Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 513 Remnants of the Youhuan Clan

The dozen or so survivors stared blankly at the Burial Dragon Ridge, which was once again shrouded in poisonous miasma, as if they were wooden or clay sculptures.

The thick, poisonous miasma was like a heavy black curtain, completely obscuring the entire mountain range and making it impossible for anyone to see anything inside.

The night wind blew, and the poisonous miasma surged and rolled like a raging black tide, the silence within was chilling.

Through the poisonous miasma, everyone's gaze seemed to pierce through the horrific scene from not long ago. Exhaustion and shock were etched on their faces, and they remained stunned for a long time.

They were all perfectly aware that this mission had suffered a complete and utter defeat.

Not only did they fail to achieve their expected goals and return empty-handed, but even more tragically, as many as 90% of their companions perished.

Instantly, everyone's gaze was drawn to Zhao Xiling. Her figure appeared somewhat frail in the moonlight, yet it still exuded a stubbornness and unwillingness.

Zhao Xiling gritted her teeth, her eyes flashing with unyielding light, and said defiantly:

"Didn't Doctor Mu say that we only need to recuperate for seven days to clear the effects of the medicine from our bodies before we can continue taking the Miasma-Avoiding Pill?"

"Seven days later, we entered the Burial Dragon Ridge again."

"Next time, I will definitely bring out what's inside!"

On any other day, if Zhao Xiling uttered such spirited words, a chorus of flattery would surely rise from the surrounding crowd, with everyone vying to echo her and praise the princess's wisdom and decisiveness.

However, at this moment, the surroundings fell into a deathly silence, a silence that was somewhat oppressive.

Those who used to fawn over the princess either lost their lives in the terrifying events at Burial Dragon Ridge, or they became clear-headed and rational after experiencing life-or-death trials.

At this point, anyone with a modicum of common sense could see that stepping back into Burial Dragon Ridge in such a short time would be nothing short of playing with one's life and was simply unrealistic.

But the problem is, how can we persuade the princess to give up this idea, and who should be the one to "take the lead"?

The group pondered amongst themselves, exchanging meaningful glances, and finally, all eyes turned to the imperial guards.

As the princess's personal protectors, the imperial guards would naturally be more effective in persuading her.

Immediately.

Second-class guard Ding Feng took a deep breath, braced himself, and stepped forward, kneeling down in front of Zhao Xiling with a thud.

His voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of awe and worry:
“The Burial Dragon Ridge is fraught with danger; we almost lost our lives there before.”

"Princess, you are of noble birth and incomparably noble. How can you put yourself in danger again? Please reconsider, Princess!"

Ding Feng knew in his heart that since he was not of high status, he could serve as cannon fodder and bear the first wave of Zhao Xiling's anger.

as predicted.

Zhao Xiling glanced at him coldly, her eyes filled with icy intent, and uttered two words in a chilling tone:
"Go away!"

Ding Feng dared not speak further and could only kneel respectfully in place, expressing his attitude through silence.

Just as Zhao Xiling's eyebrows furrowed in anger, about to erupt in fury, the Xuanluan Guard also stepped forward with a solemn expression.

Without saying a word, she quietly walked to Ding Feng's side and knelt down next to Zhao Xiling, silently demonstrating her stance.

Zhao Xiling couldn't treat the Xuanluan Guards with the same casual reprimands she showed to Ding Feng.

An incredulous expression appeared on her face, her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to say something, but she was speechless for a moment.

At this time.

Gu Jinfu also stepped forward, his face solemn. He knelt down before Zhao Xiling and said loudly:
"Please reconsider, Your Highness!"

Then, as if receiving a unified command, everyone knelt on one knee and shouted in unison:
"Please, Your Highness, reconsider!!!"

Everyone present was a martial arts master with exceptional skills, and certainly not someone who was afraid of death.

However, this experience of venturing deep into the Burial Dragon Ridge revealed to them some terrifying forces that were beyond their imagination, incomprehensible, and impossible to resist.

Given such immense power, their survival was already a stroke of luck.

If they were to go back, it would be tantamount to courting death, utterly foolish, and how could the people possibly agree to that?
Zhao Xiling looked at the crowd kneeling on the ground, her brows furrowed into a deep frown.

