All the evil beasts in the world, I feed on demons and monsters

Chapter 194 The King Carries the Sword

At noon, an old friend came.

Dai Yue and Xiao Sheng had been hiding all the way, and even with the help of magic, they arrived much slower than the imperial court that was traveling down the river.

When she realized it was all over, Xiao Sheng, the young girl, demanded the head of the paper doll Li.

In the small courtyard of Renzi Altar, she picked up a box and placed the paper figure of Li's head inside.

"He said he wanted to be buried in the Bohai Bay."

Xiao Sheng rolled up the box and disappeared without a trace.

She was about the same age as Paper Doll Li, and her expression carried a hint of sorrow. After receiving the head, she cupped her hands to Ji Ran, took out a box, and said, "This is Old Hu from the leather shop, a gift for you."

"You've seen it, the third one from the left on the carriage."

Ji Ran was taken aback, then nodded and took it. He remembered that next to the paper figure Li's head was the head of an old man with disheveled hair and a dark face.

Xiao Sheng looked at Ji Ran and said, "I will go to the capital first and immediately spread the news that the prince is dead and the allied forces have been defeated."

"At the same time, we encourage people to stay home as much as possible."

"Now, the capital has been organized by the Eight Gates, both overt and covert, and everyone has gathered at Guangqu Gate. The imperial guards have all gathered at Yongding Gate."

"Li Bai has arranged for storytellers and all the newspapers from the past few days to be published. Some are true, some are false, but in any case, your reputation has already risen."

"All 100,000 Boxers know your name and know the Renzi Flag."

"You can choose Guangqumen or Yongdingmen."

Xiao Sheng stared at Ji Ran with her clear almond-shaped eyes and said, "Please, don't disappoint him."

After saying this, the girl waved her long sleeves, gently cupped her hands, and turned to leave.

"future……"

Ji Ran looked at the girl's back and said seriously, "Bohai Bay will become the most prosperous port."

“There will be schools, hospitals, high-rise buildings... everything he saw when he was studying abroad.”

"He will lie in the flower-filled ground and hear the laughter of children."

Xiao Sheng's shoulders trembled slightly. He nodded and left, disappearing into the alley.

"Cough cough!"

A cool breeze blew through the courtyard, rustling the leaves, accompanied by a man's soft cough.

Dai Yue, now dressed in clean clothes, was sitting on a stone bench.

Ji Ran turned to look at Dai Yue and said, "You won't die."

"Qin Pu".

"exist."

“Teach him the breathing technique. His spirit is now being maintained within his body by the technique because his body is dead.”

Ji Ran said, "However, your primordial spirit may not be in your dead body, but in that clock."

Having condensed his primordial spirit, Ji Ran, to some extent, has a superior perspective when looking at the techniques of this world, whether it's Paper Doll Li or Xiao Sheng.

Because the essence of these techniques is a shallow application of what is similar to primordial spirit power.

Xiao Sheng's claim of reversing time is not true. Even consuming Jiebo himself couldn't affect time in that way, so how could a so-called "trick" possibly control time reversal?

That clock merely burned away Dai Yue's spirit, igniting it like a candlestick to fill the void in his body. Once his spirit was completely consumed, he would become the clock's energy source.

"Thank you."

Dai Yue was quite frank, saying, "I wasn't of any help."

"Do not."

Ji Ran stood up and said, "We will need you in the future."

"this is for you."

"Ok?"

Ji Ran took a grayish-black object, about the size of a flatbread, and sensed a strong spiritual energy within it.

You have obtained the item "Central Plains Deer" (Status: Hungry)

"This is... a spirit named Qin Lu. I just don't know if I absorbed too much on the way, because I found him motionless and dead."

"This is a spirit that can only be gathered by the emperor."

Suddenly, Xie Tunan said, "This is a vessel that can hold faith. Any emperor can become a king because of him. But Prince Zai... separated him from the emperor and took this spirit to do his bidding. Because once the emperor becomes a king, he will no longer be the sole center of power."

