Chapter 545 - 527 Rebellion
A large-scale upheaval and slaughter erupted in the Inner City of the Capital. Xie Xun led the Kyoto Capital Guard, along with the death-defying warriors from the Marquis Mansion, the old forces of Marquis Zhenbei, and the Jinyi Guards, into fierce combat. The Jinyi Guards numbered around twenty thousand, a formidable unit rigorously trained by Chen Mo and Zhang Shun over the past years. Familiar with the terrain of the Capital, they possessed a significant strategic advantage in battle.
The Kyoto Capital Guard was not to be underestimated either, not with Xie Xun at its helm. Known for his bravery and mastery of military strategy in Yanyang, Xie Xun had anticipated the rescue of Feng Shu might encounter complications. Yuwen Jing’s ruthless and venomous nature ensured he would never let them go unscathed. Preparing for the worst-case scenario, Xie Xun, Nuanyang, and the Shadow Guard had taken turns surveying the combat capabilities of the Jinyi Guards and Forbidden Army. With shadowy intelligence in hand, Xie Xun devised the quickest strategies to conclude the battle.
Slaughter became inevitable, and he aimed for swift victory!
To prevent harm to innocents, Xie Xun shifted from defense to ferocious offense, heading straight for the eastern side of the Inner City. Outnumbered against the Jinyi Guards, Xie Xun utilized the gunpowder buried beneath the Hanguang Tower to trigger its second collapse amidst chaos, launching a ruthless assault. The tower, only partially repaired from a prior disaster, plunged again during the clash, pinning the Jinyi Guards between dual offensives led by Xie Xun.
The two forces collided—a narrow path met swords and blades, as carnage engulfed East City!
Ordinary citizens of the Capital had long retreated indoors—no sane person dared venture outside during the turmoil. The eerie silence of the streets contrasted sharply with the brutal violence, the massacre in the Inner City reverberating across the Capital.
Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao sheltered in the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, located near East City. But their warrior instincts betrayed their concealment. Both battle-hardened generals, they were unwilling to sit idle—this was a life-and-death confrontation that would undoubtedly end in clear victory or defeat. Staying in the mansion served only to protect Fengyu.
As the clash outside crescendoed, Fengyu perceived their mounting unrest. "Father, Mother, Zhixu has already led the troops to fight the Jinyi Guards. Each additional soldier strengthens the odds of victory. You needn’t worry about me. I’ll remain in the mansion alone—you should take people to support Zhixu."
In addition to Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao, Xie Xun stationed Nuanyang alongside twenty death warriors to safeguard Fengyu. Recognizing her lack of combat prowess, Fengyu understood she could only remain hidden in the Marquis Mansion to avoid hindering Xie Xun’s plans. The warriors entrusted with her protection—well-acquainted with the city’s terrain—were indispensable assets in Xie Xun’s operation.
"I’ll stay in the Marquis Mansion alone!"
Feng Changqing’s resolve to fight was palpable. After a lifetime of campaigns defending borders, he refused confinement within a mansion, yearning to offer Xie Xun his strength.
Su Yuejiao made the decisive call—she ordered Feng Changqing to lead the death warriors to aid Xie Xun, while she stayed back to protect Fengyu. Having already lost Feng Shu, Su Yuejiao couldn’t bear the thought of Fengyu being left entirely unguarded.
Thus, Feng Changqing departed the mansion with the death warriors, swiftly joining forces with Xie Xun, Marquis An Yuan, and others. The fighters were consumed with bloodlust. On the tops of the Inner Palace walls, archers stationed at high vantage points unleashed a storm of arrows. Shadow Guards and death warriors ascended the walls to take down the archers, staining the Inner Palace Square in relentless rivulets of blood. Even the air carried the heavy stench of violence and death.
