Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 181 The Flames of War in the Eastern Capital: Battles Against the Nine-Headed Insect

Wang Shichong's head exploded, and Zhou Yi gathered his energy at the Tinggong acupoint to listen quietly.

If there is any unusual activity in the inner quarters, it will not escape his notice.

Especially in the room where Wang Shichong lay dead, apart from the woman's screams, there were no other unusual sounds, and no trace of a third person.

Even if Wang Shichong had a body double, he would never allow the women in the inner quarters to have affairs with the body double.

Unless this guy likes having a green meadow on his head.

After listening for a few moments, Zhou Yijing suddenly disappeared into the courtyard with a lotus pond on the east side of the inner residence, then used his night clothes to blend into the darkness.

He believed he was more meticulous than the person who had acted before him.

Hearing the commotion at the Duke of Zheng's mansion, he didn't rush to flee. Being skilled and bold, he turned back to investigate when the cries and shouts began.

Servants and maids were seen moving about hurriedly, and many guards looked tense, holding knives and guarding the moon gate of the corridor.

Zhou Yi leaned slightly to the side of the courtyard wall and peered inside. The window was half open, and a headless, naked man lay on his back, letting the woman do as she pleased, helping him put on his clothes and trousers to maintain his dignity.

Judging from this, Wang Shichong is most likely dead.

"The assassin is there! Help!"

The guards on the rooftop had a better view. Zhou Yi was startled by the shadow cast by the moonlight. The guards noticed this, shouted, and rushed over immediately.

"boom!"

The first burly man who charged with a knife was sent flying backward, smashing the window frame. The people around Wang Shichong's corpse had just quieted down when they screamed again.

"kill--!"

Seven figures appeared from all directions. Three of them used hooks and sickles to break swords, while the other four held knives in one hand and rattan shields in the other to protect themselves.

This tactic, which implicitly involves coordinated military formations, often proves surprisingly effective against powerful enemies.

Zhou Yi extended his left palm, raising his inner energy to block the three men wielding hooks and sickles.

The qi on his right sword splashed out.

An arc of light flashed, and the four sturdy rattan shields shattered into pieces before the horrified eyes of the group.

The force spread along the rattan shield, and the four men, unable to withstand this immense power, simultaneously let out screams of agony. In the instant the four figures were sent flying backward, the three men wielding the hook-and-sickle were about to unleash their power.

Zhou Yi, who had just unleashed his true energy in an external strike, appeared to them as a monster capable of continuous, relentless attacks.

Without catching his breath, he launched into the next attack almost without pause.

Zhou Yi struck the sky with his left palm, knocking away the three hooks above their heads. The three men were all thrown back. Martial artists instinctively try to protect their vitals, so they lowered their heads to protect their necks. But before they could lower their heads, a sword shadow flashed by with a sharp glint.

The sword wounds on the necks of the three men formed a line, and the blood that spurted out also formed a line. Even when their heads were lifted into the air, they remained at the same height.

The exquisite control of force has become an art form.

Emperor Ding would probably clap his hands in praise if he saw this.

The Duke of Zheng's mansion had a large workforce; when a number of people died, replacements were immediately made.

After the killing is over, his generals will probably lead their troops to the scene.

"Bang~!"

Zhou Yi smashed the moon gate with a single palm strike, sending up clouds of dust and debris. Several guards who had jumped over the wall fell to the ground in the dust.

A roar followed immediately after the dust settled, and dozens of people burst through the fog, giving them no chance to breathe.

With this kind of fighting style, no matter how skilled you are, if you can't draw on external forces and only focus on internal ones, you'll eventually be worn down and killed.

Zhou Yi glanced at Wang Shichong's corpse again, but had no interest in wasting time with these people. He quickly stepped back and left the mansion in two steps.

"tatter"

Ripples spread across the huge lotus pond, the moon's reflection in it blurred. Zhou Yi skimmed across the water, about to leave the Zheng State Mansion.

Just then, two whooshing sounds ahead made him pause.

Immediately afterwards, a third sinister aura rapidly approached.

The water beneath Zhou Yi's feet began to freeze, providing leverage, while the ever-shifting true energy swirled and stirred up waves.

"Boom~!!"

The loud explosion came from the first collision between the four people. A wave of water nearly three zhang high shot up from the lotus pond, forming a water curtain that enveloped the four people.

Before the waves could fall, the broken lotus leaves and colorful koi, stirred by the ferocious true energy, burst like a balloon.

The water ripples exploded!

Several osmanthus trees by the courtyard were almost completely stripped bare, their leaves scattered all over the ground. The guards who rushed to the gate screamed in pain, and those who came later hurriedly gave way.