Ji Ran nodded, and said nothing more, because Zhu Yu was already standing outside the door.

"Master, there are eight hundred people in total, all lightly armed, riding Don horses and waiting outside the village!"

"it is good."

Ji Ran walked out of the courtyard and said, "You and Lord Dong, lead the new army and set off immediately by boat to the capital!"

"I and the others entered the capital first."

"Destroy the Dragon Court!"

……

The setting sun casts a misty glow as it moves eastward.

The sound of horses' hooves thundered all night as more than 700 people galloped away on horseback along the Don River!

The leader was Ji Ran, and beside him was Xie Tunan, whose legs had been healed.

The rest of the group behind him consisted of eight hundred boxers, mainly from the Renzi Altar.

As dawn broke on the horizon, the group had already arrived in the capital!
Along the way, it wasn't just the horses galloping; there were also more than a dozen martial arts practitioners who had left the sect, using their guardian spirits to boost everyone's speed.

The light on the horizon ignited the city walls.

The sound of horses' hooves broke the silence as the group reined in their horses and stopped.

Looking up, the majestic silhouette of the capital city rises against the morning light—

The arrow tower of Yongding Gate pierces the sky, and the rising sun pours in from behind the city walls, gilding the blue brick walls with molten gold. Horses trot restlessly, their manes scattering into golden specks in the wind.

Beside Ji Ran, Xie Tunan gripped the reins tightly.

How many years has it been since he last visited the capital?

It should be... about five or six years.

He reined in his horse and rode over, saying, "Guangqumen?"

"Yes, when you go to Guangqumen, you must restrain the Boxers and prevent them from harming the common people."

"then you?"

"I'm going to Yongdingmen."

Ji Ran looked at the city gate and said, "I will fight my way into the imperial city. You can find me there."

Xie Tunan was not surprised. If he could kill a king-level being, then no matter how dangerous the capital was or how powerful the Imperial Guards' equipment was, they could not threaten him!
brush!
Ji Ran picked up the huge flagpole again.

This time, however, the flagpole floated behind him, supported by his primordial spirit.

In Ji Ran's hand was a dragon-headed spear!
This is Prince Zai's weapon!

It can let the people of the capital know that Prince Zai died at Dagukou!
"Xilulu——"

The horses neighed, and Ji Ran suddenly spurred them to a gallop!

The tattered Renzi flag was stained with blood, knife marks, and soot, reflecting all the blood and fire it had endured along the way!
On the official road outside the city, a lone rider galloped at full speed! Behind him, eight hundred cavalrymen took a detour and headed straight for Guangqumen!
"Enemy attack!!"

From the arrow tower, the Imperial Guards, who were prepared, unleashed a dense barrage of bullets!
hum!
Murderous intent!
The black and red killing intent was so real that it overturned bullets within ten steps of Ji Ran, shocking the Imperial Guards on the tower!

The city wall in front of them was tightly closed, and just a wall away, countless imperial guards stood behind the gate, erecting strong shields!

Da da da! !

The horses' hooves grew faster and faster! Like drumbeats pounding on the heart!
bass!
Ji Ran raised his hand and lifted the dragon-headed spear!

Whoosh!
His right hand bulged with veins, his arm taut like a powerful bowstring! The spiritual barrier sprang forth with tremendous force, sending the dragon-headed spear hurtling forward instantly!

boom! ! !
The massive city gate burst open with a deafening roar! Countless thick pieces of wood and metal flew everywhere! The Imperial Guards blocking the gate were all shattered to pieces, along with their shields!

The very center of the body struck by the spear was instantly reduced to a cloud of blood mist!
Da da da!
The horses' hooves moved like the wind, trampling out trails of blood!
boom!
Ji Ran grabbed the dragon-headed spear stuck diagonally in the ground and charged forward without stopping!
The streets and alleys were deserted, with only a dense array of Imperial Guards lined up in front! This military display was definitely not a spur-of-the-moment decision; it must have been arranged well in advance!
Wasid!
The image of the old man immediately came to Ji Ran's mind.

