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

Chapter 647 Public Assassination
The soldiers of the Northern Imperial Guard had cold, hard faces and sharp, hawk-like eyes, exuding a fierce and battle-hardened aura.

This chilling aura was enough to terrify ordinary people, causing them to cry out and flee.

however.

Standing in front of the Drunken Flower Pavilion at this moment, are any of them ordinary people?

Either rich or noble!

Their blood flows with the arrogance of power and money.

After a brief moment of shock came a torrent of anger and fury at being offended!
"presumptuous!"

An elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a brocade scholar's robe, stepped forward first, his withered fingers almost poking the leading officer's nose, spittle flying everywhere:
"A mere Imperial Guard commander dares to bark and howl here? One of my worthless students holds a rank three levels higher than yours! Who gave you the audacity to act so recklessly here?"

A bloated, wealthy merchant, his belly protruding, looked on with disdain:
"Exactly! Open your dog eyes and look where you are! This is the Drunken Flower Pavilion!"

"Does this place belong to a lowly soldier like you? Don't you know who's behind Drunken Flower Pavilion? If you disturb the important people inside, you won't have enough heads to chop off!"

A middle-aged man, dressed in fine clothes and exuding an air of authority, shouted sternly, glancing around as if searching for a familiar face:
"Where's Tong Shan? Call Tong Shan out here!"

"I have a close relationship with your Commander Tong! We were drinking and chatting happily at Mingyue Tower just a few days ago! Go! Immediately send someone to inform Commander Tong that I, Wang Shicheng, am here!"

"I want to see if he personally issued this damn lockdown order! Let's see who dares to touch me!"

Even more dissolute young men, embracing terrified girls, would haughtily shout:

"Whether you Northern Imperial Guards are catching thieves or imposing a curfew, tonight is Miss Su's big day! Even if the Heavenly King himself came, he couldn't disrupt it!"

"You've ruined my mood, can you afford to offend me?!"

……

Spit rained down on the silent army like a storm.

The soldiers gripped their sword hilts tightly, their knuckles turning white from the effort. Beneath their cold armor lay suppressed humiliation and rage.

They knew that each of these roaring dignitaries had a deeply entrenched network of connections behind them.

If you offend them, the commander might be able to manage things a bit.

But if a lowly soldier like himself were to be targeted by these powerful figures, they could kill him as easily as crushing an ant.

The knife, though held in his hand, weighed over a thousand pounds, and no one dared to wield it.

Just as the crowd was filled with indignation and spittle flew everywhere.

A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the leading officer, and he suddenly raised his hand, his voice like the clang of metal, drowning out all the noise:
"Sheath your sword!"

Hundreds of gleaming swords instantly returned to their sheaths in perfect unison.

"Qiang!"

It brought with it a short, sharp, and chilling metallic scraping sound.

Seeing this, the powerful and wealthy looked even more smug, thinking that their power had finally overwhelmed these soldiers.

Some people even let out a contemptuous sneer.

However, the officer's next order was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head:
"Anyone who disobeys orders and lingers will be driven away with a sword sheath!"

He suddenly waved his hand and roared:

"Do it!!!"

This order was like unlocking the shackles from the soldiers' hearts!
Since the superior was willing to take responsibility, they felt confident!
The suppressed anger instantly found an outlet!

The heavy wooden scabbard whistled through the air as it mercilessly smashed into the incessantly chattering nobles!

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

"Ouch!"

"You bastard! How dare you hit me?!"

"Ah—my leg!"

……

Although the soldiers instinctively held back to avoid fatal injuries, the heavy, blunt weapon, imbued with the strength of a soldier's arm, still caused excruciating pain as it struck them!

In an instant, the once arrogant and domineering dignitaries were like hornets whose nest had been disturbed, screaming, cursing, and fleeing in panic!
The magnificent brocade robe was covered in dust, and the carefully styled hair was disheveled, making the scene extremely embarrassing.

"Go in! Clear the area! Leave no one alive!"

The officer remained unmoved, his sharp finger pointing directly at the brightly lit main building of the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

The soldiers, as fierce as wolves and tigers, immediately poured in, and the Drunken Flower Pavilion was filled with a chaotic mix of shattered cups and plates, overturned tables and chairs, screams from women, and roars from men.

The guests, who had just been enjoying the gentle embrace of the women, were now like startled rabbits, driven by scabbards, scrambling out of the gate and joining the fleeing crowd outside.

