hi, Account: Hot: Night:

Everyone in the hall became vigilant, their expressions serious and their gazes sharp.

Without the Emperor's order or permission, a large group of people approaching the Emperor's bedroom at night was an anomaly at any time.

"Lights out!" Zhang Yuanqing ordered his teammates, then gave Hongjige a look: "Prepare your defensive magic items and go take a look."

Palace Master Xiaoyuan and the others quickly blew out the candles in the bedroom and outer hall, plunging the hall into darkness.

Hongjige looked solemn. Without Zhang Yuanqing's reminder, he had already taken out a set of rattan armor and put it on. He quickly crossed the outer hall and stopped outside the tall latticed door.

He then took out a stone tablet and held it in his left hand. Instantly, his shoulders sank slightly, as if pressed down by a mountain. He lifted his right hand with some effort and pushed open the latticed door.

Looking out, he saw a troop of imperial guards holding torches running along the lake toward the square outside the bedroom, led by Zheng Wenhan, with a long sword at his waist, and a thin middle-aged general.

Hongjige stood behind the threshold and shouted sharply, "Stop! This is His Majesty's bedroom. How dare you trespass with weapons? Are you trying to rebel?" As soon as he finished speaking, the senior general drew his bow and shot an arrow with great force.

"Boom!"

The arrow, containing abundant Sword Qi,擦出 a piercing whistle as it rubbed against the air, forming a spherical shield of yellow light in the darkness.

Hongjige ignored the shattering stone tablet, quickly closed the door, and ducked to avoid bullets as he fled back to the bedroom.

"Damn it, the Zheng family has rebelled!" Hongjige said, gritting his teeth as he pressed his bleeding shoulder. "There's an expert among the enemies, a Level 6 Saint-realm Swordsman."

"The Level 6 Earth-type monster profession's defensive item... Only the Sword Qi of a Swordsman in the Lawful faction can draw blood with a single arrow. If it's just a Level 6 Swordsman, that's still manageable."

Xiaoyuan glanced at the burly Concubine Wan, who was a Level 6 Plague God.

At this moment, the chaotic footsteps grew closer. Zhang Yuanqing said urgently, "It's not that simple. The Zheng family has no reason to assassinate tonight. No, this is no longer an assassination; it's a rebellion, which means the Zheng family has found out the real cause of Zheng Longtu's death. The acting was a disaster!"

"Not necessarily a disaster. There's no point in saying this now. Set up the mechanisms and prepare to meet the enemy. I'll buy time. If it's a rebellion, they can't possibly bring only one Level 6 Saint."

Hongjige, Palace Master Xiaoyuan, Queen, and Xie Lingxi tacitly opened their inventory and took out human puppets, crossbows, thousand-needle tubes, armor-piercing beast-trapping spore injectors, and other mechanical weapons, setting them up methodically.

Since acquiring the Art of Mechanisms, the members of the Returned from the Dead gang had become accustomed to carrying a set of mechanical weapons ranging from Extraordinary to Saint-level. The gang's warehouse contained even more.

Mechanical weapons could be used as traps, cannon fodder, and pathfinders. They were versatile and had many uses.

Xiaoyuan took out two black clay jars. One jar flew out, and hideous black beetles clung to the doors and windows. From the other jar crawled out colorful poisonous snakes, wriggling their bodies toward the thresholds and windows, while others climbed onto the pillars and hung from the roof beams.

Jiang Jingwei was not a member of the Returned from the Dead gang. Having nothing to do, she thought about ambushing behind the door, but Zhang Yuanqing pulled her back: "Don't seek death. Don't get near the gate!"

He pulled Jiang Jingwei behind him, summoned the Yin-Yang Magic Robe and Red Dance Shoes, and, taking advantage of his teammates setting up the mechanisms, walked out of the outer hall and loudly questioned, "Chancellor Zheng, Uncle, I have treated your Zheng family well. Why rebel? How can you face my deceased mother?"

As soon as he finished speaking, an arrow full of Sword Qi pierced through the latticed door and shot toward him. The Red Dance Shoes lit up with a dim light, causing him to turn gracefully and evade the arrow.

Zhang Yuanqing immediately shouted, "Firing a cold arrow, who is it? You gutless coward?"

The arrow struck again, and the Red Dance Shoes easily evaded it again.

Although it was a rule-based item at the Extraordinary stage, dodging this kind of ranged attack was not difficult at all. If a Level 6 Swordsman attacked at close range, the Red Dance Shoes might not be able to evade.

"I'm standing right here. Try a few more arrows if you have the guts!" Zhang Yuanqing yelled.

After two consecutive arrows failed, the Swordsman outside the hall, unable to figure out the situation inside, stopped.

Zheng Wenhan, no longer silent, responded loudly, "The Emperor has been kidnapped by assassins in the palace. I, the Chancellor, am leading troops to surround the Summer Palace. Today, all the gates of the palace have been sealed off by me. No one is allowed to enter or leave. Surrender obediently, release the Emperor, and you may keep your whole bodies. Otherwise, I will burn down the Summer Palace, and you will have no reinforcements."

