Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

Chapter 323 Blackbird
Ding Baiying looked up and saw Ding Xiuzheng leading Jin Yichuan, who was dressed as a merchant, into the room quickly.

Jin Yichuan was still clutching a crumpled notice in his hand, his face beaming with undisguised joy.

"Master, you saw it too?"

Ding Xiu had just entered the room when he asked loudly, but his eyes caught sight of the tear stains at the corners of Ding Baiying's eyes, so he quickly added, "Junior Brother just came from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the news is absolutely true!"

Jin Yichuan stepped forward and said in a low voice, "I've also heard rumors in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. None of the senior officials in the court have objected, so this matter is a done deal!"

Several people huddled together inside, all unable to hide their excitement.

But this joy didn't last long before a whooshing sound suddenly rang out!

"call out!"

A dart flew through the window and landed precisely on a wooden pillar inside the room, with a folded piece of paper still attached to its end.

Ding Baiying reacted extremely quickly, flashing to the pillar, taking down the letter and unfolding it. There were only four characters written in ink on it.

Fengxian Restaurant.

Needless to say, this must be a message from Chen Zhan.

Ding Baiying made a quick decision, crumpling the letter into powder, and asked in a deep voice, "What happened at Fengxian Restaurant?"

This question was directed at Jin Yichuan.

Jin Yichuan had originally planned to report this matter, but the "edict of self-reproach" was too important, so he forgot.

"Commander Shen booked the Fengxian Restaurant, held a banquet to display treasures, and recruited talented and extraordinary people from the martial arts world."

Several people were stunned.

In such a chaotic situation, what's the point of the Embroidered Uniform Guard even bothering with a treasure reward?
Ding Baiying asked, "A reward of treasure? What kind of treasure?"

"Buddha's Relic!"

"???"

Ding Baiying, Ding Xiu, and the others were simultaneously filled with endless questions.

On one hand, isn't the relic in Chen Zhan's possession? And even if Chen Zhan handed the relic over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, wouldn't they hide it properly instead of showing it off as a treasure?

Isn't this just asking for trouble?

"Using relics as bait to lure out the members of the Demonic Sect?" Ding Baiying wasn't stupid; she immediately realized what was going on.

"That should be the case. Commander Shen wouldn't tell us these things, but any smart person could guess that this is an open conspiracy. Even if the Demonic Sect knew it was a trap, they would still make a move."

Ding Baiying instantly grasped the key point and decisively said, "Let's go to Fengxian Restaurant! Yichuan, you go back to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and make your own decision."

Jin Yichuan nodded emphatically upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes: "Don't worry, I'll also disguise myself and sneak in."

Now that the Qi family army's injustice had been redressed, he had no more worries and now only wanted to help Chen Zhan and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to wipe out the remnants of the Demonic Cult.

Once the agreement was reached, the group made no further delays.

Jin Yichuan turned and disappeared at the alley entrance, heading towards the Jinyiwei yamen.

Ding Baiying picked up the Qi Family Saber and, together with Ding Xiu and the others, quickly packed their belongings, concealing their weapons in ordinary bags, and disguised themselves as ordinary martial arts travelers, rushing towards the direction of Fengxian Restaurant.

Fengxian Restaurant was one of the most extravagant establishments in the capital. Not only were its dishes and wines the best in the city, but it also had male escorts and female escorts upstairs. The restaurant was frequented by high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants, and powerful figures. It was also associated with the influence of several important officials in the court, and ordinary government offices dared not set foot there easily.

But all of this became meaningless in the face of the imperial edict in Xu Long's hands.

Xu Long, who was ordered to oversee all affairs, could easily requisition the restaurant to set up a scheme, or even confiscate the restaurant's property and exterminate the entire family, with just a word.

The forces behind the scenes need to distance themselves from Fengxian Restaurant to avoid being implicated.

When Ding Baiying and her party arrived at Fengxian Restaurant, the sky was gradually darkening. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the eaves of the restaurant, casting a yellowish hue on the vermilion pillars.

The restaurant appeared to be no different from usual, with its bustling traffic, but in reality, it had been secretly spies planted.

They were all skilled agents from the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard; even the waiters at the door were replaced with secret agents.

The entrance did not prevent any martial arts practitioners from entering. As soon as the group entered, they heard the manager's shouts from inside the building, saying that the treasure appreciation banquet tonight was scheduled for midnight, and the streets and alleys around the restaurant would be sealed off at that time.

Ding Baiying understood; this was an arrangement by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

There was a curfew in the capital at night, and ordinary people dared not go out after midnight. In this way, the evil cult could be lured into a trap, and innocent casualties could be minimized to prevent the situation from getting out of control.

Enter the building, go upstairs, and go straight to the fourth floor.

Many martial arts practitioners have already arrived, but there aren't many disciples from major sects. The Embroidered Uniform Guard's operation was rushed; it was only announced the day before yesterday, and it's starting today.

Only martial arts practitioners from the vicinity of the capital came.

It was clearly concluded that the Demonic Cult was located near the capital.

Ding Baiying and her two companions found a corner seat by the window and sat down. The waiter quickly set out exquisite dishes and wine on the table, but none of them had any appetite.

His gaze swept warily across the building, his fingertips resting on the bag containing the weapons.

A moment later, three figures also stepped onto the fourth floor. Leading them was Jin Yichuan, who had changed back into casual clothes but still exuded a capable air. Beside him were Shen Lian and Lu Jianxing, dressed as ordinary bodyguards, wearing short gray clothes and soft whips wrapped around their waists. Jin Yichuan's gaze quickly swept across the hall, his eyes meeting Ding Baiying's briefly in mid-air before he casually looked away.

