[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-cursed-blade-s-walk":3,"chapter-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-688":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Cursed Blade's Walk",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2262993,4415,"Chapter 688: The Capital","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-688",688,"\u003Cp>“Save me, save me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the tumor grew beneath the skin, the pain slightly lessened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister of Revenue Zhou Mingyuan, face twisted in terror, struggled toward Luo Mingzi and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he took even a few steps, his strength drained like a bursting dam, and his consciousness grew dimmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a haze, memories from his past flashed endlessly through his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Born into poverty, his entire family tilled the land to support his studies…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was gifted, and a great Confucian scholar took notice, taking him as a disciple—he became the third-place imperial scholar of the capital, radiant with pride…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He vowed to become a virtuous minister, refusing to sink to the level of corrupt officials, and was exiled to a remote county…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unwilling to be forgotten, he began learning the ways of scheming and conniving…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rising from county magistrate to higher posts, his future was boundless—he would surely enter the Grand Secretariat…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ate the “Peach of Immortality” not to regain youth, but to harness the power of this circle; thus, when the Ying Wang’s “Peach Banquet” gathered all members for the first time, he was the first to scurry over eagerly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, his memories settled on the thatched roof and wooden window of his hometown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That year, gazing at the bright moon, his eyes clear, he recited: “Worry before the world worries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had he truly accomplished in this life…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Mingyuan’s final memories replayed as he died—no one else knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the onlookers, his massive abdominal tumor suddenly burst, spewing out lumpy organs and viscera mixed with foul blood and pus; then dark winds surged, accompanied by the cries of children, and tiny black palm prints covered his skin…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not the only unfortunate one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Shi, the Salt Transport Commissioner’s wife, screamed and clawed at her neck; rotten lumps erupted beneath her fair skin, quickly crawling across half her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s all your fault! All your fault!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She staggered toward the old Princess Dowager, clung to her, and the candlestick toppled—the brocade robes ignited with a whoosh; the two rolled in flames, howling in agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the bloated and gluttonous Marquis of Anping, Xiao Jinghuan, he was simply tortured to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this, Luo Mingzi and the others felt their hair stand on end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quick, save them—keep them alive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mingzi hurriedly ordered the Daoists of the Enforcement Hall, then ran outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These nobles of the “Peach Banquet” were certainly not worth saving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if they died, the intelligence must not be lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And judging by this, someone was trying to silence them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mingzi drew his sword and charged out of the hall, scanning the sky left and right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the night sky was clear, the moon bright, the clouds like gauze—no one was seen playing a flute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Illusionary movement technique!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mingzi instantly deduced it, formed a hand seal with his left hand—thumb pressing the base of the ring finger, the other three fingers upright—and with his right hand pulled a peach talisman engraved with “Imperial Decree: Break Illusion” from his waist, hurling it skyward as he chanted: “Tianpeng, Tianpeng, Nine Yuan’s Fiendish Child. Five Ding’s Commanders, High and Fierce Northern Elder. Seven Regimes, Eight Spirits, Supreme Supreme Evil. Long-skulled monstrous beasts, clutching the Emperor’s Bell. White Xiao, Three Divine Ones, commanding Kui dragons. Divine Sword King, slay demons, erase traces!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hand seal he formed was called the Tianpeng Seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This method, the “Supreme Pure Tianpeng Subjugation of Demons Great Art,” was a secret transmission of the Northern Song’s Shenxiao Sect, specialized in breaking demonic and yin illusions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mingzi had come to the capital, weary and strained, but over these two years of trials, his Dao cultivation had broken through to the Fourth Floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This secret art, he had learned in the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the incantation ended, the peach talisman, still mid-air, exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A torrent of dust and gale scattered, carving a winding path through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the trail, the intruder had appeared from the side courtyard of the Wang Fu and landed atop the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mingzi drew his Dao sword with a clang, pushed off the ground, his robe flaring as he leapt several times to the roof of the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His subordinates moved in perfect sync.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The yellow-robed Daoists formed a formation and set up an altar to counter the opponent’s magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the Commandant’s elite marksmen leapt swiftly onto distant high walls, raising their Divine Fire Guns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Luo Mingzi reached the roof, it was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mingzi’s face darkened; he gazed into the distance and waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two night owls trained by the Commandant’s Office immediately took flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though inferior to Lu San’s Lidong, these owls were highly intelligent and excelled at night reconnaissance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Luo Mingzi held no hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple: the intruder had hidden silently atop the hall without detection by anyone—even if he used an illusionary technique, it proved his cultivation far surpassed theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be the mysterious Zhao Qingxu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Wang Fu, chaos reigned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women were in a frenzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spoiled Ninth Miss, hair disheveled and skirt clutched, fled toward the inner courtyard, face pale with terror—unaware that her personal maid, whom she had beaten and scolded daily, now glared with hatred and shoved her hard from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ninth Miss fell to the ground, her golden silk slippers flying far away, her face streaked with blood, wailing in agony…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Third Concubine sprinted clutching her vanity box, pearls and jade scattering along the path, snatched by the Wang Fu’s martial folk, who then slashed her with a knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several young maids cowered behind a rock garden, watching helplessly as a guard’s chest was blown apart by a fire gun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ying Wang Fu, cultivated over years, surely had loyal servants and guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They brandished weapons to shield their masters, but against the ferocious Commandant’s Office, their only fate was death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several palaces had caught fire, thick smoke rolling, adding to the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the Commandant’s Office had sent only elite troops, swiftly gaining control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some martial folk and Wang Fu guards panicked and fled the compound, only to be captured by the outer Commandant’s forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pah! Trying to run?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei dragged a man from the back courtyard, kicking him hard to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, dressed as a scholar, his face swollen from bee stings, was Yu Wenhai, who had fled to the back courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yu Wenhai?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming, Luo Mingzi’s face lit up with delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>News arrived from the main hall: every member of the “Peach Banquet” was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mysterious master had vanished without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Wenhai was Kong Hui’s disciple—he must know much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a fierce wind swept through the air, dispersing the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan pushed open the pavilion window, leapt down with perfect landing, “Old Sha, Anqing Hutong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei understood at once, grabbing Lu San and sprinting out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan sent him there to find Wu Leji’s corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what, Wu Leji was a Yin Offender—his body might hold valuable items, and his head must be delivered to Hu Yuanyuan of the Five Immortals Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mingzi understood perfectly, but ignored it, saying grimly: “Did anyone sense a master just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s face was grave. “It was a Yin Offender, but he carried a state ritual artifact—the Gou Die couldn’t locate him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Gou Die was embedded with a mysterious jade tablet left by Yin Changsheng, granting it exceptional detection power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without it, they wouldn’t have sensed his aura at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be Zhao Qingxu?” Luo Mingzi whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Possibly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan nodded. “He timed his strike perfectly—attacking while I summoned the Yin Bureau troops. He knows me well. Even if not Zhao Qingxu, it must be that rotten scroll master, Kong Hui.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Yu Wenhai on the ground. “Interrogate him quickly—there may be clues…” Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the street echoed with thundering hooves and a roar:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing? Rebellion?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out of the way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The already open gates of the Wang Fu shattered violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A line of black-armored cavalry smashed through the gates and surged into the compound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each rider radiated lethal intent, gripping long spears and blades, faces cold and expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly elite soldiers—their aura even overshadowed the Commandant’s Office troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their leader, around fifty, had a face like carved stone, a full beard, a slanting arrow scar running from brow to cheekbone, clad in mountain-pattern armor, a royal-issued “Hu Ben” saber hanging at his waist, his entire military gear gleaming coldly under the moonlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luo Mingzi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scanned the scene, eyes bloodshot, bellowed: “Who gave you the audacity to lead troops and massacre the Wang Fu?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan’s brow furrowed; his hand moved toward his waist-mounted flintlock pistol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ying Wang Fu had ruled the capital with impunity—first because the Emperor remembered old favors, second because of its deep ties to the military.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Ying Wang returned from battle, he died early, but many of his subordinates now held high power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Yan’s murderous gaze, Luo Mingzi quickly grabbed his wrist, whispering: “It’s Yan Tieshan, Left Commander of the Five Armies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan heard this, snorted coldly, and lowered his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five Armies Command oversaw troop command, warfare, and garrison management, nominally balancing power with the Ministry of War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Left Grand Marshal, he is legally the highest military commander of the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, with the centralization and checks on imperial power, after the Northern Frontier War, it had become a purely honorary title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, it must be held by a noble of merit or a general with outstanding battlefield achievements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Tieshan was one of Prince Ying’s subordinates during the Northern Frontier War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a man cannot be killed arbitrarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After calming him, Luo Mingzi turned and bowed, speaking calmly and respectfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have been ordered to investigate the case of Prince Ying’s mansion colluding with the ‘Peach Banquet’ cult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bullshit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Tieshan pointed his whip at the corpses scattered on the ground. “I see only the Commandant’s Office slaughtering imperial relatives! You have illegally mobilized troops and destroyed the Prince’s mansion—what is this if not rebellion?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he turned and ordered: “Arrest them all. I shall go straight to His Majesty—Luo Mingzi has conspired with remnants of the Maitreya Sect, forged imperial edicts, and seeks to overthrow the state!