She knew in her heart that without anyone's support, she would not be able to accomplish anything on her own.

Zhao Xiling's gaze swept quickly across the crowd, finally landing on Canxin.

"Canxin, you've always been my biggest supporter."

Her voice seemed to be full of anticipation.

Canxin sighed softly, her eyes filled with worry and concern, and slowly said:

“Princess, this matter certainly needs to be considered carefully.”

"Your safety is our top priority now, and we must leave here as soon as possible."

"Once the situation here stabilizes, we will gather our forces and proceed gradually."

Hearing Canxin say this, Zhao Xiling's anger gradually subsided, and she sighed helplessly.

"Since everyone is so loyal, how could I possibly betray their trust?"

"Alright, get up, everyone. We'll discuss this further when we get back."

Zhao Xiling wasn't stupid; she naturally understood that entering the Burial Dragon Ridge again at this time would have little hope of success and be extremely risky.

She was just anxious, resentful, and emotionally charged just now.

At this moment, everyone gave her a way out, so she calmed down and stopped being stubborn.

Upon hearing this, everyone stood up.

Next, it's time to prepare for the return journey.

at this time.

A young eunuch suddenly darted out from the crowd and knelt down in front of Gu Jinfu with a thud.

His voice was clear and urgent:

"Lord Gu, I am Zhao Bao. I have the honor of having met you!"

"If I could serve you, sir, it would be an immense honor. I would gladly serve you at all costs, even unto death!"

"Please, sir, grant me this opportunity."

This young eunuch was none other than Zhao Bao.

When Gu Jinfu saw Zhao Bao, his brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

He carefully examined the unfamiliar young eunuch before him, confirming that he had never seen this person before.

Most importantly, there was no such person in the team that entered the Burial Dragon Ridge this time.

Gu Jinfu was naturally wary of someone who suddenly appeared, his eyes flashing with a sharp light:
"Who are you?"

Not only Gu Jinfu, but everyone around him also became alert upon seeing a stranger's face.

They instinctively shielded Zhao Xiling tightly, while quickly spreading out to subtly surround Zhao Bao, their eyes filled with vigilance.

Upon seeing this, Cao Xian immediately recognized Zhao Bao.

He clearly hadn't expected to see Zhao Bao here, but he quickly walked up and hurriedly explained:

“Lord Gu, this kid is a spy from our intelligence agency, and also one of my men.”

"He has always served the police station with utmost loyalty."

With Cao Xian's explanation, Gu Jinfu's expression softened slightly.

But his doubts were not completely dispelled, and he continued to ask:
Why are you here?

Cao Xian was equally curious about this question.

Zhao Baoding composed himself and calmly recounted in detail how he came to Jinzhou, how he participated in the mission of the Investigation Bureau to capture the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, and how he eventually arrived at Zanglong Ridge.

As for many key details, especially his encounter with the conjoined twins and his subsequent experiences, he cleverly concealed them.

He claimed that he had accidentally eaten a strange plant from the Burial Dragon Ridge, which allowed him to avoid the poisonous miasma. However, due to injuries sustained along the way, he was unable to leave the Burial Dragon Ridge and could only struggle to survive in this treacherous place. After many days of hardship, he finally waited for the arrival of the crowd.

Although Zhao Bao's experience sounds bizarre, upon closer examination, it makes perfect sense.

After all, the group had indeed seen the bodies of the Vice Minister of War and the agents of the Investigation Bureau on their way here, and they knew about this pursuit mission.

With Cao Xian vouching for him and confirming Zhao Bao's identity, the doubts in everyone's hearts gradually dissipated, and they began to lower their guard against Zhao Bao.

However, Gu Jinfu's expression hardened, and his eyes became even more profound.

next moment.

He suddenly launched an attack, reaching out with a hand that resembled a fierce eagle's claw, wielding a sharp gust of wind as it viciously grabbed at Zhao Bao!

Zhao Bao, however, remained kneeling on the ground like a statue, clenching his teeth and motionless, seemingly oblivious to the impending danger.

Gu Jinfu's hand firmly gripped Zhao Bao's shoulder.

In that instant, Zhao Bao felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, as if a thousand steel needles were piercing him at the same time, and the force seemed to be crushing his bones.

