Wan Jian returns to his clan!

Chapter 221 Inviting a Guest for a Beheading, Brothers United

Wei Tingwei had experienced many battles in the first half of his life and had also worried about the country and its people. He possessed the Vermilion Bird's supreme Yang energy and had long since cultivated it to the point of perfection, transforming the fire energy into its true form.

Generally speaking, if a petty person has any selfish desires in front of him and is intimidated by his murderous aura, they won't need to ask any questions; they will even reveal their ancestors for eighteen generations.

Having held a high position for many years, wielding the power of life and death, he maintained a cautious and respectful attitude, carefully currying favor, except in front of His Majesty.

Once he sets out on his journey, commanding a large army and possessing formidable cultivation, he can confidently say that, apart from a handful of others, no one in the world holds him in high regard.

Even a prince like the Wing King had to instruct his heir to win him over and make various promises.

This reflects the importance placed on his status.

It is also a sign of respect for his abilities.

Such status and position, such imposing and menacing aura.

Wei Tingwei never expected that someone would actually have designs on him.

He felt an indescribable sense of absurdity.

However, his keen sense of life and death, honed through countless battles, clearly told him that this was not an illusion.

Rather, it has reached a critical juncture of life and death.

Whether to stay put and wait for reinforcements, or to fight your way out, is not a choice at all.

He smashed open the window, and the fierce energy in front of him surged forth, transforming into a large, bright red bird with its neck held high, letting out a high-pitched cry.

At the same time, the dragon scale blade at his waist was already drawn, its energy surging forth, poised to strike.

While still in mid-air, he fought his way through the night with a single strike, having already protected his vital points. His eyes were drawn to the seven or eight corpses lying outside the window.

Wei Tingwei's heart sank.

Because he could see the blood gushing from the throats of these elite guards, but he couldn't see where the enemy was.

chi...

At that moment, he seemed to hear the wind.

In the darkness of the night, a streak of light seemed to flash by.

I don't know where it started.

Thoughts struggled to flow, like being stuck in gel, and a sharp pain suddenly shot through my throat and into my soul.

'That's sword light.'

'I've been stabbed...'

'Whose sword is so swift? My true form of罡煞 (罡煞真形, a type of internal energy cultivation technique) cannot withstand even the slightest attack.'

This thought flashed through my mind.

Wei Tingwei felt a sudden darkness before his eyes. The true energy that had pierced his throat surged into his brain like a burst dam, completely severing his thoughts.

Ding dong…

The Dragon Scale Blade fell to the ground, and his tall figure collapsed with a crash.

Amidst the flickering light and shadow, a young man dressed in a blue robe, with a calm and serene expression, suddenly appeared.

Just then, a red shadow flashed behind him, and Huang Chengzong finally arrived. He bowed and said, "Sir, your divine might killed Wei Tingwei as easily as killing a dog. You, a mere cultivator at the Innate Realm, dare to harbor ill intentions. You are truly courting death."

Yes, Wei Tingwei cultivated the military art of body refinement, his body was forged into a powerful and fierce form. After reaching the third rank, he switched to cultivating internal energy to gather and refine the fierce form, which involved refining innate turbid energy.

In terms of nourishing the body and spirit and increasing lifespan, it is naturally far inferior to the cultivation of pure energy such as internal strength and true qi. However, in terms of combat power, it is by no means inferior.

Especially in direct confrontation, a direct and forceful attack can be even more destructive than the true qi and true essence cultivated by martial artists.

This is not surprising.

The formidable attack and defense gained by sacrificing a portion of one's lifespan, in exchange for countless merits and wealth, is perfectly fair.

But this fairness became utterly ridiculous under Lu Wubing's Flowing Light Sword.

Until the moment of his death, Wei Tingwei never understood how he died.

He didn't even know who killed him.
"Life and death are not child's play; those who kill will be killed in return. You may regard others as pigs and dogs, but you never think that you yourself are also pigs and dogs in the eyes of others."

Lu Wubing chuckled softly, glancing out the window. "Ji Wentai, are you going to surrender or try to fight back in your death throes?"

The Prince of Yi had just raised his sword and hadn't even taken a step when he saw Wei Tingwei cough up blood and fall backward to the ground.