Xie Xun and Chen Mo faced off in the square, their blades locking in deadly proximity. The two had never crossed arms directly before—a seasoned general versus the Emperor’s personal guard. One excelled at commanding troops and devising tactics, the other at solo combat. As their longsword and scimitar clashed, sparks erupted, blood streaked Xie Xun’s face, and his eyes burned ferociously toward Chen Mo.
"Chen Mo, your life is mine!"
Chen Mo, Yuwen Jing’s loyal hound, had executed countless individuals in secret over the years. He was Yuwen Jing’s sharpest weapon—the one who abducted Fengyu from West State and plunged Ayu into near death. For such blood debts, Xie Xun demanded restitution—in blood.
"Let’s see what you can do!" Chen Mo’s voice was icy as he engaged Xie Xun in a tense duel. Under the blinding midday sun, where its rays stabbed like knives, murderous intent saturated the skies above the Imperial City. Years of resentment and suppression suddenly broke free, unleashing a grim, painful battle spirit.
The pain stemmed from blades turned against their own kin, while the valor came from fighting with everything they had. If they wanted their loved ones to survive, this battle had to be won—losing would lead to collective annihilation.
Xie Xun’s sword sliced perilously close to Chen Mo’s throat, barely missing as Chen Mo dodged and retaliated with a kick to Xie Xun’s waist, proving his skill as the Emperor’s Guard. Xie Xun inwardly acknowledged Chen Mo’s prowess, though his ultimate goal wasn’t to kill any one opponent—it was to end the conflict swiftly and seize control of the Imperial City.
"Xie Xun, do you truly believe Kyoto Capital Guard, with so few troops, can overturn Heaven itself? Foolishly delusional! I advise you to surrender gracefully—perhaps the Emperor will still show leniency!" Chen Mo urged confidently, convinced of the Jinyi Guard’s dominance over the Kyoto Capital Guard.
For years, the Kyoto Capital Guard had been tightening its training regimen, and this hadn’t escaped Chen Mo’s notice. Yet Yuwen Jing had intentionally ignored it—not out of ignorance or incompetence, but sheer disdain for the Guard, refusing to see them as a true threat.
The Kyoto Capital Guard’s every move was within Yuwen Jing’s calculations.
"Ever since the matter with Chen Fei, the Emperor has summoned reinforcements from the Jingji Guard. General Gao from Gaoping Town is leading fifty thousand soldiers to the Imperial City. Once they arrive, you and your Kyoto Capital Guard will perish. Pursuing your reckless path will only doom your ten thousand men, along with the innocent soldiers from Marquis Zhenbei’s forces. Do you truly believe you can breach Jingji defenses with the Kyoto Capital Guard alone? Utter folly!" Chen Mo sneered maliciously, scimitar pressing against Xie Xun’s longsword triumphantly. "All of you will meet your death here today!"
"Then guess why General Gao’s reinforcements have yet to arrive?" Xie Xun deftly parried his blade.
Chen Mo’s expression darkened dramatically. "What have you done?"
Xie Xun refused to waste time on words, clashing fiercely with Chen Mo once more. But Chen Mo’s voice grew venomous. "Even if General Gao’s reinforcements are delayed, do you truly think your Kyoto Capital Guard can take the Imperial City? Utter fantasy!"
"Is that so?" Xie Xun’s sword danced through the melee, swiftly dispatching a Jinyi Guard attempting to attack him. His crimson robes, now soaked in darkened blood, draped over him like feral armor. His scarred face bore an icy, unrestrained arrogance and sharp-edged determination. "What if you add the Forbidden Army to the equation?"
"Delusional! The head of the Imperial Guards, Zhang Bolan, was elevated by the Emperor himself—he would never betray the throne. Xie Xun, your death is imminent. Stop the futile struggle!"
The moment Chen Mo finished speaking, a battalion of Forbidden Army soldiers stormed toward the Imperial Palace. Ecstatic, Chen Mo welcomed Zhang Bolan’s reinforcements—but his joy was short-lived. Within seconds, shock overcame him as the Forbidden Army turned their blades upon the Jinyi Guards.