Chapter 674: First Volume, Chapter 674: The Might of the Brocade Robes

First Volume, Chapter 674: The Might of the Brocade Robes

The Black Guard Bureau Director was furiously enraged.

He suddenly raised his hand, and the surrounding Black Guards all raised their bows and arrows, aiming at Liu Ming and the group of Brocade Robe Anwu Guards.

At the same time, the Brocade Robe Anwu Guards lying in wait on the perimeter also raised their crossbows.

With just one command, both the Brocade Robe Guards and the Black Guards would suffer heavy losses.

"Brocade Robe Guards! From today onward, within the borders of Liang, my Black Guard Bureau and you are locked in a fight to the death!"

"Where my Black Guard Bureau exists, there can be no place for your Brocade Robe Guards."

"The Night Owl may be strong, but he's nothing special."

"Since your Brocade Robe Guards are so arrogant, my Black Guard Bureau will shift focus and crush you entirely!"

Hearing these words from the Black Guard Bureau Director, Liu Ming burst into loud laughter.

"Hahaha."

This laughter made the Black Guard Bureau Director even angrier.

Unfortunately, no matter how furious he became, he could not shake Liu Ming's composure in the slightest.

"I almost believed you."

"A mere Black Guard Bureau Director—what immense authority you have."

"If I recall correctly, the Black Guard Bureau is nothing more than a dog kept by the Sage."

"A dog cannot decide whom to bite—it needs its master's permission."

At this, Liu Ming looked at the Black Guard Bureau Director with a mocking smile.

"Shouldn't you go report this to the Sage first?"

The Black Guard Bureau Director's face had turned crimson.

Had his cheeks not been covered by black cloth, this face of escalating irrational rage would have been exposed to all.

Just as the Black Guard Bureau Director was about to give the order to fight the Brocade Robe Guards to the death—

Liu Ming's voice rang out again.

"Do you think our Brocade Robe Guards would act without prior reconnaissance?"

"Who is the fool here—you or us?"

"If we hadn't set up our controls in advance, why would we have arrived so late, waiting for Han Yuming to be wounded by the Night Owl?"

"The Anwu Guards lying in wait here were merely a backup."

"To prevent you Black Guards, in a fit of rage, from doing something reckless."

"At least now, it's still uncertain who will ultimately prevail."

Saying this, Liu Ming pointed toward the east.

"Look—on that rooftop, our Brocade Robe Guard messenger, specialized in Lightness Skill and keen eyesight."

"Even beneath the night sky, a hundred zhang away, he can see every detail of this scene with perfect clarity."

"Not even your Black Guard Bureau, a pack of useless drunkards, could catch him—let alone the Night Owls, famed for traveling a hundred li under cover of darkness."

"If you dare move, our Brocade Robe Guard messenger will immediately return to the Tianji Camp."

"Within one incense stick time, the Tianji Camp Guards will sweep your Black Guard Bureau clean, from top to bottom."

"What, you so-called elite warriors, hailed as the Sage's daggers—have you taken fake pills and lost your minds, thinking you can fight a direct battle against the Tianji Camp Guards?"

The Black Guard Bureau Director clenched his fists tightly, his whole body trembling.

Furious beyond measure, yet utterly powerless.

Whether Black Guards, Brocade Robe Guards, or Night Owls—

As the saying goes, different trades are like mountains apart; they are merely spies skilled in intelligence gathering and assassination.

If it came to actual warfare, they would be hopelessly outmatched even by frontline Elite Troops.

Let alone the Tianji Camp Guards, who can defeat the Imperial Guard and Palace Guards head-on.

The most critical point:

The Tianji Camp Guards don't just possess extraordinary Tactical Advantage—their greatest terror lies in their backing.

They have Qin Feng as their patron; not only would they dare attack the Black Guard Bureau, they'd even dare ambush the Imperial Guard on the road.

The old saying goes: a weak soldier makes one weak; a weak general makes a whole nest weak.

Qin Feng, as Main General, is a lawless demon of chaos—so naturally, his soldiers are all as fierce as tigers and wolves.

Gazing at the Brocade Robe Guard messenger, silently observing the situation from a hundred zhang away—

The Black Guard Bureau Director knew clearly:

Covert struggle was acceptable, but it must not become open conflict.

Otherwise, whether they could withstand Qin Feng's wrath was secondary—the real priority was not disrupting the Sage's grand plan.

The Black Guard Bureau Director took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his rage, then turned to look at Han Yuming, who, due to his injuries, was now dazed and half-unconscious.

"I'll let you go—but leave this man behind!"

"With State Peace Talks imminent, this man rose with weapons at night, and he's a foreigner—he must be detained and thoroughly investigated by the Black Guard Bureau."

Liu Ming ignored the Black Guard Bureau Director's order entirely.

With a casual wave of his hand, two Anwu Guards stepped forward, dragged Han Yuming up from the ground, and slung him onto their backs.

Then, Liu Ming pointed at the two Night Owls across from them.

"I advise you not to lay a hand on Han Yuming—it's pointless."

"This man is Prince of Gaoshan Country, and our Young Master's most important guest."

"If you want to take Han Yuming, you'll have to get past us first."

"This matter is non-negotiable."

"As for these two Night Owls, we'll leave them to your handling—it's a favor from our Brocade Guard to your Black Guard Bureau."

Favor...

What a favor!

The Black Guard Bureau Director felt his face burn—not a shred of face left, not even his inner dignity!

Clearly, the Brocade Guard no longer recognized the Black Guard Bureau at all!

But what could he do?

After all, the Brocade Guard had Qin Feng backing them.

And what of the Black Guard Bureau?

After losing the Sage's trust, both authority and status had plummeted.

Perhaps, when the Seventh Prince inherits the Imperial Throne, the Black Guard Bureau may one day recover.

But that is a matter for the future.

The Black Guard Bureau Director took a deep breath. Faced with the aggressive Brocade Guard, he had no choice but to withdraw and seek the next best.

The moment he ordered the arrest of the Night Owls,

the two Night Owls toppled backward to the ground.

They had bitten through the backup poison in their mouths and died on the spot.

Looking at the dead Night Owls, Liu Ming shook his head in sigh.

"The Black Guard Bureau and the Night Owls have been longtime foes—how could you not know they always carry poison in their mouths?"

"You watched them swallow poison and die, yet could do nothing. Your Black Guard Bureau must be cleansed inside and out."

"Your capability has declined so severely—if this continues, you'll soon slip out of second-rate status."

Liu Ming's tongue was always a blade; every word he spoke pierced straight into the heart.

Truly, it was killing not just the body, but the soul.

Under the wide-eyed stares of the Black Guards, Liu Ming led the Anwu Guard away, taking Han Yuming with them.

Watching the retreating backs of the Anwu Guard, the Black Guard Bureau Director clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked.

"Brocade Guard, tonight's humiliation—I, the Black Guard Bureau, will remember it."

"We have plenty of time ahead!"

The Deputy, staring at the dead Night Owls, asked in a low voice: "Director, how shall we handle these two?"

The Black Guard Bureau Director drew a long breath—he already had his plan.

"Take them back to the Bureau Office, perform autopsies, and submit the findings to the Imperial Study for the Sage's review."

"As for the conflict with the Brocade Guard—do not trouble the Sage with it."

The Deputy immediately understood: revealing such a humiliating incident would only deepen the Sage's contempt.

The Black Guard Bureau dispersed at once.

Soon after, a Palace Guard, clad in golden armor and draped in a black outer cloak, appeared at the scene.

Watching the Black Guards and Brocade Guard disperse one after another, he let out a cold snort.