Chapter 108: Danger Lurks at Dawn

  Because of being disturbed by a common man, the entire Yan Wang Fu was in a mess, Zhu Bi was so angry that he wanted to jump out of his skin. At this time, Xi Men Qing, who had been treated as an invisible person, was staring at the person who truly belonged to the invisible person in his eyes, and suddenly appeared behind Xia Liu like a ghost.

  If an ordinary person were to swing their palm, they would be able to stir up a gentle breeze, and the head is an extremely sensitive area, so one should be able to perceive it. However, that person's palm was as swift as a shooting star, yet didn't bring even a wisp of smoke or fire. This palm strike barely hit Xia Chou's occipital bone, yet Xia Chou didn't have the slightest awareness that someone was behind him. Such palm technique must have been practiced to the extreme of softness and gentleness, to the point where one could use their palm to shatter a green brick while leaving a tofu intact.

  If this palm strike were to land, Xiaochun's brain would appear normal from the outside, but his cerebral cortex would have been smashed into a pulp, and he would die instantly. There is no chance of survival. This person's martial arts skills are incredibly high, and Ximen Qing can see his movements clearly. For a moment, he feels a chill run down the back of his head.

  He wore a pair of dark green boots, and a white robe with a high collar, he was no more than thirty years old, tall and strong, with a heavy brow and a dark complexion, his eyebrows were slightly raised, his eyes were sunken, but his pupils were bright and spirited, his chin was smooth and hairless. He withdrew his palm, but did not leave Xia Chuo's side, he just stood there quietly.

  Xia Fu's face showed no fear, he simply repeated what he had just said to the gatekeeper, then continued: "But that gatekeeper didn't believe me, and this matter can't be delayed any further. I was forced to resort to this inferior plan, please forgive me, Your Highness, and please forgive me, Princess."

  Xu Ming'er blinked her eyes, thinking in her heart: "Is this guy telling the truth or lying this time?"

  Zhu Di's furious expression vanished instantly, and his face turned solemn. He knew Xia Xiu's identity, and looking at Xia Xiu now, he was clear-headed, eloquent, and absolutely not like someone mentally unstable. He strolled slowly in the hall for a moment before turning to look at his wife.

  "Your Highness, this is a matter of great importance; it's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't."

  Zhu Dian nodded and said in a low voice: "Zhu Neng, did you hear all that?"

  Zhu Qianhu was fully armored and bowed with his fists: "Your subordinate has heard."

  Zhu Dian said: "Very well, you go with him and immediately apprehend those people. At the same time, notify the Judicial Department to thoroughly investigate this case."

  Although the matter was urgent, Zhu Di mobilized his own troops, but at this moment it was not wartime. All military and administrative affairs in Beiping were handled by local officials, and as a prince, he did not want to overstep his authority. He had always been careful about this and never used his princely power to bully others, lest he give others an excuse. Therefore, the matter could not be settled privately and had to be reported to the Judicial Department for trial according to law.

  The person Zhu Dian was referring to was Ximen Qing. Zhu Neng responded with a sound, saw Ximen Qing still dazed there, and pulled him out of the temple by his arm.

  Xia Fu asked: "Your Highness, what about the common people?"

  Zhu Dian smiled slightly: "You, just stay in the palace for now. If this matter is verified to be true, you will be rewarded for your merit. But if it's a false report of military information, you will be punished. Take him away and lock him up first."

  As soon as Zhu Bi's voice fell, two Hu Ben soldiers immediately walked towards Xia Chuo with big strides. The eunuch behind Xia Chuo slightly bowed to Zhu Bi and said in a voice with a southern accent: "Yes."

  Xia Liu only then sensed someone behind him and couldn't help but jump in fright. After the initial shock, he didn't think that this name was so well-known.

  "The Prince of Yan's mansion has been ordered to capture someone, and the people inside open the door one by one, no mistakes allowed."

  A civilian house was surrounded by a group of people, with golden armor and iron horses outside the door, in the fluttering night snow, revealing a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

  Someone from the White Lotus Sect hiding in the distance saw this scene and said to Peng Zhiqi, "Young Master Peng, the government troops have shown up, we can't stay here any longer, let's withdraw immediately."

  When the people of Xirui discovered that the news had leaked, they didn't have time to complain and immediately took action, notifying all personnel to relocate in advance. However, in reality, after leaving Laxin, they were unable to move an inch in Beiping. Even Dai Yubin had only stayed in Beiping during his childhood, and over the years, the city's appearance had changed; they had no one to turn to for help locally, and nowhere to go. Moreover, it was already late at night, and this being a border town, the city gates closed early, followed by a curfew. By then, all they could do was wait for their fate to be sealed.

  There is no escape, nor any way to retreat. Xi Ri Ba Ji has already smashed all the jars and is ready to flee to the Mongolian Khan at any moment. Others may think of defeat before victory, but he is fighting with his back against the water, leaving no room for survival. If he returns like this, the head of the tribe will likely be killed by the desperate tribesmen.

  So, Shi Rihai and Dai Yubin made up their minds to take a risk and sneak into the Prince of Yan's mansion. Now they had no choice but to successfully blow up the Prince of Yan's mansion, creating chaos throughout Beiping, or else their trip would be in vain and they wouldn't have a chance to escape amidst the chaos in the city. They immediately rushed to the leather goods store, bringing with them Xirhulige who had regained some energy after being fed.

  The White Lotus Society in Beiping is just a civilian gang organization, they dare not openly take up knives and guns to fight with others. Not to mention whether they have the ability, even if they do, this time it's about helping the government troops capture foreign enemies, after the success, they will inevitably enter the official vision, so they can only secretly follow.

