r18novel Chapter 171 Dragon Guard Manor! Demons, monsters, spirits, and humans!
Chapter 171 Dragon Guard Manor! Demons, monsters, spirits, and humans!
Chapter 171 Dragon Guard Manor! Demons, monsters, spirits, and humans!
Yu Huatian went to Hulong Villa without stopping. He and Cao Zhengchun had different personalities, and he never entrusted important matters to others.
The change of the Imperial Guard instructor is good news, but Yu Huatian is unsure of Li Xunhuan's character and whether he can become an ally in the future. Therefore, it is important for Yu Huatian to make contact with this person in advance.
Entrusting the search for Li Xunhuan to the Dragon Guard Manor was just a pretext; Yu Huatian would still send the Western Depot's forces to investigate his whereabouts.
The purpose of this visit is to have a word with Zhu Wushi.
Compared to the strained relationship between Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi, the West Depot and the Dragon Guard Villa never had a conflict, or at least they maintained a state of mutual non-interference.
The location of the Dragon Guardian Manor is mysterious and little is known to people in the world, but Yu Huatian is an exception.
But when he actually arrived near the Dragon Guardian Manor, Yu Huatian was at a loss. The reason was simple: he had forgotten about the tricky illusion array outside the manor.
The Dragon Guardian Manor, which gathers heroes from all over the world, has several array masters with high skill in array formations. They create illusion arrays based on the terrain of the mountains to conceal the entire manor.
Even if a large army attacks, without the correct method to break the formation, they will get lost in the illusion and find it difficult to escape.
The formations in this world are not simple illusions, but true formations driven by spiritual energy. Even a martial arts master like Yu Huatian would find it difficult to break them by brute force.
"How could I have forgotten about this damned formation!"
The scenery in front of Yu Huatian suddenly changed, and he realized that he was already in the middle of a great formation. It was best not to make any rash moves at the moment.
The Dragon Guardian Manor will soon realize that someone has broken into the formation; he just needs to wait patiently and someone will come.
A moment later.
Yu Huatian's vision blurred, and several masked men dressed in black appeared in front of him, staring at him without saying a word.
These are the visible sentries of the Dragon Guard Manor; some hidden sentries are also concealed within the illusion array.
"The Emperor has decreed that Iron-Blooded Marquis be summoned to receive the decree."
Yu Huatian looked at the group coldly.
The guards exchanged glances, and the leader clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yu Huatian, saying, "Please wait a moment, Commander."
After saying that, the group disappeared without a trace.
Before long, the illusion array suddenly dissipated, and Yu Huatian's vision cleared up.
He was now standing in front of the Dragon Guardian Manor, and couldn't help but show a look of horror.
He clearly remembered that he hadn't moved an inch after entering the illusion array, so how could he suddenly appear in front of the manor?
"Hahaha, Grandpa Rain, don't panic. That's how illusion arrays work. They can affect a person's five senses without them even realizing it. You think you haven't moved an inch, but you've actually walked quite a distance!"
As the laughter rang out, a dashing middle-aged man suddenly appeared, his fierce gaze and imposing presence giving off an immense sense of pressure.
"You flatter me, Lord Divine Marquis. I was merely curious." The proud Yu Huatian naturally wouldn't show weakness in front of Zhu Wushi, and replied stiffly.
Seeing this, Zhu Wushi didn't expose him, but asked with a smile, "I wonder what His Majesty's decree is that requires you to make this trip in person, Eunuch!"
Getting down to business, Yu Huatian's expression turned serious, and he said in a low voice, "This is not the place to talk. I would appreciate it if you could arrange a quiet room, Lord Divine Marquis."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Wushi immediately understood the seriousness of the matter. He hurriedly led Yu Huatian into the Dragon Guard Manor, went straight to his study, and arranged for many people to be stationed around it.
All of this was accomplished in a very short time; the massive estate moved like a perfectly sealed, cold machine.
Looking at the disciplined and uncompromising Hulong Manor, Yu Huatian was secretly shocked. Their efficiency far surpassed that of the two factories.
"Is this guy training the people from the Dragon Guard Manor like an army?"
Yu Huatian suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
After dismissing his attendants, Zhu Wushi asked in a deep voice, "Eunuch Yu, what is it that makes His Majesty so anxious?"
Yu Huatian said, "His Majesty cherishes the memory of Chief Constable Guo of the Six Doors for his hard work and great achievements, and fears that he might overwork himself. Therefore, he has relieved Chief Constable Guo of his post as Instructor of the Imperial Guards and selected someone else to fill the position."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Wushi looked shocked. "Brother Guo is a diligent and loyal man, devoted to the emperor and the country. How could he be dismissed from his post for no reason? What is His Majesty's intention?"
Yu Huatian coughed lightly. "Lord Shenhou, I have already explained. His Majesty is worried about Lord Guo's health and fears that he is overworked by holding two positions. He has no other intentions."
