Chapter 937: Chapter 540: Assassination, Citywide Manhunt (5k)
Soon, a large group of iron cavalry surged into the quiet street, each person holding a torch that illuminated the entire road.
"Great General!"
The officer trapped inside the barrier saw the cavalry spreading out outside. A middle-aged man, not tall and even somewhat short, walked out surrounded by others as if he were the center of attention.
Zhao Shixiong was still on horseback, dressed in sleepwear, seemingly awakened from slumber in a hurry.
Expressionless, he suddenly reached out with his right hand towards the air, then his wrist sank, and the night rippled as a great guan saber was forcibly pulled out from the void.
The long blade swung in the air!
The enormous blue and white bowl covering the street corner cracked with a "click," shattering into cobweb-like fractures and crumbling into pieces.
A magic array capable of trapping the Worldly Realm couldn’t withstand even one slice from him!
Inside the carriage, the previously shattered blue and white porcelain bowl reassembled itself, restored to its original state, though the water inside was gone, indicating its mana was temporarily depleted.
"Search!"
Zhao Shixiong coldly spat out the word.
Immediately, the iron cavalry transformed into a torrent of steel, flowing in all directions.
Before long, someone reported: "Great General, we found Wang Qi’s body!"
He died... Zhao Shixiong’s heart sank rapidly. He quickly arrived at the alley, where under the torchlight, he saw Wang Qi lying in a pool of blood, dead with his eyes open.
A trusted aide examined for a while before standing up and reporting:
"Great General, Supervisor Wang Qi died due to a slit throat, but was first gravely injured by arrows."
Zhao Shixiong, expression unreadable, suddenly raised the guan saber high.
At this moment, a rolling scarlet aura infused the blade, and the blade, known for its unusual origins, emitted engraved runes; the blade released crimson flames that enveloped the entire alley.
Then, within the crimson glow appeared Wang Qi hastily running while supporting himself against the wall, followed by a young man approaching with a knife.
Clearly, the saber in Zhao Shixiong’s hand was not merely a standard weapon; it also contained magic.
It could "restore" the scenes that occurred here not long ago.
"Is he the assassin?" Zhao Shixiong stared at the phantom of Zhao Douan within the scarlet glow.
He had no impression of the disguised face, but upon seeing the knife, his gaze slightly condensed, a glimmer in his eyes:
"It’s him? That Zhao Douan?"
He chuckled:
"Bold enough to lurk in the city, killing under this General’s nose..."
Outside the alley, a trusted aide returned to report:
"Great General, we didn’t find any traces of the assassin nearby. They likely fled far."
Zhao Shixiong nodded, about to speak when the sound of approaching hooves emerged from outside the alley.
Everyone looked, seeing a tall, fair-skinned woman, roughly in her thirties or forties, dismount from a swift horse, her figure curvaceous and carrying a longsword.
She too was in sleepwear, hastily stepping out.
"Madam!"
A group of trusted aides immediately lowered their gaze, not daring to look up.
"Gongsun?" Zhao Shixiong frowned at the woman: "What happened?"
The woman named Gongsun, from the martial world Gongsun clan, furrowed her heavy brows, first glancing at Wang Qi’s corpse on the ground before saying:
"It’s not just Wang Qi; other military supervisors were also assassinated. The casualty count hasn’t been tallied yet, but from the gathered intel, not less than five are involved."
Zhao Shixiong chuckled and tossed the guan saber, issuing a fiercely cold command:
"Issue orders! First thing: Investigate all suspicious persons appearing in the vicinity within five streets today.
Second: Check Wang Qi’s whereabouts and routines for the past ten days, including whoever knew he carried the Blue and White Cage.
Third: Start with those attacked supervisors, investigate anyone recently probing them, and any noteworthy unusual occurrences in the city, leave nothing out!
Fourth... Conduct a city-wide search!
Investigate all unfamiliar faces and outsiders that appeared in the city within the last fifteen days!
No need to cross-check portraits; the opponent will alter their appearance, but definitely a man, focus on investigating young men... Also, contact the Embroidered Robe Envoy to inform the Prince of Zhao Douan potentially infiltrating the city!"
The tall and curvaceous Gongsun, wearing sleepwear, was momentarily stunned.
Zhao Douan?
The unwed Imperial Consort chosen by the Empress? The Chaos Suppression Grand Commander, nicknamed "Yama Zhao," that cruel, cunning traitor?!
Did he do it?
Gongsun’s expression became serious; she nodded: "I’ll arrange it."
Zhao Shixiong stared at the corpse on the ground, his smile unchanging:
"I’m rather intrigued by this Zhao family’s younger member. To eliminate this traitor would certainly be akin to laying claim to half of Linfeng."
The husband holds the traitor in such high regard?
Gongsun felt slightly surprised.
...
...
That night, with Zhao Shixiong’s orders, Yongjia Prefecture City was shaken.
Batches of rebel troops holding torches, exuding murderous aura, darted through the city’s streets and alleys, conducting thorough searches for suspicious individuals overnight.
The tranquility of martial law was shattered on the streets, as citizens hiding in their homes could only hear the orderly marching footsteps outside and the metallic clamor of hooves hammering against blue bricks.
A scene of slaughter.
Such a scene only happened previously when Zhao Shixiong led troops, entering and receiving the city’s surrender without any bloodshed.
Recently, Zhao Douan led a small group of Shadow Guards in assassination actions, causing the entire prefecture city to re-enter a murderous atmosphere, as if winter crept in prematurely.
Zhao Shixiong returned to the government office with Wang Qi’s body, the "battle command center."
Song Jinxi and other Shadow Guards swiftly concealed themselves after succeeding, striving to sever any traces that might lead them.
Meanwhile, the majority of citizens remained clueless about what transpired.
Zhao Douan reverted to "Dong Ping’s" appearance and clothing, furtively returning to Red Mud Lane, entering a room, lighting a candle, and starting to boil water to prepare for a bath.
The Chasing Saber and Taibo Bow lay on the table.
Tonight’s operation proceeded relatively smoothly, but he was still uncertain about Song Jinxi and the others’ situation, needing to await further news.
However, he anticipated Zhao Shixiong would soon react.
Considering Night Fragrance Sect’s recent maneuvers, Zhao Douan knew neither he nor Song Jinxi and the others could remain hidden for long; they would eventually be revealed.
"But in a city with a population of tens of thousands, finding us won’t be so easy. So, as long as one doesn’t deliberately expose oneself, hiding for a bit shouldn’t be problematic."
Zhao Douan pondered, contemplating how to utilize the Feng Xiaolian connection to interact with Zhao Shixiong.
To execute his plan.
Suddenly, his ears twitched, and he raised his hand, putting away the bow and Chasing Saber from the table.
Then, footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by the creaking sound of the door opening.
The door was pushed open, and the girl Du Shishi entered carrying a small lantern, looking at Zhao Douan washing his feet.
"Miss Du, is there something?" Zhao Douan frowned, "It’s rather improper to enter a strange man’s room at night without knocking."
Du Shishi’s eyes remained on him, suspiciously asking: "You just returned?"
Zhao Douan smiled: "I came back early."
"Did you?" Du Shishi’s gaze lingered on him: "But earlier I came by and found you were not here."