Inside the White Moon Tower!
Exclamations of panic and fear echoed intermittently.
The expanding sword lights turned the faces of some audience members in the hall pale with fright.
Fortunately, the hall was filled with imperial guards, which greatly calmed their hearts.
Xia Chen narrowed his eyes. Things were dragging on a bit too long. What he wanted was a lightning war, catching the Surveillance Institute's secret agents off guard.
But now, he was being held back.
"Together, quickly take them down!"
After speaking, Xia Chen was the first to draw the crimson long saber from his back. As his Qi and blood erupted, a scorching heat rose from the crimson long saber.
Xia Chen's aura instantly surged, becoming intensely powerful and domineering.
He directly slashed at a paper figure, and instantly, the paper figure burst into a raging fire.
A paper figure that could withstand two or three imperial guards was instantly destroyed.
Xia Chen led the charge, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, taking down one paper figure with each slash. Behind him, Xia Qian led the imperial guards and charged forward as well.
While slaying the paper figures, Xia Chen's attention remained on Xi Ling.
The information Qing Ya provided showed that Xi Ling was a middle-to-high-ranking member of the Surveillance Institute in the capital, and many of the Surveillance Institute's activities in the capital were directly commanded by Xi Ling.
And this time, the theft of the military defense map was closely related to Xi Ling.
Xi Ling's expression was grave. Even at this critical juncture, he remained calm. He quickly observed his surroundings, hoping to break out of the encirclement.
"Break out!"
Xi Ling said coldly, and then more paper figures flew out from his hand. However, perhaps due to the excessive expenditure of Qi to maintain these paper figures, Xi Ling's face was extremely pale.
"You go first, I'll cover your retreat!"
The Wu Dan who had attacked first held a large saber, blocking Xi Ling's front. At this moment, Xia Chen arrived nearby.
Wu Dan let out a loud shout, lifting his large saber as if Mount Tai was pressing down, intending to cleave Xia Chen in half.
Xia Chen seemed to have foresight. As the Wu Dan raised his large saber, he had already slashed out with his own.
Everyone present vaguely saw a great sun emerge from Xia Chen's saber light, its radiance illuminating the earth.
When people opened their eyes, they saw a bloody seam appear in the center of the Wu Dan's body who was blocking Xia Chen. Then, under the horrified gazes of the crowd, the person's body was split into two halves, and blood stained the stage red.
The scene was extremely bloody.
In the private boxes on the second and third floors, some Young Misses from deep inner chambers and noble ladies turned pale. Looking at the extremely handsome young man, their eyes were no longer filled with infatuation, but with fear and terror.
A living person was dismembered on the spot. Regardless of who these imperial guards were apprehending, any normal person would be terrified to see such a scene.
A few drops of blood splattered on Xia Chen's face, making him appear like a Shura from Hell.
After slaying the enemy blocking his path with one slash, Xia Chen did not hesitate, rushing straight towards Xi Ling.
"You are Xia Chen, that good-for-nothing from Zhendong Marquis Manor. It seems everyone has misjudged you and been deceived. Slaying a Peak eighth-rank martial artist with one slash, you've truly hidden yourself deeply!"
Xi Ling retreated while staring coldly at Xia Chen. Their Surveillance Institute had information on Xia Chen, but now it seemed the information was incorrect. A 17-year-old seventh-rank martial artist, even within Zhendong Marquis Manor, would absolutely be considered a Genius.
Xia Chen had no intention of conversing with Xi Ling at the moment. His gaze was solely fixed on Xi Ling, the leader.
He only wanted to cut to the chase!
He completely disregarded the others who were blocking his path and trying to protect Xi Ling.
During Xia Chen's charge, he circulated the Crimson Sun Body Tempering Art. The Qi and blood force within his body surged out from his physique, covering the surface of his body like armor, protecting him.
His speed was as fast as lightning, and the double pupils reappeared in his eyes. Within his field of vision, the speed of the surrounding people became extremely slow, as if the flow of time had been altered.
Xi Ling looked at the window that was within reach. He pushed off with his feet, just about to rush out, but suddenly, a figure like a demon god quickly appeared behind him.
A hand reached out, and Xi Ling felt as if the surrounding air had been sucked dry. The next moment, he felt a pain in the back of his neck, and he was lifted up by Xia Chen like a small chicken.
He was a sorcerer. Although sorcerers had many methods, they were very dangerous if a martial artist got close.
Moreover, the one he was facing now was Xia Chen.
As Xi Ling was captured, the situation in the White Moon Tower was quickly brought under control. Some actors who attacked the imperial guards were directly shot dead on the spot by military crossbows.
The rest were captured alive.
Although the entire process was complex, it was actually very fast, taking less than ten minutes to apprehend the target.
"Escort everyone from the White Moon Tower back to the yamen. Before I return, no matter who comes, do not let them take the people away."
Xia Chen said to Xia Qian behind him, instructing him to personally take 30 men back to escort the people.
"Boss, let me go with Brother Xia Qian. There are so many people in the White Moon Tower, it'll be safer if I escort them together!"
Li Xi had followed the entire time and quickly spoke up, wanting to help Xia Qian relieve some pressure.
Xia Chen glanced at him, then nodded.
Inside the White Moon Tower.
The imperial guards cleaning up the battlefield injected blood-sealing needles into the Surveillance Institute's secret agents who were squatting on the ground with their heads in their hands. Blood-sealing needles were a type of disposable magical artifact developed by the Tianshi Mansion.
They greatly restricted martial artists. Once implanted in the body, it was very difficult to mobilize the full force of Qi and blood throughout the body.
Xia Chen glanced at Xi Ling in his hand and found that he was staring at him with a sinister gaze, as if he wanted to eat him alive.
"You're coming straight for me with such a clear objective. It seems you've already obtained our information. You want to snatch credit from the Lantern Bearers. You've been hiding so deeply for so many years, it seems your ambition is not small!"
Xi Ling stared fiercely at Xia Chen. He had anticipated being sought out by the Lantern Bearers, but he had never expected to fall into the hands of the imperial guards.
And it was into the hands of Xia Chen, whom he had never taken seriously.
Xia Chen still did not respond, directly giving Xi Ling a hard blow to the back of his head, knocking him unconscious. The method was violent and direct, but exceptionally effective.
He held Xi Ling in his hand and did not hand him over to Xia Qian and Li Xi to take back.
He wanted to guard him personally.
"Some people, come with me to the next place!"
Xia Chen led dozens of people and quickly left the White Moon Tower, heading towards another location. Speed was key in warfare. This time, he wanted to rely on a lightning war to catch the Surveillance Institute off guard.
"Boss, where are we going now? Are there more secret agents?"
Li Xi patted Xia Qian's arm, asking with interest.
"I don't know!"
Xia Qian shook his head, saying nothing more, and turned to deal with the aftermath at the White Moon Tower.
The audience who had come to watch the play at the White Moon Tower all breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing all the secret agents captured, they then began to discuss in low voices.
"Are these people from the Imperial City Bureau or the Surveillance Institute? I never expected the White Moon Tower to be their stronghold!"
Someone said with extreme lingering fear.
...
【"When the Grand Ancestor was young, he served in the imperial guards. He was quick-witted and exceptionally intelligent.
At that time, a case of a stolen military defense map suddenly occurred in the capital. The Grand Ancestor saw through the enemy's scheme and then led the imperial guards, acting decisively and swiftly, successfully apprehending the enemy nation's secret agents. The military defense map case was thus solved.
Due to this battle, the Grand Ancestor was known as the 'Jade-Faced Gentleman'."
— "Book of Xia", Volume Three, Annals of the Grand Ancestor】