The madam, Xu Niang, watched helplessly as her carefully prepared, almost-obtained fortune crumbled in an instant, leaving her as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Suppressing her terror, she swayed and rushed towards the officer, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace, her voice low and carrying a barely perceptible threat:

"Sir! Sir, please calm down! Look at this... look at the mess this has made!"

"I'm not being nosy, but the Drunken Flower Pavilion has been able to establish itself in the capital for so many years, weathering all the storms. There must be some backing it up!"

"If you disrupt things like this without even knowing what's going on, what if you alert some important person in the building, or offend someone you shouldn't... Aren't you afraid of bringing a huge disaster upon your superiors?"

She deliberately emphasized the words "top superior".

The officer looked down at her coldly, a mocking smile playing on his lips. His voice was equally low, yet every word was like a knife:

"Rely on someone? Hmph! Under normal circumstances, I might be somewhat wary. But tonight..."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the madam's instantly pale face like lightning:

"No matter who's behind you, their influence can't compare to the person behind me!"

"You'd better...think it over carefully!"

The madam trembled all over, as if struck by lightning!

The last glimmer of hope vanished.

She finally realized that a truly powerful figure with connections to the highest levels was eyeing this place.

And this person is definitely not Tong Shan, the commander of the Northern Imperial Guard.

But he is someone of even greater importance than Tong Shan!

As a result, Tong Shan willingly accepted being driven around, and even sent his imperial guards to serve as his henchmen.

What kind of powerful figure could make this officer speak so confidently, knowing the background of the Drunken Flower Pavilion?!

Fear, like a cold, venomous snake, instantly coiled around her heart.

"Sir...Sir..."

The madam's voice was trembling:
"Then...then we..."

The officer interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument:

"Why are you panicking?"

"Immediately bring men and clean this Drunken Flower Pavilion inside and out for me! Make it spotless!"

"Then, take all your pimps, maids, musicians, cooks... everyone! Get out of here immediately!"

"Only Su Huanyue is allowed to remain!"

The madam suddenly looked up, a look of disbelief flashing in her eyes.

"listen!"

The officer's voice was as cold as ice:
"Tonight, the Drunken Flower Pavilion will only be hosting one distinguished guest! Only Su Huanyue will be allowed to stay and serve him! If the guest is even slightly dissatisfied with her service..."

He leaned closer to the madam, his icy breath brushing against her face:
"Or perhaps even a single word about tonight's events has leaked out..."

"I will exterminate your entire family! Not a single one of your chickens or dogs will be spared!"

After the immense fear subsided, a twisted excitement ignited in the madam's eyes!

Serving such a powerful and influential person is certainly a perilous path with a nine-out-of-ten chance of death, but once she climbs up to that level... the immense wealth and honor is enough for her to gamble everything!
"Yes! Yes! Don't worry, sir! I understand! I understand!"

The madam hurriedly agreed and scrambled back into the building, her shrill voice instantly drowning out the chaos:
"Get moving! Quickly! Clean this up! Anyone who doesn't want to die, get out of here!"

Just as this chaos reached its peak—

"call--!"

A sudden, extremely violent gust of wind, without warning, swept in from the end of the long street like an invisible behemoth!

Flying sand and rocks, dust all over the sky!
The hanging lanterns swayed wildly and went out!
The magnificent flags were torn and fluttered loudly!
Amidst the sharp howling of the wind, there were cries of pain from people getting their eyes covered in sand and gravel, screams of being blown over by the gale, and the angry roars of soldiers maintaining order!

confusion!

Utter chaos!
No one noticed...

Just as the wind whipped up a cloud of dust and blurred the view, a figure among the imperial guards near the entrance of the Drunken Flower Pavilion swayed very slightly.

Then, it simply disappeared!

When the sandstorm subsided, the figure reappeared.

He remained standing upright in the same spot, his face obscured by shadows beneath his helmet, as if he had never moved an inch.

Only those eyes hidden beneath the helmet's brim, like the deepest, coldest pool, coldly scrutinized everything before them.

The wind comes quickly and goes quickly.

When the dust settled, the area in front of the Drunken Flower Pavilion was a mess, but there was no sign of anyone.

The powerful, wealthy merchants, and onlookers had all been driven away, and even the nearby streets had been completely cleared out, leaving the place as empty as a ghost town.

Even the high-ranking officials and nobles living in this area seemed to realize that the unusual actions of the Northern Imperial Guards tonight meant that something unusual was about to happen.

Therefore, the vermilion gates of those grand mansions were tightly closed at this moment, and not a single ray of light could see through the cracks.

