once more.
Ling Xueyan's face lit up with joy as she examined her hands, exclaiming smugly, "Shattering Floating Hand! I've finally mastered it! I've mastered it!" Then, her gaze turned icy as she added, "Ouyang Fanhuang, just you wait! Once I master the Empty Force Slash, let's see how you survive against me!" As she spoke, an arrogant expression appeared on her face.
Since Yin Qianqiu's death, the people of Baiyun City have lived in misery. Bandits roamed the mountains, robberies raged, and gangs fought for territory, leaving corpses strewn across the land. Their constant occupation of towns and villages caused widespread suffering. Meanwhile, the Zhu Family Manor recruited soldiers and horses on a large scale, constantly expanding outwards and seizing most of Baiyun City's territory.
"Eighth Brother! What are your plans for the next strategy?" Zhu Zongshen asked, sitting on the throne, with the leaders of the Zhu family sitting on either side of him in the hall.
Zhu Ziqiao stood up and said, "Father, although we have the important city of Baiyun under our control, we still have to eliminate the Qingsha Gang and the Baiyi Sect! We should take down those two forces first."
"Fifth Brother, please calm down. Let's hear what Eighth Brother has to say first," Zhu Zijian said to Zhu Ziqiao.
Zhu Ziqiao sat down helplessly, and Zhu Zixing then asked loudly, "Father, the sacred book says that he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. Baiyun City has suffered from wars many times, and the people are already in unbearable pain. At this time, winning the hearts of the people should be the priority."
"Hmm." Zhu Zongshen nodded slightly upon hearing this. He then said, "That makes sense. Do you have any corresponding countermeasures?"
Zhu Zixing immediately said, "Many refugees are currently displaced and are fleeing everywhere. We should provide them with relief and allocate land so that they can cultivate it. With more people, the city will become richer, and in this way, we will win the hearts of both the people and the city."
Zhu Ziqiao immediately said, "Eighth Brother, what you said is right! But if the Qingsha Gang and the Baiyi Sect are not eliminated, Baiyun City will never have a peaceful time, and they will always be a hidden danger."
Zhu Zixing turned his head and said, "I have also considered Fifth Brother's concerns. The Qingsha Gang is confined to a corner of the world, relying entirely on its advantageous geographical location. It can protect itself, but it is impossible for them to conquer the world. As for the White Robe Sect, its members are scattered throughout the South Seas, and even have influence in Dongyue. If we fight against them, it is no different from hunting wolves and rabbits, which will only lead to our own depletion."
Zhu Zijian said somewhat unwillingly, "Are we just going to share Baiyun City with them like this? Eighth Brother, don't forget that there's the Yongle Gang eyeing us from the northwest."
Zhu Zixing immediately said, "Of course not! As long as we quell the internal strife in Baiyun City and appease the people, we will have the full support of the masses, and the Qingsha Gang and Baiyi Sect will naturally dissolve without any attack!"
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