Chapter 151: The Foolproof Strategy

Upon seeing Zhao Shuhua, the branch president, the members of the Iron-Blooded National Salvation Society finally understood the situation, and one by one, they nearly wept with joy.

After all, after being captured, the best outcome for them would have been execution in the autumn, and in serious cases, it would even implicate their families; everyone had already fallen into despair, but who could have known that after only a single night, the situation would turn around and they would be reborn?

And upon learning from Zhao Shuhua that it was Lu Yuan of the Guangwu Hall who had stepped forward to save them, these people were even more moved to tears, and they immediately joined Zhao Shuhua to request an audience with Lu Yuan to thank him in person.

Lu Yuan met with these people briefly and informed them that they could stay at the Guangwu Hall for the time being and need not worry about being captured by government soldiers again.

As for the hall recruiting talent, he did not mention it in front of everyone for the time being.

The people before him were mostly ambitious youths, each with their own ideals and aspirations; although the Guangwu Hall needed talent, he did not want to engage in any "repaying kindness with service," and whether they stayed or left was entirely up to them.

Just like that, after confirming their safety, nearly half of the eighty-plus people chose to leave the hall and return to their respective homes; it was evident that many of them had their beliefs and ideals shaken after the events of last night and seemed to want to break away from the Iron-Blooded National Salvation Society.

This was only human nature.

The remaining half were either firm in their beliefs or were not locals and had no family in Jinjin, so they chose to stay at the Guangwu Hall to continue following Zhao Shuhua and temporarily avoid the limelight.

Zhao Shuhua himself chose to stay without the slightest hesitation.

This betrayal by the high-level leadership of the main society had not only led to the near-total annihilation of the Jinjin branch but had also dealt a huge blow to him personally; coupled with what Lu Yuan had said earlier, his thinking had undergone some changes.

He had a vague feeling that perhaps it was here at the Guangwu Hall that there was a greater opportunity to realize his ideals and aspirations.

Of course, a feeling was just a feeling; whether it could be realized still required observation, which was also the reason he chose to stay.

And on this very day, just as the Guangwu Hall became exceptionally lively.

Nayancheng, as the Governor-General, had already led his attendants and personal guards, rushing to the Jinjin train station to board a steam train, leaving in a slightly disheveled state.

After a journey of over two hours of speeding by train, Nayancheng arrived in Tianjing and then, without stopping, headed straight for the Zijin Gongcheng to request an audience with Xici.

As the Governor-General of Zhili, his request for an audience was naturally granted immediately, and he was immediately transported by palace carriage through layers of halls to arrive at the Qianqing Palace.

From the moment he entered the palace, Nayancheng keenly noticed that the number of palace guards had increased significantly; everywhere along the main roads and at every palace gate, there were guards posted every three steps and sentries every five, a level of tight security he had almost never seen before.

Harboring doubts, the carriage stopped far away, and he followed a eunuch across the plaza to the Qianqing Palace; amidst the chanting of the eunuchs at the palace gate, he walked quickly into the hall, and the first thing he did was kneel on both knees and kowtow to the figure on the phoenix chair:

"Your subject, Nayancheng, pays respects to the Old Buddha. May the Old Buddha be blessed with ten thousand fortunes and good health."

"Rise, beloved minister."

On the phoenix chair, Xici's expression was calm as she said slowly:

"I remember in the secret memorial you submitted the day before yesterday, you said you had caught the trail of the Iron-Blooded National Salvation Society in Jinjin and were preparing to wipe them out in one fell swoop. Returning so quickly, is there some good news?"

Nayancheng's face was extremely ugly:

"Reporting to the Old Buddha, upon verification, the Iron-Blooded National Salvation Society has a total of over one hundred and twenty registered core members. Yesterday evening, your subject dispatched Bagehai, the Chief of the Jinjin Jingwu Bureau, and all his elite subordinates, successfully capturing most of this group.

However, just as dawn was approaching, a bandit leader fled to the Guangwu Hall and actually alarmed that rebel Lu Yuan. Bagehai had just arrived at the door when he was held hostage by this person, who then came straight to the official residence where your subject was staying.

This person, relying on his martial prowess, was violent, arbitrary, and lawless. Not only did he strike and kill your subject's trusted personal guards upon meeting, but he also arrogantly coerced your subject into releasing all those rebels of the Iron-Blooded National Salvation Society. The bandit was fierce and overbearing, and your subject's life was in his hands at that moment, so I had no choice but to agree..."

After hearing Nayancheng's report, Xici's face suddenly darkened, and she slammed her hand on the armrest, producing a trembling, thunderous sound:

"What a rebellious traitor! To dare to openly threaten a court official—is he planning to revolt!"

Nayancheng said quickly:

"Old Buddha, this person's intent to rebel is clear for all to see, no need to say more. The key is that before he left, he seemed completely unconcerned about whether your subject would send troops to encircle and suppress him, and he even displayed a technique in front of everyone that allowed him to vanish into thin air, just like a magic trick.

