Chapter 431: Zhao Kai

Since the death of Guangling King Zhao Yi and Prince Zhao Biao, the entire Guangling Wang Fu had fallen into an eerie calm.

The Guangling King had three sons and six daughters; with Zhao Biao dead, the other two sons were terrified that Murong Tonghuang had not yet killed to his heart's content, and if they were to rush to the Guangling Wang Fu to assassinate, the new Guangling King would certainly be the primary target, so neither brother dared to covet the throne.

But as time passed, and news arrived that Murong Tonghuang had appeared in Beiliang, the throne had become a hot commodity, the entire Wang Mansion was in chaos, and the two little princes were nearly beating each other's brains out.

Yet the throne was decided by that person in the Capital; no matter how fiercely they fought here, it was useless.

But just in these past two days, following the intrusion of a group of uninvited guests, the Wang Mansion had once again fallen into silence.

"So that is to say, Murong Tonghuang is still within the borders of Beiliang and has not rushed over. Heh, hiding away like a turtle, that is not necessarily a bad strategy."

At this moment, in the Guangling Wang Fu.

In the main hall, sitting at the head was a smiling young man who did not seem to possess much of an overbearing air, yet he was the person in charge of this operation: the Imperial Prince Zhao Kai.

Seated on both sides below Zhao Kai were several people, quietly listening to him speak.

The cavalry commander Lu Shengxiang, who had once suffered a loss at the hands of Yu Liancheng, and the former Sword Sovereign of the Dongyue Sword Pool, Chai Qingshan, were also present.

Lu Shengxiang looked at Zhao Kai, and the ripples in his heart did not subside for a long time. This Imperial Prince had come bearing an imperial decree to eradicate Huishan and wipe out the Murong Family.

And the ultimate goal was naturally Murong Tonghuang, who had broken three thousand armored cavalry.

To tell the truth, since the battle of the Guangling River, Lu Shengxiang had always harbored a faint fear of Murong Tonghuang in his heart.

However, after sweeping his gaze over the audience and confirming the formation, this middle-aged general was filled with confidence.

In the main hall, the most conspicuous figures were the two people at the very front on the left and right.

The one on the left had no eyebrows or beard, a head of snow-white hair, and two long, snow-like strands of hair hanging before a bright red python robe; a pair of hands were trimmed clean, as white and slender as a woman's, and a close look at the cuffs revealed invisible red threads twisting and swaying like slender little snakes.

His expression was sinister, and his pair of turbid eyes were like those of a venomous snake. Anyone who was looked at by him felt their scalp about to burst.

This great eunuch draped in a red python robe was the head of the one hundred thousand eunuchs in the palace, the Human Cat Han Diaosi, known alongside the Human Butcher Xu Xiao and Huang Sanjia as one of the three scourges of the dynasty.

The world knew that Han Renmao was most adept at using the Mysterious Finger to kill Heavenly Phenomenon experts, and even held the reputation of being invincible below the Land Immortal realm. The Talisman General Red Armor, one of the four great Grandmasters of that year, was skinned by Han Renmao. The number of experts who died at his hands was countless.

As for the person sitting opposite the Human Cat Han Diaosi, it was a withered old monk.

This person wore black robes, had triangular eyes, a ferocious appearance, and looked like an aging, sick tiger, yet his expression was indifferent.

The old monk did not look like a compassionate monk in any way, and other than that, there was nothing else unusual. But if one knew his identity, no one would dare to underestimate him.

——Yang Taisui.

This person was a close friend of Xu Xiao, had an excellent relationship with the late Emperor, and was the Imperial Tutor for two reigns.

The reason the late Emperor was able to pacify the Spring and Autumn period and unify the world was inseparable from Xu Xiao and Yang Taisui; they were his right and left arms.

It was rumored that this person was once a Great Heavenly Phenomenon expert with unfathomable cultivation, though for some reason his realm later plummeted, yet he remained a First-Rank Expert. This person had long ceased to ask about affairs of the Edo, so was there some hidden trick to him personally taking action this time to help the Imperial Prince Zhao Kai?

As for the rest of the people in the hall, most were also Second-Rank Experts.

