Xiao Jinghan stood in the cell, smoke rolling past his feet, choking him and making his throat hurt.
He didn't cough; he just stared out the door.
The accomplice arrived with two prison guards.
The key was inserted into the lock and turned twice before it opened.
The man's hands trembled; the more anxious he became, the more chaotic his actions became.
Xiao Jinghan raised his hand, and the iron chain reached out and pressed down on his wrist.
"Slow down. If you keep shaking, you'll ruin the keyhole."
The accomplice, his face pale, gritted his teeth and unlocked the door.
The iron chain fell to the ground.
Xiao Jinghan flexed his wrists.
The bones cracked softly. He glanced down at the broken chain on the ground, then looked back at the cell that had imprisoned him for ten years.
Damp walls, straw mats, broken bowls.
This place trapped him for ten years.
Now I'm finally free.
The contact urged, "Hurry up!"
Xiao Jinghan followed him through the side door.
The smoke was so thick it was hard to open one's eyes; jailers were running around haphazardly on the west side; and torches were flickering in patches near the main gate.
A gust of wind blew outside the side door, dissipating some of the smoke.
A gray-canopied van was parked in the west alley.
The carriage curtain was half-drawn, the horses were blindfolded, and the wheels were covered in mud; from a distance, it looked like a dilapidated vegetable cart.
The person waiting to pick them up pulled back the curtain. "Get in the car."
Xiao Jinghan stepped onto the carriage shaft, taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention.
He lifted the hem of his shirt, gritted his teeth, and dug the small iron box out of his body. He finally felt much better.
The box lid is opened.
Half an old seal lay inside, its surface damaged, with the Xiao Clan's old markings still visible on the edges.
Xiao Jinghan pressed down on the old seal.
The coolness of the metal pressed against my palm.
He smiled.
The Crown Prince ordered him to kill Gu Moran.
He wanted to use the Crown Prince's influence to reignite the Xiao Clan's old banner.
The coachman cracked his whip.
The horse had barely taken half a step when all the lights at the alley entrance came on.
At the top of the walls on both sides, at the end of the alley, and at the fork in the road, a row of torches was raised simultaneously.
The wet flagstones appeared white in the sunlight.
The horse was startled, its front hooves lifted, and the carriage lurched violently.
The contact's expression changed drastically. "What's going on?"
The sound of beetle leaves rubbing together came from the alley entrance.
The Grand Commandant's Residence's personal guards pressed in from both sides, their swords not yet drawn, but their bows already strung.
The horse's hooves pounded on the stone slabs, crushing the water stains.
Lin Zhenshan, mounted on his horse and wearing casual armor, had a frighteningly grim expression.
"The prison is on fire; vehicles cannot exit through the main gate."
He raised his hand.
"Take them all."
The contact immediately pulled out a document. "Grand Commandant! The Ministry of Punishments has documents regarding the transfer of prisoners—"
Before he could finish speaking, his bodyguards had already pinned him to the ground.
The document fell into the water, and the ink spread.
Lin Zhenshan didn't even glance at it.
"The criminals are caught using the night shift, taking shortcuts and bringing along a gray-canopied cart."
"Do you think the Grand Commandant's Residence is blind?"
The accomplice was forced face-to-the-ground, still shouting, "I'm just doing my duty!"
Lin Zhenshan asked, "On whose orders?"
The person making the contact shut up.
Xiao Jinghan stood on the carriage shaft, looking at the alley entrance.
The road ahead is blocked.
There are people behind us too.
He clenched his palm over the old mark, and blood dripped onto the car floor.
" Invincible Hegemon Art!"
Lin Zhenshan frowned. What was this clown up to?
The guard next to him twitched at the corner of his mouth, but managed to suppress it.
Just as Xiao Jinghan was about to jump off the carriage, his gaze suddenly shifted to the end of the alley.
There was an inconspicuous carriage parked there.
The carriage curtains were drawn very low.
But when the torch was lit, half a face stepped back through the gap in the curtain.
Not a jailer.
Not a personal guard.
They weren't just passing by.
At this hour, the only one who can stay outside the Grand Commandant's Residence's encirclement and watch the show, and who can be protected by Lin Zhenshan without making a sound, is that big fish in the bureau.
His intuition told him that this was the Grand Commandant's eligible bachelor, Gu Moran!
Xiao Jinghan stomped on the wooden planks beside the carriage shaft, breaking them with his bare feet, and lunged towards the carriage.
Gu Moran saw people rushing towards her and immediately lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage.
If we keep hiding, he'll dismantle the train car.
The system panel pops up.
[ Xiao Jinghan: Martial Arts Prodigy.]
[Identity: A member of a collateral branch of the former imperial family, the Son of Destiny.]
[Hatefulness: 100.]
[Martial Arts Rating: Mid- Fifth Rank ]
[Status: Just released from prison, wants to kill, wants to restore his country, wants to find someone of sufficient importance to take down.]
Gu Moran's eyelid twitched.
Σ(°ロ°)
As expected of the "Dragon King Released from Prison" trope, reaching the Fifth Rank upon his first appearance?