Your subject believes that this person's use of this technique was a naked threat and showed a complete disregard for the imperial court. The existence of this monster is a great calamity the likes of which have never been seen since the birth of the people. If we cannot find a way to exterminate him, the dignity and laws of the court will be wiped out, and the lives of princes and ministers will be in extreme danger. If he gathers a party of followers, it might even cause the reappearance of the Great Peace catastrophe and brew a monstrous disaster!!"

His voice echoed continuously in the Qianqing Palace, but Xici remained silent for a long time before slowly saying:

"He also displayed the technique of concealment and invisibility in front of you? So wanton and reckless, it seems this thief has no intention of hiding anymore..."

Nayancheng could not help but be stunned:

"The Old Buddha already knew that this person possessed such strange means?"

"Of course."

Xici's face wore a cold sneer:

"Not only do I know, I have personally experienced it. Just over a month ago, this person concealed himself in broad daylight and snuck into the palace to assassinate me. If I hadn't been alert in advance, I might have truly been injured at the hands of this monster."

What!?

Nayancheng was shocked and speechless, shaken by this news: "This monster is actually bold enough to do this!?"

"What would such a traitor, who acknowledges neither sovereign nor father, not dare to do?"

Xici did not reveal too many details, only sneering:

"Beloved minister, there is no need to be anxious about exterminating this thief; I am already making preparations. A few days ago, when I returned to the Ancestral Land to offer sacrifices, I had already brought out the Clan Guardian Dharma Artifact. Once I have mastered it and found a suitable opportunity, I will lead all the Grandmasters of the Jin Clan to strike together and execute this monster on the spot!"

Nayancheng was naturally well aware of the existence of the Clan Guardian Dharma Artifact at his level, but he had never seen it with his own eyes. Hearing this, he was both shocked and moved:

"The Abuhulin Spear? To deal with this monster, the Old Buddha has even brought out such a heavy weapon that suppresses the nation's fortune?"

"This thief has already become a heart-and-gut calamity for our dynasty; no amount of caution is too much."

Xici said indifferently:

"Very well, this matter is of great importance. You must not reveal a single word of this to the outside world, so as not to leak the news and alert the enemy. As for whatever that rebel is doing in Jinjin, you are not to interfere for the time being. Just endure it for a few days; once the matter is accomplished, I will have this thief sliced into a thousand pieces and his corpse exposed for three months to vent your anger."

Nayancheng was moved to tears and knelt again:

"Your subject thanks the Old Buddha for her great grace. Your subject will definitely keep his mouth shut and will never ruin your great cause."

Xici nodded faintly and waved her hand casually:

"Go."

Nayancheng retreated respectfully. After he had completely left the hall and his figure had disappeared into the distance, Cang Jige and Bu Tiansuo also walked slowly out of the side hall of the Qianqing Palace.

During these days, to prevent Lu Yuan from coming to assassinate again, the two of them had basically been guarding her side without leaving an inch, so they had evidently heard Nayancheng's report.

They could not help but say in low voices:

"Old Buddha, this thief's actions are becoming increasingly rampant; I fear our arrangements must be accelerated."

"In a year or a half at most, this thief will surely raise his banner in revolt. With his reputation, the thirty-six provinces might follow him in droves. Once a spark starts a prairie fire, the disaster will be endless. The three great powers might also hear the wind and move, putting the imperial court in a highly disadvantageous position."

"The two Elders, calm yourselves."

Xici said slowly:

"The Abuhulin Spear possesses extraordinary spirituality and divine might. Even for me, at the Heavenly Dipper Realm, it requires a period of tempering and refining to unleash its maximum power; this will take at most a month or two. Aside from you all, the other three Banner Lords are currently on standby and can arrive in Jinjin in a single day upon my command, so there is plenty of time."

"However, in my view, going to Jinjin to surround and annihilate is an inferior strategy. Given that rebel's methods, there is still a possibility of him escaping the encirclement. It would be best for the two Elders to gather the three Banner Lords and pool your wisdom to devise a foolproof plan for me."

The three great Banner Lords of the Jin Clan were all existences at the level of True Martial Grandmaster. Cang Jige and Bu Tiansuo exchanged a glance, barely perceptible, and bowed slightly:

"Yes, Old Buddha."

"We shall contact the three Banner Lords immediately to discuss a strategy."

Although Xici, having retrieved the Abuhulin Spear, was already peerless in the world, the two of them could still understand Xici's caution at this moment.

No matter how powerful Xici was, she was, after all, over one hundred and twenty years old, and having lived in luxury, she rarely engaged in combat with others.

At this age, even a Grandmaster at the Heavenly Dipper Realm would see their various faculties begin to decline. If she were to strike with full force, it would inevitably deplete her vital energy and shorten her lifespan.

