Chapter 10: Great Qing â Martial Guard Division!
âWhoosh! Whoosh! Bang! Bang!â
A cluster of radiant lights burst into the sky, shattering the night veil that shrouded Tianwu City. The colors of the fireworks were so vivid that they seemed to have a life of their own.
At the Duke of Stateâs residence...
âMiss! Miss! Look! Itâs fireworks! Take a good look!â
Ye Liyan raised her small head, revealing her snow-white swan-like neck. Her delicate eyelashes trembled, and her eyes sparkled with wonder: âSo beautiful...â
At the Martial Marquisâs residence...
A slender figure stood still in the courtyard, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
âSuch beautiful fireworks.â
The coachmanâs guard was taken aback, wondering if there was a festival today.
âNo...thatâs not right! That direction is the palace!â another guard exclaimed.
Shen Yian placed his large hand on the guardâs shoulder: âThis spot is perfect. Letâs stay here and enjoy the fireworks.â
âYour Highness?â
âBut, Your Highness, the King of Chu palace is...â
Shen Yian stepped down from the carriage and casually waved his hand: âDonât worry, just enjoy the show quietly.â
âYes, Your Highness.â
At the King of Chuâs residence...
Mendu lit the prepared fireworks and led the King of Chuâs guards and a group of black-clad men in a fierce battle.
âThis is the King of Chuâs personal guard? Their combat skills are not even as good as those thugs!â a black-clad man sneered, striking down a guard with his sword.
âStop talking nonsense. When the King of Chu returned to Tianwu City, he brought back two black boxes, one large and one small. Find them quickly!â shouted the leading man in black.
âFall back to the rear courtyard!â
Mendu punched a black-clad man and shouted.
The guards didnât put up a fight and turned to flee.
Several black-clad men wanted to pursue, but their bodies suddenly emitted the sound of sharp blades piercing through, and large blood flowers bloomed under the light of the fireworks.
âWhoosh! Whoosh!â
In an instant, more than thirty black-clad men fell under the dense hail of arrows.
The leader of the black-clad men swiftly drew his sword, sweeping away the arrows that rained down on him. His eyes scanned the direction the arrows came from, his pupils constricting in shock.
âThis is bad...how did these bastards come here so quickly?â
âRetreat!!â
On the King Of Chuâs residence blue-tiled roof, a group of mysterious figures, their faces hidden behind masks, stood holding Wolf-Toothed Crossbows.
Great Qing â Martial Guard Division!
âCharge!â
The leader clenched his fist.
The Martial Guard Division soldiers drew their bows and unsheathed their swords, descending upon the black-clad men like gods from heaven.
The already struggling black-clad men were quickly cut down once again.
The leader of the black-clad men gritted his teeth, his jaw creaking in anger as he watched his men being slaughtered.
The implication was clear: weâre here to help you, so why are you asking for compensation?
It seemed that the fireworks had attracted them, with their colorful and dazzling display, but in fact they contained several special distress signals made by the Martial Guard Divisionâs Heavenly Craft Department.
âYour Highness, these blue tiles were purchased from Suzhou, and shipped from afar, and each one is worth a hundred silver taels. Roughly estimating, at least a hundred tiles were damaged.â
âAnd these floor tiles were...â
The generalâs heart twitched when he heard this. Okay, okay, so thatâs how it is. Your palace is more valuable than the imperial palace, right?
If he wasnât mistaken, the King of Chuâs residence was originally the former Prime Ministerâs residence, which was later renovated into a palace, and the funds were probably provided by the Emperor himself?!
âKing of Chu, itâs been a while since we last met, and youâre still as infuriating as ever.â
A clear and cold voice, a slender figure, and a white robe fluttered down from the sky.
The eyebrows were like a painting, the hair was like snow, the skin was like white jade, the peach blossom-like eyes were charming, and a single tear mark at the corner of the eye added to the beauty. It was a standard beauty, making one exclaim, âWhat a beautiful person!â
âMaster Bai Hu!â
General Flag and the Martial Guard Division soldiers collectively bowed, kneeling on the ground.
Great Qing â Martial Guard Division â one of the Four Symbols, Bai Hu!
Bai Hu put away the white fan in his hand and said in a cold voice: âThat person is still alive, lying in the small alley outside the Kings Of Chuâs palace. Take your people and leave.â
âYes, Master Bai Hu!â
The evening wind blew, and the entire King of Chuâs residence suddenly became quiet.
âYou little scoundrel, youâve been back for so long, and you didnât even come to see me?â Bai Huâs tone was somewhat resentful.
Gasp!
Mendu and the guards were shocked, their hearts skipping a beat.
Whatâs going on?! Is our King of Chu involved with the legendary Bai Hu?!
âLetâs talk in the study!â Shen Yianâs face darkened.
In the study...
Bai Hu couldnât resist teasing, âYouâve been away for five years, didnât you miss me?â
âStop, stop, stop! I, the King, have no interest in old women. First, compensate me for the money you, the Martial Guard, owe me for destroying my palace!â Shen Yian stretched out his hand, his tone brooking no dissent.
âWho are you calling an old woman?â Bai Huâs eyebrows shot up.
âYouâre already over thirty years old, arenât you an old woman?â Shen Yian retorted, directly throwing shade at his own idol.
âIâm your aunt! Do you know how to show respect to your elders?â
âIâm still the prince! Iâve never heard you address me as âYour Highnessâ since I was a child!â
âI heard youâre going to marry Liyan.â
âThatâs right! Iâm getting married, when are you going to find a good family to marry into?â
âAre you willing to let me get married?â
âOf course! Iâll directly collect the betrothal gifts.â
âI...I need to teach you a lesson today for my sisterâs sake!â
Onlookers would likely drop their jaws in shock at this scene.
One of the Four Symbols, Bai Hu, was actually engaging in a completely unceremonious verbal spat with the noble King of Chu.
After a while, both of them were getting tired from arguing, and Bai Hu sat down in a chair, lightly puffing out a breath of orchid fragrance.
âI didnât think youâd come back. Are you finally going to join this cold and ruthless struggle for power and profit?â
âI wouldnât have come back if I didnât have to. There are some things that canât be resolved otherwise.â