The Imperial Guards of the Imperial City Division were not all Zheng family members; otherwise, there would be no need to seal the city gates.

Zhang Yuanqing instinctively analyzed the information based on the other party's words, while also shouting loudly: "Chancellor Zheng, stop pretending. Since you have already found out the cause of Zheng Longtu's death, let's be frank. Both Zheng Longtu and Concubine Wan have already confessed the Zheng family's ambition to usurp the throne."

"Although I don't like reading, I also know that the winner is always right. Even if I die today, I want to die knowing why. How did you find out the cause of Zheng Longtu's death?"

He had actually guessed it, but he still wanted to buy time for his teammates to set up the traps. There was a moment of silence outside, then Zheng Longtu's voice came: "You know my ambition, so you should understand that if the assassin's target had been you at the time, I would never have risked my life to save you."

"Just based on that?"

Chancellor Zheng's tone suddenly became stern: "I have asked the National Preceptor's disciple to use Spirit Interrogation technique, you muddleheaded ruler. You killed my son and condemned him to eternal damnation. Today, I will eliminate this scourge for the people."

As he spoke, the latticed door of the bedroom was suddenly smashed open, and a group of imperial guards, taking advantage of the conversation, quietly approached the bedroom and launched an attack.

Bang bang bang, the crossbows facing the door immediately fired, first hitting several armored soldiers in the front row. The armored soldiers behind took advantage of their comrades blocking the first wave of arrows and surged into the hall.

Of course, they stepped on the beast traps laid not far from the threshold. Screams rang out, and they were immediately shot dead by crossbows by those hiding in the dark.

More imperial guards swarmed in, undeterred by the mechanical weapons. They were well-trained elites, and they dared to charge the capital, let alone the Emperor's bedroom.

Screams continued to sound as the imperial guards who rushed into the bedroom were either killed by the mechanical weapons or bitten by蛊虫 and poisonous snakes, dying from poisoning.

In just three to five minutes, the first wave of imperial guards was completely wiped out in the hall, and the door was left open.

From the threshold to the inside of the hall, the ground was covered with corpses. The interior of the bedroom was pitch black, as if hiding ferocious beasts waiting to devour people.

Zheng Wenhan said in a deep voice, "Fire attack!"

The imperial guards drew their arrows, wrapped cloth around the arrowheads, poured oil on them, lit them with torches, and aimed at the bedroom.

In an instant, a rain of fire engulfed the Summer Palace, igniting the doors, windows, and roof.

In the dry autumn and winter season, the fire spread quickly, burning fiercely. At this time, from the artificial lake fifty meters away from the Summer Palace...

"Boom!" Two water dragons rose into the sky, swirling and dancing, rushing toward the burning Summer Palace.

The Plague God among the imperial guards immediately took action, controlling water to resist the water, preventing it from approaching. The two thick water dragons hovered and danced in the air like headless flies.

Zhang Yuanqing, wearing the Yin-Yang Magic Robe, and the Queen, seeing this, took action one after another. Under the force of multiple powers, the two water dragons immediately collapsed, turning into a torrential downpour, extinguishing the imperial guards' torches and most of the fire in the Summer Palace.

The second wave of attacks was successfully resolved.

The imperial guards surrounding the Summer Palace dared not act rashly for a while, but Zhang Yuanqing knew that this was only temporary.

Next, Zheng Wenhan would continue to launch attacks, continue to probe, until he had exhausted all the enemy's means of resistance.

"I underestimated you, Your Majesty. I underestimated this harem full of beauties. My sister left you with so many tricks up your sleeve." Zheng Wenhan's voice came from outside the hall.

Zhang Yuanqing shouted, "There are a million soldiers hidden in my bedroom, would you believe that!"

Zheng Wenhan ignored him.

"This is not a solution. We have to escape the palace." Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced, and suddenly an idea came to him. "If we continue to stalemate, we will surely die. I have a plan."

When everyone turned their gazes, Zhang Yuanqing said, "All of you put on my regular clothes, disguise yourselves as me, and then charge out together and escape in different directions. This way, Zheng Wenhan will inevitably divide his troops, and everyone's chances of survival will be greatly increased."

Fighting the enemy in the Summer Palace would lead to a high probability of complete annihilation. Escaping in different directions would greatly ensure the team's survival rate.

"But in that case, one of us will definitely die." Hongjige frowned. "We are all brothers. We live or die together. I don't agree."

Just as he finished speaking, a blazing light suddenly lit up outside the hall. The next second, a huge fireball with a diameter of two meters broke through the window and smashed into the center of the hall.

"Boom!"

The fireball exploded, and the scorching shockwave overturned tables and chairs, and the flames ignited the silk fabrics and wood in the hall.

Although the fireball exploded in the outer hall, the powerful shockwave caused the blood to surge in everyone's body in the bedroom, and they staggered.

Before everyone could react, another explosion came from the roof, and tiles and beams collapsed and fell.

This time, the explosion was right above their heads. Xie Lingxi, the weakest in physique, coughed up blood from the shock, and the scorching heat wave singed their hair and charred the poisonous snakes hanging from the beams.

