Chapter 95

Hao Qi was also surprised at how quickly he had been given such an important role. However, after some careful thought, he found it understandable.

Firstly, Mobie Mobie was a closed society. Any shipwrecked outsiders, regardless of who they were in the outside world, had to either leave or integrate into this society, with no other options. This was the first reason.

Secondly, Hao Qi's displayed strength was only at the quasi-internal force realm, which was a critical point. If he were at the internal force realm, he would inevitably attract too much attention, and there would be investigations, intelligence gathering, and internal surveillance. However, at the quasi-internal force realm, it was fine. If he really broke any rules, they could just kill him. Could a quasi-internal force practitioner really cause a major upheaval?

This was not all; there was a third reason. Mobie Mobie currently had hidden undercurrents. The death of the previous emperor, the internal force realm strongman Lan Jingling, the ascension of the new emperor Lan Xingchen, Lan Xingchen's political agenda, and Lan Ling'er's delicate position... There might be things Hao Qi did not know, such as the revolutionary army and the plan to kidnap Lan Ling'er. There were too many secrets he was unaware of, so he could not be sure what the third reason was, but it had led to his entry into the defense force system.

Hao Qi's two most pressing tasks were to find out if Zhang Heng was alive and to locate Lan Ling'er. Many things needed to be learned from Lan Ling'er, and killing Lan Xingchen would require preparation and a deep understanding of the situation. Lan Xingchen was at the peak of the internal force realm and had experienced the divine, a formidable reputation indeed.

On the second day, Hao Qi began his work. As the deputy captain of a defense force battalion, he and another quasi-internal force practitioner patrolled the royal palace complex of the Lan clan, working eight hours a day. There were three battalions patrolling the palace complex, with three shifts making up nine battalions. Each battalion had 200 people, which was already a very tight defense, but it was only tight.

From what Hao Qi could see, each of the nine battalions had two quasi-internal force practitioners. The soldiers below them were ordinary soldiers with firearms. Such a defense was nothing to an internal force practitioner. From a vague premonition and the exchange of qi, these defense force battalions were only the surface defense. At least two to three internal force practitioners were hidden in the palace complex. These were the true trump cards.

Hao Qi patrolled with his battalion for two days, basically familiarizing himself with the surrounding terrain. However, the internal layout of the palace was still unknown. He planned to use these two days or take advantage of the revolutionary army's attack to enter the palace and find Lan Ling'er. Since Zhang Heng could not be found first, finding Lan Ling'er first was also an option.

Just as Hao Qi was making these plans, chaos erupted at the palace on the day he finished his shift. He could even hear gunfire. He was momentarily stunned, then found a street alley, quickly changed out of his uniform, and put on an internal force vest and shorts. He then tore a piece of the uniform to cover half his face. He leaped up and rushed straight toward the palace.

Outside the palace, two groups were already in battle. One group was smaller, with a mix of close-combat and ranged weapons, and their attire was varied. The other group was the defense force battalion Hao Qi had joined, larger in number and uniformly dressed. However, after the battle began, the defense force was being overwhelmed, with dozens of people already lying on the ground, seemingly killed in the first round.

Two internal force practitioners, eight quasi-internal force practitioners...

This was the number Hao Qi saw at first glance. Among the two internal force practitioners, one was a woman in a cloak, completely wrapped from head to toe. She was a rare weapon-type warrior, wielding a two-meter-long double-handed sword. The blade was wide and thick, yet she wielded it as if it were a toothpick, with precise and powerful techniques. Hao Qi could see her cutting through the bullets aimed at her. Even if she were alone, this battalion of defense forces would be doomed.

"Clang!"

Just as the cloaked woman and the other internal force practitioner swept through the defense forces and broke through their lines to rush into the palace, a metallic sound rang out. The cloaked woman's sword deflected a steel bar, and three figures rushed out of the palace. The leader said with a smile, "General Cang Xiaoyue, this is enough. These people are also citizens of Mobie Mobie. How can you be so ruthless?"

The cloaked woman frowned, looked around, and said to the man, "Citizens of Mobie Mobie? Or dogs of the Lan clan? Or future slaves? Shi Wen, step back. Let Lan Xingchen come out and talk to me."

