Ancient imperial palaces often had side halls and secret passages built into them, providing escape routes where occupants could take shelter in an emergency.
Zhao Xu had never imagined that, as an emperor reigning in peaceful times, he would one day have cause to use those secret passages himself.
"Your Majesty, we're almost at Zichen Hall. There's a secret passage inside that leads straight out of the palace."
"The villains have come in force this time. Please leave the palace and take shelter for now. Once the elite troops from the encampment outside the city enter the palace and wipe them out, you can return and take charge."
An elderly eunuch hurried ahead to guide the way, with Zhao Xu and a squad of elite soldiers close behind.
"Alas! There's nothing else to be done." Zhao Xu sighed, an indescribable grievance on his youthful face.
Ever since he had heard that furious roar resound through the palace, he had known that villains had entered. He had thought it would be a farce quickly put down, but this time things had gotten far too serious.
According to the commander of the inner guards protecting him, the intruders had not only fought their way in from Xuande Gate but had also clashed with three thousand Palace Front Army soldiers in front of Daqing Hall.
Yet even that had not been enough to take them down. Although the imperial family's retainers had been notified and sent to deal with them, no one knew how it would end.
That was one bad thing about ancient times: news traveled with difficulty.
The imperial palace was vast and intricately laid out. They knew only that people had gone to intercept the intruders, but no one knew how the interception had turned out.
If someone had told them that half of those three thousand Palace Front Army soldiers had been killed or wounded, that the remaining half had long since broken and fled for their lives, and that three of the five great retainers were gone as well, who knew what they would have thought?
Just as Zhao Xu was preparing to flee the imperial city under the protection of the eunuchs and soldiers, another roar rang out, infused with internal energy:
"Where is Zhao Xu?! Come out and meet me!"
It was still Xu Xiao's voice, but this time, the roar was somewhat different.
Vigorous internal energy pierced through the palace walls, reaching straight into the minds of those who heard it and making them unable to resist answering.
First was Zhao Xu, the emperor himself. The instant he heard the roar, a trace of bewilderment flashed in his eyes. Then he stopped in his tracks and answered, eerily:
"Zhao Xu is here!"
The other soldiers and eunuchs were no different. Bewilderment spread across their faces as they murmured, "Zhao Xu is here."
Only the old eunuch leading the way had a momentary daze flash through his eyes. Just as the words were about to leave his mouth, the internal energy within him surged into his mind of its own accord, and his senses immediately cleared.
This is bad, it's a sound attack infused with internal energy!
"Your Majesty, be careful! Don't fall into the villain's trap!"
The first thing the old eunuch did after regaining his senses was grab Zhao Xu by the shoulder. Without regard for whether he was overstepping his bounds, he sent a stream of pure internal energy into him.
The surge of internal energy roused Zhao Xu from the sound attack's enchantment. The sound attack was uncanny; apart from those with profound internal energy, no one could guard against it.
"Chief Eunuch Huang, what happened to me?"
Zhao Xu looked utterly bewildered, seemingly unaware of what had just happened.
"Your Majesty, please come with me quickly. If I'm not mistaken, that villain was roaring just now to practice a sound-attack martial art that bewitches the mind. You accidentally answered him, and he'll soon know where we are."
Eunuch Huang's heart burned with anxiety. Even he had not expected that the roars rising and falling one after another earlier had been the man practicing a technique.
And since the man had mastered this wicked sound-attack art of bewitching minds so quickly, presumably it would not take him long to find them.
"Ah! There's such a wicked art in this world?"
Cold sweat poured down Zhao Xu's face. Without pressing further, he let Eunuch Huang take him by the arm and hurry him along.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the imperial palace, Xu Xiao's ears twitched, and he stopped shouting in satisfaction. He had just heard the reply.
Zhao Xu was in the palace. He could not escape.
"An expert truly is an expert. You mastered this Brahma Sound Formless Consciousness-Seeking Sutra so quickly."
Seeing Xu Xiao end his technique, the monk Fakong immediately cupped his hands and offered his compliments.
"Big monk, you've done very well. You can go." Xu Xiao waved a hand. He was a man of his word.
