xymnovel Chapter 113 Yama's Palace, Seven Killing Halls
Chapter 113 Yama's Palace, Seven Killing Halls
In the latter half of the banquet, a servant suddenly came to report:
"Duke, a hermit has come to offer his congratulations, saying he is a descendant of an old friend."
Lin Chen was slightly taken aback: "A descendant of an old friend? Please come in."
Soon, a scholar in a blue robe walked in.
He looked to be in his thirties, with a handsome face and a free and easy demeanor. He had a gourd of wine hanging from his waist, and he walked with an unsteady gait, like a drunken scholar.
However, the eyes of several powerful figures in the arena narrowed. This person may seem ordinary, but his aura is naturally profound and unfathomable!
"My name is Li Bai, courtesy name Taibai. I have traveled far and wide. I heard that the Duke of Zhenguo has come to celebrate his coming-of-age ceremony, so I have come to ask for a cup of wine." The scholar in the blue robe smiled and cupped his hands.
Lin Chen already knew this in his heart, but he smiled and said:
"Mr. Li, you've come from afar, please take a seat. May I ask who this old friend you speak of is...?"
"Oh, I had the pleasure of meeting your father, Lin Tianxiong, many years ago, and we had a very pleasant conversation," Li Bai said casually.
"I was passing through the capital today and heard that Lord Lin has come to celebrate his coming of age. This is just a small gift, nothing more."
He handed over a brocade box.
Lin Chen took it and opened it. Inside was a scroll of poems, the handwriting elegant and unrestrained, exuding sword intent.
"This was written in my spare time, titled 'Ode to a Knight-Errant,' and I present it to Lord Lin," Li Bai said with a smile.
"There is a sword intent in the poem. If Master Lin is interested, he may try to understand it."
Lin Chen accepted the poem, sensing a powerful sword intent within it, and bowed in thanks.
"Thank you for your generous gift, Mr. Li. Please take a seat and have a drink."
Li Bai didn't stand on ceremony. He found an empty seat, sat down, and drank by himself, completely ignoring the curious stares of those around him.
The Empress looked at Xuanjizi: "Elder, can you discern this person's origins?"
Xuanjizi frowned:
"This person... is unfathomable. On the surface, he is just a drunken scholar, but his aura is perfectly natural, as if he is in harmony with heaven and earth. I have only seen this kind of realm in the academy master."
The Empress's eyes narrowed.
The head of the Heavenly Mystery Academy is a powerful terrestrial immortal, and this Li Bai...
The eldest princess whispered, "Your Majesty, could this person be...?"
"Let's wait and see," the Empress said calmly.
Li Bai's arrival caused a small commotion, but it quickly subsided.
The banquet continued, but many people were secretly observing the mysterious scholar in the blue robe.
A moment later, another servant came to report:
"Your Excellency, a physician has delivered a gift outside the door, saying he is grateful for your saving his life."
Lin Chen guessed who it was: "Please come in."
An elderly man with white hair walked in, carrying a medicine chest on his back, with a kind face—it was Hua Tuo.
I have come today in the name of "being saved by Lin Chen".
"I am Hua Tuo, and I was once saved by the Duke. I have come today to offer my congratulations." Hua Tuo bowed and said.
"A small elixir, just to express my feelings."
He handed over a jade bottle.
Lin Chen took it, opened it, and saw that inside were eighteen Dragon-Tiger Golden Pills—the very kind he had asked for before.
"Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Hua," Lin Chen said with a smile. "Please take a seat."
Hua Tuo also sat down in the guest section, sitting with Li Bai and talking in hushed tones.
The arrival of a mysterious guest and a rising star doctor made the atmosphere at the banquet even more subtle.
Seeing this scene, the Empress became even more certain:
There must be a huge hidden force supporting Lin Chen, otherwise where would so many mysterious experts come from?
The banquet was reaching its climax, but Lin Chen knew that the real trouble might have only just begun.
Because some members of the Cui family had already quietly left their seats.
……
The banquet lasted until early afternoon, when it was still bright outside, but the atmosphere gradually became subtle.
