OBS Within 7 steps, the Divine Crossbow is both fast and accurate.
Within 7 steps, the Divine Crossbow is both fast and accurate.
Hidden in the misty mountains, the deep mountains are shrouded in fog.
The autumn tea season is over, and the tea plantation is deserted.
Without the songs of tea-picking girls or the hustle and bustle of merchants, the entire tea plantation was like a giant beast in the mist, appearing and disappearing indistinctly.
Only when a gentle breeze blows and partes the thick fog can the true appearance of the mountain villa be revealed.
Bao'er moved quietly, stopping at the edge of the teahouse. She concealed her presence and whispered a message:
"Your Highness, everything outside the manor is as usual. The servants are relaxed and do not seem to be coerced."
"It's just that the fog is too thick, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion inside the village."
Be careful and cautious.
Cheetahs only strike at the optimal moment.
Zhao Jing's spirit has greatly improved, making him capable of multitasking.
He manipulated Li Shuo while responding to Bao'er:
"Bao'er, you are not allowed to enter the manor."
"The tea plantation is very likely to fall into enemy hands."
Zhao Jing regained his memory and recalled the information about the tea shop.
In the game, the [Hidden Mist Tea House] is only mentioned in the beggar ending, where it is said that the remnants of the Eastern Palace used it to escape, but there is no specific plot.
Normal players probably wouldn't remember the details.
If the enemy is a stickler for historical accuracy, they might set up an ambush here.
We must not be careless.
Bao'er's heart tightened, and she asked in a low voice:
"Your Highness, what should we do?"
Zhao Jing answered without hesitation:
"Right outside the village, try to contact Chen Zhong!"
"The tea shop can be abandoned, but Chen Zhong must be taken away."
Zhao Jing's guards are divided into two categories.
One type is a samurai, and the other is a butler.
Bao'er is a warrior, but not good at scheming.
Chen Zhong, as the steward, possesses a great deal of confidential information and cannot be easily discarded.
Upon hearing this, Bao'er suddenly had a bright idea, and her face lit up with joy:
"Your Highness, I have an idea!"
"I can use the cuckoo's call to send a secret signal."
"Chen Zhong is in the manor; there will surely be an echo."
Just as Bao'er was about to try, Zhao Jing quickly stopped her:
"etc!"
It's October now.
Bao'er was puzzled:
"Your Highness, what does this mean?"
Zhao Jing replied irritably:
"In October, cuckoos begin their southward migration for the winter."
In the early autumn season, the sudden cry of a cuckoo is tantamount to revealing one's whereabouts.
Bao'er was speechless for a moment, stammering:
"Then, what should we do?"
"They can't be as clever as Your Highness, can they?"
Zhao Jing shook his head:
"Do not pin your hopes on the enemy's folly."
"Let's switch to using [sound conch shells] to transmit codes; let's not do it ourselves!"
"To avoid being caught red-handed by the enemy."
The sound conch can be used to record and transmit sound using true qi.
It was originally a rare object used in Buddhist ceremonies.
Zhao Jing found it novel and bought a few, occasionally using them to listen to tunes. He never expected them to come in handy here, so he added a couple of lines:
"Also, find another pile of rocks and bury some spirit stone bombs, just in case."
"If you encounter a strong enemy, try to delay them as much as possible. I have already sent reinforcements."
"what?"
Bao'er was stunned.
Your Highness is too cunning.
Zhao Jing said irritably:
"Do you understand?"
Bao'er realized what was happening and couldn't contain her excitement:
"clear!"
This feeling was like a mother teaching her her first hunt.
She lay in ambush in the tall bushes, then suddenly leaped out and bit a small antelope by the neck.
tasty!
Your Highness is the hunter; I only need to follow.
Soon, the cry of a cuckoo echoed from the forest.
Bugu Bugu Bugu!
Bubugu —
……
The two characters 【布穀】 conform to the binary system and can be used to create endless codes.
Not only that, in order to cover her tracks, Bao'er also used her inner energy to control her voice, making it sound faint and elusive.
