Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 146 Escaping the Mortal World: Execution First, Complaint Later
At the Yangzijiang ferry crossing in the southern part of Jiangdu, the navy gave way.

Five large warships lined up on either side, escorting the large contingent into the city. Upon seeing this procession, the people of Jiangdu City were initially worried and fearful.

After all, the arrival of the Xiaoguo Army in Jiangdu did not bring stability, but instead made the atmosphere in the city more tense.

If another "Xiaoguo Army" were to arrive, Jiangdu would surely be thrown into chaos.

However, after making some inquiries and learning that it was General Zhang Xutuo's troops, the panic among the people in the city immediately subsided, and many people even went to the city gate to welcome them.

The people of Jiangdu also know that General Zhang is a truly loyal and brave general.

In the sixth year of the Daye era, he saw a large number of disaster victims in Qi County and decided to open the granaries to distribute grain.

Officials all advised, "We must wait for His Majesty's imperial edict; we cannot provide relief privately."

Zhang Xutuo, however, acted first and reported later, saying, "The people are in dire straits, and I am guilty for this, but I have no regrets even if I die."

Later, he fought in various places, pacified bandits from all directions, defeated Zhi Shilang three times, defeated Pei Shi, and became a powerful force in the Eastern Xia, winning every battle.

Although he recently suffered a defeat at Dahai Temple, it has not affected his standing in the hearts of many people.

The area around the wide south gate was incredibly noisy.

Sunlight shone on the face of an old general, beside him stood a fierce general with three scars on his brow bone, clad in armor and holding a steel whip.

Everyone knows that these two are General Zhang Xutuo and General You Hongda, who is in charge of suppressing bandits.

The Sui Dynasty had many fierce generals, and when it came to their reputation for suppressing bandits, these two were the most outstanding.

Now that they have come together, the impact on Jiangdu is self-evident.

After this old man and this strong man, there were three more valiant generals: Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin, and Luo Shixin.

"We've finally entered the city."

Luo Shixin spoke frankly: "When we came south from Pengliang, we didn't expect that entering the city would be so difficult."

Zhang Xutuo reminded him, "Jiangdu Imperial City is not like the battlefield. Don't speak recklessly. Don't say these things outside, lest you cause trouble, and so will you two."

"Yes."

Qin Shubao and the other two responded in unison.

The three of them had been complaining about the officialdom in Jiangdu for quite some time.

"Do you know why His Majesty summoned us into the city?"

Although they were in Yangzi County, how could they not know about the situation of the Xiaoguo Army?

If nothing changes in the city, given Yang Guang's temperament, he could simply follow Yuchi Sheng's lead and place them in Yangzi County.

Given the defeat at Da Hai Temple, any arrangement would be reasonable, and the opinions of the court officials would be useless.

Zhang Xutuo looked at You Hongda with a hint of testing in his eyes.

You Hongda glanced at his own general:
"I've heard that the Yuwen and Dugu clans are locked in a fierce battle. Our return might not be an opportunity to curry favor. Yuchi Sheng has close ties with the Yuwen clan, and Dugu Sheng wouldn't have repeatedly petitioned His Majesty to allow the General into the city unless he was desperate. After all, General, your relationship with him isn't good."

Cheng Yaojin interjected from the side: "These two families have enormous influence in the court. If the General is caught in the middle, he might as well stay in Yangzi County."

Qin Shubao nodded: "How does the general intend to deal with this?"

Zhang Xutuo stroked his beard slowly, speaking earnestly:
"Although Dugu Sheng has his own agenda, there's no need to harbor too much malice towards him. I even need to visit him to express my gratitude. If it weren't for his intervention, I don't know how long I would have been stuck in Yangzi County. I'm mentioning this to make you understand that no matter who approaches you, you must not get involved in the conflict. Just obey His Majesty's orders."

You Hongda wholeheartedly agreed: "That's right, His Majesty's order should be obeyed."

Luo Shixin then asked, "When are we going to the Dugu residence?"

Zhang Xutuo said, "We'll talk about it after we've met His Majesty."

