"Your master ordered that you two be killed immediately. Do you think those people would have let you go otherwise?"
With that, the two men drew their swords. Blood spurted out as they looked contemptuously at Feng Jiu and the other black-clad man. With two thuds, they fell to the ground. Their figures flickered, and they left the alley. In the alley, the other black-clad man was already dead, but Feng Jiu was not yet.
He had reacted faster just now, using his internal energy to deflect the blade slightly, so he wasn't dead yet. However, death was inevitable. He reached out and pressed a pressure point to stop the bleeding.
Feng Jiu leaned against the wall, gazing at the stars in the sky. His adoptive father's face was clearly etched in his mind. Why was he so heartless?
He used to think his adoptive father was a gentle person, but he never expected him to be so cruel and venomous. Could the words of such a brutal person be trusted?
If his parents were not killed by the Feng family, then where did they go? The more Feng Jiu thought about it, the more miserable he felt, his heart aching inexplicably. The dignified, seven-foot man now wept like an infant, lamenting his life.
In the end, he realized he was nothing. Perhaps, as Qi Ye had said, it was all his adoptive father's scheme. Feng Jiu gasped weakly.
Meanwhile, Liu Liu had reported to the Emperor and led the Prime Minister Liu Ting, the Minister of War, and her own retinue out of the palace. Earlier, when she visited Feng Jiu in prison, she had sprinkled an undetectable powder on him. This powder was the favorite food of the locust worm, so as long as locust worms were released, they would fly forward following the scent.
However, they had been circling the capital for a long time. It seemed Feng Jiu was quite cautious and vigilant. But as the saying goes, "One step higher for righteousness, one step higher for evil." She hadn't sent anyone to track them at all.
Because tracking people was such an old-fashioned method; anyone with some ability would notice.
"Your Highness, are you sure we still need to circle here?" Bai Han asked doubtfully. The few of them had been wandering for quite some time and had ended up in a narrow alley. What could possibly be in such a dead-end place?
"Shush, don't speak. I sense a strong smell of blood." Liu Liu said coldly, her scalp prickling. Could it be Feng Jiu? She swiftly darted into the alley. Two people lay diagonally against the earthen wall by the side of the alley, a large pool of blood around them. Liu Liu quickly landed beside Feng Jiu and asked softly, "Feng Jiu, Feng Jiu, what happened? Who killed you?"
Seeing that Feng Jiu didn't react, Liu Liu reached out and nudged his body. She placed her delicate fingers below his nose; there was no breath.
Feng Jiu was actually dead. Liu Liu was overcome with sadness. Feng Jiu could be considered her friend. She always liked to hug him and call him 'Brother Xian'.
No matter how indifferent she was, he always treated her the same. Why would such a person be used by others? Who could be so despicable? Liu Liu wanted to roar at the sky.
But just as she was overcome with grief, Feng Jiu moved. He opened his eyes strangely, as if he knew she would come. He pursed his lips and managed a smile that was more strained than a cry, "I knew you would come." xxs壹贰
"What happened? Why would someone try to kill you?" Liu Liu anxiously pressed. Feng Jiu knew he didn't have much time left. He shook his head with difficulty, "My adoptive father sent people to kill us, fearing we would leak our whereabouts. They reside in the Protector-General's Mansion. Sima Pingchao is also one of the Thirteen Eagles." After speaking, Feng Jiu took a deep breath and tightly gripped Liu Liu's hand, "Please give them a chance to atone. They didn't know." With that, his head tilted, and Feng Jiu actually died. Liu Liu supported his shoulder, her throat burning, unable to do anything. She hadn't expected him to die like this. Who exactly was that adoptive father, and why did he want to kill Feng Jiu? Even if he feared they would leak their whereabouts, he could have sent them to another place. Why kill them? But they didn't have much time now. The priority was to immediately surround the Protector-General's Mansion. Liu Liu gently placed Feng Jiu's body down.
