Chapter 35: Crimes to be Added (2)

"Haha!" Huang Fei laughed aloud, "If that is the case, then how would Crown Prince Yu care about his brother's life or death? Let alone retreat because of this. I have one thing I don't understand: the Marquis is so aggressive—could it be that Ye Xuanshang once offended you, to the point that you cannot tolerate him?"

The two were at daggers drawn as soon as they spoke, and all the ministers in the hall were paying attention. On the contrary, Ye Xuanshang had an indifferent look of being uninvolved. Helian Yiren was caught by Huang Fei's words due to a moment of carelessness and was secretly angry. He immediately retorted, "In that case, My Lord must already have a brilliant plan to defeat the enemy and make Wei Yuan retreat within three days. I wonder if it is true or false?"

Huang Fei said, "Whether it is true or false, the Marquis can wait and see."

Helian Yiren said, "Empty words are no proof."

Huang Fei said proudly, "If the enemy troops do not retreat within three days, I, Fei, am willing to be punished according to military law."

"Good!" Helian Yiren looked at the young rival before him who was full of sharp edges, "There are no jokes in the military; let three days be the limit!"

"Three days as the limit!"

"My beloved minister!" Seeing Huang Fei issue a military order in the hall, the King of Chu could not help but feel a little worried, "Three days is perhaps too rushed. Even if the Liefeng Cavalry sets off immediately, three days is only enough to reach the border city, set up camp, and deploy formations."

Huang Fei raised his cloak and turned back calmly, "Reporting to the Great King, the Liefeng Cavalry has already arrived at the border city. The reason this subordinate returned two days late was precisely for this. In the battle the other day, the Mu army lost two thousand troops and retreated to Zhenyang. This subordinate can guarantee that within three days, the Mu army will surely know the difficulty and retreat!"

As soon as the words fell, exclamations arose in the hall. The ministers whispered to each other, and even Ye Xuanshang, who had been indifferent to the situation, couldn't help but raise his eyes to look at Huang Fei. Behind the screen, Han Xi couldn't help but let out a "Ha." Zi Rao thought something was wrong, but before she could react, Huang Fei suddenly turned his head. A sharp gaze shot over, colliding with her eyes through the long, narrow gap between the jade stones!

"Who is there!" Following a vigorous shout, the Zhuri Sword at Huang Fei's waist, which made people turn pale at the mention of its name, shot out of its scabbard!

A flash of lightning startled the eyes, and a fierce sword Qi instantly filled the entire hall, striking toward the screen at an unimaginable speed!

Before the sword edge arrived, gold broke and wood snapped. The sturdy screen shattered into countless pieces, flying toward the surroundings. Zi Rao pulled Han Xi and retreated rapidly, but she clearly felt that no matter what, she could not avoid this fatal sword.

The sword edge pressed against her eyes! Zi Rao sent Han Xi away from her side with a palm, her internal True Essence instantly condensed to the extreme. Her wide sleeves swirled, and she flew into the air like a startled swan.

Under the shroud of Mysterious Yin True Essence, the surroundings suddenly sparkled with icy brilliance, a piece of clear light like snow. Zi Rao's figure disappeared within it.

A point of flowing light in Huang Fei's hand flashed urgently, suddenly turning into ten thousand golden rays, breaking into the snow-colored light and suddenly flourishing, as if ten suns were in the sky, scorching and burning everything. The icy brilliance was like snow meeting fire, instantly swallowed by the golden rays. The great hall suddenly became as blinding as if one had opened their eyes to blindness.

The lethal killing intent shot toward Zi Rao, who was in mid-air, like a shadow following a form! At the critical moment, Ye Xuanshang suddenly flew up to intercept, and a long sword met Huang Fei's unrivaled sword Qi in the blink of an eye!

True Essence collided, and starlight scattered like rain. Two dark figures both escaped from the golden light and landed below the steps. Zi Rao retreated several steps urgently, her face suddenly turning pale, and bright red blood spilled from the corners of her lips. Ye Xuanshang supported her waist with one hand and led the other to the side. With a loud boom, the hard bluestone under their feet cracked upon contact.

"Protect the King!" The guards rushed into the hall and surrounded Zi Rao and Ye Xuanshang.

Above the vermilion steps, Huang Fei held his sword with one hand to protect the King of Chu. The sword Qi of the Zhuri Sword always shrouded the surroundings, almost freezing the air. He looked down from a high position, locking onto Ye Xuanshang without blinking, his momentum and posture impeccable. Ye Xuanshang also swept away his previous lazy manner, his sword edge pointing obliquely, cold light awe-inspiring, and a different kind of strange light faintly revealed from the depths of his black eyes.

"Third Young Master has good skills." After a moment of stalemate, Huang Fei said, "If I am not mistaken, you suffered a serious injury not long ago and have not fully recovered. Otherwise, I would definitely have a good spar with you today."

Ye Xuanshang had just blocked his sword head-on, and his meridians, which had only just recovered from a serious injury, suffered no small impact. Forcing down the surging Qi and blood in his heart, he smiled and said, "I am grateful for your mercy under the sword, My Lord. If you have the inclination another day, Xuanshang will certainly keep you company."