  Peng Ziqi didn't make a move either, the other side had many people and was overwhelming, she alone couldn't control the situation at all, so she just

  Following them secretly, I wanted to find out where they were going. Once the officials and soldiers arrived, it would be easy to capture them. However, these people walked further and further into the wilderness, until they reached a desolate area near a dried-up pond in the western part of the city. They crouched down, seemingly doing something, but before long, they vanished without a trace.

  Peng Ziqi was shocked and quickly turned around to take a look, only to find that it was a smelly drainage pipe. This dirty place made her, a girl, have to crawl in, which was really difficult for her. Moreover, she didn't have any fire tools on her body, so she couldn't enter this dark cave. Helplessly, she quickly rushed back and kept an eye on those subordinates who were rushing to gather because of Xijiba's sudden departure without notice.

  Ximen Qing led the officials and soldiers to arrive, Peng Zhiyi immediately explained the situation to them, and finally made a sneak attack on several hiding points of the Mongols.

  The courtyard was pitch black, and the only lamp that had been lit in the house also went out. The small flag officer shouted three times, but there was no response from the courtyard. He immediately waved his hand, and the torches flew into the courtyard, followed by a dense array of soldiers with shields and swords, surging in like a wave. The troops brought out by Prince Yan Zhu Di were good at both defense and offense, with an aura of killing intent, leaving no room for a second chance.

  The people in the house finally made a move, holding various simple weapons and starting to resist. The soldiers who rushed in were neat and tidy, starting to kill people in an orderly manner. They remained absolutely calm, although they were individually brave and invincible, with sharp knives and guns that could not be resisted.

  At the moment of close combat, they didn't have time to resist the enemy's weapons, and they trusted their comrades fully, not retreating half a step, so as not to reveal any weaknesses in their formation. Their own weapons only coldly struck at the enemy's vital points, and such battles usually determined life or death within three moves.

  In less than half a stick of incense time, the Yan Wang guards began to clean up the battlefield. One by one, the bodies were carried out, and not a single Mongolian who had hidden in the house was left alive. The men personally selected by Xi Ri Ba Ri indeed lived up to the standard of dead soldiers, refusing to surrender and never yielding.

  The same scene was being played out in another mansion, the difference being that this place was hidden in the house where the Mongolians could not hold back their initiative to attack. Their initiative was just what the Yan Wang guards were waiting for, and in the open space, they were more able to play to their advantage of coordinated combat.

  The wild flash of the knife in the light of the torches was like a string of fireflies, and the human figure flashed fearfully. The sound of gold and iron clashing, the sound of sharp blades cutting through flesh, and the suppressed cries of pain and despair echoed through the air. A man who had been knocked off his feet by a large shield, then pierced in the thigh by a long spear, was immediately slashed open from chest to abdomen by a single knife. His internal organs spilled out, and he stumbled around, screaming, before being ruthlessly smashed on the head with an iron shield, crushing his skull with a loud crack, and falling to the ground with a thud.

  Steady and powerful footsteps trampled his body, moving in an orderly manner, and once again launched a surround-and-attack on the next person. When the battle here ended, three people were captured alive by the Yanwangfu guards, two of whom were seriously injured and one was lightly injured and captured in time.

  Dai Yubin and his team were lucky, the drainage ditch of the Yanwang Mansion was still built in the Yuan Dynasty, without any changes. They wore leather jackets, leather pants, and nailed shoes, and used wooden sticks and flying claws to assist them. Holding torches, they shuttled through the underground world like a labyrinth, and surprisingly didn't get lost.

  This place, which has not been visited by anyone for decades or even hundreds of years, is actually not lacking in life. Mice, cockroaches, stink bugs, and all sorts of trash are present. Although this pipe is mainly used to drain rainwater rather than supply water for daily use, its filthiness can be imagined. Even with thick towels covering their faces, they could still smell the foul odor. Fortunately, it's winter now, and they're dressed warmly, so they won't suffocate from the stench.

  "Here, come this way..."

  Dai Yubin looked at the drawings under the torch, and then checked against the stone signs that protruded from the wall, pointing to one of the four deep caves.

  Yan Wang Fu, one by one message rushed back, from these people's gains to see, Xia Jun's words were indeed true.

  "Unbelievable, unbelievable. I actually slept on a pile of gunpowder for over ten years. And to think that the Yuan people left such a huge hidden danger beneath the palace before they departed."

  Upon hearing the news, Yan Wang's three guards, Left Protector-in-Chief Zhang Yu, said: "Your Majesty, my troops have surrounded the entire palace according to your orders and personally selected the most elite team to enter the palace."

  "Huh? So that stinker was actually telling the truth this time." Ming'er, who had been listening to the news on the side, rolled her eyes and quietly slipped out.

  Xu Fei didn't notice her sister's departure, and anxiously said to her husband: "Wang Ye, the news that Xia Jiu's friend sent back says that a group of Mongols have already entered the drainage ditch, it's hard to guarantee they won't succeed. It's too dangerous here, Wang Ye should gather all the people in the mansion and temporarily move to the Bu Zheng Shi Ya Men for now, until those scoundrels are caught."

  Zhu Dian nodded and said, "The concubine's words are reasonable, immediately order all the people in the harem to withdraw." He moved his heart and suddenly thought of another thing, instructing Zhang Yu: "That Narenotoya is a palace maid from the former Left Palace, right? Strengthen the defense of the Left Palace, arrange manpower, remember to arrange manpower in secret, and only take action after they activate the mechanism."

  Zhang Yu said in surprise: "Your Highness, what is the reason for this?"

  Zhu Dian said solemnly: "We must use them to find the entrance of that secret passage, otherwise, even if we kill them, the trouble will not be eliminated, and I will not be able to live in peace."

  PS: Seeking recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, on the first day of the last week of this month, raise the battle flag and make a final charge.