Zhu Wushi didn't believe such an explanation at all. He began to ponder what the young emperor was up to. In his eyes, the emperor had liked to do things he couldn't understand ever since he ascended the throne.
Yu Huatian smiled and said, "Divine Marquis, I've come to see you today for the position of the new Imperial Guard Instructor."
Zhu Wushi was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. Could it be that the young emperor was going to hand over this important position to him?
If he controlled the Imperial Guard, his power would leap forward, and he could even try things he never dared to imagine before.
Zhu ignored the greed that was buried deep in his heart and gradually surfaced.
"The Imperial Guard instructors are responsible for His Majesty's safety, which is a great responsibility. I also have duties at the Dragon Guard Manor, so I'm afraid I can't be in two places at once."
Zhu ignored the smile and thought it best to decline for now, lest the young emperor become suspicious.
"Haha, as expected of His Majesty's uncle, the Divine Marquis truly understands His Majesty's heart. His Majesty also considered this point, which is why he chose someone else to sit in the position of Imperial Guard Instructor," Yu Huatian replied with a smile.
Zhu Wushi's smile vanished quickly, and he glared at Yu Huatian with an unfriendly expression. "Damn eunuch, how dare you make fun of me!"
"It would be better if Father-in-law said everything at once."
Sensing Zhu Wushi's sudden change in attitude, Yu Huatian toned down his teasing and said seriously, "His Majesty wants the Dragon Guard Manor to find Li Tanhua to serve as the new head instructor of the Imperial Guards."
"Li Tanhua?" Zhu Wushi found the name somewhat familiar. After a moment's thought, he exclaimed in surprise, "Li Xunhuan, the Flying Dagger who never misses a shot?"
Yu Huatian nodded. "It is indeed this person!"
"Isn't it a bit risky for Your Majesty to appoint him as the head instructor of the Imperial Guards? Li Xunhuan has been missing for many years, and no one knows his current situation."
Zhu Wushi seemed to still have a lingering affection for the head of the Imperial Guards, and his words implied that he wanted the young emperor to choose someone else.
"My Lord, there's no need to worry. Several years ago, I met Li Tanhua outside the Great Wall. At that time, he used his Little Li Flying Dagger skill to kill more than twenty demons with one strike and save a passing caravan. It was truly a divine skill."
"To be honest, if it were a head-on confrontation, even we wouldn't be confident of dodging the legendary Little Li Flying Dagger."
Recalling the situation at the time, even the usually arrogant Yu Huatian couldn't help but show a hint of fear.
Zhu Wushi said with concern, "With the upheavals that occurred decades ago, the number of top sects in the martial arts world has increased significantly. If they unite, they will pose a great threat to the imperial court, and we must take precautions."
"That is precisely why our Ming Dynasty needs the return of someone like Li Xunhuan—"
"Does His Majesty mean he wants the Dragon Guard Manor to search for Li Xunhuan?"
"The Divine Marquis is truly wise. In terms of intelligence capabilities, what force in the world can compare to the Dragon Guard Manor!"
"Didn't Eunuch Yu meet Li Xunhuan outside the Great Wall? Finding him shouldn't be too difficult for you, right?"
"To be honest, after our hasty farewell outside the Great Wall back then, I actually looked for Li Xunhuan once, but by then he had already left the Great Wall and his whereabouts were unknown."
"Oh, in that case, it will be a bit difficult to find the Dragon Guard Manor. Do you have any other clues, sir?"
"You flatter me, Divine Marquis. If I had other leads, His Majesty wouldn't have bothered you."
Zhu Wushi observed Yu Huatian's expression and only nodded in agreement after confirming that the other party was not lying. He always felt that the other party was hiding something from him.
"His Majesty awaits good news from the Divine Marquis and hopes that he will find Li Xunhuan soon."
Having said all he needed to say, Yu Huatian took his leave, but as he went, he kept looking around at the layout of the Dragon Guard Villa, hoping to glean some clues.
Unfortunately, he was just a martial artist and knew nothing about formations, so watching him was pointless.
Zhu Wushi squinted as he watched Yu Huatian's departing figure, looking thoughtful.
"Bring Tianya and Yidao here!"
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Duan Tianya, the number one secret agent of the Heavenly Realm, and Gui Haiyidao, the number one secret agent of the Earthly Realm, arrived at Zhu Wushi's study.
"Godfather, what urgent matter brings you to us?"
Duan Tianya and Gui Haiyi knelt on one knee and asked respectfully.
"Put aside what you're doing for now; there's a more important task for you to complete!"
Upon hearing this, Duan Tianya and Gui Haiyidao, though somewhat puzzled, obediently nodded in agreement to Zhu Wushi's order.
Zhu Wushi said, "You two should set off immediately to find Li Xunhuan and bring him back to the capital."
Duan Tianya felt the name sounded familiar and asked, "Godfather, is that Li Xunhuan, the one who ranked third in the imperial examination ten years ago and was known as Little Li Flying Dagger?"