Perhaps it was him who came to the capital first to prepare! He wanted to join forces with the imperial court to completely eradicate the Boxers!

But it's a pity.

What he didn't expect was that he had already become the true king.

Horse hooves thundered like drums, kicking up clouds of dust.

Ji Ran's figure plunged into the crowd, tearing a bloody carpet like a meat grinder. Cries of agony and the sounds of battle echoed through the streets of the capital like a roaring symphony!

As he himself said.

Change requires bloodshed.

He could stun everyone and then walk over. But without the impact of bloodshed, the common people, the Boxers, and the imperial court would not understand his resolve.

Only a road paved with blood can forever deter all demons and monsters!
"Renzi Flag!"

"Over there, that's the Renzi Banner!!"

Some Boxers spotted the towering flag and immediately ran over!
Upon seeing the corpses scattered everywhere, the Boxers were not terrified; instead, they became excited!
Forbidden army!

"The Renzi Banner is coming!!"

In the alley, Boxers began to gather behind Ji Ran. The Imperial Guards in front had been completely routed!
In a real battle, you don't need high casualties; as long as more than 30% of the troops are lost, the army will be routed!
Ji Ran brandished his spear, easily reaping the already collapsed Imperial Guards.

The crimson light, like a red carpet he had laid out, stretched across the outer city and headed straight for the capital!

"It's the Grand Duke Jupiter!"

“Follow me!!!”

At that moment, members of the Big Knife Society rushed over!
People began to gather at Guangqumen! The name of Renzi Altar could quickly unite the Boxers gathered at Guangqumen!

If you looked down from the sky above Beijing, you would see that the entire city's streets and alleys were filled with Boxers converging on a single central point!

Hundreds of thousands of Boxers roared at that towering flag.

The people's hearts and minds, whether they were ignorant or not, converged into a giant wave, crashing towards the magnificent imperial city!

They may not understand why, but the stories in the newspapers and in the stories had already awakened a sliver of national consciousness.

On the towering eaves, Xiao Sheng quietly watched the gathering crowd.

Her pupils reflected the crowd, as if reflecting the firelight of the night before the attack in Tianjin.

……

"Among the Eight Gates, there must be people from the imperial court."

That day in Lingdang Hutong, Paper Figure Li was tidying up the paper figures and applying new paint to them.

Xiao Sheng stood behind him, biting her lip slightly.

"I know."

"Then why not act first, instead of letting the important martial arts practitioners leave first and then attacking those who remained?"

"Because it doesn't matter if the people who go are spies."

"How could I not care!"

Paper Doll Li, holding a paintbrush, looked at the girl with a smile and said, "Have you ever seen a wave on the beach rise backward because of a few drops of seawater?"

The girl was stunned.

"As long as Tai Sui can enter the capital, the general trend will make those people unable to control their own destiny."

"In the end, they too will become knives piercing the imperial court!"

"He will be a great force! I knew it the day he returned from the Bohai Sea."

boom!
Flames, roars, raging tides.

Standing in the towers and pavilions of the capital, Xiao Sheng saw the Boxers from all directions transform into a surging black tide, heading straight for the Dragon Court at the very center!
Without any command, they tore open the heart of the entire dynasty under the guidance of that blood-red blade!

All the pontoon bridges and other structures in front of the moat were destroyed!

Ji Ran leaped inside!

The Boxers were blocked outside the river, but they immediately began building a bridge!
……

Sunlight streamed down the steps of the Golden Palace, where the young emperor sat curled up on the golden dragon throne, which was twice his size.

His gaze was vacant, fixed on the open hall!
The sunlight, like golden water, spilled over the threshold and crept into the dim hall.

