290 Number One in the Martial World
Xiao Se rode alone and left the city.
Standing on top of the city gates, Sikong Changfeng had his hands behind his back as he said softly, "He's gone."
Yin Luoxia stood beside him and chuckled. "Just as you predicted. With Mingde Emperor seriously ill on top of what happened today, he finally made up his mind. And, he’s really gone alone, leaving without a word."
"He was taught by Xiao Ruofeng and Ji Ruofeng. I understand him," Sikong Changfeng mused, gathering his sleeves. "But, ever since Xiao Se returned to Snow Moon City, who knows how many people have been standing guard outside. Now that he’s left, the news will soon spread through all of Beili."
"Just how many are waiting to assassinate him?" Yin Luoxia said, looking at Xiao Se's back as he sped further and further away. "How is he going to get back to Heavenly Revelations on his own?"
"I don't know." Sikong Changfeng suddenly took out a map of Beili from his sleeve. "But we, Snow Moon City, are known as the number one city in the martial world. Although I don’t like fighting with other people, I’m not going to sit here waiting to be slaughtered."
Yin Luoxia took a closer look and saw that the map was filled with symbols, both large and small.
"In the north is the Luo City Army garrison. That’s the Upper Army General Cheng Luoying’s army. He has been silently supporting the Red Prince in the background and no one knew about it. In order to stop Xiao Se from returning to Heavenly Revelations, they will not hesitate to expose this fact!"
"In the northeast is Unrivaled City, and Unrivaled City is already on the White Prince’s side. Rather than the Hidden River and the Tang Clan, they are the true hidden aces of the White Prince. Since the Red Prince has revealed his cards, the White Prince will also have to stake everything on this throw."
"From the southwest, the Hidden River will be coming soon. Although I have yet to find the specific location of the Hidden River, I’m certain that they’re in the southwest. They will send their most elite killers, perhaps even the three Heads of Houses!"
"And all the little points above are the various forces that the White Prince and Red Prince have scattered all over Beili over the years. They thought they could avoid the eyes and ears of Snow Moon City. But, I’ve known all along and I’ve even eliminated about half of them. At least 90% of the remaining half will participate in this ambush to kill him."
"Luoxia, release the Thousand City Order. The crimson emergency order!" Sikong Changfeng raised his voice and proclaimed, "Since the day Xiao Se entered the city, I started making plans. Which is to make those people understand why we, Snow Moon City, are the number one city in the martial world!"
"Okay." Yin Luoxia smiled. "It's also time those two Princes in Heavenly Revelations understand why we, Snow Moon City, dare to reject them without fear."
"Daddy." A young voice suddenly sounded behind them.
Sikong Changfeng turned around and saw Sikong Qianluo all dressed in black, holding her Silver Moon spear. She was frowning slightly as she looked at him, as if asking for something.
"Go, then." Sikong Changfeng smiled. "I said before, that the day he returns to Heavenly Revelations City, you will definitely be by his side. You can go, but from today, you will have another name.
"Zhuque, Sikong Qianluo."
Sikong Qianluo looked blankly at Sikong Changfeng. "Huh?"
"Back then, a young man armed with a spear killed his way through a blood bath and arrived at the Hall of Supreme Peace. That person was me. Back then, they called me Zhuque, but I didn’t like it. It’s too girly. I wanted to be Qinglong, but I couldn’t argue my way against Xinyue-jiejie." Sikong Changfeng laughed. "Go, then. Although it's going to be dangerous, I know I can't stop you."
Sikong Qianluo bowed her head. "Yes, sir!"
After Sikong Qianluo excused herself, Sikong Changfeng also picked up his dark golden spear and stroked it gently. "It’s been years since you’ve met an opponent, isn’t it? Do you feel a little lonely?"
Yin Luoxia asked, "Changfeng, what do I need to do? If we leave it to these young people, I’m afraid they’ll be in danger."
"You and all the elders will stay in Snow Moon City. I’m the only one going out from the older generation." Sikong Changfeng said lightly. "Snow Moon City's hundred-year foundation must not be easily shaken."
"You? Where are you going?" Yin Luoxia was puzzled.
"There’s a man in the west who lives alone in his city. He’s called the most powerful of the five sword immortals. He’s the shixiong of that lady in the imperial palace, and the godfather of the Red Prince."
"Luo Qingyang? For so many years, he’s never left Admirable Desolation City. Will he get involved in this matter?"
"I don't know if he will really get involved, but I still have to go take a look. Not many people in the world can stop him, and even I don’t have the confidence. If only da-shixiong were here," Sikong Changfeng lamented with a wry smile.
After a little while, crimson fireworks exploded in the sky.
Snow Moon City’s Thousand City Order.
Right after that fireworks, a gentleman who was accompanying a charming little lady to enjoy the streetlights suddenly released her and walked to the end of an alley by himself. Some soldiers who were on patrol suddenly uttered an urgent excuse and ran off hurriedly, ignoring the berating from their commanding officers. There was also a boatman who was rowing his boat and he suddenly stopped. Then, the sky exploded with more crimson fireworks. The fireworks continued to spread…
Tang Lian looked up at the crimson flower and walked out of Tang Clan. "I didn’t think this moment would come so quickly."
His master, Tang Lianyue, the current head of Tang Clan, stood behind him. "Go. I heard that in the past month, you’ve been studying the "Wine Scripture" your shifu left you?"
"I’ve brewed seven bottles of wine. They’re all in my bag." Tang Lian patted his bag.
"Tang Clan and I will wait for your return." Tang Lianyue smiled.
"Goodbye, shifu." Tang Lian flipped onto his horse, flicked his horse whip and galloped away in a cloud of dust.
Sword Heart Tomb, Sword Heart Cliff.
Li Hanyi frowned and grumbled, "Why has it come so soon?"
Lei Wujie was puzzled. "What's so soon?"
"Time for you to leave the Tomb." Li Hanyi sighed.
"Jiejie, didn't you say I can only leave the Tomb after I become a sword immortal? I haven’t even entered the Unfettered Heavenly Realm, so why am I leaving the Tomb now?"
"I don't want you to leave the Tomb either, but if you don't go, I'm afraid that brother of yours will die," Li Hanyi said evenly.
Lei Wujie thought for a moment. "Xiao Se?"
"Leave the Tomb. Actually, I lied to you. To enter the realm of a sword immortal, you can train another hundred years on this cliff and it’ll be useless. If you want to advance into the next realm, you must experience life and death."
Under the moonlight, there was another person. His hair was completely white and he held a long staff in his hand as he rode on a horse slowly towards the west. He hummed a little song as he rode his horse, but on this mountain road, there was a bandit who had been watching him for a while. Seeing that he was about to reach the official highway, the bandit immediately drew his blade and stood in front of him, blocking his way.
But as soon as the bandit looked up, he received the fright of his life.
The person wore the mask of a ferocious ghost over his face and under the glow of the moonlight, he looked exceptionally frightening. He sighed, and with a light wave of his long staff, he knocked the bandit aside.
"If the enemies I’m going to encounter next were all as weak as you, that’d be really nice," the person spoke quietly to himself as he adjusted the mask on his face.