Elite Guards
Yan Ge found it amusing while sitting in the dragon sedan chair.
“You may rise.” said Huangfu Yuchen.
The court official shouted again, “May Your Majesty’s dragon aura pave the way—”
Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge walked hand in hand out of the dragon sedan chair.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “The smooth progress of road construction is not only the credit of Us and Yan Caiqing, but also the credit of the people. The repair of other roads will require the continued cooperation of the people with the court.”
“We obey,” the people responded.
The two of them walked along the cement road.
Yan Ge stepped on the long-awaited cement road with a smile on his face.
Huangfu Yuchen glanced at him with a smile, not interrupting his self-indulgence.
At this moment, several masked individuals suddenly flew out from the crowd, drawing their swords towards Huangfu Yuchen.
“Assassins!” the commoners shouted. They may not have much education, but they understood the most basic truth. If something were to happen to the emperor, who had been so considerate of the people, and the talented consort, who knew if the next emperor could be as benevolent?
Both Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge seemed oblivious, their expressions unchanged, continuing to walk forward.
The imperial guards swiftly intercepted the assassins, swiftly disarming one of them, revealing his face.
“Mai people?”
“Hmph!” Huang Shuya and Pei Jinde(the martial artist couple) saw this and flew out simultaneously. “With us here, the martial artists from foreign lands shouldn’t dare cause trouble in our Great Han!”
Several other martial artists also joined in, including one named Zhong Xie or Xiao Tianxie in the martial world.
“Why is it you again?”
Huang Shuya and Zhongxie exclaimed simultaneously upon seeing each other.
“Delivering goods.”
“Here for a visit.”
They skillfully made their moves and soon subdued all the assassins.
The involvement of the martial artists surprised Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Thank you, noble heroes, for lending a hand.”
Pei Jinde said, “Your Majesty doesn’t seem afraid that we might harm you.”
Huangfu Yuchen said calmly, “I consider myself neither foolish nor tyrannical, and I have never extorted the people. Why would this hero attack me?”
Zhongxie held his sword and looked disappointed. “I thought His Majesty would reward us with something.”
Yan Ge chuckled, “We heard that martial artists have strong principles, so we didn’t want to complicate matters.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Someone come.”
“Here, Your Majesty,” Yang Zhuo stepped forward. Huangfu Yuchen said, “Have someone take these heroes to Liuxian Pavilion. I’m sure you’ve all come from afar, so you can have a meal at Liuxian Pavilion. By the way, are the silver cards of Liuxian Pavilion appealing to you?”
The crowd was pleasantly surprised. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Pei Jinde said, “I have one more thing I would like to ask Your Majesty, if I may be so bold.”
“Go ahead.”
Pei Jinde said, “Will all the roads in the capital be completely repaired? Will the roads in other towns and cities of Great Han be repaired as well?”
Huangfu Yuchen proudly declared, “One day, it will happen.”
Pei Jinde and the others cast him a complex gaze, bowing before leaving with the escorting soldiers.
After walking along the street until they reached the city gate, the ceremony was considered complete. Huangfu Yuchen said, “Xiao Ge, I’m returning to the palace. Will you come with me?”
Yan Ge said, “I’ll come too. Is something the matter?”
Huangfu Yuchen looked pensive.
“What’s wrong?” Yan Ge asked.
Huangfu Yuchen communicated with him through voice transmission, “Today’s batch of assassins is already the sixth since we returned to the palace. Although the imperial guards and the hidden guards can handle them, it’s apparent that they don’t regard Great Han highly. As long as they can’t achieve their goal, they will send more assassins.”
Yan Ge asked, “Who sent these assassins? Are any of them members of Centipede?”
“No, it seems that Centipede has disappeared from the martial world. Through interrogation, we only learned that these assassins were sent by other kingdoms. Apart from that, there is no further information.”
“This indicates that other kingdoms are becoming more and more wary of you and Great Han. We must strengthen the palace’s defense. Unfortunately, the Zhantian vine is still evolving, and its current sap can only sustain its own needs. Otherwise, we could use the sap of the Zhatiian vine to create a powerful army.”
“Well, I have an idea,” Huangfu Yuchen said, “Baby, do you remember the thing I gave to the leader of the Luna Worshipping Sect?”
“You mean spiritual energy?” Yan Ge immediately understood.
Huangfu Yuchen nodded, “Exactly. I plan to select the top twenty elites from the Shadow guards and help them regulate their meridians with inner energy, and then use spiritual energy to enhance their abilities. They will become a more secretive and powerful force than the shadow guards.”
“Great idea!” Yan Ge asked, “Yuchen, do you remember that I still have five Foundation Building Pills?”
Huangfu Yuchen grabbed his hand firmly. “Absolutely not!”
Yan Ge was taken aback. “Why?”
