The Mantis Stalks the Cicada

The moon shone like a silver platter, spilling its light over the earth.

In the courtyard of the East Depot's Commander's Residence, footsteps, battle cries, curses, screams, and the clang of steel against steel blended into a single din.

Dozens of corpses already lay on the ground. The night wind carried the smell of blood to the two figures standing on a rooftop at the rear.

Yu Huatian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his silver-white python robe stirring gently in the night breeze. His fair face traced a handsome silhouette, like an immortal banished from the heavens descending beneath the night sky.

Watching the chaos below, he said mildly, "Zhao Jingzhong spent all these years lying low, and this is all the manpower he managed to win over?"

With twin swords on his back and a bronze beast mask covering his face, Ma Jinliang stood quietly beside Yu Huatian, like a ghostly shadow.

He nodded at those words. "The man has some petty cleverness, but neither his breadth of mind nor his methods can compare with Wan Yulou's. Without his junior martial sister Wei Ting helping him, Wan Yulou would have devoured him years ago without leaving so much as a scrap."

"He was Wei Zhongxian's successor, after all, yet he's this useless!"

Yu Huatian shook his head in disappointment, then shifted his gaze toward the figures in Flying Fish Uniforms below. "Those men from the Embroidered Uniform Guard have decent martial skills, though."

Ma Jinliang's pale, ghostly eyes also turned downward. He pointed as he explained, "The company commander in the silver-white Flying Fish Uniform is Lu Wenzhao, from the Northern Pacification Office. He keeps a low profile and has attached himself to the East Depot all these years. He's their most loyal dog—he bites whoever they tell him to bite. He probably hopes to climb the ranks through them."

"Is that so?"

Yu Huatian said calmly, "Above a company commander are the pacification commissioners of the Northern and Southern Pacification Offices. But those two positions are essentially decided by the court. The East Depot doesn't get to appoint them."

Ma Jinliang paused. "Then why would he willingly act as the East Depot's running dog? Enduring so much without anything to gain..."

"Who knows?"

Yu Huatian smiled and said no more, though an inscrutable gleam flickered in his eyes.

This world really was rather interesting.

Even the characters from Embroidery Spring Saber had gathered here.

If the plot had not gone astray, Lu Wenzhao endured all this because he wanted to overthrow the existing order-or, as he often put it, "find another way to live."

On the surface, he was a company commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the East Depot's running dog. In truth, he had secretly thrown his lot in with Prince Xin and intended to help him ascend the throne.

Incidentally, the current emperor of Ming was Emperor Tianqi, Zhu Youxiao. Prince Xin was Zhu Youjian, the future Emperor Chongzhen and the emperor's younger brother.

Since the emperor was ill and had no sons, Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian, was indeed the best candidate to inherit the throne once he died.

However, in the original Embroidery Spring Saber, Zhu Youjian became emperor with Wei Zhongxian's support. In this world, the Tianqi Emperor had already stripped Wei Zhongxian of his position ten years ago.

Moreover, as far as Yu Huatian knew, the Iron Gallant Divine Marquis of Dragon Guard Mountain Villa had spent these years secretly gathering evidence of the leading generals' crimes and plotting rebellion.

Whether Zhu Youjian could still become emperor was another matter entirely.

Yu Huatian was not certain either, so he offered no further explanation.

Seeing this, Ma Jinliang asked no more. He looked down at the battle and continued his introduction. "The man wielding an Embroidery Spring Saber is Shen Lian, a platoon commander under Lu Wenzhao. Beside him, the one using a winged-goose saber is Lu Jianxing, Shen Lian's superior and a hereditary hundred-household commander. The other one, wielding twin blades, is Jin Yichuan, a squad commander under Shen Lian."

"The three are sworn brothers. Lu Jianxing is the eldest, Shen Lian the second, and Jin Yichuan the youngest."

"Oh, and Jin Yichuan seems to be Ding Xiu's junior martial brother. We haven't uncovered Ding Xiu's background yet, but judging by their martial skills, they probably came from the frontier army..."

Yu Huatian said mildly, "His master is Ding Baiying. She and Lu Wenzhao are martial siblings, both inheritors of the Qi Family Saber."

"The Qi Family Saber?!"

Ma Jinliang was somewhat surprised. Qi Jiguang, who had created the Qi Family Saber, had been a renowned general of his generation. In this era, its inheritors certainly merited a second look.

Yu Huatian nodded and looked at the figures below. "Later, aside from Ding Xiu, leave the others alone if they know what's good for them. If they don't, send them to meet Li Zhong. Don't hold back... oh, and don't kill Shen Lian. Leave him to me."

Yu Huatian kept his eyes on Shen Lian, already considering how much fortune he might be worth.

He was the protagonist of a story, after all. It ought not to be too little...

"Yes." Ma Jinliang nodded.

"Are all our men in position?"

"Tan Luzi and Zhao Tong are waiting outside with the men. Every expert of the third tier or higher is here!"

Ma Jinliang answered.

Yu Huatian inclined his head.

