“Nanping Wang and the others had calculated everything, but they missed one crucial thing.”
“Lu Xiaofeng and Ximen Chuixue are sworn brothers. Wherever Ximen Chuixue is, Lu Xiaofeng will inevitably be seen.”
“Others might not see through Nanping Wang and the others’ schemes, but Lu Xiaofeng will certainly perceive them.”
“Once Lu Xiaofeng uncovers it, it means Ximen Chuixue also knows.”
“So, at the most critical moment, Ximen Chuixue arrived in time, saving the Great Ming Emperor’s life.”
“This plot to overthrow the imperial court thus vanished into thin air.”
… …
When Su Chen’s voice fell, the hall immediately boiled like a pot.
This narration was full of twists and turns, captivating and tugging at everyone’s nerves.
At first, the Yu Family Four Brothers’ appearance caused exclamations of awe, and many secretly clicked their tongues: The imperial court could actually enlist such experts; their strength was truly not to be underestimated.
But the subsequent turn was even more unexpected.
The renowned Yu Family Four Brothers couldn’t even block a single sword strike from Ye Gucheng.
This was the expert who transcended the Peak—Ye Gucheng!
Many who had only heard his name truly understood the terrifying strength of this Nanhai Sword Immortal only at this moment.
The story, however, was still not over.
Just when everyone thought Zhu Houzhao was doomed to die, Ximen Chuixue unexpectedly appeared to rescue him.
The Yu Family Four Brothers did not sacrifice themselves in vain; they used their lives to hold back Ye Gucheng, buying time for Ximen Chuixue’s arrival.
The two figures standing at the Peak of Great Ming’s Martial Dao finally met in a head-on confrontation.
Shocking! Too shocking!
Su Chen narrated so meticulously, as if presenting those scenes before everyone’s eyes.
The perplexing situation and the suffocatingly tense atmosphere constantly lingered in everyone’s hearts.
The clash of two top-tier swordsmen, the conspiracy to overthrow the empire, the Great Ming Emperor’s life and death…
The progressively unfolding plot made everyone hold their breath, almost forgetting to breathe.
Especially the unexpected arrangement at the end—Lu Xiaofeng unraveling the conspiracy and Ximen Chuixue making a timely Move—brought a perfect conclusion to the entire story.
“Well said, a reward!”
Xu Fengnian, in the private room on the third floor, listened with surging excitement and a burst of generosity, casually throwing out a jade pendant as a reward.
Although this jade pendant was not as valuable as the one Hua Manlou had given, it was still worth eight hundred thousand taels of silver, making Old Huang beside him roll his eyes.
Eight hundred thousand taels of silver! How many roasted ducks and aged fine wines could that buy!
Such a lavish reward instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the entire hall, with discussions rising and falling:
“It was too exciting! I never expected such earth-shattering changes before the Forbidden City showdown.”
“The imperial palace truly has hidden dragons and crouching tigers; even figures like the Yu Family Four Brothers were recruited by the imperial court. An ordinary person entering would barely escape with their life.”
“This is too thrilling. If Lu Xiaofeng hadn’t exposed Nanping Wang’s treacherous scheme, the entire Great Ming would probably have changed hands long ago.”
“If it weren’t for Lu Xiaofeng’s wisdom or Ximen Chuixue’s swordplay, the Great Ming Emperor might have already passed away.”
“Indeed, Lu Xiaofeng alone, even if he uncovered the conspiracy, couldn’t have stopped Ye Gucheng’s fatal blow.”
“I’ve long heard that Lu Xiaofeng is exceptionally intelligent, and hearing it today, it’s truly well-deserved. He could actually unravel Nanping Wang’s dangerous plot in a flash.”
However, while many expressed astonishment and admiration, quite a few people still harbored doubts.
“This is simply preposterous! All the things Mr. Su mentioned happened within the palace walls. Who can prove their authenticity? It’s probably just Mr. Su’s imagination.”
A sarcastic remark came from within the hall.
As soon as these words were uttered, they immediately resonated with many Jianghu individuals.
Although Su Chen narrated vividly, these matters were inherently secret and impossible to verify.
Upon closer thought, that series of events seemed too bizarre and too coincidental, making it truly difficult to believe.
Despite the indignation felt by those who supported Su Chen, they were unable to refute at this moment and could only glare angrily.
“I am willing to vouch for what Mr. Su said!”
Just then, a deep voice came from a private seat on the east side of the third floor.
The person who had just spoken immediately sneered, “Who are you? On what grounds do you guarantee it? Did you witness it yourself?”
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, wanting to see who this person stepping forward was.
A young man was seen striding out of the private room, standing by the third-floor corridor, and loudly declared:
“I do not hide my name; I am Lu Xiaofeng, the Lu Xiaofeng known as Four-Eyebrows!”
“At least half of what Mr. Su said was heard and seen by me personally.”
“Just half a month ago, on the Mid-Autumn Festival night, Nanping Wang and others did indeed conspire to usurp the throne.”
“Fortunately, they had one oversight, which I detected. I rushed to the imperial palace with Ximen Chuixue overnight and barely managed to stop Ye Gucheng’s assassination attempt.”
“Afterward, His Majesty the Great Ming Emperor personally inscribed a commendation to show his praise.”
“You tell me, do I have the right to endorse Mr. Su’s words?”
As soon as these words came out, the hall immediately erupted in an uproar.
Lu Xiaofeng!