At this moment, the lotus pond water, imbued with true energy, was even more powerful than ordinary hidden weapons.

Zhou Yi's gaze was fixed on a voluptuous figure.

This woman, now past her prime but even more alluring than before, held a jade pendant and touched Zhou Yi's true energy, which resembled the Immortal Seal Technique.

Who else could it be but the kind-hearted Shafang?

Beside the Good Mother were two other people. The one on the left was extremely tall and shrouded in a black robe, making his face impossible to see. At this moment, his withered claws were outstretched, and the true energy driven by his black nails was even greater than that of the Good Mother.

The man on the right had an old face and wore a strange cassock.

He wore a Buddhist rosary made of 108 steel balls around his neck, his palms were clasped together, and his body was surrounded by a golden aura that seemed to surge, making the air heavy and suffocating.

"Goodness is goodness."

The old monk stared at Zhou Yi: "What you said is true. This benefactor is indeed troublesome, and his martial arts are also peculiar. He was able to withstand the combined strength of the three of us."

The kind mother smiled and said, "Of course, I wouldn't dare to do it if it weren't for the two of you."

She was about to continue when she suddenly felt immense pressure.

One burst of energy after another was being transferred to her Jade Sword, constantly depleting her internal energy, and the smile on her face disappeared.

A hint of a smile appeared in Zhou Yi's eyes as he stared at Shanmu and said, "Since you are the weakest, I have no choice but to kill you first."

The kind mother was on guard, but said calmly, "Master, if we don't break his method of shifting true energy, we can't kill him."

"This humble servant lacks the ability; please, Master, demonstrate your Mahayana Buddhist skills."

The old monk narrowed his drowsy eyes slightly, and a layer of gold suddenly appeared on his palms, covering an area of ​​three zhang in radius, forming a domain similar to a demonic force field. This technique was also an indiscriminate attack.

The tall woman, whose face was obscured, and even Zhou Yi's inner strength began to diminish.

The more severely he diminished those around him, the more imposing the old monk became.

"What kind of skill is this?"

Seeing that Zhou Yi seemed unable to hold on, the old monk smiled and said, "You may not have heard of this, but it is the Ten Abodes Mahayana Technique. Although I have not mastered it, I am very good at dealing with this kind of secret technique."

Why do you stubbornly resist, benefactor?

When the old monk calmly said those words, he suddenly changed his mind and his palms transformed into more than a dozen palm shadows, attacking relentlessly without any gaps!
Moreover, the swirling wind carrying true energy is enough to fill the opponent's ears, reaching the "Hearing Cessation Tribulation" in the Mahayana Ten Tribulations, which can deprive the opponent of their hearing.

He suddenly attacked, and it was almost a fatal blow!
This wondrous Buddhist practice also affected Zhou Yi, causing him to experience tinnitus in both ears.

Having experienced the Duke of Lu's mansion before, he was already on guard.

At this moment, he reached out and grabbed at the space, redirecting the power of the Good Mother and the withered claw man. The pressure was considerable, but fortunately, he was no longer the same as before. He gathered and compressed the two true energies together, combined them with his own true energy, and fought against three opponents. The moment he unleashed a violent attack, it was like the Yin Empress's "jade and stone burning together" that ignited the aura.

"Buzz buzz buzz~~!"

There was no explosion, only a ripple.

The Dao Heart Seed Demons view all things as fluctuations, while innate true qi is a higher level and more subtle fluctuation. At this moment, the true energy wave transforms into a test of the subtlety of the four people's true qi.

The artificial mountain, several meters tall, in the center of the lotus pond was at the epicenter of the powerful energy wave. It instantly crumbled into dust and collapsed into the pond with a thud.

All four suffered from the backlash of the fluctuations, but Zhou Yi was the first to break free of his restraints.

He thought it would be easy for him to leave at that moment.

Instead, he did the opposite and slashed at the benevolent mother with his sword!

Sha Fang, with her alluring yet menacing demeanor, disregarded the turmoil within her body's qi and blood. Yu Xiaoyao suddenly pointed out, the staff's shadow slicing through the air like a snake.

Before the silver rod arrived, the strange vortex had already appeared.

Thirteen streams of energy formed arrows of energy, but when these arrows encountered Zhou Yi's sword energy, the collision of their combined energy and spirit resulted in their true energy being unable to withstand the attack, and their physical spirit being completely destroyed.

Shafang was startled.

Yu Xiaoyao and Zhou Yi's longswords clashed, and the two sides clashed again. The Heaven-Shattering Strike quickly pierced through the spiritual barrier of the Good Mother.

