With the Blade

As a master who can release Evil Qi, the old eunuch actually knew how these creatures emerged. Similarly, other Commanders, even those Weapon Masters among the common folk, also knew the origin of these creatures. This was an open secret, but a secret is something that must not be spoken of.

The old eunuch even thought of some ways to solve the problem of the creatures from the root. However, using those methods would inevitably let the people know they themselves have the ability to become creatures, which are the source of those monsters—obviously, compared to those occasional creatures, spreading such knowledge might cause even more terrifying chaos.

Of course, where there is chaos, there are also solutions, but relying solely on the old eunuch himself, it was clear that no solution could be thought of.

Being able to maintain the status quo was already difficult enough for him.

Outside, everyone said he was a eunuch interfering with politics, and that eunuchs were in power. But if he really had the ability to meddle in politics, would the Grand Chen end up in this sorry state?

All he could do was resist those noble families who had developed some rebellious thoughts, making them exert less influence on the young emperor. Indeed, with his old age, perhaps he really couldn’t support it much longer, but as long as he could protect this young emperor until he grew up a little, until the young emperor had his judgment, the Grand Chen would surely get better.

"You need to grow up quickly..."

Thinking this way, the old eunuch’s gaze turned towards the direction of the emperor’s sleeping quarters, with his eyes full of kindness.

Although speaking this way might be presumptuous, for the old eunuch who had served three generations of emperors consecutively, the deep inner palace already felt like home to him. Being a eunuch, he had no children, and the young emperor had lost his parents early; it was hard not to see him as his own grandson—of course, this didn’t mean he truly wanted to be the emperor’s grandfather, but he would give his life like a real grandfather, for this young one.

"So how dare you think you can sneak in unnoticed?"

Just as the words fell, the silk thread in the old eunuch’s hand shot straight to the ceiling, tearing apart large portions of tiles.

And those who had been standing on the rooftop all fell into the room.

"Water-Splitting Saber Wang Wenlin, Sword Master Qingyue Le Qingping, Mountain-Splitting Axe Yue Feng, Unyielding Silver Spear Li Baotou?"

Just a glance at the weapons of these people was enough for the old eunuch to know who they were.

Water-Splitting Saber Wang Wenlin, the second brother of Wang Wenyuan of the Wave-Breaking Saber. After his eldest brother was killed by a single spear strike while attempting to assassinate Grand Tutor Du, Wang Wenlin awakened and managed to master the release of Evil Qi, climbing all the way to the sixty-third rank of the Hundred Weapons Chart. As for the Sword Master Qingyue Le Qingping beside him, he was a figure who had recently risen to fame and was ranked seventy-third on the Hundred Weapons Chart, known for wielding the Moonlight Sword in a graceful and elegant manner, earning quite a reputation among the people of Jiankang City.

As for Mountain-Splitting Axe Yue Feng and Unyielding Silver Spear Li Baotou, these two weren’t from Jiankang. Mountain-Splitting Axe Yue Feng hailed from the southwest, rumored to be unmatched with his large axe, ranked sixty-ninth on the Hundred Weapons Chart, though it’s unclear how this ’unmatched’ rating was determined. And Unyielding Silver Spear Li Baotou came from the north, originally a carefree wanderer or perhaps a flower thief, yet possessed remarkable martial skills, fighting his way to the forty-fifth rank on the Hundred Weapons Chart.

Four masters capable of releasing Evil Qi, sneaking into the palace at night, could they simply be here to feel the breeze on the rooftop?

Clearly not.

You only had to see that they hadn’t fought each other to know the reason.

"Coming for me?"

The old eunuch chuckled lightly.

"Just you guys?"

"To deal with you, this eunuch dog, we few men of loyalty and righteousness are more than enough."

Among them, the one standing at the front, Water-Splitting Saber Wang Wenlin, sneered.

"Today we will cut off your dog head, to right the bright sky!"

"No need for such words, isn’t it just for avenging your brother?"

The old eunuch only shook his head and sighed.

"But on that day, many saw it with their own eyes. Everyone knows who killed your brother... what, you dare not cause trouble for that person, but come looking for me?"

"You... speak nonsense!"

Struck at his sore spot, Wang Wenlin immediately spat in anger.

"That Du Chengfeng wasn’t even ranked in the Hundred Weapons Chart, clearly due to lack of skill! But you, this eunuch dog, holding such a high position in the Chart, it was obviously you who killed my brother!"

"Brother Wang, don’t mind this eunuch dog’s barking."

Seeing that Wang Wenlin was starting to become agitated, Sword Master Qingyue Le Qingping also spoke up.

"Let’s attack together, today we must eliminate the eunuch faction!"

"Yes! Attack together!"

The rugged-looking Mountain-Splitting Axe Yue Feng had already taken two large axes from his waist.

"No need to speak of martial righteousness with this eunuch dog! Let’s all strike together!"

Before those words even finished, Unyielding Silver Spear Li Baotou had already drawn his silver spear from his waist and thrust it forward.

It turned out the weapon of Li Baotou was a rope dart, also known as a soft spear.

Though it was a soft spear, the thrust was as swift and fierce as a leopard, and its savage momentum was like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey!

But to the old eunuch, it was useless.

"When it comes to playing with strings, you’re a bit lacking."

As he spoke, hundreds of silk threads had already woven into an impenetrable large net, capturing the previously fierce rope dart aimed at the old eunuch’s head.

It wasn’t that Li Baotou lacked ability, being ranked forty-fifth on the Weapons Chart was evidence of his ferocity, but unfortunately, the old eunuch had spent his whole life playing with strings. Against a hundred silk threads, the rope dart didn’t stand a chance.

In just a moment, the rope dart, entangled with even more silk threads, flew back and firmly bound Li Baotou.

"Not good! Brother Li is restrained!"

The remaining three men narrowed their eyes, promptly wielding their weapons.

Unlike Li Baotou’s rope dart specialized in piercing, the swords, axes, and sabers they wielded had sharp blades. Amidst the dancing sword lights and saber shadows, with Evil Qi empowering them, the specially made silk threads, despite being tough enough to cut through human flesh, were severed by those weaponry imbued with Evil Qi.

This made the old eunuch break out in a faint sweat.

The old eunuch had always been aware that his skillset could only deal with ordinary people, and when facing real masters of Evil Qi, his threads could be easily broken—placing him at the top of the Hundred Weapons Chart was undoubtedly putting him on the hot seat.

Moreover, haven’t these folk masters improved at all?

They had, significantly so. At least before, when encountering so-called masters daring to intrude the inner palace, he could still outfight them—of course, he had to, because facing those armed intruders invading the imperial palace, he had to uphold the dignity of the inner palace. But now...

With time, these so-called Weapon Masters had slain more and more creatures, and their fights and killings among themselves became more frequent. After countless battles, their strength had greatly exceeded what it once was.

In contrast, as the so-called number one under heaven, having lived in the inner palace for so long without combat opportunities, and without killing to accumulate Evil Qi, he remained stagnant.

Under these circumstances, even the three before him, who weren’t in the top fifty of the Hundred Weapons Chart, could fight him to a standstill.

"The times, they have changed."

When a sword light accidentally cut through his clothing, the old eunuch realized this clearly.

The era that once belonged to him seemed to be fading, while a new era or perhaps a more chaotic one was about to arrive.

"No! The times have not changed!"

Taking a deep breath, the old eunuch unleashed all his silk threads.