Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"Heroine, what are you doing? Is there something I'm not satisfied with?"

The waiter tried to smile and fool the waiter, but Zhuque gave him no chance whatsoever.

"Drink it, don't make me do it."

Zhuque's cold words echoed in my ears.

The martial artists around them exchanged glances and then placed their hands on the table where the weapons were laid out.

The shopkeeper, who was originally fiddling with the abacus at the counter, also quietly went around to the front of the door.

Suzaku ignored this, his pupils behind the mask fixed on the waiter.

When the waiter realized his scheme had been exposed, his expression changed.

"Heroine, since you already know, then don't blame us for being impolite. Wouldn't it be better to play dumb? Why put yourself in danger?"

But before he could finish speaking, Zhuque poured the wine in his hand directly into his mouth.

"Cough cough cough..."

Instantly, the waiter clutched his throat and coughed incessantly, quickly taking a few steps back.

After finally calming down, his face flushed red, and he pointed at Zhuque, cursing, "You bitch, you offered yourself up! Today I'm going to sell you into prostitution! Brothers, let's go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a burly man behind him slashed at Zhuque's back with a knife.

Zhuque didn't even turn her head. She grabbed a chopstick, twirled it between her fingers, and tossed it away casually.

The flying bamboo chopsticks pierced through the strong man's wrist in an instant, causing him excruciating pain.

"He's a tough one, let's all attack together!"

The innkeeper at the entrance shouted, and the martial artists inside the tavern all attacked Zhuque.

Zhuque turned her head to avoid the incoming sword, then lightly flicked the spine of the sword with her finger.

With a clang, the longsword immediately fell from the warrior's hand and hit the ground.

As Zhuque slightly raised her foot by half an inch, she caught the falling sword, while simultaneously ducking to avoid the blade swung from her left.

The next moment, with a flick of his foot, the longsword instantly fell into Suzaku's hand.

Puff puff puff——

In just a moment, the other four approaching martial artists all had swords in their throats.

"A flying dragon from outer space?"

Upon seeing his opponent's swordsmanship, the shopkeeper felt a sudden tightness in his chest and quickly pulled out an abacus from his waist.

In just a short while, two more people died under the Vermilion Bird Sword, and none of the martial artists present could get within three feet of her.

The shopkeeper immediately started working on his abacus, just about to retaliate, when suddenly everything went blurry before his eyes.

When I came to my senses, I felt a fragrant breeze wafting towards my nose.

"you……"

After glancing at Zhuque, he fell straight to the ground.

At this moment, the remaining three martial artists felt a chill run down their spines upon seeing this scene.

The opponent's strength was simply beyond my ability to contend with.

So they all dropped their weapons and kept bowing and begging for mercy.

"Please spare us, heroine! We were blind to your greatness. Please show mercy!"

Zhuque flicked her sword, wiping away the bloodstains, and coldly surveyed the three without uttering a word.

Upon seeing this, the men were so frightened that they immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

"Please calm down, heroine. We were just following orders."

Suzaku then spoke: "On whose orders?"

"We are under orders from Master Huang to wait here for passing female knights-errant. If we encounter one who is reasonably attractive, we will drug her and send her to his residence for our pleasure."

Please forgive us, heroine; we are merely trying to make a living.

Upon hearing this, Zhuque threw the iron sword to the ground.

Where is Master Huang?

"The largest mansion in the west of the city is about two miles away from here."

Upon hearing this, Zhuque turned and left immediately.

Seeing that the crisis was over, the group slumped to the ground in exhaustion.

Before the group could even reminisce about their narrow escape, two more members of the Jingwei Guard suddenly burst into the tavern.

Puff puff--

Without saying a word, the two men each drew their swords and ended the lives of the three men.

"Walk."

Having done all this, the two did not linger and went straight out towards the Huang residence.

……

At noon, inside the main hall of Blackwater City.

Having received the order, the crowd regrouped and quietly awaited the arrival of the Celestial Venerable.

About fifteen minutes later, Jiang Yue, dressed in a dark dragon robe, strode to the dragon throne and sat down.

"Today, I would like to recommend a distinguished guest to you. The fact that our Great Chu sects were able to unite and resist the Empress's tyranny is inseparable from his secret help."

As soon as he finished speaking, a burly figure stepped out from behind the screen.

"Young Master Murong!"

When Chu Youwei saw who it was, she immediately covered her mouth, her eyes filled with surprise.

The person who arrived was none other than Murong Wei, who had an affair with Chu Youwei.

Jiang Yue said, "Let me introduce you all. This is the fifth prince of the Great Yan, Murong Wei. He was the first to discover the Empress's plot to take action against the martial arts world and informed us in advance."

Murong Wei smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd: "Gentlemen, I, the humble prince, greet you!"

The crowd immediately began to discuss among themselves, seemingly wondering why people from the Northern Yan Kingdom would appear here.

Jiang Yue stood up and said, "Everyone, the Great Yan Kingdom has agreed to help us overthrow the Empress's tyranny and has specially ordered the Fifth Prince to come here to assist us in attacking the capital."

"Tianzun!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an elderly man with white hair stepped forward.

Everyone looked closely and saw that it was Lu Tiannan, the sect leader of the Bai Na Sect.

Jiang Yue looked at him coldly: "Sect Leader Lu, what do you have to say?"

Lu Tiannan: "Heavenly Venerable, why is the Northern Yan Kingdom also involved in this turmoil? Overthrowing the Empress's tyranny is our own business in Great Chu. Why should we join forces with outsiders?"

Jiang Yue: "With the current strength of our northern lands, it is too difficult to overthrow the tyranny of the empress in one fell swoop. If we can get the help of the Great Yan Iron Cavalry, we will definitely be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort."

"I cannot agree with what the Celestial Venerable says."

Lu Tiannan interrupted Jiang Yue without hesitation.

"Everyone knows that the Northern Yan barbarians are ambitious and have attempted to seize the territory of our Great Chu. Isn't the Heavenly Venerable's move inviting wolves into the house?"

Do you still remember how many young men were killed by the Northern Yan on the border of Bingzhou? In Tongzhou, bones littered the ground, families torn apart and lives lost?

Jiang Yue's face instantly turned cold, and the hearts of the others jumped into their throats.

Only Shen Lang kept his eyes closed, seemingly already guessing Lu Tiannan's fate.

"Lu Tiannan, what dissatisfaction do you have with my arrangements?" Jiang Yue shouted. "The Fifth Prince truly wants to help us overthrow the Empress's tyranny, so why are you saying such irrelevant things?"

Chu Youwei also said, "Yes, His Highness the Fifth Prince sincerely wants to help us. Isn't what Sect Leader Lu said a bit too cold-hearted?"

Since Chu Youwei had been manipulated and molded into the shape of Murong Wei, she naturally stood by his side without hesitation.

Lu Tiannan said without fear: "Heavenly Venerable, do you think it is insignificant for the people of the North to suffer torment at the hands of the Northern Yan?"

Those are real human lives! How could you say such cold-blooded things!

Besides, even if Northern Yan helps us drive away the Empress, will they really leave?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yue replied, "The people of the North suffer because the Empress of Great Chu is incompetent. As long as I ascend the throne, I will certainly improve relations with Great Yan."

"If we then cede the entire northern territory and establish a shared rule with the Great Yan Kingdom along the river, wouldn't the world be at peace?"

These words caused an uproar throughout the hall.

"Shabi!"

Shen Lang felt despair at Jiang Yue's brazen remark.

Can you even say that out loud?

Indeed, intelligence is something that can be determined by comparison.

The same face, but the minds that can think about problems are on completely different levels.