Chapter 393 - 284: Night of the Bloody Battle (Part 2)

Situ Yanyu cupped his hands in salute, then rushed towards the dense forest ahead.

"Let’s go have a look too."

"Young Master..." Tao Long was worried about deceit.

"No worries." The Seventh Prince recognized the Heavenly Inquiry Tower identity token; it couldn’t be fake.

Heavenly Inquiry Tower could stand outside the Qin Capital only with the Qin Dynasty’s tacit approval. The Seventh Prince was sure that the other side wouldn’t make an unwise move. The earlier murderous intent must have been from someone else.

Situ Yanyu rushed into the dense forest, while Tao Long and Yann Chong protected the Seventh Prince from a distance.

Before long, sounds came from the dense forest, as if something heavy was being dragged.

After a few breaths, Situ Yanyu emerged from the forest, dragging five corpses behind her.

"Your Excellency, there are only these five corpses in the dense forest, and they have just died." Situ Yanyu looked solemnly at the sunken chests of the five people.

She had already confirmed the identities—people of the White Jade Sect, led by Jin Qi, the sect elder, a strong practitioner at the Lower Meridian Unlocking Realm Six Meridians stage!

Killed with one palm strike, directly from the front—just how powerful must one be?

Lower Meridian Unlocking realm perfection?

Situ Yanyu shook her head inwardly; even Lower Meridian Unlocking realm perfection couldn’t have killed Jin Qi in such a short time with a frontal palm strike.

The Seventh Prince lowered his gaze to the corpses, showing little expression.

"Huang Forbidden Army, Eighth Banner Deputy General, White Jade Sect Elder Jin Qi!" Tao Long recognized the corpse.

The Huang Forbidden Army is divided into Twelve Imperial Flags; the first five flags are purely the Forbidden Army. Starting from the Sixth Flag, many strong practitioners from martial arts halls and sects from the Qin Capital enlist, and Jin Qi was one of them.

"Jin Qi?" The Seventh Prince furrowed his brows upon hearing this.

He was very clear about who supported the White Jade Sect, a subordinate martial arts sect of the Qin Capital.

"Fourth Brother..."

The White Jade Sect was backed by the Fourth Prince.

The Fourth Brother was very close to the Second Brother. Could it be the Second Brother?

But why was Jin Qi killed before he even left the forest?

From the moment the murderous aura soared from the forest to when it returned to calmness, only a few moments passed. Who could kill Jin Qi, a late-stage Lower Meridian Unlocking practitioner, in such a short time?

Could it be an expert from the Martial Immortal Alliance secretly protecting my elder brother?

But there doesn’t seem to be a terrifying expert like that in the Martial Immortal Alliance...

In deep thought, Tao Long had already dismounted from his horse and was checking the five corpses.

...

Qin Capital, Imperial City, Imperial Palace.

The man in the golden robe sat on the Dragon Throne, and Crown Prince Chang Qin Wushi knelt below.

"Father."

"Arise." Emperor Qin, Chang Qin Wenzheng, waved his hand. "How are the arrangements?"

"Reporting to Father, this son dispatched fifteen experts from the Martial Immortal Alliance to intercept and deployed the Third Banner Commandants Yang Rong and Xi Peng of the Huang Forbidden Army to lead the team."

"Hmm." Emperor Qin, Chang Qin Wenzheng, nodded slightly, "Understood."

"This son takes his leave."

The Crown Prince withdrew, and Emperor Qin watched.

Before long, a figure emerged from the shadows.

"Your Majesty."

"Master Tang, how is it?" The Emperor’s face was expressionless.

"Crown Prince has yet to make any unusual moves. The First-Grade Cold Family and the Martial Immortal Alliance are all under control."

"..." The Emperor was silent.

"Master Tang, what do you think of the King of North Snow seeking treasures at the Heavenly Inquiry Tower?"

"Your Majesty, I believe that regardless of what King of North Snow does, he must not succeed."

"Can Master Tang make a trip personally?"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty."

"..."

...

Changyang Dao is located about a hundred miles north of the Qin Capital. It is named Changyang Dao because it enjoys the longest daylight hours.

This road connects the Qin Capital with the two northern counties, Taiping County and Taihua County.

Further north lies the snowy North Snow County.

On Changyang Dao, two black-clad individuals were rushing northward, not stopping along the way.

By the time they reached the boundary of Taiping County, it was already dark.

"Old Mo, there’s a long slope ahead, and at the top, there’s a way station. Let’s rest there for the night and continue our journey tomorrow."

"Alright."

The two were the Blood Evil Sect members who had purchased Ancient Golden Celestial Silk and Heaven-Soaring Phoenix Feather at the Heavenly Inquiry Tower in the Qin Capital during the day.

One was named Mo Sha, the other Split Evil.

After riding for another half an hour, a way station indeed appeared ahead.

These way stations were mostly set up at county boundaries, placed on the roads to allow travelers a place to rest.

This way station was called Changtai Post Station, named after Changyang Dao and Taiping County.

Changtai Post Station had developed into the size of a town, with inns, taverns, clinics, smithies, and even entertainment establishments.

Mo Sha and Split Evil found an inn to stay in. Not long after, two more knightly figures entered the way station.

Half an hour later, the two changed their attire and stealthily slipped out of the way station under the cover of darkness.

A couple of miles away, they reached a lakeside area.

There, a dozen figures were hidden.

"Old Yang, how is it?"

"Those two are staying at the way station."

The ones speaking were Yang Rong and Xi Peng, the Third Banner Commandants of the Huang Forbidden Army sent by the Crown Prince.

Behind them were fifteen Meridian Unlocking practitioners from the Martial Immortal Alliance.

"Shall we act tonight?" Xi Peng asked in a low voice.

"Yes, let’s wait until late at night."

Yang Rong waved his hand, and the Meridian Unlocking practitioners who had checked the way station with him stepped forward.

"Old Xi, I’ll take five people to the way station; you and the rest guard outside."

"Okay."

"..."

While the two were discussing, at the way station, Mo Sha and Split Evil sat facing each other, a faint blood glow rising from their palms.

"Old Mo, Lord Blood Servant sent a message that we’ve been targeted by the Huang Forbidden Army."

"What?! Then let’s leave quickly!"

"No, Lord Blood Servant instructed us to wait at the way station. The Cold Blade Blood General and Soul-devouring Blood General have been dispatched to support us."

"Cold Blade Blood General, Soul-devouring Blood General?" Mo Sha was startled.

"This time, the Huang Forbidden Army deployed Yang Rong and Xi Peng of the Third Banner Commandants."

"It’s actually those two!" Mo Sha showed concern.

"..."

...

Three miles south of the way station stood a 300-meter high mountain peak.