After Zhang Xutuo finished speaking, he looked at the people who had come to greet him from afar and couldn't help but sigh.

During his time in Yangzi County, he also sent people disguised as merchant caravans to Liuhe City and Qingliu City to investigate the true situation of the Jianghuai Army.

He trusted his own eyes more than the rumors.

He couldn't sleep well for several nights after hearing the news brought back by his capable subordinate.

Looking at Jiangdu now, and considering the dark clouds behind it, it's hard to imagine that such chaos could exist right under the emperor's nose.

At this thought, I felt both indignant and deeply powerless.
……

"Mr. Zhou, there is a letter for you."

"Who sent it?"

"I don't know either. The man only said he was going to give you the letter and then left. He didn't say anything else."

The gatekeeper also described the messenger's appearance, but Zhou Yi had no recollection of it.

There was no signature on the envelope, but after opening the sealing wax, I saw...

No names were left inside.

However, after reading the contents of the letter, his expression turned solemn.

After reading it carefully again, Dugu Feng stood curiously to the side, while Zhou Yi slightly raised his eyes and handed her the letter.

A moment of silence.

Dugu Feng opened the envelope again, confirming that it was unsigned: "Could it be that Bu Tianzhi sent it?"

"No, if it's someone from the Giant Kun Gang, there's no need to be so secretive."

"Is this believable? The people of the Great Ming Sect have already been besieged by the army because of the Lai Huer incident, and they have retreated into hiding. Now they want to attack my Dugu Mansion?"

Dugu Feng then asked, "Could it be related to Zhang Xutuo's entry into the city? I heard from my second uncle that His Majesty has summoned Zhang Xutuo and You Hongda."

Zhou Yi pondered for a moment: "I don't know who sent this message, but it's most likely true."

"and"

"The fact that the Great Ming Zunjiao dared to make a move at this critical juncture most likely indicates that the Yuwen Clan is about to take action. Once Zhang Xutuo's army has established a foothold in Jiangdu, it will be extremely difficult for this northern cult to use the Yuwen Clan to do anything."

Dugu Feng thought of the cult members at the stone archway; if more such experts were to storm the Dugu residence, it would be a disaster.
at dusk.

Dugu Sheng paced back and forth in the inner hall, looking anxious.

"Since the thieves are still preparing, we should strike first. I will go and report to His Majesty to mobilize troops to wipe them out."

Dugu Feng couldn't help but say:

“By the time my second uncle mobilized his troops, these people would have already moved to another location. If they were going to attack us, why wouldn’t they send people to keep an eye on us?”

The old man thought about it and realized that this made sense.

Ignoring his niece, he asked Zhou Yi directly, "What good plan do you have, sir?"

Zhou Yi said, "Send someone to invite Zhang Xutuo to a banquet tomorrow."

Dugu Sheng sighed:
"Even putting aside past grievances, I have done him such a great favor, he should be the one to come and thank me. Moreover, Yuchi Sheng harbors a grudge against me because of this matter. If I invite Zhang Xutuo, he will surely bypass Pei Yun and Yu Shiji to impeach me before His Majesty, saying that I am plotting something treacherous."

"Time is of the essence, how can we wait? Don't worry about Yuchi Sheng, His Majesty will only scold you for now. Being scolded is nothing new, it doesn't hurt. What's the big deal if he scolds you a few more times?"

Zhou Yi's words were very blunt, which made the old man feel depressed for a while.

Which of his advisors or retainers didn't treat him with utmost respect? Whether they were imperial guards or court officials, everyone had to greet him and smile obsequiously when they saw him.

But this cold-faced man is cold-hearted and his words are infuriating.

They really don't give me any face at all.

However, this guy is indeed very capable, no wonder my mother trusts him and sent him to Jiangdu.

"Second Uncle, don't hesitate, just listen to Mr. Zhou."

Before he could even think for a few moments, Dugu Sheng heard his niece urging him on.

His old eyes swept over the two of them, and thinking of his wife's words, a wavering arose in his heart.

"Ok."

The old man agreed and immediately sent someone to deliver the message.

After doing all this, he went to "visit" his nephew, Dugu Ce, to check on his progress in cultivating the Azure Heaven and Red Dust.

