The court lackeys of the eight-hour workday

Chapter 513 Assessment
An Ziyang's words were clear and concise, providing a perfect explanation for the group's doubts along the way.

Why was Qi Jiguang, who was highly regarded by the commander of Dengzhou Guard, suddenly imprisoned? Why were thousands of soldiers of Dengzhou Guard emptied overnight? If we only look at the events in Dengzhou, it seems incongruous. But if it was at An Ziyang's behest, then it all makes sense.

It should be noted that the former commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is now the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet; and it goes without saying who the current commander is... In the mere Dengzhou Guard, An Ziyang naturally abuses his power and does whatever he wants.

Just, why?
The question of "can or cannot" can be explained, but "why"?
General Qi, however outstanding he may be, is ultimately just a nineteen-year-old who has succeeded his father and achieved some success. Why would someone like An Ziyang condescend to target him?

The young men of the Huanhua Sword Sect were in turmoil, and under An Ziyang's gaze, they sank to the bottom like snowflakes.

First, I should think about how I can shoulder the responsibility myself and try not to involve my mentor or parents.

Among the new generation of Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards), An Ziyang was not known for his martial arts skills, and no one had ever seen him actually fight. Rumors circulated that his martial arts were only first- or second-rate, and that he rose to power solely through ruthlessness and flattery.

But none of the people present would dare to lay a hand on him.

Breaking someone out of prison could lead to death.

If you lay a hand on the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the corpses of eight generations of your ancestors will be dug up and fed to the dogs. You can risk your own life, but how can you bear to give up the lives of your parents, relatives, teachers, and friends?

The only option now is to offer our necks and be slaughtered.

If I could die a quick death, and given the relationship between my sect and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, perhaps this matter could end with me.

He bent down shakily, picked up the longsword, and pressed it against his neck.

An Ziyang, on the other hand, seemed to have lost interest in him, and turned his head slightly to look at his side.

"Who are you?"

He gestured with his fan towards the crowd.

"They're all terrified of me, so why are you acting all calm and collected, not saying a word, just smiling with your arms crossed?"

The young man from the Huanhua Sword Sect was taken aback, then suddenly realized what was happening.

From the moment An Ziyang appeared until now, "Brother Li" has not said a word or made a sound.

He leaned against the wall beside him, arms crossed, head tilted, watching quietly, not even letting go of the inexplicable smile on his lips.

Only after being called out by An Ziyang did he put down his hand, walk from the wall to the front of the crowd, and say with a smile.

"I was just waiting here because you were so imposing, so I didn't want to say anything inappropriate. — Are you done talking now?"

"Now that you've finished speaking, I'd like to say a few words."

He turned half his face slightly and spoke to the people behind him.

"Let's go, are you going to stay for dinner?"

Everyone was stunned.

The young man from the Huanhua Sword Sect stopped his sword at his neck, and then suddenly burst into tears.

"Brother Li, you mustn't!"

"This is something we should all share the burden of!"

Li Miao simply waved to him.

An Ziyang across from him smiled.

"You want to fight me?"

"Kill me, so there's no way to prove it, destroy all traces of their presence, and take all the blame upon yourselves?"

He stopped tapping his palm with the fan, his smile unchanged, but everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.

"Then come on, give it a try."

The last note landed.

A commotion arose.

Rustling, rustling, rustling——

Countless tiny flapping and crawling sounds overlapped neatly, accompanied by the sounds of countless motors opening and gears meshing, instantly becoming deafening.

The floors of the cells on both sides were turned upside down, and countless Gu worms flew out and crawled out, covering every wall surface. Then, fist-sized Gu worms lifted out instruments about a foot square. Countless worms surged from the holes in the instruments, driving gears and pointing gleaming, sharp blades at Li Miao.

An Ziyang snapped the folding fan in his hand and pulled it, shattering the fan surface and breaking all ten fan ribs, revealing the silkworm silk connecting them. He put one end of the silkworm silk on his five fingers and let the other end hang to the ground.