Even inside the tea plantation, one could hear faint chirping sounds.
……
Hidden Mist Tea House, main gate
The two men, disguised as security guards, communicated with each other using gestures, maintaining silence and relaxation.
"Seventh Young Master said to relax a bit."
"We must not let anyone see through our scheme."
"Hey, what's that cuckoo calling?"
"It's normal to hear birds chirping in the mountains and forests."
……
Hidden Mist Tea House, Mingxinlou
This is the heart of the tea shop, once filled with the aroma of tea and teeming with distinguished guests, but now it is deserted and fraught with hidden dangers.
After catching the "big fish," Yuwen Zhe moved to Mingxin Tower, where he could survey the entire situation from a high vantage point.
"Huh, why is there a bird chirping?"
"Uncle Zheng, what do you think?"
Yuwen Zhe sat on the grand chair and took out a strange object called the Listening Wind Conch.
This device can listen to nearby sounds.
After taking over the tea plantation, he had placed snails around it, which came in handy now.
"Bugu Bugu..."
"Bugu Bugu..."
Wei Zheng listened with his eyes closed for a moment, then spoke:
"The two calls were in unison, both sounding as if they came from a distance, without any specific location."
"It must have been forged by a master of innate talent; it is a secret code of the Eastern Palace."
"Unfortunately, they made a mistake; they didn't know that the young master had prepared the Wind-Listening Conch."
"I will immediately send men to locate the source of the sound wave."
Although Yuwen Zhe was unaware of the cuckoo's migration, he still recognized the unusual cry through the sound of the snail and Wei Zheng, and nodded in satisfaction:
"Wait, Uncle Zheng, don't rush!"
"Zhao Jing is the key; he won't expose himself easily."
"You're right, Mr. Chen!"
As Yuwen Zhe spoke, he looked at Chen Zhong, who was bound.
Chen Zhong's condition is very bad.
He lured away his pursuers, fought his way through the enemy lines, and escaped to the teahouse. During the rendezvous, he sensed something was amiss, but was still captured by Wei Zheng.
Because Wei Zheng is a genuine half-step Grandmaster!
Exhausted, the Innate Realm cultivator was utterly powerless against a Half-Step Grandmaster.
Chen Zhong's golden bell shield was broken, and he looked dejected, but his eyes remained firm, and he intended to remain silent.
Yuwen Zhe scratched his head upon seeing this:
"Mr. Chen, this must be a secret code from the Crown Prince's Palace."
"If you lure your accomplices, I will spare your life and guarantee you a life of wealth and comfort."
"The destruction of the Crown Prince's residence is a foregone conclusion."
"Even if the Crown Prince continues to put up a stubborn resistance, it's pointless."
Chen Zhong remained unmoved, his eyes filled with disdain, which angered Yuwen Zhe.
They thought they had caught a big fish and could catch Zhao Jing in one fell swoop, but Chen Zhong refused to cooperate.
We have no choice but to resort to other methods.
Wei Zheng spoke in a low voice:
"My lord, I can make him wish he were dead."
"No!"
Yuwen Zhe shook his head:
"There's no point in torturing this kind of person. Bring up the eldest daughter of the Tu family."
"Yes, young master."
Soon, the eldest daughter of the Tu family, who owned the tea shop, was brought in, unaware of what had happened.
A group of thugs suddenly appeared at the house. Their martial arts skills were extremely terrifying, and the Tu family's guards were powerless to resist.
Her face was filled with fear. Upon seeing Chen Zhong, she exclaimed:
"Uncle Chen."
Chen Zhong appeared to be a purchasing agent at the tea shop, but in reality, he was the person in charge of making contacts. The Tu family's daughter naturally recognized him.
Let her go!
This has nothing to do with her!
Chen Zhong's acupoints were sealed, rendering him unable to speak. He could only watch helplessly as Yuwen Zhe smiled gently at the young girl.
"What a lovely woman."
The girl forced a smile, trying to please him, but then she heard the devil's whisper:
"Break her neck."