Huangfu Yuchen said earnestly, “Xiao Ge, even if you want to give those five Foundation Building Pills to people you trust, I hope you wait until we become even stronger. Otherwise, if they were to betray us, how would we suppress them?”
Yan Ge hooked his neck with a smile. “Don’t worry, I don’t have such thoughts at the moment. Even if I were to give them to someone else, it would be useless without a cultivation technique. But the Foundation Building Pills have a strong effect on improving the physique. I was thinking, why not take one of the Foundation Building Pills, dissolve it, and refine it with some other rare medicinal ingredients to create a Vital Qi Pill? With the assistance of spiritual energy, its effects would be stronger than using spiritual energy alone.”
“You can refine this Vital Qi Pill?” Huangfu Yuchen was delighted.
Yan Ge said, “Of course. Leave it to me.”
“Thank you, my dear.”
The shadow guards were not only hidden in their work but also in their appearance, names, and backgrounds. Apart from the emperor and the leader of the shadow guards, no one else knew how many shadow guards there were or how powerful they truly were.
In the deep night, under the leadership of Cheng Jingfeng, the leader of the shadow guards, a carefully selected group of one hundred elite shadow guards silently made their way to the secluded empty hall within the palace where no one lived.
“Boss,” one of the shadow guards couldn’t help but ask, “Where are we going with so many people?”
Everyone was dressed in identical attire, except for Cheng Jingfeng, whose mask had a touch of gold, and the vice Leader Zhan Xiao, whose mask had a touch of silver.
Cheng Jingfeng tersely said, “Don’t ask.”
Shortly after, everyone landed in the empty backyard of the palace.
In the garden, a figure clad in golden robes stood with hands behind his back, tall and imposing, his face stern, exuding an aura of dominance.
The emperor!
The silent shadow guards knelt down on one knee.
“Rise,” Huangfu Yuchen picked up a wooden box from a nearby stone railing and opened it, “You are all the elite of the shadow guards. I have a highly dangerous mission that requires twenty individuals to complete. This mission will be lengthy, and you may lose your lives at any moment. Here are twenty pills. If you are willing to accept the mission, take one for yourself; if you are unwilling, rest assured, I will not consider you any less loyal, and you may return to your positions in the shadow guards. Think it through before making a decision.” He deliberately did not specify whether the pills were poisonous or medicinal.
Cheng Jingfeng approached silently, taking a porcelain bottle. Zhan Xiao did the same. Du Zhengfeng was among them, stepping forward without hesitation. Some were decisive, while others hesitated. After a while, all twenty pill bottles were taken.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Those who haven’t taken one may return to their respective positions.”
Only Huangfu Yuchen and the twenty hidden guards remained in place.
Huangfu Yuchen casually said, “First, put away the pill bottles, then attack me together and give it your all.”
“For the emperor’s dragon body is the most important thing,” Cheng Jingfeng’s tone carried disapproval, “These are all skilled individuals from the shadow guards…”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Do as I say.”
Cheng Jingfeng could only nod to the others, and they surrounded Huangfu Yuchen, launching a coordinated assault.
Huangfu Yuchen leaped into the air, his golden imperial robe fluttering rapidly, his palms carrying an icy wind. He swiftly maneuvered between the twenty shadow guards, striking with lightning speed. In less than an incense stick, he had subdued all twenty shadow guards with precise acupoint strikes.
The shadow guards were astonished. They had often sparred with the emperor before, engaging in one-on-one combat and the emperor was never their match. Yet today, a group of twenty could not withstand the emperor’s fifty moves! What astonishing strength!
They looked at Huangfu Yuchen with eyes filled with awe and respect, even more submissive than before.
“The Emperor’s martial prowess is unparalleled. We are unworthy,” they exclaimed.
Huangfu Yuchen released their acupoints. “Take the pills.”
Without objection, they opened the bottles and ingested the pills.
“Sit cross-legged.”
They complied once again.
Huangfu Yuchen used the cultivation technique from the Fengyun Immortal Manual to gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, splitting it into twenty strands and infusing it into the bodies of the twenty shadow guards…
After an incense stick, Huangfu Yuchen ceased the technique.
Zhan Xiao exclaimed in pleasant surprise, “Emperor, not only have our strengths greatly increased, but it seems our meridians have also been widened, and the circulation of our inner energy is three to four times faster than before!”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded, “The leader of the shadow guards shall depart, and the vice-leader will become the new leader and remain in the palace, leading all the shadow guards. As for the position of vice-leader, it is for the new leader to decide and report to me.”
Zhan Xiao was surprised but had no objections. “I will follow your orders, Your Majesty. I will continue to devote myself wholeheartedly to you, even to the point of death.”
After Zhan Xiao left, Huangfu Yuchen declared, “From now on, you shall be known as the Elite Guards!”
