Who among the gangsters wants to fall in love?

Chapter 113: Hang the Red Lantern High (5k, monthly ticket requested)

At one o'clock in the evening, Zhao Wumian, wearing a black military uniform with a badge hanging around his waist, followed Li Zhengkong and walked straight through Xuanwu Gate.

The guards beside Xuanwu Gate squinted their eyes and looked at Zhao Wumian. They probably didn't expect that Zhao Wumian, who was selected to serve as a guard in the palace, would be so young. For a moment, they doubted his ability, but with Li Zhengkong there, it was not their turn to question him.

Inside the Xuanwu Gate, there were numerous guards dressed like him. At a glance, there were estimated to be more than twenty of them, both men and women, aged between thirty and fifty. They all had calm inner breath and strong limbs.

Zhao Wumian took a quick look and was secretly shocked. Among these twenty people, most of them gave him the same feeling as Taoist Lingxu... Even though Taoist Lingxu was killed so easily by Zhao Wumian, he was still a master after all, and his vision and experience were all there.

Grandmasters are people who can establish a school of thought.

Zhao Wumian has been escorting Luo Chaoyan for such a long time, but the only masters he has actually fought against are Wu Ming, Jiang Bai, Liu Yuezhi, Taoist Lingxu and Ye Wancang... just five in number.

Even Li Zhengkong, the captain of the security team, cannot be called a master.

Zhao Wumian was looking at them, and they were also looking at Zhao Wumian, and they were also secretly surprised in their hearts... How could he be chosen to be a palace guard at such a young age?

When Zhao Wumian approached, no one spoke. It was obviously not their first time patrolling the palace. Seeing that everyone was present, they walked into the palace together.

Zhao Wumian followed them silently. Li Zhengkong had already passed him and walked in front, pretending not to be familiar with him.

Li Zhengkong stood with his hands behind his back, without looking back, and said coldly:
"Everyone knows what happened in the palace recently. Let's not talk about the crown prince for now. About half a month ago, the palace was broken into once. Although no one was killed, as far as we know, an extremely important treasure was lost in the national treasury...

...If someone breaks into the palace again at this sensitive time, our heads will be split, but you won’t have an easy time either, so be on your guard."

Zhao Wumian frowned slightly. Someone had actually sneaked into the palace half a month ago? But the other guards all looked normal. It was obvious that they knew about this.

Zhao Wumian asked, "Has the thief been beheaded?"

Li Zhengkong glanced back at Zhao Wumian calmly and said truthfully: "He escaped. The thieves were well prepared, but no one noticed before he succeeded. In the end, it was my adoptive father who found him, but he was not caught. He was only beaten and seriously injured."

At this time, someone responded, "The chief eunuch Lin, nicknamed Long Qian Dao, is seventy-five years old this year, and is already in his seventies. He is a martial arts master who was invited from the martial arts world by Emperor Jingzheng after the former chief eunuch Li Gonggong returned home in retirement... The thief was able to escape from Eunuch Lin, so he must be at the level of a martial arts master."

"That may not be the case. Some are good at light skills, some are good at hiding, and some are good at head-on attacks. Just escaping from Wu Kui's hands does not prove much." Another person shook his head in denial.

Zhao Wumian listened to the guards starting to talk, but did not say anything... He was too young and lacked experience. People were not familiar with him and did not know his ability. Besides, it was working hours, so as long as he did not speak, no one would take the initiative to talk to him.

After taking a few steps, he heard a soft "bang" sound behind him. Looking back, he saw that the Xuanwu Gate was already closed... At this moment, the Forbidden City was completely sealed off, and it was almost impossible to charge out head-on or escape secretly.

Zhao Wumian turned his head, walked forward for a while, and crossed another gate, which was the Zhengde Gate... The Xuanwu Gate just now was the outer city gate, and this one was the inner city gate. Only after crossing this gate could he truly enter the imperial palace.

"Remember, you cannot step into the East Palace at this moment, or you will lose your head, don't blame me for not reminding you." Li Zhengkong raised his hand calmly, "Meet in front of Zhengde Gate in an hour and a half."

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards left in twos and threes. Li Zhengkong did not say much to Zhao Wumian and left directly to avoid being noticed.

Zhao Wumian did the same. He recalled the palace map he had memorized this afternoon and walked towards Kunning Palace.

Lin Daoren, the right chief of the Imperial City Department, stood on the wall of Zhengde Gate, looking down at Li Zhengkong. After a moment of silence, he looked at Zhao Wumian again, his brows slightly furrowed.

Zhao Wumian is a newcomer brought by Li Zhengkong. If Li Zhengkong is in collusion with someone, then this person is most likely a thief who sneaked into the Imperial City Administration.