Aside from those raised by the Guangling Wang Fu, the rest were all under the command of the Imperial Prince Zhao Kai.

Clearly, this Imperial Prince who never showed his hand was by no means a pushover, and his ambition was quite large.

"Without needing an army, just the experts in this hall could plow through the Edo, excluding Wudi City," Lu Shengxiang sighed inwardly.

With such a lineup, leveling Huishan would be easy.

"Regardless of whether Murong Tonghuang rushes over, we must level Huishan and destroy the Murong Family. Let this Edo know that the Imperial Court is not something that mere Edo martial artists can shake."

Zhao Kai tapped the table lightly, his brows slightly furrowed, his young face carrying a hint of majesty: "The Murong Family is but a third-rate family; dispatching a hundred cavalry would be enough to annihilate them. Huishan, however, has quite a few experts."

"A mere Huishan—even when Xuanyuan Dapan was alive, this old servant did not hold him in high regard, let alone now that only three cats and two dogs remain."

The Human Cat Han Diaosi carried a cold aura as he waved his hand: "Let this old servant make the first move; first force Huishan into rebellion, then the Prince can send men to mop up."

Zhao Kai nodded and smiled: "With the Great Master taking action, I am naturally at ease."

Yang Taisui, known as the "Sick Tiger," spoke slowly: "It is better to be cautious; this Murong Tonghuang is unfathomable. If he has already quietly rushed to Huishan, with his strength at the time being second only to Wang Laoguai, I fear..."

Zhao Kai laughed: "Second Master need not worry."

Yang Taisui said: "Oh?"

Zhao Kai then said a few words that only Yang Taisui could hear.

"So that is how it is."

Yang Taisui realized, and nodded.

The Human Cat Han Diaosi's ability to use the Mysterious Finger to kill Heavenly Human experts was peerless in the world, and even when Cao Guanzi entered the imperial corridor three times, he was blocked by him; his strength was beyond doubt.

Even if Murong Tonghuang could defeat him, he would be unable to kill the Human Cat in a short time.

And Han Renmao was only the surface combat power for this operation; in the shadows, there were two Land Immortals from Longhu Mountain assisting.

With these three joining forces, even Wang Laoguai might not be unbeatable.

Even if the three could not capture or kill Murong Tonghuang, the army following closely behind would surround Huishan.

By then, Huishan would be surrounded like an iron bucket, leaving him no way to heaven or earth, unable to escape even with wings.

Now, we do not fear Murong Tonghuang coming; we only fear he will not.

Just as the Imperial Prince Zhao Kai was assigning tasks, a figure stood up. It was Chai Qingshan of the Dongyue Sword Pool, who bowed toward the hall and prepared to walk out the door.

Zhao Kai's brows furrowed slightly: "What does Guest Minister Chai mean by this?"

Chai Qingshan's expression was cold: "Murong Tonghuang once spared this old man's life; I cannot deal with him. I also ask you all to rest assured that I will never leak a word of the matters here."

"Seeking death!"

A fierce light flashed in the eyes of the Human Cat, and the red threads at his cuffs danced wildly, like venomous snakes choosing someone to devour.

Chai Qingshan stood tall and unmoved, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Second Master, wait." Zhao Kai smiled and stopped Han Diaosi: "Does Guest Minister Chai truly wish to leave?"

Chai Qingshan said: "Indeed."

"Good, truly the demeanor of a Grandmaster; please." Zhao Kai gestured with his hand and smiled: "I only hope Grandmaster Chai will henceforth find the sky high and the earth wide, and may your martial fortune flourish."

Chai Qingshan took a deep look at Zhao Kai, turned, and left.

And Lu Shengxiang in the hall felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, for after all, he too had been spared by Yu Liancheng. But he was not a lone wolf like Chai Qingshan, and furthermore, he still wished to become a different-surnamed king who guarded a region through military merit like Xu Xiao, so he finally let out a faint sigh.

"Your Highness, what is this..."

Han Renmao's brows furrowed slightly, a trace of viciousness flashing across his face.

Zhao Kai shook his head with a smile, saying nothing.