That legendary figure renowned in the Jianghu had actually come to Zijin Tower!
On par with Ximen Chuixue, Lu Xiaofeng was also a figure known to everyone in the Martial Forest.
However, compared to the cold and taciturn Ximen Chuixue, Lu Xiaofeng was naturally unrestrained; he loved to go wherever it was lively, and his friends were spread across the world.
Soon, several Jianghu heroes from Great Ming recognized him and vouched for his identity.
At this, those who had been skeptical also fell silent.
Given Lu Xiaofeng’s reputation, his guarantee naturally carried great weight.
This meant that the palace coup had indeed happened.
Thinking of this, everyone couldn’t help but look at Su Chen with new respect.
Being in Northern Liang, yet being able to perceive secret matters a thousand miles away, this ability, it was no exaggeration to say he was “omniscient.”
By the third-floor corridor.
Seeing the commotion gradually subside, Lu Xiaofeng’s face showed satisfaction, and he then cupped his hands towards the high platform, saying sincerely:
“Lu had no discerning eyes and previously mistakenly thought Mr. Su was merely a show-off, hence I deliberately tested him.”
“Now I realize Mr. Su truly possesses the ability to perceive heavenly secrets. Please forgive me for my momentary rudeness.”
… …
Above the high platform.
Su Chen gently fanned himself, responding with a smile:
“To test with a White Jade Flying Immortal Pendant worth two million taels of silver, with such sincerity, how many people in this world would truly be angry?”
As soon as these words were uttered, the crowd in the hall burst into laughter.
Lu Xiaofeng also laughed heartily and said, “I was merely borrowing flowers to offer to the Buddha. If Mr. Su doesn’t mind, then that’s even better.”
Inside the private room, Hua Manlou quietly drank the tea in his hand; he was the unfortunate benefactor.
Although he had spent an extra two million taels of silver, his mood at this moment was quite pleasant.
With Su Chen’s ability, it was highly possible he could help him uncover the person behind the forged Great Circulation Banknotes, resolving the Hua family’s urgent crisis.
Compared to the losses caused by the counterfeit money, a few million taels of silver were merely a drop in the ocean.
But this matter was still secret and not suitable for public disclosure; he could only inquire privately with Su Chen after the storytelling ended.
In the eastern private room on the third floor.
Yaoyue and Lianxing likewise could not hide their excitement.
Lu Xiaofeng’s words further confirmed their suspicions—Su Chen truly had a miraculous talent for discerning heavenly secrets.
In that case, could the truth of the Jiang Feng massacre, which they had sought for twenty years, also come to light?
In the southern room on the third floor.
Xu Fengnian had already received a report and knew Hua Manlou’s identity, muttering softly:
“So, he’s actually the young master of the Hua family, a prominent Great Ming noble clan. No wonder he’s so generous.”
After learning that this person had no conflict of interest with him, Xu Fengnian no longer worried and immediately shouted loudly:
“Mr. Su, the prelude to the Forbidden City showdown has been told. Shouldn’t we get to the main topic now?”
This shout brought everyone’s attention back, and they all echoed in agreement.
After all, this was the Jianghu.
Even if the secret of the imperial usurpation made people’s blood boil,
what everyone most wanted to hear was the part about the two top-tier swordsmen clashing at the Forbidden City.
Above the high platform.
Su Chen took a sip of clear tea, and facing the eager gazes of the crowd, he slowly began:
“Let’s continue.”
“After Ye Gucheng was stopped by Ximen Chuixue, he knew the assassination was hopeless and immediately turned to flee.”
“However, at that time, forces like Dragon Protecting Villa, Eastern Depot, Western Depot, and Six Doors had already received news.”
“Iron-Guts Divine Marquis Zhu Wu Shi, Liu Xi, Cao Zhengchun, Grand Master Guo, and a host of other experts were all gathered outside the Forbidden City, standing by in full readiness.”
“Ye Gucheng, with his strength alone, could never break through the layers of encirclement, so he had to return to the Forbidden City.”
“Thus, this Peak battle returned to its original trajectory.”
“And this would be a life-and-death struggle, determining both victory and survival.”
“These two swordsmen, at the Peak of Great Ming’s Sword Dao, were now in perfect sync, drawing their swords almost simultaneously.”
“To outsiders, their movements seemed slow; this fight had neither fierce clashes nor spectacular Moves.”
“But true experts held their breath, because they saw that this was a duel between top-tier masters.”
“Although Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue’s steps were slow, the speed of their sword stance changes was astonishing.”
“Every shift in sword stance was, in fact, a confrontation.”
“In other words, by the time they clashed, dozens of Moves had already passed.”
“Ximen Chuixue is indeed a rare Sword Dao prodigy. At only twenty-six years old, his swordsmanship is in no way inferior to forty-year-old Ye Gucheng.”
“And his true Peak is far from coming; his potential is still limitless.”
“However, at this moment, Ximen Chuixue had an unavoidable flaw.”
“Deep within his heart, there was the image of a woman, none other than Sun Xiuqing, a Core Disciple of the Emei Sect, hailed as one of the Four Beauties of Emei.”
“Although they had only met briefly, Ximen Chuixue could never forget her.”
“When a cold swordsman falls in love, the speed of his sword naturally slows by a fraction.”
“Against ordinary opponents, this slight difference is almost negligible.”
“But when facing Ye Gucheng, whose strength is comparable, this becomes the crucial factor determining life and death.”