White-Robed Chief

Xu Huande remained silent.

He guessed that the six masked men in black were protectors of the Imperial House sent by the emperor. Additionally, they seemed familiar to him; they were likely people whom he knew.

Since he often visited the Imperial House, he was close to quite a number of protectors. He did not expect that they were here to kill him, which truly broke his heart!

The sudden thought drowned him in pain and sadness. He could not believe that a loyal person like himself would end up in this situation, it was as if everything was just a dream.

Once the emperor was set on killing him, there was no way he could escape from it. Sooner or later, he had to die.

“You shouldn’t save me.” Xu Huande shook his head and sighed. “I won’t be able to escape this!”

“Is it really the emperor?” Chu Li furrowed his brows. “It can’t be, right? If he wants you dead, why does it have to do it now? It’d be easier if he sent these people to kill you at the Imperial Mausoleum!”

“Once I’m at the Imperial Mausoleum, I’ll get in touch with more people and might leak any information.” Xu Huande scoffed.

He decided to go all out. Since he was eventually going to die, there was no need for him to scruple!

Chu Li said, “It’s better to be clear of the situation, let me ask them.”

Right then, he removed one by one the black scarf from the faces of the six men in black, which revealed their faces. Xu Huande’s face changed.

Chu Li smiled. “They’re all familiar faces. Commander Xu, can’t you recognize them?”

Immediately, Xu Huande’s face darkened as he looked at them with deadly stares.

Since the acupuncture points of the black scarfed people were sealed, they could only watch when their scarves were removed.

‘These fellas are all secret guardians from Secret Guardian Hall!’ Xu Huande said to himself.

He came to a sudden realization. ‘No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity, I see them all the time! I just didn’t expect them to be secret guardians, so I kept thinking that they’re protectors from the Imperial Hall!’

Chu Li asked, “Tell me, who sent you here? Is it Commander Fu?”

“Yes.” One of them quickly nodded.

Chu Li could not help but laugh. “It’s so obvious that you’re lying! … Since it’s not the commander, then it must be the deputy commander. Is it Deputy Commander Gu Yu?”

The three men shut their mouths.

Chu Li turned to look at Xu Huande.

Xu Huande took a deep breath before sneering. “Nice one, Gu Yu!”

Chu Li continued, “What a move by Commander Gu, he actually wants to uproot you. I’m guessing that he’s afraid you’ll be reinstated?”

Xu Huande replied slowly, “That might not necessarily be the case. Perhaps he figured out the emperor’s thoughts, and is trying to please him.”

“Without the emperor’s order, he dares kill a deputy commander?”

“Even if the emperor doesn’t want to kill me, it won’t matter if I’m killed. After all, I’m just an eyesore now.”

“That might not be it.” Chu Li disagreed.

“So what if it might not be it? A dead man can’t be revived. At most, Gu Yu will be lectured, he won’t lose the emperor’s adoration.”

“What exactly is Gu Yu’s background?” Chu Li frowned. “I’m aware that he came from a distinguished family, and that his father died honorably in the war, but why is he so adored by the emperor?”

“That’s because his father died saving the emperor.” Xu Huande shook his head and smiled bitterly. “As long as Gu Yu doesn’t rebel, the emperor won’t kill him!”

“His father died saving the emperor?” Chu Li felt troubled as this was not as simple as he thought it was.

Xu Huande added, “Back when the emperor was still a crown prince, he went to the borders for practice. Once, he was ambushed, and it was Gu Yu’s father who went to him alone by horse to save him. In the end, he died trying to hinder the pursuing soldiers. If it was not for Gu Yu’s father who risked his life, the emperor would’ve died from the ambush.”

“I see, Gu Yu’s really untouchable. He’s comparable to the princes.” Chu Li was concerned.

Xu Huande asked, “What’s the matter? Did you fight with him?”

Chu Li explained everything to him, then shook his head. “He’s trying to punish me to warn the others, but I can’t just give myself up and wait to be slain, so I just protected myself as much as I could!”

