Chapter 53

"Go down and take thirty lashes to learn your lesson; considering you have followed me for so many years, I will not punish you severely this time."

"If there is a next time, I will cripple your cultivation and execute you on the spot!"

After Yu Huatian finished speaking, he picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip.

A matter of life and death, when spoken by him, seemed like a trivial affair.

"Thank you, Superintendent!"

The chief clerk wiped the sweat from his face.

"Go and do your work!"

"Obeyed!"

Divine Marquis Mansion.

After Zhuge Zhengwo received the Emperor's order, he let out a long sigh.

"I hope no accidents occur."

Zhuge Zhengwo's face was full of worry.

"Uncle, what happened?"

Wuqing walked over and asked.

Zhuge Zhengwo sighed and said, "His Majesty wants to watch the duel between Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue."

His heart was filled with helplessness.

However, he had no way to defy the Emperor's decision.

"This is simply too absurd!"

Wuqing raised her eyebrows and said.

The dignified Emperor of Great Ming was actually doing such a ridiculous thing.

"Let's not talk about this; when the time comes, we just need to do our best to protect His Majesty's safety."

"What about you, Wuqing? After all these years, have you found that person from back then?"

Zhuge Zhengwo said.

"Uncle, don't mention him!"

"So many years have passed, and there hasn't even been a single message!"

Wuqing said with a cold face.

Although her expression was cold, her tone did not have the slightest chill.

The "him" she spoke of was the Carefree Guest!

Her legs had been healed by an elixir from the Carefree Guest.

However, the Carefree Guest had suddenly disappeared afterward, and Wuqing had been searching for his tracks for all these years.

Yet, she had gained nothing!

"This heart-stealing arsonist—next time we meet, I will make him pay!"

Wuqing swore secretly in her heart.

The time spent with the Carefree Guest was the happiest period of Wuqing's life.

Not only did he heal her legs, but he also healed the illness in her heart, allowing her to step out of the shadow of her family being massacred in her childhood.

Just when Wuqing thought such days would continue forever, the Carefree Guest disappeared!

"When fate arrives, you will naturally meet again!"

Zhuge Zhengwo said indifferently.

"Go notify Lengxue, Tieshou, and Zhui Ming; send out all the spies of the Divine Marquis Mansion and ensure His Majesty's safety."

"Remember to tell them additionally that this matter must be kept secret!"

Zhuge Zhengwo instructed.

"Yes!"

Wuqing nodded and left.

At the Six Fan Gate, the Capture God, Guo Juxia, and others also took action.

Ji Yaohua, who was hidden within the Six Fan Gate, although she didn't know exactly what had happened, still reported the situation to her master, An Shigeng.

Subsequently, she followed her subordinates to patrol.

Every department of Great Ming took action.

Order in the capital improved significantly; many Jianghu martial artists who wanted to take advantage of the situation were either arrested or killed on the spot.

As the day of the duel between Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue drew closer, the capital of Great Ming grew quiet.

All the martial artists who remained were waiting quietly for the arrival of the duel.

They wanted to witness this rare, once-in-a-century event.

Finally, the day arrived!

Ximen Chuixue stood early at the highest point of the Forbidden City.

Dressed in white, clutching his long sword, his robes fluttering, he looked like an exiled immortal!

Lu Xiaofeng, Chu Liuxiang, and Hua Manlou stood at the closest position, while all other martial artists hid in positions they deemed optimal to watch.

Time passed slowly; Ximen Chuixue remained motionless, his state now adjusted to the best of his life.

However, Ye Gucheng still had not appeared.

The waiting martial artists grew impatient.

"Why hasn't Ye Gucheng come yet? Could it be that he is afraid?"

"He must be afraid; what kind of bullshit Master of White Cloud City, it's all bullshit!"

"That's right, he doesn't even dare to show up after issuing a challenge; isn't this just playing us for fools?"

"Looks like there's no show tonight!"

"..."

Zhu Houzhao, hiding in the shadows, grew impatient as Ye Gucheng failed to appear.

"Why hasn't this Ye Gucheng appeared yet?"

"Come out quickly and have a good fight with Ximen Chuixue."

"I went to great lengths to come out and watch this duel."

"Don't you dare disappoint me!"

Zhu Houzhao said lazily.

By his side, he was guarded by many experts including Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, Zhuge Zhengwo, the Capture God, Guo Juxia, and Zhu Wushi.

Secretly, Eunuch Sanbao Zheng He was also guarding his safety.

Such a powerful lineup could walk sideways anywhere in the Nine Provinces.

Zhu Houzhao felt his safety was not an issue at all, so he did not remain vigilant.

Zhu Wushi, seeing this, became even more firm in his thoughts.

The Great Ming empire, in the hands of someone like Zhu Houzhao, would be destroyed sooner or later.

Zhu Wushi could not watch the ancestral foundation be destroyed in one fell swoop.

This was the reason he found for himself, and the excuse he kept using to persuade himself.

As if by saying this, he wasn't usurping the throne, but thinking for the sake of the Great Ming empire.

At this moment, Ye Gucheng was meeting with the Great Internal Eunuch, Chief Steward Wang.

"City Master Ye, His Majesty is staying in that place."

Chief Steward Wang pointed very discreetly to the position where Zhu Houzhao was staying.

"Who else is there?"

Ye Gucheng asked coldly.

Chief Steward Wang detailed the people he had seen and then asked, "City Master Ye, do you really have confidence?"

He was taking a huge risk by doing this.

If they succeeded, everything would be fine.

He was doing this while taking an enormous risk.

If it succeeds, everything will be easy to handle.