Chapter 230 - 228: Five Years Gone in the Blink of an Eye!
Time flies.
Tides rise and fall, clouds gather and scatter.
In the blink of an eye, more than five years have passed in the human world.
In these five years, the chaotic situation in the land has gradually clarified.
The Fourth Prince was set up and exterminated by Gu Wenhui in the second year.
The Sixth Prince experienced an internal turmoil in the fourth year and was beheaded by a traitor within the Imperial Palace.
Meanwhile, the army under Gu Wenhui’s command advanced triumphantly, swallowing up territories of the Da Han everywhere.
Of the fifty-two prefectures and counties under the Da Han Dynasty, he has already taken control of thirty!
The number of troops under his command exceeds one million!
Now, wherever Prince Gu’s cavalry arrives, all surrender without resistance.
Everyone says that Gu Wenhui has the true appearance of an emperor, a supreme aura!
Whether it’s power or public opinion, everything favors Gu Wenhui, as if everything is a foregone conclusion.
The true emperor in power, the last line of the Chu imperial bloodline, is rumored to have been bedridden and severely ill for several months, possibly dying at any moment.
The common people, who have suffered and struggled for many years, hope immensely for the unification of the land, no matter who becomes the emperor, as long as peace prevails, allowing them to have enough food and clothes.
Yuchuan Prefecture.
Outside Yunling City, Yuchuan Prefecture, this state and county is adjacent to the Da Han Capital City, with many mountain peaks and treacherous paths, and numerous checkpoints.
No matter from the south or the north, anyone wishing to enter the Imperial Capital must pass through this Yuchuan Prefecture.
Thus, Yuchuan Prefecture is also known as the gateway to the Capital City, the final barrier to the Imperial Capital.
In today’s world, countless people are discussing when Prince Gu will lead his army to break through Yuchuan Pass and ascend to the Capital City.
Given the current momentum, it’s only a matter of time!
Inside Yuchuan County City, a large business firm is located.
The firm has "Changming Association" engraved on its lintel.
Inside the hall, in a reception room.
The more mature-looking Liang Zhao Long is sitting on the main chair, looking at a piece of ink painting in his hand, his brow slightly furrowed.
"You say this is a treasure from the Imperial Palace?" Liang Zhao Long’s gaze falls on a young man standing in the middle of the reception room.
"Absolutely true." The young man says earnestly.
"How do you expect me to believe you? Though the quality of this painting is indeed exceptional, what ties it to the Imperial Family? It’s just a landscape painting, without an inscription or a jade seal..." Liang Zhao Long questions.
"Furthermore, if this were indeed from the Imperial Palace, how did you acquire it?"
The young man opens his mouth, hesitates slightly, and dare not speak frankly.
"Someone, show him out." Liang Zhao Long loses interest and intends to send the man away, not wanting to waste more time.
The young man becomes anxious immediately, wipes his face with his hand, revealing a rather unattractive appearance.
In the reception room, core members of Changming Association rise quickly, staring at the man who has revealed his true appearance.
"Hmm?!" Liang Zhao Long also squints his eyes, finding the face somewhat familiar.
"Thief Ning Xinhu!" A core member of Changming Association speaks first.
"That’s me!" Ning Xinhu says solemnly.
Upon hearing this, Liang Zhao Long also falls silent.
The name Thief has emerged in recent years, widely known in Jianghu, differing from Liu Dingsheng’s heroic thief of yesteryears, a thief with principles.
The man before him is a pure villain, taking joy in theft, also killing for wealth.
In the past few years, this man has committed countless crimes, wanted by the Imperial Court for many years.
If he truly is that Thief, claiming this painting as a treasure stolen from the Imperial Palace, it seems somewhat credible.
But only slightly credible.
Despite the declining influence of the Imperial Court, the palace remains a place not easily accessible.
Even if he is the so-called Thief, it seems somewhat unbelievable.
Just as the Thief is about to speak, a Changming Association member rushes in.
"Lord Liang, outside there are members of the Golden Pavilion Sect saying they want to capture the Thief and are about to rush in!"
Upon hearing this, Ning Xinhu’s face changes dramatically, instantly anxious.
"Brother Liang, I’ll be frank. These members of the Golden Pavilion Sect received news from somewhere, pursuing this scroll in my possession relentlessly. The more they try to exterminate me, the less I want them to succeed.
I originally intended to sell this scroll for money, but now I am gifting it to your Changming Association!"
With that, Ning Xinhu moves swiftly, leaps out of the reception room, and makes an aerial escape over the wall.
"President!" Seeing this, the core members all want to pursue.
"No need to chase, this Thief’s Body Technique is top-notch, chasing him head-on is futile, only by laying traps can we hope to capture him." Liang Zhao Long shakes his head.
"What about this scroll..."
"It’s likely an attempt to direct disaster elsewhere; the scroll may not even be real." Liang Zhao Long analyzes.
Just then, the doors of the Changming Commerce Association are kicked open.
A group of Golden Pavilion Sect members rush inside with knives.
"Ning Xinhu, come out!" A Golden Pavilion Sect member shouts loudly.
