Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zhou Shu frowned. Yang Hong and the others didnât dare disturb him.
Yang Hong made a hand gesture to one of his colleagues, who nodded and quickly left to deliver the news.
Lord Zhou had been found, so the commander didnât need to be so anxious anymore.
Zhou Shu was digesting the information he had learned from Yang Hong.
Yang Hong was a divine constable of the Divine Constable Bureau. If there was any commotion in the capital, he would definitely receive the news.
But according to him, there was only one rumor about Zhou Shu in the capitalâsomeone had abducted him.
Yang Hong had seen âShen Yueâ. That âShen Yueâ didnât tell him anything about Zhou Shu.
At present, Zhou Shu didnât need to worry about his hidden strength being exposed in Changâan.
There was no need to worry about this matter, but the other matter Yang Hong spoke of made Zhou Shuâs heart rise.
Not long ago, the You Prefecture Army and Bing Prefecture Army had set out to take over both prefectures, but they actually lost contact with the Imperial Court!
Although this world didnât have phones and mobile phones like Zhou Shuâs previous world, they also had a special method of transmitting information, including the sound transmission stone that could transmit sound from a distance.
Although an ordinary sound transmission stoneâs distance couldnât reach a thousand miles like the one in Shen Yueâs hands, there were many sound transmission points along the way, so news could still be transmitted quickly.
This was especially true for the military. News spread extremely quickly.
But after the You Prefecture Army and Bing Prefecture Army entered the You and Bing prefectures, there was no further news from them!
The Imperial Court naturally placed great importance on this matter and had sent out several batches of scouts.
However, the result was the same. Once they entered the You and Bing prefectures, the scouts would go missing.
Right now, the two prefectures were like man-eating monsters hiding in the fog. Anyone who entered would be devoured cleanly.
Yin Wuyou and Sun Gongping had chased after the traces of Great Weiâs diplomatic mission and arrived nearby. Then something happened, and the two of them entered You Prefecture a few dozen miles away. Afterward, they had completely lost contact.
After Yang Hong and the other divine constables followed the markings left behind by Yin Wuyou and Sun Gongping to the vicinity, they had also tried to find the two of them. But after they sent a few people into You Prefecture, they never returned.
This time, they didnât dare to act rashly. After reporting to the capital, they had received orders to stay on the spot and investigate.
Unexpectedly, after investigating for a few days, they had actually found Zhou Shu.
âLord Zhou, who exactly saved you?â Yang Hong couldnât help asking curiously.
Almost all of the Divine Constable Bureau had been mobilized, but they still couldnât find Zhou Shuâs whereabouts. Who was so powerful that they could save Zhou Shu?
âItâs a senior by the name of Nameless.â Zhou Shuâs heart stirred. âBack then, I had no idea who abducted me. When I woke up, I was already saved by Senior Nameless.â
âNameless?â Yang Hong was confused.
âThe Heavenly Sword is Nameless, crippled but not abolished,â Zhou Shu said. âThe senior left behind these words before leaving.
âThen I walked out of the mountains and met you guys.â
Zhou Shu knew that Yang Hong would definitely report the news of meeting him. He was also telling a story to Emperor Yuan Feng and the others through Yang Hong.
As for whether they believed this story or not, it was hard to say.
âThe Heavenly Sword is Nameless, crippled but not abolished?â Yang Hong had a feeling that it was awesome despite not understanding it.
Zhou Shu didnât continue this topic and instead asked, âDivine Constable Yang, what exactly is the situation in the two prefectures? Thereâs no information from the Imperial Court at all?â
âNot as far as I know.â Yang Hong shook his head. âNone of the scouts that entered both prefectures have sent any news.
âI wonder how Her Highness and the young marquis are doing.â Yang Hong sighed.
Zhou Shu frowned deeply. A moment later, he seemed to have made a decision.
âDivine Constable Yang, Her Highness and Divine Constable Sun came to save me. Now that theyâve gone missing, I have to look for them,â Zhou Shu said.
âLord, just on your own?â Yang Hong was shocked. âLord, I donât mean anything else. Although you are a ranked martial artist now, the scouts previously included a sixth-rank martial artist, but they disappeared as well.
âI heard that the Imperial Court is preparing to send fourth and fifth-rank experts to investigateâ¦â
Zhou Shu shook his head. Yin Wuyouâs actual cultivation was already at the third rank of the Martial Dao. Even she was trapped inside. What could fourth or fifth-rank martial artists do?
Although Zhou Shu didnât know what was going on in the You and Bing prefectures, he was certain that this situation wasnât something that third-rank martial artists could solve.
Emperor Yuan Feng should know Yin Wuyouâs cultivation level, but Zhou Shu wondered if he sent a second-rank or even first-rank expert to investigate.
