The Second Prince left Baoyue Brothel. His expression was strangely cold. Regardless of what kind of information he had obtained in this conversation and what kind of trust and fear he had toward Fan Xian's purpose, the reality of tonight had already proven a lot. His power in the capital had already been mercilessly uprooted by Fan Xian. There were only two paths in front of him. One was to firmly rely on the Eldest Princess's side. The other was to do as Fan Xian thought and obediently withdraw from the battle for succession.
Without power, what could he use to fight? The Second Prince knew that if the situation continued to develop like this, if Fan Xian did not sweep through his power tonight, then in the near future, the Qing Kingdom would either sink into turmoil or he would be mercilessly purged.
He would not feel a glimmer of gratitude toward Fan Xian because Fan Xian had forced him onto a dead end.
After the Great Prince spoke a few words with Fan Xian, he also left Baoyue Brothel with a face full of worry. At the same time, he took the Third Prince with him. The conversation between the brothers in the royal family was not very pleasant. Since the Third Prince was returning to the Palace, as the Commander of the Imperial Army, it was appropriate for him to take him back.
The night was gradually getting darker. If there were not thick snow clouds in the sky, one would certainly be able to see that the moon had moved to where it should be in the middle of the night.
Fan Xian did not leave Baoyue Brothel. He sat alone for a long time and had the brothel prepare a bowl of lamb slices in clear soup. He ate it until his entire body was hot. He drank a few more cups of wine before slowly standing and walking to the window to look down.
Outside the window was a deathly silence. The people of the Jingdou government and the Garrison had all left. Baoyue Brothel was closed for the day. The girls had also gone to bed early. Only a few clever people were left to wait on him.
Inside the brothel, red candles stood silently. Fan Xian had Si Qing 'er prepare a bucket of hot water and took a comfortable bath.
After the bath, he rubbed his slightly red face and asked, "Has the Great Prince gone to Yangcong Alley these two days?"
Si Qing 'er was listening from the side, and she knew that the big boss was talking about the Hu princess. She shook her head and prepared to help him put on his clothes, but he waved her away.
Not long after, Sang Wen came in. This gentle shopkeeper of the Baoyue Brothel squatted down slightly and carefully put on his underwear. Her fingers slid across the surface of his well-proportioned muscles, and she couldn't help but be slightly startled. She didn't dare to move too much, and she carefully tied a hidden crossbow that was only three fingers wide to his left forearm.
Putting on the boots and inserting the long and thin black crossbow head into the boots, Sang Wen stood up and did the final tidying up of Fan Xian's clothing. She protected the black Overwatch Council robe and covered Fan Xian's skin that could be damaged by every drop of rain. Only then did she nod.
Fan Xian smiled to show his appreciation. After confirming that he had not lost the pills, he patted Sang Wen's head and walked out of the room.
Sang Wen was slightly startled. "Sir, sword?"
Fan Xian turned his head and looked at the sword of the Wei Emperor in Sang Wen's hand. His expression was calm, but a glimmer of confusion flashed through his eyes. A moment later, he said, "This sword is too bright. It's best not to take it. Let's leave it here for now."
… …
The triple leather curtains of the Baoyue Brothel were lifted open. All of the managers respectfully saw Fan Xian out the door. He had already lifted the hood from the back of his robe and put it on his head, letting the shadow cover his delicate features. Stepping down the stone steps outside the building, he couldn't resist raising his head to glance at the deep night. It was as if he wanted to confirm whether or not it would snow in a while.
The carriage drove over. He shook his head, indicating that he was going to walk. He then headed east first.
Baoyue Brothel was having a banquet, so he did not bring the Tiger Guards. All of the Overwatch Council's power in Jingdou had already taken advantage of the night to carry out countless raids. Even the power of the Qinian Unit had been thrown in. At this moment, there were only a few Fan manor guards and a carriage driver at his side.
Everyone knew about the Baoyue Brothel's banquet and had heard about the commotion in Jingdou. They all thought that the young master was going to walk and think, so they didn't go forward to disturb him. They only had the carriage follow far behind.
Not far after heading east, they turned and entered a straight street. Long Street.
Straight Long Street.
Wearing a robe, he suddenly stopped his steps as if he was listening to something. He then waved his hand, indicating for the carriage behind him not to follow. He then walked toward the middle of the street.
It was already deep into the night. A strange fog suddenly rose from the streets of Jingdou, which had stopped snowing. The fog was gradually heavier than the air. It gathered from all directions and gradually filled the Long Street.
The slightly white fog was not very distinct on the lightless Jingdou night streets, but it effectively obstructed one's vision. It made one feel like they were blind and couldn't see their fingers in front of them.
The carriage following behind did not dare let Fan Xian walk alone in the night. It was not prepared to listen to his arrangements, but it still had no choice but to stop.
The Fan manor guards in the carriage pulled out the infuriating lanterns a little brighter, but the dark yellow light only illuminated the fog in front. It was like the clouds above Cang Mountain and could not see very far. They had long lost sight of the lonely figure in the black robe.