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Li Yan and the others. “These outlaws are all to be treated as co-conspirators in treason!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His elite soldiers raised their spears in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Commandant’s Office troops would not surrender—they raised their crossbows and fire guns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As both sides stood locked in tension, a long laugh rang out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Marshal Yan, what impressive authority you wield!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Director of the Imperial Academy, Zou Yanli, staggered forward, wine flask in hand, shouting: “I took part in this operation to capture these demons and quell the unrest—am I to be accused of treason too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Tieshan frowned slightly and snorted coldly: “If there is guilt, let His Majesty deal with it. But slaughtering Prince Ying’s mansion? That cannot be justified.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew well that Prince Ying’s mansion must have had problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to storm in and kill so openly—how would that not destroy the military’s dignity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hualala ~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, heavy footsteps sounded again outside Prince Ying’s mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, more soldiers poured in, clad in golden armor, red plumes fluttering atop their helmets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imperial Guards?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them, Yan Tieshan’s heart lurched, but his face remained calm. “General Liu, you’ve come just in time—these men slaughtered the Prince’s mansion as if in rebellion. Arrest them at once…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Marshal Yan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged commander’s eye twitched. “What are you doing here? Don’t cause trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled a token from his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Tieshan’s face turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the token, clearly inscribed, were the four characters: “As if the Emperor Himself Were Present.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips tightened. “Is this the Emperor’s will?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Marshal Yan, don’t overthink it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged commander said gravely: “Prince Ying’s affair is far bigger than you imagine. His Majesty says: whoever consorts with them—even the Crown Prince—must be arrested immediately. Will you stand in the way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Yan Tieshan fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lived on the nearby street; though indebted to the old Prince Ying, he knew the current mansion was in trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It involved a struggle between the Open-Sea Faction and the Regional Faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had received an invitation, but only sent a gift—he never attended the banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when he heard the mansion was under attack did he rush over with his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had assumed it was just another mess involving the Jinghai Gang—but now, things looked grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mingzi also realized Yan Tieshan had no part in this, so he ignored him and bowed to the Imperial Guard commander: “General Liu, the ‘Peach Banquet’ members have been silenced. Please secure the mansion while we search for clues.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Liu wasted no words—he turned and gave orders immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Imperial Guards surged into the courtyards, he shook his head slightly and murmured: “Who are they? I need to prepare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mission tonight was not just one—he had ordered the entire Imperial Guard out, and the Gold-Wardens stood ready. As soon as he had the list, he would arrest every name on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mingzi bowed back: “Vice Minister of Revenue Zhou Mingyuan, the wife of the Salt Transport Commissioner, Marquis Anping…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Liu drew a sharp breath. “Are they all dead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Mingzi sighed. “What they consumed resembled a poison Gudu —triggered by a master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, General Liu looked to the sky and sighed. “Tonight, things have grown serious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And beside him, Left Grand Marshal Yan Tieshan was drenched in cold sweat…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning bell shattered the mist as the capital awoke to the stench of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the cobblestones of Zhuque Avenue, dew still clung to the stones. The early vegetable vendor had just set up his stall when he saw line after line of golden-armored Imperial Guards marching from alleyways, their iron boots shaking the window frames along the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man selling steamed buns pulled his collar tight and muttered: “Good heavens, the heavens are changing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night, Prince Ying’s mansion burned, and many noble households were sealed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, not only the Imperial Guards, but even the Gold-Wardens joined in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gold-Wardens handled ceremonial duties and capital security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial Guards guarded the imperial palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the Gold-Wardens were part of the Imperial Guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This stemmed from the Great Xuan military reforms, still somewhat unclear, with frequent transfers between units.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regardless, they were the Emperor’s personal troops, independent of the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On ordinary days, they never interfered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that they were all mobilized, rumors spread wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the streets, people said anything—from Prince Ying rebelling, to the Emperor killing his old ministers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the capital’s officials understood something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night’s operation proved the Emperor trusted none of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their intelligence was far superior to the common folk’s—they quickly learned the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Peach Banquet” affair surprised many and terrified others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the name of the Twelve Zodiacs spread throughout the capital…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2558,"2026-06-19T18:28:35.913Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e41cf23b562025016e20c9ba865ac815d11a51b105558456f9e11c2370565328","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-689","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-687",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]