Chapter 291 - 287: Innate National Master Meng Shuming

Chapter 291: Chapter 287: Innate National Master Meng Shuming

At that moment, the atmosphere at the entrance to the Imperial Palace was eerie. To describe it in one word: quiet.

It was so deathly quiet that the only sound was the heavy, anxious breathing of the surrounding Imperial Army.

’Awesome! What a satisfying climax!’

Ye Xing sat on a large armchair with his legs crossed, shifting into a more comfortable position as he scrolled through his phone.

Right then, Ye Xing looked like a slightly handsome, geeky shut-in, the picture of harmlessness.

However, the surrounding Imperial Army and the spectating Martial Artists alike had all witnessed with their own eyes, just a quarter of an hour ago, how utterly vicious and terrifying this young man in green was.

With every flash of sword light, an Imperial Army soldier was decapitated. Every explosion of a Heaven-shattering Thunder claimed the lives of dozens more. The bloody slaughter had beaten all the fight out of the surrounding Imperial Army. They all looked at the young man in green as if he were a terrifying Demon, filled with dread. If they could, they would have fled, even if it meant their deaths. But they couldn’t. With the Crown Prince assassinated, if they deserted their posts, the Emperor would certainly vent his fury upon their families. Thus, they could only brace themselves and keep the young man surrounded, their hearts pounding in fear.

The young man in green was now the center of attention. Every eye, whether belonging to the Imperial Army or the spectating Martial Artists, was fixed on him—the young man in green who was casually scrolling through his phone and sipping tea.

"So ruthless! This Lord White Cloud is a monster!"

"Yeah, he’s terrifyingly strong!"

"It’s strange, why isn’t he leaving? He could easily break out and escape right now. If he waits for the Royal Family to react, he’ll be facing tens of thousands of Imperial Army soldiers!"

The surrounding Martial Artists were utterly bewildered.

On his armchair, Ye Xing took a table out of his Qiankun Bag. He started brewing tea while still looking at his phone, his expression calm and composed. He truly had no intention of leaving just yet. ’I have to have some tea and a chat about life with the Emperor. How could I just up and leave?’

"His Majesty, the Emperor, has arrived!"

As the eunuch’s shrill, duck-like cry rang out, a commotion rippled through the crowd, and the Imperial Army parted. Emperor Li Bi, shaded by a ceremonial canopy and clad in a Dragon Robe, entered the center of the square, surrounded by a throng of his Guards.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live His Majesty!"

With the Emperor’s arrival, everyone at the Imperial Palace entrance knelt in salute.

Everyone, that is, except for the young man in green at the center of the square. He remained seated with his legs crossed, staring at his phone, completely ignoring the world around him.

"How dare you, Lord White Cloud! Kneel at once before His Majesty!" the head eunuch beside the Emperor bellowed.

Ye Xing glanced up at the eunuch, then turned his gaze to the man in the golden Dragon Robe. He smiled faintly. "You must be Emperor Li Bi."

"I am," Emperor Li Bi replied, his face ashen. In a grim voice, he asked, "Lord White Cloud, what have you done to the Crown Prince?"

"The Crown Prince? Oh, I’ve already killed him," Ye Xing said lightly.

"Your Majesty, this man beheaded the Crown Prince with a single sword strike. I was useless and failed to save him," Commander Jiao of the Imperial Army quickly knelt before Emperor Li Bi to plead for forgiveness.

Fury flashed in Emperor Li Bi’s eyes. He took a deep breath and said with a grim face, "You dare kill the Crown Prince? You intend to make an enemy of my Royal Family!"

"No, no, don’t misunderstand. My White Cloud has never intended to be an enemy of the Southern Tang Royal Family," Ye Xing said hurriedly. "After all, White Cloud City needs to do business in Southern Tang. Let’s all get along and prosper. Wouldn’t it be much better if we just stayed out of each other’s way?"

"A fine ’staying out of each other’s way’!" Emperor Li Bi roared. "Then why did you kill my son!"

"We agreed not to interfere. I don’t attack unless I’m attacked first. But the Crown Prince wanted to kill me, so I had no choice but to put him down." Ye Xing smiled faintly. "Don’t be angry, Emperor. It’s just one dead Crown Prince. In fact, the death of that good-for-nothing son of yours is a blessing for the Tang Country. Come, come, this young master invites you for some tea. Let’s have a nice chat!"

"You—insolent wretch!" Emperor Li Bi was overcome with rage, his eyes practically spitting fire.

"Your Majesty, please calm yourself. Do not let your anger harm your health," Minister Ma of the Ministry of War said gravely. "There is no need to get angry at a man who is already dead. This subject will conquer White Cloud City and annihilate his entire clan to appease Your Majesty."

"And who might you be?" Ye Xing’s expression turned cold as he looked at the official next to Emperor Li Bi.

"Hmph. I am Ma Hongxiao, the Minister of the Ministry of War," the official bellowed at Ye Xing. "Lord White Cloud, you deserve death for your insubordination. But you are also audacious enough to kill the Crown Prince! Your crimes are monstrous! A madman like you should have his entire lineage exterminated!"

"Exterminate my lineage? Heh. You don’t look like much of a righteous official yourself. I think I’ll take that worthless life of yours!" A cold glint flashed in Ye Xing’s eyes as he raised his hand and fired a shot.

BANG!

The bullet shot out of the barrel, whistling sharply as it sped toward the center of Minister Ma Hongxiao’s brow.

’What a terrifying Hidden Weapon!’

Minister Ma Hongxiao’s eyes widened in terror. Despite his Cultivation at the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, he found he was completely unable to dodge the incoming bullet. He was about to be killed on the spot.

Just at that moment—

WHOOSH!

A stream of Innate True Essence whistled through the air and, with a CLANG, knocked the bullet to the ground. The one who had acted was none other than the National Master at Emperor Li Bi’s side, Meng Shuming.

"Thank you, National Master, for saving my life!" Minister Ma Hongxiao said hurriedly, the terror still lingering in his eyes. He had clearly been frightened by that whistling Hidden Weapon. If the National Master hadn’t acted, he would be dead.

Innate Realm experts could project their True Essence. Not only could they form Protective Gang Qi, but they could also launch streams of Innate Sword Qi, capable of both killing enemies and deflecting Hidden Weapons. Because of this, most Hidden Weapons and poisons were only effective against Postnatal Realm Martial Artists; they had little effect on those in the Innate Realm.

"Innate Realm!" Ye Xing’s eyes lit up. He put his pistol away, a monstrous fighting spirit surging within them.

"National Master," Emperor Li Bi said grimly, "this Lord White Cloud’s crimes are beyond measure. I ask you to act on my behalf and capture this fiend!"

"As you command, Your Majesty," National Master Meng Shuming said with a nod, and immediately began walking toward Ye Xing.

A cold light flashed in Emperor Li Bi’s eyes. ’The National Master is an Innate Realm expert. Lord White Cloud’s Heaven-shattering Thunders will be useless against him. He can definitely capture this fiend.’ Still, he wasn’t entirely convinced. He immediately turned to Minister Ma Hongxiao. "Minister Ma! Immediately relay my decree: mobilize another fifty thousand Imperial Army troops from within the Imperial City! Have them prepare shields, iron nets, and steel cables! We must ensure Lord White Cloud cannot escape, even if he grows wings!"

"This subject obeys!" Minister Ma Hongxiao was overjoyed. ’With fifty thousand Imperial Army soldiers and the National Master, it’ll be more than enough to deal with an Innate Realm expert!’

Ma Hongxiao shot a venomous glare at Ye Xing, then quickly headed into the Imperial City.