"His Majesty has agreed," said Queen Wu as she sat behind a table in the Cool Palace Hall. Her voice was solemn as her golden phoenix and peony branches fluttered in the wind.
At this moment, His Majesty's side had already settled down. Queen Wu had dismissed everyone except Xie Yun. Only Shan Chao, who had come with Xie Yun, stood far behind the vermilion door. His tall figure could be seen in the light and shadow.
Xie Yun finally asked the question that she hadn't had the chance to ask, "Back then, Yin Kaiyang led the Dark Clan and left the capital without permission. His Majesty was furious and scolded the Dark Clan for being greedy and failing to live up to His Majesty's grace. Why is he so determined to stand on Yin Kaiyang's side this time?"
The Emperor had always been suspicious. His behavior today was completely different from usual. This was something that anyone with eyes could see clearly.
"I don't know …" Queen Wu sighed deeply and said, "Three days ago, His Majesty suddenly woke up from a nightmare. At this time, Yin Kaiyang, who had disappeared for many years, suddenly appeared. His Majesty was very impatient at first, but after seeing Yin Kaiyang, he suddenly became very gentle and quiet. He even closed the door for three days to discuss national affairs with him …"
"Your Majesty didn't go in to listen?"
"No."
Queen Wu gritted her teeth and said, "After His Majesty came out, he became very obedient to Yin Kaiyang. Not only did he not pursue the matter of the Dark Clan leaving the capital several years ago, he also wholeheartedly helped him seize the position of Alliance Leader. He said that this was the best opportunity to rule the martial arts world. It was as if he had become a different person …"
Xie Yun's expression changed slightly.
Queen Wu had been paying attention to his expression. She immediately asked sensitively, "What's wrong?"
However, Xie Yun was silent for a moment and said, "Nothing."
Without waiting for Queen Wu to ask further, he changed the topic and asked, "Did Yin Kaiyang put forward any other ideas other than 'wiping out the world'?"
Queen Wu tightened her grip on the teacup and said harshly, "Not so far. He's been talking about the Martial Arts Circle Assembly and hasn't mentioned anything about the imperial harem, the Crown Prince, or the imperial court. He's been quite respectful to me. But that's why he's so vicious!
Now that the imperial court is full of aristocratic families, the Dark Clan can't get a share of it openly, so they came up with this idea. The first step is to use the Emperor's trust to gain the support of the people. The second step is to use the support of the people to seize something. Is there a need to say more?! "
Empress Wu was worthy of being the key figure who defeated Empress Wang and Imperial Concubine Xiao, killed Zhangsun Wuji and Zhu Suiliang, and completely overturned the Guanlong Clan. Her extremely sharp political sense couldn't help but be praised as shrewd and ruthless.
"We can't let him get what he wants," Queen Wu said coldly, "The Emperor has made up his mind to annihilate the Wulin Alliance. But if there has to be someone to be the leader, that person definitely can't be Yin Kaiyang!"
Xie Yun, who was sitting behind the table, shook his head.
Queen Wu asked, "What's wrong?"
\\
"Yin Kaiyang's martial arts are indeed the best in the world," Xie Yun said softly, "In terms of martial arts, no one is his match."
Those who weren't proficient in martial arts probably wouldn't understand the absolute meaning behind this sentence.
Wu Hou subconsciously furrowed her delicately drawn brows. "Is there no one in this world who can beat him?"
Xie Yun didn't say anything.
"If the Imperial Army first uses attrition warfare to deplete his combat power, then …"
"Die."
Queen Wu was shocked by these two words. She hesitated, "Even you … don't even have the power to fight?"
Xie Yun was silent for a long time this time.
From Queen Wu's point of view, he seemed to be repeatedly weighing the combat power of the two sides. But if one looked carefully, one would realize that he was actually just quietly staring at a piece of drifting dust in the air.
Queen Wu suspected that he had forgotten her question. Just as she was about to repeat it, she heard Xie Yun slowly and deeply say, "… Yes."
"If you only want to fight."
The air suddenly stagnated, like an ice-cold and heavy liquid that slowly flowed through the silent hall in the void.
Queen Wu hesitated for a long time before finally asking,
"… Then can you defeat him and take the position of the leader?"
In the courtyard under the moonlight.