The old man's shrill voice rang in Zhao Bao's ears:

"Zhao Bao! This eunuch is using his internal energy to spy on you!"

"He has ulterior motives; he deserves to die!"

The old woman also cursed venomously from the side:

"That damned eunuch, he works for that dog of an emperor!"

"Zhao Bao, kill him! With our help, you can definitely kill him!"

But Zhao Bao ignored him, still clenching his teeth and enduring the excruciating pain, kneeling obediently on the ground.

He even voluntarily withdrew his protective inner energy, completely entrusting his life and death to Gu Jinfu, as if he had absolute trust in Gu Jinfu.

It wasn't until Gu Jinfu caught Zhao Bao that the others snapped out of their daze and looked on in astonishment.

"Master Gu!"

"Why...why is this happening?"

Cao Xian was even more shocked, his face full of disbelief, completely unable to understand what had happened.

After all, Zhao Bao was someone he brought with him, so if Zhao Bao had any problems, he would also be held responsible.

After a moment, Gu Jinfu asked in a deep voice:

"Zhao Bao, are you a third-rank martial artist?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned into silence.

Third grade?

How can this be?

Everyone looked Zhao Bao up and down. He had a youthful face and looked like a young boy who was not yet twenty years old.

How could someone this age possibly reach the level of a third-grade martial artist?

The most shocked person was Cao Xian, who knew Zhao Bao's strength best!

More than a month ago, he met Zhao Bao, who was only at the sixth rank in strength at that time.

next second.

Zhao Bao remained calm and slowly nodded in response:
“You are right, sir. I have already entered the third rank.”

Upon hearing Zhao Bao's admission, everyone gasped in shock.

Such a young third-rank martial artist?
This is absolutely unprecedented! If Gu Jinfu hadn't personally confirmed it, no one would have believed it.

For so many years, no one in the martial arts world has ever heard of such a peerless genius with unparalleled talent!

Do not!
There was another person—the great and virtuous teacher Liang Jin!
He was also a peerless genius who had reached the third rank at a young age!
Thinking of this, everyone suddenly remembered Liang Jin.

So they all turned around and searched for Liang Jin's whereabouts.

Soon, they noticed Liang Jin sitting alone in the distance, his figure appearing somewhat forlorn in the moonlight.

Zhao Baoben was immersed in the amazement of the crowd, enjoying this hard-won glory.

For him, who had always been in a lowly position and suffered bullying, this sense of amazement and envy was something he had longed for for many years!
At that moment, he felt as if he were floating on clouds, drifting in a dream.

Just as he was about to savor this honor, he suddenly noticed that everyone's gaze had turned to Liang Jin.

This ignited a nameless anger within Zhao Bao, causing his brows to furrow tightly.

If it weren't for Liang Jin, he would definitely be the focus of everyone's attention today, enjoying the amazement and praise of these important figures!
This great and virtuous teacher actually interfered and easily stole the glory that should have been his alone!

At this moment, Gu Jinfu spoke up and asked:
"Why was such a peerless genius previously unknown?"

"Tell me, what exactly are you plotting by infiltrating my intelligence agency?"

Gu Jinfu's voice was icy cold, as if it came from the deepest hell, exuding a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.

His eyes were like two sharp blades, fixed on Zhao Bao, as if he would crush Zhao Bao's neck without hesitation if Zhao Bao's answer was even slightly off.

Zhao Bao, however, remained unfazed and answered respectfully as before:

“My lord, you need not doubt me. I have a clean background and entered the palace willingly by castration. I have no ulterior motives whatsoever.”

"I just want to seize a chance to make a name for myself!"

"On this point, Eunuch Cao can vouch for me!"

As Zhao Bao finished speaking, his eyes were full of pleading as he looked at Cao Xian.

He knew in his heart that if he relied solely on his own testimony, it would be difficult to gain people's trust no matter what.

If Cao Xian were willing to help, then everything would become much easier.

Upon hearing this, Cao Xian felt conflicted.

He was struggling internally, hesitating whether to tell Gu Jinfu about Zhao Bao's abnormal increase in strength within a month.

But when he saw Zhao Bao's eyes filled with sorrow and pleading, his heart stirred slightly, and a feeling of pity quietly welled up in his heart.