The benevolent mother has been utterly defeated!

At this moment, the black robe billowed, and the tall man approached like a ghost, his eleven withered fingers outstretched, claw shadows filling the air.

This move is very similar to the "Vermilion Bird Rejects Corpse" move from the Eighteen Claws of Returning Soul.

Before the claws even touched his body, the chilling demonic energy arrived first. The scene before Zhou Yi's eyes suddenly distorted, and the air around him seemed to ripple. The tall figure was split into three, and six withered claws, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound that tore through the air, attacked his throat, heart, and dantian respectively.

It's hard to distinguish between reality and illusion; the devil's appearance can bewitch the mind!
The Dao Heart Seed Demonic Qi from Zhou Yi's Ren and Du meridians entered the Sizhu Kong acupoints along the edges of his eyebrows, making his eyes infinitely deep, as if there was a vortex trying to pull the phantom of the tall figure into it.

Ignoring the injured mother, he turned his sword and struck her.

Instead of meeting the claw shadow, the longsword slashed in a half-arc, tearing through the air in front of it with a "whoosh".

As the sword wind passed, the air made a tearing sound, and the three figures that rushed at them shook and blurred violently like reflections in water—their true forms were exposed!
The sword tip transformed into a cold star, piercing straight at the Shenmen acupoint on the right wrist, forcing the opponent to withdraw their claws.

The man in black reacted incredibly quickly, but as he dodged, he leaned back, revealing his face.

By the light of the moonlight, Zhou Yi saw that under the deep brim of the hat was a faceless and shapeless person.

Golden Buddhist light spread out, and the old monk attacked again.

The clasped hands suddenly separated, the right palm pressing down in mid-air, not with fierce palm force, but with a thick, tangible wall of golden Buddhist light that crashed down.

When an ordinary martial artist faces this move, it feels as if they are carrying a mountain, and all the joints in their body will shatter.

Even more terrifying is the suppression of sight and hearing; the blinding light of the Buddha threatens to dazzle the eyes, and the chanting of Buddhist hymns assaults the ears, causing confusion of the five senses.

Zhou Yi glanced towards a dark corner of the Duke of Zheng's mansion, his long sword blazing with fire.

"Boom~!"

The golden Buddha wall blocked the fiery sword energy.

“You have quite a temper, but to break this old monk’s Buddhist power, you would need the true fire of the sun.”

The old monk feigned smugness, made sarcastic remarks, and prepared to resort to underhanded tricks.

"You bald thief, spouting nonsense! Do you think you're Zhu Faqing?"

Zhou Yi scoffed dismissively, his spiritual power suddenly spreading out. The spiritual energy from the Great Aperture of the Heavenly Palace poured down like a waterfall, striking the old monk directly along with the sword's momentum. The old monk trembled slightly, resisting with all his might, and could no longer utter a word.

"What, have you become mute?"

The old monk's eyes were filled with anger, and at that moment, the expressions of the benevolent mother and the faceless man beside him also darkened.

Just as the old monk risked injury to try to press down on Zhou Yi's longsword with his hands clasped together and hold him back, Zhou Yi unleashed his true energy, repelling the old monk and the true energy wall together.

With a flash, he broke free from the battle.

The faceless man's claw shadows and the benevolent mother Yu Xiaoyao all missed their target.

He can leave whenever he wants, and no one can stop him.

"You three are defeated opponents. I'll come back another day to treat your head."

Having said that, he moved like a phantom, dodging the barrage of arrows shot from afar, and vanished into the darkness.

Even with a large group of people chasing after them, running through alleys and streets, it was all in vain; they could not even catch a glimpse of their backs.

From a dark corner, a tall, imposing man emerged.

He stared straight in the direction Zhou Yi had left.

"Great Lord," Shafang asked breathlessly, "didn't you find an opportunity?"

"No."

Xu Kaishan said slowly, "He hasn't reached his limit, and he's been aware of my presence for a long time, so he's been on guard. If you disregard your injuries and go all out, there's still a chance. Otherwise, we won't be able to stop him."

The old monk frowned: "This person is extremely difficult to deal with, especially his lightness skill. I wonder if it was worth offending him this time."

The kind mother reminded him, "Master, there's no turning back now."

"Excellent, excellent. I don't have many years left to live, so I'm naturally not afraid of going to hell."

The faceless man listened to them silently, remaining silent.

……

"Young Master Zhou, has the Duke of Zheng's headache been cured?"

Lu Chu didn't sleep; he waited for Zhou Yi to return.