"Minister of War, receive this decree. Immediately lead your troops to surround the Protector-General's Mansion." Liu Liu waved her hand and issued the command coolly and steadily. Jin Shaoyuan immediately accepted the order and began to deploy. Liu Liu turned to look at the guards on the side, "You come here and take these two down to be properly settled."
"Yes, Empress." The two guards nodded.
Liu Liu arranged everything and then, like a rainbow breaking through the sky, she raised her hand, "We will immediately proceed to the Protector-General's Mansion. I didn't expect this man to be one of the Thirteen Eagles, and also the Protector-General of the Tianfeng Dynasty. No wonder he was secretly gathering forces; it turns out he wanted to harm the Emperor."
"Go." The group moved like phantoms, speeding towards the Protector-General's Mansion.
The Protector-General's Mansion was brightly lit, filled with noisy cries and screams. Jin Shaoyuan, leading two capable subordinates, escorted the Protector-General Sima Pingchao out. The fellow had tried to escape, but fortunately, he had been caught. Jin Shaoyuan had always been at odds with Sima Pingchao, so escorting him now felt much more satisfying. He said coldly, "Speak, where are the others?"
Protector-General Sima Pingchao was only in his early twenties. He was tall and handsome. He had gone to the battlefield at thirteen and achieved many military exploits. At a time when Tianfeng needed capable people, the Emperor had appointed him Protector-General. But who knew all this was for revenge?
Sima Pingchao glanced at Jin Shaoyuan's words with a hint of disdain, as if Jin Shaoyuan's question was idiotic, causing Jin Shaoyuan's face to darken. He raised his hand, preparing to teach him a lesson, but Leng Qing arrived just in time. She extended her hand to block Jin Shaoyuan's action, glaring at him with killing intent. Jin Shaoyuan lowered his head, remaining silent. He dared not provoke the Empress.
"Yes, Empress."
Liu Liu walked up to Sima Pingchao. Because of Sima Pingchao's tall stature, Liu Liu had to look up to speak to him. She simply took two steps back, meeting his gaze, and said coldly. The chill emanated from her, and her eyes were filled with a cold, emotionless ferocity.
"Speak. Where are those people hiding? If you don't want to die miserably, tell me immediately where they are hiding."
"Don't even think about it. I don't know what you're talking about." Sima Pingchao found his capture tonight incomprehensible. He had always been cautious, so how had he been caught? Where had he gone wrong? His eyes flickered, but his expression was firm. Liu Liu, instead of getting angry, smiled. Not at all upset, she turned to look at Bai Han on the other side, "Immediately set fire to the Protector-General's Mansion. Since General Sima is unwilling to hand them over, let them be buried in the sea of flames."
Upon hearing the Empress's words, Bai Han couldn't help but marvel at her astute mind. What a brilliant plan! "Your subject obeys your decree immediately."
Liu Liu turned her head to the side, looking at Sima Pingchao. Seeing that he remained unfazed and showed no concern, she couldn't help but feel puzzled. If those people were really in the mansion, he wouldn't have such a reaction. But Feng Jiu had said they were in the Protector-General's Mansion, and he wouldn't speak nonsense. Therefore, the Protector-General's Mansion must have secret rooms or something similar. Liu Liu's sharp eyes were deep and unfathomable. She said with chilling authority.
"Sima Pingchao, do you think by hiding them in a secret room, I won't find them? Just you wait. When the Protector-General's Mansion is reduced to ashes, I will have people guard here for three days and three nights. Unless they don't come out, the moment they appear, it will be a dead end. Do you want to speak now, or do you want them to go to their deaths?" Liu Liu said sinisterly, her beautiful face filled with arrogant defiance. Sima Pingchao staggered at her words, his face turning deathly pale. He glared fiercely at the woman before him.
This woman was too terrifying. He had had a premonition that they would fall into her hands when she dared to kill a second-rank official in the Golden Palace back then. He never expected his premonition to come true in a nightmare. He roared up at the sky.