Nan An Wang and An Ding Feng, with their formidable martial arts skills, were not to be feared. However, Zuo Xiang Mu Hen felt a tremor of apprehension, unable to fathom his granddaughter's extraordinary talent.
Considering the peculiar events that had befallen them, Zuo Xiang accepted the situation with a newfound calm.
The group devised a plan, ready to put it into action as soon as darkness fell.
Nan An Wang and An Ding Feng bid farewell and returned, each selecting twenty elite soldiers.
Zuo Xiang Mu Hen remained in the palace, being a civil official, he would not participate in the night's operation.
However, the Emperor joined him in the imperial study to attend to state affairs. The court was bustling with activity; the seven kingdoms had just been unified, and now there was the incident with Shangguan Hao, with stacks of memorials piled high on the desk.
Mu Rong Liu Zun pushed the memorials towards Zuo Xiang, asking him to review them first, to identify those that required his personal attention, and to begin with the simpler matters…
As night descended, not only the imperial palace but the entire city of Lin'an was enveloped in a chilling cold.
Early summer failed to bring any warmth, instead, it brought only a profound chill and an unnamable fear.
Although Shangguan Hao had targeted high-ranking officials, there was no guarantee that Qin wouldn't eventually turn his attention to the common people. Consequently, the entire city of Lin'an was in a state of unrest, with streets and alleys falling silent.
Mu Rong Liu Zun, clad in a deep violet brocade robe with a black cloak, exuded an air of untamed arrogance, like a soaring dragon, carrying an aura of inherent ferocity.
Behind him, a disciplined line of elite soldiers, numbering thirty to forty, stood tall. Each man was robust and powerful, their eyes gleaming with sharp intelligence. They moved like shadows, blending into the night. To avoid alerting Shangguan Hao, they had refrained from riding horses, relying instead on their Qing Gong.
The group followed closely behind Xiao Bai Lang, swiftly traversing through the district of pleasure and along the banks of the Liu River. Xiao Bai Lang ran with all its might, showing no intention of slowing down.
Carrying a person on its back, it moved with the lightness of a swallow. In the darkness, its wolf eyes flickered with an eerie green glow, a truly terrifying sight.
An hour later, their confidence began to wane. They had almost reached their destination, and the moon was shifting westward, the night growing deeper.
Shangguan Hao was like a wild beast in the dead of night. If his bestial nature resurfaced, more households would likely fall victim to his cruelty.
However, Xiao Yu'er, more than anyone, felt an unwavering confidence. Seated on Xiao Bai Lang's back, she gently stroked its head and murmured.
“Xiao Bai, you must help older sister find that bad guy, or many people will face misfortune. Our Xiao Bai is also kind.”
The wolf let out a resounding howl and once again broke into a gallop. Mu Rong Liu Zun signaled for everyone to follow.
This time, they did not have to wait long. Xiao Bai finally stopped, confirming it had indeed led them to a place of pleasure.
Yan Yu Lou.
Three large characters were prominently displayed on a grand sign. In the darkness, along the Liu River, the scent of rouge perfumed the air. Along the ten-mile riverbank, countless brothels teemed with life and revelry.
Only this establishment stood deserted at its entrance, with not even a madam in sight. The empty stone steps were shrouded in silence.
Xiao Yu'er turned to face the group behind her, a chilling smile flashing across her lips.
“Father Emperor, it is this one.”
After speaking, she turned and patted Xiao Bai Lang's head, slowly saying, “Xiao Bai, now take us to find him.”
Xiao Bai nodded, and with a swift leap, a flash of silver light appeared, and the wolf's shadow vanished.
Behind it, Mu Rong Liu Zun’s figure moved with lightning speed, following closely behind Xiao Bai. Inside Yan Yu Lou, winding corridors and flickering lights cast an ethereal glow. A few attendants stood at the entrance, chatting and laughing.
The reason for Yan Yu Lou's desolation was that it had been booked by a wealthy patron, and the young women were instructed to attend only to him.