His newly roused bloodlust and murderous intent melted away like ice and snow, and he trembled all over, his face turning deathly pale.

The young man in blue outside the window neither spoke harshly nor attacked with his sword.

An overwhelming pressure descended like a mountain.

He felt as if he had become an insignificant ant, and all the qi, blood and internal energy in his body were frozen and became stiff and cold.

"The world is in turmoil, and my father is the one everyone hopes to save Dali. The princess is foolish and, being a woman, is unfit to ascend the throne. Only my father can fulfill Mr. Lu's request, so why not..."

As Ji Wentai spoke, he became more and more confident. His body stopped trembling, his eyes became calmer, and his speech became more and more fluent.

"Snapped……"

A figure flashed in front of him, and he was slapped on the head.

He was beaten until his eyes rolled back and he fell backward.

"Someone like you thinks you can win over others? How laughable. Take him away and interrogate him thoroughly to see what that prince is really thinking."

"Yes."

Shen Xinzhu flashed out from behind, picked up the Prince of Yi who was slumped in a muddy mess, and confidently activated the Seven Emotions Melody to awaken Ji Wentai and personally question him.

When it comes to interrogating people about their innermost secrets, the Seven Emotions Sound is more effective than the Ten Great Tortures.

The things revealed through severe criminal interrogation may still carry a certain degree of subjective bias.

Sometimes, the person being interrogated may even forget some minor details.

Using the seven emotions in one's voice, one can make people, in a daze, reveal secrets that they themselves may not even remember clearly.

The popular courtesans at the dinner table were stunned after Lu Wubing released his aura, so there was no need to make things difficult for them. He simply left them aside.

Wei Tingwei and the guards of the Prince of Yi's mansion who were surrounding the Qiuyilou Pavilion were all killed.

Apart from Ji Wentai's groggy account of recent events, there was no other sound in the room.

Lu Wubing listened for a while, his eyes growing colder.

From the information revealed in Ji Wentai's words, it's clear that this guy has been doing inhuman things since he can remember.

He has toyed with countless women... He has committed no fewer than a hundred acts of extortion, plunder, and the destruction of families.

Even so, this heir of the Wing King still had an excellent reputation in Weijing City, and was known as a gentleman with a kind heart.

Because he never had to lift a finger to commit all sorts of evil deeds. He had four gangs under his command, with dozens of skilled fighters serving him.

Some of his retainers and advisors offered him advice and strategies to eliminate any future troubles.

Even officials in Weijing, when faced with his case, never bother to investigate and simply let it go.

"Get straight to the point. Ask the Wing King what his plans are. There's no need to pry into these filthy secrets; it'll only dirty your ears."

Looking at this handsome and exceptionally good-looking prince with ruddy complexion and white teeth, Lu Wubing felt as if he were looking at a dead man.

He had already sentenced him to death in his heart.

The Great Departure Law is essentially defunct and useless.

Lu Wubing felt it was necessary to give the world an explanation so that the souls of the dead could rest in peace.

Lu Wubing had no good feelings towards the Wing King's family.

He still remembered that when he returned from Donghai County, the Golden Scale Guards, together with Steward Wang of the Marquis of Changxin's mansion, forged letters to lure his parents out.

Among the enemies were those who served in the Prince of Yi's palace.

In other words, from that time onwards, the Prince Yi's Mansion had already begun targeting his family.

Or rather, it was a premeditated attempt to eliminate Princess Ji Wenxiu's capable assistants.

Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free.

They didn't even bother with courting; they just took direct action.

So what if such a person is just a lazy prince seeking fame and fortune, or even if he is truly the one everyone wants him to be?

We'll just have to wait until tonight is over, and then tomorrow after the court assembly.

Lu Wubing decided to inject some vitality into this ancient dynasty.

Let them see that justice and reason still exist in this world.

"The interrogation has been completed, Young Master."

Shen Xinzhu's expression was also rather unpleasant. Even though she had lived in the Demonic Sect, a place that devoured people, for a period of time since childhood, she still couldn't stand the evil and perverted nature of this Prince Yi.

Hearing certain things too often can really pollute your mind.

"Wing King Ji Changning usually has the reputation of being a wise king, but in reality, all of his reputation is just something he has been promoted by people."