That's terrible; the family's martial arts training is miles behind that of outsiders.

In the name of his second uncle, he gave the young master a stern lecture.

Afterwards, Dugu Sheng found his wife, Madam Zhang.

"Did you find out who that Zhou kid is?"

Madam Zhang shook her head: "Feng'er must know, but she keeps her mouth shut. I asked her, but she wouldn't say. She won't even tell me where she's from."

"Is this also what I asked for?"

Dugu Sheng was somewhat dissatisfied and leaned back in his chair:
"Why is my mother treating me like a thief? I think she might have miscalculated this time. My niece's attitude towards this Zhou boy is a bit unusual. I treat her like a rare treasure. If this boy manages to steal her away, then we'll be in big trouble."

Madam Zhang glared at him: "You've got some nerve, daring to make up stories about your own mother."

"I was so angry with this brat. He has no respect for his elders and always says things that hurt people. It's outrageous!"

Dugu Sheng held the teacup and drank the tea that Madam Zhang had just poured in one gulp.

"However, this kid is really smart. He has figured out His Majesty's intentions. If the world is at peace, I will definitely find a way to get him into the court as an official. Pei Yun, Yu Shiji and their ilk will lose their jobs sooner or later."

There's just one thing I can't figure out.

"Which point?"

"Why don't I let him show himself sooner instead of keeping him hidden?"

Madam Zhang said, "Don't think about these things. When we get back to Dongdu and see your mother, we can ask her directly. Don't worry about Feng'er either. If you can think of this, surely your mother can too."

Upon hearing this, Dugu Sheng suddenly grinned mischievously.

"What is it now?" Madam Zhang asked, puzzled.

The old man grinned and said, "Big brother's temper is not as good as mine. Judging from the way this kid talks, he might be able to drive him crazy. Big brother had better pray that there is nothing between your niece and this kid."

Not long after, Dugu Sheng received a report from his subordinates, and his smile vanished completely at that moment.

Instead, a raging fire of anger surged within me.

Heading straight from inside the mansion to the main gate, Zhou Yi, Dugu Feng, and others were already gathered there.

There were three horses and three corpses at the entrance.

Dugu Sheng lit a lamp and saw three familiar faces, all of whom were his old subordinates who had followed him for many years.

As the sun was setting, the three of them visited Zhang Xutuo as arranged by him.

Unexpectedly, I was able to return to the Dugu Mansion entirely thanks to three experienced old horses that knew the way.

Dugu Sheng examined their cause of death and found that they each had only one sword wound on their bodies, a sword that had pierced their heart meridian.

A sword piercing the heart meridian should have left a large patch of blood.

However, there wasn't much blood on the chests of the three people, and each of them felt a chill as if they were touching ice crystals.

The people of the Dugu family were angered, but they didn't know who did it, so they couldn't vent their anger for the time being.

Dugu Sheng guessed that it was most likely the Great Ming Zunjiao, but it was not a good time to reveal it.

Seeing that Zhou Yi remained silent, and considering the current situation, he had no choice but to suppress his anger.

That night, Zhou Yi went out of the mansion alone and explored the locations indicated in the letter.

This time, he kept a close eye on those psychic, hairy beasts and didn't reveal any flaws.

Regarding the intelligence on the Great Ming Sect, I have already made some calculations.
The next day.

At the end of the Si hour (9-11 AM), a group of horses and carriages stopped at the gate of the Dugu Mansion.

Zhang Xutuo, You Hongda, Qin Shubao, and others were personally welcomed inside by Dugu Sheng.

Luo Shixin lagged behind, sizing up the short, thin figure.

I heard that the second master of the Dugu family had some conflicts with the general, but I didn't expect that he would be so polite when I met him in person.

The general originally intended to visit and express his gratitude.

Dugu Sheng sent someone to invite him in advance, but he heard that the person he sent out last night had an accident.

Walking straight ahead, we finally arrived at the hall where the guests were received.

As soon as the generals arrived, Dugu Sheng ordered a banquet to be prepared.