However, it was still unclear whether Li Zhengkong had colluded with others, and Lin Daoren had no evidence, so he thought about it, flew down, and looked for a member of the guards, "Bi Ziding."

The man named Bi Ziding was slightly stunned. When he saw Lin Daoren, he slightly bowed and said, "Master Lin."

"The young man brought by Li Zhengkong may be problematic. You should follow him secretly and see what he is going to do." Lin Daoren stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly.

Bi Ziding was slightly stunned. "Li Zhengkong? Did he find something?"

Lin Daoren could naturally find him, so it was obvious that Bi Ziding was also Dong Yan's man.

"Li Zhengkong is just a cowardly good-for-nothing. He is not to be feared. However, the young man he brought with him seems to have sneaked into the Imperial City Department."

Bi Ziding recalled that the young man was very taciturn and he couldn't figure out what he was thinking... But as long as he felt that there was something wrong with him, no matter what Zhao Wumian did, it would seem wrong.

He nodded slightly, said no more, bowed, and left quickly.

The silver moon is like a hook, and the snow curtain is like a weave.

Zhao Wumian walked along the corridor with his hand on his sword. The clean white stone tiles were obviously swept regularly. The accumulated snow was shoveled away and transported to an unknown place. Only the palace walls were dotted with pure white snowflakes.

Big red lanterns were hung on the wall, emitting an orange and red halo from the inside out, reflected on the falling snowflakes.

It was expected that the lanterns would be hung in advance as the New Year would be approaching in less than half a month.

He had already walked into the harem at this moment, but in fact, the huge harem only housed the Queen Mother and a group of palace maids who served her. Therefore, the surrounding halls were deserted and silent... Therefore, any extra noise would be particularly eye-catching.

Zhao Wumian suddenly stopped and looked back.

Behind him was also a deep corridor, with towering palace walls on both sides and snowflakes falling from the sky.

Zhao Wumian raised one hand slightly and placed it on the hilt of the knife. He narrowed his eyes slightly and then glanced back at Kunning Palace… Kunning Palace was not far from him, only about a hundred meters away.

He was silent for a moment, and then said calmly, "No need to hide, come out."

The words fell and disappeared into the night with the wind, but no one answered.

Zhao Wumian took a slight step and turned around completely. "You are hiding in the palace. Do you want me to send a signal to seal the palace gates and search carefully?"

After saying this, Zhao Wumian waited for a moment. Then he heard the sound of footsteps and a figure emerged from the snow and the night.

He was wearing the same uniform as Zhao Wumian, with a badge hanging around his waist, an unsheathed long sword in his hand, a beard on his face, and a steady yet somewhat helpless expression.

Bi Ziding bowed slightly, "Little brother, you are very perceptive. No wonder you were selected as a palace guard at such a young age. But you look a little unfamiliar. Logically speaking, at your age, you should be awarded a plaque of Yuankui."

Zhao Wumian recognized that this person was one of the guards just now, but he didn't know who this person was, what sect he belonged to, or how good his martial arts were. So he was silent for a moment, then lowered his hand from the hilt and smiled faintly:
"The so-called leader is just an empty title... I don't know why you are following me secretly?"

Bi Ziding laughed and bowed, "Little brother, you are a stranger. As a guard, I am quite suspicious. It is inevitable that I doubt you, so I followed you secretly. I hope you don't mind."

Zhao Wumian raised his eyebrows slightly, "Is that all?"

"Little brother, you don't know that when I was young, I learned a few moves from Dao Kui. With my martial arts, I obtained a Cang Hua Order from Cang Hua Tower in Huan Zhen Pavilion. Later, I heard that the owner of Cang Hua Tower, Lady Cang Hua, was a peerless beauty in the martial arts world. Even the leader of Jian Zong had a crush on her..." Bi Ziding shook his head slightly, his tone carrying some reminiscence.
"At that time, I was ignorant and wanted to use the Cang Hua Order to let Lady Cang Hua serve me for one night... As a result, I was hunted down by the Cang Hua Tower and almost had no chance to survive in the martial arts world. The only reason I was able to survive at that time was because I trusted no one. Now, I have been favored by the emperor and entered the palace as a guard. I have the protection of the court and have barely escaped the Cang Hua Tower's pursuit."

Bi Ziding paused for a moment, then smiled carefreely, "The habit of 'trusting no one' is actually quite suitable for the job of a palace guard."

Zhao Wumian nodded slightly. This was reasonable and logical. Didn't he also want to have a drink with Empress Canghua? Seeing that Zhao Wumian didn't doubt it, Bi Ziding asked, "In that case, why don't we go together? This is also the first time for me to enter the palace. I can introduce you to someone."

