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

Chapter 646 Sealing off the Drunken Flower Pavilion

"Is he... trying to publicly take sides?!"

The deathly silence in the council chamber was broken by this silent question.

All gazes—burning, surprised, intrigued, and inquisitive—were like tangible ropes, firmly binding Meng Xinghun's ordinary, almost indistinct face.

The air freezes.

Just now, almost everyone was certain that this expert from the Western Desert would either ignore Zhao Bao's clumsy provocation or take the opportunity provided by Yu Zhuoqun to let the storm pass by.

Who would have thought that Meng Xinghun would not only not avoid the issue, but would instead make his stance clear in an almost overbearing manner!
Not only did he accept the "knife" handed to him by Zhao Bao, but he also swung it at the towering Xuanyuan Sect in front of all the heroes of the world without hesitation!

This is not just a simple statement; it's a clear declaration of allegiance!
It meant that he had completely bound himself and the entire Qingyi Tower to the giant ship that was the Investigation Bureau!

Zhao Bao's heart, which had been hanging in his throat, finally fell heavily back into his chest, but a fine layer of cold sweat had already broken out on his back.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a sense of relief at surviving a disaster welling up inside him.

If it weren't for Meng Xinghun's earth-shattering remark, he would have lost face and become a laughingstock in front of these old foxes today.

He couldn't help but look at Meng Xinghun again, trying to decipher the deeper meaning from that calm and expressionless face.

Was this powerful ruler of the Western Desert truly trying to extricate himself from a predicament?

Or... is it merely using his own pretext to announce the powerful entry of Qingyi Tower to the Xuanyuan Sect and even the entire martial arts world of Daqian?
Under the intense gaze of countless eyes, Meng Xinghun slowly spoke:
"I live in the remote Western Desert and have just entered the Great Qian Dynasty. I am truly ignorant of the illustrious reputation of the Xuanyuan Sect, a 'reputable and righteous sect,' and do not know its status in the martial arts world of the Great Qian Dynasty."

He deliberately paused slightly on the phrase "reputable and upright sects," with a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm.

"but……"

Meng Xinghun changed the subject:
"Throughout this journey, we have traversed thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, and have had the opportunity to meet and interact with disciples of your esteemed sect on several occasions."

He paused, a very subtle smile curving his lips. His gaze slowly swept over Yu Zhuoqun's face, which was contorted with anger, and finally landed on Yan Tingfeng, who was resting with his eyes closed but whose aura was slightly tense.

"As for their character and integrity..."

Meng Xinghun shook his head slightly.

The movement was minimal, yet it seemed to contain immense power, turning the unspoken words into the loudest slap, striking the faces of everyone in the Xuanyuan Sect!

hiss! ! !
A suppressed gasp and a cold snort immediately filled the hall.

As everyone knows, the Green Robe Tower originated from the infamous Demonic Sect Star Demon Sea in the Western Desert!
To be publicly questioned by someone associated with a demonic sect in such a contemptuous tone about the reputation of Xuanyuan Sect as a "reputable and righteous sect" is an absolute humiliation!

This is a trampling of the century-old reputation of the Xuanyuan School!

"you--!"

Yu Zhuoqun's face instantly turned a deep liver color, and his hair and beard stood on end.

His internal energy surged uncontrollably, causing his wide sleeves to flutter and rustle even without wind.

He stared intently at Meng Xinghun, his eyes blazing with murderous rage, as if he were about to pounce on him and tear him to pieces at any moment!

Yan Tingfeng, who had been sitting as still as a stone Buddha, could no longer maintain his composure.

Beneath his tightly closed eyelids, his pupils rolled slightly, and two icy, almost tangible glints of light seemed to pierce through his eyelids and shoot out.

A heavy, mountain-like pressure silently spread out, making the people sitting near him gasp for breath.

however.

These words, however, were like a spark thrown into a pot of oil, instantly igniting the other martial arts masters in the council hall who were already feeling suffocated by the Xuanyuan Sect's imposing aura!
The pent-up resentment and fear in their hearts finally found an outlet!
"Master Meng speaks frankly and to the point! In this martial arts world, some people are all talk and no action!"

"Exactly! They're just putting up a show of 'selling dog meat under the guise of mutton,' which perfectly describes some self-proclaimed prestigious sects! The way their disciples behave is, well, even worse than us 'unorthodox sects'!"

