Chapter 160: The Charm of a Cigarette

The Imperial Guard looked at Xu Que speechlessly, suddenly feeling that the size of his psychological shadow was expanding toward infinity.

Originally, seeing that you were from the "Exploding Heaven Gang," I kindly wanted to help you muddle through, but you actually didn't play by the rules at all! How am I supposed to help you now?

"It's him, Guard! He admitted it himself. Such blatant line-cutting in the Imperial Palace, a place of great importance—can't you do something about it?"

Several young masters were delighted to see Xu Que courting death like this and hurriedly exposed and reported him.

However, seeing Xu Que still looking fearless and blinking his innocent, large eyes, the Imperial Guard felt that he would rather offend these noble young masters of the capital than offend this mysterious-looking Hua Wuque of the Exploding Heaven Gang before him.

"Ahem... you few, stop arguing! This is the Imperial Palace. Even if this young master is cutting the line, he must have some hidden reason, right?"

After saying this, the Imperial Guard looked at Xu Que with a pleading gaze, thinking to himself, *Hurry up, this is all I can do for you. Just make up one or two pitiful excuses, and I can help you muddle through. *

"Hidden reason?"

Xu Que was stunned and said with a smile, "Right! Of course I have a hidden reason, otherwise how could I possibly cut the line?"

"Right, right, right... Young master, tell us your hidden reason for cutting the line. I believe these other young masters will surely understand you."

The Imperial Guard finally wiped away some sweat, thinking to himself, *Are all the people in the Exploding Heaven Gang brainless? But at least he's on the right track, knowing I'm giving him a way out. *

The other young masters, seeing this, also realized that the guard was intentionally shielding Xu Que, and guessed that Xu Que's background must be significant. Thus, they all decided to swallow their anger, waiting for Xu Que to just say any excuse so they could let the line-cutting matter go.

But just as everyone was eagerly looking at Xu Que, waiting to hear a reasonable excuse, Xu Que said quite matter-of-factly: "My hidden reason is that I want to go in! There are so many people signing up and the line is so long—only an idiot wouldn't cut the line!"

Want to go in?

That's the hidden reason?

Damn it, who among the scholars and cultivators who came here doesn't want to go in?

Originally, any excuse would have worked, but Xu Que came up with such a direct and violent reason! This is simply... really... very hard... to believe!

"What's going on? So noisy! This is the Imperial City, and someone dares to cause trouble here? Who did you say was cutting the line just now?"

The commotion here immediately attracted the patrol of Imperial Guard Defense General Li Tianzhong. Li Tianzhong was in a very bad mood today, always feeling like something was missing from his mouth. Ever since he smoked that thing called a "cigarette" introduced by Lady Ya, he felt as if his life was incomplete if he didn't have something dangling from his mouth.

The majestic Imperial Guard Defense General Li Tianzhong walked up and questioned them, his tone very impatient.

That Imperial Guard hurriedly shouted at him: "Reporting to General Li! With the Fire Emperor's majesty suppressing us! No... no one dares to cut the line."

When he said this, the Imperial Guard actually regretted it ten thousand times over in his heart. Because...

Sure enough, at such an inopportune moment, Xu Que raised his hand weakly again and said: "General Li, is it? It is I who cut the line."

When everyone heard this, they immediately felt worried for Xu Que. Even the Defense General had come, and you still dare to say you cut the line? We weren't even going to pursue it, you... you are completely courting death yourself!

But how could Xu Que care about these things!

As a Face-Slapper!

I just cut the line!

So what?

We people of the Exploding Heaven Gang are just this daring and responsible!

At the same time, he also glanced at General Li's restless state, his fingers rubbing back and forth—this was a typical case of nicotine withdrawal!

The cigarettes Xu Que redeemed from the system were not ordinary goods. Ordinary cigarettes might take a long time to become addictive, but products from the system were bound to be traps. Xu Que himself had experienced it; this damn thing was seducing you to keep using Acting Cool Points to redeem cigarettes to smoke!

Ever since he smoked one, he wanted to redeem a few packs to smoke slowly at all times.

Therefore, as soon as Xu Que saw General Li's state, he guessed that he had probably smoked the pack of cigarettes he gave to Lady Ya.

"Daring to cut the line at the foot of the Imperial City? You... I think you don't want to live anymore, right?"

And as soon as General Li heard Xu Que admit to cutting the line, he was immediately furious, opening his mouth to call people to take Xu Que away.

Xu Que smiled lightly, decisively redeemed a pack of cigarettes, took one out, and put it into his mouth.

"Snap!"

With a snap of his fingers, the cigarette was lit.

The few people present instantly widened their eyes, their expressions changing in shock.

"This... is this the legendary cigarette?"

Several people were almost scared out of their wits. They had long heard that a treasure had been circulating in the Imperial City for the past few days, which made people feel invigorated and ethereal after smoking it. Many generals had offered high prices, but still couldn't find any!

Unexpectedly, this black-robed person before them casually took out a whole pack, and it was brand new.

At this time, Xu Que exhaled a smoke ring.

"Hiss!"

General Li immediately couldn't help but take a breath, effectively smoking second-hand smoke, but it felt extremely refreshing!

"Ahem, this... young hero? This general has just checked, actually you don't need to line up, you have a special passage!"

General Li's attitude changed abruptly, trying his best to squeeze out a kind smile as he said to Xu Que.

Xu Que raised an eyebrow: "A special passage? That won't do. As the saying goes, everyone is equal, and I am a humble and easy-going person, how can I use special treatment!"

The corners of the mouths of the few people present twitched instantly.

Damn it, you call yourself humble and easy-going like this?

You're already smoking, and you call that not using special treatment?

But General Li's addiction had been pushed to the limit, so he hurriedly replied: "Young hero is joking. For a heaven-gifted genius like you, we have prepared other passages; it doesn't count as a special passage!"

"Oh? Not special? Then fine, lead the way!"

Only then did Xu Que reluctantly, swaggeringly follow General Li toward the side gate!

Before leaving, he also looked at the few young masters with a look of "disappointed in your lack of ambition," shaking his head and saying: "Work hard, young people. Look at me, I'm going to walk the path that geniuses walk!"

"You..."

Several scholars were so angry that their whole bodies trembled, but they could do nothing about Xu Que. He had cigarettes and was shielded by the Defense General, what could they do? Just suck it up!

Under General Li's lead, Xu Que successfully entered the Imperial Palace and was led all the way to the trial grounds.

He had gone to such great lengths precisely to lure out someone with an official rank to bring him in through the side gate.

Because at the main entrance, there was an identity verification array. If Xu Que entered from there, his true identity would likely be impossible to hide.

But from the side gate, as long as he waited for an opportunity to bypass the verification array, register any name, no one would suspect his identity.

Only by hiding himself well could he better act cool! ===== CHAPTER 161 =====