…
…
On the Long Street, the white fog gradually thickened. Only the sound of Fan Xian's weak footsteps could be heard ringing out with a steady and steady rhythm. Other than this, there was not a trace of sound. It was as if there were no living creatures on the street.
Tonight, it seemed that the people the Overwatch Council wanted to kill had already been killed. The people they wanted to capture had already been captured and sent to prison, firmly under the Seventh Bureau's control. The Jingdou people who still did not know about these things were greedy for warmth in their beds. The nobles on the night patrol had long returned home in fear. The night watchmen were slacking off, and the soldiers of the 13 city gate guards were only watching the city gates.
The footsteps continued forward. They seemed to have sensed something and stopped in the white fog. A gust of winter wind blew past and thinned the fog on the Long Street slightly. One could faintly see the end of the Long Street.
There shouldn't be anyone at the end of the Long Street, but it felt like someone was standing guard there. Wearing the robe, he stopped his steps and raised his head. His eyes calmly stared straight ahead. It was as if he wanted to see just who was there.
Then, he saw a person.
The person's figure was tall and sturdy. His shoulders were like metal. He stood there like a mountain at the end of the Long Street. On his back was a longbow and a quiver. There were 13 arrows in the quiver.
The wind stopped and the fog thickened. It was no longer visible.
Tonight was the moment Fan Xian had the Overwatch Council launch an all-out attack on the Second Prince's faction. However, he seemed to have forgotten one thing. When your attack was at its fiercest, it was often when your defense was at its weakest. At this moment, there was no one at his side he could rely on, only himself. He was taking revenge for the attack in the valley, taking revenge without reason. He had forgotten that a certain Governor was also taking revenge for the death of his only son.
Could he dodge the bow in front of him?
Two years ago, he had been shot down from the palace walls by this bow and had no power to retaliate. That bow and arrow had already become the biggest blank space in his martial cultivation.
Thus, he stopped his steps behind the fog.
On the other side of the white fog, Yan Xiaoyi lowered his eyes slightly and felt the aura of the person behind the fog to ensure that he would not break free of his control.
There were no signs of movement on this side of the fog.
…
…
Yan Xiaoyi, the previous Commander of the Imperial Army and now the Qing Kingdom's Northern Governor, was one of the few ninth-level super aces in the Qing Kingdom. He was not a madman. He knew what it meant to assassinate Fan Xian on Jingdou's Long Street.
However, he still did not forcefully suppress his desire for battle and bloodlust. When he saw Yan Shendu's body in the Yuantai Camp, he had already made up his mind. What was the purpose of one's life? Even if he controlled all the soldiers under heaven in the future and conquered this entire land, who would he entrust it to?
Thus, he was not a madman, but he was already crazy.
Jingdou was not calm tonight. No one had thought that Fan Xian would carry out such a tyrannical sweep. At the same time, no one had thought that the Governor of the North would abandon all his worries and return to his original hunter's thoughts. Coldly, he observed Fan Xian, watched Fan Xian, waited for Fan Xian, and patiently waited for Fan Xian until he was dead.
Although there was fog on Long Street that could block people's vision, it could not stop Yan Xiaoyi's arrows. His arrows did not need eyes.
Tonight, he had come with 13 arrows to ask Fan Xian what the words "Thirteenth Wang" on the notice in the First Bureau meant. If Fan Xian died, it was fine not to ask this question. Regardless of how much Fan Xian had improved these years or how much of a genius he was in martial cultivation, Yan Xiaoyi coldly believed that he could kill him.
This matter had nothing to do with the fight for the throne or the world. It was not for justice or profit. It was just that a personal grudge could not be resolved.
The two of them, one on the street and one in the middle of the street, other than facing each other head on, there was nothing else they could do. Fan Xian was silent behind the fog. It was as if he was evaluating whether he should fight or retreat.
…
…
After a long silence, Yan Xiaoyi took a step forward. The murderous aura around his body caused the white fog in front of him to move, revealing an empty space in front of him. The air immediately became cold again.
However, he immediately pulled his foot back. Glancing at the eaves to the upper left out of the corner of his eye, he furrowed his brows slightly and used the stone beast on the eaves to block his body.
With his body and the stone beast as a line, he felt that at the end of that line, there was a strangely terrifying killing intent waiting for him.
This was an unreasonable feeling. He had grown up in the woods and interacted with wild beasts. He had developed a sensitivity like a wild beast. He would always be able to judge the existence of danger ahead of time.
The longbow was already in his hand, but the arrow had not been nocked. Yan Xiaoyi lowered his head slightly and felt the strange movements around him. Just who was lying in ambush?
He was a powerful warrior above the ninth-level. Other than those four strange creatures, there was not much in this world that Yan Xiaoyi needed to be afraid of. Every time his condition reached its peak, the thought of challenging a Great Grandmaster would always rise in his heart.