Cao Xian's chronic illness was cured with the help of Zhao Bao.

Zhao Bao's future was also given to him by Cao Xian.

Their interests were already closely intertwined.

If Zhao Bao becomes successful in the future, Cao Xian will naturally benefit as well.

If Zhao Bao's future is ruined, then all of Cao Xian's investments in him will be in vain, and he may even be implicated.

After a fierce internal struggle, Cao Xian finally decided to help Zhao Bao!
He watched Zhao Bao grow up with his own eyes and firmly believed that Zhao Bao would not disappoint him in the future.

Immediately, Cao Xian rushed to Gu Jinfu's side and whispered to him about Zhao Bao's general situation.

He even explained in detail how Cao Xian led Zhao Bao into the police station and had him carry out secret missions.

In the end, Cao Xian deliberately offered his own perspective:
“My lord, Zhao Bao is indeed a martial arts prodigy and should have been promoted long ago.”

"However, I believe that Zhao Bao is too young and inexperienced. Moreover, he is impetuous and lacks thoroughness in his work, making him unsuitable for important responsibilities."

"That's why I've been holding back his promotion, so that he can hone his character and be cultivated into a truly promising talent."

"Even now, I still think it would be better to let Zhao Bao continue to hone his skills at the grassroots level for a while longer."

“If we promote him rashly, I’m afraid… I’m afraid we’ll ruin this promising talent.”

Cao Xian did not directly praise Zhao Bao, nor did he suggest promoting Zhao Bao.

Because he knew that if he said that, it would only have the opposite effect, making Gu Jinfu even more suspicious of Zhao Bao.

However, if one does the opposite and appears to be jealous of someone's talent and ability, then one can gain people's trust.

really.

Upon hearing Cao Xian's words, a cold smile appeared on Gu Jinfu's face, and a barely perceptible hint of contempt flashed in his eyes.

Gu Jinfu reached out and gently patted Cao Xian's shoulder, saying with a half-smile:

"Cao Xian, you're really old and useless now."

"The world has changed. The old system of seniority and hierarchy no longer works."

"Young people are capable, so we should give them more opportunities to rise to the top."

Cao Xian could only nod in agreement with Gu Jinfu's words, not daring to utter a sound or utter a single word of rebuttal.

Upon hearing this, everyone around looked enlightened.

Within the vast and complex system of the imperial court, the principle of "a higher rank can crush a lower one" is an immutable law.

If your boss says you're not good enough, no matter how capable you are, you're still not good enough and are destined to have no chance of advancement.

If your boss says you're capable, even if you're mediocre, incompetent, or even a pig, you can still rise through the ranks.

Many talented young people are ruthlessly buried because they don't understand the rules of officialdom and can't win the favor of their superiors.

It seems that Zhao Bao has been suppressed by Cao Xian and has not been promoted because he did not flatter or curry favor with him.

If Zhao Bao hadn't seized this opportunity to meet Gu Jinfu in person, he probably wouldn't have had a chance to get a promotion in who knows how long.

Gu Jinfu's hand, which was gripping Zhao Bao's shoulder, suddenly shifted gently to Zhao Bao's elbow, and then, with a loving expression, he helped the kneeling Zhao Bao up from the ground.

His smile was as warm as the spring sun as he said:

"Zhao Bao, from now on you will work for me."

"It just so happens that my foreman died in the Dragon Burial Ridge. You will take his place and become the foreman from now on."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Bao's face instantly showed a look of surprise and joy, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

He hurriedly knelt down again with a thud, looking flattered and overwhelmed.

"Thank you for the promotion, sir!"

"From now on, I will be your most loyal dog! I will obey your every command!"

His words drew disdainful looks from the elderly people and women around him, who began to mutter curses under their breath.

But Zhao Bao didn't care at all. His years of struggling in the lower levels of the palace had made him realize that so-called dignity and face were worthless in the face of power!
Only real power is what he truly pursues.

Now he has risen to the position of head, and finally has real power in his hands.

But how could his goals be limited to just that?

A mere stall was no longer enough to satisfy his ever-growing desires.

He intended to use Gu Jinfu as a springboard to gain an opportunity to meet the true powerful figures of the Great Qian Empire.