When Emperor Ji Jiufeng attended court daily and his mental state was still sound, the Wing Prince behaved extremely obediently. He listened to his elder brother's every word and dared not harbor the slightest thought of rebellion.

In fact, when Ji Jiufeng ascended the throne, Ji Changning served her diligently and made great contributions.

Although he was not rewarded for his work afterward, he had no complaints whatsoever.

He still only wanted to be a wealthy prince; he wanted nothing else.

"Is there any prince in this world who doesn't want anything?"

Lu Wubing smiled and shook his head.

All I can say is that Ji Changning, the Wing King, was actually a very talented actor; he acted for half his life.

If he doesn't get the chance, he'll keep acting.

As long as his relationship with Ji Jiufeng doesn't break down, his past contribution in supporting her ascension to the throne will ensure his safety for the rest of his life.

No matter what wrong things he did in secret, or how he abused the people, it doesn't matter.

In the eyes of those powerful and privileged individuals, the thoughts of ordinary people at the bottom of society are never worth paying attention to.

Just like ants, they are crushed underfoot without even asking if the ants are in pain or sad.

"If I heard correctly, the Prince Yi's mansion is preparing to petition the court to transfer Marquis Pingxi, Lin Zhonghu, to the capital to defend the emperor?"

Lu Wubing was slightly puzzled.

He felt that this operation seemed somewhat familiar.

The deployment of a large army from the border regions to defend the emperor is almost identical to the situation described in the story of Fatty Dong entering the capital.

"Isn't he afraid that once the Marquis of Pingxi arrives in the capital, he will seize power and cause chaos? And how can he be sure that Lin Zhonghu will side with the Prince of Yi?"

Huang Chengzong: "Uh... He's really not afraid. The Ji family has been firmly established in the world for 280 years, and the concept of the nobility of royal blood has long been deeply rooted in people's hearts."

A general from outside the imperial family might be able to exert his power for a time, but it is difficult for him to win the hearts and minds of the people.

Even with absolute power, it's difficult to prevent war from breaking out...

No matter how skilled and powerful the Marquis of Pingxi's troops are, he still needs to find a master.

The Wing King's opportunity has arrived.

"How to say?"

"The Crown Prince of Yi is the son of Princess Lin. As for his identity, he is Princess Chang Le's cousin. The princess should call his mother 'Auntie'."

"I see."

Lu Wubing understood why the Prince of Yi had gone to such lengths to request the transfer of the Marquis of Pingxi to the capital. It was because General Lin Zhonghu's three younger sisters were all married very well.

One princess, two imperial concubines.

In principle, someone with this kind of status should be confined to the western border and never allowed to return to the capital in their lifetime.

However, nothing in this world is certain.

Unfortunately, at this time, Emperor Ji Jiufeng suffered a mental breakdown. He went into seclusion to cultivate himself and neglected state affairs, leaving the court to his daughter and ignoring everything else.

At this time, Consort Lin in the palace was nine months pregnant and about to give birth.

The Prince Yi's residence is now plotting its own schemes.

In any case, it was only natural for Lin Zhonghu to lead his troops to the capital to defend the emperor.

Regardless of who wins or loses, his nephew will be in power.

It wouldn't be right for an uncle not to lend a hand.

“A few days ago, the court was in an uproar, and several cabinet ministers were almost ready to fight. The heads of the six ministries also had their own opinions, and no one listened to the princess.”

Well, the surrender faction, the war faction, the loyalist faction, and the faction that wanted to borrow troops all started making a fuss.

No matter how you look at it, it's a sign of national ruin.

Where are the Northern Zhou troops?

"Having already broken through three passes and captured Jingzhou, our army is now poised to cross the Wei River and advance south."

The Northern Zhou King Jinyang personally led an army of 100,000, beating and conquering city after city, advancing a thousand miles in half a month.

Even though Huang Chengzong was an old eunuch who rarely cared about military affairs, he was still worried at this moment.

The situation deteriorated rapidly, and for some reason, the news spread very quickly.

The imperial court had only just received the news and had not yet come up with any plan, but the people of the capital already knew about it.

The reason why the calls for peace have been so loud these days is because Yuwen Ba, the heir apparent of the Jin Yang Prince, is so domineering and ruthless in Weijing, killing people without hesitation, yet no one dares to provoke him. On the contrary, many spineless people are eager to curry favor with him.