"I gave her a simple treatment."

Lu Chu was slightly puzzled: "How is it simple?"

Zhou Yi pondered, "It's like taking Wang Shichong's head off and smashing it into a rotten watermelon with one blow."

Lu Chu clicked his tongue in amazement and chuckled dryly, "Young Master Zhou is truly a divine physician."

"I am certain that the face was not a disguise, nor was it a human skin mask. It was her natural appearance, and she was openly engaging in sexual activity in the inner courtyard. I later heard the guards refer to the woman as Zheng."

Lu Chu stroked his mustache: "That Zheng was very flirtatious and was Wang Shichong's favorite concubine."

He was somewhat excited: "Perhaps on this ordinary night, Young Master Zhou has rid Luoyang of a great scourge!"

The next day.

A fast horse galloped to the gate of the Lu residence.

Upon hearing the gatekeeper's report that someone from the Duke of Zheng's mansion had arrived, Lu Chu personally ran out to hear the news, hoping it would be good news.

The messenger said:

“Lord Lu, the Duke reminds you that you must be on time for the Imperial Council tomorrow.”

Lu Chu's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained his composure: "The city was in turmoil last night. Is the Duke of Zheng's resting place safe?"

"Stay safe and sound."

The man laughed and said, "A petty thief broke into our mansion last night, but we quickly sent him away. My master and Madam Zheng got up early for breakfast, so they were not affected."

"Oh, by the way, the Duke also asked me to pass on a message to the Imperial Secretary."

"What did you say?"

"I heard that Young Master Zhou of the Inner Secretariat is skilled in treating head ailments. I would like to invite him to come to the Duke's residence as soon as possible to treat his stubborn illness. Young Master Zhou has not yet arrived, but the Duke is very sincere and has already prepared many benefits."

"okay, I get it."

The messenger sent by Wang Shichong chuckled and rode away slowly, the horse moving with a relaxed gait.

Lu Chu returned to the mansion and told Zhou Yi what had happened.

Seeing Zhou Yi's dark expression, he comforted him, "I don't know what methods Wang Shichong used, but it was within expectations. Young Master Zhou, there's no need to worry about it."

"Could he be the Nine-Headed Insect?"

Lu Chu reassured him, "Perhaps."

After speaking, he saw the young man in front of him with a sullen face and felt a bit frightened by the arrogance of the great villain Wang Shichong.

Even if you have some connections, is it really appropriate to provoke this person like this?

"good very good."

Zhou Yi laughed in exasperation: "I want to see just how many heads this guy has."

Knowing he couldn't stop him, Lu Chu suggested, "I've dealt with Wang Shichong for a long time. If Young Master Zhou succeeds again, why not bring his head back so I can take a good look at it too?"

Zhou Yi nodded slightly.

Thinking of those people from last night, apart from the kind mother, the identities of the other two were unclear.

I thought the one wielding claws was a demon general, but it turned out to be a faceless man.

Judging from his martial arts style, he should be related to the Demonic Image Sect.

As for that treacherous bald thief, he was proficient in Zhu Faqing's strange Buddhist skills. In terms of combat power, his Ten Abodes Mahayana Skill could naturally restrain any internal energy cultivation method, which was no small matter.

Even if the bald thief hasn't mastered all the techniques, he's still a formidable opponent.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yi asked, "Which temples' monks did Wang Shichong interact with?"

Lu Chu recalled: "If we're talking about good relationships, the first one is Baima Temple."

Luoyang's three major scenic spots are a temple, a Taoist temple, and a grotto: Baima Temple, Laojun Temple, and Longmen Grottoes.

Zhou Yi then heard Lu Chu say:
"The White Horse Temple is the first Buddhist temple in the Central Plains. It was built in the tenth year of Yongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was named after the white horse because when the two eminent monks Kasyapa Matanga and Dharmaraksha were brought back from India, the Buddhist scriptures and statues were carried by white horses."

"This is the beginning of Buddhism in China, hence it is known as the ancestral temple and the source of Buddhism."

"Wang Shichong passed by Baima Temple many times and became friends with a master named Zhu Faming. This master had practiced at the Yique Shrine and, although not famous, was highly skilled in martial arts."

Zhou Yi was not a local of Dongdu and was not familiar with the Buddhist forces outside of the Four Great Monks.

Do you know what kind of martial art Zhu Faming practices?

"I don't know."

Lu Chu shook his head, then changed the subject: "I don't know Zhu Faming, but I visited another monk at Baima Temple more than ten years ago. His name was Zhu Fachen. At that time, he told me about the contents of the Jataka Tales, the Deeds of the Buddha, and the Dharma Ocean Treasury, and persuaded me to enter the temple to cultivate."

