Chapter 332: A Slight Turmoil Inside the City

Liu Hong's order was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly sending ripples throughout Luoyang City.

The imperial capital, already tense and fearful because of the Yellow Turban Army's rebellion, now feels even heavier.

In the streets and alleys, armored soldiers and Official Messengers in black‑cloaked uniforms have noticeably increased; they wear stern expressions, their eyes scanning the passersby like hawks.

From time to time a patrol stops, intercepts a group of people who look suspicious or unfamiliar, and scrutinizes them, as if some extremely important offender or something remarkable has slipped into the city.

Even more alarming, the Son of Heaven's close attendants—the Ten Constant Attendants led by Zhang Rang—personally bring elite palace guards, appearing frequently on the main streets and even on seemingly insignificant neighborhoods.

They wear gloomy faces, order their subordinates to look around, whisper instructions, causing the townsfolk to step aside anxiously, uneasy about how the sky over Luoyang City will change.

In a tavern where the crowd is still decent, diners are also affected by the sudden tense atmosphere, lowering their voices to whisper.

"What big event has happened this time? Aren't the Yellow Turban rebels still over in Jizhou? Why is the city under martial law again?"

"Who knows! Looking at this, it might be even more serious than the Yellow Turban!"

"I see even Court Attendant Zhang and his men have come out; there must be a massive incident inside the palace!"

"Could it be… someone is plotting rebellion?"

The crowd debates wildly, guessing all sorts of possibilities, but none make sense.

At this moment, a man in a half‑worn silk shirt, with a shrewd face, looks left and right, then in a mysterious tone lowers his voice: "What are you all guessing about? I actually have some inside information."

Everyone's gaze instantly turns to him.

Seeing that he has successfully attracted attention, the man deliberately plays coy, picks up an empty wine cup and fiddles with it, then pats his belly and sighs: "Alas, after talking so much my mouth is dry, my stomach is empty…"

A impatient merchant nearby immediately understands, waves a hand and calls his assistant: "Quick! Bring this brother a good pot of wine, and slice two jin of meat, charge it to my account!"

The wine and meat are promptly served; the man doesn't hesitate, fills a bowl to the brim, lifts his head and gulps "gurgle gurgle" heartily, lets out a long sigh, and wipes the wine stain from his mouth with his sleeve.

The plump merchant urges: "Brother, you've drunk the wine, the meat is coming right away; you shouldn't be thirsty or hungry now, right? Stop playing coy and tell us what's happening."

The man, satisfied, puts down his wine bowl, clears his throat, and lowers his voice even further, almost whispering: "Everyone, do you know the sword our Founding Emperor used when he beheaded the White Snake uprising—Chi Xiao?"

Some knowledgeable people at the table immediately interject: "Who doesn't know the Chi Xiao Sword? It's the artifact of Destiny! But I heard it was reclaimed by the Immortal Master of the Founding Emperor and sent back to the heavens centuries ago, never seen in the world since!"

"Exactly!" the man slaps his thigh, eyes flashing, "My brother who works in the government secretly told me, that the current mobilization in the city—chaos everywhere—is because—that sword taken by the immortal has reappeared!"

"What?!"

"Chi Xiao Sword reappeared?!"

"Is that true?!"

The news hits like thunder on flat ground, leaving everyone stunned, hearts pounding.

The reappearance of the Chi Xiao Sword is so astonishing it is almost a second manifestation of Destiny!

The crowd snaps back to reality and immediately bombards with questions:

"Then what? Where is the sword?"

"Who has obtained the divine sword?"

"Is His Majesty launching this campaign to retrieve the sword?"

The man spreads his hands, showing a "I‑knew‑it‑all" expression:

"That's all."

"Huh? That's it?"

"That's everything." He grabs a freshly served piece of meat, stuffs it in his mouth, and says vaguely, "My brother's rank isn't high enough; even knowing this was risky."

"Anything more, only those inside the palace and His Majesty himself would know."

Hearing this, the people, though itching to know more, are helpless and can only continue to dwell in the shock and endless speculation brought by this earth‑shaking news.

The news of Chi Xiao's reappearance spreads like wildfire through every corner of Luoyang City.

Soon it reaches beyond the city, spreading across the realm.

Of course.

All these scenes are observed by an old Daoist and a young Daoist.

"Master, haven't you always said you've lived for centuries, seen everything?" Ge Xuan turns his head, looking at his master Zuo Ci, who is happily munching on a piece of candied fruit, and asks curiously:

"Then you… have you ever seen the real Chi Xiao Sword?"

"Well…" Zuo Ci swallows the candied fruit deliberately, his tone firm, "Of course I have seen it."

He pauses, his gaze landing on Ge Xuan's eager face, and then drops an even more shocking piece of news: "Moreover, not only have I seen it, you… have also seen it."

"What?!" Ge Xuan's mouth drops open, eyes round, his mind rapidly flips through his twenty‑something years of experience, yet he can't recall any fragment related to the legendary Chi Xiao Sword:

"Master, are you teasing me? When did I see it? Where? I have no memory at all!"

Perhaps, when this Ling Bao Sect patriarch eventually attains immortality, he will look back on today's events and finally realize: "So that's how I saw it!"

At this moment Zuo Ci watches his bewildered, scratching‑head, puzzling expression, chuckles, says nothing more, picks another candied fruit and pops it into his mouth, chewing slowly while strolling forward, leaving Ge Xuan fidgeting on the spot like an ant on a hot pan.

"Master! Speak! Stop playing coy!" Ge Xuan rushes up, grabs Zuo Ci's sleeve and demands.

Zuo Ci, unable to escape, still shakes his head, adopts an inscrutable pose: "Cannot speak, cannot speak. The time is not right; even if I spoke, you wouldn't understand. Your Daoist cultivation is still shallow, the fire‑pot is far insufficient!"

He deftly changes the subject, glancing sideways at Ge Xuan, "By the way, the Taiqing Elixir Scripture you transmitted recently, have you fully recorded and comprehended the Samadhi in the first volume?"

Hearing that, Ge Xuan's spirit drops half a step, scratches his head sheepishly: "Not… not yet. But it's close! Really close!"

Zuo Ci chuckles, doesn't expose him, and continues strolling.

Just as they reach a crossroads, they run straight into a squad.

At the head stands a man with a fierce gaze, dressed in eunuch's garb, surrounded by elite guards, who is none other than Middle Constant Attendant Zhang Rang, commissioned to search for clues about Chi Xiao!

Zuo Ci's eyebrows twitch slightly, about to pull Ge Xuan away from trouble, when Zhang Rang's sharp voice already rings out:

"You there ahead, please stop!"

Zuo Ci stops, about to speak, then realizes Zhang Rang isn't calling him.

Meanwhile.

Yu Lin, just stepping out of a pottery shop, looks at the several hulking men blocking his way.

In response:

"........... single duel or group beatdown?"