Chapter 88: The Peak of the Forbidden City (Bonus Chapter for Chieftain Long Guihun)

The air was faintly tinged with the scent of blood.

There were already six corpses in the South Study; four of them were short in stature and still clutched their swords in death. Their features, attire, and clothing were almost identical, and each had been pierced through the throat by a single sword strike.

Anyone with even a modicum of discernment could see that they had all died at the hands of the same person at almost the exact same time.

A person capable of delivering such a sword strike was truly terrifying.

The fifth corpse was a very handsome man with a sword wound in his chest.

It was unknown what he had encountered before he died; his face looked truly strange, as if he were very satisfied and happy, yet also as if he were in great pain and terror.

As for the last person, not only was there a fatal sword wound on his chest, but his face had also been destroyed, leaving him drenched in blood, making it impossible for anyone to tell what he had looked like.

The Emperor, dressed in a yellow robe with an eight-treasure standing-water skirt hem, sat upright in his chair. A faint look of terror still lingered on his face, as if he had encountered a very dangerous situation not long ago.

The ever-loyal General Manager Wang was serving by his side, his own face also bearing an expression of lingering fear.

Besides these two, there stood a man with a fair face and a slight beard, wearing a long white robe. His eyes were not pitch black, but they were terrifyingly bright, as if they were two cold stars.

In his hand, he held a long sword with an ancient and peculiar design; anyone could see that this was a fine sword.

Yet, even if he had no sword in his hand, everyone should have known that he was a peerless swordsman. For the sharpness of the Sword Qi on his body already surpassed any divine weapon in the world.

This was the scene that Lu Xiaofeng and the other martial arts figures and Imperial guards saw when they entered the Yushufang.

"The Emperor is not dead? Ye Gucheng and the others failed... no, perhaps they have already succeeded." Lu Xiaofeng's heart was trembling, his body was trembling, and he felt as if he were completely shrouded in fear.

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty. Long live, long live, long live the Emperor."

Imperial power possessed supreme authority in the world; the life and death of all under heaven rested on a single word from him. Whether they were Imperial guards or martial arts figures, they were all kneeling on the ground now, showing expressions of reverence.

Even Lu Xiaofeng, whether influenced by the crowd or suppressed by secular power, actually knelt down as well, even though he knew the person before him was likely not the true Emperor.

The only one still standing was Ximen Chuixue.

He held his Sword, standing tall and straight.

His whole person seemed to be a sword itself.

A sword, naturally, would not kowtow to a person, even if that person were the Emperor.

If he were to bow, it would only be because that person was the Emperor of swords, not the emperor of men.

"Audacious..." General Manager Wang was just about to reprimand him.

The Emperor had already waved his hand, not taking offense: "Read the decree."

General Manager Wang held the imperial decree and said loudly: "By the grace of the Emperor, the decree states: The Prince has conspired to rebel and has been executed in the South Study. The White Cloud City Lord has rendered meritorious service in protecting the Emperor; his unauthorized entry into the Forbidden City shall not be pursued, and he shall be commended tomorrow."

Yin Xian and the other Imperial guards could not help but heave a sigh of relief. Although the entire affair was still shrouded in a thin mist and remained unclear, at the very least, the Emperor had come to no harm.

But this long night had not yet passed.

Because Ximen Chuixue's gaze was already fixed on Ye Gucheng, and he said slowly: "Tonight is the night of the full moon."

Ye Gucheng said coldly: "Correct."

Ximen Chuixue said: "You are Ye Gucheng."

Ye Gucheng said: "Correct."

Ximen Chuixue said: "I am Ximen Chuixue."

Ye Gucheng said: "I know that too."

Ximen Chuixue said: "You have a sword in your hand, and so do I."

Not only did Ye Gucheng understand, but everyone else had also understood.

The expressions of the Imperial guards changed. "Desert Divine Eagle" Tu Fang shouted sternly: "How bold! You have already offended the might of Heaven today, and you still dare to..."

His words suddenly trailed off.

Because Ye Gucheng's eyes had already turned toward him, the divine light in his pupils looking like two swords: "Do you know what crime you have committed?"

Tu Fang did not understand.

Ye Gucheng said coldly: "You have failed to master the blade, and your study of the sword is not refined, yet you dare to be disrespectful to me and Ximen Chuixue. You have committed a capital crime."

Tu Fang's expression darkened further, and the atmosphere grew stagnant again. Fortunately, the Emperor spoke at this moment. He waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "This battle is inevitable. I also wish to see the demeanor of two peerless swordsmen. I grant you permission to duel."

Lu Xiaofeng sighed; the battle at the Forbidden City was still unavoidable.

Although the bright moon had sunk to the west, it looked even rounder.

A round moon seemed to hang beneath the eaves of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, yet the people were already upon the eaves.

Lu Xiaofeng, Yin Xian, and the others had all fallen silent, for they could already feel a pressing, overwhelming pressure.

"This battle is worth watching."

Yu Liancheng stood with his hands behind his back. A gust of wind blew past, and he looked as if he were about to ride the wind and depart.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, he had not appeared in the South Study earlier.

However, he was quite looking forward to this battle.

Ximen Chuixue was originally a step behind Ye Gucheng, but because of Yu Liancheng's appearance, he not only had no connection with Sun Xiuqing and fewer attachments, but he had also traveled thousands of miles to fight, making his sword technique even better.

Ye Gucheng had also completed his usurpation and was no longer seeking death.

As for who would win or lose this battle, it was truly hard to say.

On the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Ximen Chuixue stared at Ye Gucheng, and he suddenly let out a long sigh.

Ye Gucheng said: "Why do you sigh?"

Ximen Chuixue said: "I sigh for you, and I also sigh for myself."

Ye Gucheng said: "Oh?"

Ximen Chuixue said again: "I sigh that you are not sincere enough, and I sigh that in this world, I have no true opponent after all."

Ye Gucheng's pupils suddenly contracted: "Sincere?"

Ximen Chuixue said coldly: "The essence of the sword lies in sincerity—sincerity to others, sincerity to the sword—but you are not sincere. You are not sincere to others, and you are not sincere to the duel."

Ye Gucheng was silent for a long time, then finally said: "Those who learn the sword need only be sincere to the sword; they need not be sincere to others."

Ximen Chuixue no longer spoke; the words had all been said.

The end of words is the sword.

Clang! Clang!

The swords sang like dragons.

Two swords left their scabbards at the same time, and once drawn, they converged; the sword light was brilliant and dazzling, soul-stirring and breathtaking.

Between heaven and earth, it seemed as if only these two swords remained.

Yin Xian, Wei Ziyun, and the others were already covered in cold sweat.

What terrifying swords, what terrifying men.

Clang!

The sword light flashed once more, and the two had crossed and separated; they each stood in the other's previous position, their figures motionless, as if frozen.

A moment later, Ximen Chuixue moved and sheathed his sword.

Ye Gucheng also moved; he knelt on one knee, using his sword to support his body with his right hand, while his left hand clutched the wound on his shoulder, cold sweat dripping down.

The outcome was decided.

Ximen Chuixue let out another soft sigh.

Although he had won, his face was full of desolation.

"This time you did not have to lose; you seem to have touched upon another realm. I was originally a fraction behind you, but your Sword Intent, killing intent, and True Qi were all depleted, and your heart was already in chaos—how could you not be defeated? Three months from now, at the peak of Tianshan, we shall fight again."

After saying these words, Ximen Chuixue flew away.

Ye Gucheng's face was very white.

Pale.

Almost without a trace of color.