Chapter 144: 143: World Acclaim_1

Chapter 144: Chapter 143: World Acclaim_1

Tian Weijun saw King Liang’s gloomy face. He took the letter and tucked it into his chest, not daring to linger, and immediately exited.

Tian Weijun emerged from the side door, leaped onto his horse, and galloped away without noticing the whistle sound coming from behind him.

The dozen guards from Duke’s Mansion stationed at the exits of King Liang’s Mansion heard Xiao Ruohai’s secret whistle and swiftly headed toward the source of the sound, chasing after Tian Weijun…

Unfortunately, Tian Weijun was focused solely on moving forward and did not notice the highly skilled figures pursuing him from behind.

Tian Weijun galloped to a secluded spot in North Alley, dismounted at a shop selling paper offerings.

Xiao Ruohai’s raised hand signals changed. Soon, as Tian Weijun knocked on the door, highly skilled guards silently surrounded the shop.

...

The shop was small, looking quite old and dilapidated.

Tian Weijun, in his haste, did not tether his horse and urgently knocked on the door. Xiao Ruohai’s hawk-like eyes fixated on Tian Weijun. As soon as the door opened, Xiao Ruohai’s raised hand clenched tightly.

Four or five guards leaped from the roof, and the chains encircled Tian Weijun’s neck just as he opened his mouth to utter the first sound. Two guards pulled the chains, capturing Tian Weijun alive just as he was about to speak.

The sudden turn of events carried an intense aura of danger. Inside the house, upon hearing noise from the rooftop, Gao Sheng immediately reacted… Retreating while swiftly drawing his sword.

Seeing Tian Weijun restrained, Gao Sheng pivoted on his toes and leaped out of the house. The sword intent was pressing, but it was not to save anyone; it was directed straight at Tian Weijun.

Gao Sheng moved so quickly that the Bai family’s guards saw only a vague shadow rush by. Before they could draw their swords, Gao Sheng’s sword had already pierced Tian Weijun’s chest.

However, to Gao Sheng’s surprise, his sword only penetrated half an inch into Tian Weijun’s flesh before it could go no further. He turned his head, locking eyes with Xiao Ruohai’s calm and steady pupils, instantly sensing the strong threat from Xiao Ruohai. Gao Sheng quickly leaped back to shield the door.

The two engaged in a brief, lightning-fast exchange. Even the highly skilled Bai family guards could only see a remnant shadow as the confrontation ended.

Gao Sheng stared at Xiao Ruohai, who wielded both a longsword and a short knife, greatly alarmed. This person could not only stop his swift sword but also wielded a longsword and a short knife at the same time!

If Gao Sheng had hesitated even for a moment earlier, Xiao Ruohai’s short knife would have pierced his neck.

A feeling of inexplicable joy surged in Gao Sheng’s heart, much like standing atop a high mountain and finally meeting a worthy opponent!

However, this was not the right time for a duel. He had his responsibilities and mission.

Not giving Gao Sheng a chance to catch his breath, Xiao Ruohai attacked first. The remaining Bai family guards had already rushed into the shop selling paper offerings.

Inside, the clash of swords and the cry of pain from Liu Huanzhang sounded. Gao Sheng’s eyes narrowed, unable to shake off Xiao Ruohai.

According to plan, the guards captured Liu Huanzhang and took him towards Wude Gate. Hearing the commotion, Gao Sheng turned back inside, with Xiao Ruohai following.

Inside, the continuous sounds of fighting continued. Tian Weijun, having recovered from the shock of Gao Sheng’s attempt on his life, struggled and roared but couldn’t escape the grip of the Bai Mansion guards.

“Who are you?!” Tian Weijun’s blood poured from his chest.

One guard remembered Tian Weijun’s earlier motion of seemingly trying to take something from his chest. He reached into Tian Weijun’s chest and indeed took out a piece of paper. Unfolding it, his eyes widened. In anger, he used the hilt of his knife to strike Tian Weijun’s head, knocking him unconscious.

“Damn it! This is too malicious! Trying to frame our Duke’s Mansion with treason! Underestimated that dog bastard, King Liang!”

The guard folded the letter and placed it in his chest. “Let’s follow the plan and take this lackey to Wude Gate! Move quickly!”

Hearing outside that Tian Weijun was to be taken to Wude Gate, Gao Sheng tried to rush out, but Xiao Ruohai was incredibly tenacious, always slippery as mud that could not be shaken off. Thinking of the captured Liu Huanzhang, Gao Sheng’s eyes darkened. Liu Huanzhang…could not be allowed to live!

Inside, the swords were clashing; blood and flesh were flying…

Xiao Ruohai had to admit Gao Sheng’s exceptional martial prowess. The guards he brought were top experts from the Duke’s Mansion, yet Gao Sheng managed to kill three in a one-against-ten situation, even injuring Xiao Ruohai.

The heavy scent of blood inside was nauseating!

Gao Sheng feigned an attack on Xiao Ruohai, then spun around… His longsword left his hand, piercing Liu Huanzhang, who was being taken away by the guards. The sword ran through his chest and back without any mercy.

Gao Sheng could not let the Duke’s Mansion get hold of Liu Huanzhang. If Liu Huanzhang revealed the conspiracy with King Liang, the already unfavored King Liang would face utter ruin.

But this exposed Gao Sheng’s back to Xiao Ruohai’s attack range. Xiao Ruohai, not wanting to injure Gao Sheng, shifted his sword slightly, piercing through Gao Sheng’s shoulder armor.

Liu Huanzhang’s eyes widened, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Looking down at the sword piercing him, he turned and saw Gao Sheng with a murderous glint in his eyes, disbelief hidden within them, he breathed his last.

Xiao Ruohai’s longsword pierced Gao Sheng’s scapula; the short knife pressed tightly against his throat, forcing him to kneel. Yet, he did not kill, valuing Gao Sheng’s expertise. Panting heavily, he attempted to recruit for Bai Qingyan: “Your skills are excellent. Why follow a despicable man like King Liang? You could abandon him and…”

Before Xiao Ruohai could finish, Gao Sheng rammed his neck into the short knife, clearly determined to die. Xiao Ruohai, unwilling to waste such talent, diverted the short knife slightly. Gao Sheng seized the opportunity to break free, pulled out the longsword from Liu Huanzhang, and leaped out the window…heading to intercept Tian Weijun.

Xiao Ruohai cursed and gave chase, once again becoming entangled with the heavily injured and bleeding Gao Sheng.

Inside the Imperial Palace, the Emperor listened to the Eldest Princess’s cries, lifting his gaze from the letter in his hand to look at Bai Qingyan, who stood obediently by the Eldest Princess’s side.

The Eldest Princess cried uncontrollably, tears streaming as she said, “The Bai family’s heroic spirits have just been buried, and King Liang resorts to such despicable means to promptly defame the Bai family! The Bai family’s sons sacrificed for the country, personally granted the titles of Duke of Zhen and King of Zhen by Your Majesty! Such slanderous acts, are they to blacken the names of the dead, or insinuate that Your Majesty misjudged and elevated a traitor to a noble rank?!”

The Emperor’s gaze shifted from Bai Qingyan to the Eldest Princess…

It must be said, the Eldest Princess’s last words hit a sore spot for the Emperor.

He had dealt with his legitimate son, King Xin, and posthumously honored Bai Weiting as King of Zhen, earning praise throughout the land!

If those letters were indeed delivered to Duke of Zhen Bai Weiting’s study, how would the world view him?

That he had been fooled by the Bai family, going so far as to deal with his legitimate son, only to find the so-called loyal minister was a traitor!