"Lord Meng is a true hero! Men of the Western Desert are indeed upright and honorable, disdaining all that convoluted hypocrisy!"

"That's right! I have also experienced the methods of some 'disciples of prestigious schools' firsthand, and they are truly... despicable!"

……

A chorus of agreement, sarcasm, and veiled criticism rose and fell.

Although no one dared to directly point out the three words "Xuanyuan Sect," the target of their criticism was already obvious.

The pent-up resentment burst forth like a flood, instantly shattering the oppressive aura that Yu Zhuoqun had painstakingly created.

Yu Zhuoqun suddenly turned his head, his sharp and angry gaze sweeping fiercely over those who had spoken, attempting to intimidate them with his accumulated power.

however.

This time, he was not met with fearful avoidance, but with even more blatant mockery and provocative gazes!
Everyone seemed to see through his bluster—do you, Yu Zhuoqun, dare to challenge Meng Xinghun?
Don't dare?

Then why are you still pretending to be a big shot here?
Yu Zhuoqun's face turned from red to green, then from green to white, his chest heaving violently, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

His once-proud intimidating presence crumbled completely under Meng Xinghun's casual words and the others' opportunistic attacks!
Yan Tingfeng sighed inwardly, as if a boulder had been thrown into an ancient well, causing ripples to rise.

He came today with the prestige of the Xuanyuan Sect, intending to take the opportunity to put pressure on the factory director and seize greater benefits.

He had anticipated the reactions from all sides, but he hadn't expected that Meng Xinghun, who had come from afar, would stand so resolutely and ruthlessly on the side of the Criminal Investigation Department, even at the cost of publicly breaking ties with the Xuanyuan Sect!
The connection between Qingyi Tower and the Criminal Investigation Bureau was far deeper than he had anticipated.

The plan was completely disrupted.

Continuing this stalemate will only lead to further humiliation.

Yan Tingfeng slowly opened his eyes, a trace of helplessness and coldness flashing across his deep, pool-like eyes before finally settling on Meng Xinghun's ordinary face opposite him. He looked at him intently, as if trying to etch this person into his very bones.

Immediately, he rose to his feet, his wide gray robe billowing, exuding a heavy aura. He bowed slightly to Wang Jin, who remained half-asleep on the soft couch, his voice deep and resonant:

"Master, there are too many people and too much talk today, so it's difficult to say everything."

"May I... speak to you in private?"

On the soft couch, a barely perceptible, satisfied smile, like an old fox who had stolen a chicken, finally flashed across Wang Jin's half-open phoenix eyes.

Subsequently.

The two truly influential figures, under the watchful eyes of countless people, left the tense council chamber one after the other without a sound.

The heavy palace doors slowly closed behind them, shutting out the noise from inside and outside.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly relaxed, only to be immediately replaced by another kind of restlessness.

The head of the gang, Wan Shanglou, and the third-in-command, Zhao Bao, became the temporary hosts, responsible for entertaining these江湖豪客 (jianghu heroes).

However, almost everyone's interest instantly shifted to the powerful ruler of the Western Desert who had just stirred up a storm!

"Master Meng, I am Liu Zhenshan, the leader of the Iron Palm Clan. I have long admired your name!"

"Lord Meng's divine might is unparalleled; to meet you today is an honor beyond measure! I am..."

"Master Meng..."

In an instant, all sorts of martial arts masters flocked forward, their faces beaming with eager smiles, vying to chat and get to know Meng Xinghun, trying to become familiar with him.

Yu Zhuoqun, the Xuanyuan Sect elder who had just been the center of attention, now stood alone, his face ashen, like an old object forgotten in a corner, ignored by everyone.

The enormous contrast made his fists clench so tightly in his sleeves that they cracked, filled with shame and indignation.

Zhao Baoding composed himself, straightened his crimson python robe, forced a polite smile, walked up to Meng Xinghun, who was surrounded by the crowd, and solemnly clasped his hands in a salute:

"In the council hall just now, I am deeply grateful to Lord Meng for speaking up for me and rescuing me from this predicament! Zhao Bao is extremely grateful!"

They adopted an extremely humble posture.

Facing this infamous Green Robe Master who could kill a second-rank expert, he knew he had to give him enough respect.

however.

Before he could finish speaking, a hunched figure squeezed through like a ghost, carrying a deliberately chilling aura, and rudely shoved Zhao Bao aside, causing him to stumble!
It's the big boss, Wan Shanglou!