"Yes, young master."
Before the eldest daughter of the Tu family could react, Wei Zheng's large hand had already reached out.
A snap.
The girl's neck was shattered, her smile frozen, and she perished.
brute!
Chen Zhong's eyes were bloodshot as he struggled desperately, but he heard Yuwen Zhe sigh:
"Life is so fragile."
"A person will die if their neck is broken."
Yuwen Zhe was young, handsome, and had a philosopher's air about him. He was a huge fan of his older brother.
His fourth brother once steamed a person alive, which was incredibly creative.
In contrast, breaking a neck is far too unattractive.
He clasped his hands together, feigning an apology:
"Sorry, this was an emergency."
"When the entire Tu family is slaughtered in the future, I will arrange a more elegant way for them to die."
"Namo Maitreya Buddha!"
What kind of bird is this?
Chen Zhong felt a chill run down his spine, but Yuwen Zhe turned to him with a kind smile on his face:
"Mr. Chen, you should understand now."
Understand what?
"Now that Yujing has fallen into the hands of the Yuwen family, I can kill whoever I want."
"I heard you have a four-year-old child named Tiger, and an elderly mother still alive."
As the son of a powerful and wealthy family, Yuwen Zhe was well-versed in the art of managing weaknesses.
A cruel smile appeared on his face.
Chen Zhong's expression changed drastically.
……
Time passed by, second by second.
Cuckoo, cuckoo!
The cuckoo occasionally calls out, without any special signal, so as not to alert the enemy to any unusual sound.
Bao'er waited in vain for a long time, but received no response, and became extremely anxious.
Has Chen Zhong not arrived at the tea plantation yet?
Did something happen on the way?
Time cannot be wasted.
Every minute, the Princess's control over the situation in the capital will become more and more perfect, and the plan to escape to Jiangnan will become more and more difficult.
What should I do?
Just as Bao'er was hesitating, the sound of a cuckoo finally came from the tea plantation.
"Bububugu!"
"Bugubugu!"
Everything is safe. How about Your Highness?
This is a secret message from the Crown Prince's palace; outsiders cannot forge it.
Zhao Jing once mentioned relevant cryptographic knowledge, stating that the codebook is replaced periodically to ensure information security.
Bao'er was overjoyed.
This at least proves that Chen Zhong is still alive.
There are not many companions left to protect His Highness.
Then, Chen Zhong's cry rang out again.
"Bububugu".
"Bugubugu!"
It cries out like this three times.
Bao'er's expression changed, and she whispered to Zhao Jing:
"Your Highness, Chen Zhong has been captured; the tea shop is a trap."
Zhao Jing had just heard the good news when bad news followed immediately, and asked:
How do you know?
Bao'er took a deep breath:
"First, the response time is too long."
"Secondly, the same code sounding three times in a row is a warning!"
The warning is repeated three times; this is additional information known only to internal personnel and is not recorded on the passcode.
Chen Zhong did his best.
Bao'er hardened her heart:
"Your Highness, let's retreat!"
The animal world is cruel.
When faced with danger, cheetahs will abandon their chariots to save themselves.
Zhao Jing took a deep breath:
"No, if we leave, Chen Zhong will surely die."
"The news will also leak out, and they will use the tea shop as a base to continue their pursuit."
"We must at least severely damage the enemy!"
Bao'er got anxious:
"But!"
Zhao Jing smiled:
"Don't worry, I've already called for reinforcements."
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard will help us deal with them."
"Just lure the snake out of its hole!"
"what?"
Bao'er's little head couldn't comprehend such a complicated matter.
Aren't the Embroidered Uniform Guards the enemy?
Zhao Jing smiled and said:
"Bao'er, follow my instructions."
"Keep using the code to let Chen Zhong come out first."
"Then lure the enemy to the pre-set trap."
Zhao Jing disliked being hunted down.
In the original storyline, Shen Changsheng was able to achieve the beggar ending because of his extraordinary strength.