A weak nation has no diplomacy.

A powerful nation can exert such pressure on its capital that even a single diplomatic mission can make it difficult for the city to breathe.

"How could it be so fast?"

Shen Xinzhu's expression also changed slightly.

She knew that Mingyang and Liyang had deployed troops at Hengshan Pass, both to eliminate the demonic forces within their territory and to block the vanguard of Northern Zhou.

It is expected that this army will be able to hold off the enemy and protect the villagers.

In some respects, the strategic objectives have been achieved.

This forced the Northern Zhou army to take the route through Jingzhou, detouring across the river to advance south. However, they hadn't expected the Northern Zhou army to march so quickly.

It was clear that they were about to cross the river and directly threaten the capital.

"Could it be that the Dafan Temple and the Zhenwu Sword Sect did not stop them? Or have all the generals guarding the pass defected to the enemy?"

There is only one possibility for this situation: an imbalance in high-end combat power.

If the general leading the troops is no match, even with a large army, it will be a disorganized mess.

After all, it is a world where great power originates from within itself.

Ten thousand soldiers are easy to find, but a good general is hard to come by.

At the expert level, if you can't beat them, they'll cut you down like vegetables, employing a decapitation tactic. You really can't think of any way to counter this strategy.

"In that case, we must also speed up our actions. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

Lu Wubing couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

In his view, the world belonged to all people and had little to do with him, a wandering swordsman.

All he ever wanted was for himself to be safe and for his family and friends to live comfortably.

Of course, in this world where there is the opportunity to transcend, one should try to live longer, ideally immortality.

As for the internal affairs of the Great Li Dynasty, he didn't really care who fought whom, who won or lost.

I have no interest in taking on such a heavy burden of responsibility for the world for no reason.

However, the current situation is different.

Anyone can win, but the barbarians of Northern Zhou cannot.

When Qin unified China, the Han dynasty rose to power three times. Later, Emperor Zhaolie of the Han dynasty subdued the barbarians and drove them away thousands of miles away.

The Han people's reputation resounded far and wide, and everyone was proud of their ethnicity.

Later, after several dynastic changes, the barbarians entered the Central Plains several times, but were quickly driven out.

Never before has a nation established itself in the north, gradually encroaching on the Central Plains, with its military might pointing south, displaying a power that seemed poised to conquer the world.

What is most hateful is that this barbarian tribe is carrying out a policy of extermination and annihilation.

Under the rule of the northern barbarians, Han Chinese men were either slaughtered, treated like pigs or dogs, or used as food.

Han Chinese women were treated as birthing machines.

They just didn't grow up properly.

The only ones who fared well were the powerful families who had pledged allegiance early on, and the military commanders.

Even if the barbarians are as fierce as beasts, they can still bend down and take advantage of the situation.

They then brandished their butcher knives and slaughtered their own kind, far more ruthless than the barbarians of the Northern Zhou.

It can only be said that these powerful and wealthy people lived well, regardless of the dynasty they lived in.

Once you learn one skill, you can adapt to any situation.

All of this made Lu Wubing even angrier.

Sure enough, no matter which world it is, everyone is competing to be the worst; the depravity of human nature is the same everywhere.

Only by breaking everything down can we rebuild everything.

In this situation, even a person with a conscience, who wants to remain untainted, cannot help but feel compelled to act.

"First, take them away and lock them up. Later, after we clean up the filth in the city and kill the barbarian envoys, hang them at the city gate as a warning to others."

"Yes."

Shen Xinzhu thought for a moment and then said:

"It was indeed this guy who personally orchestrated the forgery of the letter and the ambush of the young sect leader."

The scheme was devised by Chang Deqing, one of the three attendants of the Prince of Yi's mansion, who plotted against Chen Tongguang, a junior official in the Ministry of Rites, who was also his uncle.

The specific situation is that you deliberately befriended your cousin Chen Yaoxian, giving him beautiful women and gold and silver so that he could steal the private seal.

Fortunately, Chen Yaoxian had no idea what Ji Wentai was doing with his father's private seal; he was completely unaware of it.

That person was an idiot for not even considering the consequences.