Several of the staff and retainers in the mansion came after hearing of his reputation and met with General Zhang.

Zhang Xutuo was quite polite to these people.

Dugu Sheng's several meetings with His Majesty were not solely his idea.

The staff all contributed.

Zhang Xutuo and Dugu Sheng talked the most, from the initial polite words all the way to their meeting in the palace.

After exchanging pleasantries upon first meeting, Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin remained mostly silent.

Of course, besides Zhang Xutuo, You Hongda was the most watched person in the Dugu household.

This fierce general was also a man of few words, and the menacing scar on his brow bone gave him the appearance of a ruthless and taciturn general.

With all those military achievements and exploits, no one dared to underestimate them.

When the young master of the Dugu family arrived with the leader of the Giant Kun Gang, General Zhenkou merely nodded slightly, appearing even more indifferent than Zhang Xutuo.

Despite his dissatisfaction, Dugu Ce simply smiled and went along with it.

With a steel whip hanging from his waist, You Hongda dared not act recklessly.

This man is known for suppressing bandits. Dugu Ce had been drinking with rebels from the Bamboo Flower Gang not long ago. If this man finds out...

If one truly hates evil as if it were an enemy, wouldn't one have to beat him with a steel whip?

Before long, Dugu Ce in the hall showed a hint of surprise.

He had been keeping an eye on this bandit-suppressing general when he suddenly noticed that You Hongda, with his cold, ruthless, and ferocious expression, widened his eyes and his body trembled as if he had seen something extraordinary.

Although it was only a change that happened in the blink of an eye.

But what appeared on this person's face was truly unfathomable.

Two people were walking in from outside the hall.

"General Zhang, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Zhou, whom I just mentioned."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xutuo looked at the elegant young scholar in light robes and flowing sash beside Dugu Sheng.

"General, I, Zhou, pay my respects."

Zhou Yi cupped his hands slightly and smiled at the old general.

Zhang Xutuo clasped his hands and said, "I dare not accept such praise. If it weren't for you, sir, I would probably still be starving in Yangzi County by the end of the year."

Although Dugu Sheng was greedy for some credit, he also revealed some of the truth to Zhang Xutuo.

Everyone knows the truth.

Dugu Sheng then gave a brief introduction to Dugu Feng.

They only said she was the daughter of a powerful clan leader, and didn't say a word else.

Little Phoenix has already restrained herself very well, but her appearance and temperament are so outstanding that she can't help but shine.

Before Dugu Sheng could introduce them to You Hongda, this aloof general, amidst the surprised gazes of Qin Shubao, Luo Shixin, and the others, took the initiative to approach.

His smile, though menacing, was always sincere.

"So it's Mr. Zhou. Second Master was right, he is indeed a man of exceptional talent and extraordinary appearance."

Dugu Sheng was taken aback. "Have I lost my memory? When did I say that?"
Zhou Yi smiled modestly: "General You flatters me."

You Hongda stopped there and turned to look at the girl next to Zhou Yi: "Miss Feng is so intelligent and spirited, no wonder she is the apple of the Dugu family's eye. I wonder how the old lady is doing?"

The crowd found it strange after hearing only half of the sentence, but then they realized what was going on.

It turned out to be a greeting to the old lady.

Dugu Feng was initially surprised, but then politely smiled and said, "Grandmother is well, thank you for your concern, General You."

Dugu Sheng glanced at You Hongda and muttered to himself.

This person is not simple; he seems to know a lot about my family.

Zhang Xutuo didn't say anything. Dugu Feng glanced at You Hongda, who had returned to his seat, and then stole a glance at Zhou Yi.

After You Hongda sat down, he gave Qin Shubao and the others a look, but unfortunately, no one could understand the extremely subtle meaning behind it.

Once the banquet officially began, the main figures were naturally Zhang Xutuo, Dugu Sheng, and You Hongda.

Their discussion mainly focused on the situation inside and outside Jiangdu.

But with so many people around and so many eyes watching, and amidst the passing of cups and toasts, the conversation was rather superficial.

Dugu Sheng and Zhang Xutuo drank a few more cups of wine, seemingly resolving their past grievances.

