Martial Arts: After ten years of sword-drawing, the Sword God must bow his head when he sees me

Chapter 207 Brewing Tea Around a Fire in the Forbidden City

"fake?"

The group was taken aback. After a moment of focused attention, Zhang Sanniang said in bewilderment, "I've heard that Ye Gucheng's sword intent is called the Solitary Sword Intent, unparalleled in its solitude and aloofness. The sword intent faintly emanating from that person is similar to the legendary Solitary Sword Intent of Ye Gucheng. If it weren't Ye Gucheng, how could he possess such a unique sword intent? Or rather..."

Before Zhang San Niang could finish speaking, Yao Yue took the initiative to speak, saying, "Or rather, Ye Gucheng left his Solitary Sword Intent in that person's body or weapon in a special way, so that he also carried the aura of the Solitary Sword Intent."

Sometimes talking to smart people is just simple.

Shen Ping'an only made the first move, but Yaoyue and Zhang Sanniang were able to deduce the general situation.

Shen Ping'an said, "The intent of the Lone Sword was sealed into that person's body, so even Lu Xiaofeng and the others could not feel anything unusual for a while."

While the group was talking, Ximen Chuixue, who was standing on the left side of the roof of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, suddenly raised his hand and slowly drew his long sword from its sheath.

As Ximen Chuixue drew his sword, Ye Gucheng on the opposite side also slowly drew his sword from its sheath.

Under the moonlight, as the longsword was drawn, two cold glints instantly entered everyone's eyes, causing them to unconsciously squint.

As the longsword was drawn from its sheath, its tip pointing diagonally downwards, Ximen Chuixue said coldly, "This sword is the sharpest weapon in the world, with a blade three feet and seven inches long and a net weight of seven pounds and three ounces."

As soon as he spoke, Ye Gucheng's gaze fell on Ximen Chuixue's longsword, and he said sincerely, "A fine sword."

Ximen Chuixue remained expressionless, but his tone was remarkably certain as he said, "It is indeed a fine sword."

Then, Ye Gucheng lightly raised his long sword and held it horizontally in front of him.

"This sword was forged from the finest cold iron from overseas. It can cut a hair with a single blow. The blade is three feet and three inches long and weighs six pounds and four ounces."

Ximen Chuixue's gaze shifted slightly to the long sword in front of Ye Gucheng. After a brief pause, he slowly said, "A fine sword."

Ye Gucheng said in a soft yet arrogant voice, "It is a fine sword to begin with."

As soon as the voice came out, sword intent surged again within the bodies of Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng on the rooftop.

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue both closed their eyes, with only the fluctuations of true energy and sword intent reverberating within their bodies.

Just then, a whooshing sound suddenly appeared in the air.

The next second, in the sight of Lu Xiaofeng and the others, a ray of black light suddenly appeared in the air and then passed straight through Ye Gucheng's chest.

Immediately afterward, under the watchful eyes of all the martial artists outside the Taihe Hall, Ye Gucheng, who had been standing on the roof with his sword, staggered twice as if he were drunk before collapsing.

After tumbling dozens of times on the sloping roof next to it, it fell directly to the ground from the air.

There was no further movement.

"This, this is death?"

Everyone in the Taihe Hall was stunned when they saw Ye Gucheng suddenly collapse to the ground, lifeless.

Lu Xiaofeng, who was standing at the front, narrowed his eyes as he saw the redness rapidly rising under Ye Gucheng's skin on the ground. He then flashed to Ye Gucheng and squatted down in front of him.

After groping around on his face, they tore off a human skin mask, revealing a completely different face.

Qin Mengyao, who was following closely behind, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise upon seeing this scene, "This person isn't City Lord Ye?"

Not only Qin Mengyao, but as more martial artists discovered that the person lying on the ground was not Ye Gucheng, but someone in disguise, a commotion arose among the crowd.

Immediately afterward, as if he had just realized something, Lu Xiaofeng's expression changed drastically.

"It happened!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Xiaofeng stood up abruptly, preparing to use his lightness skill to leave.

"Be on guard. All personnel are not allowed to leave."

However, before Lu Xiaofeng could set off, a general at the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony suddenly shouted.