Only the Drunken Flower Pavilion stubbornly continues to display its extravagance.

Decorated with lanterns and bright lights, it resembled a solitary island in a dark ocean, exuding an alluring aroma yet fraught with danger.

Inside the building, everything had been hastily cleaned and refreshed, and the aroma of fine wine and food filled the empty hall.

Inside the boudoir on the top floor, Su Huanyue, dressed in her finest attire and breathtakingly beautiful, awaited her "patron" like the most perfect offering on an altar.

The place had already been thoroughly combed by the Northern Imperial Guards, inside and out, to ensure that not even a single extra rat could hide.

The entire Drunken Flower Pavilion now seemed to have become a meticulously arranged stage, just waiting for the protagonist to make his appearance.

The soldier who had "disappeared" and then "reappeared" stood silently in the position closest to the gate in the queue, his posture upright and showing no signs of distress.

No one could see the chilling killing intent and the extremely calm scrutiny deep in his eyes.

at last!

"Ta! Tat! Tat!"

The crisp, rhythmic sound of horses' hooves rang out.

The heavy rumble of wheels rolling over the cobblestones grew louder as it approached, sounding particularly jarring in the otherwise silent street.

All the Northern Imperial Guard soldiers who stood at attention instantly tensed up!

Because they could clearly see the imposing figure sitting atop an exceptionally swift and heavily armored warhorse at the very front of the procession.

It was none other than Tong Shan, the supreme commander of the Northern Imperial Guard of the Great Qian Dynasty and a peerless master of the second rank!
Although Tong Shan is over sixty years old, his physique is so robust and strong that it far surpasses that of ordinary people!

His bulging muscles bulged beneath his heavy armor, as if they contained the power to move mountains and fill seas. Even the priceless Western Region dragon steed beneath him seemed to take unusually heavy steps.

To have this powerful military figure, holding immense authority and holding a transcendent position, personally escort and clear the way...

The identity of the person in the carriage is self-evident!
The somber atmosphere had solidified to an extreme.

Tong Shan reined in his horse and stopped in front of the brightly lit gate of Zuihualou.

His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept across the solemnly standing army formation. Confirming absolute safety, he abruptly raised his hand: "Turn around!!!"

Swish!
Hundreds of soldiers moved in perfect unison, as if drawn by invisible threads, instantly turning around and facing away from the carriage!

They were deprived of the right to see the true face of the "nobleman," like lifeless background panels.

Tong Shan then dismounted, the heavy armor plates clanging together with a dull thud.

He walked to the carriage, bowed slightly, and reported in a low but clear voice to the closed window:
"Your Highness, the area has been cleared as you instructed."

A simply dressed, robust servant quickly prostrated himself in front of the carriage door, using his thick back as the most humble human step stool.

The car door opened silently.

A foot wearing a brocade boot with gold thread and cloud patterns stepped on the servant's back.

Then, a middle-aged man dressed in a magnificent purple-gold python robe, with a face that looked pale and listless from long-term indulgence in wine and women, slowly stepped down from the carriage.

He is at the heart of tonight's storm.

Prince Zhao You of Shanyang!
Zhao You steadied himself and took a deep breath of the air, which carried the scent of rust and dust, yet was also filled with the fragrance of cosmetics from the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

He looked around: the armored soldiers stood like a forest with their backs to him, the once arrogant and powerful figures were nowhere to be seen, and the entire street was cleared out for him alone.

This Drunken Flower Pavilion, which has never been booked out before, will be lit up just for him tonight!
This is the taste of power!

Luscious!

intoxicating!

It's intoxicating!

Not long ago, Zhao You was just an inconspicuous prince among many others, cautious and timid, fearing that the emperor would suspect him.

Tong Shan, a man of such stature, has never even given him a second glance.

But now?

He is now the closest person to that dragon throne!
Even a military giant like Tong Shan could only bow his head and submit, willingly becoming a lackey!

With just a word from him, the Northern Imperial Guards could crush any obstacle!
This stunning beauty, coveted by all the powerful and wealthy in the capital, could only become his private possession!
The dormant ambitions were thoroughly irrigated, awakened, and allowed to grow wildly by the wine of supreme power!
What he wanted was no longer a life of ease, but the supreme throne!

He will become the true emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty!

Tonight, possessing Su Huanyue is the first step for him to taste the fruits of victory ahead of time!
It was the sweetest reward that power could give him!
A smug, arrogant smile spread across Zhao You's face as he lifted his foot to step into the lavish den of iniquity that had opened up for him.

