Chapter 322

... PS: It was written too late and I haven't had time to edit it yet. It's best to wait half an hour before reading.

The person who struck just now was naturally the "Shadow Assassin" Yang Xuyan. This man is the grandson of Yang Jian and the son of the Crown Prince Yang Yong. After Yang Guang ascended the throne, he was saved by the "Evil King" Shi Zhixuan, and because of his good aptitude, he was taken in as a disciple, becoming a successor of the Patching Heaven Pavilion lineage.

In terms of strength, Yang Xuyan is definitely top-tier among the younger generation, and his techniques are bizarre; he is famous for his skill in assassination.

But unfortunately, Yang Xuyan has encountered the most unfathomable expert in the world at this moment—the Imperial Tutor Yu Liancheng.

The sword strike, delivered with full force, was blocked by a mass of shadow. Even though Yang Xuyan came from the Demonic Sect and had seen many bizarre and inexplicable martial arts, he found this absolutely inconceivable.

Yang Xuyan's temperament is extremely remarkable; he was only stunned for a moment before reacting. With another clear shout, he poured all his True Qi into his longsword, and the blade suddenly stabbed diagonally, slicing toward the fingers of that mass of shadow.

Although this slice broke free from the opponent's control, it only caused that mass of shadow to blur for a moment; otherwise, it had no effect at all.

Yang Xuyan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. His longsword stabbed into empty air, and the sword light transformed into thousands of dazzling golden rays, as if clusters of brilliant and gorgeous fireworks had suddenly bloomed in the night sky. Thousands of fine, fragmented Sword Qi spread out in the void, waiting for an opportunity to act, ready to launch a fatal blow at any time. This is precisely the unique and world-renowned "Phantom Sword Technique."

While executing the "Phantom Sword Technique," Yang Xuyan unfolded his movement technique, coordinating it with the Phantom Demon Body Technique to transform into a ghostly figure, his entire person completely dissolving into the sword light, making it impossible for anyone to track him with their eyes.

Yet, amidst the thousands of dazzling sword lights, a single, subtle thread of sword light moved through the air. This wisp of sword light retracted all its killing intent and was extremely fine, wrapped within the other sword lights, suddenly stabbing toward Yu Liancheng's throat.

Suddenly, that blurry human shadow expanded and extended infinitely, covering the sky and earth in a vast and mighty manner.

In just an instant, Yang Xuyan's field of vision was shrouded in a mass of darkness, as if he were walking alone in an endless abyss. He dared not even breathe, and his hair stood on end. It felt as if a prehistoric beast could leap out from the darkness at any moment to tear him apart, scattering blood and flesh across the ground.

Bang!

A massive force suddenly descended. Yang Xuyan's chest felt as if it had been struck by an invisible giant hand; he spat out blood and fell backward like a rag doll.

Fortunately.

After this blow, the dark scene before his eyes suddenly retracted and transformed back into a blurry human shadow.

As Yang Xuyan flew through the air, he forcibly gathered a breath of True Qi and slapped out a palm in mid-air, generating an invisible force that propped up his body so he wouldn't end up like a rolling gourd.

After experiencing this brief exchange, Yang Xuyan lost all his courage and no longer had the slightest confidence to assassinate his opponent. He tapped his toes and shot toward the door like an arrow.

Just as he was about to reach the doorway and saw hope of escape, a black shadow as thin as a needle pierced through Yang Xuyan's back and out through his chest, bringing up a spray of blood.

His figure suddenly slowed down. He looked in disbelief at the mass on the ground that was gradually spreading out, resembling a shadow that had dripped onto the floor. He stumbled two steps and finally collapsed.

"Shadow Assassin, dying under a shadow can be considered a fitting end." Yu Liancheng looked down at his own shadow and muttered to himself. The experts in the hall who were still alive watched this scene, too astonished to even speak.

"Xuyan! Brother Yang! You cannot die!"

A beautiful woman in tight black clothing stumbled in.

Her jet-black hair was tied into a beauty bun on top of her head, with a wisp of bangs resting softly on her forehead. Wrapped tightly in her combat attire, her slender and curvaceous figure was fully revealed, stirring the imagination; she was truly a first-class beauty.

This woman is called Dong Shuni, the only daughter of Wang Shichong's sister Wang Xin, who had lost both parents since childhood. This woman is eighteen years old, born with a flower-like face and moon-like appearance, a beauty of national renown, her glamour surpassing all in Luoyang.

