The court lackeys of the eight-hour workday

Chapter 376 The True Colors Are Revealed (Part 3)

Cun Dong scanned his surroundings.

Corpses, weapons, and fallen armor were scattered everywhere. The Right Guard of the Valiant Cavalry had already left, leaving behind more than a hundred corpses killed by their own comrades.

He looked up at Li Miao and said in a hateful voice.

"So what if you have the complete manual!"

“I know you have the evil skill to break through in battle, and we already know about the matter of the imperial tomb... You killed Emperor Jianwen back then, which is why you have achieved the perfect realm of the three paths and have the qualifications to fight against His Majesty, right!”

Li Miao frowned.

These eunuchs know far too much. Only four people should have participated in the battle at the imperial tombs. Given the emperor's suspicious nature, he probably wouldn't have left anyone to monitor them. So how did these eunuchs know about his assassination of the Jianwen Emperor and his breakthrough in battle?
However, we can put that aside for now and talk about the present.

Cun Dong said through gritted teeth.

"Since you began your journey through the martial world, you've left a trail of bloodshed wherever you went, all for the sake of practicing your evil martial art, right? You inexplicably achieved superhuman skill within the Embroidered Uniform Guard because of the countless lives on your hands, right!"

"You—demon!"

Li Miao raised an eyebrow.

Not a single word Cun Dong said was correct.

But it actually makes a lot of sense, so much so that he couldn't refute it!

As the most skilled martial artist and the most prolific killer in the Great Shuo, his two traits are so striking that it's hard not to draw comparisons. Coupled with the events surrounding the Jianwen Emperor, it would be strange if these eunuchs didn't reach this conclusion!
But he genuinely felt that dealing with the person who raised the problem was more satisfying and less effortful than solving the problem itself. Why does everyone think they're some kind of sadistic, murderous martial arts enthusiast seeking pleasure?
As they were speaking, five eunuchs in black attacked again.

"If you could kill us, you would have done it long ago. Why wait until now? This just proves that we were right to come here. You are indeed at your last gasp!"

"I know you're trying to use that evil technique of yours again to reach the Profound Realm and forcefully break through the current predicament with the unification of the four paths, right? — Don't even think about it!"

Cun Dong raised his palm and blocked Li Miao's arm, then suddenly jumped up and, in a turn of his body, firmly locked Li Miao's entire arm in his embrace.

"Those who come here today may not be the most skilled among us, but they are the most adept at grappling and restraining! Even if the five of us surround you, you cannot kill any of us quickly!"

"You think you can use war to sustain war, and use our lives to cultivate the Profound Realm? You've miscalculated. We'll wear you down, even if it means attrition!"

He locked Li Miao's right arm, looked up to meet Li Miao's gaze, and grinned maliciously.

At the same time, the black-clad eunuch wielding the hook blade used the same method, exchanging several moves with Li Miao's left hand to seize him. Taking advantage of the opportunity when Li Miao threw a punch to break the short sword eunuch's stance, the eunuch suddenly locked Li Miao's left arm in his arms as well.

The remaining three black-clad eunuchs unleashed their true energy, carrying a chilling killing intent. Three extremely fierce attacks were launched directly at Li Miao's body, even including the two who had restrained him!
Injury for injury, life for life!
As long as they don't let their companions die at Li Miao's hands and don't let Li Miao break through his cultivation level, they will definitely win!
With Li Miao dead, Liu Jin will face no further obstacles, increasing the chances of success many times over! They might even be able to rescue the emperor and restore order!
At that very moment, a smile suddenly appeared on Li Miao's lips.

"Well, how should I put it—Black Pole, Floating Pagoda."

Cun Dong's expression changed drastically. He dared not linger for a moment and retreated swiftly with the other black-clad eunuchs! He smashed the countless sword energies rushing towards him, but secretly rejoiced!
"Commander Li, have you run out of ideas?!"

"This is the third time you've used this method. It will take you a full three breaths to recover your true energy. Three breaths is enough for us to behead you!"

"Come die!"

Broken blade, short sword, grappling hook!
Fist strikes, palm strikes!
Exhausting his life essence, consuming all his true energy, and exerting all his strength, he unleashed a combined attack of five paths and three directions, pouring it into the smoke and dust raised by the sword energy!

Cun Dong laughed loudly.

"A severely injured body, yet he deliberately exhausted his own true energy!"

"You scoundrel, today is the day you are beheaded!"

He waved his hand to disperse the dust, wanting to see Li Miao's miserable appearance covered in wounds, wanting to see how Li Miao's disgustingly mocking face would collapse in the face of life and death!
Killing Li Miao will make him the greatest contributor to the Great Shuo when His Majesty awakens, even surpassing Liu Jin! Taking control of the Eastern Depot will be just around the corner, and he will be remembered in history. He will stand at the top of all eunuchs and will no longer have to worry about anyone looking down on him!

That alluring power was beckoning to him!
In a flash of thought, his old face, already flabby and drooping, revealed a hearty smile that he hadn't shown in decades since entering the palace.

Just as his gaze refocused on the dust and smoke, he suddenly heard a cry of surprise from beside him.

"Cun Daban, watch out!" "Watch out behind you!"

Cun Dong let out a cold laugh.

Li Miao, you're something else, you still haven't died... But so what?

I knew you'd come to kill me!
He didn't move his head, but his true energy was boiling. He didn't turn around, but his palm suddenly emerged from under his armpit and struck behind him!

A single palm strike.

There was a loud "snap".

A hand gripped his forearm like an iron clamp, preventing him from budging an inch or turning around to look.

"You seem quite happy?"

"What's making you happy? Tell me about it."

Li Miao's teasing voice rang out from behind.

"We can't let him kill Eunuch Cun. If he cultivates to the Xuanlan realm, we'll all die!"

"Stop! Put Eunuch Cun down!"

"You're already at your limit, why bother struggling any longer!"

"Let go!"

While speaking, he seemed to be advising Li Miao not to kill Cun Dong, but his hands continued to strike Cun Dong without stopping. He clearly wanted to kill Cun Dong and Li Miao together, which made Cun Dong's veins bulge and he kept cursing.

Seeing that no one came to his rescue, Cun Dong gritted his teeth and finally managed to squeeze out a long sigh from his throat.

How could he not know that he had become a target, a sacrificed pawn?

"Your Majesty." He closed his eyes, waiting for the other black-clad eunuchs' attacks to strike him, the excruciating pain hitting his body.

Just then, Li Miao behind him laughed.

"The last sentence is about how existence and non-existence are mutually dependent, thus penetrating the realm of emptiness and form."

Bang!
The kick that nearly broke his spine suddenly struck his lower back!
Cun Dong was shot out like a cannonball, crashing into the palace wall. He spat out a mouthful of blood, then suddenly looked up at Li Miao.

"What's the meaning?"

Li Miao smiled at him.

"You'll find out soon enough."

Cun Dong fell from the palace wall and stared intently at Li Miao.

puff.

In that instant, he suddenly felt his heart skip a beat, as if something was gripping it, and a dull ache settled in his chest. It was as if everything around him was frozen in place by his senses stretched to their limit.

He raised his hand and covered his chest.

Out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to see a black sand beach and a faintly swirling storm.

When I looked again, there was nothing there.

In the almost frozen air, Li Miao closed his eyes as if no one else was around.

(End of this chapter)