In Zhang Xutuo's view, the Dugu family was trustworthy, so he was quite proactive in his conversation with Dugu Sheng.

After the banquet ended, Dugu Sheng led Zhang Xutuo to the inner hall.

At this point, both sides only had a few trustworthy people left around them.

The conversation went deeper and deeper, and as one of the five bodyguards, Dugu Sheng knew far more than Zhang Xutuo.

As he listened to his words, General Zhang's expression grew increasingly somber. It was truly hard to imagine that Jiangdu had fallen into such a state.

The army was in chaos, the people were restless, and there was unease among all levels of society. The struggle between the martial arts traditions had spread into the imperial palace, and the rivalry between powerful clans had reached an irreversible point.

A great disaster is imminent.

The Sui Dynasty was on the verge of collapse.

Zhang Xutuo felt heavy-hearted and remained silent for a long time before looking at Dugu Sheng and saying, "Brother Dugu, did you suddenly summon me here today because you want me to do something?"

Dugu Sheng was choosing his words.

Zhou Yi spoke up: "There is something I need to trouble the General to do."

"What's the matter?"

“This matter should have been handled by us, but the people we sent to invite the General yesterday all turned into corpses. This shows that there is something unusual going on in the mansion, and it will definitely be noticed.”

Zhou Yi spoke frankly: "This is actually a big problem. It involves the Northern Desert Cult and has many potential consequences. We may be retaliated against by their top experts, and these people are unpredictable and difficult to guard against."

Zhang Xutuo asked, "Was General Lai Huer killed by these people?"

"Yes."

Zhang Xutuo gazed intently at Zhou Yi, calmly stating, "The evil cult of the Northern Desert has wreaked havoc on the Sui Dynasty and poisoned His Majesty. I will slay this scoundrel, even if it means dying ten thousand times over."

Zhou Yi saw the determination in his eyes, sighed inwardly, and said, "General Zhang, speed is of the essence in war."

Zhang Xutuo nodded: "I will act first and report later."

Everyone was moved, and Dugu Sheng couldn't help but call out, "General Zhang!"

Then, You Hongda exhaled a generous breath of wine: "I, You, shall be the vanguard."

Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin, and Luo Shixin also shouted in unison, "This humble general is willing to comply."

Zhang Xutuo stroked his beard and smiled with unimaginable composure. It was as if he had forgotten about Dahai Temple. The invincible fire captain of the Sui Dynasty had returned.

After Zhou Yi told him the location in the letter, Zhang Xutuo took his leave.

Dugu Sheng and Zhou Yi escorted Zhang Xutuo and his party out of the mansion.

Zhang Xutuo acted extremely quickly, and within just one day, he had secretly assembled a large army.

There are practically no teams these days that can maintain such a tight-knit organization as his.

Unlike the Eagle Banner Army that Zhou Yi had encountered, Zhang Xutuo never conscripted people into his army. Most of his soldiers and officers joined him voluntarily because of his reputation, and many of them were loyal and brave.

Among these people, many were rescued by Zhang Xutuo from the Dahai Temple at great personal risk.

Therefore, before he made his move, the people gathered by the Great Ming Sect were completely unaware of what was happening.

The night after the banquet at the Dugu residence.

At the turn of the year, accompanied by the bleak autumn wind, the long-quiet night in Jiangdu City was completely shattered!

The shouts of battle shook the long street, and in the western part of the city, near the inner river, the sounds of arrows being fired intertwined, creating a strange buzzing noise.

A row of buildings caught fire, and people were seen tumbling around. Some people screamed and tried to jump out of the fire, but were shot back by arrows.

These buildings, connected to shops, were originally properties under the Yuwen family, but have now become dens of thieves.

Zhang Xutuo overheard some strange, garbled language, which he discerned to be from the Western Turks and the Tuyuhun.

They immediately wanted to capture a few people alive.

But the ferocity of the thieves was truly beyond expectation.

The experts who emerged from the Great Ming Sect were all ruthless and bloodthirsty, unafraid of death. Despite being ambushed in the dead of night, they took up their weapons and engaged in fierce battles with Zhang Xutuo's men.