"You still have a connection with Buddhism?"

“I couldn’t bear that suffering. I just heard this master say that he possessed Mahayana Buddhism, called Vajrayana.”

Lu Chu sighed, “I can’t stand hearing about the idea that the physical body is a raft for crossing the world. Instead of keeping a useful body, I’d rather enjoy this mortal life and do what I should and can do.”

Zhou Yi muttered, "The Vajrayana, the Inner Historian may have missed a secret Buddhist technique."

"That's no pity. I have a family to support, how can I abandon them?"

Zhou Yi said casually, "You do have some talent."

"You flatter me," Lu Chu smiled, his wrinkles appearing on his face. "I once saw that master practicing under the blazing sun. I wonder if the one you're asking about is the same."

Zhou Yi understood the situation and said no more.

Lu Chu then asked, "When will Young Master Zhou go to the Dugu family?"

"What suggestions does the Imperial Secretary have?" Lu Chu suggested, "Young Master Zhou, why don't you come with me? That way, we can fulfill our agreement without losing face by coming uninvited."

Zhou Yi looked at him and couldn't help but smile. It wasn't as serious as he made it out to be.

However, Little Phoenix seems to be a master of secrecy as well.

When he obtained his grandmother's training notes, he remained in a stalemate in Luoyang without revealing his identity. Judging from Dugu Feng's attitude now, she is probably still keeping it a secret.

Wang Shichong has many skilled people on his side, so keeping this a secret is actually a good thing.

As he was pondering, he heard Lu Chu say, "The young master of the Li family in Guanzhong will soon be entering the Eastern Capital. If my information is correct, they will be going to the Dugu family, and there may even be people from Cihang Jingzhai. This time, Emperor Tai will be going to the Dugu residence."

“They are all relatives, while the rest of us were just there to listen in.”

"What does Young Master Zhou think?"

Zhou Yi nodded: "Alright, let's follow the Inner Historian's arrangements."

On this day, the Eastern Capital was unusually quiet, like a still lake.

No conflict broke out in the imperial court or the martial arts world.

However, the number of martial arts practitioners entering the city through the various city gates was increasing, including many who spoke with foreign accents and were considered outstanding individuals.

People who had been lying low at Baima Temple, Laojun Temple, and Longmen Yique also emerged and headed straight for the Eastern Capital.

There are signs of large-scale troop movements in Yanshi, Hulao, and Xingyang to the east.

Several elite troops from the Jianghuai region also marched north, entering Pengliang to join forces with Du Fuwei and Shan Xiongxin.
When Wang Bo, the Prince of Zhishi, entered through the north gate of the Eastern Capital, holding the Dingshi Whip.

The carriages from the residences of the five noble families of Lu, Guo, Huangfu, Duan, and Zhao arrived outside the imperial city.

Lu Chu and Zhou Yi got off the carriage together.

After the Imperial City of Jiangdu, I saw the Ziwei City of Dongdu.

The walls of Ziwei City are even higher, and its imposing and solemn atmosphere is completely different from that of Jiangdu Qiuyue, giving it a more imperial and majestic air.

It is evident that Guangshen gave special love to the special Jiangdu.

A tall, thin general, around thirty years old, rushed out from the Zuowuwei Battalion, which was responsible for guarding the city gate.

Lu Chu glanced at Zhou Yi and thought to himself, "Just as I thought."

He said in a low voice, "This is Dugu Feng's eldest son, Dugu Lang. Compared to his third son, Dugu Ce, this one is much more reliable. Although he likes to visit brothels, he has not neglected his duties in the Left Guard Camp."

“I heard that he has a lover at Lixiangyuan, whom he loves very much, but he doesn’t dare to bring her home.”

Zhou Yi glanced at Lu Chu again.

Are you, Lao Lu, this gossipy too?
"Why didn't you bring it home?" Zhou Yi asked.

"I guess he's afraid the old lady will break his legs."

They whispered to each other, and Huangfu Wuyi and Guo Wenyi occasionally glanced at them, both of them showing signs of understanding.

Lu Chu was the Grand Secretary, and Guo Wenyi was the Vice Grand Secretary.

The standard eldest and second eldest sons.

Now, Guo Lao Er stared longingly at Lu Lao Da, thinking to himself that Lu Chu had probably completely surrendered.

This official is so unfair; he neither promoted nor knew how to help.

Their identity hasn't been exposed yet, and you, Lao Lu, aren't you going to help introduce them and leave me a way out?