The palace lanterns in the distance were gradually extinguished. The last bit of human voices were drowned in the cold wind. The water in late autumn seemed to be covered with a layer of frost.
Xie Yun sat on the jade railing beside the pond with a fur cloak draped over his shoulders. He lazily raised the wine pot.
He never wore a high hat or a high bun like the men nowadays. Most of the time, he casually tied his hair up with a scarlet ribbon. The long hair hanging down from the side of his neck had a soft and cold texture like water in the night.
At this time, he was probably a little drunk. He didn't reach out to tuck his hair behind his ears. His shoulders were slightly drooping, and his eyes were lazily staring at the water.
The sound of light footsteps approached from behind. Xie Yun didn't even turn his head. He suddenly said, "Stop."
The footsteps stopped.
Neither of them said anything. After a long time, Shan Chao said calmly, "Don't drink anymore. Your body can't take it."
Xie Yun sneered. He lifted the wine pot and took a big gulp.
However, at this time, Shan Chao suddenly reached out and gently took the wine pot away. He threw it on the ground with a clang. The wine that spilled out immediately emitted a mellow fragrance.
"Han Tingchun — —" Xie Yun dragged his words and mocked, "How generous. A drop of wine worth a thousand gold is spilled just like that. Have you ever seen so much money in your life?"
His voice was slightly hoarse because he was in a daze. Even his mocking voice gave people an inexplicable feeling.
"Your life is worth more than this," Shan Chao replied.
Shan Chao lifted the cloak that was about to fall off Xie Yun's shoulders and wrapped it tightly around his thin and tall body. He then carefully tucked the soft and plump fur around his neck.
As he did this, he ran his fingers across the side of Xie Yun's slender neck. He felt that his pulse was weak and intermittent. He almost couldn't feel any steady beat. Under the pale moonlight, his blood vessels emitted a faint green glow.
Xie Yun closed his eyes and said, "Of course my life is worth more."
Shan Chao asked, "Compared to the position of Wulin's Alliance Head, which is worth more?"
Xie Yun didn't answer. After a long time, it was hard to tell whether he was awake or in a daze. He muttered, "Riches and honor are found in danger …"
Shan Chao said coldly, "Queen Wu asked you to think about it carefully and give her an answer tomorrow. Have you thought about how you're going to reply?"
Xie Yun's eyes were still closed. It seemed that if this continued, he would fall asleep.
However, Shan Chao stood in front of him patiently, suppressing and restraining himself. After a long time, Xie Yun's lips twitched. It was a short and almost unnoticeable smile.
"With Yin Kaiyang's current strength, it's actually easy for him to become the most powerful person in the world. This time, he spent so much effort to do something to the Emperor because he wanted to borrow the power of the imperial court to bring the Dark Clan to the surface.
If I don't do anything, there are very few people in this world who can stop him … "
"When the Dark Clan comes out again, the situation will be gone forever." Xie Yun said leisurely, "The real power in the Empress' hands will be very dangerous."
Shan Chao's voice revealed a trace of ruthlessness, "The Empress' power is worth more than your own life, right?"
Xie Yun finally opened his eyes and repeated slowly, "Riches and honor are found in danger, my disciple."
Shan Chao was speechless under his teasing gaze.
"No matter who has the power, it's still power. As long as it's there, there will be countless people fighting for it. For it, there will be countless people who will do anything to get it … Do you know what's scarier than risking one's life for the sake of power?"
Shan Chao did not reply.
"It's not even having the right to sit at the gambling table," Xie Yun said.
He stretched out his slender index finger and pointed at Shan Chao's chest. Under the moonlight, his fingertips glowed with a jade-like bluish-white color.
"To most people in this world, you're very lucky. You don't have to work hard for a few decades to sit at the gambling table.
But remember, this is not what you're really lucky about. It's that you don't have to pay any price and can walk down this table easily. "
Xie Yun came down from the jade railing. Probably because he was drunk, he stumbled when his toes touched the ground. Shan Chao raised his hand and supported him.
Xie Yun broke free and waved his hand casually. He turned around and walked to the back hall — — that was where he rested and lived in the Cool Palace.
Shan Chao moved. It seemed that he wanted to follow him, but he restrained himself.