Zhao Wumian did not refuse and nodded again, but he did not move his lips. Instead, he used the method of transmitting sound into secret, and said coldly to Bi Ziding: "This man is Zhao Wumian. It was he who killed Ye Wancang and ruined our plan. There is no one here now, capture him!"

Bi Ziding's pupils shrank slightly, and he subconsciously pressed the hilt of the knife. A deep hostility and murderous aura emanated from his body.

Wipe————

But Zhao Wumian was even faster. As early as the moment Bi Ziding pressed the hilt of the knife, he had already drawn the knife out of its sheath. The friction between the blade and the sheath produced tiny sparks. His body almost broke the dense snowflakes falling on him. He flew forward, and the long knife drew a thin white line in the snow.

Everyone can lie, but the subconscious mind won't. Bi Ziding was so murderous when he heard his name. It could only be the three forces of Prince Jin, the Spear Master and Dong Yan... and the possibility that Bi Ziding is Dong Yan is obviously greater. After all, Dong Yan's power is omnipresent in the palace.

Long before entering the palace, Zhao Wumian knew that there were few people in the palace whom he could trust. He was even wary of Li Zhengkong, let alone Bi Ziding, who had been following him secretly?
This place is not far from Kunning Palace. If a fight breaks out now, it will certainly disturb the Queen... Therefore, even if Bi Ziding is killed, as long as the Queen cooperates, there will be an explanation.

Otherwise, if he got entangled with him, Zhao Wumian might be dragged into some ditch and killed.

Now that he has entered the palace, it is clear that Zhao Wumian has come to destroy Dong Yan's place and is not afraid of alerting the enemy.

Bi Ziding's eyes showed a bit of surprise, and then he suddenly realized the two facts that "there is something wrong with Zhao Wumian" and "he has been exposed". He cursed inwardly for being so sharp-minded, and also drew his sword. When the sword was three inches out, the Kunwu sword came close to him.

Bi Ziding had no choice but to hastily lift up the scabbard along with his hand, while at the same time placing his hand on the back of the knife. The next moment, the sound of metal clashing was heard.

All that was seen was a surge of energy emanating from the point where the two men's weapons met, spreading out in all directions, causing the lanterns on both sides of the palace wall to become like wind chimes encountering a storm, and suddenly blowing away in all directions.

Bi Ziding only felt a huge force coming from his hands, his wrists and forearms were slightly numb, and he took several steps back until his back hit the palace wall, and then he barely relieved the force. Then in the next moment, Zhao Wumian slightly turned his wrist, and the Kunwu sword slid out from his long sword, and with a move of "clouds disappearing and fog dissipating", he chopped towards his neck.

But Bi Ziding is no mediocre person. He was able to obtain the Canghua Order through martial arts and serve as a palace guard. He is also a rare swordsman in the world with impeccable eyesight and experience. He knew the direction of Zhao Wumian's sword as soon as he saw the direction of his wrist turning.

Immediately, Bi Ziding pressed his body down suddenly, and the Kunwu Sword brushed past his hair, leaving a foot-long diagonal line on the thick palace wall, and then split a big red lantern into two. Sparks flew out, igniting the lantern, and turning into flames that fell down.

"The clouds and mists of "Yun Yi Lou" have dissipated! How could you possibly be "Yun Yi Lou"!?"

Bi Ziding broke out in a cold sweat as he recognized Zhao Wumian's swordsmanship. Apparently, the Tie Luosha couple had dealt with Bi Ziding before when they were active in the capital. He didn't care to be frightened at the moment, and took advantage of the opportunity when Zhao Wumian made a move to finally draw his sword. In an instant, he swung two swords in succession, but took advantage of his half-squatting position to chop at Zhao Wumian's legs.

Zhao Wumian knew that Bi Ziding must be a rare master to be sent to track him, so he was extremely alert. Yun Shu pointed out directly, and with two loud 'clangs', he blocked Bi Ziding's long sword.

But Bi Ziding's knife was fake. While being held back by Zhao Wumian's two fingers, he suddenly swept across the ground with one leg.

Zhao Wumian had never learned any leg techniques, and because of his body position, his lower body undoubtedly became his weakness at the moment. Therefore, when Bi Ziding swept his leg over, Zhao Wumian's body flew into the air and almost fell to the ground.

Bi Ziding sneered slightly and drew his sword again.

But Zhao Wumian was faster than him. After he lost his balance and fell down, he took advantage of the situation and slammed the floor tile with one hand to gain leverage. His boots suddenly fell from bottom to top and hit Bi Ziding's shoulder first.