Meng Xinghun has now publicly stated his position and sided with the police.

This means that the two sides will enter a honeymoon period of close cooperation.

Whoever can cooperate well with such a top expert will have more opportunities to make contributions.

Wan Shanglou saw this point, which is why he squeezed forward.

He had always been jealous of and looked down on Zhao Bao, so naturally he didn't want Zhao Bao to get this opportunity.

Zhao Bao was pushed aside, and naturally he held a grudge.

But now, in public, he must maintain harmony with Wan Shanglou and not lose face for the police station in front of all the martial arts figures in the world.

Zhao Bao could only stand aside, gritting his teeth and suppressing his anger.

On Wan Shanglou's wrinkled old face, a "brilliant" smile bloomed, like a chrysanthemum in full bloom.

Without even glancing at Zhao Bao, who had been pushed aside, he went straight to Meng Xinghun and spoke enthusiastically in his distinctive, slightly hoarse voice:

"Master Meng! I am Wan Shanglou, the head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. It is an honor to meet you today..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

But Meng Xinghun interrupted him:

"It's you."

The two words, cold, harsh, and devoid of any emotional fluctuation, were like two icicles, instantly piercing Wan Shanglou's enthusiasm.

Meng Xinghun's gaze finally fell on Wan Shanglou, his eyes were frighteningly calm, as if he were looking at a dead object.

“You’re the guy who started from Sizhou City and followed our carriage like a hyena that we couldn’t shake off, thinking you were hiding well.”

Meng Xinghun's voice was calm and even, yet it possessed a penetrating power that seemed to see through everything.

Wan Shanglou's smile was like a clay sculpture frozen in time, shattering and stiffening inch by inch!
A look of disbelief and horror flashed in his eyes!

What Wan Shanglou was most proud of was his ability to track and conceal his tracks, and to conduct stealth and espionage!

From Sili Prefecture to the capital, a distance of a thousand miles, he was confident that he had done it flawlessly, and even Wang Huaishuang, the chief executioner, had not noticed!

But this Western Desert man in front of me... he actually knew all along?!

A chill instantly shot from the soles of Wan Shanglou's feet to the top of his head!
Meng Xinghun stopped looking at him, as if even glancing at him would be an eyesore, her tone filled with undisguised contempt:
"I don't want to talk to someone who's hiding their true intentions."

Wan Shanglou felt as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping his throat, his old face flushed red, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

That carefully crafted smile completely collapsed, leaving only extreme embarrassment and shame!

He originally intended to take this opportunity to befriend Meng Xinghun and suppress Zhao Bao, but unexpectedly, his attempt backfired.

Instead, in full view of everyone, they were humiliated by the other party as if dust had been brushed away!
He had been a powerful figure in the police force for decades, and had never suffered such a humiliating disgrace.
Just as Wan Shanglou was filled with shame and indignation, wishing he could disappear into the ground, Meng Xinghun's gaze passed over him and landed on Zhao Bao, whose expression was equally unpleasant.

"Lord Zhao,"

Meng Xinghun gave Zhao Bao a rare slight nod.

Even... the corner of his mouth seemed to twitch slightly, revealing an extremely brief, almost imperceptible smile with a certain profound meaning.

This subtle change in expression made Zhao Bao's heart skip a beat!
Meng Xinghun took the initiative to walk towards Zhao Bao, and even extended his hand, making a gesture of "let's talk in private".

Zhao Bao was flattered and quickly followed.

Amidst the astonished and uncertain gazes of the crowd, the two walked to a huge golden pillar with a coiled dragon in the corner of the council hall.

Meng Xinghun lowered his voice slightly, but his calm tone carried an indescribable solemnity:

"Lord Zhao, a storm is brewing."

"I observe that the atmosphere in the capital is stagnant and congested, with an omen of bloodshed rising into the sky."

"I'm afraid... it will happen tonight!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Bao was first startled, then a hint of disapproval arose in his heart.

He answered cautiously:
"Master Meng's insight is truly remarkable!"

"But rest assured, after last night's turmoil, the Grand Eunuch was furious. Our Investigation Bureau, together with the Six Doors, the Northern Imperial Guard, the Shuntian Prefecture and other government offices, has already laid a tight net!"

“All major roads, city gates, and markets are heavily guarded, and there are numerous hidden agents!”

