Blood flowed slowly through the cracks in the stone slab path. The two armies were locked in a fierce battle, but upon closer inspection, all those lying on the ground, breathless, were Imperial Guards.
Mu Baiyu, panting, was already exhausted. He blocked a downward strike with his saber, his legs weakening as he knelt on the ground. He let out a loud roar, pushing his opponent back with all his might. The bulging veins on his neck took a long time to recede. He gasped for air, propping himself up with his saber, barely managing to stand, when a flash of cold light flickered before his eyes.
He suddenly looked up, and the long saber was already upon him.
Just then, a great force dragged him flying backward. Wei Yuan, covered in cold sweat, cursed incessantly, no longer possessing the demeanor of a refined gentleman. He dragged Mu Baiyu out of the fray like a dead dog.
"Are you out of your mind? Why would you charge out at a time like this!"
Wei Yuan ran incredibly fast. After throwing Mu Baiyu against the wall, he continued to curse, still fearful. After a long bout of scolding, his heart's terror finally subsided.
Seeing Mu Baiyu not reply, he kicked him.
"I'm talking to you! Are you truly insane? You dare to stop Ji Jinmo's Demon Hunting Army?" Wei Yuan glared at him, infuriated.
Mu Baiyu took a long time to recover. His drooping hand no longer had the strength to hold his saber. He leaned against the wall, slowly raising his head, and glanced at Wei Yuan.
Wei Yuan was somewhat angered by his gaze. What did it mean?
"What is that look in your eyes?"
Mu Baiyu said, "Jinmo cannot assassinate the Emperor!"
"That's not good!"
Wei Yuan chuckled. "Does he care?"
"You're too stubborn. If he wanted to assassinate the Emperor, would he wait until today? You still don't know Ji Jinmo. He looks like a block of ice, cold-blooded, but he values family the most. The former Emperor was Jinmo's own brother and raised him. For this reason alone, he wouldn't kill Ji Hong!"
Mu Baiyu remained silent. Wei Yuan looked at him, and his expression slowly changed.
"Mu Baiyu, did you see that person?"
"She sent you?"
Mu Baiyu didn't look at Wei Yuan, his eyes fixed on the ground.
Wei Yuan, hating his lack of ambition, wished he could hit him a few times. Even if it were a蛊虫… never mind, it wasn't his fault!
Wei Yuan comforted himself, taking several deep breaths before abandoning the impulse to grab him. Yet, seeing Mu Baiyu's state, he couldn't help but feel angry.
"Where is she?"
Mu Baiyu remained silent.
Wei Yuan felt utterly foolish, so angered by him that he asked such silly questions!
Not far away, the sound of clashing weapons continued unabated. The wind blew, carrying the smell of blood. The distant fire dyed the entire sky red. Wei Yuan felt that if this continued, the entire imperial city would be swallowed by flames.
"Let's go, let's put out the fire!"
Wei Yuan pulled Mu Baiyu up, pulled his outer coat tighter, and dashed towards the cold palace.
The palace was in chaos. Palace maids and eunuchs were rolling up their bedding and fleeing. Wei Yuan, with a dark expression, rushed to the Imperial Hospital to find people to put out the fire.
Basin after basin of water was poured, and in the cold weather, Wei Yuan was sweating profusely from his efforts.
Looking back at the distant sounds of fighting, Wei Yuan muttered, "This is causing such a big disturbance, how will it all end!!"
...
The Demon Hunting Army broke through the gates of the imperial treasury, stole the Fotil Lotus, and then returned, charging towards Jingren Palace.
The Black Armored Army and the Demon Hunting Army fought to a standstill, but as the Demon Hunting Army surrounded them, they gradually fell into a disadvantage.
The wind stirred the fallen leaves, the leaves stained with blood, and heavy with burden, they fell back to the ground. Footsteps seemed to echo again. Nan Shiying suddenly looked up, gazing at the faint shadows in the distance, her face showing a look of horror. "My lord, how many people is Ji Hong hiding?"
Ji Jinmo did not speak, but pulled her hand and walked towards the battlefield.
One person, one saber, forcefully tore open a gap in the entire battlefield. The Black Armored Army and the Demon Hunting Army both stopped. Ji Jinmo stood in the center of the two armies and flicked a drop of blood from his sleeve.
"Ji Hong!"
He looked up, gazing at Jingren Palace, his voice not loud, but enough for everyone in Jingren Palace to hear clearly.
Ji Hong abruptly stood up, glanced at the already dead Qin Momo with unconcealable hatred, wishing he could whip her corpse. This was what you called a sure death!
The Empress Dowager's hand, holding her prayer beads, suddenly tightened, and she instinctively grasped Ji Hong's wrist.
Ji Hong patted her hand, tidied his clothes, opened the gates of Jingren Palace, and stood on the high platform, looking down at Ji Jinmo.
"Imperial Uncle!"
The two faced each other from a distance, and the atmosphere immediately became tense.
The soldiers of the Black Armored Army tightened their grip on their weapons. With just one command from Ji Hong, they would charge forward.
The Demon Hunting Army was no different!
The thick air made even breathing feel急促. Ji Jinmo merely looked at Ji Hong, then suddenly turned and ordered the troops to withdraw.
"Ji Hong, convey this message to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager: do not extend your hand too far, for it is easily broken!" With that, he turned and left.
The people of the Demon Hunting Army turned and followed.
The Black Armored Army looked back at Ji Hong. Ji Hong simply stood in the moonlight, watching Ji Jinmo leave.
"Withdraw!"
He said to the Black Armored Army.
The soldiers of the Black Armored Army obeyed and disappeared into the night like a tide.
Everything returned to silence. If not for the crisscrossing corpses on the ground and the blood staining the earth, this sudden palace coup would have seemed more like a nightmare everyone had experienced.
"Issue an order to give a generous burial to these guards and generals who defended the palace city, conferring them the rank of first-class merit. Also, all those who took advantage of the situation to cause trouble shall be executed!"
"Yes!"
...
Outside the palace city.
Nan Chaoyin watched the gradually weakening flames and the slowly quieting sounds of fighting, his heart sinking to the bottom.
"Qin Qiancheng, you rebellious dog, what right do you have to surround us!"
"Hurry and move aside, move aside!"
The ministers were indignant, wishing they could fight Qin Qiancheng to the death.
Qin Qiancheng sneered, letting the civil officials curse. It wouldn't cost him a single bit of flesh. He looked at the city gates, awaiting the final outcome.
"Creak~"
With a sound, the city gate opened from the inside.
Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying appeared before everyone first.
Seeing Ji Jinmo, everyone's expressions changed drastically. Some elderly officials clutched their hearts, nearly fainting.
This, this… Ji Jinmo came out, so where was His Majesty the Emperor!
"Ji Jinmo, you trespassed into the palace city and harmed the sovereign. You are treasonous!"
"Dog thief, dog thief!"
Cursing echoed in the air. The Demon Hunting Army, their armor stained with blood, marched out slowly in the night. A palpable aura of malevolence rushed forward, and the cursing abruptly ceased. The faces of those civil officials turned pale, their tongues tied, and they were unable to utter another word, their faces flushed red.
Ji Jinmo brushed past everyone and only said to Qin Qiancheng, "Let them go!"
Everyone watched Ji Jinmo's receding figure. They wanted to curse, but they didn't dare, for fear that he would change his mind and take their lives.
Qin Qiancheng's gaze flickered, and he looked at the military generals who had entered the palace city with the Demon Hunting Army.
The military generals glanced at Qin Qiancheng and slowly shook their heads.
What did that mean? They hadn't succeeded?