Chapter 97

On the night of the full moon, atop the Forbidden City. A sword comes from the west, a celestial being descends from the heavens!

This poem has been overused by martial arts enthusiasts throughout history, but it truly is the only phrase that can describe this grand martial arts gathering!

Today is the night of the full moon!

Ling Xiao, with no sense of decorum, placed a million silver taels on Ximen Chuxue, even giving Ma Liugé a wink when placing the bet—of course, everyone should profit from it!

The back-and-forth of palace maids and eunuchs added a touch of noise to the usually quiet palace. Behind them were countless concubines, and behind the concubines was a complex web of relationships. Some wanted to enter the palace to watch the battle through connections, while others wanted to take the opportunity to do some dirty deeds! The emperor had been annoyed by the strange and bizarre concubines these days, staying in the imperial study and refusing to leave the room!

While some were worried, others were happy, such as some of the eunuchs and guards under Wei Zhongxian, who all wore smiles, forming a stark contrast with the solemn faces of others. Although Ling Xiao secretly despised their unprofessionalism, you can't take their smiles as evidence, can you!

"You are probably the most idle among all the guards!" Lu Xiaofeng's voice came from behind, his tone filled with envy.

"It's not even noon yet, and the audience hasn't even gathered. What are you so anxious about?" Ling Xiao said calmly.

"I can't stand your nonchalant attitude, just like Xiaoxi's coldness, which is equally speechless!" Lu Xiaofeng said.

Ling Xiao smiled and shook his finger, "You don't understand. His coldness is multi-beneficial! First, his sword needs him to be cold, the colder the better! Second, girls like this, it's cool and mysterious! Isn't that how he managed to win Sun Xiuching's heart!"

Lu Xiaofeng was slightly surprised, looked him up and down, and smiled, "I didn't expect you to have such insight. Why haven't you found a woman?"

Ling Xiao's lips twitched, "Hmph! I'm a man who has been granted marriage by the emperor! Ordinary women can't even catch my eye!"

Lu Xiaofeng subtly pursed his lips and changed the subject, "You've been wandering around since just now. Have you found anything?"

"No!"

"Is there no need to answer so decisively? This doesn't seem like your style. Aren't you usually clairvoyant?" Lu Xiaofeng asked in surprise.

Ling Xiao crossed his arms and slowly said, "It's still the same matter, the same conspiracy! Since you've already guessed what they want to do, why are you so fixated on evidence? After they make their move, won't you have all the evidence you need?"

Lu Xiaofeng frowned, "That's different. Even if I can guess their intentions, without evidence, no one will believe me! Besides, if we can set up in advance, it can reduce many unnecessary casualties!"

"Set up in advance? Hmph! What's there to set up? Tell me honestly, if you want to leave, is there anyone in this palace who can stop you?" Ling Xiao asked with a cold snort.

"No!" Lu Xiaofeng answered decisively, showing his confidence.

"Then that's it! Similarly, if Ye Gucheng sincerely wants someone's life, do you think anyone in this palace can stop him?" Ling Xiao said matter-of-factly.

Lu Xiaofeng took a deep breath and looked at Ling Xiao deeply, "You've indeed figured out the entire conspiracy! Then why don't you warn the emperor?"

Ling Xiao glanced at Lu Xiaofeng, "Even you, a cunning guy, can't find evidence. How can I make the emperor believe me? Besides, Ye Gucheng is the emperor's uncle, and the emperor always feels guilty towards him. Do you think he would listen to me?" In fact, this was a bit of a bluff. Given his status with the emperor, if he really wanted to expose the conspiracy, the emperor would still believe him. He just had his own plans!

"Can we really just stand by and watch?" Lu Xiaofeng said, somewhat unwillingly. He had already guessed what Ye Gucheng wanted to do. On the moral level, even without evidence, he should try his best to stop it, but emotionally, he didn't want anything to happen to Ye Gucheng! Because they were friends!