Shi Wen, a man who looked no more than thirty, chuckled and shook his head. "Cang Xiaoyue, do you really think you're someone important? Just because you're called a general, you think you're still the general of the royal guard? Speak politely. Emperor Lan Xingchen is our emperor now. What right do you have to demand he come out and talk to you? Understand this, you are now a rebel. Ha, revolutionary army, the former emperor must have been senile. How can one rebel against oneself? I think you are the ones who forged the decree. You are just pawns of a group of ambitious people."

The cloaked woman's cloak billowed, and a burst of qi energy erupted from her. Hao Qi, with his keen eyes, saw her true appearance—a beautiful young woman. However, a scar from her forehead to her chin almost split her head in two, completely ruining her beauty. In an instant, she raised her sword and said, "Who forged the decree? You know, and we know. Who is truly ambitious? The emperor's chosen successor is now under your house arrest, and you claim he is the beloved successor of two generations of emperors. Shameful! If you do not step back today, you will die with Lan Xingchen's ambitions!" With that, she charged at the three men.

Fearing for her safety, the other internal force practitioner followed her. The three government internal force practitioners did not dare to be lax, with two attacking Cang Xiaoyue and the third engaging the other internal force practitioner. For a moment, sand and stones flew, and the entire palace entrance was in chaos.

Hao Qi watched for a while, confirming that the nearby people were either fighting or fleeing. He chuckled, channeled his internal force, and rushed in from the side, jumping over the wall and following the crowd into the palace. He moved through hidden areas, and his journey was smooth, encountering no obstacles. However, the palace complex was vast and not in the style of ancient Chinese palaces but more like European medieval buildings. He could not find the main hall or the inner palace. After a while, he decided to capture someone to ask for directions, preferably to find Lan Ling'er, so he could reach her as quickly as possible.

Hao Qi had been choosing less crowded and secluded areas. Now, finding someone to capture was difficult. After a while, he saw a man in black livery walking and looking down. He was delighted and quickly moved behind the man, but the man was surprisingly alert. Hao Qi's hand only grazed him, and the man immediately crouched and rolled forward, then turned to face him in an attack stance.

Hao Qi was about to use real force, but the next moment, he was almost startled into shouting.

"Zhang, Zhang Heng!?"

"Hao Qi!?"

The man in black livery was indeed Zhang Heng. He had already prepared for battle, thinking he had been discovered, but when he saw it was Hao Qi, he was also almost startled into shouting.

After calling out half a sentence, both of them instinctively covered their mouths and said in unison, "How did you get here!?"

They stared at each other for a few seconds before Hao Qi said, "Let's go forward. Act like I'm holding you hostage, and we'll talk on the way."

Zhang Heng nodded, and Hao Qi loosely held his neck as they walked. Hao Qi asked, "We were separated in the water. I was looking for you, but the place where we were separated had no light, and the current was strong, so I couldn't find you. I followed the current downstream and was rescued by Mobie Mobie's staff. I registered as a shipwrecked person, got my documents, and came to Mobie Mobie. I heard that shipwrecked people might be washed into the dark tunnels, so I joined the defense force to use the military channels to find you in the dark area. Finding Lan Ling'er would also be easier. Then I heard that the revolutionary army was planning to attack and kidnap Lan Ling'er, so I decided to take advantage of the chaos to enter the palace and find Lan Ling'er. That's when I met you."

Hao Qi briefly recounted his recent experiences, and Zhang Heng immediately said, "I was indeed washed into the dark area. The revolutionary army rescued me. Because I was a new face, they had me pretend to be a palace steward to infiltrate. However, the revolutionary army is not here to kidnap Lan Ling'er but to rescue her. Hao Qi, listen to me, Lan Ling'er is in danger! Her uncle, the current emperor of Mobie Mobie, Lan Xingchen, he wants to..."

"Offer Lan Ling'er as a sacrifice to the Azure Giant Beast Amun Hadit to gain true control over it!"

"He wants to become one of the Nine Martial Kings under the emperor!" (To be continued.)