"Keng! Keng!"

A heavy clanging sound of armor plates striking each other rang out from the side.

Tong Shan's towering figure followed closely behind.

"Ok?"

Zhao You frowned sharply, stopped in his tracks, and looked displeasedly at the iron tower beside him.

Tong Shan remained expressionless, his voice as steady as a rock:

"The safety of the prince is of paramount importance."

"It is my duty as a subordinate general, and I dare not leave my post even for a moment."

Zhao You's face instantly darkened, filled with offended anger:
"So, when I go in to enjoy myself, you'll be there to 'protect' me?!"

He deliberately emphasized the word "guards," which was full of irony.

Tong Shan remained silent.

But its mountain-like, unyielding stance has already given an undeniable answer.

Zhao You laughed in fury, his voice suddenly rising, carrying a hint of hysterical questioning:

"Tong Shan! I ask you, does Zhao Xun still have the right to compete with me?!"

"Which of those clowns who support him has the guts and the ability to assassinate me?!"

"you say!"

He surveyed the impenetrable armored formation around him, as if demonstrating his absolute safety.

Tong Shan frowned slightly.

To be fair, what Zhao You said is true.

Zhao You now has a huge advantage, with only one final step remaining – the emperor's death.

As long as the emperor dies, Zhao You's ascension to the throne is practically guaranteed.

If it weren't for the fact that Eunuch Wang Jin had been blocking outsiders from contacting the Emperor, making it unclear what the Emperor's true situation was,

Otherwise, Zhao You would have ascended the throne long ago.

The advantage was overwhelming; the only variable lay with the emperor, whose fate was unknown, and the eunuch, whose attitude was ambiguous.

Although Prince Zhao Xun of Changshan had many supporters.

But now, Zhao Xun's power has waned, and he is no longer qualified to compete with Zhao You.

But the more this is the case, the more cautious we need to be! He took a deep breath, trying to reiterate his advice:
"Your Highness, it is precisely because victory is assured that we should..."

Zhao You rudely interrupted him:

"enough!"

His eyes gleamed with an almost fanatical light of power:
"Tong Shan! You'll remember this!"

"From now on, I am the emperor! You are my subject!"

He has already begun using the self-reference "朕" (Zhen, the imperial "I").

"In this world, how can a ruler's actions be subject to the whims of his subjects?!"

"You stay here and keep watch outside the building!"

"With you, Tong Shan, and these hundreds of armored soldiers here, do you really think an assassin could fly into the building and take my life?!"

He abruptly flicked the sleeve of his python robe embroidered with golden dragons, no longer glancing at Tong Shan, and strode confidently toward the magnificent gate of the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

His silhouette exuded an undeniable imperial majesty and an eager anticipation of enjoying the spoils of war.

Tong Shan watched Zhao You's resolute back and ultimately did not force himself to follow.

He slowly loosened his clenched fist, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

He is indeed confident!
The Drunken Flower Pavilion has been thoroughly searched, leaving only Su Huanyue, who is powerless to even kill a chicken.

With his terrifying perception as a second-grade grandmaster, no slightest movement inside the building could escape his notice.

Even if Su Huanyue harbored evil intentions and attempted to assassinate him with a hairpin or something similar.

He could also kill someone from afar the instant the thought arose!

The outer perimeter was further sealed off by an impenetrable military formation, making it impossible for even birds to enter!
The forces supporting Zhao Xun had long been suppressed and scattered. In the capital, he really couldn't think of anyone who would dare to or be able to assassinate Zhao You under such circumstances!

"I obey your command!"

Tong Shan clasped his hands in a deep voice, his gaze sharp and fixed on Zhao You's retreating figure as he was about to step through the gate:
"We swear to protect Your Highness with our lives!"

Zhao You ignored his words; his mind had already wandered into that gentle embrace.

Just as Zhao You's left foot stepped across the threshold of the Drunken Flower Pavilion, which was illuminated as if it were daytime, and before his right foot had even left the ground—

A sudden change occurred!

Tong Shan, who had been as vigilant as a statue, suddenly narrowed his pupils to the size of pinpoints!
A near-beast-like intuition, honed through countless life-or-death battles, made the hairs on his body stand on end instantly!

The deadly warning, like an ice pick, pierced his mind!

He suddenly turned his head, his gaze like two tangible lightning bolts, instantly striking the row of Imperial Guards standing with their backs turned to the right of the entrance to the Drunken Flower Pavilion!