Just then, a commotion rose below. As the crowd jostled together, an imposing voice rang out from beyond the residence. "Chief Officer Zhao Jingzhong has defied his superior and assassinated the deputy commander. His crime warrants death."

"I have orders to slay the traitor. Today, only the ringleader will be executed. Anyone who dares obstruct me will be treated as an accomplice and killed without mercy!"

At that voice, the corners of Yu Huatian's mouth lifted. "The main player has arrived!"

In the courtyard of the Commander’s Residence.

Zhao Jingzhong and the others were startled by the voice outside, and their expressions changed.

"Liu Xi!"

Zhao Jingzhong's face darkened as he spat the name through gritted teeth.

"Liu Xi? Not the West Depot's commander, Yu Huatian?"

Ding Xiu withdrew his gaze from Zhao Jingzhong's head, feeling rather puzzled.

Would I still be able to earn those two thousand taels today?

Liu Xi's declaration, coupled with Li Zhong's death, cowed quite a few people.

For a moment, both sides stopped fighting and looked toward the entrance.

Soon, the crowd parted, and an imposing man in a white python robe walked in with his hands behind his back. It was none other than Liu Xi.

After entering, Liu Xi swept his gaze over the scene. When he spotted Li Zhong's headless corpse in the reception hall, a nearly imperceptible flash of delight crossed his eyes. Then he turned toward Zhao Jingzhong and the others and demanded:

"Zhao Jingzhong, you and your junior martial sister conspired with the Embroidered Uniform Guard to defy your superior and murder the deputy commander. Do you admit your crimes?!"

Zhao Jingzhong's expression was grim. By now, how could he fail to see Liu Xi's scheme? He fixed his eyes on him. "Liu Xi, you gelded dog! You dared plot against me?!"

"A gelded dog? As though you aren't one yourself."

Liu Xi sneered. "Wanting to kill Li Zhong was one thing, but you even dragged the Embroidered Uniform Guard into it. Let's see how you explain that. You have no brains of your own; you can't blame me."

Zhao Jingzhong gritted his teeth. "You wanted to wait until I killed Li Zhong, then use it as an excuse to swoop in and reap the spoils? Dream on!"

"Attack! Kill him!"

Whoosh-

The instant he finished speaking, Zhao Jingzhong darted forward and thrust his spear at Liu Xi, holding nothing back.

He admitted that he had underestimated Liu Xi earlier, but as long as he killed him, everything would still be within his plans!

Lu Wenzhao and the others frowned at the sight, but they were already riding a tiger and could not dismount. If word of this spread, none of them could bear the charge of murdering the East Depot's deputy commander. They could only follow this road into the darkness.

"Attack!"

With a sharp cry, Lu Wenzhao and his three men also struck.

"A bunch of small fry who don't know their own limits!"

Watching the men rush toward him, Liu Xi wore a look of disdain. Murderous intent then blazed in his eyes, and immense true qi burst from his body, gathering around his hands as he blasted a palm strike forward.

Rumble-

Blue bricks shattered in an instant. Zhao Jingzhong and the others struck Liu Xi, but instead of piercing his body, they were sent flying by a terrifying force.

Shock appeared on every face.

"You've become a grandmaster?!"

Zhao Jingzhong cried in horror, his gaze fixed on the milky-white glow surrounding Liu Xi.

Only someone in the grandmaster realm could project true qi outside their body and form Body-Protecting Astral Energy!

Liu Xi chuckled. "Did you think I was like a useless fool such as you, showing everyone every little trump card you have? If I hadn't been wary of Wan Yulou all these years, crushing you would have been as easy as crushing an ant! A dog Wei Zhongxian once kept dares climb over my head? Pah! What a worthless thing!"

Zhao Jingzhong's face was ugly, and his heart sank. Between the xiantian realm and a grandmaster lay a heavenly chasm, almost impossible to cross.

Now that Liu Xi had become a grandmaster, whether they would live through today was uncertain.

But he had no retreat now, either.

If he did not kill Liu Xi, he would be the one to die!

"Attack!"

"If we don't kill him, we all die!"

With a roar, Zhao Jingzhong poured all his internal energy into his spear and lunged forward, attacking Liu Xi again.

Wei Ting, Lu Wenzhao, and his three men did not hesitate. Gripping their weapons, they attacked together.

Bang, bang, bang...

Even surrounded by six xiantian experts, Liu Xi remained fearless and composed, advancing and retreating with measured ease. Protected by his Body-Protecting Astral Energy, he gave Zhao Jingzhong and the others no chance to breach his defenses in the short term.

Instead, they could not get close to him at all, much less take his attacks head-on. They fought with their hands and feet tied by caution.

In the blink of an eye, they exchanged dozens of moves, the fighting growing fiercely intense.

Bang!

Suddenly, eager for a quick victory, Zhao Jingzhong was lured in by an opening Liu Xi deliberately exposed. He closed in to break Liu Xi's Body-Protecting Astral Energy, only to take a palm squarely in the chest and fly backward, vomiting blood.

"Pff..."

Zhao Jingzhong's face turned deathly pale in an instant. He hurriedly circulated his internal energy to stabilize his injuries.