At the same time, she is considered one of Wang Shichong's trump cards, used to win over heroes and even for political marriages.

Although Dong Shuni is dissolute, she does have some genuine affection for Yang Xuyan.

Seeing her lover dead and her uncle severely wounded, she suddenly waved her hand, a look of hatred shooting from her beautiful eyes, and suddenly lunged at Yu Liancheng, taking a dagger from her long sleeve: "Pay with your life for Xuyan's."

The shadow on the ground suddenly twitched like lightning.

A spot of blood bloomed between Dong Shuni's eyebrows. Her exquisite and pretty face still held a trace of confusion and fear, as if she could not believe that there was a man in this world who could strike at her. She stumbled two more steps before falling to the ground, her life extinguished.

"Hiss..." Yu Liancheng glanced at the corpse on the ground and sighed, shaking his head: "Killed too quickly, didn't get a good look. Turns out she was a charming beauty. A pity, a pity."

Yet, in his voice, one could not hear the slightest tone of regret or pity.

Since one has harbored murderous intent toward others, being killed by them is only natural.

"Young Master Xuanying, I have a question for you." Yu Liancheng crooked his finger at Wang Xuanying, who was lying on the ground.

This eldest son of the Great General Wang had been a step slow in attacking earlier and was only grazed by the residual force, suffering some minor injuries.

However, this man was a playboy to begin with and had long since been scared into collapsing on the ground.

Being called by Yu Liancheng now, he almost wet his pants, and his speech was trembling: "I... I... I..."

Yu Liancheng said with a half-smile: "Wang Shichong colluded with rebels and attempted to revolt. In your opinion, Young Master, how should this be handled?"

Wang Xuanying was still trembling and unable to speak.

Yu Liancheng smiled: "Don't you know? Colluding with rebels and committing treason is a capital crime punishable by the extermination of one's clan. But if you can report your father, you might be spared. So... does Young Master Xuanying know what he should say?"

Wang Xuanying trembled for a long time. Catching Yu Liancheng's gaze becoming increasingly cold and filled with icy killing intent, he finally shuddered, hung his head, and said in a voice too low to be heard: "I know."

The severely wounded Wang Shichong looked at his pampered eldest son and finally couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood and fainted.

The Eastern Capital, Luoyang, became bustling and lively due to the entry of the He's Jade. Countless experts flooded into it, and recently, a major event occurred. General Wang Shichong, who had been sent to suppress the Wagang Village, was actually found to have colluded with rebels and attempted to revolt.

The evidence for this matter was conclusive. It is said that it was the eldest son of the Wang family, Wang Xuanying, who personally exposed it, sacrificing his family for the sake of righteousness. The once-powerful Wang Shichong thus met the fate of having his clan exterminated, which is truly sigh-inducing.

But the shrewd heroes and ambitious warlords in Luoyang all knew clearly that Wang Shichong's fate was entirely the doing of that currently prominent Imperial Tutor.

The Imperial Tutor entered the city. The Eastern Capital, Luoyang, which was already full of undercurrents, became even more turbulent.

Meanwhile, in the Wang Mansion, Yu Liancheng held a scroll of scriptures in his hands, examining it with great interest.

Wang Shichong was by no means a tough, iron-willed man; he was very sensible. After being thrown into prison, he obediently handed over this scroll of scriptures, begging for lenient treatment, or at least to leave some descendants for the Wang family.

This "Origin Wisdom Scripture of Controlling All Laws" is indeed quite interesting. It encompasses everything, covers an encyclopedia of knowledge, and contains many unique skills from the Western Regions, including poisoning, internal cultivation, mental secret arts, and so on.

Yu Liancheng examined it with great interest. With his knowledge, he wasn't afraid of Wang Shichong tampering with it. He scanned it ten lines at a time, only stopping occasionally to ponder briefly before continuing to read.

Just then, Wanwan, smiling sweetly and barefoot in plain clothes, drifted in. She twisted her delicate body and, as if boneless, twisted into Yu Liancheng's arms. Immediately, a fragrant scent lingered at the tip of his nose, a mass of soft jade and warm fragrance: "Congratulations, Young Master, for easily controlling such an important city as Luoyang and obtaining this 'Origin Wisdom Scripture of Controlling All Laws' from the Western Regions."

"This is just a remnant scroll. If you like it, I will give it to you after I finish reading it." Yu Liancheng did not look sideways, his gaze still scanning the scriptures.

"Hee hee, then many thanks, Young Master." Wanwan pursed her lips and smiled, her face charming and bright, even more beautiful than a hundred flowers in bloom.