Huang Fei also smiled, "That would be excellent." His gaze turned to Zi Rao, slightly surprised, "It's you?"

Zi Rao was feeling shocked and fearful in her heart. If it hadn't been for the two of them joining forces just now, Huang Fei's sword, even if it didn't take her life, would have surely left her seriously injured on the spot. Was this his true strength? In Xichuan City and on the peak of Jingyun Mountain, he and she had talked and sparred, his words and actions elegant—it turned out he had always been holding back. Countless thoughts flashed through her mind extremely quickly, and she couldn't help but re-examine this man who was famous throughout the world.

"Ye Xuanshang! You are so bold, daring to collude with assassins to assassinate our King! Take them down!" An angry shout rang out in the hall. Although Helian Yiren did not make a move, the position where he stood formed a pincer shape with Huang Fei, protecting the King of Chu thoroughly.

"Stop!" "Wait!" Han Xi and Huang Fei, who had just come to their senses, shouted to stop them at the same time. Han Xi landed beside Huang Fei and shouted, "Back down! They are my friends!"

"Princess!" Helian Yiren frowned and wanted to speak, but Han Xi ignored him and turned to Huang Fei to hold him accountable, "Huang Fei! What are you doing for no reason? You scared me to death!"

Huang Fei's eldest sister was the Queen of Chu. He and Han Xi had been together day and night since childhood, which could be called childhood sweethearts. In the past, every time Han Xi sneaked out of the palace to play, he knew it clearly and would send people to protect her secretly, knowing exactly where she had been and who she had come into contact with. It was just that this time he was away on an expedition and couldn't take care of her, not knowing when she had gained such two friends. He swept a glance at Ye Xuanshang and asked, "Your friends?"

Han Xi said, "Yes, why didn't you ask clearly before treating people like assassins?"

Huang Fei raised his eyebrows, but heard the King of Chu say, "Han Xi, how can you be so unruly in the great hall? It's becoming more and more outrageous. Where have you been these days?" Although it was a reprimand, his voice was not stern. Zi Rao then discovered that the King of Chu, who was the master of a state, did not know martial arts. No wonder Huang Fei and Helian Yiren were so nervous.

Helian Yiren stepped forward and petitioned, "Great King, Ye Xuanshang and this assassin clearly know each other and are carrying weapons. I am afraid they had a premeditated plan. We must not let them leave!"

Ye Xuanshang's gaze moved. This time, entering the palace had not been blocked by guards at all, and he had successfully entered the hall with his sword. Presumably, even if Zi Rao had not appeared, there would have been extra changes in the hall today. He looked up at Helian Yiren, his eyes faintly showing a sharp edge.

At this time, Han Xi said dissatisfiedly, "According to the Marquis, I also know them, so am I also an assassin trying to assassinate the King?"

Helian Yiren said, "I have no such intention, but the safety of the Great King is at stake, so we dare not be careless. The two states are at war, and Ye Xuanshang is carrying weapons to see the King. There is absolutely no reason for leniency!"

Han Xi curled her lips, "Hmph! I heard everything you said just now. Isn't it just because he is a Mu person? So what? Does killing him mean the Mu State will retreat? Do you want the Second Royal Brother to be treated like this in the Mu State too?"

She was sharp-tongued and questioned him like a machine gun. The King of Chu frowned slightly and scolded, "Han Xi, do not be rude!"

Han Xi curled her lips, turned, and pulled her brother's sleeve to act like a spoiled child, "Royal Brother, I won't allow you to make things difficult for them!"

The King of Chu said, "This involves state affairs; how can you be swayed by a few words?"

Han Xi said, "Since it is state affairs, let's ask Huang Fei. Hey! Huang Fei, didn't you just say that the Mu State's retreat has nothing to do with Ye Xuanshang?"

Huang Fei lowered his eyes slightly and smiled faintly, "Killing Ye Xuanshang may not make the Mu State retreat, but if we don't kill Ye Xuanshang, the Mu State will definitely not retreat."

He suddenly did not oppose Helian Yiren's suggestion as before, and Han Xi was stunned, "What did you say?"

"I said if we don't kill Ye Xuanshang, the Mu State presumably will not retreat." As Huang Fei spoke, his smiling gaze swept over the man standing proudly below the hall and finally landed on Zi Rao. Zi Rao's phoenix eyes turned slightly, meeting his gaze. Suddenly, she smiled charmingly, gently raised her hand to wipe the bloodstain from her lips, and whispered, "The war between Chu and Mu—you are actually confident, so why bother with this extra move?"

Huang Fei smiled, "Some things are not very clear, and it is inevitable that there will be surprises. It is better to be foolproof."

Zi Rao said, "To be unfaithful is not righteous. As for these trivial matters, you may rest assured."

Huang Fei said meaningfully, "The chess pieces in your hand seem to be more than one."

Zi Rao also smiled, "You are overthinking, My Lord. Time reveals a person's heart."

The two spoke like riddles, making everyone feel as if they were in a fog. Huang Fei looked at Ye Xuanshang and said to the King of Chu, "Great King, please leave this matter to me to handle."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 36 =====