Beside him, an old eunuch's withered, vine-like hand pressed against the emperor's trembling knees, his cloudy eyes fixed on the white jade steps outside the palace.

somebody is coming.

Da da da!
"Report——"

A young eunuch stumbled to his knees and wailed, "Your Majesty! The rebels have stormed the imperial city! Three thousand imperial guards were all killed in ten breaths! Corpses litter the ground!"

"Where are the Imperial Guards in the capital?!"

The old eunuch glared angrily and demanded in a shrill voice!
"They're all dead! Hundreds of thousands of Boxers in the capital have risen up together, and they've...they've already reached the moat!!"

"Damn it! Prince Zai deserves to die! If it weren't for him, how could so many rebels have been allowed into the city!"

"Report——"

Suddenly, another young eunuch came running up, staggering!

"Your Majesty, along with a thousand Imperial Guards and two hundred palace maids, have escaped!"

"What!!"

At this moment, the young emperor's expression changed drastically, and he said, "How...how could you escape without me!?"

"Report——"

boom!
A eunuch tripped over the threshold and fell heavily to the ground. He crawled forward a couple of steps and said, "The thieves have stormed the Imperial Road and run into the Great Buddha!"

"All one thousand Imperial Guards have been killed! That thief smashed the royal carriage with his spear and crushed it!"

"The Great Buddha... has passed away!"

hum!
The young emperor nearly fainted; his lips trembled, and his face was deathly pale. He suddenly stood up, pointing fiercely outside the palace! "How many people! How many thieves are here!!"

The little eunuch pressed himself firmly against the ground, his whole body trembling like a leaf!
His voice was hoarse with fear!

"One...one person!"

Pfft!
The emperor slammed onto the dragon throne, his face ashen.

The old eunuch suddenly reached out and straightened the emperor's crooked crown, his movements as practiced as any ordinary afternoon.

The crown, adorned with pearls, had long since loosened, emitting a crackling sound like rotten wood about to break between his withered fingers.

"Your Majesty, do not lose the dignity of an imperial family."

The young emperor took a deep breath and said tremblingly, "Everyone, step back. Go to the South Palace, where this year's tribute jewels are available. Take whatever you like."

The eunuchs, who had already lost their composure, immediately got up and scattered in all directions.

At this point, anyone who comes to deliver the message is already utterly loyal.

Da da da!

Soon, a tall and straight figure walked to the front of the main hall.

The old eunuch slowly walked down the steps, his flesh bulging out in chunks, and a wild beast's blood and energy surged from his limbs and bones!
"You're still alive, go collect your master's body."

Ji Ran completely ignored the old eunuch. His king-level spiritual barrier fluctuated, and a blood-red light flashed in his eyes!
The sudden murderous intent made the old eunuch abruptly stop in his tracks!

really!

To be able to fight your way this far, you must be at the King level!
"Where is Prince Zai?"

At this moment, the young emperor suddenly spoke, looking at the dragon-headed spear in Ji Ran's hand.

"died."

"How did you die?"

"I killed him."

The young emperor was silent for a moment, then said, "This throne is given to you today. What can you give to the world..."

"I won't sit down."

Ji Ran said quietly, "This seat will never be occupied again."

The young emperor, whose expression had been gloomy, suddenly brightened up and exclaimed, "You want to Westernize and reform?!"

"No, we will have our own path."

Beside Ji Ran, the Heavenly Demon Thorn slowly floated, aimed at the young emperor.

"However, I still ask you to put an end to this old era."

"Grand Duke Jupiter, don't make a move!"

Just as the Heavenly Demon Thorn was about to shoot out, Xie Tunan's voice suddenly came from behind!
Ji Ran turned her head slightly and saw Xie Tunan running over, saying, "Grand Duke, how about leaving the rest to me?"

"I am not pleading for them."

Xie Tunan bowed to Ji Ran and said, "An emperor must be buried with his era."

"But I want his death to give him some dignity and to give future innovations a perfect ending."