He stared at Xie Yun's back as he walked to the end of the corridor. Then, he opened the door and stepped over the threshold — — At this moment, his knees gave way, but before he fell, he felt the wind whistling behind him. He was firmly held by someone!
It was Dan Chao who had flitted across the corridor at the critical moment and caught him horizontally!
In an instant, Shan Chao's entire body stiffened. His muscles were as tight as a rock. His mind could not think of anything.
"… …" He said incoherently, "You drank too much, so I said … …"
Then, he did not dare to look down at Xie Yun's expression. He half supported and half carried Xie Yun into the room and onto the bed.
At that moment, his thoughts were so chaotic that he couldn't even remember how far it was from the threshold to the bed. His mind was filled with the sensations coming from his palms and hugs, as if countless tiny electric currents were flowing through his entire body.
Then, he subconsciously took a few steps back. He held his sword and stood behind the door in a daze. When he finally reacted, he realized that there was no one in the room. Behind the layers of gorgeous bed curtains, there was the sound of steady and long breathing.
Xie Yun had fallen asleep.
Shan Chao took a step forward. After hesitating for a moment, he took another step forward.
His steps had never been so hurried and hesitant before. It was as if he was deeply attracted by the inexplicable evil in front of him. On the other hand, he was doing his best to resist and retreat.
`
A few months ago, under the moonlight in Chang An, the Commander of the Imperial Army glanced through the gap in the carriage curtains. Now, the faint sound of breathing behind the bed curtains intertwined and changed in front of Shan Chao's eyes. In the end, it turned into a dissolute, frivolous, and aloof face.
— — That face was handsome in a way that no one could compare to, but it also contained unimaginable malice.
"Monk," he said mockingly, "It seems that you and I have an ill-fated relationship."
Shan Chao half-knelt beside the bed and gently held Xie Yun's hand. He stared at her thin, light red lips as if he was possessed.
"Master … …" he whispered.
Just saying this word, which was full of taboo and evil, had an endless attraction.
"If you kiss me, I will … …"
I will sit with you at this gambling table.
I am willing to do anything for you.
Shan Chao trembled as he leaned forward. His lips were inches away from hers. But just as they were about to touch, he stopped abruptly.
He painfully closed his eyes. After a moment, he suddenly got up and forced himself to take a step back and turn his head.
He couldn't look back.
He couldn't.
Shan Chao strode out of the room. When he closed the door, he was trembling so much that he almost pinched his fingers. But he didn't even notice. He hurriedly walked through the long corridor. His footsteps were messy, and he almost tripped as he ran down the stairs.
He was like a defeated army running away.
He rushed back to his small bedroom in the Imperial Bodyguards' office. He slammed the door shut and let out a long sigh.
Then, he couldn't take it back.
He saw a white light wrapped in a strong wind coming down from above. In an instant, it was in front of his face.
— — Clang!
In the nick of time, Shan Chao pulled out his sword and attacked. The two swords collided head-on, splashing out a stream of terrifying sparks. In an instant, the attacker's face was illuminated.
"— — Shan Chao." The man behind the sword smiled and said, "I've long heard of your name. How have you been?"
Shan Chao coldly said, "… … Yin Kaiyang."
Yin Kaiyang swung his arm, and the long saber slid past the sword with a teeth-numbing screech. Dan Chao immediately changed his moves to block, and countless cold lights exploded in the narrow bedroom at the same time. In an instant, the two of them had exchanged several blows on the edge of life and death.
Yin Kaiyang laughed and said, "Ah Yun's skills are so weak. Compared to the last time when you lost to me, your kung fu has improved tremendously. It can be seen that your talent is not bad."
Shan Chao used the body of his sword to block the edge of the sword. In an instant, the sword slid up and slashed diagonally. Long Yuan's seven stars were activated by his internal energy and lit up one after another. The murderous aura formed an extremely strange arc and headed straight for Yin Kaiyang's throat.
Shan Chao shouted, "Who has ever lost to you?!"
Yin Kaiyang had no choice but to abandon his saber and retreat. The tip of the sword brushed past his neck in the blink of an eye, without a sound!
"— — What?" Yin Kaiyang politely expressed his surprise, "Young man, are you such a sore loser?"
