Chapter 91

Princess Gouyu was overwhelmed with anger and left the capital, her mind a blank. She felt she had let Jiang Chen down, and her thoughts were filled with the recent interactions with him.

Their first meeting was in the harem, where Jiang Chen had scolded her severely. The second time was at the Longteng Marquis's residence, where Jiang Chen's fierce criticism of the Danwang Garden and the Longteng Marquis gave her a new perspective on him. Later, each interaction left Princess Gouyu more impressed and pleasantly surprised. Even more, Jiang Chen had guided her through her martial arts bottleneck, elevating her to the rank of a True Qi Master of the Eleventh Meridian. There was also the two percent share in the Apothecary Hall, and his outstanding performance at the Qianlong Examination...

Such a dazzling genius, Princess Gouyu could not believe he had fallen. She refused to believe it until she saw his body. Since her brother the king would not protect the Jiang family, she, Princess Gouyu, would protect them, both for justice and for personal reasons.

At the Jiang family's gate, the Tiandu Commander said, "Long Yi, this is a feud between the nobles, and His Majesty can ignore it. However, you must not go too far, disturb the people, or cause chaos in the capital. Otherwise, the Tiandu Army will not be lenient."

Long Yi smiled sinisterly, "Commander, rest assured. The Long family always knows its limits. We will only resolve the feud between the Long and Jiang families and will not involve others or disturb the people."

"Best if you do." The Tiandu Commander waved his hand and led the Tiandu Army to withdraw.

Long Yin Ye laughed. The withdrawal of the Tiandu Army meant that Dongfang Lu had backed down. It also meant that the Long family's influence had surpassed that of the royal family.

"Everyone in the Jiang family, listen well. Your traitor Jiang Chen attacked the heir of the Long Marquis in the Endless Catacombs, a grave act of treason. Today, by the order of the Longteng Marquis, we come to punish the traitor. Any servant, follower, or guard of the Jiang family who wishes to reform and bring the head of a Jiang family member will be rewarded. Otherwise, we will slaughter all of you without mercy."

Long Yi's voice, like a bronze gong, carried the power of the True Qi of the Eleventh Meridian, echoing throughout the entire Jiang family. This was an attempt to divide the Jiang family and cause chaos without a fight.

However, Long Yi clearly underestimated the unity of the Jiang family. At this moment, every face in the Jiang family was filled with grief and determination to fight to the death. Even the newly recruited followers were resolute, their willingness to stand or fall with the Jiang family evident.

Jiang Feng's expression was bitter. When the Tiandu Army withdrew, he knew that the Jiang family had become a pawn abandoned by Dongfang Lu.

"Everyone, if you leave now, I, Jiang Feng, will not blame you," Jiang Feng's gaze swept around the room.

The more than a thousand loyalists of the Jiang family all shook their heads resolutely.

"Marquis, if we leave now, can we still call ourselves human?" Jiang Ying's eyes were filled with tears. "These years, we have been taken care of by the Marquis. It is time for us to repay you with our lives."

Clang.

Jiang Ying suddenly drew his sword, "Men of the Jiang family, we can die in battle, but we will not surrender."

"We can die in battle, but we will not surrender." The resolute and passionate voices echoed, filled with the determination to die rather than yield.

"Marquis, when the battle starts, we will hold off the enemy, and you should seize the opportunity to retreat. Return to the Jianghan territory. As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood," Jiang Ying whispered.

Jiang Feng smiled faintly, "Am I the kind of person who would live a life of cowardice?"

"Marquis, think of the bigger picture."

Jiang Feng shook his head, his gaze deep, looking towards the northeast, where the Endless Catacombs were, and where news of his son might be.

But, Chen, are you still alive?

If you are alive, even if I die in battle, what is there to fear? As long as the bloodline of the Jiang family continues, today's grudge will not go unavenged.

If you are not alive, what is the point of my living on?

"Jiang family, we can die in battle, but we will not surrender." Jiang Feng's gaze became resolute, his voice resounding, his sword in hand, his spirit soaring, "Long Yi, come and fight to the death."

Jiang Feng, a newly ascended True Qi Master, had made rapid progress in his cultivation since Jiang Chen had imparted the "Nine Laughter Sea Technique" to him. His martial arts insight had also improved significantly.

In terms of martial arts insight and vision, Jiang Feng was now on par with the True Qi Masters of the Eleventh Meridian.

Long Yi let out a long howl, "Good, Jiang Feng, I will take your head as a sacrifice."

