Chapter 1394 - 758: The Empress Dowager's Edict (Double Release) (2)

In this way, I'm afraid it's not an accident that can explain it, but rather an external force.

Chen Yi could only think of the Forbidden Army camped outside the city.

However, Yang Chongwei was already trapped in the World of Ignorance along with the official puppets, and the Forbidden Army should be leaderless. It's already a testament to their strict discipline that they could continue to guard the pass. How could they suddenly send people to set fire and launch a night raid on the armory?

Could it be that a new general has arrived?

Chen Yi lowered his eyes in thought; the probability of the new general of the Forbidden Army taking such a risky move upon assuming office was exceedingly low.

But merely pondering is meaningless. The truth often hides within every brick and breath at the scene.

Not to mention clearing obstacles for Qin Qingluo before leaving; considering the present situation, the Southern Border has his bloodline, his woman, it's like half his home. How could he allow someone to cause trouble in secret and disturb the peace of the New Year?

With his mind made up, Chen Yi turned around and quickly instructed Yin Weiyin, Lin Wanxiao, and Xiuhe, who was holding Qin Yue, still in the courtyard: "I'll be back soon. Stay in the courtyard and don't wander off. Luan Huang, I entrust this place to you."

Although Yin Weiyin was not skilled in killing, his level was enough to ensure the safety of the courtyard.

Seeing his serious expression, Yin Weiyin knew this was no small matter and nodded slightly: "Be careful."

Chen Yi said no more. His figure flickered, and he passed like a wisp of smoke over the courtyard wall, his toes touching the tiles lightly, his whole body shooting towards the direction of the blazing fire like an arrow off a string. After several quick leaps on the continuous rooftops, he was already far from the Prince Mansion.

The night wind howled past his ears, and there were sounds of troops moving on the streets below, quickly converging towards the fire.

With eyes like lightning, Chen Yi glanced at the street scene below and suddenly saw on the main road leading to East City, Qin Qingluo at the forefront, her armor gleaming in the firelight. She galloped her horse, followed by a team of elites, the sound of their hooves striking the cobblestone road like a sudden downpour, filled with murderous intent.

Naturally, Chen Yi was faster, reaching the pinnacle of Peak Stepping Cloud, almost turning into a shadow so fast it was hard to catch with the naked eye. In the blink of an eye, he had left Qin Qingluo's group far behind.

After just a few moments, the scorching heat wave already hit him in the face.

Chen Yi landed on a high clock tower a hundred paces away from the armory, squinting to see.

Originally heavily guarded, the East City Armory was now engulfed in a sea of flames.

The raging flames soared several stories high, illuminating half of East City as if it were daylight. The wooden structures of the warehouse crackled and snapped in the fire, occasionally collapsing with a crash, sending up sparks into the sky. Thick smoke rolled up like a black dragon, straight into the clouds, the air filled with the acrid smell of burnt stone, tung oil, and smoldering wood.

Around the armory, some guarding soldiers and patrol camp troops who rushed over upon hearing the news were frantically trying to put out the fire.

They carried buckets and basins, desperately drawing water from nearby wells to throw at the raging fire dragon, but it was a mere drop in the ocean; the water was instantly evaporated by the blazing fire, leaving behind only a wisp of white vapor. Some tried to organize and dismantle nearby buildings to create a firebreak, but the fire spread too quickly, and the scorching heat wave made it impossible to approach. The scene was chaotic, with shouts, commands, and the crackling of burning wood interweaving, a futile and frantic effort.

Chen Yi frowned deeply; this fire... arose too fiercely and strangely...

Suddenly, his gaze focused.

At the western side of the armory, under a section of the wall that had been ignored due to the spreading fire, several figures wearing camp soldier uniforms were slipping out from inside with the help of thick smoke.

Their movements were far more agile and efficient than ordinary soldiers, silently landing on the ground. They exchanged signals before intending to disperse and sneak into the neighboring maze-like alleys, hoping to escape under the cover of night and chaos.

Chen Yi lightly touched the eaves of the clock tower, leaving only a faint afterimage in the air.

