Chapter 267: Chapter 233: The Imperial Palace! (2)

Several breaths later, seven silhouettes appeared out of thin air in front of Lu Xuan and his group.

Each silhouette looked agile, like shadows in the dark, making ghostly leaps across the buildings on either side of the main street.

The bright and luminous moonlight outlined the seven tall and slender figures.

During their rapid shuttle, the seven figures remained difficult to see clearly.

Every leap they made lacked any hindrance, leaving only a blurry trail of shadows as they swiftly charged towards Lu Xuan and the others.

In the blink of an eye, the seven figures drew sharp shadows in the air, descending in succession from midair.

These seven people were all dressed in identical light red brocade robes.

On the robes, the embroidered plum blossoms were vivid, with petals unfolding as if swaying gracefully in the wind.

Under the moonlight, the plum blossom patterns exuded a gentle sheen, resembling flowing clouds.

Each blossom was meticulously embroidered with dazzling red thread, and the stamen expertly outlined with the finest gold thread.

As the seven landed, their footsteps were incredibly light, silent, with only a faint rustling of their garments in the wind.

What surprised Lu Xuan and Pan Cang was that the seven newcomers were all women.

"Cang, who are these women?"

"Why have I never seen these people in the county city before?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Pan Cang ignored the inquiries from the two beside him.

At this moment, do you really have the mood to ask such questions?

These seven women emitted an aura that was incredibly formidable and overwhelming.

It felt like a tangible pressure weighing heavily on Pan Cang’s heart, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Pan Cang’s eyes suddenly widened, vigilantly watching the seven women.

Among the seven women, some had similar auras to his own.

However, what frightened Pan Cang the most was the suffocating power some of these women possessed.

Martial artists of the Inner Qi Realm!

Without a doubt, only martial artists in the Inner Qi Realm could make Pan Cang, a Blood Refining Realm Perfection martial artist, feel so helpless.

Pan Cang pressed his lips tightly, locking his gaze on the opposite side, not daring to relax in the slightest.

What’s going on tonight?

Why does it feel like my luck is horrendously bad?

While patrolling in the night, he first encountered those ghostly things, almost dying.

And then he encountered martial arts experts he had never seen before.

At the moment of Pan Cang’s frustration.

Lu Xuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, gazing steadily at the seven women, appearing thoughtful.

At this moment, Lu Xuan had discerned some clues about the seven women’s origin, vaguely guessing their purpose.

The leading woman appeared to be in her thirties, exuding the aura of a martial artist with minor Inner Qi achievement.

"Greetings to Mr. Lu, I am Mei Qingyu, a fourth-ranked Plum Blossom Guard. The Emperor has an edict, requiring us to escort Mr. Lu personally!"

"Plum Blossom Guard?"

Lu Xuan naturally had knowledge about the Plum Blossom Guard.

The Plum Blossom Guard is a mysterious new organization created by the female emperor after she ascended to the throne, only answering to the empress.

As Mei Qingyu finished speaking, the previously indifferent and emotionless face seemed to soften slightly.

An involuntary feeling of helplessness rippled across her face like a subtle wave.

This Mr. Lu truly is an odd fellow.

Despite the Emperor having already issued a decree to summon him.

He instead took his time, avoiding shortcuts, almost touring the five prefectures surrounding the capital city.

Anyone uninformed would think Mr. Lu doesn’t know the way.

These peculiar actions, even if the Emperor doesn’t point them out explicitly.

The Plum Blossom Guard Director, who serves closely beside the Emperor, cannot pretend to be oblivious.

Therefore, just the day before yesterday, the Plum Blossom Guard Director issued an order to the Plum Blossom Guard in the capital.

Each fourth-ranked Plum Blossom Guard, bringing some assistants, was to head to the five prefectures and locate Lu Xuan.

Then, swiftly escort Vice Director Lu Xuan of the Profound Bird Guard to the capital to meet the Sovereign.

Upon seeing Mei Qingyu’s helpless expression, Lu Xuan’s usually calm demeanor, like a deep, unwavering pool, unexpectedly showed slight ripples.

