Swords emerge from Mount Hua, sweeping across the heavens from the world of Swordsman.

Yue Zhuoqun put down his cup and smiled, "What is the leader looking at?"

Dongfang Bubai also put down her teacup, her beautiful eyes full of curiosity: "How did you learn such martial arts? The Huashan Sect doesn't seem to have so many fancy martial arts techniques!"

The Sun Moon Sect has been a formidable enemy of the Five Mountains Sword Sect for centuries. They have clashed countless times and are very familiar with each other's martial arts.

Even the Sunflower Manual she cultivated was an incomplete version recorded by Yue Su and Cai Zifeng, which was seized by the masters of the Sun Moon Sect when they attacked Mount Hua decades ago.

Logically speaking, the most advanced martial arts of the Huashan Sect are Zixia Divine Skill and Hunyuan Palm. However, the kung fu that Yue Zhuoqun displayed, although it had the shadow of both, was clearly far more powerful and profound than the two.

This piqued her curiosity.

Yue Zhuoqun's lips curled into a smile: "This concerns the inheritance of Mount Hua, I can't tell you!"

"Tch! Fine, don't tell me then, you stingy person."

Dongfang Bubai gritted his teeth, picked up his teacup, and took a big gulp.

Yue Zhuoqun was stunned for a moment by his appearance.

People in the martial arts world turn pale at the mention of Dongfang Bubai, all thinking of her as a powerful, domineering, and ruthless demon.

Only Yue Zhuoqun, after spending these days together, showed a girlish personality in her.

This version of Dongfang Bubai possesses a unique charm.

Unfortunately, outsiders have never seen it, nor are they qualified to see it.

Noticing Yue Zhuoqun's distraction, a flash of smugness crossed Dongfang Bubai's eyes, and her red lips curled up slightly.

However, he said, "Ren Woxing's matter is settled. What are you going to do next?"

"Go back to Mount Hua first, then go to the capital."

Dongfang Bubai raised an eyebrow: "So you've set your sights on Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi again?"

"These two are the two most outstanding masters in this world. If we don't go and meet them, wouldn't it be a waste to have come to this martial arts world?"

Yue Zhuoqun looked at Dongfang Bubai: "What about you? Going back to Blackwood Cliff?"

Dongfang Bubai paused for a moment, then said, "I guess I'll go and wander around the martial world!"

When we parted ways at the Thousand Cliffs of Hengshan last time, she said she wanted to travel the world, but she never actually did it.

This trip with Yue Zhuoqun has really made me restless and eager to get back to work.

"Maybe one day when I'm in the mood, I'll go and take down the Huashan Sect and reclaim the title of number one in the world! Hehehe~" She couldn't help but laugh at the end.

"Haha, that would be very interesting."

Yue Zhuoqun left alone and returned to Mount Hua.

A moment later, Huang Zhonggong and the other three entered the living room. Looking at the dejected Dongfang Bubai, they cautiously asked:

"Master, Alliance Leader Yue has left. What should we do next?"

There's no need to keep Ren Woxing under guard anymore, so there's no point in them staying at Plum Manor any longer.

Dongfang Bubai composed himself, waved his hand and said, "You all go back to Blackwood Cliff first, I need to go to Hengshan."

"Yes!"

……

The capital city has been in a state of panic for the past few months.

Since Zhu ignored his innocence and willingly entered the prison.

Cao Zhengchun then began to ruthlessly eliminate dissidents. Anyone who did not join his cause was immediately framed with fabricated charges, imprisoned, and tortured into confessing.

Within a few months, dozens of court officials were dismissed or removed from their posts, and the court became almost entirely under his control, with even the emperor having to defer to his every whim.

In the imperial study, Zhu Houzhao, his face grim, swept the memorials on the dragon desk to the ground with a thud.

“That dog of a lackey, Cao Zhengchun, is increasingly disregarding me. Now even memorials have to go through his hands first, and he even writes down his instructions on how to approve them.”

Was this Ming Dynasty truly the domain of the Zhu family, or the domain of that eunuch Cao?

"Your Majesty, calm down."

Zhang Haiduan, standing below, silently picked up the memorial and put it back in its original place, then cupped his hands and said:

"Cao Zhengchun is only acting so boldly because he is arrogant and no one can suppress him, relying on the fact that Iron-Blooded Marquis is imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison."

As the saying goes, "Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad." His arrogance won't last long.

Zhu Houzhao pondered for a moment upon hearing this, and then said, "Minister Zhang, what do you think about releasing the Imperial Uncle and letting the two of them continue their struggle?"