Elite Guards
Yan Ge found it amusing while sitting in the dragon sedan chair.
“You may rise.” said Huangfu Yuchen.
The court official shouted again, “May Your Majesty’s dragon aura pave the way—”
Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge walked hand in hand out of the dragon sedan chair.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “The smooth progress of road construction is not only the credit of Us and Yan Caiqing, but also the credit of the people. The repair of other roads will require the continued cooperation of the people with the court.”
“We obey,” the people responded.
The two of them walked along the cement road.
Yan Ge stepped on the long-awaited cement road with a smile on his face.
Huangfu Yuchen glanced at him with a smile, not interrupting his self-indulgence.
At this moment, several masked individuals suddenly flew out from the crowd, drawing their swords towards Huangfu Yuchen.
“Assassins!” the commoners shouted. They may not have much education, but they understood the most basic truth. If something were to happen to the emperor, who had been so considerate of the people, and the talented consort, who knew if the next emperor could be as benevolent?
Both Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge seemed oblivious, their expressions unchanged, continuing to walk forward.
The imperial guards swiftly intercepted the assassins, swiftly disarming one of them, revealing his face.
“Mai people?”
“Hmph!” Huang Shuya and Pei Jinde(the martial artist couple) saw this and flew out simultaneously. “With us here, the martial artists from foreign lands shouldn’t dare cause trouble in our Great Han!”
Several other martial artists also joined in, including one named Zhong Xie or Xiao Tianxie in the martial world.
“Why is it you again?”
Huang Shuya and Zhongxie exclaimed simultaneously upon seeing each other.
“Delivering goods.”
“Here for a visit.”
They skillfully made their moves and soon subdued all the assassins.
The involvement of the martial artists surprised Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Thank you, noble heroes, for lending a hand.”
Pei Jinde said, “Your Majesty doesn’t seem afraid that we might harm you.”
Huangfu Yuchen said calmly, “I consider myself neither foolish nor tyrannical, and I have never extorted the people. Why would this hero attack me?”
Zhongxie held his sword and looked disappointed. “I thought His Majesty would reward us with something.”
Yan Ge chuckled, “We heard that martial artists have strong principles, so we didn’t want to complicate matters.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Someone come.”
“Here, Your Majesty,” Yang Zhuo stepped forward. Huangfu Yuchen said, “Have someone take these heroes to Liuxian Pavilion. I’m sure you’ve all come from afar, so you can have a meal at Liuxian Pavilion. By the way, are the silver cards of Liuxian Pavilion appealing to you?”
The crowd was pleasantly surprised. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Pei Jinde said, “I have one more thing I would like to ask Your Majesty, if I may be so bold.”
“Go ahead.”
Pei Jinde said, “Will all the roads in the capital be completely repaired? Will the roads in other towns and cities of Great Han be repaired as well?”
Huangfu Yuchen proudly declared, “One day, it will happen.”
Pei Jinde and the others cast him a complex gaze, bowing before leaving with the escorting soldiers.
After walking along the street until they reached the city gate, the ceremony was considered complete. Huangfu Yuchen said, “Xiao Ge, I’m returning to the palace. Will you come with me?”
Yan Ge said, “I’ll come too. Is something the matter?”
Huangfu Yuchen looked pensive.
“What’s wrong?” Yan Ge asked.
Huangfu Yuchen communicated with him through voice transmission, “Today’s batch of assassins is already the sixth since we returned to the palace. Although the imperial guards and the hidden guards can handle them, it’s apparent that they don’t regard Great Han highly. As long as they can’t achieve their goal, they will send more assassins.”
Yan Ge asked, “Who sent these assassins? Are any of them members of Centipede?”
“No, it seems that Centipede has disappeared from the martial world. Through interrogation, we only learned that these assassins were sent by other kingdoms. Apart from that, there is no further information.”
“This indicates that other kingdoms are becoming more and more wary of you and Great Han. We must strengthen the palace’s defense. Unfortunately, the Zhantian vine is still evolving, and its current sap can only sustain its own needs. Otherwise, we could use the sap of the Zhatiian vine to create a powerful army.”
“Well, I have an idea,” Huangfu Yuchen said, “Baby, do you remember the thing I gave to the leader of the Luna Worshipping Sect?”
“You mean spiritual energy?” Yan Ge immediately understood.
Huangfu Yuchen nodded, “Exactly. I plan to select the top twenty elites from the Shadow guards and help them regulate their meridians with inner energy, and then use spiritual energy to enhance their abilities. They will become a more secretive and powerful force than the shadow guards.”
“Great idea!” Yan Ge asked, “Yuchen, do you remember that I still have five Foundation Building Pills?”
Huangfu Yuchen grabbed his hand firmly. “Absolutely not!”
Yan Ge was taken aback. “Why?”