It shouldnât be that easy. Before the situation was clear, Great Xia wouldnât let a first-rank or second-rank martial artist take the risk.
If even they disappeared, Great Xiaâs loss would be enormous.
Any first-rank or second-rank martial artist was a national treasure. Losing one would be unbearable.
Emperor Yuan Feng could wait, but Zhou Shu could not.
If something happened to Yin Wuyou and Sun Gongping, he would never be at ease for the rest of his life.
If he didnât care and returned to Changâan, what was the point of him going back?
âDivine Constable Yang, Iâve made up my mind. You donât have to say anymore,â Zhou Shu said in a low voice. âIf I can return, then thereâs no need to say anything. If I canât return, then help me do something!â
â¦
Yang Hong held a few pieces of paper in his hand. The veins on the back of his hand were exposed as if these pieces of paper weighed a ton.
He gritted his teeth as he watched Zhou Shu disappear into You Prefecture step by step. Then like a dream, he disappeared into thin air, just like many scouts had done so before.
Lord! If you donât come back, I, Yang Hong, swear that even if You Prefecture is the gates of hell, I will still take the risk!?Yang Hong roared in his heart.?Even if I canât avenge you, I have to let the enemy know that I, Yang Hong, am loyal!
âBrothers!â Yang Hongâs eyes turned red as he turned to look at the other divine constables.
âThank you for escorting me back to the capital! We can die, but these have to return to Changâan unharmed!â
The divine constables had personally seen Zhou Shu hand these pieces of paper over to Yang Hong. They knew the seriousness of the matter.
âDonât worry, Brother Yang. As long as weâre still breathing, no one can stop you!â
The Spring Embroidered Sabers were unsheathed, and the aura of the divine constables soared.
â¦
In Changâan, a figure dashed into the Grand Xiaâs imperial palace like a bolt of lightning.
Several powerful auras soared into the sky.
âThe Divine Constable Bureauâs Ma Fengzhang has something to report to His Majesty!â the figure shouted.
These tyrannical auras hesitated for a moment before finally restraining themselves.
Ma Fengzhang heaved a sigh of relief. He ran all the way to the imperial study.
At this time, Emperor Yuan Feng had already been notified.
âMa Fengzhang, you barged into the palace like this. Did you find anything?â Emperor Yuan Feng had been in a very bad mood recently, so he wasnât too polite.
âYour Majesty, Lord Zhou Shu has been found!â Ma Fengzhang said.
Emperor Yuan Feng was stunned for a moment before he quickly asked, âFound him? Where is he? Dead or alive? Who kidnapped him?â
Ma Fengzhang: ââ¦â
How do you expect me to answer so many questions?
Ma Fengzhang pondered for a moment before saying, âWhen we found Lord Zhou, he was alive.â
âWhat do you mean? If heâs alive, heâs alive. What do you mean he was alive when you found him? Could he be dead now?â Emperor Yuan Feng frowned.
âI donât knowââ Ma Fengzhang said with difficulty.
âMa Fengzhang!â Emperor Yuan Feng was enraged. âI used to think you were a mature and prudent person, but now you canât even speak?â
âYour Majesty.â Ma Fengzhang smiled bitterly. âWhen the Divine Constable Bureauâs divine constables found Lord Zhou, he had been saved by an expert called Nameless. At the time, he was completely unharmed.â
âNameless? Nameless expert?â Emperor Yuan Feng frowned. He immediately thought of the label behind the number one weapon in the Yellow-grade Armament Manual, the Great Destroyer Sword.
Nameless expert wielded the Great Destroyer Sword and cut off the right arm of Great Weiâs Imperial Preceptor Xiao Shunzhi.
âZhou Shu was abducted by Xiao Shunzhi? That nameless expert severed one of Xiao Shunzhiâs arms to save him?â Emperor Yuan Feng asked with a deep voice.
Ma Fengzhang had the same speculation in his heart, but he still said, âI canât say for sure what the truth is. Perhaps even Lord Zhou himself canât say for sure. Whether Nameless is the same person as the nameless expert, there is no direct evidence to prove it.
âHowever, Lord Zhou said that Nameless left behind a sentence. The Heavenly Sword is Nameless, crippled but not abolishedâ¦â
He and Emperor Yuan Feng looked at each other and saw the meaning in each otherâs eyes. There was a high chance that this was the truth.
Because of Zhou Shuâs talent in forging, when Xiao Shunzhi left Great Xia, he had secretly kidnapped him. As for that Nameless, or perhaps he should be called the nameless expert, he had saved Zhou Shu.
During the process, he had even cut off an arm of the other party.