"it is good."

Ji Ran nodded and walked out of the main hall. He trusted Xie Tunan, the man who had always been at the forefront of innovation.

now.

Xie Tunan turned around and met the eyes of the young emperor.

The moment Xie Tunan rushed in, the emperor's gaze immediately fell upon him!

His lips moved, his eyes filled with surprise, nostalgia, anger... and finally, it all turned into a greeting in a complex tone.

"Mr. Xie, it's been a long time."

"Your Majesty is well."

Xie Tunan gently cupped his hands in greeting.

Do you think I am well?

The young emperor chuckled self-deprecatingly, stepped down the stairs, and stood before Xie Tunan.

Seeing this once spirited and talented man now looking old and frail, the anger that had been building up in his chest finally burst forth!
boom! !

"Why did you abandon me?"

At this moment, the emperor gripped Xie Tunan tightly, roaring, "Didn't you say you wanted to reform the court?!"

Why—

"Your Majesty, it is you who abandoned reform, not I who abandoned Your Majesty!"

The emperor's face suddenly stiffened.

Looking at the now mature emperor before him, Xie Tunan seemed to see himself six years ago, the spirited young man he once was.

The young emperor gritted his teeth and said, "I once said that!"

"If it can bring happiness to the people, I am willing to give up the throne! I will never let the people suffer for the glory of my own family!"

"Isn't this enough?!"

Xie Tunan looked quietly at the emperor before him and said, "Your Majesty's ability to say these words is the reason why I was willing to follow you in the first place."

"However, His Majesty is weak and indecisive, indulging the conservative forces, and when it comes to making a decision, he makes excuses and delays!"

"You said the words, but you didn't do them."

Xie Tunan's voice was powerful and resounding, causing the young emperor to retreat repeatedly!

"You have the heart to devour tigers and wolves, but only the actions of sparrows and rabbits!"

"How can anything be accomplished?!"

Bang!

Xie Tunan threw the Emperor's Sword on the ground and said, "Pick up the sword and come with me to see Vasid."

Xie Tunan didn't ask him if he knew, because based on the information from the Imperial Guards' guards and Tai Sui's words, Vasid must have arrived!
"Do...what?"

Xie Tunan looked at him and said, "An emperor should die a worthy death."

"Your Majesty, you must be buried with this era."

The young emperor's lips trembled, and he was on the verge of tears.

"Mr. Xie, I...I don't want to die!"

"Pick it up!!"

Xie Tunan roared, "Who wants to die?!"

"But on the banks of the Dagu Fortress, less than a few dozen feet long, lay the blood and flesh of ten thousand Quan people! Throughout the entire land of China, hundreds of thousands have died because of the war!"

"The Haihe River in Tianjin is blocked because of the corpses. Did they want to die?"

The emperor trembled, unable to speak.

"His Majesty."

The old eunuch picked up the sword and silently handed it to the emperor.

"Mr. Xie, this is for your own good."

Xie Tunan said quietly, "Come with me."

The young emperor looked up, astonished, and asked, "Isn't it suicide?"

"Do not."

Xie Tunan bowed to the old eunuch.

He looked at the young man locked up in the deep palace and a wistful smile appeared on his face.

"Go kill the thieves!"

……

The old eunuch summoned the eunuchs still in the palace, carrying a curved-handle nine-dragon umbrella, a purple canopy, a banner, and eight gold items.

The group left the palace via a narrow path in the inner palace and, led by the old eunuch and Xie Tunan, arrived at the embassy district.

Here, the imperial regalia is fully displayed.

He walked in with an air of nonchalance!

soon.

As Wasid emerged from the embassy, ​​dozens of soldiers with guns lined up on either side of him.

……

On the spire of the church in the embassy district, two spirits silently observe.

What do you think of Xie Tunan?

Ji Ran spoke softly, and Qin Pu beside him said, "Calm and steady, Zhu Yu only plans a general outline for many things, and he is the one who refines and executes the details. In military matters, Zhu Yu's innate talent is something Xie Tunan cannot match."