It carried a hint of embarrassment.

It seems that I have indeed forgotten that the female emperor is still waiting for my arrival in the royal palace.

Because for the past few days, Lu Xuan has been immersed in the thrill of assassinating the supernatural to earn points, almost forgetting about the female emperor in the palace.

"Then I must trouble Qingyu to lead the way!"

Understanding his own fault, Lu Xuan spoke willingly, no longer thinking about those supernatural matters.

After all, this moment won’t make a difference, and once he meets with the female emperor, he can also take the opportunity to understand the true state of the Great Xia dynasty.

"Mr. Lu!"

?????

"The decree of His Majesty?"

"Plum Blossom Guard?"

Pan Cang and the other two were thunderstruck upon hearing the conversation between Lu Xuan and the Plum Blossom Guard, standing petrified on the spot.

Their eyes were wide open, looking at Mei Qingyu in a state of shock, as if their souls had been jolted out of their bodies by the short exchange.

What’s going on!

What on earth have we just heard!

Pan Cang and the others had blank minds, only filled with waves of astonishment.

The words were understandable, but when combined, it was fantastical, completely beyond their comprehension.

"Please, Mr. Lu!"

With Lu Xuan’s nod of approval, joy instantly spread across the faces of Mei Qingyu and the Plum Blossom Guards behind her.

They swiftly moved aside, creating a pathway, simultaneously raising their hands in a gesture of invitation, indicating for Lu Xuan to proceed with them.

It was only a long time after Lu Xuan and the Plum Blossom Guard had left that Pan Cang and his companions finally came to their senses, looking at each other with eyes full of bewilderment.

At this moment, the Profound Bird Guard standing beside Pan Cang hesitantly spoke with a weak voice.

"Cang, what should we do now?"

"Are we still supposed to patrol?"

"Patrol?"

Pan Cang was initially stunned, but his thoughts were quickly pulled back to reality.

In the blink of an eye, Pan Cang swiftly reacted, raising his hand decisively and shouting loudly with a seasoned and decisive tone.

"There’s no point in patrolling now!"

"The immediate priority is to report everything that just happened to the Emissaries!"

"Also, we need to report the supernatural creature we just killed and the one eliminated by that senior to the Emissaries."

"That creature must have been someone recently deceased from a family, which then transformed into that entity."

"Let’s go!"

With those words, Pan Cang’s internal energy surged forth instantly.

Under the influence of this powerful force, Pan Cang’s figure suddenly moved like a black lightning bolt.

In the blink of an eye, he became a fleeting shadow, swiftly racing in a certain direction.

The other two Profound Bird Guards, seeing this, dared not delay and promptly mobilized their own energy, with auras surging, closely following Pan Cang’s lead, disappearing in an instant from where they stood.

Heavenly Capital!

Deep within the royal palace, a palace hidden in its midst, at first glance looked modest and unassuming. Compared to the grandeur of the surrounding corridors, it even seemed somewhat inconspicuous.

However, inside the hall, the floor was paved with uniform gold and jade tiles.

Each tile was meticulously carved, with delicate and clear patterns, emitting a gentle and luxurious luster in the not-so-bright light.

The interior of the hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop, exuding an air of majesty and solemnity throughout every inch of the space.

At the center of the hall was a broad staircase, each step intricately carved from a single piece of white jade.

At the very top of the staircase was a throne made of black jade stone, with a deep, intense color, almost like ink, constantly emanating a faint, cold glow.

Suddenly!

At the very base of the staircase, a ghostly figure appeared unexpectedly, a woman clad in a pale red brocade robe.

Then, in a swift yet steady motion, the woman knelt on one knee, her knee touching the ground without making the slightest sound.

She slightly nodded her head, with her gaze lowered, displaying utmost respect.

Moments later, the woman spoke softly, her voice low but clearly resonating in the vast hall.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Deputy Director of the Profound Bird Guard, Lu Xuan, has already followed the Plum Blossom Guard to the outside of the royal palace."

As the woman’s voice faded, the hall remained enveloped in a silent atmosphere, with only her words lingering in the spacious and quiet hall.