Chapter 1963: Three Nos

Those residing on Merit Street were all important figures in the capital. They were extremely sensitive to shifts in the imperial court. When their servants hurriedly reported that the street was surrounded by the God Martial Division, these prominent figures had already keenly sensed that something was afoot.

On the second floor of a bamboo pavilion of one of the large mansions sat seven or eight scholars in their fifties.

"It seems... the case from a few days ago at the Xuanwu River isn't over yet."

"The fire will spread until it reaches Li Guozhu."

"Gentlemen, tell me... could Grand Tutor Wu be behind all this?"

Below the bamboo pavilion stood dozens of guards with formidable, fierce auras.

From their vantage point, the scholars could see the God Martial Division sealing off Merit Street. One of them slowly spoke. "I know Li Guozhu. He would never do such a thing. He is a hot-blooded, forthright man. He disdained resorting to pity tricks. He'd rather obtain something through the straight path."

"Then it must be Grand Tutor Wu's handiwork? I heard those martial artists... had the backing of the Taia Palace. Does that mean the Taia Palace agrees with Grand Tutor Wu's proposal to seek peace with Xianglang and other kingdoms?"

"But such a treaty would require that we cede a quarter of Dongsheng's territory. It will damage our national strength. It would require several centuries just for the empire to recover."

"The territories being ceded are useless anyway. I think giving them away isn't bad either. It makes it easier for us to consolidate our manpower and govern."

"Nonsense! From its peak until recent years, how much territory have we already ceded? The lands of Xianglang originally belonged to Dongsheng. Ceding land again today means Dongsheng will surely be devoured clean tomorrow."

"Gentlemen, stop arguing. Nowadays, Dongsheng's young emperor cannot make decisions anyway, so this is just a struggle between Grand Tutor Wu and Li Guozhu. Li Guozhu's sole advantage is that the Empress Dowager trusts him. Other than that, the cards in Li Guozhu's hand are far too few, unlike Grand Tutor Wu, who has countless trump cards at his disposal. Even we can't figure out just how many hidden pieces he has available to move. Let us just wait and see how Li Guozhu handles this today."

"There are also these two reclusive experts staying at his residence. I heard these two possess extraordinary abilities and rank among the finest of today's age."

"Rank among the finest of today's age? There are six or seven people with such a reputation right here in our capital, and three of them have extremely close relations with Grand Tutor Wu. These martial artists understand nothing of struggles concerning the foundations of the nation. No matter how formidable their methods are, it is useless."

"Have their background details been cleared up?"

"Not yet, but the Ghost God Guards under Grand Tutor Wu are investigating those two. If they uncover anything, our people will know as well."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Gentlemen, are we really not going to lend Li Guozhu a helping hand?"

"We have always remained neutral. We watch the tides rise and fall while remaining unmoved as a mountain. As for everything else, don't interfere."

"Indeed..."

***

In front of the Li Manor.

Just from the God Martial Division, three captains had arrived. Commanders like Li Aman numbered more than ten. Together with various high- and low-level experts under their command, over eight hundred God Martial Division soldiers surrounded the Li Manor in a tight, impenetrable circle.

Not far down this street, roughly ten zhang away from those three captains, stood a young man wearing black and holding a black umbrella. His clothes were black as well. Holding a black umbrella in broad daylight and dressed entirely in black beneath the blazing sun, he vaguely resembled a mass of black shadow.

The three captains of the God Martial Division glanced at him briefly before exchanging a look.

Since Li Aman was a key figure participating in this matter, he immediately stepped forward and knocked on the main door of the Li Manor.

***

"A lot of people have gathered outside. How do you plan to handle it?" Lang Daochun looked toward Fang Chen. "When all is said and done, quite a few of the mortals on Enlightenment Star were probably reincarnated from Enlightenment cultivators. Perhaps there are even Enlightenment core disciples among them."

"It doesn't matter. Since they have reincarnated, I am not acquainted with them." Fang Chen shook his head. "There is no need for us to handle it. Li Guozhu's status is extraordinary in Dongsheng. Even if he doesn't have his own private troops, he must have quite a few trump cards at his disposal. If there is a need, Xiaohua can step in."