Ma Fengzhang and Emperor Yuan Feng were a little shocked in their hearts. They were very clear about Xiao Shunzhiâs strength. To be able to cut off Xiao Shunzhiâs arm with a yellow-grade weapon, just how powerful was this Nameless?
Heavenly Sword is Nameless, Heavenly Sword, Heavenly Swordâ¦?Emperor Yuan Feng said, âContinue. Where is Zhou Shu now?â
âHe went to You Prefectureâ¦â Ma Fengzhang said carefully, afraid that Emperor Yuan Feng would get angry again.
âYouâ¦â Emperor Yuan Fengâs dragon robe fluttered without any wind. He raised his hand, and a violent aura erupted from his body. He wanted nothing more than to slap Ma Fengzhang to death!
He had already been found, but they still allowed him to go to You Prefecture?
Donât they know what was going on in You Prefecture?
The point of no return!
Do they think that Great Xiaâs losses were still not enough?
Ma Fengzhang braced himself. If the emperor wanted his subjects dead, he would have no choice but to die. Emperor Yuan Feng was a first-rank martial artist. Even if he was a false first-rank martial artist, how could a third-rank martial artist like him resist?
Of course, Emperor Yuan Feng didnât really want to slap Ma Fengzhang to death. He was just angry.
âWhy would he go to You Prefecture? Are your people all idiots?â Emperor Yuan said angrily.
âYour Majesty, you canât blame them for this,â Ma Fengzhang said with a bitter smile. The divine constables that met Zhou Shu were only ninth-rank martial artists. In terms of official rank, they were only seventh-rank officials. As for Zhou Shu, he was a fifth-rank baron. How could they control Zhou Shu?
âLord Zhou heard that Her Highness went to You Prefecture, so he wanted to go there no matter whatâ¦â
Emperor Yuanfeng was stunned.?At least he has some conscienceâ¦
But an extremely uncomfortable feeling welled up in his heart.?This isnât right. How can I say that he has a conscience? Damn this brat, I want to strangle him to death!
Emperor Yuan Feng came back to his senses. As if he had understood something, his eyes suddenly turned fierce.
Ma Fengzhang shuddered. He did not know why the emperor suddenly had such a strong murderous aura.
Did I say something wrong?
I donât think so.
âYou rushed into the palace just to tell me this?â Emperor Yuan Feng said coldly.
Ma Fengzhang sighed.?His Majesty has been really moody recently. Isnât it a joyous occasion to find Lord Zhou? Didnât you say to report to you once we have news?
Are you blaming me now?
âNo, I have something else to report!â Ma Fengzhang said.
He carefully took out a few pieces of paper from inside his clothes.
Then he offered them with both hands to Emperor Yuan Feng.
Emperor Yuan Feng raised his brow. âWhat is this?â
âYour Majesty, before Lord Zhou went to Youzhou, he left these items behind,â Ma Fengzhang said solemnly. âWhat he said back then was that if he could return, there was no need to say anything. If he couldnât return, then hand these things over to His Majesty!â
âGive them to me!â Emperor Yuan Feng narrowed his eyes and reached out his hand. The papers in Ma Fengzhangâs hand flew toward Emperor Yuan Feng.
âBe careful, Your Majesty!â Ma Fengzhang couldnât help crying out in alarm, his expression extremely nervous, fearing that Emperor Yuan Feng would damage these pieces of paper.
Emperor Yuan Feng glared at Ma Fengzhang unhappily before looking down.
With just a glance, he stood up.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
The next moment, he placed the pieces of paper on the desk in front of him and carefully smoothed them out.
He looked as if he was treating them as peerless treasures.
He looked up at Ma Fengzhang.
Ma Fengzhang seemed to understand Emperor Yuan Feng and nodded solemnly.
âAfter I received them, I didnât show them to anyone and immediately came to the palace. Those divine constables who brought back the secret formulas were already exhausted. I left them in the Divine Constable Bureau and ensured that they wouldnât be able to come into contact with any outsiders!â Ma Fengzhang said in a low voice.
Emperor Yuan Fengâs expression was incomparably solemn. âIs this all true?â
âYour Majesty.â Ma Fengzhang said with a bitter smile. âI donât think Lord Zhou would make such a joke. He has never disappointed anyone in the path of forging.â
Emperor Yuan Feng nodded.?Although I donât like this brat, his ability to forge is truly amazing.
âAccording to what Lord Zhou said, the power of this Eight-Sided Han Sword is not inferior to the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber. Great Xia is fortunate!â Ma Fengzhang cupped his hands and bowed deeply to Emperor Yuan Feng.
Emperor Yuan Feng remained silent, his expression complex.
Zhou, I have wronged you.
If you come back alive, Iâ
At most, I wonât interfere with your and Wuyouâs matters. But donât even think about getting me to betroth Wuyou to you!