However, Steward Wang of the Marquis of Changxin's residence personally participated in the affair, and it cannot be ruled out that he secretly colluded with other servants in the residence.

"Let's drop this matter. I'm sure my two uncles know how to handle it."

Thinking that Yun Duo had already sent a message to the Marquis's residence, Lu Wubing felt a little curious, wondering what choice his two uncles would make.

They've already been given the opportunity; they've done right by this body and this bloodline.

If they really made the wrong choice, they can just be nicer to their maternal grandmother from now on.

It doesn't matter to others.

The incident that occurred in the private room of Qiuyi Tower was well controlled and did not affect the other places where people were enjoying themselves.

From afar, a series of footsteps could be heard.

In Lu Wubing's perception, the powerful blood energy emanating from the several people who had arrived was like a torch in his mind.

"Well done, Lao Huang. Nine out of eleven generals came. You have quite a bit of influence."

"It's all thanks to the generals' kindness," Huang Chengzong said awkwardly. "The two Jinlin Guard commanders will probably arrive a little later."

After all, they haven't seen His Majesty in a long time and miss him terribly; they want to get some news from our family.

At this point, he didn't even think about distancing himself from these generals.

Anyway, that's how it is to be an official.

Since everyone worked in the palace together, sticking together for mutual support and jointly resisting the civil and military officials of the court was a familiar routine.

At this point, hosting a banquet for the generals and holding a secret discussion would be considered a legitimate reason for the attack.

"Very good, we will capture them all today."

Lu Wubing's eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Invite the guest to behead him, and accept him as a dog.

……

"Snapped……"

Marquis Changxin, Chen Tongxi, slapped his younger brother hard across the face.

"Shortsighted, careless in your actions, and incompetent in raising your child are one thing, but how could you be so stupid?"

"Big brother."

Chen Tongguang's eyes were full of grievance, and he looked at his mother for help.

Then they saw the old lady sitting coldly on her high chair, looking very disappointed.

Clearly, they also believed that their elder brother was right to fight.

"I don't want the Marquis of Changxin's mansion to get caught up in court intrigues, as the slightest mistake could lead to its annihilation."

"Brother, don't you think about it? The princess is all alone, without any soldiers or generals, and her reputation is utterly ruined. How can she possibly succeed? To surrender now is tantamount to courting death."

"Do you think you can stay safe by sitting on the sidelines and watching the tigers fight?"

Chen Tongxi sighed. His younger brother was a bit dim-witted and lacked judgment, but at least he listened to his older brother at home. He was also filial to their parents, had a steady temperament, and didn't like to cause trouble.

I'd say he's of average appearance.

Maintaining the status quo is acceptable, but don't expect him to be enterprising or innovative.

Even with this level of quality, it is still far superior to the next generation of children.

Could it be that the Changxin Marquis's mansion is about to completely decline in his generation?

Chen Tongxi's eyes turned fierce...

He practiced martial arts diligently and studied military strategy books from a young age, not to squander the family's legacy.

Overwhelmed with excitement, a vast aura of bloodlust suddenly surged out from three feet above his head.

His aura was like that of a dragon and a tiger, and he said coldly, "Second brother, it doesn't matter if you don't understand, just follow along. In the imperial court, the most dangerous thing is to be an incompetent person who acts on his own initiative."

"Brother, you've reached the Innate Realm and condensed your baleful energy?"

Chen Tongguang almost forgot the pain on his face and exclaimed in surprise.

At this critical juncture, if the eldest brother makes a breakthrough, he will have a better chance of protecting himself, no matter what.

However, this is only in normal times. Now that his nephew has come to wish him a happy birthday, it's quite awkward.

"However, Lu Wubing's reputation was ruined at this time. People said he had instigated the princess to plot a rebellion. Moreover, he had also provoked a border conflict, bringing disaster upon himself."

Even if we don't die at Yuwen Ba's hands, we'll still be punished by the court...

"fart."

The old lady was so angry that she slammed her dragon-headed cane heavily on the ground.

A square brick was smashed.

"Second brother, you don't understand anything. Forget it, Xi'er, you tell the second brother what's going on."

The old lady looked up at the sky and thought to herself that the Changxin Marquis family were all heroes and martyrs.

However, as it has been passed down from generation to generation, it has become less and less effective.