Zhu Wushi nodded.
Guihai Yidao asked, "Why are you looking for this person?"
Zhu Wushi frowned slightly and said with displeasure, "Do you still remember what the most important rule for secret agents is?"
Gui Haiyi replied with his head down, "We don't ask why we're carrying out missions."
Zhu Wushi said coldly, "It's good that you know. There's one thing you must remember on this trip: if Li Xunhuan is unwilling to enter the capital, you can use some special means."
"yes!"
The two bowed and left, accepting their orders.
Zhu Wushi paced back and forth in the study. After pondering for a long time, he walked to the desk, reached out and pressed his hand on the inkstone on the desk. Then he twisted it, and a rumbling sound came from the innermost wall of the study, slowly revealing a secret passage.
He continued forward along the long, dark passage until water began to seep into the dark stone walls, and suddenly light appeared ahead.
When Zhu Wushi emerged from the secret passage, he was already standing in a pavilion in the middle of a lake, with the Dragon Guard Manor becoming a blurry background in the distance.
Several black figures appeared silently before Zhu Wushi like ghosts, knelt respectfully on the ground, and shouted, "Master!"
These shadowy figures were actually shadow guards secretly trained by Zhu Wushi. They were all shady characters, unknown not only to the emperor but also to the spies of the Dragon Guard Manor.
"You guys go and check Guo Bujing's whereabouts, see what he's been up to lately."
"The emperor wouldn't dismiss him without a reason; he must have done something taboo."
At this point, Zhu Wushi suddenly remembered Yu Huatian's strange attitude and continued to instruct, "Also, check the recent movements of the two factories."
"Yes, sir!"
Several shadow guards suddenly disappeared before Zhu Wushi's eyes.
After finishing these tasks, Zhu Wushi did not immediately return to the Dragon Guard Manor. Instead, he sat in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, gazing at the continuous mountain ranges all around.
At this moment, he seemed to have become one with the pavilion, his life as if he were trapped by the mountains before him, never to be free.
"Father, one day I will prove that I am stronger than my elder brother, stronger than his son, and that I am the true master of the Ming Dynasty!"
After enjoying a good drink at Tongfu Inn, Chu Yang left Qixia Town with Li Gexiao early the next morning. Having lived a repressive life in the capital for more than 20 years, he was now eager to enjoy a new life.
Having been confined in a cage for so long, I have finally returned to nature.
Chu Yang could entrust everything along the way to Li Gexiao with peace of mind. Unlike Guo Furong, who was only half-baked, Li Gexiao, who was once a commander of the Imperial Guard, had a wealth of experience in the martial arts world.
Having grown accustomed to riding in carriages, Chu Yang decided to cycle down the Yangtze River, traveling on the official road with Li Gexiao.
"Your Highness, you must be careful on this trip to the south. Lawbreakers are one thing, but more importantly, the frequency of demons appearing will greatly increase, including many spirit demons and demon humans."
"The legendary Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons seems to be located in the southwest region. Apart from a few wealthy cities that are unaffected, the other towns are ravaged by demons, which is also the area where the Divine Marquis's Mansion fights most fiercely with demons."
"For safety's sake, we'd better avoid these places."
Listening to Li Gexiao's description, Chu Yang couldn't help but ask curiously, "You mentioned demons, spirit demons, and demon humans earlier. What's the difference between these three?"
Li Gexiao knew that Chu Yang had grown up in the secluded capital city and had no knowledge of the three things, so she patiently explained to him: "Generally speaking, spirit demons refer to plants and animals that have gained intelligence after attaining enlightenment. Some spirit demons can transform into human form after they have enough strength, which is what we often call great demons."
"The Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons that I just mentioned is a gathering place for great demons."
Chu Yang nodded. The spirit demons and the demon races in the Xianxia world are basically the same, with no major differences.
Li Gexiao continued, "The so-called demons are divided into two categories. One category refers to humans who have fallen into demonic ways. Some of them cultivate demonic techniques, while others inherit the bloodline of the demonic race and have become half-human, half-demon beings. The other category consists of the offspring of humans and great demons."
"Most demons share the same stance as spirit demons, helping them devise strategies and becoming enemies of the human race. Therefore, all demons are regarded as traitors to the human race and have been constantly hunted down by humans. Many of the criminals arrested by the Six Doors are demons."
Unlike the half-demons who are unwanted and neglected by their maternal relatives in the world of immortals and heroes, demons thrive in this world and are still the greatest enemy of the human race.
Chu Yang then asked, "What about the demons? Did the spirits fall and become demons?"
When demons were mentioned, Li Gexiao became more serious than ever before. He shook his head and said, "Although demons have the word 'demon' in their name, they have nothing to do with spirits or demons."
"The birth of spirits and demons is related to the great upheaval that occurred decades ago, but the birth of monsters predates that upheaval!"
"There are even rumors that demons were the root cause of that cataclysmic change!"
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