Volume 1 Meteor Festival Chapter 26 Blood Flame Army

  "Actually..."

  Just as they stared at each other, neither of them backing down first, Xu Xiaolin suddenly said in a probing tone...

  "Actually... we don't necessarily have to escape, Town West King is powerful, but also limited to the Western Four Continents Prefecture, in the imperial capital, it's still His Majesty the Emperor who has the final say... and besides..."

  "And what?"

  "I remember Miss, you said before that the reason why Zhenxi Wang was able to develop into such a large entity in three hundred years is because they had a relationship with the Xianmen's big sect, Yangtian Sect. They can let their disciples join the immortal gate, why can't we go to the immortal gate too? As long as we can also enter the immortal gate and find a big immortal gate to rely on, Zhenxi Wangfu will naturally not dare to do anything to us."

  "Seeking a great immortal sect as a backing..." As soon as Xu Xiaolin proposed this idea, it suddenly made Xu Bing's eyes light up, and her gaze instantly fell on Gu Qing: "Gu Qing, you once said that your method of refining the physical body can be cultivated to the extreme, allowing the physical body to be adjusted to its best state. When cultivating any skill, it will be a thousand miles in one day. In the future, when cultivating the immortal family's divine abilities, won't it also produce an extraordinary effect that is far beyond what ordinary people can compare?"

  Gu Qing furrowed his brow: "You mean to say, let me join the Immortal Sect, rely on my past achievements to gain the attention of the Immortal Sect and receive their protection?"

  "That's right! You can cultivate from the fifth level of Qi to the ninth level of Qi gathering in just three years, and after entering the immortal gate, you will definitely shine brightly. If you can break through your current realm and advance to the Dan Dao, becoming a true disciple of the immortal gate, your value will increase a hundredfold. At that time, not only Ye Xueqing, the young master of Qingping County, but even Ye Bingxin, the king of Zhenxi, would not dare to offend you in the slightest!"

  "Joining the Immortal Sect would be a waste of too much time. I'd rather infiltrate the Western Town King's Manor, kill all the important figures inside, and leave the entire Western Four Counties without a leader! Without a unified ruler, they'll be busy dealing with internal chaos alone, let alone having the energy to bother us."

  Xu Bingning shook her head: "Not to mention whether this method is feasible or not, even if you behead the King of Quanxi, relying on the three-hundred-year operation, the four western counties will not fall into chaos. This approach may work for other forces, but it's not that effective when applied to the Quanxi Wangfu."

  "You can't resist, yet you're unwilling to leave, what do you want then?"

  Xu Xiaolin and Xu Bingning looked at each other and said in unison: "Join the Immortal Sect and seek refuge!"

  "I don't have time to waste on this." With that, Gu Qing glanced at Xu Xiaolin standing beside Xu Bingning: "Leaving this place, avoiding the Western King of Zhen, and finding another place to hide is the best solution."

  "You can hide for a while, but can you hide for a lifetime? Moreover, if you leave alone, what will happen to the Wuwei Marquis's residence and our entire Xu family?"

  Xu Xiaolin nodded, she had grown up in the Xu family since childhood and had always followed Miss Xu. If she left the Xu family and Miss Xu, the world was so big that she really didn't know where to go.

  Seeing Xu Xiaolin's determination not to leave, Gu Qing furrowed her brow and flashed beside her. Before Xu Bing could react, a palm strike hit the nerve plexus on her neck, knocking her unconscious on the spot.

  "Gu Qing, what do you want to do..."

  Gu Qing supported Xu Xiaolin who had fallen into a coma and said calmly: "If you don't want to leave, you can stay in the imperial capital!"

  "Gu Qing, you've gone too far! Whether Xiao Lin leaves or stays is her own freedom, what right do you have to interfere with her?!"

  Gu Qing didn't say a word and directly carried Xu Xiaolin back to his own room.

  "Gu Qing, put him down!"

  "You left her here to die with you!? Or do you think that as long as she's here, I won't leave and will follow your advice, achieve success and fame, and naturally save you, even your entire family? And because of my connection to the Immortal Sect, your family can immediately become the most prominent in the capital?"

  "You, you really measure others' hearts with your own mean mind..."

  Just as Xu Bingning wanted to come up with another excuse to persuade Gu Qing, a faint rumbling sound came from the north of the city and quickly approached this direction. Listening carefully, it seemed that a large number of people and horses were moving on the wide streets of the city.

  "What is this..."

  Just as the two were somewhat bewildered, a guard rushed into the courtyard, his voice somewhat panicked: "Seventh Young Master, Seventh Young Mistress, something big has happened! A large group of people are rushing towards our Hou Mansion with killing intent, and they will arrive at the gate in just a few breaths. Please go to the council hall immediately to discuss countermeasures."

  "A large troop?" Gu Qing slightly furrowed his brow: "In the imperial capital, only the Emperor of Great Qi can mobilize a large troop. Could it be that the Emperor of Great Qi wants to deal with me?!"

  Xu Bingning was taken aback, her expression changing to one of alarm: "This...this can't be possible, right? Wu Weihou and my father are both renowned high-ranking officials in the Great Qi Dynasty. If Your Majesty truly orders our arrest due to Qingpingshou's impertinence, won't that chill the ardor of all the officials in the imperial court?"

  Gu Qing didn't bother with all that, and directly carried Xu Xiaolin out of the Wu Wei Hou Fu. At this point, there was no need to pack up their luggage either!