The true power holder of the Great Qian Empire was undoubtedly the Ninth Prince, Eunuch Wang Jin!
Being able to serve the factory director, become his right-hand man, and hold one of the four top positions—that was his ultimate dream!

Gu Jinfu helped Zhao Bao up again and smiled with satisfaction:
"Do your job well, and I will definitely treat you well in the future."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze revealing a hint of scrutiny and calculation as he carefully examined the young eunuch before him.

Zhao Bao's performance was just as he had expected.

A talented individual from the bottom who wanted to climb the ranks was suddenly promoted several levels from a spy to a leader, and would naturally be grateful.

Gu Jinfu certainly wouldn't easily trust Zhao Bao.

But he also had his own helplessness.

This operation at Burial Dragon Ridge resulted in heavy losses to his elite troops.

In particular, his two henchmen both died in the Burial Dragon Ridge.

Strictly speaking, Cao Xian was not one of his own people either.

This resulted in a shortage of talent under his command, and even if he returned to the police station, his position would face a severe challenge.

The appearance of Zhao Bao is a godsend.

Although Zhao Bao is full of suspicious points, this does not prevent him from making good use of Zhao Bao as a tool to stabilize his own position.

Later, we can slowly uncover Zhao Bao's secrets and keep him firmly in our hands!
Thinking of this, Gu Jinfu smiled even more brightly, as if he could already see a bright future where he would regain control of the situation.

He glanced around briefly, wanting to see how everyone would react to the matter.

But after he looked around, a look of confusion appeared on his face:
"Where is Sect Leader Jiang of the Purple Cloud Sword Sect?"

"Could it be that... he failed to escape from Burial Dragon Ridge?"

Upon hearing this, everyone seemed to wake up from a dream and came to their senses.

They were so stunned by the earth-shattering events that occurred on Burial Dragon Ridge that they didn't even notice Jiang Duanchao was missing.

Jiang Duanchao is not only the head of the Ziyun Sword Sect, but also a top-tier swordsman who has condensed sword intent!
His strength was so great that no one present was confident they could defeat him in a one-on-one fight.

Everyone else escaped from Burial Dragon Ridge successfully, so there's no reason why Jiang Duanchao shouldn't be able to escape!
Canxin frowned, thought for a moment, and said:

"Jiang Duanchao did not enter the Jiuyuanyan Prison with us."

Upon hearing this, everyone recalled that it was indeed the case.

Since Jiang Duanchao was not in the extremely dangerous Jiuyuan Rock Prison, there was even less reason for him to encounter misfortune.

Just as everyone was filled with doubt.

Zhao Bao suddenly stretched out his hand, his arm straight as a spear, his index finger like a sharp dagger, pointing directly at Liang Jin, who was sitting alone in the distance.

A barely perceptible glint of malice flashed in his eyes as he shouted:
"It's him!"

"I saw it with my own eyes; it was he who killed Jiang Duanchao!"

The sound was like a thunderclap, exploding in the silent night sky and startling the birds that were roosting nearby into flight.

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback at first, and then their gazes were drawn to Liang Jin as if by an invisible hand.

For a moment, the air seemed to be frozen with frost, and the silence was eerily quiet.

They already knew that Liang Jin and Jiang Duanchao had a long-standing feud.

But no one expected that Liang Jin would be so bold as to disregard the princess's dignity and secretly kill Jiang Duanchao!
What's even more unbelievable is that Liang Jin was actually able to kill Jiang Duanchao all by himself!
Although everyone knows that Liang Jin is exceptionally talented and a prodigy, he is still too young.

On the other hand, Jiang Duanchao is a top swordsman who has been famous for decades and is renowned in the martial arts world. He has also condensed the Great Tide Sword Intent.

The fact that Liang Jin could kill such a martial arts master left everyone speechless with astonishment, their eyes wide with disbelief.

however.

Zhao Bao's shrill and piercing voice did not stop there; like a sharp blade, it continued to cut into everyone's hearts.

"The reason he killed Sect Leader Jiang was because Sect Leader Jiang discovered a secret about him!"

"This seemingly virtuous and wise teacher is actually..."

"Remnants of the Youhuan Clan!!!"

(End of this chapter)