The big monk's sound-attack martial art for finding people worked extremely well. Under his guidance, Xu Xiao had used his vigorous internal energy to practice it and grasped the basics in just a few minutes.
Finding traces of Zhao Xu was enough for Xu Xiao to spare the monk's life.
"Then this humble monk won't disturb you in your important business, expert. I'll take my leave."
The monk Fakong bowed. Seeing that Xu Xiao was serious, he immediately pushed off with quick steps and vanished after several leaps.
That damned bald donkey didn't even put in a good word for me! Now I'm of no use to him. What am I supposed to do?
Daoist Xuanxiao was nervous.
Xu Xiao had just asked them for a way to find Zhao Xu, but Xuanxiao had been a step too slow, and the big monk had seized the opportunity.
He knew sound attacks too! But he had been a step too slow, and Fakong had snatched the chance.
"As for you..."
Just then, with Fakong gone, Xu Xiao turned his gaze on Daoist Xuanxiao.
Now that I have a way to find him, I'll keep this man as a pig for slaughter and draw off his internal energy!
A dangerous gleam flickered in Xu Xiao's eyes, and his stare made Daoist Xuanxiao's skin crawl.
He must think I'm useless and is about to make his move!
You stupid brain, think! Think of something that can save my life!
Daoist Xuanxiao's mind raced. What could he do for the man to save his own life?
Cultivation techniques? No. The man's abilities were uncanny; he probably would not think much of the martial arts Xuanxiao practiced.
Treasures? No. The old Daoist had lived a carefree life, and apart from the Daoist robe on his back and the horsetail whisk in his hand, he had nothing else.
Almost at the instant Xu Xiao was about to act, Daoist Xuanxiao caught sight of his withered face and thought of a possibility.
Treating a dead horse as though it were still alive, he spoke up and took a gamble:
"Expert, I'm useful! I'm well versed in the Daoist Canon and medical texts. One look at your body shows that your essence and Qi are withered. I can help restore your health!"
The iron shard that had just risen drifted back, and Xu Xiao's voice came slowly:
"Is that true?"
"True! This old Daoist is ninety-three this year. Aside from practicing martial arts, what I love most is studying medical texts and the Daoist Canon."
"Expert, one look at your face shows signs of withered essence and Qi, and a mismatch between spirit and flesh. I can help restore your health to some extent."
"I can't claim I can cure you completely, but I can at least ease your condition somewhat. That's an effect nourishment with internal energy can't achieve."
Seeing that Xu Xiao had indeed stopped, Daoist Xuanxiao realized his gamble had paid off.
Because of the Superpower Crystal's influence, Xu Xiao had gained tremendous power, but his body had also become extremely frail.
Although decades' worth of Northern Darkness True Qi now nourished him, and overall he was much better, who would not want to recover completely?
Xu Xiao had originally set his sights on other, higher-dimensional worlds, planning to obtain internal energy to keep himself alive in the meantime. He had not expected someone to recognize what was wrong with him.
Looking at Daoist Xuanxiao's white hair and youthful face, and his fair, smooth skin like a child's despite being over ninety, Xu Xiao found himself believing him a little.
Restoring his body was the fundamental reason he had come to Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils to seek internal cultivation techniques. Now that someone could recognize his condition, he did not mind giving it a try.
"All right, old Daoist. As long as you can restore my health, not only will I spare you, I can even grant your requests. You'll live better than you did under the Zhao-Song Imperial Family."
"Of course, if you dare deceive me, I'll chase you to the ends of the earth and kill you."
First courtesy, then force. After giving him that warning, Xu Xiao turned and flew away.
"Wait here in the palace. I'm going to meet that Zhao Song emperor, then I'll come back for you. Don't think about running."
Run? How could he outrun someone who could fly?
Daoist Xuanxiao had considered fleeing, but in the end he gave up.
Xu Xiao had just let the monk Fakong go as promised, establishing himself as a man who kept his word.
Rather than gamble on whether he would be hunted down after escaping, Xuanxiao chose to gamble on Xu Xiao's character.
Though this man's features are fierce, he doesn't look like the sort who would break his word.
Watching Xu Xiao's departing figure, Daoist Xuanxiao forgot to tell him that he also knew a little about face-reading.