I was just sitting in my carriage watching the fun, and he managed to drag me out?
Fortunately, I managed to get my father-in-law to come.
Otherwise, things will really go wrong tonight.
Xiao Jinghan landed in front of the carriage.
The firelight illuminated Gu Moran's face.
He had seen a portrait of that face in the prison.
Prince Yi, Gu Moran.
Xiao Jinghan lifted the iron chain.
Gu Moran!
Gu Moran shoved the medicine box into Uncle Fu's arms.
run?
Lin Zhenshan watched from the side.
Not running?
Xiao Jinghan had already swung the iron chain in his hand.
Gu Moran moved half a step to the side.
Is this the ultimate instinct of Son of Destiny to spot a chosen villain?
Fortunately, he had already thought of an excuse before going out to see the play.
Lin Zhenshan remained seated on his horse, not moving an inch, looking like he was watching a show.
He remained completely calm.
This remnant of the previous dynasty is Fifth Rank.
Qingdai once said that Gu Moran had already reached the Sixth Rank.
He wanted to see just how much real skill this kid really had.
Xiao Jinghan swung the iron chain away.
"Overlord's First Move: Locking Dragon Emerges from the Sea!"
Gu Moran's face stiffened.
Do they even recite the menu before a fight?
He caught a glimpse of Lin Zhenshan out of the corner of his eye.
The old captain didn't move.
OK.
You want to watch the show first, huh?
Gu Moran raised his hand and assumed the starting stance of the Wind-Dismantling Hand.
He touched the ground with his toes, turned his body to the side, and the iron chain brushed past his sleeve.
Is Xiao Jinghan going to show off while fighting?
How could I not know how?
Who's afraid of who?
He started by shouting:
"Holding the sun and moon in my hands and plucking stars from the sky, there is no one like me in this world!"
Lin Zhenshan's face darkened considerably.
One of the guards almost choked on his saliva.
Xiao Jinghan was also caught off guard.
The lyrics were shouted so wildly.
Their only move is dodging.
Taking advantage of his pause, Gu Moran stepped back, avoiding the second end of the chain.
Xiao Jinghan gritted his teeth.
" Hegemon Tramples the Mountain!"
He stomped his left foot on the ground, splashing water droplets onto the wet stone slab, and pressed his entire body against Gu Moran's chest.
Gu Moran lowered his shoulders, took a half-foot step to the side, and slid away from the edge of the palm strike.
The wind lifted the cuffs of my sleeves, and the smell of medicinal powder wafted from the oilcloth box.
"At the pinnacle of immortality, I reign supreme over the world; with me, Prince Yi, the heavens reign!"
Lin Zhenshan tightened his grip on the reins.
He finally understood why Qingdai always wanted to draw her sword against this guy.
Xiao Jinghan wrapped the iron chain around his wrist and lunged again.
" Tyrant Emperor Armor-Shattering Fist!"
Gu Moran dodged to the side, and his folding fan snapped open.
"If Heaven had not given birth to Gu Moran, the art of fan-making would have remained shrouded in eternal darkness!"
Xiao Jinghan slammed his fist against the wall, and dust fell onto Gu Moran's shoulder.
In his first battle after leaving prison, he didn't even manage to touch Gu Moran's collar.
"All you do is hide?"
Gu Moran brushed the dust off his shoulders.
"You're Fifth Rank, I'm Sixth Rank. You know that six is more than five, right?"
"I'll let you off easy, so you won't say I'm bullying someone who just got out of prison."
Xiao Jinghan felt a tightness in his chest.
Lin Zhenshan's expression changed.
This kid is indeed Sixth Rank.
But the few steps Gu Moran took were clearly the work of the Grand Commandant's Residence's Wind-Dismantling Hand.
It wasn't just a superficial understanding.
It's ingrained in her bones; she's even more agile than Lin Qingdai.
Lin Zhenshan stared at him, his expression growing even darker.
This bastard, is his comprehension really that strong?
Xiao Jinghan charged forward again.
The iron chain swept across, the force of his fist pressed down, and the old mark was pressed into his palm, blood dripping from between his fingers onto the stone slab.
" The Xiao Clan's dragon banner is raised once more, its might blotting out the sky!"
Gu Moran withdrew the chain and bent down to crawl under the fist.
He stood still and struck a cool pose.
"I will not let this sky obscure my vision!"
Uncle Fu stood at the alley entrance, his lips twitching.
Is Your Highness fighting, or just making a fool of yourself?
Why hasn't the old Grand Commandant made a move yet?
If we keep watching, something really bad is going to happen.
Xiao Jinghan launched several attacks in succession.
Gu Moran's steps began to falter.
He's figured it out.
It's not difficult to evade the mid-level of the Fifth Rank.
The problem is that this person has just been released from prison and is extremely hot-tempered, with every move aimed at drawing blood.
It's not worth dragging this out any longer.
Xiao Jinghan pounced on him again.
"The Overlord's Possession!"
Gu Moran turned and retreated to stand in front of Lin Zhenshan's horse.
He raised his hand and pointed at the old Grand Commandant.
"Watch my final move!"
My father-in-law has the makings of an emperor!