More and more people gathered inside the building, initially just some well-known martial arts practitioners from the surrounding areas of Beijing.

Later on, even street performers, bodyguards, and some idle ruffians squeezed in.

They all came for the free food and drinks at the "Treasure Appreciation Banquet" and the rumored Buddha's relics.

Ding Baiying frowned slightly as she looked at the crowd still surging in downstairs. Ding Xiu chuckled softly, "Are these people tired of living? Do they really think the Demonic Sect is a bunch of pushovers? This food and wine might not be so easy to swallow!"

The evil cult acts ruthlessly, and once it takes action, it will never care about the lives of others. These freeloaders from all walks of life are likely to become innocent victims.

However, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, in order to lure the enemy out, clearly acquiesced to this situation.

A man of the martial world dies in the martial world; there's nothing more to say.

The huge fourth-floor hall was packed within half an hour, filled with noise, the sounds of drinking games and discussions, and even the floorboards seemed to tremble slightly.

At the same time, a figure slowly walked up from downstairs. It was a young man whose features were not particularly outstanding.

However, his demeanor was extremely calm, which was out of place with the restlessness around him. What was particularly striking was his extremely fair skin, which even had a jade-like luster under the dim light.

The young man's gaze swept around the hall and quickly landed on Ding Baiying's table. Without saying hello, he pulled out a chair and sat down, his movements as natural as if they had arranged it beforehand.

Ding Baiying was taken aback at first, then she saw the person's features clearly. She lowered her voice and said with solemnity and gratitude, "Thank you, senior. I will never forget this kindness. In the future, I will do my best to obey your orders, even at the cost of my life!"

She was thanking Chen Zhan for exonerating the Qi Family Army.

This was her obsession for ten years, and now it has been fulfilled, all thanks to Chen Zhan's help. This kindness has far exceeded the scope of chivalry.

Chen Zhan nodded, not caring about the gratitude. Helping Ding Baiying was partly a transaction, and partly something he wanted to do himself.

His divine will had already quietly spread out, like an invisible net, enveloping the entire atmosphere of the fourth-floor hall, distinguishing one person from another within.

There were over a hundred people inside, and their atmosphere was quite mixed.

Most of them were low-level martial arts practitioners who hadn't developed internal strength and could only rely on brute force to survive in the streets.

The martial artists at the Acquired Realm accounted for about one-third of the total, and their auras were either fierce or weak, all at the level of ordinary martial artists.

As for the Innate Realm, there were only three or four of them, and they were all just beginning to enter the Innate Realm. Their auras were neutral and peaceful, without any special fluctuations. They seemed to be spies sent by a reputable sect rather than remnants of a demonic cult.

The members of the Nanyang Demonic Cult will definitely come; they are adept at concealing their presence.

Chen Zhan had anticipated this, but since he hadn't yet found any trace of them in the crowd, he calmed down and continued to observe.

Just as Chen Zhan was deep in thought, a noise came from the stairwell; Shen Tong had arrived.

He was accompanied by two chief executioners from the Eastern Depot, both genuine experts at the Innate Realm, their auras deep and their gazes sweeping across the surroundings like those of hawks.

Shen Tong himself was carrying an exquisitely carved jade box wrapped in red silk, which clearly contained something important.

He strode quickly toward the fourth floor, his steps seemingly steady, but in reality, there was a hint of stiffness in his movements.

After all, he had only broken through to the Innate Realm a few days ago, and his aura was not yet completely stable, let alone witnessing the terrifying power of the Demonic Sect experts at Guangyuan Temple.

Holding the "Buddha's Relic" as bait, they dared not be complacent in the slightest, their hearts pounding in their throats.

From the stairwell to the treasure viewing platform in the center of the hall, it was only a few dozen meters. Shen Tong pushed through the crowd and walked slowly forward. Seeing his attire as a commander of the Eastern Depot, the people of the martial arts world around him tactfully made way for him.

But just as he was halfway there, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the noise in the hall!
"call out--!"

The whistle was sharp and piercing, instantly putting everyone in the hall on edge.

Many martial arts practitioners reacted very quickly, drawing their knives at their waists and swords on their backs with a "whoosh".

The once noisy hall fell into a deathly silence, with only the crisp sound of weapons being drawn and the heavy breathing of the crowd echoing in the background.

Ding Baiying and the others also gripped the weapons in their bundles tightly.

Chen Zhan, however, remained deep in thought with his eyes closed.

After a while, seeing no reaction, the crowd began to relax.

"when--!"

Something made a loud noise, hitting the outer wall of the fourth floor of the restaurant. No one paid much attention to it, and the sound was not loud.

This soft sound was merely a prelude; in an instant...
"Clang! Clang clang clang—!"

The dense, relentless impacts came like a sudden downpour, a barrage of rapid, sharp sounds, each one carrying a piercing metallic scraping quality, relentlessly battering the exterior wall of the fourth floor of the restaurant.

The entire pavilion seemed to tremble slightly from the continuous impacts, the paint on the window frames peeled off in a rustling sound, and the beams and pillars creaked under the weight.

In just a few breaths, the carved wooden lattice windows were the first to give way, collapsing with a loud crash.

Only then did the people inside the hall see clearly what was making the impact outside.

Black monster bird!

(End of this chapter)