With a thought, his body was already in action.

Those disguised Forbidden Army soldiers were trained and had already planned their retreat route, dispersing quickly.

However, just as they slipped into the shadows of the alleys, barely having time to feel relieved at escaping the range of the fire, they suddenly felt a twitch in their hearts.

It was as if an imperceptible light breeze had brushed past the alley entrance.

Then there were several dull thuds, "poof," "poof," except for the one at the very back, all his companions in front inexplicably and soundlessly collapsed at the same time, not even letting out a groan before losing consciousness.

The last one was so frightened that his spirit almost left him; he hadn't seen what happened, only felt the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. Instinctively, he tried to draw his sword in resistance, but as his wrist moved, an iron-like grip silently clamped down on his neck, a powerful and irresistible force surged into his body, completely sealing his strength, rendering him unable to move even a finger.

The person was behind him.

His frozen shoulder was tapped, and he heard a low voice filled with a chilling intent that penetrated to the bone,

"I ask, you answer."

The grip on his neck tightened slightly, making breathing difficult, his eyes bulging.

"Who sent you?"

The Forbidden Army soldier let out a guttural sound, unclear words struggling to spill out from his mouth, desperately seeking a sliver of hope for survival.

"... Empress Dowager's decree..."

As his voice fell, the hand holding his neck involuntarily tightened suddenly.

With a snap, his neck broke suddenly, and in the darkness, the man froze for a moment before releasing his hold, letting the body collapse softly to the ground.

Empress Dowager...?

It was as if a lightning bolt pierced through his mind.

Almost without thinking, the man's figure disappeared from the alley, and in the next moment, he was on top of the towering East City Gate Tower of Dragon Tail City.

Chen Yi leaped out of Dragon Tail City.

Instantly, eight hundred miles.

The soldiers guarding the city head only felt a blur before their eyes, as if a vague green shadow passed through the crenelation, the wind whipped their armor and clothes fiercely. When they looked again, there was nothing but the vast night outside the city, no sign of a human figure?

.........…

By the time Qin Qingluo galloped to the East City Armory, the fire was still raging, but thanks to her timely deployment of many hands, the fire was finally gradually brought under control, no longer spreading outward.

About half an hour later, the visible flames were finally mostly extinguished, with only stubborn embers flickering with a dark red glow amidst the smoke.

The once imposing armory compound had now turned into a shocking expanse of charred ruins.

The broken beams resembled the skeletal remains of a great beast, pointing haphazardly at the sky still shrouded in smoke, melted metal gear solidified into odd, blocky shapes, the air filled with a nauseating burnt smell mixed with lingering niter and tung oil.

Qin Qingluo dismounted, her armor gleaming coldly amidst the embers, her face ashen, her gaze sweeping over the devastation, suppressing her anger as she said, "Where is the general who was on duty at the armory tonight? Bring him to me!"

One of the order-transmitting soldiers, seeing her displeased expression, shivered in fear and hurriedly complied, running off to search among the crowd clearing the scene.

After issuing the command, Qin Qingluo did not wait further, walking slowly into the ruins of the fire scene to roughly assess the damage.

Her boots crunched softly on the still-warm ashes and rubble, the acrid burnt smell growing even more pungent, nearly suffocating.

However, amidst this intense scent, Qin Qingluo sharp-eyedly detected something amiss.

This burnt smell... was too pure, and so intensely unnatural, as if forcibly concentrated in this spot, lasting long.

She lightly furrowed her brow, a thought crossing her mind, and a barely perceptible flash of gold flitted through the depths of her sharp serpentine eyes.

The scene before her wavered like rippling water.

The edges of the large swathes of charred debris seemed to blur slightly, and amidst the ripples, beneath the blackened exterior, intact wooden walls, and the cold gleam of metal blades neatly arranged on display racks, armor stacked in rows emerged...

She raised her eyebrows in astonishment, halting her steps to concentrate anew, but the scene appeared as calm as still water.

Qin Qingluo slowly lifted her head, surveying the armory ruins that had suffered utter calamity,

"Illusion Technique?"