Furthermore, the power of the Abuhulin Spear was limited; it had at most the strength for one battle. If even the slightest error occurred and led to a failure to take down Lu Yuan, there would likely never be another opportunity to do so.

Therefore, how to arrange this heaven-shaking trap and how to crack and guard against Lu Yuan's various god-like methods became the top priority.

Nayancheng, the Governor-General of Zhili, had been coerced by Lu Yuan into releasing the members of the Iron-Blooded National Salvation Society. This major event, which should have shocked Jinjin and even the entire world, was ultimately strictly sealed off by the Jingwu Department, and ordinary people remained unaware.

However, there are no walls that do not leak. Those members of the Iron-Blooded National Salvation Society who left the hall after being rescued leaked some information, more or less, and within a few days, it stirred up huge waves among the major forces in Jinjin.

Upon learning that Lu Yuan had allegedly used unconventional means to secure such a group of people from the hands of the Jingwu Department, the first to visit were Lin Xingchao, Gu Kanshan, Fan Zhenxiong, and others.

Through their respective channels, they all felt that something was amiss and came immediately to verify the truth of the news.

And after they visited together.

Given his current status, position, and strength, Lu Yuan had nothing to hide. He admitted it immediately and recounted the general cause and effect, leaving them shocked beyond measure.

"What?"

In the guest hall, after hearing Lu Yuan's brief account, the one-armed Lin Xingchao stood up abruptly, his eyes full of shock:

"You have already infiltrated the palace and exchanged blows with that demon woman!?"

"That is correct."

Facing the shocked Lin Xingchao, Lu Yuan said calmly:

"That was over a month ago. Xici is indeed worthy of being a Grandmaster of the Heavenly Dipper Realm; her strength is exceptionally high. Although I shattered her protective True Gang, I failed to take her life. At the time, there were many guards around, and seeing that the task could not be accomplished, I withdrew from the palace without forcing the issue."

"Assassinating the demon woman was not originally in my plan, but she first sent Mankeduo of the Niangan Office, and later sent her personal Chief Eunuch to Jinjin to harbor evil intentions. If I didn't react a little, this old thing would probably think I was made of mud, so..."

Lin Xingchao, Gu Kanshan, and Fan Zhenxiong looked at one another, unable to speak.

No one doubted the truth of what Lu Yuan said.

The three people present had all participated in that assassination attempt a few months ago. For this, they had plotted for nearly a year and dispatched two Grandmasters, as well as multiple Martial Arts Masters and Martial Artists, but the result was heavy losses, and Lin Xingchao had nearly lost his life.

With so many deaths and injuries, the ferocity of the Undying Demon Empress needed no further elaboration.

Yet now, Lu Yuan had infiltrated the palace to assassinate her by his own strength, and although he did not succeed, he had retreated safely after a single strike. Such strength and methods were simply like those of a god!

"No wonder..."

Fan Zhenxiong was the first to react, both shocked and admiring:

"No wonder you, Hall Master Lu, dared to go directly to his door and coerce Nayancheng. Because even if that old demon woman knew it was your doing, she would not dare to mobilize troops to suppress you without absolute certainty. To hold the vast Jin Dynasty at bay with one's own strength—you are truly a heavenly human!"

While shocked, Lin Xingchao was also alarmed:

"A Yuan, by doing this, you have almost completely torn face with the Jin Dynasty. Could it be that you are already prepared to start an uprising and overthrow the Jin Dynasty?"

Lu Yuan smiled:

"Of course not. My Guangwu Hall has only been founded for a few months; I am still far from ready to start an uprising. Moreover, to overthrow the Jin Dynasty, that old demon woman must die. I plan to cultivate in seclusion for a while longer, and within a year or so at most, I will find a suitable opportunity to execute her and announce it to the world."

"The people of the world have suffered under the Jin Dynasty for too long. In the vast territory of the thirty-six provinces of Shenzhou, there are countless people with lofty ideals. Once the Demon Empress dies, they will surely rise in response, and the disintegration of the Jin Dynasty will be just around the corner."

Lu Yuan's tone when speaking of killing the Undying Demon Empress, the number one powerhouse in Shenzhou, was as flat and calm as if he were talking about killing a chicken, causing the three of them to jump in unison.

"A year or so..."

Gu Kanshan could not help but ask:

"A Yuan, do you have confidence in such a short time?"

Lu Yuan smiled:

"That day, the chance of success in assassinating the old demon woman was only fifty or sixty percent. In a few more months, I will have eighty or ninety, or even one hundred percent confidence. No need to worry."

In reality, now that he had over two hundred wisps of Dharma Power in his body and had advanced in multiple Earthly Fiend Arts, his confidence in assassinating Xici again was at least eighty percent.

The only question was when and in what way to execute the opponent to create the greatest sensation and impact, so that his name would spread throughout Shenzhou and even the countries of the world, maximizing the acquisition of Qi Luck.

This was also the main reason why he had remained patient and had not killed his way back into the palace.

(End of chapter)