Guo Lao Er even maliciously speculated whether he was hoarding the food for himself.

If it weren't for Xiao Guo bringing news from Xuanyuan Road, he would still be in the dark, just like Zhao Congwen.

Zhao Congwen, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, had no other thoughts. He was the first to greet Dugu Lang. After exchanging greetings, he asked:
"Have Duke Zheng and Chief Steward Dugu arrived yet?"

"They are already at the Daye Hall."

"it is good."

Zhao Congwen didn't waste any words. Since it wasn't in Qianyang Hall, there wouldn't be a large number of court officials entering the palace.

"Gentlemen, please."

Zhao Congwen could act arrogantly in the officialdom of Luoyang, but he had the lowest status among the seven nobles.

At this point, we first invited Duke Duan Da of Chen, and then the others.

Because it was during the special period when the Duke of Lu was killed, everyone was surrounded by retainers and guards. Since it was not a formal occasion like the Qianyang Palace, Dugu Lang, who was used to such scenes, did not stop them.

He waved his hand, and the men of the Left Guard Camp dispersed.

Zhou Yi followed Lu Chu through the towering palace walls, which had a rammed earth core and were covered with blue bricks.

Next comes a huge "U"-shaped architectural complex consisting of gate towers, side towers, and gate towers.

The central gate tower soars into the clouds, with long corridors extending on both sides to connect the symmetrical side towers to the east and west, and then extending forward to the massive twin towers, like outstretched wings, guarding the central imperial road.

Passing through three gates, each step building upon the previous one, vividly demonstrates the majesty and inviolability of the imperial city.

The Qianyang Hall rises majestically from the ground, its highest-standard double-eaved hip roof immediately catching the eye.

Lu Chu, Huangfu Wuyi, and the others were used to this and did not linger.

Zhou Yi followed them past the gleaming Qianyang Hall, through the Daye Gate, and into the Daye Hall where the regular court sessions were held.

Although slightly smaller in scale than the Qianyang Hall, it was more exquisite and served as the emperor's place for handling daily affairs. The furnishings inside were more lifelike, but the same solemnity was maintained.

After entering the hall, apart from a few eunuchs...

There were only Dugu Feng and Wang Shichong.

Zhou Yi squinted at Wang Shichong, who gave him a devilish smile that gave Zhou Yi an impulse to splatter blood in the Daye Palace.

"What about Your Majesty?"

Huangfu Wuyi asked in a calm voice.

Everyone looked at Dugu Feng and Wang Shichong. The old man Dugu said, "His Majesty is unwell, so we will discuss the matters ourselves today."

They had the final say in matters concerning the Eastern Capital, and the Emperor Tai rarely objected to their decisions.

"Duke Zheng, you proposed this, so you may speak."

Lu Chu asked, "Didn't we say we were going to discuss the matter of the Duke of Lu?"

"It is related to Brother Wendu."

Wang Shichong said, "Why did Brother Wendu die? In the end, it was because of the chaos in the martial arts world. Too many martial arts masters flooded into Dongdu, which made us hesitant and afraid to offend the public."

"These martial arts practitioners are incredibly bold, relying on their immense strength."

Wang Shichong glanced at Zhou Yi and asked Dugu Feng:

"Steward, if you and your wives and concubines are engaged in your business, and someone comes to your mansion and kills you, acting lawlessly, shouldn't such a person be executed?"

"Nonsense, of course he should be killed."

Dugu Feng slowly raised his eyes: "What is the purpose of you speaking such crude principles in the capital?"

Lu Chu glanced at Zhou Yi, then stepped slightly forward to block him, afraid that he might act impulsively due to his youthful vigor.

If we were to take action against Wang Shichong here, he would be wanted throughout the city, and even if he managed to escape, it would be difficult for him to conduct business in Luoyang.

Wang Shichong remained silent for a while before saying, "Therefore, we must eliminate the problem at its root. The root of the chaos in the martial world lies in the He Shi Bi jade. Without the He Shi Bi jade, these people will immediately scatter like birds and beasts."

Zhao Congwen and Guo Wenyi were shocked: "The Duke of Zheng wants to seize the He Shi Bi jade?"

What use would I have for the He Shi Bi jade?

Wang Shichong bowed to the dragon throne in the Daye Hall:

"This He Shi Bi jade was obtained for His Majesty's sake. If His Majesty obtains it, it will be the Mandate of Heaven, and he will be entrusted with the mission of saving the Sui Dynasty. This will not only win the hearts of the people, but also attract more forces to follow him. Then the power of my Eastern Capital will be far stronger than it is now."