Fortunately, the eldest son, Chen Tongxi, still has some sense of responsibility, while the second son is neither good at being an official nor at managing his family.

Now even his judgment is so poor. I thought he would just live a life of wealth and leisure.

But unexpectedly, there was a turning point.

But he actually wanted to push away the opportunity that was presented to him, which was somewhat unacceptable.

Chen Tongxi took a deep breath, suppressed his temper, and patiently asked, "Second brother, do you think Yuwen Ba, with his unparalleled prowess among the younger generation and his pair of purple-gold hammers that killed so many powerful figures in Dali, would still solemnly make a three-day agreement to compete with Wubing?"

"Didn't you want to establish your authority?"

"What are you trying to establish authority for? If you really want to establish authority, why not just kill him with a single blow?"

"This……"

"You see, he's not confident."

According to what the people of Changxinfang said back then, when the child Wubing took the spear, he killed three barbarian generals in a row, as if a boulder had crushed an egg.

Even Yuwen Ba dared not underestimate this counterattack spear and could only smash it with his hammer.

One can imagine how he felt. The two exchanged a single blow from a hundred feet apart, and the difference in skill was obvious to anyone with discerning eyes.

"Then, within a day, the news spread throughout the capital that Wubing's nephew had opened the border without authorization, was in grave danger, and was harboring rebellious intentions."

"Ignorance. The more rumors are spread, the more it proves that those enemies hiding in the shadows targeting the innocent are helpless."

They had no choice but to resort to such underhanded tactics, smearing Wu Bing in an attempt to throw him into chaos and defeat him without a fight.

This is a strategy of winning hearts and minds.

Therefore, it can be concluded that in the battle three days later, Wubing has a very high chance of winning.

Not only would Yuwen Ba devise various methods to undermine the morale of the Dali army and people, but he would also break the backbone of the Dali military.

At the same time, Wubing will also use this opportunity to rebuild the morale of the army and the people, and to break the momentum of the Northern Zhou.

"Is that so?"

Chen Tongguang opened his mouth, admitting that he hadn't thought of that at all.

He was wondering why, when the two sides had clearly clashed that day, they didn't immediately take action but instead chose to hold back.

Is there really so much scheming involved?
"But, but Wubing only brought a few people? How can they possibly defeat them..."

"How do you know there are only a few people? Did he tell you?"

Chen Tongxi looked at his younger brother as if he were a fool.

"On the day of your mother's birthday, Wubing sent such a birthday gift that was enough to shock the world. Don't you understand yet?"

He controlled three cities, had a large army and many generals, and possessed immense wealth and power.

The Tianxing Sect was once the number one sword sect in the world, with countless masters under its command, and it has now been revived.

Can't you see such a huge force?

Furthermore, he and the princess are so close they're practically inseparable. Now, the princess even holds the title of regent, making her more than a crown prince, with a powerful and legitimate position in her hands.

Such a person possessed martial arts skills strong enough to dominate the capital, could easily command an army of 100,000, had countless martial arts masters to assist him, and also had a righteous cause.

Tell me, how do you deal with those scheming scholars in the court?

"Is that so?"

If I don't know, I was surprised when I said it.

Chen Tongguang thought about it and realized it was true. If Lu Wubing was really prepared, he could certainly challenge the court with his open forces.

Even if the princess is a puppet, she is a puppet that the world dares not openly resist.

Everything had to be done in secret.

With Lu Wubing's abilities, why would he be afraid of being secretly targeted by others?
"So, you're just wasting your chance."

Although the Prefect of Chaotian Prefecture was a third-rank official, his power was so great that even some high-ranking officials of the court could hardly compare.

Such a huge windfall has fallen into your lap, and you're not even taking it seriously? What are you thinking?

"Submit a memorial, submit a memorial now, and finish writing it tonight."

Furthermore, all members of the Wang family, including Steward Wang and all those associated with him, should have their legs broken and be expelled from the mansion.

Chen Tongguang finally woke up to the truth.

People are willing to take a gamble even with only a 20-30% chance. He has such a great opportunity; wouldn't he be a fool not to take it?
"anything else?"

"Let's just pretend Yaoxian was never born. Let him farm properly on the outskirts of Beijing, sigh..."

……

(End of this chapter)