365 Silver Needles Locked the Soul
Lei Wujie recalled what happened last night. "The genius doctor Hua Jin raised a row of silver needles and pierced them into her own body. But, later on, we couldn’t find those needles and we guessed that they were disintegrated by Wuxin."
"So that’s what happened. The silver needles did not disintegrate," Xie Xuan said. "That is a secret technique of Medicine King Valley that’s not passed to outsiders, Seven Needles Lock the Soul. The genius doctor Hua Jin anticipated her opponent’s palm was extremely powerful so she used the silver needles to lock her heart meridian. If Wuxin only struck one palm, then the genius doctor Hua Jin’s life will not be in danger." Xie Xuan pressed his fingers on Hua Jin’s wrist and transmitted his qi carefully.
Seven silver needles flew into the air instantly and landed in front of Xie Xuan. Xie Xuan swept them into his hand and took a closer look, a slight frown furrowing his brows. "The tip of the needles actually turned black. Wuxin's current skill level is probably higher than mine."
As soon as the seven silver needles left her body, Hua Jin suddenly opened her eyes and sat up halfway on the bed. She vomited a mouthful of black-coloured blood and immediately fainted again.
"Hua Jin!" Lei Wujie cried out anxiously.
Xie Xuan shook his head and smiled. "It’s fine. She’s expelled the stale blood. The little genius doctor’s life is safe but she’ll probably need to sleep for a few days."
"How many days?" Jin Wei Gonggong asked.
Xie Xuan examined the silver needles in his hand carefully. "I'm afraid it will be at least three days."
"Unacceptable." Jin Wei Gonggong shook his head. "That’s too long."
Xie Xuan smiled, and put away the row of silver needles. "Since Your Excellency, the Eunuch of Sword said it’s unacceptable, then naturally, it’s unacceptable. Then, how about you take over and cure her?"
Jin Wei Gonggong’s expression flipped and his murderous aura surged.
"You can stop posturing before me. With your swordsmanship? What, using Unrestrained to kill Unfettered? Even if you tore off all your talisman seals, you still won’t last a hundred moves against me." Xie Xuan didn't even glance at Jin Wei Gonggong and walked straight out.
Lei Wujie was flabbergasted. "Senior Confucian Sword Immortal can also use such harsh words?"
Sikong Qianluo thought for a moment. "I guess they had some disagreements in the past."
Xiao Se walked out the door, side-by-side with Xie Xuan, and the two were deep in a muted discussion. Xie Xuan asked, "You intend to enter the rear palace to look for Consort Xuan, but do you know what sort of person Consort Xuan is?"
"The most beautiful woman in the world, the woman my imperial father loves the most," Xiao Se said.
"Mingde Emperor loved two women in his life, one was your mother, but unfortunately she passed away soon after giving birth to you. The other is Consort Xuan, but Consort Xuan is more than just the most beautiful woman in the world. Besides your imperial father, there are two other notable figures in the world who would willingly die for her. One was Ye Dingzhi, the former Sect Leader of Outerheaven and the other is Luo Qingyang, who is now in the top tier of the Ultimate Experts List. Consort Xuan, Yi Wenjun, herself is also someone you don’t want to mess with." Xie Xuan looked at Xiao Se. "You want to look for her, but that’s not a wise move."
"But I need a drop of her blood," Xiao Se said evenly. "Wuxin is my friend."
"Then how are you going to enter the rear palace?" Xie Xuan asked. "A prince entering the rear palace is a very serious crime. Even if your father doesn’t censure you, your brothers will not forgo the chance to use that against you."
"I need someone to help me," Xiao Se said.
Xie Xuan shook his head. "With your personality, once you’ve made up your mind, you will carry it out. But, I have a word of advice for you. In this Heavenly Revelations City, there are many who are trustworthy, and there are also many you can make use of. But, there are a few people you should stay as far away from them as possible."
"The Five Grand Eunuchs of Heavenly Revelations?" Xiao Se asked.
Xie Xuan nodded. "Yes."
Xiao Se shook his head. "But, the person I’m about to beg for a favour just happens to be one of the Grand Eunuchs."
Court of State Ceremonial.