  As for going to the council chamber to discuss countermeasures?

  If His Majesty really wants to deal with the Wuwei Marquis Manor, no matter how hard they try, it's impossible to change this situation.

  However, just as Gu Qing walked out of the remote North Courtyard and arrived at the entrance of the Hou Mansion's courtyard, Gu Dingzhong should have appeared in the courtyard according to reason. But outside the courtyard, on the wide street, a large team of elite soldiers, all composed of top-notch martial artists, quickly surrounded the area from all sides, and soon, they had already encircled several main exits of the Hou Mansion!

  These soldiers rushing forward were all wearing fine armor, one hand holding a sharp wooden knife and the other holding a heavy shield that could protect nearly two-thirds of their body. At first glance, they seemed invincible. In addition to these wooden knife-wielding soldiers, there were also many gun-wielding soldiers waiting in formation behind them. On some higher ground, many crossbowmen had already climbed up, their arrows shining with cold light as they aimed at every corner of the Hou Mansion.

  "Blood Flame Army!?" After glancing at the blood-red flame emblem on the armor of these soldiers, Gu Dingzhong's expression changed instantly. He roared towards the vast crowd on the street: "How dare you, Wang Shendu, to secretly mobilize troops to surround the Wuwei Hou Mansion? Are you trying to rebel?"

  As General Wang Shendu rode out on his tall and majestic horse, he coldly swept his gaze over Gu Dingzhong and the others who were standing at the gate of the courtyard, surrounded by a dozen guards: "Hmph, rebellion!? The Wuwei Marquis's estate dares to offend the King of Zhenxi and the Second Prince? This is simply outrageous! Today, I, Wang Shendu, will personally lead the army in place of His Majesty the Emperor, and capture all of you reckless fools, handing you over to the King of Zhenxi for punishment!"

  Needless to say, the man who was fully wrapped in thick armor was none other than Wang Shendu, the commander of the Blood Flame Army and the General of Conquering the North.

  "Wang Shendu, don't forget that you are leading the Emperor's army and receiving the Emperor's salary. Everything is given to you by the Emperor, not by the King of Western Quelling who is far away in the west. Without the Emperor's edict, you dare to lead your troops recklessly on the streets of the capital, isn't this rebellion?"

  "This is an extraordinary time, when extraordinary things are done. With the imperial edict in hand, that's all I need! No more idle talk with you people. Now, surrender to me completely and await your fate. If anyone dares to resist, at my one command, I will make the Wuwei Marquis Manor flow with blood!"

  "Wang Shendu, you dare!"

  "You watch me dare not, all officers and soldiers listen to orders, give me..."

  The order of Wang Shentu had not been issued, but Gu Qing, who was standing beside Gu Ding, suddenly drew his sword and threw it out. The sharp sword light instantly shattered the void and heavily shot into the gap in Wang Shentu's armor, with great force, directly knocking this master of the eighth rank off his horse and into the crowd, fresh red blood immediately spraying out from the gap in the armor!

  "Good!" Seeing Gu Qing behead Wang Shendu, a sharp light flashed in Gu Dingzhong's eyes, and he strode out with large steps, shouting loudly: "I am Gu Dingzhong, the Cavalry General of the Great Qi Dynasty! In terms of military rank, I am not at all inferior to your commander Wang Shendu. Your commander is bewitched and doesn't know who has been deceived by evil words, daring to surround and attack a national minister. It's clear that you have rebellious intentions! Now you've been punished! I spare you because you haven't committed a great crime yet. Immediately put down your weapons and wait for orders. If you persist in your mistake and follow the wicked to harm high-ranking officials in the court, once His Majesty investigates, you will be executed along with your entire clan!"

  Gu Dingzhong had a certain prestige among the younger generation, and many soldiers in the field naturally knew his identity. At this moment, they heard him shouting loudly, even saying that he wanted to exterminate nine clans, and for a time, everyone couldn't help but hesitate!

  "What's going on? Are you really willing to follow this rebel to death?"

  "This..."

  The soldiers saw Gu Dingzhong's serious tone and looked at each other, but no one dared to take the lead.

  Just as Gu Ding was about to shout again, adding a few more charges to force these soldiers to lay down their arms and retreat into the crowd, Wang Shendu, who should have been dead by now, climbed up again with the support of his personal guards, roaring in anger: "You scoundrels! I, Wang Shendu, was ordered by the Second Prince to lead troops to surround your Wuwei Marquis Manor. The Second Prince can personally vouch for me!"

  "Ah!? Not dead!?" Gu Qing glanced at the thick armor on Wang Shendu's body and slightly furrowed his brow.

  At this time, he had already hidden himself in the midst of the soldiers' encirclement. To shoot and kill him with the extremely sharp Xuanjin sword in his hand was no longer an easy task.

  "Hmph, what about the Second Prince? Can't he represent His Imperial Majesty?"

  "The Second Prince is to be appointed as the Crown Prince this year, and will inherit the throne. Everyone in Da Qi knows this! We are just following orders, our actions are justified, and yet your Hou Mansion dares to resist with force, assassinating me, the commander of this army, with swords and daggers. It's clear that you have a guilty conscience. I think it's obvious that you are the ones who want to rebel!"

  The words stopped here, and Wang Shen's voice suddenly rose high, loudly ordering: "The Wuwei Hou Mansion openly defied the imperial edict, the crime is unforgivable! All officers listen to my orders, take them all down for me. If there is any resistance, kill without hesitation!"