Lin Chen was drinking with his maternal grandfather and uncle Su Wenyuan when suddenly, Yuan Tiangang transmitted his voice secretly to him:
"My lord, seven hidden auras have been detected three miles southeast of the manor."
One Grandmaster at the peak, two Grandmasters at the late stage, and four Grandmasters at the middle stage; their auras were chilling, and they were the elite of the "Seven Killings Hall" of the Yama Palace.
Lin Chen calmly put down his wine glass, and with a slight thought, replied telepathically:
"Were they invited by the Cui family?"
"Yes, Cui Yongsheng left his seat briefly to meet someone outside the mansion, using the highest-level Blood Kill Order from the Underworld." Yuan Tiangang said calmly.
"They plan to make their move when the guests leave, targeting not only the Lord, but also Minister Su and the Grand Elder of the Temple of War."
They framed the Temple of War, thus inciting conflict between the Lin family and the Temple of War.
A cold glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes.
What a vicious plan! If Zhan Tianqiong dies at his coming-of-age ceremony, the Temple of War Gods will surely be furious.
In order to quell the anger of the War God Temple, the Dayan Dynasty had no choice but to take action against him, the "defender of the state" who had "failed to protect him properly."
The Cui family is trying to kill three birds with one stone.
Where are you now?
"Seven members of the Seven Killers Hall were hiding in a residential house in the southeast of the mansion, under the personal watch of Jing Ke."
"All the hidden agents within the mansion are now under surveillance, including the three in the kitchen and the five servants; they've all been replaced by our people." Yuan Tiangang paused,
"My lord, shall we remove it now?"
"No rush." Lin Chen's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Since the guests have come from afar, we should let them finish their performance."
"You make the arrangements. Arrest them when they make their move. I want to catch them red-handed."
"Yes."
Yuan Tiangang retreated silently.
Lin Chen continued chatting and laughing with his maternal grandfather and uncle Su Wenyuan, as if nothing had happened.
But his divine sense had already enveloped the entire mansion, and he could clearly perceive all movements within a three-mile radius outside the mansion.
Those seven chilling auras were indeed well-hidden. If it weren't for his cultivation at the Great Perfection of the Celestial Realm, and the presence of an assassin king like Jing Ke personally keeping watch, he probably wouldn't have been able to discover them.
"Interesting..." Lin Chen chuckled inwardly.
"The Cui family really went all out this time, even mobilizing the Seven Killings Hall."
The Seven Killings Hall of the Yama Palace is the most elite assassination force under the Yama Palace Master. The seven of them working together can kill a Celestial Being in the early stage.
The Cui family must have paid a considerable price to get them involved.
The banquet continued, with melodious music playing and graceful dancers performing.
However, the top experts present had already sensed the murderous intent lurking in the shadows.
The Empress gently set down her wine cup and telepathically spoke to the royal attendant beside her: "Did you sense it?"
"Your Majesty, seven murderous intents are emanating from three miles outside the palace." The grey-robed imperial advisor's voice rang in the Empress's ears.
"They are all experts from the Yama Palace. The Seven Kill Hall has mobilized all its forces. There are also a few rats in the mansion, but they have all been brought under control."
"Does Lin Chen know?"
"You should know," the Imperial Preceptor said.
"I just sensed a vast divine sense sweeping over me; its cultivation is no less than mine."
Moreover… it seems that Mr. Li Bai also noticed this.”
The Empress looked at Li Bai, who was still drinking alone among the guests.
This scholar in blue robes appeared to be drunk and dazed, but when he occasionally raised his eyes, his gaze was sharp as a sword, as if he could see through all illusions.
Zhan Tianqiong, seated in the Temple of War, seemed to have also noticed something amiss.
He turned to the young master Zhan Fengyun and whispered:
"Fengyun, be careful when the show ends; things might not be peaceful today."
"Don't worry, Elder." Zhan Fengyun nodded, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.
Xuanjizi of the Tianji Academy remained with his eyes closed, but the whisk in his hand trembled slightly, clearly indicating that he was also on guard in secret.