Unexpectedly, the man possessed an inexhaustible stamina, satisfying them ten times over in a single night, much to the delight of the women serving him.
With ample wealth and good looks, he deterred other guests, and coupled with the absence of high officials, the establishment appeared unusually quiet.
As the attendants were happily conversing, a gust of wind suddenly stirred, blinding them with dust. By the time they wiped their eyes, their acupoints had been sealed. With bewildered stares, they watched as the group stormed into Yan Yu Lou, heading directly for the warm rooms on the second floor. xxs
In an instant, they stopped outside the most renowned warm room, the chamber reserved for guests. The attendants wished to cry out but were unable to, their eyes merely watching as everything unfolded.
Xiao Yu'er pursed her lips, mouthing the words, “It's this room.”
Nan An Wang, taking the lead, kicked the carved door before anyone in the corridor could scream. The door splintered inwards, and Mu Rong Liu Zun was the first to charge in.
At that moment, a gust of powerful wind swept through the room, and a black robe flew towards them, obscuring their vision in a shroud of darkness.
Witnessing the ferocious attack, Mu Rong Liu Zun knew instantly who it was. He let out a roar, “Shangguan Hao, where do you think you can escape?”
He lunged forward, blocking the escape route, his purple silhouette standing defiantly beneath the window lattice.
At this point, the attacker, who had lunged towards the window, abruptly halted and retreated into the room. As the long robe fell, clarity returned to everyone's vision.
A bright light illuminated the room, revealing a handsome man in casual wear. Though his features were refined, he was not the Shangguan Hao they knew. It was evident that he had disguised himself.
Such a mastery of disguise meant they would not have recognized him even if they had met face-to-face. However, with the Emperor present, he would not escape.
Shangguan Hao had not anticipated Mu Rong Liu Zun's personal intervention. His first instinct was to flee, but a moment's hesitation caused him to retreat, landing before the carved bed. With a swift movement, he grabbed a woman on the bed, her face pale with fear, who was tightly wrapped in a brocade quilt.
The woman looked up, meeting Shangguan Hao's bloodshot eyes, and trembled uncontrollably, letting out a scream.
A brutal cold snort erupted, “Silence!” His palm tightened with force, and with a crack, her neck snapped cleanly. The woman’s eyes widened in death, unable to close.
Considering that only moments before they had been engaged in passionate intimacy, and now he inflicted such a swift and deadly blow, it became clear that some people in the world were as cruel and vicious as tigers and wolves.
Within the warm room, the air was thick with the pungent smell of blood.
Mu Rong Liu Zun was taken aback by his swift act of killing. A life meant nothing in his eyes. His heart ignited with a demonic rage, and with bloodthirsty hatred, he stared at Shangguan Hao, gritting his teeth as he spoke each word deliberately.
“Shangguan Hao, you scoundrel, today is the day of your death.”
With that, he spoke no further and lunged to attack Shangguan Hao. Nan An Wang shifted his stance, ready to join the fray, but Mu Rong Liu Zun abruptly commanded, “Stand down.”
Today, he intended to capture him with his own hands. Only by tearing him limb from limb could the souls of the slaughtered find peace.
His black cloak billowed dramatically in the fierce wind, and the surrounding qi erupted. Shangguan Hao advanced, but before making contact, he was repelled by Mu Rong Liu Zun's qi, stumbling back several steps, his heart filled with dread.
He had not expected Mu Rong Liu Zun's martial prowess to have surpassed his previous level. If he wished to escape unscathed tonight, direct combat was not an option; he could only rely on strategy.
Shangguan Hao’s thoughts raced. Mu Rong Liu Zun, oblivious to his intentions, attacked with a chilling intent that could destroy worlds, his lips curled into a frigid smile.
He would not grant him any more opportunities.
Tonight, he was determined to capture him, lest more people fall victim.
Killing intent permeated the air, and the attacks were fierce and powerful.