This is not over yet.

The crowd assumed that the doors of a dozen or so empty prison cells were open, and a dozen or so bald, pale-faced, and vacant-eyed figures walked out. They all reached out and tore open their clothes, revealing metal embedded in their flesh and holes.

"Gu soldiers..."

"Some people in the martial arts world said in despair."

"Celestial Gu Soldiers, Tang Clan Mechanisms."

"He can simultaneously manipulate so many Celestial Gu Soldiers and Tang Clan's top-tier mechanisms with his true energy... He's not the first or second-rate figure rumored in the martial world, he's... a Celestial..."

"The one who pioneered the combination of Gu techniques and mechanical systems, a celestial being..." The young man from the Huanhua Sword Sect had fallen into despair.

No matter how strong "Brother Li" is, he can never be a match for him.

All things come to an end.

He raised his head in despair and looked at Li Miao.

Li Miao was shaking his wrists and neck, looking eager to try.

"Not bad."

"But if there are too many Gu worms and they are too fragmented, and your true energy is too scattered, how will you deal with an opponent who specializes in Vajra attacking you, or an opponent who specializes in Sumeru attacking you piecemeal?"

For example, like this.

He suddenly threw a punch.

This punch only struck a few inches in front of the chest.

But then a strong wind suddenly arose!
boom!
The wind and waves formed within inches, sweeping violently forward, engulfing and tearing apart the Gu worms on the surrounding walls, and stirring up a foul-smelling rain of blood in the narrow passageway!
At the same time, it blew everyone behind it away!

"Heaven!"

The young man from the Huanhua Sword Sect rolled around a few times, and before he could stand up, he exclaimed in surprise.

"Brother Li is also a celestial being, and not just any celestial being!"

"He's such a person!"

A hand reached out from the side and pulled him up.

"What do we care about celestial beings or anything like that now!"

A martial arts practitioner grabbed his arm and ran backwards.

"Now that he has made a move, there is no turning back. We only have one option now—leave first and discuss the matter further!"

"Come on!"

Before the young man could turn around, he was pulled along with the others and rushed out of the prison to the square outside.

The moment they burst out of the prison.

boom!
A massive amount of dust and smoke, mixed with the corpses of countless Gu worms, spewed out from the door and slammed onto them.

At the same time, the roof of the prison exploded.

Like dark clouds, the Gu worms rose into the sky, blocking out the moonlight.

An Ziyang leaped into the air from the gap, flicked out a silken thread, and hooked it into the swarm of Gu worms, suspending himself in mid-air. He looked down with a solemn expression.

A figure flew out from the gap.

With a wave of his hand, a massive number of Gu worms flew away and devoured him into a skeleton within a few breaths.

"wrong."

An Ziyang frowned.

"That person won't die so easily. Those moves just now were incomprehensible, like they were self-created. His true energy was powerful and his strength was surging, yet it was impossible to tell which realm he mainly cultivated... No background, surnamed Li, and his martial arts were so high that they were unfathomable..."

"Hiss—could it be?!"

Before he could finish taking a deep breath, a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Xiao Anzi, snap out of it."

"The assessment isn't over yet. If I can't even handle one tenth of the task, then you'll have to hand over the position of 'Governor' to Xiao Cao."

Bang!
An Ziyang was punched hard in the back, and his whole body shot towards the ground like a meteorite.

But he still couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha--"

came back!
came back!
He is back!

Below, the people of the martial arts world all shivered.

"This An Ziyang is indeed a ruthless person. He got so caught up in the fight that he could still laugh even after suffering a loss. This scene is probably just a game to him!"

"Hurry up and run! If the battle breaks out soon, we'll both get caught up in it and die for nothing!"

"go!"

The group, supporting each other, fled desperately towards the city outskirts.

(End of this chapter)