Some individuals with exceptional lightness skills also rushed out of the fire, heading towards the Dugu Mansion with rage, to carry out their mission ahead of schedule.

As the hour of Yin (3-5 AM) deepened, and the first roof tile was trampled to pieces, the Dugu residence became lively.

Dugu Sheng, Madam Zhang, Dugu Ce, Yun Yuzhen, and others led their men out together.

All the lights in the corridor were turned on.

If the Dugu family had been completely unprepared, these people could have still carried out a massacre.

But rushing in at this moment would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

Zhou Yi noticed that the newcomer was in a disheveled state and guessed that Zhang Xutuo and his men had already made their move.

If the experts from the Great Ming Sect hadn't arrived, he hadn't planned to make a move, but then he heard Dugu Sheng shout angrily in the chaos: "Damn it, it's you!"

He stepped onto the roof tiles and went to the courtyard where Dugu Sheng lived.

Dugu Ce was seen with a shoulder injury, while Madam Zhang, Dugu Sheng, and Yun Yuzhen were attacking a swordsman.

By the light of the lamp, one can see that this person has a fair complexion and a refined, scholarly air.

However, his swordsmanship was extremely fierce, and his skill was also very profound.

Three masters fought him, yet he showed no signs of defeat.

He wielded a swift sword in front of him, seemingly without any flaws, displaying the aura of a martial arts master.

After watching them exchange more than ten blows, Zhou Yi noticed a clue about this person.

I sensed something was off at the stone archway earlier, and it's even more obvious with this person.

He had seen the Venerable Master make a move at Longxing Temple. This man's sword had a thin layer of ice on it, which could generate a cold mist. He could use the cold mist to conceal his hand movements, making his sword appear and disappear like a ghost, frequently threatening to kill.

The way this cold mist is used is somewhat similar to the method the Great Venerable uses with the "Wisdom Sutra".

"Take him!"

Although Dugu Sheng was amazed by the man's swordsmanship, he remained calm.

So what if he's a martial arts master? This is his territory. You can fight three people, but what about thirty?

A group of swordsmen from the Dugu family attacked from all sides of the courtyard.

Knowing he had no chance to succeed tonight, the pale-skinned man brushed past Yun Yuzhen, avoiding her palm strike, deflected Madam Zhang's longsword with his own, and turned to stab Dugu Sheng.

The old man's first reaction was to back away, but he immediately regretted it.

The man's thrust was feigned; he simply unleashed a burst of sword energy.

As the three dealt with his sword energy and gusts of wind, his clothes fluttered, he dodged the weapons from all sides, and leaped onto the roof.

Although he was outnumbered, he wanted to leave, and no one could stop him.

"Don't let him escape!"

Dugu Sheng roared angrily. Just as the fair-skinned man was about to gather his strength and leave, a figure suddenly appeared like a ghost and landed gracefully two zhang in front of him.

Dugu Sheng, Madam Zhang, and the injured Dugu Ce were all taken aback.

Judging from the way he landed, one could tell that he was from the Biluo Hongchen family of the Dugu clan.

only.
Mr. Zhou's use of the phrase "Azure Sky and Mortal World" has an indescribable ethereal quality.

He lived in the mortal world, yet seemed untouched by it, his lightness reaching its extreme.

The fair-skinned man fought with the Dugu family and could discern their martial arts skills, but his information was inaccurate, and he was unaware that the Dugu family had such a scholar hidden away.

Which of the five types of demons are you?

The fair-skinned man sneered, "You do have some discernment."

“I am the Evil Wind Sheep Desert. Your Dugu family dares to disrupt the affairs of the venerable sect. Sooner or later, I will wipe you all out.”

Dugu Sheng and the others were both shocked and furious upon hearing this. Little did they know that Yang Mo was extremely cunning. Despite his seemingly confident threat, he suddenly turned and fled to the flank.

However.
Zhou Yi tapped his feet repeatedly and appeared in front of him once again.

"When the Great Master was instructing you in martial arts, did he also teach you to be so arrogant?"