"If any foolish scoundrel dares to cause trouble at this time, it's tantamount to walking into a trap! They'll be caught and never return!"

He spoke these words with absolute certainty and full confidence.

In his view, the bloody massacre of the rioters this morning was enough to deter all those who might be tempted to cause trouble.

Moreover, all parties are on high alert, so who would dare to commit a crime against the wind at this time?

Meng Xinghun's deep eyes gazed silently at Zhao Bao, as if he wanted to say something.

"boom!"

Just then, the doors to the council chamber were suddenly pushed open, and a figure rushed in!
The visitor was a thin, elderly man.

He wore a faded, slightly worn blue long robe, a matching square headscarf, and a long beard that hung down to his chest, giving him the air of a former official. Zhao Bao's pupils contracted slightly.

He recognized this person!
He was the strategist of the Green Robe Pavilion, a mysterious figure respectfully known as "Mr. Ding"!

The police had been investigating him for a long time, but they still couldn't see him clearly. They only knew that he was a remnant of the previous dynasty who had fled to the western desert decades ago to live in seclusion.

It wasn't until the rise of Qingyi Tower and its sweeping conquest of the Western Desert that he suddenly emerged from seclusion to serve Meng Xinghun, quickly becoming his indispensable right-hand man.

The true origin and purpose of this person have always been a mystery on the intelligence network of the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

Mr. Ding walked with a solemn expression and hurried steps, going straight to Meng Xinghun's side, completely ignoring Zhao Bao who was standing next to him.

He leaned close to Meng Xinghun's ear, his lips moving rapidly, his voice extremely low, like a mosquito's buzz.

Meng Xinghun listened expressionlessly, but a cold star seemed to flash rapidly in his unfathomable eyes.

He nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

Immediately, Meng Xinghun turned to Zhao Bao, his tone returning to its previous calmness, yet carrying an undeniable sense of farewell:
"Lord Zhao, an urgent matter has arisen, so I must take my leave first."

He paused and added:

"If the eunuch needs to summon you, just send someone to my Qingyi Tower residence."

Before he finished speaking, Meng Xinghun had already turned around and, with the mysterious Mr. Ding, left the council hall swiftly but silently, leaving behind a room full of astonishment and doubt.

Zhao Bao stared in the direction they had disappeared, his brows furrowed, his mind filled with doubts.

Meng Xinghun left in such a hurry, even with a rare sense of urgency!
What urgent matter could a newcomer from the Western Desert, unfamiliar with the capital, possibly have?

Recalling his earlier warning about "the changes tonight," Zhao Bao's initial skepticism vanished instantly, replaced by a strange unease.

He looked out the window subconsciously.

As dusk settled, thick, leaden-gray clouds hung low over the capital, as if an invisible giant hand were gripping the city's throat.

The last glimmer of light was being rapidly swallowed by darkness.

Night is truly approaching.

…………

royal palace.

The night, like thick ink, completely soaked into the majestic palace.

The cold moonlight struggled to penetrate the shadows of the towering palace walls, sparingly casting a few pale spots of light that illuminated the cold iron bars of the cage and the huddled, disheveled figure within—Prince Zhao Yu of Huaiyang.

Liang Jin, clad in the black armor of the Imperial Guard and with a sword at his waist, stood like a statue several feet away from the iron cage.

The leaves of the beetle gleamed with a dark luster under the cool moonlight.

Tonight I will no longer be lonely.

The police have already sent people to help guard Zhao Yu in the iron cage.

Even on the night shift, two guards still stood watch with Liang Jin.

The two guards, dressed in the distinctive dark blue armor of the police station, stood like ghosts in the shadows on his left and right.

Their eyes were sharp, like those of eagles and wolves, as they vigilantly scanned every inch of darkness around them.

The guards were arrogant towards the other Imperial Guards on duty, but they maintained a degree of superficial politeness towards Liang Jin.

This naturally stemmed from their knowledge of the relationship between Liang Jin and Zhao Bao.

However, the presence of these guards completely prevented Liang Jin from having any private communication with Zhao Yu inside the iron cage.

Liang Jin could only stand silently like a true guard.

Zhao Yu could only continue his mad and foolish performance, sometimes laughing hysterically, sometimes muttering incoherently, and sometimes shaking the bars in the iron cage.

Time flowed slowly in the dead of night, amidst the faint sound of clappers in the distance, as heavy as solidified lead.