He realized that he had underestimated Gu Yu, seeing as his schemes were cruel beyond his expectations. In order to preserve his current status, he could kill anyone like it was child’s play. He would dare to kill a valuable courtier like Xu Huande.

If he were to go head-on with him previously, he could either end up like Xu Huande and Fu Mengshan or end up causing discord between them and getting himself killed.

Once again, he was frustrated. If he wanted to kill Gu Yu, the emperor might make a move.

He even had a strong urge to fight the emperor since he had the Life and Death Scripture, which would be a good way to see if he would die. That being said, when he thought about Xiao Qi and Xiao Shi, he lost the guts to.

While it would feel awesome, the consequences were heavy. Even if he stayed alive, the existence of the Life and Death Scripture would be exposed, which would become everyone’s target. Not only would the old monsters be exhausted of life vitality, but also the Enlightened Masters would be interested in him. They would be determined to obtain the Life and Death Scripture, which meant that his life could never be peaceful again.

Left with no choice, he could only advance into being an Enlightened Master as soon as possible. By then, whether it was the emperor or the people of Tempest Temple, he would be fearless and free. Only by achieving that, would the years of life that he went through again not be wasted!

He inhaled deeply. Since he could not kill Gu Yu, he could only torment him through other measures so that he would behave.

“It’s best that you don’t get on his bad side.” Xu Huande was worried. “He was pampered since young by the emperor and is more adored than the princes. The emperor’s affection toward him caused him to be full of himself, so much so that he doesn’t really have respect for the princes.”

“He doesn’t have respect for the princes?” Chu Li could not help but laugh. “Isn’t he afraid that they’ll square accounts with him afterward?”

“Whichever prince who becomes the future emperor won’t do anything to him.” Xu Huande shook his head. “Out of respect for their father, as long as Gu Yu doesn’t rebel, he won’t get killed, and can live wealthily for a long time!”

Chu Li responded bitterly, “He’s really blessed!”

Xu Huande shook his head and sighed. “There’s nothing we can do about it, it’s not something we can be envious of!”

He wondered, ‘Comparisons are odious. Gu Yu was born rich and lives a more leisure life than the other princes. The princes have to work hard to fight for the crown prince’s position, whereas Gu Yu can remain wealthy and free as long as he doesn’t do anything foolish.

‘On the other hand, people like Chu Li and I have to toil and moil our days to progress further in life. After a lot of effort, I finally end up in this position, yet a mistake has made me fall back to the start again. Gu Yu didn’t have to do anything, and replaced me effortlessly.’

Chu Li mentioned, “Commander, I’ll escort you to the Imperial Mausoleum, he won’t do anything to you once you’re there.”

“Forget it.” Xu Huande shook his head. “Leave me!”

Chu Li uttered, “Am I supposed to just watch you get killed?!”

Xu Huande rejoined, “If Gu Yu knows that you interfered, he’ll do everything he can to kill you!”

Chu Li smiled. “I just need to make sure that he doesn’t find out, I have a mask!”

Xu Huande chuckled. “I can’t believe that the mask can be put to good use now!”

Back then, he gave Chu Li a Fog Beast mask that allowed him to disguise his identity. Apart from himself and Fu Mengshan, nobody knew about this. Besides, other people might not be able to tell what the Fog Beast mask looked like.

“Let’s go, we should make a move soon, an undue delay will only bring hitches.” Chu Li prompted.

He pulled Xu Huande up, then fluttered away together.

As for the six men on the ground, they died soundlessly. Chu Li left them there as a warning for Gu Yu.

The six men deserved to die for attempting to kill their superior, Xu Huande, without any hesitation. Therefore, Chu Li did not have pity for them at all.

Nonetheless, the six men were all grandmasters. If they suddenly died without any reason, Gu Yu, who was newly appointed as the deputy commander, would not be able to explain to Fu Mengshan. That being said, Fu Mengshan dared not ask for any explanation as Gu Yu had always been so overbearing.

Chu Li was extremely fast. After a day’s time, they arrived at a town where they settled down.

Since Xu Huande used his secret technique and was quite severely injured, Chu Li asked for a private room so that he could meditate. After that, he left and returned to King An’s Imperial Residence.