One of them actually turned his head away the moment Zhao You stepped through the door!

They disobeyed the strict order to "turn around"!

In the shadows beneath the helmet, those eyes... were colder than human!

"court death!!!"

Whether the soldier acted out of curiosity or with malicious intent, disobeying orders and turning to spy on the prince was a capital offense!
Tong Shan's heart was burning with murderous intent!
Without even needing to think, the incomparably powerful true energy within his body erupted like a volcano!
Without moving his body, his right hand rose up like lightning, his fingers pointing like a halberd.

A sharp finger gust of wind, imbued with the terrifying cultivation of a second-grade grandmaster and capable of piercing through fine steel, instantly converged and was about to strike the head of the soldier who disobeyed military orders!

The goal is to strike decisively and leave no room for any unforeseen circumstances!

however!
Just one percent of the moment when Tongshan's finger broke through the air—

Om-!
The air in front of him suddenly and eerily distorted!

The light seemed to be violently torn and folded by an invisible hand!
Immediately afterwards, a huge, imposing figure, exuding the aura of a prehistoric beast, seemed to have been forcibly "squeezed" out from another dimension!

Appear out of thin air!

It completely transcends the common sense of space and perception!
The newcomer's face was covered by a hideous bronze mask, revealing only a pair of emotionless pupils that seemed to burn with hellfire!
Clad in incredibly heavy, dark, scarred armor, the plates covered with ancient marks of swords and axes, it was as if he had returned from an ancient battlefield, treading through blood!

In his left hand he held a massive, tombstone-like heavy sword, the Xuan Iron Sword Thousand Mountains; in his right hand he held a terrifying round wheel, the Bone Erosion Wheel, with its edges covered in gleaming white serrations and shaped like a giant beast's skeleton!
It was Zhan Kui Huang Xingzi!
The moment he appeared, Tong Shan's expression of astonishment hadn't even had time to surface!

"Roar--!"

A deep, inhuman roar exploded from beneath the mask!

Huang Xingzi's massive sword, the Thousand Mountains Rugged Sword, as large as a door panel, carried a terrifying power capable of crushing mountains and severing rivers. It stirred up a visible vortex of violent air currents and slashed down fiercely towards Tong Shan's head!
Before the sword even arrived, the destructive wind pressure had already cracked the bluestone slabs at the foot of Tongshan Mountain inch by inch!

Too fast!

Too close!

Too abrupt!

Tong Shan was filled with utter shock!

He simply couldn't understand how the other person had appeared!
This is definitely not a martial art!
This is practically like... spatial teleportation from mythology and supernatural tales?!

In the face of life and death, he had no time to think!
The instincts of a peerless master made him instantly abandon the idea of ​​killing the soldier, and frantically pour all his power into his left fist as he unleashed it!
The fist energy solidified into a tangible form, transforming into a roaring tiger phantom, carrying the resolute determination to shatter everything, and fiercely met the descending giant sword!
Offense is the best form of defense!

Hard fight!

"Protect the Prince—!!!"

Tong Shan's furious roar, accompanied by the terrifying boom of fists and swords about to collide, echoed through the night sky!

however.

Just as he threw a punch to meet Huang Xingzi's attack, he caught a glimpse of a scene at the threshold of the Drunken Flower Pavilion that was enough to freeze his blood.

Beside Zhao You, at the edge of the shadow elongated by the lamplight, the air also rippled strangely!

Several ghostly black shadows, as if crawling out from the deepest depths of the netherworld, appeared out of thin air without any warning!
They appeared at almost the same time as this war puppet, Huang Xingzi.

This speed is so fast that even the most advanced light-body skills in the world cannot match it!
These shadowy figures were dressed in loose, pure black robes that seemed to absorb all light, and their faces were covered by hoods!

Their movements were swift, silent, and so perfectly synchronized that it was chilling!
It's as if they've rehearsed it a thousand times!

Just as Zhao You turned around in surprise at the sudden appearance of a figure beside him, and before the smug smile on his face had completely frozen—

Just as the Imperial Guards on the perimeter were startled by the violent shockwave caused by Huang Xingzi's appearance and Tong Shan's furious roar, and were about to rush towards Zhao You without regard for anything—

These ghostly figures in black robes, with their numerous black claws, resembled scythes from hell, striking Zhao You's vital points from several extremely cunning angles...

Squeeze it hard!

"call--!"

A strong wind rose.

In an instant, sand and stones flew everywhere!

(End of this chapter)