Liang Jin was pondering the events that his clone had encountered that day:
"The Yin Seal isn't with Wang Jin today?"

His clone went to see Eunuch Wang Jin today, bringing along the jade tablet. He originally planned to use the special connection between the jade tablet and the jade cong to determine the location of the Yin Seal, serving as a warning.

Once the clone senses a strange vibration in the jade tablet, it will withdraw to avoid direct contact with Wang Jin, thus preventing the eunuch from discovering the secret of the black blood.

After all, the range of Yu Zhang's special connection with its kind is much greater than the range of Yin Xi's connection with Black Blood.

Unexpectedly, Wang Jin did not bring the Yin Seal with him today, which allowed the clone to meet Wang Jin normally.

"Or is it that Wang Jin doesn't carry the Yin Seal with him at all times?"

Liang Jin did not understand this question.

However, his clone would always remain vigilant and carry the jade tablet with him.

Liang Jin slightly raised his head and looked at the crescent moon that had been cut off by the high wall, leaving only a pale white sliver.

The night was cool as water, and the dew grew heavy as the night deepened.

It's almost midnight!

The Daily Intelligence report reveals that Prince Zhao You of Shanyang, who should be living a secluded life, actually went to the Drunken Flower Pavilion tonight for the sake of a top courtesan!
This undoubtedly exposed his fatal weakness at this critical moment!

Meanwhile, the servant of Zhao Xun, the Prince of Changshan, has been captured by the Qingyi Tower, and they are verifying the servant's words.

If what the servant said is true, then Zhao Xun will also face danger.

Prince Zhao You of Shanyang must die!
Tonight is a golden opportunity!
But the one who takes action must not be Meng Xinghun, the master of the Green Robe Pavilion!

The battle with the Demon Slayer King has made the name "Meng Xinghun" the focus of countless eyes.

At this moment, countless eyes are secretly watching his every move, making escape difficult.

On the contrary, it was himself—a mere banner commander of the Imperial Guard, Liang Jin!

This humble identity, as insignificant as dust, has now become the perfect cover.

Nobody paid attention, nobody was on guard!
Upon thinking of this, a flash of cold light appeared in Liang Jin's eyes.

He stretched his neck, which was slightly stiff from standing for a long time, and made a soft "click" sound.

Immediately, a perfectly measured hint of apology appeared on his face. He turned to the two guards beside him, who stood like stone statues, and lowered his voice, saying:
"Brothers, I've been standing here for most of the night, and my stomach is churning. I'm going to the outhouse, I'll be right back."

"Could you two please keep a close eye on this gentleman in the cage for me?"

Upon hearing this, the two guards' tense expressions eased slightly.

One of them twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a hint of understanding:

"Mr. Liang, you're too kind!"

"Everyone needs to go when they need to, so go ahead! Don't worry about us brothers here!"

"When we need to use the restroom, don't we rely entirely on you, General Liang, to keep an eye on things?"

Liang Jin nodded, said no more, and turned to leave.

His pace was unhurried, and his figure quickly disappeared into the shadows around the corner of the palace.

The layout of the palace was already etched into Liang Jin's mind like a brand.

He deliberately chose blind spots during patrol breaks, avoiding the line of sight of the lookouts on the towering watchtowers, moving silently through the shadows of the vast palace like a fish familiar with the terrain.

Finally, he arrived at the depths of a side hall corridor.

The moonlight was completely blocked by the tall eaves, making it pitch black; only the faint sounds of clappers and wind could be heard from afar.

right here!

No one will come, and no one will care.

Liang Jin's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and his aura suddenly erupted!

"call--!"

A strong wind suddenly arose from the ground!
An invisible wave of air suddenly spread out from him, stirring up years of dust and withered leaves on the ground, forming a miniature whirlpool!

Clothes clung tightly to the body, fluttering loudly!
"Walking with the Wind and Shadows" activated!
In the next instant, Liang Jin's figure seemed to merge into the suddenly swirling night wind, becoming blurry, distorted, and finally disappearing completely!
All that remained was a rapidly spinning, fleeting miniature cyclone!

The night wind howled as it swept through the main roads of the palace.

The Imperial Guards on duty felt a sudden gust of cold wind hit their faces, making their helmet plumes flutter and their armor plates rustle.