Yang Mo sensed something was wrong, but Zhou Yi discovered something interesting: "You've also learned the martial arts from the Zhi Jing?"

"Of course I've studied it."

Yang Mo smiled slyly: "Watch closely, this is the move that will kill you."

He made a gesture as if to draw his sword as soon as he finished speaking, but then turned and fled again.

Dugu Sheng and Madam Zhang cursed him as shameless, saying that this man had no demeanor whatsoever that of a master.

However, Yang Mo did not stop wielding his sword. Zhou Yi took a step to chase after him, but he suddenly stopped and thrust his sword upwards!

"Ding~!"

Zhou Yi parried with his sword, and Yang Mo, leaning back, twisted his body like a snake, making a half-circle motion with his sword. His sword technique was a feint, and his left hand passed through his back, striking out with a cold, icy force.

But Zhou Yi seemed not to hear, and did not change his move at all.

He pressed down with all his might, but the force on Yang Mo's sword was far from sufficient.

With a single strike, Zhou Yi used brute force to overcome skill, not only breaking through the opponent's swordsmanship but also piercing through the chilling palm strike.

Yang Mo's face turned even paler, and he leaped forward ten feet with a powerful push.

His sword was icy and frosty, and the chilling mist was even more intense than when he dealt with Dugu Sheng and the other two. He had already unleashed all his power in front of this greatest enemy of his life!

In front of everyone from the Dugu family, Zhou Yi slashed his left hand across the sword in his right hand.

The sword instantly gained a silver sheen.

His movements were far faster than Yang Mo's. With a single sword strike, the silver light instantly transformed into sword energy, which swept away all the cold mist with its violent force.

Yang Mo let out a low shout and wielded his long sword with impenetrable skill, blocking the splashing sword energy.

Suddenly, a point appeared before him, gathering at the tip of his opponent's longsword. The next moment, that point vanished just as it reached within three feet of him.

A chill ran through his body, and he swung the sword at top speed.

However, Zhou Yi's sword was not only faster, but he also saw through Yang Mo's weakness.

Therefore, in Yang Mo's eyes, his sword had vanished.

It pierced through the sword light, stabbed into the heart, and then withdrew in an instant.

"You killed someone like this last night, didn't you?"

As Yang Mo listened to his words, he looked down at his chest. It was a small wound with very little blood, but his heart meridian had been severely damaged.

If he could deliver that thrust, it would be an absolute masterpiece.

"you you"

Filled with regret and anger, he fell off the roof.

Zhou Yi landed lightly and touched Yang Mo's body. Others thought he was looking for information, but he actually wanted to search for any classic martial arts texts of the Wuzun Sect. Unfortunately, he found nothing.

Yun Yu was indeed treating Dugu Ce's wounds, and both of them, like Dugu Sheng and Madam Zhang, looked towards Zhou Yi.

Little did we expect that Mr. Zhou's martial arts skills were so high.

What's even more unbelievable is that he also mastered the Azure Sky Sword Technique to an unparalleled level.

Dugu Sheng and Madam Zhang exchanged a glance.

Zhou Yi pointed at Yang Mo: "Second Master, this enemy has finally been settled."

Dugu Sheng clasped his hands in a respectful bow, "Thank you."

“Those three brothers have been with me for many years. If I cannot avenge them, I will find it hard to let go of my conscience.”

Madam Zhang said, "The move that Mr. Zhou used was 'Myriad Flowers Falling'."

"Exactly."

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "My swordsmanship is mediocre, and this move was not particularly outstanding."

Madam Zhang chuckled dryly, thinking to herself that her husband was right; this boy was really infuriating.

He couldn't help but ask again:

"Mr. Zhou's final move is still based on the Azure Sky Sword Technique, but I've never seen it before. How can I counter it?"

"Oh, that was a move I created by chance, called 'Escape from the Mortal World,' which naturally wouldn't be found in sword techniques."

Madam Zhang was secretly alarmed, and Dugu Sheng couldn't help but think of his own mother upon hearing this.

At that time, my mother abandoned the sword and broke away from the scope of the Azure Sky Sword Technique, creating the Cloak and Staff Technique.

