Douluo V: Daily Intelligence - I Want All of Tang San's Opportunities

The two guards' expressions immediately changed.

As soon as the words "the Duke's orphaned daughter" were uttered, they knew who Xu Mingyuan was referring to.

Their city lord's wife's father was a duke of the Heavenly Dou Empire. Although he had passed away, he was still an unattainable figure to them.

If the charge of imprisoning the Duke's orphaned daughter is proven true, not only will these two gatekeepers be in trouble, but everyone in the city lord's mansion will suffer.

The two exchanged a glance, then shrank back and took a half-step to the side.

Xu Mingyuan strode across the threshold, with Su Yuntao following half a step behind him, and quickly stepped into the gate of the City Lord's Mansion.

The trusted subordinates behind him quickly dispersed, silently blocking the passageways on both sides of the main entrance.

Su Yuntao followed Xu Mingyuan through the front yard, secretly marveling at the effect of having a different leader.

The last time he came to deliver an official letter, he was led around obediently, and he had to watch the guards' expressions even if he took an extra step.

Today, Xu Mingyuan stepped forward and cleared the way for the other party with just a few words.

If it were Su Yuntao who were to break in, even with his current status as a branch hall master of the Spirit Hall, the other side would not back down an inch. More likely, a bloody conflict would break out between the Spirit Hall and the City Lord's Mansion.

Su Yuntao followed Xu Mingyuan through the front yard, and the golden light representing the "Silver Moon Concentration Technique" on his retina was less than ten steps away from him.

Just then—

"Vice City Lord Xu, what are you trying to do by barging into my City Lord's Mansion in such a blatant manner?"

A calm and unhurried voice came from the direction of the inner courtyard, carrying a hint of sarcasm and composure.

Su Yuntao's heart sank. He turned his head and saw Xiao Huaiyuan, dressed in a black casual suit, slowly walking out of the moon gate of the inner courtyard. Behind him were more than twenty guards who quickly dispersed to form an encirclement, surrounding him and Xu Mingyuan and the others.

Xu Mingyuan's face drained of half its color instantly, and his pupils contracted sharply:

"Shouldn't you be inspecting the defenses in the Soul Hunter Forest? Why are you still in the manor?"

Xiao Huaiyuan stood behind the encirclement, hands behind his back, a half-smile playing on his lips:

"Vice City Lord Xu, in Notting City, I am the real boss. Where I go and when I go is none of your business as a deputy."

Xu Mingyuan's face darkened completely.

He turned around abruptly, his sharp gaze sweeping over the few trusted men he had brought with him, finally settling on one of them. That man was an old man who had followed him for many years and was usually very capable; he had never doubted him.

But at this moment, the man had already quickly retreated a few steps and stood beside Xiao Huaiyuan, lowering his head and not daring to look him in the eye.

Xu Mingyuan's voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth:

"Old Zhao...why did you betray me?"

The man lowered his head, his voice trembling, but his tone carried a resolute sense of despair:

"Vice City Lord Xu, I'm sorry, but you only make empty promises, while City Lord Xiao is offering real money. Tell me, if you were in his shoes, whose advice would you take?"

Xu Mingyuan clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, and his chest heaved violently several times before he could suppress the surging anger.

Xiao Huaiyuan didn't look at him again, but turned his head, his gaze falling meaningfully on Su Yuntao:

"Lord Su, I haven't even gone to look for you yet, but you've come to me of your own accord."

He took a step forward, and the smile on his face slowly faded:

"You said you colluded with imperial officials, stormed the city lord's mansion, and intended to assassinate the imperial city lord. If I kill you today, do you think the Spirit Hall will utter a single word of objection?"

Standing beside Xu Mingyuan, Su Yuntao was genuinely surprised that Xu Mingyuan had only brought six people, and that Xiao Huaiyuan's mole was among them. But then he thought it made perfect sense. Xiao Huaiyuan had been operating in Notting City for so many years, so it was only natural for him to plant a few spies.

However, Su Yuntao was not too afraid at this point.

Compared to storming into the city lord's mansion alone, at least Xu Mingyuan is standing shoulder to shoulder with him now. As he said before, the two are completely different in nature.

He turned his head, glanced at Xu Mingyuan, and said calmly:

"Uncle Xu, things have come to this, do you think Xiao Huaiyuan will still let you go?"

Xu Mingyuan gritted his teeth, his chest heaving violently several times, as if he had made up his mind. He suddenly raised his head, his sharp gaze sweeping over the guards surrounding them. His voice rose sharply, carrying an undeniable air of authority:

Do you know why I'm here today?

His loud shout made the guards present pause for a moment, and those who were gripping their weapons and preparing to surround him subconsciously stopped in their tracks.

Xu Mingyuan drew the deputy city lord's token from his waist and held it high:

"I am acting on a secret imperial order to investigate Xiao Huaiyuan's imprisonment of the Grand Duke's orphaned daughter and his abusive treatment of his wife in a secret chamber! Now, all those unaware of this matter, step aside! Otherwise, you will be punished as accomplices, and your entire family will be exterminated!"

These words were like a boulder thrown into calm water; the guards all paled, and some even instinctively took a half-step back.

The words "imprisoned the Grand Duke's orphaned daughter" carried such weight that no one present dared to get involved.

For the first time, panic appeared on Xiao Huaiyuan's face, and his usually composed smile froze slightly.

Xu Mingyuan gave everyone no time to hesitate. He suddenly drew the knife from his waist, pointing the blade at Xiao Huaiyuan, and raised his voice even higher:

"Make your move! Xiao Huaiyuan has committed such a heinous crime. If you capture him, your wives and children will be guaranteed a high position!"

As soon as he shouted, the five guards behind him, though now only five, were swayed by his imposing aura and drew their weapons, rushing toward Xiao Huaiyuan.

Su Yuntao lightly touched the ground with his toes, his figure like a gray shadow, and attacked Xiao Huaiyuan from the side.

Xiao Huaiyuan's face darkened. Knowing that now was not the time to hesitate, he immediately shouted:

"Don't be misled by these traitors! My wife and I are deeply in love; how could we possibly commit such a heinous act? Everyone, give it your all and kill them all without mercy. After this is over, I will not hesitate to reward you handsomely!"

He shouted these words with great force, but Su Yuntao could clearly hear the slightest tremor in his voice.

It was a forced show of bravado after being hit where it hurt; it might fool ordinary guards, but it wouldn't fool him.

Without wasting words, Su Yuntao unleashed his soul power, and three soul rings—one white, one yellow, and one purple—rose from beneath his feet, slowly rotating around his body.

The first and second spirit rings were only ten years and a hundred years respectively?

This branch hall master of the Spirit Hall must have risen to his position through connections, right?

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, the attacks of the guards blocking Su Yuntao's path subconsciously slowed down.

But soon, their smiles faded.

Su Yuntao's figure had already closed in, a flash of bluish-gray light appeared on his arms, and the Thirty-Six Claws of Rending Wind poured out like a torrential rain.

His movements were so fast that his trajectory was almost invisible. Each time his claws struck, they precisely forced back a guard, causing them to retreat in a panic, leaving them no time to form an effective encirclement.