What are your thoughts, gentlemen?

Zhou Yi was somewhat surprised, while Lu Chu was deep in thought.

Zhou Yi stood behind him, focusing the sound into his ears.

Lu Chu's expression changed slightly, and he was the first to speak: "I also want to help His Majesty seize the He Shi Bi, but I am weak and alone, and I am afraid I cannot defeat the powerful figures of the martial arts world. Since the Duke of Zheng has made the suggestion, are you going to be the vanguard?"

"If that's the case, I, Lu, have no objection."

Wang Shichong stretched out his arms and said confidently, "It is my duty to do so."

"it is good."

After Lu Chu said "Good," Huangfu Wuyi also said, "I agree."

“I agree as well,” Guo Wenyi followed closely.

Duan Da and Zhao Congwen, who hadn't reacted yet, spoke up one after the other. Apart from the dead Yuan Wendu, all six nobles had agreed.

Everyone looked at Dugu Feng.

The old man's expression changed. He was still weighing the pros and cons, but everyone around him agreed. Suddenly, he felt isolated from them.

If these people are colluding together, then the Dugu family will be in trouble.

Dugu Feng assessed the situation and said, "The Imperial Guards must protect the capital and cannot be mobilized in large numbers. However, since none of you have any objections, I cannot stop them even if I wanted to."

A smile flickered in Wang Shichong's sinister eyes as he half-jokingly said, "As long as the steward doesn't interfere, that's the greatest help you can give."

"Humph."

Dugu Feng said coldly, "If you are truly dedicated to serving the Emperor, why would I obstruct you?"

Wang Shichong smiled but did not answer.

Without saying goodbye, Dugu Feng was the first to leave Daye Hall to find His Majesty.

The six nobles are showing signs of forming an alliance, and this must be communicated.

Wang Shichong was about to leave when he suddenly stopped in front of Lu Chu, patted his head, and took a breath.

"Young Master Zhou, my chronic brain ailment has flared up again, and it's been throbbing with pain. When will you have some free time to treat me?"

"Illness should not be delayed; I will visit you another day."

"Alright, then we'll await your arrival."

Wang Shichong politely bowed and walked out of the Daye Hall, seemingly unconcerned about the gossip of others.

Lu Chu wanted to say something more, but after being reminded by Zhou Yi, he kept quiet and left the main hall.

After they had walked a distance, he asked, "Young Master Zhou, who are you avoiding?"

"Duan Da".

Lu Chu was slightly startled: "Duke Chen! Why is that?"

“He is in cahoots with Wang Shichong. Whatever you said to Huangfu Wuyi and the others just now, Wang Shichong will know.”

Lu Chu's eyelids twitched, but he didn't notice Duan Da's unusual behavior.

But Zhou Yi's confident tone always made people believe that what he said was true.

"It's truly baffling why Wang Shichong would want to seize the He Shi Bi jade. Isn't that a thankless and arduous task?"

"Never mind his purpose, think about why he wants your consent."

Zhou Yi's question was no challenge for Lu Chu:
"There are many people who oppose him in private, but we also give our approval, so there will be no opposition in the officialdom of the Eastern Capital, and the same goes for the army. He wants to do things smoothly, and he is also afraid that we will interfere, especially Dugu Feng. Those who are loyal to the Sui Dynasty will basically listen to his opinions."

“I now suspect that he sent someone to kill Brother Wendu for the same purpose. Brother Wendu will definitely be the first to oppose him, and I will stand with Brother Wendu.”

“If you don’t speak up, I will still oppose him.”

Zhou Yi focused his gaze on the direction Wang Shichong had left in: "The Wang Shichong we see today is not the same person we met that night."

Lu Chu frowned deeply: "Why can't I see any clues?"

“His voice, his appearance, his temperament have not changed; he is the Wang Shichong that Lu is familiar with.”

"Do not."

Zhou Yi gently shook his head: "When your skill level is high enough, you can sense subtle fluctuations, and then you can feel the different aura of each person. This aura is related to pulse energy, blood energy, and true energy."

"Is he real or fake?"

"I don't know, because I have never met Wang Shichong."

Even though Wang Shichong had just met him, Lu Chu was still a little confused by Zhou Yi's words.

Everyone has their own judgment. Based on experience, Lu Chu did not agree: "I think he is Wang Shichong. That night, too, they were exactly the same as the Wang Shichong of the past, without any difference."

"Then why doesn't he die?"

Lu Chu thumped his forehead: "Maybe it's really like you said, he is the Nine-Headed Insect."

"Or, he might be something dirty."

