Chapter 84: Changes in the Hundred-Household Commandery
Tonight, the South City Hundred Households Office was unusually quiet.
The sound of insects chirping came from the grass.
In a small courtyard, Rong Yichu, draped in a white cloak, quietly looked up at the waning moon in the sky and let out a soft sigh.
In a daze, he seemed to see a few stars flicker and then vanish among the vast expanse of the heavens.
Behind him came a few light footsteps. An Embroidered Uniform Guard clasped his hands and said, "Mr. Yichu, everyone is here and waiting for you in the council hall."
Rong Yichu nodded slightly and walked toward the council hall.
At this moment, the council hall was filled with many people—almost all the upper ranks of the South City Hundred Households Office had gathered here. Everyone was quietly whispering, but now it was obvious that the South City Hundred Households Office was divided into two factions.
The splintered faction consisted of those recently transferred here from the Hundred Households Office—of the four Chief Banners, three were taken up by them. Since their arrival, a great undercurrent had surged through the South City Hundred Households Office, one that still had yet to subside.
When Rong Yichu entered the hall, those from the Hundred Households Office immediately furrowed their brows; the leading Chief Banner among them, Xian Ze, was originally an advisor from the Hundred Households Office.
He glanced outside the door, seeing that only Rong Yichu had come, not Gu Zhan. He immediately stood up, clasped his hands, and said, "Mr. Rong, where is Lord Gu? Summoning us here at such a late hour—why does he not come himself?"
Rong Yichu smiled faintly, clasped his hands in salute, and said, "Gentlemen, please be patient. Everyone was summoned urgently tonight because there is a critical mission to be executed. To avoid any leaks, Lord Gu has already departed ahead of you."
"May I ask what the mission is?" Xian Ze inquired.
Rong Yichu replied, "Recently, all the great noble families have poured into South City, resulting in many armed clashes and a lot of casualties. Yet, the main culprits have all gone into hiding. Today, Lord Gu hosts a banquet for the leaders of these great families, intending to force them to surrender their men. Conflict is inevitable. Judging by the time, it should be almost upon us. Gather your men at once and go assist Lord Gu!"
As soon as Rong Yichu finished speaking, some of those present immediately stood up and accepted the order.
However, Xian Ze and his group remained seated, unmoved.
Rong Yichu asked, "Gentlemen... why have you not set out yet?"
Xian Ze took a sip of tea and said, "Mr. Rong, though you are Lord Gu’s staff officer, you are not Lord Gu. Expecting us to carry out such a task based on nothing but a single statement from you, without any proof, is not in line with the rules of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Pardon us, but we cannot act on your orders."
Rong Yichu narrowed his eyes, took Gu Zhan’s waist token and an official document from his robe, and said, "These were left by Lord Gu before he departed. All operations in the South City Hundred Households Office tonight are under my command. Gentlemen, can you move now?"
"Still, we cannot act," Xian Ze glanced at what was in Rong Yichu’s hand and said, "First, we need to verify the authenticity of these items. Second, what Lord Gu is doing has already broken the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s protocols—no staff officer is qualified to act in place of a Hundred Households."
Rong Yichu said slowly, "The situation demands urgency, gentlemen. Lord Gu has already set things in motion. If you continue to delay here, you are endangering Lord Gu’s safety. You..."
"Mr. Rong!" Xian Ze stood up and said, "We are merely following the rules of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Apologies, but we cannot comply. Goodbye!"
With that,
Xian Ze waved his hand, and his group left directly.
Watching their backs, Rong Yichu’s lips curled into a faint smile. He spoke slowly, "By the way, gentlemen, Lord Gu asked me to relay one message to you on his behalf."
Xian Ze and his group turned around, confused. "Please speak, Mr. Rong."
Rong Yichu said quietly, "Lord Gu says: ’May you all have a pleasant journey!’"
"Hmm?"
Xian Ze and his men immediately froze in surprise.
In that instant,
From all directions in the small courtyard came a sudden rush of hurried footsteps. Dozens of martial world bravos surged in, each with a steel saber at the waist and a crossbow in hand.
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk, thunk!
Fingers squeezed the triggers—dozens of arrows shot from the crossbows with a powerful whooshing sound toward the council hall entrance. Arrows poured down like a violent storm; no matter how swift these men were, they could not fully evade them. In just a split second, miserable cries erupted, and some fell dead where they stood.
"You fucking lunatic!" Xian Ze roared in fury, "Rong Yichu, do you even know what you’re doing? This is a crime that implicates three generations!"
In the hall, Rong Yichu stood quietly, a warm spring smile on his face. He spoke gently, "Tonight, the South City Hundred Households Office did only one thing—that is, in negotiations with the noble families, conflict broke out. You gentlemen sacrificed yourselves with courage and honor. The Hundred Households Office will apply for heroic plaques for your families, bringing glory to your ancestors."
"Fuck you!"
Xian Ze bellowed, charging swiftly into the hall and attacking Rong Yichu. He was a First Grade Expert; risking everything, his speed was terrifying, his momentum like a tiger descending the mountain.
Yet Rong Yichu still wore a faint smile, utterly calm. His hands were folded with fingers interlaced at his abdomen, cloak billowing gently, waiting quietly for Xian Ze’s killing intent.
When Xian Ze was five feet from Rong Yichu,
Suddenly, a mighty shout rang out in the hall. A white-haired old man had appeared unnoticed—he was none other than Rong Family’s only Innate Martial Artist, Rong Wanshan.
Rong Wanshan punched out. A golden phantom of a lion flashed by, emitting a wild beast’s roar.
From his fist erupted terrifying True Qi. One blow shattered Xian Ze’s saber, and the second pounded into Xian Ze’s chest.
A fist-shaped dent appeared, protruding from Xian Ze’s back.
His eyes widened. He spewed a mouthful of blood, and with deep unwillingness, toppled to the floor.
In that instant, he understood,
From the very beginning, Rong Yichu’s intent had been to kill them all. To avoid alerting anyone, the Rong Family had, at some point, begun to station their own men inside the Hundred Households Office, hiding all this time for the sake of this very day.
Staring at Xian Ze’s corpse on the ground, and those bodies crumpled at the entrance, Rong Yichu bowed toward Rong Wanshan, then turned to the other Embroidered Uniform Guards and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, proceed according to plan!"
...
Baihua Building, in the main hall.
Gu Zhan raised a cup of wine, glanced at those well-dressed young gentlemen, downed it in one gulp, and said, "This cup is for you, gentlemen. I hope you can show mercy and give me a way out."
The atmosphere grew extremely oppressive.
Wu Ming, after a moment’s hesitation, stood up and said, "Lord Gu, what do you mean by that?"
Gu Zhan waved his hand and said, "Let us speak openly. I am here today to ask you for some territory—not much, just thirty percent of your current holdings. Sell them to the various major gangs of South City, give them a little room, and also leave a way out for me. This favor, I will remember."
Wu Ming smiled and said, "Since you’ve spoken so plainly, Lord Gu, let us be frank as well. You’re overestimating the value of your favor. None of our families need it. So, there’s nothing to discuss!"
As soon as Wu Ming finished, everyone in the hall stood up. The six Innate Experts unleashed their pressure without concealment.