Yin Kaiyang was definitely not young. However, the half of his face that was exposed under the mask did not show his age. When he smiled, the fine lines at the corners of his mouth looked like the accumulation of years.
Although both of them covered their faces, Yin Kaiyang and Xie Yun were two completely different people in terms of appearance. Xie Yun was born with a rare handsomeness, and even with a mask, it was difficult to completely hide his unforgettable silhouette. Yin Kaiyang, on the other hand, must have been the majority when he was young. He was neither ugly nor outstanding.
However, the traces of age and mature demeanor, as well as the supreme power he had in the Dark Clan for twenty years, gave him an indescribable aura. If he were to be placed in a crowd, he would not be any less conspicuous than Shan Chao.
"Jing Ling mentioned you when he reported to me about the Casting Sword Village. Therefore, I was very curious and wanted to know what you have become."
Yin Kaiyang paused and looked at Shan Chao with interest, "Catoptric Deflection only works on people with extremely strong willpower and without fear in their hearts. I didn't expect that you, who had no resistance back then, would become the first person I've seen in my life who is unaffected by Catoptric Deflection. It's really sad."
Shan Chao's hand holding the sword was as steady as iron, "I'm sorry, I've forgotten about the past."
"… Forgotten?"
Shan Chao did not answer.
Yin Kaiyang frowned and suddenly thought of something. He smiled and said, "So that's how it is!"
He suddenly stood up and rushed over. This time, he did not try to snatch the sword. Instead, he used his hands to block the sword. After a short exchange of blows, he suddenly flashed to Shan Chao's side and reached out to hit the back of Shan Chao's head.
How could Shan Chao let him hit him?
He immediately turned his body and tilted his head. The Seven Stars Long Yuan's sword emitted a cold aura and chopped down on Yin Kaiyang's hands!
However, it was too late.
Yin Kaiyang's palm came and swept the back of Shan Chao's head, which was close to his neck. Immediately after, he retreated at lightning speed and activated the best Lightness Skill in Jianghu in the past hundred years, Cloud Ladder. He almost disappeared from the spot and reappeared at the corner of the room at the same time. In a flash, he dodged the Seven Stars Long Yuan's attack!
Shan Chao suddenly raised his hand and pressed on the back of his head. He shouted, "What are you doing?!"
What he did not see was that a silver needle as thin as a hair was stimulated by the wind from his palm. It suddenly slid out from the acupuncture point behind his ear and fell to the ground silently. It then disappeared in a flash!
"No wonder illusions don't work on you. I thought there were really people who were fearless in this world. It turns out that you've just forgotten all the things that scare you."
Yin Kaiyang shook his head and clapped his hands. He then smiled and said, "Xie Yun's method of inserting needles into the brain is amazing. I can't break it in a short time … but this should be enough for now."
Shan Chao wanted to say something, but just as he raised his voice to his throat, he suddenly felt an oppressive pain at the back of his head!
Shan Chao had never felt this kind of pain before in his life. It was like a huge shadow that had been buried in the depths of his mind for a long time suddenly broke free from its shackles and floated to the surface. It became clearer and clearer, and more and more shocking. The strong oppressive force even made his vision turn black.
He only saw Yin Kaiyang blinking his eyes. The ghostly white light that appeared in the warm room during the day flashed in the bottom of his eyes again. He stared straight at his own eyes.
— Catoptric Deflection.
At this time, he actually used that strange eye technique again!
"Let's see what you fear the most. Can you still leave the illusion of Catoptric Deflection …?"
Yin Kaiyang's voice was almost gentle, completely different from his pair of cold and strange eyes. In the darkness, it gave people a kind of illusion of a cold shiver.
But Shan Chao did not hear it.
In his ears, Yin Kaiyang's voice and the simple things around him gradually faded away. It turned into a cold and distant, hazy fog.
The thing that he feared the most.
Shan Chao suddenly raised his hand and pressed between his eyebrows. His chest rose and fell violently, and he let out a heavy and unbelievable gasp.
The sword edge that pierced through the yellow sand under the scorching sun and the blood-red sunset in the depths of the desert intertwined into countless spots and shadows in his mind.
— He remembered.
Xie Yun did not try to kill him for the first time on the day they left the desert. There was another time before that.
That time, Xie Yun really wanted him dead.