Lu Chu shook his head and then cautioned, "He has been provoking you, but don't fall for his tricks. Just like today at the Daye Hall, I was afraid you would make a move. If that happened, it would be irreversible, and the entire Eastern Capital would target you."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "Wang Shichong used himself to bait the spot and used me as bait."

"What are you going to do?"

"This is really interesting, of course I'll play along with him."

That night.

As the men in black arrived, chaos erupted once again at the Duke of Zheng's mansion, with men screaming in trembling voices and women screaming in terror and panic.

This time, no major battle broke out.

After the man in black removed Wang Shichong's head, he moved with phantom-like agility, passing through the defenses and rushing out of the mansion.

Not long after, the human head appeared in Lu Neishi's house.

Zhou Yi handed the head over to Lu Chu, an old acquaintance, for safekeeping and preservation, and to have it preserved.

The next day.

The messenger from the Duke of Zheng's mansion came to the door again, repeating what he had said before.

With a smile, he asked Zhou Yi to get treatment for his brain disease.

That night, Wang Shichong's general Wuliangjian Xiang Siren had arranged his troops to lie in ambush early in the morning, but no one came even after midnight.

As dawn broke, Wang Shichong got up and had breakfast.

Halfway through the meal, my brain suddenly went blank.

Before long, they arrived at the residence of Lu Neishi.

Lu Chu began to compare the differences between the two heads.

They fought intermittently until the eighth day, when Lu Chu stared at the five heads of Wang Shichong arranged in a "3-2" pattern.

He said, somewhat breathlessly, "Even if he is a nine-headed worm, he should be dead by now."

"Young Master Zhou, please stop."

Lu Chu sighed, his eyes twitching, and said, "You can't kill him, and he can't do anything to you either. Let's wait until we get to the Dugu family before we make a more careful plan."

"Moreover, these days I keep dreaming about Wang Shichong, his heads circling around me, making me toss and turn at night."

"At that moment, my vision blurred, and everything looked like Wang Shichong."

His eyes were filled with a bloodshot hue, which was truly incomprehensible.

Zhou Yi gave a cold smile: "Hold on a little longer, I've already noticed something's up."

That night.

The Duke of Zheng's mansion erupted into a major battle!
Nearly a hundred of Xiang Siren's men died. The old monk Zhu Faming, the benevolent mother, the poisonous water Xinnaya, and the faceless man were all involved. The Great Venerable still felt that something was missing. He couldn't find a sure-kill opportunity and failed at the last minute.

After that night, the man who went to the Lu residence to deliver the message never appeared again.

The Duke of Zheng's mansion seemed to have backed down.

Meanwhile, the Lu residence welcomed a new visitor.

It was Guo Wenyi.

After thinking for a long time, Guo Lao Er took the opportunity of going to the Dugu family to visit them.

The steward of the Lu residence replied that both Lu Neishi and Young Master Zhou were at home.

Guo Wenyi followed the guards who led the way into the inner hall.

The inner hall is different from the outer reception hall; it is a place for private conversations.

He walked along, speculating as he went.

'It seems Brother Lu and Young Master Zhou already know why I've come. That's good; it's better to be open and honest. Hiding things would only make things worse.'

Muttering to himself, the guard led him to a secret chamber next to the inner hall.

Guo Wenyi understood immediately.

He pushed open the door and saw a scene he could never have imagined in his life.

The secret room had a pungent smell of lime. A row of large candles with bright flames were lit, placed near the window. Yellow paper with talismans or similar symbols drawn on it was pasted on both sides. There was a small incense burner by the window, with two incense sticks that had burned down to about half.

Offerings should be placed on the cabinet below the incense burner.

at this time
A chill ran from the soles of Guo Lao Er's feet all the way to the top of his head, and the door behind him creaked shut automatically.

Guo Lao Er stared blankly at the sacrificial altar, where a pile of items were stacked in groups of three or two. He was familiar with each of them, but the way these familiar items were gathered together gave him a sense of absurdity and horror.

Wang Shichong, Wang Shichong, and still Wang Shichong.
"This this."

Guo Lao Er hesitated for a long time, unsure how to describe it.

He did indeed hope for Wang Shichong's death, but seeing six identical heads before him was something he simply couldn't accept.

Guo Wenyi looked at Zhou Yi and Lu Chu, and said in alarm:

"What exactly is going on with Wang Shichong?!"

Lu Chu's bloodshot eyes held a cruel smile:

"Brother Guo, you've come at the right time! Young Master Zhou has already discovered the secret of this Nine-Headed Insect, cough cough, Wang Shichong!"

……

(End of this chapter)