There was a dull 'bang' sound, and Bi Ziding's body suddenly pressed downward. His face immediately turned red, and the long sword in his hand was almost powerless, let alone chopping at Zhao Wumian.

Then Zhao Wumian hooked Bi Ziding's neck with the tip of his shoe and pulled him forward suddenly. He used his neck as leverage to straighten his body again. At this moment, he put one foot on Bi Ziding's shoulder, and with a sudden step of his other boot, he could crush Bi Ziding's head.

Upon seeing this, Bi Ziding loosened the long sword in his weak arm and grasped the hilt with his other hand. With a "swish" sound, the long sword slanted upward and stabbed towards Zhao Wumian.

In this posture, Zhao Wumian’s fingers couldn’t reach it, and his long sword was powerless, so he could only use his legs to block...but Bi Ziding had already seen that Zhao Wumian’s leg skills were not very good.

Zhao Wumian secretly admired his quick reaction. He didn't even have time to step on Bi Ziding's forehead. He could only use one foot to gain leverage from Bi Ziding's shoulder and soar into the sky to avoid his sharp edge.

Pfft————

The next moment, Bi Ziding's long sword brushed the sole of Zhao Wumian's boot and stabbed into the palace wall, while Zhao Wumian had already landed not far away.

It was not until this moment that the lantern that was split into two by Zhao Wumian turned into sparks and fell on the white stone tiles.

"Your Qinggong is good... but why do you know the swordsmanship of the Iron Rakshasa couple?" Bi Ziding drew out his long sword and made a casual sword flower.

Zhao Wumian glanced in the direction of Kunning Palace. Some secret guards had heard the sounds of fighting and rushed over. A few heads even popped out from behind the nearby palace wall. They were obviously palace maids who heard the noise.

If he fails to kill Bi Ziding before the secret guards arrive, Zhao Wumian will be completely exposed to Dong Yan's eyes... The palace has obviously been infiltrated by Dong Yan. At that time, Zhao Wumian may only be able to climb onto the Queen's bed and hide in her quilt all the time to escape.

"I'll kill you with my next move."

"Haha, you can try... Zhao Wumian, Lord Lin was severely scolded because of you." Bi Ziding also realized Zhao Wumian's identity at this moment, but the secret guards would arrive in a few seconds, so he deliberately revealed some information about Dong Yan to attract Zhao Wumian's attention and delay time.

"You are the one who escorted the legitimate princess, right? We have been looking for you for many days, but we never thought that you would dare to step into the palace, seek your own death, and even harm your legitimate princess."

Zhao Wumian took a breath, unmoved, but suddenly shouted, "I am a palace guard, this man is a thief lurking in Kunning Palace, intending to take advantage of the queen."

Bi Ziding's expression froze, and before he could explain, Zhao Wumian came at him with a knife.

This knife technique is not the one in "Yun Yilou".

boom!
Zhao Wumian's eyes were slightly cold. He shouted loudly to attract Bi Ziding's attention, then stomped his feet on the ground. There was a dull 'bang' sound, and the hard white stone tiles suddenly cracked, and his body burst out.

wipe----

The secret guard who rushed over only saw a flash of knife light from afar under the palace wall not far away. The area around the palace wall was full of the orange-red color of the lanterns, but the knife was so sharp that it seemed to draw a white line formed by the knife light in the orange-red space, as if splitting the light into two!
A cold light flashed by, and then there was a loud bang. For some reason, the palace wall suddenly shattered, revealing a large hole.

When they looked carefully, they saw that in the hole inside the palace wall, Zhao Wumian held the knife in his backhand and blocked his body with the other hand. After swinging the knife, he broke the palace wall. Then he stepped on the ground with his long boots, stopped his body, and then sheathed the knife cleanly.

click -

The hilt and scabbard made slight noises.

Bi Ziding, who was outside the palace wall, was slightly stunned and incredulous.

Then his body swayed, and the long sword in his hastily raised hand snapped and suddenly split into two. Then the crack seemed to cross the space and was imprinted in front of Bi Ziding's chest.

Plop————

Bi Ziding was cut in half by a knife, and the two halves of his body were separated and fell to the ground one in front and the other behind. Then the palace wall was smashed by Zhao Wumian, and many lanterns fell down. One of them rolled on the ground for several times and finally got stuck between Bi Ziding's chest and lower body.

Blood soaked the lantern, and Bi Ziding finally recognized the move.

The master of Taixuan Palace, Xiao Yuanmu’s famous martial arts “Wan Yue Xian” sword technique, the first move... Xizi Holding Her Heart.

(End of this chapter)