The Emperor's New Clothes (Double-Length Chapter)

Linjiang County, at the entrance to Dragon Gate Road.

The bustling street, usually crowded with carriages and pedestrians, was now shrouded in a chilling air.

On both sides of the street, a Dragon Gate Escort Agency guard in black fighting clothes stood every ten paces. Hands on their sabers, they scrutinized every passerby with hawk-sharp eyes.

Two rickshaws were stopped by guards holding their blades across the road at the entrance to Dragon Gate Road.

The rickshaw drivers hurriedly set down their handles and retreated to one side, meek and submissive.

Li Xiang and Qin Zhong sat in the rickshaws.

"Master Qin, Master Li."

The driver pointed at the barricade ahead. "The road's closed. The gentlemen from the escort agency said that starting today, no rickshaws or handcarts can enter Dragon Gate Road unless they have special passes."

Qin Zhong jumped down from the rickshaw. "All right, I know the rules. The Dragon Gate Escort Agency's been like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow these past few days. Don't go asking for trouble."

As the head of the Harmony Carriage Yard, he had better sources than ordinary drivers like them.

The commotion from last night's battle at the Dragon Gate Escort Agency had been terrifying.

That old monster Lu Changsheng hadn't died. He had even killed several fools who crossed him. But the great beast that was the Dragon Gate Escort Agency had bled all the same.

Master Xin had sent a trusted aide to warn Qin Zhong overnight: keep his head down for now, and don't walk into the line of fire.

The most explosive news was that while Lu Changsheng was besieged by over a dozen Grandmasters and masters, someone had taken advantage of the agency's thin defenses and emptied more than half its