“Stop!”
Suddenly, a deep shout rang out.
Everyone turned around.
A figure emerged through the swirling snow, striding from the entrance of the Forbidden City.
He was handsome, tall, draped in a military overcoat, with a war blade slung across his back.
“Big Brother!”
Xiao Qingdi shouted in delight.
Indeed, the newcomer was none other than the Champion Marquis, Xiao Jiu!
Whispers spread among the crowd.
“I knew it, how could such a grand event lack the Champion Marquis?”
“Judging by his demeanor, he doesn’t seem here to watch a show, does he?”
“I heard a few months ago, when the Northern Border was in trouble, Ye Qiu led the Dragon Gate to rescue Xiao Jiu.”
“Could Xiao Jiu be here to help Ye Qiu?”
“Though Xiao Jiu is powerful, he’s no match for the Forbidden City. I hope he’s not seeking his own doom.”
Ye Qiu was also somewhat surprised.
He hadn’t expected Xiao Jiu to appear at this moment.
“Big Brother, Big Brother…” Xiao Qingdi continued shouting loudly at Xiao Jiu.
Xiao Jiu glanced at Xiao Qingdi, noting his bruised, swollen face, and walked over, asking: “Who hit you?”
“Ye Qiu!” Xiao Qingdi said venomously: “Big Brother, help me take him down. That punk stepped on my face.”
“Are you sure it was Ye Qiu?” Xiao Jiu seemed skeptical.
“Certain,” Xiao Qingdi replied: “Everyone here saw it. The Zhou family head spoke up for me and was killed by Ye Qiu.”
Xiao Jiu’s gaze swept over, landing on the Zhou family head’s corpse.
His eyes turned cold.
Slap!
Xiao Jiu struck Xiao Qingdi across the face.
Stunned, Xiao Qingdi clutched his face, saying: “Big Brother, why did you hit me?”
Xiao Jiu said coldly: “If Ye Qiu hit you, it means you deserved it.”
I deserved it?
Xiao Qingdi grew angry: “Big Brother, are you out of your mind?”
“At a time like this, why are you still defending Ye Qiu?”
“He’s about to die.”
“Shut up!” Xiao Jiu glared at Xiao Qingdi, then said softly: “Qingdi, from now on, stop acting recklessly. You must reform and be a better person.”
Xiao Jiu gave Xiao Qingdi a deep look.
His gaze was filled with reluctance.
Then, he stepped forward.
“Champion Marquis…”
Ye Qiu greeted Xiao Jiu as he approached, but Xiao Jiu didn’t stop, merely glancing at him.
Xiao Jiu walked past Ye Qiu, heading straight to the front of the plaza.
Just as everyone thought Xiao Jiu was going to greet Old Tang, he suddenly dropped to his knees.
Thud!
Xiao Jiu knelt on the ground, declaring loudly: “Your disciple Xiao Jiu pays respects to Master.”
Master?
Who was Xiao Jiu’s master?
The crowd exchanged confused looks, as none had ever heard that Xiao Jiu had a master.
“Xiao Jiu, why aren’t you staying in the Northern Border? What’s your purpose in returning to the capital now?”
A displeased voice came from the sedan, Long Yi’s.
What?
Xiao Jiu was Long Yi’s disciple?
The crowd erupted in shock.
“The Champion Marquis is a successor of the Forbidden City? How is that possible!”
No one could believe it.
Xiao Qingdi stood dumbfounded: “When did Big Brother become Long Yi’s disciple? How did I not know?”
Ye Qiu, Ye Wudi, and the others were equally stunned.
They hadn’t expected the renowned Champion Marquis to be Long Yi’s disciple.
Did Old Tang know about this?
Ye Qiu glanced at Old Tang, whose face was grim, clearly unaware that Xiao Jiu was a successor of the Forbidden City.
That made sense. If Old Tang had known Xiao Jiu was Long Yi’s disciple, he would never have entrusted him with such heavy responsibilities.
Suddenly, a chill ran through Ye Qiu.
If Xiao Jiu was Long Yi’s disciple, why had he come to the capital now?
To kill me?
If so, what was the million-strong army under Xiao Jiu’s command doing at this moment?
And Xiao Jiu’s rise to power in the military, taking control of the Northern Border, was that orchestrated by the Forbidden City?
If so, what was the Forbidden City’s scheme?
Two words flashed in Ye Qiu’s mind:
Rebellion!
“No, society today isn’t like ancient times. Even if the Forbidden City controls the Northern Border’s million-strong army through Xiao Jiu, they can’t rebel.”
“If they tried, the Forbidden City would be digging its own grave.”
“The current system wouldn’t allow any single force to dominate the world.”
“So what is the Forbidden City planning?”
Suddenly, a spark of insight hit Ye Qiu, recalling a phrase.
Holding the emperor to command the vassals!
The Forbidden City aimed to control Old Tang, the supreme authority, through its grip on the Northern Border’s army and its own strength, reducing Old Tang to a figurehead.
They wouldn’t rebel, but they would still call the shots.
What ambition!
A chill ran through Ye Qiu. He glanced at Old Master Ye and the War God.
Both elders’ faces were unprecedentedly grave, likely having guessed the Forbidden City’s ambitions.
Ye Qiu’s gaze shifted to Xiao Jiu.
“Champion Marquis, if you’re truly colluding with the Forbidden City, you’ll become a sinner for the ages.”
Xiao Jiu didn’t respond to Long Yi’s question.
Boom!
A loud explosion rang out.
The sedan shattered into pieces.
Long Yi’s figure appeared.
Ye Qiu looked up, seeing Long Yi seated, his face that of a man in his sixties or seventies.
He had a square face, ruddy complexion, and long black hair tied with a golden crown.
Long Yi wore a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with nine five-clawed golden dragons, his feet in black boots with dragon patterns, resembling an ancient emperor.
High and mighty.
Long Yi’s eyes flashed like lightning as he bellowed at Xiao Jiu: “Why have you returned now?”
Xiao Jiu replied: “Your disciple heard that Master was in danger, that the Forbidden City faced a threat, so I rushed back to lend Master my strength.”
“Nonsense!” Long Yi snapped: “A few mere ants? Killing them is easier for me than crushing an insect. What danger?”
“Why did you really return?”
“Speak the truth!”
Xiao Jiu raised his head, meeting Long Yi’s eyes, and said loudly: “Master’s kindness in nurturing me is something I’ll never forget.”
“Today, I’ve returned to offer Master one piece of advice.”
“Peace in the realm is hard-won.”
“No matter how powerful the Forbidden City is, it cannot place itself above imperial authority.”
“Not only that, the Forbidden City should stay out of worldly disputes and remain law-abiding.”
“Otherwise, the world will fall into chaos.”
“Impudent!” Long Yi roared at Xiao Jiu: “How I act is not for you to dictate.”
“I order you to return to the Northern Border at once.”
“I can pretend nothing happened.”
Sigh!
Xiao Jiu let out a sigh: “I knew Master wouldn’t heed my advice.”
“I didn’t plan to return to the Northern Border when I came to the capital this time.”
“Master, I’m sorry.”
Thud, thud, thud!
Xiao Jiu kowtowed three times to Long Yi, then stood up, exuding a towering battle intent.
“Xiao Jiu, what’s the meaning of this?”
Long Yi raged: “Do you intend to betray your master?”