Hongjige cursed, "It's a Level 6 Fire Devil. How does this old bastard have so many experts under his command!"

In the previous two waves of probing, the imperial guards did not dare to launch a full-scale attack, but chose to bombard.

"It wouldn't be strange for a powerful prime minister to send a Dominator. It's just that our story line hasn't progressed to this point yet," Palace Master Xiaoyuan said in a low voice.

"Do as Yuan, His Majesty, says. This is the only chance to save our lives."

Xie Lingxi and the Queen revealed a hint of worry. They had become Saints for the shortest amount of time and had the shallowest foundation. In this situation, the mortality rate was higher than that of other teammates.

But the gang leader's (Brother Yuanshi's) plan was right. In the current situation, escaping in different directions was the right choice. After all, this was the palace.

And they were turtles in a jar. Continuing to fight would only lead to total annihilation. Everyone quickly rummaged for the Emperor's regular clothes and hurriedly put them on. Zhang Yuanqing used the Disguise technique to change everyone's appearance one by one, turning them all into Zhao Shun.

Zhang Yuanqing took a look at her and was dumbfounded. "I know you're shocked, but don't be shocked now. Let's escape from this place first."

Concubine Wan was indeed a stubborn person and didn't think too much about it.

"Concubine Wan, we have to find a way to increase our chances of survival. The palace gates are all sealed off by Zheng Wenhan's people. How can we get out?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, looking at her.

Concubine Wan understood and said in a coarse voice, "The lake water of the Summer Palace is connected to the river in the city. As long as we go through an underground river, we can swim out of the city. However, the underground river is narrow and long. Unless you are proficient in the Law of Water, it will be difficult to pass through the underground river."

"I can pass through." The Queen's eyes lit up, and then she added, "I have an Extraordinary item that can transform into water. Does anyone need it?"

Xiaoyuan said, "I can transform into Gu insect and fly."

The wasp was known for its speed. If she wanted to escape, no one could stop her.

Palace Master Xiaoyuan said, "I can break out of the palace. I don't need to use the underground river."

She had already completed a side quest and returned to the Saint stage. With Luan Xingguan's charm to connect red lines and hypnotize, it was not difficult to escape the palace without being targeted.

Hongjige, Jiang Jingwei, and Xie Lingxi had no escape methods. Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment and opened the inventory, took out a human skin mask and threw it over: "Lingxi, you don't need to run out of the palace. Use it to hide in the palace."

"This item is the item of the Ninth Elder of the Southern Sect, an Extraordinary-quality Illusionist profession. Its function is to disguise."

Xie Lingxi was clever and could hide in the harem with its assistance.

Then, Zhang Yuanqing took off the Red Dance Shoes and threw them to Hongjige and said, "I'll give you this item. Use it to escape using the Law of Fire."

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"If you consume a lot of spiritual power, Yuan will wear it to run. It can ignore the terrain, running will not consume physical strength, and can evade long-range attacks in the Saint realm."

"Queen, give that item to you, Jingwei."

The Red Dance Shoes were about to demand a price from their master when they were put into the inventory by Hongjige. During this process, two more fireballs exploded in the bedroom.

One of them injured Zhang Yuanqing, but as a Night Wanderer, he didn't care about his injuries and continued to say methodically, "You will charge out at the same time later. Concubine Wan and I will stay behind. Zheng Wenhan knows that I have guards. He can see that I am the real body, and he dares not completely ignore you when you disguise as me. He should not send too many troops to hunt you down. I will try my best to buy time for you."

This step was very crucial. Arranging for someone to stay behind to attract pursuers would lead to the pursuers being too strong, thereby putting the team members in a desperate situation.

The reason for letting his teammates go first was to rely on them to attract some of the firepower.

After formulating the strategy, Zhang Yuanqing preempted the arrival of thunder and lightning and said in a low voice, "Action!"

Hongjige and Jiang Jingwei took the lead and rushed out, rushing towards the gap blown out by the fireball, jumping out together.

They escaped towards the left and right sides respectively. Zheng Wenhan immediately said, "Chase!"

Just as he finished speaking, his gaze turned, and he added, "Twenty people each, order the imperial guards guarding the gate, anyone who approaches the palace gate within fifty steps will be killed without mercy."

Two well-trained imperial guards chased after them. Just as they left, two more Zhao Shun in regular clothes rushed out of the burnt bedroom, each escaping in different directions.

The imperial guards fired a wave of arrows at them, then immediately gave chase. Then, the third pair of Zhao Shun rushed out of the hall and fled for their lives.

"Prime Minister Zheng!" A Level 6 Fire Master among the imperial guards could not help frowning and asked, "Why only divide so few troops? What if you let the muddleheaded ruler escape?"

Zheng Wenhan and the Swordsman general ignored him, their gazes fixed on the bedroom.

At this moment, two more pairs of Zhao Shun rushed out of the bedroom, but they did not escape in different directions but side by side.

Zheng Wenhan's gaze sharpened, and he drew the long sword from his waist: "Generals and soldiers of the Southern Dynasty, imperial guards, follow me to kill the head of the muddleheaded ruler!"