It was also because of his realm that he could clearly sense that there was only him and Fan Xian on Long Street. That was why he dared to use his mind to follow Fan Xian so coldly and prepare to fire a fatal arrow at any moment.
However, when he had taken that step earlier, he had discovered a strange phenomenon.
The first to bear the brunt was the unknown source of danger. The second was that when he had taken that step, he had felt the smell of the fog behind him change slightly.
It was the smell, not the smell.
It was the slightest change in the wind and fog, not the feeling after it entered his mouth.
Yan Xiaoyi knew that there had always been a powerful figure hidden behind him. He didn't know exactly what realm this person's martial cultivation had reached, but to be able to fool him for so long, he must have the ability to hurt him.
He didn't move rashly because he knew that once he fired the arrow, the energy he had stored up for a long time would leak out and reveal some flaws. Once his mind was flawed, he was not confident that he could escape unscathed under the combined attack of the ace behind him and the danger in the distance.
Just like this, the long street was icy silent. The person on the other side of the fog could not move, and Yan Xiaoyi on the other side could not move either.
He could not move his feet, but he could move his hands.
Yan Xiaoyi sucked in a deep breath of air. His entire figure appeared to expand slightly. His fingers slowly fell as if inadvertently brushing across his bowstring.
His fingers were very thick, but this movement was very gentle. It was like a soft brush sweeping across a drawing paper, a slender finger brushing across the strings of a zither, or an orchid blooming slightly.
…
…
With a light hum, the bowstring began to tremble.
There seemed to be a strange magic being generated on his bowstring. The slightly trembling bowstring moved the air around it, twisting the faint white fog and gradually condensing into power. It sliced through the long street in front of him. Following this light hum, it silently attacked toward the other end of the fog.
It attacked toward the person on the other end of the fog.
A muffled grunt came from the other end of the fog. Immediately after, there was the sound of someone falling to the ground.
Yan Xiaoyi calmly flipped his wrist. The longbow straightened. He didn't seem to move at all, but the arrow was already on the bowstring. Earlier, when he shot without an arrow, he already had such power. Now, he already had an arrow on his bowstring.
However, he didn't fire. He only remained silent because he could clearly tell that the person on the other end of the fog was not Fan Xian. Although he was confused, he had clearly seen Fan Xian leave Baoyue Brothel. When did he switch? He understood that the roles of hunter and hunted had already changed in tonight's hunt.
Yan Xiaoyi was stern and fearless. As long as the longbow was in his hand, even if two ninth-level aces came to ambush him, he would not feel any fear. On the contrary, he felt an excitement he hadn't felt in a long time. At any moment, he was ready to use the arrow on his bowstring to end a certain life.
The arrow in his hand was not aimed, but his mind had already locked onto the distant place. However, the two sides were separated by the stone strange beast on the eaves of the residential buildings, so he was unable to fire.
Yan Xiaoyi still had a portion of his energy on the smell of the fog behind him that had changed for an instant and had now returned to normal.
No one would move first.
…
…
After an indeterminable amount of time, the strange fog on Chang Street still did not dissipate. Yan Xiaoyi's mountain-like body continued to stand without a trace of exhaustion.
However, he knew that the two people in the dark were also not tired. At least, they did not let him sense any relaxation in their state of mind. To be able to compete with him in patience and perseverance was a very impressive thing. Yan Xiaoyi acknowledged the other party's realm and strength.
He understood that the attack on Chang Street in the middle of the night had already sunk into a stalemate. He had used the stone beast to protect himself, but it had also blocked him. If this stalemate continued, the sky would probably brighten and the two sides would still not be able to move.
However, the other party could retreat, but Yan Xiaoyi could not move. He knew he had sunk into a disadvantage.
Another long time passed. Yan Xiaoyi was still standing steadily in the corner of the street, like an unshakable statue. The longbow in his hand, the arrow on the string, was steady and motionless, giving off a very strange sense of beauty.
…
…
Suddenly, a coughing sound came from Chang Street shrouded in white fog.
Accompanying this strange coughing sound, a faint light shone into the fog. The light gradually grew brighter. As it neared the corner of the street, as it got closer, it became clear that it was two lanterns.
The lanterns were held by two young eunuchs. The young eunuchs' faces were pale from the cold.
Behind the young eunuchs was a small sedan carried by four servants. The coughing sound came from that small sedan.
The sedan stopped next to Yan Xiaoyi. The curtain of the sedan was lifted slightly, revealing an old and tired face.
This face belonged to Eunuch Hong.
Eunuch Hong's murky eyes blinked. He said quietly to Yan Xiaoyi, who was next to the sedan, "Admiring the snowy night on the street, Governor is in a good mood. However, it is already late. You should return to the manor. I will send you off." (To be continued, if you want to know what happened next, please log on to WWW. QIDIAN. COM. More chapters. Support the author. Support genuine reading!)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