Seeing Lu Xiaofeng's conflicted look, Ling Xiao shook his head, "Don't be too disheartened. Although no one will believe me, I have made some arrangements! I believe these arrangements will have a miraculous effect!"

Lu Xiaofeng looked at Ling Xiao in confusion, what new tricks was this guy up to! After thinking for a moment, he said, "Let's use the most primitive method! I'll stick close to Old Ye. Although I may not be able to stop him, I can at least delay him for a while!"

Ling Xiao smiled lightly, "That's a good idea, but it might not work this time!"

Lu Xiaofeng was slightly surprised, "What do you know?"

"Nothing, just some guesses! Hehe!"

"Don't give me this 'hehe'! By the way, who taught you this silly smile?" Lu Xiaofeng shouted awkwardly.

"How's the distribution of the tokens going?"

"You... changing the subject so abruptly! They've all been distributed!" Lu Xiaofeng said helplessly. Ling Xiao wouldn't say anything if he didn't want to!

In the original story, silk ribbons were used to enter the palace for the battle, in the movie, it was tokens, and in reality, it was even more extreme! A thread of destiny was infused into each token, making it impossible for anyone to fake it!

"Who did you give them to?" Ling Xiao asked.

"Sikong Zhaixing, Huamanlou, Honest Monk, and Mudaoren!" Lu Xiaofeng answered.

"Only these?"

"My friends are many, but few can match Ye Gucheng in a few moves. Inviting them would only put them in danger," Lu Xiaofeng said solemnly. He would never put his other friends in danger for the sake of one friend!

"Understood. What about the other tokens?"

"According to the plan, I scattered the tokens to shift the conflict among the martial artists. If they want to enter the palace, let them fight for it!" Lu Xiaofeng said indifferently.

"Hmph! That's the purpose of this. It seems to be working quite well!" Ling Xiao nodded in satisfaction.

Lu Xiaofeng sighed, "We both understand that this duel is not only significant for them but also for all martial artists! True experts wouldn't care about a mere token. The high walls of the palace are far from enough to stop them!"

"There's no need to worry too much. Their goal is just to watch the duel. Do you know? Since three days ago, martial artists have been crossing the palace walls to secure a good spot, but almost all of them were turned into sieves by the imperial guards' armor-piercing arrows! The few who dodged the arrows were thrown out by Zhuge Zhengwo!" Ling Xiao said, recalling the pathetic state of those people, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh? If Zhuge Zhengwo did it personally, he must be at least a master of the innate realm!" Lu Xiaofeng said in surprise.

"Right! Those who have the right to cross the palace walls and watch the duel should at least be at the grandmaster level! The innate realm people should focus on those tokens outside!" Ling Xiao said with a cold snort.

Lu Xiaofeng nodded in agreement. The two then chatted idly, laughing and joking, forming a stark contrast with the busy palace maids and guards.

When Lu Xiaofeng left, it was already afternoon. Ling Xiao continued to wander around the palace aimlessly. Walking to the front of the Golden Hall, "Hey! Eunuch Wei, you look so radiant. Is there any good news?"

Wei Zhongxian was taken aback by the enthusiastic words, touching his still tender old face, "This... isn't it the duel between the two greatest swordsmen of the era! I'm naturally excited to see such a high-level duel in my lifetime!"

Ling Xiao feigned surprise, "Eunuch Wei understands swords?"

"Uh... no, but the visual and auditory effects must be impressive!" Wei Zhongxian said awkwardly.

"Hehe! Then I wish Eunuch Wei can fulfill your wish!" Ling Xiao said with a smile, bowing.

"Thank you for your good wishes!" Wei Zhongxian replied politely, then left with a happy face.

Ling Xiao felt a bit annoyed behind him. This rebellion is too amateur! All his intentions are written on his face, not hiding at all, as if he's afraid others won't see his problems! Or does he have absolute confidence and not fear being exposed by me?