Watching the battle, Zhao Jingzhong seemed to remember something and quickly turned around. Ding Xiu stood where he had been, his Imperial Guard Saber resting on his shoulder, watching with lively interest and no intention of joining in.

Zhao Jingzhong almost spat blood again from anger. He immediately roared, "Ding Xiu, why aren't you attacking?!"

Ding Xiu gave him a lazy glance. "Eunuch Zhao, the two hundred taels you offered only covered killing Li Zhong. I've killed him for you, and you still owe me a hundred taels. Dealing with Liu Xi costs extra."

Zhao Jingzhong was furious. Have you fucking crawled into a hole full of money?

But right now, he truly did not dare anger Ding Xiu. He pulled a pouch of silver from his robes and threw it to him. "Take it all! Kill Liu Xi for me!"

Ding Xiu caught the pouch, weighed it in his hand, and nodded in satisfaction. "Deal!"

Clang-

The next instant, his long saber flashed from its sheath and slashed toward Liu Xi.

Seeing this, Zhao Jingzhong temporarily suppressed his injuries, tightened his grip on his spear, and seized the chance to rejoin the fight.

Ding Xiu was the strongest among them. One-on-one, he might not beat a grandmaster like Liu Xi, but within the xiantian realm, absolutely no one was his match.

With Ding Xiu's arrival, the situation reversed at once.

His attacks could pierce Liu Xi's Body-Protecting Astral Energy. Two fists could not fend off four hands, and a moment's lapse allowed Ding Xiu to slash Liu Xi across the chest. His Body-Protecting Astral Energy broke, and a hideous gash instantly opened across his chest.

Lu Wenzhao and the others seized the opening and swarmed forward. Several attacks struck Liu Xi together, and he screamed as he was sent flying backward.

"Who are you?!"

After regaining his footing, Liu Xi quickly tapped two points on his chest to stop the bleeding, then stared at the formidable Ding Xiu in shock and fury.

"Take a man's money, rid him of his troubles. I'm Ding Xiu, a wanderer. Greetings, Eunuch Liu."

Ding Xiu spoke with a cheerful smile.

Liu Xi gritted his teeth. "Whatever Zhao Jingzhong paid you, I'll double it. Help me kill him!"

"Sorry, I have professional standards," Ding Xiu said with a smile.

Zhao Jingzhong and the others immediately breathed easier. This man walked the line between good and evil, and they had genuinely feared Ding Xiu might turn against them.

Liu Xi's face darkened. Looking at Ding Xiu, he said, "You'll regret your choice!"

Then he roared, "Attack!"

As his words fell, he moved again, charging at Zhao Jingzhong and the other six.

This time, however, two experts from the Xiantian Realm attacked alongside him!

Zhao Jingzhong's expression shifted, and he quickly shouted, "Stop them!"

The dozen or so acquired-realm martial artists who had been watching from the sidelines immediately gripped their weapons and rushed forward. But the other men Liu Xi had brought also joined in, and they outnumbered Zhao Jingzhong's forces.

Those acquired-realm martial artists could not possibly stop the two xiantian experts. In the blink of an eye, the pair broke through their formation and joined Liu Xi's battle.

With two xiantian martial artists assisting him, the pressure on Liu Xi eased considerably. Though wounded, he remained immensely powerful, his true qi seemingly inexhaustible. Within moments, Zhao Jingzhong and the others were driven back again and again.

"Aah-"

Suddenly, Wei Ting, the weakest among them, was struck by Liu Xi. Before she could pull away, a tremendous suction erupted from his palm. Terror filled her face as she felt her internal energy forcibly drawn out of her body and into his.

"Energy-Absorbing Great Method!"

Zhao Jingzhong and the others also paled, suddenly remembering the rumors that Liu Xi knew a martial art capable of absorbing others' internal energy.

"Hahahaha-"

Liu Xi laughed wildly. Replenished by Wei Ting's internal energy, he felt his true qi rapidly recovering. Even the injuries he had just suffered began to heal slowly.

"Quick! Stop him!"

Zhao Jingzhong shouted and hurried forward with his spear, trying to interrupt Liu Xi's absorption.

But Lu Wenzhao and Shen Lian were tied down by Liu Xi's two xiantian subordinates. The remaining four were blasted away as soon as they attacked. Unable to get close for the moment, they could only watch helplessly as Liu Xi used Wei Ting's internal energy to restore his true qi and heal his wounds.

"Hahahaha!"

Liu Xi threw back his head and laughed. "You useless fools dare oppose me? You..."

Boom-

Before he could finish, a fierce blast of energy struck from behind. Liu Xi's expression changed slightly. Instinctively withdrawing his power, he turned and blasted out a palm.

Their palms collided. Liu Xi shuddered and staggered several steps backward. As soon as he regained his footing, he felt blood rise in his throat, but he forced it down and immediately looked up.

At some point, a young man had appeared before him. Like Liu Xi, he wore a silver-white python robe, but he was outrageously handsome. His indifferent eyes held an inborn majesty and dominance, and his bearing was extraordinary.

"Yu Huatian?!"

Liu Xi's expression changed drastically.

(End of chapter)