"But in other aspects, Zhu Yu still needs more experience, while Mr. Xie can manage things very well."

"is it?"

Ji Ran nodded and said, "Teach the Primordial Spirit Technique to the two of them when we get back."

"From now on, the Boxer Rebellion will be led by the three of you. There will be no more emperors in the country, but how things will turn out will depend on your actions, step by step."

"how about you?"

Ji Ran shook his head and didn't say anything.

Below, the emperor shook hands with Vasid and then did not let go.

"Ok?"

The old man paused, then saw the emperor in front of him draw his sword from his waist!
Emperor's Sword!
The fortune and popular support carried by the Jing Dynasty over three hundred years have long been condensed into a layer of power similar to a spiritual barrier!
The emperor before him had tears in his eyes, but behind him, an old spirit grasped his arm!

Guardian Deity Ma Yuan!
Xie Tunan's voice was gentle as he said, "Your Majesty, the chief culprit of the foreign powers is right before our eyes!"

"Please execute!"

The young emperor's eyes reddened, and Vasid's expression changed drastically!

"you!"

whoosh-

A crimson figure sensed the aura emanating from the sword and immediately shot away!

Wasid's eyes widened in horror!
"Vlad!!!"

That damned vampire escaped!
brush-

Countless rifles were all aimed at the four men!

At this moment, it was just an ordinary old man whose wrist was grabbed by an ordinary teenager!
"gentlemen."

"If I die here, what will the world say about me?"

The emperor was in tears, trembling all over, terrified to the extreme.

If it weren't for the fact that Vasid was an old man, we definitely wouldn't have been able to catch him right now!
Xie Tunan's expression was complicated as he said, "The emperor slays the foreign barbarians in the Mingtang Hall, and the jade is shattered, and the world is shrouded in white."

Click!

The emperor gripped his sword tightly!

"I see."

"In truth, my whole life has been nothing more than that of a sparrow kept in the palace."

"Sir, the day you left, you actually closed the last window through which I could possibly fly away."

Pfft!

Blood stained the ceremonial sword, and the young emperor finally revealed a ferocious glint in his eyes!
He held the old man's trembling body tightly, sword in hand, sword after sword!
Blood gushed forth, soaking the yellow dragon robe!

bang bang bang-

Gunshots rang out, and in a daze, the young emperor seemed to see two people crouching on the opposite peak.

Sunlight shone on the two blurry figures, distorting them into the likeness of himself and Xie Tunan.

He felt as if he had returned to his first meeting with Xie Tunan.

He saw Xie Tunan's high spirits and his ambition for reform!
Yes.

It was a summer day, the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly after the rain.

The young scholar, bowing respectfully, asked himself, "How far can Your Majesty go in terms of reform and change?"

The young emperor looked solemn, his sharp gaze meeting the top scholar's without flinching: "If it can bring happiness to the people, I am willing to give up the throne! I will never let the people suffer for the glory of one family!"

The darkness before my eyes grew ever deeper.

He understood that he had never truly accomplished anything. He was merely a timid bird, cowering in the magnificent palace, dreaming of being a soaring eagle.

However, scraping the bone to remove the poison from a rotting giant is not curing the disease, but rather a form of slow slicing.

Ouch, that really hurts, sir.

boom!
When the young emperor fell to the ground riddled with bullet holes, an era came to a complete end.

When the emperor sacrificed himself to kill the foreign enemy, the conservative forces could not find any possibility of making peace with the foreigners from any angle.

With the loss of the King-level, countless new Primordial Spirits will be born on the Righteous Harmony Society's side.

The scales of history have begun to tip.

The tide is rolling and irreversible.

The figure on the church spire also disappeared.

The final chapter of this world has been written.

The feudal imperial system began with the king carrying a sword and ended with the king carrying a sword.

(End of this chapter)