Huangfu Yuchen said earnestly, “Xiao Ge, even if you want to give those five Foundation Building Pills to people you trust, I hope you wait until we become even stronger. Otherwise, if they were to betray us, how would we suppress them?”
Yan Ge hooked his neck with a smile. “Don’t worry, I don’t have such thoughts at the moment. Even if I were to give them to someone else, it would be useless without a cultivation technique. But the Foundation Building Pills have a strong effect on improving the physique. I was thinking, why not take one of the Foundation Building Pills, dissolve it, and refine it with some other rare medicinal ingredients to create a Vital Qi Pill? With the assistance of spiritual energy, its effects would be stronger than using spiritual energy alone.”
“You can refine this Vital Qi Pill?” Huangfu Yuchen was delighted.
Yan Ge said, “Of course. Leave it to me.”
“Thank you, my dear.”
The shadow guards were not only hidden in their work but also in their appearance, names, and backgrounds. Apart from the emperor and the leader of the shadow guards, no one else knew how many shadow guards there were or how powerful they truly were.
In the deep night, under the leadership of Cheng Jingfeng, the leader of the shadow guards, a carefully selected group of one hundred elite shadow guards silently made their way to the secluded empty hall within the palace where no one lived.
“Boss,” one of the shadow guards couldn’t help but ask, “Where are we going with so many people?”
Everyone was dressed in identical attire, except for Cheng Jingfeng, whose mask had a touch of gold, and the vice Leader Zhan Xiao, whose mask had a touch of silver.
Cheng Jingfeng tersely said, “Don’t ask.”
Shortly after, everyone landed in the empty backyard of the palace.
In the garden, a figure clad in golden robes stood with hands behind his back, tall and imposing, his face stern, exuding an aura of dominance.
The emperor!
The silent shadow guards knelt down on one knee.
“Rise,” Huangfu Yuchen picked up a wooden box from a nearby stone railing and opened it, “You are all the elite of the shadow guards. I have a highly dangerous mission that requires twenty individuals to complete. This mission will be lengthy, and you may lose your lives at any moment. Here are twenty pills. If you are willing to accept the mission, take one for yourself; if you are unwilling, rest assured, I will not consider you any less loyal, and you may return to your positions in the shadow guards. Think it through before making a decision.” He deliberately did not specify whether the pills were poisonous or medicinal.
Cheng Jingfeng approached silently, taking a porcelain bottle. Zhan Xiao did the same. Du Zhengfeng was among them, stepping forward without hesitation. Some were decisive, while others hesitated. After a while, all twenty pill bottles were taken.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Those who haven’t taken one may return to their respective positions.”
Only Huangfu Yuchen and the twenty hidden guards remained in place.
Huangfu Yuchen casually said, “First, put away the pill bottles, then attack me together and give it your all.”
“For the emperor’s dragon body is the most important thing,” Cheng Jingfeng’s tone carried disapproval, “These are all skilled individuals from the shadow guards…”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Do as I say.”
Cheng Jingfeng could only nod to the others, and they surrounded Huangfu Yuchen, launching a coordinated assault.
Huangfu Yuchen leaped into the air, his golden imperial robe fluttering rapidly, his palms carrying an icy wind. He swiftly maneuvered between the twenty shadow guards, striking with lightning speed. In less than an incense stick, he had subdued all twenty shadow guards with precise acupoint strikes.
The shadow guards were astonished. They had often sparred with the emperor before, engaging in one-on-one combat and the emperor was never their match. Yet today, a group of twenty could not withstand the emperor’s fifty moves! What astonishing strength!
They looked at Huangfu Yuchen with eyes filled with awe and respect, even more submissive than before.
“The Emperor’s martial prowess is unparalleled. We are unworthy,” they exclaimed.
Huangfu Yuchen released their acupoints. “Take the pills.”
Without objection, they opened the bottles and ingested the pills.
“Sit cross-legged.”
They complied once again.
Huangfu Yuchen used the cultivation technique from the Fengyun Immortal Manual to gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, splitting it into twenty strands and infusing it into the bodies of the twenty shadow guards…
After an incense stick, Huangfu Yuchen ceased the technique.
Zhan Xiao exclaimed in pleasant surprise, “Emperor, not only have our strengths greatly increased, but it seems our meridians have also been widened, and the circulation of our inner energy is three to four times faster than before!”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded, “The leader of the shadow guards shall depart, and the vice-leader will become the new leader and remain in the palace, leading all the shadow guards. As for the position of vice-leader, it is for the new leader to decide and report to me.”
Zhan Xiao was surprised but had no objections. “I will follow your orders, Your Majesty. I will continue to devote myself wholeheartedly to you, even to the point of death.”
After Zhan Xiao left, Huangfu Yuchen declared, “From now on, you shall be known as the Elite Guards!”