Now he only has Bao'er, which is even worse than in the original story. He must find a way to annihilate the enemy in order to have a real chance of survival.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Bao'er didn't understand, but she obeyed.
Just do it.
Soon, the tea shop heard the cry of a cuckoo again.
"Bubugu, Bubugu!"
After issuing the warning, Chen Zhong was prepared to die, but unexpectedly, there was a response.
Lord Bao, what are you doing?
Did they intend to lure the enemy away and into the secret passage of the dry well? But the passage has already been taken over.
Chen Zhong was in turmoil.
Yuwen Zhe waved a secret letter and laughed:
"What does this code mean?"
"Mr. Chen should understand that once this letter is sent out, your wife and children will surely die."
As long as Yuwen Zhe sent a message, the people of Yujing would arrest Chen Zhong's family members and execute them.
Chen Zhong used a coded signal to warn Yuwen Zhe, hoping to preserve a sliver of hope for survival.
With Wei Zheng by his side, he could hardly hide anything and answered in a deep voice;
"Lord Bao means that His Highness is safe."
"You want me to go out and greet them."
Wei Zheng lit a mantra talisman and saw that the white smoke was straight and there was nothing unusual:
"Seventh Young Master, he wasn't lying."
Yuwen Zhe was quite satisfied:
"very good."
"I assure you, Tiger will not be castrated or played with. You can rest assured."
Chen Zhong's eyes narrowed, then he lowered his head:
"Please keep your promise, sir."
Yuwen Zhe smiled:
"Uncle Zheng, accompany him on this trip to capture Zhao Jing."
Wei Zheng was shocked and quickly shook his head:
"No, if I leave, who will protect you, young master?"
Yuwen Zhe couldn't help but laugh:
"My fourth brother gave me a precious elixir, and I have already entered the Innate Realm."
"With so many guards around, what danger could there be?"
Wei Zheng is already a half-step Grandmaster, and has mastered the Divine Court's secret treasures. He has the ability to act on a whim.
He felt vaguely uneasy:
"But the Fourth Young Master ordered me to stay by his side at all times."
Although Hidden Mist Tea House was controlled by the Yuwen family, it was not their own territory and the environment was unfamiliar to them.
If someone were to lure the snake out of its hole and assassinate the young master, it would be too late for regrets.
Yuwen Zhe smiled faintly:
"Fourth Brother is always worrying, so I'll go with Uncle Zheng."
"But we must keep our distance, lest we alert the enemy."
A martial arts master as a guard is far superior to any magical artifact.
If Bao'er hadn't carried Zhao Jing on her back and run wildly out of the Jinyiwei's encirclement, he would have been dealt with by Li Shuo long ago.
Wei Zheng is the best safety measure.
With him there, even if a grandmaster attacks, he can hold them off for a moment and protect Yuwen Zhe.
Upon hearing that the young master was accompanying them, Wei Zheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes, young master."
UI.
He knew that Bao'er's speed was comparable to that of a grandmaster, and even faster than his.
Capturing Zhao Jing is secondary; protecting our master is the top priority.
After the master and servants finished discussing, Yuwen Zhe gave his orders:
"Mr. Chen, please tell His Highness the Crown Prince that we will go to greet him immediately."
"Yes, Lord Yuwen!"
Helpless, Chen Zhong had no choice but to send a message using coded language again.
Bao'er still answered:
"Cuckoo!"
"Bubugubugu!"
no problem.
The location is in the woods at the northwest corner of Hidden Mist Mountain.
Chen Zhong trembled for a moment, then quickly recovered and led the way out of the village.
Wei Zheng followed closely behind, transmitting his thoughts in secret:
"Relax a little."
"Don't let anyone see through your disguise."
At this moment, the fog on the mountain range thickened, obscuring the view ahead, but Wei Zheng's aura remained firmly locked onto Chen Zhong.
They can kill anyone who makes the slightest disturbance.
My dear Bao'er, what are you thinking?