Having said that, his gaze rested back on Fairy Yu.

***

After opening the main door, the housekeeper of the Li Manor was immediately restrained by the God Martial Division soldiers, and Li Aman led the remaining soldiers as they flooded in like a tide.

The housekeeper could only exclaim in shock, "What are you doing!?"

Slap!

A slap landed on his face, leaving him seeing stars.

"What are you screaming for? Lord Li has committed a crime. Are you trying to notify him so he can escape?"

"How could my master commit a crime!? You are slandering him!"

No matter how much the housekeeper shouted, the people from the God Martial Division ignored him entirely.

The dignitaries from all sides who had been paying attention to the commotion here saw the God Martial Division soldiers barge into the Li Manor, their expressions becoming somewhat complex.

However, a few moments later, the soldiers who had flooded inside slowly retreated from the Li Manor.

As Li Aman stepped backward out of the Li Manor as the last person, some caught a glimpse of fear on his face.

"Interesting."

The group of scholars on the bamboo pavilion looked at each other, unable to resist standing on tiptoes to see more clearly.

Then, a wooden stick slowly poked out from the main gate of the Li Manor.

The three captains of the God Martial Division subconsciously took a step back.

First was the wooden stick, followed by the hand, and finally the feet.

A man slowly emerged from the Li Manor. Black cloth was wrapped around his eyes. His hair was somewhat disheveled, and his weathered face bore the marks of countless hardships. He pointed his stick at the group of God Martial Division soldiers and spoke. "Is the residence of Li Guozhu a place where you vermin can tread as you please? If you wish to enter, you must first submit a visiting card and wait until Li Guozhu permits you in and all the proper courtesies have been observed."

"Is that... the Blind Sword Saint?"

"It really is him... Why is he at the Li Manor..."

Everyone was astonished.

The Blind Sword Saint was extremely famous throughout Dongsheng. The Sword Saint Manor where he resided had over three hundred swordsmen, every single one of them an expert of the era. His own swordsmanship was even more extraordinary. Rumor had it that years ago, he traveled alone to the Taia Palace to challenge its master.

That battle raged for seven days and seven nights. In the end, no one knew who won or lost. All they knew was that when the Blind Sword Saint descended the mountain, the short stick in his hand was stained with blood!

A captain of the God Martial Division said with a gloomy face, "Blind Sword Saint, this is an official matter of our court. It has nothing to do with martial arts affairs. You dare to meddle?"

The Blind Sword Saint tilted his head slightly. "Is the martial arts world not within the borders of Dongsheng?"

"Twisting words and forcing logic," sneered the captain. "If you insist on getting involved, our God Martial Division is not unprepared either."

Having said that, he looked over at the youth in black holding the black umbrella not far away and cupped his hands. "Divine Fist Lu."

"So the guy named Lu is here too? I knew I smelled a stench." The Blind Sword Saint could not help laughing slightly. Though his eyes were wrapped in black cloth, he precisely locked onto the aura of the youth holding the black umbrella. He looked in his direction and smiled. "Do you really intend to side with Grand Tutor Wu? Don't forget that you are a martial artist."

"I am first a citizen of Dongsheng, and then a martial artist of Dongsheng. I didn't come here today to target Lord Li. The God Martial Division is merely carrying out its official duty. They believed someone might disregard the rules and interfere, so they asked me to come and keep watch."

The youth with the black umbrella looked at the Blind Sword Saint indifferently. "If Lord Li is innocent, the God Martial Division will not do anything to him. You had better step aside for now. As far as I know, you are no longer at your peak. That trip to the Taia Palace back then left you with hidden injuries."

Almost everyone present suddenly felt a savage, oppressive aura surge toward them, as though some primordial beast had awakened.

The three captains of the God Martial Division were experts in their own right. Yet under such circumstances, even they could only retreat to the side, lest they be injured by the terrifying, sharp intent radiating from him.