Chapter 513: Assessment

An Ziyang's words were clear and provided a perfect explanation for the group's doubts along the way.

Why Qi Jiguang, who was deeply trusted by the Dengzhou Guard Commander, had suddenly been imprisoned, and why the thousands of soldiers of the Dengzhou Guard had been cleared out overnight—if one only looked at the affairs of Dengzhou, it would seem headless and tailless, but if it were under An Ziyang's instruction, then it all made sense.

One must know that the former Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was now the Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet; and as for who the current Commander was, there was no need to say... In a mere Dengzhou Guard, An Ziyang was naturally free to act as he pleased.

But, why?

The question of "could he" could be explained, but "why"?

No matter how outstanding General Qi was, to put it bluntly, he was just a nineteen-year-old youth who had succeeded to his father's position and achieved some results. Why would a figure like An Ziyang condescend to target him?

The Huanhua Sword Sect youth's mind was in chaos, and it sank to the bottom like snowflakes under An Ziyang's gaze.

Better to think first about how to shoulder the matter himself, trying his best not to implicate his sect and parents.

Among the new generation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, An Ziyang was not famous for his martial arts, and no one had ever seen him truly make a move. *Jianghu* rumors said his own martial arts were only at the first or second-rate level, and he had only risen to power by being ruthless and sycophantic.

But everyone present dared not make a move against him.

Jailbreak, one might die.

Making a move against an Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander, the corpses of one's ancestors for eight generations would be dug up and fed to dogs. One could risk one's own life, but how could one bear to abandon the lives of parents, relatives, teachers, and friends?

The only plan now was to stretch out one's neck for the executioner.

If he died quickly, plus the relationship between his sect and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, perhaps he could let this matter end with him.

He leaned over tremblingly, picked up his long sword, and pressed it toward his own neck.

An Ziyang, opposite him, seemed to have lost interest in him, turning his head slightly to look at his side.

"And who are you?"

He pointed at the group with his fan.

"They are all scared to death when they see me, why are you so calm, neither speaking nor making a sound, just crossing your arms and smiling?"

The Huanhua Sword Sect youth was stunned, suddenly realizing.

From the moment An Ziyang appeared until now, "Brother Li" hadn't said another word or made a sound.

He had just been leaning against the wall nearby, arms crossed, head tilted, watching quietly, not even hiding that inexplicable smile at the corners of his mouth.

Only after being named by An Ziyang did he put down his hands, walk from the wall to the front of the group, and say with a smile.

"It's not that I don't want to say anything inappropriate, seeing how majestic you are, Lord—I was just waiting on the side for a while—are you done speaking now?"

"If you're done, let me say a few words."

He turned his head slightly toward the group behind him and said.

"Let's go, do you want to stay for a meal?"

Everyone was stunned in unison.

The Huanhua Sword Sect youth's long sword stopped at his neck, and then he burst into tears.

"Brother Li, you cannot!"

"This matter should have been shouldered by everyone together!"

Li Miao only waved his hand at him.

An Ziyang, opposite him, smiled.

"Want to make a move against me?"

"Kill me, leave no evidence, destroy the traces of their visit, and shoulder the matter on your own shoulders?"

He stopped tapping his fan against his palm, his smile unchanged, but everyone present felt a chill run through their entire bodies at the same time.

"Then come, try it."

The tail of his sentence landed.

A clamor arose.

*Sss-sss-sss-sss—*

Countless subtle sounds of wings flapping and crawling overlapped neatly, accompanied by the sounds of countless mechanisms unfolding and gears engaging, becoming deafening in an instant.

The ground of the prison cells on both sides flipped up, countless Gu worms flew out and crawled out, occupying every inch of the wall. Then, Gu worms the size of fists carried out mechanisms a foot square, countless worms surged in the holes of the mechanisms, driving gears, aiming cold, gleaming blades at Li Miao.

An Ziyang broke his folding fan, pulled it, the fan face shattered, ten fan ribs broke off together, revealing the sky-silkworm silk connecting them; he put one end on his five fingers and let the other end drop to the ground.

That wasn't all.

The doors of the dozen or so prison cells that everyone thought were empty swung open, and a dozen figures with no beards or hair, pale faces, and hollow eyes walked out, reaching out in unison to tear open the clothes on their chests, revealing the metal and holes embedded in their flesh.

"Gu soldiers..."

A *jianghu* person said in despair.

"Heaven-Man Gu soldiers, Tang Men mechanisms."

"He can manipulate so many Heaven-Man Gu soldiers and Tang Men top-tier mechanisms with true energy at the same time... he is not the first or second-rate level rumored in the *jianghu*, he is... a Heaven-Man..."

"A Heaven-Man who created the combination of Gu arts and mechanism arts..." ===== CHAPTER 514 =====