Yu Liancheng patted her buttocks, signaling her to sit up properly: "How is the situation you were asked to investigate?"

Wanwan slid out of Yu Liancheng's arms, poured herself a cup of tea, took a shallow sip, and smiled sweetly: "Ever since Shi Feixuan entered the city with the He's Jade, Luoyang has become unprecedentedly lively. Edo forces, various rebels, and even experts from outside the territories have all arrived one after another."

"Oh, who are they?"

"Liu Heita under Dou Jiande, Song Jingang under Liu Wuzhou, Song Shidao and Song Yuzhi of the Lingnan Song Clan, and the 'Pretty Strategist' Shen Luoyan and Xu Shiji of Wagang Village. There are even rumors in the Edo that you, Young Master, have an affair with Shen Luoyan; otherwise, you wouldn't have spared her life back then?"

"Do you want Wanwan to help you get rid of her fiancé? I guarantee no one will suspect you, Young Master. Of course, if you like, Young Master, Wanwan can capture both of them, feed Shen Luoyan some medicine to make her heart flutter, and let you, Young Master, do it in front of Xu Shiji..." Wanwan smiled playfully.

"That won't be necessary." Yu Liancheng waved his hand expressionlessly. Before Wanwan could tease him further, he heard him say: "With my methods, there is no need for medicine at all."

"Then Wanwan shall have to witness Young Master's methods for herself."

"Enough, stop the nonsense, continue."

"Yes, understood. This time, quite a few experts from beyond the borders have arrived, including the Turkic Prince Tuli, known as the 'Tornado', and the Tuyuhun Prince Fu Qian. Also, Martial Venerable Bi Xuan's two disciples, Tuoba Yu and Chunyu Wei. These people are not weak, though compared to you, Imperial Tutor, they are but fireflies before the bright moon, not worth mentioning."

Yu Liancheng said indifferently: "These foreign Zhiguo all hope for the Central Plains to be as chaotic as possible. However, since they dare to come to the Central Plains, they must be prepared to perish here."

"Young Master, are you planning to make a move against them?" Wanwan asked with a tone of curiosity.

Yu Liancheng neither confirmed nor denied it, only saying indifferently: "Is there more?"

"Of course there is." Wanwan smiled: "'Tie Le Flying Eagle' Qu Ao has also appeared, bringing his three disciples. He can be considered to have some friendship with our Yin Gui Sect. But if he knew his own son died at Young Master's hands, I imagine this friendship would immediately turn into monstrous hatred and fury..."

After Wanwan recounted the expert factions in the city one by one, Yu Liancheng pondered for a moment and then asked: "Where is the He's Jade now? Is it on Shi Feixuan or Ning Daoqi?"

Wanwan toyed with her dark hair, her beautiful eyes turning as she said: "The He's Jade is a supreme treasure of the human world; it is said to help those of the Buddhist and Daoist paths in their cultivation, and it also has immense benefits for those stained with blood. But it changes with the shifts of the heavens, turning hot and cold, dim and bright, or emitting some peculiar field; if carried on one's person, even Ning Daoqi cannot endure it."

"The Jingnian Chan Sect is closely associated with the Cihang Jingzhai, and with their status as being beyond the mundane world, as well as the many experts emerging from within the Chan Sect, Shi Feixuan has already entrusted the He's Jade to Great Monk Liaokong of the Jingnian Chan Sect for safekeeping."

The Jingnian Chan Sect is a holy land of the Buddhist faith. The current abbot, Liaokong Dashi, is one of the world's few supreme experts. Furthermore, there are the four guardian Vajra—Buchan, Buchi, Butan, and Buju—as well as a host of warrior monks within the temple. Its defenses are even more rigorous than those of this General's Mansion. Whoever wishes to set their sights on the He's Jade must first weigh their own worth.

"These monks, clearly people outside the secular world, yet they insist on meddling in these mundane affairs." Yu Liancheng looked up and muttered to himself: "Since that is the case, I should also pay a visit."

Wanwan said: "Oh right, in three days, 'Know-the-World' Wang Bao will hold a grand gathering at Manqing Garden, inviting the prominent figures in Luoyang City; whether from the Central Plains or beyond the borders, all will be sent an invitation."

"That will be a gathering of rebels, it seems. Even I, the Imperial Tutor, must go."

PS: Thought one tooth was the problem, but after the X-ray, I found out I need to pull four. Pulling one every week, and it's terribly expensive.