Chen Zhong, his mind filled with thoughts, finally arrived at the agreed-upon location, only to find it deserted.
What happened?
Wei Zheng remained on guard, while Chen Zhong noticed several crooked words carved on the tree.
"Under the largest banyan tree in the northeast corner halfway up the mountain."
Zhao Jing would not allow Bao'er to show herself easily.
Bao'er put away the conch shell and used the method of carving words to lure the snake out of its hole.
Chen Zhong suddenly realized what was happening and pointed to the big tree, gesturing for Wei Zheng to look, which made the steward frown:
"How cautious!"
Yuwen Zhe echoed:
"Zhao Jing was able to escape Yongzhou, which shows his caution."
"Let's go take a look."
He possessed a great treasure and had already entered the Innate Realm, so he was naturally not afraid of a mere treasure.
"Yes, young master."
Wei Zheng thought so too, and the group set off again, arriving at the agreed-upon banyan tree, but still couldn't find Bao'er.
Chen Zhong led the way to avoid provoking Zhao Jing and the others, but he noticed that several words were also carved on the banyan tree.
"Wait a moment, I'll carry His Highness on my back."
In addition, there is a Heavenly King's Life-Saving Pill embedded in the tree.
understood.
Chen Zhong calmly took the pill but did not swallow it, because Wei Zheng's aura had already locked onto the surrounding 500 meters.
At this distance, if he swallowed the pill, the other party would immediately notice.
Be patient.
"We have to wait!"
Chen Zhong put away the pills, pointed to the words on the tree, and gestured to Wei Zheng again.
Wei Zheng narrowed his eyes and nodded:
"You wait there."
Dogs shouldn't be walked for too long.
Otherwise, the other party will also become suspicious.
Zhao Jing asked Bao'er to leave a second message, telling them to wait a moment.
After all, Zhao Jing lacked martial prowess and was physically disabled, so he must be hiding somewhere.
Then let's wait a bit.
To prevent any trickery, Wei Zheng had Yuwen Zhe approach the big tree, while he closed his eyes, concentrated, and released his true energy.
The Divine Court's Secret Treasury!
A martial artist with innate talent must unlock five great secret treasures, the most difficult of which is the Divine Court Secret Treasure.
Once the Divine Court's secret treasure is opened, martial artists can release their true energy and sense their surroundings.
In the martial arts world, this is referred to as "aura".
Wei Zheng is a half-step Grandmaster, and his aura is much larger than that of ordinary Innate Realm experts, reaching a height of 500 meters.
He can hear every little thing that happens.
In addition, Wei Zheng practiced the most orthodox "Twelve Gates Golden Bell Cover".
This was a gift from the Fourth Prince, making his Golden Bell Shield extraordinary and indestructible.
Even if a grandmaster were to arrive in person, he would not be able to harm Yuwen Zhe in the slightest.
An invisible golden bell shield unfolded around Yuwen Zhe, protecting him while also locking onto Chen Zhong.
Yuwen Zhe also thought that Chen Zhong was a truly loyal minister.
He didn't care about the lives of his wife, children, or elderly mother, only for the sake of loyalty.
Therefore, he planned to take out a top-grade spiritual artifact, which was a flying sword given to him by Yuwen Yi.
Then he can use the lost martial arts techniques.
Sword Control Technique!
Within a thousand paces, the flying sword arrives in an instant, taking the enemy's head from the neck.
Golden Bell Cover, Sword Control Technique.
It combines offense and defense, making it virtually unsolvable.
If Bao'er, Zhao Jing, and the others show their faces, they will only face death.
Yuwen Zhe dared to personally risk his life to capture Zhao Jing, so he must have taken all necessary precautions.
In the distance, on a treetop, Bao'er, transformed into a cheetah, put on a pair of imposing glasses, her amber eyes widening.
This item can make an invisible aura visible.
A gleaming golden bell-shaped cover came into view.
Bao'er held her breath and replied in a low voice:
"Your Highness, no."
"His aura is too strong; even lightning speed can't penetrate it."
