Ye Qiu killed six people in succession, his methods decisive, his stance domineering.
Immediately, he intimidated the big shots present.
The scene fell into silence, with no one daring to stand up and speak.
Indeed, challenging a man destined to die, isn’t that courting death?
Old Tang glanced at Ye Qiu, his eyes complex.
Ye Qiu returned to his seat and sat down.
Moments later.
With a “creak,” the door of the hall slowly opened, and Long Er walked out.
Long Er was dressed in a purple python robe, his hair bound with a golden crown, resembling an ancient prince.
Instantly, countless people stood up, bowing in respect.
“Second Master!”
“Second Master!”
“…”
Only Ye Qiu, Old Master Ye, Ye Wudi, Ye Wuwei, Long Nü, Old General Bai, and Old Tang did not rise to pay respects.
Ye Qiu and his group were enemies of the Forbidden City, so naturally, they wouldn’t bow.
Old Tang’s status made it impossible for him to grovel before Long Er.
As for Old General Bai, at his age, and with the Bai family’s descendants dwindling, he didn’t care about offending the Forbidden City.
Long Er scanned the room, smiling as he said:
“Tonight is New Year’s Eve, and I feel uneasy for disturbing your family reunions.”
“However, a great show will soon unfold here.”
“Please look forward to it.”
After speaking, Long Er glanced at Ye Qiu and Old Master Ye, a sinister smile curling his lips.
As for the few people Ye Qiu had killed, Long Er didn’t even spare them a glance.
Though the deceased were of notable status, in Long Er’s eyes, they were mere ants.
Old Tang spoke up, asking: “Long Er, where is Long Yi?”
Unexpectedly, Long Er ignored Old Tang, addressing the crowd instead: “It’s cold outside, and it’s been hard on everyone to come here for the ceremony.”
“After the show, I’ll prepare warm wine to warm you up.”
“Then, we’ll drink and make merry until we’re drunk.”
A flash of anger crossed Old Tang’s eyes. As the highest authority, being ignored by Long Er was a humiliation akin to being slapped in public.
However, Old Tang didn’t lose his temper.
He knew Long Er’s arrogance stemmed from the Forbidden City’s confidence.
At that moment.
A shrill, duck-like voice echoed from within the hall: “The City Lord has arrived, everyone kneel to greet him!”
The voice was sharp and piercing, hurting everyone’s eardrums.
A master!
Ye Qiu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He sensed it: the voice carried the power of true qi, indicating the speaker’s high cultivation.
The City Lord, naturally, was the Forbidden City’s leader, Long Yi.
Thud!
The heads of the prominent families present dropped to their knees.
Moreover, their faces showed no discontent, only reverence, like servants greeting their master.
“A bunch of cowards afraid of death.”
Ye Qiu sneered.
Only a few of them remained standing, refusing to kneel.
Ten seconds later.
Two old men in grey robes carried a sedan chair out from the hall.
Ye Qiu glanced at the two old men, his heart tightening.
He could tell these two were powerful, each having cultivated four strands of true qi.
However, their faces were pale and clean-shaven, exuding an effeminate aura.
The sedan was set down.
Before the person inside emerged, the pale-faced old man on the left glared coldly at Ye Qiu and his group.
“The City Lord has arrived, why aren’t you kneeling?”
The old man’s voice was sharp and grating, like a needle piercing the eardrums, deeply uncomfortable.
Ye Qiu retorted: “Why should we kneel?”
The old man snapped: “Everyone who comes here must kneel to the City Lord, that’s the Forbidden City’s rule!”
Ye Qiu scoffed: “And if I don’t?”
The old man’s face darkened: “If you dare defy, we’ll make you face the consequences.”
“We”?
Ye Qiu realised: these two old men were eunuchs!
Ye Qiu said coolly: “I’d like to see what consequences.”
“Courting death,” the old man roared, then bowed to the person in the sedan: “City Lord, please wait a moment, this old slave will teach this arrogant brat a lesson.”
Then.
The old man strode towards Ye Qiu, rolling up his sleeves, sneering:
“Kid, you can be arrogant outside, but this is the Forbidden City, no place for your insolence.”
“Since you disrespect the City Lord, don’t blame us for being unkind.”
“Tell me, how do you want to die?”
The old man looked down haughtily, as if Ye Qiu were already a corpse.
Ye Qiu, provoked, cursed: “You damn eunuch, you think you can kill me? Who gave you the nerve?”
The old man flew into a rage.
“On the brink of death, you still dare to insult? We’ll send you to the underworld.”
Whoosh—
The old man moved like a gust of wind, appearing before Ye Qiu in an instant.
Then, he swiftly reached out with his right hand, grabbing for Ye Qiu’s throat.
Ye Qiu didn’t dodge. When the old man was half a metre away, he smashed out a fist.
“Boom!”
A ferocious inner force surged like a raging sea.
Before the old man’s hand could reach Ye Qiu’s throat, his body was sent flying.
“Ah—”
The old man screamed, his body exploding with a “bang” as he flew back.
In an instant, blood and flesh scattered.
The scene stunned everyone.
No one expected Ye Qiu to be so bold, killing a servant in front of Long Yi.
“Such audacity, daring to kill our Forbidden City’s people, you deserve death.”
The other old eunuch by the sedan roared in anger.
Ye Qiu replied coldly: “I came here today to kill Long Yi.”
“Outrageous!” The old eunuch launched himself at Ye Qiu.
His attack was a killing move, four strands of true qi manifesting behind him, his body radiating powerful energy.
Ye Qiu still didn’t dodge. As the old eunuch approached, he swiftly pointed a finger.
Whoosh—
The Six Meridians Divine Sword erupted.
A sharp sword qi pierced the air, and the next second, a blood hole appeared in the old eunuch’s forehead.
Thud!
The old eunuch fell, dead with eyes wide open.
With both servants killed, Long Yi, inside the sedan, was furious, shouting: “Second, kill him.”
“Yes!”
Long Er responded, then strode towards Ye Qiu.
As he walked, he said:
“Ye Qiu, last time in Jiangzhou, I told you I’d kill you myself to avenge my brothers.”
“I planned to kill the Ye family first, then you, but since you’re so arrogant, I’ll send you on your way now.”
“Kid, prepare to die!”
An aura of a supreme master emanated from Long Er, so powerful that even from a distance, Ye Qiu struggled to breathe.
Ye Qiu’s expression grew grave, his right hand clenching into a fist.
A great battle was about to begin.
Suddenly.
A deep shout came from the Forbidden City’s entrance:
“Stop!”