Long Yin Ye also shouted, "Everyone, prepare to attack the Jianghan Marquis's residence. Whoever brings me Jiang Feng's head will be rewarded with ten thousand gold."

"Roar."

The three thousand soldiers roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

The battle was about to begin.

"Wait," at the critical moment, Princess Gouyu rushed forward, "Long Yin Ye, as the organizer of the Qianlong Examination, I order you to withdraw your troops immediately."

"Withdraw?" Long Yin Ye laughed, "Princess Gouyu, please don't misunderstand. This is not the Qianlong Examination, but a feud between nobles."

"The so-called attack by Jiang Chen on you happened during the Qianlong Examination. As the organizer, I have the authority to intervene."

"You?" Long Yin Ye smiled coldly, "Even His Majesty does not care about this matter. Princess, don't you think it's inappropriate for you to interfere?"

Princess Gouyu held her sword, standing alone on the steps of the Jiang family's gate. The aura of a True Qi Master of the Eleventh Meridian radiated from her, her eyes sweeping over the Longteng Marquis's followers, "Do you all forget that this is the capital? Is Long Yin Ye the only one who doesn't understand?"

"Princess Gouyu, I remind you again, this is a feud between nobles. Since His Majesty does not care, you have no right to interfere."

Long Yin Ye's tone became increasingly arrogant and domineering.

"Today, I will interfere," Princess Gouyu, though a woman, was extremely stubborn, her voice calm yet resolute, "If you want to attack the Jiang family, you must step over me first."

Long Yin Ye never expected that even after Dongfang Lu had abandoned the Jiang family, Princess Gouyu would still have such a determined attitude to protect them.

"Princess Gouyu, is the Jiang family really worth so much to you?" Long Yin Ye laughed, not angry.

"It has nothing to do with the Jiang family. I do this to find peace in my heart," Princess Gouyu's words, though light, carried a sense of finality.

"Since that's the case, I, Long Yin Ye, will not hold back," Long Yin Ye was not one to show mercy, "Prepare the troops. Whoever stands in our way, kill them."

"Kill."

The troops roared in unison.

"Kill."

Just as the troops were about to charge, a cold voice suddenly echoed from the sky, abrupt yet powerful, piercing through the clouds.

Following this "kill" command, a sharp cry echoed from the clouds. At the same time—

A golden blur shot down from the clouds at lightning speed.

As the golden blur descended, a sound like a tearing fabric accompanied a streak of light, plummeting like a meteor.

An arrow, a powerful and mighty arrow, aimed precisely at Long Yin Ye.

In front of the three thousand troops, this arrow aimed accurately and resolutely at Long Yin Ye.

"Little Marquis, be careful."

This sudden arrow came without warning, as if shot by a celestial being from the clouds.

Long Yi reacted first. If he had used his weapon to block, it would have been too late. In a moment of quick thinking, he pushed Long Yin Ye away.

Thud.

The arrow pierced through Long Yi's shoulder, its momentum undiminished, and continued to fly backward, piercing through the chest of Yan Yiming, the heir of the Yanmen Marquis, who happened to be standing behind him.

Thud, thud.

The power of this arrow was so great that it pierced through five people before finally stopping.

Long Yin Ye, pushed to the ground by Long Yi, was in a sorry state. Just as he was about to get up, two more whistling sounds came from the sky.

The same arrows, the same power, the same cunning angles.

This time, they came from both sides, leaving Long Yin Ye no place to hide.

"Protect the Little Marquis!" Long Yi rushed to Long Yin Ye. However, with his injured shoulder, he was a step too slow.

As he lunged forward, he was hit by another arrow in the back.

The other arrow, without deviation, pierced through Long Yin Ye's forehead, the arrowhead penetrating his helmet and embedding itself in his skull. The powerful true qi sent Long Yin Ye, along with the arrow, crashing into the crowd, causing chaos.

"Oh no, the Little Marquis has been hit!"

"The Little Marquis has been hit!"

This terrifying scene left the three thousand troops stunned and in chaos.

The sudden change was too fast for them to react.

By the time they reacted, Long Yin Ye had been hit in the forehead, his condition unknown, and Long Yi had been hit in the shoulder and back, severely injured.

"Look, in the sky, in the sky!"

Caw, caw.

Sharp and domineering cries echoed from the sky, piercing the heavens.

Two golden blurs burst through the clouds, landing above the marquis's residence.

"It's the Golden-Winged Swordbird."

"There's someone on the bird's back, it looks like Jiang Chen."

"There's another one, hmm? He looks familiar, who is it?"

"It looks like the heir of the Jinshan