The next second, the archers standing by the wall and on the city wall all drew their longbows taut, and the useless crossbows on the city wall were also aimed at the group of warriors inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The Imperial Guards and the palace guards all drew their swords.

In an instant, a chilling atmosphere filled the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Faced with the vigilance of these imperial guards and palace generals, not to mention others, even Lu Xiaofeng suddenly dared not make any rash moves.

He then turned to a general not far away and said, “General Wang, I suspect that today’s events are related to treason. His Majesty may be in danger. Please let us leave.”

The general surnamed Wang said in a deep voice, "The imperial palace is a place of great importance; no one may trespass without an imperial edict."

After saying this, the general surnamed Wang ignored Lu Xiaofeng and instead shouted at the others outside the Taihe Hall with a cold face: "Things have changed. No martial artist is allowed to leave the Taihe Hall today. They will be allowed to leave only after the truth is found. Anyone who dares to move will be killed without mercy."

Looking at the archers and the siege crossbows that served as powerful weapons, all the warriors were speechless.

Although martial artists, with the improvement of their strength and cultivation, can reach the level of one person forming an army and taking the enemy general's head from among thousands of troops.

Unfortunately, even martial artists at the Heavenly Gang Realm like Lu Xiaofeng had not yet reached this level within the Taihe Hall at this time.

Faced with so many arrows and siege crossbows that even Heavenly Gang Realm warriors dared not confront head-on, let alone others, even Lu Xiaofeng and the other Heavenly Gang Realm warriors dared not act rashly.

After taking in the situation in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Shen Ping'an said, "Alright, the foreplay is over, now it's time to watch the main event."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man wearing a blood-patterned mask immediately set off to lead the way.

However, this time, when leading the way, the man wearing the blood-patterned mask did not lead Shen Ping'an and the others to avoid the crowd, but instead went directly down from the roof and walked along the palace wall.

Soon, the group encountered a group of palace guards.

But the man wearing the blood-patterned mask acted as if he hadn't seen anything and calmly led the way.

The palace guards acted as if they hadn't seen Shen Ping'an and his companions at all, and simply brushed past them.

In response, Yaoyue raised an eyebrow and said, "So, apart from the palace guards and Embroidered Uniform Guards currently guarding the Hall of Supreme Harmony, everyone around the palace is now a member of the Azure Dragon Society?"

In response to Yaoyue's question, the man in the blood-patterned mask who was leading the way replied, "Only the road we are taking and the area around the Imperial Study that we will be visiting later have been decorated. The rest of the place is mostly still occupied by people from the Imperial Palace."

"However, tonight is special. Eunuch Cao has ordered that no eunuchs or palace maids who are not on duty are allowed to go to the vicinity of the Imperial Study."

Perhaps because of Gongzi Yu's instructions, the man wearing the blood-patterned mask answered all of Shen Ping'an and Yaoyue's questions without reservation.

The man in the blood-patterned mask spoke casually, but to Yaoyue and Zhang Sanniang, it sent a chill down their spines.

At the same time, they understood why the imperial court had taken the initiative to take action against the Azure Dragon Society.

Given the Qinglong Society's ability to infiltrate every corner of the palace so silently, which emperor could be at ease letting such a force operate right under his nose?

And so, led by the man in the blood-patterned mask, the group quickly arrived near the Imperial Study.

After leaping onto a rooftop with the man in the blood-patterned mask, the group immediately noticed the tables, chairs, and benches that had been set up and secured on the roof.

There was even a kettle on the stove, steaming hot, on the wooden table.

Zhang San Niang chuckled and said, "This is the first time I've met someone as thoughtful as Gongzi Yu in inviting people to a play."

Shen Ping'an agreed, "It is indeed thoughtful. It is quite interesting to be able to gather around a stove and brew tea in the Forbidden City."

As they spoke, the group sat down on several chairs on the roof.

It's clear that this position was deliberately chosen by Gongzi Yu.

From this rooftop, one can have a complete view of the surrounding environment of the Imperial Study.

As Shen Ping'an and the others sat down, the man in the blood-patterned mask stepped forward to brew tea for them before stepping aside.

Immediately, under the bright moonlight, the group sipped their tea while gazing at the imperial study in the distance, quietly awaiting the start of the next show.

(End of this chapter)