They instinctively shrank back, tightened their grip on their halberds, and warily scanned the shadows of the trees swaying in the wind and the flickering lantern lights.

"Damn it, this ghost wind is really eerie!"

"Stop muttering! Stand guard!"

Unbeknownst to anyone, in that fleeting gust of wind, a human figure, faster than the wind and fainter than a shadow, had already phantom-like crossed the towering palace walls and merged into the deeper darkness of the capital city.

Target—Drunken Flower Pavilion!

…………

Zuihualou.

While other parts of the capital were eerily quiet due to the curfew, this neighborhood, frequented by the powerful and wealthy, remained brightly lit and bustling with activity, as if it were daytime!

A curfew may be effective for ordinary people, but it may not be effective for the powerful and wealthy.

The air in front of the Drunken Flower Pavilion was filled with the strong scent of cosmetics, alcohol, and a restless heat wave called "desire".

Tonight is the big night for Su Huanyue, the top courtesan of Zuihualou, to "comb" her hair!
This renowned beauty, famous throughout the capital and possessing both stunning looks and exceptional talent, is finally about to welcome her first guest.

The news spread like wildfire, igniting the hormones of the entire elite circle in Beijing.

In front of the main building of Zuihualou, there was a constant flow of traffic and a large gathering of people.

Young masters in fine clothes and jade belts, bloated and wealthy merchants, and even some mysterious figures who tried to keep a low profile but could not hide their nobility, filed in, surrounded by their servants.

The sounds of string and wind instruments, the clinking of glasses, and the clamor of laughter and chatter merged into a massive wave of sound that nearly lifted the roof off.

The madam, though past her prime, still retained her charm.

She was dressed in bright red and purple brocade, her face plastered with a fawning smile that could melt ice and snow, flitting among the wealthy patrons like a butterfly flitting among flowers.

Looking at the room full of wealthy guests, and at their extravagant spending to win a smile from the beauty, she felt as if a mountain of gold and silver was about to fall upon her, and her smile deepened the wrinkles around her eyes.

"Young Master Wang, please come in! Oh, Master Zhang, you've finally arrived! Lord Li, a private room has been prepared for you..."

Just as this extreme extravagance and clamor reached their peak—

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A series of heavy, orderly footsteps, accompanied by the clanging of metal, approached from afar like muffled thunder, shattering the decadent music of the Drunken Flower Pavilion!

The voice carried the chilling aura of a thousand troops, and its sound, when it stepped on the bluestone slabs, seemed to shake the ground slightly!

The noise stopped abruptly!

All eyes turned in surprise and uncertainty to the street corner where the sound was coming from.

Squads of soldiers, clad in heavy black armor, wielding halberds and carrying swords at their waists, appeared like an iron torrent on the long street outside the Drunken Flower Pavilion, their uniform and awe-inspiring steps exuding a murderous aura!
The cold, icy leaves reflected a chilling light under the surrounding brilliant lights!
Their faces were cold and hard, their eyes like knives, instantly shattering the singing and dancing in front of the Drunken Flower Pavilion into pieces!

"The Northern Imperial Guard?!"

The smiles on the faces of the powerful and wealthy froze, the wine glasses in the hands of the wealthy merchants stopped in mid-air, and the young men subconsciously loosened their arms around the girls.

A bone-chilling cold instantly replaced the heat in the arena.

The iron-clad army came to an abrupt halt before the magnificent gates of the Drunken Flower Pavilion, like an insurmountable steel barrier!
The leading officer, a burly man with a chiseled face, stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

His voice was booming, echoing throughout the brightly lit street:
"By order! A citywide curfew has been imposed! You are all to return home immediately and remain inside your homes!"

His icy gaze, like a tangible blade, swept across the faces—some terrified, some angry, some bewildered—before the Drunken Flower Pavilion, finally settling on the magnificent golden lintel, where he shouted sharply:
"This area! Is to be sealed off immediately! No one is allowed to approach! Violators will be..."

The officer's voice suddenly rose, booming like thunder:

"Treat this as treason, and execute them without exception!!!"

As he uttered his last word, hundreds of Northern Imperial Army soldiers behind him simultaneously drew their swords!

"Qiang——!"

Amidst a piercing metallic scraping sound.

Hundreds of gleaming swords pointed diagonally at the sky, their cold light instantly merging into one, casting a chilling glow in front of the Drunken Flower Pavilion!

(End of this chapter)