Chapter 398: Ordinary Jianghu, Forcing the Hand

"Daoist, I was wrong."

The short man knelt on the ground, kowtowing to the old Daoist incessantly, not stopping even when his head was covered in blood. The short sword that had originally been aimed at the old Daoist was now stuck in his own thigh, blood streaming down.

Crawling on his knees for several steps, the short man threw himself at the old Daoist's thigh, tears and snot streaming down his face.

"Daoist, I really was wro—die!"

A sleeve moved, and a sleeve sword popped out, its blade shimmering with a dark blue hue, clearly coated in potent poison.

And then came a "slap" that echoed far and wide!

The old Daoist swung his arm in a full circle, using a "Luan Que Wei" (Catching the Sparrow's Tail) from the Mount Wudang orthodox lineage—firm and soft, yin and yang combined—with a "Woo—" sound in mid-air, and slapped the short man across the face along with that sleeve sword!

The Mount Wudang inheritance from Zhang Zhang Sanfeng, the sixty-year crusade against demons, never relied on a heart of compassion.

Like a spinning top, the short man spun a dozen times in mid-air, scattering silver, hidden weapons, and broken teeth all over the ground, and after landing, he rolled for several yards, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

Only then did the old Daoist step forward, grab him by the hair, and walk back as if carrying a dead dog.

Cao Cao Hanyan and Zuo Lishan were squatting in place waiting for the old Daoist to return, when suddenly their eyes blurred, and the old Daoist appeared before them. Before the two could speak, the old Daoist raised his hand and threw the man onto the ground.

Cao Cao Hanyan was momentarily stunned.

"Daoist, who is this?"

"Evil man, alive."

The old Daoist spat out four words dryly, then closed his mouth again, even closing his eyes, and reached out to rest his hand on Zuo Lishan's shoulder, saying no more.

Leaving only Cao Cao Hanyan and Zuo Lishan looking at each other.

After a while, Cao Cao Hanyan sighed.

"Brother Zuo, there's still some time before the city gates open, let's ask."

Zuo Lishan nodded excitedly.

"Mm-hmm!"

So, one carrying the old Daoist and the other carrying the unconscious man, the two walked in a direction away from the official road.

When the sky turned dim and the city gates of the capital finally opened slowly, Zuo Lishan and Cao Cao Hanyan emerged from the dense forest, casually grabbed two handfuls of leaves to wipe the blood off their hands, and walked toward the city gate.

As for that short man... he had naturally vanished.

The two arrived at the city gate, but didn't rush in; they squatted by the city wall, pressing their gazes, scanning the people entering the city.

At this look, Cao Cao Hanyan's eyebrows furrowed.

Zuo Lishan beside him said in a low voice.

"Brother Cao, what that man confessed was indeed correct... just as Uncle Li expected! I only took one look, and I could vaguely see several experts in disguise!"

"Yingzhou not only sent people to Mount Wudang but also to other major Ordinary Jianghu sects, using the Xuanlan cultivation method as bait to lure Ordinary Jianghu people back to the capital!"

"Moreover, they pushed the reason for Uncle Li's Wu Gong being far superior to ordinary people onto the Xuanlan cultivation method. In this way, the prestige Uncle Li established at the Moon-Viewing Banquet is no longer a bargaining chip to deter the Ordinary Jianghu, but instead became bait for them to fan the flames!"

Cao Cao Hanyan nodded solemnly.

"The time is too short; ordinary Ordinary Jianghu people might not be able to make it, but those experts from major sects should all be able to arrive. The current capital has become the center of the vortex."

"We must enter the city quickly, take the Daoist to see the Commandant, and report these matters to him!"

The two looked at each other, didn't hesitate, walked quickly into the city, and headed toward the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Prefectural Yamen.

At the same time.

Inside the capital, outside the East Flowery Gate.

A patch of black gauze hats gathered together, the voices noisy.

The scarlet official robes symbolizing the first to fourth ranks were common in the crowd. On the patches on their chests, the cranes of the first rank, the golden pheasants of the second rank, and the peacocks of the third rank gathered in the center, while the clouds, swallows, tigers, and leopards extended to the periphery of the crowd. Over a hundred "beasts in clothes" who controlled the Great Ming gathered outside the East Flowery Gate, talking while waiting for someone's arrival.

After a while, excited shouts came from the periphery of the crowd.

"Lord Yan is here!"

"Lord Yan."

"Lord Yan!"

The black gauze hats parted like seawater, revealing a passage one person wide.

At the end of the passage, Yan Song walked over with a solemn expression.

The high officials who saw him clearly all had solemn expressions.

The Great Ming's Senior Grand Secretary usually held the concurrent post of Minister of a certain ministry, and when attending court, he usually wore the scarlet official robe of the first rank. But today, Yan Song was wearing green.

A green python robe.

The python robe was a bestowed garment, representing past favor and merit.

If he wore the scarlet official robe, it meant Yan Song was treating today's matter as an ordinary political struggle. But wearing the python robe meant he was wearing his past merit and reputation on his body, using them as bargaining chips to place on the gambling table.

"Lord Yan is playing for real today!"

Many high officials reached this conclusion in their hearts.

Yan Song walked to the center of the crowd and stood still, scanning left and right, but didn't speak for the time being.

He was also waiting, waiting for Zhu Zai's reaction.

After waiting for a moment like this, uniform footsteps faintly came from afar.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards, dressed in profound black tight-fitting uniforms and carrying embroidered spring sabers at their waists, ran over in formation. They silently spread out along both sides of the street outside the East Flowery Gate, surrounding the gathered officials in the middle.

Without shouting, they pressed their hands on the hilts of their sabers, casting their gazes at the officials in the middle.

Many people in the crowd had ugly expressions.

Ever since the Imperial Mausoleum incident, Zhu Zai had purged the eunuch forces, used the imperial clan to fill the power vacuum, and simultaneously replaced the eunuchs' positions; the power struggle with the civil officials had also gradually been placed on the table as time passed.

The officials mobilized by Yan Song all knew that today's matter was called requesting the Emperor to take personal charge, but in essence, the spearhead was pointed directly at the imperial clan.

Or rather, it was pointed at the head of the imperial clan, Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Zhu Zai.

And at this time, Zhu Zai not only didn't bow his head and concede, but instead sent the Embroidered Uniform Guards over, lining up along the road; the Embroidered Uniform Guards on both sides of the road were like Zhu Zai's two outstretched arms, welcoming these officials' forced hand, and the meaning represented was clearly to confront them head-on!

Today's matter might be far more brutal than they had previously thought! It wouldn't be surprising if blood were to splatter on the spot!

But the arrow had already left the bow, and many people hesitated, turning to look at Yan Song, but seeing his cold and unruffled expression, their hearts were settled, dispelling the thought of retreating, and instead looking coldly at those Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Yan Song scanned the crowd left and right, cleared his throat.

"Ahem."

Attracting the officials' gazes.

And then he suddenly bent his waist and bowed, solemnly performing a deep bow to the crowd all around.

"Today's matter, the court's matter, the world's matter."

"I must trouble you all!"

Before the surrounding officials could bow in return, Yan Song suddenly straightened his body.

Without the slightest hesitation, he walked toward the inside of the East Flowery Gate.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 399 =====