Lately, Heavenly Revelations City had been very noisy.
However, the Court of State Ceremonial was very quiet. Like always, it was teeming with incense burners and the sandalwood incense lingered in the air.
The Five Grand Eunuchs of Heavenly Revelations. The Grand Eunuch follows the Emperor at all times, the Eunuch of Sword assisted in guarding the Hall of Supreme Peace, the Eunuch of Records was in charge of the Imperial Library, and the Eunuch of Seal was responsible for assisting with reviewing memorials. In terms of their influence, the Chief Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, the Eunuch of Incense, Jin Xian Gonggong, was a real official of the imperial court. But, during this period of instability in Heavenly Revelations, this eunuch was still sitting on his prayer mat inside the Buddhist hall, his left hand counting the prayer beads of his rosary and a long sword resting next to his right hand, while he chanted the scriptures. The hair at his temples were starting to whiten but his face was still as handsome as jade. In fact, he was so beautiful he almost looked like a woman. Today, he had finished chanting his scriptures once and he opened his eyes. He stood up and opened the door only to realise he had two visitors standing respectfully at the door.
Yong'an Prince Xiao Se, and Lei Wujie.
Waiting to one side, his child attendant, Bo Yong, explained hurriedly, "The two guests said that they would wait for shifu to finish reciting scriptures before reporting their arrival."
"I understand. Go ahead and make some tea first," Jin Xian Gonggong said.
Jin Xian Gonggong led Xiao Se and Lei Wujie into the Buddhist Hall and sat down. They had once fought against each other in the Great Sanskrit Temple, but at the time, Xiao Se was hiding his identity. Jin Xian Gonggong had gone easy on them too. This was the first time they had met alone since Xiao Se returned to Heavenly Revelations.
"Your Highness has come to visit the Court of State Ceremonial. Is there something important on your mind?" Jin Xian Gonggong asked.
Bo Yong brought the hot tea into the hall at this moment. Xiao Se raised a cup of tea and blew across it gently. "In the current Heavenly Revelations City, which side is Jin Xian Gonggong standing on?"
Jin Xian Gonggong probably didn't expect Xiao Se to be so direct and was taken aback for a moment. "Must I take a side?"
"No matter who wins in the end, he will only allow the people on his side to live. There is no middle ground in this matter," Xiao Se replied.
"No, I think this matter is completely meaningless." Jin Xian Gonggong shook his head. "Regardless of which side we’re on, after the Emperor's death, the Five Grand Eunuchs must go to the Imperial Mausoleum to guard the spirits there."
"Is Jin Xian Gonggong willing to enter the Imperial Mausoleum?" Xiao Se asked.
Jin Xian Gonggong’s hand was still rotating the prayer beads. "In my opinion, it doesn’t matter where I go. Even now, I’m merely sitting here every day, reciting the scriptures in prayer to Buddha."
"The Jin Xian Eunuch I know is not such a person. What he had always yearned for was the vast martial world," Xiao Se said.
"If I can’t go to the martial world, I’ll go to the quiet mausoleum. Either one is better than staying here in Heavenly Revelations City," Jin Xian Gonggong said.
"Before I came, a kind mister advised me that I must not trust the Five Grand Eunuchs. But, I trust my own judgment. I have known Gonggong for many years. Among the Five Grand Eunuchs, I’m only willing to trust Jin Xian Gonggong. Back then, Jin Xian Gonggong was famous in the martial world and earned the name, Snowstorm Sword. In the wind and snow, one can see your true strength of character," Xiao Se said.
Jin Xian Gonggong took a sip of his tea. "Your Highness can stop going around in circles. Please speak plainly."
"If I win in the end, I promise Gonggong that you can return to your hometown to retire. You can go anywhere in the future, with the exception of Heavenly Revelations City," Xiao Se said. "And this time, I’m here indeed because I have a favour to beg from Gonggong. I have a friend, and maybe he’s Gonggong’s friend too, who’s currently in grave danger. I need to save him, and to save him, I need to enter the rear palace."
Jin Xian Gonggong put his tea down. "A prince entering the rear palace on his own is a very serious crime."
"Gonggong, please help me." Xiao Se bowed his head.