"Your Majesty, you must not! The Iron-Blooded Marquis is also ambitious. If he is released, it will be like two tigers bullying a dragon."

Moreover, his voluntary imprisonment was a temporary measure to conceal his talents, and he wanted to use Cao Zhengchun to clear his way forward.

Even if we release him, he probably won't confront Cao Zhengchun willingly.

During this period, most of the officials who were persecuted by Cao Zhengchun were like Zhang Haiduan, who disliked the two men.

"But this eunuch Cao is highly skilled in martial arts. If we don't release the Imperial Uncle, who can deal with him?"

Zhang Haiduan smiled slightly: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, those who can deal with him have already arrived in the capital."

Zhu Houzhao's expression shifted, and he stared at Zhang Haiduan with shining eyes: "Are you talking about Yue Buqun?"

“Indeed! Your humble servant has maintained contact with Sect Leader Yue. He is a man of justice and a Grand Master of the Palace, so naturally he will not stand idly by while the court is in turmoil. We have already discussed taking action against Cao Zhengchun.”

"When to take action?"

"It will happen in the next few days!"

"Good, I await your good news." Zhu Houzhao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In the following days, civil and military officials who had not sided with Cao Zhengchun began to impeach him vehemently under the leadership of Zhang Haiduan. Even local officials submitted memorials listing Cao Zhengchun's misdeeds.

Every morning at court, dozens of officials would point at Cao Zhengchun's nose and hurl insults at him, spitting blood at him.

Whether he was walking inside or outside the palace, people would point and whisper behind his back.

Although these actions did not cause any real harm to Cao Zhengchun, they still infuriated him.

His hatred and anger towards Zhang Haiduan had reached its peak.

At the Eastern Depot's Investigation Office, several heads, supervisors, and leaders gathered together.

“That old fellow Zhang Haiduan has been leading the court officials to impeach me these past few days. He even pointed his finger at me in court and cursed me with foul and extremely rude language. This is intolerable.”

"Unless we bring him down, the voices against me in the court will never subside."

Cao Zhengchun's rosy face trembled as he pointed downwards several times with his fingers in a delicate, orchid-like gesture.

“Pi Xiaotian, Iron Claw Flying Eagle, Xu Jin, the three of you, lead your experts tonight and secretly arrest Zhang Haiduan and imprison him. Whether you torture him or threaten him, make sure the fabricated evidence against him is conclusive.”

"Tomorrow morning at court, I will present his confession to the Emperor, demanding his head beheaded and his property confiscated."

"As you command, Commander!"

Chapter 79: Taking Cao Zhengchun's Head

Pi Xiaotian, Iron Claw Flying Eagle, and Xu Jin are the three top leaders of the Eastern Depot, each with superb martial arts skills.

In the darkness, the three men led hundreds of agents from the Eastern Depot to surround Zhang Haiduan's residence.

Staring at the tightly closed door, Da Dang Tou Pi Xiao Tian coldly shouted, "Go, break down the door!"

Cao Zhengchun ordered them to secretly arrest people, but the Eastern Depot was used to being arrogant and domineering, and was unwilling to even sneak in.

Immediately, four guards carried a wooden stake as thick as a water bucket and rammed it into the gate of the Zhang residence.

Bang!

Click~

With just a few moments, the gate was smashed open, and the courtyard was pitch black and silent.

"Go in and take them away. Except for Zhang Haiduan, anyone who resists will be killed without mercy."

The guards drew their swords and surged into the mansion with a whoosh.

But as soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard a whooshing sound from the darkness, and the guards at the front screamed and fell to the ground.

Seeing the darts and hidden weapons stuck in their fallen companions, their arrogance vanished.

"There is an ambush; be on guard."

The foreman spoke up to alert them, and they twitched their ears, listening intently for any sounds in the darkness.

However, the next second, a steel needle as thick as a chopstick came flying through the air, aiming straight for his throat.

The Eastern Depot was full of experts, and those who could become foremen were no weaklings.

He slashed horizontally with his sword, knocking the steel needle away, but before he could relax, a second steel needle followed closely behind, piercing his throat with a soft thud.

Immediately afterwards, several figures leaped out of the darkness and slaughtered the Eastern Depot agents like tigers among sheep.

The leader was slender and wielded a soft sword, moving with the agility of a venomous snake as the blade sliced ​​through the throats of his men.

There were three other figures, wielding Japanese katana, their swordsmanship sharp and ruthless, their strength no less than that of the woman wielding the soft sword.

Ordinary agents of the Eastern Depot were no match for these few people and were slaughtered in one fell swoop.