BoA's strongest move is called Divine Speed.
She pushed her speed to the limit, instantly killing her opponent before the enemy could react.
Zhao Jing saw this scene through the Thousand Illusion Pearl, and laughed:
"It's alright, reinforcements have arrived."
Reinforcements?
"Baby, look into the distance."
Bao'er looked in that direction and saw Li Shuo, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
He was leading a team of elite Imperial Guards, riding in a blood-red flying sedan chair, speeding towards them.
"Someone's coming!"
"How could there be ten innate masters?"
Wei Zheng was startled.
The moment the Imperial Guards entered, they unleashed a chilling killing intent.
Martial artists can sense the strength of their opponent by sensing their aura and often use their killing intent to disrupt them.
Li Shuo led his team to attack.
This Jinyiwei squad originally consisted of 15 centurions, each of whom was a master of martial arts.
In the battle against the Eastern Palace guards, five men were lost, not to mention countless captains and lieutenants.
Now, in order to pursue Zhao Jing, this force has concentrated its elite troops.
With ten innate masters and one expert in mystical arts, they would be able to put up a fight even against a half-step grandmaster.
The war is about to start.
Wei Zheng sensed the familiar killing intent and quickly warned:
"Young master, they are members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Yuwen Zhe couldn't help but curse:
"That idiot Li Shuo is more of a hindrance than a help."
"I'll go and chase them away right now."
Fearing that he would startle Zhao Jing and ruin everything, Yuwen Zhe quickly sheathed his flying sword and ran towards the Imperial Guards.
Zhao Jing, who was controlling Li Shuo, had sweaty palms.
He finally met Yuwen Zhe through the pagoda.
good chance!
But you must be patient.
Zhao Jing raised his hand, and the ten centurions responded by raising their crossbows.
As the imperial guards, the Embroidered Uniform Guards were naturally armed to the teeth.
Each of these specially made crossbows cost over ten thousand taels of silver, yet each of them had one.
The Divine Crossbow and the Bone-Piercing Arrow are specifically designed to kill martial arts masters.
Upon seeing this, Yuwen Zhe flew into a rage:
"Stop, Commander Li!"
"How dare you point your divine crossbow at me!"
Do you know how serious your crime is?
Zhao Jing's lips curled up:
"It's too far away, I can't see clearly."
"I am ordered to arrest the remaining members of the Crown Prince's faction!"
"If anyone obstructs this, do not blame me for being ruthless."
"Everyone, listen up! Continue advancing!"
Someone of Yuwen Zhe's power and influence must have protective treasures.
He's too far away to kill.
We must get close.
"You bastard!"
Yuwen Zhe originally had a good impression of Li Shuo, mainly because he was a genius praised by his fourth brother.
They're still in cahoots.
In Yuwen Zhe's opinion, Li Shuo should kneel and bow in reverence upon seeing him.
Unexpectedly, Li Shuo didn't give him any face at all.
She's obviously here to steal the credit!
Yuwen Zhe immediately stepped forward and angrily rebuked:
"Open your dog eyes and take a look."
"What is this?!"
Yuwen Zhe took out the token, the Qilin Token of the Grand Tutor's Mansion.
Zhao Jing feigned surprise and quickly bowed:
"Could it be Young Master Yuwen?"
"I was rude, please forgive me, sir!"
Yuwen Zhe was finally satisfied, and took a few steps forward, about to reprimand him:
"I have something important to do this time, so I'll let you off this time..."
and many more!
Just as Yuwen Zhe was about to take the other party in as a dog, he suddenly realized something was wrong.
Li Shuo is still in the sedan chair!
He did not get out of the sedan chair.
Yuwen Zhe finally realized what was happening.
But it was too late.
Do it!
Li Shuo issued the order to fight.
At this moment, Yuwen Zhe was only seven steps away from the Blood Raven Flying Carriage.
too close.
He forgot that distance is life itself.
kill!
Ten divine crossbows fired simultaneously.
Within seven steps, the bone-piercing arrow is both swift and accurate!