"You dare trespass into our trading company, do you think my Changming Society has no one?" Hu the Third drew his sword, glaring as he shouted angrily.
A group of martial artists from the Changming Society in the trading company poured out, surrounding the group from the Golden Palace Gate.
"Changming Society? Be sensible and have Ning Xinhu come out, or our Golden Palace Gate will tear down your trading company and root out that thief!"
The member of the Golden Palace Gate showed no fear of this so-called Changming Society, his tone carried a clear threat.
In their eyes, how could a small local trading company compete with their Golden Palace Gate?
In Jianghu, the Golden Palace Gate could definitely be counted as a top-tier sect.
Few dared provoke their power.
"That Ning Xinhu has long fled, you might still catch up if you go now." Liang Zhao Long stepped out of the reception hall, glaring coldly at the trespassing disciples of the Golden Palace Gate.
"Hmph, who knows whether he’s gone or not, I want to search your trading company to make sure!" Yang Jin also stared coldly at Liang Zhao Long as he replied.
"Who do you think you are, what right do you have to search our trading company!" Hu the Third’s anger surged.
"Just by the sword in my hand!" With that, Yang Jin moved, rushing towards Hu the Third.
His speed was incredibly fast, clearly an Extreme Realm Martial Artist.
In Jianghu, an Extreme Realm Martial Artist was considered a formidable strength, the limit of what most martial artists would see or achieve.
This was why Yang Jin showed no restraint.
A typical trading company could not possibly have a martial artist of matching strength guarding it!
Only, unfortunately, this was no ordinary trading company.
Clang!
A long sword intercepted Yang Jin’s blade midway, halting his charge.
"You!" Yang Jin’s eyes widened as he looked to Liang Zhao Long who had blocked him.
He could clearly feel that the long sword in the opponent’s hand had not budged in the clash!
Yet, he felt an immense countershock force, his arm holding the sword tingled with numbness.
"Still want to search?" Liang Zhao Long asked, staring at him.
"You, you dare defy our Golden Palace Gate!" Though he sensed something was amiss, Yang Jin was unwilling to swallow his rage.
This was how he was accustomed to acting.
Relying on the Golden Palace Gate being a major force in Jianghu, they often used their status to suppress others.
This tactic had always worked, few martial artists dared offend the Golden Palace Gate.
However.
Liang Zhao Long wasted no more words, the coldness in his eyes intensified, he raised his sword and struck out with a burst of sword qi.
A buzzing sound rang out as the sword qi sliced through the air.
Under Yang Jin’s astonished gaze, his right arm holding the sword was neatly cut off by the sword qi.
Blood spurted like a pillar!
Liang Zhao Long followed, kicking his foot into Yang Jin’s chest, sending him flying over ten meters until he smashed into the courtyard wall and heavily crashed to the ground.
"Senior brother Yang!" The group of brothers were stunned and aghast.
They never expected that such a small trading company had silently stationed a Qi Refining Expert!
This truly exceeded their comprehension.
These days, were Qi Refining Experts so plainly undiscerning and easily encountered....
Now, clearly this Qi Refining Expert was angered by them, leaving them all alarmed and on edge.
They were well aware of a Qi Refining Expert’s power, even combined they were no match for such a person.
With just a few bursts of sword qi as earlier, he could easily dismantle their encirclement.
"Now, still want to search?" Liang Zhao Long wielded the blood-stained long sword, approached Yang Jin and asked once more.
"No, please, elder, my lord, I’m just following the sect’s orders..." Yang Jin began to plead for mercy while coughing up blood, at death’s door he no longer dared act boldly.
If Liang Zhao Long were an Extreme Realm martial artist, he might still have the will to resist, but against a Qi Refining Expert, he had no thought of defiance.
"Tell me, what is your reason for pursuing Ning Xinhu, and no deception, or you shall meet a swift end." Liang Zhao Long directly questioned.
"Don’t tell me it’s just for the paltry reward silver from the Imperial Court..."
Seeing the bloodied sword in Liang Zhao Long’s hand, Yang Jin, terror-stricken, ultimately chose to confess.
"He has in his hands a scroll stolen from the Imperial Palace, containing half a martial arts manual."
"Half a martial arts manual?" Liang Zhao Long suddenly understood.
A typical painting, no matter how precious, shouldn’t warrant such a vast mobilization from the Golden Palace Gate for a search and capture, such seriousness.
If it involved clues to a martial arts manual, it made sense.
"It’s even the most important martial arts manual heritage of the Chu Imperial Family, the Third Grade True Yang Technique!" Yang Jin added.
"Third Grade?!" Liang Zhao Long was truly startled.
If it were an ordinary eighth or ninth-grade martial arts manual, he had seen those before, although martial arts manuals themselves were indeed very valuable, yet in his eyes not particularly desirable.
After all, he himself already possessed such martial arts manuals, he wasn’t lacking.
But a Third Grade martial arts manual, such high grade, was absolutely unheard of for him.
Not even the Song Changming behind him had ever acquired such a thing.
...