This kid has also broken free from the Azure Sky Sword Technique, so he's at the same level as me now.

No, that sword strike just now was incredibly skillful; it was an extension of the Azure Sky Sword Technique, something even I couldn't do.

This kid has been practicing swordsmanship since birth, he shouldn't have such insights into martial arts.

Dugu Sheng couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

The commotion at the mansion gradually subsided, and none of the Ming Dynasty followers who had willingly walked into the trap escaped.

Dugu Ce watched Zhou Yi leave the courtyard and couldn't help but ask:
"Second Uncle, who exactly is this Mr. Zhou? How come he seems to have inherited all of Grandmother's mantle?"

Dugu Ce was a little jealous: "When I usually see my grandmother, she never teaches me like this."

The old man chuckled and said, "I don't even have enough talent, why should I waste my time on you? Look at what you do all day long."

Dugu Ce said, "I'm just following my father's example."

Why don't you learn something good, instead of only his bad habits?

Dugu Ce dared not argue with his second uncle, and asked again, "Then who exactly is he?"

"Ask your sister."

Thinking of his sister's cold face, Dugu Ce didn't want to say anything more.

Hearing the commotion, Zhou Yi went directly to the vicinity of the inner courtyard building, where Dugu Feng was returning by stepping over the courtyard wall.

"Is someone spying on us from outside?"

"Yes, I ran into one."

Seeing the puzzled look on her face, Zhou Yi pressed further, "Who is it?"

"She was a woman, and I didn't know her identity. I had only exchanged a few blows with her when she retreated. Perhaps she sensed that the mansion was under guard, and she had no will to fight."

woman?

Among the Five Bright Children and the Five Types of Demons, Rong Jiaojiao is unlikely. The Great Bright Venerable Sect also has Water Maiden, Xinnaya, and Good Mother.

After exchanging a few more words with Dugu Feng, Zhou Yi still couldn't determine the identity of the visitor from her description.

If we hadn't been delayed by Yang Mo, we should have chased after him to check on him.

Zhou Yi didn't close his eyes again that night.

He meditated and practiced until dawn, and finally received news from Zhang Xutuo.
The day after Evil Wind Sheep died in the desert sword fight.

The great battle in Jiangdu City alarmed Emperor Yang Guang, and several court officials accused Zhang Xutuo of secretly mobilizing a large army and plotting a rebellion.

Zhang Xutuo did not refute, but only produced a memorial.

That night, he killed nearly a thousand fierce bandits.

According to several survivors, some of the bandits were men of Tuyuhun King Fuyun, some were subordinates of the Western Turkic leader Yehu, and others were members of a demonic cult in the northern desert.

Yang Guang did not punish Zhang Xutuo; instead, he rewarded him.

He didn't press further about what kind of Yuwen clan residence it was.

Driven by his own whims, he hastily settled the affairs of the court, leaving all the officials in the Chengxiang Hall, and went back to the inner palace to drink and make merry.

This happened just one day ago.

Zhou Yi received another letter, and this time, he had already planned ahead.

With the gatekeeper's attention, he caught up with the messenger.

But this person turned out to be just a roadside vendor on the left side of the long street, who was entrusted by someone else to deliver the goods.

Upon receiving the letter, Zhou Yi left the Dugu residence that evening.

In the following days, the atmosphere in Jiangdu City became increasingly tense.

Men died in Zhang Jun's camp, several captains died in the Xiaoguo army, and no major force in the city was spared.

However, the murderer could not be caught.

The fifteenth day of the Evil Wind Calendar.

In the twelfth year of the Daye era, a harsh winter was approaching.

As evening fell, Dugu Sheng hurriedly returned from the capital and found Zhou Yi.

"Mr. Zhou, His Majesty will convene a court assembly in three days."

"What's so strange about that?"

Dugu Sheng gasped: "His Majesty summoned me, and also summoned Zhang Xutuo."

"When Zhang Xutuo arrived, I was driven to the outside of the Imperial City Water Palace, where I stood for a long time. I don't know what His Majesty and Zhang Xutuo said."

……

(End of this chapter)